"Because I Love
Him"
by Olivia Sutton
"Snapshots"
Universe
Part 2 of 6
Because I Love Him
by Olivia Sutton
Part 2
A few hours later, the nurse returned, opening the door, and walking to the side of Jeff's bed to check on him, looking at Marty, she said, quietly, "Mr. Hopkirk, maybe you should go home, rest, get some sleep of your own, then return in the morning."
Marty shook his head, "No! I won't leave him. I won't leave Jeff. I told you, I won't get on the bed again, I didn't know it was dangerous for Jeff, I only wanted..." Marty left off.
"I know, sir, I know you won't, now that you understand how important it is for Mr. Randall's health, but, perhaps, you'll sleep better at home," suggested the nurse.
Jeff woke up, and looked at the nurse, then at Marty. He was calm, and tired, not terrified and agitated as he had been the last time when he had woken from a nightmare.
"Jeff, are you all right?" asked Nurse Abby.
Jeff looked at her with a quizzical expression. "What do you mean 'are you all right'? I remember exactly why I am HERE, nurse."
The nurse nodded, "Do you remember waking up earlier this evening?"
Jeff looked at her his expression confused as he thought about that question.
Marty looked at Jeff, his blue eyes filled with concern and confusion, "Jeff, you had a violent nightmare earlier. Don't you remember that?"
Jeff shook his head, then his eyes began to widen in fear.
"Jeff, it's all right. It is perfectly normal that you don't remember. You were in a bit of an altered state, but it was temporary, and it's over. It's normal Jeff. And you are fine now."
Jeff looked at her, raising his eyebrow at her statement that he was fine, but then looked at Marty, "Was it bad, Marty?"
Marty looked off in the distance, then looked back at Jeff, "I was scared, Jeff. Very scared. But you're okay now, so stop worrying about it," he took his hand, and stroked Jeff's hair.
Jeff melted under Marty's touch, and settled back under the covers.
The nurse looked from one to the other, "Mr. Hopkirk - Mr. Randall here needs to rest."
Marty nodded, "I know, I'll be quiet, I only want to sit with him."
The nurse nodded, giving in. "I'd be happier if you went home and took some sleep yourself, Mr. Hopkirk. You really should leave, it's quite late, and... visiting hours are well over. Come on, now, go home."
Jeff nodded at what the nurse said, then looked at Marty. "You don't look comfortable in that chair, Marty. She's right, you know. I'll be fine, here."
Marty sighed, and smiled at Jeff, "If you are sure. You'll be all right, by yourself, Jeff?"
"I'll be fine, Marty," Jeff said, as he lay back down under the covers.
"Jeff, I suppose I should leave. And you should be sleeping, Jeff. Are you sure you'll be all right?"
Jeff nodded at Marty, and at the nurse, "I'm sure, Marty."
Marty, bent near Jeff, and softly touched Jeff's head, petting his hair, "Okay, then, Jeff. I'll be back tomorrow, to sit with you, but right now try to sleep."
Jeff nodded, smiling up at Marty, from the bed.
The nurse looked at the two of them, and smiled, "I'll just step outside for the moment, so you two can say goodnight in private." She turned on her heel and walked out of Jeff's room.
Marty smiled at Jeff, then said quietly, "The nurses and doctors will look after you, Jeff," Marty looked at Jeff, his eyes asking for permission, then he bent and kissed Jeff's forehead.
Jeff tilted his head back, and Marty took the hint, lightly kissing Jeff's lips, then deepening the kiss. Jeff responded, putting his arms around Marty. Marty answered by putting his own arm around Jeff, and kissing him.
Reluctantly, Marty pulled away, then said, "You need your sleep, Jeff. The hospital staff will look after you, and I'll be here tomorrow, I promise. Goodnight, Jeff."
Jeff smiled, settling in the bed, "Goodnight, Marty."
Marty pulled the blanket up, gently covering Jeff's shoulders, then he backed up, exiting the room. Marty went to a group of chairs outside Jeff's hospital room, and sat. Then he put his head in his hands.
The nurse sat next to him, "Could I call someone for you, sir?"
Marty shook his head, tiredly.
"I don't think you should be alone, sir," the nurse said, looking at him, "Are you sure? A relative, a friend? Someone to drive you home and stay with you?"
Marty shook his head again, dismissively.
