patlancaster:
Patrick’s heart swelled for the woman in that moment, his face stinging as a small smile made it’s way onto his lips. He wasn’t sure how she could go through such an ordeal and still want to make jokes but he appreciated it so much. “Trust me, I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you, darling.” It was in that moment that he realized he’d never said those words to her. Why would he? His mind had always been on Brody when this wonderful girl had always been right in front of him. Patrick had been so obsessed with the forbidden fruit that he had missed out on someone he should have been loving all along. It only took his father putting his hands on her for him to realize how he felt and Patrick was going to be sure he wouldn’t miss out on anymore moments he could have with Ellie.
Oddly, Patrick felt at ease as he walked with Ellie up the stairs towards his bedroom. A peace he hadn’t known since he was fourteen washed over him as the fear of his father started to fade more and more. If he had known how freeing it would feel to stand up to the man he would have done it a long time ago. Patrick was done hiding who he was, he was done taking his father’s word on everything, and was certainly done working for the older man as well. He was a talented Legal Assistant and knew more about political science than most so he would be able to find a job in no time and possibly with someone who supported his choices rather than try to push beliefs that weren’t his own onto him. Democrats were a thing, after all.
He still had that small smile on his face as he walked out of his bathroom with the first aid kit in hand, sitting down on the bed and wincing slightly as he moved too quickly. The pain was starting to intensify as the adrenaline started to wear off but Patrick didn’t care. He still felt better than he had in over ten years. He grabbed a piece of gauze and started to pour alcohol onto it, his eyes finally meeting Ellie’s for the first time since everything had started, and he held up the medical supply as if asking if it was okay to start cleaning her cuts. “I’m so sorry he did this to you. I didn’t think he would dare hurt you. I wish I had just had the driver take you home instead of bringing you inside.”
Patrick was gentle with her as they made their way up the stairs. He was kind. The two had literally just been through their own small war coming out victorious by the Grace of God. But there was still things that Ellie had wanted to know. So much had come to light in just one night about who the man she had been seeing really was. She had known he was gay - possibly bisexual, but despite the fact of his sexual orientation, Eleanor wanted to know if he still wanted to be with her, now that he could freely see anyone he wanted to without facing harsh criticisms, judgement, and beatings from his father. She wanted to know how he was feeling. If he would be okay. She was genuinely concerned for his safety and well being, and she was ready to support whatever his next steps were, but she needed to know.
As she found herself sitting on his bed, she let her eyes scan his bedroom. She had been in it on a few occasions. It was a very conservative space. There were no indications of rationalizations except for what his mother and father had wanted. And while Ellie had been with Patrick for quite some time now, she still didn’t know what he liked. She only knew the show that he had been putting on for his family and the public eye. She was excited for him that he would get to flourish and find things he liked. That she would get to learn more about the caring man who was currently putting her wounds first over his more severe ones.
Looking to the gauze now in front of her, Ellie softly nodded with permission for Patrick to carry on knowing good and well that she was about to be in more pain, but their discussion would be the distraction she needed, “Patrick don’t apologize. He’s a grown man, and he is responsible for his actions. Not you. And if I had left here like you so desperately wanted, you would be leaving this house in a body bag, and I would not be able to live with myself knowing I could have somehow stopped it from happening. I’ll survive. Besides, a few scars might put me in the books of being a bad ass.” She wanted to smile but winced as she felt the alcohol seep into the cuts on her face.


















