After returning to Britain, Tyson’s first real resting place was his brother’s home.
On his way there, Tyson was largely living on the streets. He knew that once he was spotted with Lily, she would become an immediate giveaway, so he tried to avoid staying anywhere he might get recognised. He learnt quickly where to go and who to bribe to get a discreet room in cheap hotels, but there were still plenty of nights spent enduring the elements.
Tyson’s plan had been to sleep in Jethro’s spare bedroom or on the settee if he needed to, but - as usual in plans involving his brother - Jethro threw a wrench into that plan.
It had been two years since Jethro had seen his brother off for his latest deployment Afghanistan. His brother had been a wanted man and missing in action for over a year and a half, and then he returned. Sheepish smile in place, looking utterly exhausted and hungry, a dog plastered to his side who smelt only marginally better than him.
After throwing him into a hot bath and giving him a hot meal, Jethro wasn’t ready to leave his baby brother in another room. Tyson was dragged up into Jethro and Rosie’s bed and sandwiched between them, where he was warm and safe, and couldn’t break Jethro’s heart again.
The first night, Jethro barely slept. He was terrified that he’d wake up to discover it had all been a dream, that Tyson would still be missing or reported dead, or simply jack-rabbited away in the middle of the night. He refused to let Tyson out of his sight. He even ended up taking a week of work ‘sick’ to look after him.
Eventually, Tyson had to leave. He refused to put them in danger by staying too long and having them getting found harbouring a wanted man, but to this day, Tyson cannot describe the relief of waking up between Rosie and Jethro. Somewhere warm and dry, somewhere safe, somewhere he was loved again.