Their Little Beauty (MxMxM+)

Chapter Sixty-Seven: Suffering the Aftermath

What would they have done differently, had they known what was about to happen in their lives? The changes that were coming their way. Would they have spent more time together, not letting work or other troubles and responsibilities get between them? Maybe they'd have gone on holiday as a family, to visit Jesse's grandmother and let her meet their new lover.

Would they have just...just enjoyed every single moment of life that was spent in the company of one another.

But it didn't really matter if they would have done anything differently. Because what was going to happen, did happen, and the consequences of it were ripping Jesse and his lovers apart.

Briar was hurt. They'd all been too late to get to him in time before whatever had been in Harlow's hand had struck their precious boy over the head violently, knocking him to the ground almost immediately after. It had been so loud-so terribly brutal- that even all the way at the door, they'd heard the sickening sound as the instrument connected with Briar's skull.

Devon had been in motion first, sprinting from the doorway and right on the tail of the fleeing bastard while the other two went to their fallen lover. But upon hearing Jesse scream as their hand came away from Briar's head red and sticky, the master had come back to their side, urgently explaining the situation to emergency services on the phone.

Everyone was panicking, not a single cool and collected person in sight.

Quinn... he'd been an absolute mess. Pressing the still slightly wet dish towel that had been hung over his shoulder against the rapidly oozing wound, trying to wake his boy up by calling his name and begging in fervent pleas. 'Baby, c'mon, open your eyes for me. Please, listen to Daddy, my sweet boy. Briar? Briar!'.

But there was so much blood around his head and neck, seeping into the hoodie he'd been given for their first Christmas together and congealing in his hair. It was everywhere, and their boy's eyes did not open.

Jesse couldn't remember too much after that, the rest of the night a horrific blur of wailing ambulance sirens, flashing lights and the unpleasant smell of hospital disinfectant. And crying until his eyes stung and head throbbed.

It wasn't until early hours the next morning, when a doctor explained to Quinn (who acted as Briar's fiancé) that due to the deep laceration and blunt force, Briar had needed many stitches and most likely suffered from a concussion- of which, they could not detect the severity of at that moment in time. He'd need to be kept in for at least 48 hours for observation, anything could still go wrong, and the damage done to his brain would remain unknown until he woke up... but they were told to stay positive.

They may have pretended to heed that advice, and smiled confidently, but the moment the doctor had left, Jesse was back in the arms of his lovers and hugging them tight through tears. The waiting was horrible, constantly flitting between remembering what had happened, wondering how and why it had even happened in the first place, then worrying incessantly over what state their lover would be in when his eyes finally opened.

And when they were all finally allowed into the hospital room, their lover asleep in a bed that somehow seemed simultaneously too small yet too large, Jesse turned with a muffled cry and buried their head into Quinn's chest.

He looks...so... pale. And still. Like he's... dead.

"Shh, I know it's hard, Princess. I know. But we have to keep the noise down, remember?" Devon hushed, rubbing their back and trying to soothe their tears. If anything, though, the words made their heart hurt so much worse. Because Briar was so fragile right now that even light and noise would cause him pain. Something as simple as sound would cause him suffering.