Love is a Broken Window | Cricky [C]

35 | ER

| Chris' POV |

The nurses were able to bring Ricky back around by giving him a blood transfusion. They kept him on an IV while they pulled glass from his hair and scalp. He'd be needing stitches once the glass was all cleaned, because Jani broken a vase over his head. That's why his apartment floor was covered in glass! I want to shatter every bone in Jani's body.

Ricky had some bad bruises. He also had black eyes forming, and there was blood dried up on his nose and split lip. He looked like he had walked through Hell. The ER was busy for this time of night, considering it was New Years Eve. It still was 2AM now, so there wasn't too many people.

I sat down in the ER with him while a nurse dug glass out of him. He didn't want to talk, but he knew he had to. I figured if I could get him comfortable with the subject, he'd be better when the police showed. He still was shying away from throwing Jani under the bus. The only reason I found out about the vase was because the nurse forced him to explain how he got glass embedded in his scalp.

"He was drunk. That's all." Ricky muttered.

"That doesn't excuse it. I mean, Kuza was beyond wasted, and you didn't see him beating on anyone, especially the one person he's supposed to love the most." I said. Ricky just diverted his eyes, and I sighed. "Please tell me the truth. How long has this been going on?"

"......Since the beginning of our relationship." He admitted. Silent tears streamed down his face. He sniffled and continued, "It was fine the first few weeks. I felt like I was in high school again, but the thing about high school relationships... it's all bliss and puppy-love. The puppy-love faded quick and all at once. It was too late. I couldn't leave."

"If you were too scared to walk away, I would've carried you out. You didn't tell us though. Why?"

"Because... I still loved him. No matter what, I still liked his embrace. The moments when we were good and happy, that was worth it. It was a small price to pay."

"But, oh, Honey." I sighed. "Love comes at no cost. Don't you understand? There is no price on love. You shouldn't have to pay anything."

"He's right, you know." The nurse interjected. "Sorry. I didn't mean to ease drop, but Sweetie, don't let anyone kick you around."

Ricky sighed and stared at the ground. Then his eyes nervously looked past me as two policemen walked towards us.

"I'm going to call the guys while you talk to the police." I said.

"No!" He quickly whimpered. "Please stay, Chris. I don't want to talk to them alone."

"Okay." I set my hand on his knee, smiling. "Don't worry. I'm here."

The nurse moved out of the way. She said she was going to get materials to stitch him up, so I sat down next to him while she was gone. The officers approached, introducing themselves and making sure they had the right person.

"We need to ask you some questions about tonight, Mr. Olson. Is that okay?" One asked.

I rubbed my hand up and down Ricky's lower back as he looked at me. "Ricky, please tell them. Get this over with." I whispered.

"Chris-"

I kissed the side of his head and rested my arm around his waist. "It's okay. I'm here. Remember what I said, love doesn't cost anything. Don't like Jani cost you your happiness. Please, this isn't right."

"Mr. Olson?" The officer asked again.

"G-go head. I-I'll answer your questions."

"Can you tell us what happened?"

He nodded. "My boyfriend, Jani, and I were at our friends' New Years party. He found me... talking to someone else." Ricky said as he squeezed my hand. Right, talking. "He wasn't happy about it, a-and made us leave the party. After we got home, we got in a fight about me... talking to my friend. He was jealous and mad."

"You have several bad injuries. Where did these come from?"

"J-Jani." He mumbled. I tightened my grip on him to reassure him.

"What did this person hit you with? Open or closed fist? Were there objects involved?"

He adjusted in his seat, obviously uncomfortable by the parade of questions. "Open and closed, both. He hit me with a vase. It was a cheap, thin one, so it didn't hurt too bad."

"Is this the first time this person has hit you?"

"No."

"Approximately how many times has this happened?"

Ricky lowered his head. "I-I-I don't kn-know, I lost track. F-for four years, if that helps answer your question."

"What was the worst incident?"

"This one."

"Is this the first time you've been hospitalized because of this person?"

"No." He muttered. No? Since when?

"Can you tell us about the previous incidents?"

"We were in a car accident once because he was driving drunk and angry. Another time he pushed me down the stairs, but I only sprained a few things."

He told me he fell down the stairs when that happened. I was an idiot to believe it. And the car accident, I never even knew about! Ricky leaned his head on my shoulder. He was tired and upset.

"Can you take a break?" I softly asked. They nodded, backing away to go discuss I'm sure. I kissed Ricky's head, holding him close to me. "Why don't we call the guys?"

"Okay." He sighed.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. The nurse came back, so I was forced to move away from Ricky again. I could tell he didn't like it, and I really didn't either. It felt so nice to have him in my arms like that.

While he got stitches put in, I called Ryan. "Hey, what are you still doing up?" He asked upon answered.

"Ricky and Jani got in a bad fight. He beat Ricky bad, and we're down at the ER." I stood up and walked away from Ricky so he couldn't hear me. He was okay with it because he was comfortable around the nurse.

"Oh my God, is he okay?"

"Jani hit him over the head with a glass vase. The fact that he didn't pass out is amazing." I replied. "He's so used to the pain though. I wouldn't say that makes him okay."

"Do you want me to come down?"

"No, it's late. I don't want you on the roads. There's so many drunks out tonight. Just please tell Balz so he's in the loop."

"Okay. Tell Ricky I love him."

"I will." I sighed as I glanced back at him. Sitting in the ER, having stitches put in his head. I never thought I'd see that, not with one of my best friends.

"Take care."

"You too."