CHAPTER TWENTY - A PROMISE MADE
It was raining hard when they finally pulled into the drive of Brian’s home. Fat droplets spun quickly and determinedly from the thickly clouded sky and hammered their rage upon the windows of the car, trying relentlessly to stick to the smooth surfaces instead of being ruthlessly shoved away by the washers.
Brian clambered out of the car and rushed B to the sheltered doorstep, not wanting him to stay out in the rain for longer than was absolutely necessary. B hunched his shoulders and tried to hide his face in his scarf as the wind howled and tugged at him to try and imprint its icy mark upon him.
He pushed B inside and then dashed to deactivate the house alarm before the loud blare could begin to hoot angrily at the invaders. He pushed his damp fringe back from his head and then leaned out of the door to stare out into the night. Nobody had followed them home; he had constantly been checking in the mirrors that there were no other stalkers out to capture his precious B.
His eyes sought to penetrate the rain, but the watery droplets formed a barrier which his blue eyes could not pierce. He doubted if there would be anybody spying on them in this weather and closed the door again, securely locking it behind him.
B was sat on the stairs with Tyke happily slobbering over his hands, but his expression was one of deep thought and melancholy. He barely noticed the little dog’s greetings.
“You sit down and I’ll get you a warm drink,” Brian said.
B nodded obediently and slowly stood up. He did not say a word as he passed Brian and entered the lounge.
Brian leaned against the wall and placed a hand to his aching head as his eyes closed. Everything had gone wrong today. He had wanted B to have fun, but the visit had almost resulted in B’s capture by the malevolent Gerai. He should never have taken him out. The Gerai had probably been waiting for just the right moment when they left the house and were vulnerable to an attack.
He had been warned that the Gerai were here and after B. Why hadn’t he heeded the stranger’s warning? What would they do now they had seen Brian’s lack of protective skills? The last thing he wanted was for that man to come and take B away from him…
… but if he did come then he had better be ready for a fight because Brian was not going to give B up easily. He may have been a friend, but he still hated him.
Why wasn’t Sammy here? Brian’s heart was already beginning to palpitate faster inside of him as his stomach turned numb at the thoughts. He had made excuses to B, but he wasn’t convinced himself that Sammy was safe. It would have to be something drastic that would keep him away from B.
Slowly he set about making B some hot chocolate but his own hands trembled as they poured the powder into the mug. He found his eyes drifting over to the dark windows of the kitchen. How could he ever sleep now without worrying? The Gerai could come at any time and if that stun gun hit Brian again then there would be nothing he could to save poor B.
He rubbed his temples trying to rid himself of the persistent throbbing ache that had haunted him all day. When B had first arrived he had been innocent to the stress and the danger that was abut to pounce upon him and had only thought of the joy at seeing him again. Why wasn’t it that simple? Why was the world determined to rip him away from his family?
He made the drink up and then carried it into the lounge where B was still miserably curled up on an armchair with Tyke still bundled in his arms. He cuddled the dog tightly and ran his fingers soothingly over the soft, brown fur.
Brian felt himself gulp as he saw the distance in B’s eyes as he gazed out to a forbidden world that Brian could not see into. He did not like the look of intense thought and worry and he knew exactly what was going through that head and his heart was beginner to hammer in fear as he realised. B was so predictable when it came to difficult times; he always ran away.
“Here you are,” he said as he handed over the drink, trying not to let his hands tremble.
“Thanks,” B whispered as he transferred his hands from Tyke to clasp the mug. He slowly sipped at the steaming liquid and then he gazed down into the mug, as if seeing his own melancholy life laid out before him.
Brian wanted to reach out and hold him safely within his arms, knowing that if he did not keep a hold on him that he would run away. He had run from Sammy and so he would have no worries about running from Brian. He would insist that it was for their protection but it never worked like that.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” B said quietly as his hands still held the mug of chocolate to him. “Everything is going wrong. I shouldn’t have come… I shouldn’t have left Sammy! I don’t even where he is or if he’s all right!” He placed the mug down upon the floor and instead held his head in his hands. Tyke, annoyed by the sudden movements flattened his ears and leapt from B’s lap to the floor to sleep in his basket instead.
Brian heard the sniffle from B and he wrapped his arms gently about his shoulders, wanting nothing more than to cry himself. He did not want B to go…
“B, Stop worrying like this!” he said as he rocked him in his arms, but how could B stop worrying when the situation seemed so ominously disastrous? The boy was frightened after the attack in his own time and now the same had happened in this one. Worst of all, Brian could see the guilt in the green eyes gnawing maliciously at the gentle soul beyond, desperate to make him feel every pang of pain that thoughts of his brother brought to him. B was worried about him and if anything had happened, he would blame it on himself.
