Without A Trace

Chapter Eleven A Hard Path To Travel

Chapter 11   A Hard Path To Travel
 
 
Viggo could not believe that the warm body pressed against him was his Orlando. He ran a shaky hand gently through the chestnut curls relishing in the familiar softness that he hadn’t felt for what seemed like years. “I’m here, baby.” He reassured in a broken whisper as he again buried his face affectionately into those soft curls that were resting under his chin.
 
Orlando clung to Viggo as though his very life depended upon it. His hands refused to relax their grip on the Dane’s shirt and tears ran freely down his cheeks as he welcomed every warm, loving, caress that stroked through his hair and across his face. It had been too long since he’d experienced such true affection in a simple touch.
 
“I never felt so helpless when I found out those bastards took and hurt you!” Viggo sobbed.  He gently shifted his hands to Orli’s cheeks and guided the young man’s face up so he could make eye contact with him. “Are you all right?” he pleaded, desperately needing to know, not too sure he wanted to hear the answer.
 
Orlando returned the look through his tear filled eyes. “I’m sorry Vig….I didn’t mean-“ he started slowly, uncertainty edging his voice.
 
Viggo wouldn’t let him finish. He placed a finger to Orlando’s lips then gave him a warm smile and softly wiped his love’s cheeks free of tears with the pads of his thumbs. “You don’t have to be sorry for anything, angel. It’s not your fault!” he stated with conviction. “Please, don’t blame yourself. You did absolutely nothing wrong. What those bastards did to you was wrong.”
 
Orlando ignored the American’s comment, shifted his gaze over Viggo’s shoulder, and gave the other three men standing just back from him a wary glance. He carefully pulled back from the hands on his cheeks and buried his face against Viggo’s shirt in humiliation. “Please,” he begged just loud enough for his older lover to hear. “I don’t want them to see me like this, Vig. Please take me home?”
 
A frown ghosted across the Dane’s handsome face but he quickly checked it. “They’re your friends Orlando. They care about you and just want to know you’re okay. Don’t shut them out.” He advised quietly.
 
“Please take me home, Viggo. I just want to go home.” Orlando again requested, his voice muffled by Viggo’s shirt.
 
Viggo felt the slight body in his lap start to shiver, felt the fists clutch his shirt tighter. “Okay, we’ll go home.” He relented. He went to shift the young man from his lap but Orli tensed and leaned into him.  Realizing Orlando wanted to be held, Viggo wrapped one arm around the youth’s shoulders, worked his other arm under Orli’s knees, and quickly stood up cradling his lover in his arms. He was appalled at how emaciated Orlando had become in such a short time and silently cursed the cruel bastards who’d caused it.
 
Orlando kept his face hidden against Viggo’s chest. He didn’t want to have to look at his friends right now. He knew that the others had heard and possibly seen what he’d done and he was too ashamed and humiliated to face them.
 
Viggo stepped over to Pete, Sean, and Elijah, who were casting confused looks between Orlando and him.  Before any of them could ask what was going on, the Dane frowned in response to their silent confusion and shook his head. “He just wants to go home.” He quietly told them, his eyes still brimmed with tears. “I can’t thank you enough, all of you, for everything you’ve done and are doing for us.” He gave Orlando’s back a gentle rub. “Let’s get him home.” Viggo suggested and started through the long grass with Orlando in his arms.
 
Sean, Pete, and Elijah stayed back momentarily, silently watching Viggo walk towards the cars.
 
“I don’t think either one of them will ever get over this even if they seek professional help. Too much damage has been done.” Sean commented to the other two men.  He then looked the Director right in the eyes. “Did you see how Orlando wouldn’t even look at us?”
 
“It’s too fresh.” Pete explained to the British actor. “Give Orlando time. Time fades bad experiences even though the process is slow. He also has Viggo there for him, they’ll heal each other by helping one another.”
 
“Yeah but are they well enough to help each other?” Sean replied with skepticism. “Or will they each be too busy thinking of their own traumas to be of any use to each other or anyone else for that matter.”  Not expecting an answer, Sean then quickly started wading through the long grass after his best friend, leaving Pete and Elijah to think about what he’d said.
 
