His Guardian (MxM)

Chapter 23

Jackson

Later that day, Doctor Green came by to remove Ben's IV, and put a cast on his arm. He had to set the bone to be sure it would grow back correctly. I sat beside Ben with my arms around his frame. As the doctor set his bone, Ben gasped with a grimace, and his eyes watered a bit. I rubbed his shoulder and kissed his head to try and comfort him through the pain. After the base was put on, the doctor wrapped it in the black cast material. I was glad once it was over. I did not like seeing my mate in pain. Ben was much less tense as well. Doctor Green pulled a tube out of his supply bag and handed it to Ben.

"You can put this ointment on your wounds regularly to reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process. It will also be good for the bruises," he pulled something else out. "And these are waterproof covers for your cast, for when you need them."

"Thank you, Doctor Green," I muttered.

"Please, call me Joseph," he said with a smile. We both nodded to him. He packed up his things and walked out of the room. I turned to Ben.

"How about a nice, hot bath to help you relax?" I asked Ben. His face lit up and he quickly nodded. "I'll go start it."

I walked to the bathroom and turned on the faucet to the large bathtub. After I was sure it wasn't too hot, I walked out, and toward the walk in closet. I grabbed a bathrobe for Ben, and a t shirt and sweatpants that were the smallest I could find in my closet. I would need to buy some clothes for him soon. I set everything in the bathroom, and walked to Ben, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. I helped him put one of the plastic covers on his cast. He tried to stand, but was wobbly.

"I can carry you, love." He looked up at me with a melancholic grin.

"I need to get used to walking again." I simply nodded and held out my hand for him to hold on to. He grabbed it and stood. As he went to take his first step, he almost fell, but I quickly caught him. He looked up at me, his face blushing. He was shaky with his next steps, but I stayed beside him as we walked to the bath. When we got to it, it was nearly full, so I turned off the tap. I turned to Ben and smiled down at him.

"Do you need help with your clothes?" I asked. He was wearing some clothes Joseph and Eleanor had on hand. They were a bit big on him, but not as big as my clothes would be, I imagined. I helped him lift his shirt, and held back a gasp. This was the first time I was getting a good look at his body. I saw him when I first got to him, but he was so covered in blood and dirt, I couldn't see the extent of it clearly. His right side was covered in a large dark red and purple bruise where his ribs were fractured. His stomach was nearly concave, and his ribs and collarbones were very prominent. My father must have been starving him. I bit back a growl at this. I knew he had lost a significant amount of weight, but this was my first time seeing it this clearly. His body was also covered in what seemed to be long, thin cuts. They were sporadic, and going in different directions. Some were across the front, but most were all across his back. I saw that the doctor had put butterfly closures on the deeper ones. I rubbed one with my thumb gently. Did I want to ask? Did I truly want to know? I willed my voice to be audible.

"What did he do to cause these?" I whispered quietly as I inspected them. Ben blushed and looked down. 

"He, uh... he w-whipped me. A few times." he mumbled. I ground my teeth together as I held Atlas back from going on a murderous rampage. I wanted to make him suffer.

Oh, how I wanted to make him suffer.

But I couldn't do that. He's dead. I killed him. The only peace I could take was from the fact that I was the one to remove that evil monster from this earth.

"Jackson?" Ben's quiet voice pulled me from my thoughts of rage and revenge. I caressed his cheek.

"Let me help you with your other clothes, okay?" He nodded. I helped him remove his pants and underwear. The lower half of his body was similar to the upper half. Bruises. Whip marks. I pushed the thoughts back as he held my hand to steady him while he stepped into the bath. Once he sat, I kneeled on the outside of the tub. His eyes closed as he sat in the water.

"Is it too hot?" I asked. He shook his head.

"No. It's perfect," he whispered. I grabbed a wash cloth and soap and began to wash his body. I was very gentle with his wounds, as the rest of him. He just seemed so much more fragile now. I put shampoo in my palm and washed his beautiful, deep chestnut curls that had grown just a little longer. He sighed as I massaged his scalp, the action seeming to relax him even more. I spent more time than necessary on this. Once I finished, I conditioned his hair and rinsed it completely.

I pulled the drain and helped him out of the tub. I wrapped him up in the fluffy bathrobe and used a towel to dry his hair. He giggled quietly and I stopped to look down at him. He looked so adorable and tiny in the big bathrobe, and his laugh was like music to my ears. One week ago, I would have killed just to hear it.

I suppose I did.

I cradled his face in my hands and kissed his soft lips. When I pulled back, he was grinning up at me.

"Thank you for helping me."

"I wouldn't rather be doing anything else," I whispered. Holding his hand, I walked him into the bedroom and toward the bed. I grabbed the clothes I picked out for him and the medicine Joseph brought by. Sitting behind him, I gently pulled the bathrobe down to reveal his wounds. I gently applied the ointment to each one, moving to the front once I was done with the back. I softly rubbed it into the bruise on his jaw, as well as the light bruises on his neck, and the cuts across his chest, stomach, and legs. Afterward, I kneeled on the floor and removed the wrap around his toe. Before I rewrapped it, I applied the ointment on it as well. Once I was done, I helped him get dressed. He was so thin that his elbows and knees seemed slightly too big for his body. With time, I would be sure he was healthy again. 

"What do you think about the morning?" he asked.

"What do you mean, baby?"

"What we talked about earlier. I want to meet her." Oh. He was talking about Beth.

"We can do it in the morning, that's fine." He smiled at my response and laid down in the bed. After turning out the lights, I pulled back the duvet and laid beside him before covering us both. He cuddled close to me, and I held him gently; though I couldn't fall asleep yet. I just watched him. It was almost unreal that I have my mate in my arms after so long without him. His breaths evened out into a smooth rhythm, telling me he was asleep. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep until I awoke to whimpering.

I looked down at Ben to see tears falling from his eyes while his body shook. 

"Please... please..." he whispered. I needed to wake him from this nightmare.

"Ben. Wake up, baby."

His crying became more intense as he began hyperventilating. 

"Ben. Come on, wake up. It's just a dream," I spoke louder as I rubbed his hair. He sat up with a loud gasp and looked around wide eyed. I sat up with him and caressed his face. He looked panicked.

"No, my baby. My baby. He's going to take my baby!" His words came out rushed. It seemed like he was speaking as if he was in the past, not the present. At the moment, there was no baby to take. Though I didn't remind him of this.

"No, love. He can't hurt you anymore," I assured him. His eyes scanned my face with a confused look to them. He must still be waking up. I held him close.

"I've got you. No one can hurt you. You're safe with me, I promise." He seemed to relax a bit, so I lied down and gently pulled him with me.

"It was just a dream, baby," I whispered to my mate as I kissed his curly hair. He clung to me as he fell asleep in my arms once more.