More people had joined the room including all of Scott's guardians, Mitch's parents, Kirstin, and Jeremy. The doctor had been in and updated them on Mitch's condition. He was now stable but they still needed to keep him sedated. There was a chance he was going to pull through.

Scott hadn't moved from the position at Mitch's bedside since he sat down. Though he knew he couldn't because of the drugs coursing through his veins, he tried to will his boyfriend wake up. He didn't know how he was going to leave without knowing for sure that Mitch was going to make it.

"Hoying, you got fifteen minutes left."
"Yes sir."

No one was talking. No one really knew what to say. Everyone was too caught up in their own silent wishes for the petite boy to be alright.

An alarm cut through the silence, cause everyone to look around for the source. Sara-Beth held up her phone as she walked into the hallway to take her call. She was gone for a few minutes before reentering; when she did, she was smiling.

"Guys, they got him!"

Everyone's eyes focused on the fiery woman.

"They got him! That was one of my contacts at the sheriff's office. They've arrested Alex!"

A chorus of "thank god" and "yes" broke out from everyone, except Scott who remained silent.

Kirstin noticed and made her way over whispering in his eye.

"Scotty, what's wrong? Aren't you happy?"
"Of course I am. But it doesn't change the fact that he did this, that he hurt him Kirst."
"I know it doesn't but he's going to get punished this time. He got away with what he did to you, but he won't get away with this."
"Yea, I guess."
"Come on babe, this is one of the only things to take joy in right now. So just savor it."
"I am."
She bent down to embrace him.

"Five minutes, go ahead and get up," a guard boomed.

Scott sighed as he gave Mitch's hand a final squeeze and stood up. Everyone rushed forward to hug him before a guard took him by the elbow to lead him out.

"Wait!" Scott yelled, causing the guards to grumble.

"Can I please have a second?"
"No, warden said ninety minutes, let's go."
The other guard spoke up, "Jack, give the boy a minute."

He removed his hand and allowed Scott to walk back to Mitch. Scott grabbed his hand once more, squeezing it as he bent down to gently press a kiss on Mitch's forehead. Then, he whispered in his ear, "I love you Mitchell Coby Michael Grassi, unconditionally."

With one more kiss on the forehead, he left with the guards to return to the facility, to his cell, without Mitch.

--------------------------------------------------------------

To say Kevin and Avi were confused would have been an understatement. It had been hours since Scott had left and they'd heard nothing from him. They were sure he wasn't in trouble. They spent almost every minute of the day together, he hadn't done anything. They were almost shocked to walk into their cell and see Scott curled on his bunk.

"Scotty?" Avi called out.

Scott rolled over, eyes rimmed in red as tears poured.

"Oh crap Scott! What's wrong?"
"Mitch... he... he's..." Scott broke down falling into Kevin's embrace.
"He's what Scott?"

Kevin exchanged a worried look with Avi. They knew bits and pieces about Mitch's mental health, nothing too in depth but enough to explain why Scott was constantly worried. Both their minds immediately went to the worse.

"He's in the hospital."
Avi stepped up to rub the taller boy's back, "what happened?"
"Alex... he...he...he got him... he beat him up. It's bad guys, really bad."
"Is that why you were gone? Did someone come talk to you?"
"No, I went to the hospital."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Scott, that never happens. They don't just let people leave unless it's for a funeral or something like that. And even then it's rare."
"I know. I don't really know how I got to go but I did and I saw him."
"How bad is it?"
"He's in a coma. The doctors aren't sure if he's going to be okay or not."
"They arrested Alex though. So there's that."
"That's good. At least he won't be able to hurt him any more." Avi suggested.
"He shouldn't have been able to get Mitch to begin with. He told the school Alex was threatening him. But they didn't believe him because he was with me and I'm a bad influence."
"That's no reason for them not to protect him Scott. And I can tell you're blaming yourself and I'm not having it so stop."
"I can't help it Kev. He looked so broken. There cords and pipes and tubes coming from everywhere. I just want him to be okay."
"He will be. He'll make it. You just have to believe."
"I'm trying to but it's so hard after I had to just leave him like that."
"We know. Just let it all out."

And he did. Scott fell to his knees, Kevin and Avi holding him. On the floor of their tiny cell, with his two friends, Scott broke completely.