A/N: Dark themes ahead as usual...and i'm not a doctor nor a firefighter and also this chapter is a little shorter but life be like that sometimes... :P
"Vic, DO NOT let him in!" Travis bolted out the door, racing to his car.
"Um, I-" Vic started to say but Travis had already hung up, getting into his car and driving away as quickly as he could, breathing heavily with fear, frightened.
Don't let him get into her house, don't let him get in, don't let him hurt her….!
Travis was speeding and he knew it but this was an emergency and though he was going as fast as could while still abiding traffic, it felt like it was taking forever.
"Come on, come on….!" He whimpered to himself, shaking, eyes wide as he feared the worst for his best friend.
Finally, he made it to her place, leaping out of the car as soon as it was parked, running up to the door, not seeing any sign of Zack.
Don't let him be inside, please don't let him be inside….!
Travis banged on the door, his heart pounding in his chest. "Vic?! Vic!"
Quickly Vic opened the door. "Travis?"
"Is he here?" Travis rushed, looking at her fearfully, thankful to see she didn't appear hurt.
"No, he already left." Vic's eyes were wide, looking a little relieved to see him, Travis exhaling a deep breath of relief, quickly pulling her into a hug.
"Oh thank god….!" He squeezed her tightly, not letting her go, so thankful she was alright.
Vic hugged him back, sensing his concern. "Do you know who he was?" She asked when they pulled away, searching his face.
Travis frowned, scrambling to come up with an answer. "Uh, no….but I've heard of a guy named Zack who's done really awful things and I wanted to make sure it wasn't him…" He fibbed, swallowing.
"Oh. Well then how come he said he knows you? He said you two are like buddies or something…." Vic frowned softly at him, letting him inside, Travis frowning again.
"Oh. I dunno….maybe he's a stalker or something." Which he used to be….
"Hmm. Most likely. He was pretty weird." Vic nodded slowly. "Anyways, thanks for coming, I woulda called Ripley but he's at work and this guy kept insisting he knows you and I-"
"Wait," Travis interrupted. "You said he left? Did-Did he really just leave?"
"Um yeah," Vic shrugged. "Eventually he just left after I kept telling him I wasn't letting him in. Whyyy?" She furrowed her eyebrows at him a little in confusion, Travis just shaking his head.
"I just wanted to make sure, that's all. This guy, he-he's real trouble Vic, if you ever see him again, you should call the cops right away."
"I thought you didn't know him?"
"I don't, I-I've just heard about him, but be sure to call the cops, okay Vic? Call-Call Ryan, he'll take care of it." Travis nodded to her, Vic just frowning softly.
"But what will I say he's done? Loitering on my doorstep?"
"Yes." Travis huffed. "And from what I've heard, he-he picks fights, he's most likely a stalker, he breaks into homes-"
"Okay, okay, I get it, jus' where exactly did you hear all this?" Vic was frowning at him a little suspiciously, sensing he wasn't telling her the entire truth.
Travis just shrugged, doing his best to look honest. "Just from some guys at the bar."
"Right, but you've never seen this guy at this bar? You never met him?"
"No. No….Thank-thank god."
"Right…" Vic nodded slowly. "Well what about-"
"I'm sorry, Vic, but I think I should be heading home now actually, very quickly." Travis rushed, deep down thinking he had better get home to Zack and Jace right away in order to sort this out.
"Oh okay. What's the sudden hurry?"
"Oh, no rush, just anxious to get home." Travis smiled nervously, lying through his teeth. "I'm so glad you're safe, Vic. I hope it never happens again and if it does, you call Ryan okay?" He was already hurrying out the door, calling to her.
"Um, okay, sure!" Vic called, frowning at him, confused as Travis left within seconds, confused about his behavior, sensing something was wrong.
Travis immediately dialed on his phone as he got into his car and Jace finally picked up. "Hello?"
"What the hell, Jace?! You said you weren't going to tell Zack and now he went after my best friend?!" He hissed into the phone, furious as he drove off.
"Yeah, he may or may not have still found out…." Jace stated and Travis just about growled, feeling like he could kill him when he got back. "Rah you son of a-This is your fault! I should have never helped you! I should have left you behind to bleed to death! I hate you!"
Jace didn't answer and Travis just hung up, snarling, thinking about what would have happened if Vic actually had gotten hurt, knowing he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself.
He drove home angrily, practically stomping up to his door, marching inside.
He hadn't expected Zack to be there but he was, looking up with a grin, Jace coming in.
"You!" Travis snarled as soon as he saw Zack, his rage overwhelming him, pointing a finger. "How dare you?!"
"What? What did I do?" Zack grinned, pretending to be innocent.
"Don't play dumb with me!" Travis snapped, coming over. "You went to Vic's house you lousy son of a b****! How dare you! I'm going to murder you, I swear!"
