Title: Here With Me 27/?
Author: Anorien and Sairalinde
Type: RPS
Pairing: Craig/David
Rating: NC-17
Beta: Ourselves
Warning: Rape.
Disclaimer: This never happened. This was written in fun that's all.
Feedback: Yes please send to sairalinde @ hornofgondor.com
or thechroniclesofosgiliath @ yahoo.com
Archiving: OEAM, Mirrormere, The Chronicles of Osgiliath, Saira's Library, CxD Archive, other's ask.
Summary: A.U. Two University Professors try to overcome their pasts and find love and healing.
A/N: This is A.U. and it is the world we wish really did exist.
//Indicate thoughts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

David turned and set a plate on the counter while Richard was at the stove and turned back to get another one. He was talking about his Aunt's new store. Richard didn't care for Diana but he had said he was happy she had opened the store. It had been a really good week all and all David thought. He thought maybe all that had happened a few weeks ago was just a fluke and Richard had apologized and the bruises had faded quickly. It wasn't *that* bad, David thought. Picking up the other plate his hand slipped and it fell shattering on the floor. "Oh shit, I'm so sorry," David said looking up quickly at Richard who'd turned around when the plate crashed on the floor.

"What the fuck? David goddamn it can't you do anything right?" Richard said irritated turning off the burner and turning to face his lover.

"I said I was sorry, I'll clean it up. Jesus, Rich it's just a plate," David said slightly exasperated. It *was* just a plate. He was looking down and hadn't seen Richard's eyes flash angrily. Before he knew it David's body flew back against the other counter his hip aching where it hit the marble surface and his face stinging from where Richard had slapped him. He just stared at the other man in shock. He promised he wouldn't do it again!

"Goddamn right you'll clean it up," Richard barked grabbing David by his shirtfront and dragging him forward.

"Stop, Richard don't," David pleaded trying to pry Richard's hand off of him.

As David tried to get away Richard slung him forward onto his hands and knees in the floor on top of the broken plate, cutting the palm of David's hand and one of his knees. Crying out as the sharp glass cut into him he heard Richard saying something but was unsure what.

"Clean it up!" Richard barked, shoving David's face down toward the broken glass but stopping before shoving it all the way down on the sharp pieces.

David tensed and held his breath waiting for a moment and then moved slowly to start gathering the pieces while Richard's hand remained on the back of his neck holding him in place. David realized his hands were shaking and he dropped some of the shards.

"So fucking stupid you can't even do that right," Richard snapped off angrily. Reaching over to the counter beside the sink, he drug the entire dish drainer over and dumped it on top of David's back. "Get the broom and clean it all up!" he said releasing David and stepping back.

David sat up on his knees and stood up shakily. Making his way around the island trying to avoid Richard he went to the pantry to grab the broom and paused. Taking a deep breath he turned around.

"No," David said softly.

"What did you say?" Richard asked, his hands on his hips.

"I said no, clean it up yourself, I'm going home," David said, walking toward the door making the mistake of putting his back to Richard.

Grabbing the smaller man by his hair Richard yanked him back and slammed him into the counter, "You'll go home when I fucking well say you will," he barked pushing David's face against the cold marble and kicking his legs apart.

"No…don't do this, please…please," David pleaded pushing as hard as he could against the counter and turning. Pushing Richard back he tried to get past him for the door again but this time Richard slung him down on the floor his head slamming against the cabinet. David stopped struggling as tears streamed down his face.

Rolling over he pushed at the body against his, "No…please….stop! Stop!" he screamed lost inside his nightmare.

Craig awoke to his lover's screams just as he felt strong hands push him away. Shaking his head and trying to figure out what was going on, he tried to gently push David's hands away and ask him what was wrong. "David? Baby? Please? Stop what?" As David's hand's kept pushing, the palm of one hand pressed against Craig's still blackened eye and he yelped. He looked over at his lover in surprise, watching him struggle, realizing that this had to be a nightmare. "David!" he said loudly, avoiding the hands and arms and trying to place his hand on David's shoulder. "Sweetheart, please wake up! It's me, it's Craig."

A voice calling to him seemed to break through the memories playing in David's mind and he realized it was Craig calling to him. David's eyes snapped open to see Craig above him. Sitting up quickly he threw his arms around his lover sobbing against Craig's chest. It was just a dream...a nightmare memory of that day in the kitchen with Richard, obviously brought on by his recent attack in the lounge. David shuddered and snuggled closer to Craig's warmth unable to say anything, just clinging to his lover, needing to feel his arms around him...needing to feel safe.

Craig held on to David tightly, avoiding the bruises and cut on his back that were harsh reminders of his run in with Richard. Slowly rocking him back and forth, he kissed the top of his lover's head and simply held him, murmuring softly. "I'm here, love. It was a nightmare. You're safe, I swear. You're safe." He could happily have finished what he started on that bastard for ever laying a finger on David, and his hatred of the man grew exponentially with each shudder of his lover's body. "I've got you, sweetheart," he whispered softly, closing his eyes and holding him even tighter.