Pete glanced at Elijah, who was giving him a questioning yet concerned look, and sighed. “Try not to worry Elijah. Viggo and Orlando are strong. They’ll work through this. I just know they will. They love each other too much not to be able to work this out.”
 
“You think so Pete?” Elijah wasn’t too sure. He’d never seen Orlando so aloof, so distant and withdrawn. He dug his cigarettes out of his jacket pocket, took one out and placed it between his lips then lit it, taking a long draw.
 
 “I know so.” Pete told the young American. “It’s getting late. We’d better get going. C’mon.”
 
Elijah nodded, took yet another drag on his cigarette then walked with Pete back towards the cars. Both of them remained in silent contemplation.
 
Once at the cars, Pete had offered to drive so that Viggo could spend as much time with his lover as possible. The Dane had graciously accepted Pete’s offer and climbed into the back seat still holding Orlando in his arms. Orli had instantly fallen into an exhausted sleep once the car had started moving, his head resting against Viggo’s chest, his body pressed against that of his partner’s.  Sean and Elijah once again followed behind them in the second vehicle.
 
They were just on the outskirts of Wellington when Viggo looked down to the sleeping figure nestled against him. He stroked the chestnut curls lovingly. “Orli?” he called softly not wanting to startle him awake, but as soon as his hand brushed against the young Brit’s hair, Orlando’s eyes flew open and he tried to struggle out of Viggo’s lap.
 
Disappointment and despair flooded over Viggo when he saw his once trusting and calm lover whimper and try to draw away from a perceived assault. Viggo tightened his grip around Orli’s shoulders and attempted to hold him in place.  It was the wrong thing to do because Orlando then started to scream and plead plaintively to be let go.
 
Viggo immediately complied and watched in horror as Orlando flew off of his lap and scrambled backwards to the far side of the seat; plastering himself against the car door. His brown eyes were wide, filled with terror and lack of recognition. His chest heaved with labored breaths as he huddled harder against the door and he was trembling so hard that Viggo couldn’t miss seeing it even in the inky darkness of the car’s interior.
 
Viggo’s heart sank and tears misted his eyes. He turned sideways on the seat to face Orlando more directly. “Orlando? Baby? It’s just me.” He tried to comfort in an even reassuring tone as he shifted closer to the frightened young man. “Angel? Oh, Orli what’d they do to you?”
 
Orlando’s chocolate brown eyes widened even more but with recognition now.  He let out a strangled wail, turned away from Viggo’s concerned expression, and hid his face against the back of the seat, sobbing.
 
Viggo stopped his advance and at a loss for words just studied the trembling, weeping figure in front of him.
 
When the commotion started, Pete had swiftly pulled the car over to the side of the grid and stopped.  He turned around and, without interfering, watched the drama unfold in front of him. He knew getting involved would only complicate things so he left Viggo to handle it.  Now that the initial crisis was over he decided to speak, his voice shaking with the unsettlement of it all. “I think maybe we’d better take him to the hospital.” He recommended.
 
Viggo looked from Orlando over to the director, the hurt, fear, and confusion more than evident in his blue-grey eyes. He replied in a flat, shocked tone. “Yeah, I think you’re right Pete.”
 
“NO!” Orlando screamed in desperate objection, his face still buried against the car’s back seat.
 
Viggo and Pete both turned and looked to Orlando who was still huddled in the corner of the seat, visibly shaking.
 
“Orlando?” Viggo questioned tenderly.
 
“No police.” Orli repeated barely audible. He raised his head from the seat and looked at the Dane, his eyes pleading for understanding. “I said I wouldn’t contact the police for twenty-four hours.” He explained. “If I go to the hospital and the doctors find out what happened they’ll call in the police.”
 
“The kidnappers are gone now.” Pete reasoned with the Brit. “They can’t hurt you anymore.”
 
Orlando cast the New Zealand man a nervous glance but directed his response to Viggo. “They could come back for me.”
 
Viggo sighed and slid right over next to his young lover. “I’m sure they’re already gone, Orli.” He assured as he slowly placed the palm of his hand to Orli’s cheek caressing soothingly. “They won’t come back for you. Not now.”
 
