AN: As promised here's chapter 8. Now we can find out how Axel is doing and where he is.
(if you don't read my other stories you may want to skip this)
'He Doesn't Look a thing Like Jesus' I know it's been a while, and I've barely started writing chapter 19, but I am getting ideas now, so hopefully I'll be able to update soon.
'Once Upon a Midnight Dream' I have scattered ideas on this one and am trying to work through them to get a new chap up.
'Here, at the Other Side' I am still writing chapter 10 but I'm hoping to have more written by the time I upload chapter 9.
I've been unable to write for all three of these stories because I had a Zemyx story rolling around in my head that was just screaming to be written. I finally sat down and started writing it (it's now being shown as a current work in my profile) and I was able to continue my other stories with the Zemyx story finally being released.
The point is, if I disappear for a little bit, and it will be after chapter nine, no worries, it's because I'm writing. And after August 24th it's because I'm busy with school.
Alright, go ahead and read about Axel if you didn't already skip all of that.
Chapter 8 – Here, at the Other Side
"Who's my next patient?" Dr. Saix asked.
"Hmm…looks like the nameless boy someone found on the side of the road. He's getting fluids intravenously and he's on a high calorie diet, but he still needs you to look him over."
Saix leaned into the room and saw the familiar tattooed face and red hair. "His name is Axel Akuseru. I've had him as a patient before." He informed the nurse he was talking to, before walking into the room.
After performing a physical on the unconscious Axel he determined that the boy was very malnourished, dehydrated, had two broken ribs, severe lacerations around his wrists, a minor concussion, many bruises along his body, and cuts across his feet. It certainly wasn't the worst he'd seen him, but he was in pretty bad shape. Now that he'd paid off all of his debts, Saix felt bad for allowing himself to be bribed.
He sighed and sat down in the chair next to Axel's bed. He knew from the news that Rob had been arrested and that Axel had been missing for about six months. Honestly, Saix assumed that Axel was dead. The abuse he was put through was very apparent when the parents actually paid you to ignore it. And now Saix had no one to call for this kid. He was alone.
oOo
Axel opened his eyes and heard a familiar beeping sound. Fuck. He was in the hospital, again. Sitting himself up in the bed, he felt a pull in his arm. Another IV. Axel made to grab the annoying tube in his arm when someone spoke up, "Don't do that." He turned his head to see his blue haired doctor and smirked before ripping the tube out of his arm.
Saix jumped up to stop Axel but was too late. However he was able to grab Axel's wrist, above the newly stitched lacerations, and prevent him from jumping off the bed. "What happened to you?" Saix asked. Axel didn't answer, but his body started shaking and his eyes clouded over with fear, at having something around his wrist again. He quickly kneed Saix in the ribs to protect himself, which succeeded in making the doctor release his arms.
Saix let go of Axel's arms and clutched his ribs. Damn that kid is strong. Axel took the opportunity to climb off the bed and stagger away. By the time he got his sore body to the door several doctors and nurses were clambering through it. Several of them had sedatives in their hands.
Bring it on. I'm going to my Roxy. Axel made a run for the door. Using all his energy he hit, kicked, scratched, broke, and bit anyone who tried to stop him. He wouldn't be held down again, he just got free. And he needed his Roxy. Was that too much to ask for? Eventually, one of the doctors got a needle into his skin, and Axel couldn't fight the blackness that began to overcome him. He just wanted his Roxy.
Two nurses carried Axel back to the bed where several others were ready with restraints and a new IV. One particular nurse however, grabbed Saix's arm and dragged him away from the scene. "When did Axel get here?!" Darla asked in a dangerous tone.
"He's been here for several hours." Saix responded.
"Why was I not informed."
"Believe it or not the nurses are not told about every single patient that enters this hospital."
"You've seen me and my son in his room before!" Darla yelled, causing a few people to stare. "Mind your own goddamn business?" She shouted at them before turning back to Saix.
"Darla! I didn't remember I had other things on my mind at that time." Darla shook her head and walked back towards Axel's room.
"Didn't your shift end hours ago?"
"Yes, but one of my patients was dying and wanted me t be with her. Now I've got to make a few phone calls and I need to keep Axel company."
"He's sedated."