"What it's not like I actually did anything…." Zack just chuckled. "'Sides mister I'm not the only one at fault here. You're the one who never came home after shift and you're the one who attacked my buddy. I was just abiding to your actions."
"Shut up! You're never going to go near her again! How did you even find out where she lives you freak? Have you been spying on her?" He demanded, hissing.
"Travis, reeelaaaxx," Zack grinned, getting to his feet. "I didn't do anything wrong."
Travis's lips curled up with a snarl and he punched him as hard as he could, knocking him to the floor.
Zack cried out but immediately growled. "How dare you!" He quickly got back to his feet, whipping around to punch Travis in the stomach, who was so angry he just hit back, Jace just watching a few feet away, wide-eyed.
Travis growled as he punched Zack in the face and managed to get a few good hits in, infuriated, but Zack was hitting him back and Travis quickly knew he was losing, struggling to catch his breath as Zack shoved him into the wall.
He got punched in the nose and he cried out, Zack hitting him in the stomach again, making him fall to the floor, crying out as he winced in pain, hurting.
Zack was brutal with him, swearing and shouting as he grabbed Travis off the floor to punch him, kicking him, shoving him into the wall, punching him over and over, blood soon running down his face, Travis crying.
"Stop! Stop!"
"Don't you ever hit me again, you understand me? I'm the one who hits you!" Zack shouted, shoving Travis into the wall harshly, who sobbed in pain, hardly able to move.
"Stop, please stop!" He cried as Zack grabbed him again, punching him.
Crying out, he saw Zack already raising his fist again. "N-No! No!"
Zack swung his fist to punch him when suddenly they heard the doorbell ring, everybody going frozen, looking over, Zack holding up Travis in mid-air by his shirt, who stared at the door wide-eyed.
He held his breath, just staring at the door, Jace and Zack turning to each other.
"Hide him!"
Travis quickly began to protest as Zack began yanking on him, trying to pull away and struggle. "No! N-No!"
Zack was quickly dragging him to the bedroom, growling out as he nearly shoved him right to the floor, Travis trying to call out, the person now knocking on the door.
"H-Help!" He tried to yell but could hardly get his voice above a whimper, Zack shoving him with a snarl, getting him to the bedroom where he pushed him to the floor, Travis crying out.
"You got him?" Jace watched with wide eyes, Zack huffing. "I've got him, get the damn door."
He grabbed Travis after closing the door, Travis weakly kicking and struggling but couldn't get away, crying. "N-No! H-Help, Help!"
Zack held him to his chest and got up against the wall, his hand going over Travis's mouth firmly, muffling his cries, growling into his ear. "You make a sound and I'm going to kill you, you understand me? You keep your mouth shut!"
Travis whimpered under his hand as tears ran down his face, shaking as he was so weak and scared he could barely struggle, desperate more than ever now, knowing someone who could save him was right outside his door, wanting them to save him.
Jace made it to the door, opening it, eyebrows raising. "Jack."
"Hey Jace," Jack nodded to him. "Is Travis home? He was at our place earlier and took off in a hurry, I just wanted to make sure he's alright…."
"Oh, yeah, Travis is here," Jace nodded, acting casual. "Everything's fine."
"Well can I come in, maybe talk to him?" Jack tried to look past him and Jace closed the door a little more.
"Uh, actually Travis is resting right now, he's not feeling too well…."
"Really?" Jack's eyebrows furrowed. "He was fine earlier…." He said slowly, frowning at him.
From the bedroom, Travis couldn't hear who it was but he could hear Jace talking, whimpering softly as Zack held him firmly, blood running down his face as he tried to call out again, his voice muffled under Zack's hand, who quickly shushed him, tightening his grip.
"Well I guess whatever bug he caught came back, unfortunately and now he's resting but I'm sure he'll be fine tomorrow." Jace nodded with a fake smile to Jack who was beginning to get a little suspicious.
"Right. Ya know I tried to look through the windows but all the curtains are shut, why is that?"
"Well….because when Travis and I are making out on the couch we don't like anybody secretly watching us through the window, like you were trying to do just now." Jace just shrugged, Jack continuing to frown.
"Yeah but you just said Travis was resting therefore you two wouldn't have been on the couch."
Jace blinked at him, frowning as he pursed his lips. "Well besides that, it's getting late, there's no sunshine anymore."
"So you two have every damn curtain in your house shut? Even the upstairs ones?" Jack huffed to him with a smug expression, Jace clearing his throat.
"Look, Travis isn't feeling well alright? Maybe you should come back another time."
Travis whimpered again from the bedroom, his heart pounding, knowing he had to do something, he couldn't just sit there like a frightened coward and not do something to try and get away or be saved.
He closed his eyes tightly as he tried to yell the loudest he could, though it was still muffled by Zack's hand, who snarled as he quickly hissed at him.
"Mmmph!"
"Shhh, shut up, shut up!"
