Ends of the Earth

Jason was still dressed in his filthy clothes, his back to the door. In the mirror, Ben could see that Jason was holding up his hands, staring at them. Ben rushed the couple of steps to his side. “Are you hurt?”

“No. Are you sure this is real?” Jason glanced up into the mirror and down again at his scraped palms. “It seems like it is, but…”

Through the open door, Ben glanced back at Maggie, who was still fast asleep. Standing behind Jason, he gently took hold of his shoulders. “We’re here. Maggie’s safe and sound.”

Jason met his gaze in the mirror, his brown eyes shining. He whispered, “I keep thinking I’ll wake up, and now I don’t want to.”

“Maggie will still be here.” He squeezed with his fingers. “So will I.”

Nodding, Jason swayed a little on his feet.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” Ben flipped down the toilet lid and guided Jason to sit, then leaned over the tub and pushed in the plug. He was afraid Jason was too drained and unsteady for a shower. As warm water filled the tub, he unlaced Jason’s hiking shoes and peeled off his socks.

Jason wrinkled his nose. “God, I really do stink.”

They smiled at each other as Ben tossed the offending socks into the corner. Jason lifted his arms when asked, pliable as Ben undressed him. There was nothing sexual about it, the emotions filling Ben ones of tenderness and nurturing.

He swirled his hand through the water to make sure it wasn’t too hot, then guided Jason into the tub. Jason moaned softly as he sank back.

“Oh God. That feels good.” He closed his eyes.

Ben folded up a hand towel. “Here, try this.” He lifted Jason’s head and placed the padding on the rim of the tub against the white tile.

“Mmm. Thank you.” A few moments later, Jason’s eyes popped open. “Is Maggie still sleeping?”

Twisting to peer around the doorframe, Ben nodded. “Out like a light.”

Jason visibly unclenched, his limbs flopping. “Okay.”

After rolling up his sleeves, Ben unwrapped a bar of soap and grabbed a rough washcloth. “Just relax, okay?”

“Uh-huh.”

With every stroke of the cloth over his skin, Jason relaxed until he was utterly boneless. Ben lifted his arms and legs, cleaning him efficiently, wiping Jason’s soft cock and cleaning his groin. The water sloshed like placid ripples on a shore.

Jason’s skin glistened, slightly reddened in the warm water and from the friction of the cloth. Ben wanted to run his hands all over Jason, just to feel him safe and solid. He longed to climb into the tub and hold him close, but instead pulled down the hand shower, running more warm water.

Ben murmured, “Keep your eyes shut and tip your face forward a bit,” then perched on the side of the tub to wet Jason’s hair. He switched off the water and let the hand nozzle hang low toward the tub. Uncapping a bottle of generic shampoo, Ben lathered Jason’s hair, massaging his scalp.

“Mmm.” Jason leaned into his touch, and after Ben rinsed out the shampoo, he wanted to rub his face all over Jason’s head. Instead, he worked conditioner into the shaggy hair, Jason sighing, eyes shut.

Jason’s legs were bent to fit in the tub, and he was beautiful through the soapy water, loose and unquestioning. His trust filled Ben with a sense of peace. Wholeness.

Once the conditioner was rinsed out, Ben rubbed a towel over Jason’s head. “Let’s get you out of there before you prune up.”

After Jason climbed out, dripping onto the floor, Ben knelt at his feet and dried him, the cheap hospital towel rough but efficient. A change of clothes sat folded on the counter, and he helped Jason on with the briefs, track pants, and T-shirt. Resisting the urge to wind his arms around Jason’s waist and keep him near, Ben led him to the cot beside a slumbering Maggie.

He pulled up the blanket around Jason’s shoulders. “Sleep well. I’ll be right here.”

“Mmm.” In the soft light, Jason could barely keep his eyes open. “You should sleep too.”

“Nah. Grabbed a coffee and now I’m wired.”

Blinking heavily, Jason groped for Ben’s hand. “Thank you.”

Even once Jason was sleeping, Ben kept hold, their fingers twined together.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The cry was plaintive and desperate, and Jason jerked up on the cot, blinking in the sunlight. On the other side of Maggie’s bed, Ben was bolt upright in his chair, his hand hovering as if to wake her. He nodded to Jason, pulling back his hand.

Jason rolled to his knees on the cot, keeping his voice low and calm. “Mags? Wake up, you’re having a nightmare.” He shook her shoulder gently as she whimpered. “Maggie?”

Gasping, her eyes popped open. “Daddy?”

“It’s me, baby.” Jason pulled her into his arms, rocking her gently. “Everything’s okay now. You’re safe.”

Maggie clung to him, tears streaming down her face as she gulped noisily for air, coughing, her lungs still rattling a little. The helplessness that had become so familiar returned with a roar, and Jason wished he could do more than rub her back and murmur words of comfort. At least Ben was there with him, silent and reassuring.