Kelly's journey to the clinic seemed endless.
When her cell phone ringed and she had seen the clinic number Kelly had collapsed. She had been afraid that Brandon was gone, that he had gone away, silently and alone.
She stared at the phone without being able to pick up a single thought and didn't answer.
The second phone call was from Jim. He warned her that the nightmare was over, that Brandon was awake.
Awake. He had opened her eyes and answered questions. Those like "what's your name" "who's the president of the United States" "what's your wife and children's name" "what year are we in".
And now she was running Kelly, she was running without really seeing anyone.
When she entered his room, he was sitting on the bed. Leaning on the pillows. His blue eyes stared at her.
"Oh my God" she sighed as she crumbled and threw herself into his arms kissing him on the face.
"Oh my God, you're back," Kelly kept whispering.
"Hi my love," he said.
"I thought... " Kelly couldn't get to the end of the sentence.
"It's all right. Everything will be fine," he said, stroking her hair.
A few minutes later Brenda arrived. Even for her you feel that the tension of those days was causing her to fall to the ground. She kissed his brother. She hugged her mother and father, Grace who had grabbed her father by the hand and feared he might slip away again, and Samuel. Samuel whose eyes spoke while his father's seemed to remember nothing.
Andrea reassured that from the first neurological examinations Brandon seemed to be fine. He had to recover his weak muscle tone and for this he needed a lot of physiotherapy so they would still hold him in the hospital.
The kids would have liked to spend the morning with their father but Kelly insisted that they go to school and Brandon rest. And so they left with the promise to see each other again in the afternoon, and then the next day, and that again.
'Dylan?' Brandon asked with innocence.
Brenda's face faded .
Brandon did not escape the deafening silence that had spread throughout the room.
"What happened?"
Brenda breathed a long sigh 'Dylan was arrested'
"Arrested for what?"
"Rape"
Brandon looked around it felt like a stupid joke and realised that a joke was not.
"What happened... rape of whom?"
Kelly understood the moment and left Brandon and Brenda alone.
If she could Brenda would have postponed the moment, as strange life was, her brother had returned and it should have been the best moment of her life, instead a shadow enveloped her, prevented her from breathing.
Brenda took a chair, that chair that on so many days had been her confessional when she talked for hours with an unconscious and uncertain Brandon.
"Ashley Monroe.." began to tell.
XX
Dylan had ended up in a cell with a certain Philip Ballard, a guy of Indian descent, who hardly ever spoke, Dylan didn't even know what he was inside for, what Philip could have done so terrible. Maybe he was as innocent as he was. They hadn't exchanged many words, and Dylan was fine with that, he didn't look at anyone, he didn't care about anyone. Sometimes they had offered him a few bottles secretly, at unthinkable prices, it was a real temptation. Dylan would have liked to drink until he was exhausted. Until he no longer remembered anything but the thought of Luke, Lee Ann, Blanca and Brenda kept him on the surface.
The cells were open, it was time for showers for his blockade of inmates. Dylan hurry up, that afternoon he would have Brenda's visit. Matt had managed to get one, a conjugal visit, to which even the worst of criminals seems to have been entitled.
He slipped under the hot water shower head and for a moment closed his eyes, imagined that he was at his house, that at any moment Brenda would open the sliding door and slip into the shower with him ..
Three inmates surrounded him, one of them was The Bull, they called him that, he was in prison serving a sentence for murder, and he was the undisputed leader of the prison, no one moved if the Bull did not want to and now he had come to visit Dylan.
With a nod he told Philip to leave, the Indian slipped out of the bathrooms while Dylan hadn't noticed anything.
"Mckay"
Dylan slowly turned around and saw that he was surrounded.
"You've been here for a while Mckay and we haven't introduced ourselves yet," said The Bull .
Dylan didn't answer, he knew that any movement could cost him dearly.
"We know you like to fuck women by beating them," added the Bull as the two henchmen looked at him with metallic airs.
"I didn't do anything," Dylan said.
The Bull laughed "not us either, we're all innocent in here."
Dylan made an ironic chuckle "I guess yes"
Dylan's brazen attitude irritated the Bull who took Dylan by the neck and crushed him to the wall not allowing him to breathe.
The Bull face was so close to Dylan that he could smell his mixed breath of alcohol and shoddy tobacco.
"Here I'm the leader Mckay, and now I give you my first order" the Bull put his obvious erection on Dylan's body "now you, you will satisfy me, because that's how it works in here."
Dylan rebelled trying to wriggle but the other two grabbed him and the Bull punched him in the face and stomach.
"What's going on here?" The guard intervened immediately and saw Dylan's bloody face
"Nothing Sir" said the Bull lifting Dylan and putting a hand on his shoulder "Mckay fell into the shower and slammed his nose"
Agent Frinley knew exactly what had happened and also knew that Mckay would not tell the truth and confirm the version of the Bull.
"Out of here," Frinley ordered to the Bull and the other two.
The Bull approached Dylan's ear "it doesn't end there," he said and then walked away.
