WHAT IF

CHAPTER THREE

At the hotel, the police arrived and took Way into custody, accompanied by Alan, who was asked to provide a statement regarding the altercation.

As he left the police station after completing the formalities, Alan's thoughts were consumed by concern for Babe's safety.

Dialing Charlie's number, Alan's voice conveyed urgency as he asked, "Any luck finding Babe?" Charlie's response was strained with stress as he replied, "No, I haven't found him yet." Sensing Charlie's distress, Alan offered support.

"Send me your location. I'll come to you," he suggested, determined to help him find babe.

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As dawn broke, casting a soft glow across the deserted beach house, Babe stumbled through the door, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. Glad that he always had the key hang around his neck. The weariness of the night's events washed over him, leaving him feeling drained and defeated.

Collapsing onto the couch, Babe let out a heavy sigh, his body sinking into the cold cushions. The house was eerily quiet, the only sound the gentle lapping of waves against the shore outside.

Surveying his surroundings, Babe looked at the furniture were covered with dust sheets, a stark reminder of the neglect the house had suffered. Memories of happier times flooded his mind, contrasting sharply with the reality of his current situation.

His father had been forced to sell the house when they fell on hard times, but when he was financially stable enough, Babe had managed to reclaim it. Yet, as he sat there, alone and weary, he couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that pervaded the once-familiar space.

As Babe curled up on the couch, his mind drifted to thoughts of Charlie, his beloved boyfriend. He wondered how Charlie was coping, knowing him, he was probably blaming himself for all this. The ache of missing Charlie gnawed at Babe's heart, but at the same time, he couldn't bear the thought of facing him after what had happened.

The memory of Way's betrayal was still raw, haunting Babe's thoughts despite his efforts to push it aside. The sensation of Way's kisses and touches lingered on his skin like a suffocating shroud, making him feel dirty and violated. Just the mere recollection made him want to scrub his skin raw in the shower, but he knew he couldn't afford the luxury of cleanliness. His current clothes were his only possession, a stark reminder of his vulnerability and desperation.

Closing his eyes, Babe fought back the tears that threatened to spill over. He longed for Charlie's comforting presence, yet at the same time, he couldn't bear the thought of anyone seeing him in his current state of distress. Closing his eyes, he focused on the rhythmic sound of the waves outside, to help him push all he thoughts aside and allow his body to rest, though that may be hard because he hadn't eaten a single meal the previous day and now his stomach was burning.

On the other side of town, Charlie's restless energy refused to wane, his determination to find Babe driving him forward. Despite Alan's attempts to coax him into taking a break, Charlie remained steadfast in his resolve, unable to rest until he knew Babe was safe.

With his phone displaying Babe's picture, Charlie canvassed the streets, his heart sinking with each passing moment of fruitless searching. People shrugged off his inquiries, their indifference cutting through him like a knife. Desperation clawed at Charlie's chest as he struggled to come up with any clue that could lead him to his missing boyfriend.

Back at the x-hunter pit, Charlie paced anxiously, his mind racing through a whirlwind of possibilities. He wracked his brain, trying to recall any place that Babe might seek solace in his time of distress, but nothing came to mind.

Suddenly, North's voice pierced through the tension, drawing everyone's attention. "Wait!" he exclaimed catching everyone's attention.

"Babe always wears his watch," he said prompting a sharp reprimand from Sonic in the form of a playful smack to the back of his head.

"Can you be serious for once?" Sonic chided. Rubbing the spot where he was struck, North shot Sonic a wounded look. "What? I'm serious! he has an apple watch we can track him with that. " he insisted, his expression earnest.

Realization dawned on Sonic as he processed North's words. "Oh..." he muttered, his gaze shifting to his computer screen. Without further ado, he swiftly began to work his magic, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he initiated the tracking process. "Are you not even going to apologize?" North quipped, though Sonic was already engrossed in his task, oblivious to the comment.

With bated breath, the rest of the team gathered around Sonic, their eyes glued to the screen as they awaited the outcome. Hope flickered in Charlie's heart as he prayed that this lead would finally bring them one step closer to finding Babe.

As Sonic successfully pinpointed Babe's location, Charlie wasted no time in springing into action. He made a beeline for his car, But before he could even reach for the driver's side door, Alan intercepted him, his hand firmly grasping Charlie's arm.

"I'll drive," Alan declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. Charlie hesitated for a moment, but he quickly acquiesced, realizing that time was of the essence.

Without another word, Charlie relinquished his place at the wheel and settled into the passenger seat, his heart pounding with anticipation as Alan took the driver's seat. Sonic and North remained behind in the pit, to keep an eye on the location just incase it changed.

The journey felt interminable as they sped towards their destination, each passing minute stretching out into an eternity. Charlie's nerves were stretched taut, his mind consumed by a whirlwind of emotions. But amidst the anxiety and uncertainty, there was a glimmer of hope-a beacon drawing him ever closer to Babe.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they arrived at their destination: what seemed like an abandoned beach house nestled on the shoreline. As Alan brought the car to a halt, Charlie's heart leaped into his throat. He braced himself trying to remain as calm as he could.