Unfortunately Jack couldn't hear Travis from outside but he could sense something a little fishy was going on, looking Jace over with furrowed eyebrows, his hands on his hips.
"You know I talked to Vic, she said Travis was at her place not too long ago and he was acting weird and now you're acting weird so you wanna try and explain that to me, how you're both acting weird under the course of one hour?"
Jace swallowed a little, keeping his cool. "I'm telling you, Travis is fine, he's just resting in bed right now, I assure you."
Jack eyed him closely for a moment but finally gave in, nodding slowly. "Alright. Lemme know if anything else happens, I wanna make sure he's alright."
"Of course, thanks." Jace nodded to him as Jack turned to leave, closing the door and waiting until he had left, exhaling, looking over at Travis's bedroom expectantly.
Zack came out holding Travis, hand still over his mouth, both looking at Jace with wide eyes. "Are they gone?"
Jace just nodded, watching Travis who sniffled and cried, looking devastated, knowing that could have been his one chance to escape.
"What now?" Zack asked and Jace only continued to stare at Travis, a sort of angry look on his face.
"Punish him."
Travis lay on the floor as Jace and Zack had left him there, lying motionless as he couldn't move, in too much pain to do anything but cry, his face bleeding badly, at this point barely conscious.
He trembled and shook everywhere, crying as he just laid there, Zack and Jace having beaten him horribly again when he didn't even do anything wrong.
Zack and Jace weren't in the same room as him but he could hear them.
"So who the hell was at the door?"
"His stupid friend Jack….god he was annoying." Jace huffed with a sneer.
Travis's eyes widened and he frowned deeper with a whimper, knowing Jack could've helped him, could've saved him, Jack would've done something.
He could just picture him at the door where he would spot Zack and Jace and rush in to beat them up and get Travis out of there, Travis knowing how thankful he would be to him if he did so.
Whimpering, Travis suddenly wanted his friend more than ever, eyes wandering up to the kitchen counter where his phone lay, starting to get up, wincing painfully, his sides hurting badly.
He slowly made it to his feet, shaking as he grabbed onto the counter to pull himself up, wincing as he reached for his phone, wanting to call Jack to get him back over here to help him.
He whimpered as his head spun with dizziness and his fingers trembled as he tried to unlock his phone, breathing heavily as he sniffled, feeling like he could pass out.
"Come on, come on…." Travis whimpered softly as he scrolled for Jack's contact, wide-eyed.
"Hey!" Jace suddenly shouted and Travis looked up fearfully with a gasp, scrambling to push the call button as Jace hurriedly ran over, snatching at the phone in his hands.
"Let go!" He snarled, Travis holding onto his phone with a whimper, trying not to let Jace take it from him, crying again.
"N-No! No!"
Jace snarled and punched him hard, Travis falling to the floor with a loud cry as he let go of the phone, Jace quickly making sure he hadn't actually dialed, growling.
Travis held his face painfully with a sob, whimpering as he didn't try to get up, crying up at them as Zack also came over.
"Jack, Jack, I-I want Jack…." Travis whimpered. "Please, I want Jack…."
Jace just growled as he turned off Travis's phone and put it into his pocket, glaring down at him. "Jack doesn't care about you….!"
Travis shook his head no, wide-eyed. "N-No, he-he cares…"
"No he doesn't." Jace just huffed. "If he did then why didn't he help you?"
Travis stammered, struggling to think. "C-Cause-Cause he…..he…he-he cares, I know he does!" He whimpered, frowning deeply.
Jace just glared down at him, shaking his head.
"Let's tie him up….get his damn mind off that stupid Jack…."
He sneered and Zack didn't hesitate to reach down and pick Travis off the floor. "Come on, come on…." He huffed softly as he pulled Travis to his feet, who whimpered and cried, attempting to pull away but was too weak to, giving up when he knew it was pointless.
He was taken to the couch where he was quickly tied up and gagged, sniffling and hanging his head as he continued to cry, stuck between them as they sat to watch TV, ignoring him.
At least that Travis could be glad about, that they weren't touching him, knowing if they did he wouldn't be able to take much more, already suffering enough as it is.
The two of them soon ate after Jace went to heat up some leftovers and neither one of them offered any to Travis, eating right in front of him, but Travis didn't think he would've been able to eat anything either way.
He laid his head back on the couch and just sat there as everything hurt, especially his face and his sides, none of them having bothered to clean the cuts on his face, blood still practically everywhere.
Exhausted, he must've eventually fallen asleep because the next time he woke up he was in his bedroom and it had to be morning, figuring one of them must have brought him to his room, frowning as he slowly awoke.
He remembered last night and what had happened with Jack, quickly sniffling as he still wished he could've called him, wanting his friend's help desperately.
The day went just as horribly as last night, even if Jace had left to go to work, because all Zack did to him was just leave him tied up, practically all day.
