Chapter 19

"What did you do, mom?"

Bryan's pulse hammered in his throat. He'd known his mom was a bit zealous about her ideas of the perfect family. He'd heard dad fight with her about her desire to put Eddie in a home even when he was younger. Fortunately, his dad had won those fights, refusing to let his son go. She'd always seemed a bit embarrassed whenever Dad wanted to take everyone to the zoo or the movies or even just the mall. Eddie's innocent, childlike reactions to things that dad found endearing and Bryan found fun, usually mortified his mom.

But he'd never realized her delusions of perfection had become so encapsulated around him. Yes, he'd tried to be a good son, headed off to college, got a degree—all within his mom and dad's hopes and dreams. But he'd always believed they would encourage him no matter what he choose to do. His father had. But his mom... she'd been more vocal about hoping he picked the 'right' college, a good job, a sweet girl.

He just never dreamed her figment of perfection might include his love life. He'd known she wasn't particularly thrilled with him when he'd told her he was in love with a man, but this...this was something else entirely.

And suddenly every flash of conversation where she'd tried to comfort him, to tell him it would be alright, that she'd help him get through Wyatt's absence in his life—all of it hit him like a ton of bricks. She'd watched him cry, grieve, hurt, and she'd known all along what had happened to his love.

"Oh, fuck," he breathed when she just stared at him, her lips pressed in a tight line.

He backed up, turning for the stairs. "Eddie. Eddie will tell me. I can't fucking believe you dragged him into whatever you—" The words choked off in his throat, tears nearly blinding him as they flooded forth. "Eddie!" he yelled up the stairs.

"Out! Just get out of my house. You're not welcome here anymore!" his mother snapped, waving the blade frantically at him and pointing at the door.

"I'm not leaving without my brother," Bryan snarled. "I know you picked him up this morning. Dr. Neely told me."

His mother faltered. "He's my son! He's not going anywhere with you."

Bryan rolled his eyes at her, ignoring her words as he shouted up the stairs again. "Hey, Eddie, come on down, buddy! It's Bryan! I want—"

A crashing sound behind his mother caused both of them to jump as the pantry door slammed open.

Bryan froze, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of his huge brother stumbling out of the pantry among falling bottles, cans, and shattering jars.

"Oh my God!" Sarah's voice reverberated from somewhere behind him. He wasn't even aware of the sirens swarming closer.

His brother stood there, his blue eyes wide with fear and worry, tears streaking down his face. A blanketed figure was clutched in his powerful arms.

"How did you—? He was locked..." his mother stammered in shock.

"Bryan needs Wyatt. Wyatt needs help. You not help. So I help."

Wyatt.

OH. FUCK. Bryan's heart jerked as he took in his lover's limp form curled into his brothers chest. He could see blond strands and the pale edge of Wyatt's jaw peeking out from the blanket.

He finally managed to make his legs move and stepped jerkily forwards.

"Eddie's sorry," his brother gushed at him.

"NO!!!" his mother screamed at the same time, lurching toward Eddie.

Bryan couldn't seem to move fast enough. It seemed like his legs were stuck in concrete as he noticed his mother lunging toward his older brother and fiancé—with a knife in her hand.

"No! Mom!" he screamed, diving forward as fast as he could.

He wasn't even aware of doors around the house crashing open, or the shouts of police officers, or any of the other chaos erupting around him—all he saw was his mother aiming a knife at the two people he loved most in this world.

His brother's eyes widened as his mother swung a knife toward the man in his arms. Eddie instinctively jerked up the arm cradling Wyatt's head, causing his huge protruding elbow to slam into his mother's face, as he protected his bundle. Eddie cried out, staggering back into the wall, as his mother's flailing body caused the knife to slice into his arm.

Bryan barreled forward, slamming in between Eddie and his mother, shoving her backwards. She reeled, as she stared at him in shock, trying to regain her balance. She stumbled into the wreckage of the pantry behind her, her feet slipping in the mess of shattered jars on the floor.

In the next second, Bryan realized the basement door was open and she was about to fall backwards, down the stairs he'd thought had been closed off forever.

"Shit!" He reached for her, sliding in the sticky mess on the floor. He tried to catch her as a box of mac & cheese slid out from under her foot and she disappeared into the darkness.

He heard her cry out as she tumbled. Then there was silence. Bryan felt his stomach heave as he stared down the steps to the crumpled figure of his mother, but heavy breathing and crying behind him dragged him back. He whirled to find Eddie sliding down the wall with Wyatt protectively curled against him.

"Put him down and back away!" an officer shouted.

"NO!" Bryan yelled, holding out his hand as he turned to see several officers with their guns drawn on his brother. "Stop! Eddie didn't do anything! He's just protecting Wyatt."

Bryan dropped to his knees in front of his brother, effectively blocking the officers. He vaguely heard orders being issued behind him. Sgt. Woods's voice boomed over everyone, sending officers down after his mother, and demanding paramedics. But Bryan only heard it all behind him in a buzz, his focus on the tearful face of his brother and the limp form clutched in his arms.

"Eddie? It's me, Bryan," he coaxed, his hand reaching for the blanket, urging his brother to release his protective grip.

