Claustrophobic Mind

Chapter 17

By the time that Mike made it back to his house, Billie Joe had fallen asleep in his arms. Faint snores came from the small man. Mike assumed that he must not have gotten much sleep for the past couple of days, considering he was in so much pain.

Mike paused before he went up his first porch step. He suddenly remembered that he left just before Britney was done with dinner. He started to panic, wondering what she will think of him protecting a prisoner.

"Fuck," Mike muttered.

He took the steps one at a time. Billie stirred at the movement, but ended up settling back into his much needed sleep.

Mike rang the doorbell with his knee. His arms burned from carrying Billie Joe all the way home. It wasn't that he was heavy or anything, it was just that...wait. Mike took a second to consider how thin Billie was. He could tell just by looking at him that he's lost almost twenty pounds. His collarbones jutted out of his skin and he looked paler than usual. Mike sighed in sympathy.

He was knocked out of his thoughts when he heard Britney unlocking the door. She stared at him with wide eyes. Britney took a step back and covered her mouth with her small hands. Tears rimmed on her eyes.

"Britney, I need to you listen to me. We have to help him. I can't let him go to prison," Mike croaked on the verge of tears.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

"Shhh! He's sleeping. I'm going to put him in the guest bedroom," Mike hissed and moved past Britney.

Before going up the lengthy stairs to the guest bedroom, Mike cautiously looked around for his kids. He didn't want them to see what he was doing. He didn't want to scare them.

Britney silently closed the door. A whimper escaped her lips as she ran to get a tissue. Mike knew it upset her to see Billie like this too.

Mike was thankful that the door was open to the guest bedroom so he wouldn't have to find a way to open it without a free hand. He flipped the light on with his shoulder and made his way over to the made bed. He gently set Billie Joe down and smoothed his hair back.

"You're not going to let him go to bed being so filthy are you?" Britney called from the doorway.

"I guess I'll wake him to clean him up a bit," Mike said turning to look a Britney. She hesitantly nodded and went towards their bedroom. Mike heard the door click shut.

Gently, not wanting to scare Billie, Mike shook his shoulders.

"Come on Bill. Wake up," Mike whispered.

Suddenly Billie Joe's eyes snapped open. They were filled with self defense. His lounged his hands towards Mike's neck and narrowed his eyes. Billie squeezed his hands together trying to choke Mike. Mike grabbed Billie's arms in an effort to pry them off. He let out a small choking noise.

Billie Joe's eyes immediately changed from fear to guilt and sorrow. Tears showed in his eyes and his face screwed up. He slowly released his grip from Mike's neck and brought his hands to his face. He shamefully sobbed into his hands as Mike coughed away the shock.

Mike gasped, greatly thankful for being able to breathe again. After catching his breath that was once taken from him, he looked over to Billie. He was sobbing into his hands. His body slumped over in his baggy sweatshirt as he trembled. He looked so...broken.

Mike reached out and laid a hand on Billie's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Mike. I...I thought you were someone trying to...to hurt me," Billie Joe managed.

Mike wrapped an arm around Billie's thin shoulders and pulled him into his lap. Billie winced at the gesture of moving his lower region. He was still in pain from being used for someone else's pleasure.

"I know, I know. Shhh, it's okay. You're fine," Mike soothed rubbing Billie Joe's shoulder.

Billie's sobs soon turned into hiccups and sniffles. He relaxed under Mike's arms, but was still not used to being touched.

"Let's go clean you up so you can go to sleep," Mike suggested. He felt Billie nod against his chest.

Mike stood, yet again holding Billie Joe in his arms. He knew it was going to take a while before Billie could walk without feeling pain. Billie winced and hissed in pain as his body changed positions.

Quickly wanting to get Billie to bed, Mike walked into the bathroom and gently sat Billie Joe on the toilet. Billie slumped against the back of the toilet, still not strong enough to do much.

Mike turned on the faucet and starting running a bath for Billie. He was nervous on how Billie Joe would react with Mike having to give him a bath being that he was so weak. He closed the door to give them some privacy.

He turned around the see Billie with his eyes closed. He knew that Billie Joe wasn't asleep, and he was doing it out of pain. Sympathy felt in Mike's heart for Billie.

"Let's get you undressed," Mike said moving to Billie Joe.

Billie hesitated, but eventually let Mike left his bloody shirt over his head. His skin underneath only revealed more cuts and bruises. Mike shook his head in pity. He worked off Billie's shoes and socks. Billie Joe flinched every once in a while.

Just as Mike was about to unbutton Billie's bloody jeans, he reached down and grabbed Mike with his cold, weak hands. Mike looked into Billie Joe's green eyes and saw tears in them.

"Do we have to?" Billie whispered shakily. He was vulnerable and scared.

Mike kissed Billie's knuckles and stood up to give him a reassuring hug. Billie Joe didn't hug back. No affection, not yet. Mike felt Billie Joe shaking and couldn't help but frown. He stood there for a few seconds just appreciating Billie in his arms.

"We have to," Mike answered. They had to get him clean sooner or later.

Billie Joe nodded, still unsure of the idea. He knew that he was too weak to take the bath himself.

Mike crouched back down and started working on his pants again.

"I won't hurt you Billie Joe, I promise." Billie nodded pursing his lips.

Once Billie Joe had very slowly gotten undressed, Mike lifted him up and put him in the warm bath. He could see that Billie instantly relaxed in the warm water.

Mike used a wash cloth to rinse away all of the dry blood that managed to escape Billie's cuts. The water turned into a filthy red that made Billie Joe embarrassed. Mike noticed this and rubbed his shoulder.

"It's not your fault," Mike assured. Billie looked away and nodded. Mike knew he wasn't convinced.

Just after they had washed down Billie's whole body, the only place left was in between Billie Joe's legs. They showed the most blood, leaving Mike to shiver at the pain Billie was in. It took Billie Joe almost two minutes just to open his legs so that he could be cleaned. Mike started to scrub away the blood, being as gentle as possible. Billie still winced. He looked away the whole time. He couldn't meet Mike's eyes. About the time that they were almost done, Billie Joe broke down and threw his head in his hands. He sobbed in embarrassment and pain. He hated that Mike was seeing him this way. Deciding that they had gotten him clean enough, Mike scooped Billie out of the tub and wrapped him in a towel. He could've sworn Billie Joe whimpered Fink.

"Mikey," was all Billie could manage as a thank you. Mike rubbed Billie Joe's back in slow large circles and held him close.

After getting Billie settled down, Mike slowly changed him in some of his old clothes. He tried to find things that were too small for him, but even those didn't fit Billie Joe. He was dressed in a baggy t shirt and pants that went past his feet. Mike couldn't help but smile at how adorable he looked.

Billie fell asleep before Mike could ask him if he wanted water. He sighed hoping that the man wouldn't get dehydrated. Gently, Mike laid Billie down on the bed and covered him in the large blankets. He brushed Billie Joe's hair off his forehead and planted a friendly kiss.

He looked back at Billie snoring lightly before he left the room. A single tear left his eye just watching the poor man sleep. Mike turned the light off leaving on a sad note.

He made his way to his bedroom, forgetting all about the dinner that he never got to eat.