The Cost Of Love (Bxb, Rape, Abuse)

Recovery

Ryan met with Sheriff Greames, piecing together where Eric lived from the information in Austin's wallet. Greames wasn't a bad sort but Ryan hated the raised eyebrow he got when he told him that Eric was Austin's boyfriend. After giving what details he could he drove over to the hospital to meet his mother.

"I just got off the phone with the sheriff. Jim's alright but he hasn't ever been the brightest bulb. How are you holdin' up?" Shelly asked.

Before he could answer the doctor approached them from the double doors.

Shelly and Ryan rose to meet him. "Well, he has three broken ribs, his right wrist has a fracture, dislocated jaw, six stitches for the laceration, and I suspect tissue damage to his neck, which is going to be sore for a while. How much do you know about him?"

Shelly shrugged. "Not much. I only met him the other day. Why?"

The dark eyed doctor stepped in closer, "Well, after examining him I noticed bruises at different stages of healing. Some were old but there were some that I could tell where fairly new."

"It tracks. The same boyfriend Ryan stopped has been doin' this a while." Shelly offered.

"Do you know if his boyfriend is still in the area?"

"I'm not sure if he's still lurkin' around."

"I made my intentions to blow his head off if I ever see him in Levy pretty clear." Ryan affirmed.

The doctor smirked, "Well Quick-draw, as intimidating as that is I'm going to have the staff on alert. This place isn't that large, so we'll keep him close to the nurse's station."

"I can keep watch over his room." "Ry this guy is demented. You don't need to get involved any further with this." The doctor replied.

"I'm 23 years old, get over yourself Mikey! I'm a grown man so get over the big brother crap." Ryan spat back.

"Ryan and Michael this is not the time or the place." Shelly shot her sons a look of annoyance.

"Okay fine. I'm just warning you he's really banged up and you never know how people are going to behave when they're in pain." Michael replied.

When they entered the room Ryan sat next to Austin who was hooked up to wires and tubes, only Michael knew the functions of. Shelly stood with tears in her eyes. Even though she had only known Austin for a few days her heart went out to him. She could not grasp how someone could hurt another person who didn't do anything to deserve it. She pictured one of her own sons lying in a hospital and how awful it would be if they were alone.

"How long is he goin' to have to stay here?" Shelly asked her eldest son.

"It all depends. There are insurance issues, and safety concerns. We're a small hospital; they are going to want to transfer him after he's stable if he has no insurance. That's standard procedure here. I'd estimate two days, before that happens. The problem is once he leaves here he's going to need a lot of attention; time and attention. Where's he from?"

"New Jersey but he was running to Florida to make a new start." Ryan answered his brother.

"That won't be happening anytime soon."

"We'll have to help him until that time comes."

Michael studied his brother then let his eye rest on his mother. Deciding he would speak with them individually later, "Okay. I have to go make my rounds I'll stop back by when I'm done."

"Ryan, I'm goin' home and talk to your father about somethin'. Do you want to come with me?" Shelly asked.

"No, I want to stay here in case he wakes up. I don't want him to wake up alone after what he went through."

She kissed him on the head and left the room. Ryan sat listening to the sounds of the machines and prayed Austin was going to be okay.

*****

Austin woke the next day. He was covered under Eric's insurance through the prison. Michael worried the coverage would be dropped and Austin would have a large medical debt. Ryan remained true to his word and spent most days and nights in Austin's room. He brought in his childhood copy of The NeverEnding Story and read to him. On the sixth day the phone in the room rang. Ryan answered.

"Shit kicker, tell my bitch I'll see him soon," then the line went dead.

Ryan looked at the drugged, sleeping Austin and left the room. He had to speak to his brother and mother, that crazy bastard knew exactly where Austin was.

The three Davenport's gathered in his room a few hours later and Michael explained he was being discharged. Michael prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxers with very specific directions for their administration and his care. Austin protested, but there was nothing he could do in the face of their overwhelming determination. He would stay with them until he was well enough to travel to Florida. If he was not so worn down from trying to argue with them and the drugs he would have noticed he exited through the back of the hospital; when the car left the parking lot seven other cars followed them, each making different turns on the way back to Levy.

When they pulled up to the house he was shocked. The Davenport home was a stately antebellum house.

"Don't be impressed, it's just four walls." Shelly said as she noted his expression.

Austin wanted to ask her questions about her 'four walls' but he couldn't focus. When the car pulled up to the front of the house all he could do was stare at the massive steps, stairs were his latest nemesis. It took him a few minutes to climb them, even with assistance every step he took caused pain to shoot through his body. He made it into the house to face a grand stair case. Shelly read the look of dread on his face and told him he would be staying in one of the first floor bedrooms. She set him up in one of the back bedrooms facing the open field. She explained it had a wonderful view and caught a nice breeze in the afternoon. Austin was more than relieved when he sat down on the edge of the king sized bed; the pain was starting to get unbearable.

"Would you like somethin' to eat hun?" Shelly asked as she opened the French doors to let in some fresh air.

"No thank you. I think I just want to take my pills and lie down." Austin said as he gazed around the large plush bedroom.

"Okay. If you need anythin' you just Ryan or I know." She said with that warm smile.

Austin climbed onto the bed and tried to get comfortable. He fell in love with the bed; it felt like he was lying on a cloud. It wasn't long before he was asleep. He slept for three dreamlessly drugged hours before Shelly knocked on his door.

"Come in." Austin croaked.

"I'm sorry to wake you but I want to change your bandages before I head to the bar." Shelly said as she entered the room.

"It's okay. I shouldn't sleep too much or I won't tonight." Austin said as he struggled to get up.

Shelly took great care in removing the old bandages and applying the new ones. Austin was very grateful for her caring touch and said so.

"Oh, I'm very familiar with injuries, mostly because I would have to patch my daddy up once a month. I can't recall a week without him bein' in a bar beat up or me havin' to go pull him out. He was the town drunk." Austin sat in stunned silence as she spoke and worked.

"My grandmother, we called her Sweet Ma, sunk every dime into coverin' the destruction he'd cause. Once the tab got so big at the Waterin' Hole, she just said to hell with it, and bought the place. He could drink for free."

"I'm sorry." Austin didn't know what to say, but her childhood sounded horrible.

"For what? My daddy was a self destructive man, and Sweet Ma and Old Pa were fools, but they loved me. I only mention it because I want you to know that I understand wrestlin' with conflicted feelins about people who you love. Those are big issues. You can stay here as long as you need. You understand me hun?"

Austin could only nod. He would cry if he tried to use his voice

"Okay I'm off to the bar. If you need anythin' just let Ryan know and he will take care of it. Goodnight hun."