Escaping the Pain - 4. Chapter 4

His dad was gone from the house early, Dane heard him get up and move around the kitchen downstairs so he didn't have to try to avoid him by leaving early like he had all last week. He took a shower, luxuriating in the hot water and doing what came naturally to all teenage boys who had a little extra time in the morning and no one to hear them. Gingerly patting the fading bruises that were just beginning to yellow on the edges he dried off and hung up his towel, walking nude to his bedroom. He once again grabbed an old pair of Dockers and a soft shirt, though he made sure it was long sleeved.

Grabbing a cereal bar he walked out the door to the bus stop by 7:30. He got to the school and was surprised to hear someone calling his name as soon as he got off the bus. Neri was waiting by the front steps to the school waving at him.

“Hey Dane!” Neri linked arms with him as they walked into the building, “How are you this fine Monday morning?” she asked, her voice upbeat and trilling almost like a flute. Dane liked it but after the silence of yesterday it was almost jarring.

“Umm, okay I guess,” Dane answered looking at her strangely.

“I know, Tap always said I am disgustingly cheerful in the morning, but I can't help it! Morning person I guess,” Neri laughed, though Dane has no idea at what. He couldn't fathom someone who seemed as carefree and genuinely happy as this tiny girl but found her cheerful attitude rubbing off on him. He felt lighter, more at ease as he went to his first class. Yeah his life sucked and he was extremely sad and missed his mom, he always would, but he would be going to college soon. Well, that was if he got accepted and offered a full ride at one of the many colleges he applied to. He had excellent grades and while he didn't play sports he had been active in community service for many years until they moved, even volunteering in the children’s ward after his visits when his mother had been in the hospital.

He moved quietly through his classes, sitting gingerly and ignoring the pain of his body. He was looking forward to lunch, knowing that Tap would be there. Neri met him at his locker and they picked up lunch from the cafeteria, opting for cold sandwiches. Dark clouds hung ominously across the horizon, their smoky smudge indicating a storm heading their way. Dane watched his mind elsewhere as they stood in line waiting to get their food.

“Ewww, mystery meat with gray gravy. Oh yeah, that looks yummers. Bleh,” Neri wrinkled up her snub little nose and stuck out her tongue, making Dane laugh. She covered her mouth when the cook glared over at her from where he was ladling the questionable liquid over a less discerning student's meat patty. Dane and Neri both opted for the chicken breast salad. Paying, they sat down at what was rapidly becoming their picnic table in one corner of the courtyard and started eating. Dane had finished almost all his food by the time Tap showed up 10 minutes later.

“Hi Neri. Hey buddy, how are you?” Tap asked as he leaned down between Dane and Neri to give Neri a kiss on the cheek. “Your mom's funeral was this weekend, right? You okay?”

Dane was nodding as Tap placed a hand over each shoulder and squeezed comfortingly. Dane let out a cry and jerked away, shaking. People were looking over at them and Neri looked at Dane in shock before turning a questioning gaze on Tap. She had seen that Tap had been gentle; he typically was with people smaller than himself, which was just about everyone.

“Geez, Tap, go squeeze the life out of someone else with those giant vices of yours, why don't ya?” She said loudly, covering for Dane's extreme reaction. Tap played up a sheepish look and shrugged a bit, making people laugh. They turned away, going back to whatever they were doing and ignoring the trio. Tap leaned down again to speak quietly in his ear but didn't touch Dane.

“Bathrooms, now,” His tone brooked no argument and while Dane's posture stayed defensive and careful he followed Tap.

Dane wasn't afraid of Tap, even knowing how big and strong he was but he was embarrassed. He knew he wouldn't be able to hide what was happening to him any longer. Tap had given him one too many knowing looks and now… well; he wasn’t looking forward to this at all.

Tap walked into the bathroom followed by Dane, which was thankfully empty. “Look, Dane. I'm pretty sure about what is going on, at least as sure as I can be without you saying it out loud. But I'm going to ask you and I hope you will trust me with this because I want to help, I truly do,” Tap took a deep breath, looking down at the hazel eyes that refused to meet his, Dane’s gaze remaining trained on his toes. Tap moved slowly so not to startle Dane and lifted his chin with a single strong finger under the still pink burn mark, “Dane, does your dad hurt you?”

