The Healing Path
Disclaimer: I don't own this
Notes: reviews were lovely as always and thank you to all the people who wished me a happy birthday, it was rather nice. I got to go and see King Arthur, it was okay, I would recommend people to see it if they are into that kind of movie.
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They ate lunch, and Marco took the pain killers. After they were done they sat on the couch and relaxed watching some TV, just loving each others company.
Dylan noticed the time; it was almost three so Paige should be home by now. As if on cue the door opened and then there was a knock on it, which was different. He felt Marco tense next to him, he obviously caught on to the weird behavior of the person who just arrived at the Michalchuk's house and was worried about who it was.
"Dylan, its Paige, are you two decent?" she asked as she entered the house, Dylan was taken back by that question. Marco was injured; he would never do anything to Marco in this state.
"Yes Paige, we are both very decent young men, can we help you?" Dylan asked.
"I was wondering if Marco was up for visitors, Ellie wouldn't stop bugging me about him and when Jimmy joined in I caved. But I told them to wait outside while I saw if it was really okay," Paige explained. Marco was thinking, it would be really nice to see Ellie and Jimmy, and they did go out of their way to come and see him so he might as well not make their trip a waste.
"I would like to see them," Marco said answering for Dylan who was going to nod anyway because Marco needed some outside contact. Marco tried to push himself up to his feet with his arms but they gave out and he dropped back to the couch with a yelp of pain.
"Let me help you, and let's go see your friends," Dylan said, he put and arm around Marco's back and helped him to his feet, as soon as he was steady Dylan didn't let go, he just shifted his grip to have his arm snake around Marco's waist.
Outside Ellie and Jimmy were wondering if Marco was going to see them, after seeing how Paige came into school they wouldn't stop harassing her until she promised to get them in to see Marco. She had worried them senseless because she had said that he was far worse then her and she had a black eye and a few cuts on her face.
Then they had seen Spinner who had a black eye and his arms were bruised as well, and in the locker room Jimmy had seen that he took a few to his chest as well. Paige told them that they were jumped, but she didn't say who did it.
They were relieved when the door opened and Paige signaled that they could come inside. They practically ran in out of worry. They were surprised to see Marco leaning on Dylan, black eyes gracing both of their faces, bruises up and down Marco's arms, and Marco holding his stomach, like he was sick but not.
"My God, Marco, who did this to you?" Ellie asked as she ran towards him, he flinched, almost expecting to get hit but calmed down when all she did was hug him. He slowly put his arms around her as well. Jimmy was a little more collected, though the sight of his friend shocked him and angered him; he went to Dylan, who was standing next to Marco, ready to jump in at any time if Marco started to feel uncomfortable.
"You know who did this, who was it?" Jimmy asked, Dylan didn't see the harm and telling them who the attacker was.
"Jay and his gang, they caught us off guard last night in the park, Marco wasn't feeling well so we were coming home and they just out numbered us, I wasn't able to keep Marco from getting hurt," Dylan said turning his head in shame, it still ate away at him. He felt a hand in his own and looked to see Marco had taken one arm off Ellie to hold his hand.
"Wait a minute, Jay, Marco was Sean there?" Ellie asked, she would kill him if he hurt her best friend. She took her arms from around him and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"No, it was just him and a few I didn't know," Dylan answered for him, he was looking scared at the position Ellie put him in. She noticed this and went back to hugging him, unfortunately a little to hard, Paige hadn't told them about Marco's cut so when she squeezed him he screamed out in agony, it felt like the knife was being pushed into him all over again.
Ellie got frightened and jumped back, confused at what she did and determined not to do it again. Dylan and Paige had seen what happened but Dylan was not quick enough to catch Marco when he fell to his knees and then to the ground, crying and holding his stomach, blood seeping through.
"Shit, Paige get the stuff from last night," Dylan called out as he dropped to Marco's level.
He tried to uncurl Marco but he cried out when Dylan touched his hand, Dylan had to take another approach. Ellie was freaked out, she didn't know what she had done and had backed up in fear until she ran into Jimmy who held her steady.
"Marco, love, clam down, its only me, listen to the sound of my voice, listen to me and only me. I will never hurt you, I love you, please open up, you are in pain and I want to remedy it," Dylan whispered to Marco and soon he un-tensed and made his way into Dylan's lap where he continued to cry.
Paige came back down with the things Dylan asked for but Marco had yet to stop crying and the blood had yet to stop bleeding, this worried Dylan. Thankfully Paige had brought a towel with her and Dylan quickly rid Marco of his shirt. He put the towel to the cut and applied gentle pressure; even though he was trying to be gentle Marco cried out in pain, everything was sensitive.
Dylan had expected Marco to stop bleeding quickly like he had before but was surprised when he pulled back the towel and Marco continued to bleed. He gave Paige a worried glance and she quickly got the phone and dialed her dad's cell phone number.
"Michalchuk here," he answered the phone.
"Dad, its Paige, one of Marco's friends hugged him to hard and now he won't stop bleeding," Paige said, slightly hysterical.
Dylan was trying everything he knew to stop the bleeding, including putting heavy pressure on the wound causing Marco to arch his back in an attempt to get away from the cause of his pain. Marco was looking a little pale now and he was having some trouble breathing.
"Paige, tell dad he's going pale and having trouble breathing," Dylan called out moving Marco flat on his back trying to help him breathe easier.
"So c-c-cold," Marco stuttered to squeeze out, this scared Dylan, why was Marco cold?
"He's cold, having trouble breathing, and he's getting pale dad," Paige said, she was crying now.
"Paige, get him to the hospital, he needs to get a blood transfusion, drive there now, I'll be there as soon as possible and I'll call your mother," Mr. Michalchuk said, then he hung up.
"Dylan, dad said to get him to the hospital quickly, he needs blood," Paige said, grabbing the keys to Dylan's car. Dylan picked Marco up, towel still on him, and ran to the car along with Paige, Ellie, and Jimmy.
