I’ll look after him
“So you don’t want to talk about it? Again. Just keeping it to yourself.”
”Nothing happened, Josh. For the love of god.”
”You don’t look like nothing happened. You were abducted and tortured for fuck’s sake.”
”Hardly.”
”No. harshly. And now tell me, Stephen.”
”You are being ridiculous”, the doctor said as he put his coat back into his office.
”Oh, right. Totally, yes. Can we please just remember how fucked up you already are and how very little of this shit your mind can take without being fully and utterly destroyed.”
”Don’t cuss in front of your child.”
”Adopted.”
Christine awkwardly entered the room to collect a few things, looking between the two men. She got a raised brow from Stephen and a I’m playing tough father look from Josh and just nodded.
”Okay, Jesus Christ. Don’t kill me, I won’t be on either side. White flag is held up from Doctor Christine Palmer.”
She quickly took the notes from her colleague and walked out of the door.
”Men”, she mumbled and left to get ready to go home.
As she entered the office and put Stephen’s notes into her folder though, she found a sticky note with Tony’s number. Christine bit her lip but still took her phone to dial it. After three beeps, she heard a rather exhausted male voice.
”Y-yes, hello?”
”Tony?”
”Yeah, who is there?”
”It’s Christine. Palmer.”
”Oh, Chris! Hi. Thanks again for taking care of the devils.”
”So sad that I instantly knew who these devils are. How do you live with Peter and Harley all the time because it astounds me.”
”The real question is how does Stephen live with Peter, Harley and me all the time.”
”True. Speaking of Stephen-“
”Did something happen?!”
”No. No, no, don’t worry. Well- he’s just-“
Christine paused. She didn’t really know how to describe how her friend’s behaviour was.
”Different. He’s different. And I think Josh is talking to him big time but I know our doctor-dad. He’s too sweet for this.”
”In what way is he different?”
”Just on edge. Very alert.”
“Yeah, well, he was abducted.”
”Very insecure and weird whenever he was touched in any way. Never had a hug this stiff.”
”Was he- triggered?”
”I don’t really know, Tony. I’m not a therapist. Just a worried party in this. What even is he doing at work two days after being abducted? That is just- no.”
”I know. Told him that too. He just said he needed to go. Occupy his mind.”
”Thought you were the dominant in this.”
”I also won’t tell the victim of torture and trauma what is good for him.”
“Is working his ass off good for him?”
Tony didn’t answer.
”Tony?”
“No. No, it’s not. It’s not good.”
”How is he around the boys?”
”Very loving. Caring. Just- a bit careful.”
”Are you two intimate?”
”Chris.”
”Hey, I’m asking as a doctor who had a lot of patients over the years that had certain traumas and I never thought one of them would be Stephen but I’m worried about him. Do you have sex?”
”No.”
”Did you have before?”
”Yeah. Yes, so? Maybe he’s just hurt.”
”Oh, I’m sure he’s hurt. Damaged to say the least. He has a spot on his chest that he keeps touching all the time and if he got stabbed or shot, we need to know. But I know that if I walk up to him and ask Hey, noticed you keep touching that. Have you been almost murdered right there? Mind if I have a look? He’ll fucking riot. He hates being observed or questioned.”
”He is just somewhat distant. No idea how to help him.”
”Can’t you and Josh both talk to him?”
”Josh really is his dad, isn’t he?”
”Yes. He’d die for him. Josh would give his last penny for Stephen. And he’s scared.”
”I’m scared too.”
”Yes, me too.”
”Is he aware? How much he’s cared for?”
”Probably not. Probably he’s just in his own funny little head, telling himself he has to deal with everything on his own.”
”Yeah, that’s Stephen. I’ll talk to him. And if I can’t get through, I’ll talk to Josh, yeah.”
”Tony?”
”Yeah, Christine?”
”I- I’m glad he chose you.”
”Oh. I- me- me too.”
”Never let him go, okay? Don’t hurt him. I think you’re his last chance.”
”Chris, listen, yeah? This man is not the most important thing in my life, he is my life. I’d do anything for him. I’m supporting him as good as I can and I’ll give him some tough love later. Show him his spot in submission again for his own good. I’ll look after him as long as I breathe. I won’t hurt him. I think I made him stop hurting for the first time in his life.”
”I think so too. I’ll tell Josh you’ll talk.”
”If Stephen doesn’t cooperate.”
”As if Stephen would cooperate.”
Tony had to smile.
”Gotta untangle Harley now. Peter and him played pirate and-“
”How old are they again?”
”Doesn’t matter, they are being raised by Stephen and I, I’m glad they stay alive but let’s not talk about being mature.”
“Right”, Doctor Palmer laughed.
”Bye, Tony.”
”Bye, Chris. I’ll look after him.”