Stay With Me
- Painful Truths Revealed -
By: Lil' Amethyst Angel
Warnings: Slight swearing, shounen-ai, and graphic abuse.
"Hey, Samantha. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Drake asked his coworker. Samantha, one of the station's secretaries, excused herself from her conversation with Ted.
"What's up, Drake?" The woman inquired. Drake wrung his hands nervously.
"I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I need a background check on this guy, but it has to be kept on the down-low." Drake spoke quietly. She nodded in understanding.
Samantha walked over to her desk and took a seat in front of the computer. Drake took that as her acceptance and pulled up a chair next to her.
"I need some information on a guy named Sean Trenton." Drake said. Samantha started at that.
"I think I may know him. My sister went out with a guy going by that name a while back. He was a possessive jerk. I'm glad my sister got out of there before he got violent." She said with a hint of disgust. Drake got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. The secretary's comments just fueled his suspicions.
"Okay, thanks, Sam. Could you still run the background check? I want to see if he has a record." Drake stood up after receiving a smile and affirming nod from Samantha.
"Thanks, Sam, really. And don't tell anyone, especially JJ." The secretary looked at him oddly, but didn't ask or object.
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It was early Thursday morning and JJ hadn't arrived yet. Drake felt a little anxious. JJ wasn't early that often, but Drake had a bad feeling today. When he saw the familiar mop of lavender hair enter he let out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. JJ came closer to their desk, but kept his head bowed slightly. Drake raised an eyebrow. JJ took a seat and shook off his coat. When he raised his head Drake gasped. There was a furious bruise just under JJ's left eyes and his lip was swollen and split.
"Holy crap, what the hell happened to you?" Drake managed. JJ winced at Drake's words.
"I got beat up by some mugger on my way to work." He mumbled. Drake looked at him incredulous. There were some flaws in JJ's story. First, he still had his expensive watch around his left wrist and Drake could see JJ's wallet sticking out of his coat pocket. The other problem was Sean always drove JJ to work. Not to mention, JJ knew how to handle himself. It wouldn't be that easy for one mugger to jump him.
"Sure." Drake sighed. "Your lip is still bleeding. C'mon, let's get you fixed up."
JJ followed Drake into the break room like a lost puppy. Drake went over to the freezer, pulled out some ice and wrapped a cloth around it. He gave it to JJ to hold on his cheek. Drake then proceeded to wet another cloth with warm water and dabbed at JJ's lip. JJ sat on a chair silently for the whole time, never making eye contact with his partner.
"Now, are ya gonna tell me what really happened?" Drake asked gently. JJ narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean? I told you what happened. Some thug beat me up." JJ crossed his arms defensively.
"Then why didn't they steal your watch or wallet? And doesn't Sean drive you? When have you ever walked?" Drake copied his partner's gestures.
JJ's jaw clenched and he looked like he was about to yell a comeback when he closed his eyes and sighed wearily. He brought his hand to massage his forehead, as if he had a headache, which he in fact did.
"It's nothing." Was the muffled reply from behind his hand.
"Was it Sean?" Drake was blunt, went right to the point.
"What the hell do you mean by that? How dare you accuse Sean of anything? That's none of your fucking business." JJ spat. He was becoming extremely defensive. Drake was about to respond when JJ got up abruptly and left the room.
JJ spent the rest of the day avoiding Drake. Ryo and Dee had arrested Thompson the day before and were questioning him today. Drake eventually gave up trying to get JJ to talk to him and helped with the interrogation.
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"C'mon, please, talk to me JJ. I'm dieing here." Drake pleaded with his stubborn coworker. JJ just turned the corner and maneuvered through the crowd of officers headed to a meeting, to get away from Drake. Drake kicked the wall, angry at another failed attempt. Ryo and Dee had watched the little scene with worry and amusement respectively.
"Wadja do to piss off the kid?" Dee questioned.
"I said something I shouldn't have." Drake grumbled.
"Is everything okay?"
Drake hesitated. He considered telling them about his suspicions, but he didn't want to embarrass JJ. Plus, there was always a chance he wasn't right about Sean being an abusive asshole. "Yeah. Everything is fine."
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It was almost time to leave Drake finally caught JJ. He grabbed his arm before the boy could get away.
"JJ, please. I just want to apologize. I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. It was way out of line." A scowl was placed firmly on JJ's face. "I was just really worried about you."
