Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Beneath a Heart of Darkness	By : OpenPage Category: 1 through F > 21 Jump Street Views: 4657 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own 21JS or the characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. All characters and events in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is coincidental.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
For Booker, the walk up to the second-floor apartment took a thousand lifetimes. Making sure to stay a few steps behind, he watched in silence as Tom shuffled haltingly in his bare feet along the worn linoleum floors, a light cotton blanket held securely around his hunched shoulders, shielding his body from view. When they finally reached Tom's residence, Booker turned the key in the lock and pushed open the door. No light shone through the curtained windows, the week-long dereliction casting a doleful gloom around the apartment. It was Dennis’ first glimpse of Tom's home, and his first impression was it appeared cold and cheerless. But he quickly realized the uncomfortable vibe wasn't radiating from the room, it was his somber demeanor reflecting outward. He could have stood in front of the warmth of a raging fire, and he would still have felt chilled to the bone. The emotion of the day had started to take its toll, and all he wanted to do was go home and take a long, hot shower.
Without switching on a light, Tom walked in and slowly limped toward the bathroom, but Booker’s worried voice stopped him before he was halfway across the room. “Tom, wait!”
Not wanting another face-to-face confrontation, Tom remained where he was standing, his back facing the dark-haired officer. “What?”
His voice sounded strange, low and flat, and Booker hesitated for a moment, afraid what he was about to say would further distress his friend. But ultimately, he knew it was his duty as an officer of the law to prevent Tom from showering and removing the vital evidence that coated his body. It was an awkward situation, but if he wanted to ensure the culprits responsible for Tom’s rape were held accountable for their crime, he needed to forget his emotional attachment to his friend and act like a cop. There were no second chances in cases like these; once the evidence was gone, it was gone.
With the pounding in his head becoming progressively worse, he ran a shaky hand through his hair and his fingers came in contact with a large lump caked in dry blood. His head injury was obviously more serious than he had originally thought, and now the adrenaline had stopped flowing through his body, he was finding it increasingly difficult to focus his eyes. Droplets of sweat trickled down his face, and he licked his lips as he struggled to maintain his composure. He needed to make Tom understand the importance of going to the hospital, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult now he was succumbing to his own injuries. Flashes of white blinded his eyes, disorienting him, and releasing the clothing from his arms, he steadied himself against the wall. Heat prickled his skin, and a wave of dizziness rolled over him. He knew he was about to pass out, but he fought to remain upright. Tom was still his priority, and he needed to stay alert or risk failing his friend for a second time. But when a blackness slowly enveloped him, he knew he was losing the battle and with a long, drawn out moan, he slumped to the floor.
Seconds later, his eyelids fluttered open, and his bleary gaze settled on Tom’s anxious face.
“Jesus, Dennis, are you—”
“M’okay,” Booker mumbled, pushing himself up on his elbows. “It’s just a bump on the head.”
“You’re bleeding,” Tom stated softly, his long fingers gently caressing Booker’s matted hair. “What did they do to you?”
The tender concern in Tom’s eyes sent a shiver through Booker’s aching body. He longed to savor the moment, but instead, he seized the fortuitous opportunity his fainting episode had presented. “I dunno, someone hit me with something. I think… I think I might need an ambulance.”
Fear flashed in Tom’s eyes, and he started to chew frantically on his lower lip. “Are you sure? I mean, you said yourself, it’s just a bump.”
Pleased Tom was showing concern and once again communicating with him, Booker faked a moan. “I’m sure,” he muttered, closing his eyes for theatrical effect. Seldom had he behaved like such a deceitful bastard, but his priority was to get Tom to a hospital, and if he had to exaggerate the extent of his injuries a little, well, he was more than prepared to be a lying sonofabitch. After all, it was for the greater good.
When Hanson remained silent, Booker took it up a notch. “Tommy, please,” he moaned. “I really need to go to the hospital.”
Tom’s emotions surged to the surface in one huge tidal wave of emotion. Panic swamped his mind, and his mouth writhed, his dark eyes suffused with unshed tears. “But… but… they’ll know! Dennis, they’ll know!”