Dylan jumped into the back with Marco, Paige in the driver's seat, Ellie in the passenger's seat, and Jimmy practically falling out of the car as he tried to squeeze in the back with Dylan and Marco.
"Marco, stay with me, stay awake, we are getting you help," Dylan said, it was like a mantra for him, and Marco.
The drive to the hospital was very quick and it seemed like they had just piled in as soon as they had to get out. For Dylan everything was moving so fast, from Marco crying in the back to the doctors shooting question after question at him. They assigned a room for them to go to and Dylan placed Marco on the bed but Marco didn't want to let go. Dylan stayed with him and held his hand until a doctor came in.
"Hello I am doctor Murphy, and what seems to be the problem?" he asked calmly, Dylan almost yelled at him, how could he be calm, Marco was crying and bleeding.
"In the Park last night, we were coming home because he didn't feel well but we were surrounded, it was a bashing, someone had a knife and Marco got hurt, it wasn't bad but the cut reopened today and it won't stop bleeding. He was complaining that he was cold and then he started to look pale," Paige said when she saw that Dylan looked like he was going to take the doctors head off.
"Bashing, could you explain that a little more, he looks like he got the crap beaten out of him," the doctor said, Dylan was wondering how he knew, he hadn't even looked at Marco yet.
"Don't you know what bashing is?" Paige asked.
"No, care to explain?" the doctor said. Paige was a little unsure of this, should she tell the doctor that Marco was gay, was there any real reason he would have to know?
"He was beaten because he is gay, that's what we call bashing," Dylan spoke up, "And I hope you don't have a problem with that, I'm gay as well," he said finally.
"No, no problem at all, okay, so Marco, would you mind if I took a look at your cut?" the doctor asked as he approached Marco. Dylan just squeezed his hand and Marco looked distrustfully at the doctor.
"Just keep your hands where he can see them, and explain what you are going to do," Dylan said, thankfully Marco had stopped crying.
"Okay, I am just going to examine your cut, I am going to remove the towel so I can see how bad it is," the doctor said, he took off the now red, once white, towel and looked at the cut. "Now that's fairly deep, I hope you reported this to the police, about four inches long, possible an half an inch to an inch thick," the doctor commented.
"They don't do much when it comes to bashings, this isn't the first time it has happened and it won't be the last," Dylan said, even though they hadn't reported it because they still hadn't reported Marco's abusive parents.
"Well I will need to stitch this and it looks like your friend will need some blood before he goes into shock," the doctor said, he took the towel and gave it to a nurse so she could check the blood type and get the right kind. Soon the same nurse came back with a bag of blood; the doctor quickly got the needle administered so the transfusion could begin. Then he left with the nurse so they could get the right supplies for a stitching.
While they were gone Mrs. Michalchuk showed up, she ran over to hug Paige and then Dylan, instead of hugging Marco because that is what got him there in the first place she just kissed his forehead.
"How's he doing?" she asked.
"Scared, but that's understandable, he didn't say much all day, nor did he say much last night, he's holding up well though," Dylan said. He didn't want to say anything but Marco's silence scared him, at least when he was crying they knew that he was in pain, right now he was just laying there quietly.
The doctor came back with something to numb the area and a nurse who was carrying other supplies. Dylan moved over a little to give them some room but not too much room that he couldn't get them away from Marco if necessary.
As soon as the doctor went to give him the anesthesia Marco flipped, to him it seemed like a scary doctor was trying to hurt him, he was right now, very unstable in his mind. Marco started to squirm and that didn't help ease the pain, it actually brought more.
"I told you to tell him what you were doing before you did it," Dylan said angrily.
"Trauma patient doctor?" the nurse asked. Just as the question left her mouth the doctor's pager went off.
"He was a victim of bashing, if she doesn't know what that is please brief her, I need to check on this, it may be a matter of life or death," the doctor said before stepping out.
"Does everyone have to know our business?" Dylan asked, his emotions were on edge, the fact that Marco was hurt was getting to him.
"I am a nurse, a professional, I need to know the facts, what is bashing, is it a new form of torture or something?" the nurse asked, she was trying to be professional about this.
"Bashing is sort of like being homophobic, except it's when you express those feelings with verbal or physical abuse," Mrs. Michalchuk said putting it very professionally.
"So he's, your both, that is sick," she said almost without thinking, as a reaction to hearing that they were gay, the only reason she thought both were gay was because Dylan had asked why everyone had to know their business, their as in more then one.
"Get the hell away from him, Marco and I have had enough of people like you, there is nothing wrong with being a homosexual. If you haven't noticed we have feelings, just like straight people and you hurt them when you make such comments, now get out," Dylan said, he had stood at one point but Marco had pulled him back.
"Well, how dare you," she said, how dare he, all he did was tell her off, which was something, obviously, that didn't happen much.
The doctor came running back into the room as soon as he heard raised voices; he was just in time to hear why Dylan was practically screaming.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked even though he had a good idea of what happened.
"Your nurse has a problem with me and Marco, as if he hasn't been though enough," Dylan said disgusted.
"Leave now Mary, I will deal with you later, Mr. Del Rossi, Mr. Michalchuk I apologize, I had no idea that she would do that, for whatever she said I am sorry," Dr. Murphy, Mrs. Michalchuk nodded to say that they understood.
"I realize this, but can you give them a moment, Marco looks shaken up," Mrs. Michalchuk asked, the doctor nodded and left.
"Thank you," Marco said.
"For what Marco?" Dylan asked.
"For always being there, for being strong when I can't, for standing up for me, even though I don't think I deserve it," Marco said.
"Don't thank me for that, I do all those things because I love you, but I am glad you are talking again," Dylan said.
"I was so scared, I couldn't move, I felt like my world had come crashing down on me. When my dad, when I was with him, before," Marco was starting to cry again, Dylan placed a hand on his shoulder, he didn't want to stop him, he needed to get these feelings out.
