Set Me Free

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WARNING: WARNING: TISSUES MAYBE NEEDED FOR THIS CHAPTER!
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Chapter 9: Simple Words
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Andrew stood in the rain waiting for help to arrive, his mind filled with thoughts of Christian, he hoped he was ok; he glanced down at the phone in his hand. He had called the office, penthouse and Christian's phone 15 times but no answer from any of them, tear threatened to fall again, he just wanted him to be ok. The phone now sat dead in his hand.

His head stood up as he heard the ambulance sirens in the distance. Oh god what if that was Christian, what if Thomas had hurt him, what if he was laying in the rain somewhere cold, alone and bleeding, a sob racked his body as he slid down the wall onto the wet floor not caring about anything. He remembered the way Christian had looked after he'd been shot, laying so still, so pale blood soaking into the green grass- he shook his head, he couldn't think of that, Christian was find soon he'd call his name and all would be find.

'Andrew?'

Andrew closed his eyes and let the tears flow down his cheeks the sound of feet hitting the wet pavement comforted him. He felt strong arms wrap around him and pull him close, the warmth of the man holding him sent shivers through Andrew’s wet body. A hand gently stroked his face and a voice shushed him while gently rocking him, the arms around him tighten.
He felt himself being lifted from the floor he wanted to talk, to hug them back but his body was too hurt, his mind to fragile to form the words that sat on his tongue. He was held against the warm body, he could hear a voice speaking to him but it sounded far away, he was just happy to be close to another person.

The rain tore through Andrew’s slim body, he was so cold it hurt his fingers where numb but he didn’t care Josh stood before him, Josh was gently holding him, stroking his back. Andrew pushed away from Josh and looked up into his warm brown eyes, reaching up Andrew placed a cold hand against Josh’s cheek before stretching up on tiptoes. Andrew closed his eyes as his cold lips brushed Josh’s in a soft warmth kiss.
Hand’s grabbed Andrew roughly fingers dug deep into his arms as he was shoved backwards, Andrew tried to catch himself but he ended up in the freezing water on the hard pavement. The body in his body scream as he hit, he felt the rough surface cut into his palms.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’

Josh grabbed him and yanked him to his feet, before slamming him into the cold wall behind them. Andrew felt the fingers dig deeper into his skin; he fort back tears at the pain. ‘Josh I...I love-‘

Josh shook him and raised a hand as if to strike him, Andrew felt his body shudder and he raised his arm above his head. But the blow never fell.

‘You’re sick.’

Andrew’s eyes snapped open, he had to have heard wrong, Josh couldn’t mean that. Andrew looked up into the normally gentle brown eyes and saw a deep rage held within them, there was a cold anger that sent terror coursing through Andrew.

‘Why did you do that?’

‘I told you I l-.’

Andrew felt his head snap back and crush against the wall as Josh shook him again; the earlier beating made his hold body scream out with pain, bile rose in his throat. Andrew cried out as Josh’s hand gripped his chin forcing him to stare into the once beautiful face. The word that Josh spoke dripped with contempt and disgust.

‘I don’t want anything to do with a fag! You are disgusting!’

Andrew could feel the water running over him, tremors run through his body but he couldn’t move he just sat letting the water soak deeper into his skin. He watched as Josh wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his jacket before he turned his back on Andrew, whose tears mixed with the rain as they coursed down his face.

‘Josh...Please! I’m sorry!’ Andrew heard his voice crack, he watched helpless as Josh started to run Andrew tired again, ‘JOSH!’ The sob ripped from his throat as he watched the man he had loved for so long slowly disappear in the distance, before leaving him all alone again...

***

Amber ran to the door as Josh entered the house, relief washed over her, she ran into his wet body, flinging her arms around his neck.
‘God Josh, I’ve been so worried! Are you ok? Did you find Andrew? Josh? Josh what’s wrong?’
Josh’s face was chalk white, his eyes filled with a pain that Amber had never seen before, panic began to take hold of her again.

