John sulks deeper down in the bed. Jacob and Joseph have been tag teaming him since Jacob got back from the mountains. How we can trust the police, how all they want was to get close to him so they can put him away. John didn't dare say what their real intention was, he didn't know who even told them about what was going on.
"Have…ever…thought…end…life?" John asks. That shuts the brothers up almost immediately.
"Once," Jacob admits. Joseph looks at him then down at the floor.
"Me as well," Joseph says.
"I never tried though," Jacob says. "I thought about it when we were lost in the desert."
"Why you not try?" John asks.
"Because I was stronger than that," Jacob says.
"I would be…c.u.l.l.e.d?" John asks his brother. Jacob stares at John dumbfounded. "I weak. I tried."
"No, John, that's not what I meant," Jacob says.
"What you said," John responds.
"I know that is what I said," Jacob says.
"If not brother, I would be?" John asks.
"I…I don't know, John," Jacob says.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Joseph says. Jacob looks down at the floor, John looks away tears in his eyes. "Things are very heated right now, John. He did not mean it." John scoffs.
"Take his side," John answers. "Like always do." Joseph comes over to John, pulling his hair back hard, pinning his head down onto the pillow.
"JOE!" Jacob shouts. Joseph lets go of John, watching as he trembles, sobbing on the bed. Joseph bends down and kisses John on the forehead.
"No matter how you are injured, I will not tolerate that," Joseph says. "I think it would be wise for all of us to be alone." Jacob sighs, but nods, going over to John who is still sobbing, Jacob turns him on his side, kissing his temple.
"I love you, John," Jacob whispers. Joseph had already left after the outburst. John sniffles watching as Jacob leaves the room. He grunts, flipping onto his back. He concentrates very hard, he's able to move his arm, pulling the table closer to him, he pulls the iPad off the table, Staci's card landing in his lap. He is starting to lose a lot of his energy, he just has to concentrate on the card, putting the number into the iPad.
John: Deputy Pratt?
Staci blinks down at his phone, he didn't recognize the number, so it had to have been John.
Staci: John?
John: Yes.
Staci: Hey, I'm glad you texted. Is everything okay?
John: Me weak?
Staci: Are you weak for doing what you did? No, you are not. You have to really be hurting to do what we did. Hurting doesn't make you weak, John. It makes you human.
John: Human?
Staci: Yes, human. You are only human, John. Or are you?
John: funny. Can come Monday?
Staci: Sure, I can come on Monday.
John: Send you a time later. Tired.
Staci: Get some rest, John. I'm glad you reached out.
John grunts, typing SP into the contacts, he could always say it was a college friend if his brothers ask. He deletes the messages, letting his hand fall, his head rolling to the side against the soft pillow. He wanted to be sleeping in his bed, in his silk sheets, against his fluffy white pillows.
Jacob paces in his bedroom, he was contemplating going to see Joseph. But he wasn't sure if that was such a good idea. What had gotten into him? We cannot push him away right now. That would make him even more vulnerable. Jacob was terrified when he saw those deputies talking to John. Even more terrified when John wasn't responding. Jacob starts to strip himself of his shirt, hearing a knock on the door.
"Joe?" Jacob asks.
"Yeah, can I come in?" Joseph responds. Jacob opens the door for him. He continues to search for a shirt. "Are you upset with me?"
"Joe, we cannot push him away right now," Jacob says. "He needs us. He's already been through so much. Why are you adding onto that?"
"I can't let him get away with that though, Jacob," Joseph says. "What do you suggest I do to punish him?"
"Take away his iPad?" Jacob asks. "For an hour at first but if he's really acting out, a day. No more violence, Joe. Please."
"Okay," Joseph says. Joseph's eyes start to wander Jacob's chest. He was very fit; it made him want to start to work on his own body. He looks away before his thoughts turned dark. Turned sinful. Joseph looks down at his phone, smiling. "The wheelchair should be here by tomorrow."
"That'll be a good surprise for him," Jacob says. "Are you worried about the deputies showing up?"
"They showed up for a reason," Joseph answers. "I don't know what to think, Jacob."
"John needs friends, though, Joe," Jacob says.
"I know," Joseph replies.
By tomorrow afternoon, the wheelchair had arrived. John had his eyes closed, obviously very confused as to what his brothers were planning.
"Okay, open them," Joseph says. John opens his eyes, seeing the new wheelchair. It was fancy, there's a place to put a tray in front of him so he can work, the button looked easy to push.
"How expensive?" John asks.
"Hey, don't you worry about that," Jacob says. "You want to try it out?" John grins, nodding. Jacob and Joseph both help John into the chair. There was padding everywhere, it was comfortable. John pushes the button to move it and is pushed forward by the force. John laughs, genuinely laughs. "No, hey, now wait a second." John is eager to get out of this room, to explore his house again, Jacob fastened the belt around John's waist. John pushes the button; Joseph has to jump out of the way as John makes his way out into the living space. The first thing he notices is the furniture has been moved. John turns to the back patio. He looks at Joseph and Jacob for permission.
"Want to go outside?" Jacob asks. John nods eagerly. Jacob shakes his head but makes his way over to the patio doors opening them. John makes his way to the patio. They built a ramp for him to get down to the backyard and stables. Joseph is behind John, following him. John makes it outside with a little help from Joseph. John takes a deep breath, looking up at the sky for the first time in over a week. John starts to look around accessing the backyard. The grass wouldn't need cutting, snow would be here before he knew it. John starts to move forward, being stopped by Jacob. "Hey, I think it's best you stay here right now." Joseph had run back inside to grab John's iPad, he handed it to him.
"My house!" John says. He had found the emotions tab earlier this morning, it had all the major emotions, sadness, anger, happiness. But Pat had added a few more for John.
"I know it is, John," Jacob says. "But you are not well enough to do a walkthrough." John nods.
"Have to get used to it first," John answers. "Eat out here?"
"Let me just go grab a blanket and coat for you," Joseph says. John goes to argue but Joseph is gone in an instant.
"He sorry," John says.
"Very sorry," Jacob says. "But don't think you are getting off without punishment. He won't be violent with you anymore though." John tries to ignore the stares from his men, he was used to that. They were probably judging him even back then.
"What do to Hunter?" John asks.
"I made him pay," Jacob answers.
"Not an answer," John replies.
"Do you really want all the gory details?" Jacob asks.
"Wouldn't be asking if didn't," John answers.
"I sodomized him with my knife, made him bleed like he made you bleed, then I castrated him," Jacob says.
"What you said you do to Faith…true?" John asks.
"Yeah," Jacob tells his brother.
"Thank you," John responds. John turns his wheelchair around, so it is facing the door, Joseph comes back not too long after and has a blanket in one hand and a jacket in the other. "Blanket be enough."
"No, I don't think so," Joseph answers. "We really don't want you to get sick, John."
"Nice day," John says.
"But you have also not been outside in a week, John," Jacob says. John rolls his eyes. He smiles as Joseph helps John put his coat on, putting the blanket over his lap. The blanket was warm. Had Joseph put it in the dryer? For the first time in a while, John was happy. But eyes were always watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike.