by Drew Sera
“Sydney...she will like these. They’ll make her smile.”
I helped him carry some of the boxes to the counter. He also bought a handful of bags of M&M’s and then we were on our way again. He was winded when we got back into the car.
“I could have run in, Anth.”
“I know, but I need to be able to get around again on my own. I’m okay. Nothing hurts too bad.”
The problem I see coming down the pipe is that he won’t know when too much is too much. Not until he’s over exerted himself and ends up screwing up his recovery.
I parked next to a sporty new Jaguar sitting in the driveway and knew that Chris was here. Anthony knew it was Chris as well and swore.
I walked up to the front door with Anthony and frowned when I found the door wasn’t unlocked, but then I remembered that Sydney was really struggling with feeling secure. An unlocked door would be polar opposite.
Colin let us in and hugged Anthony before he got all the way inside. Colin was the only one who could physically get close to Anthony while Sydney was missing. I knew it was because of their bond. Colin visibly relaxed again just from being in Anthony’s presence. He put his hands on Anthony’s shoulders and quickly did a once over. Anthony does fine under Colin’s hands.
“Hey, Col. Where’s Sydney?” Anthony asked as we walked inside.
Colin led us through the foyer and to the edge of the great room and Sydney turned to face us. She had been sitting with a blanket on the couch and Chris was sitting across from her. Her face lit up when she saw Anthony though. She pushed herself off the couch and made her way toward Anthony and the two of them collided in an embrace. Sydney broke down in tears and clung onto Anthony. The two went back over to the couch and cuddled up together while Colin, Chris and I watched.
“Now that Anthony is back, I think all three of you will be able to begin to heal. I’m going to let you guys get settled. Remember; please call me if you need anything. I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon for a little bit.”
Colin walked Chris out and then he and I went into the kitchen so I could go over the medication for Anthony with him. With so many pill vials between Anthony and Sydney, I took a marker and put an “A” or “S” on the lid for each. Both were on antibiotics, but very different ones. Anthony had a muscle relaxer and a painkiller. They both had a different kind of pill that would help them sleep, if needed. Sydney also had a painkiller and Chris was quick to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication. It was a lot for Colin to keep track of and he’d be distracted enough.
“Colin, only give one of them their pills at a time. It’ll decrease the risk of mixing them up.”
“I won’t fuck it up, Dr. Reid.”
“It’s not funny, man. You give Sydney his pain pill and she’ll be knocked out.”
I remembered how nervous Sydney was in the fall about taking a simple antibiotic. Now there were several pills to sort out at various times.
I left them alone for the afternoon and was going to text Blake later on to find out when he was bringing dinner over. Gina and my folks were excited to see Sydney tonight, too.
Chapter 16
Sunday, February 2nd
Colin
After Matt left, I joined Anthony and Sydney back on the couch and felt my world right itself. Sydney sat between us, touching both of us, and it felt so perfect. As we sat there, emotions started to take over for me and I was finding that my eyes were filling with tears. My heart was pounding and I grew upset while thinking how close I came to losing these two.
I took a deep breath and gently pulled Sydney from between Anthony and I to sit on my lap and I moved to take the spot where she had been sitting. I tugged Sydney’s head down to rest against me and I wrapped my other arm around Anthony’s shoulders and pulled him closer. I knew it was risky for a number of reasons. Mostly because I wasn’t sure how he’d react to me taking the upper hand and hanging onto him. But I thought, fuck it. We were all searching desperately for some comfort and a place to just feel safe enough to shut our eyes for a little while.
Anthony didn’t resist and he didn’t tense up, though I was paying close attention to his reaction in case it became an issue. He let me pull him against me and when I rubbed on his arm, he reached out and wrapped his arm around Sydney’s waist. I leaned back on the couch and Anthony brought his legs up to rest on the chaise. His head leaned on my chest and shoulder on the right side and his arm held Sydney protectively. Sydney had her head on the left side of my chest, and their heads were touching at their foreheads. Sydney’s hands each had a fistful of my t-shirt and Anthony’s t-shirt in her grip. I let my hand stroke her back lazily while I gripped Anthony’s arm. I had them both. Here, I could control their safety.
