It's going to get finished, don't worry. There's only like a couple chapters to go, so it won't take long. I'll update as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and keep reviewing, it inspires me to write more! Mhawawa! Bribery! Enjoy Chapter 13!

Chapter 13 - Freedom

Travis

My head pounded and I heard someone talking beside me, but my mind was still asleep. I was concealed in darkness and waking up slowly really was like swimming through treacle. I struggled to the surface of consciousness and only when the voice became completely audible and the slight pressure round my hand felt real again, did I blink open my eyes slowly. I awoke to a world of white and a smell of disinfectant. My eyes pried open further and I let out a groan. The pressure around my hand was removed and the voice grew louder and suddenly there was a shadow clouding my source of light. I let out another groan and closed my eyes once again, exhausted at the thought of waking up even more.

"You're not getting off that easy." Beck? Was that Beck's voice? I felt a cool hand on my cheek and mumbled a 'get off', but my throat was so dry it came out a squeak. Someone then pulled down my lip and a straw was gently pushed in my mouth. I sucked on it and was blessed with cold, refreshing water. I drank quickly and felt it flow down, soothing my painfully dry throat. Then, just as suddenly as it came it was taken away and I let out a whimper of complaint.

"You'll end up coughing if you take anymore. Small sips."

I rolled my head back along the pillow and opened my eyes open a little more.

"Beck?" I whispered.

"One and only."

I looked around the room and after a moment or so, I frowned in confusion. Just where the hell was I?

Beck

Travis protested weakly when I withdrew the straw, but I couldn't let him cough, the pain from his ribs would be agony. I looked down at my own body. One hand was bandaged from broken fingers. My leg was broken too, but thankfully my ribs were just seriously bruised and not broken as well. That would have been a lot of trouble. I had got a lot of grief from Mariana and the nurses for not lying down on the bed provided, but I was determined that Travis saw me first when he woke up. He looked so small and vulnerable. Bandages were draped around his forehead and little spikes of blonde hair stuck up over it. The white sheet rested across his lower abdomen and from there upwards, he was wrapped tightly in cotton and linen dressing.

"You'll end up coughing if you take anymore. Small sips." I stated and sat the glass back down. He looked over towards me and I saw the little spark appear back into his eyes. I smiled, he was back, and he was going to be ok.

"Beck?"

"One and only." I patted his arm. Then I watched him frown and I knew he couldn't remember where he was.

"The hospital." I explained. "You've broken your ribs and had concussion, but you're going to be fine, I promise."

After a minute the knowledge sank in. I've always known Travis was slow, but this was crossing the line.

"Travis?" I pushed, a little concerned at his lack of speech. I knew that memory of last night was creeping closer to the front of his brain.

He stared at me for a long time and then his breath quickened.

"Beck." He sobbed and the first of the tears rolled from his eyes. He was remembering the gunshot, the dead body of his father. There was nothing I could say to ease the pain, to make him feel better. I hobbled to the side of the bed and sat on the edge. Reaching down I wiped a tear from his face.

"You saved me Travis. You saved me."

He looked up at me with wide, hurting eyes and nodded. He knew he had to have killed Billy to save me, but the pain was still raw, still rubbing salt in his wounds.

He reached up and wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pushing up on his other elbow with a groan, he hugged me fiercely. His head lay just below my shoulder and I rested my chin on his head.

"Thank you Travis." I whispered.

Travis

I could hear Beck's heart thudding beside my ear and I closed my eyes concentrating on that sound. We sat forever it seemed like that in silence. I just needed the comfort and the reassurance that Beck was still living, still breathing. I knew deep down I did the right thing. Billy might have been my father, but Beck was my family. I smiled slightly and pushed closer into Beck. I remembered when I was younger and I was playing out in the back garden. I had wished so much for a big brother. Someone to teach me how to play basketball or just to wrestle and taunt. I imagined someone throwing an arm around my shoulders and holding me close when Billy would arrive home drunk and use me as a punching bag. I opened my eyes and stared up at Beck's exhausted face and suddenly a warmth spread around me. I had that wish now. Beck was like a brother to me. I let out a quiet giggle as I remembered teasing him about being scared of planes and about Mariana. I shut my eyes again and the valley of pain that had opened inside of me was lined with a new sense of hope. Maybe at last some of my wounds would scar over and I would at last get my last wish. My freedom. Free of the fear of my father. Free of that control.

Beck

After a while, I felt Travis head grow heavy on my shoulder and he became a dead weight in my arms. He had fallen asleep. I lowered him back down on to the pillows slowly and watched him for a second. My own eyes were shutting and sticking together. My limbs felt like iron, weighing me down. I was beyond exhausted. I hopped over to my own bed and lay down quietly, blinking up at the ceiling. I wriggled about to get comfy and cursed my hand for not letting me push myself up. I knew it would take time, there would be tears, tantrums and nightmares, but soon Travis would get over everything and start enjoying his youth once more, without the interference of his father. I smiled. Maybe the three of us could live in Brazil together and start a new life. I could have my own restaurant. Travis could work for me. I laughed softly, like he would ever listen to me. I thought of Mariana and realised I couldn't imagine life without her in it. As I slipped into a deep sleep, a smile spread up to my ears. I was going to start a new life. I would have a family at last. A little brother – however annoying he was I still loved him and a beautiful, loving wife – that is if Mariana agreed to marry me. Oh God, I had to get a ring….And, would she say yes!