Somewhere in Time (1/2)
Title : Somewhere in Time (1/2)
Chapter : 1 of 2
Pairing : Steven Gerrard / Xabi Alonso (little Stevie/Daniel, Stevie/Nando???)
Summary : This fic is absolutely an AU fic, and this is my FIRST AU fic! Your encouragements are essential! The story is about a pocket-watch, one with much meory and love, and then something more about the old days, you will love it!
Warnings : Angst
Disclaimer : This is purely something made up.
Feedbacks : PLEASE PLEASE! Feedbacks are loved!
Somewhere in Time
Dr. Steven Gerrard, the winner of Nobel Prize medical award 2025, received the award from the representative from Karolinska Institutet of Sweden, was delivering his speech on the stage.
” Thank yer, thank yer very much. I am really glad that I have the chance to stand here and deliver me speech, it is surely me honour to have the prize. I really hope the cure can bring the HIV-infected patients hopes and wish them all the best. Oh yes, please allow me to present my special thanks to me assistants and me research team, thanks for yer patience in dealing with my bad temper and all the helps yer all have provided, without yer all, nothing can come to success. And…… that’s it. Thank yer.” Masked with a fake smile, Dr. Gerrard nodded to the lady to present his gratitude as he headed down the stage surrounding by the big clap. It was supposed to be a great day for him; after all, winning a Nobel Prize was not an easy thing, but in fact, his heart had never been as hollow.
Carra, Dan and Nando decided to throw their doctor a party for celebration in surprise, together with the other lads in the research team. They called the doctor for a drink as they got back to Liverpool and secretly arranged all the decorations and stuff for the night.Nothing to be surprised, Stevie has become Dan and Nando’s idol for years, adoring his talent, his attitude, and the most, his passion, becoming a member of the research team was an honour, they left their own countries with no regrets.
“Hi lad, yer can wait for me inside, it’s cold here.” Dan blushed as Stevie shot him a bright smile.
“Hi Doctor, just want to make sure you are fine with the flight,” trying to hide his blushed face, Dan led the way in without looking at Stevie’s eyes.
.
“Yer’re kidding me, I’m fine yer know, but anyway, thanks for yer care,” shooting another smile at the little boy as he followed. Dan knew it was weird, but he just couldn’t stop himself for dreaming of the doctor. In his dreams, not to mention the erotic part of them, the gentle and caring smiles on the doctor’s face killed him most. Dan saw that once in real life as he entered his office at the time Stevie looking at his pocket-watch, he had never seen such a warm smile before, it seemed to him that everything would probably melt in front of it. The little Danish didn’t want to admit his fancy on Gerrard, but he knew it had no use to deny.
“Congratulations!” the lads greeted Stevie with a big surprise, blowing whistles and clapping hands as the doctor entered the bar. Stevie for sure, was happy to see the lads, the boys who had been working with him days and nights for the success they have achieved earlier the day. He thanked them one by one, hugging them and encouraging them for a more successful future.
“Hola Nando, whose idea is that?” Stevie finally settled down by joining the table with Nando, Carra and Dan.
“It’s Carra, Dan and me, we hope you enjoy it,” blushed as he replied. Nando loved to hear the doctor speaking Spanish, he found it warm and cheering every time he heard that. Alright, it might be just the “Hola”, but the Spaniard could feel Gerrard was actually trying to get close to him by speaking his language, although it was nothing true. Nando didn’t dream to have his love as the doctor seemed to have no idea in getting into someone, but sharing a bit of warmth from the slightest contacts could cheer him all day.
“Carra, mind yer brain, will yer? It’s the fifth already,” Stevie warned his fellow mate for being too excited, “Make sure you’d be fine for tomorrow’s demonstration for the lads, okay?” Carra nodded with a silly smile and continued his beer. The Scouser was very important to Gerrard, he’s the one who saved his life from the fire, the one who walked along with him all the time whenever challenges and troughs ahead, and the one who brought him out from the gulf, Gerrard shared every tiny bits of his life with him even his deepest secret, he was a friend more than just an subordinate.
Laughing at stupid Crouch dancing in the middle of the hall, Stevie decided it’s time for him to leave, without thinking, he drove back to his lab, the place occupied him all days and all nights.