Orlando gently pulled away from the older man’s touch and looked him right in the eyes. “Please Vig. Let this go?” he begged softly.
 
Viggo shook his head in disapproval. “You can’t mean that. You could be hurt…inside.” He fretted.
 
“I’m okay. Please, just let them have their twenty-four hours?” He asked. “Please?”
 
Viggo gave a defeated sigh. “Okay.” He agreed reluctantly, after all, it was Orli’s decision to make, not his. “Twenty-fur hours then; but after that will you let me take you to the hospital to get checked out?”
 
Orlando gave Viggo a strained smile and nodded. He really didn’t want to go to the hospital at all. Going to get his injuries looked at would definitely bring up a lot of questions about what happened, and Orlando wasn’t too sure he could handle going through the humiliation of explaining it. He also didn’t want to risk going against Len and Denver’s deal. There was always a chance that the kidnappers could still be watching him and he was convinced they knew where he lived. They’d known where he was before when they’d grabbed him and there nothing to stop them from doing it again if they wanted to. Maybe next time he wouldn’t be so lucky……
 
Viggo returned Orli’s obvious forced smile. “Okay, angel, twenty-four hours then we’ll go.” He reassured and placed his hand to Orli’s face, lovingly stroking his thumb across the sculpted cheek bone. This time the young Brit allowed it. “Let me hold you?” Viggo asked.
 
Without a word and keeping his eyes down cast, Orlando shifted over and rested his head against his lover’s shoulder. “Thanks, Vig.” He replied in tired relief and allowed his eyes to drift shut.
 
Viggo moved his lips to Orli’s scalp and gave his hair a soft kiss. “Anything for you, baby.” He answered, but thought ‘Anything within reason, that is.’
 
Satisfied that the crisis was over, Pete turned back and settled behind the wheel once again. He wasn’t too sure that he agreed with the two actor’s decision, but said nothing. He knew Viggo understood the younger man better than anyone else but to not go to the hospital for twenty-four hours? How bad had Orlando been hurt? What diseases had the Brit been exposed to? He sighed and tried to banish the thought. It really was none of his business and he had to allow Viggo and Orlando to handle things their way and in their own good time. The last thing the two of them needed was more stress from him interfering. He’d trust Viggo with his own life, he thought pointedly, so the leading actor would be more than capable of handling Orli’s situation with good, clear judgment. Coming to that conclusion, he put the car into drive, flipped his signal on and pulled back onto the road.  He glanced in the rearview mirror and was pleased to see Sean, who had pulled over to the side of the road and stopped to wait when Pete did, steering his car back onto the road as well.
 
 
****
 
 
By the time the two cars made it to Viggo’s house it was two thirty in the morning. Pete pulled into the drive and shut the car off. He turned and looked over the back seat to see Orlando huddled against Viggo’s chest sleeping, and Viggo was holding the young man in his arms, stroking his hair, and silently studying him with a look of contentment and relief gracing his handsome face.  “Do you need help getting him into the house?” Pete whispered his inquiry.
 
Viggo looked up at Pete, visibly exhausted, and shook his head. “No thanks, Pete. I can manage carrying him from here.” He gave the longer chestnut curls resting against his chest a soft kiss, then looked at Pete again, this time tears were glistening in his eyes. “I can’t imagine how I’d have carried on if I hadn’t got Orli back. I’m grateful to you, Sean, and Elijah and nothing I can say will ever be enough.” He whispered so as not to wake the young Brit.
 
Pete smiled warmly, suddenly feeling just as tired as the Dane. “You don’t have to thank us Viggo. We’re all friends, we all love Orlando and we’re glad to help. There was no choice to make when we found out he’d been kidnapped. None.”
 
Viggo sighed quietly, shifted, and opened the car door. He then turned and hoisted the slight body into his lap. “Would you be kind enough to open the house up for me?” he asked fishing his house keys carefully out of his pants pocket and handing them to the director.
 
“Sure.” Pete replied, accepted the keys, and quietly opened the driver’s door and climbed out of the car.
 
