No Clue

Found But Still Lost

Ashton sat next to his baby brother, staring at his lifeless form. The only things keeping him alive were the many machines. His body was so thin and pale now, scars traced his entire torso. On his chest there was a large burn that made the shape of a dragon. He had been so abused, so beaten. The worst part was, he enjoyed it. Ashton sighed and brushed a blonde curl away from his brothers closed eyes. He heard the door open and looked up, seeing Calum standing there in a hospital gown and robe, holding onto his IV stand. Ashton looked back at Luke, feeling guilt rise in his chest.

"How is he?" Calum asked, limping over.

"Not better. That's for sure..." Calum stared down at his boyfriend, feeling tears welling up in his eyes.

"I still love him," he whispered. "But I'm in love with you... please don't be mad at me."

"I'm not. I'm mad at me. Because I'm in love with you too and I don't even regret kissing you. I just feel guilty. He's been through hell. He was kidnapped, tortured, raped, and forced to do drugs. He was almost overdosed for christ sake. While we were here, kissing."

"I did get stabbed too you know," Calum whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Is he going to wake up anytime soon?"

"I don't know if he'll ever wake up. It's been a week."

"He's going to wake up..." Liz said from the door. "He is going to wake up..." Ashton stood up and walked over to her, seeing tears twinkling in her eyes.

"I'm sorry mom," he whispered, hugging her.

"He's going to wake up..."

~~~~

Michael sat in the interrogation room, pulling on the handcuffs and rubbing his wrists raw. Thomas walked in, reading a very large file. He looked up at Michael and sighed. He put the file down and looked at the young boy.

"Those look uncomfortable..." he said, pulling his keys from his pocket and unlocking the handcuffs. Mike took his hands back and rubbed his wrists. "Let's talk, shall we?" He asked, sitting across from the boy.

"Is Luke dead?" He asked, starting at the table.

"No. Not yet anyways. He's in critical condition. He might not even make it another night." Michael stifled a sob, rocking back and forth. "I want you to tell me everything. From the beginning. I want to know about the drug, I want to know about the kidnapping, I want to know about your relationship with Luke. I want every detail."

"He loves me. H-he told me so. He loves me back. He loves me... h-he loves me..." Michael muttered continuously.

"Michael. I need you to tell me."

"Ask G."

"Gerald is dead." Michael froze and pursed his lips together, shaking his head.

"He loves me. He said he did. He loves me..." Thomas sighed and ran his hand over the stubble growing on his face.

"Michael!" He said, snapping the boy out of his faze. "Did you take your medication today? The officer brought it to your cell..." he shook his head wildly. "How long has it been since you've taken it?" He started counting on his fingers.

"Four," he said simply.

"Four? Four what? Months?" He shook his head.

"Y-years..." Thomas sighed as Michael began muttering again.

"Yeah. Okay..." he stood up and grabbed the file, walking out of the room.

"He didn't tell you anything," Holland said, coming out of the observation room.

"He's just a sick kid. I doubt he remembers most of what happened. Gillum only kept him around because he needed a decoy," Thomas sighed and punched the wall.

"Gerald really cared about the boy. He kept him around because he wouldn't speak unless he was told."

"The point is, we aren't getting anything out of him, and the kid is probably going to die, meaning he can't testify. If he can't testify, Michael will get off on insanity. He wont be sent to prison, he'll be sent to an institution."

"He wouldn't last on prison... he's too... well insane." Thomas sighed and walked off down the hall, heading to his desk.

"There has to be a way. There has to be something left we can do. We have to be able to save Luke..."

"So that's what all this is about?"

"The kid went through hell. He deserves a little justice doesn't he? He deserves the feeling of safety, and he wont be able to have that unless Clifford is behind bars..." suddenly his phone went off loudly. He sighed and picked it up. "Yeah, this is Sangster," he said.

"Detective... the boy, he's awake," Doctor Scott said.

"He is?" Thomas asked, jumping up and grabbing his keys and running out to his car.

"He's in a frantic state. He keeps going into shock. You should get here-"

"I'm already on my way." He hung up and started his car, speeding towards the hospital.

Luke lay in his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. A nurse stood next to him, calmly speaking to him, trying to pull him out of his trance without sending him back into shock. His mothers stood outside the ICU, watching through the window and crying in eachother's arms. Detective Sangster came in with the doctor. He sighed and looked down at the boy.

"Can I speak to him?" He asked.

"You can try," Doctor Scott replied, "he's in a trance. Try not to trigger him into another panic attack." Thomas nod in response and kneeled next to the boy.

"Luke? Luke can you hear me?" He asked. "Can you tell me about what happened? About Gerald Gillum... and Michael-"

"Michael?" He asked, breaking from his trance. He stared at Thomas, his blue eyes wide.

"Y-yes. Michael Clifford. Can you tell me about the time you spent with him?" The boy smiled and but his lip, giggling slightly.

"He hurt me every day," he said dreamily. "He whipped me, cut me, smacked me, elecrocuted me..."

"Did he ever sexually assault you?" The smiled didn't go away.

"Every night..." he giggled again. Liz gasped and covered her mouth, sobbing as Anne hugged her. Thomas shot Holland a confused look.

"What did he do?"

"He touched me, fucked me, blew me, I blew him. He'd use strange toys on me..." he smiled and looked at Thomas. "He used me."

"Did you consent to the assault?" Luke shook his head.

"Not at first," he whispered. "But then, he blessed me."

"Blessed you?"

"He gave me the bliss. After he gave me that amazing, vibrant bliss, he was all I wanted. I yearned for his touch. It's intoxicating... I want to feel it now..." suddenly his smile disappeared. His hands began shaking and he began sweating. He curled up in a ball on the bed.

"Luke? What's wrong?" Doctor Scott asked. His entire body began shaking wildly and he was cold to the touch. He began muttering softly to himself.

"What's going on?" Thomas asked.

"He's going through withdrawls of the drug. You took him from an overdosed state, to completely cut off. His body can't handle being drug free so suddenly. It's going into shock and he's breaking down on the inside."

"So what? You're saying we should just give him the drug?"

"We need to ease him out of it. Give him smaller doses in longer time frames. Let his body adjust slowly..."

"The DA will never allow it."

"It's either that or he's going to die..." Thomas groaned.

"Fine. I'll see what I can do. We impounded loads of the drug from their cabin. I'll see if I can get some for you guys. Write a note, sign it. You too," he said pointing at the Nurse and Holland. "Get the mum's signature as well, I'll bring it to our captain. And with that, he walked out.