Abby's POV
She gently strokes Noah's Mohawk.
How can a doctor justify breaking a man/child like that?
What we just witnessed?
No one deserves what he has been through.
How were we suppose to just let him lay there? Let him be caught up in a nightmare that wouldn't end?
My God the fear in his eyes, the sound of his voice begging Tom not to hurt him.
I couldn't stand watching it anymore, fuck what the doctor said about letting it just happen.
So I did what I thought was best for him and maybe for me too. I held him against me, gently telling him he was okay.
Why couldn't the nurse do something besides take notes? Why couldn't she give him something sooner instead of after it was over?
I know she was only doing her job, but I think if she walks back in here any time soon I will kick her ass back out into the hallway.
The hallway.
The kids.
Oh shit the kids.
Tom sent them out of the room and they were so scared, Rebecca was crying when they left.
I have to go make sure they are alright.
She gently moves her body from slightly behind Noah, hearing a soft groan from him.
Abby looks at the battered face and is met with drooping hazel eyes. She knows that he is, for lack of a better phrase, stoned by his pupils.
"Tom he's awake, I think", she says in a quiet voice.
"Who are you?" Noah's voice is rough from the attack.
"Abby, a friend of Tom's", she gently lays her hand on top of his and he doesn't pull away.
"Tom needs to talk to you", she looks over at Tom and gently smiles at him, "I need to go check on Kurt and Rebecca".
She gives Noah's hand a squeeze before she walks out of the room.
Tom shifts uncomfortably in the chair, not knowing how to start the conversation that will change Noah's life and his sister's. He clears his throat and he starts the dreaded conversation.
"Noah I don't know how to start this, what to say to you except to lay it all out and hope that you can accept it and me", Tom voice betrays the emotions that are raging inside of his mind.
"Mr. Watson, its okay just say it, I'm going back to Juvie", Noah's voice held no emotion as he said it.
"What?", Tom wasn't sure he heard the words correctly.
"I went after Mr. Shue yesterday, tried to hit him", Noah's eyes seemed to look everywhere but at Tom, "I know I fucked up".
"Noah, look at me", leaning over the bed Tom tries to get eye contact, "you're not going back to that hell hole. You and your sister are going to live with me for a while."
Noah jerks his head around to look at Tom, he cant believe what Tom just said about going home with him.
"I don't understand, why are we going to live with you?", Noah's eyes shine with tears.
"Noah, listen to me. I had judge grant me guardianship of you last night. No one has the right to hurt you. When I got to your house, no one has the right to do that to you. " Tom is interrupted by Noah.
"She was just mad at me. She didn't mean to hurt me." Noah's voice hitches in his throat. He looks away from Tom.
"Noah, Rebecca told me everything about the abuse. The doctor said that most of your injuries happened while you were at Juvie, but they could also see signs of abuse going farther back. I cant let you go back to that house." Tom is trying hard to control his voice, keeping it even and calm.
"Rebecca told Mrs. Cantrell, the lady from Social Services, everything too. It was her decision to place your sister with me. Your Mother needs help, professional help, and until she can meet the guidelines set down by Mrs. Cantrell, she is not allowed to have any contact with you or Rebecca."
Tom is fighting the urge to reach out and comfort Noah, but he is scared that he will cause another panic attack.
He sees Noah's shoulders start to shake and hears him sniffling, he cant stand it anymore. He sits on the side of the bed.
"Noah, I am sorry", that is all that Tom gets to say as Noah turns to him and leans towards him. That was all Tom needed as he wraps Noah in a careful hug.
Tom doesn't know how long he holds Noah and he doesn't care. He can feel Noah's hands holding on to his shirt, the wet patches from his tears.
Tom hears a faint and hitching, "thank you", from Noah.
He doesn't say anything to Noah, he cant because of his own voice catching , he just simply holds him a little tighter.
Tom notices that Noah is not gripping his shirt so tightly now, his body no longer racked with sobs.
He gently eases Noah back down to his pillows and sees that Noah is asleep.
Tom watches for a moment and is suddenly overwhelmed by the feelings inside of him. Noah had sought comfort from him, he wasn't scared of him this time.
Maybe he could help save these two.
No one would ever hurt Noah again or Rebecca, Tom would make sure of that from now on.
The Descent by Mark Salling
What was it like to go through
A life and end up here
You will know
How does it feel to forget the world
And all you fear
I know its hard to even imagine
Letting go