My Brother's Best Friend Ch. 08

"I can tell my boss, Detective. But thank you. Do I have anything to worry about? Does my boyfriend or my family?" I go into the bathroom before I say this, to not alarm the rest of the kitchen.

"I wouldn't feel it is safe telling you to return to normal activities as of yet, Miss Jaxton. Give us more time. We'll get him." And with that she bids me good day.

I breathe deeply and try not to think of anything badly as yet. My boyfriend isn't charged with anything. And Steinberg isn't anywhere to be found. So he can't be dead, right? God, the uncertainty of it all!! I feel like I'm going to puke.

I leave the bathroom only to be hugged by Jess, who I haven't really talked to since last night.

"Jessie." I sigh into my friends' arms.

"Feline..." neither of us knows what to say. So we just stay glued like that for some time. When we look at each other, we bear the same bruising across our mouths.

"Backhand sisters." Jess says at last.

"WHU...WHAT?" I stutter.

"Backhand sisters." Jess nods, matter-of-factly, raising her hand like Steinberg raised his to us. "We've got twin bruises. We must be sisters."

I giggle, and then I'm chuckling, and then I'm full-blown hysterically cry laughing.

"Fuck Jess." I wheeze. "Damn, you're funny."

"I know." she winks. And steers me back into the kitchen, where I announce the good news about Steinberg's cronies and my car to a boisterous cheer.

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That night, I'm 14 again and Pat won't let me sleep alone. I wonder to myself if he's camped out in my bed more for himself than for me. Pat hasn't been himself since the fight. He's unusually quiet. Contemplative.

After I fluff my pillow and my brother is tucked in beside me, I turn to him and try to reassure him.

"Shawn's doing so good, Pat. We get to have him back, day after tomorrow." I nod, stroking my brother's shoulder.

Pat doesn't really say anything for a long moment. He just meets my eyes and returns the nod. Eventually, he lets go.

"That motherfucker almost raped my sister and could have killed my best friend." a single tear escapes his eyes. He's angry and emotional in ways I've rarely if ever seen come from my sibling. "I don't know what I'd do without either or both of you. I'd want to die." he whispers.

I grab Patrick and pull him into me, into the biggest hug. Together we have a moment. I'll admit, I bawled my eyes out. And by the time Pat pulls away from me to look into my eyes, my t shirt is wet where he had laid.

"I love you Feline. I love you so much." Pat whispers, kissing my forehead.

"I love you!" I cry, clinging to his t shirt.

"Please tell me you're ok." my brother's sincere blue eyes make me so sad.

"I'm ok Patty." I say lowly. "He only touched me."

"Baby Bear I was there when you gave your statement, remember? He beat you, got his friends to assault you and then....and...then..." Pat's jaw clenches and his hand moves to the back of my head, pulling me forward into his arms.

I don't remember the last time we slept cuddled up together. Probably when I was 14. But that night we both have full-blown night terrors. And having the other there to wake us up out of them was incredibly comforting. I would have ended up in Pat's bed if he weren't already in mine. Steinberg's voice, and his small, dark eyes haunted me.

By morning, we finally find restful sleep. Mom and Dad don't even try to wake us.

~to be continued~