Frinley looked at Dylan "If you tell me the truth I can send them into isolation at least you can rest easy".
Dylan smiled sarcastically "and then they'll come back here," Dylan replied "worse than before."
Frinley sighed.
Soon after Philip the Indian returned to the cell, looked at Dylan's swollen face.
"The spirits will soon take the Bull," he just said that.
Dylan listened to him without exactly understanding.
"You have to tell the spirits to hurry up" he sighed
The Indian got on his cot and said nothing else Dylan was trying to stop the haemoerorrgia from his nose and prepare for Brenda. Damn it didn't want her to see it that way.
XX
At school there was only talk of the prom and the invitation dances had already begun, girls asking boys, Boys asking girls.
"I don't think I want to come," Blanca said with a sad look.
"C'on Blanca.. it's the prom, you have to come, this afternoon we're going to see some shops help me choose a dress."
Blanca shook her head. Janet had forced her to leave the cheerleading group. She had become even more abusive and took advantage of every single opportunity to remind her that her father was in prison. Blanca felt the look of the whole school on her, she didn't care about the prom, how could she go around having fun if her mother was desperate and her father was unfairly accused of something he hadn't done. On television the news of Mckay had almost disappeared but would come back up easily as soon as the trial began."
"Hey babe" Samuel greeted Emma with a kiss and soon after smiled at Blanca. Nate arrived shortly after he kissed her on the forehead and then took her away by giving her a hand.
"We're skipping the last hour," Nate said.
"See you today at 4pm?" Asked Emma to Blanca with a hopeful look.
"Ok" Blanca replied " at 4 p.m.
Samuel and Emma waited for Blanca and Nate to move away.
"Ready for your run? He asked her.
"No," Emma laughed, kissing him again.
"You're going to make everyone eat their's heart, especially Sanchez," Samuel laughed. The crutches prevented him from hugging her and it was Emma who hugged him.
When Emma broke the hug Samuel asked her "so who are you going to the prom with?"
"I don't know," she said as they walked next to each other, "no one has invited me yet."
'Oh no?' Asked Samuel "weird, such a wonderful girl.."
Emma blushed.
Samuel stopped and cleared his voice "as you can see I'm not in a position to be the best of dancers but Emma, you make me happy, I'm happy after a long time and I owe it to you, so, Emma .. despite everything, do you want to come with me to the prom?"
Emma kissed him "I wouldn't go with anyone else in the world."
Samuel made the kiss with Emma deeper, his desire made its way and it seemed that the world disappeared behind them they did not know that the world still existed and that he was staring at them.
Not far away, in fact, Janet looked from afar. Her mind was reasoning. Her eyes were getting down.
"Why are you looking at those two?" Asked her friend.
'Samuel is cool,' Janet replied, 'it's really gorgeous.'
"It's true" the two confirmed ".. but it looks like he is in couple with Emma."
'Who knows' Janet thought 'Samuel could be my next target, so I destroy that brazen little bitch'
Janet laughed and continued to look at Samuel and Emma who hadn't broken the kiss and kept looking at them with metal eyes.
At that moment she decided that there was nothing else she wanted more than to bend Emma and take Samuel. She was certain that this could hurt Blanca too. She would use what she could do best, which had brought her Nate and whoever she wanted.
XX
Blanca didn't feel like going to the prom she feared that all eyes and attention would be on her and Nate understood and deep down he didn't care about going to a stupid dance when his whole world was already in his arms.
"Buy the dress, I'll pick you up," Nate told her, squeezing her while their bodies were intertwined in the sheets of his bed, "We'll have a dance of our own."
"What do you mean?"
Nate made a grimace "I won't tell you, but go with Emma to buy the dress." he kissed her deeply and Blanca let herself be carried away, they were ready for the 2nd round, Blanca's hands had become more experienced and hectic and this excited Nate even more, suddenly he felt his dog Mika bark.
Mika was always a great alarm.
"My parents are coming back, I really think we have to get up" Nate said abandoning the kiss reluctantly and anyway Emma has her race, we have to go and support her."
Blanca smiled, her heart was always divided in half, between the idea of her father, her mother but Nate, he managed to take her into a parallel universe. Sweet. And he succeeded in this magic without any effort.
XX
Brenda finished the scary tale she had seen involved Dylan as Brandon listened to her carefully without ever interrupting her.
"So Matt came back from New York to support him"
"Yes," Brenda sighed.
"I'd like to talk to him"
Brenda shook her head "Brandon, I couldn't hide what happened from you because it really would have to be impossible, but you have to think about recovering, you're weak, I can do it."
Brandon gave his sister a wonderful smile "I know you can make it, I have no doubts, but I want to be next to you and next to Dylan. If there's one thing this story taught me, it's that time is the only thing that shouldn't be wasted."
Brenda nodded.
"Matt made me get a conjugal visit with Dylan, that means we can be a little alone and talk, I haven't seen him in weeks. I'll tell him you're finally back he'll be so happy. "
"Please," Brandon asked again, "get Matt here."
