CHAPTER EIGHT

Everything in Kent's life was going just so well. He had his dream job as a copper; he had good friends and an absolutely wonderful boyfriend, that he'd thought on more than one occasion he didn't deserve. He even gotten that moped he'd wanted for his birthday from Joe, despite the fact that he hated the thing. All in all Emerson Kent was on top of the world, sadly it was on days like this that the universe decided balance had to be restored, cause god forbid anyone could actually be happy.

In hindsight Kent wouldn't say the events of the day were the worst in his life or the most painful, that would come later, but it was the catalyst, the first step on that downward spiral. He'd been out gathering information on Dukes, just like Joe had asked, while his DI 'secret' boyfriend was off this DS Miles meeting up with Cazenove. It had just been a routine background check to do with the Regency Snooker Hall, nothing to indicate there would be trouble. They hadn't even actually been threatened. Maybe if they had, Kent would have been more cautious when walking the streets of Whitechapel. He wouldn't have gone alone.

The worst part was that as he'd walked back to his moped he'd had that feeling in his gut. The feeling you get when you know something's wrong, that there's something lurking just around the corner. But the street had been empty, maybe that should have been warning enough, but it hadn't been. He'd ignored his instincts and paid for it.

He'd been distracted, putting his notebook and warrant card into the small space under the seat when they got him. Gripping his collar they'd thrown him face first into the metal door of a garage unit. He'll always remember the feel of the cold metal against his cheek. He grunted at the force used, his heart pounding in fear. They stood behind him, an arm pressed hard into his neck so he couldn't turn and see their faces. He'd expected a beating, expected fists and feet. He hadn't expected cold steel slicing through flesh.

He'd never felt pain like it. Never known it could even exist. He screamed with every stroke of the blade, tears pooling behind his tightly closed lids before sliding down his swiftly paling features. He was sure he was going to die, could feel the blood gushing down his legs to stain the pavement. His head spun, a darkness invading his mind. He didn't know how long the torture continued. It felt like it had always been there. Like nothing had existed before it and only death would come when it finally finished.

As the tears poured down his face and the darkness grew closer, his heart pounded and his body shook. All his mind could focus on was Joe. How he should have stayed with him last night instead of going to that stupid party where he'd just sat in a corner bored and lonely. How his bed had been cold when he'd climbed into it and colder still when he got out and how he'd not been able to kiss Joe goodnight or good morning. - And probably never would again.

That was his last thought; his mind became a blank canvas after that, the darkness finally taking hold, his legs collapsing beneath him unable to hold his weight on the ruined torn muscles. He lay on the ground wavering between light and dark. He felt warm air next to his ear, heard something rough and threatening but couldn't focus on it. Then the dark abyss consumed him and with it came a peace he was thankful for.

~WHITECHAPEL~

Joe and Miles were watching the end of the interview with Paul Gadding when Joe's phone went off.

"DI Chandler." he answered.

"Oh, hello. This is St. Thomas's. We have been asked to inform you that Emerson Kent has been brought in."

Joe shot up straight in his seat, his eyes fixed aimlessly in front of him, glazed over, his heart freezing at the words that reached his brain. "What?" he swallowed hard. "I-is he alright?" he tried to sound professional, calm, but knew it wasn't working.

"He's suffered some serious injuries." the polite voice said down the line.

"I- I'll be right there." Joe said in a rush, ending the call he shot to his feet.

"What's wrong boss?" Miles asked with concern, mirroring the man's actions.

"It's Em…Kent…." Joe forced himself to breathe, to remember where he was. His hands were already beginning to shake. "…he's been hurt. St. Thomas's." Joe finally finished, heading for the door not caring if Miles followed or not. He had to get to Kent.

They arrived at the hospital as quick as Joe's car could safely carry them and Joe rushed through the corridors like his life depended on it, Miles his constant shadow. He could feel his body being gripped by the fear and panic he hadn't felt in months. Not since the Ripper. Only this time it was far worse than finding a bleeding Miles. This time he felt like he was the one dying from internal bleeding.

On the drive over, his mind had been filled with horrific images of just what had happened to Emerson. Visions of the Ripper victims filled his head, memories of the men he'd seen in the pub. He knew it had something to do with the Kray case and knowing that filled him with anger and guilt. Miles had told him not to get involved in the case. That it was dangerous. Kent had told him he was scare of what the case would do to him. Neither of them had ever imagined that Kent would be the one to pay.

When he finally reached Emerson, he was laying on his stomach on a hospital trolley. His heart leapt to his throat before plummeting to his toes. He couldn't breathe for the fear and pain of seeing his boyfriend like that.

