The Real Peter Pan

• Chapter 9 •

"I'm in pain everyday. That changed me. Made me a harder person, a worst person and I'm alone."

-Anonymous

"What- what the hell happened?" I shake with fear.

Nicolas shakes his head. "There is no time to explain. We need you to take care of him for tonight and we will be back in the morning."

My eyes grow larger. "Take care of him? He needs to go to a hospital!"

"No!" They both snap. "You can't take him anywhere."

"I- I can't take care of a wound...."

"Brennan, remember when you said we could trust you? This is a trusting moment."

My chest heaves up and down as I glance at Peter once more. "Okay, but let me get Claire out of here."

"Hurry." Stephen says.

I rush back into the house.

"Claire!" I shout. "You need to leave!"

She gives me a confused look. "What? What's going on?"

I shake my head. "No time to explain. You can get your stuff tomorrow, but you need to leave now!"

She gets up. "Tell me what's going on. Are you in trouble?"

"I promise I will tell you tomorrow. But seriously go- and go through the back!" I say as I begin to push her out.

"Okay but you better!" She yells as I slam the back door closed.

I hustle back to the front of the house and open the door.

"Okay, come in. Lay him on the couch." My voice shakes.

They carefully set in down and then look at me. "Bandage it and change the bandages every hour and a half." Stephan says.

"We will be back around nine in the morning." Nicolas adds.

"O-okay."

Stephan takes my hand. "It's okay Brennan, you'll be fine.

And with that they leave.

Hastily I go to the kitchen and get a cold water rag and a bandage from the cupboard. I move Peter's brown hair to the side before I place the rag on his forehead. Luckily the slash is on his right shoulder so I can reach it easily- except one problem. His white t-shirt covers where I will have to wrap.

I am going to have to cut his shirt off.

I shudder at the scary idea; but sadly I have no choice.

Running back into the kitchen I grab a pair of scissors off the counter. Then I slowly begin to cut down the front of his blood covered shirt. For a guy who has an ugly personality, I couldn't help but admire the way he is beautifully sculpted. Except that once flawless skin is now painted with blood and dyed with blue and black.

As I clean off the wound, more blood soaks onto the blankets. Then carefully I wrap his shoulder, around his chest and back so it keeps the bandage together. After I am done, I tuck a clean blanket onto him to hide his bare skin.

I sigh and sit in the chair across from him.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I flop back into the chair after I change his bandage for the fifth time. I begin to close my eyes when I hear a groan. I spring up from the chair and look over to Peter. He groans again and moves his head.

I rush to his side. "Peter...?"

He keeps his eyes clenched but moves his head to face me. "Where.... Where am I? Who-"

"It's me, Brennan. You're at my house."

His eyes pop open in shock. "Wha- I... I was-"

"Shhh." I whisper. "It's okay now, just rest."

He nods and closes his eyes. For a moment I begin to think everything is going to be okay; until he begins to sob.

Almost instantly, out of instinct; I gather him in my arms slowly rocking him back and fourth as he sobs violently into the quiet air. Pain only fills my chest as I try to comfort the broken boy in front of me.

After awhile, he cries himself unconscious on my lap.

I glance at the clock; it's 3:00am. Slowly I get up, trying not to nudge Peter. I go to the kitchen, grabbing one of the two last bandages I have. When I re-enter the living room I jump in surprise.

"Oh, you're awake!"

"Uh yeah... I saw you leave." He says quietly.

"I went to get you another bandage. I have to change it every hour and a half." I sit next to him and gently begin to unwrap it. His body tenses when my nimble fingers accidentally brush his skin.

"How did I get here?" He asks.

"Stephan and Nicolas brought you to me, they said they will be back in the morning." I throw the old bandage in the trash bin next to the couch.

He doesn't say anything for a minute. He just stares at the wall. "Why did you help me?"

I raise my eyebrows at the strange question.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I did a horrible thing to you."

"Peter, your health is more important than my feelings..."

His jaw clenches. "No, no it's not." He grabs my hand. "I'm so sorry Brennan."

I shake my head. "It's nothing worse than what I said to you." I reply honestly.

"This might hurt-" I say as I begin to rewrap his shoulder. Peter winces and releases a deep breath.

"Why wouldn't Stephan and Nicolas let me take you to a hospital?" I curiously ask.

"I don't do hospitals." He states firmly opening his clenched eyes. "And besides, if anyone needs to go to the hospital it's you." He lightly skims his fingers over my cut forehead. "What happened?"

"I was in a sort of car accident, you could say."

"Oh- I'm sorry."

I let out a small laugh. "Don't be, Claire almost hit a rabbit and I was the idiot without a seatbelt."

He chuckles. "Yeah, well that would do it." Peter sighs. "So when are you going to be healthy again?"

Immediately I know he is talking about my medication.

"Should be soon."

"Brennan, I am really sorry about all that."

I smile. "Don't worry about it; I put it behind me."

"Could I uh- use your bathroom?" He scratches behind his head with his good arm.

"Oh! Yeah of course, go ahead and just use my parents bathroom. It's at the end off the hall." I say helping him stand.

He smiles gratefully.

As he slowly hobbles to the bathroom I walk to the linen closet to grab some towels and other necessities. Then after I feel that I have given him enough time I slowly walk over to the bathroom.

Knocking I creak open the door. "I brought you some towels and things if you want to take a-"

My body freezes.

Peter stands holding the syringes from the cabinet behind the mirror and he is breathing heavily through his nose.

"What- what are you doing with....?" I stutter.

"Haldol." He growls. "You've been taking Haldol!?"