Chapter 3
Luke awoke a long while later. It wasn't until the next morning that he opened his eyes, seeing Amy bending over Leon's body seemingly taking his temperature. Luke let out a tired groan as he sat up, rubing his eyes before putting his glasses on. Amy smiled at him.
"About time you woke up, sleepy head."
She said playfully. Luke smiled back.
"How is he??"
He asked, getting up and standing beside Leon. He was still asleep.
"He only woke once while you were sleeping. And I gave him a drink. He's been sleeping since then." She said, brushing Loen's hair out of his face gently. "He should probably wake up for a while."
She said. Luke nodded and squatted down so he was at eye-level with Leon. He reached out and gently placed his hand on Leon's shoulder.
"Hey, Leon. Wake up, kiddo."
He said softly, shaking him slightly to wake him. Leon's eyes opened slowly, focusing. A small smile appeared on his face when he saw Luke.
"Luke..."
He said, his voice weak. Luke smiled happily. It was the first time he'd heard Leon's voice other than a whisper.
"How're you feeling??"
He asked, now putting his hand on top of Leon's head and smoothed his hair down.
"Better..."
Leon answered, pushing into Luke's hand. Amy watched from afar as the two conversed. It was suprising... They had only known each other for a day or so... And more than half the time, at least one of them was unconsious. And yet they seemed to have grown so close... She decided that now was as good a time as ever to ask her questions... She stepped forward.
"I'm sorry to interupt, but I need to ask Leon a few things."
She said. Luke nodded and stood up, stepping aside for her.
"Of course."
He said, his hand on the edge of the bed. A moment later, he felt Leon's hand on his. He grasped it, moving his thumb back and forth along Leon's small hand, soothing the frightened child. Amy came closer and smiled kindly at him.
"Hello, Leon."
She said. Leon hesitated, glancing at Luke before looking back at the woman. He gave the small, innocent smile he always gave. "would you mind answering a few questions for me??" She asked him. He shook his head slightly. "Lovely. First off, did this man hurt you??" She asked, pointing at Luke. Leon's eyes widened and he shook his head.
"N-no... Luke came... Saved me..." He said. His vocabulary, it seemed, was not very wide. But it was understandable.
"He didn't... Can you tell me who did, then?" She asked. Though... She thought she already knew the answer... Leon's face seemed to crumble, his gray eyes filling with tears.
"Daddy..."
He said softly, a tear finally making it's way down his face and onto the pillow below. He began to cough again. Luke immidietly went to comfort him. He stopped coughing, gasping in pain. Tears had begun streaming down his face now. Amy's brow furrowed and she placed her hand on Leon's shoulder.
"Why would your daddy want to hurt you like this, Leon??"
She asked him. Leon looked away and let out a sob.
"I'm a bad boy."
He said, repeating what his father had said over and over again. Amy had enough information now. The child had been seriously abused and neglected by his father. There was plenty of evidence to support that.
"Thank you very much, Leon. You're a wonderful little boy. And don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
She said, then turning to Luke. "Well, there's a search for this Dean Renald. After finding his son gone, he ran. It looks like we'll have to put Leon in foster care." She said. Luke looked down and figited.
"You don't think that... That maybe I could-"
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Amy interupted. "You'll have to make it final, but as of now, you are Leon's official guardian." She said smiling. Luke grinned.
"Thank you very much."
He said.
"My pleasure."
Amy answered. With that, she left them in the room. Luke looked back at Leon, who was watching the door as Amy left. He sniffled, tears still streaming. Luke smiled warmly and went back down to his spot by Leon.
"Hey, now... You're alright. You can forget all of what your Dad said. You won't have to worry about him anymore."
He said, his voice warm and kind. Leon was still crying.
"B-but what about when I go back to h-house back on the w-wall?"
He asked, coughing a bit after he said it. Luke wiped the tears from Leon's cheek and looked him in the eyes.
"I promised you, Leon. You'll never set foot in that house. I won't let anyone hurt you. Ever."
He said, his voice nearly a whisper. He lifted Leon into a careful embrace and Leon wrapped his arms around Luke's neck.
"Luke?"
He said softly.
"Yes, leon?"
"Will you be my Daddy??"
He asked, his young voice cracking with more tears. Luke felt his own eyes begin to fill.
"Of course I'll be your Daddy, Leon."
He said, holding his tears until he let Leon back down on the bed. He wiped his eyes quickly before Leon saw. "You hungry, big guy??" He asked. Leon nodded a bit. Luke pushed a button on the wall and a nurse came in shortly after.
"Yes, sir??"
She asked.
"Would you mind getting him a bit to eat?"
Luke asked politely.
"Yes, sir. Anything for you?"
She asked Luke shook his head.
"No thank you, my dear."
He said. The nurse smiled, blushing slightly and left to go get the food. Luke sat in the chair by the bed and took Leon's small hand in his own. "How's your neck? And your ribs?" He asked Leon swallowed, clenching his teath against the pain.
"They hurt..."
He said. His voice was so small... Luke doubted he'd gotten to talk very much in the past. His face softened.
"I know... I know they hurt. In a few days your neck should start to feel a lot better. But I'll have to help you for a while to let your ribs heal alright." He said. "You know, I'v already got a room and bed all ready for you back home." He said, smiling and stroking Leon's hair. Leon's face seemed to brighten a little.
"A bed?? I'll sleep in a bad??"
He asked, a bit of excitment in his voice. He liked the bed he was laying in now, but was he really being told that he'd be able to sleep in one all the time?! Luke laughed.
"Well of course you'll sleep in a bed. Where else would you sleep?"
It didn't take Leon long to answer.
