I KEPT MY PROMISE, here's that "one more chapter before the end of the year" because man, I actually had full intention of posting this months ago but life happened of course…anyway you know, the problem when you go so long without updating is you forget what happened in previous chapters so you have to go back and reread them for consistency's sake so that you don't accidentally say or repeat anything that has already been established. Oops… anyway please take this as a token of my appreciation for sticking around with this story after all this time and I apologize in advance for any misspellings not caught before publication. Enjoy!
They make it back to the Mancave with no problem at all, carrying Henry in his arms as a sense of relief washes over him. He's safe in his arms, he wishes to never let go.
As much as he understood the eagerness of his friends to finally reunite with their returning friend, Ray found it best to let the team know that he thought it should just be him and Henry when they returned. They were disappointed but understood. The last thing Henry needs right now is for all of them to be interrogating him with questions and invading his needed privacy because God knows he needs it. His mental game seemed far beyond what Ray had watched it to be.
Ray arrived as expected to find the Mancave cleared out, he was exhausted from having to walk and carry Henry back but it was all worth it. He made his way up to his bedroom where he set the kid down on his unmade bed from that morning. He eyed him with sincerity, he cringed at how skinny the kid had become in only a short amount of time as well as the dried blood and grime from his wounds. He would have to take a look at those but for now, the kid needed rest. He seemed so oblivious to the world around him but that's all Ray could ask for right now.
He pulled the covers over the fragile body and sat beside him on the side of the bed, his fingers running through hair that was grimy and oily. He could stay here and do this all night long but he was tired too. Ray quickly washed up, occasionally looking out the bathroom door to make sure this wasn't a fantasy and that Henry was there on his bed, sleeping. On the other hand, he is so, so afraid to take his eyes off him for one second because he's afraid that he'll find him gone the next.
Ray tries to stay calm and collected, fussing over him will not be any good to him and especially to Henry. All he needs to do right now is get a good night's rest right beside Henry which will ensure his mind and heart that he's right there and that kid isn't going anywhere.
The following morning, Ray had been the first to awaken of the two. It was late dawn now as proven by the time that sat at his nightstand. The sunlight had been illuminating through his window by curtains into some sections of his room but one of those just so happened to be shining over Henry's face.
The boy was still so lost to the world, he looked exhausted like he had never had the chance to properly sleep during his time in captivity. His eyes were lined with dark bags beneath them and looked paler than the bed sheets below him but Ray tried to pay no mind to it, they would handle that later. For now, Henry really just needed to catch some sleep.
He sat there for a while, he's not sure how long just thinking as his head hit the headboard behind him as he gazed above his uninteresting ceiling. This didn't feel real but this is as real as it's going to get. He honestly couldn't believe the events that played out last night. When he was running, running to make his way to that building, he could only give a silent prayer that he'd find Henry alive. It was like a mantra repeating in his head over and over again like a broken record but the last thing he was expecting was running into Henry himself.
Henry, oh that boy seemed so terribly afraid he was shaking like a leaf when he had heard him and he is sure that it wasn't wind being the cause of his shivers. The way Henry had put up his hands like a fugitive caught amid escape, ready to be shot made his heart drop. He could never, would never do such a thing to Henry. He can only imagine what things Drex has done to break this kid, this amazing kid.
Ray promised to himself and to Henry that he would get his revenge on Drex, he swore to it.
He needed a shower, badly. He honestly can't remember the last time he did so since this nightmare began. Not wanting Henry to awaken and find a very neglected Ray, he opted to take a quick yet efficient shower simply. Maybe he was paranoid but he was going to leave the bathroom door open just this once.
Ray gathered his belongings and swiftly ran into the bathroom to wash himself up, as he did so he would occasionally open the shower curtain to ensure Henry's presence. Following he simply proceeded to wrap it up by finishing his wash, brushed his hair to a style he didn't really care about and a red shirt with black sweats, he wasn't planning on going out today.
Returning to the main room, he found Henry in the same position he last saw him in. Like last night, he couldn't help but run his fingers through his hair. The kid desperately needed a wash or a bath of some kind for that matter. He's not too sure of the extent of Henry's injuries but do tell by the way his wrist had appeared last night, bloody and limp, he could only assume it went further than that.
He really needed to do a full medical examination on him but it can wait until he awakens, he hoped that it would be soon enough.