‘Where’s Andrew?’

‘Amber, I didn’t know...me... just... and him...’

Amber felt the tears slid down her cheeks, she thought of the terror she’d seen in his eyes the last time she’d seen him, what had they done to Andrew to make Josh like this, gently she pulled Josh’s wet, cold body against hers.

‘Shhh Josh, its ok. Tell me.’

‘He told me he loved me.’

Amber stiffened slightly, of everything she had expected Josh to say those where the last words she thought of.

‘I didn’t know what to do, and he just...he kissed...’

Amber pushed back from Josh who clung to her, she placed her hands on his cold cheeks, ‘but where is Andrew Josh? What happened to Andrew?’
Josh shook his head, his mouth opened and closed before finally, ‘I don’t know! I pushed him and he... he fell and I... I don’t care what happens to him.’

Amber froze and pushed away from Josh staring deeply into the eyes of the man she loved, his eyes where hollow and dark, she thought back to that desperate sob and Andrews broken voice, anger began to course through her. Before she could stop herself her hand smacked Josh’s face, then again and again until Josh’s large hands gripped her wrists.

‘Amber what the hell...?’

‘What the hell? You left him out there? He’s you’re best friend Josh, he...’

‘He kissed me Amber!’

‘So what? He loves you Josh! He begged us for help for god knows what and you left him! Get off of me! Don’t touch me!’

Josh quickly let go of her and stared at her, her eyes where red raw from crying, her hands shook and her whole body trembled. He had never seen such anger in her eyes before, he reached for her again but she shoved him away.

‘Don’t you ever come near me again!’

Amber reached pasted him and grabbed her car keys, Josh caught her arm as she reached for the door, she tried to yank out of his grasp but he held tight.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘Someone has to help Andrew and if you don’t have the balls to help him because he loves you then I will.’
Josh thought back to Andrew’s face as the cold rain water ran in rivers down his slender body, the way he trembled as Josh pushed him away. He remembered the way Andrew had flinched away from him, the anguished sob that had called after him. Josh felt his legs buckle under him, had he really never known, had had really never noticed the way Andrew would smile at him, touch his arm? Tears began to gradually leak out of his eyes as he thought of what had happened to his friend, and how Andrew must feel now, alone and scared with no where to go...

‘Oh God...what have I done?’

***

Christian run up to the penthouse, as soon as the doors opened he screamed out Andrew’s name, pain made white lights dance in front eyes but he didn’t care.

‘Andrew! Andrew! Please answer me!’

Christian felt his legs give and he fell to the floor, Andrew wasn’t here, he hadn’t made it home. He closed his eyes and swallowed around the think lump in his throat, what if something had happened to Andrew? What if he was lying out there in the rain begging for Christian- A hand on his shoulder snapped Christian out of his thought.

‘Boss you’re hurt we have to-.’

‘We have to find Andrew! I don’t care about me! Go find him, no-‘

Christian watched as his guard shook his head and kneel in front of him, ‘we have to help you first. If Andrew sees you like this-‘

Christian tried to think, he could imagine the panic and fear that Andrew was feeling and to see him, Christian glanced at his dirt covered suit. He’d be even more scared; Christian looked at the man and mutely nodded. For the first time in the live of any of the men who worked for Christian, they watched as the boss allowed himself to be taken care of...

***

Andrew walked through the cold rain; he didn’t know where he was, his whole body hurt, pain and grief pounded in his chest. Josh hated him, he had no clue what had happened to Christian and Thomas was properly still looking for him. Andrew felt his legs give, and he crashed to the wet pavement, unable to move any more, the rain went through his body making him feel numb. He hardly lifted his head as the car slowly pulled next to him; even as it stopped and a door opened he stayed on the floor.

‘Andrew.’

