Royal

You Will See Me Thrive

I hold the bandage as Brendon bites it ripping it off from the roll. He sits back and rolls his shoulders looking up at me in the light from the fire and gives me a sad look. I gulp and put the bandage down next to me my eyes scanning over Pete's body, he looks so small and so broken laying on the blanket next to the fire. 

"That is all I can do for him for now. But he needs some serious help I think some of his ribs are broken as well as his nose and cheekbone. I don't know how we will get him out of here." Brendon trails off and looks at me with wide sad brown eyes and I bite my lip trying to hold back the tears that threaten to fall. More crying is not going to help. I sigh and look up at the night sky seeing the crescent moon peeking over the treetops and the stars burn brightly in the clear night sky.

"I thought if I found him everything would be okay, I thought everything would be back to normal and we could just move on." I look down at Pete at his swollen face and a lump forms in my throat. "I did this to him, I have caused him so much pain." I feel a stray tear streak down my cheek. 

"Don't say that Patrick none of this is your fault. He cares a lot about you, I have seen it in the way he looks at you. He wouldn't have stayed if he thought this wasn't worth being with you." Brendon grips my shoulder and stares into my eyes wiping the tear off of my cheek and I smile at him and sniffle. "Get some rest Patrick, you need it." I nod and stand up brushing the grass off of me before grabbing another blanket out of one of the bags. I walk back over to Pete and lay down on the ground next to him. 

I try to relax and take Pete's hand in my own and squeeze it gently keeping a good distance between us for I fear I may hurt him if I sleep to close. My eyes slide shut and I feel myself drift into a dreamless slumber soon after. 

I awake to a bright morning sky and look over to see that Pete's features look even more gruesome in the daylight I gasp when I see how his face is now a deep purple and the one eye that is not wrapped under a bandage is swollen shut. I squeeze his hand gently and sit up cradling it close I gaze at his bruised split lips and cringe. 

"We should try to get some water in him." I jump at the sudden sound of Brendon's voice and my head snaps up toward him. He is leaning against a tree close by he looks exhausted and barely able to stay upright. 

"Did you sleep at all?" I ask looking him up and down, his clothes are dirty and his long brown hair, which is usually kept neat and slicked back is now knotted and a mess atop his head. 

"No, I had to make sure no one was going to ambush us in the night." He looks down at the grass and kicks it with the toe of his worn shoe. 

"Well sleep now, I shall keep watch," I say quickly standing and handing the blanket to Brendon. He looks at me warily. "I will wake you at even the slightest hint of danger, I promise." I look him in the eye and he gives me a soft smile nodding before trotting to a nearby shady tree and sprawling out beneath it. I walk over to the bags, which are strung over a low hanging branch and dig around until I find the metal water canteen I am searching for. I pat one of the horses when I pass by the tree they are tied too. Making a mental note to find a stream where they can drink soon. 

I walk over to Pete who still lays unconscious on the ground and kneel next to his head. I look at his body wondering what the best way to go about this would be. If he stays laying down the water could go into his lungs and he would choke, if I sit him up I risk hurting his ribs further and causing internal damage. Pictures from old study books flash through my mind and I shudder thinking of a broken rib stabbing into any internal parts. 

I scoot closer and roll his head sideways and then prop it up just slightly on my knee. I uncap the water canteen and hold it to his lips. "Okay, Peter if you can hear me, and I hope that you can I need you to drink this for me okay?" I take a deep breath and open his mouth pressing the rim of the bottle to his mouth and slowly pouring. I take a break and wait studying his face and gently close his mouth and wait a few seconds later when nothing happens I open his mouth and the water dribbles out and he makes a wheezing noise I quickly tip his head up further and the rest of the water pours out and his breathing goes back to normal. I sigh and rest his head back down gently. 

If he does not drink soon he will become dehydrated especially in the heat of the day. Then there will also be no way to get him to eat and he will quickly starve, or die of exposure. I take his hand in mine and squeeze it.

"I will not give up on you," I whisper and kiss his knuckles gently. "Please don't give up on me."