What Happens on the Cruise

8. Everything Will Be Okay

Adam pulled his phone out and looked at the time. 4:13am. He sighed in frustration at the "No Service" message. He wanted to be home with Ericha, but it wouldn't have been so bad if he could just call her.

He put the phone away, trying to focus on the more immediate issue -- finding Austin. The man's castmates had scoured every place on the ship where he liked to hang out without success. Now they were just going deck by deck.

He leaned against the railing and closed his eyes, feeling the breeze against his face and ruffling his hair. Where would he go if he were in Austin's shoes?

The barest hint of a sound reached his ear -- an inhalation and then a quiet sob. He turned, almost afraid it was his imagination, and scanned along the bulkhead. There in the shadow made by a corner was a figure, a picture of misery, legs drawn up, face buried against his knees, arms wrapped around his head.

"Austin?" he said as he ran to the other man.

"No!" Austin's voice quavered. "Just go away!"

Austin motioned with his hand as if to shoo him off, and Adam's heart dropped as he saw the smear of blood on Austin's hand. "Dear God! Are you hurt? You're hurt."

"Just leave me alone."

Adam ignored Austin's demand, dropping down in front of him and pulling Austin's hands away from his face. Austin tried to curl away from him, but he'd seen enough. There was blood under his nose and mouth. His lower lip was swollen and split, and his left eye was turning a spectacular shade of purple and nearly swollen shut. "Oh, God. Who did this to you?"

"I don't know. Just some guy."

Adam felt his blood run cold. "Did... Did somebody bash you?"

"Yes... No... I don't know."

"What happened?"

Austin covered his face, letting out a nearly inaudible sob.

Adam pulled the other man into his arms. "It's okay. I've got you. You're going to be okay."

Austin buried his face against Adam's chest and broke down sobbing.

***

"When we realized he wasn't hanging out with my group or with his castmates, we got concerned," Tim said.

"I see," the security officer said, jotting down some notes. "So you and his roommate decided to conduct a search?"

"Yeah. With a lot of help from my group and the ship's theater company." He looked over at Austin's friend, Sarah, who had coordinated the search, and nodded. She gave him a tearful smile.

"And Mr. Rupp here found him?"

"I did," Adam answered. "As soon as I could, I got word to Sarah and got him here to the doctor."

"Okay. Anything else I need to know?"

Adam and Tim looked at each other. Neither had mentioned the developing relationship between Austin and Tim. Adam debated whether to share his suspicions that Austin might have been the victim of a gay bashing. He shook his head. "I think that's about it."

The officer shut her notebook. "Thanks. I'll need to speak with Mr. Brown before we can let him leave. It may be a while yet."

"Understood," Tim said.

"I think I'm going to go get a little something to eat, while we're waiting," Sarah said. "Do you guys want anything?"

"I could use a drink," Adam answered.