"Mama said you needed Wyatt away to be happy," Eddie rushed, his voice rough with emotion. "Said she'd take care of him 'til she took him to his home in the woods. I... didn't know she..."

Bryan's hand tightened on Eddie's forearm as the words hit him. "It's okay, Eddie, she lied to us both. I know you didn't know what she was doing."

"I love Bryan. I want Bryan to be happy."

"Oh, God, Eddie. You have made me so happy," Bryan cried, pulling his brother's arm back. "You gave me Wyatt back. If it wasn't for you..."

Eddie frowned deeply, his forehead etched with sadness as he loosened his arms, Wyatt's head rolling back on his arm. Bryan gasped as his lover's pale face and bare chest were exposed.

"Think maybe mama didn't want Wyatt to come back to make you happy," Eddie said. "She made him sick."

"Oh, god," Bryan breathed, tears streaming down his face as he reached out to brush Wyatt's jaw. Fuck, he didn't even seem like he was breathing. And he was so cold.

"Bryan," a new voice interrupted, "let the paramedics in."

Bryan almost protested when Sgt. Woods pulled him back out of the way. Several EMTs dropped to the floor next to Eddie, gently coaxing his brother to release his hold. Bryan could only watch helplessly as Eddie handed over his fiancé to the medics, who carefully unwrapped the blanket.

He heard Sgt. Woods curse next to him as Wyatt's thin, dehydrated body was revealed. He cringed, his stomach wanted to rebel as he noticed his lover was practically naked, his mother having left him in only his boxers. He took in the scabbed over wound on Wyatt's shoulder, the way his lover's ribs and hips protruded...The clanking on the floor drew his attention to Wyatt's leg...

"Oh, shit..." he turned, glad the sink was nearby, because he heaved his breakfast into it. He felt a hand on his back, turning to see Sarah looking as green as he did.

Bryan didn't know half of what the paramedics were saying, but he understood their increasing worry as their voices became sharper, more alarmed.

A portable oxygen mask was strapped over Wyatt's face as a stretcher was dropped next to him. Bryan lurched forward to follow, but Sgt. Woods held him back. "Give them room, Bryan. You can meet them at the hospital."

He stared helplessly as his fiancé was rushed out the door with the medics yelling out stats. Bryan had the urge to rush out after them, but a heavy sobbing broke into his panic-fogged brain.

Eddie.

He turned to see his older brother, huddled against the wall, a paramedic attempting to clean and bandage his arm. But Eddie had his face buried in his hands, crying. Bryan's heart broke; he'd seen his brother like this many times growing up, when Eddie had gotten in trouble or thought he'd done something wrong.

He dropped back to the floor. The paramedic silently pleaded for Bryan's help in getting Eddie to let him look over his arm. Bryan pulled at Eddie's wrists gently.

"Eddie, come on bro," Bryan urged. "We need to let this man fix up your arm, okay?"

"No, Eddie deserves to hurt. Because Wyatt and Bryan hurt."

"No, no, Eddie. You helped Wyatt and me." Bryan smiled as widely as he could. "You're my hero, bro! I love you."

Eddie looked up at him in stunned wonder. "But—"

"But nothing!" Bryan cut him off, nodding to the paramedic as Eddie loosened his arm and let it be manipulated by the man. Bryan leaned forward and tugged Eddie into a tight hug. He felt Eddie's free arm wrap around him, and Bryan buried his face in his older brother's neck.

"God, Eddie, I'm so sorry," he breathed.

"Why Bryan sorry?" Eddie asked.

Bryan choked. "Mom should never have used you like she did. I should have protected you better. It's my fault I didn't see what she—"

"Why did mama not like Wyatt? Didn't he make you happy?" Bryan could see Eddie still trying to puzzle out all that had happened. Honestly, he would probably never really understand because the fact that one person could intentionally hurt another like his mom had done to Wyatt wasn't something Eddie comprehended.

"Mom was sick, Eddie." It was all Bryan could think of to explain it. "She needs help."

They both glanced toward the pantry where their mother had fallen into the darkness of the basement. Several officers and medics were coming and going. Bryan realized that he hadn't seen or heard his mother coming up the stairs, and he remembered the image of her crumpled body at the bottom. His breath hitched.

He turned to find Sgt. Woods and Officer Lettman coming back up the stairs.

He looked up at them. "I...I killed her. Didn't I?"

Woods frowned down at him. "No, Bryan. You saved your brother and fiancé from a very unstable person."

His blue eyes gazed toward the dark opening at the back of the pantry. "But... but... she's dead, isn't she? I saw how she was laying..."

Sgt. Woods nodded solemnly. "Yes. She broke her neck."

Bryan breathed heavily. "So I did kill her."

"No," Woods insisted. "We all saw what happened as we came in..."

"Which reminds me, Ms. Demchik," Lettman turned to Sarah standing in numb silence behind them, "can I please have the phone you were videoing with?"

Bryan watched his friend drop a phone that looked suspiciously like his own into Officer Lettman's gloved hand, who placed it in a tagged bag.