At the last comment JJ's eyes softened and slumped slightly. "I know. I accept your apology. Now, let's just forget this ever happened."
Drake nodded, even though his mind was screaming in protest, 'No! Don't forget! He's hiding something. Sean is dangerous. Call him on it! Do something!'
"How about I take you out for some sweets to apologize?" Drake laughed when JJ's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really, sempai?" JJ was clearly excited. Drake just smiled at the lavender-haired man.
"C'mon, let's go."
The two officers went to a little coffee shop around the corner from the precinct. After JJ stayed glued to the case displaying all the sweets for about ten minutes, Drake ordered and managed to drag JJ to a table near the window.
"Thanks for the treats, Drake-sempai." Drake nodded in turn.
The two proceeded to chat happily, joking around and having an enjoyable time. They were so engrossed in their conversation neither noticed a man walking by the shop, look through the front window and glare at them.
It was getting dark out. JJ didn't notice, though. He was having too much fun. JJ hadn't gotten together with the 'guys' in a while. Sean always wanted him to come right home after work to spend time with him. JJ usually didn't mind. He liked to spend time with his lover, but he was starting to miss the guys, especially his partner. It's odd, he thought, he missed his time with Drake more than his time with Dee.
"Earth to JJ." Drake snapped his fingers in his partners face, successfully drawing him out of his trance.
"Ah, sorry, Drake-sempai. I was just thinking of how nice it was to spend time with you." JJ smiled affectionately. Drake held back a blush. JJ's words gave him a warm feeling and something leapt in his stomach.
"Well, it's getting late. We should be heading out." Drake said. JJ agreed.
"Yeah. I told Sean I'd be home a while ago. I don't want him to worry." JJ said. He was starting to feel nervous as he just realized how late it actually was. Sean would be mad. "Thank you for the treats. See you tomorrow, sempai."
Drake frowned slightly at the mention of Sean. He forced a smile and waved goodbye to the other officer.
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JJ reached his home a short while later. The whole way home he was thinking how happy he was spending time with Drake. Drake made him happy. He started at the discovery, but shook his head. Of course Drake made him happy, they were friends. It's normal to enjoy spending time with you friends.
Upon opening the door JJ was greeted with an eerie silence. He was late and he knew Sean would be mad. The fact that Sean wasn't already at the door yelling at him was somewhat unsettling. Not that he was complaining. JJ walked down the hall to the room he shared with his lover.
"I s-shee yur finly home." Sean slurred.
'Oh crap, he's drunk,' JJ thought to himself. JJ had only seen Sean drunk a few times and they were not pleasant experiences.
"I saw -hic- you wit dat g-guy. You been fuckin' 'im behind m-ma -hic- back?" Sean was very angry. 'I should tread carefully,' JJ noted.
"N-no, Sean. It's not like that with me and Drake." JJ defended himself timidly. Sean started advancing on him and JJ backed up until he hit the wall.
"Dun lie ta me, slut." Sean growled and grabbed a fist full or JJ's hair. He yanked him down to his knees. "Yur mine! Y'ear me? Mine!"
JJ whimpered slightly. "Y-yes. I'm yours. Please, Sean. You know Drake is just my partner nothing more." JJ pleaded. 'But I wish he was more.' JJ added silently, shocking himself when he realized his silent statement was true. JJ knew he had always been attracted to his partner, but even he wasn't desperate enough to go after someone he knew was straight.
JJ was ripped away from his thoughts when he is thrown backwards. His head snapped back and hit the ledge of the side table with a painful thud. JJ let a small cry escape. His senses were jumbled for a moment. The next thing he knew, Sean was dragging him up by his hair and slamming punch after punch unto his face.
JJ tried hard to bite back his cries and pleas as Sean threw an empty beer bottle at him. The lavender-haired man covered his head with both arms. Since Sean was so drunk, his aim was pretty poor and the bottle smashed into the night table and shattered right above JJ's protected head. Pieces of glass scattered into his hair and some got lodged into his arms, but he didn't notice. JJ was too busy staring at Sean in fear and disbelief as his boyfriend picked up a lamp and held it as if to strike. JJ struggled to stand and managed a half kneeling half standing position as Sean hit him in the side of the head with the rather heavy object. With a yelp JJ fell back, glass jamming itself into his arms and back.
The room was quiet except for the heavy breathing of Sean and JJ's rasping breaths. Sean looked at his fallen, bleeding lover in disgust and started to leave the room.