At one point he was moved to his room and it was taking forever before Zack came back, Travis just stuck by himself with nothing to do.
He looked around at the bare walls, thinking of Michael, missing his pictures, wishing he could see them again to remember him. Plus, his walls just looked too damn bare.
When Zack finally did return, Travis just hoped he could be untied, it awfully uncomfortable being tied up for hours with no way of moving around. He glared up at him who just looked down at him with an unsympathetic look.
"You want a break? I'll untie you."
Travis slowly nodded, waiting as he started getting him untied, grateful when he could stand again, moving his sore jaw around, rubbing at his wrists.
He eyed him as they walked out silently and Travis swallowed as he started to speak. "I'm going to go upstairs."
"Why?" Zack frowned at him but Travis was already heading up the stairs, Zack quickly following. "Hey if you think you're going to try and get out of the window that's not going to work!" He yelled and Travis didn't answer as he went to the guest bedroom.
He opened the closet, searching through the boxes with a frown.
"What are you doing?" He heard Zack behind him and Travis just huffed, continuing to look.
"I want my pictures of Michael back."
Zack scoffed, rolling his eyes, putting his hands on his hips. "Okay…"
Travis found the box and quickly pulled it out, grabbing frames and trying to find ones that were intact.
"You know we broke half of them, right?"
Travis didn't answer, setting out a couple he found weren't broken.
Zack glared as he watched, getting more and more frustrated as he saw Travis grab a few more. "Come on…..we're not gonna let you put those up."
"He's my husband." Travis almost growled as he focused on the pictures, determined to get these pictures back on the walls.
"Please. He's dead." Zack snorted and Travis's eyes got narrow, getting to his feet, holding one of the frames in hand.
"He's still my husband." He glared with a huff. "And he's a better man than you'll ever be."
"Pssh, give me that." Zack huffed, reaching for it, Travis quickly pulling it away. "No."
"I said give it to me!" Zack hissed as he reached and grabbed onto it, them fighting for it, Travis not letting go, Zack getting angry now, growling.
"I said you're not going to put them up and that's final!" He snarled and ripped it out of Travis's hands forcefully, suddenly hitting him in the face with it, the glass breaking as it cut into Travis's face, Travis quickly falling to the floor, crying out.
His face was bleeding as he could feel the small pieces of glass cut into his skin, crying out as he could no longer move, stunned and dazed with pain, practically gasping to breathe.
Zack just stood above him with a glare, sneering as he shook his head and went back to the closet, putting the frames back into the box and shoving it away. "Hmmph. I tried to tell you."
Travis opened his eyes to look up at him with a pained look, blood starting to run down his face, body shaking as he started trying to get up but couldn't, in too much pain, whimpering as he went limp again.
Zack didn't look back at him but just walked out, closing the door loudly, leaving him behind, Travis sniffling as he cried again, frowning as he saw the picture of Michael Zack had hit him with nearby.
Whimpering, he reached for it and grabbed it tenderly, sobbing softly as he gazed at his husband, bringing the picture to his chest where he kept it there, remaining on the floor where he just lay and cried, hurting.
It must have been hours before he saw anyone again and when he did, he looked up to see it was Jace this time, who opened the door slowly, looking in with frown.
Travis just closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to look at him, continuing to lie motionless even as he could hear Jace coming over, feeling like it was pointless to even try to do anything at this point.
"Come on." Jace came to him and extended a hand, Travis frowning at him when he saw it.
Jace just nodded with a calm look and Travis could see he had no intention of hurting him just yet, sniffling as he slowly reached up and took his hand, Jace pulling him to his feet.
He then started leading him to the bathroom and Travis frowned softly at him, expecting him to do something but Jace just sat him down on the edge of the tub, getting out the first aid kit.
Wordlessly, he then started cleaning up Travis's face, Travis wincing in pain as he got the glass out but let him, a little surprised by this, glancing at him now and then with big eyes.
As Jace was getting him cleaned up, he spotted the picture of Michael still in his hand. "That Michael?" He asked softly, watching Travis nod slowly with a sad look.
"I suppose you want to take it from me," He huffed, looking away. "Go ahead, just take it." He frowned, holding it out, eyes narrowed.
Jace looked at him and slowly shook his head no. "You can hold onto it. I won't tell Zack. Just keep it in your pocket."
Travis eyed him with a frown in surprise but slowly nodded, putting the picture carefully into his pocket, glancing up at him as he finished.
"Th-Thank you…for helping me." He almost whispered, not wanting to thank him but knowing he should as Zack never would have done the same for him.
Jace just nodded with a calm look. "Sure. Come on, let's go downstairs. You hungry?"
Travis slowly nodded as he got to his feet, walking out of the bathroom and to the stairs slowly, at least glad Jace had helped him.
The rest of the afternoon Travis was again left tied up for most of it except when it was time to be taken to the couch which he knew what was coming.