“Congratulations, Dr. Gerrard!” Lilly-Ella and Lexie greeted Stevie as they headed out the laboratory after ensuring everything was fine before leaving. The two assistants were always hard-working and careful, Stevie nodded, the doctor actually liked them very much, especially seeing them giggling together, the smiles on their faces, the happiness between them, and the harmonic atmosphere among the two, he couldn’t stop himself from drawing his mind back to the old days. The days once he was in heaven, filled with nothing but happiness.
Stevie headed into his office, threw himself into the arm-chair, and played with his pocket-watch as always. He never showed his pocket-watch to anyone, because it would probably bring out all his emotions and therefore, he had to prevent it to stay professional, pride and intellectual in front of the lads. Stevie was never stingy for his smile, he liked giving bright one to his lads to cheer them up, however, far different from the one he gave him, the gentleness and love injected would never be shared with anyone else, just Xabi and the picture of him in the watch.
“I made it, Xabi love, I made it out, all for yer. I know yer can hear me, yer kind-hearted lad, must be smiling at me from heaven, no? Yer know, I love yer smile, yer sheepish smile…… ” Having been drained out all his power in the past 15 years for his dream, Stevie whispered silently to Xabi in the picture. The dream of inventing the cure for HIV-infected patients was actually a dream shared between the two doctors, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.
Xabi was a genius; he graduated as the first in the medical school in England despite his mother tongue being Spanish. He was 18 and Stevie was 19. Stevie liked the lad very much from the very beginning; the Spaniard was always brilliant, even Stevie being the second in school would sometimes felt himself stupid. Everyone adored the boy, he was always calm and smart, he’s never been arrogant or impolite, and therefore schoolmates kept sticking to him. However, Xabi just seemed to keep a distance between everyone and him, not sharing his personal stuff with anyone and avoiding unnecessary contact with other lads. Stevie thought that he’s lucky to be his partner during an operation as they got into the same hospital after graduation, his skillful hands had amazed him and his passions on his work had always been the motives for Stevie to work harder. Stevie had never dreamed to have Xabi although he had fancied him since their second year in school; he respected Xabi for his professionalism. Every smile from the Spaniard irritated his nerve; Stevie had to try really hard to look normal in front of him. They were never too far or close, nothing more than a plain friendship between them.
It’s the day when everything went different. Stevie got into the restroom half-way of his overnight duty, it’s always harsh to stay up at these hours, he turned on the tap and washed his face under the running water to refresh himself. As Stevie was about to get out, he heard a strange voice from the corner, it took him some time to realize it was the sobbing of a lad. Worrying something bad might have happen, Stevie approached to check if the guy was alright. The sight had absolutely shocked him as he bent into the corner, it’s Xabi. The Spaniard kept sobbing heavily but tried his best to stay silent; the scene was so heart-breaking. Without much hesitation, Stevie leaned forward to the crying angel, surrounded his strong arms around the lad and got him into his embrace. For the minute, no one actually spoke, Xabi cried more heavily on Stevie’s shoulder as if he had never ever cried in his life; drying the tears from Xabi with his gown, Stevie gently patted on the lad, tried his best to comfort him.
“Steven, I… I couldn’t… couldn’t help him at all! Why? No matter how hard I tried, it’s just……. It’s just not working! How can I be so use… useless?” It’s the first time for Stevie to learn his feeling, and the first time to see his denial to himself; Gerrard had never imagined the confident Spaniard would ever have this feeling.
“It’s ok, Xabi, it’s ok. Things would be fine, it’s ok.” Stevie was never good at words, and at the moment, what he wanted to do was to hold the lad tight and gave him all his support. “Tell me what’s happened, shared with me yer worries, let me take a part of it for yer, Xabi, I’d be here for yer.” The two lads had an unforgettable night in their room.
Itwas the AIDS which brought Xabi’s brother to heaven, Mikel Alonso, was never a casual guy; he got the HIV infection from a blood donation event when Xabi was 14. Xabi spent all his time on books, kept studying hard all the time when boys with the same age played on pitches. He knew well that his brother wouldn’t have too much time to wait; he got into the medical school the next year and finished the degree with the best result in Liverpool medical school, graduated from one of the greatest schools in the world. Xabi took the opportunity to work in the school’s hospital so that he could keep his research on the cure for his brother. He was so busy with his work and research and had no extra time for catching up with others, therefore as time passed, the lad himself became the only one in his life other than his work. Stevie had always been nice to him, giving him support and encouragement all the time, he’s a smart lad too, Xabi liked him very much, however, time was limited; he had to get the cure for his brother.. Unfortunately, the complication took Mikel, Mikel died in great pain and what Xabi could do was holding his hands with his gloves on, the younger could not even touch the elder’s bare skin for wounds covered all over his body. Xabi bursted out in the restroom that night to prevent from disturbing other patients, he wanted so much that his tears could wash away his sorrow and the dead feeling; however, it didn’t work at all. It was the arms holding him tight at the moment brought him back to life; the embrace was a warm as his brother’s. At that moment, Xabi knew he could rely on him.
