A/N
WARNING: references to sexual abuse of a child, not overly graphic, but graphic none the less.
On a lighter note, Thank you very much to those of you who are enjoying this story. Vamomoftwins, Fallingintogrey, shadoecoon, tmacone, and believeloso, together you have inspired me. At one point, I was ready to delete this story, thanks to readers like you, that will not be happening. Thank you again.
FPOV
It's the middle of the night when I wake up to a series of blood curdling screams. I leap out of bed and open the door. I listen again, I can hear footsteps running downstairs. Suddenly, I realize the screams are coming from Christian. I race down the stairs and see a small crowd outside his bedroom. Gail is standing in the background with her hand hand over her mouth with a look of pain on her face. Taylor and Sawyer are in the doorway, flashing the lights, calling his name. Each of them has a gun in one hand.
I make my way to Taylor. I can see Christian now, squirming in pain, screaming in anguish, stuck in a nightmare that will not end. I slip past Taylor and his "Doc, no!" It is impossible to stand by doing nothing while he is suffering so horribly. I watch him clutch his chest and the resulting shreik is unbearable.
"Christian," I call firmly and loudly, as I gently tap his arm, aware that he is not in control and possibly dangerous. "Christian," I call louder, "It's Flynn. Wake up, Christian." The screams start to subside and he begins to cry instead, calling "Mommy," repeatedly in a sad, desperate voice. It is absolutley heartbreaking. Somehow, it is so different to see him actually suffer this nightmare than to hear him relate it. He has turned over and I pat his head gently, calling his name. He rolls away and buries his head under the pillow. He is still in the dream; a four year old running from my touch.
Taylor comes over and says, "its okay, Doc. The worst is over. He'll wake up soon and play the piano. He won't like it if you're here. "
I let out a long breath and answer, "But here is where I need to be." I move over to the chair in the corner. "I'll just wait here for him to wake up.""
Taylor just grunts and says good night. Ten minutes later, I hear Christian give a deep, stuttering sigh. I know he is awake now. I call his name and announce my presence. His head jerks up and turns in my direction.
"Flynn?" He asks incredulously.
"Yes, Christian. You had a nightmare."
Christian lays his head back down on the pillow, turning away from me. I half smile at his defensive reaction.
"Would you like to talk about the nightmare, Christian"
"No."
"I really think we should, Christian. Is this the same nightmare you always have where the pimp burns you with his cigarette?"
I hear Christian's heavy breathing. Its becoming increasingly more rapid. "Tell me what happens before he burns you, Christian ." There is a long silence, then Christian starts to speaak.
"I can't. He says if I tell anyone, he kill mommy and me." I can just make out his words between his tears. His voice is that of a child.
"You're safe now, Christian. I won't let him hurt you, but you need to tell me what he did. Did he touch you?"
I hear a loud sob. He has told me about this nightmare in the office several dozen times. Never has he referred to any sexual abuse. Yet, I am certain something happened.
"Christian, what did he make you do?"
More sobs. "He was a bad man, Christian. Did he touch you?"
More sobs. "Christian, you need to tell me what happened. Come on, you can do it and then you'll feel better and the nightmares will go away."
I wait as patiently as I can and am rewarded when I hear his small, trembling voice cry out, "He unzipped his pants and said I had to kiss him and lick him like a Popsicle. I looked once. And it scared me. It was so big and red. I shook my head no and called my mommy but she didn't come. The man got very angry when I said no and I tried to run away. He stopped me. He tried to make it go in my mouth but it was too big, then he lit a cigarette. He told me to touch it with my hands. I said no, and he held me down and burned me with the cigarette until I said yes. He made me kiss it too. I tried to say no but everytime I did, he would crush the cigarette into my chest. It hurt so bad."
"Christian, do you understand he was a very bad man, what happened isn't your fault. Adults should never hurt children or try to force them to do things they don't want to do. You had no choice."
" I was so afraid, I think he wanted to kill me."
"But its over now, isn't it? He cannot hurt you anymore. You are a strong, powerful man, surrounded my men who will protect you at any cost. Do you understand you are safe now? He will never hurt you again. Say it, Christian. Say I am safe and he can never hurt me again. Never."
"I-l-l am safe and he can never hurt me again. Never!"
"That's right, Christian. Now go back to sleep. You're safe. I'll stay here until you fall asleep. Okay?"
The little boy inside the man replies softtly, "Okay."