"When I was with him that weekend, the things he said hurt me, I thought that I would never hear things like that from him directed towards anyone, especially me. And then the next few days when I was with you I felt safe, like nothing could go wrong. When we took that walk I felt like nothing to hurt me, I was with you, and nothing would dare come at me. And then Jay came along. The fear was back, the insecurity, all of it, I was separated from you, I couldn't feel your warmth, and I felt like I was back with my dad, the words, all the hurtful words he said, they came back, and they wouldn't leave," cried Marco.
"I'm so sorry Marco, I promised you, I promised you that no one would hurt you like your dad did and yet I couldn't protect you at the park. The scene replayed over and over in my head, how could I have saved you, how could I have prevented what was happening now. I would never want anything to happen to you, and I'm so sorry it did," Dylan said.
"Stop apologizing, you did what you could, you could never have anticipated that they would go after me. Everything you have done, all the time I spent with you, they have been some of the happiest moments of my life. You have nothing to apologize for, trust me," Marco said, he leaned over and kissed Dylan on the corner of the mouth.
The doctor chose this time to come it, just missing the tender moment between the two. "Is everything okay now?" Dr. Murphy asked.
"No, but it's better then it was," Marco said, indicating that he was still in some pain.
"Okay, now to remedy this I need to get another nurse," the doctor said, he went to the phone in the room, spoke to someone for a little while, and then another nurse came into to the room. "This nurse has been pre-briefed so don't worry about anything, the head of department would like to speak to you when you are feeling better too by the way."
"Okay, now just calm down, you won't feel a thing as soon as we get the local in," the nurse said, Marco turned his head when she gave him the shot. She was right, almost as soon as it was administered the area went numb and Marco couldn't feel the pain.
Dylan decided to keep Marco busy while they stitched him up so he didn't have to watch so they talked about little things, sports, hobbies, Marco's favorite foods and recipes.
When it was done they put a water proof bandage type thing and they just let Marco chill before the head of department came in. He and Dylan were watching TV Marco eating some of the hospital food when there was a knock on the door. They knew it wasn't the Michalchuk's because they had gone home for a little while to get clothes for Marco and it wasn't any of Marco's friends from school because they had asked for some privacy, only family, meaning the Michalchuk's.
"Come in," Dylan said getting off the bed to meet whoever was at the door.
"Hello, my name is Mr. Dash, I am the head of department and I was informed by Mr. Murphy that you were treated unjustly. I am here to apologize in person for what happened and to inform you that it will never happen again," Mr. Dash said, Dylan nodded and shook his hand. "Oh and I wish you a speedy recovery Mr. Del Rossi," he added before leaving.
"So how are you feeling now?" Dylan asked as he sat on the bed with Marco. Marco just sighed and snuggled up with Dylan, right now, through the pain, everything was perfect.
That is the position that Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk found them, curled up with each other, no one else in the world to them.
Upon leaving the hospital Marco was given a pain killer that he could take if the pain got intense, otherwise he should stick with Tylenol and get rest and eat well. He was glad to be out of there because no one would give him any peace while he was there, they treated him like he was going to break, especially Dylan.
Dylan had been making sure that Marco didn't exert himself, as soon as the car came to a stop he took the seatbelt off and carried Marco up to their room, which had new bed sheets thanks to Mrs. Michalchuk. Dylan laid him down and turned on the TV, promptly handing the remote over to Marco saying he could watch what ever he wanted.
Later that night Dylan brought Marco dinner in bed, and tried to feed him to but that's where Marco drew the line.
"Dylan, I am not made of fine china, I can feed myself and do many things without exerting myself. I know you mean well and I love you for it, but if this continues I might go crazy, okay sweetie?" Marco asked. For a moment Dylan didn't speak, and Marco took that as a bad sign and was about to apologize profusely. But then Dylan broke out into a smile and Marco became confused.
"Marco you did it, you spoke up for yourself!" Dylan said as if it was a big accomplishment, because it was. "Even though it was only to me you did it," Dylan continued, though Marco was still a little lost.
"Dylan a little help here, I am a little confused," Marco said looking at his boyfriend like he was psychotic.
"Marco, you need to learn to stick up for yourself, like I do against Jay. You need to be assertive, and you just were, like I said it is a small step but a good one," Dylan explained, Marco smiled it finally sinking in. "This calls for a celebration, Pizza and popcorn!" Dylan exclaimed and ran down the stairs. Marco laughed at his antics; after all they already had food up there, the food that Marco had refused to be fed.
Marco took this time alone to process his thoughts, he took off a cross that he had around his neck and got off the bed to kneel. "Dear God, thank you for sending me such a wonderful person. Dylan is the best thing that ever happened to me and I really do love him. Thank you so much, even though this may be a sin in your book, us together, but I know that you somehow understand and I thank you for it. Amen," Marco finished, he crawled back into bed, the local still in slight effect dulling his movements.
Not to long after Dylan came back grinning sheepishly, "I forgot that we already had food," he said. Marco had a serious look on his face and it worried Dylan.
"Marco, is everything okay, I looks like something's bothering you," Dylan said seriously, looking Marco straight in the eye.
"Well I was thanking God for all that you had done for me when I got to thinking about your parents and all they have sacrificed for me. How are they going to be able to pay for my hospital bill? I feel so selfish I have wasted your mother's time, and I have kept you from your school work," Marco was saying when Dylan interrupted him by kissing him on the lips. Marco moaned into the kiss.
"Marco, don't ever think you and anything but yourself, and especially never a burden, you are the one I love and that's that," Dylan said, making it sound very final.
"Thank you," Marco said, Dylan laughed.
"We need to work on that, you say that entirely too much," Dylan commented.
They ate their dinner and snuggled for a little while before falling asleep.
A while later Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk were having a heated debate in their room.
"Honey, this boy is costing way too much money, did you see the hospital bill. We have our own children to worry about," Mr. Michalchuk said. Mrs. Michalchuk was appalled by her husband's comments.
