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dylan-dufresne.livejournal.com posting in monaboyd Aug. 11th, 2007 07:25 am)Title: With A Little Help From My Friends - 37/47
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: Light R, maybe.
Summary: The start of repairs at the book shop, unexpected visitors, reconnecting as a couple, and a visit from the past.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta,frojane.
Special Thanks: Toloki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has created, and to tarnishedhalo for loaning me her inspirational manip for the centerpiece. I am so thankful and appreciative of you both, and your generosity.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: Warning of angst.
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36
Chapter 37
It’s after a night of rest and breakfast the next morning that Dom tucks Billy in for a nap and presses a feathery kiss to his bow shaped lips before he slips out into the hall to talk to Viggo once the older man has closed his eyes.
“Bill’s looking better today,” Viggo comments with a smile. “I think it’s possible that he’ll be released as early as tomorrow morning, provided all his tests come back okay.”
“That’s great,” Dom replies, then gnaws on his lower lip for a moment. “Can you, uh, can you stay with him for a while?”
“Sure.” Looking closer at Dom, Viggo frowns. “Please tell me you’re going to find a quiet place to lie down and get some sleep.”
“No, I have to find out when I clean up the book shop,” Dom explains, glancing back at the closed door of Billy’s hospital room. “I didn’t get a good look at all the damage when I found Billy, and I don’t want him to see what they did to the place he loves. As it is, I know he’ll want to open up as soon as possible. The last thing he needs to clean up that mess. It’ll break his heart to see it the way it is right now.”
“Dom, you’re exhausted,” Viggo presses. “The nurses tell me you barely slept last night, and it’s clear you’d been putting in long hours at work before this happened. I can see it in your eyes, and in your body. You can’t keep going at this pace.”
“I have to do this,” Dom insists. “The book shop was Billy’s dream. He worked so hard and sacrificed for years to get it. You know that. I can’t bear the thought of him having to look at ripped pages, splintered wood from the book shelves that he put together himself, and-”
“Okay okay,” Viggo interrupts, finally conceding, knowing that this is an argument that he can’t win. “I’ll stay with him.”
“Thank you,” Dom says sincerely. “I’ve talked to the insurance company, and they’ll send someone right over. I just need to call them.”
“Have you talked to David to see if you’re allowed to clean up?” the doctor asks. “I can make a call.”
“I was going to try to contact him first, so yeah, that would help,” Dom replies. “Save me leaving Billy if I don’t have to.”
Nodding, Viggo pulls his mobile out of his pocket and dials the number on the business card that David had given him, waiting as the line rings until it’s answered.
“Hi David, it’s Viggo. I’m calling because Dom was hoping to be able to get started on cleaning up the book shop today. Is that possible?”
After listening to the detective for a brief moment, he smiles and gives Dom a ‘thumbs up’ sign.
“Great, thanks David.”
“Wait,” Dom says, extending his hand for the phone. “Can I talk to him?”
“David, hold on. Here’s Dom.”
“Hi,” Dom says awkwardly, hands trembling slightly as he tries not to clutch the mobile too tightly. “I wondered if you’d heard anything about Aaron. Billy told me about what happened to him at the book shop.”
The crestfallen look a moment later answers the question for Viggo, and he slides an arm around Dom’s shoulders for a squeeze of comfort.
“Okay,” Dom adds softly. “Thank you.”
Viggo watches and lets Dom slip free of his loose embrace as the younger man ends the call and hands him back the small phone.
“No word about Aaron,” Dom reports with a sigh. “The crime scene investigators are all finished collecting the evidence they need at the shop so I can start cleaning up anytime.”
“Don’t lose hope, Dom,” Viggo says gently. “I’m crossing my fingers that he’ll turn up soon.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can, a couple of hours or so, hopefully less,” Dom vows as Viggo tucks his mobile into the back pocket of his scrubs. “And don’t tell Billy. I don’t want him to worry about it.”
Although the idea of lying to the Scotsman doesn’t sit well with Viggo, he reluctantly nods. “I won’t, I promise.”
The friends share a quick hug, and as Dom starts to walk away, Viggo calls out to him.
“Don’t forget to bring some clean clothes for Bill. Except for his shoes, they had to cut off what he was wearing when he was brought in,” Viggo says. “When he gets released-”
“Right. Thanks.”
Viggo waves one last time as Dom hurries away, and then settles into a chair across the hall, waiting for Billy to awaken, and wondering what he’s going to say. The chances of the book shop being vandalized again are small, since whoever did this probably thinks the message that was conveyed has been received, loud and clear. It’s the middle of the day, with lots of people around. Viggo just hopes that he’s made the right decision, and that Dom will be back very soon. Preferably, before Billy wakes up.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Thankful that he had some cash tucked away in his wallet, Dom pays the taxi driver and slips out of the back seat, taking a deep breath before walking towards the back door of the book shop. The bright yellow crime scene tape is still there, clinging to the frame, and Dom cringes internally at the memory of the destruction he saw just before he discovered Billy. Even though he fervently hopes that he’s wrong, he’s almost positive that it’ll only look worse in the harsh light of day.
Unconsciously, Dom’s long fingers tighten around the ring of keys in his pocket, and he has to take a moment to collect himself before sliding the key into the lock. Distantly, he wonders how the police locked the door, and then decides they are probably used to dealing with that particular problem, and have a way to deal with it. Part of Dom wants to wait until the insurance adjuster arrives, but at the same time, can’t stop himself from turning the key and then pulling the door open. It’s better that he deal with this than Billy. To see your dream so callously destroyed is a pain that Dom is determined to shield Billy from. Considering how absent he’s been lately, it’s the least he can do for the man he loves, Dom tells himself.
The hardest part for Dom is switching on the light to chase away the shadows, leaving nowhere for the devastation to hide. With his hands in his pockets and eyes downcast, Dom makes a slow tour of the book shop, starting a mental inventory of all the work that’ll need to be done before this horrible event has been washed away, at least in the physical sense. Billy’s injuries will take longer to heal, but having the book shop open, and customers milling about will surely help to cheer him up. Black smudges cover dozens of surfaces, but Dom has almost walked through the entire shop before he realizes what it is. Fingerprint powder; Detective Wenham’s attempt to do his part in catching whoever is responsible for this horrible, senseless damage.
Part of Dom is relieved when the insurance adjuster arrives, and is grateful when the woman wastes no time documenting the state of the shop, taking notes and countless photographs. Numbly, he follows her around, and then signs the form she presents to him, thanking her when she hands him a folder, detailing all he’ll need to do to be reimbursed for the repairs. It’s only when Dom is closing the door behind the woman as she leaves that he realizes he’s trembling, his eyes glistening as his emotions overwhelm him once again.
Brushing at his damp cheeks and sniffing, Dom silently orders himself to pull it together. This isn’t the time for tears. Crying won’t erase the last few days, and the people who did this don’t deserve his tears. Billy and Aaron are the ones who had to endure the violence, so surely Dom can manage to take care of the aftermath. Surveying the mess, Dom is trying to decide where to start when the door behind him swings open unexpectedly, and he whirls around, suddenly fearful that the thieves have returned. A moment later, his jaw drops open in shock at the welcome sight of a familiar face.
“Mark?”
“Sorry,” he says apologetically as he slips inside and closes the door to keep the heat inside. “Didn’t mean to scare you, Dom. I just thought the back door would be the better option.”
“No, it’s fine,” Dom tells him, his pleasure at seeing the other man quite clear. “What are you doing here?”
Looking over Dom’s shoulder and nodding at the damage, Mark’s eyes darken with sadness. “I saw the story on the news. I tried to call, but I couldn’t reach anyone here, so I decided to come in person. I thought maybe you could use some help.”
Relief steals Dom’s strength, and he nods weakly as the other man steps forward and draws him close for a hug.
“Yeah,” he says unsteadily, leaning into Mark’s strength. “That would be nice.”
“Sorry that we’re seeing each other under these circumstances,” Mark adds. “When Em and I saw the story, we couldn’t believe it.”
“How is your gorgeous wife?” Dom asks as they part, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten a wee bit at the memory of when he and Billy attended the friend and former employee’s wedding a little over a year and a half ago.
“She’s great. We, uh, she’s pregnant, actually,” Mark tells Dom with a blush. “Almost four months.”
“You’re going to be a dad,” Dom breathes, smiling for a moment. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you sure Emily doesn’t mind you coming down here?”
“Not at all. She insisted, actually,” Mark admits. “She keeps telling me that she’s pregnant, not sick.”
For the first time in so long that he can’t remember, Dom laughs. “I knew there was a reason I liked her.”
“Would it, uh, be too much to ask if I could crash on your couch?” Mark asks hesitantly, shrugging the shoulder that has a duffle bag slung over it. “With the baby coming, we’re saving every penny-”
“Of course,” Dom interrupts. “Absolutely. I insist, actually.”
“Great. Thanks.”
“No, thank you,” Dom corrects. “You, better than most, know how much this shop means to Billy.”
“I do,” Mark agrees. “So where do you need me? The smell of any household cleanser makes Em nauseous these days, so I’ve gotten pretty good at cleaning since she got pregnant. ”
“I think we’re going to need it,” Dom admits. “And I really don’t know where to start.”