XX
Matt walked into Peach, David greeted him warmly and introduced him to Valerie, forgetting that although for a short time, Valerie and Matt had crossed paths years before.
They were looking for someone news about Dylan, but Matt was trying not to provide too much information. Dylan's Defence had to tiptoe, at least until all the cards in the prosecutor's hand were uncovered.
Kelly arrived shortly after, she wanted to pick up a peach cake for Grace and Samuel for when they would come home.
She walked into the club and saw Matt sitting down sipping a coffee.
Valerie followed Kelly's movements as she sat next to him.
"Hey Matt"
"Kelly... how are you?"
"Do you want the truth? I'm happy."
Matt smiled "I heard Brandon came out of the coma and he's fine"
Kelly smiled. The tension she had accumulated in those days had weighted her face, she had drawn new small wrinkles on her face that remained beautiful anyway.
"We haven't had a chance to talk since you came back," Kelly told him,
"Do we have to talk?" Matt asked.
Kelly was surprised by that question "bhe we didn't keep in touch, I don't know anything about you anymore"
"This is true, but I knew something"
'Really?'
Matt nodded "I kept in touch with Steve"
"I didn't know," Kelly whispered.
Matt leaned over the cup of coffee.
"It's always been hard for me to totally cut bridges, I never throw anything, you know.."
Kelly laughed "it's true"
"Then" Matt asked her, "are you happy?"
Kelly's eyes became more lively "yes" she replied nodding "yes, I'm happy... I'd like you to know my children, and Brandon too"
Matt cleared his voice "I don't think I'll have time these days, unfortunately Dylan isn't in an easy position."
Kelly put a hand on Matt's "I hope you can find the time, we never had a closure. You and me"
Matt looked at her and at that moment Brenda came in and couldn't help but notice Kelly's hand over Matt's.
She arrived behind the two.
"Matt I'm ready to go" Brenda said.
Kelly immediately took off her hand, and realised the moment.
"Yes," he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin, "I'll go to the toilet and catch up with you."
As soon as Matt walked away Kelly felt Brenda's gaze on her and turned around.
"What was that?" Brenda asked nervous.
"That what?" Kelly replied "I just came to get a peach pie and say hello to a friend"
Valerie was staring at the scene from a distance and she was smiling. Matt went back at that moment.
"We can go," he said.
"Enjoy your peach pie," Brenda told Kelly who was disappointed by the strange grudge Brenda had brought with her.
XX
Brenda's entry into prison was shocking. She had to pass at least 4 checks and two personal searches and only at the last Matt told her that she had to continue on her own. As she followed the guard her footsteps rumbled down the corridor. Tears came to her eyes. Dylan, her Dylan, was locked in that place for no reason.
Her legs were shaking and she thought she could run away at any time.
But Dylan was in that place, and the strength of love brought her to him.
She was let into a room, with a large bed and a mattress.
Somw sheets folded, two pillows inside the plastic
"McKay will be coming in a few minutes," they told her.
On the bedside table were condoms. Two bottles of water, conjugal visits called them.
The door reopened and this blew up Brenda.
Dylan appeared behind that door, thin, with a bruise on his cheekbone.
When Dylan saw Brenda he broke down. He held her close to him, pressed his body with hers, sank his face into her hair.
"What did they do to you?" Brenda asked worried.
Dylan shifted his face "it's nothing" he said.
"How is nothing..."
"Please" Dylan interrupted her "please, I want to be alone with you.. please."
Brenda stopped talking and held him tight.
"I need to know that you believe me Brenda, I've never touched that girl, I just drove her home, I need you to believe me first"
Brenda looked him in the eye "I believe you my love, I believe you."
They squeezed tightly.
Dylan began to kiss her softly. How he had missed her, her body, her lips.
Brenda followed his kisses "I wanted to tell you Brandon woke up" Brenda whispered.
It was a flash of joy for Dylan. It was as if somewhere unknown he knew he had another ally. Brandon wouldn't have left him in that prison.
Dylan unbuttoned Brenda's pants.
He didn't think about being in San Quentin, nor the Bull, nor the silent Indian, it was just him and her.
He wanted her naked, on that bed just made with the grey prison sheets.
He made love to her with all of himself, putting a hand on her mouth so as not to make her scream with pleasure. He didn't want the guards to hear. He didn't want anyone to feel that thing that belonged only to them.
He made love to her in desperation, entering into her gently, opening her legs gently, kissing and licking her hot spot, savouring her. He sucked her breast, smelled her hair, always kept her eyes open, while Brenda kept them closed as she enjoyed her husband's closeness again.
Dylan instead had his eyes wide open to memorise her body, as if it was the last time he saw her.
They had an hour that slipped between their fingers, on Brenda's back as he took her from behind. On Brenda's buttoes as he pushed inside her body.
He was exhausted inside her. And immediately the greyness of the prison reappted as Brenda stroked his hair after love.