In Dylan's bedroom Marco bolted up in bed freaked out from a nightmare. He began to gasp as the pain that shot through his system. The nightmare still fresh in his mind he stumbled out of bed and grabbed his pain medication. Looking around in Dylan's room for a glass of water he was upset to come out empty. Marco thought about waking up Dylan to ask him to get a glass of water for him but stopped himself, which would just prove to Dylan that he needed to be waited on. The bathroom wasn't too far he figured and started to slowly make his way down there.
He was halfway there when he passed Dylan's parent's room and heard his name in a conversation.
"Dylan has to go to collage next year, this boy is holding him back," Mr. Michalchuk's voice rang out clear and loud, "How many times do I have to bring up this bill, how are we going to take care of this and Dylan, who might I remind you, is suppose to be our first priority, not this kid we now have off the street practically. Just because HIS parents don't want him why do we have to take him in?"
Marco almost couldn't breathe, he was a burden, he knew it, Dylan lied to him, he heard Mrs. Michalchuk start to yell back and he ran, into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing as he opened up the medicine cabinet. His hands were shaking as he took out a razor and held it to his bare skin. He was hurting the Michalchuk's; it was only fair that he hurt himself. (1)
Realizing that he was about to cut himself, he was about to do exactly what he had helped Ellie stop doing made him cry out in frustration. Dropping the razor he backed up until his calves met the edge of the bathtub, as soon as that happened he fell back into the tub crying out from the extreme pain from his stitches and heartache.
While this was happening Mrs. Michalchuk was telling her husband off. "How could you say that about Marco, he is the sweetest boy that you will ever meet and he makes your son happy? That boy has been though so much and anything we do helps him more then you know. You didn't see his face when we took him from that place, the people who were suppose to love him unconditionally beat him into a state of fear and possibly something deeper. And to say that he was taking Dylan's collage money, come on, Dylan already has been offered a few hockey scholarships and even so, Dylan would rather not go to collage if he knew that it would help Marco out in anyway. If you want to behave like a child then you better find yourself a nice comfy spot on the couch, because that is where you will be sleeping tonight." She said throwing a pillow at him. Just as he left the room Marco's scream was hear from the bathroom.
Mr. Michalchuk just passed the bathroom not wanting to bother with Marco right now, he was angry. Mrs. Michalchuk ran to the bathroom and was happy to find it unlocked, she didn't even bother to knock because she could hear his cries from outside the door. She wasn't surprised that Dylan didn't come running out of his room at the sound of Marco in pain, the poor boy was exhausted from worrying about Marco and a very heavy sleeper at times.
She wasn't surprised to find Marco looking rather distraught in the corner of the room. She walked over and held out her arms to him, she didn't even look up before burying himself in her warm embrace.
"There, there Marco, what's wrong?" she asked rubbing his back and slowly easing him into a more comfortable position.
"I am causing problems within your family, I didn't mean to hear, I wasn't purposely listening but I heard, and I want Dylan to go to a good collage and get a good job, and I want my own parents to love me as much as you do, and I want...I want so many different things," Marco cried.
"Listen, Dylan is going to be fine, he will go to a good collage, he has been offered many scholarships and has nothing to worry about, and he will be fine. You on the other hand, you look rather tired and I'm sure the way you fell hurt so let's get you into bed and get you some pain medication," Mrs. Michalchuk said, Marco nodded and she helped him up, it wasn't easy but she managed to get him into her room.
"What are we doing here?" Marco asked confused as she lowered him on the bed and fluffed a pillow behind his head.
"Mr. Michalchuk needed some time to think so he will be spending the night downstairs, and I didn't want to risk waking Dylan because he was so tired and in need of sleep. So since there is room here I thought you would be comfortable," she started simply.
"That is very kind of you but, I don't know," Marco would have continued but the pain was gradually getting more and more intolerable. Mrs. Michalchuk just left the room for a little while and came back with the pills and the glass of water that got Marco into that whole mess to begin with. He thankfully took them but sleep did not come easy to him, every time he moved it hurt so he just couldn't fall asleep. Mrs. Michalchuk was very calm with him, she would try and do anything to make him comfortable and did not sleep until Marco was comfortable sleeping, even so she tried to stay awake to change the cool clothe that they were putting on his stitching to ease the pain.
It was a long night, but they made it though.
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Life is good, but I was away for a while. I just got back and I had so much fun. It was like an annual family get together and my whole family was there pretty much. My Aunt brought up a slip and slide and all the kids were going on it but me and my cousin bobby were watching because we felt to old, I'm 16 and he is like 19. So then my other Aunt had also grabbed a slip and slide on her way up and we made one long slip and slide. It was really funny to watch my cousins go down but one of the younger ones went right off the end and like three feet away slid to a stop. It was like a competition now, it had to be, and I mean it was my family. Everything my family does eventually turned out to be a competition which is rather funny. So then me and Bobby were still watching this game as they tried to beat each others slide, so then we both decide to go, it was so fun, all of my grandpa's friends were there and were like, only at the Lazio's!!! I guess you might have had to be there, oh well, just review please!!!!!
TO: VIXEN-DRAGON16
I really liked your story, I read the first chapter and second but since my computer is a little weird it doesn't let me review so this is my own way of reviewing. Keep it up!!!
1- So about this, the whole punishing himself thing. My cousin does it, not like cutting himself but when he does something wrong he punishes himself. For example one time my cousins and I were working at my grandpa's house and we were putting hay on the dirt roads. So my and my Cousin Emily's job was to give the hay to my cousin bobby and my cousin Andrew had to cut the bails of hay. Well one cut his arm kind of flung out and the pocket knife my grandpa had from the Army was lost. It was like the most important thing to my grandpa and you can't imagine how angry he was but he just got really quiet thus telling us how mad he was. SO anyway then he is driving us back down to go home and Andrew decided to walk down the mountain barefoot to punish himself...that's where this came from.
