When The Right Door Opens (5 page)

Jamie became conscious, hearing the sound of
male voices whispering close by. His eyes were still closed, but he
tried to remember what had happened. Several pictures appeared in
his mind, but nothing very coherent. A jolt of pain radiated
through him and he blinked nervously, before finally succumbing and
opening his eyes. He squinted at the brightness of the light.

“Hey, welcome back.” a man said gently, while
kneeling next to Jamie's head. Jamie was confused and tired. He
didn't know where he was or how he got on that comfortable couch,
with someone he didn't know bending over him. Instinctively, he
tried to get as far away from the man as possible.

“You said no cops, but I needed to call help.
I called my brother. He's a paramedic and just arrived here. Where
are you hurt? What happened?”

“Calm down, Beb. You're scaring him!” Kai
chuckled softly from behind his brother.

Jamie tried to sit up, too many questions
were asked and he didn't know the answers or if it was safe to
answer them. He felt vulnerable lying on the couch. Jamie came into
a sitting position, next to the man who was still awkwardly
kneeling next to the couch. His feet touched the dark hardwood
floor and his hands supported his weight to get up, but Jamie
suddenly felt very dizzy and sick.

“I think I'm going to be...” that's all he
managed to say as a warning, before he emptied his stomach on the
handsome stranger, and what little he had eaten that day was now
decorating the man's white t-shirt. Jamie stared with his eyes wide
open and in shock, he blushed in embarrassment, wiping his mouth
with the back of his hand and the man looked momentarily horrified
too, but then he smiled broadly before turning to his brother.

“Well Kai, at least you now know that his
stomach is empty and with the big bump on his head, I think it's
safe to say, that he has a mild concussion. You were right to
worry.” Sebastian got up, supporting himself on the couch and the
coffee table, until he stood upright. Kai smirked and Jamie tried
to sink further into the sofa he was sitting on. He hissed in pain,
when he sat up a little straighter and the smiles on the brothers
faces faded and made room for concern.

“I need to call Agnes.” Jamie whispered. The
man who had knelt next to Jamie threw his soiled shirt over his
head in a fluid motion, before turning his attention back to
Jamie.

“All in good time. I'm Sebastian and that's
my brother Kai. We need to find out where you are hurt, in order to
help you first. Is that alright?” Jamie nodded, but then he
remembered that he needed to know that Agnes was alright first.

“I need to make a call first. Please.”

“Let us fix you up first. What happened to
you?” Sebastian pressed and Jamie felt caged. He stayed silent for
a moment. Jamie was too embarrassed to tell these men what had
happened to him, and that he had put himself into that position
willingly.

“I... I got to go.” with that, Jamie tried to
stand up again and, unable to keep his balance, he fell right into
Sebastian's arms again.

“I've got you. Whoever did this to you, is
not going to find you here. You're safe. Let us help you. Please?”
Why Sebastian had chosen those words to speak to a stranger, he
didn't know, but he felt at once drawn to the man. The beautiful
clear green eyes that stared into his own were so intense, that
Sebastian forgot for a brief moment the situation they were in. He
came back to reality when Jamie's pleading voice cut through the
fog in his mind.

“You don't understand. I have to go and get
my daughter. For all I know, she is alone. Please let me at least
call her. I need to know she's alright and she needs to hear I'm
alright too.” Jamie couldn't hold back his tears any longer, he
melted against the hard warm body holding him. It didn't matter to
him how physically hurt he was, he had made a promise to his
daughter and now, he was breaking it. He wasn't there for her.

“You are far from alright. You are hurt and
bleeding. Your face is smudged with blood and you aren't able to
stand on your own two feet alone and without help. You can't go
like this. You are not alright.” Sebastian said softly, but
authoritatively. Rationally, Jamie knew and understood that
Sebastian was right, but it was very hard to swallow his pride and
to admit it.

“I'm a whore. A slut. A hooker. A hustler!”
Jamie yelled suddenly, pushing Sebastian away, wanting to shock him
and maybe being thrown out of the house too. He looked Sebastian
right in the eye, while he all but spat out what it was, that he
did for a living. But the man didn't flinch, his bare arms were
still around Jamie's waist, feeling warm and comforting.

