The steady beeping of machines, which had nearly lulled Rin off to sleep, was interrupted by the sudden slam of the hospital room door as Dillon charged through it. Rin unfolded himself from the uncomfortable fold-out chair he'd been occupying for the past hour. He pressed his finger to his lips as he stood, nodding toward the hospital bed as he did. Rory lay sound asleep, an IV for fluids in one arm and a blood pressure cuff and oxygen monitor on the other.
Dillon came to a screeching halt as his brows lifted in concern. "Is he alright?"
Rin nodded. "More or less. We're still waiting for the CT scan results. Other than that, he's just asleep."
Dillon arched a pierced brow. "And the IV?"
"Fluids mostly. They had to run dye through it for the CT earlier as well, I believe…"
Dillon's attention moved to Rin and the large bandage on his forehead. "And you?"
"Ha, This?" Rin laughed awkwardly as he pressed his fingers against the bandage. "Maybe a few scars will do my face some good. What do you think?"
Dillon shook his head. "You seem like you're handling things better now. Last time I talked to you, you were pretty pissed off."
Rin blew out an exhausted breath. "I'm still pissed, man." His gaze moved to Rory's sleeping body. "I'm just too fucking tired to show it right now." He sat down on the edge of the hospital bed and nodded toward the fold-up chair. "You hear anything?"
Dillon shook his head as he lowered to the chair. "Not much. Your car is most likely totaled. The hospital and police have already been in contact with your dad. He has already pushed everything off on Mandy. I told her I'd call her as soon as I got here and found out how you guys were doing." Dillon leaned to the side and pulled his phone from his back pocket. "I'll just text her." Dillon waited as several texts came through. He frowned as his gaze moved from the phone to Rin. "Mandy said your dad is insisting that we file an official police report before going home tonight."
Rin glanced up at the wall clock. "It's already after 2 am."
Dillon nodded. "Yeah, apparently it doesn't matter what time we leave here. He wants it done before we go back to your place."
"Fuck…" Rin glanced back toward the bed. "It could be hours still before we get out of here."
Dillon nodded again. "I'm sure Rodric Perish cares."
Rin let his head roll around dramatically. "Great, what do we do in the meantime?"
Dillon shrugged. "Mandy had a good idea earlier. We could review fan videos of your last conference and see if anyone happened to catch the moment the drink was placed on stage. If we can do that, it might answer some questions at least."
Rin frowned but nodded in agreement. "You search for this mystery man from the event. I'm going to continue trying to dig info up on Rory's ex."
"I thought you said earlier you didn't think it was him."
Rin blew out a long sigh. "Rory seems dead set on the opposite. If it's the case, I want to know as much about the man as possible."
Dillon stared at Rin for several long moments. "We're not seriously going to walk into the local police station and accuse a fellow police officer of being the stalker, are we? I don't think we'll get too far with that claim. Not without hard evidence, and right now we have dick all on anyone."
Rin ran his hand through his hair, avoiding the bandage as best he could. "You're right. I just feel like I'm hurting Rory by not taking his concerns seriously."
Dillon clasped Rin's knee. "Dude, you said it yourself. It's far-fetched and probably just his trauma talking. A detective?"
Rin slowly nodded in agreement. "True… but look what all we know he has done… He was still a cop when he did all that other shit… And we probably don't even know the worst of it."
"So, you want to walk in with dick all for evidence, say 100% it's the DA's son, and you're sure because your boyfriend has nightmares."
Rin glared at Dillon. "You can really be an asshole sometimes, you know that."
Dillon shrugged. "At least I'm a logical and practical one. Now, let's go through the tagged videos from the event first."
An hour later, Rory was woken up by the doctor and nurse. The results of his CT scan were clear, but the doctor still suspected a mild concussion and advised light activities for the next few days. The nurse unhooked the monitors and IV before handing Rory his discharge papers and sending them on their way. Rory clutched them to his chest as he let Rin lead him to Dillon's parked car. "I can't wait to go home. I'm so tired."
Rin frowned. "I'm sorry, buttercup, but dad's insisting we file a police report tonight."
Rory blew out a frustrated sigh but didn't argue. He stared out the window as they passed the empty streets and silently cursed the many people who were sleeping peacefully in their beds that very moment. His eyes moved to the clock on the dashboard as the car pulled to a stop in front of the police station. It was after 4 am. Just the thought made his eyes grow heavier.
**
The sun had already broken the horizon by the time the trio stepped out of the police station. Rory's tired body swayed as he moved toward the steps. Rin rushed out to grab and steady him.
"God fucking dammit! I knew this shit was going to be a waste! Now look! Rory is ready to fall over with exhaustion!" Rin moved to scoop Rory into his arms, but Dillon rushed to his side.
"Let me. Who knows exactly how hurt you are? I guarantee you wouldn't let them give you a proper exam."
Rin frowned as he stomped ahead of them to get the back car door. "You bet your sweet ass I didn't. They would have kept us in separate rooms if I had."
Dillon shook his head in exasperation. "You need to make an appointment with your primary care provider in the morning. The way you're moving, I'd guess you've at least bruised your ribs."
Rin rubbed his side. "It was that fucking seatbelt. That airbag gave me a pretty good hit, too, not going to lie. Other than that, I'm fine, really."
Dillon sent Rin a contemplative glare as he lowered Rory into the back seat. "Sure… Make the appointment."
Rin rolled his eyes as he stepped away from the car. "Fine, Mom… I'll get right on it."
"I prefer daddy." Dillon corrected as he buckled Rory in and closed the door.