Disclaimer: I don't own this
Notes: reviews were lovely as always and thank you to all the people who wished me a happy birthday, it was rather nice. I got to go and see King Arthur, it was okay, I would recommend people to see it if they are into that kind of movie.
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They ate lunch, and Marco took the pain killers. After they were done they sat on the couch and relaxed watching some TV, just loving each others company.
Dylan noticed the time; it was almost three so Paige should be home by now. As if on cue the door opened and then there was a knock on it, which was different. He felt Marco tense next to him, he obviously caught on to the weird behavior of the person who just arrived at the Michalchuk's house and was worried about who it was.
"Dylan, its Paige, are you two decent?" she asked as she entered the house, Dylan was taken back by that question. Marco was injured; he would never do anything to Marco in this state.
"Yes Paige, we are both very decent young men, can we help you?" Dylan asked.
"I was wondering if Marco was up for visitors, Ellie wouldn't stop bugging me about him and when Jimmy joined in I caved. But I told them to wait outside while I saw if it was really okay," Paige explained. Marco was thinking, it would be really nice to see Ellie and Jimmy, and they did go out of their way to come and see him so he might as well not make their trip a waste.
"I would like to see them," Marco said answering for Dylan who was going to nod anyway because Marco needed some outside contact. Marco tried to push himself up to his feet with his arms but they gave out and he dropped back to the couch with a yelp of pain.
"Let me help you, and let's go see your friends," Dylan said, he put and arm around Marco's back and helped him to his feet, as soon as he was steady Dylan didn't let go, he just shifted his grip to have his arm snake around Marco's waist.
Outside Ellie and Jimmy were wondering if Marco was going to see them, after seeing how Paige came into school they wouldn't stop harassing her until she promised to get them in to see Marco. She had worried them senseless because she had said that he was far worse then her and she had a black eye and a few cuts on her face.
Then they had seen Spinner who had a black eye and his arms were bruised as well, and in the locker room Jimmy had seen that he took a few to his chest as well. Paige told them that they were jumped, but she didn't say who did it.
They were relieved when the door opened and Paige signaled that they could come inside. They practically ran in out of worry. They were surprised to see Marco leaning on Dylan, black eyes gracing both of their faces, bruises up and down Marco's arms, and Marco holding his stomach, like he was sick but not.
"My God, Marco, who did this to you?" Ellie asked as she ran towards him, he flinched, almost expecting to get hit but calmed down when all she did was hug him. He slowly put his arms around her as well. Jimmy was a little more collected, though the sight of his friend shocked him and angered him; he went to Dylan, who was standing next to Marco, ready to jump in at any time if Marco started to feel uncomfortable.
"You know who did this, who was it?" Jimmy asked, Dylan didn't see the harm and telling them who the attacker was.
"Jay and his gang, they caught us off guard last night in the park, Marco wasn't feeling well so we were coming home and they just out numbered us, I wasn't able to keep Marco from getting hurt," Dylan said turning his head in shame, it still ate away at him. He felt a hand in his own and looked to see Marco had taken one arm off Ellie to hold his hand.
"Wait a minute, Jay, Marco was Sean there?" Ellie asked, she would kill him if he hurt her best friend. She took her arms from around him and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"No, it was just him and a few I didn't know," Dylan answered for him, he was looking scared at the position Ellie put him in. She noticed this and went back to hugging him, unfortunately a little to hard, Paige hadn't told them about Marco's cut so when she squeezed him he screamed out in agony, it felt like the knife was being pushed into him all over again.
Ellie got frightened and jumped back, confused at what she did and determined not to do it again. Dylan and Paige had seen what happened but Dylan was not quick enough to catch Marco when he fell to his knees and then to the ground, crying and holding his stomach, blood seeping through.
"Shit, Paige get the stuff from last night," Dylan called out as he dropped to Marco's level.
He tried to uncurl Marco but he cried out when Dylan touched his hand, Dylan had to take another approach. Ellie was freaked out, she didn't know what she had done and had backed up in fear until she ran into Jimmy who held her steady.
"Marco, love, clam down, its only me, listen to the sound of my voice, listen to me and only me. I will never hurt you, I love you, please open up, you are in pain and I want to remedy it," Dylan whispered to Marco and soon he un-tensed and made his way into Dylan's lap where he continued to cry.
Paige came back down with the things Dylan asked for but Marco had yet to stop crying and the blood had yet to stop bleeding, this worried Dylan. Thankfully Paige had brought a towel with her and Dylan quickly rid Marco of his shirt. He put the towel to the cut and applied gentle pressure; even though he was trying to be gentle Marco cried out in pain, everything was sensitive.
Dylan had expected Marco to stop bleeding quickly like he had before but was surprised when he pulled back the towel and Marco continued to bleed. He gave Paige a worried glance and she quickly got the phone and dialed her dad's cell phone number.
"Michalchuk here," he answered the phone.
"Dad, its Paige, one of Marco's friends hugged him to hard and now he won't stop bleeding," Paige said, slightly hysterical.
Dylan was trying everything he knew to stop the bleeding, including putting heavy pressure on the wound causing Marco to arch his back in an attempt to get away from the cause of his pain. Marco was looking a little pale now and he was having some trouble breathing.
"Paige, tell dad he's going pale and having trouble breathing," Dylan called out moving Marco flat on his back trying to help him breathe easier.
"So c-c-cold," Marco stuttered to squeeze out, this scared Dylan, why was Marco cold?
"He's cold, having trouble breathing, and he's getting pale dad," Paige said, she was crying now.
"Paige, get him to the hospital, he needs to get a blood transfusion, drive there now, I'll be there as soon as possible and I'll call your mother," Mr. Michalchuk said, then he hung up.
"Dylan, dad said to get him to the hospital quickly, he needs blood," Paige said, grabbing the keys to Dylan's car. Dylan picked Marco up, towel still on him, and ran to the car along with Paige, Ellie, and Jimmy.
