Let Me In Your Heart Again | Hardzello♡

Chapter 19

Within ten minutes the police and ambulance have arrived at the park. The area around Ben is cordoned off so that the emergency services can do their job without any people bothering them.
Joe is still crouched next to Ben, tears in his eyes that are waiting to fall. 'Just open your eyes Benny. P-please, I need you.' He whispers before a soft sob escapes his throat. He takes Ben's hand, and intertwines their fingers.
Also Rami and Gwilym have arrived now, hurrying towards the barrier tapes that are around Ben and Joe. An officer wants to stop them, but after explaining they know the two boys, they are allowed to go through.
The two come closer and see Ben lying with his eyes closed, blood pouring out of his nose.
Rami kneels next to Joe, feeling his knees getting weak. 'Is he....-?' His voice trembles when he says a sentence he doesn't even dare to finish.
Gwil is still standing, a trembling hand over his mouth. He looks at his friend, seeing a few bruises starting to form already.
Joe quickly wipes away his tears. 'He's unconscious. Someone beat him up and kicked him in the face. And I don't even know why.' He says with a sob.
A cop pats him gently on the shoulder. 'Could you please come with me? I want to ask you a few questions about what happened.'
Joe nods but doesn't get up yet. He can't leave Ben right now, right?
'Don't worry, he's in good hands. The only way you can help him now is to help us finding the one who did this to him.' The cop says reassuring.
Joe gets up with a small smile. Before walking along with the cop, he turns to Rami and Gwil. 'Please come with me. I am so scared.' His friends nod, and walk with him to the police van.
As soon as Joe has finished answering all the questions, he asks the cop if he can tell him more about Ben. 'I'm sorry, that you'll have to ask the ambulance paramedics, I can't say anything about that.' The cop says before walking away to his colleague.
Joe doesn't hesitate, and walks towards one of the paramedics. 'Mr Hardy is currently being investigated. We think he got off with a concussion. When he regains consciousness we will take care of his wounds in the ambulance, and with a little luck he can just go home.' The paramedic explaines friendly.
Joe sighs with relief. 'Thank you very much.'

Not much later Ben regains consciousness and is carried into the ambulance.
As soon as the final tests are done, Joe is allowed to enter the ambulance.
There he sees Ben sitting on a stretcher. 'Ben! Thank god, are you okay?' The ginger immediately asks.
Ben nods slowly.
Joe sees that the bottom of Ben's trouser leg has been cut open. When he gets a little closer he sees that Ben's shin is completely covered in bruises. 'Jesus Ben.' He whispers in shock.
Ben doesn't say anything to that, and just stares straight ahead.
'Are you sure you're okay? You look quite pale.' Joe says concerned.
Ben puts on a smile and nods. 'Yeah, I'm just still a little in shocked I guess. And my stomach hurts.'
Joe frowns. 'Yeah, he kicked you really hard in the stomach. I tried to stop him but I c-couldn't.' He says, feeling the tears rise again.
'Don't cry Joey. This wasn't your fault.'  Ben says as he cracks a little smile on his face.
Joe nods and wipes away the tears. 'D-do you already know if you can go home? Or do you still need to be checked in the hospital?' He asks concerned.
Ben shrugs.
At exactly that moment a paramedic enters the ambulance. 'Well Mr Hardy, I have good news for you. If you promise to take it easy for the next few days, you can go home. Tonight you have to wake up every hour to see if everything is still okay.' She says.
Then she turns to Joe. 'May I register you as a contact person?'
Joe nods.
'What is your name?' The paramedic takes a clipboard and a form, ready to scribble down Joe's name.
'Joseph Mazzello.'
She looks at Joe in surprise. 'Joseph Mazzello? How are you now? I was the one who took you to the hospital when you stopped breathing.'
Joe looks at her in surprise. He doesn't really know what to say. 'Oh well uhm, thank you very much for saving my life. '
'You can take him home now if you want.' She points to Ben and grins.
Joe blushes and nods.
Ben tries to get up, but Joe stops him.
'Wait here, I'll get Rami and Gwil. Then we help you to the car.' The ginger rushes out of the ambulance in search of his friends.
He finds them sitting on the bench where Ben and Joe sitting less than 30 minutes ago. They too have been questioned by the police. As soon as they see Joe get out of the ambulance, they jump up.
'And? How is he doing?' Gwil looks worriedly in the direction of the ambulance that Ben is in.
'He's okay. He has a concussion and some bruises.' Joe says. 'He can come with us to the hotel.'
Rami and Gwil breathe a sigh of relief.
'I'll go get the car.' Rami takes his car keys.
'Then we will help Ben out of the ambulance.' Gwil says to Joe.

Not much later, the four are in the car on their way to the hotel.
Ben and Joe are sitting in the backseat together, because Joe wants to keep an eye on the blond.
When they're just two minutes on their way, Joe feels a sudden weight on his chest. He looks down, and smiles when he sees that Ben has fallen asleep against him.  The ginger brushes a few hairs from the boy's face with his fingers. 'What a night.' He whispers.
Gwil, who is sitting in the passenger seat, looks back worried. 'Are you sure you're okay Joe? I can imagine that you are still a little in shock.' 
Joe stares straight ahead. 'Yeah. I just don't get it. That man came out of nowhere. He called Ben a killer, and started hitting and kicking him.' He mumbles.
Joe's words slowly come to Gwil.
'What else did he say?' Rami asks, whose eyes are on the road.
'Something about someone called Allen.' Joe says, looking at the sleeping Ben with a frown.
As soon as Gwil hears this name, his eyes widen slightly. He quickly controls himself and turns back to Joe. 'I may have an idea what this is about. But it's not my place to tell that, Ben has to do that himself.'
Joe looks at his friend in surprise.
'Trust me.' Gwil whispers reassuringly. 
About ten minutes later, they arrive at the hotel.
Ben is still sleeping against Joe's chest, and doesn't seem to notice the end of their car ride.
'Can you wake him up Joe?' Gwil asks.
Joe nods.
'Who's gonna look after him tonight?' Rami asks.
'Me. I will stay with him.' Joe immediately says. 
Rami and Gwil look at each other with concern.
'Are you sure? It was a rough day for you too, Joe.' Rami says to the ginger.
Joe nods. 'He was also there for me the day I got sick.'
Gwil and Rami nod, and get out of the car so Joe can wake Ben up in peace. 
Once Ben is sort of awake, his friends help him get out of the car. They accompany him to his hotel room and say goodnight to each other.
'Call us if you need something or if there is anything.' Gwil says to Joe.
Joe nods, and he and Ben enter the blond's hotel room.

------

Joe has been awake all night, still processing what happened this night. It was just perfect at first. And within a minute it turned into a horror night.
The ginger occasionally looks at the clock nervously to see if he should wake Ben yet. With every sound Ben makes, Joe looks at him anxiously, fearful that something is wrong.
The night seems to be endless.
But then, Ben snuggles close to Joe's body while he's fast asleep, already making Joe less stressed.
After he woke Ben for the last time this night, Joe finally falls asleep exhausted.

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Heavy chapter don't you think? Again haha

I'm in school now, where I have to wear a mask. How is covid in your country? I hope you're all safe♡

Much love from me❤