A/N: I hope you will enjoy it. Reviews, as always, are gladly appreciated.
Thank you for reading.
I apologie for any grammar or spelling mistakes.
Chapter Nine
"But you are still my protégé." He could hear Joel's soft chuckle. "And I do believe you will be loyal to the very end."
"...yes."
Suddenly the door was slammed with such an awful noise, interferring their conversation.
"Bren.."
Brendan could only see the running siluet of an unwelcome listener, as he rushed into the corridor. He didn't manage to see who it was, but deep down he already knew the answer. He could deal with it afterwards.
Few minutes passed and he went back in to the room, sitting down on the chair.
"It's alright, seen nothing." Brendan breathed.
"But that could've been one of the-"
"To finish what they started, no. You were just a pawn, a little nosey pawn for them. They done with you. End of."
"I s'pose you still need the source?"
"Yes, but you've got to rest." He brushed the kids hair.
"Brendan...I-"
"Joel, stop it, will you? It's the matter of past. We shan't talk about it anymore."
"I..I'm so sorry...I don't deserve any ..of this...I've acted like moron...stupid...was being so stupid..." He didn't manage the sentence as the tears streamed down his face. All his bruised body was trembling. It was seen that every movement brought him nothing but the unbearable pain. Just as if thousand daggers were wield through his whole body.
Brendan hold his arms around his shoulders tenderly, while he was weeping.
"Shh it's okay kid. It's okay."
"I had nobody, but then I met you...Brendan...I.. owe you so much." He buried his head in Brendan's chest, not able to stop his tears.
"You owe me nothing, but one thing," Brendan was rubbing soothing circles on the kid's back, trying to ease his inner pain, at last. "Get well."
"Um.."
Brendan knew that Joel was about to drift in again, so he laid down his head carefully and started murmuring a lullaby. The boy's body relaxed and his eyes were already closed.
They lay like this, emrbraced for a long time, at least it seemed to be so. Joel fell asleep while Brendan was stroking his hair, like a lone wolf would be licking his cub's wounds.
It was like this until the boy started shivering again and Brendan hold him tightly, covering him under his body. Brendan found himself drifting off to sleep, as Joel calmed; his chest rised and settled. He was deep asleep.
Brendan rose to his now heavy feet and looked over the sleeping boy. Fight. You will be alright I know that. Just fight.
With one last glance, he swept down to plant a kiss on Joel's forehead, whispering," When I come back, you will tell me everything." and headed over to the door.