Dylan jumped into the back with Marco, Paige in the driver's seat, Ellie in the passenger's seat, and Jimmy practically falling out of the car as he tried to squeeze in the back with Dylan and Marco.
"Marco, stay with me, stay awake, we are getting you help," Dylan said, it was like a mantra for him, and Marco.
The drive to the hospital was very quick and it seemed like they had just piled in as soon as they had to get out. For Dylan everything was moving so fast, from Marco crying in the back to the doctors shooting question after question at him. They assigned a room for them to go to and Dylan placed Marco on the bed but Marco didn't want to let go. Dylan stayed with him and held his hand until a doctor came in.
"Hello I am doctor Murphy, and what seems to be the problem?" he asked calmly, Dylan almost yelled at him, how could he be calm, Marco was crying and bleeding.
"In the Park last night, we were coming home because he didn't feel well but we were surrounded, it was a bashing, someone had a knife and Marco got hurt, it wasn't bad but the cut reopened today and it won't stop bleeding. He was complaining that he was cold and then he started to look pale," Paige said when she saw that Dylan looked like he was going to take the doctors head off.
"Bashing, could you explain that a little more, he looks like he got the crap beaten out of him," the doctor said, Dylan was wondering how he knew, he hadn't even looked at Marco yet.
"Don't you know what bashing is?" Paige asked.
"No, care to explain?" the doctor said. Paige was a little unsure of this, should she tell the doctor that Marco was gay, was there any real reason he would have to know?
"He was beaten because he is gay, that's what we call bashing," Dylan spoke up, "And I hope you don't have a problem with that, I'm gay as well," he said finally.
"No, no problem at all, okay, so Marco, would you mind if I took a look at your cut?" the doctor asked as he approached Marco. Dylan just squeezed his hand and Marco looked distrustfully at the doctor.
"Just keep your hands where he can see them, and explain what you are going to do," Dylan said, thankfully Marco had stopped crying.
"Okay, I am just going to examine your cut, I am going to remove the towel so I can see how bad it is," the doctor said, he took off the now red, once white, towel and looked at the cut. "Now that's fairly deep, I hope you reported this to the police, about four inches long, possible an half an inch to an inch thick," the doctor commented.
"They don't do much when it comes to bashings, this isn't the first time it has happened and it won't be the last," Dylan said, even though they hadn't reported it because they still hadn't reported Marco's abusive parents.
"Well I will need to stitch this and it looks like your friend will need some blood before he goes into shock," the doctor said, he took the towel and gave it to a nurse so she could check the blood type and get the right kind. Soon the same nurse came back with a bag of blood; the doctor quickly got the needle administered so the transfusion could begin. Then he left with the nurse so they could get the right supplies for a stitching.
While they were gone Mrs. Michalchuk showed up, she ran over to hug Paige and then Dylan, instead of hugging Marco because that is what got him there in the first place she just kissed his forehead.
"How's he doing?" she asked.
"Scared, but that's understandable, he didn't say much all day, nor did he say much last night, he's holding up well though," Dylan said. He didn't want to say anything but Marco's silence scared him, at least when he was crying they knew that he was in pain, right now he was just laying there quietly.
The doctor came back with something to numb the area and a nurse who was carrying other supplies. Dylan moved over a little to give them some room but not too much room that he couldn't get them away from Marco if necessary.
As soon as the doctor went to give him the anesthesia Marco flipped, to him it seemed like a scary doctor was trying to hurt him, he was right now, very unstable in his mind. Marco started to squirm and that didn't help ease the pain, it actually brought more.
"I told you to tell him what you were doing before you did it," Dylan said angrily.
"Trauma patient doctor?" the nurse asked. Just as the question left her mouth the doctor's pager went off.
"He was a victim of bashing, if she doesn't know what that is please brief her, I need to check on this, it may be a matter of life or death," the doctor said before stepping out.
"Does everyone have to know our business?" Dylan asked, his emotions were on edge, the fact that Marco was hurt was getting to him.
"I am a nurse, a professional, I need to know the facts, what is bashing, is it a new form of torture or something?" the nurse asked, she was trying to be professional about this.
"Bashing is sort of like being homophobic, except it's when you express those feelings with verbal or physical abuse," Mrs. Michalchuk said putting it very professionally.
"So he's, your both, that is sick," she said almost without thinking, as a reaction to hearing that they were gay, the only reason she thought both were gay was because Dylan had asked why everyone had to know their business, their as in more then one.
"Get the hell away from him, Marco and I have had enough of people like you, there is nothing wrong with being a homosexual. If you haven't noticed we have feelings, just like straight people and you hurt them when you make such comments, now get out," Dylan said, he had stood at one point but Marco had pulled him back.
"Well, how dare you," she said, how dare he, all he did was tell her off, which was something, obviously, that didn't happen much.
The doctor came running back into the room as soon as he heard raised voices; he was just in time to hear why Dylan was practically screaming.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked even though he had a good idea of what happened.
"Your nurse has a problem with me and Marco, as if he hasn't been though enough," Dylan said disgusted.
"Leave now Mary, I will deal with you later, Mr. Del Rossi, Mr. Michalchuk I apologize, I had no idea that she would do that, for whatever she said I am sorry," Dr. Murphy, Mrs. Michalchuk nodded to say that they understood.
"I realize this, but can you give them a moment, Marco looks shaken up," Mrs. Michalchuk asked, the doctor nodded and left.
"Thank you," Marco said.
"For what Marco?" Dylan asked.
"For always being there, for being strong when I can't, for standing up for me, even though I don't think I deserve it," Marco said.
"Don't thank me for that, I do all those things because I love you, but I am glad you are talking again," Dylan said.
"I was so scared, I couldn't move, I felt like my world had come crashing down on me. When my dad, when I was with him, before," Marco was starting to cry again, Dylan placed a hand on his shoulder, he didn't want to stop him, he needed to get these feelings out.