“A client raped me.” Jamie whispered and
lowered his head in shame. Suddenly, the last fight left Jamie and
he started to really cry against Sebastian's naked shoulder.

“I need to see Agnes. Please, help me.” Jamie
pleaded sobbing.

“Ssh. It's okay. You are safe. You are safe.
I'm going to take care of you – and of her.” Soothingly, Sebastian
patted Jamie's hair and rubbed soothing circles on his back. He
waited patiently, until Jamie calmed down.

“Let me get you some clean clothes, while Kai
takes a look at your injuries, after that, we'll make that call.”
Jamie nodded and Sebastian finally, if only reluctantly, let go of
him. Jamie felt cold were mere moments ago, warm arms had touched
him.

Kai took a step closer and Jamie
instinctively took a step away from him. There was nothing wrong
with Kai, but for some unknown reason, Jamie felt safe – safer,
with Sebastian.

“Bebbi, it's alright, you can stay here with
Jamie, while I'll go get the stuff I need. Clean towels, a bowl
with warm water and a washcloth, my backpack and stuff. I'll also
bring you some clean clothes, okay?” Kai asked cautiously, taking
his cue from Jamie's demeanor and again, Jamie only nodded.

“You haven't told us your name.” Sebastian
stated, once Kai had left the room.

“It's James McCarrick. Jamie.” Jamie said
barely audible.

“Okay, Jamie. Here's the phone. Call her!”
Jamie took the phone from Sebastian and dialed his daughter’s phone
first, but she didn't answer the call. Worry chilled Jamie to the
bone and his eyes started to fill with new tears. Without asking
permission first, he dialed Lauren's phone, glad that he had
memorized both numbers a long time ago. Lauren picked up after the
second ring. He only needed to announce his name, before Lauren
started to yell at him.

“Jamie? Where the hell are you? You were
supposed to be here at ten. Now it's past midnight and I am stuck
with the brat.”

“Lauren, it's your child too and I am sorry.
I had an accident. I would have called sooner, but I lost my
phone.” Jamie tried to sound strong and casual, while Lauren
rambled and didn't let Jamie speak up. In reality, he was close to
tears and felt far from strong. Sebastian saw him struggling and
took the phone out of his hands, without thinking about it
twice.

“Hi, this is Sebastian Martin... No, I am not
a John... No, not the pimp either... Listen, could you bring the
girl to my house. Jamie is here and he needs someone to take care
of him for a little while, because of that accident.” Jamie
listened wide-eyed while Sebastian told Lauren where she was
supposed to bring Agnes and thanked her politely then he
disconnected the phone and threw it on the coffee table.

“It will take her about forty minutes to
bring your daughter here. Let's make you somewhat presentable for
her. How about we get you out of those filthy clothes. Don't worry,
Kai will patch you up. He's a real pro at what he does.” Sebastian
talked nervously. This whole situation overwhelmed him and while
talking out loud, he didn't need to think about the situation.
Jamie was out of words and simply did what he was told to do. He
was too tired to argue, too tired to fight and too grateful that,
after the rejections he had earlier, someone was willing to help
him and take care of him.

Sebastian unbuttoned Jamie's shirt slowly,
revealing a well-toned torso, but still taking in every one of
Jamie's reactions to his movements. He didn't want to hurry things,
he didn't want to scare him and add to the trauma either. Jamie
felt too tired and was hurting too much to feel any more
embarrassment and he let this man undress him. Maybe he would have
been capable of doing it himself, but it didn't matter right now.
It was not sensual or erotic in any kind of way, it was simply one
man helping another man in distress out of his clothes.
But his
hands feel good on me!

Sebastian was shocked when he saw the dried
blood that covered Jamie's bare thighs and legs, but he did his
best to hide his own emotions.
So much blood, so many
bruises.
He didn't want to make Jamie feel worse about himself
and pushed his thoughts away, schooling his features before he
looked Jamie in the face again.

Kai came back into the room right at that
moment and stopped in his tracks. Jamie stood naked in front of his
twin, seemingly unembarrassed, but his eyes were empty and he
looked intently at the painting hanging on the wall behind
Sebastian. Jamie's ring finger of his right hand twitched
rhythmically, and Kai asked himself how this man could conceal his
feelings and emotions so well. Kai knew people and he knew what to
look for in victims of domestic violence and rapes, but this
seemingly unemotional cover was new, even to him.