The nurse rose from where she was sitting, shaking her head, unsure if she should simply leave, or if she should do something.
Then a ginger-haired doctor entered the hall near Jeff's room, she walked down the hall, then noticed Marty, and walked towards him. She reached Marty and the nurse, and said, "Marty?"
Marty looked up, "Gina?"
The nurse looked at Gina, "Dr. Smith? Do you know..." she gestured at Marty.
Gina nodded, "He's a friend. His partner and my husband went to uni together," Gina bent down to Marty, "Marty, What's wrong? What's happened?"
Marty looked up at her, and started to speak, then shook his head.
Gina looked at the nurse.
The nurse sighed then said, "His partner is Jeff Randall, isn't he? He's a patient," she gestured towards the closed door to Jeff's room.
Gina nodded, looked at the nurse, and said, "I know you can't give me details, but tell me, nurse, whatever's happened, is Jeff still alive? He's not... he's alive?"
The nurse nodded, "Yes. He is. But I shouldn't..."
Gina nodded, once, then gestured dismissively at the nurse, "I'll handle Marty, nurse."
"Mr. Hopkirk-- you may call the hospital any time you like, day or night, there is always someone here, and we will tell you Mr. Randall's condition, all right?"
Marty quietly nodded his understanding.
The nurse nodded, again, and walked away.
Gina sat next to Marty, and touched his arm, "Marty? Marty, what's happened?" she asked softly.
Marty gathered himself together, "Gina, Jeff was..." he shook his head, again, "Oh god, oh god," Marty shook, reaction catching up with him, then he swallowed, looked at her, and said, "He was raped, Gina. And, and, it was vicious. Nasty, violent and vicious. Those bastards attacked him..." Marty stood, angrily pacing in front of her, "The doctors told me that there were three of them. They attacked Jeff, beat him, raped him more than once. His doctor told me, they did it at least three times, maybe more, and then they left him for dead."
Gina paled, "Oh, god, Marty, I am so sorry."
Marty nodded, "He's... he's not reacting well, Gina. Well, he wouldn't, but he's... Gina..." Marty left off, tears coming to his eyes, "God, I could still lose him. I mean, they've told me that physically, he'll be all right, but he's..."
Gina nodded again, went to Marty, and hugged him tight, whilst he cried. When Marty pulled out of the embrace, Gina stepped back, letting him go, "Marty, let me phone Bill. You can stay with us. As long as you need to, Marty."
Marty shook his head, saw Gina's no-nonsense expression, then nodded, "Yah, I..." He pulled himself together, moving further away, and said, "I don't want to be alone. Not right now. Thanks, Gina."
Gina nodded, "Of course, Marty. Of course." She lightly touched his arm, and led him back to the chairs near Jeff's hospital room door, "I can't use a mobile in the hospital, so I'm going to the nurse's station to call Bill," she pointed, "I'll be right back and... Marty, I'm on duty. But I'll try to sit with you until Bill can get here, all right?" She touched his shoulder as he sat.
Marty nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine, Gina." He looked at her, then said, "If you need to work, go ahead. I'll be fine. But thanks for letting me stay at your place, Gina. I really do appreciate it."
Gina nodded, and left.
Bill arrived at the hospital, found Marty, who was still sitting next to Gina. Gina explained in more detail what had happened to Jeff, and then Bill drove Marty to his house to get an overnight bag, clothes and toiletries before taking him to his own house near the hospital. He settled Marty into the spare bedroom, then returned to bed himself.
"No! No, don't, don't hurt him!" Marty woke with a start, flipped on a light and looked around the strange room in confusion. Then he remembered where he was, and relaxed against the pillows. He was alone, of course, Jeff was in hospital and he was staying with their friends, Bill and Gina. Marty rubbed his hands over his face and slid his legs over to the side of the bed, then reached for his dressing gown, and walked down to the kitchen.
He entered the kitchen, flipped on a light, then walked to the fridge and opened the door. Marty stared into the fridge, but he wasn't seeing the contents, rather he remembered Jeff's battered face at the hospital earlier that night.
"I don't think anything new will appear, no matter how hard you stare, Marty."
Marty jumped, then spun around, "Oh, sorry, Bill, I was just..."