Enjoying the sweet memories of Xabi, the doctor’s face changed drastically all in a sudden, the horrified expression spread clamped down his warm and sweet smile within a second. “What the fuck! What’s happened! God, please don’t be so cruel to me, okay? Don’t take Xabi away from me once more, please! I beg yer! Please!” Stevie couldn’t stop himself sob heavily as he realized Xabi’s photo has actually faded more with his left ear lobe already disappeared! The hurt Scouser held the pocket-watch tight to his chest; tears kept rushing out from his eyes until he was too tired to sit upright. It was a gift from Xabi as they finished their doctoral degrees; Xabi even put his photo in it.
“You can see me all the time now, no? I love yer, amor, congratulations!” It was the last kiss from the lad. Stevie sobbed every time he thought of Xabi’s death, the boy could actually run away if he didn’t come back to save him, It was the terrible fire which took him away. Stevie insisted to make an urgent call just before starting the experiments and tests, thus Xabi got back to the lab and kept working on the cure alone, he jotted down every little details as he could some clues for the medicine. Although Mikel was dead, Xabi would still keep the work going so as to benefit the world and give hopes to the families of these patients, the images of their happy faces were his motive, and more, Xabi knew his brother would be pleased to see from heaven.
“BANG!!!”
Without any notice, a big bang blew out! Everyone was screaming and crying and running with the top speeds out the rooms and the building, fear and tears occupied the space and what people knew was getting out as quick as they could. Xabi was one of them too, as he approached near the emergency exit with his research results in hand; he realized Stevie was not among them. Without much thinking, Xabi immediately ran back. It was difficult to get through the people who were all rushing out; the Spaniard tried his best to get to his love as soon as possible. The soft lad was horrified for what he saw, the door of Stevie’s office was on fire.
“Stevie! Are you here? Answer me amor!” Xabi had never faced this situation before, he was scared, but he knew he needed to stay calm; saving the Scouser was what he had to do.
“Xabi, just go! Don’t bother me! Just go! I’ll be fine! Just go!” Stevie shouted with all his effort, coughed seriously as the thick smoke got inside his lungs. The Scouser knew he couldn’t really get out from here, fire around blocking the door and even the windows, he knew it’d be his time, however, Xabi should never suffer from this, the kind-hearted boy deserved a good future. Stevie prayed for Xabi at the moment, he was never a faithful Christian, but what he wanted was just some mercies for the soft lad, his love, hoping his begging would work for just once.
Xabi broke into the room with his body, his gown was on fire but he couldn’t bother it anymore. Gerrard could never forget the scene Xabi handed the research notes to him and pushed him out the burning room, It was Xabi’s last face. Stevie fainted as the smoke was too thick; it’s Carra who brought him out finally. It was 24th November, 2005, the day just before Xabi’s birthday. Announcement said it was gas leakage.
“Stevie, please, keep our research, make our dream comes true! And promise me, stay alive! Stay good for me!” Stevie didn’t break his promise, he worked extra hard on the research all days and nights, finally he did it. He even got the Nobel Prize for it! However, what he wanted was Xabi, and only Xabi, he would be willing to give whatever he had to get Xabi back. The doctor was too tired to stay awake after a busy day and gradually fell asleep with the watch in his hand.
Stevie woke up with a long sleep and found that he was no longer in his office; he looked at his pocket-watch and realized that it was already 11am. The doctor was wondering where he was and realized it was their room, the room he shared with Xabi when they’re having the last days. Stevie was further shocked as he saw himself back to 25 in the mirror and the photo of Xabi in the watch was as new as the day Xabi presented to him.
“You are a lazy pig, amor,” the voice brought Stevie back and as he turned his head, Xabi was ready to press a kiss on him, a long and furious kiss they always shared. Gerrard glanced at the calendar and horrified, it was 24th November, 2005!