Dane let out a sob at the point blank question. He closed his eyes, unable to bear the look of sympathy in those dark eyes that stared at him. Dane sort of hunkered in on himself, squeezing his arms to his body in a parody of a hug, something Tap longed to give him, especially after he nodded twice, jerkily.

“Oh God, Dane, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,” Tap didn't want to hurt Dane unintentionally so hugging him was out but he ran his fingers through Dane's silky black hair, sweeping the waves away from that tear streaked face. Tap rubbed a few tears off his pale cheek and Dane shuddered at the warmth and gentleness in those strong fingers.

“I'm sorry,” Dane snuffled thickly through his running nose and closed up throat, his voice barely a whisper, “I know I'm being a crybaby, I don't mean to be so embarrassing. You can go if you want. I'll, uh; I'll just wash up and be out in a minute." Dane tried to turn away but Tap refused to let him.

Tap looked dumbfounded. “You think you are embarrassing me because your old man is beating you and you are upset when you finally admit it to someone? I'm the first person you've told, right?” Dane nodded. “Well there you go. You have to be hurting, sad, scared, ashamed, angry... Nothing you feel is wrong, but you don't have to be embarrassed about how you feel in front of me. I will not make fun or think less of you. And I'm not going anywhere either, I'm going to stay with you, where I should be,” Tap looked fierce by the end of his speech, his voice practically dripping with conviction and commitment.

Dane looked at Tap with his mouth open but closed it when he smiled at him. He squinted his eyes shut and taking a deep breath he nodded. He offered a weak smile back.

Dane took what Tap said to heart. Somehow he knew after just a the short time they had known each other that he could trust this guy, no matter what he needed help with. Tap would be there for him, in his corner and behind him to hold him up if he needed it. Dane took those 2 steps forward to close the gap between their bodies and hugged Tap for all he was worth; wrapping his arms around that barrel chest as best he could and laying his head on Tap’s chest. They stood together for a long minute while Tap gently brushed his fingers through his hair again, afraid to touch him for the bruises he couldn't see but knew were there

“Dane,” Tap said softly, “Dane,” this time it was louder. “I need to see, I need to know,” Dane burrowed his head a bit harder into Tap's chest; even with their newfound trust he was so ashamed. Tap would see, but no one was supposed to see. If he saw he would be disgusted with Dane's weakness and inability to stop the beatings. Dane felt so conflicted. But he had asked and Tap was giving so much and Dane had to give so little.

Dane let go of Tap reluctantly and took a step back, grabbing the hem of his shirt he pulled it up and off his torso carefully but it still caused a wince as the muscles pulled in his sore shoulders. He stood still, balling the shirt up in his hands and holding it in front of his chest in a small bundle. He had his eyes squinted shut, blocking out the sight of Tap's reaction and was breathing in small frantic pants, unable to catch his breath. He cringed, waiting for Tap's reaction.

Tap was glad that Dane had his eyes shut because he had several reactions that he knew showed on his face; he was so upset he was simply unable to hide them. He could see large purple bruising on Dane's ribs and sides and some small bruises on the front of his shoulders. That was a bad enough and caused an upwelling of rage in the normally happy go lucky Tap. He was angry, so angry that anyone would treat their son this way. When he quietly moved behind Dane what he saw was so much worse that he actually had to turn and grab the sink, locking his hands and body in place to keep himself from tearing out of the bathroom and hunting down Dane’s dad to show him how it felt to be beat up by someone bigger than him. Tap was breathing almost as hard as Dane when he looked up again.

Dane’s back was a crisscross of bruises, most of them dark brown or purple. Some had healed more, turning a sickly green and yellow but there was barely an inch of undamaged skin showing how beautiful the pale and milky skin on his slim back should be. The worst of it was the deep bruising on Dane's shoulders, there was solid brown bruising as well as 4 deep purple bruises on the top of his shoulder.. It was shocking in the brutality that it showed, the horror that Dane was living with. Tap was shocked and the rage he felt coursed through his body, his fists clenching and his jaw was tight as he bit out a single word, his voice nearly unrecognizable. “Why?”

Dane flinched, hunching his shoulders at the anger he could sense behind him and the distorted word that was really so many questions that had to have answers though they weren't ones he knew either, “Why? Why does he beat me or why did he beat me this time? There are lots of things according to him, because of my mom dying, talking back, being lazy, disrupting him, but this beating? It was because I didn't go straight home on Friday and he got home early. I wasn't there to make his dinner and I broke the rules. So he beat me with a rubber hose and kicked me a few times to remind me of my place in the world,” Dane was certain that Tap wouldn't want to be his friend anymore, now that he knew how pathetic he was.