Bill nodded and moved towards Marty, lightly placing a hand on his arm and guiding him to a chair at the kitchen table. He shut the fridge door, "I'll get you something to drink, Marty."
"Don't go to any trouble, Bill," Marty answered.
Bill shook his head, "If it were Gina, I'd be upset too, Marty. Please, let me get you a drink. Whiskey, gin or vodka?"
Marty looked up at Bill, and nodded in agreement, then muttered, "Gin."
As Bill passed him to leave the kitchen, Marty answered, "Thanks."
Bill nodded.
A few moments later, Bill returned with two glasses, he slid the glass with the clear liquid to Marty, then took a sip of his own whiskey. And waited.
Marty took a sip of the gin, then another, then looking down at his glass he said, "Do you know how long I've known Jeff, Bill?"
"Well, you two were already together when Jeff introduced me to you whilst we were at uni. I still remember that evening."
Marty nodded, smiling a tiny smile as he remembered as well, then he sighed and stretched, "I've known him since we were eleven. We met at school."
Bill raised an eyebrow.
"We were mates, Bill," Marty said tightly, "We'd both already lost our fathers, and we became mates."
Bill nodded.
Marty got up, the drink in his hand and turned away, then he turned back and said, "We've been intimate since we were sixteen. I'm the only person that Jeff has ever been with. And he's the only one that... that I've ever wanted to be with. My other experiences..." Marty left off, then sat again, and looked at the glass in his hand, "I love him, is that so wrong?"
Bill shook his head, "No, it isn't. The way you two look at each other... it's obvious you deeply love each other, Marty. Even a fool could see it."
"They beat him, Bill. They beat him because we love each other. I don't understand how anyone could do that," Marty's voice broke and tears came to his eyes, then he said, "And he's so...vulnerable, Bill," he added quietly, closing his eyes. Then Marty hit the table with his fist, the glasses jumped, sloshing liquid onto the table, then his voice rose, "I wish it had been me. I've been through it before, I could handle it. Jeff... he's already said he isn't sure... he doesn't know... oh," Marty left off, still sat in the chair, and began crying.
Bill went to Marty then, walking around the table to place a steadying hand on Marty's shoulder, whilst standing next to him, "He'll be all right, Marty. He will. He needs your strength right now," He tapped Marty's shoulder, reassuringly, then pulled his hand away.
Marty nodded, then wiped his eyes, "Sorry about the mess on the table."
Bill shook his head, no, then walked to the oven, took a cloth that hung on the door, and returned to wipe down the table, "It's just a little spill, Marty, it's all right."
Marty nodded, then reached for his gin and downed it in a quick gulp.
"You want another, Marty?"
Marty nodded, "I shouldn't. Jeff hates it when I drink too much, but... yah, I need one, Bill."
Bill nodded, taking the glasses and left the kitchen. He returned a few minutes later with a tray, the two glasses and two decanters.
Marty looked at the drinks service and smiled, then said, "You don't need to get so fancy."
Bill poured the gin into Marty's glass and answered, "Well, Gina always says, we have all this stuff from our wedding, may as well use it."
Marty looked off into the distance.
"Gods, sorry Marty. I didn't mean...since... I know you and Jeff can't have a wedding, I..."
Marty shook his head, "No, it's all right, Bill." Then he touched his ring, "We've had our commitment ceremony, it's all right."
They sat in silence for a moment, then Bill said quietly, "Marty, what did you mean?"
Marty gave Bill a blank look, "What do you mean, 'what do I mean?' "
Bill took a deep breath and answered, "You said, you'd been through it before?"
Marty sat straight up, suddenly, then relaxed and said too casually, "Sorry, you don't know about that, do you?"
Looking concerned, Bill answered, "Know about what, Marty?"
Marty took a deep breath, "That I was raped when I was fourteen. Bill, it's all right, it was a long time ago," he said, adding the last part quickly.
Bill looked at Marty, shocked, "No, I... I didn't know. What happened?" He paled, then said, "If you'd rather not talk about it?"
Marty closed his eyes, "Me mum's boyfriend... he abused me, Bill. Molested me, sexually. It went on for months. One day, he... he did it." Marty got up, turning away from Bill, and looked off in the distance, "I... Bill, I was gonna kill myself after it happened. I didn't, because of Jeff. He just appeared, out of nowhere. He found me with me dad's old police revolver in my hand and stopped me. It was yet another thing, that... that cemented our relationship, Bill. I've owed him my life since that night."