After setting down his bag and stepping further into the space, Mark looks around, his brow furrowing in thought.
“Well, why don’t we start over there,” he says, gesturing to the History section where there seems to be less damage. “Clear out what needs to be replaced, and then move everything that’s salvageable into that space, and go from there.”
“Books that’ll need to be replaced can be sorted by publisher in the office,” Dom adds, his mind starting to settle into the task before them. “That’ll make things easier later, for reordering, yeah? I’m guessing we’re going to need to make a list, to make sure nothing gets forgotten.”
“Good plan.”
“Are you hungry?” Dom asks suddenly.
“No, I just ate. I’m ready to work.”
“Okay,” Dom replies. “Why don’t you take your bag upstairs while I make a phone call?”
“Sure. Be right back.”
As Mark lopes up the narrow staircase to the flat above, Dom finds the phone in the office and calls Janeanne, realizing that he won’t be able to come back to work on Monday. He’s not about to leave Billy alone just days after getting out of the hospital. As much as he’d love for the shop to be cleaned up and repaired before Billy gets home, Dom knows it’ll be a longer process. The best he can hope for is to minimize the mess and show Billy that his beloved shop will be made whole again very soon.
It turns out that Janeanne has heard about what happened as well, and insists that Dom take some time off, since he clearly has other obligations at this time. Dom is hanging up the phone when Mark returns, and together, they start digging in, stacking books on the floor of the office, rejoicing when some things are discovered undamaged Those items are carefully packed into boxes to protect them until everything is cleaned up. After nearly two hours, the sorting is nearly complete, both men are sweaty and dirty, and have hauled numerous loads out to the rubbish bin in the alley.
Standing in the centre of the book shop, Dom is amazed at how empty it looks now, and imagines how it must’ve looked when Billy first moved in, the same day they met in the pub. Back then, he had no idea what an amazing life awaited him with Billy, and how he was loved and cared for within the walls of this building. Dom’s wander down memory lane is shattered abruptly when the phone in the office rings, startling him, and Mark as well.
“Do you want me to get it?” Mark asks. “Just say that the shop is closed for renovations?”
“No, I got it,” Dom tells him. “Thanks.”
Nodding, Mark resumes sweeping up bits of splintered wood and dust while Dom strides into the now cluttered office, scoops up the receiver and braces himself for whoever is on the other end of the line.
“Hello?”
“Dom?”
“Vig. What’s wrong? Did something happen with Billy?” he asks, suddenly worried, his chest tightening.
“No, he’s fine,” the doctor replies quickly. “He’s on the phone with your Mum right now. She’s fussing over him long distance. That’s quite a talent she has.”
Dom smiles at the thought of his sweet mother calling from Manchester to check on Billy, and offer some comfort. “Yeah, she’s really something,” he comments with a sigh.
When Dom had called that first, sleepless night to tell his parents about the robbery, Aureen had immediately offered to come down, but Dom told her it was all right. He had promised to update them regularly, and had assured her that Billy was going to be okay. Not unexpectedly, Aureen offered words of wisdom, reminding Dom that the shop could be repaired, and what was most important was Billy. Of course, Dom agreed with her wholeheartedly.
“You said you’d be back in a couple of hours,” Viggo reminds him, unable to hide how anxious he’s becoming. “Bill is going to want to know where you are any minute.”
Looking down at his watch, Dom winces. “Shite. I need a shower and then I’ll be back. We’ve been cleaning up the shop and getting things organized.”
“We?”
“Mark showed up just after the adjuster left,” Dom explains. “He’s been great. We’ve made a good start, but there’s still a lot to do.”
“I’m glad you have some help,” Viggo says sincerely, relieved that Dom’s not alone at the book shop. “Hurry back, okay?”
“I will.”
Hanging up the phone, Dom returns to the front of the shop to survey the progress they’ve made.
“You should get back to the hospital,” Mark says as he empties a dustpan full of debris into the rubbish bin. “I’ll stay here. Keep working.”
“You don’t-”
“Billy needs you,” Mark interrupts gently. “It’s okay.”
Eternally grateful, Dom blinks back the excess moisture in his eyes as his lower lip trembles. “Thank you.”
“How familiar are you with Billy’s ordering procedures?” Mark inquires, noticing how emotional Dom is and wanting to change the subject to distract him. “If things haven't changed too much, I should be able to get started on the list, at least. That’ll help him.”
“That would be great,” Dom replies. “Tomorrow.”
Wisely keeping quiet, Mark merely nods. “You better get cleaned up. You’re a bit ripe.”
“Yeah.” Dom starts to turn to go upstairs, and then pauses. “I have no idea what’s in the fridge, but-”
“I’ll be fine,” Mark promises. “I’m a big boy.”
“You know where the spare set of keys for the shop is, yeah?”
Mark nods, and then shoos Dom upstairs, smiling at the memory of all the times he caught a fond look between his former employer and the Englishman. They’d danced around one another for months, and then Mark had caught them in a passionate embrace, clearly having found their way to each other. This is a bump in the road, but he has no doubt that they’ll get through it, and be even stronger in the end. He’s never met a more devoted couple.
He’s still smiling as he fills a bucket with hot water and a touch of dish soap, and begins at the front of the shop, meticulously wiping the shelves of the bookcases with a damp cloth and drying them with another. Mark moves swiftly, in a repeating pattern, straightening up as he goes, slowly bringing order to chaos and watching as the book shop he remembers slowly begin to reappear. He’s made it through most of the Nature section when he hears Dom’s footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, Dom comes into view, freshly showered, his blonde hair still damp and carrying a small duffle bag.
“The guest room is down the hall, across from the loo,” Dom tells him. “I’ve left money on the kitchen table so you can order pizza or Thai or whatever. If you want a bath, there’s a tub in our loo. Feel free to use it.”
“Thank you,” Mark says with a smile. “Say hello to Billy for me, yeah?”
“I will.”
“Are you spending the night at the hospital?”
“Most likely,” Dom confirms. “Billy asked me to stay last night, so I’m guessing he’ll do the same tonight.”
“I’ll come by for a visit tomorrow,” Mark says as they walk towards the back door of the shop. “If you think he’ll be up to it.”
“I’m sure he’d love to see you. I won’t tell him about the baby,” Dom tells him, slipping into the office briefly to grab the car keys off the desk. “I’ll save that for you.”
Mark smiles. “Thanks.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Mark watches Dom get into the car and drive away, and then he locks the back door, securing the dead bolt as an extra precaution. Even though he put on a brave face for Dom, knowing what occurred here so recently makes Mark just a wee bit nervous. Then, remembering the promise he made to his wife, he digs his mobile out of his pocket and calls home to update Emily on the situation, and check on her. They talk for a few minutes before ending the conversation, Mark promising to call before she goes to sleep. He then gets back to work, wanting to get as much done as possible before Dom returns in the morning. He quite enjoyed working for Billy, found him to be a good employer and friend, and hopes to pay back the generosity that was bestowed upon him.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
As Billy’s eyes flutter open, he’s greeted by the sight of Dom gazing at him fondly, in his now familiar position, seated in a chair beside the hospital bed.
“Hey,” he rasps quietly. “You shaved.”
Smiling, Dom nods as he stands just enough to lean over to press a soft kiss to Billy’s mouth. “I did.”
“You smell good.”
“Shower and a change of clothes will do that,” Dom adds, gently teasing. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, now that you’re here. Vig took me for a walk down the hall to the nurses station. It felt good to get out, but I got tired really fast.”
“He said that Mum called.”
“Aye, while you were sleeping, I guess,” Billy tells him, then takes a careful breath, his ribs reminding him that they’re very sore. “You still look tired, love.”
“I’m fine,” Dom says gently. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Can’t help it.”
“So it looks like you might get to go home tomorrow,” Dom tells him as he stands to adjust Billy’s pillow when he notices Billy subtly trying to shift his position. “You’ll be back in your own bed, where I can wait on you hand and foot.”
“Our bed,” Billy corrects, the familiar banter causing a smile to turn up the corners of his mouth. “C’mere.”
As Dom obediently lowers his head, their mouths meet in a soft, prolonged kiss, lips parting briefly so tongues can touch.
“You are feeling better,” Dom murmurs when they part, his breath warm against Billy’s cheek.
“Aye,” Billy confirms. “Nurse put something in my drip before my nap to help me sleep, and my headache is finally gone.”
“That’s great, Bills.”
When Dom strokes his cheek, Billy nuzzles into his touch, sighing and reaching out with his good hand to draw the younger man closer.
“Lie down with me,” he requests.
“Bills, you know I love you, and love kissing you, but right now you need to rest.”
“We will,” Billy replies. “I thought maybe we could watch some telly together, like we used to.”
Remembering how their relationship began, watching Monty Python movies and stretching out on the couch together, Dom is helpless to resist his lover’s request.
“All right.”
Dom heels off his trainers and slips under the blanket with Billy, taking care not to disturb his IV and then pressing a fond kiss to his temple once they are both settled. Satisfied, Billy lets himself relax, and the tension that’s been building in his belly finally releases. He knows he can’t watch Dom all the time, but until he tells Dom the truth about what happened, he can’t help but be nervous when his lover isn’t with him.
“I love you, Dommie,” he says softly, resting his head on Dom’s shoulder.