It’s safe to say that in that moment I felt the best that I have felt in a while. I leaned my head back on the cushion and let my eyes close. I swear I had just shut them when my phone was alerting me of something. My heart began pounding as I woke up and quickly glanced around the room. I had Sydney and Anthony with me. Everything was fine. I had been used to waking up to the assault of texts, videos or pictures from Paul. I picked up my phone and read the alert Matt programmed while he was here this morning.
4:00 p.m.: Each antibiotic pill
Matt. Even when he’s not here, he’s still here. I was glad for the reminder because all three of us would have slept through it and then been playing catch up. My movement on the couch caused both Sydney and Anthony to wake up as expected. I wasn’t expecting Anthony to jerk awake like he did though. I expected it from Sydney, and she didn’t disappoint. They were both startled and I’m sure both of their heart rates went sky high.
“Antibiotic time. Stay here and I’ll go get them and some water.”
When I came back from the kitchen, Sydney was nestled in Anthony’s arms. They both took their medicine without issue and Anthony set Sydney back on my lap. I was surprised because I would have thought he wanted and needed to hold her some. He sat on the edge of the chaise for a few minutes looking tense while Sydney and I talked about dinner. Blake was picking stuff up and would be over around 5:00 p.m. with it. I was supposed to text Blake what we wanted.
“What do you feel like, baby?”
I brushed her hair back behind her ears and kissed her jaw. She gave me a shy smile and pulled her shoulders up. I could tell she was feeling vulnerable so I brushed forward some of her hair to cover her exposed neck. I knew she was still very much trying to cope and deal with everything. It will take time and I was devoted to being here for every step of the way.
Glancing at Anthony, I could tell something was wrong. His eyes were closed and he was gripping the edge of the couch.
“Anth,” I called out his name hoping it wouldn’t be met with silence.
He shook his head, stood up and went down the hall. I could hear him going into the guest room. Sydney looked up at me questioningly.
“Baby, sit here while I go check on Anthony, okay?”
“No!” She gripped my arm quickly and glanced back to the entryway. “Wait, sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t listen to you. I just...can I come with you?”
She was scared to be left alone. We were going to work on this but I couldn’t expect her to just instantly return to how she was before Paul took her. I took hold of her hands and nodded.
“Of course, baby. Let’s go check on Anthony.”
We made our way into the guest room and I called his name, which got no response. As I walked into the sitting room, I faintly could hear him losing his stomach in the bathroom. I pointed to the bed indicating to Sydney that I wanted her to sit there. From there, she’d be able to see me in the bathroom. Anthony had the door closed but I pushed it open to find him bent over the toilet with his hands on his knees and arms locked at the elbows.
He turned to look at me and started to say something but it was interrupted by him getting sick. I felt bad for him. This medication is roughing him up quite a bit.
“Anth,” I
started but he cut me off.
“I’m okay. Just need a minute. You should be with Sydney.”
“Sydney is fine for the moment.”
He stood fully upright and held his hand over his stomach, willing it to calm.
“Fucking medicine.”
“Here, let me help you.” I pulled a washcloth from the rack and ran it under the cool water as he leaned against the bathroom counter.
He held the washcloth over his eyes for a few minutes and said he wanted to take a shower before Blake, Matt, Gina, and Matt’s folks got here. I sat back down on the couch in the great room with Sydney while Anthony went upstairs to our room.
“Is he okay?” Sydney asked me, voicing her concern over Anthony.
“Yeah. The antibiotic is rough on his stomach. He’s hoping a shower will make him feel better.”
As it neared 5:00 p.m., Matt, Gina and his folks arrived while Anthony was still upstairs. Gina and Sydney went into the kitchen with Matt’s mom to start getting the table ready for dinner while Matt, Arthur and I stayed in the great room. We watched the girls go into the kitchen and then Matt turned to look at me.