Viggo slid out of the back seat, drawing Orlando up into his arms as he got out of the car. Orlando didn’t even stir and to be honest, Viggo was more than happy to keep his lover in his arms all night if need be.
 
Sean had parked his car on the street then he and Elijah walked up the drive to meet Viggo and Pete. He looked down at Orlando and, satisfied the young man was sleeping, turned to Viggo. “Poor bugger’s exhausted.”
 
“Yeah.” Viggo replied as he glanced down at the sleeping form in his arms and ran his hand through the crop of mussed curls. “He slept most of the way home. God knows how little sleep he got with those sick bastards. Or what drugs they pumped into him.”
 
Pete sighed. “It’ll probably be awhile before he opens up to you and tells you exactly what happened to him. Actually, it may be a very long wait.”
 
“I’ll be patient. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.” Viggo stated.
 
Elijah studied his friend closely as the older men talked, and seeing the Brit so pale and thin disturbed him greatly. Tears stung his eyes and he swallowed a sob as he thought about what his friend had been forced to endure. To keep the others from seeing the lack of control he had on his emotions, he snatched the house keys from Pete’s grasp and started for the house. “I’ll make us all some coffee.” He called back over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “I don’t think any of us, other than Orli, are going to be able to sleep much. We need to wind down.”
 
“I know I would welcome a good stiff cup of coffee.” Sean confessed.  He gave Orlando another sympathetic look, and after giving Viggo’s shoulder a firm supportive squeeze and pat, started for the house after Elijah.
 
Viggo and Pete exchanged looks of silent understanding as they remained behind still standing in the middle of the driveway. They both knew how disturbed Sean and Elijah were over what had happened to Orlando. Now that the young Brit was safe, the shock and adrenalin had waned, and the magnitude and hard realization of the situation had hit the two actors like a ton of bricks.  The New Zealand director stepped up close to Viggo and studied the sleeping form in Viggo’s arms with obvious concern.
 
“He’s going to need professional help.” Pete stated as he reached up and gently swept a long lock of hair back out of Orli’s face. “What those bastards did will never be forgotten by him. The emotional scars will stay for a very, very long time.”
 
Viggo glanced down at Orlando as well. “I know.” He muttered. “But I’ll be there for him every step of the way.”
 
Pete looked up at Viggo and his expression softened. “I know you will, Viggo. He can’t loose with you here to care for him and help him.”
 
“For now, I’m just going to rejoice in his being back with me.” Viggo confessed. “Let’s go inside, Pete. I need to put him to bed and then have coffee with my friends. All my friends.” He smiled weakly and the fatigue was more than evident on his features.  Although he’d considered himself close to Pete, Viggo always thought of the man as his director and employer, but after the last four days, the distance between actor and director closed significantly and that once ‘work only’ relationship had blossomed into what Viggo now deemed a true friendship.
 
Pete returned the smile. “If you or Orlando ever need me, need anything for that matter, please don’t hesitate to call me.” He offered, then nodded towards Orlando. “We’d better do as you suggested and get him into the house and into bed.” 
 
“That’s the plan.” Viggo replied. “C’mon let’s go inside.” He offered then turned and carried his sleeping lover up the drive and into the house with Pete following close behind.
 
 
****
 
 
Viggo stood leaning against the frame of the bedroom doorway, with coffee mug in hand, and studied the young man sleeping in the bed huddled under the covers. Orlando had not even awakened when the American had put him to bed three hours ago. Viggo had not bothered to undress him for fear of disturbing his lover’s much needed rest, even though he wasn’t too sure Orlando wasn’t sleeping off some residual sedative effects. He was certain the kidnappers had drugged him before dropping him off and now that the young man felt safe and secure, he surmised that the remaining drug in his system had kicked in and knocked him out. “Did they drug you? What did they give you?” he wondered out loud and took a sip of his coffee.
 
Not long ago, Pete and Elijah had left for the night or early morning as it were. Sean had offered to stay in case he was needed and was currently sitting on the couch in the living room nursing his sixth cup of coffee. Sean would not be getting much sleep today after all that caffeine intake, Viggo told himself, He didn’t turn around when he heard footsteps approach and stop right beside him.
 