“Love you, too, Bills,” Dom replies. “Always.”
“Will you help me take a shower later?” Billy requests. “One of the nurses said I could, but that I had to have someone with me. She said it could be you, if you didn’t mind.”
“Of course I’ll help you,” Dom tells him, kissing his ginger hair again. “I’d be hurt if you didn’t want me to. That, and I like being the only person who gets to see you naked.”
Billy chuckles briefly, mindful of his ribs. “After dinner?”
“Yeah. We can cover your cast with a bin liner or something, to make sure it stays dry,” Dom comments. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you,” Billy murmurs, letting his eyes close.
“Love you,” Dom whispers as Billy drops off to sleep again, and lays quietly beside the Scotsman, listening to him breathe, eternally grateful that they have a second chance.
The knowledge that Billy will be coming home soon helps to relax Dom as well, and he fully intends to spoil his lover while he convalesces at home, in their bed. He only hopes that Billy isn’t too devastated by the state of the book shop, and vows to redouble his efforts tomorrow, before Billy is released from the hospital.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Over an hour after Dom left, Mark is so caught up in the work that he’s surprised by a knock at the front door, and whirls around to see two young men standing outside, looking at him intently. Curious, he dusts off his hands and walks over to the door, wondering what they could want. The sign on the door says Closed and they don’t seem like the type to be avid readers, in desperate need of a book. Wondering if perhaps he’s making a mistake, Mark opens the door a few inches, and smiles.
“Can I help you?”
“We, uh, we’re looking for Dom,” the one on the left says, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other. “Is he here?”
“No, he isn’t,” Mark replies, casually bracing his leg against the edge of the door. “He’s at the hospital. Can I help you with anything?”
When the young man falters, his older companion speaks up. “We talked to Janeanne, at the Centre, and she told us what happened. We thought maybe we could help or something. You know, clean up?”
Familiar with Dom’s job and his dedication to helping disadvantaged youth in the neighborhood, Mark slowly starts to relax a wee bit. “I see.”
“Can you tell him we came by? To call us? We’re still at the place he found for us.”
A slip of paper with a scrawled phone number is offered to Mark, and he can’t help but be moved by their offer. He’s also struck by the familiar look in their eyes, and he quickly realizes that they are much like Dom, shortly after he’d been rescued by Billy from his life on the street. In a move that surprises even him, Mark suddenly steps back and invites the two inside, closing the door behind them to ward off the chilly temperature.
“I’m just cleaning shelves and whatnot,” he says, pointing to the bucket of water and cloths he’s been using. “If one of you wants to help with that, the other could start mopping the floor.”
“We can do that. This is Drew, and I’m Matt.”
“I’m Mark,” he says, offering his hand to each of them. When Mark notices them looking at him, rather puzzled, he adds, “I used to work for Billy, here at the shop.”
“Ohhhh,” they chorus in reply, finally understanding.
“Dom has a picture of Billy on his desk at the Centre, so we weren’t sure who you were,” Drew explains.
“Dom and I are old friends,” Mark says with a smile. “I was his best man at his wedding.”
Quickly, a familiarity is established between the three as they work, scrubbing away the mess that was left in the wake of the robbery, and in a remarkably short amount of time, the shop begins to take shape. The boys seem eager to learn and help, Mark telling them stories of when Dom stared working at the shop, and how he later returned to school to finish his A levels before applying to uni. Although both boys are carefully guarded, he can see the hint of hope, and the possibility for themselves because of Dom’s success.
By nightfall, every square inch of the book shop has been scrubbed clean, and although it’s a bit bare in spots, because of the missing shelves, it’s greatly improved. Even though the boys tell him it’s not necessary, Mark insists on taking them to Tony’s for pizza, and ensures that they have a safe ride back to the group home. They promise to be back in the morning, ready to clean, paint or whatever Mark needs help with, and the worry that was weighing down his shoulders just a few hours ago has been lightened considerably. There’s no way he could’ve accomplished so much by himself, and he credits Dom’s devotion to the people he’s helped that so much has been done to restore the book shop to it’s former beauty.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Curious about the amount of sleep that Billy seems to need, Dom slips out into the hall when Viggo drops by for a visit, and is reassured that the medication is a temporary measure to make Billy more comfortable, but that he’s already being weaned off of it, and should be just fine tomorrow. The doctor makes a trip to the cafeteria to get a tray for Dom, so that the couple can eat together, and at Dom’s request, he finds something suitable to cover Billy’s cast so he can take a shower.
Once their dinner trays have been taken away, Dom rolls up the sleeve of Billy’s hospital gown to secure the plastic around his cast, wanting Billy to rest as much as possible. After the last piece of white medical tape is in place, he helps the older man to his feet and they slowly make their way over to the loo, thanking Viggo before closing the door for some privacy. While Billy watches, Dom strips off his clothes, quickly piling the cotton and denim next to the basin, and when he looks up, he catches Billy’s eyes wandering appreciatively over his bare skin.
“Enjoying the view?” he teases.
“I always love to look at you,” Billy replies tenderly. “You’re beautiful.”
Their lips meet in a gentle kiss, and then Dom asks, “Warm, or hot?”
“More hot than warm,” Billy replies as Dom reaches into the shower to twist on the taps and adjust the temperature.
Once Dom is satisfied, he reaches around Billy’s neck to loosen the tie there, and ever so gently slides the gown off Billy’s shoulders and down his arms, slowly revealing his bruised body.
“Oh Bills,” he breathes, belly twisting at the sight of the violence that Billy endured at the hands of his attackers.
“They’ll fade,” Billy whispers, leaning in to kiss Dom’s cheek.
Keeping his touch feather light, Dom guides the older man into the shower and under the warm spray, cradling him close as one hand gently supports the weight Billy’s heavy cast so he doesn’t have to. Billy’s sigh of contentment is audible over the sound of the water, his head lolling back to rest on Dom’s shoulder, the warm wetness surrounding them in a cocoon, and they stay that way for countless minutes. Finally, Dom begins to draw a soapy face flannel across Billy’s pale skin in slow, soothing caresses, tenderly washing his lover from the nape of his neck all the way down to his knees.
“Do you want me to do your hair?” Dom whispers against the curve of Billy’s ear.
“Please.”
Smiling, Dom kisses the nape of Billy’s neck and then reaches for the bottle of shampoo resting on the ledge, still supporting Billy’s left arm with his other hand.
“Can I turn around?” Billy asks.
“Is the water too hot?”
“No,” Billy says, looking over his shoulder. “I just want to look at you.”
Dom nuzzles him fondly. “You’re crazy, Bills.”
“About you,” he confirms with a smile.
Now face to face, Dom encourages Billy to rest his cast against his hip, and very carefully begins to create a soapy lather in his ginger hair. He moves slowly, because he knows that there is a sore spot on the back of Billy’s head, and he doesn’t want to cause his lover any pain.
“That feels good,” Billy tells him, pressing closer so their noses playfully meet for an Eskimo kiss.
“That’s the idea, love.”
Billy is amazed when Dom’s long fingers glide over his wet hair, skimming the lump where he hit his head before settling at the nape of his neck, and murmurs something unintelligible under his breath.
Instantly, Dom withdraws. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, it’s perfect,” Billy tells him with a dreamy smile.
“Rinse,” Dom says gently, tipping Billy’s head back so the suds will slide down his back and not into his eyes.
The sensation of Dom’s hand splayed across his lower back to support him and the warm water caressing him causes a flutter of pleasure to spread through Billy’s body, and when he trembles, Dom draws him close.
“You okay?” he whispers.
Billy’s response is to cup Dom’s freshly shaved cheek with his good hand and gaze deeply into his expressive, blue-grey eyes for a long, tender moment.
“I missed you,” Billy admits.
“I won’t let that happen again,” Dom vows, his breath catching. “I swear to you.”
“I know.”
Billy’s gaze slides lower, until he spots a glint of metal on a chain resting against Dom’s smooth chest, and when he realizes what it is, he smiles. With the tip of his finger, he traces the small, platinum band and sighs.
“I wondered what you had done with it,” he muses quietly. “I knew Vig had given you my ring-”
“It’s as close to my heart as I could get it,” Dom interjects tenderly, pressing a kiss to Billy’s forehead. “I’ll hold onto it until you can wear it again, unless you’d rather-”
Billy shakes his head. “No. I like knowing that it’s there. When I get this cast off, you can put it back on my finger.”
“Sounds perfect,” Dom agrees, and then wraps his arms around Billy’s waist. “We should get out of here, get you back into bed.”
“Just a couple more minutes?” Billy requests as he tucks his face into the curve of Dom’s slender neck. “Please?”
“All right.”
After Dom has gently toweled Billy off, covered his body with a new gown and pulled his own clothes back on, he guides the older man into bed, tenderly tucking the blanket around him, ensuring that he stays warm.
“Stay?” Billy requests, even though he knows that he’s not being fair. He can tell that Dom is tired, and needs some proper rest, but he just can’t bear the thought of Dom getting hurt. Having him close will keep him safe.
“Of course.”