Bill nodded, "I am so sorry, Marty."
"It was a long time ago. But I still have scars. And now, now Jeff's going through..." Marty turned, tears running down his face again, "I don't know what to do!"
"Just be there for him, Marty. It's all you can do." Bill paused, then said, quietly, "If something like that had happened to Gina, that is all I'd be able to do, just be there for her."
Marty sat down at the table, then looked up, with a slightly shocked expression on his face, wondering exactly what Bill's comment meant.
Bill noticed Marty's shocked expression and said, "I was only speaking hypothetically, Marty."
Marty nodded, understandingly, then finished his glass of gin.
Bill leaned forward, then poured more gin into Marty's empty glass. "Do you want to phone the hospital? Check on Jeff? It might make you feel a bit better, wouldn't it?"
Marty looked at Bill, nodded, then said, "Yah, I would. I mean, I know he's safe in hospital, but..." He left off again.
"There's a phone in my study," Bill stood up and showed Marty to the phone, Marty followed him, and made his call, whilst Bill waited outside the study giving Marty his privacy.
"How is he?" Bill asked, once Marty, returned from his call.
"Sleeping peacefully, they said," Marty answered.
"Are you all right?" Bill asked.
Marty nodded, "Yah. Well, I'm better than I was." He moved forward and grasped Bill's hands, lightly, "Thank you for being here. For being so supportive, Bill." Marty let go.
"Well, of course, Marty. Honestly, it's not a problem. What happened to Jeff angers me too. And I'm concerned for both of you."
Marty nodded, "Well, I appreciate it, anyway. Not everyone is supportive, which is how it happened in the first place, I suppose. But you and Gina, Jeff's mum, everyone at the hospital... it just..." tears welled in Marty's eyes.
"Marty, do you want another drink? I mean, it doesn't really help, but... you seem wound-up."
Marty nodded, and they returned to the kitchen, and sat down.
Bill poured a measure of gin into Marty's glass and whiskey into his own.
Marty sat quietly, sipping his gin.
Bill picked up his own whiskey, and took a swallow, thinking quietly.
They sat, together, in the kitchen, each alone with his own thoughts, slowly getting a bit plastered, but in the companionable silence of good friends.
A few weeks later
Jeff sat in an wing-backed armchair, curled up, his knees drawn up to his chest, staring out the window, in the home he shared with Marty. It was a dark grey day, and raining. Jeff continued to stare out the window, his chin on his knees.
Marty walked into the room and went to Jeff, pausing next to him for a second, then lightly brushing his shoulder.
Jeff jumped, then turned and looked at Marty. "Oh, hi there, Marty."
Marty nodded, standing behind Jeff, then gently lay his hands on Jeff's shoulders, when there was no protest from Jeff, he left his hands there, Jeff, are you all right?
Jeff nodded, "I suppose so," he answered, flatly.
Marty let go, and moved around, leaning on the window sill, and facing Jeff, "Jeff, talk to me."
Jeff put his knees down, and relaxed a bit, "I'm fine, Marty."
"Jeff - you don't look fine. Please talk to me."
"No, it's just... I keep remembering what happened, that's all. I keep remembering being grabbed, and hauled into those bushes," Jeff pointed towards a couple of bushes near the driveway, "Then I remember what... what happened to me, Marty."
Marty nodded, and very cautiously he leant forward and gently touched Jeff's shoulder, watching Jeff's face for any negative reaction, Marty lightly continued to touch Jeff's shoulder, "Jeff, that is only natural. You know that. I... I do understand."
Jeff nodded, "You still have nightmares, don't you?"
Marty sighed, "Yah, I do, but..." He knelt then put both hands on Jeff's shoulders, "I've learnt to cope, Jeff. And having you here, with me, has always been an important part of that."
Jeff slid off the chair and into Marty's arms. Marty hugged him and Jeff returned the hug, "It feels like... Marty, it feels like I'll never, ever be the same again. And I'm... I'm so unhappy, Marty."
Marty rubbed his partner's back, holding him tight, "Jeff, ... I'm not going to say you will be the same, because you probably won't. BUT you can survive, Jeff. They didn't kill you, and you will survive this. Please. I need you to... to be all right. You need to start..."
