Chapter 26

Gary's POV

My hands run over my face, trying to absorb what Jason's just confessed. A million questions shoot through my head, causing a slight niggling pain. After a long ten minutes of silence, exhaling a deep breath against my hands i finally speak again. "D...Did... did you help him?"
Jason swallows hard, avoiding the question at first. "Gaz...please don't do this to your-"
"I said, did you help him?"
Gritting his teeth, he gently shakes his head. "N...no..." Leaning against the wall, i look up to the sky, trying to hold back the tears as much as i possibly can, right now i need answers.
"Why?"
"Gaz..." He takes a step closer to me.
"Don't Gaz, me. Tell me why not?!" Loudly i snap, causing him to stop in his actions. Deeply he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"M...Me...and Rob...we...we erm...haven't seen eye to eye during our career..."
Turning my focus away from the darkening sky, my eyes burn at the side of Jason's head. "Excuse me? Are you actually for fucking real?"
"See...i knew this would happen."
Blinking my eyes into his direction, i shake my head in disbelief. "Do you really think i would be skipping with joy after hearing this?! I'm speechless, literally speechless."
"He doesn't deserve you, Gaz. He really doesn't. You could do so much better." Jason sighs, with a slight frown forming on his face.
"Are you kidding me?! Robbie's the best thing which has ever happened to me."
"Yeah, you say that now...and he might say the same about you, but for how long? How long until his mind changes, because we all know its going to happen. Expect we were waiting for him to change his mind about the band and album, but maybe it wont come to that...instead it might be your relationship." Kicking the dirt in front of him, he begins to walk away. Anger builds in the pit of my stomach, causing me to lash out at my older friend.
"What?!" I spit, whilst grabbing hold of his t shirt, shoving him up against the building. "You're full of surprises tonight, aren't you?!"
"I'm looking out for you, Gary. You've been hurt once and we suffered from it with you. I don't want it all happening again, having history repeat itself."
"Oh, so now this whole situation is about you? Looking out for yourself? Right...so now we get to see the true colours of you. You let something like that happen to Robbie, for what? Revenge?! You're sick!"

"I couldn't step in, could i? The guy was twice my size-"
"So it was ok for him to hurt Robbie? To...to..." The words sicken me even thinking about them. "R...rape him?!"
"Robbie was and still is a tough guy-"
"HE WAS SEVENTEEN. SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD, DAMMIT!" Yelling at the top of my lungs, my fists crash against Jason's chest several times. "How the hell could a young boy defend himself from something like that?"
"Would you of helped him? After being dragged through the media like being dragged through a rose bush and then having salt rubbed in your wounds, as you quoted. Would you help him after having had that done to you?"
"Damn right i would of helped him. No matter what was said or done, even if i witnessed it happening to my worst enemy i wouldn't just sit back and let it happen, anyone with a heart would go out of their ways to help that person. You're twisted, do you know that?!"
"And you're living in a fantasy world. Don't say i didn't warn you. And don't come crying to me when he dumps you. You're making a fool out of yourself, the way Robbie treated me in the band with his harmful little jokes and childish behavior it wouldn't surprise me if i think deep down he deserved what hap-" Jason words are cut off, as my fist makes forceful contact against his perfectly chiseled jaw. "Christ!"
"You son of a bitch! You're a disgrace! Get out of my sight!" My fists clench at the side of me, whilst i watch the man scutter to his feet. Wiping away the blood from his lip, he looks at me, deep in the eyes. As much as i want to beat the crap out of him i can't let Robbie know and i can't end up in jail. He shakes his head, before trailing off into the distance. Watching Jason walk away freely without hardly a scratch on him, my breathing increases and my legs weaken from the thought of what Robbie suffered. Closing my eyes, i take slow, sharp deep breathes, whilst slowly making contact with the floor with my head in my hands.

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Two hours later than planned, i finally make my way down Robbie's corridor again, this time with a small rucksack containing some of his belongings. Looking down at my fist, i notice it has turned a purple and red colour from hitting Jason, great. peering through the small glass window of the hospital room, Howard is dozing off in the chair beside a sleeping Robbie. Giving it a moment or two, i build up enough courage to open the door. Howard's eyes are immediately drawn to me, as i drop the rucksack on a nearby chair. "Hiya Gaz."
"Ayup, mate. Mark not here?"
"Nah, he got off about half an hour ago. Couldn't keep his eyes open." He rubs his eyes with his index finger, before releasing a yawn.
"Bless him, you better get off too. Thanks again for staying with Rob."
"You're more than welcome. We'll be back tomorrow to check on the pair of you, this time i'll bring him his Minstrels which he's been banging on about." Howard laughs.
"Oh really? Thanks again, How. Send my love to Markie too." Quietly I mumble, still hiding my fist out of sight, as we exchange a friendly hug goodbye.
"See you tomoz, pal." Sleepily he grins, before leaving. My back remains facing Robbie, slowly I close the door behind Howard. At least with Robbie asleep it will give me sometime to collect my thoughts and sometime to help me hatch up a plan over having a bruised hand. After all it will be pretty noticeable to Robbie when he's wanting to hold it. Getting lost in my own world once again, a voice manages to drag me back to reality.