Dom’s long, elegant fingers are curled gently around Billy’s small hand as they drop off to sleep, and neither man stirs when Viggo slips into the room to check on them a short while later. As soundlessly as he entered, he leaves, knowing that he can relax a bit, because his friends are safe and comfortable.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Billy’s condition is improved the next morning, as Dom takes him on a walk around the hospital, wrapped up in his robe from home, and slippers covering his small feet to keep him warm. The mood is light, even a wee bit playful as they return to Billy’s room, but their smiles disappear when they notice they have a visitor waiting.
“Good morning.”
“Detective,” Dom offers as a greeting as they move past him and over to the bed, where he helps Billy back into bed.
“You’re looking better,” David replies, his eyes meeting Billy’s. “How are you feeling?”
“All right, considering,” Billy tells him as Dom takes a seat on the chair beside him, their hands touching. “Glad to be going home soon.”
“Yes, I spoke to Viggo a few minutes ago,” David adds. “He says you’ll likely be released this afternoon.”
“Aye.”
“Well then, I better not waste any time.”
“What can we do for you, Detective?” Dom asks coolly.
“I need to speak to you, actually,” David says, watching Dom’s eyes widen with surprise. “The sketch artist is finished with the description Billy gave her, and I’d like you to take a look at it, as well as some other photographs to see if there’s anyone you recognize.”
“Oh.”
“We can go now, if that works for you, and I promise you’ll be done in time to take Billy home,” David asks, seeing the question in the younger man’s eyes.
“Billy-”
“It’s okay, love,” the Scotsman soothes. “I’ll be fine here. Really.”
Clearly wavering, Dom looks back and forth between his lover and the detective. “Are you sure?”
“Aye. When you come back, we can go home, and you won’t have to leave me alone,” Billy tells him.
“But-”
A knock at the door causes all to focus their attention in that direction, and when Billy’s eyes land on the new arrival, he smiles.
“Mark! This is surprise,” he says, clearly happy to see his former employee.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course you can. Please,” Billy urges, beckoning to him.
Dom moves away from the bed so Mark can come closer, watching as the two men carefully embrace.
“I thought I’d come by to see how you’re doing,” he explains.
“See, Dommie? I’ll have Mark to keep me company while you’re gone,” Billy says brightly. “I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” Relenting, Dom finally nods in agreement. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I know.”
“Love you,” Dom says softly as he leans in for a quick kiss.
“Love you more,” Billy retorts teasingly.
“Make sure he behaves,” Dom warns Mark. “He’s very persuasive.”
“Uh, Dom?” Mark replies, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?”
Dom wrinkles his nose. “Wanker.”
Waving goodbye and blowing Billy a kiss, Dom then follows David out of the hospital room, drawing on his coat as they make their way down the hall.
“How long is this going to take?” he asks.
“An hour, maybe,” David replies. “I’ll make it as quick as I can.”
Surprised at the tone of the detective’s voice, Dom arches an eyebrow.
“Uh, thanks.”
“Thank Viggo,” David corrects. “He’s the one who set me straight about you and Billy.”
“I will,” Dom says quietly, and doesn’t say another word as they walk outside, into the chilly December air.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
“I’m sorry I can’t stay long,” Mark offers in apology as he settles into the chair that Dom recently vacated. “But I wanted to see you.”
“It’s been too long,” Billy says. “How’s Emily?”
Breaking out into a wide smile, Mark sits back and spends several minutes filling Billy in on recent events, including the pregnancy and his impending fatherhood. When he’s done, Billy shakes his head in amazement.
“I’m surprised that you had time to come down here,” he comments thoughtfully. “Thank you, and not just for the visit.”
Catching the sparkle in Billy’s eye, Mark tips his head to one side in consideration.
“What else are you thanking me for?”
“Helping Dom clean up the book shop,” Billy replies matter-of-factly, watching as Mark’s mouth drops open in surprise.
“How did you-”
“Dom talks to me when he thinks I’m sleeping,” Billy simply, and Mark can’t help but be moved by the deep affection in his friend’s expression.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Ordering himself to calm down, Dom follows David into a small, cramped office, the desk cluttered, yet somehow organized with piles of case files covering most of the flat surface. Dom slowly relaxes his hands, thankful that they’re hidden in the pockets of his jacket, where nobody can see how uncomfortable he is. The large room they’ve just walked through is quieter than Dom would’ve thought, especially for a Saturday. He can hardly believe how much things have changed in just a few days, how his priorities have shifted, to what’s really important.
“Have a seat,” David says, startling Dom of out his thoughts, gesturing to the chair beside the desk, and shrugging out of his coat before scanning his phone messages.
Dom lays his coat over the back of his chair and then does as requested, leaning back against the softness, taking in his surroundings.
“Miranda said Billy did very well,” David says, reaching for a file folder on top of one of the piles. “Great attention to detail.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Dom replies quietly.
“All right. Now, I’m going to show you the sketch,” David continues. “But if you don’t recognize him, that’s okay. This is just procedure, to ensure that every possibility is explored.”
“Okay.”
Dom shifts on the chair, glancing down at the worn, beige carpet on the floor, and then looks up again as the sketch is displayed.
Time slows to a crawl, Dom’s blue-grey eyes widening as he’s flooded with painful memories he believed were long forgotten. The cold, lifeless eyes of his nightmares and the chilling cruelty that he endured that horrible night steals Dom’s strength, and his back spasms as he recalls the sensation of leather slicing through his abused skin while he was savagely whipped and then left for dead. Bile rises sharply in his throat, stinging at his eyes, and even though he tries, attempting to speak around the tight lump in his throat, it’s too late for Dom to warn the detective. The next thing Dom knows, he’s retching violently into a rubbish bin that magically appears between his knees, and his stomach heaves and heaves until there’s nothing left.
Sweat dots Dom’s forehead and dampens the hair at the nape of his neck, his cheeks flushed as he struggles to draw air into his lungs, feeling weak and dizzy. Belatedly, Dom realizes he’s shaking like a leaf, and his vision is fuzzy, thanks to the tears that have gathered on his lashes. It’s only when he tries to sit up straight that he notices the hand rubbing the spot between his shoulder blades in a slow, circular pattern. Surprised, he looks up into David’s concerned eyes.
“Drink this,” he says quietly, offering the younger man a paper cup with some water.
“Thanks.”
Dom holds the cup in both hands, willing his hands to stop shaking, but they refuse to obey.
“Do you know his name?” David asks a couple of minutes later, once some of Dom’s color has returned to his cheeks.
“No,” Dom replies hoarsely, shaking his head from side to side.
“Will you tell me what he did to you?”
Shuddering as a fresh wave of memories wash over him, Dom sucks in a ragged breath, grateful when the phone rings, and he’s given a moment to try to compose himself.
“Wenham,” David says into the receiver, his eyes darting over to Dom at regular intervals to check on him. “Yeah, that was me. What have you got?”
Sagging into the chair, arms wrapped around his slender body, Dom’s chin drops to his chest, heart aching and belly twisting painfully. How is he going to tell Billy that he knows the person who hurt him? That it’s looking very likely that it’s his fault the book shop was targeted? Guilt slices through Dom like a hot blade, and he’s so caught up in silently berating himself that he doesn’t hear the rest of the conversation David has with someone over the phone. It’s the squeak of wheels from David’s chair that causes Dom to finally look up, and when he does, he realizes that the detective’s eyes have gone oddly expressionless.
“What?”
“We think we’ve found Aaron,” David tells him.
“You did?” Dom gasps, sitting up quickly. “Where is he? Can I talk to him? What-”
“Dom,” David interrupts, holding up his hand in a request for silence. “It’s not like that.”
The younger man frowns in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve found someone who fits Aaron’s description, but, uh-”
“What?” Dom presses, growing frantic.
David exhales heavily before adding, “We need someone who can identify the body.”
A whimper of distress pushes past Dom’s lips before his long fingers clutch handfuls of blonde hair as he tries to hold back the avalanche of pain, and David is helpless to do anything but watch with sympathy.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Chapter 38
Author:
dylan_dufresne Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: Light R, maybe.
Summary: The start of repairs at the book shop, unexpected visitors, reconnecting as a couple, and a visit from the past.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta,
frojane.Special Thanks: To
loki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has created, and to tarnishedhalo for loaning me her inspirational manip for the centerpiece. I am so thankful and appreciative of you both, and your generosity. Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: Warning of angst.
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36
Chapter 37
It’s after a night of rest and breakfast the next morning that Dom tucks Billy in for a nap and presses a feathery kiss to his bow shaped lips before he slips out into the hall to talk to Viggo once the older man has closed his eyes.
“Bill’s looking better today,” Viggo comments with a smile. “I think it’s possible that he’ll be released as early as tomorrow morning, provided all his tests come back okay.”
“That’s great,” Dom replies, then gnaws on his lower lip for a moment. “Can you, uh, can you stay with him for a while?”
“Sure.” Looking closer at Dom, Viggo frowns. “Please tell me you’re going to find a quiet place to lie down and get some sleep.”
“No, I have to find out when I clean up the book shop,” Dom explains, glancing back at the closed door of Billy’s hospital room. “I didn’t get a good look at all the damage when I found Billy, and I don’t want him to see what they did to the place he loves. As it is, I know he’ll want to open up as soon as possible. The last thing he needs to clean up that mess. It’ll break his heart to see it the way it is right now.”
