Virgin Territory(Author�s note: Denotes entries in Elijah's diary - denotes Elijah's thoughts. {Denotes Dom�s thoughts})Part 16 � Compromise Sean got to his feet, and stood there, arms folded, glaring at Dom defiantly. "I'm not sorry he kissed me, Dom - not sorry at all!" Sean and Elijah both waited, in varied degrees of trepidation, for Dom's reaction. Dom gave Sean a withering glance, and held out his hand to Elijah. "Come on, baby - let's go!" Elijah went forward and started to explain, but Dom quietly and gently put his finger on his lover's lips. "Quiet, now! Come on, love - we'll go and find somewhere...less crowded". Elijah studied Dom's face. No, he's not pissed with me, only with Sean! That's stupid! I kissed Sean after all! I love this man, my Dom! Why did I do it? Dom cast Sean a withering glance, as he led Elijah away from the trees, to a tent nearby. He sat Elijah down, and took him into his arms. Elijah burst into tears, and sobbed onto Dom's shoulder, as if his heart was breaking - which it was. "Oh, Sblom...", Elijah began, but Dom stopped him. "Shush, now, baby - I saw it all, love! Anyone with half a fucking eye could see what was going on. He was leading you on, love...trying to get you to respond to his..misery. And you did, didn't you love?... feel sorry for him, I mean?" Elijah nodded, too upset to speak. "I said he was a cunt, Dom, but it's me, isn't it? I'm just stupid! Why you love me, I just don't know!" Elijah moved his head into the inviting space between Dom's head and shoulder. "You do still love me, Sblom? I promise not to do it again. He just looked so fucking lost, and I was thinking how I'd feel it it was me and you, and..." Dom stopped his mouth with a kiss. "Shut up, Lighe! Would you have let him touch you?" Elijah froze, and his eyes widened in horror. "Fuck, no! You don't think that I would let him touch me after these hands had been on me?" He took one of Dom's hands, and kissed it, gently. Dom smiled. That was all the confirmation he needed. "Yes, I still love you, you wanker! And no I don't think, I know you wouldn't let him touch you - I just wanted you to realise it, that's all!" "Why are you back, Dommie?" Dom hated that appellation, but he didn't tease Elijah about it - he was still too upset. Dom could feel him shaking in his arms. "Technicals - can't fix it for about a week, so we're going to do some other shots, Pippin in Gondor, and Merry in Rohan, so I get the sexy armour on sooner than I thought. We leave this evening. Just come back to collect the props and stuff, so I hitched a lift, just to kiss my baby for an hour." Dom sought to lighten the mood, but Elijah was not calming down. He was still trembling. Dom held him, gently, and just talked nonsense to him, soothing him, but it was no use. Elijah was...stunned by Sean's behaviour, if what Dom said was true - and why would he lie? He couldn't believe it when Dom had indicated that Sean was putting on an act to gain sympathy...to get Elijah to respond to him by... my god! Kissing him! What a stupid fuck I am! "On set, please!" Pete's voice boomed over the megaphone. "Sean, Lijah..." Dom wiped Elijah's face with his handkerchief. "Supposed to look like a frightened hen, are you?" he teased. But Elijah didn't laugh. He squared his shoulders, and went out into the fresh air, giving Dom such a piteous look, that Dom's insides contracted with pain. {Poor baby! He really is still a fucking baby in some things! Sean, the bastard, was playing him like a violin! Next would have been "oh, hold me, Lijah! Just let me feel you once in my arms!" then fuck knows what could have happened! I don't think - no, I know Lighe wouldn't do anything... sexual, with him, but...} Dom wandered out into the set, and watched makeup cover the evidence of Elijah's distress - his face, once more, the little tired Hobbit, Frodo Baggins. But no amount of make up could cover the distress in his reddened eyes, or the expression of sorrow manifest there for all to see. {Fuck Sean!} Dom thought, as he looked at Sean, undergoing the same facial cover up as Elijah had just suffered. Dom sat down in Elijah's chair, and watched, in abject misery, as Elijah and Sean played their parts to perfection. This time Sean pushed Elijah in a more considered way, and he didn't fall. But something was wrong! Dom stare at Elijah, who was standing there with his hands on his chest. He fell to his knees, and Dom cleared the distance between them like an Olympic runner. He grasped Elijah by the arms. "Lighe?" "Can't breathe!" Elijah gasped. "Hurts - here!" - pointing to his chest. "Medics!" Pete yelled, and soon two men were on set, kneeling in front of Elijah, firing questions t him, which he struggled to answer. One of the men indicated that everyone should back off - everyone except Dom, who sat in front of Elijah, willing him to breathe normally. Dom knew what was wrong before the medic spoke. "Panic attack", he said quietly to Dom, while his partner helped Elijah breathe in the mixture from the portable machine they had brought with them. "Didn't know Lij suffered from those", Jim commented. "Been upset lately about something, has he?" He medic stared straight into Dom's eyes. "Youcould say that, yes, " Dom replied, giving back the look he was getting. {And, no, it is fucking nothing to do with me, mate, so shut it!} Dom moved nearer to Elijah. "Baby, are you feeling better?" he said, very quietly into Elijah's ear. Elijah nodded, not speaking. Dom looked round. He could see Sean standing on the other side of the set, looking worried. Dom got up and walked over to him, and grabbed him by the arm. "You've fucking caused this, you tosser! You, and your fucking schemes!" Dom hissed in a low voice. Sean looked at Dom in amazement. "What the fuck are you talking about, Monaghan? I did nothing! He kissed me, you know, not the other way about!" Dom sneered at Sean. "I'm not so green as I'm cabbage looking", he said, to Sean's bafflement. "You cunt! I got there earlier than you realised, Astin. I saw you kiss him, first!" Dom's voice broke. "Fucking go, before I..." Sean took one look at the expression on Dom's face, and left, instantly. Dom went back to Elijah. He was sitting on the ground, quietly, talking to Pete and Jim. Pete got up when he saw Dom approaching. "Take him home, Dominic! The light has nearly gone, now, anyway! "Tomorrow", as Scarlett said, "is another fucking day!"" Elijah managed a watery giggle. "What, such language in the forties? The critics would have shit marbles!" Dom held his hand out, and Elijah took it. Dom pulled him to his feet. "C'mon, Sparkplug, time for a rest, now. Don't worry, Pete, I'll look after him!" Peter smiled. "I'm sure you will, Dom. Thanks, mate." Dom led Elijah away, and Pete's smile vanished. He was remembering what Jim had said in his ear five minutes before. "Pete", he had whispered, earnestly, "that boy is a bundle of nerves. I don't know what's been happening to him, lately, but something's gonna blow, soon. Sensory overload. I just hope it isn't him, that's all, he's a nice kid!" Pete agreed. Nice kid! Really sweet guy. Too nice for his own good, really. What was all that business with Sean, earlier? Couldn't get a word out of Sean about it. Clammed up real tight! Must tackle Lij when he's feeling better. Try to get to the bottom of it. Tomorrow, maybe. |