Wren

Part 37

Soft sunlight drifted in through the open curtains, beaming gently across Wren's peaceful, sleeping face. Matteo sat next to him, his arms propped up on his knees and resting his chin on his tented hands. He stared at Wren, torn between willing him awake and hoping he stayed asleep. 

He sighed and sat back in his chair, closing his eyes. Thoughts raced through his mind. . . All the guilt and fear he'd felt while Wren was missing still haunted him, the anxiety rising up when he thought about how he couldn't always be by Wren's side. He'd already failed twice to keep him safe. 

A cold touch on his hand startled him out of his paranoid musings, and when he opened his eyes, he nearly jumped out of his skin. 

Wren hadn't opened his eyes or moved, but he'd slid his hand over and his fingers had brushed over Matteo's. His thin fingertips were barely curled around Matteo's, and there was little strength behind the grip, but it was intentional. 

"Puppy?" Matteo asked, his voice filling with hope. "Can you hear me?"

Was that a nod? It was so weak. . . "Wren? Can you squeeze my hand a little?"

The fingertips tightened around his, and his heart leapt in his chest. 

He called Leo in from the living room area, showing him how Wren would squeeze his fingers every time he asked. The movement was weak, but unmistakable.

Leo checked some of the equipment he had Wren hooked up to and took his temperature, then sat down on the edge of the bed, peering at Wren's face through his wire-rimmed glasses.

"Wren, can you open your eyes?" Leo knew the sedatives hadn't fully worn off yet, but he was anxious to see if Wren was still unable to differentiate where he was now from the nightmare he'd come from. 

Slowly, Wren's eyes fluttered open, the gentle sunlight too much for him as it pierced into them. He closed them just as fast, but they'd caught a glimpse. They were bloodshot and damaged, and his eyelids were puffy and red. He winced, his body filled with a dull ache from all the trauma and pain it had endured. He groaned and turned his head away from the light that cut through his eyelids.

"M-ma--" Wren was trying to say Matteo's name again.

"I'm here, puppy. I'm right here." His voice was barely above a whisper, as if he feared startling Wren. He was so fragile right now; one wrong move could throw him right back into that animal-like panicked state he'd first been in. 

Wren had felt the feeding tube when trying to talk, and now reached up with weak, jerky movements to try and remove the intrusion from his mouth. Matteo grabbed his hands and Wren flinched, freezing in place with his head turned away, his shoulders hunched as if he were waiting for a blow.

Matteo immediately released his wrists, gently cupping Wren's cheek in his hand. "You're okay, puppy. You just can't touch that tube, okay? It's just food. Just like last time."

Wren didn't move from his defensive position. "D-don't," his voice was hoarse and trembling. "Don't hurt m-me, please," he begged, starting to tremble.

Leo and Matteo both felt their hearts shatter inside of them. Wren had been so vibrant and full of life, but now he was like a scared child; reduced to just the shell of  himself.

He had spent countless hours praying for Wren's safe return, and now that he was here, Matteo was determined to make him feel safe, no matter what. 

"I'm never going to hurt you, puppy. You're safe now, I promise. I'm never going to let you go through that kind of pain again." His voice cracked, and he fought back the tears that pricked his eyes.

Wren seemed to relax after hearing that, but he was still agitated. He uncurled a little and reached out feebly, his thin fingers searching for the presence he felt next to him. 

"It's just me, Wren." Leo said, brushing his fingertips to Wren's. 

Wren flinched and pulled away, turning to Matteo and reaching out for him. Matteo grabbed the searching hands and pulled them to his chest as he moved to sit beside Wren. He took deep breaths to keep his heartbeat steady; he could tell Wren was focused on the thudding.

The whirring and buzzing of the medical equipment seemed to make Wren uneasy; he kept tilting his head this way and that, listening. Matteo placed his hands over Wren's, feeling his heartbeat through them. His thumb traced soothing circles on the pale skin, feeling the pulse jump underneath it. 

"Wren, I know you're scared, but I'm right here. You're safe."

Wren hesitated, then slowly laid his head down on Matteo's shoulder, taking deep breaths. "W-where's Sophie?" His words were strained and drawn out, slurred together.

"She's with Dad. She misses you," he added, and Wren didn't respond. He was done for now. His body and mind were completely exhausted.

Leo left them as Wren drifted back off into the sedative, his hands still held to Matteo's chest. There was an emptiness in the room, like Wren's presence had completely faded away. . . it made Matteo uneasy.

                  Part Thirty-Eight Coming Soon