@Rainy_day_artist_classic group
Putting a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, he pushed him out to the car with a soft sigh. “You okay?” He asked softly, pushing him through the parking lot.
Putting a hand on Lucas’s shoulder, he pushed him out to the car with a soft sigh. “You okay?” He asked softly, pushing him through the parking lot.
"Mm…" Lucas mumbled in reply, keeping his face hidden for the time being. He only looked up when he had to get into the car, and allowed Mr. Brennahan to help him.
When they were all in the car, the silence remained almost the whole way home. Mr. Brennahan had said hello to his wife, but that was it until he turned to Lucas. "We're about home. You okay?" He asked softly, keeping a gentle look on his face.
Lucas didn't seem to hear Mr. Brennahan, just staring blankly at the back of the seat in front of him. Cody had his head in Lucas's lap, whining worriedly at him every once in a while.
Instead of pushing it, he nodded a little before turning back in his seat. When they pulled up to the house Mr. Brennahan went around and pulled Lucas's car door open. "You ready to go in?"
Lucas looked up a bit, his eyes still pretty glassy. Cody hopped out of the car and Lucas followed him compliantly, keeping one hand on the dog's collar to guide himself.
Mr. Brennahan quietly followed behind him, making sure to keep an eye on him. "Do you wanna go lie down on the bed upstairs while I get you some water?" He asked softly, opening the front door.
"Hm…?" Lucas looked up, connecting enough for a moment that he seemed to catch a couple words. "Oh… sure…" He replied, still holding onto Cody, who was leading him into the house.
Helping him up the stairs, Mr. Brennahan was being as gentle as possible with how he was holding onto Lucas. When Lucas was settled, he headed back downstairs to grab him water.
Lucas curled up on the bed with Mr. Brennahan's help, yawning a bit and wrapping his arms around Cody. Cody kept close to him, keeping quiet to help Lucas stay calm.
Coming up the stairs, Mr. Brennahan knocked on the door a bit before walking through. "Hey, bud. I've got some water for you." He hummed a bit, setting it down on the bedside table.
"Mmmm…" Lucas looked up a bit and reluctantly sat up, hesitating before allowing Mr. Brennahan to give him the water. "Thanks, sir." He sipped at it idly, still not seeming to be very present.
"Yeah, of course…" Mr. Brennahan whispered, leaning against the door frame. He rubbed his chin some as he thought for a moment before speaking again. "Melissa should be home soon, do you want me to send her in when she does?"
Lucas glanced up again when Mr. Brennahan spoke. "Mm… yeah, sure… that'd be great, sir." He then turned his attention back to staring blankly at the wall in front of him.
Nodding a bit, he left the door open as he went to his office, checking in on him every couple of minutes. When he had finished off the water, he'd go ahead and fill up the glass again before going back to his office to deal with the situation at hand. He figured it was best to not try and talk to him a whole bunch, knowing he wouldn't respond more than half the time.
Lucas wasn't very responsive, for sure, but did thankfully drink water whenever it was offered to him. Cody kept close to his side all the while, keeping watch over him and keeping him company while he recovered. Lucas looked up when he heard the door downstairs open and close.
"Lu?" Melissa called softly, noticing he wasn't asleep on the couch. Confused, she started up the stairs peeking her head into her dad's office. He didn't seem to notice her, so he just let him be before walking past the room Lucas was in, but backtracked after catching a glimpse of him. "Oh- hey. There you are."
"Meeeeeeel~…" Lucas smiled sleepily and reached his arms out a bit from where he was laying, disturbing the drowsy Cody. "You're hoooooome…." He was obviously very out of it; more out of it than he normally would've been if he was just tired.
Melissa immediately knew something was off as she came up to him. "Yeah, I'm home… you okay?" She asked softly, giving him a hug before stepping back. When she did, she started looking him up and down, knowing something was off.
"Mmmmmmm…" Lucas yawned a bit and lay his head back on the pillow, staring blankly at the ceiling. He had noticeable marks on his neck and shoulders, some of which looked like bite marks that were deep enough to break the skin. Cody whined again and rested his head on Lucas's chest.
"Lu?" She asked again, more confusion slowly building on her face. When realization dawned on her, her eyes grew a little wider, mouth gaping some. "I- what happened while I was at work?" Melissa asked weakly, a sick feeling growing in her stomach.
"Sheeeeee made me eat drugs." Lucas stuck his tongue out a bit, his gaze shifting in and out of focus. "And I don't really remember a whole lot after that. I called Mr. Brennahan and then I was here and then I was at the hospital and now I'm here again!" He replied, humming softly to himself.
Growing incredibly quiet, she felt her heart sink in her chest. "I- I'll be right back, okay?" She stated softly before leaving the room and going to Mr. Brennahan's office. It was a decent amount of time before she came back to the room Lucas was in, face red a blotchy as she walked up and got in the bed beside him. "M'sorry… I should have stayed home from work." Melissa muttered as she curled up closer to him, keeping an arm around his torso.
Lucas didn't really seem to know what was going on, simply hugging Melissa and burying his face in her shoulder. "Noooooo… work's… work's important, Mel…" He mumbled, yawning tiredly as he clung to her. "Mr. Brennahan sir keeps bringing me water to drink. It's real nice of him."
“Y-Yeah..?” Melissa whispered, looking up at him. She kept her head on his shoulder, trying to stay relaxed. She didn’t want to start crying and give him something to stress out about. Especially in his state. “That is nice of him… he’s been taking care of you the whole time, then?” She asked softly.
Lucas nodded, holding a bit tighter to Melissa with a happy hum. "Mhmm! And he called the… the… the screaming truck, and it came to take me, and I was scared, but he went in the screaming truck with me and Cody, so it was okay. I didn't like the hospital though. It made me think of the other hospital. So he went outside and then I got to go home."
A look of confusion fell on her face as she tried to figure out what the screaming truck he was talking about was. But with the other information, she eventually figured it out and listened to the rest of what he had to say. “Well, I’m glad you’re here… I- I’m sorry… I’m sorry this had to happen to you. I- I should have been home with you… I knew it wasn’t a good idea…”
"Nahhhh… I prolly shouldn't've gone outside." Lucas nuzzled against Melissa affectionately, shifting on the bed to get more comfortable. "I dunno what all she did to me. I don't remember most of it."
Melissa tried to enjoy the affectionate behavior, but was having a hard time in the moment. “Well, I guess that might be a good thing. Then you don’t have to think about it, I guess.” She mumbled, burying her face in his shoulder. Keeping her head tucked under his chin, she took in a deep as she held onto him. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I love you,”
"Mmmm… I love you too…" Lucas smiled drowsily and yawned again, clearly tired after the long day. "Cody's been keeping me company. He's a good boy." He clumsily pet the dog, seeming content enough for the moment.
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