“Are you going to be all right?”
 
Viggo turned and looked at Sean. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
 
“I think you and I had better go to bed. Orlando’s going to really need you when he wakes up and it won’t do you any good to be exhausted to the point where you can’t think straight.” Sean advised as he looked into the bedroom at Orlando. “Has he awakened at all?”
 
Viggo let his gaze drift back to the tuft of curly brown hair that was barely visible from beneath the bed covers. “No, he hasn’t.” he answered as he idly ran his index finger around the rim of his coffee mug. What had those sick bastards done to his love? What had they given him to knock him out so hard?
 
Sean picked up on his friend’s anxiety, sighed, and put his hand to Viggo’s shoulder. “Try not to worry too much Viggo. He’s safe now. He’s home.”
 
Bitter tears stung Viggo’s eyes and he squeezed his eyes shut against them. “God, I’ve never been so afraid……so helpless. I can’t believe he’s finally home. This has been the longest four days of my life.” He breathed quietly against a sob as he studied his sleeping lover. “It tore me apart to see how much they hurt him. To see how frightened and lost he was.”
 
“You did everything you possibly could.” Sean tried to remind the Dane.
 
Viggo looked the older Brit directly in the eyes as tears streaked his face. “Did I?” he scoffed. “I should have been able to help him, to stop the horror he was going through.” he then shook his head in self disgust. “But I wasn’t able to. I couldn’t even wait for him to get those damn elf ears off! I left him alone. Now, look what it’s done. I have him back but……”
 
Sean looked at him sternly. “It is not your fault, Viggo.  Anymore than it’s Orlando’s. If I remember correctly you asked him on set if you should wait for him and he told you not to. He told you to go home and he’d be there as soon as he was finished with the shoot.”
 
“I should have known that it wasn’t safe for him to be alone that late at night.” Viggo stated in a self accusatory tone. “I should have insisted on waiting.”
 
“The set is guarded. He was safe until he got on the road.” Sean firmly pointed out. “Quit beating yourself up.” He was getting exasperated with his friend’s continual self blame and it certainly wasn’t accomplishing anything.
 
Letting out a deep breath, Viggo took another sip of coffee. “They must have been stalking him for months……..” he let his comment die off. There really was no sense trying to calculate how the bastards had picked Orlando out, but he definitely knew why they did. Orlando was a very good looking young man, but to make matters more intriguing was his financial position.  He was a rising actor and making good money. A perfect target for any sick bastard to prey on. The only thing is they weren’t initially after Orlando’s money. He thought bitterly.
Sean patting him on the back broke Viggo out of his deep thought and he gave his friend a questioning look.
 
“Shut it down and go to bed before you fall down.” The older Brit advised. “Once whatever those sick fucks gave Orlando wears off, he’s going to be awake and needing your support. For now, go lay down with him, hold him.”
 
Viggo nodded agreement. “Yeah, you’re right.”
 
“Good. I’m going to bed.” Sean said as he made his way down the hall to Viggo’s spare bedroom. “I locked the house up, call me if you need me.” He called back over his shoulder.
 
“Thanks Sean.” Viggo called after him and watched as his friend went into the smaller guest bedroom and shut the door.
 
Suddenly feeling very drained, Viggo sighed and walked into his bedroom and shut the door. He stepped through the dark room over to the bed and guided his half empty coffee mug down where he knew the nearby nightstand would be.  He fumbled the lamp standing by the bed until he found the switch and turned it on. The click of the switch resounded in the silence of the room and he froze, holding his breath. Squinting against the sudden light, Viggo quickly looked down at the sleeping figure on the bed. He carefully let his breath out when he saw his young lover was still sleeping. He did not want to startle Orli awake. He snuck over to the far side of the bed, turned on the other bedside lamp then walked back and turned the one off next to Orlando. He then went to the master bathroom, to change into his bed clothes, and shut the door.
 
When Viggo came out of the bathroom clad only in his boxers he found two brown eyes peering up at him from beneath the bed covers. “Hi.” He whispered, then smiled warmly, walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress. “How are you feeling? Did you sleep all right?” he questioned as he softly placed his hand to Orli’s hair and fondled it affectionately.
 