Attempting to ease his paranoia, Ray opted to go down into the main quarters of the Mancave and make some breakfast for the two. Some food ought to do them some good.
Somewhere along the lines of his fatigued mind did he felt that something wasn't right, something was off.
Henry lay beneath several layers of blankets against a soft mattress that he sank into like a cloud. This was the first time in who knows how long he felt well rested, sleeping against concrete and the cold air only made him shake and curl in his sleep. He had no proper pillow and nothing to cover himself with, the small amount of sunlight in the room was his only sense of comfort.
Maybe his mind hadn't registered this at that exact moment because he was too busy complimenting just how warm and comfortable he felt. Then, that's when it felt like he was hit by a freight train.
Henry sat up, panicked, which he instantly regretted because his entire body had become so achy and sore from all the running he had done, yesterday? The day before that? He's not sure how long he's been asleep.
His eyes frantically looked around the room and he recognized it but his brain for some reason had a difficult time pinpointing who this belonged to. It was on the tip of his tongue and he knew it and then, it clicked.
This is Ray's room.
His breathing slowed, not realizing it had picked up in the first place. He wasn't dreaming, this was real.
He really did escape that night and he really did come across Ray in the midst of his escape. Ray had been looking for him and he really did find him. This was all real and all Henry wanted to do was break down.
He was afraid, so terribly afraid it had been some sick twisted dream of an escape that felt miles away from his reach. Henry figured by the time he woke up he would find himself back in that cold, wet basement as he waited for Drex to come back, or to die, whichever came first.
Everything felt overwhelming at that moment. Physically, Emotionally, and Mentally it was a lot and the one thing that remained in his mind throughout his mind scrabble was where the hell was Ray?
Within a matter of minutes that question would soon be answered as Ray returned with two plates in hand with their breakfast and when their eyes interlocked he almost dropped the porcelain plates right there.
This was real.
They sat in silence while they ate their breakfast on Ray's bed. It consisted of a few scrambled eggs with bacon and small bites of fried potatoes. Neither spoke a word, waiting for the other to speak first.
Henry had been the first to finish which was unsurprising, it had been a while since Drex last fed him so he practically inhaled the food before him before Ray had the chance to finish his eggs.
"Um, is there any more by chance? Unless-"
Ray didn't hesitate to switch his plate with Henry's. He wasn't all that hungry anyway so he had no problem doing so.
"You can have mine, I'm not really a breakfast guy. If this isn't enough for you I could grab more downstairs," Ray replied.
Henry simply looked down at his plate, unsure of what to do but he finally let his stomach speak for him before he eventually found himself stuffing another bacon strip in his mouth.
Ray watched him with slight amusement, he wasn't judging just watching him which he probably should have long looked away because he sensed the discomfort Henry was feeling.
"I'm sorry. It's just- it's hard to believe you're actually right here in front of me," Ray attempted to defend.
Henry sighed, "Tell me about it, I thought this was all a dream until you walked in."
Ray chuckled at that, this was truly the first time in a while since he'd smiled, "I guess I knocked your head a lil' huh?"
Henry snorted, "If you want to say so."
They sat like that to themselves until Ray broke the silence.
"We missed you, Henry. I missed you. We never stopped looking until we found you."
Their eyes met once again yet one was riddled with guilt and the other with disbelief. There was a point where Henry was on the brink of losing hope but it warmed his heart that his friends didn't stop searching for him.
"Where are they anyway? Charlotte, Jasper, & Schwoz?" Henry questioned.
Ray signed, "They just stepped out for a while, give you some space and time to recover."
Henry nodded, 'When- when can I see them?"
"Whenever you're ready, Henry."
Henry didn't know what to think, after all this time it felt like his world was slowly coming to an end. Drex had made him believe that no one would find him and he'd die alone in that very basement. He terribly regretted doubting his friends but it had been two weeks and he could only wonder what took the team so long.
He was so into his thoughts he didn't feel the wetness that had begun running down his flushed cheeks until Ray had wiped them away. He looked right back up at him and found Ray's eyes threatening to spill too.
There was so much emotion there. So much hurt and pain yet so much love and comfort too. He felt so alone and nearly gave up but his friends kept him going. He owed them the world.
Henry owed them his life.
Who knows maybe check your inboxes during Christmas time *wink*