Figured I had this sitting here, so I might as well post it. I'm going to be out of town for the weekend so I won't be posting until next week. Hope this little bit of sibling banter will hold you over. Thanks to those of you that continue to review my work. Any input is greatly appreciated.
I didn't know when she left, but she did it when I was asleep. The sun coming in the window did little to motivate me to move. Throwing the covers over my head I attempted to block it out as well as the splitting headache I was experiencing. My body screamed at the movement, everything from head to toe telling me it was easier to deal with if I'd just sleep some more. I started to doze back off when I heard Matthew's voice booming from the foyer.
"Phoebe is here to see you, sir." I could hear Phoebe's footsteps coming down the hall and my mind told me to make a run to the bathroom and hide out, but my body wouldn't do as it was told.
"TEDDY!" The pitch of her voice made me groan and nestle further into my pillow. "Why are you still in bed? It's noon!" Her weight suddenly landed on me and I screamed. She jumped up quickly. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry T! Did I hurt you?"
"Your voice is hurting me…" I muttered from under the covers. "Can you give me…40?" I poked my head out from under the comforter and looked at her. Phoebe looked so peppy and full of energy, it almost made me feel sick. She eyed me cautiously.
"Are you okay? You don't look well." I sighed and tried to sit up, my backside protesting the movement as well as my back. "What happened to your face?" I moved a hand up to touch my cheek and could feel the bruise. So much for being smart and putting them where you couldn't see it.
"It's nothing." I said and waited for her to take her leave. "Could you leave so I can…" I nodded to the bathroom. "We may have shared a tub as kids, but as adults, I'd like to keep my privates private." I gave her a small smile and she shook the shocked look off of her face and forced a giggle at my attempt at a joke.
"Oh, yes! Of course." She started for the door. "Forty minutes Teddy, and then I'm coming in after you." I nodded.
"Yes ma'am." I waited to hear the door close behind her before I threw the blankets back and swung my legs over the side of my bed. My ankles were raw and even looked bloody in some spots. I could feel the cuts on my backside and my back and looking at my wrists, both were cut from me pulling on the ropes. However the worst of it was my butt, even sitting on my soft bed sent jolts of pain straight through me. The only cure for this would be to put some ice on my cock and lie face down on my bed until it all healed. But instead I would be sitting in a wooden chair at one of my favorite restaurants, enjoying one of my most favorite meals, in the most uncomfortable position. I rubbed my face and then struggled to my feet. You manage to get yourself into some mighty fine messes Mr. Grey…I thought to myself as I shuffled to the bathroom. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I wish I hadn't. My face was dark where Lynsey had struck me, and my eyes looked hollow, possibly a side effect of whatever the hell she had given me, or just sheer exhaustion from what I'd been through. Either way, I looked a mess and hoped the shower would take away the worse of it. I saw angry red whelps on my chest that I hadn't noticed before. Clothes pins, that part of the evening came back as a hazy memory. Taking a slow jagged breath I shook my head at my reflection. It's not worth it, it wasn't worth going back down this trail with her. Nothing good would come of it. It was a one time deal, and that was over and Phoebe's secret remained a secret for the day. No more Lynsey, no more Miss Franklin. It was time to move upward and onward. And all of that started with a hot shower.
The water had stung, as had the peroxide I cleaned my wounds with, but taking a look at myself in the mirror, some life had returned to my eyes and though my cheek was still bruised, it wasn't as noticeable as it was before. Stepping into my closet I saw my clothes from last night folded and sitting neatly on the table in the center of the walk in. How nice of her? I thought to myself sarcastically. The t-shirt was spotted with red. I looked away quickly and focused on finding something that met the standards, yet lessened my current level of discomfort. Settling on a pair of chinos, a flannel shirt and a half-zip pullover, I dressed quickly before Phoebe made her way in here to find me in my underwear and covered in cuts and bruises. I was carefully pulling the half-zip over my head when I heard her knock on my bedroom door prior to entering.
"I just have to put on my shoes and I'll be ready." I said as she peered into my closet.
"You should try to be a bit more organized, T." She mocked my impeccable closet. "I don't know how you find a thing in here." I laughed and bent over to pick up my shoes, cutting the laugh short as my breath hitched with the pain radiating from my ass. "Are you alright? You seem pretty off today." I straightened, with the pair of shoes in hand and gave her a nod, though my lips were pulled tight. "And your lip is awfully puffy. Did you get into a fight with someone last night?" She stepped closer to examine my face, but I quickly turned away and busied myself with putting on socks and shoes. "And your ankles."
"Shut up!" I spoke much louder than I had wanted and knew it the moment Phoebe cringed. I exhaled forcefully and stopped doing what I was doing to look at her. "I'm sorry Phebs. I…I had a rough night last night. It was foolish and I made more decisions and a bruised face and fat lip are what I have to show for it. We know I have a temper, I just unfortunately let it get the best of me with the wrong person." I watched her expression as I told the half-truth. I did let the wrong person get the best of me and my decisions were foolish. Her shock turned to remorse and she started towards me.
"I could get you some ice?" Phoebe attempted to be motherly and I had to smile.
"I'm fine, I'll be fine…" I finished putting on my shoes and stood gingerly. She narrowed her eyes at me.
"Are you sure it's just your face and lip? You're moving awfully stiff." I attempted to stretch to ease her mind.
"I just took a few more blows than I would have liked to." She started to speak. "And no, Matthew was not there, my choice not his. And no our father doesn't know either and I'd like to keep it that way. Please and thank you." Phoebe gave me a knowing smile. We had both dealt with Dad at length as children and though the reins had loosened now as adults, he still felt he had say in every in and out of our lives.
"You don't THINK he knows…" She teased as she turned to leave. "Daddy knows everything Teddy, you should know that." I shook my head as I followed her. There was plenty I would do just about anything to insure my father knew nothing about.