I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Tommy Finds Out

Tommy was on the floor in the nursery playing with the triplets when the doorbell rang. Struggling to his feet, Tommy headed downstairs to answer the door. Paul opened it just as Tommy made it to the second landing. He could see perfectly around the corner, hidden from view of the front door. 

"What are you doing here?" came Paul's voice. "You know I told you never to show up here." he hissed. "Do you want Tommy to find out!" 

"Well, sunshine, maybe you shouldn't have lied about breaking it off to me and I wouldn't be here!" "I had to find out you're still married and having another child!" The girl slapped Paul hard and turned to leave. "DO NOT EVER CALL ME AGAIN!!!" Somehow she caught a glimpse of Tommy as she turned to leave. "I think Tommy just found out." "Hi, Tom." "Your hubby's been playing you for a sucker all along." She blew kisses as she left.

Paul turned to the staircase just in time to see Tommy bolt up the stairs and lock himself in the guest room. He heard the deadbolt slide into the lock. "Tom, let me-"

"NO! YOU HAVE NO EXPLANATION THAT WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH! I HATE YOU!!!"

Paul walked off knowing he had royally screwed up. He knew he could never tell Gene or Eric. 

"I'm going to pack and go to a hotel." he called. "When you come out, I'll be gone. I really am sorry." "I'll leave the name of the hotel in a text." "I love you." 

Hearing the front door shut, Tommy broke down and called Bruce. He was in tears. The triplets started calling him so he hung up and unlocked the door. Putting on a happy face, he resumed playing with them. 

Soon he heard Bruce calling him. "B-B-Bruce? I'm up here." he sobbed.

As soon as Bruce walked in, Tommy dissolved into tears and fell apart. He cried for a solid hour. The triplets were watching him. "Da?" asked Taylor. Aurora crawled to him as Hannah went to Bruce. "Ma sad." she said. "Ma sad." She kept saying. 

Bruce took the little girl in his arms and carried her to Tommy. "As much as you're hurting, Hannah seems to have picked up on it."

Tommy took one look at his daughter's big eyes and started crying again. "He left me because his girlfriend came by and now I'm alone and I don't want him back but I don't want him to leave."

Bruce couldn't imagine why Tommy wanted to stay but he didn't question him. "Look, I'll stay for awhile. Go clean up and I'll babysit for awhile." 

While Tommy took a shower, Bruce gave Paul an earful when he picked up. "YOU HAVE A LOT OF FUCKING NERVE!" Bruce ranted on until the shower turned off. 

Tommy headed straight to bed without saying a word. His eyes told Bruce everything he needed to know. Tommy was heart broken but still in love. Bruce knew that was the worst kind of heartache and pain. He also knew Tommy would take Paul back in a heartbeat.