“Dom, you’re exhausted,” Viggo presses. “The nurses tell me you barely slept last night, and it’s clear you’d been putting in long hours at work before this happened. I can see it in your eyes, and in your body. You can’t keep going at this pace.”
“I have to do this,” Dom insists. “The book shop was Billy’s dream. He worked so hard and sacrificed for years to get it. You know that. I can’t bear the thought of him having to look at ripped pages, splintered wood from the book shelves that he put together himself, and-”
“Okay okay,” Viggo interrupts, finally conceding, knowing that this is an argument that he can’t win. “I’ll stay with him.”
“Thank you,” Dom says sincerely. “I’ve talked to the insurance company, and they’ll send someone right over. I just need to call them.”
“Have you talked to David to see if you’re allowed to clean up?” the doctor asks. “I can make a call.”
“I was going to try to contact him first, so yeah, that would help,” Dom replies. “Save me leaving Billy if I don’t have to.”
Nodding, Viggo pulls his mobile out of his pocket and dials the number on the business card that David had given him, waiting as the line rings until it’s answered.
“Hi David, it’s Viggo. I’m calling because Dom was hoping to be able to get started on cleaning up the book shop today. Is that possible?”
After listening to the detective for a brief moment, he smiles and gives Dom a ‘thumbs up’ sign.
“Great, thanks David.”
“Wait,” Dom says, extending his hand for the phone. “Can I talk to him?”
“David, hold on. Here’s Dom.”
“Hi,” Dom says awkwardly, hands trembling slightly as he tries not to clutch the mobile too tightly. “I wondered if you’d heard anything about Aaron. Billy told me about what happened to him at the book shop.”
The crestfallen look a moment later answers the question for Viggo, and he slides an arm around Dom’s shoulders for a squeeze of comfort.
“Okay,” Dom adds softly. “Thank you.”
Viggo watches and lets Dom slip free of his loose embrace as the younger man ends the call and hands him back the small phone.
“No word about Aaron,” Dom reports with a sigh. “The crime scene investigators are all finished collecting the evidence they need at the shop so I can start cleaning up anytime.”
“Don’t lose hope, Dom,” Viggo says gently. “I’m crossing my fingers that he’ll turn up soon.”
“Thanks. I’ll be back as soon as I can, a couple of hours or so, hopefully less,” Dom vows as Viggo tucks his mobile into the back pocket of his scrubs. “And don’t tell Billy. I don’t want him to worry about it.”
Although the idea of lying to the Scotsman doesn’t sit well with Viggo, he reluctantly nods. “I won’t, I promise.”
The friends share a quick hug, and as Dom starts to walk away, Viggo calls out to him.
“Don’t forget to bring some clean clothes for Bill. Except for his shoes, they had to cut off what he was wearing when he was brought in,” Viggo says. “When he gets released-”
“Right. Thanks.”
Viggo waves one last time as Dom hurries away, and then settles into a chair across the hall, waiting for Billy to awaken, and wondering what he’s going to say. The chances of the book shop being vandalized again are small, since whoever did this probably thinks the message that was conveyed has been received, loud and clear. It’s the middle of the day, with lots of people around. Viggo just hopes that he’s made the right decision, and that Dom will be back very soon. Preferably, before Billy wakes up.
Thankful that he had some cash tucked away in his wallet, Dom pays the taxi driver and slips out of the back seat, taking a deep breath before walking towards the back door of the book shop. The bright yellow crime scene tape is still there, clinging to the frame, and Dom cringes internally at the memory of the destruction he saw just before he discovered Billy. Even though he fervently hopes that he’s wrong, he’s almost positive that it’ll only look worse in the harsh light of day.
Unconsciously, Dom’s long fingers tighten around the ring of keys in his pocket, and he has to take a moment to collect himself before sliding the key into the lock. Distantly, he wonders how the police locked the door, and then decides they are probably used to dealing with that particular problem, and have a way to deal with it. Part of Dom wants to wait until the insurance adjuster arrives, but at the same time, can’t stop himself from turning the key and then pulling the door open. It’s better that he deal with this than Billy. To see your dream so callously destroyed is a pain that Dom is determined to shield Billy from. Considering how absent he’s been lately, it’s the least he can do for the man he loves, Dom tells himself.
The hardest part for Dom is switching on the light to chase away the shadows, leaving nowhere for the devastation to hide. With his hands in his pockets and eyes downcast, Dom makes a slow tour of the book shop, starting a mental inventory of all the work that’ll need to be done before this horrible event has been washed away, at least in the physical sense. Billy’s injuries will take longer to heal, but having the book shop open, and customers milling about will surely help to cheer him up. Black smudges cover dozens of surfaces, but Dom has almost walked through the entire shop before he realizes what it is. Fingerprint powder; Detective Wenham’s attempt to do his part in catching whoever is responsible for this horrible, senseless damage.
Part of Dom is relieved when the insurance adjuster arrives, and is grateful when the woman wastes no time documenting the state of the shop, taking notes and countless photographs. Numbly, he follows her around, and then signs the form she presents to him, thanking her when she hands him a folder, detailing all he’ll need to do to be reimbursed for the repairs. It’s only when Dom is closing the door behind the woman as she leaves that he realizes he’s trembling, his eyes glistening as his emotions overwhelm him once again.
Brushing at his damp cheeks and sniffing, Dom silently orders himself to pull it together. This isn’t the time for tears. Crying won’t erase the last few days, and the people who did this don’t deserve his tears. Billy and Aaron are the ones who had to endure the violence, so surely Dom can manage to take care of the aftermath. Surveying the mess, Dom is trying to decide where to start when the door behind him swings open unexpectedly, and he whirls around, suddenly fearful that the thieves have returned. A moment later, his jaw drops open in shock at the welcome sight of a familiar face.
“Mark?”
“Sorry,” he says apologetically as he slips inside and closes the door to keep the heat inside. “Didn’t mean to scare you, Dom. I just thought the back door would be the better option.”
“No, it’s fine,” Dom tells him, his pleasure at seeing the other man quite clear. “What are you doing here?”
Looking over Dom’s shoulder and nodding at the damage, Mark’s eyes darken with sadness. “I saw the story on the news. I tried to call, but I couldn’t reach anyone here, so I decided to come in person. I thought maybe you could use some help.”
Relief steals Dom’s strength, and he nods weakly as the other man steps forward and draws him close for a hug.
“Yeah,” he says unsteadily, leaning into Mark’s strength. “That would be nice.”
“Sorry that we’re seeing each other under these circumstances,” Mark adds. “When Em and I saw the story, we couldn’t believe it.”
“How is your gorgeous wife?” Dom asks as they part, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten a wee bit at the memory of when he and Billy attended the friend and former employee’s wedding a little over a year and a half ago.
“She’s great. We, uh, she’s pregnant, actually,” Mark tells Dom with a blush. “Almost four months.”
“You’re going to be a dad,” Dom breathes, smiling for a moment. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you sure Emily doesn’t mind you coming down here?”
“Not at all. She insisted, actually,” Mark admits. “She keeps telling me that she’s pregnant, not sick.”
For the first time in so long that he can’t remember, Dom laughs. “I knew there was a reason I liked her.”
“Would it, uh, be too much to ask if I could crash on your couch?” Mark asks hesitantly, shrugging the shoulder that has a duffle bag slung over it. “With the baby coming, we’re saving every penny-”
“Of course,” Dom interrupts. “Absolutely. I insist, actually.”
“Great. Thanks.”
“No, thank you,” Dom corrects. “You, better than most, know how much this shop means to Billy.”
“I do,” Mark agrees. “So where do you need me? The smell of any household cleanser makes Em nauseous these days, so I’ve gotten pretty good at cleaning since she got pregnant. ”
“I think we’re going to need it,” Dom admits. “And I really don’t know where to start.”
After setting down his bag and stepping further into the space, Mark looks around, his brow furrowing in thought.
“Well, why don’t we start over there,” he says, gesturing to the History section where there seems to be less damage. “Clear out what needs to be replaced, and then move everything that’s salvageable into that space, and go from there.”
“Books that’ll need to be replaced can be sorted by publisher in the office,” Dom adds, his mind starting to settle into the task before them. “That’ll make things easier later, for reordering, yeah? I’m guessing we’re going to need to make a list, to make sure nothing gets forgotten.”
“Good plan.”
“Are you hungry?” Dom asks suddenly.
“No, I just ate. I’m ready to work.”
“Okay,” Dom replies. “Why don’t you take your bag upstairs while I make a phone call?”
“Sure. Be right back.”
As Mark lopes up the narrow staircase to the flat above, Dom finds the phone in the office and calls Janeanne, realizing that he won’t be able to come back to work on Monday. He’s not about to leave Billy alone just days after getting out of the hospital. As much as he’d love for the shop to be cleaned up and repaired before Billy gets home, Dom knows it’ll be a longer process. The best he can hope for is to minimize the mess and show Billy that his beloved shop will be made whole again very soon.
It turns out that Janeanne has heard about what happened as well, and insists that Dom take some time off, since he clearly has other obligations at this time. Dom is hanging up the phone when Mark returns, and together, they start digging in, stacking books on the floor of the office, rejoicing when some things are discovered undamaged Those items are carefully packed into boxes to protect them until everything is cleaned up. After nearly two hours, the sorting is nearly complete, both men are sweaty and dirty, and have hauled numerous loads out to the rubbish bin in the alley.