“Where’s Anthony?”
“Upstairs in the shower. He got sick shortly after taking that antibiotic. Do you think he’s allergic to it? He was sick on it in the hospital and he’s still getting sick.”
Matt shook his head and explained that Anthony wasn’t showing any signs of having an allergic reaction. He said just because it’s making Anthony’s stomach upset isn’t a sign of an allergy.
“He needs that antibiotic to treat the infection that is lingering, Colin.”
I told Matt and Arthur about our afternoon and how good I felt that Sydney and Anthony were both under the same roof again. While I was talking, Anthony appeared at the top of the stairs and was just wearing his pajama pants.
“Um, Col, can you come here a minute? Please.” He leaned on the banister. “Or Matt.”
“Which one of us do you want?” I asked him.
Arthur put his hands on my shoulder and Matt’s and said we should both go and that he’d get the door when Blake arrived. Anthony had turned to head back to our room as Matt and I headed upstairs.
He was in the bathroom with a bunch of medicated gauze pads opened spread out on the counter. He had one in his hand and was trying to stretch around to reach a spot on his back while holding a hand over the bullet wound stitches. Anthony wore an expression of frustration. He looked up when Matt and I both appeared in the bathroom and frowned.
“Fuck, you both didn’t need to come up. I can’t clean these or get the medicine on them.” He tossed the gauze on the counter and rubbed at his red eyes with the back of his hands.
“Anthony, you’re not expected to clean these yourself. You can’t properly do it with one hand. Colin will help you.”
“Fuck, I’m not helpless.”
“No one said you were.” Anthony was clearly frustrated as he flung a large bandage across the counter. “Hey, calm down. It’s okay, Anth.” Matt was trying to calm him but I think he was just fueling Anthony’s fire right now.
Anthony took a deep breath and reached for his chest and winced. I’ll be honest, it made me nervous. He had been shot in the chest, which caused a lung to collapse. He wasn’t going to bounce back from that as quickly as he’d like.
“Does your chest hurt?” I asked him.
“It’s fine. I’m fine. Just, please help me with the fucking bandages.”
He turned facing the mirror and leaned on the counter giving Matt and I access to an ugly gash on his back. Once that was cleaned and bandaged he turned around and let Matt bandage his bullet hole. While Matt did that, I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander to those lash marks that spread across his stomach. They were still raised, pink, angry welts and some of the dry skin was starting to flake off. The duration of these welts, told me that he was hit pretty hard with a cane. The vision I had in my head of the Pro Dom hitting Anthony with the cane, and at the force he must have swung it at to create these welts, disgusted me.
“There. You’re alright, Anth. Don’t get so upset about needing help. It’s okay, man,” Matt said and playfully punched Anthony’s arm.
Matt and I started to gather the opened gauze and wrappers but Anthony said he’d get it cleaned up and would be downstairs in a few minutes. I realized he needed a couple of minutes to himself. I nodded and turned, pushing Matt out of the bathroom in front of me.
I could hear Blake’s voice as we neared the kitchen and could smell pizza. So many times, over the past few weeks this was a common scene for me; Matt and his family in the kitchen with Anthony withdrawn or missing. The difference now was that Sydney was back. I stood at the edge where the great room blends into the kitchen and watched Sydney move cautiously about the kitchen pulling out soda bottles for everyone while Gina chatted away at her. Matt knew that I was just taking in the moment and sight of Sydney.
“Yes,” Matt said to me.
I turned to look at him and asked him, “Yes, what?”
“Yes, she’s really here.” Matt slapped me on the back and pushed me further into the kitchen.
I went to Sydney and wrapped her up in my arms, handing the bottle of Coke to Matt to take care of pouring the drinks. Blake mumbled something to Matt, though I couldn’t hear what exactly. I did hear Matt say Anthony’s name though so I figured Blake was inquiring about where Anthony was.