"Start what, Marty?" Jeff pulled out of the hug, looking at him, though they both were still touching each other. "Start what?"
"To start living again, Jeff. Get out of the house, maybe even come back to work with me. Jeff, it's been a fortnight, since you left hospital. I know what happened was horrible, and I understand how scared you are, I really do, but I hate seeing you sitting in the house, day after day, afraid to walk out our front door."
"I have every reason to be afraid, Marty."
"I know, I know... but this isn't helping. It's only... it will make you MORE depressed, Jeff. Why don't we..." Marty paused, searching for an idea, "Go see your mum? That shouldn't be too stressful."
"Stressful?"
Marty groaned, "I'm sorry. That didn't come out right. It's just... I know being in a crowd, such as at a cinema, can be difficult. But your mum... I love your mum, Jeff, she raised me, and... it will be good for both of us to see her, again."
Jeff nodded, then moved towards Marty. Marty held him close.
Jeff answered, "Yah, I could do with seeing me mum, Marty. I could."
"Okay, Jeff, okay. I'll phone her, hum?" Marty held Jeff close, rubbing his back, and lightly touching Jeff's hair, as Jeff melted into his arms. "Jeff, it does get better, it does, with time." Marty lightly kissed Jeff's head, and held him tight.
The door opened at the small semi-detached house in the northern English town where Jeff and Marty grew-up, Marty smiled as he saw Anna Randall in the doorway, "Hello, mum," he said, as he reached towards her and kissed her cheek.
Anna smiled, giving Marty a quick hug, "Hello, Marty," she poked her head out, looking out from the porch, "Where's Jeff?"
"He's getting the bags, I offered, but... you know Jeff. We might want to stay a few days, Mrs. Randall-mum."
"That's fine, I expected that you'd be stopping. Well, come in." Anna stepped back.
"I'm going to see what's keeping Jeff," Marty said, instead, turning and walking towards his car.
Anna walked out to the edge of the porch and poked her head through the door, watching Marty. Jeff stood at the boot to Marty's car, and Marty was talking to him, then he took the bags from Jeff, and slammed shut the car boot. Marty lightly pushed Jeff who then walked up the gravel path, through the garden to the front door. Seeing Anna, Jeff put his arms around her, then lightly kissed her cheek, "Hullo, mum," he said.
Anna smiled, and hugged Jeff, then looked at him, startled, as he shrank away from her touch. Anna let go, "Well, come in then."
Jeff nodded and walked into his childhood home. Marty had reached the doorway into the house. Anna nodded towards Jeff, who was now in the house, then looked at Marty, questioningly. Marty shook his head. Anna ushered him in, then shut the door.
Anna took a sip of her white wine, then asked, "So, how is the business going?"
Jeff looked up and answered, "Quite well, actually."
Anna nodded, then looked at Marty, "It's not dangerous, at'all, is it?"
Jeff looked up, then poked at his food, before taking a small bite.
Marty shook his head, "No, but it gets boring sometimes. But we're pulling in enough business now," he glanced at Jeff, then added, "Well, to stay in business, Mrs. Randall-Mum. But most of the work is still keeping tabs on errant husbands, or wives."
Anna nodded.
Jeff looked down, avoiding his mother's eyes, pushing around the minced beef and potatoes of his mother's homemade Shepard's Pie on his dinner plate.
Anna looked at Jeff, "Jeff, what's wrong? It's your favourite."
Jeff looked at his plate, then at his mum, and quickly took a bite, then said, "Nothing's wrong, I'm just not that hungry. It was a long drive."
Anna looked at Jeff, puzzled, then at Marty, "Marty, has something happened? Is something wrong?"
Marty looked at Anna, then at Jeff, and then down at his plate, and took another bite of his food.
Anna looked at him, "Marty, you're not a teenager anymore. Jeff? Will one of you talk to me?"
Jeff looked at his mum, then at Marty, then pushed his chair back, "May I be excused, please?"
Anna looked at Jeff, in shock, "I suppose so. Jeff, your room is ready, I put fresh sheets on the bed. But I wish you would talk to me. One of you. Please."
Jeff got up, went to Marty, and put his hand on Marty's shoulder.
Marty, I... I can't tell her. I can't bear it.
But, Jeff, I think we do need to let her know about what happened to you.