Standing in the centre of the book shop, Dom is amazed at how empty it looks now, and imagines how it must’ve looked when Billy first moved in, the same day they met in the pub. Back then, he had no idea what an amazing life awaited him with Billy, and how he was loved and cared for within the walls of this building. Dom’s wander down memory lane is shattered abruptly when the phone in the office rings, startling him, and Mark as well.
“Do you want me to get it?” Mark asks. “Just say that the shop is closed for renovations?”
“No, I got it,” Dom tells him. “Thanks.”
Nodding, Mark resumes sweeping up bits of splintered wood and dust while Dom strides into the now cluttered office, scoops up the receiver and braces himself for whoever is on the other end of the line.
“Hello?”
“Dom?”
“Vig. What’s wrong? Did something happen with Billy?” he asks, suddenly worried, his chest tightening.
“No, he’s fine,” the doctor replies quickly. “He’s on the phone with your Mum right now. She’s fussing over him long distance. That’s quite a talent she has.”
Dom smiles at the thought of his sweet mother calling from Manchester to check on Billy, and offer some comfort. “Yeah, she’s really something,” he comments with a sigh.
When Dom had called that first, sleepless night to tell his parents about the robbery, Aureen had immediately offered to come down, but Dom told her it was all right. He had promised to update them regularly, and had assured her that Billy was going to be okay. Not unexpectedly, Aureen offered words of wisdom, reminding Dom that the shop could be repaired, and what was most important was Billy. Of course, Dom agreed with her wholeheartedly.
“You said you’d be back in a couple of hours,” Viggo reminds him, unable to hide how anxious he’s becoming. “Bill is going to want to know where you are any minute.”
Looking down at his watch, Dom winces. “Shite. I need a shower and then I’ll be back. We’ve been cleaning up the shop and getting things organized.”
“We?”
“Mark showed up just after the adjuster left,” Dom explains. “He’s been great. We’ve made a good start, but there’s still a lot to do.”
“I’m glad you have some help,” Viggo says sincerely, relieved that Dom’s not alone at the book shop. “Hurry back, okay?”
“I will.”
Hanging up the phone, Dom returns to the front of the shop to survey the progress they’ve made.
“You should get back to the hospital,” Mark says as he empties a dustpan full of debris into the rubbish bin. “I’ll stay here. Keep working.”
“You don’t-”
“Billy needs you,” Mark interrupts gently. “It’s okay.”
Eternally grateful, Dom blinks back the excess moisture in his eyes as his lower lip trembles. “Thank you.”
“How familiar are you with Billy’s ordering procedures?” Mark inquires, noticing how emotional Dom is and wanting to change the subject to distract him. “If things haven't changed too much, I should be able to get started on the list, at least. That’ll help him.”
“That would be great,” Dom replies. “Tomorrow.”
Wisely keeping quiet, Mark merely nods. “You better get cleaned up. You’re a bit ripe.”
“Yeah.” Dom starts to turn to go upstairs, and then pauses. “I have no idea what’s in the fridge, but-”
“I’ll be fine,” Mark promises. “I’m a big boy.”
“You know where the spare set of keys for the shop is, yeah?”
Mark nods, and then shoos Dom upstairs, smiling at the memory of all the times he caught a fond look between his former employer and the Englishman. They’d danced around one another for months, and then Mark had caught them in a passionate embrace, clearly having found their way to each other. This is a bump in the road, but he has no doubt that they’ll get through it, and be even stronger in the end. He’s never met a more devoted couple.
He’s still smiling as he fills a bucket with hot water and a touch of dish soap, and begins at the front of the shop, meticulously wiping the shelves of the bookcases with a damp cloth and drying them with another. Mark moves swiftly, in a repeating pattern, straightening up as he goes, slowly bringing order to chaos and watching as the book shop he remembers slowly begin to reappear. He’s made it through most of the Nature section when he hears Dom’s footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, Dom comes into view, freshly showered, his blonde hair still damp and carrying a small duffle bag.
“The guest room is down the hall, across from the loo,” Dom tells him. “I’ve left money on the kitchen table so you can order pizza or Thai or whatever. If you want a bath, there’s a tub in our loo. Feel free to use it.”
“Thank you,” Mark says with a smile. “Say hello to Billy for me, yeah?”
“I will.”
“Are you spending the night at the hospital?”
“Most likely,” Dom confirms. “Billy asked me to stay last night, so I’m guessing he’ll do the same tonight.”
“I’ll come by for a visit tomorrow,” Mark says as they walk towards the back door of the shop. “If you think he’ll be up to it.”
“I’m sure he’d love to see you. I won’t tell him about the baby,” Dom tells him, slipping into the office briefly to grab the car keys off the desk. “I’ll save that for you.”
Mark smiles. “Thanks.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
Mark watches Dom get into the car and drive away, and then he locks the back door, securing the dead bolt as an extra precaution. Even though he put on a brave face for Dom, knowing what occurred here so recently makes Mark just a wee bit nervous. Then, remembering the promise he made to his wife, he digs his mobile out of his pocket and calls home to update Emily on the situation, and check on her. They talk for a few minutes before ending the conversation, Mark promising to call before she goes to sleep. He then gets back to work, wanting to get as much done as possible before Dom returns in the morning. He quite enjoyed working for Billy, found him to be a good employer and friend, and hopes to pay back the generosity that was bestowed upon him.
As Billy’s eyes flutter open, he’s greeted by the sight of Dom gazing at him fondly, in his now familiar position, seated in a chair beside the hospital bed.
“Hey,” he rasps quietly. “You shaved.”
Smiling, Dom nods as he stands just enough to lean over to press a soft kiss to Billy’s mouth. “I did.”
“You smell good.”
“Shower and a change of clothes will do that,” Dom adds, gently teasing. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, now that you’re here. Vig took me for a walk down the hall to the nurses station. It felt good to get out, but I got tired really fast.”
“He said that Mum called.”
“Aye, while you were sleeping, I guess,” Billy tells him, then takes a careful breath, his ribs reminding him that they’re very sore. “You still look tired, love.”
“I’m fine,” Dom says gently. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Can’t help it.”
“So it looks like you might get to go home tomorrow,” Dom tells him as he stands to adjust Billy’s pillow when he notices Billy subtly trying to shift his position. “You’ll be back in your own bed, where I can wait on you hand and foot.”
“Our bed,” Billy corrects, the familiar banter causing a smile to turn up the corners of his mouth. “C’mere.”
As Dom obediently lowers his head, their mouths meet in a soft, prolonged kiss, lips parting briefly so tongues can touch.
“You are feeling better,” Dom murmurs when they part, his breath warm against Billy’s cheek.
“Aye,” Billy confirms. “Nurse put something in my drip before my nap to help me sleep, and my headache is finally gone.”
“That’s great, Bills.”
When Dom strokes his cheek, Billy nuzzles into his touch, sighing and reaching out with his good hand to draw the younger man closer.
“Lie down with me,” he requests.
“Bills, you know I love you, and love kissing you, but right now you need to rest.”
“We will,” Billy replies. “I thought maybe we could watch some telly together, like we used to.”
Remembering how their relationship began, watching Monty Python movies and stretching out on the couch together, Dom is helpless to resist his lover’s request.
“All right.”
Dom heels off his trainers and slips under the blanket with Billy, taking care not to disturb his IV and then pressing a fond kiss to his temple once they are both settled. Satisfied, Billy lets himself relax, and the tension that’s been building in his belly finally releases. He knows he can’t watch Dom all the time, but until he tells Dom the truth about what happened, he can’t help but be nervous when his lover isn’t with him.
“I love you, Dommie,” he says softly, resting his head on Dom’s shoulder.
“Love you, too, Bills,” Dom replies. “Always.”
“Will you help me take a shower later?” Billy requests. “One of the nurses said I could, but that I had to have someone with me. She said it could be you, if you didn’t mind.”
“Of course I’ll help you,” Dom tells him, kissing his ginger hair again. “I’d be hurt if you didn’t want me to. That, and I like being the only person who gets to see you naked.”
Billy chuckles briefly, mindful of his ribs. “After dinner?”
“Yeah. We can cover your cast with a bin liner or something, to make sure it stays dry,” Dom comments. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you,” Billy murmurs, letting his eyes close.
“Love you,” Dom whispers as Billy drops off to sleep again, and lays quietly beside the Scotsman, listening to him breathe, eternally grateful that they have a second chance.
The knowledge that Billy will be coming home soon helps to relax Dom as well, and he fully intends to spoil his lover while he convalesces at home, in their bed. He only hopes that Billy isn’t too devastated by the state of the book shop, and vows to redouble his efforts tomorrow, before Billy is released from the hospital.
Over an hour after Dom left, Mark is so caught up in the work that he’s surprised by a knock at the front door, and whirls around to see two young men standing outside, looking at him intently. Curious, he dusts off his hands and walks over to the door, wondering what they could want. The sign on the door says Closed and they don’t seem like the type to be avid readers, in desperate need of a book. Wondering if perhaps he’s making a mistake, Mark opens the door a few inches, and smiles.
“Can I help you?”
