Heartbreak Warfare :: Chapter Eleven

Hope paced mindlessly in the living room. Bo was still asleep upstairs. It was 10:00 AM, but she still wore her pajamas and slippers from the night before. When she heard footsteps on the front patio, she didn't wait for a knock. She opened the door with haste, and pulled the blonde woman inside.

"Hope?" Jennifer gasped, "My God, what happened?"

"Nothing…." Hope shook her head, "I need to tell you something. I need help. I don't know what to do."

Jennifer stared at the various bites and bruises marking Hope's neck, "I thought Bo was sick?"

"He is Jennifer…" Hope nodded, her voice serious, "He's very sick. I'm scared."

"Scared?" Jennifer questioned, "Like… Of him? Or for him?"

"I could never be scared of Bo…" Hope spat defensively, "He would never hurt me."

"Ok." Jennifer opened her hands, "Then… what's going on. You're being weird… and what happened to your neck? Is Bo okay?"

Hope's hand touched her neck remembering the heat from his kisses the previous day, "We had sex."

"That's what happened to your neck?" Jennifer almost laughed as an impressed grin took over her face, "He must not be that sick."

Hope shook her head as sadness filled her eyes, "No, Jen. He's not well. He's not well at all. It wasn't him. It was rough. He's in pain. He's not himself."

"Well we both know he went through a lot," Jennifer's smiled faded, "Maybe he just needs some more time to adjust."

"He was being injected with heroin." Hope confessed, "Ever since he came home, he's been having terrible withdrawals. I tried to get him to go the hospital. He won't do it. He doesn't want anyone to know, but I feel so overwhelmed and out of my element."

"Oh my goodness," Jennifer gasped, "Hope…. I…."

"I feel awful," Hope whispered, "I want to help… but he's so…"
She shrugged, at a loss for words. Her heart ached for him to be her husband again.

"What can I do to help?" Jennifer asked.

Hope shrugged and slumped back into the couch, "I don't know."

"Do you need me to pick up dinner?" Jennifer asked, "Or, I can make something."

Hope shook her head, "He hasn't eaten in four days. I'm really worried."

"Well… withdrawal symptoms usually subside in seven." Jennifer offered, "You're halfway there."

Hope nodded, appreciative of the encouragement, "I just want him to be okay. I love him. I've missed him so much. He doesn't deserve any of this."

"No." Jennifer shook her head in agreement, "No, he doesn't. But you're here and I'm sure that is what he needs. It's the best thing for him. He just needs to get everything out of his system."

"What if he's never the same again?" Hope whispered, fear evident in her voice, "Those bastards…. deserve to rot in hell."

Footsteps on the stairs startled both women and they turned in unison to see Bo walking slowly down them.

"You're awake!" Hope attempted to greet cheerily, "I would have come up."

"It's okay," Bo replied quietly, feeling awkward in front of Jennifer wearing only his boxers, "I felt like I needed to stretch my legs."

"Well, I can only imagine." Jennifer smiled, "I'm so sorry you're not feeling well. Hope was just telling me how you've had a such a terrible time with the flu. I heard it's going around. We've had plenty of cases at the hospital."

'Well, hopefully I won't be one of them," Bo replied, "I have the best medicine a man could ask for right here. He leaned down to kiss the crown of Hope's head. Tears pricked her eyes. There he was. That was her husband.

"In an attempt to not get the flu, I'm getting out of here." Jennifer smiled, "Let me know if I can do anything for either of you."

Hope hugged her cousin, thankful for her visit. Both Bo and Hope watched Jennifer exit their home in silence. When she was gone, Bo walked around to sit next to Hope on the couch. He looked her over before reaching for her hand. Her eyes were cloudy. He could see the storm coming.

"You don't look so good," Bo said softly, letting his thumb stroke her palm, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Hope burst into tears. Even she didn't know where they came from, but it hit her like a hurricane. Bo scooped her up like a child, pulling her into his lap and close to his chest. He let her sobs run their course. She laid her head on his shoulder, hiding her face. His embrace made her feel safe. The man she'd wanted for three years was here, in their home, holding her on their couch.

"Hey…." Bo kissed her forehead, and then tilted her head up by her chin to look into her teary eyes.

"I'm sorry." Hope sighed, "I don't know what's wrong."

Bo looked at her neck, letting his fingers trail over each love bite, "I'm sorry I was so rough with you yesterday. I didn't mean to frighten you."

He was being so tender. She stared into his eyes, sobering herself up, "You didn't."

"It's okay Fancy Face." Bo soothed, "I did. You don't have to lie to protect me. This has made me a monster. I don't even recognize myself anymore. But I love you, and the last thing I want is to push you away. I don't want to hurt you."

"I hate the people that did this to you." Hope sighed and started to pull away.

"Hey." Bo pulled her back to him. He kissed her cheeks where remnants of her tears still trailed. He kissed her forehead, then her nose, and then her lips. The kiss lingered. Hope caressed his face.

"Your color is a little better today." Hope noted, "How do you feel?"

Bo shrugged, "I made it down the stairs. It's getting easier to move around."

"You didn't have any trouble moving around yesterday afternoon." Hope raised her eyebrow.

Bo blushed a little, "I can't resist you… what can I say?"

Hope smiled, "Well, it would make me a very happy lady if you would try to eat to keep your strength up."

"So if I eat, I can spend the day in bed with you?" Bo asked wrapping a lock of her hair around his finger.

Hope playfully smacked his chest, "We'll see. You need rest."

Bo watched her leave for the kitchen. His heart fluttered lightly. He was feeling hopeful today. He had a small appetite and more importantly he had her. They'd lost so much time. They had so far to go, but they were here together. He smiled to himself despite the fact that his body still screamed with discomfort.