Rick: (Joey - Part 2)

by Angelique Jurd

  Evenings haven’t changed that much. When they get home, while Rick cooks dinner, Joey plays with Finn. He bounces ping pong balls and yanks the strings on a growing number of wind-up mice for her to chase until she gets bored which invariably leads to stalking Rick’s feet. Later Finn curls around the teddy bear on the sofa next to them or in Joey’s lap while he reads or watches a movie.

  Right now though, Joey is stretched out on the floor, jiggling what looks to be a feather on a string while Finn wiggles her butt in the air preparing to attack.

  “But she’ll be alone.”

  “She’s alone when we’re at work,” Rick points out. He reaches for their coats and presses the elevator button. The doors slide open but instead of Joey standing as he’d hoped, Finn comes running. Rick grabs her by the scruff of the neck and swings her up just before she zooms past.

  Joey clambers to his feet but stays on the fluffy carpet, pouting. "Exactly she’s been alone all day. Do we have to?"

  "Yes, yes we have to. We've been cooped up inside all week. Come on, we’ll go to that Thai place you like. Chicken and coconut soup sounds good, right?" He grins when the kitten pats his mouth with her front paws.

  Joey’s tongue flickers over his bottom lip, a sure sign he's tempted. Rick thinks chicken and coconut soup is hideous - give him the red curry any day - but it’s Joey’s favorite.

  "Can we have fried bananas and ice cream for dessert?"

  Rick grins and nods. “Yes. If we leave now.”

  Joey comes over and scratches Finn’s ears. Accepts his jacket from Rick. "Okay but promise we won’t be too long."

  "Not too long. Promise." Rick follows Joey into the elevator, then taps the button. Just before the doors shut, he deposits Finn on the floor. Shutting the door on that little face tugs on his heartstrings as well, and he admits that coming back early doesn't sound too bad.

  ♦♦♦

  It’s a pleasant surprise when Joey snuggles in against him in the back of the cab and an even bigger one when he lets Rick take his hand once they’re walking toward the restaurant. He gives it a gentle squeeze and entwines their fingers.

  “I forgot to tell you we’re nearly finished with the Silverton account.” Joey’s team has been working with a new client who came to them with a reputation for being unreasonable and demanding. Rick doesn’t know how but Joey has won them over just as he did Mainland and he expects to be doing business with both clients for a long time to come.

  “That’s because these days when you walk in the door, you only have eyes for your kitten. I have become superfluous to your requirements,” Rick teases.

  “Hey! You weren’t superfluous to my requirements this morning.” Despite the sassy tone, Rick notices Joey keeps his eyes on the pavement.

  “True this. But then I always knew you only wanted me for the sex.”

  A couple turn shocked gazes toward them before hurrying away as Joey elbows him in the ribs.

  “Ouch! If they don’t want to hear things, they shouldn’t listen to other people’s conversations, baby boy.” Rick pulls the restaurant door open.

  “Or,” Joey says, stepping past him, “you could keep your voice down.”

  Well, that is an option Rick supposes. Not as much fun though.

  The hostess offers them a warm smile and greets them by name. They’re busy tonight, she explains, but since they’re regulars the wait shouldn’t be too long. She leads them to the bar and promises to call them as soon as she can. Rick orders a Mai Thai for himself and a Virgin Daiquiri for Joey, then steers him toward a quiet spot near the end of the bar. Joey perches on the edge of a bar stool, unflinching when Rick rests his hand on the small of his back. A small smile plays at the corners of his mouth.

  Rick could get used to this version of Joey - happy and relaxed. A little shy, a little sassy. He leans in and nuzzles under his ear, nipping at the lobe as he pulls away, happy with the little giggle he’s elicited.

  The drinks arrive and they sit, talking about everything and nothing while they wait for the hostess to return. When at last she does, Joey’s stomach has been making loud gurgling sounds for five minutes, much to his horror and Rick’s amusement. Rick pushes him forward, trailing behind him with a grin.

  “I swear I don’t know where you put it, baby? You ate a truckload of pasta at lunch. I know, I was there.”

  “Fast metabolism.”

  “Well I wish I had a fast metabo-” The words are cut off when he collides with Joey who seems frozen in his tracks. “Hey, what’s the hold up? Hungry man here.”