That admission told in such a toneless voice, one of matter of fact acceptance, broke Tap's heart at that moment. He wept inside for the pain that Dane must be hiding all the time, all alone. Dane had come to his game to support him and now his friend was hurting and he wasn't able to help. Dane sounded like this happened a lot and he had just come to accept it. That was wrong, no one should be treated this way, it wasn't right. It was hard but Tap pushed his rage down inside; it wouldn’t help Dane. With the hideous urge to lash out was muted he was filled with sorrow and pain for the tragedies in his friend's life. What happened next was instinctive, Tap's urge to comfort the pain he knew was buried deep inside Dane just waiting for someone to see and acknowledge.

“Shh. That's enough; I don't need to know any more. The whys don't matter, it's not right. You shouldn't have to live with this.” Tap gently pulled Dane's much smaller frame into his body, doing everything in his power to avoid hurting him as he hugged him, resting his cheek on that cloud of silky soft hair, “You're not alone with this anymore, I'm here for you, I promise,”

Dane silently shook, unable to cry any more tears as he soaked up the comfort and care that Tap gave so willingly. He was shirtless, being held by another guy in an intimate embrace and it had nothing sexual in it. This wasn't one of his fantasies of meeting that special someone but right now it was exactly what he needed. Tap was cradling him emotionally by holding his body so gingerly, whispering words of comfort, the gesture a healing balm to Dane's battered soul. He had been so close to giving up on others but Tap, a perfect stranger just last week was showing him that there were still good people in the world. People worth knowing and opening up to.

** ** ** **

Alan Kendricks was a successful man; a lawyer in fact. He dealt in property law so when he went Monday morning to the lawyer responsible for holding his wife's will he was expecting a straightforward reading. He knew his wife had a life insurance policy for $500,000 and a trust fund that her father had left her. It was tied up in investments and such but he would finally control the income. He didn't know what the total income from the investments or interests was yearly but it was considerable. She had paid most of the day to day household expenses and then re-invested the remainder each month into the stocks that she already owned. He had hated knowing his wife could hold that over his head anytime she wanted, though she never actually had. He had been very careful to hide anything but a caring husbandly face from her.

Alan had gotten to work early that morning, both to avoid his worthless son and to put in an extra few hours to cover the time off for the meeting. He had frowned up at the ugly clouds that morning and then grabbed an umbrella from the stand by the door before he left for the day. He hated rain. He didn't feel any of the ominous expectancy that Dane had picked up on; he simply expected all aspects of his world to follow the direction and dictates he set forth. That was not going to be the case on this day.

Mr. Echels was an older man; he had a kind grandfatherly appearance that hid a shrewd mind and ruthlessness. He was capable of being a cutthroat but most people were surprised when he showed that razor sharp side that was capable of tearing an adversary to shreds. It wasn't too useful in property law but he had started out as a prosecuting attorney back in the late 1970's. When he was entering his late 40's he had decided that he was tired of dealing with criminal law and moved into property law. He had even gone back to school to make sure he was familiar with all aspects of the branch. It was fascinating to him. At times it was very sad, reading wills to grieving family members could be emotional but often the last words of the deceased brought a measure of comfort as well.

“Mr. Kendricks, please, have a seat,” Mr. Echels waved the man into one of the comfortable leather chairs across from his oak desk after he shook his hand. “I was so sorry to hear of your wife's passing last week. Please accept my condolences,”

“Thank you,” Alan said simply. “It was not unexpected, so we were prepared for this day before it came. I just want to complete these formalities and move on in life,”

“Yes, I understand,” Mr. Echels sat forward in his chair, opening a file folder that was waiting on his desk in front of him. “Your wife had many lucrative assets, including several investments that were long-term as well as several short-term forays into some new stocks she approved over the last few years. In addition she recently directed me to buy a controlling share of a local property management corporation that owns several apartment buildings and townhouses here in Laurelhurst,”

“Interesting. I will have to see the paperwork on the investments and stocks as well as the corporation in order to make an informed decision on what I will continue to invest in or sell. I know that you work closely with the investment firm here that my wife went through, but I might be changing who I have handling my money in the future,”

“Actually sir that is what we need to speak about. Mrs. Kendricks called me to her bedside in the hospital 2 weeks ago and changed her will at that time,” Mr. Echels looked very uncomfortable as he revealed this information.