"Gary?" By the sound of the familiar voice, it causes me to close my eyes for a brief moment, to release a heavy sigh. "Gaz?" I tilt my head over my right shoulder, noticing a worried yet tired looking face staring back at me. Gritting my teeth, I manage to pull off enough energy to spin on my heels.
"Hello sleepy." I reply, whilst painting on a smile. "Did I wake you?"
"No, no course not. I'm far too hot to sleep anyway...besides how else was I suppose to get rid of them two, eh?" He playfully prods me. "Mark and Howard were bickering again, so I decided to sleep, at least I got a bit of peace and quiet. Like Husband and wife those two are, good thing you and Jay are the sane ones." Robbie chuckles at his own joke.
"Oh, were they? Guess its the weather." I pretend I didn't hear the last part of his sentence. To be honest me and Jason wouldn't be like a married couple, more like boxer and punch bag, the way I'm feeling about him now. Even his name angers me.

"Yeah, bloody albums cause more trouble than what they're worth." Nodding in agreement at his comment, I force out a fake looking smile, whilst sitting in the empty chair beside his bed. "Anyway...how're you?" He places a hand onto my shoulder, trailing his fingers down my arm, wanting to reach for my hand which is hidden from his view.
"I'm ok..." I shrug, resting my uninjured hand onto the metal bed railing. Robbie squints his eyes and rests his head onto his shoulder. "Just ok? You don't even look that to me...and it didn't sound convincing either..."
"Since when did you become serious?" Playfully I smirk at him.
"Since you changed me into a better man." Faintly I smile at him, quietly huffing. That makes me feel even more guilty. "So...what's wrong, gorgeous? You know you can tell me anything, right?"
"I know, Rob. I appreciate it." Gently I pat the top of his hand.
"Go on then, Captain." He grins. That grin alone sends flutters through my entire body and brings tears to my eyes. The amount of stress, hurt, pain and disappointment he's been through in his life, yet he still manages to push it all away, he's a braver man than me.
"Its...Its...er..." Do I really want to be the one to bring more of those emotions and experiences into his life? After all I've never seen him so happy before and that's not me being big headed. "I...well the thing is..." Shaking my head, I look him in the eyes, allowing a lie escape my mouth. "I...I'm just...worried about you...that's all."

In a matter of seconds, Robbie manages to hutch himself up in bed. "Come here you." Stretching his arms out into my direction, hugely he grins. "The doctor ordered a big Barlow cuddle for my medication." Biting down onto my tongue, regretting my lie ever since it was spoken, very carefully i move towards the pale looking man. My arms lightly wrap around his back, as Robbie tightly embraces his around me, allowing me to nuzzle my nose against the crook of his neck. "I love you, Gaz." Those four words immediately draw tears to my eyes, which thankfully i manage to hold back. Once the hug ends after countless minutes, Robbie glances me up and down. "You look knackered, mate. Did you get any kip before coming back here?" Weakly i shake my head, feeling sorry for myself and incredibly disappointed. "Right..." He sighs, whilst pulling back the thin sheet, revealing his slightly covered body in a hospital gown. "Take your shoes and shorts off. You need a few hours at least, otherwise we'll be getting a visit from the Grim Reaper to take you away." He jokes.

"Rob, I'm fine. Stop fussing about me. You're the one of my mind at the moment, i just want you well again, so we can get out of here."
"Yes, i know that and I am OK. I'm not dying so there's no need to fret, besides you know how much i hate fuss...you can play doctors when we're back in the hotel room, eh?" Robbie cheekily winks, whilst making room in the bed for me to join him.
Sighing softly, i kick off my flip flops, before peeling my short from my legs. "If the nurse yells at me for doing this, you're to blame." Carefully i climb into the bed, settling in the warm space next to him, causing the bed to rock slightly. "Hope its not gonna collapse with my weight on i-"
"Gary!" Gently Robbie taps my arm. "You can knock that off."
"Alright, sorry...sorry..." Rolling onto my left hand side, my back faces Robbie, as my arms wrap around my knees. Almost instant, i feel myself being pulled into a pair of strong inked arms, bringing me back into my safe zone. My heavy feeling eyes, close automatically under Robbie's touch.
"Get some sleep, gorgeous..." His breath tickles against my neck, as he plants kisses along it. Flickering my eye lids, whilst Robbie's lips make contact with my skin, the tears are no longer being held back, as they drip down my cheeks, un be known to Robbie. Rubbing his cheek against my shoulder, slowly he rocks himself to sleep, leaving me silently crying to myself. What on earth am i going to do? I can't tell him, because it would break him and bring back the memories and scars again, but i also can't continue to lie to him. Gripping tighter to his arm for support, as i continue to cry myself to sleep.