David sobbed openly against Craig's chest, feeling horrible for soaking him with tears like that but he just couldn't stop. Trying to swallow and clear his throat he nodded slowly. He tried to speak but had to try a couple of times to get anything resembling English to come out, "It...it...w...wasn't a...ni...nightmare," David began, sitting back slightly then looking up in Craig's eyes, "W....w....was a memory," he said rubbing his hand across his face trying to wipe the tears away.

Craig's fingers moved lightly over David's face, capturing each new tear as it fell, as his own tears filled his eyes. "I'm so sorry," he said softly, kissing David's forehead as his other hand ran in soothing circles of his back. "What can I do? Do you want to tell me about it?"

David leaned forward wrapping his arms around Craig again burying his face against his neck, "Dunno...if I can," he whispered. That was one of the worst times...that day in Richard's kitchen had been one of the worst beatings he'd ever received...and what happened once Richard had him pinned down. David shuddered against Craig. "I don't...don't think I...s....should. Just....just a memory," he said worried that if he told Craig everything that happened that he'd get upset.

Craig rested his chin on David's shoulder and shook his head. "Baby, please," he whispered. "Let me help you. I know it's hurting you and it kills me to see you like this. You can tell me anything, sweetheart, I promise. I swore to you that I wouldn't go after him again, and I won't." //Unless the sick fuck tries to touch you, then all bets are off. // "Tell me, please, love. Was it….was it when he….broke your arm? When he knocked you unconscious? Or….or something else?"

David shook his head. "Something else," he whispered pulling back and resting against the headboard, rubbing his hands over his face. "We...we were in his kitchen making dinner and I dropped a plate and broke it," David said softly looking away. David began to tell Craig about that afternoon, telling him about all of it up to the point Craig had woke him up. He paused wanting to continue but needing a moment to try and explain what else happened.

For David's sake, Craig kept his face from expressing most of the rage that clouded his mind. //Over a plate? A fucking plate? He did………..fucking HELL, I should have broken every bone in his body!// His anger was nothing compared to his heartbreak at David's words, and the way his lover refused to look at him as he spoke so quietly. Trying not to look at the angry bruises that still colored David's arm, Craig reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "Go on when you're ready, love," he whispered.

Grateful, David's eyes met Craig's and he looked down at their joined hands. "I don't know if I can say it out loud," David said softly. He'd never told anyone any of what had happened between he and Richard, and telling Craig wasn't easy...though he deserved to know. Taking a deep breath David looked up into his lover's eyes, "What he did was far worse than that night he broke my arm...this was the day that I should have left him, but fear was what made me stay. He pinned me down across the counter and used one of the kitchen knives to cut my clothes off. I tried to struggle until he put the blade against my throat. I think I forgot how to breathe at that point," David explained in a voice that was flat and didn't even really sound like his own. "That was the first time he raped me."

"Oh, God," Craig whispered, lifting his hand up to cup David's face. "I….Oh, God." The very idea of that happening to his beloved David was devastating and heartbreaking and he found couldn't find the words to say what he was feeling. Tears silently streamed down his face as his hand held on to David's. Letting his lover see his tears was the last thing Craig wanted to do, yet he found that he was unable to look away. "I wish….I wish I'd castrated the son of a bitch when I had the chance," he said in a low voice, speaking to himself. He took a deep breath and ran the pad of his thumb over David's cheek. "That's why…..that's why you get nervous in the kitchen. I was afraid it was something to do with….*him*, but I had no idea…… I'm so, so very sorry."

David looked up seeing Craig's tears and scooted closer to him, "I'm sorry," he whispered wiping Craig's tears away. "It's why I don't like the kitchen...yeah...but I'm...I'm ok. Just a bad memory, don't cry, love," David said softly feeling horrible that Craig was crying because of him. "I'll be fine...this," he said glancing down at his arm, "What happened the other day just brought that all back." David said trying to just make it all go away. He wished he could erase his memory sometimes.

Craig slid his arms around David and held him, as if his arms could keep the memories and nightmares away, all the while kicking himself for letting his lover see how much the story hurt him. //Dammit, you're supposed to be strong for him…not let him see you cry! Do you *really* think that helped him at all? Bloody idiot! You may as well not even *be* here for all the good you're doing him!// Pressing his lips to David's neck, Craig took a deep breath. His fingers curled in David's hair and he closed his eyes. "You are the most courageous person I've ever met."

