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Over the Hills and Far Away	By : OpenPage Category: 1 through F > 21 Jump Street Views: 2103 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- 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
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The drive to the hospital was a slow and frustrating experience for Booker. Endless road works caused unforeseen time delays and as he waited for a large truck to back out into the traffic from a narrow laneway, he felt like screaming. The constant beep beep beep of the reversing alarm penetrated his mind and slamming his hand down onto the car horn, he stuck his head out of the open window. “Oh for FUCK’S SAKE!” he cursed loudly. “Get a fucking move on!”

By the time he pulled into the underground car park, Dennis felt like a nervous wreck. Jumping from his car, he sprinted into the hospital, his head snapping left to right as he looked for the reception area. Turning left, he walked quickly up to the desk and queued behind an elderly couple who were speaking to the receptionist. Tapping his foot impatiently, he checked his watch. Nearly two hours had passed since he had spoken to Nurse Davis. Whilst pleasant, she was unwilling to disclose Tom’s medical details. All she would say was that Tom had arrived at the hospital in an ambulance four days ago. Once stabilized, he had started asking for Dennis. It took a further day of coaxing for Tom to reveal a surname. Armed with only a name, Nurse Davis had spent her lunch hour ringing all the D. Bookers in the phone book, leaving messages on over thirty machines before finally locating Dennis. She suggested that he get to the hospital as soon as he could and that he would learn more once he had spoken to Tom.

The elderly couple finally moved away and Dennis stepped forward, nervously rubbing at his top lip. “Um, I’m here to see Tom… I mean Thomas Hanson.”

The young woman typed the name into her computer. After several moments she gave Booker the information. “Third floor, room twelve. But, there’s a notation here that you need to check in at the nurses’ station first.”

Dennis frowned. “Does it say why?” he asked uneasily.

Smiling, the woman shook her head. “No, but it’s a common procedure, I wouldn’t worry too much. Just speak to one of the nurses and they’ll tell you what to do.”

Feeling a sense of relief, Dennis thanked the receptionist and walked over to the lift. He stepped into the waiting elevator and pressed the button for the third floor. Although somewhat apprehensive about seeing Tom, he felt happier than he had in days. Now that he had found Hanson, he could set about restoring their shattered friendship. There were so many things he wanted to say to Tom, the first being an apology. He wanted to make him understand how sorry he was for sending him away and that he now knew that he had not done the right thing. He had abandoned Tom when he needed him most and he wanted Hanson to understand that no matter what, he would never do that again.

The elevator door pinged open and he stepped out into a wide corridor smelling faintly of disinfectant. Turning his head, he saw the nurses’ station half way down and he hurried towards it. He waited several minutes before a young dark-haired nurse addressed him. “Can I help you?”

“I was told to report here before my visit,” Dennis replied in a rush, his nerves at seeing Tom suddenly manifesting. Taking a deep breath, he attempted to speak more calmly. “I'm sorry. I’m here to see Tom Hanson. Nurse Davis phoned me.”

The woman’s eyes clouded over for a second but she quickly regained her composure. “Ah yes, Tom. If you’d like to take a seat I’ll see if I can find someone to speak with you.”

Dennis chewed at his lower lip. “Can’t I see him?” he asked anxiously. “I really need to see if he’s okay.”

Shaking her head, the nurse walked out from behind the counter. Taking Booker’s arm, she gently steered him into a waiting room. “I’m afraid not. But if you stay here, someone will be with you shortly.” After suggesting he have a cup of coffee whilst he waited, she quickly left the room.

Unable to keep still, Booker began to pace back and forth across the worn linoleum. Half an hour passed and his nerves were jangling. Well aware that he did not need any more caffeine, he purchased a bottle of water from the vending machine. He sipped on the cool liquid as he stared out into the busy corridor. He mentally counted the room numbers and his eyes focused on room twelve. Several minutes passed and just as he started to turn away, a tall, gray-haired man wearing an expensive suit entered Tom’s room and closed the door behind him. Screwing the cap back on the water bottle, Dennis threw it into the small trashcan in the waiting room and continued his observation of Tom’s closed door. Twenty minutes passed before the door reopened and the man exited the room carrying a clipboard. He turned and started to walk towards Dennis. Nervously raking a hand through his hair, Booker stepped out into the corridor. The man stopped and after giving Dennis the once over, he addressed him a in pleasant voice. “Mr. Booker?”

Dennis nodded and extended his hand. The man shook it and introduced himself. “Doctor Camden, I’m Tom’s physician.” Motioning towards the waiting room, he smiled warmly. “Why don’t we take a seat.”

“When can I see him?” Dennis blurted out, unable to hold onto his patience any longer. He felt as though he would explode if he did not see for himself that Tom was okay.