He sighed as he was sat down in Zack's lap, frowning sadly at the floor as Zack just chuckled into his ear, his hands already starting to roam over his body, Jace just sitting on the other side of the couch where he could watch.
Of course Travis couldn't struggle, he was too weak to and it wouldn't do any good anyways, leaving him to just whimper and cry as Zack's hands ran everywhere they pleased, who was also getting more handsy with him then he should be, Travis crying harder as he did so.
All he could think of was Michael, the one person who would never hurt him or ever think of doing this to him, his hands soft and caring more than ever unlike Zack's who were just rough and careless.
He wasn't stopping of course and Travis was forced to just sit there and let it happen to him, crying hard as it not only hurt but made him think about how awful his life was right now, how great it really used to be.
Then Zack started talking despite his hands all over Travis's chest. "Isn't he just beautiful, Jace?" He grinned as felt Travis flinch underneath his hands, only making him grope him harder.
Jace was watching closely, blinking into attention when he heard him, nodding. "Uh yeah. Yeah of course."
"Can't believe Michael never treated you like this, Travis…..what were you guys doing all the time?" He chuckled, Travis squeaking from how rough his hands were on him, not answering as he just sniffled.
"I mean my old boyfriend, not Grant, used to tie me up and run his hands all over me now and then, no big deal. Sometimes we'd do the whole role-play thing and switch it up; it was quite nice actually." Zack just grinned, smirking as his hands squeezed at Travis's stomach.
Jace was nodding. "Yeah, I had a boyfriend who did the same to me and vice-versa, sometimes…."
Travis frowned as he listened to them, wondering if that was the reason they were both so screwed up with tormenting him, because what kind of relationship was that? Definitely not a healthy, happy one built on love he imagined.
Zack groped at his chest painfully and Travis practically yelped, wincing as struggled weakly, Zack just pressing him back up against his chest, chuckling into his ear, making Travis feel even worse.
"Awww, don't fret….I can be gentler….but I won't." He laughed, glancing once at Jace with a smirk.
He started slowly pulling up Travis's shirt to reveal his stomach. "Let's have a look, shall we?"
Travis almost gasped with a whimper as Zack lifted up his shirt to show his chest, holding it up while his other hand continued to be anything but smooth.
Travis frowned as he looked down, seeing his chest and stomach were covered with red marks all over, and where his skin wasn't already bruised, it was starting to. He frowned deeply, feeling his shoulders slump, any confidence he had left disappearing.
"Jeez Zack," Jace frowned a little, watching them, Zack's other hand not stopping. "Maybe you should stop a little…."
Zack just huffed, smirking. "You kiddin'? He's fine….just a few little red spots that's all…."
Travis closed his eyes as he sniffled, tears running down his face, whimpering as Zack kept at it, groping at Travis's bare skin harshly, making his skin turn even redder.
Only when Travis's phone started to ring did it draw their attention away, Travis gasping as he looked at his phone on the coffee table, seeing it was Jack calling.
"Jack!" He whimpered, leaning forward in an attempt to get to it, Zack quickly holding him back.
"Whoa, hey…..I don't think so….Jack don't care about you…!"
"Of course he does! I-I want Jack, I want to talk to him, please….!" Travis whimpered with a sniffle, struggling, Zack tightening his grip, not letting him.
"Hey, remember our little conversation before? That your friends don't care about you….?"
Travis shook his head no, teary-eyed. "No, they-they care, I know they do!"
"Do they though? Last I thought, you deserve this so why would they care? I mean, you don't matter to them so you can just forget them…." Zack smirked at him, his hands on Travis again but much slower this time, trying to manipulate Travis's thoughts as much as possible and it was working.
Travis whimpered as he tried not to believe him but he hardly knew what to think of anymore, crying softly as he frowned deeply. "B-But-But I-"
"Travis, say it after me: they don't care about you…."
Swallowing hard, Travis whimpered as he trembled, his lip quivering as he hesitated. "Th-They don't care…about-about me." He said it slowly, not wanting to believe it.
"Good, good. And why don't they care about you?" Zack smirked.
Travis closed his eyes tightly, trying to think, this thoughts all screwed up. "Be-Because…..because I deserve it? 'C-Cause of Michael? Because I could've been the one to die instead of him….?"
"And?"
Travis whimpered, starting to believe Zack was actually right.
"And-and it's all my fault…." He finally stated, crying as he said it, slumping his shoulders as he hung his head, feeling like all hope was lost, beginning to accept it, sniffling sadly.
Zack took his hands off him with a smirk and just nodded to Jace with a wink, pleased, Jace just frowning a little as he watched Travis cry.
The next day, Travis frowned as he walked into work after getting dropped off by Jace, sighing as he felt as sore as ever, though he would definitely rather be at work than at home stuck with those two.