“Tom…”
“OKAY!” Tom yelled, his body jerking with agitation, and rising to his feet, he shuffled over to the door. Moments later, the room was bathed in light, the unexpected brightness causing Booker to squint. The dark-haired officer watched as Tom picked up the phone and dialed 911. When he heard Tom give the address and a brief description of his injury, he visibly relaxed and lowering his head back to the floor, he closed his eyes and heaved a heavy, weary sigh. However, his relief was only momentary. Seconds later, the slam of a door startled him back to wakefulness and opening his eyes he stared around the empty room in confusion. But when the sound of running water reached his ears, he quickly realized what was happening, and the color drained from his face.
“NO!” he screamed, and scrambling to his feet, he lurched across the room and frantically tried the handle of the bathroom door. But the locked door remained firmly closed, and with a cry of frustration, he repeatedly slammed his palm against the wood. “Tommy, don’t! DON’T!”
The piercing weee-ooo-weee-ooo of the approaching ambulance could be heard in the distance, the sound growing steadily louder, and overcome with emotion, Booker slid to the floor with a sob. For the briefest of moments, he had thought everything would be okay, but the reality was, he had failed his friend yet again. If he’d fought through the dizziness and remained conscious, he could have calmly convinced Tom to go to the hospital instead of trying to trick him. He’d underestimated Tom’s gullibility, and he had paid the ultimate price. The DNA evidence was gone, and there was nothing left to link the seven men to the rape except his and Horshack’s witness account and the video. But the video was of no use because he knew Tom well enough to know even if he tracked down the Keymaster, the young officer would never give permission to use the tape in court. Once again he felt the weight of his guilt pushing down on him and his misery intensified. He was a failure as a cop and a friend, and because of him, the seven Pi Taus would never be brought to justice.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed up the corridor and wiping the tears from his eyes, he stared expectantly at the open door. Moments later, two EMTs walked in. The elder of the two—a woman in her forties—squatted down next to him and smiled tenderly. “I’m Katie. What’s your name, honey?”
The knowledge he was about to betray the man he loved weighed heavy on Booker’s heart, but once he started talking, his words tumbled from his lips in a frenzied rush. “My name’s Officer Dennis Booker. I was undercover with my partner Officer Hanson, and he was… shit… he was gang raped at a frat house. I tried to stop him from showering, but I passed out, and he’s locked himself in the bathroom…”
“Whoa,” the woman reassured, her gloved hand resting on Booker’s thigh, “First things first. “Are you injured?”
Unconcerned about his own welfare, Booker shook his head, the motion causing another bout of dizziness. “I’m fine,” he gulped, and closing his eyes, he waited for his head to stop spinning before speaking again. “But Tom’s not. Please, you’ve got to help him! He’s bleeding, and he’s in shock and—”
“We will help your friend,” Katie interrupted in a firm voice. “But first I need to assess you. You said you passed out. How long were you unconscious?”
Booker ran a trembling hand over his mouth. “Not long, a couple of seconds maybe. They hit me on the head with something. I thought I was okay, but…”
His voice trailed off and fresh tears clung to his long lashes. “I should have saved h-him,” he whispered, the last word catching in his throat. “Why didn’t I save him?”
Katie Robinson detected more than just remorse in Booker’s voice, and she wondered if the two men were romantically involved. There was a raw passion that lit up Dennis’ eyes when he spoke about his partner, and that was something she rarely saw between two men unless their relationship was more than just platonic. Not that it was any of her business, but it helped to know the fundamentals, after all, it could well be a domestic violence situation, given the fact the young officer was only partially dressed. But her sixth sense told her this was not the case with Dennis and Tom. Whatever their relationship, it was clear Dennis had deep feelings for his fellow officer, and she doubted he would do anything to intentionally hurt him.
Instead of answering Booker’s question, Katie gently probed the wound on the back of his head. Satisfied it did not require stitching, she took a penlight out of her bag and performed a pupillary response and extraocular movement exam. “Do you have any double vision,” she asked.