David shook his head, that wasn't true. He wasn't courageous, if he was he'd have left Richard the first time he hit him. Kissing Craig softly David whispered, "I love you, thank you for loving me. Thank you for not turning away once you saw what you'd gotten yourself into with me. I'm sorry that what happened to me hurt you," he said running his fingers over Craig's cheek. "But...it makes me feel loved to see that you care enough to cry with me," he said softly. All he wanted was to curl up in Craig's embrace and forget everything. "Would you....would you just hold me?" David asked softly.

//…it makes me feel loved.// "Oh, sweetheart," Craig smiled, "you are the most loved man on the face of this earth." Sliding down in the bed, he rested on his side, opening his arms to his lover. "I'll always hold you," he whispered softly. "Come here."

David slid close snuggling down under the covers in Craig's arms and rested his head against his shoulder. "I just want to forget," David whispered softly. He wanted nothing more than to snuggle up with Craig and forget every horrible thing Richard ever did to him. The only thing he knew he could count on was that he knew no matter how long he was with Craig...he knew, just *knew* Craig would never hurt him that way. He still worried at times that Craig might still walk away, but those worries had all but gone away the last few weeks.

Mindful of David's injured back, Craig held him carefully. "I know, love," he said softly. "We'll get through this together. You're safe and no one will ever, ever hurt you again, I swear. And….thank you for telling me what happened. I know it wasn't easy, but thank you for trusting me enough to let it all out." He leaned in to kiss every inch of David's skin that his lips could reach. "You are my greatest gift, David. My dearest treasure," he whispered. "And you will be treated with the greatest love and respect and honor for the rest of your life, I swear."

David smiled softly, "You know that I feel the same about you don't you? I will always be here for you if you need me," he whispered. Closing his eyes and trying to will the images that had come to him during his nightmare away and replace them with images of Craig smiling and happy and making him feel loved and happy. "If we just keep working on making new happy memories I'll have enough to shove Richard right out of my head," David grinned tentatively, still trying to shake off the unease he felt when he first woke up.

"I know, sweetheart," Craig said softly, wanting nothing more in the world than to push that bastard completely out of David's head forever. He ran his tongue playfully over the shell of his lover's ear, eliciting a shiver, wanting nothing more than to make him smile. "You and I are going to do nothing but make happy memories every day, every hour, every second, from now on. I think we can start by seeing how long you can stand for me to do this…" Licking loudly at David's ear, he was relieved to hear him giggle. "Well, *that* didn't last very long, now did it?" he teased.

"No, it didn't," David laughed softly, the simple, loving act making him feel better almost instantly. "I love you, Craig," he whispered pulling back and looking into his lover's beautiful eyes. "You make me so happy you know that? Make me feel loved, make me laugh, and make me feel special, you are my very life," David whispered softly snuggling closer. "You also make me crazy in the best possible way. Just a look, just a kiss, and I'm a drooling idiot ya know?" David teased starting to relax.

Craig smiled and pulled the covers up to tuck gently under his lover's chin. "You're my life too, sweetheart," he whispered. "Everything good and safe and wonderful in my life is all wrapped up in this gorgeous package right here in my arms. I love you, and I will always, always love you." As David slowly relaxed in his arms, Craig tilted his chin up and looked into sparkling blue eyes. He ran his tongue in a long, wet swipe across his lover's lips, blinking innocently when David sputtered a bit. "I was just checking for drool, love." He laughed softly at the look in David's eyes and gently wiped his lips with the sheet. "Are you feeling better?" he asked. "Think you can rest now?"

David laughed as Craig wiped his lips and shook his head. "I think so," he said softly. "Thank you...well not for *that* but for...you know," he said grinning but meaning it truly. In such a short time he had fallen madly in love with this beautiful blue eyed man and was still completely amazed that he loved David in return. //We will get through this...I WILL forget...because I will have you to help me.// David yawned and snuggled close to Craig. "Let's get back to sleep, love," he whispered closing his eyes already feeling relaxed and warm and safe.

With another kiss to David's forehead, Craig felt himself relax a bit, and entangled their legs with a contented sigh. His hands gently soothed his lover's back, rubbing small circles over his skin as he looked over David's head to stare at the wall. "Rest, sweetheart," he murmured softly. "I've got you." As David's breathing became deeper and more regular, Craig concentrated on relaxing himself, his arms never letting go of the man he loved. "I love you," he whispered, hoping those words would be the last thing his lover heard before he went to sleep, praying they would be a ward against any more bad dreams or unwanted memories.

David smiled as he drifted off to sleep hearing his lover's words of love, he tried to murmur 'I love you' in response but wasn't sure if the words actually came out before he drifted into sleep again.

Craig smiled as David mumbled, his words trailing off into nothingness. He knew David loved him, and that was all that mattered in the world to him besides making sure that he somehow found a way to keep these memories and nightmares from coming back to haunt him. "Sleep well, my sweet David," he whispered before closing his eyes and trying to go back to sleep. "I'll be right here if you need me."

TBC