It wasn't long after that the foursome pulled up to Hanson's house and Ioki shut off the engine. Climbing out of the car Fuller helped Penhall pull the still unconcious man from the back seat. "Shit where are his keys?" Fuller asked sighing lightly out of annoyance
"He's got an extra one above the door jam... I know, I've used it before."
"Listen, Doug... If you need anything, if he needs anything you can call anytime of the night and either myself or one of the others will come running... He's been through something I would imagine to be very traumatic on both his mind and his body."
"I know Captain..." Doug nodded adjusting Hanson's form in his arms and turning to head into the apartment building.
It took him several minutes to find the key and unlock the door before stepping inside and shutting it lightly behind himself. "What a mess you got yourself into buddy." He mumbled under his breath setting the sleeping form on to the couch and covering him with a blanket before pulling his shoes off. "I'm just sorry we couldn't find you sooner..."
Setting the key down on the coffee table in front of the couch Penhall ran a hand through his hair before heading to the fridge in search of a beer, that was the one thing he knew Hanson always kept in his home. "Good boy." He chuckled to himself grabbing one of the cans and popping its top. He took a long swig and headed back to sit on the recliner in the living room.
"Might as well watch some TV..." He reached for the remote as he kicked off his own sneakers in an attempt to get comfortable, flipping through the channels as he did so.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The sound of Hanson's scream only minutes later caused him to jump right out of the leather chair and to his feet as he set down the beer he was holding tight too, and the television remote looking over at his friend.
Tom's body shook vigerously the viens in his arms flexing and pulsating as though they were tied down to something sweat beading quickly on his forehead...
"Tommy, Tommy wake-up buddy..." He cooed leaning down next to him and shaking him lightly, "Tommy wake-up man it's alright... your gonna be okay..."
"I'M A COP!" at that last phrase Tom's eyes flew open and his head popped up lazily his heart pounding with fear in his chest as his adrenaline allowed him to jump away from the hand on his arm.
"It's ok..." Doug spoke softly his voice even as he looked at his best friend of nearly 3 years now... "It-It was just a dream Hanson."
"No doug... No.." His voice still thick with intoxication and fatigue, Hanson looked down at his quivering arms and more tears found their way to his eyes. "It wasn't."
Doug's face fell into a frown and his rubbed his friends shoulder lightly. "It's gonna be alright now..." He cleared his throat. "Since, well since your up maybe we should get you cleaned up now? Then you can rest some more?"
Tom nodded running a hand through his hair as he sat up the rest of the way, "Alright... yeah" Taking Doug's now outstreched hand he forced himself to his feet, but before he could stop himself his shaking knees gave way and he collapsed into Penhall's body.
"Woahhhh, alright easy..." The larger man whispered thanful for his quick reflexes as his hands wrapped around the form now against him and slowly the two began to make their way to the bathroom. "Do you wanna talk about it...?"
"Not yet."
Penhall nodded easing him down to sit on the toilet, "Maybe it would be better if you just took a bath, your feet arn't to much for the whole standing thing right now ya know?"
"Yeah..." Tom nodded his head before resting it back against the porcilin of the toilet and closing his eyes, his entire body still aching and heavy.
a short time later he felt his friends heavy hand on his shoulder and let his eyes flicker open..
"Get undressed and I'll go get you something to put on."
"Doug I think I can handle bathing.."
"Hanson,"
"Penhall"
"Your hardly mobile..."
"But-"
"Don't try to fight me on this."
"Okay, your right... the room is spinning quite a bit."
"I'm always right."
"Don't push it..."
"Yeah yeah." Penhall chuckled as he disappeared around the door jam and into the hallway.
Hanson's hands shook as he removed his clothing first his socks then his pants, sliding the jeans down and off he winced running his fingers over the dark purple and scabbed bruised markings on his ankles from where the restraints had been. He felt bile come into his throat and before he could fight it his body rolled off the toilet and his head lulled into it, he began vomiting listlessly his throat burning.
"Listen Tom I-" Doug's words were silenced when he reached the doorway rushing to the side of his still upchucking friend. "Geezus Tommy... I can't leave you along for a second tonight can I?" He stepped one foot over his friend so that he was in a straddling position and hoisted his body up a little so his head didn't lul so much. "Let it out... there you go" He whispered fighting back his own vomit.
Men stood there for a good five minutes before Hanson pulled his face up and whiped his mouth with a shaking palm. :"Okay... okay..."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Good because a few more seconds of that and I would have been pushing you out of the way... you sure your alright man?"
"mhmm..."
"Okay, then lets finish getting you undressed and into that tub."
"I don't think you... you wanna see this..." Tom whispered his dark brown eyes looking up at his friend from where he still sat on the floor.
"This is no time to compare and contrast Hanson!"
"not that..." He sighed and pulled his shirt over his head now left in only his boxers. "This..." He held out his hands.
And only there under the light could Doug really see, just how bad it was..."Fuck Tommy..." He found for once he was speechless his breath caught in his throat as he ran hins fingers over the black and blue arms of the man in front of him, his fingers skimming along multiple contusions and sores..."Do- do they hurt?"
"The pain ain't so bad...yet."
"What do you mean yet?"
"When what they were giving me wears off... you know..."
"Oh yeah."
Without another word Penhall helped him into the tub and sat on the sink top not remarking about any of the cuts or bruises he saw before him... not on the outside anyway. On the inside though, he was screaming and cursing like a mad man, someone was going to have to pay for this they were all going to have to pay for it every one of those fuckers.