I Won't Ever Hide Alone

Ch: 26 New Beginnings

Julian reached his arm out as he lay in the hospital bed. He didn't open his eyes yet, but he knew he had to be in a hospital bed. It felt like the sheets from hospitals that always feel super uncomfortable and thick but not thick enough to keep warm. Then his hand bumped something which made his eyes pop open. The room was dark and it felt like it was getting colder. He pressed the back of his hand to the thing he bumped into and it felt weird. It was something completely unexpected, but he had a feeling he knew what it was. He kept pressing on it and slowly turning his head until he was face to face with Kara. She had a dead stare at him. He screamed, but never took his hand off of her. Instead he started to shake her. He realized she was getting colder. He was shouting at her, but the light in her eyes was already fading.

"KARA, WHAT THE FUCK! STOP IT!" He shouted, staring into her dead eyes. Then he blinked and it was Dom. Staring back at him. His eyes analyzing Julian's frightened features. 

"She's in hell now, baby. Just like you're gonna be." Dom said, in the most softest, soothing voice. It was almost too soothing to the point Julian felt like he could let the darkness take him over and be fine.

Julian shouted, "NO! She's here. She's here with me. Dom help us! Save me! Save her, don't let her go!"

Dom caressed Julian's face and smiled, "Wake up now."

Julian was so confused and he could feel the darkness coming for him. It was engulfing him and Dom. Dom's smile was the only pure sight he could see as the darkness took over.

-

"Wake up now."

Julian's eyes popped open and he immediately sat straight up. Before he could do anything else, a warm body tightly embraced his.

Julian knew who it was, just from the familiar smell of him.

"Dom." Julian breathed Dom in and smiled. 

Dom let Julian go and leaned on the bed, "You were having a fit. Are you okay?"

Julian was embarrassed and rubbed his face to try to wake up more, "Nightmare." Then he remembered, "KARA!" Julian went to get up, but the doctor that Julian barely realized was in the room put his arm on Julian's as if to stop him.

"She's fine." Dom reassured Julian, as he sat down on the edge of the hospital bed.

Julian let out a long sigh.

"She is stabilized, but she will need some time to herself to recuperate. She is pretty banged up, but it's nothing that can't be fixed." The doctor added.

"When can I see her?" Julian abruptly asked.

"Soon. Right now, we need to talk about you." The doctor said as he walked around the other side of the bed and sat down in the chair next to Julian. He had a clipboard and a pen ready to write.

Julian looked at Dom and Dom spoke first, "Your parents have already been here. You were out for a good while." Dom's eyes looked distressed, like he had possibly been crying.

Julian nodded his head then looked over at the doctor.

_

"They had to analyze me too, sug. It's gonna be okay though." Kara said, a smile on her face as she spoke with Julian and Dom.

Her face was pretty beat up, but it looked like she still had all her teeth and no broken bones. Julian couldn't help but think about how tough she was. She did have veins popped in her eyes though, which was hard for Julian to look at.

"Are you going to be okay?" Julian asked, holding Kara's bruised up hands.

"I will be fine. I am feeling better already." She stated as she sipped her water. "It definitely looks worse than it is, I'm sure."

"Could you tell me why? What happened?" Julian asked.

Kara looked down and studied the bedding. "I tried to break up with him and it didn't go over too well."

"Oh my god! It's all my fault. I should have been there." Julian wanted to beat himself up at this point.

"Honey, no! You aren't going to start that. It was not your fault. I promise you that. He is just a psycho and you have saved me from him. He isn't getting away with this, you know. I am documenting all of this and he can go to hell." Kara stated.

"Yes! I am so glad you are alive..." Julian smiled. He couldn't stop thinking about that horrible dream and just seeing his best friend, alive felt so refreshing. He felt like a big weight had been lifted off of him and he can finally breathe again.

"Hey me too, but trust me. I did try to protect myself Julian. That's why my hands are bruised up. I wasn't going down without a fight." Kara chuckled.

"You fought back? Yes! This is the Kara I know. Thank god she's back." Julian hugged her tight, forgetting the pain she must be in from the encounter, because he heard her say "OW!" and jump at his touch.

"Oh fuck, I am so sorry!" Julian apologized.

Kara chuckled, "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Juls."

-

"Julian, Baby! How are you feeling? I made your favorite stuff! Come eat." Carol, Julian's mother, said as she hugged tightly onto her son and then rushed him over to the kitchen for the meal she had prepared him. "Come, Dom. You too."

Dom followed after. Julian and Dom both sat down at the table as Carol served them.

Julian sighed, "Mom. You don't have to do that. I can do it-"

"Shh! I am doing it. All I want you to do is eat and tell me what happened. And Dom, Honey, Thank you for being there for my son. You're a good boyfriend to my baby." 

Julian spit out his water, choking on it. 

Dom's eyes were wide, he looked back and forth at Carol to Julian.

"What?" Julian choked out.

Carol was washing dishes over by the sink. Her back turned to them as she spoke. "A mother knows Julian."

"When? What? How?" Julian was super confused.

Carol stopped washing the dishes and turned around, drying her hands on a towel. "I've always known, Julian. I have just been waiting for you to tell me, but learning about it this way is even better." She flickered a smile over at Dom, who shyly smiled back looking down.

Julian was speechless. It was like he was in a trance he couldn't get out of. So much has happened in the past few days, he thought he was about to explode.

Carol had gone back to washing the dishes and Dom at some point even went over and helped her finish up with them. Julian was still stunned and immobile at the table.

After the dishes were done, Dom was drying them, and Julian went into the living room in a state of confusion and looked down at his Mother who was now relaxing on the living room couch.

"Mother." Julian said. She looked up at him and smiled. "But... You have talked about grandkids. You want grand baby's. You were on and on about it for months."

"Yeah and it's still true. Nothing you can't still do with Dom some day. I know that. Your Mama isn't oblivious to how things can be done." 

"You accepted this whole time?" Julian felt strange.

"Of course I did, Julian. You're my son. My baby. I love you no matter what."

Julian felt like he could cry. Dom came up behind him and placed his hand on the small of Julian's back. Julian's natural reaction was to move away or play it off when in front of anyone that wasn't Kara. He did react in that way for a moment, but quickly recovered to Dom's touch and felt the hot tears fall down his cheeks. Dom was comfortingly brushing his hand up and down Julian's back.

Carol stood up as Julian started to say, "But what about Dad?"

"What about him?" Carol asked. 

"He isn't going to be happy." 

"I'll go with you!" Dom stated quickly. Looking over at Julian.

"See, and that's why I like him." Carol smiled big again. She kissed Julian on the cheek and walked herself into the kitchen.

Julian felt like his heart could burst. 

"Do you need a drink, Love?"

Love? Oh my god, my heart can't take anymore... "Yeah, I need a drink."