"That doesn't matter, you heartless prick!"
oOo
"These are very good, Demyx." Roxas said with a mouthful of brownie. "It is like biting into happiness."
"I told you, and Zexion helped." Demyx said with a smile on his face grabbing Zexion's han.
"It was your recipe." Zexion responded.
"Well, it's very good, both of you." Ellen praise them. They sat in silence for a moment before the phone rang and Ellen stood up to answer it. "Hikari residence."
"Ellen? Oh my God, you'll never believe it!" Darla's voice came thrugh the phone.
"What is t Darla?"
"Axel's in the hospital an alive. Room eihgt floor four."
"What? Really!?" Ellen said both shocked and excited about the news.
"Yeah, you'll have to call Nora, I don't have her number."
"Alright, we'll be there shortly." Ellen hung up an quickly dialed Nora's number, ingnoring the questioning look she was gettingform the boys. They could wait a moment.
"Reno speaking, yo." Reno answered.
"Reno, I need to speak to your mother now." Ellen demanded, surprised that Reno was even awake. Sure it was past noon, but they had been up late last night.
"Um, she's sleeping."
"Trust me, she'll want to be woken."
Ellen hear some rustlening and mucmbling then, "Hello, Ellen what's wrong?" comae Nora's exhausted voice.
"Nothings wrong," A smile covered Ellen's ace, "Darla just called, Axel's alive. He's in the hospital, room eitht floor four. We'll meet you there." Ellen hung up leaving Nora to her stuned silence. She then turned around to meet the anxious stares of her five boys. "I can only take three of you in my car so, Roxas, Demyx , and Zexion, et ready." The three boys shot out of ther chairs an did as they were told. "Sora and Riku, you'll wait for Dad to get here and he'll drive you over. Okay."
"yeah, how long is he going to be?" Sora asked.
"I'm going to call him as soon as I get in the car. It'll probably take him twenty minutes to get here." Ellen responded as she walked ot the door and put her shoes on. "Bye boys, behave." Roxas, Demyx, and Zexion were already in the car when Ellen go to it.
"Hurry up mom." Roxas urged.
"Roxas, he's not going anywhere." Ellen responded as she pulled out of the driveway.
"he's waiting for me mom! Floor it! Axel would floor it to get to me."
"Roxas if I get pulled over, it'll take a lot longer."
"Fine." Roxas puted.
oOo
"So, how is he Aerith?" Saix asked the therapist he'd sent to Axel's room.
"Honestly, I think I'm going to have to see him a lot more. He's got what looks to be self inflicted wounds all over his arms. I really want to talk to him about that, except I can't get him to talk at all. He won't even talk to that lovely nurse, Darla, who's in his room." Aerith sighed. "His being speechless isn't anything medical related, he's choosing not to speak to us, though he is clearly capable of speech. But the thing that concerns me the most is that he won't let anyone touch him, especially his hands and wrists. When someone touches him he is so frightened by it that his body begins to shake, and he'll protect himself by any means necessary. Dr. Saix, he's been put through some horrible trauma; I have no doubt about that. We'll have to be careful around him and I'll spend at least an hour with him every day."
"Alright, thank you Aerith." Saix said before walking into Axel's room. The redhead was still awake and Darla was sitting in a chair near his bed. Saix stood next to Axel and said, "If you talk to us we might be able to take those restraints off. I know you don't like them. They're touching your wrist. Will you talk to me?" Axel shook his head, "Will you talk to anyone?" Again Axel shook his head. "Fine. Aerith will be talking to you once a day. Maybe she'll be less threatening." Saix finished and walked out the door.
"Axel, sweetie, why won't you talk to me?" Darla asked and grabbed Axel's hand, which resulted in a shaking fit from him, so she let go quickly. "What did she do to you honey?"
oOo
"Axel, sweetie, why won't you talk to me?" Axel wanted to talk to her, he did. But if he talked to her she'd want to know what happened to him, and he wasn't ready for that yet. When Darla's hand wrapped around his he wanted to feel comforted but he panicked. The memories of the basement came flooding back. His wrists were already being held captive and when Darla prevented his fingers from moving his body stated shaking. He needed to be able to control his movements; he didn't want to be trapped. He wanted nothing more than to throw that confining hand away. He was never allowed to move in that basement and he didn't want to be held captive anymore. It took so long for him to escape the first time.