Kent's brown red-rimmed tear filled eyes turned to meet Joe's and a moment passed between them. Joe swallowed back his own tears, forcing himself to remain professional, even though every instinct screamed for him to drop to his knees beside the bed, press his hand to Emerson's cheek and kiss away the pain. But that was impossible, so he was forced to do the only thing he could.

"Kent." he said hoarsely, his hand hovering to touch. He glanced at the blood stained blanket that covered his legs and his stomach dropped further. "Was it Steven Dukes?" he asked angrily.

"I - I don't know." Emerson replied, shaking, his voice tight with tears.

Joe turned away before he broke down, stopping the doctor. "How bad is it?" Joe asked nervously, fear radiating from his voice.

"We won't know until the surgeon can assess the damage done to the synaptic nerve." the woman explained.

"I've been striped." Kent told Joe matter-of-factly.

"Deep slashes to the buttocks." Miles clarified.

Joe just stood there in shock for a few moments. His features pale. Kent may have serious nerve damage; he may not even be able to walk again. It crashed down on Joe like a tidal wave of fear and anger, swallowing him whole.

"Come on." the doctor said as Kent was wheeled around Joe and down the corridor.

"The villains like it…" Miles was still talking. "…because it's a nasty injury and you can't be done for attempted murder."

Joe watched Kent being taken away, fear in the younger man's eyes. Joe wanted to go with him, wanted to stay at his side. He didn't care if it gave away their secret. He wanted to tell him he loved him, no matter what happened. Hell, right now he'd tell the whole damn world if he thought it would change things. Kent vanished through the door before he found his voice and with his disappearance came the sudden uncontrollable wave of guilt. This was all his fault; he knew it in his gut. If only he'd listened to Miles, and Emerson. If only he hadn't been so eager to have an interesting case. He was being punished; there was no doubt about it, none at all.

"This is all my fault." Joe said desperately. "I underestimate Dukes and sent Kent out on his own." he braced himself against the wall, trying to breath, trying not to break.

"You can't blame yourself for how they behave." Miles said in reply, while his own guilt ripped at him. He should have done more to keep Joe out of the case, keep them all out of the case.

Watching Joe unravel as he talked about Kent made Miles uncomfortable aware of what he'd been trying to ignore for the past six months or so. His wife had seen it first. She'd pointed it out to him the night of his birthday but he'd laughed it off. Not because he didn't think Joe was gay, despite what the man said, or because he couldn't believe Kent was. No, it had just been too strange. He couldn't image someone like Joe going for someone like Kent; they were from two completely different worlds. There was no way they'd work.

But he'd seen it. The looks every time they thought no one was paying attention. The times Joe had conveniently passed Kent at the bus stop and decided to give him a lift into work. The countless times Kent would arrive a little while before Joe or Joe before him. Never at the same time. That Kent jumped to do whatever Joe asked, though that had always been true, from the very first day. Miles had even ignored the younger man's confession at the police awards less than a week ago. He'd ignored all these thing because he just couldn't believe they went together.

But now, watching Joe, he knew he'd been wrong. They worked, more than that, Joe cared deeply and that was painful to see. Miles swallowed hard and turned his gaze away from the man, trying to process what he'd come to realize.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Joe's angry declaration.

"Well Dukes has sealed his fate." Joe said furiously, heading toward the exit.

"Sealed his fate?" Miles snapped, stopping Joe in his tracks. "You imagine this is a fair fight, where the best man wins. This is a scrap, where the meanest, hardest bastard wins." Miles informed him.

"You don't know what I'm capable of." Joe warned before he walked away.

Miles watched him go with a shiver. He knew that look, knew the pure hate and fury behind it. He'd seen it in the eyes of husbands, brothers and fathers alike and he knew how dangerous it was. - And because of it, he knew there would be no stopping Joseph Chandler now.

TO BE CONTINUED….

THANK YOU FOR READING AND REVIEW.

A/N: I know, I know. I hated that moment too. It nearly killed me and I still close my eyes when I re-watch it. It was so horrid for them to do that to Kent. I hate it when they pick on the sweet ones. Sadly it's all downhill from here on out, as I'm sure you all know. I'll also be taking a step away from the actually series to concentrate on the boys, for at least a couple of chapters as the episode between now and the 'BIG MOMEMT' (you know what I'm talking about) aren't really Kent focused, or even Joe focused, not like the Ripper case was. Joe doesn't really get a real good OCD break for a while and that where the story takes off, for me at least. Everything else is just transport. (sorry Sherlock's suck in my head again lol)

So anyway, hope you… Well I won't say enjoyed because I doubt Kent getting his arse ripped to shred is at all enjoyable.

See you next chapter.

Oh, BTW: The conversation in the hospital. Taken from the show.