  He steps around Joey to see what’s happening but there’s just some guy standing in front of them, smiling. There’s something vaguely familiar about the guy; does Rick know him from somewhere? Just as the name surfaces in his mind, he looks at Joey and forgets everything.

  Joey has gone the color of chalk; his eyes are wide and terrified. When Rick reaches out to touch him a high-pitched moan escapes. The stranger clears his throat.

  “Hello, Joseph.”

  ♦♦♦

  Joey

  Head filled with thoughts of chicken and coconut and maybe the idea of what they might do later when they get home - and get Finn settled - Joey is focused on trying to keep up with the hostess when the man steps in front of him. Meaning to apologize, he looks up and for what feels like a never ending second everything around him seems to stop. Blake is just two feet away. Touching distance. Punching distance. His heart feels as though it’s going too fast; he can’t catch his breath. A thin trickle of sweat inches down between his shoulder blades and his bladder grows heavy.

  No! Not here, not in front of Rick. Joey squeezes his legs together, willing himself to retain the control he can feel sliding away under the fog of terror enveloping him. Someone touches him - is it Rick? - and he tries to scream but all that comes out is a pathetic moan. Then, from a distance he hears someone call him Joseph and the spell is broken.

  Joey shakes himself free of Rick’s hand and bolts for the door. All he can think of is getting out of the restaurant before he humiliates himself - and getting as far away from Blake as possible. Behind him he hears Rick call his name. In front of him, someone opens the door and he darts through, too scared to stop. Turns left and dodges a woman walking her dog. Skirts around a couple with a stroller. At the corner he turns left again and keeps running.

  After two blocks the need to relieve himself is too urgent to ignore any longer. On the other side of the road, is a small alley with two large dumpsters. He glances around to be sure nobody sees him cross the road, wedges between the two bins and unzips. God, please don’t let anyone catch him. He doesn’t want to be yelled at or worse, arrested. Barely conscious of his actions he finishes and readjusts himself. Slumps back against one of the dumpsters, trembling and fighting for breath.

  Blake had glowed with triumph and Joey knows - knows with every fiber of his being - that Blake knows exactly the effect he was having. Knows Joey was close to losing control. Whatever he’s doing now - please don’t let him hurt Rick, please - Blake knows that fear is clogging Joey’s pores, making it impossible to breathe, think, move.

  How did he find him? Not that it matters, he supposes. What is he supposed to do now? He can’t stay. Not now. Images of Rick float into his mind. Rick holding him. Making love to him. Stroking his hair. Whispering good morning or good night. Holding out his teddy bear or Finn to him. The soft sound of “love you baby boy” as he drifts off to sleep, even though not once has Joey had the courage to return the words.

  Joey sinks to the ground, unmindful of the stench from the dumpsters. Or of the puddle of his own urine just a few inches away. He can’t stay; he has to go. Leave Finn and Maisie and Jen. Leave Rick. Bile rises in his throat, a slick fist of acid and the juice he drank at the restaurant. He leans to the side and vomits it up with a groan.

  ♦♦♦

  Rick

  At the exact moment that Joey makes a sound like a wounded animal, Rick remembers where h
e knows the guy from. He had him as a TA at college. Blake Danvers. Pre-calc or something equally as boring, Rick can’t remember exactly which, but one of the math courses. He’d been a few years older than Rick and his friends, but not so much older that their paths hadn’t crossed. Especially at some of the clubs. He sees recognition flare in Danvers’ eyes followed by something calculating and cold that makes the hair on his neck stand up. When Blake calls Joey by his name, an icy and terrifying certainty washes over Rick and Joey’s stricken face confirms it.

  This is him. Joey’s ex. The man who abused him. Fuck that - the man who tortured him. Right here in front of them, smiling as though he’s just met an old, much missed friend and could not be happier. Which is probably not inaccurate, Rick thinks. He’s sure he’s fucking happy about it all right.

  Rick steps forward, meaning to give Danvers a single chance to get a head start before he, Rick, calls Carter.

  Before he can say or do anything, Joey runs.

  “Joey! Wait!” He moves to follow then stops - levelling his finger toward Danvers. “If you come anywhere near him, I’ll fucking rip you apart.”