The steady thrum of the shower continued to sound from behind the door, torturing Booker with images of Tom’s naked, ravaged body, and he could feel his frustration mounting. “I said I’m fine!” he snapped, and using the wall as support, he pulled away from Katie’s hold and struggled defiantly to his feet.
With a sigh, Katie addressed the male EMT. “If the rape victim is as traumatized as his partner says, I think we’re going to have to break down the door.”
Jackson Frasier nodded, his light blue eyes flashing with a nervousness born from inexperience. He had only been on the job three weeks, and every call-out had him questioning his knowledge. This was his first rape case, and adrenaline coursed through his body, making him hyper-alert. He had no idea what he would see when they broke down the door, but he knew enough to know it would be confronting, and a shiver of excitement ran down his spine. This was what he lived for; the adrenaline rush coupled with the nervous anticipation. It was like a drug, only far more addictive because every high was a new experience.
Before either EMT could react, Booker placed his palms against the smooth wood of the bathroom door and leaning in close, he spoke in a loud but gentle voice. “Tommy, it’s Dennis. You need to open the door. If you don’t, I’m breaking it down.”
If Tom heard, he did not acknowledge his friend’s statement and turning around, Booker addressed the EMTs, an unmistakable look of determination shining in his dark eyes. “I’ll kick the door in, but give me a minute to calm him before you enter, okay?”
“You’re injured,” Katie pointed out. “Maybe we should call the police and—”
“I’M THE POLICE!” Dennis yelled. "AND HE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION NOW, SO I'M KICKING THE FUCKING DOOR IN! GOT IT?"
Jackson cast a worried glance at Katie, but the experienced EMT just shrugged her shoulders and took a step back. “Okay, Dennis, but be careful.”
Booker wiped the sweat from his brow, and grasping hold of the door jamb, he raised his right leg and kicked the door. Pain jolted through his bare foot, and a grimace curled his lip. But he refused to give up and lifting his leg again, he slammed his foot against the wooden paneling.
The door swung open with such force, it smashed back against the wall, cracking several mosaic tiles. A blast of steam hit Booker in the face. The high humidity in the room had raised the ambient temperature, and the suffocating conditions made it difficult for him to see or breathe. It took a moment for the vapor to waft out through the open door, but eventually the room cleared, exposing the heartbreaking scene within.
The shower curtain was gathered at the end of the railing, the open cubicle revealing Tom’s naked form crouched on the floor of the shower. Hot water streamed over his quivering body, and his wet hair stuck to his face, framing the chiseled contours of his cheeks. The heat of the water had mottled his flesh a deep shade of pink, adding to the surrealism of the situation. But it was the ribbons of red swirling around his feet—a sure sign he was still bleeding heavily from his injuries—that disturbed Booker the most. Time stood still, the shower's steady thrum the only sound echoing throughout the bathroom. But when Tom lifted his head and gazed up at Booker with wild, panicked eyes, the dark-haired officer sprang into action, and rushing forward, he dropped to his knees and pulled his friend into his arms.
“There’s so much blood,” Tom choked, his tears disappearing amongst the rivulets of water flowing down his cheeks. “Oh God, Dennis, there’s so much blood!”
“It’s okay, baby,” Booker murmured, the endearment tumbling unchecked from between his lips. “I promise you, everything’s gonna be okay.”
Moved by the genuine display of affection, Katie stepped into the small bathroom and reaching into the cubicle, she turned off the faucets. Being careful not to make any sudden movements, she squatted down next to the two young officers and gave what she hoped was a comforting smile. “Hi, Tom, my name’s Katie, and this is my partner Jackson. I think it would be best if you let us take you to the hospital.”
Tom peeked out from beneath the protection of Booker’s muscular arm, his long, dark lashes clumped into jagged spikes. He hesitated for a moment before replying in a barely audible voice. “O-Okay.”
The tension in Booker’s muscles slowly eased, and he exhaled a heavy sigh. It had been a hell of a battle, but his perseverance had paid off, and Hanson would finally receive the treatment he needed. While he knew it was only the beginning of what was sure to be a very long and difficult journey, he had no idea how dramatically his own life was about to change, and it would all be because of Tom.
- 13
- 14
- 15
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Beneath a Heart of Darkness