Let Me In Your Heart Again | Hardzello♡

Chapter 60

'Hi Ben, we have some questions for you. In this way we hope to get hold of the people who did this to you.' The officer says.
Ben nods. He takes a deep breath, feeling his heart thud in his chest. Then he feels Joe squeeze his hand gently. Which reassures him a little more.
'So, do you have any idea why these two men did this to you?' One of the two officers asks.
Ben nods. 'Uhm yes, actually. They were commissioned by someone who has harrassed me before. He is in prison for that. But apparently he hadn't gotten enough revenge on me yet.' He sighs. 
One of the officers writes something down with a frown. 'Can you give a little more explanation about that?' He asks as he looks up.
Ben nods, and tells them everything. About Allen, about how Corey gave him a concussion and about the package with the threatening letter and the knife. 'The same package was also in the room where I was locked up.' The blond boy adds.
Joe can feel Ben's hand tremble in his own. He gently rubs his thumb over Ben's knuckles to calm him down, knowing it's tough for his boyfriend to talk about. 
Then Ben gets up and walks to his coat to show the letter to the officers.
The officers are looking at him while he's walking step by step. 'Looks like they got you right kid. The officer frowns, seeing how much effort it takes Ben to walk.
Ben nods. 'Here is the letter that was in the room where I was locked up.' He gives the letter to one of the officers.
The man reads the letter with a raised eyebrow. 'Well, that already explains a lot.' He mutters.
'What do you mean?' Joe asks.
The officer lets out a soft sigh. 'Well, an old van was found on the grounds of the old prison. Apparently the two suspects escaped with another car. We found a step-by-step plan in the van. Point 4 was "Take Ben to bridge". We didn't understand what it meant, but now things become more and more clear.' 
Ben's mouth drops open. 'So that's what he meant by "you're going after Allen".' He mumbles. He looks at Joe with tears in his eyes.
Joe too, now understands what Corey's plan was. 'T-they wanted to throw you off the bridge.' He whispers softly. 

After the police officers ask Ben some more questions about the appearance of the two men, they leave the room. 
With tears still in his eyes, Ben stares straight ahead.
'Are you okay sweetheart?' Joe crawls a little bit closer to Ben and hugs him.
Ben buries his face into Joe's neck, letting go of all the tears he held in while the officers where here. 'I don't understand why it's bothering me still so much now. It's been over a month. I'm sorry I'm such a crybaby.' He whispers during the hug, trying to stop himself from sobbing.
Joe sprawls out on the bed and pulls Ben close to his chest. 'Hey, never say that. You are traumatized, you have the right to cry.'
Ben puts his head on Joe's chest, knowing the sound of the boy's heartbeat will calm him down. 'Thank you.' He mumbles after a while. He looks up, meeting Joe's eyes 'Captain America.' He adds with a grin.
Joe looks at him in surprise. 'You remember that?'
Ben giggles softly. 'No, Brian told me.' 
Joe giggles softly. 'I think it was cute.' He says with a smile, holding Ben a little tighter in his embrace.
It stays quiet for a while. Not that they mind. The two just enjoy each other's presence.
Then Joe suddenly bends over to give Ben a sweet kiss on the head.
'Where did I earn that for?' Ben asks with a smile.
'For being cute.' Joe says with a shrug, saying it like it's obvious. 