I know, Marty, I know. But I... can't. Will you tell her, please?
Yah, of course... Marty searched his partners eyes, probing his feelings.
Jeff answered with his own feelings of trust, then, I don't want to be here when you tell her. I can't face seeing her eyes. But she needs to know. I'll make my excuses, and wait upstairs, all right?
Yah, all right, Jeff. Marty turned, took Jeff in his arms, and lightly kissed him, then said, aloud, "It's all right, Jeff, I know you don't feel well. Go ahead and lie down."
Jeff nodded, looked at his mum, and said, "He's right, I really don't feel well. And I need to lie down, at least for an hour or so. I'm sorry to ruin dinner, mum."
Anna looked at Jeff with concern, then nodded, "That's all right, Jeff. Don't worry about dinner. Go upstairs and rest."
Jeff left. Marty stood, taking his plate, and walking into the kitchen.
Anna followed him, catching him at the sink, she put a hand on Marty's arm, "All right, what is Jeff on about? What's wrong? Something has happened, hasn't it?"
Marty nodded, his expression grim, then tears came into his eyes.
"He asked you to tell me, didn't he?" said Anna, "When he touched you, the two of you were thinking to each other, and Jeff asked you to tell me."
Marty nodded again, "Yeah, he did. He couldn't... Jeff couldn't tell you himself, but he knows you need to know. So he wanted me to be the one to tell you."
Anna paled, then touched Marty's arm, "Is he... is Jeff ill?" She looked at Marty, "Oh, god, he's dying, isn't he?"
Marty shook his head, "No. That's not..." Marty paused.
Anna looked towards the empty dining room, then at Marty, "Is it you? Are you ill, Marty, and Jeff can't bear to tell me?"
Marty shook his head, silently.
"Oh, no... Are you two breaking up?"
"NO! No, we aren't. If we were, that might be easier, than... But I love him, Mrs. Randall-mum, I love him, and he loves me."
"You're not dying, you're not breaking up. For god's sake, Marty, What is it?"
Marty closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then another, then opened his eyes, looked at Anna, and said, "There's no easy way to say it, Mrs. Randall-mum, so I'll just say it, okay? Jeff was raped."
"What? Oh, god, oh my god," Anna stumbled.
Marty grabbed her, holding her upright, then helped her over to a chair. Anna sat, tears rolling down her face, "What happened? God... I don't understand."
Marty knelt next to her, one hand on her arm, the other around her back, then he said, quietly, "It was... violent and vicious. Three men attacked him, brutalised him, raped him more than once, and beat him nearly to death."
"Oh god, oh my god," Anna cried. "Not my baby!"
Marty nodded, "Yah, he..." Tears came to his eyes, as he knelt next to Anna, in the kitchen, and everything came pouring out of him. With tears rolling down his own face, he told her everything, describing how Jeff had been attacked three weeks prior, and his own fears and feelings when he'd received the call and then had gone to see Jeff at the hospital. Marty placed a hand on Anna's arm, "The police are still investigating. Jeff's identified one of his attackers by name. Hopefully, the men that did this will be caught, mum."
Anna looked up at Marty, "It was because of the business, wasn't it? Some angry husband getting back at you two?"
Marty shook his head, tears in his eyes. "No, it had nothing to do with the business, nothing to do with Jeff and I being detectives, mum."
Anna paled, "Oh god, oh my god, it was because of your relationship, wasn't it?"
Marty nodded, crying, "Yeah. Because Jeff and I love each other. And because we bought a house in a nice area, where the locals didn't want 'a couple of queers' on their street. The police ARE calling it a hate crime. If they catch the bastards, there's a stiff penalty. But god, why'd they have to hurt Jeff? I would have rather it was me. I wish I'd been there to protect him."
Anna looked at Marty, "It wasn't your fault."
"They waited until he was alone..."
Anna turned in her chair, took Marty in her arms, and whispered in his ear as she pet his hair, "It wasn't your fault. Jeff knows that. He couldn't blame you."
"Of course he doesn't. But he's... Mum, he's very depressed. It's why I brought him up here. I thought a change of scenery would help. And..." Marty stopped, "No, I can't..."
Anna touched Marty's face, "What else?"
Marty took a deep breath, "I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
Anna smiled through her tears, "You could never make me, uncomfortable, Marty. I know you love each other, and Marty... I remember how I found out you were in love with each other. It's okay."
