"Forgive me father for I have sinned..."

Chapter 5: "I should've protected you..."

I awoke as the sun hit my skin, my head was pounding. I whipped my eyes but then I remember what had happened last night. I sat up and looked around then my heart stopped I saw him laying on the ground turned away. I crawled to him, my body so weak I couldn't walk. 

I sat up again next to him, his pants were still pulled down, there was dried blood running down his legs. I pulled him towards me, he jolted slightly,"Please not again," he began to cry unsuccessfully trying to push me off. I started to cry as well,"Author, baby it's me t-they're gone."

"Michael," he said sobbing looking at me. "What have they done to you," he said. I remember the fight my face probably looked horrible,"Baby it doesn't matter." I said pushing the hair out of his face. "C'mon I've got to take you to the hospital." I said finding the strength to stand. 

"I can't get up," He cried, shaking. I picked him up,"Hold onto my neck," I said puling up his pants. He held onto me tightly, his body still shook. I walked quickly to my car, laying him gently in the seat, I put his seat belt on and kissed his forehead.

I got in the car and we were off, he grabbed my free hand, holding to me tightly. We were silent until he said,"I couldn't leave you," I looked at him in shock,"Baby it doesn't matter," he cried harder,"I couldn't help you." I pulled  the car over and turned to him,"Author none of this is your fault," fresh tear filled his eyes,"If I had never asked for those cigarettes none of this would've happened."

I placed a hand on his cheek he flinched slightly so I just brought it to his other hand, bringing it to my lips and kissing it."Author none of this is your fault," I said honestly. He nodded sadly so I turned and started to drive again. "Can we go to your house first," he asked. "Sure," I answered.

Again we drove, but after a couple minutes I decided to turn on the music. A couple songs played before his favorite I looked at him in the corner of my eye. He didn't even smile he just stared sadly out the window. 

After a couple minutes we arrived at my house. I parked in the driveway and turned off the car. We sat there for a moment, I turned to him,"Author baby," he looked at me tears in his eyes again. "I'm going to start you a bath, okay?" I smiled at him.

He nodded whipping the tears that escaped his beautiful brown eyes. His expression was so damaged, so much pain in his innocent face. "Do you need me to help you get out of the car," I asked. He nodded in response.

I got out quickly and helped him out. He threw his arm over my shoulder, though he winced in pain as I put my arm around his back. I was as gentle as I could be pulling him through the door and sitting him down on a chair. 

I kissed his forehead and left to start him a bath. When I came back he was sniffling and had bright red swollen eyes. My eyes began to water,"It's ready," I said with my voice cracking. I helped him up again taking him to the bathroom

I sat him on the side of the tub first I pulled of his pants and boxers, then I reluctantly took off his shirt and started to cry from what I saw. They had cut up his chest and back, his skin was cover in purple with different bruises and cuts.

He wouldn't look at me,"Oh baby I'm so sorry," I cried out breaking down. I embraced him which he allowed. "I should've protected you," I sobbed. He held onto me  tighter,"If anything this is my fault," he whispered,"I should've never asked for smokes, if I hadn't we wouldn't have been there then none of this would've happened."

I looked at him sadly,"None of this is your fault,' I said honestly. Tears fell from his eyes, I embraced him one last time,"I love you," I whispered in his ear. He nodded, then I helped him into the bath. I washed his hair and gave him a towel to wash himself, once he was  out I tended to his tiny wounds, he clothed himself then we were off.

I held his hand all the way to the hospital trying to comfort him. Once we were there it took us no time to get in. I rushed quickly to the lady at the front desk. She smiled at me,"Hello Father Michael what's wrong."

I looked over to Author who sat sadly by himself. I turned back to her,"Well umm I need a rape kit to be done," I whispered, her expression turned horrified,"Oh my God, are you alright." I smiled politely at her," It's not for me," She looked at me confused,"Then who for," i turned to Author called him over."The queer," she said suddenly I cringed internally.

He starred down at the ground,"No ma'am this boy isn't a queer" She again looked at me confused, but gave me a clipboard to fill out. I turned to sit down,"No Father follow me," I looked at her puzzled. "You're the priest you don't have to wait," she smiled.

"Oh thank you," I said respectfully, she lead us into a room and said she would be back with doctor. We sat there silently waiting for her to return, she did eventually but there was no doctor with her. She handed Author a gown,"The doctor will be with you shortly," she said taking the filled out paperwork and leaving the room. 

He quickly changed expecting the doctor to come in any minute. Though hours had gone by before the doctor finally entered. He apologized for keeping us waiting and I was asked to leave so that he could examine him, I waited patiently outside of the room and after about twenty to thirty minutes Author walked out,"Are you ready to go," I said yawning, it was getting pretty late.

"Just gotta pee in this cup then we can go," he said chuckling, I smiled at him,"kay." He turned and headed to the bathroom, I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes. I awoke to Author shaking my shoulder slightly.

"C'mon baby we can go now," he whispered. I nodded rubbing my eyes, I stood stretching he giggled at me. As we walked towards the exit a doctor approached us,"Goodnight Author, Father Michael," he smiled, "Same to you," I answered back. "Oh I almost forgot to tell you," he paused,"We'll contact you if there's anything we feel you should be notified about."

"Oh here let me give you my number, I said. He took his pen from his pocket and flipped over the paper on his clipboard. After I finished telling him my number we began to walk out. It was already so dark outside. Author grabbed my hand and stood closer to me, I frowned knowing why he was now frightened, I cursed those men under my breathe.

We drove home silently, he seemed happier so I asked him,"How did it go," he smiled,"Good really good, he was so nice and didn't care that I was gay," he said happily. "Good," I said in response, I held onto his hand once again rubbing my thumb against it fondly. 

When we arrived home he got straight into bed snuggling cutely into the blanket. I smiled at him tenderly taking off my shirt and unbuckling my belt then climbed in as well. I curled up with him taking him sweetly into my arms kissing his forehead. "I love you," he whispered in the dark. "I love you too," I said in the same tone. 

"Goodnight," I whispered, he grunted in response before falling asleep in my arms. For awhile I played with his hair, and smiled at his peaceful expression, soon after I dozed off as well. Though it wasn't long before the phone started to ring. We both jumped up with horrified expressions.

I hurried out of the bed and grabbed it,"Hello?" I said groggy. "Hello? Is this Father Michael," a worried woman asked. "Y-yes this is him," I answered. "Father Michael please have you seen my son, he's been missing for a couple days and I can't seem to find him anywhere," she said. My heart stopped and I turned to Author who looked at me confused.

"Well I'm sorry Ms.Brooks I haven't seen him," I looked at Author again who had caught my drift, he looked at me worried. She began to cry,"Oh God please, h-he took some of his things and now he is gone." I frowned,"Well Ms.Brooks I bet he's fine, he'll show up eventually." 

She sniffled,"I guess you're right, i just want him to come home there's crazy people out there." I sighed,"You're right about that." "Well goodnight," she said before hanging up the phone. i placed it down and climbed back into bed.

"What did she say," Author asked anxiously. "She asked if I had seen you," I explained. He gave a look of disgust,"Why does she care where I am," I sighed,"She loves you Author and she wants you to be safe, like any mother does." His eyes  began to water,'But I thought I was just a fag to her." I embraced him,"Author people say things they regret all the time, she doesn't mean it okay?"

"I guess," he said laying down, I joined him. "Goodnight," I yawned turning away from him. He yawned as well and wrapped an arm around my waste,"Goodnight." I rolled  over turning to him, I wrapped my arms around him too the we finally went to sleep.