“She what!” Alan exploded as he jerked to his feet, yelling in his shock and anger.

“Sir! I must protest, yelling like that is simply not seemly. Please restrain yourself and sit down,”

“How did she change her will?” Alan asked with his teeth clenched, putting a tight rein on his temper as he sat down carefully.

“She left all her assets to one person, Daniel Alan Kendricks,” Mr. Echels told him.

Alan exploded again, there was simply no way he could keep his temper checked at that news though he managed to stay in his seat. “She left everything to that little fa...” Realizing what he was about to say Alan stopped himself just before he made himself appear even worse. He couldn't show his loathing for his queer son or his absolute disgust at knowing about his perverted desires for other boys. He thought quickly. His wife may not have left the money in his name but with Dane a minor he was still in charge. He could still turn this situation to his advantage, he was sure of it. He took a deep breath and nodded, “Dane is still a minor, as his father I have the legal authority to make decisions about property and assets in his name,”

Mr. Echels was watching the rapid fire expressions cross Alan's face, alarmed by the flash of hatred he was sure he saw and now the coldly calculating expression that Alan thought he hid so well. This next part was not going to go over well at all. “That is true, sir. However, your wife included with these changes specific instructions as to the management of her son’s affairs,”

Alan's eyes narrowed and he clenched his teeth again, “Such as?” he grated.

Mr. Echels consulted the file in front of him in a play for time, taking a deep breath before reading aloud, “In the event that my death occurs before Daniel's 18th birthday Mr. Jackson Echels shall be designated as Executor of said Trust. All changes and disbursements will be made at his sole discretion until such a time as Daniel is at least 18 and/or legally capable of making such decisions on his own,” He finished speaking and deliberately closed the file, lacing his fingers together and schooling his features into a neutral expression before looking up. For the first time in his adult life Mr. Echels flinched back from the expression on another man's face.

Alan was lit up with incandescent rage, his face transformed by a mix of virulent anger and loathing. It frightened the aged lawyer; it had been many years since he has seen such a look; put simply, it was evil. He was reminded vividly of some of the more sociopathic men he had prosecuted over the years, so much so that he shuddered and had to resist the urge to cross himself after he began to move his arm in the reflex action.

That motion and the wide eyed stare made Alan realize that he had lost control and he quickly worked to smooth his expression. His eyes stayed narrowed though and the look in them was not wholly sane.“What you are telling me is that I have been completely cut out of my wife's will. You are in charge of my son's money until he turns 18 next February and I have no say or legal recourse,” Alan wasn’t asking a question, it was a statement, being a lawyer himself he knew exactly what had happened. He also knew that going to court to fight a legal and binding will would be fruitless. He wasn't going to waste what money he did have doing so. There were perhaps other ways...

“I'm sorry, sir, but yes. Still, as Daniel's father you had every right to know what was going on.”

“Well now I know and I think I've wasted enough of my time today on this matter. I shall tell Dane what you have told me and if you would like to meet with him I am sure we can set up a time after he gets out of school one day this next week.” Alan stood up and smoothed his suit jacket. “Thank you for your time but I really must go. I have another appointment to keep this afternoon.” He didn't offer his hand to shake but did give Mr. Echels a tight nod when he passed through the door that was held open for him.

Mr. Echels closed his door and sat down at his desk, placing the file in the lower locking drawer in his desk and pulled out a small metal flask he kept hidden in there for particularly trying days. He took a small drink of the smooth whiskey he kept in it before screwing the cap back on tightly and stashing the gift from his wife back in that same drawer. Locking it he grabbed a mug off his desk and went in search of fresh coffee. He had 2 more appointments before he could call it day. Sitting back down at his desk and sipping from his cup, he reflected a bit on the man who had just left. Echels could tell he was up to something but what exactly he could do escaped him.

He shook his head, reaching into his appointment bin to pull out the file folder with the information for his next appointment; the man was probably just going to attempt to sue for the right to manage or own the assets outright. Mr. Kendricks would not get a judge to overturn the ironclad will he had put together though. He put the matter from his mind when his intercom buzzed and Miss Shirley announced his 2 o’clock was there.