Silent Pain

Part 9

Chris woke up next morning on his bed. He didn't remember much from last night apart from the fight with craig. He didn't remember coming home at all. As he focused on his clock infront of him, he realised someone was in the room with him, stroking his back.
He turned to find Aleks there, admiring him.
"How you feeling?" she asked,
"I, I don't know." Chris said, feeling numb and light headed,
"Well, they let you home at least." She said, stroking his back still,
"Who?"
"The hospital. You didn't have too much damage so they just bandaged you and sent you back. I got the car from the pub and they told me what happened."
Chris groaned, now he remembered what had happened. He turned onto his back and looked at the celing.
Aleks moved and tried to understand how he must feel,
"You know, Craig will apologise eventually. If he doesn't, I will get Jack to make him."
"No..."
"Yes. What he's done isnt on. If he doesn't apologise by today im telling Jack to make him."
Chris sighed, "oh Al."
"Chrissy, you harmed last night. This is obviously killing you."
Chris held where he'd cut. It had been treated with something.
"The doctors must have seen it." Aleks said, "Look, your relapse now doesn't count okay? You're still clean in my eyes."
"But, I cut. It doesn't matter what the circumstances were."
"They are exempt." She said, holding his hands. Chris smiled, feeling loved. His wounds felt numb, but she helped him feel. She smiled back, knowing that he'd sometimes not feel anything. She hoped she could cure him, but then, after realising she couldn't, decided that the best thing she could do was to make him feel better; make him feel happy; make him feel loved.
"I best go feel Merl." She said, getting up.
"Oh. Cant Alf do it?"
"Alf has been taken out with Lou by Dan out for a while."
"Why?"
"I wasn't sure how you were going to be. I didn't want them seeing you if you'd got worse." She sighed,
"Alright."
"Dan will ring when he's coming back." She said,
"Okay." Chris said, getting himself up. He held his side, still feeling numb.
Aleks watched him stand and smiled.
"its good seeing you straight again. I will make you breakfast." She smiled, leaving the room. As Chris stood there, he looked at his arm and the draw where his knife was. His wound hurt when he looked at the draw. Distracting himself, he then decided to go downstairs; aleks and food were waiting.
As he walked down the stairs, he remembered last night. He shuddered as he remembered. He got to the bottom of the stairs and found Merlin. He was lying in his basket, but as soon as he saw chris he ran upto him. Chris smiled and fussed him, knowing he knew what happened last night.
Aleks came in, hearing Merlin's happy barks.
"He was worried so much about you so much last night. He must have known something was wrong."
"Yes I guess so." He smiled.

After Chris had ate breakfast, Aleks got a phone call. She answered and walked into the living room. Merlin hadn't left Chris since he sat down, continuing to look at him. Chris petted him, knowing how he felt.
"You still feeling protective eh?" he said, patting his head.
Merlin barked happily, almost smiling and licking Chris' hand.
Then, Aleks came back into the kitchen. She seemed slightly worried.
"Craig's apparently coming over." Aleks said, "Apparently hes coming to apologise."
"Who said?"
"Jack. She told him about last night and he seems to want to come over."
Chris became worried, what if he attacked him again? Merlin sat infront of Chris.
"Well what should I do?"
"Stay here. You two can go out if you want and talk. I best keep Merl in here. He might attack craig."
"True." Chris said, recognising how he was. He was being territorial, he didn't want anyone to touch Chris. Aleks was worried about getting attacked herself.
The door went; Merl raced over and barked at the door. Aleks followed Merlin to the door, hoping it wasn't Craig. Chris closed his eyes and hoped It wasn't craig.
"Hello Al. Brought your kids back." He hear Dan say, Alfie and Louis walking in talking to one another quietly.
Aleks came back into the kitchen with Dan and closed the door behind them.
"Craig's apparently coming over." She said,
"Why?"
"To apologise for yesterday."
"You want me to be here?"
Chris thought a moment, "With the kids yes."
Aleks and Dan seemed puzzled,
"What?"
"I want you two to stay in there. I think talking to him alone would be the best thing right now."
"Alright Chrissy." Aleks said, hugging him.

The back door knocked hard; Craig had come the back way for some reason.
Aleks and Dan left the room, the boys asking what was going on and Merlin barking loudly.
Chris opened the door, holding his breath.
Craig walked in, no expression on his face and sat at the table.
Chris sat too after locking the door. The degree of awkwardness was very high.
Then, Craig spoke, "I've come to say I'm sorry."
"For what?" Chris asked, knowing why,
"For, for being a dick and for fighting you last night. Jack told me your relapsed last night."
"Erm, well, yes" Chris said, looking at his arm.
"I...I never meant for that to happen." Craig sighed, "I was just so scared."
"Scared?"
"Yes. Of people finding out about...that..."
Chris knew what Craig meant, "How would they find out?"
"Fans already suspect Chris, they'd figure it out if I mentioned you. That's why I haven't called or anything, I, I didn't want anyone to even get a hint."
Chris sighed deeply, knowing what happened there was his fault, "You, erm, don't regret what happened there, do you?" Chris blushed,
Craig held Chris's hand, "No, I don't."
Chris smiled, he cared, he loved him. He was just, protecting him.
"How are you now?" Craig asked,
"Better."
"I didn't hurt you much?"
"Well," Chris stood up, showing Craig what he'd done. The areas where Craig had hit (two scarred areas) were bandaged up.
"Oh man. I...Im sorry. I...I was drunk n..."
"Its fine." Chris said, replacing his shirt and sat down.
"I promise it won't happen again."
"...Alright." Chris replied, knowing he could easily do it again.
Craig got up, "You erm, want to tell Al we've forgiven each other?"
"Yeah." Chris smiled, sending Craig into the front room first.
He realised how much he relied on the group now. If Dan hadn't been there for him, or Robert hadn't come in, then Craig might have killed him. Whilst he'd forgiven Craig for what he did, the spiteful comments continued to go around his head. He sighed and walked into the living room, hoping things from now on, would be easier for him.