Marc looked at Joseph's sleeping face. He sighed and pulled him closer. Joseph shook in his arms and Marc rocked him softly. "Please... no." Joseph mumbled in his arms and shuddered. "Please... mommy come back..." He whispered and tears rolled down his cheeks. Marc hummed in his ear and stroked his hair.
"Mom come back. please come back..... I love you. Don't leave me. DON'T LEAVE ME." Joseph yelled out and his eyes flew open. "I'm sorry. I-" Marc stopped him by covering his mouth. "It's ok. It really is." He whispered and started to calm down Joseph.
"You shouldn't be touching me. My father says I'm tainted." Joseph said grabbing Marc's wrist. Marc took a sharp intake of breath and stared at Joseph. "You would never be tainted Joseph Duncan Byrne." He said and Joseph blinked. "You never use my middle name." He whispered and Marc smiled as Joseph leaned into his arm.
"Hi Dr. Roberts is it time for him to get tested?" Marc asked when Dr. Roberts walked in with Nola. He nodded and Marc made Joseph get up. "I'll be back. I'm gonna get his clothes from the school." Marc said and left. He drove to the school and found Milo sitting on his bed when he got back.
"What the hell happened." Milo asked frustrated. "Your dad happened. Also he is in the hospital." Marc said grabbing his clothes. 'WHY." Milo yelled and Marc sat him down. "Do you know what your dad was doing to Joseph this entire time?" He asked and Milo shook his head. "All I heard were some screams and begging but that was between my mother and my father.
They filed for a divorce." Milo explained. "Right after we got home." He added and Marc nodded his head. "He raped Joseph. Probably more than a dozen times." He said and Milo shook his head in disbelief. "I- I knew he cut his hair but.." Milo whispered and Marc sighed.
"Look-" He stopped when Rina giggled. "Aww poor Joseph can't even protect himself from daddy. Honestly I don't believe you." She said and put away her phone. She giggled and ran down the hall. Milo stuttered. "Look man, there will always be victim shamers. You know this happened and I can believe you. Joseph is a shell of himself. I know that asshole probably won't get what he deserves but I can bet you that I can get Joseph away from your father." Marc said and he left to let Milo sit with his thoughts.
"Hey I'm-. Jesus Christ why is he sitting on the floor like that." Marc said and dropped his stuff. He started out chuckling and went to full out laughing. Joseph was doing yoga on the floor. His therapist was there and talking to the doctor. "It's to stretch out my butt." Joseph said and Marc giggled.
"I think they gave you something to do so you would not complain." He said and burst out laughing again. Joseph sighed and went back to doing his doggy down pose. Marc stifled his giggles and walked over to the doctor. "He is going to have to eat about 6 times a day." Dr. Roberts said and the therapist nodded. "Ah your back." He said and smiled.
Marc nodded and Mr. Robert filled him in. "Ok so eat six times a day but only half a protein bar each time. This way his stomach will get ready for food. Now about his mental health. He needs is going on 20mg of Lexapro and will have some Melatonin. 30mg. Don;t go cold turkey on any of these. I already told you about irritation. So, he is free to go." Dr. Roberts said and Nola nodded with Marc. "Alright, by Joseph I will see you for our check- up." Dr. Robert said after everyone was changed and ready to go.
"By Mrs. Mince. Cya next week." Joseph said and they headed to the school. Nola hugged them both goodbye and they went up to their dorm. Their friends were there and shouting at one another. "GOD DAMMIT EVERYONE IT'S A SURPRISE." The two of them heard Nina yell from the hallway. "Not much of a surprise anymore aye." Marc smirked and nudged Joseph.
"Just act surprised." Joseph rolled his eyes and opened the door. "SURPRISE." Nina and the gang yelled and Joseph smiled tiredly. They hugged him and Marc set their stuff down. He yawned and watched as Joseph tried to fend off Nina giving him a present. Rosie sat next to him and leaned onto him. "Sometimes I worry for him. Well a lot of the time I worry for him; but my mother said to Milo and I to take care of him but I'm kind of failing." She joked.
"No, you are doing the best you can. I am trying to get you guys out of that household." Marc said and Rosie smiled. "Yeah, I heard. I saw him yesterday; he looked... bad." She said and Marc looked at her astonished. "As much as he hates us, we are still his children." Rosie finished and got up. "Well I'm off. See you guys later." She waved and people started filing out. Joseph sat next to Marc and let out a sigh.
"I'm scared." He said monotonically and turned to Marc. "I- I don't know what to do." He said and Marc turned, sitting in the middle of the bed and pulling Joseph on his lap. "I don't know what the road will hold for us. I hope that one day you will be able to say that you are loved but that's gonna be a long time from now. I will not leave you during any of this. I promise you that. No matter what I will not leave you. I love you Joseph." Marc said and Joseph smiled with tears rolling down his face.
"One last year." He said and Marc smiled back. "One last year." Marc repeated and hugged Joseph.
Fin~
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