"On the floor. Daddy says I can't have a bed..." He began. "He said I killed Mommy. But-but I can't remember..." He said, a slightly confused, desperate look on his face. Luke remembered reading about Mrs. Renald's suicide in the news paper. Obviously, he'd never asked why, but he had wondered... Leon continued. "Daddy used to hurt Mommy. And then after she was gone, he put me in the basement..." Luke understood. Mrs. Renald had commit suicide after being abused by Dean. And after she had killed herself, he turned to Leon. Luke shook his head.
"You didn't kill her, leon. It wasn't your fault.
He said. "Your father is a horrible man. What he did to you and your Mom... He'll pay for it." Luke said, wiping the new tears away. Leon sniffled and coughed. Just then, the nurse came in with a tray. She placed it on the swinging table next to Leon's bed.
"Are you all set?"
She asked. Luke stood up from the chair.
"Yes. Thank you."
He said. The nurse left them alone then. On the tray, there was a lot of macaroni and cheese. She had put extra on for Luke... He was slightly grateful. There was a cup with apple juice in it and a few cookies. Lastly, there was some broccoli and carrots for vegitables. Luke swung the table over Leon's body and pushed a button on the bed. Leon's upper body began to rise as the bed lifted. He winced a bit at the pain in his ribs as his body repositioned. Luke made sure it went slowly. Finally the bed was high enough for Leon to eat. His teeth were clenched as his broken body adjusted to the new position. He whimpered as he let out the breath he had been holding.
"You okay??"
Luke asked, sitting back in the chair. Leon offered a weak smile. He coughed a bit.
"Yes, Luke."
He said, looking down at the food, his eyes wide. "He'd never seen so much food in his whole life. He hesitated, looking back up at Luke frowning.
"It... Will it make me sick...?"
He asked, his hand going to his stomach. "Daddy gave me food once... I-I got sick... I was a bad boy to make a mess..." He said, fear entering his eyes as he thought about the memories. His breath quickened as he looked at the food, holding back more tears. Luke sighed, his face saddened. The poor child was so traumatized... It could take a while before Luke could help him not be so afraid of things. He moved the hair out of Leon's face and shook his head.
"I don't think this is going to make you sick, leon. But if it does, don't worry. I'll be right here. And I won't get mad at you..."
He said sothingly. He picked up the fork and scooped up some of the Mac and Cheese, eating it. "See? It's alright to eat. Just not to much all at once." He said, holding the fork out for Leon, who had calmed down a bit. Leon took the fork in his fist as a child will who is just learning how to use utensils. Leon wasn't quite sure what it was... He'd surely never used one before. He copied what he'd seen Luke do and took a few of the noodles on his fork. By the time it had reached his mouth, all but two had fallen off. He stuck the fork in his mouth and ate the two little noodles, chewing them and swallowing, wincing slightly at the pain in his sore throat. The food was soft... It didn't hurt so much. Luke laughed slightly at the attempt to use the fork. Leon looked at him and smiled sheepishly. He had never tasted anything like this... He stuck the fork in again, getting a few more noodles this time, and ate them. He looked back at Luke. It felt like his heart was swelling with gratefullness and happiness.
"Thank you, Luke."
He said. "Thank you..."
Luke smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, letting Leon lay his head against his chest. He put his hand on Leon's head and stroked his hair. He sighed.
"You don't have to thank me... I should have known you were in trouble earlier... I could have saved you..."
He said. He was very bothered that he hadn't figured all of this out sooner. Leon lifted his head to look at Luke.
"You... You did save me."
He said. Luke laughed quietly to himself.
"I suppose... You're right."
He said, ruffling Leon's hair. Leon smiled slightly, leaning back again on Luke's chest. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the glass of apple juice and began to lift it to his lips. It began to shake and Luke put a hand under the glass to steady it so that it wouldn't fall and spill on Leon. Leon drank, giving the cup to Luke after he finished. "Here," Luke said, stabbing a piece of cooked carrot and handing the fork to Leon. "Have some of these. It's good for you." He said, eating one himself to prove that it wasn't poisen. Leon brought the fork to his mouth and ate the carrot. He was amazed at how wonderful things could taste... He stabbed a few more carrots and then ate some broccoli before he began to grow tired. Luke took a cookie and munched on it. Leon took a few bites of one and then let out a sigh, his eyes beginning to close. Luke moved the food out of the way. He listened to Leon's breath, which seemed to be labored again. He seemed to be falling back to the sickness after his couple of hours with Luke. Luke got up and pushed the button on the bed again, letting Leon's body back down. "You alright??"
He asked, stroking Leon's hair. Leon looked up at him through tired eyes.
"I... I don't feel good..."
Leon mumbled. Luke nodded.
"I know, big guy..."
He said. Leon's oxygen mask lay next to the bed. He'd been instructed to put it on when needed. He picked it up and slipped it over Leon's head. "There now... You just rest for a while, okay?? I'll be right here..." Luke said, taking Leon's hand in his. Leon gazed up at Luke, his eyes quickly beginning to close. The mask made a quiet blowing noise. "I'm here..." Luke whispered, moving the hair from Leon's face. A soft groan escaped Leon and he nuzzled his cheek into Luke's fingers as his hair was brushed. He closed his eyes then, and slept. It was around 1 o clock. Luke stayed there like that for about 45 minutes. He got up to use the bathroom inside Leon's room. He walked out and sat on the cot. He reached into his pocket and took the inhaler out, shaking it and breathing in the medicine. Seeing Leon with the mask on... He was so helpless. The rest of the day crawled by slowly. At around 11:15 pm, he began to become very tired. He remained in the chair. The cot was by the window, the chair closer to the door. His head rolled forward as he drifted to sleep.