Andrew looked up into the car expecting Thomas’ sneering face to be peering at him but Christian stared at him. Andrew saw the bruises and cuts to the other man face; he could see that Christian’s ribs had been bandaged. He looked up and saw the pain, worry and relief held within the dark black orbs and the pain in his chest eased. Andrew couldn’t help but smile at Christian, he knew Christian was in pain and danger but still the man had come out looking for him he swallowed the sudden dry lump that had hold of his throat.

‘I might like the wet look you’ve got going there Andrew but please get in the car before something else happens.’

Andrew chuckled and forced himself to his feet, his legs felt like jelly, and it took his two tries before he could get fully to his feet.

‘You like all my looks.’

A rueful smiled played on Christian’s lips as his eyes openly trailed over Andrew’s wet cloths, ‘true. But this one....’ Christian just shook his head and moved over making room for Andrew to climb into the waiting car.

Andrew stopped at hearing his name being called, turning away from the open car door he saw Josh, water soaked clothes stuck to his skin. Andrew felt the familiar burn rise in his throat and eyes; I don’t want anything to do with a fag! The cruel words echoed in his head, he watched as Josh began to run towards him, his wet hair clung to his face.

‘Andrew.’

Turning back to the open door Andrew saw Christian extend his hand out, holding it in mid-air waiting for Andrew to take it. Andrew looked back at Josh; Andrew just felt the numb pain wash over him. He knew that this was like some sort of test, he could see that in Christian’s eyes, he was being told to choose who he wanted more.

Turning back to the car, Andrew place his cold, small hand in the warm grip, letting the other mans hand envelope his and pull him into the car. As Andrew was pulled into the car, he felt Christian’s other arm wrap around his waist, there faces where just inches apart. He heard the door slam seconds before Josh’s voice was heard.

‘Andrew! Andrew! Stop, don’t do this! I’m sorry! Andrew!’

Andrew started to turn as Josh’s hands began to pound on the tinted window, but Christian pulled the smaller boy into his lap, facing him to see Josh, Christian placed a deep possessive kiss on his cold lips, his tongue demanding entre. Andrew sat frozen for a second before letting his mouth open and letting Christian claim him. When he was released his saw Josh’s surprised face, his brown eyes wide as he saw that Andrew didn’t fight the kiss, then the car speed off, Andrew tried to turn in Christian’s lap to look back, but was held still.

‘You belong to me now Andrew.’

Andrew felt the fingers tangle in his hair as his head was pulled back, forcing him to lean back into the black leather of the seats. Christian moved so he was positioned above Andrew and placed other deep probing kiss on his lips. Andrew felt a relief wash over his skin and move deep within him, he had made his choice, and as Andrew allowed Christian to claim his prize he wondered if it was the right one...

***
Josh returned home, his head ached, his body begged for sleep but mostly his emotions whirled around him. Andrew had left him, he thought back to the car driving away from him, the way the man had kissed Andrew, the last words he’d said to his best friend. As he approached the front door, panic ripped through him; the door stood open, the lights where all out.

Josh raced to the door, rushing into the house, his throat was tight and when he called out it came out in a shrill crackle.

‘Amber? Amber!’

Josh raced up the stairs, the house was silent he paused as he saw the message light flashing on the phone; his body was numb as he reached out as touched the button.

A loud beep was emitted and then, ‘You have one new message, message one.’

Josh closed his eyes as he listened to the voice that floated out of the machine, broken by sobs and crying.

‘Josh. I- I’m sorry. I can’t-What you did- I need time. Please understand-I-I-‘the voice crackled and a sob caused Josh’s knees to buckle, ‘I have-I’m leaving-I...I’ll call you.’ The machine clicked deafeningly, Josh tried to hold back the sob as his world crumbled around him.
Andrew was gone. Amber was gone. He was alone. Sobs broke through his body, as he wrapped his arms around himself, for the first time in his life Josh was completely alone...

TBC******Chapter 10: He's Broken*********