Everyone began helping themselves to food and as the pizza boxes were flipped open I saw a genuinely, happy smile spread across Sydney’s face when Blake opened a box of plain cheese pizza. Her happiness caused Blake to smile and pat the back of her hand.
“I didn’t forget, sweetheart. Plain cheese pizza,” Blake said.
“Thank you, Blake,” she said quietly.
Everyone filtered in around the table as I sat to Sydney’s right. Matt left a chair to Sydney’s left open for Anthony and then sat down.
Anthony came downstairs shortly after we started eating and sat by Sydney. No one pushed him or asked him if he was eating. I know he honestly was trying to keep his hands off Sydney, but the need in him was too great. Eventually, he had pulled Sydney to sit on his lap and had pulled her plate closer so she could eat while he simply wrapped his arms around her and held her. I put a few slices of pizza on another plate and put it in front of him next to her plate and then sat down in Sydney’s recently vacated chair. Things were going well as both of them were eating some and talking with everyone. I didn’t even care what we talked about, I was just happy to be in the same room as the two of them and hear their voices.
Everyone knew that Sydney, Anthony and I needed time to ourselves and no one hung around for very long after we ate. Since bringing Sydney home a few days ago, our evening ritual has included her and I walking around the house, hand in hand, double-checking the doors and windows and ensuring the alarm was set.
I was eager to crawl into bed because it was Anthony’s first night home. Sydney and I took a relaxing bath together while Anthony sat on the floor next to the tub. He hadn’t wanted to have to re-dress his wounds this evening. I understood. He had been frustrated earlier and obviously was trying to move past it. Anthony helped me dry her off and then we moved to the bedroom to get ready for bed.
“Baby, do you want to sleep in your pajamas tonight?” I wanted her to actively take part in this decision. As her Dom, normally I’d want her naked and accessible to me during the night, but we weren’t near that comfort level yet. We would get there, but right now I want her comfortable and would permit anything she suggested wearing or not wearing to bed. The first two nights where it was just her and I, she slept in pajamas that Anthony had picked out for her back in October, and I slept in boxer briefs and a t-shirt. We needed to slowly work our way toward the nakedness.
“Um…” Sydney started. Anthony’s head dropped when Sydney said ‘um’. He and I both had worked with Sydney on saying the word ‘um’, but Anthony spent the most ti
me working on this with her. I knew what he was feeling and I wanted to shake him and tell him not to get discouraged. This was going to be a road of hills and bumps and he and I needed to exercise patience and understanding maybe even more than the first time. After all, this time a punk ass poser Dom or abuser didn’t abduct her. A sick, fucking sadist that Anthony and I both knew abducted her.
“Um...may I sleep in panties and a t-shirt or tank top?”
“Yes, baby. You may sleep in whatever you’d like. Would panties and a tank top make you feel comfortable?”
“Yes, Sir. And I have both of you.” She smiled at me as she pulled a tank top from her dresser drawer.
Anthony and I both profusely confirmed her statement. We were here for her unconditionally and would see to it that she was safe and comfortable. The bathroom light was on, door ajar, I had Sydney and Anthony here with me and we were ready for bed. As we were climbing into bed, Anthony asked if he could sleep on my side of the bed until he could take his bandage off his bullet hole. I felt like an idiot for not thinking of that and gladly switched sides.
Sydney nestled down on Anthony’s chest and he wrapped her up in the safety of his arms. I took up my position behind her and slid my hand between her tummy and Anthony’s side.
I think because of everything that has happened over the past few weeks especially, I’ve become hyper aware of movement near me. If Sydney took a deep breath, it’d alert me. If she was silently suffering a nightmare and her body flinched, I’d know it. I was on high alert and on the lookout for anything that might cause her discomfort or stress.
While she was gone, I had realized how deep my bond with Anthony is as well. Not only was I deeply connected to Sydney, but I was equally connected to Anthony. He and I have shared a bed or dungeon cell with many women over the years and he’s been the one solid staple in this lifestyle for me. I’m almost ashamed to say that it took Sydney getting abducted for me to honestly realize how much I need and care about him.