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Chapter 36

Tears and Pain

Inside the Villa...

One Hour After the Hunters' attack...

Bishop knelt at Gareth's side as he lay in the bed, his partner's WarGreymon helmet on the nightstand, Gareth's burns treated with burn ointment. The Sephartian dragon could not bury the feelings festering within him; Guilty, ashamed, unfaithful for what happened at the beach yesterday... How could he not have known? How could he have been so blind?

Tommy walked into the room a few minutes later, having been told about the incident with the hunters, and his sire's sudden appearance. Tommy stood in the doorway for a few moments. Then he walked forward, and hugged his father, trying to reassure him before he, himself broke down. "...Dad, please don't blame yourself... No one could have seen this happening, no one could... could have... D-Dad, I'm just... I'm so sorry..." Tommy broke down and cried, clutching onto Bishop's arm.

Bishop didn't hesitate, taking Tommy into his arms as the blue and black dragon broke down, Bishop laying his head over his son's.

Tommy, knowing that Bishop was hurting just as much, tucked himself into Bishop's embrace, sobs shaking his body. "Dad... I'm sorry, I'm trying not to cry... I'm trying to be strong... But I-it... It's just too much right now..."

Bishop shook his head, keeping his boy held against him in the comforting embrace as he fought back his own tears, trying to be strong for them both. "I-it's okay, son... It's okay to cry... I just... Never thought we would ever see him again... I just wish I knew..."

Mick walked in, hearing both father and son weep. He walked up and placed a hand on Bishop's shoulder, gently rubbing it to try and comfort him.

"Bishop, I'm sorry that this happened... No family should have to go through this garbage..." The fox said, struggling to hold back a sob. Bishop took a glance at Mick from the corner of his eye and saw that he had been accompanied by Zhal, Zarch, and Xen. Not only that, but tears were running from Mick's eyes as well, his face now showing a sorrowful expression. Mick was no longer bearing his usual resting-bitch face. This entire event had shaken him, reminding the scrappy transporter fox just how fragile life was, along with his family bond with his own father.

Bishop said nothing and looked back towards Gareth. He did, however, reach over and placed on of his hands over Mick's as a sign of acknowledgment and a form of gratitude towards his care of the situation.

Zhal knelt down in front of Bishop and Tommy, wrapping an arm around each of them, along with giving Tommy comforting nuzzles. "I know it hurts to see your sire in this state... But you don't have to go through it alone. I'm here for both you and your father, Tommy... I'm here for both of you..."

Zarch also knelt next to Bishop, placing an arm around his shoulder. "Bishop... After what happened during the good times at the beach...I feel I owe you an apology. Don't worry about anything, I won't breathe a word of that to Gareth. Plus, he needs you right now... Just focus on him, help your mate recover. I have no hard feelings about it, and you shouldn't either. Don't feel like you cheated, or were being unfaithful, there was no way you could have known... You haven't seen each other in five long years... Focus on Gareth. That's all that is important, now..."

Bishop just nodded, staying silent, fighting back his inner turmoil as he thought back on it all, basically hating and blaming himself, nearly falling to tears again.

Jet walked in and moved past the group, walking around Gareth slowly, examining him. This caused Bishop to growl a little at Jet. Jet just brushed it off, shaking his head and gave the dragon a warm smile. "...Bishop, I know you have no reason to trust someone like me... But... I have seen far worse injuries... And Gareth is in good hands... You just need to trust Simon right now. Gareth will be patched up in no time, he is a survivor. You both are... If you don't want to trust me, then at least trust Simon, okay?" Jet walked over and placed his hand on Micks shoulder, looking him in the eyes and tilted his head to signal they should give Tommy and Bishop some time alone.

Mick nodded, and the rest of the group slowly walked out to give them some time to themselves. Zhal and Zarch were the last ones to go, Zhalgiving Tommy a kiss on the cheek, and Zarch giving Bishop a comforting hug before they stood up and stepped out.

Symon and Amon walked in a short time later, the fox doctor carrying a medic bag from their supplies at the villa. Symon gave Gareth a look over, asking Amon to pass him some new bandages and a healing ointment of his own design. Amon walked over and handed him the items, Simon removing the old bandages and places his ointment over one hand, gently rubbing it over the wound to make sure he didn't hurt Gareth. Bishop just watched as Simon worked over Gareth with the utmost care.

Symon treated the injuries as if Gareth was a delicate lotus ready to fall apart. Egad walked in a few minutes later and watched as Symon finished, ending with a sigh as he wrapped Gareth's burns in new bandages after applying the ointment. "Well, that's just about all I can do right now. The nutrient drip we had in his mouth the last few hours has helped, but he will need more in the morning if he isn't conscious and well enough to eat..." Symon got up from the bed, wiping off excess ointment from his hands with a towel. But even the stoic doctor couldn't suppress a breakdown. "...I just can't believe those bloody bastards were using softnoses..." Symon shut his eyes tightly, struggling to hold his own tears back. Egad took Symon into his arms, holding the fox doctor close as he wept, giving him a shoulder to cry on.

Bishop continued to sit, silent as a statue, eyes still locked on Gareth. Tommy walked over, hugging both Egad and Symon, thanking them for all their help. Finally, Bishop spoke up, his tone soft and quiet.

"Thank you... Both of you, for helping us... I wish these were better circumstances... We will be leaving when Gareth awakens..."

Egad walked over and placed his hand on Bishop's shoulder, reassuring him and extending his kindness. "Not yet. It's too risky... For all of you... No one needs to leave; you guys are more than welcome to stay as long as you need to... Besides... You will be safe here. I promise you, Bishop...

Bishop looked up at Egad, seeing that he meant what he said. That, and he knew the fox could put his money where his mouth is with little to no difficulty. "...Very well. We shall stay here... Thank you so much, Ryan Foxmoore... For everything you have done for us..."

Egad leaned down and gave Bishop a kiss on the top of his head, knowing that the action would be more powerful than any words could be. He then walked over to Symon, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, and walked with him out of the room and down the hall.

Tommy stayed with Bishop a few more minutes, as fatigue started to set in. "Dad... It's starting to get late... I can't stay awake like this... I'm going to go sleep with Zhal, and give you some time with Gareth... We will be in the room next to this one... If you need anything, just knock on the door, I won't care how late it is..." Tommy then kissed Bishop on the forehead as well. Bishop nodded to Tommy, who then walked out of the room.

Bishop continued to sit, staring at Gareth for a few more minutes before standing up. Bishop walked forward, and gently turned the unconscious Gareth on his side, taking great care as not to hurt him. Bishop then crawled into the bed with him and drew up the sheets and blankets over their legs and waists, spooning Gareth as he wrapped his arms, tail, and one of his wings around Gareth protectively.

"Gareth... My love... Please, forgive me..." Bishop started to sob uncontrollably, burying his face in Gareth's back as tears ran down his face in streams. "I didn't know... I didn't know..."

Bishop stayed like that with Gareth, sobbing in deep shame and turmoil as he eventually cried himself to sleep.