“I’ll see you in a few hours, buddy. I’ll put some blankets and a pillow on the couch for you,” he said, turning to leave.
“Hey, fairy. No jerking off to me down here practically naked on your couch either.” God slipped in before Day got out of the room.
“If I do, I’ll make sure to run down and shoot my load on your face.” Day laughed and took the stairs two at a time.
Day had only been upstairs an hour and half. He had his jazz music turned down real low so not to disturb his overnight guest. In the four years that he’d been partnered with the big guy, he’d never stayed at Day’s house. They’d had plenty of visits—usually four or five times a week—but despite Day’s persistence, God always got up and left to go back to his shithole apartment… no matter how late it was.
Day was reading his magazine and mellowing out when he heard God scream a gut-wrenching cry. Day was on his feet in a second, racing down the stairs with his 9mm in hand. He took in the entire downstairs but didn’t see anything out of place. God was asleep on his back. He only had his pants on, the button undone and zipper pulled down. His hands were clenched into tight fists and his face wore a frown so deep that he was barely recognizable.
Day put his gun down on the table and moved quickly to the couch. He was down on one knee, but had to jump back when God’s upper body jolted up off the couch and he yelled again, his arms flailing wildly. “Get off me! I said stop! Enough! Enough!” he yelled repeatedly.
Day was amazed that someone could yell that loud and not wake himself up. God looked like he was in so much pain it was breaking Day’s heart.
Day used his quick wit and sarcasm to keep everyone at arm’s length and protect himself, but none of that applied to the man in front of him. He’d had a soft spot for Detective Cashel Godfrey from the very beginning.
Day saw that God wasn’t waking up on his own. He had to put an end to his nightmare before the man hurt himself. Day put both hands on God’s shoulder’s to keep him from jerking back up when he yelled again, “Dad, he’s hurting me!” His six-foot-four partner sounded like a frightened boy, and this time Day yanked his hands back as if he’d been burned.
Oh no. Please don’t let that mean what it sounds like… Jesus.
God began thrashing as if he was fighting for his life.
Fuck, wake up.
“Cash! Cash!” Day had a firm grip on God’s forearms as he shook him with force, hoping not to scare the shit out of him. “Cash, wake up!”
God jerked upright and tried to yank his arms out of Day’s tight grip.
“It’s me… it’s Leo. Calm down Cash, you were dreaming.” Day watched him look around frantically, still not one hundred percent awake. God pulled at his arms again and this time Day let him go. “It’s me. You’re at my house, Cash.”
The man looked like a cornered deer. His green eyes were wild and unfocused as he tried to get a grip on where he was.
“Cash, look at me,” Day said forcefully and that seemed to jar God back to the here and now.
“Leo,” he whispered.
“Yeah, Cash, I’m right here.” Day sat on the edge of the couch and reached his hand up to run it over Cash’s sweat drenched forehead. He saw him close his eyes and take a shaky breath while still trying to control his labored breathing. When God opened his eyes again it was like he was just recognizing Day, and his eyes immediately filled with water. God reached out and grabbed him around his waist, pulling him tight to his chest.
Day let out a harsh breath but threw his arms around his friend’s neck. God was shaking hard and he was soaked with sweat. Day’s own eyes filled with tears as he hugged his partner hard. “Cash, please, baby. Tell me what’s wrong. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.” When God choked on a sob, Day squeezed him tighter.
“He wouldn’t stop them. I asked him to stop and he wouldn’t stop them.” God cried.
“Who? Your father?” Day pulled back and looked into moist green eyes.
A New Insight
Fuck! He’d said too much. Day just asked about his father. No one knew about that—and if God had anything to do with it, no one ever would. He pulled back from Day’s embrace and he could see the tears and concern shinning in his partner's eyes.
God knew the caring man really did want to help him, but what’s done is done. Unless Day had a time machine, there’s no way he could help. God felt his cheeks heat when he’d realized Day had called him baby… probably because he liked it. No one had ever cared for him… at least not for almost fifteen years. That’s a long time to be a lone wolf. He had to get out of there he couldn’t breathe. He pried himself out of Day’s hold.