Three

Sonny didn't know whether to feel grateful for telling Chad or to hate that he did. His friend loved him and never once treated him like he was ugly or dirty but he was also acting like he would break at any second. Sonny supposed that he would considering that he was still not really sleeping and every time someone came up behind him he tensed flashing back but he pushed on wanting to just forget everything. He looked over as the door opened and he saw his Uncle Victor walked through with a concerned look on his face.

"Sonny can we talk privately?" his uncle asked him stepping up to the counter.

"Sure," he answered with a frown sending a look to Chad who shrugged at him but seemed to know more than he said.

"Chad came to see me the other day," Victor started once the office door closed and Sonny tensed his eyes closing in shame as realization came to him.

"He told you," he whispered wanting to cry for being so weak.

"My boy," Victor said surprising him by pulling him into his arms, "None of this is your fault and he won't hurt you ever again."

"I should have been stronger," Sonny told the patriarch feeling like a failure.

"You are the strongest person I know Sonny and you are the best of this family never doubt that," the older man reassured holding his great nephew to him tightly a deadly look in his eyes.

Sonny couldn't help but fall apart once again in the arms of the man he looked up to so much. He felt his uncle run an up and down his back in a soothing motion the hold tightened. He had never felt safe not since that night and while the words his uncle spoke reassured him greatly he still felt like he wasn't safe. The one person that could make him safe would never be his again not after everything that happened and that knowledge made him cry even harder.

~Sticks and Stones~

Brian knew that Chad was planning something and that he would probably be dead by the end of the week so he had to make contingency plans. Chad was only doing this for Sonny so the only way to truly make sure that what happened would never be forgotten would be for the whole world to know about that night. He smirked when he looked down at his cell phone and saw that the youngest DiMera had sent a text demanding a meeting.

"Soon everyone will know just how broken Sonny Kiriakis is," he whispered knowing that this would destroy Sonny but it would be worth it in the end.

~Sticks and Stones~

Will tapped his pen against the desk in his dorm trying not to think about the disaster that was his life. He had lost the man he loved due to his own stupidity and it was the reason that Sonny was so depressed looking lifeless. Nick and Gabi were trying to cut him out of his daughter's life and for some reason the fact that Nick was a homophobic asshole didn't help matters at all. A knock sounded on the door and he sighed knowing he had to study but it seemed like life just wasn't letting him anymore. He frowned when he opened the door and was met with the sight of Chad standing there waiting impatiently.

"Can I come in?" he asked giving him a cold look.

"Sure," he mumbled stepping aside.

"We need to talk," the youngest DiMera started in turning to look at him with his arms crossed.

"What about Chad?" Will asked not wanting to deal with anything anymore.

"It involves Sonny and how he needs you," was the answer he received surprising him.

"No he doesn't Chad. I saw how depressed he was earlier this week and I know it's my fault," the blonde denied shaking his head in denial not wanting to have hope.

"Look Sonny isn't depressed because of you. Brian is bothering him and he wants you back but he's afraid. You need to go talk to him and I swear to God it you don't all it's going to do is show just how much you don't love him," Chad yelled tired of hearing Will have a pity party.

Will opened his mouth to ask what the hell Chad was talking about only the youngest DiMera stormed out before another word could be said. The blonde stood there for a minute trying to process everything and wondered what was going on. He shook his head and sat back down at his desk ignoring the urge to go to Sonny. Soon Will found that he couldn't ignore the urge any longer and he decided to take Chad's advice if only so he could have closure.

~Sticks and Stones~

Sonny was alone as he closed down the café trying not to break down or freak out. He didn't want to let what happened control his life but it wasn't working. He was afraid of shutting the lights off, he had nightmares and every time someone came up behind him he freaked out. Chad and Uncle Victor tried to help him but it didn't work because he still didn't feel safe. The door opened and he tensed turning to tell the person to leave only to freeze when he saw Will.

"Hey," he whispered clenching his hands fighting the urge to fall into Will's arms.

"So Chad came to see me and pretty much said that we needed to talk," the blonde started.

"Is that all he said?" Sonny asked afraid fighting the urge to cry once again.

"He told me that the reason you were depressed wasn't because of me but because Brian was bothering you though I have to say you look like death warmed over," Will said a frown on his face and he came up to Sonny trying to cup his face.

Sonny couldn't help his reaction he flinched jumping back flashing back to that night and he hated it. He fought through it opening his mouth to say something only to find Will starring at him in horror and realization. The brunette closed his eyes fighting tears knowing that the man he loved knew the truth and now wouldn't want him.

"Jesus Christ," the blonde said horrified knowing exactly what happened to Sonny, "You were raped."

Will waited for some type of answer instead he watched as the man he loved let out a broken sob. The sound broke his heart because Sonny was so strong and so sure of himself that he inspired Will to be a better man yet here he stood breaking apart by the seams because of one horrible act. The blonde approached carefully not knowing if his touch would be welcomed and he slowly wrapped one arm around the brunette waiting to see what would happen sighing in relief when Sonny collapsed into his arms gripping his shirt tightly. Will didn't know many things nor did he know how he was going to handle this but he knew that he was going to do whatever it took to help the man he loved no matter what.

"I'm here," Will reassured holding him tightly wishing he could fix this whole thing and he felt Sonny shake his head in denial, "I'm not going anywhere. I love you and I won't let anyone hurt you."

Sonny wanted to believe him but he was dirty now and there was no way that Will could possibly want him. He knew it wasn't fair but he never wanted to let Will go because for the first time in weeks since his attack he felt safe. Sonny gripped his shirt tightly in an iron grip knowing selfishly that he never wanted to let go of him but a fear ran through him that just maybe this was some joke and Will would leave him when he realized how dirty and broken he was.