“We, uh, we’re looking for Dom,” the one on the left says, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other. “Is he here?”
“No, he isn’t,” Mark replies, casually bracing his leg against the edge of the door. “He’s at the hospital. Can I help you with anything?”
When the young man falters, his older companion speaks up. “We talked to Janeanne, at the Centre, and she told us what happened. We thought maybe we could help or something. You know, clean up?”
Familiar with Dom’s job and his dedication to helping disadvantaged youth in the neighborhood, Mark slowly starts to relax a wee bit. “I see.”
“Can you tell him we came by? To call us? We’re still at the place he found for us.”
A slip of paper with a scrawled phone number is offered to Mark, and he can’t help but be moved by their offer. He’s also struck by the familiar look in their eyes, and he quickly realizes that they are much like Dom, shortly after he’d been rescued by Billy from his life on the street. In a move that surprises even him, Mark suddenly steps back and invites the two inside, closing the door behind them to ward off the chilly temperature.
“I’m just cleaning shelves and whatnot,” he says, pointing to the bucket of water and cloths he’s been using. “If one of you wants to help with that, the other could start mopping the floor.”
“We can do that. This is Drew, and I’m Matt.”
“I’m Mark,” he says, offering his hand to each of them. When Mark notices them looking at him, rather puzzled, he adds, “I used to work for Billy, here at the shop.”
“Ohhhh,” they chorus in reply, finally understanding.
“Dom has a picture of Billy on his desk at the Centre, so we weren’t sure who you were,” Drew explains.
“Dom and I are old friends,” Mark says with a smile. “I was his best man at his wedding.”
Quickly, a familiarity is established between the three as they work, scrubbing away the mess that was left in the wake of the robbery, and in a remarkably short amount of time, the shop begins to take shape. The boys seem eager to learn and help, Mark telling them stories of when Dom stared working at the shop, and how he later returned to school to finish his A levels before applying to uni. Although both boys are carefully guarded, he can see the hint of hope, and the possibility for themselves because of Dom’s success.
By nightfall, every square inch of the book shop has been scrubbed clean, and although it’s a bit bare in spots, because of the missing shelves, it’s greatly improved. Even though the boys tell him it’s not necessary, Mark insists on taking them to Tony’s for pizza, and ensures that they have a safe ride back to the group home. They promise to be back in the morning, ready to clean, paint or whatever Mark needs help with, and the worry that was weighing down his shoulders just a few hours ago has been lightened considerably. There’s no way he could’ve accomplished so much by himself, and he credits Dom’s devotion to the people he’s helped that so much has been done to restore the book shop to it’s former beauty.
Curious about the amount of sleep that Billy seems to need, Dom slips out into the hall when Viggo drops by for a visit, and is reassured that the medication is a temporary measure to make Billy more comfortable, but that he’s already being weaned off of it, and should be just fine tomorrow. The doctor makes a trip to the cafeteria to get a tray for Dom, so that the couple can eat together, and at Dom’s request, he finds something suitable to cover Billy’s cast so he can take a shower.
Once their dinner trays have been taken away, Dom rolls up the sleeve of Billy’s hospital gown to secure the plastic around his cast, wanting Billy to rest as much as possible. After the last piece of white medical tape is in place, he helps the older man to his feet and they slowly make their way over to the loo, thanking Viggo before closing the door for some privacy. While Billy watches, Dom strips off his clothes, quickly piling the cotton and denim next to the basin, and when he looks up, he catches Billy’s eyes wandering appreciatively over his bare skin.
“Enjoying the view?” he teases.
“I always love to look at you,” Billy replies tenderly. “You’re beautiful.”
Their lips meet in a gentle kiss, and then Dom asks, “Warm, or hot?”
“More hot than warm,” Billy replies as Dom reaches into the shower to twist on the taps and adjust the temperature.
Once Dom is satisfied, he reaches around Billy’s neck to loosen the tie there, and ever so gently slides the gown off Billy’s shoulders and down his arms, slowly revealing his bruised body.
“Oh Bills,” he breathes, belly twisting at the sight of the violence that Billy endured at the hands of his attackers.
“They’ll fade,” Billy whispers, leaning in to kiss Dom’s cheek.
Keeping his touch feather light, Dom guides the older man into the shower and under the warm spray, cradling him close as one hand gently supports the weight Billy’s heavy cast so he doesn’t have to. Billy’s sigh of contentment is audible over the sound of the water, his head lolling back to rest on Dom’s shoulder, the warm wetness surrounding them in a cocoon, and they stay that way for countless minutes. Finally, Dom begins to draw a soapy face flannel across Billy’s pale skin in slow, soothing caresses, tenderly washing his lover from the nape of his neck all the way down to his knees.
“Do you want me to do your hair?” Dom whispers against the curve of Billy’s ear.
“Please.”
Smiling, Dom kisses the nape of Billy’s neck and then reaches for the bottle of shampoo resting on the ledge, still supporting Billy’s left arm with his other hand.
“Can I turn around?” Billy asks.
“Is the water too hot?”
“No,” Billy says, looking over his shoulder. “I just want to look at you.”
Dom nuzzles him fondly. “You’re crazy, Bills.”
“About you,” he confirms with a smile.
Now face to face, Dom encourages Billy to rest his cast against his hip, and very carefully begins to create a soapy lather in his ginger hair. He moves slowly, because he knows that there is a sore spot on the back of Billy’s head, and he doesn’t want to cause his lover any pain.
“That feels good,” Billy tells him, pressing closer so their noses playfully meet for an Eskimo kiss.
“That’s the idea, love.”
Billy is amazed when Dom’s long fingers glide over his wet hair, skimming the lump where he hit his head before settling at the nape of his neck, and murmurs something unintelligible under his breath.
Instantly, Dom withdraws. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, it’s perfect,” Billy tells him with a dreamy smile.
“Rinse,” Dom says gently, tipping Billy’s head back so the suds will slide down his back and not into his eyes.
The sensation of Dom’s hand splayed across his lower back to support him and the warm water caressing him causes a flutter of pleasure to spread through Billy’s body, and when he trembles, Dom draws him close.
“You okay?” he whispers.
Billy’s response is to cup Dom’s freshly shaved cheek with his good hand and gaze deeply into his expressive, blue-grey eyes for a long, tender moment.
“I missed you,” Billy admits.
“I won’t let that happen again,” Dom vows, his breath catching. “I swear to you.”
“I know.”
Billy’s gaze slides lower, until he spots a glint of metal on a chain resting against Dom’s smooth chest, and when he realizes what it is, he smiles. With the tip of his finger, he traces the small, platinum band and sighs.
“I wondered what you had done with it,” he muses quietly. “I knew Vig had given you my ring-”
“It’s as close to my heart as I could get it,” Dom interjects tenderly, pressing a kiss to Billy’s forehead. “I’ll hold onto it until you can wear it again, unless you’d rather-”
Billy shakes his head. “No. I like knowing that it’s there. When I get this cast off, you can put it back on my finger.”
“Sounds perfect,” Dom agrees, and then wraps his arms around Billy’s waist. “We should get out of here, get you back into bed.”
“Just a couple more minutes?” Billy requests as he tucks his face into the curve of Dom’s slender neck. “Please?”
“All right.”
After Dom has gently toweled Billy off, covered his body with a new gown and pulled his own clothes back on, he guides the older man into bed, tenderly tucking the blanket around him, ensuring that he stays warm.
“Stay?” Billy requests, even though he knows that he’s not being fair. He can tell that Dom is tired, and needs some proper rest, but he just can’t bear the thought of Dom getting hurt. Having him close will keep him safe.
“Of course.”
Dom’s long, elegant fingers are curled gently around Billy’s small hand as they drop off to sleep, and neither man stirs when Viggo slips into the room to check on them a short while later. As soundlessly as he entered, he leaves, knowing that he can relax a bit, because his friends are safe and comfortable.
Billy’s condition is improved the next morning, as Dom takes him on a walk around the hospital, wrapped up in his robe from home, and slippers covering his small feet to keep him warm. The mood is light, even a wee bit playful as they return to Billy’s room, but their smiles disappear when they notice they have a visitor waiting.
“Good morning.”
“Detective,” Dom offers as a greeting as they move past him and over to the bed, where he helps Billy back into bed.
“You’re looking better,” David replies, his eyes meeting Billy’s. “How are you feeling?”
“All right, considering,” Billy tells him as Dom takes a seat on the chair beside him, their hands touching. “Glad to be going home soon.”
“Yes, I spoke to Viggo a few minutes ago,” David adds. “He says you’ll likely be released this afternoon.”
“Aye.”
“Well then, I better not waste any time.”
“What can we do for you, Detective?” Dom asks coolly.
“I need to speak to you, actually,” David says, watching Dom’s eyes widen with surprise. “The sketch artist is finished with the description Billy gave her, and I’d like you to take a look at it, as well as some other photographs to see if there’s anyone you recognize.”
“Oh.”
“We can go now, if that works for you, and I promise you’ll be done in time to take Billy home,” David asks, seeing the question in the younger man’s eyes.
“Billy-”
“It’s okay, love,” the Scotsman soothes. “I’ll be fine here. Really.”
Clearly wavering, Dom looks back and forth between his lover and the detective. “Are you sure?”
