Being Different

In the Headspace of a Warped Mind

A/N: I finally have the strength to update this story, and I must apologise for the long wait you all had to endure, but I'm not one of those authors who starts something and doesn't finish it, I assure you. I've just been suffering some late and sometimes sleepless nights and waking up early hours of the morning, working on a project which finally ended last Sunday. Let's just say that my physical being had taken a bit of a toll and I needed a long rest before getting back to my writing headspace.

We now return to the aftermath of the invasion of the compound, as Darius makes a slow recovery under the watchful gaze of his son and Randy...

Darius POV

I awoke to soft whispers and gentle nudging from my son. My entire body felt as if I'd been run over by a freight train. I cracked open an eyelid to peruse the beautiful face of my beloved boy peering down at me.

"Hey there" He cooed, smiling softly. I freed my left hand from the sheets which I was mummified in and cupped his cheek.

"Hey" I whispered, feeling sore, groggy but genuinely relieved. He leaned into my touch and we remained that way for a while until I heard a clearing of a throat and realized that Randy was also in the room. I must admit I've grown really fond of the boy, especially after witnessing his callous heroics on the lawn, tackling Damien down before Hawkes could clip him with a shot.

"Good morning, sir, how are you feeling today?" He approached me hesitantly, gazing across at Damien who still had his head cocked to one side, resting on my hand. The poor kid looked like he was about to burst into tears. I extended a hand out to him, coaxing him to take it. I wanted to reassure the boy somehow. He had this look of guilt upon his face, and I knew that deep down in his mind, he felt that all this was his fault, after all, it was his father who managed to damage our security system and force his way into the compound.

"I'm fine, Randy, just fine...come here" I said, and Damien took his cue and shifted away from me, as I opened out my working arm towards Randy. He took it, embracing me as I lay there. I hugged the boy to my chest as Damien lovingly looked on.

"I'm so sorry...I..." The boy blubbered into my chest, and I shook my head gently.

"No, Randy. Don't ever think that this was your fault. You had no idea what your father had in mind when he slammed through the walls with his tank. It's okay. I'm just relieved that both of you are safe now. And you know what? I need to thank you and to scold you at the same time for doing something so dangerously crazy as that tackle back there. You both could have been severely injured, but then again, I could see what you were trying to do...to protect my boy...and I must thank you for that" I whispered in his ear, as he shuddered slightly in my arm, but sighed deeply in relief.

"So... Thank You, Randy..." I muttered softly, rubbing his back.

I slowly let go, so that he could stand and compose himself as he sniffled, tears staining his cheeks. A small smile peeked from his lips as he reached out and grasped my left hand in gratitude.

"I don't know what I'd do without you both. My aunt is a brave woman but fragile too, but she took me in and took care of me. I understand what it is to lose someone you love. I was too young when mom died but what my dad did to her shook the terror into me and I've not forgotten. I'm glad the son-of-a -bitch is dead!" He growled, gripping the cross bar of my hospital bed, the anger flashing across his eyes.

I nodded, reading the hurt in the young man's eyes. As a child, Randy had been witnessed to something so horrifically done to his mother, who suffered much abuse in silence. A quiet, raging storm had been brewing inside his young body, and he allowed that pent-up rage to defuse itself on the football pitch whenever he could.