38(Hi guys! Thank you for your support on this story. Means a lot! This took me a while to get up, but I hope you like it.)
With a heavy sigh, Combeferre let himself fall back on his couch. He closed his eyes and for the hundredth time that day, he wondered why this had to happen now. He was tired, his thoughts were all over the place and most of all, he was worried. Combeferre doubted he was going to do well on his test today, but he couldn't even quite get himself to care, because his concern for his young friend dominated all other feelings.
When they got back from the hospital, Combeferre had put Enjolras straight to bed. His friend already got his painkillers at the doctors and he hardly even woke up when Combeferre guided the blonde from the car back up to his apartment. After that, the medical student had called Eponine, who was thankfully available to keep an eye on Enjolras while he was out to do his test. Combeferre also called Courfeyrac, Jehan and Grantaire to let them know that their friend was safe and that he would stay in Paris until Combeferre's Christmas break began. He only told Jehan about the fact that Enjolras' father had hit him and broke his jaw, because Combeferre feared that if he told either Courfeyrac or Grantaire, they would both see red and marge straight on to Monsieur Enjolras' house. And Combeferre didn't think Enjolras would appreciate that, no matter the good intentions behind it. Jehan was furious too, of course, but he knew that at this point it was best if they would mind their own business until Enjolras had figured out what he wanted to do.
Next in line was Enjolras' school. Combeferre was glad that Valjean was still the principal. He knew the man quite well from volunteering together at the homeless shelter with Enjolras. Valjean, of course, also knew about the difficult situation Enjolras found himself in. Not just because he was the principal of the school, but also because he became some sort of counselor to Combeferre and the medical student still emailed the man now and then to tell him about his worries and to ask him to keep an eye on his best friend. Therefore, Combeferre wasn't nervous at all when he called the school. He knew Valjean would understand and just as he had expected, Enjolras was so far ahead of his classes that it couldn't hurt for him to miss the final week before the Christmas holidays. Combeferre didn't tell the headmaster everything. He only told him that Enjolras and his father got into a very bad fight and that Enjolras needed some time apart to get back from it. It was obvious that Valjean doubted that that was the full extent of the story, but he didn't force Combeferre to elaborate.
Now there was only one person left to call and the young student was most reluctant to do so. He remembered his conversation with Enjolras' father the night before, but he wondered if the man in question did as well. He had been smashed. And since Combeferre hadn't received any phone calls or text messages after three am in the morning, he concluded that the man was either still out cold or he had forgotten about everything. Combeferre dragged a hand across his face and uttered another sigh. He briefly thought about Enjolras' mother and he wondered what she would have to say about this whole situation. She would be devastated that her family was falling apart, of that Combeferre was sure.
He glanced towards the clock. It was already nearing one in the afternoon and Eponine would be here within the next hour, so that Combeferre could catch her up on Enjolras' condition before he left. That meant that if he wanted to call Enjolras' dad, he had to do it now. With a final sigh, he selected the man's number in his phone and he waited. It had to ring eight times until there was an answer.
"Hello?" The person on the other side of the line sounded tired and cranky and Combeferre was sure he had just called him awake. He rolled his eyes.
"Monsieur Enjolras. This is Combeferre."
There was a moment of silence, but Combeferre could clearly hear the gasp on the other side of the line and that at least was a sign that the man hadn't forgotten about the events that occurred the day before. Luckily, because Combeferre wasn't sure if he would have been able to keep his cool if that was the case.
"Combeferre…I…," the man stuttered and he groaned. He was no longer drunk and his voice didn't sound slurred, so for that Combeferre was glad. But it was obvious the man was dealing with a hangover and the medical student hoped that if was a hangover from hell. "Thank you for calling me back… How…H-How is Julien? I-Is he still there? Can you put him on the phone please?"
Combeferre pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He was glad that Enjolras' father wasn't drunk, but he had to admit that it was a lot easier to be angry at a drunk dad than at this guilt-ridden father. The young student could clearly hear the tears and sorrow in his voice and he wasn't sure how to deal with that.
"He's asleep…," Combeferre said quietly. "You broke his jaw, monsieur."
The silence that followed was abruptly broken by a muffled sob. Combeferre hated doing this to the obviously broken man, but he brought it on himself and the young student refused to feel sorry for or go easy on him. So, while Enjolras' father continued crying, Combeferre continued.
"He woke up early this morning and he was hurting terribly so I took him to the hospital. They took some x-rays and he has a hairline fracture in his lower jawbone on the left side. Luckily it'll heal on its own, so he won't need surgery or anything like that. But the doctor had to immobilize his jaw to limit his movement. He won't be able to talk or eat anything solid for at least a week. The pain will last for a couple of days, so he's got heavy painkillers that pretty much knock him out."