“Aye. When you come back, we can go home, and you won’t have to leave me alone,” Billy tells him.
“But-”
A knock at the door causes all to focus their attention in that direction, and when Billy’s eyes land on the new arrival, he smiles.
“Mark! This is surprise,” he says, clearly happy to see his former employee.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course you can. Please,” Billy urges, beckoning to him.
Dom moves away from the bed so Mark can come closer, watching as the two men carefully embrace.
“I thought I’d come by to see how you’re doing,” he explains.
“See, Dommie? I’ll have Mark to keep me company while you’re gone,” Billy says brightly. “I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” Relenting, Dom finally nods in agreement. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I know.”
“Love you,” Dom says softly as he leans in for a quick kiss.
“Love you more,” Billy retorts teasingly.
“Make sure he behaves,” Dom warns Mark. “He’s very persuasive.”
“Uh, Dom?” Mark replies, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?”
Dom wrinkles his nose. “Wanker.”
Waving goodbye and blowing Billy a kiss, Dom then follows David out of the hospital room, drawing on his coat as they make their way down the hall.
“How long is this going to take?” he asks.
“An hour, maybe,” David replies. “I’ll make it as quick as I can.”
Surprised at the tone of the detective’s voice, Dom arches an eyebrow.
“Uh, thanks.”
“Thank Viggo,” David corrects. “He’s the one who set me straight about you and Billy.”
“I will,” Dom says quietly, and doesn’t say another word as they walk outside, into the chilly December air.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay long,” Mark offers in apology as he settles into the chair that Dom recently vacated. “But I wanted to see you.”
“It’s been too long,” Billy says. “How’s Emily?”
Breaking out into a wide smile, Mark sits back and spends several minutes filling Billy in on recent events, including the pregnancy and his impending fatherhood. When he’s done, Billy shakes his head in amazement.
“I’m surprised that you had time to come down here,” he comments thoughtfully. “Thank you, and not just for the visit.”
Catching the sparkle in Billy’s eye, Mark tips his head to one side in consideration.
“What else are you thanking me for?”
“Helping Dom clean up the book shop,” Billy replies matter-of-factly, watching as Mark’s mouth drops open in surprise.
“How did you-”
“Dom talks to me when he thinks I’m sleeping,” Billy simply, and Mark can’t help but be moved by the deep affection in his friend’s expression.
Ordering himself to calm down, Dom follows David into a small, cramped office, the desk cluttered, yet somehow organized with piles of case files covering most of the flat surface. Dom slowly relaxes his hands, thankful that they’re hidden in the pockets of his jacket, where nobody can see how uncomfortable he is. The large room they’ve just walked through is quieter than Dom would’ve thought, especially for a Saturday. He can hardly believe how much things have changed in just a few days, how his priorities have shifted, to what’s really important.
“Have a seat,” David says, startling Dom of out his thoughts, gesturing to the chair beside the desk, and shrugging out of his coat before scanning his phone messages.
Dom lays his coat over the back of his chair and then does as requested, leaning back against the softness, taking in his surroundings.
“Miranda said Billy did very well,” David says, reaching for a file folder on top of one of the piles. “Great attention to detail.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Dom replies quietly.
“All right. Now, I’m going to show you the sketch,” David continues. “But if you don’t recognize him, that’s okay. This is just procedure, to ensure that every possibility is explored.”
“Okay.”
Dom shifts on the chair, glancing down at the worn, beige carpet on the floor, and then looks up again as the sketch is displayed.
Time slows to a crawl, Dom’s blue-grey eyes widening as he’s flooded with painful memories he believed were long forgotten. The cold, lifeless eyes of his nightmares and the chilling cruelty that he endured that horrible night steals Dom’s strength, and his back spasms as he recalls the sensation of leather slicing through his abused skin while he was savagely whipped and then left for dead. Bile rises sharply in his throat, stinging at his eyes, and even though he tries, attempting to speak around the tight lump in his throat, it’s too late for Dom to warn the detective. The next thing Dom knows, he’s retching violently into a rubbish bin that magically appears between his knees, and his stomach heaves and heaves until there’s nothing left.
Sweat dots Dom’s forehead and dampens the hair at the nape of his neck, his cheeks flushed as he struggles to draw air into his lungs, feeling weak and dizzy. Belatedly, Dom realizes he’s shaking like a leaf, and his vision is fuzzy, thanks to the tears that have gathered on his lashes. It’s only when he tries to sit up straight that he notices the hand rubbing the spot between his shoulder blades in a slow, circular pattern. Surprised, he looks up into David’s concerned eyes.
“Drink this,” he says quietly, offering the younger man a paper cup with some water.
“Thanks.”
Dom holds the cup in both hands, willing his hands to stop shaking, but they refuse to obey.
“Do you know his name?” David asks a couple of minutes later, once some of Dom’s color has returned to his cheeks.
“No,” Dom replies hoarsely, shaking his head from side to side.
“Will you tell me what he did to you?”
Shuddering as a fresh wave of memories wash over him, Dom sucks in a ragged breath, grateful when the phone rings, and he’s given a moment to try to compose himself.
“Wenham,” David says into the receiver, his eyes darting over to Dom at regular intervals to check on him. “Yeah, that was me. What have you got?”
Sagging into the chair, arms wrapped around his slender body, Dom’s chin drops to his chest, heart aching and belly twisting painfully. How is he going to tell Billy that he knows the person who hurt him? That it’s looking very likely that it’s his fault the book shop was targeted? Guilt slices through Dom like a hot blade, and he’s so caught up in silently berating himself that he doesn’t hear the rest of the conversation David has with someone over the phone. It’s the squeak of wheels from David’s chair that causes Dom to finally look up, and when he does, he realizes that the detective’s eyes have gone oddly expressionless.
“What?”
“We think we’ve found Aaron,” David tells him.
“You did?” Dom gasps, sitting up quickly. “Where is he? Can I talk to him? What-”
“Dom,” David interrupts, holding up his hand in a request for silence. “It’s not like that.”
The younger man frowns in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve found someone who fits Aaron’s description, but, uh-”
“What?” Dom presses, growing frantic.
David exhales heavily before adding, “We need someone who can identify the body.”
A whimper of distress pushes past Dom’s lips before his long fingers clutch handfuls of blonde hair as he tries to hold back the avalanche of pain, and David is helpless to do anything but watch with sympathy.
Chapter 38
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So now, Dom knows that he was the reason the bookshop was targeted. I sense a massive guilt trip on the horizon, knowing Dom from previous experience.
Good to see Mark return - and he's going to be a father! Hopefully he'll be able to stick around a little bit longer to help Dom and Billy get things back on track.
I suspected something like that would happen with Aaron - I'd be willing to bet Dom's attacker killed him and left him somewhere as an example to the other 'rent boys' in the neighborhood: Cross me, and this is what happens.
From:
no subject
Things just keep getting worse for Dom, and this only adds to the guilt that he's already carrying. Yes, Aaron broke a big rule, and he p[aid for it with his life. He tried to get out, and that's not allowed.
Thank you.
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Thank you.
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omg! mark! yayayayay! dude. nothing better happen to mark okay? then having a happy healthy baby eventually.
yay! drew and matt!
garugh! violent asshat!
aaron... just... *saddest sad face* i mean... yeah, not exactly surprised, but still. and now dom has to identify the body? well fuck.
poor dom! what a shitty situation.
(is this like a test to see how many times i will say fuck when commenting on one series?)
From:
no subject
Well put. As you've discovered, things are only getting worse for the boys. There are people coming out of the woodwork to help, but that doesn't change the fact that Aaron is dead. :(
No, it's not a test. But now you've made me curious as to how many times you could say the word.
Thank you.
From:
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Also a plus: Billy is getting better, yay!
Not so plus side: Dom knows who attacked Billy, and believes that he's to blame for why the shop was targeted.
Also not so plus: Poor Aaron....
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Thank you.
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Dom wanting to clean up the bookshop so Billy doesn't have to see it that way is touching. It's going to be hard enough on Billy because this attack happened at a place he'll have to face every day for as long as he own the bookshop. It's not a random store or building he can ignore and move beyond. It's why they say home invasions are so devastating. This will always be a part of him.
ah, Aaron. poor lamb. Where are you?
Mark! You angel. :wibbles at the thought of Mark being left alone...:
I love that the boys Dom worked so hard to help came back to return the favor. I was wondering if any of them would offer aid. I'm glad they did. Sort of like 'pay it forward'.
Dom nuzzles him fondly. “You’re crazy, Bills.”
“About you,” he confirms with a smile.
makes me smile.
“We need someone who can identify the body.”
damn. damn damn damn. that made me cry.
and now i bet Dom is gonna beat himself up because he knows Billy was attacked because of him. But dom doesn't know that billy already knows it was because of him. Boys. when will they learn to talk to each other!!
Kerry =)
(ok, i'm gonna have to wait before i can read more. i've *got* to get back to my paper work!)
From:
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:::passes kleenex::: I'm sorry. I hated my Muse when I wrote that part. I knew it had to happen, but I didn't want it to.
Thank you. (and good luck with your paperwork)
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Yes, poor Aaron. Wah. :::passes more kleenex::: Sorry about making you and the plushie cry.
Thank you.