Not to mention his face looked worse than ever with cuts and bruises everywhere and he knew it would attract too much attention, sighing as Vic was already coming over upon spotting him, looking shocked.
"Travis, oh my god, what happened?!" She cried out with huge eyes, waiting for him to answer who just huffed.
"As if you even need to bother to ask." He almost sneered, giving her an accusing look, starting to walk away.
Vic's eyebrows furrowed, quickly frowning. "What is that supposed to mean?" She demanded, Travis turning to face her with an irritated look.
"It means leave me alone….!"
Vic looked confused and almost angry as she opened her mouth to answer but then Jack came over, quickly frowning at him.
"Geez Travis, are you alright?"
Travis almost growled at him, shaking his head. "I'm fine."
Jack and Vic were frowning at him, Jack's hands on his hips. "You know I came over to your place the other night. Jace said you resting cause you were sick."
Travis scowled at them as he walked away but they followed. "So? What's it to you?"
"It's that I wanted to make sure you were okay." Jack insisted with a firm voice as they followed him, Travis trying to get away from them, angry, remembering what Zack had told him.
"Well maybe you shouldn't even bother to stop by, Jack, it's not like it matters anyways." He snapped.
"Travis," Vic cut in, sounding serious as well. "We're just trying to make sure you're alright, we-"
"Well maybe I don't want you to see if I'm alright because I know the both of you don't care either way so why don't you just listen to me when I say LEAVE ME ALONE!" He shouted, storming into a bunk room, slamming the door shut, pacing the room angrily, glad when they didn't knock on the door or try to come in after him.
He had to admit, ever since Zack had suggested it to him, Travis was less trusting of his friends, beginning to wonder if it really were true they didn't care about him but were just pretending to.
Travis didn't want it to be true but after everything that had already happened, it honestly wouldn't surprise him at this point, beginning to lose hope in everything, even those whom he thought once loved him.
A call came through early that morning and soon they were off in the aid car, him paired up with Warren, Bishop and Miller. He was stuck with them because Sullivan told him he could only tag along due to his condition, which at least he wouldn't have to be on reception.
Soon they were inside the house and met with a couple named Bethany and Mack, the wife whose face was badly bruised and bleeding, and the husband was angry with bloody knuckles.
Clearly it was a case of domestic abuse.
They were starting to explain what had happened, the husband getting irritated, Miller stepping out with him into the other room while the rest tended to Bethany. Travis stood aside and watched as Bishop and Warren cleaned her up.
"I'm sorry about him, he's just gets a little upset that's all. He doesn't mean nothing. Really, he's a sweet guy." She smiled and tried to act like everything was okay, though it looked like she really wasn't, looking like she wanted to cry.
"Ma'am has this happened before?" Maya asked softly as they cleaned up her face.
"Oh no, of course not. Mack would never hurt me on purpose. Sometimes he just forgets to use his words is all." She chuckled nervously.
Maya and Ben exchanged a look and Travis was watching with a frown, listening.
"Ma'am if this is a case of domestic abuse, I'd like to suggest you file a report with the police…" Warren stated, Bethany shaking her head no.
"Oh no, that won't be necessary…..really, there-there's no problem, I just want to get cleaned up and that'll be all."
"Ma'am, if you inform the police they can help you…..you won't have to worry about your husband hitting you anymore." Maya stated in a soft tone.
"Oh I couldn't do that. Mack, he loves me, he really does, he don't mean to hit me-"
"But he does." Warren looked at her with a knowing look, Bethany looking away.
"Everything's fine, like I said…." She said quietly.
"Bethany, you don't have to get hurt anymore, there are people whom you can talk to and get help." Maya stated. "Your husband doesn't have to be in control of your life."
Travis was frowning as he listened, his eyes big as he thought, biting his fingernail softly.
"It's alright….I like my life just fine the way it is. 'Sides I can take care of myself without anyone else's help…." Bethany smiled nervously with a nod, seeming to sniffle.
"Ma'am, I can ensure you there are people who can help….you don't have to go through this alone. Everybody deserves to be happy, especially with their spouse, uh right Travis?" Warren stated and glanced over to him, Travis swallowing softly, nodding with a far-off look.
"Uh yeah, yeah….."
They kept trying to convince Bethany to at least speak to a police officer about her husband but she refused and they eventually just had to leave, driving back to the station, Travis sitting quietly in the back with Warren while Bishop and Miller drove.
"How could she not want to tell anyone?" Maya questioned aloud softly. "I mean what woman would want to be under control of her spouse, a male of all species? How could she just sit back and let it happen to herself?"
Travis swallowed hard as he listened, frowning as he stared at the floor.
"Maybe it's just hard for her…." Dean stated quietly. "Takes a lot to speak up sometimes….it ain't always so simple."
"God if it were me, I would speak up in a heartbeat. No way someone is going to hurt and break me down In any way." Maya stated and Travis thought hard, wondering why he couldn't do the same as her…..
