Please, Don't Leave Me

Chapter 24

When Andrew awoke, he was in a hospital room with IV drips in his arm and a bandage on his stomach. He groaned slightly in pain before opening his eyes to meet emerald green eyes. Marc was sitting on the edge of his bed, clearly worried. "You're awake.... How do you feel...?" Andrew groaned again as he slowly sat up, "Like shit...." Marc nodded and looked over at Nathaniel, who was only just now walking in with coffees. "Look who finally woke up...." Marc said with a soft smile. Nathaniel set the coffees down on a table and walked over, "it's about time. He's been out for three days. How are you feeling?" Andrew smirked up at Nathaniel, "Like shit.... but I could still kick your ass...." Nathaniel's eyes widened then he smiled. He could tell Andrew was trying to crack a joke. "Well, just so you know, once you're better, an attorney is probably going to come in..... The police looked at the report then at your records..... They said that you should be locked up...." Marc said, "Buuuut Nate and I made a petition for you. We talked to the chief of the police and asked to give you one last chance IF you will abide by the law and not be in a gang anymore. You could have a normal life, find yourself a lover, and just focus on what you dream of doing as a career." Andrew rolled his eyes but smiled; this guy had been beaten, raped, and tortured for so long by himself and his gang but he still tried to help him. He really was a treasure. "So basically, 'be a good boy and no bars,' right?" Marc nodded. He sighed, "Well, I suppose I can give it a shot.... Just don't think for a second that I'm gonna go soft or anything." The other boys laughed; they never expected him to.

Before long, a nurse came in to tend to him while Marc and Nathaniel left the room. "Think he'll actually do it?" Nathaniel asked. Marc looked away and thought about it before returning his gaze to his lover, "I think he might.... Only time will tell...." Nathaniel nodded and wrapped his arms around Marc, "You doing alright....?" Marc leaned into Nathaniel and enjoyed his embrace before nodding slightly, "I think so...." Nathaniel nodded and softly kissed Marc's temple. For three days the couple stayed here at the hospital in case Andrew needed anything or a decision needed to be made about his treatment. "I know you're trying to be brave, Babe..... But are you actually doing alright.....?" Marc sighed and shrugged, "I don't know..... I'm not sure how to feel about the chance of always seeing him on the street somewhere in Paris...... Even though I know that he finally learned his lesson when you shot him...... But I'm scared...... I'm scared that he'll just go back to the gang and wreak more havoc...... I'm scared that you and I may not be safe....." Nathaniel's eyes softened as he held his lover closer, "I know..... but you're being brave by helping him......"

Marc nodded slightly as a nurse approached the two, "He seems to be stable. We still want to hold him for a few days to ensure his wounds heal correctly. He should be able to go home in roughly a week, though." Marc nodded and smiled, "Thank you so much, Ma'am.... We'll make sure that he stays out of trouble while he's here...." The nurse, clearly relieved, nodded and returned to her work tending to other patients. Nathaniel looked over to Marc, who sighed. "Hey..." he said, making Marc look at him. He smiled and lifted his chin and gently kissed his soft lips, loving how his lip gloss tasted like cupcakes. "We've been here for days.... Why don't we check on Andrew one last time before going home....? We could use a shower.... And definitely a date night to calm our nerves..." Marc couldn't help but smile; Nathaniel knew that he was stressed, so a date would be the perfect way to relieve some stress. "Sounds good..."

The boys walked together into Andrew's room. He was laying in the bed with a bored expression on his face as a man in a black suit talked to him. "Look, Old Man. Those two over there already explained all of this to me. Besides, you leering over my bed like the Boogie Man is creeping me out." This caused the man to straighten and growl, "You ungrateful brat.... I am explaining something important to you." Andrew gave the man a blank stare that he once gave Marc when he was about to receive a beating, urging Marc to step forward. "Excuse me, Mr. Chief, but I already explained to him this idea and the terms. Don't forget this probationary idea was MY idea," Marc said as he crossed his arms, "He isn't being ungrateful; he was simply telling you that I already told him. He understands this situation perfectly. Now, if you would please back up. I believe he said that you were creeping him out. I'm no doctor, but I'm sure that stress will only stunt his recovery, correct, Chief?" The police chief stared at Marc in bewilderment. This child was so shy just yesterday when he presented this idea to him, yet now, he was confident, borderline bitchy. He grumbled something under his breath as he stepped away from Andrew's bed. He glared at Marc and approached him, "Fine, but the second he screws this up, I will be there to arrest him and send him to prison." With that, he left the three alone in the room. Marc sighed, "Sorry he gave you trouble, Andrew..." Andrew shook his head, "You're good, Rainbow. Maybe now I can finally get some sleep. I was about to doze off when that creep came in." Marc looked at Nathaniel then smiled, "Well, we'll let you rest. They said you can leave this place in a few days... But Nate and I are headed home for awhile.... I've already left my number for your nurse and doctor in case they need us...." Andrew nodded, "Later then... Hopefully I can get some sleep...." He closed his eyes and shortly fell asleep.

Marc looked over at Nathaniel, who gave him a loving smile. "Come on, Babe.... We should get going...." Marc smiled and nodded before walking out holding Nathaniel's hand. However, they had simply stepped onto the elevator when a group of older guys smirked at the couple. They made jokes directed at them, and one even called them faggots. Marc began trembling in anger but never spoke. When one slapped Marc's ass as a joke, however, something inside Marc snapped, and he spun and slapped the guy so hard he fell into his buddies. Marc took a deep breath and in the most feminine voice he could muster said, "Never.... EVER.... touch another man's girlfriend like that, Creep!!" All the guys in there, including Nathaniel, stared in awe. When the elevator doors opened, Marc flipped the guys off and walked off, basically dragging Nathaniel along. When he caught up, he pulled Marc close, "I never expected to hear a voice like that from you.... Confident.... Demanding.... Feminine.... To be honest.... that was kinda sexy how you did that...." Marc blinked at Nathaniel then giggled, "Nate.... You know I'm genderfluid..... I do exercises to broaden my vocal range.... That came in handy with those idiots.... But don't worry; I'm still identifying as a guy. Just don't tell them that." Marc kissed his cheek and began walking again. Nathaniel smiled as he walked with Marc, loving this side of him. Oh yeah, he definitely wanted Marc to be the top this time, for sure.