I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Waking Up From A Nightmare

Paul bathed Tommy and tried asking him questions but all he got was a blank stare. He could tell the light was gone in his husband's eyes when Tommy just stared off into space. With tears running down his face, Paul finished the bath and dressed Tommy for bed. Gently tucking him in and leaving the door ajar, he ran downstairs and burst into full blown crying. He could barely see to dial Gene. Not being able to get anything coherent out, he hung up and slid to the floor.

"Paul?" came Gene's voice soon. "Paul? Tom?"

Paul looked up to see Gene staring at him. "Gene?" 

Before Gene could ask a question, Paul broke down on his shoulder. He finally managed to choke out what had happened. "W-we were out for a walk and I took the blade away and we were going for ice cream and then we ran into the exes and their baby boy looks like Hannah and then Tom lost it and took off and now he won't talk to me and-"

"Paul. Come on. Calm down and we can help him together." said Gene, pulling him to his feet. Helping Paul upstairs, Gene told him to shower while he checked on everyone. The triplets were asleep so Gene went to check on Tommy. Tom was staring off into space so Gene went over to the bed. "Tom. Look at me."

Tommy's big hazel eyes stared right through Gene as he looked up at him. Gene gently picked him up and carried him to the rocking recliner. Sitting down, he rocked in silence. "Tom, I know you're in there. Come on baby boy, snap out of it. You're scaring me and I don't scare easily." 

Inside Tommy's mind he tried to answer back but he couldn't. He knew he was crying because he could feel the wetness on his cheeks. Opening his mouth to answer, all that came out was a scream. Gene jumped. 

Tommy continued to scream for several minutes as both Gene and Paul held him as close as they could. "Sh." came Gene's voice, finally cutting through the fog in Tommy's head.

"G-G-Gene d-d-did something happen?" he asked hoarsely. "I-i-is Paul okay?"

"I'm right here baby. You had a black out spell where you just lost yourself inside your mind."

Tommy blinked for several minutes trying to focus. He then reverted back to a childhood comfort technique of sucking his thumb. Gene continued to hold him until he fell asleep. 

Paul then laid him down and covered him up. Unspoken words were passed between Gene and Paul as Gene comforted his best friend.