Noticing his distress Darla let go, "What did she do to you honey." I don't want to think about it. Can't you tell, can't you understand? I just want my Roxy. Why can't I just go see him? Axel felt like screaming, no one understood him. "I know what will cheer you up Axel. Ellen's on her way over here with Roxas." Darla spoke and Axel perked up. She does understand me, a little at least. She knows I want to see Roxas. And he's coming, my Roxy is coming to me. "See, I was right." She observed Axel's small hint of a smile. "She's bringing Demyx and Zexion as well. Sora, Riku and Jim will come a little later. And your mom, Reno and Rude are also on their way."
Wow, everyone's coming to see me. They must have missed me. Axel was feeling happy all of the sudden. There had been a time, when no one would have missed him or even looked for him. Now he had ten people coming to see him and Darla was already here, making it a total of eleven. "You know, Nora, Reno, Rude, and Roxas, have been looking for you nonstop since the day you went missing." Really, "Poor Roxas has been a mess. Did you know he had a birthday?" Axel nodded; he was quite upset that he had missed it. He'd had so many plans. "His mom threw him and Sora a huge party but he came to my house instead." What have I done to my Roxy? I made him so sad. "Axel, sweetheart, this was not your fault, don't blame yourself." Darla scolded when she saw the guilty look on his face.
"We're all so happy you're back. We've been so worried." Axel gave her a brief smile, yeah, it sound like I'm home.
oOo
"Wait! Please, please we need to speak before you go see him." Saix said to Axel's 'family'. The small blond kid tried to ignore him and walk to Axel's room, but the mother held him back. Right then a red haired woman, a red haired man and a bald man joined the group.
"Why are we standing here?" The red haired woman asked.
"Dr. Saix apparently needs to speak with us before we're allowed to see Axel." The mother said irritably to the red haired woman.
"Screw that." The redhead said.
Saix held a hand out to stop her, "Please, its important miss…"
"Nora, my names Nora, and I'm Axel's mother, real mother. And this is Ellen."
"Well Nora, Ellen, boys, you must pay attention. Axel has been through some sort of trauma. He won't talk to anyone and you can't touch him. He goes into a highly defensive state when he's touched. So as much as you want to, you cannot hug him, and don't expect him to respond to your words. Also, we had to restrain him again…"
"What!?" Roxas said horrified. His Axel, who had been chained for months, was being restrained. He pushed Saix out of his way and ran to Axel's room.
"Tell him to stop! Axel has broken several bones attacking people because they touch him, even Darla's." Saix rushed.
"Roxas don't touch him!" Ellen yelled as Roxas threw the door open and jumped onto Axel's bed.
AN: Yeah, yeah, I lied. So shoot me. We find out about Darla's opinion of the Zemyx relationship in chapter nine, not eight, I was wrong. But look. Read that last line again. Axel and Roxas are together. Now what is Axel going to do when he finds himself trapped underneath Roxas. Hopefully you won't have to wait long to find out.
I really, really tried to explain what's going through Axel's head as best as I could. I tried to imagine how someone would feel if they were finally freed after being immobile against their will for months. I would just assume that some people may have an issue with being touched and feeling restrained. So Axel is reflecting that.
Zemyx will again be used in the next chapter as comic relief, hopefully. I tried to make it humorous. Anyway, Axel and Roxas are together. But I'm sure that's not enough for everyone, so I'm gonna try to get nine up soon.
Thanks for all reviews, favs, and alerts, I appreciate all of them.
Final Note, since this story has child abuse in it, I thought I'd give you some songs, seeing as I'm obsessed with music. Concrete Angel by Martina McBride, Alyssa Lies by Jason Michael Carroll, Home Grown by Otep, Jonestown Tea by Otep, Please Don't Believe Me by Alan O'Day, Dear Mr. Jesus, A Soldier's Child (Lance and Kelsey's song), Little Girl by John Michael Montgomery, Daddy by Korn, Down With The Sickness by Disturbed (Not actually about child abuse, but there is a section in it that sounds similar to it, and it happens to be one of Axel's favorite songs, in this story) If you know any others I wouldn't mind hearing about them. Like I said, I'm a bit obsessed with music.