It was a slow process, getting Alex from the car, and into his house.

We has to fish through his pockets for keys, and when we didn't find any, we grabbed the knob and found it unlocked.

Me and Nick looked at one another and gulped.

We brought him inside, and looked around.

This place was a mess.

Quite a while back, Alex's parents had moved out and left the home to him. They had retired to an older part of Sheffield.

Everything was trashed out though, and bottles of alcohol littered the room.

"Sarah, go get him some water. I'm gonna put him to bed." Nick instructed.

I nodded and left Alex to him, running into the kitchen.

It was grotesque.

Everything was dirty.

I washed a cup, got some water, and I ran it to his bedroom, where Nick was slipping off the man's jacket, and putting it on the end of the bed.

Alex's face has remained solid this whole time.

I brought the water to him, and Nick grabbed the glass, bringing it slowly up to Alex's mouth, while tilting his head forward.

He only allowed the man a small sip.

"He lost a lot of liquid." I commented.

"Yeah, but his body is rejecting it right now. If he drinks to much, even water, he'll vomit again." Nick commented.

I nodded.

Nick felt his forehead, then wiped his hand on his pants.

"He's sweaty and running a fever." Nick said.

He sighed, and took off the man's shoes and socks.

Then he undid Alex's belt and trousers, and took those off.

Alex was now in a shirt, and boxers.

"Call Helders." Nick said.

I nodded, leaving the room and calling Matt.

~~~

"Who the hell could throw a right hook like 'at?!" Matt commented, touching the bruise on Alex's placid face.

Alex didn't look at him.

Just up at the ceiling.

Nick hit Matt in the arm, and Matt looked at him quickly.

Nick gave him a warning look, and Matt's eyes went wide as if he had just realized summat.

~~~

Soon, the meeting was over.

Matt left, and Nick was now taking off Alex's shirt.

It was only then that i saw it.

Bruises and Marks on his body.

It made Me feel sick.

It didn't help to see hickies on his waist, and a bit down the V lines that were just peaking from the boxers.

Under another circumstance, I might actually blush.

Right now, I was a mix of emotions from scared to disgusted.

"Fuckin' hell, mate." Nick commented, shaking his head.

Nick looked over at me.

"Let's let him rest a bit."

We left the room slowly, and when Nick had closed the door, I grabbed his sleeve.

"Nick," he turned to look at me. "Who is 'AM' and what does she have to do with this?"

Nick looked at me, a contemplative and worried look on his features.

He bit his lip before putting his hand on my shoulder and leading me away from the door, into the living room, where he sat me down.

" 'AM'..." Nick sighed.

"It's... She's one of Alex's ex girlfriends. Abusive. As you can tell... She's from high school... Uhm, a real old fling. Well, eh, more than a fling. 'Er real name is Arielle, but uh, her code name was AM. Cause, eh, they'd only do business in the AM sometimes." Nick explained.

I held back my tears.

"Why is he still putting himself through that?" I asked.

"He's always kind of done that... Crawl back to her, you know? Dunno why. He just does." Nick responds.

I looked down.

"Look, he'll be alright. He just... Took things too far this time. And, I need to go, but can you watch him for a while?" Nick asked.

I nodded.

"Thank you, I love you. I'll check in tomorrow or summat." He said, kissing my cheek and leaving.

The shocker wasn't only that this had happened... It was that it had happened before.

What power did this girl hold over him?

What could she... Perhaps she's black nailing him?

I didn't know, but i decided that my first course of action would be to clean everything.

So I did.

I sent mum a text, telling her that I was taking care of a 'sick' Alex, and then with her okay, I began cleaning everything.

~~~

By the time I was done, it was three in the morning.

I slumped on the couch before going to check on Alex.

When I reached his door though, I heard noise.

Sounded like a sink?

I stepped inside, and the bed was empty, but his bathroom sold was open, and the light was on.

I heard spitting and then I heard brushing.

Must've been brushing his teeth...

I waited there until Alex stumbled out.

He grabbed onto the door frame.

He was looking down.

I rushed to his side.

I slipped under his arm, wrapping my own around his waist.

"Come on..." I said, helping him slowly walk to the bed.

He laid down, and his eyes remained glossy, as the stared at the ceiling.
"Were Ye' brushing yer teeth?" I asked.

He nodded. "Had a horrible taste in me mouth." His voice was scratchy.

I nodded, brushing hair away from his face.

I yawned.

"If you need anything, I'll be out there..." I commented unsurly.

When he didn't say anything, I began to get up, to walk away, but he grabbed my wrist with a strength that I didn't think he had.

"Don't." He said roughly.

"W-what?"

"Don't leave."

"O-Okay... No, I won't. I'll stay." I said.

He visibly relaxed, turning his head and using a lazy arm to push the covers back next to him, as if to clear the way for me to lay down.

I slowly made my way over, and did just that, letting myself lay on the bed.

After a moment, a thing happened that I never thought would.

Alex rolled over, placing himself under my arm, and setting hid warm face on my chest, almost in the crook of my neck. He threw an arm around my waist and squeezed it lightly.

I brought my arm that was around him up, and I placed my hand into his hair, brushing through it lightly.

"Alex," I broke. "What leverage does this AM have against you, that you put yourself through this?"

He tensed.

I wish I could take back those words.

Now wasn't the right time to say them.

I should have known better.

"Am sorry, you dont need to answer that..."

He tensed more.

"Alex, I'm sorry."

Tensed more.

"Alex, plea-"

Then, in an instant, his lips pressed to mine.

His hand was on my jaw, and his sift lips were pressed against mine.

I was frozen.

I felt fire run through my head.

Then, he parted from me, looked into my eyes, then at my lips, then he burried his face again info my neck.

Son of a bitch...