People I don't like 🏠

14th part of Home. Doesn't follow prompt.

“Oh my god.” Daniel whispers, staggering back, out of sight. “T-TJ, that’s-”

TJ grabs his hands, and says in a hushed voice, “It’s okay. He doesn’t know Angel.”

He leans against the wall, closing his eyes. “Oh my god.”

I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t-

“Danny, calm down, it’s okay.”

TJ keeps hold of his hand as he looks into the living room. Angel seems to have realized who this is.

“Sorry, I don’t think your son is here.” She says. She tries to close the door, but he sticks his foot in the way. She steps away as he pushes it open.

“This is where Catherine Maybel lives. My son is here.”

“Who’s your son?” Angel asks, trying to play dumb.

“Daniel Young.” Blake says, his eyes scanning the room. He sees TJ, and his lips curl into a scowl. “You. You’re the boy that made my son gay.”

TJ swallows, and Daniel can see his hands shaking. “Sorry, I’m not sure who-”

“Don’t play dumb!” Blake yells. “Tell me where he is!”

Daniel moves farther down the hallway, behind the big blue bookcase. He wanted to be far away from his father.

Blake moves towards TJ, pointing a finger at him. “Where. Is. My. Son.”

“I-I don’t k-know.” TJ says. He’s a terrible liar.

“Tell me where he is.” Blake growls, coming closer.

Angel looks like she doesn’t know whether she should stay out of it, or call the police. 

TJ seems to realize he’s backing into the hallway that Daniel’s in, so he stops. Daniel moves farther away. He doesn’t want TJ or Angel to get hurt, but he doesn’t want his dad to see him either.

TJ tries to stand in front of Blake, but Blake’s stronger and taller. Daniel moves farther, but trips over a flower pot, which hits the floor loudly.

“There you are.” Blake snarls. Daniel shrinks back. “Come on, we’re going home.”

Blake steps towards him, but TJ moves in front. “Leave him alone.”

“TJ,” Daniel starts. 

Blake scowls at him. “Stay out of this.”

“Leave him alone.” He repeats, looking ready to fight.

“TJ-”

Blake shoves him out of the way, and TJ hits the bookshelf, hard, then crumbles to the ground. The shelf teeters, and books fall. Daniel pushes it back against the wall, but several heavy books hit TJ’s temple.

“TJ!” He screams, scrambling towards him. 

TJ lays limp on the ground, blood trickling from deep cuts. Angel runs over as Daniel drops to his knees beside him. 

“We need to stop the blood.” Angel says, rushing down the hallway.

Daniel feels a hand on his shoulder, and he jerks away.

“Let’s go, son.” Blake says sternly.

Daniel scowls. “No. You leave. I’m staying here.”

“You can’t-”

“Just go!” He shouts. “I don’t want to see you ever again!”

Angel runs back over with a wet washcloth, and she presses it to TJ’s forehead. Her phone is ringing in her other hand, and he realizes she called the hospital. 

He holds the washcloth to TJ’s head, trying to stay calm. He’s still breathing, but only barely. Please, please, please be okay. 

He’s barely listening as Angel talks on the phone. He notices at some point that Blake is gone. He realizes he’s being extremely unhelpful, and looks up. 

“W-what do I do?” He asks her. 

She’s typing on her phone. “I called the hospital, and an ambulance should be here soon. They said to try to stop the bleeding, and make sure he’s breathing.”

“Who are you calling?” 

“Mom.”

Daniel nods, then reaches into TJ’s jacket for his phone to call TJ’s parents. He keeps one hand on the washcloth, and watches TJ nervously. He’s breathing, but not much.

Please, please, please be okay, TJ.

“TJ?” His mothers voice comes over the phone.

Daniel swallows, the phone shaking in his hands. “It’s Daniel.”

“Oh, hey, sweetie. Everything okay?”

He takes a breath, trying to hold back tears. “No.”