Marty nodded, "We can't... Jeff can't..." Marty paused, "I love him. And I know it's temporary, because he was hurt so badly. I understand, I truly do. If anyone could - it's me. But we're not... intimate, now. Because of what happened to him."
Anna nodded. "And you want to be?"
"HE wants to be. He wants to, and he can't. It's tearing him apart, and I'm afraid... Mrs. Randall-Mum, I am so afraid of what he'll do."
Anna paled again, "You don't think? Marty, he's not suicidal, is he? Not my son."
Marty shook his head, "I don't think he'd take it that far. Not without speaking to me. And I'd stop him if he was. But he is so depressed."
Anna nodded, then took Marty into her arms, holding him tight, petting his hair. Marty melted in her arms, enjoying the comfort she offered. After a minute she let go, "He'll be all right, Marty. He will. But I'm glad you brought him home."
Marty broke out of her arms, and stood, "I didn't know what else to do."
Anna stood as well, wiping away her tears with her hand, "You did the right thing, Marty."
A loud shout came from upstairs, Marty looked at Anna, then ran up the stairs to the bedroom he and Jeff had shared as boys. The bedroom door was shut. Marty opened it, rushing into the room.
Jeff sat up in the centre of a four poster full bed. Marty looked around the room in surprise. The old twin beds were gone, replaced by a new four-poster, but everything else was the same, Jeff sat up in bed, his face white, desperately trying to control his breathing as he wheezed uncontrollably.
Marty went to him, "Jeff?" At that moment, Anna reached the open door, and watched as Marty went to Jeff.
Marty very lightly touched Jeff's arm, "Jeff? It's me. I'm here."
Jeff shook, controlling his breathing, then whimpered, "Marty?"
Marty sat on the bed, gently taking Jeff in his arms, and held him, stroking his back, "Jeff? What happened? Did you have a nightmare?"
Jeff moved closer to Marty, nodding his head, "Yah, I... they came after me, Marty, they came after me, grabbed me..."
Anna gasped in horror in the doorway, then felt along the wall and leant against it to support herself.
Marty nodded, rubbing Jeff's back. "It's okay, you're safe, Jeff, you're safe. No one can hurt you here, I promise."
Jeff moved back from Marty, and he let go, then Jeff looked into Marty's eyes, "I didn't know where I was. I woke up and I didn't know where I was, then I screamed."
Marty nodded, looking into Jeff's eyes, "You're at your mum's house, Jeff. It's okay."
Jeff nodded, "I know... I... I realised that after I screamed. I suppose I woke up, then." Jeff pulled Marty closer, holding him tight. "Oh, god, Marty. I was so scared, though. Terrified."
Marty held Jeff, rubbing his back, then kissed his temple, "It's okay. You're okay, Jeff."
Anna approached the bed then, moving to the side opposite Marty, she sat on the bed and looked at Jeff, "Jeff, I am so sorry, so, so sorry. God, Jeff, I... I can't imagine, what..." tears slipped from her eyes.
Jeff moved back, looking at his mum, then at Marty, "You told her, then?"
Marty nodded, "You asked me to, remember?"
Jeff nodded, then he reached out towards his mum, "Mum, I'll be all right. I will."
Marty smiled at that.
Anna held back her tears, trying to stop crying. Jeff scooted along the bed, briefly hugged his mum, then moved back. Anna looked at him, then got off the bed.
Marty remained on the bed, his hand lightly on Jeff's arm, "Jeff, it's not that late, only seven..."
"Thirty, nearly eight in the evening," Anna added.
Marty looked at her, gratefully, "Yah, so, why don't you get up? We can go downstairs for a few hours. It's too early for you to be sleeping, anyway." Marty moved off the bed, lightly pulling Jeff's arm.
Jeff nodded, "Yah, that sounds good."
"Would you like something to eat, Jeff?" Anna asked, then paled, "Sorry, but... you didn't eat dinner, and..."
Jeff started to move off the bed, Marty gave him a hand. "No it's okay, I am a bit peckish. Mum, I..."
Anna looked at Jeff, then cautiously said, "Yes, Jeff?"
Jeff shook his head, then commented, "Nothing... I'm glad to be home, though."
TO BE CONTINUED