'Benny?' Joe asks after a while of cuddling in silence.
'Yeah?' Ben mumbles.
The two sit up straight, but don't let go of each other.
'Can I ask you one more thing? About the whole hospital thing?' Joe asks carefully.
Ben nods. 'Yes, of course.' He says with a small smile.
Joe takes a deep breath. 'Well, just before you woke up from your artificial coma, you squeezed my hand first, and then you intertwined our fingers. But you didn't know who I was when you woke up. So why did you do that?' He asks curiously.
Ben smiles, and takes Joe's hand. 'I- I don't really know, actually. I felt someone holding my hand, and it just felt familiar. Like I knew I could trust the person holding my hand. But it was also because I panicked a little. I couldn't move my body, and I wanted to let know that....-.' The boy suddenly stops talking. 
Joe sees Ben struggling to get the right words out of his mouth. 'What is it sweetie?' He whispers softly. 
Ben takes a deep breath. 'Well, I was afraid the people next to me would think I was no longer alive. I was so scared they'd bury me or something. So I just wanted to let you know that I wasn't dead. And I know it's weird, and things like that only happen in soaps, but- but.' Ben rattles in one go. He gets interrupted by Joe's lips on his, giving him a reassuring kiss.  
Once they break the kiss, Joe pulls the blond boy closer into his embrace. 'Shh. Hey, I get that. But you don't have to worry about that anymore, okay? You're safe, here with me.' He whispers. 
Ben nods, snuggling up against Joe and resting his head on the boy's chest. He closes his eyes and enjoys the feeling of Joe playing with his hair.
It says silent for a moment.
Joe bites his lip, nervous about the question he's about to pop. 'Benny? Would you like to call my parents with me? They know my best friend is in the hospital, but they don't know yet that he is my boyfriend too.' The ginger asks a little hesitant.
Ben looks up, nodding with a big smile on his face. 'I would love to, angel.' He says before gently pressing their lips together.

And so, not much later Ben and Joe are sitting side by side, ready to video call Joe's parents.
Ben smiles when he notices how nervous Joe is. He gives him a quick kiss on the cheeks. 'Don't worry, it will be fine.' He says reassuringly.
'Aren't you nervous then?' Joe asks with a small frown.
'Oh yes I'm freaking out.' Ben says with a serious face.
Which finally makes Joe laugh a bit. He takes a deep breath. 'Are you ready?'
Ben nods.
Joe hits the call button, and the phone is ringing. The boy is holding his phone so that Ben isn't in the picture just yet.
Joe's mom is the one who answers the phone. 'Hi Joe, darling how are you? You are still in the hospital I see?' His mother with a kind smile.
Joe smiles and nods. 'Hi mom, yeah that's right. But I'm doing great actually.' 
Immediately a curious look appears on Mrs. Mazzello's face. 'Oh, why that so?' She asks.
'Well, because the whole band is complete again.' Joe says with a grin, now turning the camera so Ben is in the picture. 
The blond boy waves shyly at Joe's mother. 
Her eyes widen and a smile appears on her face. 'Ben! Oh my god, you're okay again?' She asks happily.
Ben nods with a smile. 'I am. I'm almost completely recovered.' He says.
'I'm so glad about that.' Mrs. Mazzello says.
Joe takes a deep breath. 'Mom? We don't have much time, because the doctor will be here soon to check on Ben. So one more thing before we gotta go.' He says.
Ben feels him squeeze his hands gently.
'Well uhm, Ben isn't just my best friend anymore. In fact he's also my boyfriend now.' Joe says with a nervous smile.
His mother's eyes widen. 'Joey, really? I'm so happy for you two!' She says with a huge smile.  'Joseph, come over here.' She beckons her husband to join the conversation with a smile.
Joe's father appears on the screen. 'Hi boys! What is going on?' He asks curiously.
'Our Joe has finally found a boyfriend.' Mrs. Mazzello says.
Joe's father's eyes widen too. 'But that's great son!' He says happily. 'Ben, take good care of my son will you?'
Joe's mouth falls open. 'But dad, how do you know it's Ben?' He asks confused.
Mr. Mazzello grins. 'Oh come on, isn't that obvious?'
Ben laughs when he sees Joe's surprised face. 'I'll take good care of him, Mr. and Mrs. Mazzello. I promise.' 
Joe smiles widely at his boyfriend, feeling his heart glow.
'Oh please call us Joseph and Gina. You are now part of the family.' Mrs Mazzello says with a smile. 
Joe gets this warm feeling inside when he sees how well his parents and boyfriend are getting along. With a big smile, he and Ben say goodbye to his parents.
'Will you two come by soon?' Joseph asks.
Joe and Ben nod.
'We will, Dad. I love you.' And with these words Joe ends the call. 

__________
Well this chapter was quite a rollercoaster, wasn't it?
Maybe I just watched too much soaps during lockdown, hence the drama🤔

But hey, who doesn't love drama, right? I know I do🙃

Stay safe people❤ Xxx from me