  Not bothering to wait for a reply, he shoves his way through the crowd of people toward the door. Outside, there’s no sign of Joey. With his stupidly long legs, God knows how far he has gone.

  “Fuck!” He digs in his pocket for his phone. A week ago, they’d both put an app on their phones that tells the other how far from home they are - and gives them an indication of where they are. Rick had suggested it because he has a business trip looming and thought Joey might find it reassuring to be able to see where he is. God, he hopes it works.

  Why does it take so long for one app to fucking load? Come on! Finally, a grid of streets and sidewalks fills Rick’s screen and to the left of where he is now is a flashing blue dot. Holding the phone in front of him like a compass, Rick hurries in the direction shown on the map.

  By the time he turns the corner, the blue dot is no longer moving, and Rick is running. At the back of his mind he runs through all the possible reasons the dot isn’t moving, from Joey being hit by a car to him throwing away his phone. The remainder of his thoughts are consumed with how he’s going to make Blake Fucking Danvers pay. Preferably in blood.

  Stopping to catch his breath - fuck he needs to get back to the gym regularly - he glances down at the app and frowns. The dot is nearby but behind him. What the hell? He looks around. A few people walking up toward the restaurant district. A stray dog sniffing around the wheels of a car that’s been clamped. A couple of dumpsters. Nothing. His gaze drifts back to the dumpsters then down to his phone. Oh God, please don’t let him have just dumped his phone.

  Rick jogs across the street, ignoring the angry shout from the driver forced to brake to avoid hitting him, and toward the dumpsters. Two dumpsters are all that is visible from where he’s standing but he can hear a low, familiar sound. He approaches.

  On the ground between the two oversized containers, sits Joey, arms around his knees. Face buried in his elbow. Shoulders shaking. On the other side of him is a small odiferous pool of bright pink foam telling him Joey’s been sick. Beneath is another odor he chooses not to acknowledge. He sinks to his knees and puts his arms around the shivering form.

  “It’s okay baby boy. I’m here. You’re safe. I won’t let him hurt you. It’s okay.” Over and over he repeats the words, not caring if anyone hears or sees them. All that matters is that he’s found him.

  After several minutes the shivering seems to lessen and Joey leans into Rick’s embrace, teeth still chattering. Rick coaxes him to his feet and lets him press against him, face hidden in the crook of his neck, as he fumbles his phone to call a cab. While they wait, he phones Bill Harper. Just as he thinks he’s going to have to try taking Joey somewhere else, Bill picks up.

  “Rick? Everything okay?” The tone of his voice suggests he expects the answer to be no.

  “I know it’s a Friday night, but can you meet me at my place? It’s an emergency.”

  “Are you okay? Is Joey?”

  “Our cab’s here. Meet me at home and I’ll fill you in.”

  He cuts the call of and bundles Joey into the back of the car.

  “He drunk?” The driver asks, turning to look at them. “He gonna hurl all over my car?”

  Joey shakes his head against Rick’s shoulder.

  “No, he’s not going to hurl. And he’s not drunk.”

  “What’s wrong with him then?”

  A horn blasts behind them; Rick isn’t the only one who wishes they’d start moving. “He’s in shock and I need to get him home. The faster you get us there, the more you earn.”

  The driver narrows his eyes, considers the words, then nods and starts the car.

  “Where are we going?”

  ♦♦♦

  Joey

  The doctor - the one Rick took him to the first time - is waiting in the lobby and when Rick swipes his key card over the screen, follows them into the elevator. Joey doesn’t know why he’s here and to be honest, doesn’t care. He can’t stop shivering. His stomach seems to have settled but the shivering is getting worse. No matter how much he clings to Rick, trying to get warm, he’s still cold. Oh God! Blake found him and he’ll find the apartment, Joey knows he will. He must have made a sound because Rick tightens his hold on him and starts murmuring in his ear.

  “It’s okay baby boy. I’m here. You’re safe, I promise.”

  When the elevator doors slide open, Rick steers him toward the stairs and says something to the doctor in a low, quiet voice. Doctor Harper follows them up the stairs. Once there, Rick takes a step back, holding him at arm’s length. Joey stares at the ground without seeing it.

