Please, Don't Leave Me

Chapter 19

"Dad... I-I-I can explain...." Marc said as he scrambled to up from Nathaniel's lap. "You fucking better explain. These past few months have been hard for me, especially after returning to work and travelling. Then I come home to my SON in another boy's lap kissing him. As for you, Tomato, don't you EVER grope my son like that again. You hear me??" Nathaniel looked away, his eyes darkening. Marc was almost in tears. "Dad... Stop... I said I would explain, and I will.... But don't be so hateful to Nate...." Mr. Anciel looked at Marc with a look so serious it could've killed someone. "Well then explain. Now." Marc looked down and away before gathering his thoughts. This was nowhere near how he wanted to tell his father, but it was how it had to be. He took a deep breath and said, "Ever since I was nine years old... I have liked boys... And only boys.... Daddy..... I.... I'm gay..... I like wearing makeup and wearing girly clothes.... And I really, really like Nate... We've.... been um.... dating.... for a few days now... almost a week....." He was crying, but he did not receive comfort. Nathaniel started to get up to go to him, but Mr. Anciel gave him a look that made him keep his distance. His own father didn't comfort him, either. Instead he received what he dreaded the most.

"You are no son of mine..." Marc looked up at him, his eyes widening with shock and tears filled his eyes. "Dad... Please...." Mr. Anciel looked him dead in the eye. "Don't ever call me 'Dad' again, Fag." Marc's eyes filled with tears and he started trembling. "Mom knew this would happen.... She knew you would react this way.... Yet she encouraged me to be myself...." Mr. Anciel grabbed Marc by the collar of his shirt. His eyes turned red with rage as he growled at Marc, "How DARE you disgrace her like that!!! She was a respectable woman!!! You PIG!!!" He threw Marc down, resulting in the boy hitting his head on Nathaniel's desk. Marc lay there unconscious as a pool of blood began to appear. Nathaniel's eyes widened in horror as he ran over to Marc. "Marc... Marc!! Baby... wake up.... Please...." He took his own shirt off and pressed it to Marc's bleeding temple. When Mr. Anciel regained his composure, his eyes widened in horror of what he had just done. "Marc...." He took a step toward the couple when his eyes caught electric blue eyes that had now turned red. "STAY AWAY!!!! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!!! All he wanted was for you to accept him the way he is!!! Instead, you disown him then try to kill him!!! Stay away from Marc, you MONSTER!!!!!!" Mr. Anciel's eyes widened then darkened as he looked away. "I'll call the paramedics...." With that, he left the room and called the paramedics before calling Ms. Kurtzberg. Upon explaining everything, he was met with so many colorful words he didn't even know she had up her sleeve.

In a matter of minutes, she arrived shortly before the ambulance did. The paramedics ran inside and soon came back out with Marc on a stretcher and Nathaniel holding his hand. "Please... Please, be OK, Babe..... Please....," Nathaniel said as he climbed into the ambulance, "Mom.... Are you coming....?" Mr. Anciel took a step until Ms. Kurtzberg stopped him. "I'll right there, Sweetheart. As for you, Mr. Anciel, stay away from my boys. You've done enough damage, and the last thing they need is you looming over them after what you just did." He looked away ashamed as Ms. Kurtzberg joined her son and his lover in the ambulance. Nathaniel leaned into her as she held him close before the ambulance made its trek to the hospital. A young paramedic sat across from them. "His vitals are steady... You made the right call applying pressure how you did..." Nathaniel nodded but couldn't get his mind off what had just happened. They didn't know he would show up. They didn't know he would turn so aggressive. He failed to keep his promise to protect him. The last thought stuck with him for the entire ride. He failed him. He failed him. He broke his promise to him. He couldn't protect him. As much as he tried to stay strong, he broke down in tears and clung to his mother.

"I failed him.... I promised to protect him, and in the end I didn't keep my promise...." Ms. Kurtzberg rubbed his back reassuringly, :Sweetheart, you couldn't have known this would happen.... Marc certainly won't judge you for it when he wakes up...." Nathaniel hadn't even thought about him waking up until now. "B-but Mom.... What if he doesn't wake up....? What if I lose him because I was too much a coward to defend him....?" His mother kissed the top of his head. "Nathaniel... He's going to wake up.... Right now, he would want you to stay positive..." Nathaniel took a few deep breaths. She was right;he had to stay positive for Marc. He would be no good if he got akumatized right now. He sat up and wiped his eyes before taking Marc's hand gently and kissing it. "I don't know if you can hear me... But I'm still by your side.... I'm not leaving you.... Not now, not ever...." Nathaniel looked at his face for a sign that he was heard and saw Marc smile softly. Nathaniel smiled softly, his spirits being lifted somewhat.

When they arrived to the hospital, Marc was immediately taken to an operation room to see what the damage was and if he needed surgery. The entire time this was going on, Nathaniel was pacing in the waiting room. "Nate... You're going to burn a hole in the floor with all that pacing... Perhaps you'll feel better if you went and got a snack from the vending machine...." Nathaniel shook his head and kept periodically glancing at the doors. What were they doing to him? Did he even want to know? This went on for nearly two hours before the head doctor came into the waiting room calmly. Nathaniel immediately ran over to him. "How is he?? Will he be OK??" The doctor looked sad. "I'm afraid he's in a coma... We don't know when he will wake up... However, his vitals are steady and he had no internal bleeding so we are hoping he will wake up within a few days... I know this is hard news..." Nathaniel's eyes darkened. This was his fault. Why didn't he protect him? He felt that the positions should've been reversed. "May I see him....?" The doctor nodded and took them to Marc's room. Nathaniel immediately sped over to Marc's bed, hitting his knees beside it. "Why did it have to be you....? Why didn't I protect you.....?" The doctor's eyes softened sadly as he realized that these boys weren't friends but lovers.

The doctor left the room, and Nathaniel stayed in his current position for a solid hour. Ms. Kurtzberg walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. Nathaniel looked up at her as she helped him stand. He looked at Marc and all the wires attached to him before pulling a chair over and leaning so his head was on the bed. He gently kissed Marc's hand, "I love you, Babe... Goodnight...." He closed his eyes and fell into a very uneasy, restless sleep full of nightmares. The nurse came in to tell them visitation hours had ended. "Please.... He has no other family.... Allow us to stay with him...." The nurse explained she would return after she asked the head doctor. Ms. Kurtzberg nodded and waited. When the nurse returned, she told Ms. Kurtzberg that they could stay. Relieved, she kissed Nathaniel's head and Marc's forehead gently. "Goodnight, Boys...I love you both so much...."