“Soon,” Doctor Camden replied. Sitting down, he waited for Dennis to join him before speaking again. “I’ve spoken to Tom and he has given his permission for you to have access to his medical information. Before you go in and see him, I need a guarantee from you that you are prepared to commit to helping him during the next few months. If you are not, then I suggest that you leave now. Tom’s emotional state is very fragile and he needs people around him he can rely on. Do you understand?”

Tears filled Dennis eyes. “Oh God, of course I will,” he whispered, wiping away his tears with his thumb. “I’ll do anything for him, I just want him to be happy and healthy.”

Eugene Camden smiled. “Very good. Now, we need to discuss Tom’s condition, both physical and mental. He was brought in suffering from a drug overdose. “

Dennis’ eyes widened in shock. “A drug overdose? Jesus Christ, what did he O.D. on?”

“Cocaine and heroin,” Camden replied softly. “He was found unconscious in a disused building with the needle still in his arm. He’d been beaten and he was naked when found. There were signs that he had engaged in sexual activity with several different men. He is adamant that he wasn’t raped, which has led me to the conclusion that he was prostituting himself. I have ordered all the necessary blood screens for STDs, Hepatitis and HIV but our immediate concern is the drug withdrawal. The detoxification process is going to be long and grueling. He is going to have to deal with both the physical dependency and the psychological addiction. He is already suffering from stomach pains, nausea and excessive sweating. Depression, anxiety and insomnia are other likely symptoms. His cravings will cause mood swings and he may become aggressive or even suicidal. This is not going to be an easy time for Tom and he is going to need a lot of support. Are you still prepared to help him through this?”

A mirage of images flashed through Booker’s mind. Tom lying naked and unconscious with a needle in his arm… Tom being fucked by some middle-aged pervert… Tom receiving a vicious beating…

Dennis felt acid bile rising in his throat and he quickly swallowed it back down. In the space of four months, Tom had become a drug-addicted prostitute. The severity of the words resonated in his mind and a final image floated into his brain. It was of Tom sitting at his desk in The Chapel, smiling broadly at something Penhall had said. It was the Tom Hanson that Dennis had initial fallen in love with and the man he wanted Tom to become again.

Choking back a sob, he quickly covered his mouth to prevent himself from crying out. He needed to pull himself together. Tom needed him and this time, he would not fail him. Rubbing his hands over his face, he managed to calm himself enough to speak. “What do you need me to do?” he asked quietly.

Doctor Camden stood up. “First things first. How about we go and see Tom.”

Standing up, Dennis took a deep breath. The moment had finally arrived but now that it had, he was terrified about what was to follow.

**

Booker entered the small, private hospital room behind Doctor Camden. A white curtain had been pulled around the bed, concealing Tom from view and giving him some much needed privacy. Dennis stood back as the doctor pulled back the curtain and disappeared between its folds. He could hear Camden speaking in a low, calm voice but he struggled to make out the words. Moments later, the doctor reappeared and laid a reassuring hand on Booker’s arm. “He’d really like to see you. Try to remain calm, he’s very emotional and is feeling unwell, as is to be expected during withdrawal. I’ll give you both some time together and then we can sit down and discuss Tom’s treatment.”

Barely managing a nod of reply, Dennis watched silently as Camden left the room. He stood for a moment, chewing on his thumb as he gathered up the courage to pull back the curtain. Finally, the desire to see Tom became too strong and stepping forward, he opened the screen and walked into the cubicle.

Tom lay on a bed, covered by a thin, white sheet. Purple bruises covered his face and one eye was swollen shut. His hair hung in sweaty strands around his damaged face and his lower lip was split and puffy. An IV pumped fluids into an arm covered in track marks and several sticky patches on Tom’s chest connected him to a cardiac monitor, which beeped rhythmically as it recorded his heart rate. Attached to his finger was a pulse oximeter and a blood pressure cuff wrapped around his upper arm suddenly came to life, slowly inflating before deflating noisily and recording a reading of 90/60.

A single tear trickled down Tom’s cheek when he saw Dennis’ shocked face. “You came,” he murmured through his cracked, swollen lips.

Moving forward, Booker grasped hold of Tom’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “Oh baby,” he whispered, brushing Tom’s damp hair from his eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”

If Tom was surprised at Dennis calling him baby, his face did not show it. He tried to smile but instead, he began to weep. “I guess I really fucked up this time, huh?” he sobbed.

Sitting down on the plastic chair bedside Tom’s bed, Dennis gently stroked his hair. “Shh,” he soothed softly. “All that matters is that you’re safe now. I’m here for you Tommy, whatever you need. We’ll get through this together.”

Tom’s weary eyes fluttered closed as Booker’s gentle caress lulled him to sleep. For the first time in months, he felt loved and protected and his pain was momentarily forgotten. As he slowly drifted into unconsciousness, he did not feel Dennis’ lips lightly brush against his hair, nor did hear the whispered words, “I love you Tommy.”
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- 19
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Over the Hills and Far Away