"I'll be back in a few hours. Be sure to have this place cleaned up." Sean grumbled.
JJ didn't respond. He lay on the floor silently staring up at the ceiling. He hurt. He hurt a lot. He felt a warm wetness trailing down his face and neck. His first thought was that is must be blood, but he then realized it was tears. He was crying. Trying to move as little as possible JJ used his hand to blindly feel around the floor, looking for his cell phone, whish had been flung out of his pocket at some point. His hand finally came in contact with a cool object and he weakly held it before his face. He tried to lift his other arm to dial, but a sharp pain jolted through the joint. He used his one hand to clumsily press a few buttons. The phone automatically speed-dialed the chosen number.
"Hello?" A man's voice came from the other end. JJ smiled slightly. Just hearing the voice was comforting. "Hello? Anyone there?" It came again.
"Hey." JJ's voice was weak, drained, and obviously pained.
"JJ? Are you okay? What's wrong?" The voice was anxious.
"It hurts." JJ let out a sob.
"JJ? What hurts? What happened? Where are you?" The man asked, panicking.
"I'm sorry." JJ's voice was but a whisper now.
"Shh. It'll be okay. Where are you?" The voice soothed.
"At home. Please, it hurts, Drake." JJ whimpered.
On the other line Drake was in a state of panic. He would be hyperventilating by now if he didn't have to sooth a distressed JJ.
"I'm comin' over, okay? Just hang on." Drake received no answer. "JJ?" Still nothing. "JJ! Shit!"
Drake shut the cell phone and stuffed it in his pocket. He ran down the apartment stairs to his car and hopped in. As he sped through the busy streets, Drake dialed Dee's number.
"Hey, talk to me." Dee's voice was cheerful.
"Dee, I think JJ's hurt. He called me and sounded really bad. I think he passed out. I'm headed over to his house. You think you could call an ambulance and meet us there?"
"Shit, ya, man. I'll bring Ryo too." With that Dee hung up and Drake pressed the gas down even more.
"JJ, don't you dare leave me. Don't you dare." Drake said to himself.
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Drake reached JJ's apartment at record time. He dashed up the stairs to JJ's apartment. He knocked on the door. When he got no answer he tried the door and found it was unlocked. Drake rushed in and checked each room quickly. He finally came to the bedroom.
Drake was not expecting the sight before him when he opened the bedroom door. JJ was lying on the floor, seemingly unconscious. Broken glass and blood, his blood, was surrounding him. JJ's left wrist was twisted an odd way and he had bruises covering his pale body. Drake thought he was going to be sick looking at the broken form of his partner.
"Oh gods, JJ." Drake gasped. He kneeled next to the beaten man and was surprised when his eyes fluttered open.
"Drake. You came." JJ murmured.
"Of course." Drake said shakily. When JJ tried to move he winced and groaned. "Hey, don't try to move, okay? I called Dee and he said he'd call an ambulance. I'm sure they'll be here soon."
"I'm sorry." JJ spoke softly. Drake was shocked.
"What are you sorry for?"
"Dragging you out here. Making you worry." Drake stared at his partner incredulously. JJ was lying half dead on the floor and he was sorry for bothering Drake? Drake shook his head.
"No, no, shhh. Hey, it's no problem. You're worth it." Drake was on the verge of tears.
Just then, Ryo and Dee came barging into the apartment. They entered the room and froze immediately. JJ didn't really seem to notice them. His eyes began to slip shut once more.
"I'm sleepy, sempai. I'm gonna take a nap now." JJ mumbled almost inaudibly.
"No, JJ. Stay awake. You may have a concussion. Don't go to sleep. Stay with me. Look at me JJ." Drake said firmly. He took JJ's right hand into his. Drake hated seeing JJ like this. "Why didn't you leave him? Why didn't you ever tell me?" Drake asked dejectedly. Drake couldn't help the tears now.
Ryo emitted a strangled cry and stumbled back as if struck. Dee's eyes widened even further. He shook his head in denial. Even if they saw they scene before them they hadn't registered who had done that to JJ.
"'Cause he loved me." JJ said as he passed into blissful unconsciousness at last.
To Be Continued
Author's Note: Here's one of my longer chapters. What did y'all think? I had a hard time writing the ending, mainly because it was really sad. But don't worry, things will get for JJ...eventually.