Kai too had seen what had made Sebastian
gasp. Bruises and dried blood. Kai shook his head and moved closer
to Jamie, laying out a large towel on the sofa and asking him to
sit down.

“Did you bring clean clothes for Jamie?”
Sebastian asked, revealing Jamie's name to his brother, while
looking at the pile of things he had put on the coffee table. Kai
cursed, because he had indeed forgotten about them.

“I'll be right back,” Sebastian said
absentmindedly, while he hurried out of the room and let out a
shaky breath. Kai noticed him limping again and he also saw that it
was way worse than it had been in some time, but he bit his cheek
to keep his thoughts inside. He would berate his brother later, now
he had a patient who needed tending.

Sebastian needed a moment to breathe. He had
never helped someone like this man – Jamie – and he had never seen
injuries like this either. Although he had not really seen
anything, apart from a black eye, split lip and bump on the
forehead, but the blood that had dried on the man's thighs and the
clothes that were full of blood too, it made him shudder. He has
been raped by a client.
How low must a man sink, before he has
to do this for a living? He has a daughter. Maybe a girlfriend too
and an ex-wife. Gay for pay or gay for real? Why do I care? Because
even roughed up like this, you haven't seen such a beautiful man in
a long while! And because he felt so right in my arms and against
my skin.
And now, without wanting it, Sebastian was ready to
give this man shelter, even having his daughter invited over.
How old is the daughter? She can't be older than nine or ten,
judging by his looks. He looks so young, but his temples are
graying. Maybe it's because of the black hair...
He had no idea
what he was doing and why, but something about this man got under
his skin.
Maybe it's only my helper syndrome – which I never
really had until now. Right!
Sebastian's walking up the stairs
proved to be exhausting, but he didn't want to appear weak and he
didn't want to make Kai notice the pain he was in. Sebastian needed
a moment at the top of the stairs to gather his strength and go his
bedroom to retrieve a set of clothes for Jamie. He held a
sweatshirt, underpants and sweatpants in his arms, when is eyes
fell on his robe, hanging on a hook at the door.
I bet he would
like to take a shower.
Sebastian shuddered again involuntarily.
The thought of water running down Jamie's tight and lean muscled
body made his own body react in an inappropriate manner.
Stop it
Bebbi! He's a guest.
A very intriguing guest indeed. Sebastian
took his favorite t-shirt and threw it on, his thoughts never
ceased to turn around the man on his couch.

****

Kai quickly, but thoroughly looked at Jamie's bruises
and at the bump on his head, cleaned them and put bandages where
they were needed, until finally it was time to see what damage the
John had done to Jamie's anus and rectum. Kai knew that he needed
to be compassionate and sensitive about this. Jamie wasn't the
first rape victim he saw, although it was his first male one.

“Jamie, I need to ask you to lie on your
stomach now.” Kai said in a calm voice, but Jamie didn't move.

“I don't... I mean...” he hung his head in
shame and Kai patted Jamie's shoulder encouragingly, before he
realized, that it was uncalled for.

“I know. This must be really hard. But you
don't have to be ashamed. I've seen very different things in my
line of work, people who put unbelievable things up their asses and
not able to get them back out, women who were raped, men with
broken penises or cock rings that were stuck. I've seen a lot of
asses. To me, it's a part of the human body and you are in need of
treatment. That's all. I am not here to judge you. I am here to
help you.” Kai waited for Jamie to say something and saw Sebastian
coming back into the living room.

“I just... I am not a woman. I am a man. And
I climbed into that car out of my free will. Because that is what I
do, even when my daughter tells me to stop. I put myself at risk
willingly, knowingly.” The desperation in Jamie's voice almost
broke Sebastian's heart.

“But you never said to him to hurt you and
leave you out in the cold somewhere. Don't go that way. Press
charges -”

“No. No. If I go to the cops, I will lose
Agnes and I can't lose her. I can't...” Jamie hid his face in his
hands and Sebastian and Kai didn't know what else to say or do.
Jamie was a stranger. A stranger who needed help and was in a
vulnerable position.