Combeferre wanted to say more, but he kept silent when he heard the man on the other side mumble the same words over and over again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please Marie, please forgive me, I'm so sorry…" His heart twisted painfully at hearing the name of Enjolras' mother and Combeferre's eyes filled with tears. He didn't know how to deal with this. He didn't know what was the right decision. He didn't know if he could trust Enjolras' father. Sure, the man seemed to regret it all now, but what would happen when he started drinking again? Enjolras wasn't safe there. Not anymore.
"Combeferre?" The soft voice pulled the young student out of his thoughts. "Combeferre… Please… You have to know that I am so sorry for what happened. I never meant for that to happen… God… I love Julien, I love him more than anything, you know that. I just… I don't know, he makes me so angry sometimes and I lose control and I know it is not an excuse, but please. You have to believe me. I'm not a bad father. I'm not. I need to talk to him. He has to know I'm sorry. He has to know that I love him."
Combeferre believed him. There wasn't a single hair on his head that doubted the man's words. But though Enjolras' father might say that he loves his son and though Combeferre believes him when he does, the fact remained that he still hit Enjolras. And that is something that Combeferre refused to look past.
"Monsieur," he said quietly, interrupting the man's desperate string of apologies, "I know you never meant this to happen. But it did. And I cannot ignore that."
The man on the other side of the line grew quiet again.
"This can't go on any longer. Ever since your wife passed you have been spiraling out of control and you know that is the truth. Don't think I don't know about all the fights and the hateful words that have been said between the two of you. I know more than you think. To be honest, I know everything that transpires between the two of you. Julien and I talk every day. But I never would have thought that it would get this bad. I never would have thought you capable of hitting him. And now that it did, I don't feel comfortable to bring him back to you."
"It won't happen again Combeferre," Enjolras' father muttered brokenly. "It won't… Besides, he is still my son. It is not your call to make. You're only a friend."
A pang of angers shot through the medical student and he gripped his phone tightly. Only a friend. How dare he. "Don't test me monsieur. I have an underage boy here in my apartment, who fled your house, who is afraid of going home and who has a broken jaw. I only have to make one call and you'll be lucky if you get him back at all."
Silence again. And so Combeferre continued.
"Something has to happen, monsieur. This has to change. I have had enough of this. Julien is staying here, with me, until the end of this term. I have called principal Valjean this morning and he agrees with me. I'll take him back home when Christmas break starts. Until then, you won't get to see or speak to him, unless he decides differently. He needs some time apart from you and you need to deal with your problems. I refuse to let him go back to your home as long as you can't stay away from the drink."
Combeferre fell silent when he heard Enjolras' father agree. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and listened.
"You are right… Combeferre, I know something has to change and I am willing to do my best. I respect your arguments and to be honest, I am very grateful that Julien has a protective friend such as yourself… But please… I do need to talk to him. I need to tell him that I love him. You understand that, right Combeferre? Please?"
Combeferre bit his lip and glanced at the clock. Half an hour had already gone by and Combeferre knew Eponine would be here any minute now. He needed to break off the conversation. Not only because of the time, but because his heart couldn't go on with this any longer.
"If Julien wants to talk to you, then he can. If he doesn't, then I will not push him in any way. I'll tell him that you called and I'll tell him that you want to speak to him. But that's all I'll do."
Enjolras' father agreed reluctantly and Combeferre was about to say his goodbyes and hang up the phone.
"C-Can I call you though?" the man asked suddenly, "Combeferre, can I call you to ask about him?"
Combeferre let out a deep sigh and shook his head quietly. "You can call me only when you're sober. I have to go now, monsieur. I'll talk to Julien when he wakes up. Take care of yourself. Goodbye."Combeferre didn't give Enjolras' father the chance to respond. He hung up the phone and made his way to his bedroom to see if his best friend was still sleeping soundly. As he watched Enjolras, Combeferre prayed to himself that this time his father would really try and do something about the situation. Combeferre knew how much the man meant to his best friend. He would hate for them to get estranged, to grow apart. He just hoped that it wouldn't already be too late.
A silent knock on his door pulled Combeferre out of his thoughts and he quickly walked over to the living room. He smiled at Eponine and stepped aside to let her in. He knew Enjolras would be happy to see her. Even though the two bickered more often than not, Combeferre knew for a fact that they liked each other and could get along when needed to. He was secretly glad for that, because ever since he moved to Paris, Combeferre developed a little crush on the girl and he hoped that one day he would find the courage to act on his feelings and ask her out.
"Hi 'Ferre," Eponine said softly, greeting him by hugging him close. She didn't know the full extent of the story yet, but Combeferre had already told her that Enjolras had trouble at home and got hurt. Besides, she knew enough about her younger friend's situation to fill in the gaps. "Where's the little troublemaker?"
TBC.
(I hope you liked this chapter. Please share your thoughts with me and review. Next chapter I will write my first real scene with Eponine in it. Even though I know she's really younger than Enjolras, I like to think of her as a sort of big sister, especially because I ship her with Combeferre, who is of course like a big brother to Enjolras.)