It had taken some time for the initial shock of the car chase to sink into B’s mind, but now it had done he was visibly trembling. He had come somewhere that he thought he would be safe but he seemed to be anything but that.
“But you were hurt today! The Gerai shot you!” B protested. “And it was all because of me! Wherever I go people get hurt because of me!”
Brian rubbed his shoulders gently. Even now he could feel a slight twinge in his stomach from the Gerai’s gun, but he did not let B know that. It wasn’t dangerous as B had already told him that it was only used for stunning, but it did not make B feel any better.
“It’s all right, I’m not hurt,” Brian said softly. “They wouldn’t dare try and kill me. They would lose you for good then and they have no idea what the consequences would be. I’m safe. And I am going to look after you.”
His fingers dug tighter into B, determined to never let him be snatched away.
“I’m trouble,” B replied. “My life is cursed and while I’m around the people I love will suffer.” His eyes closed again. “If only Sammy was here as well, it would be so much easier… I – I’m so pleased I can see you again but I wished I’d never left him. I think something has happened.”
“B, Sammy can look after himself,” he said, but at the same time his stomach began to churn and the emotions inside began to crush his heart. He remembered his text messages to the shadowed figure and the lack of a reply he received. He would do the same tonight and keep on sending messages until he received a reply. He would find out if there was something wrong with the third and final member of their tiny family.
“This will teach me to run away won’t it?” B said giving a cynical laugh as he did. “I only ever make things worse.”
“You had no idea that this would happen,” Brian assured him. “Besides, don’t you remember about the friend you told me about? The one who was hurt? Maybe Sammy is looking after them.”
B was silent for a moment before he tentatively replied. “I hope so. I don’t think he would want to leave him… Do you remember that person who saved us? Do you think he’s from my time?”
“I think he might be… maybe he’s keeping an eye on you while you’re with me.” Brian was still unsure of the real reason behind that stranger, but he still felt the same feeling of possessiveness about B whenever he saw him. He was here for B…
“Maybe,” B agreed. “I wish he would show his face. He could tell me if Sammy was okay… then I could enjoy my time with you.”
But why wouldn’t that person show their face or reveal themselves as a friend? He had already been in contact with Brian but not in any direct way that would allow him to find out more about them and information was something he desperately needed.
B yawned slightly and leaned against Brian’s shoulder. “I’m real tired. I think is should go to bed.” He sneezed and sniffled. “I don’t feel well.”
“Yeah, you should rest. I’m sorry things didn’t go how you wanted them to.”
B smiled. “At least I got to spend time with you.” He slowly stood up and stretched his arms. He smiled slightly. “You know what, I think Sammy is okay. I think he knows where I am and that I’m safe so he decided to stay home and take care of our friend.”
It had to be a very important friend to stop Sammy coming after his brother though… but B seemed to be convinced that this was the case… It had to be someone that they both cared about.
“I’m sure our saviour will show themselves soon,” Brian said, hoping and yet dreading that it may happen.
“Yeah… it’s kinda spooky though that we don’t know who it is. Maybe it’s Kevin or one of the others who just don’t want to show their faces in case they get mobbed.”
Brian laughed. “Yeah that would an excuse for staying quiet!”
B smiled seemingly reassure a little more about Sammy’s safety. He rubbed his eyes and yawned again before coughing. He sounded a lot worse than before…
“Oh B, I bought you a present,” Brian said knowing that if he left it too long he would forget completely. He rummaged through the rucksack he had brought in from the car until he found a brown paper bag before handing it to B.
B slowly unwrapped the bag and pulled out the blue photo frame. He smiled as he traced the fish on the frame. “Thank you, it’s nice.”
“I thought I could get you a photo for it as well, to remind yourself of your visit here.”
B ran his hand delicately over the frame and nodded. “That would be good. Maybe I - ” He suddenly broke off coughing.
“Go on, get to bed,” Brian said.
B nodded. “All right. Night.”
“Night.”
Brian watched B pick up his chocolate and pat Tyke good night as he crossed to the door. He bit his lip for a moment and then called him back.
“B, Please don’t run away,” Brian begged.
B stopped and turned to face him. “Why do you think I’m gonna run away?” B asked curiously.
“Because you always do. You always run away from the people who care about you most because you think you’re a danger to them. B, I want to look after you.”
B looked awkward and Brian feel his heart crying as he realized that he had been right about the thoughts spinning about his head. “I don’t want you to get hurt…” B whispered.
“And I don’t want you to get hurt! Besides, where would you go? You can’t go out there alone!” B couldn’t possibly survive in this world by himself. Everything was completely different to what he knew it as.
B looked down at his feet and then back at Brian’s face. “I won’t run away.”
“Promise,” Brian ordered. “Please just promise me this.”
“I promise. I ran away from my time and I won’t run from this one.”