Orlando glanced up at the Dane obviously uneasy with even the minimal physical contact. “I’m still tired.” He replied, his voice thick with sleep. He didn’t pull away from Viggo’s touch, even though he had the sudden urge to but it took everything he had to keep it in check.
 
“Can I get you anything?” The American offered attentively as he continued to caress Orli’s curls.
 
Orlando finally couldn’t take being touched, even if it was his lover doing it, and discretely shifted away in order to break the contact on his hair. “No thanks. If I need anything I can get it.” He answered quietly.
 
Although Orli had been subtle at moving away from him, Viggo picked up on his uneasiness right away and frowned with a mixture of hurt and concern.  He drew his hand back and rested it on his knee. “You sure, baby? I can get anything you need.”
 
Orlando shook his head, shifted over to the far side of the bed, and sat up taking the covers with him. “No thanks, Vig. It’s time I got up anyway.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at his lover, for fear of seeing the confusion and hurt illustrated there. He flipped the covers back and got to his feet. “I-I think I’ll just go out for a bit.” He explained as he gave Viggo a nervous look.  When he saw the clear concern on the older man’s face he elaborated. “I just need to be alone for a little while, that’s all. I need time alone to think.”
 
Viggo nodded dumbly but stayed sitting on the bed and watched as Orlando walked over to the door and opened it. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Where are you going?” he asked softly.
 
“Just onto the deck out back.” Orlando told him, casting his eyes to the floor as he slowly stepped out of the room. He still couldn’t look at the Dane.
 
Even though Viggo knew the reason why Orlando was avoiding him, he didn’t want to confront him right at this point. It would only make matters worse. He reminded himself that with all his younger lover had been through, the last thing he would want to be was intimate, even if it was just to innocently share their bed, so he decided to take a more indirect approach. “I can go sleep on the couch if you’d like?” the Dane offered. He had no intentions of driving his young love farther away from him, or out of the bed for that matter.
 
Orlando shook his head. “That’s okay. I just want to go outside, maybe have a cigarette.” Orli explained as he started to close the door after himself.
 
“Your cigarettes are on the table by the phone.” Viggo called out just as the door clicked shut. He let his hand fall limply from his hair and shook his head in resignation. This was definitely going to be harder than he thought.  It was going to take patience, understanding, effort, and a lot of time to bring his Orli back to him and close the newly created gap between them.  If he could bring him back. It was apparent that the first thing Orlando would have to do was allow Viggo to get close to him and open up to him about what had happened before he could help his young lover to any degree.  With a heavy sigh, Viggo let himself to flop back onto the bed. He stared absently up at the ceiling.
 
 
****
 
 
When Orlando got far enough down the hallway to be out of earshot, he stopped, leaned his back against the wall, and rested his face in his open palms.  It wasn’t supposed to be like this! He told himself as bitter tears stung his eyes. He was back with the person he loved and everything was supposed to be as it had been in the past. He knew Viggo was trying very hard to make him realize that what had happened hadn’t changed the way he felt towards him but that wasn’t making it any easier for the young Brit to open up.  When the Dane had first found him, Orli thought he could easily fall back into his loving relationship regardless of what Len and Denver had done. Now he wasn’t too sure he could or would ever be able to initiate anything intimate with Viggo, let alone accept any intimate contact from him. He let out a choked sob, and keeping his face covered, slowly slid down the wall until he was seated on the floor. He fought, without much success, to subdue his hitching sobs. In the end he gave up and allowed himself to cry. Hard.
 
 
****
 
 
Inside the bedroom, Viggo could faintly hear the soft pained sobs of his lover coming from out in the hallway. Hot tears blurred his vision and he quickly blinked them away.  Orlando was distant, avoiding him, and not even willing to look at him. The complete opposite of how he was when they had found him last night. Now Orli acted as though he’d been the one who had raped him. It had to be because the initial shock of what he’d been through was now wearing off. There was no other explanation.  Would he ever be able to undo what those sick bastards had done to his love?