  Blake has found him. Everything is over. Ruined.

  “Joey.” Rick’s voice is lower. More even. Slower. Firmer. “Let’s get you undressed. Okay?” Joey’s head jerks up in panic but Rick continues. “You’re safe here. He can’t get you. Now which pajamas would you like?”

  Why doesn’t Rick understand? Nowhere is safe now that Blake is here.

  “Joey.” He looks up again. “Which pajamas?”

  “Rabbit.” The rabbit from Bambi. Rick moves to the dresser, digs in a drawer and comes back holding a pair of blue sleep pants and the pink Thumper t-shirt. Begins unbuttoning Joey’s shirt.

  “We were at dinner and Joey ran into his former partner.” Joey shudders and whines. “Shhh, it’s okay baby.”

  “Was he the man who hurt you?” Doctor Harper asks. He’s leaning against the wall, arms folded, watching them as if watching a grown man being undressed like a child is quite normal. Who knows, Joey thinks, maybe it is for him. “Joey? Was he the man who hurt you?”

  Joey nods. Another wave of panic washes over him and his stomach churns. Rick pulls the sleep pants up over Joey’s briefs.

  “The guy’s name is Blake Danvers and he’s a … woah, woah. Joey! Calm down!”

  Scrambling back over the bed, Joey tries to make sense of Rick’s words. He knows Blake’s name? He knows Blake? How? Rick says something over his shoulder to Harper as he climbs on the bed and tries to put his arms around him.

  “You know him? How do you know him?” Joey hitches a breath, shaking his head and fighting the hold Rick has on him. “He’ll find me. Oh God, he’s going to find me.”

  “No, no he’s not. He won’t. I promise.” Rick sits back against the headboard and yanks Joey against his chest. “Listen to me baby boy, I never knew him here. Only at college, okay? And never that well. He was a TA. I haven’t even seen him since then and I’m not listed. You’re safe.”

  “He’ll find me. You don’t know what he’s like. He’ll find me.”

  “Even if he does somehow find the address, he can’t get in. You’re safe, Joey. I promise.”

  From the doorway, Doctor Harper clears his throat before entering. He’s holding something in his arms. As he nears the bed, he extends his left hand to Joey offering him his teddy bear.

/>   “Rick thought this might help.”

  Too distraught to be embarrassed, Joey snatches the toy from him.

  “And I found this wee one climbing the stairs. I think she might be looking for you.” He places Finn on Joey’s lap and she immediately tries to climb up his shirt. Snuffling and shivering he holds her and the teddy bear close, as if they might protect him from this nightmare.

  Doctor Harper sits on the side of the bed. “How do you feel? Apart from scared I mean?”

  “I’m just cold.” Tears drip off the tip of his nose to land on Finn’s head. “He’ll find me.”

  Rick leans forward and murmurs that he’s safe, that he’ll protect him. He doesn’t understand. “I want to give you something Joey. To help make you feel better and stop you feeling cold.”

  Joey eyes him with mistrust. “I - I don't know...”

  Harper shakes his head. “I won’t give you much. You have my word. Just enough to take the edge off everything, so you can relax and maybe get some sleep okay?”

  Joey looks at Rick, and when he nods Joey slumps against him in defeat. Strokes the top of Finn’s head as he watches Harper prepare the needle. Rick’s hands are warm on his back, his voice reassuring. He twists around, slipping his arm up around Rick’s neck, burying his face against the base of his throat.

  While Harper administers the shot, Rick keeps talking and rubbing, until at last the cold and the fear start to slip away and Joey feels himself begin to drift.

  “You smell nice,” he whispers.

  ♦♦♦

  Rick

  “Where is he? Where’s my sugar? Let me see him.” Maisie stumbles from the elevator, long curls flying in every direction. With every syllable their voice rises a little higher, setting Rick’s teeth on edge.

  “Ian, for God’s sake, shut your boy up,” Charlotte snaps and for a second Rick has a near uncontrollable urge to laugh. She and Carter arrived just after Bill Harper, around ten minutes earlier, and after giving him a brief hug and telling him he looked like shit, took over. The smell of fresh coffee wafts over from the kitchen where she’s set up her post of command. She tips a cup in Ian’s direction, eyebrow raised.