Later, Travis was quiet as he did his chores, not talking much to anyone, heading out of the beanery, Warren following after him.
"Montgomery!"
Travis didn't hear him, starting to go downstairs, Warren catching up to him at the top of the stairwell.
"Hey, Travis…." He put a hand to Travis's shoulder, making Travis flinch with a yelp, startled.
Thinking it was Zack or Jace touching him, he was so startled he tripped, beginning to fall down the stairs, hitting each step painfully, yelping when he hit his head, tumbling to the bottom where he cried out in pain, hurting badly.
Warren's eyes were wide, shocked as he watched Travis fall, hurrying down to him. "Oh my god….I need help in here!"
He got to Travis and gently moved him to his side quickly, starting to look him over, Travis's forehead bleeding, crying as he shook everywhere, frightened and in a dazed pain, whimpering.
Andy came rushing in, eyes widening. "What happened?" She hurried over, already checking Travis's pulse and BP levels.
"He fell down the stairs…" Warren rushed as he examined Travis's head, Travis flinching at them touching him.
"He fell down the stairs?"
Maya came in next, bringing the medical kit, joining them, Travis whimpering, frightened.
"Travis, you're okay, don't worry…." Andy said to him softly, Warren and Maya starting to unbutton Travis's shirt.
"We gotta check his abdomen….."
Jack and Vic came in then, Jack quickly joining them to help, Vic staying aside, looking shocked.
They quickly got Travis's uniform unbuttoned and lifted his shirt, everybody going frozen when they saw he was covered in bruises.
"Did he get these from the fall?" Maya was the first to speak as everyone stared, Warren shaking his head no as he pointed.
"No no, look at the colors, these-these were definitely here before."
Vic stared down at her best friend with wide-eyes, slowly closing her open mouth as she began to back away, walking out.
Regardless of their shocked state, they continued to tend to him, Travis whimpering and shaking, afraid, crying out when they would touch him, flinching.
"Travis, you gotta hold still while I clean your face, man…" Jack reached to clean the cut on his face, Travis flinching away, wide-eyed.
"Travis-" Jack tried again, Travis flinching as all he could tell was some man was going to touch him, going to hurt him, frightening him. "N-No!"
"Travis, it's okay, you're alright…." Jack tried to soothe him gently, Travis shaking his head no with huge eyes.
"No, no, i-i'm scared! It hurts…."
"I know it does buddy, we're going to help you so it won't hurt but you gotta keep still for us, alright?"
Travis whimpered, not believing him, continuing to flinch and squirm away from them, crying.
"Maya, go and get Vic, see if she can calm him down…." Jack huffed and Maya nodded, quickly hurrying off, finding Vic in the turnout room, who was talking on her cell-phone.
"Yeah, okay. Thanks." She hung up, turning to Maya who frowned.
"Hey, Travis is still pretty freaked out, can you come and try to get him calmed down?"
"Yeah, yeah of course." Vic nodded, already hurrying off, going back to a still crying Travis, taking Jack's place beside his head.
"Travis, Hey Travis, it's me, Vic…."
Travis sniffled, looked up at her with big eyes, finally seeming to recognize one of his friends, trembling. "V-Vic?"
"Yeah, Trav, it's me….look, you hit your head okay? And we wanna get it fixed up. Can you keep still for us?"
"B-But I'm scared….and-and they're going to hurt me…" Travis frowned with big eyes, watching her.
Vic frowned softly at him, not taking her eyes off him either. "They won't hurt you buddy…..nobody's going to hurt you. Uh, how about I hold your hand, okay? Y-You'll be fine."
Travis frowned at her but was starting to calm down, nodding. "O-Okay…."
Vic nodded and gently took his hand in her's, Travis letting her, swallowing as he let the rest clean up his face and make sure the rest of him was alright.
"There, see that wasn't so bad now was it?" Vic smiled softly down at Travis, who frowned softly, shaking his head no.
"Okay, why don't we go ahead and bring you to a bunk room so you can lie down and rest, alright?"
Travis nodded and they gently began to help him to his feet, Vic still holding his hand gently, leading him. "Uh, will someone tell Sullivan for me, thank you…."
She helped him to one of the bunk rooms, letting him lie down, Travis frowning softly at her, eyes big. "Vic, th-thank you…."
"Of course." She nodded with a kind smile, looking down at him with care in her eyes. "You are my best friend."
"I-I'm sorry I yelled earlier…." Travis said softly, looking at her with guilt, feeling bad. "I shouldn't have…."
"It's okay…." Vic just nodded to him. "Why don't you get some sleep okay? Then you'll really feel better…."
"O-Okay." Travis nodded, frowning as thoughts started running his head, feeling like he should talk to her. "H-Hey Vic?" He called as she went to the door, Vic turning back around. "Yeah Trav?"
