The Worst of Times

Chapter 16

The doctor's told me it'd be about another week until I had my voice back. I was incredibly happy to hear it wasn't forever damaged. I was supposed to start trying to say little words with one syllable. Mike, DeLeo, and I were currently driving home and I was annoying the two with the fact that I could say Mike. It was a bit scratchy and quiet but it was still able to be heard.

"Mike!" I exclaimed and Mike rolled his eyes. "Mike, Mike, Mike!"

"Yes, Chester, you can say my name." Mike chuckled and I grinned brightly.

"Mike, Mike, Mike! Mike, Mike, Mike!" I said and DeLeo groaned from the driver's seat. Mike agreed to sit with me in the back so nobody was in the passenger seat.

"My God, Chester, how many times are you going to say that?" DeLeo sighed but laughed. We pulled into the driveway to Sam's house just as Sean came back on his motorcycle. I quickly got out of the car to greet him.

"Sean!" I said as loudly as I could in my quiet voice. It brought an instant grin to his face once he took off his helmet. I came up to him and hugged him before going back to Mike. "Mike! Mike!"

"He can say one word syllables now." Mike told Sean and I beamed proudly.

"Mike! Sean!" I said again and they all laughed. 

"Would you be saying my name if it had one syllable?" DeLeo laughed.

"Yes!" I nodded and he smiled. I was so happy to speak, even if it was one short word at a time. DeLeo and Sean walked inside and I grabbed Mike's arm to keep him back.

"What is it?" He asked and I grinned.

"I...Want...To...Fuck...You." I breathed and waited for his response, which was a wide eyed silence. I bursted out into dry laughter and he rolled his eyes.

"Meany." He jabbed me in the ribs and I kept laughing. I stopped when I heard yelling inside. Mike and I quickly ran in and saw Samantha with Mark. 

"You mean this is the exact goddamn motherfucker we've been protecting Chester from?! WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE?! SAM?!" Sean boomed and I went to his side and pulled his arm back a little. Mark smiled at me and I hid behind Sean. "Don't you even look at him!"

"Sean... Guys, it's hard to explain." Sam tried but Sean wasn't having it.

"Fuck you, Sam! You know how much that fuck hurt him and you still brought him here!" Sean yelled and Mark put an arm around her. I looked to Mike who seemed to be fuming but was bottling it up, unlike Sean.

"So you're Chester's new fuck buddy?" Mark finally spoke and I couldn't help but have some tears fall down my cheeks as I shook.

"You're an ignorant piece of shit." Sean sneered and Mark looked at Mike.

"Aren't you jealous? Your toy found someone new." Mark chuckled and DeLeo stepped forward.

"Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law-"

"Oh, fuck off. You're not even a cop anymore." Mark rolled his eyes.

"I can still have you arrested."

"On what grounds?"

"Harassment." DeLeo said without an hesitation. 

"Good luck on that one."

"Samantha, can you please explain why he's here?" Mike said and I looked at him with wide eyes before looking back to Sam.

"I love him." She replied and I started trembling.

"Chester's been awfully quiet. Cat got your tongue? Or did the rope get your throat?" He taunted me and I felt like I was going to fall over but Mike came up from behind me and caught my body as my legs started to cave. 

"It's okay, Chaz." He turned me around and rubbed my back, letting me cry into his shirt. "How did you know?"

"That rope looking bruise around his neck gives it away." He said and I felt Mike begin to walk me out of the house, not changing position. He paused and lifted me up so I could wrap my legs around his midsection and hid my face in his neck. I looked up as he carried me out and saw Sean following us, Mark's grin that widened when he noticed I was looking, and DeLeo laying it out on Sam. Mike carried me outside and Sean closed the door.

"You can't stay here." Mike said, setting me down. I dried my eyes and looked at him.

"Where... Can... I... Go...?" I gasped each word. Sentences were harder to say than just single words. 

"You can stay at my house." Mike told me.

"Or you can stay with me." Sean added and I gave them both a soft smile.

"Both...?" I giggled slightly and they laughed.

"Well... Maybe. I mean, where do you live?" Mike asked Sean.

"In a shitty apartment." 

"Wanna move? We could split the rent. I've got some money tucked away." Mike asked and I immediately pulled on his shirt.

"I... Can't... Pay... Rent." I said. I had absolutely no cash. 

"Chester, I can pay for you." Sean told me and I shook my head.

"We can both split your side of the rent." Mike chipped in.

"Too... Nice..." I denied but Mike hugged me tightly and kissed my head.

"Chester, don't worry about it. Let's pack your stuff, okay? Do you want to wait out here or come with inside? We'll pack your stuff for you." Mike said, letting me go, and I looked down to my feet.

"Can... I... Stay... Here...?" I asked and they both nodded.

"Sean, do you mind staying out here with Ches? I'll go get his stuff." Mike asked and Sean nodded. Mike headed back inside. I heard DeLeo still yelling when the door opened but it was muffled when it shut again.

"Man, all the shit we've been doing to keep him away from you and she just casually invites him over? Fucking stupid." Sean sighed.

"I... Am... Sorry..." I croaked and he hugged me.

"It's no big deal, the work we did. It's just... I'm worried."

"Me... Too."