"When I was with him that weekend, the things he said hurt me, I thought that I would never hear things like that from him directed towards anyone, especially me. And then the next few days when I was with you I felt safe, like nothing could go wrong. When we took that walk I felt like nothing to hurt me, I was with you, and nothing would dare come at me. And then Jay came along. The fear was back, the insecurity, all of it, I was separated from you, I couldn't feel your warmth, and I felt like I was back with my dad, the words, all the hurtful words he said, they came back, and they wouldn't leave," cried Marco.
"I'm so sorry Marco, I promised you, I promised you that no one would hurt you like your dad did and yet I couldn't protect you at the park. The scene replayed over and over in my head, how could I have saved you, how could I have prevented what was happening now. I would never want anything to happen to you, and I'm so sorry it did," Dylan said.
"Stop apologizing, you did what you could, you could never have anticipated that they would go after me. Everything you have done, all the time I spent with you, they have been some of the happiest moments of my life. You have nothing to apologize for, trust me," Marco said, he leaned over and kissed Dylan on the corner of the mouth.
The doctor chose this time to come it, just missing the tender moment between the two. "Is everything okay now?" Dr. Murphy asked.
"No, but it's better then it was," Marco said, indicating that he was still in some pain.
"Okay, now to remedy this I need to get another nurse," the doctor said, he went to the phone in the room, spoke to someone for a little while, and then another nurse came into to the room. "This nurse has been pre-briefed so don't worry about anything, the head of department would like to speak to you when you are feeling better too by the way."
"Okay, now just calm down, you won't feel a thing as soon as we get the local in," the nurse said, Marco turned his head when she gave him the shot. She was right, almost as soon as it was administered the area went numb and Marco couldn't feel the pain.
Dylan decided to keep Marco busy while they stitched him up so he didn't have to watch so they talked about little things, sports, hobbies, Marco's favorite foods and recipes.
When it was done they put a water proof bandage type thing and they just let Marco chill before the head of department came in. He and Dylan were watching TV Marco eating some of the hospital food when there was a knock on the door. They knew it wasn't the Michalchuk's because they had gone home for a little while to get clothes for Marco and it wasn't any of Marco's friends from school because they had asked for some privacy, only family, meaning the Michalchuk's.
"Come in," Dylan said getting off the bed to meet whoever was at the door.
"Hello, my name is Mr. Dash, I am the head of department and I was informed by Mr. Murphy that you were treated unjustly. I am here to apologize in person for what happened and to inform you that it will never happen again," Mr. Dash said, Dylan nodded and shook his hand. "Oh and I wish you a speedy recovery Mr. Del Rossi," he added before leaving.
"So how are you feeling now?" Dylan asked as he sat on the bed with Marco. Marco just sighed and snuggled up with Dylan, right now, through the pain, everything was perfect.
That is the position that Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk found them, curled up with each other, no one else in the world to them.
Upon leaving the hospital Marco was given a pain killer that he could take if the pain got intense, otherwise he should stick with Tylenol and get rest and eat well. He was glad to be out of there because no one would give him any peace while he was there, they treated him like he was going to break, especially Dylan.
Dylan had been making sure that Marco didn't exert himself, as soon as the car came to a stop he took the seatbelt off and carried Marco up to their room, which had new bed sheets thanks to Mrs. Michalchuk. Dylan laid him down and turned on the TV, promptly handing the remote over to Marco saying he could watch what ever he wanted.
Later that night Dylan brought Marco dinner in bed, and tried to feed him to but that's where Marco drew the line.
"Dylan, I am not made of fine china, I can feed myself and do many things without exerting myself. I know you mean well and I love you for it, but if this continues I might go crazy, okay sweetie?" Marco asked. For a moment Dylan didn't speak, and Marco took that as a bad sign and was about to apologize profusely. But then Dylan broke out into a smile and Marco became confused.
"Marco you did it, you spoke up for yourself!" Dylan said as if it was a big accomplishment, because it was. "Even though it was only to me you did it," Dylan continued, though Marco was still a little lost.
"Dylan a little help here, I am a little confused," Marco said looking at his boyfriend like he was psychotic.
"Marco, you need to learn to stick up for yourself, like I do against Jay. You need to be assertive, and you just were, like I said it is a small step but a good one," Dylan explained, Marco smiled it finally sinking in. "This calls for a celebration, Pizza and popcorn!" Dylan exclaimed and ran down the stairs. Marco laughed at his antics; after all they already had food up there, the food that Marco had refused to be fed.
Marco took this time alone to process his thoughts, he took off a cross that he had around his neck and got off the bed to kneel. "Dear God, thank you for sending me such a wonderful person. Dylan is the best thing that ever happened to me and I really do love him. Thank you so much, even though this may be a sin in your book, us together, but I know that you somehow understand and I thank you for it. Amen," Marco finished, he crawled back into bed, the local still in slight effect dulling his movements.
Not to long after Dylan came back grinning sheepishly, "I forgot that we already had food," he said. Marco had a serious look on his face and it worried Dylan.
"Marco, is everything okay, I looks like something's bothering you," Dylan said seriously, looking Marco straight in the eye.
"Well I was thanking God for all that you had done for me when I got to thinking about your parents and all they have sacrificed for me. How are they going to be able to pay for my hospital bill? I feel so selfish I have wasted your mother's time, and I have kept you from your school work," Marco was saying when Dylan interrupted him by kissing him on the lips. Marco moaned into the kiss.
"Marco, don't ever think you and anything but yourself, and especially never a burden, you are the one I love and that's that," Dylan said, making it sound very final.
"Thank you," Marco said, Dylan laughed.
"We need to work on that, you say that entirely too much," Dylan commented.
They ate their dinner and snuggled for a little while before falling asleep.
A while later Mr. and Mrs. Michalchuk were having a heated debate in their room.
"Honey, this boy is costing way too much money, did you see the hospital bill. We have our own children to worry about," Mr. Michalchuk said. Mrs. Michalchuk was appalled by her husband's comments.