Rory listened the entire way back as Rin and Dillon bickered in the front seat. Tears spilled down his cheeks as his mind processed the events of the day and all that the sheriff's office had said. He watched as Dillon pulled into the drive and opened his back door.
"You're still awake? Color me shocked." Dillon remarked as he held out his hand to Rory. He tilted his head as Rory stepped out into the early morning light. The morning rays reflected off the fresh tears, causing them to glisten. Dillon dabbed at one with the back of his index finger. "It's over for now. Let's get inside."
Rory clasped Dillon's hand with both of his as he shook his head. "No… I need to leave here… I need to get away, far away…"
Dillon furrowed his brows as he leaned closer to Rory. "What? What did you say?"
Rory's tear-filled eyes held Dillon's. "You have to help me get away. I can't endanger Rin again."
Dillon's eyes shifted to Rin as he closed the passenger door. He shook his head as he stepped closer to Rory. "You can't say that right now. Not to him, you hear me?" Dillon pulled his hand free of Rory's and scooped him into his arms. "You're not going anywhere." He whispered as he followed at a distance behind Rin.
Harsh sobs coursed through Rory. "But he's not safe… you're not safe! I have to quit. I have to leave!"
"Hum?" Rin asked with a glance over his shoulder.
Dillon's gaze shifted nervously between Rin and Rory. Realizing Rory was about to repeat the same words, he quickly interjected. "This…" He pressed his mouth to Rory's and swallowed the sobbed protests. Rory's fists clenched and pounded against his chest, but he held him tightly in his arms. He didn't pull away until Rory bit down on his lip. "Ah…" He set Rory on his feet but continued to hold him close. "I was telling him how this whole ordeal was making me feel… and he said he wanted to leave my arms…" Dillon's gaze dropped to Rory's. "But I won't let him… not until I've said all that I need to say. You don't mind, do you?"
Rin shrugged. "Good luck. Getting bit will be the least of your worries if you push him too far, though." Rin continued toward the house unbothered.
Rory glared up at Dillon as he struggled to control his panted breathing. "Why?!"
Dillon's eyes followed Rin as he disappeared inside the house. "Rin may not seem like it to you, but he's very fragile… emotionally. He's opened up to you in a way he's never done before. I'll not let you walk away from that and crush him. We're working hard to fix this. You just have to trust us and give us time. Like I said, this place is the safest place you can be. It doesn't matter who is after you. They'll not find you here."
Rory frowned as he finally nodded his understanding.
Dillon arched his pierced brow. "No more talk of running away? No attempts either?"
Rory bit into his lower lip reluctantly but nodded.
Dillon loosened his hold on Rory. "You better not. If you think this guy is bad, I'm worse. I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth and back, Rory."
Rory frowned. "You really love Rin that much?" He studied Dillon's turbulent expression. "Then why not let me go. Then he can go back to being yours alone."
Dillon tightened his hold on Rory once again and pulled him closer. "Do you think this is just about Rin? I wasn't lying when I said this ordeal has strengthened my affections for you. It wasn't just Rin I was worried about tonight. I hadn't even realized how balanced that worry was until I ran into that hospital room and saw you hooked to all those machines." Dillon snagged Rory's chin and lifted his face. "I'll say it as many times as you need to hear it. I care for you. I want you in a way I've not wanted many others… but I'll respect your decisions on where I stand in your life. I'm not Rin. I'm not charming or flirtatious. I don't know how to win your heart in those ways… but if, for some reason, you do change your mind. I'm here… not just for Rin but for you as well."
Words were lost to Rory. He could only stare dumbfoundedly back at Dillon.
Dillon chuckled awkwardly as he bent and scooped Rory back into his arms. "Let's get you inside."
Rory sat on the edge of the tub in his own bedroom, watching the water fill it in a daze, when he heard the bathroom door open. He didn't bother turning around. There was only one person who moved around the house so freely, whose footsteps were so quiet.
"I wanted to check on you and make sure you hadn't fallen asleep again in the tub this time," Rin murmured softly as he closed the door and moved to Rory's side. "Would you like some help?"
Rory nodded but didn't speak.
Rin's lips curved. "You're being silent… That usually means a million things is going through that beautiful head of yours… Would you like to talk about it?"
Rory shook his head as new tears threatened to fall.
Rin settled on the closed lid of the toilet, his eyes studying Rory. "Does it have anything to do with your conversation with Dillon in the driveway?"
Rory shrugged, paused, then nodded as he lifted teary eyes to Rin. He sniffled back a sob as he whimpered. "I can't hide it from you. He said not to say anything, but Rin…"
Rin raised a hand as he shook his head. "I promise you, you have no reason to feel guilty about anything that happens between you and Dillon."
Rory shook his head. "It's not that. Rin… I want to quit… to leave… Me being here is putting you in danger."
Rin's brows knitted. "Leave? Quit? Rory, I told you this isn't the first time we've dealt with stalkers and crazed fans. Even if it is your ex, we can deal with it. I'll protect you."
A sob broke past Rory's lips. "How? How can you protect me against someone like him? You'll not even be able to protect yourself…"
Rin's brows drew together more as irritation crept into his voice. "Are you saying that because you don't see me as man enough to protect you? To protect myself? Is that it?"
Sobs raked Rory's body as he fell to his knees between Rin's legs. He wrapped his arms around the backs of his calves as he rested his head on Rin's knees. "No… I… It's not that exactly… You don't understand… though, it's not just that…"
A muscle in Rin's jaw twitched as he bent and tugged Rory's arms free from his legs. "Do you need a reminder of how much of a man I can be?"