Woods smirked at Sarah before he continued. "Carol Foxgrove attacked your brother, was aiming to stab your fiancé. You protected them when you shoved her away from them. It is not your fault she slipped and fell on the mess of sauces, cans and boxes on the floor."

"But—"

"Bryan! She tried to kill Wyatt!" Sarah snapped at him. "She stabbed your brother!"

"But I didn't want—"

Sgt. Woods squatted down in front of him, a heavy hand resting on his shoulder. "I understand how you feel. It's okay to be upset, but you can't blame yourself."

At that moment, paramedics appeared on the stairs, lugging a stretcher behind them. Bryan's fingers involuntarily clenched into his brother's shoulder as he noted the black vinyl bag strapped to the gurney. Fresh tears dripped down Bryan's cheeks.

His mother was dead.

He felt Eddie's large hand on his cheek, and Bryan saw the questioning look in his brother's face. "Mama punish Eddie now? For not listening?" Eddie's eyes shot to the basement. "Please no time out."

Fuck. Bryan heaved in a deep breath. "No, Eddie. No one's going to punish you." But then he wondered if the police would arrest Eddie for his part in Wyatt's abduction, and he cast his eyes back questioningly at Sgt. Woods. The officer shook his head, and Bryan sighed in relief.

A couple more officers ascended the stairs, walking over to their sergeant. "The floor seems to be extremely wet and there was a pitcher sitting down there. Kinda looks like water was poured over the floor, which is odd. There's a bucket that looks like it—"

The man cut himself off, glancing warily at the civilians listening carefully. "Oh, uh, do you want me to wait—"

Bryan thought for a moment Sgt. Woods was going to deny him being able to listen in, but finally the man just shook his head. "No, go on. They'll hear it soon enough anyway."

"Okay. Well, the bucket looks like it was used for..." the officer shifted uncomfortably under Bryan's narrowed gaze. "You know, wastes. We think the suspect provided it for Kinnon to relieve himself, but it was mostly filled with blood and mucus. We think maybe, towards the end, he didn't need it for... it's original purpose... and—"

Sarah hissed and turned, holding her hand over her mouth again, and Bryan cursed under his breath.

"Yes," Woods agreed with his officer's assessment. "The medics seemed to think Kinnon might have pneumonia. He'd probably been coughing pretty badly."

"Yes," Eddie agreed. "He coughed. I told mama he's sick. She didn't care."

Bryan tightened his hold on Eddie reassuringly. "That's why you did so good Eddie. Wyatt needed your help."

The officer continued. "We also found a hole in the floor, looked like something had been recently pulled out."

Sgt. Woods's brows furrowed thoughtfully. "Kinnon had a chain around his ankle with a spike at the end, but I don't think Kinnon could have—"

"Eddie pulled it out," Bryan heard his brother declare.

Bryan felt the air rush out of his lungs. The chain. He'd forgotten about the chain in his worry over Wyatt's chilled, naked body. His mother had fucking chained his fiancé to the basement floor?! A wet floor!

"Oh, my God," he breathed, his head falling to his brother's shoulder.

Eddie's heavy hand patted his back comfortingly. "It okay. It was much looser now than before. Eddie stronger now."

Bryan's head shot up in horror as the words sunk in, and he sensed the officers change in attention. His brother was beaming at him proudly.

"W-what do you mean 'now'? Have you seen...it... before?"

"Yes, when Eddie in time out."

Oh, my God. Bryan nearly collapsed, he felt his breathing hitch, and his brain raced.

"Oh, shit," someone hissed out behind him.

"E-Eddie... did mom... put you...?" Bryan couldn't even finish what he was saying. His empty stomach lurched again as images of a younger Eddie chained to the basement floor assaulted him.

When his sweet brother nodded, Bryan felt the room tilt.

"Yes, in time out," Eddie stated, but then abruptly caved in on himself as if someone had reprimanded him. "But... mama always said not to tell. Papa would be mad..."

Shit. Shit. Shit. Bryan lurched to his feet as if he'd been slapped. "Oh, God... I... I can't believe..." he stammered. "How could she--?" He jerked to a halt. Wait. Time out? When Bryan had visited, Eddie had said Wyatt was in—"

"Fuck!" he snapped, his hands raking through his hair in frustration, causing Eddie and Sarah to both flinch at his sudden outburst.

"Bryan..." Sgt. Woods started, but Bryan ignored him as he turned back to his brother.

He forced himself to calm down, to not scare his brother. "Eddie, when I visited you this week, you said... you said mom... you told me... Wyatt was... in time out..." Bryan couldn't even get out the words. Three fucking days ago. Eddie had basically told him Three. Fucking. Days. Ago. where Wyatt was.

Oh...God... the room blurred... His love... his Wyatt... He'd let Wyatt suffer... fuck, he couldn't breathe... He'd fucking been here, talking to his mom... while Wyatt had lain naked on the floor... under him...

"Bryan!" Sarah's voice? Maybe... it was hard to tell... voices were muddied around him.

Wyatt... He had to find Wyatt...

Several voices shouted suddenly, including his brother's, but he couldn't figure out why as the edges of his vision darkened. He felt his body lurching as he grabbed for the counter to steady himself.

"Bryan—"

Wy...