Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 123

Trigger warning

It hurts to move.

Andy groans. He blinks his eyes open and recognises where he is. Behind a gas station. He stopped on the way home from the studio to fill his car up. He bought some flowers for Remington, too, and a new phone charger since Jenny, their cat, chewed theirs up.

On touching his head, he feels blood, and recalls how he'd been attacked by two middle aged men. They kept saying how much they hated his band. They were shouting homophobic slurs at him. He remembers that. He didn't let it get to him. He's been out publicly long enough to know not to let it get to him. It's a relief that Remington wasn't there to hear what they were saying. It would have really upset him.

It's dark, and there's no one around. He knows he's been unconscious here for a few hours. His mind jumps to Remington, to how scared he must be, how he must be thinking Andy has abandoned him. The man knows how scared Remington is of being abandoned. He'd never hurt Remington like that. He'd never hurt Remington at all. Andy feels his pockets. His phone is gone, as well as his wallet and the car keys. He's stuck here, and his head is pounding awfully.

After trying to compose himself and calm down, Andy manages to get to his feet, and unsteadily finds the emergency phone mounted on the side of the building.

He dials 999 and leans against the wall heavily as someone answers. "I've been attacked," he says, as calmly as he can manage. "There's blood on the back of my head, and they've taken my phone and my car." He closes his eyes tight for a few seconds to try and ease the pain. "I need help."

The operator assures him that an ambulance is on the way, and Andy slides down the wall and sits on the concrete ground, feeling the back of his head and the way it's sticky with blood. He tries to remember exactly what they did to him. It was definitely two men, bigger than him, with mean faces and rough hands. He recalls how one of them had grabbed him and pushed behind the building, where no one could see. Andy had tried to fight them but it was no use against two men. The one who had grabbed him had shoved him against the wall, and the other had kicked him, muttered homophobic slurs, and laughed when he doubled over as he punched his stomach.

The concrete is cold against him and he can't stop touching the back of his head, even though it hurts horribly. It scares him that the men found him. He wonders if they just happened to be in the same place at the same time, or if they'd been stalking him, waiting to pounce. He shakes that thought away, and presses his hands into his eyes, trying to stay awake.

This makes him think about that day when he got home to Remington bleeding out on his doorstep, all helpless and damaged. Andy never did understand why Remington didn't just call the police from the hotel. He nearly died because he tried to deal with it himself.

He drifts between consciousness and sleep, and only really wakes up when he hears the loud sirens, and sees the blur of the bright blue lights. It's a strange feeling; knowing your life is in the hands of someone you've never met. Andy knows that he'd bleed to death if he isn't helped soon. The sight of the ambulance eases his mind, and he watches the paramedics through half closed, heavy eyes. The life-savers come to his side, helping him into the ambulance and pressing a large pad to the back of his head to slow the bleeding. He breathes in the chemicals they give him and thinks about his husband as he lies in the back of the ambulance. He thinks about how terrifying it must have been for the poor boy to have gone hours with an open stab wound and a used, abused body. He can't imagine that.

He's put to sleep once they get to hospital, and wakes later to a slightly numb body and a white bed. The room looks like every hospital room he's been in with Remington. It's weird to be the one in the blue gown this time.

There's a doctor in the room with him, who talks once Andy has had a minute to wake up properly. "How do you feel?" The man asks, clipboard in hand.

"Not so painful," Andy responds, slowly sitting up.

"You've got a pretty nasty head wound and a bruised stomach, but you're gonna be fine. You'll stay here until we're sure your head is healing. Is there anyone you want us to call?"

Andy nods. "Remington, my husband," he says, "please."

"Of course. Do help yourself to the magazines, and the television remote's by the bed. I'll get Remington for you."

The doctor searches for Remington in the system, discovering that the boy is also in the hospital, in room 186.

Waking to the hospital room is somewhat comforting to Remington. At least he's safe here, and he can't do anything stupid to himself. He looks over at Sebastian, who perks up when he sees his brother is awake. "Where's Andy?" Remington asks, anxious about why the man didn't come home last night.

"I don't know," Sebastian answers, "but I promise everything is gonna be okay."

Remington shakes his head. "What if he's really left me? What if he's found some attractive guy who can actually look after himself and he's-"

"Stop that. Andy loves you more than I think I've ever seen anyone love anything. Have faith in him, bub, he wouldn't ever leave you."

"You don't know that."

Sebastian takes the younger's hand. "Yes, I do. He'd never hurt you. He'd jump in front of a gun for you. You know he would. There will be a reason for this, pumpkin, you just gotta try and stay calm, okay?"

The boy looks at his bandaged arm. "How bad are the cuts?"

"The doctor said they'll heal just fine, though apparently you were less than a centimetre off cutting right through a vein."

"Oh, shit."

"Yeah. You really scared me last night. But I'm so glad you called me, even after the little argument we had. I'm glad you trust me."

Remington smiles. "Of course I called you. Haven't you noticed that it's always you who I call if I need someone? You're my big brother, Sebby, I'll always need you. And at the end of the day, even if I say I hate you, I don't. Even if we fight, I'll still call you if I need to. Because I love you, and I need you, and you're like my hero. You've saved me so many times and I don't think you really give yourself enough credit for that. You are the best fucking person on this whole fucking planet."

"Jesus, whatever they gave you really brought out your nice side, huh?"

Rolling his eyes and smile, Remington gets out of the bed, and hugs his brother. "Shut up, idiot."