"Max, please calm down," Alex said softly to her sobbing little brother.
"How can you say that?" he sniffed. "Alex, I saw. I saw what that man was trying to do to you guys. And it is all my fault!" He stood up and forced his fingers roughly through his hair. "Alex, all of the stuff that I did, the spell.." Max was shaking his head furiously and Alex stood up to try and calm him again.
"Max, it wasn't your fault. Your conscience was gone. It wasn't you!" She pulled him by the arms and shook him, forcing him to look at her. "The important thing is that everyone is okay now. And that is because of you."
Max sighed and pulled his arms out of her hands, then sat back down on the couch. "Justin…" His voice shook and he teared up again. "He's never going to forgive me."
"Max, come on."
Suddenly Max stood up again, wiping his face. "Listen Alex, I gotta go."
"What? Where??" Alex was stunned. They were all finally safe and together and he wanted to leave?
"Back to school. There's um, something I have to take care of."
"No, Max. Please don't go now," she begged.
"You don't understand Alex, I didn't just hurt you and Justin. I've done," he swallowed hard, "some terrible things, and if I don't go back now, something really bad is going to happen."
She sighed and then just nodded. "Mom and Dad went to Grandma's, so you guys shouldn't have to worry about dealing with them for a few days. I'll be back as soon as I can," Max said.
Alex hugged her brother and then he was gone through the door to the wizard world. She knew there wasn't much more she could do about him for now, except worry of course. But her strongest concern was located above her. She left the lair and began the slow walk to Justin's bedroom, completely unsure of what she was going to say.
When she got to his door, she stopped and pressed her forehead against it taking a few steadying breaths. She tried to prepare herself for whatever she'd be facing, and prayed she'd be able to help him get through this. Finally, she knocked gently and then opened the door. "Justin?"
Her heart broke when she saw him. He was sitting on the floor at the end of his bed. His knees were pulled to his chest with his elbows resting on them. His hands were clasped behind his lowered head. She sat on the floor next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" she whispered.
Justin lifted his head and looked at her but didn't answer. His eyes still seemed far away. She managed to pull one of his arms into her lap and wrapped her hand around his. "Justin, we're fine now. It's all over."
He still didn't speak. She watched as a tear fell down his cheek and he covered his face with his hands. Then after a few silent minutes, Justin started breathing heavily like he was suddenly having an anxiety attack. He jumped to his feet and ran out of his room. Alex followed him into the bathroom where he began to vomit.
Tears fell from her eyes as she rubbed her brother's back. He'd been so brave in protecting her and she couldn't stand to see him this way. "Oh Justin," she cried. He laid his head on his arm, trying to catch his breath.
Alex turned the shower on and then helped Justin to his feet. He moved without speaking, allowing her to guide him. She walked him to the sink and filled a glass with water, then handed it to him. He rinsed his mouth out as she began to unbutton his shirt. He allowed her to undress him but still didn't speak or look at her.
Alex undressed as well and they both stepped into the shower. Justin let the warm water cover his body. Alex took a bar of soap and a wash rag in her hands and began slowly and gently washing her brother's skin. She focused on her task as well as the plan she was trying to form in her head for fixing all of this mess. Then suddenly his arms were around her. She dropped the rag and soap and held him as he pulled her tightly into his chest.
"I was so scared he was going to hurt you," he said finally. Alex looked up at him, so happy to hear his voice again. She pressed herself closer to him smiling into his shoulder. "I've never been so scared in my life. I'm sorry I –"
"Justin," she stopped him. "Oh Justin, please don't do that. I know what you did for me back there. You saved me. I'll always be thankful for what you did." She stepped back a little and looked into his eyes.
"If Max hadn't,"
"Max was great. But so were you. I am so lucky to have two brothers that would risk themselves for me." Alex put her hand on Justin's face and he seemed to be hearing what she was saying. She pulled him to her and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
They finished their shower and got into their pajamas. Alex felt a little better about Justin's state of mind. He seemed to at least be back in the realm of reality. Justin got into his bed and pulled the covers back, making room for her. She tucked in next to him and he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to him. It seemed like so much time had passed since they set out to find Marcellus, when it had actually only been that morning. They fell asleep, exhausted.
……
The next morning Justin woke up to find Alex still wrapped safely in his arms. He stared at her sleeping peacefully for a while. All of the pain from the day before melted away as he realized how grateful he that she was safe. Nothing else mattered to him but that. He leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead.
Then it hit him. No dreams! He had slept through the night and not had a single dream! He laid back on his pillow letting out a long and loud sigh of relief. This caused Alex to stir and she opened her eyes, peering up at her brother. The smile on his face caused her to do the same. She sat up a little and he sat up too, rubbing her arm.
"Good morning," he said softly, still smiling.
"As long as you're smiling, it is a good morning." Alex wrapped her arms around his shoulders and moved into his lap, resting her head in the crook of his neck. "Are you okay?" She whispered.
"I'm okay," he said rubbing circles on her back. "Are you okay?"
Alex lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. Then she leaned in and placed a soft, slow kiss on his lips. "I'm okay." She sighed and hugged him again. "I just want to forget about yesterday and move on."
"That sounds like a good idea to me," he replied. He just hoped it would be that easy. "So uh… how did you sleep?"
"Okay I gue – Wait! No dreams!" she beamed up at him.
"I know! It really worked." They smiled at each other for a moment, and then Justin's face became more serious. "So, where does this leave… us?"
Alex looked at him a little confused. "What do you mean?"
"Alex, a lot has happened. I understand if things have, ya know, changed."
Alex sighed and held his hand in hers. "Justin, how I feel about you hasn't changed. I love you. And I want to be with you."
"But – "
"That sick asshole can't hurt us anymore, Justin. And I'm not going to let what he did," Justin shivered and looked away, but she put her hand on his face and moved it back to her, "I'm not going to let it take you away from me. We've been through too much to give up now. I won't give up on you. Or on us. We belong together, Justin. You know that."
Justin placed his hand on hers where it rested on his face, and the turned his head and placed a kiss into her palm. Then he pulled her closer to him and kissed her deeply on the lips.
They kissed for a few more minutes before Alex stopped him. "Tonight," she said softly, looking into his eyes.
"Are you sure?" He brushed some hair out of her face. "We don't have to rush anything."
Alex brought his hand to her mouth and kissed his fingers, wrapping hers around them. "I'm sure. I want to be with you, and I want it to be tonight. Mom and Dad are gone to Grandma's and Max went back to school."
"He did? Why?" Justin suddenly felt concern for his brother. They had so much to talk about and he really should be here, safe with them.
Alex shrugged. "He said he had some things he needed to take care of."
Justin sighed, dropping the issue. Alex got up and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. "So tonight?" she asked smiling. Justin smiled back and nodded. "Your room or mine?" she joked.
"Just meet me here at 8 o'clock, and leave the rest to me." With that she left his room and went to get dressed.
The rest? she wondered to herself.
Okay guys, are you ready for it? You've been so patient and in the next chapter comes the pay off. Anybody excited?