Travis stared at her, hesitating as he held his breath, wondering if he should really tell her, starting to talk before he realized it. "I….I wanted to tell you I….that I….I-I guess I'll just tell you later…." His voice faded, chickening out, knowing he couldn't, immediately wishing he had just straight up said it.
Vic just nodded to him with a kind smile, walking out, Travis sighing sadly when he was alone, disappointed with himself, knowing he should be braver than that, like Michael was, but yet he couldn't be.
Some time later, Travis felt Vic gently shaking him awake, sitting up with a yawn. "Vic? What is it?"
"Sorry to wake you. Are you feeling better?"
Travis nodded slowly as he blinked awake, yawning again. "I guess."
"Okay, good, now come with me, okay? I wanna show you something…." Vic said as she took his hand gently, Travis frowning a little as he got to his feet.
"What? What is it?"
"You'll see." Vic led him out of the bunk room, Travis following, wondering what it could be she wanted to show him, Vic leading him towards the reception desk, spotting Ryan who was standing by the front door.
"Hey what's Ryan doing here?" Travis grinned softly at him, glancing at Vic as she brought him over to him.
"Hi Travis." Ryan nodded to him with a soft smile though he had a sort of knowing look on his face and Travis quickly frowned as he realized what was going on, looking to Vic.
Vic stood tall, her face serious. "I asked Ryan to come here so you could talk to him."
"No way!" Travis frowned deeply, looking at her with wide eyes.
"Travis, I am worried about you, I think you should-"
"I am not going to talk to Ryan, Vic, there is no way that is happening! I'm not going to!" Travis almost shouted, quickly getting angry.
"Travis, this needs to-"
"No! I'm not going to say anything, forget it!"
"Travis, it's okay to talk to me. There's nothing to be afraid of." Ryan talked softly, keeping calm, Travis shaking his head no with a scowl.
"I'm not talking to anyone, no, just forget about it!"
"Travis, come on, he's your friend." Vic grabbed his arm gently, Travis quickly flinching, frowning as he quickly took her hand off him.
"Don't touch me!"
"Travis, please-"
"No! I'm not saying anything now just leave me alone!" He snapped, marching off, Vic turning to Ryan with a look, quickly following after Travis.
"Travis, Travis! Don't just walk away from me!"
"Oh I'm sorry! Let me just stop and do whatever you say because you think I need to share everything about me to everyone! I can't believe you did that, Vic, you went behind my back to Ryan, a cop?! I told you to leave me alone!"
"I don't understand, why don't you want to talk to Ryan?" Vic huffed, Travis marching into one of the bunk rooms, Vic closing the door behind them so they could yell.
"Because there's nothing to tell! Ryan-Ryan doesn't need to know anything….!" Travis shouted, Vic frowning at him.
"He's a cop, he can help you! Someone's been hurting you and I'm sick of seeing you like this, Travis because I am worried about my best friend! Now just talk to him!"
"I don't want to talk to him!" Travis shouted, gesturing in frustration, his eyes getting watery as they continued to fight.
"Well who do you want to talk to? Anybody? You've gotta share with someone, you can't just keep it to yourself!"
"Why do you care who I tell? There's nothing even to tell, I told you, it's nobody!"
"Oh nobody? Nobody?! Quit bs-ing me, Travis! There's nothing to be embarrassed of, if that's what you're worried about! Ryan can help you, Travis, what don't you understand about that?!"
"Because I don't want Ryan's help! I don't want anyone's help, I just want everyone to leave me alone!" Travis shouted, tears beginning to run down his face, turning away so Vic couldn't see him, sniffling softly as he began to whimper, crying.
Vic saw him cry and quickly went quiet, frowning at him deeply, watching him cry sadly. "Travis…."
Travis ignored her, crying softly, the door opening as Ryan slowly stepped in, looking just as concerned as Vic was, standing next to her with a frown, watching him. "Travis, why don't you sit down? It's alright…."
Sniffling, Travis hesitated as he thought, slowly turning around to go over to the bed to sit, avoiding looking at any of them, frowning deeply.
Ryan nodded to Vic with a soft look, Vic nodding as she glanced at Travis with worry, turning to slowly walk out, closing the door, leaving the two of them together.
Ryan watched Travis closely, his face caring as he talked softly. "Mind if I sit down?"
Travis sniffled softly as he kept his gaze to the floor, his head lowered, frowning deeply as he slowly shook his head no, still crying a little.
Ryan grabbed a chair and brought it over in front of him, sitting down slowly, facing him, quiet for a minute.
"So Travis…..Vic tells me someone's been hurting you. Is that true?"
Travis swallowed, slowly nodding with a sad look.
"Okay. Do you want to tell me who it is?"
Again, Travis slowly nodded.
Ryan remained calm, his face caring.
"Okay. Tell me."
A/N: Moment of truth...do you think Travis will tell him?