In Dylan's bedroom Marco bolted up in bed freaked out from a nightmare. He began to gasp as the pain that shot through his system. The nightmare still fresh in his mind he stumbled out of bed and grabbed his pain medication. Looking around in Dylan's room for a glass of water he was upset to come out empty. Marco thought about waking up Dylan to ask him to get a glass of water for him but stopped himself, which would just prove to Dylan that he needed to be waited on. The bathroom wasn't too far he figured and started to slowly make his way down there.
He was halfway there when he passed Dylan's parent's room and heard his name in a conversation.
"Dylan has to go to collage next year, this boy is holding him back," Mr. Michalchuk's voice rang out clear and loud, "How many times do I have to bring up this bill, how are we going to take care of this and Dylan, who might I remind you, is suppose to be our first priority, not this kid we now have off the street practically. Just because HIS parents don't want him why do we have to take him in?"
Marco almost couldn't breathe, he was a burden, he knew it, Dylan lied to him, he heard Mrs. Michalchuk start to yell back and he ran, into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing as he opened up the medicine cabinet. His hands were shaking as he took out a razor and held it to his bare skin. He was hurting the Michalchuk's; it was only fair that he hurt himself. (1)
Realizing that he was about to cut himself, he was about to do exactly what he had helped Ellie stop doing made him cry out in frustration. Dropping the razor he backed up until his calves met the edge of the bathtub, as soon as that happened he fell back into the tub crying out from the extreme pain from his stitches and heartache.
While this was happening Mrs. Michalchuk was telling her husband off. "How could you say that about Marco, he is the sweetest boy that you will ever meet and he makes your son happy? That boy has been though so much and anything we do helps him more then you know. You didn't see his face when we took him from that place, the people who were suppose to love him unconditionally beat him into a state of fear and possibly something deeper. And to say that he was taking Dylan's collage money, come on, Dylan already has been offered a few hockey scholarships and even so, Dylan would rather not go to collage if he knew that it would help Marco out in anyway. If you want to behave like a child then you better find yourself a nice comfy spot on the couch, because that is where you will be sleeping tonight." She said throwing a pillow at him. Just as he left the room Marco's scream was hear from the bathroom.
Mr. Michalchuk just passed the bathroom not wanting to bother with Marco right now, he was angry. Mrs. Michalchuk ran to the bathroom and was happy to find it unlocked, she didn't even bother to knock because she could hear his cries from outside the door. She wasn't surprised that Dylan didn't come running out of his room at the sound of Marco in pain, the poor boy was exhausted from worrying about Marco and a very heavy sleeper at times.
She wasn't surprised to find Marco looking rather distraught in the corner of the room. She walked over and held out her arms to him, she didn't even look up before burying himself in her warm embrace.
"There, there Marco, what's wrong?" she asked rubbing his back and slowly easing him into a more comfortable position.
"I am causing problems within your family, I didn't mean to hear, I wasn't purposely listening but I heard, and I want Dylan to go to a good collage and get a good job, and I want my own parents to love me as much as you do, and I want...I want so many different things," Marco cried.
"Listen, Dylan is going to be fine, he will go to a good collage, he has been offered many scholarships and has nothing to worry about, and he will be fine. You on the other hand, you look rather tired and I'm sure the way you fell hurt so let's get you into bed and get you some pain medication," Mrs. Michalchuk said, Marco nodded and she helped him up, it wasn't easy but she managed to get him into her room.
"What are we doing here?" Marco asked confused as she lowered him on the bed and fluffed a pillow behind his head.
"Mr. Michalchuk needed some time to think so he will be spending the night downstairs, and I didn't want to risk waking Dylan because he was so tired and in need of sleep. So since there is room here I thought you would be comfortable," she started simply.
"That is very kind of you but, I don't know," Marco would have continued but the pain was gradually getting more and more intolerable. Mrs. Michalchuk just left the room for a little while and came back with the pills and the glass of water that got Marco into that whole mess to begin with. He thankfully took them but sleep did not come easy to him, every time he moved it hurt so he just couldn't fall asleep. Mrs. Michalchuk was very calm with him, she would try and do anything to make him comfortable and did not sleep until Marco was comfortable sleeping, even so she tried to stay awake to change the cool clothe that they were putting on his stitching to ease the pain.
It was a long night, but they made it though.
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Life is good, but I was away for a while. I just got back and I had so much fun. It was like an annual family get together and my whole family was there pretty much. My Aunt brought up a slip and slide and all the kids were going on it but me and my cousin bobby were watching because we felt to old, I'm 16 and he is like 19. So then my other Aunt had also grabbed a slip and slide on her way up and we made one long slip and slide. It was really funny to watch my cousins go down but one of the younger ones went right off the end and like three feet away slid to a stop. It was like a competition now, it had to be, and I mean it was my family. Everything my family does eventually turned out to be a competition which is rather funny. So then me and Bobby were still watching this game as they tried to beat each others slide, so then we both decide to go, it was so fun, all of my grandpa's friends were there and were like, only at the Lazio's!!! I guess you might have had to be there, oh well, just review please!!!!!
TO: VIXEN-DRAGON16
I really liked your story, I read the first chapter and second but since my computer is a little weird it doesn't let me review so this is my own way of reviewing. Keep it up!!!
1- So about this, the whole punishing himself thing. My cousin does it, not like cutting himself but when he does something wrong he punishes himself. For example one time my cousins and I were working at my grandpa's house and we were putting hay on the dirt roads. So my and my Cousin Emily's job was to give the hay to my cousin bobby and my cousin Andrew had to cut the bails of hay. Well one cut his arm kind of flung out and the pocket knife my grandpa had from the Army was lost. It was like the most important thing to my grandpa and you can't imagine how angry he was but he just got really quiet thus telling us how mad he was. SO anyway then he is driving us back down to go home and Andrew decided to walk down the mountain barefoot to punish himself...that's where this came from.