Zero sat strangely calm in the waiting area. He was still covered in Jude's blood, but he couldn't find the strength to move. He was frozen. People walked by him, noticing his state, but he didn't notice them. His hands trembled as he waited. Waited for the news he so desperately wanted to hear.

When Jude had said he loved him there and then on the tarmac floor by the burning car, Zero thought he could have died right then. He'd tried to wake him up, but had been unsuccessful. The paramedics worked around him as he held onto Jude's hand, not letting go. That bond was his lifeline. The EMTs almost didn't let him go with Jude in the ambulance, but one look from the Chief was all that was needed to get them to change their minds.

The ride was bumpy and long – or at least, it was to Zero. The paramedics said that the doctors would want to check him out too, but he wasn't really listening. He was just watching Jude's chest rise and fall ever so slightly, making sure the love of his life was alive.

When they'd arrived at the hospital, he was forced to separate from Jude. Letting go of his hand had been the hardest thing both Zero and Gideon had ever done. And when it just hung there, he felt his heart break. But not completely. There was still a chance; still a chance that Jude would still pull through and they could get back to planning the baby's room.

It was then that Zero realised that Jude was his whole life. He was his confidant for the past, his sharer of the present, and his prospect for the future. Without Jude, there was no Zero or Gideon.

And so, there he sat. In a chair, covered in his lover's blood, waiting for the Doctor's to give him the news he needed to hear.

A few hours later, a doctor emerged from the closed double doors. She scanned the room for the man she needed to see. She saw him, sitting like a porcelain doll covered in red, gazing off into the distance. She walked over to him and he snapped out of his trance. The man practically jumped out of his seat and launched himself to meet her.

"How is he Doc? How is Jude?"

Ж Ж Ж

Well, if this is heaven it sure is bland, Jude thought as his mind came too. And if it's hell, then it sure does disappoint. Ugh... Zero sure has been a bad and wonderful influence on me... Gideon! Where is he? Where am I?

He could hear a faint beeping noise in the distance and his while left side hurt. His mind was a little foggy but as he became more and more awake, more and more became clearer. He could still only see darkness, but he could hear more now. The beeping was still there, but there was a sound so much sweeter meeting his eardrums. Someone was humming nearby.

He tried to reach out, touch to that voice and to never let go, but he couldn't quite make it. With one final push of strength, Jude opened his eyes.

And he immediately regretted it. He was blinded by the bright, neon light hanging above his head. Whoever designed this place was evil.

His eyes adjusted finally and he managed to turn his head towards the sound. When he saw the culprit, he couldn't help but smile. It was Gideon. He was leaning his head on top of Jude's torso – on the right side – humming softly to himself. His face looked up at Jude, but his eyes were closed. Jude saw him without any stress, without any worry. He looked peaceful.

Not realising how drained he was, Jude pushed through the pain and soreness, raised his arm and stroked the dazed man resting on his side. His love purred in response and Jude couldn't help but giggle.

This made Zero's eyes shoot wide open and him to sit bolt upright. "Jude!" He exclaimed with glee. He leaned down and forcefully gave Jude a hug but only on his right side. "Oh thank God! I've missed you so much! The Doc's said you're surgery went well. They didn't need to remove your spleen, which means that you don't have a higher risk of infection and that you didn't lose a giant sack of blood. They also said you've got some swelling around your left shoulder, but that that was just from it being dislocated and hung upside down for all that time. The Doctor was a really nice lady and she gave me a change of clothes and gave me a check over. I'm fine, by the way, and she also said you'll make a full recovery, as long as you get some R&R. She said she'll also schedule you in for some physiotherapy for your shoulder once you're better." Zero stopped for the first time and took a deep breath. He looked at the confused look on Jude's face. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine." Jude put his hand atop of Zero's to let him know he meant it. "I'm actually surprised I followed that." He smiled at Zero, and squeezed his hand. "How are you doing?"

Zero smiled, knowing full well what Jude meant. "Better, now that I know for certain you'll be alright." He leaned across gently and placed a soft kiss onto Jude's precious lips. He smiled, when Jude tried to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away, earning a whine from Jude. "Err, no, we're not taking it any further considering your condition and the fact that you're on morphine. I don't want any claims being placed against me."

"The only claims I'll be making will be on you, at home, in our bed." Jude smiled devilishly at Zero. "Or just in our home, anywhere there would do just fine. Better than fine in some places-"

"Okay, that's enough from you." Zero hushed Jude up and the pair giggled. "Wow, you really have no filter when you're high, do you?" Jude raised one eyebrow in response. "Umm, Lionel is doing her best to get back here. She's stuck in Thailand, due to a surprise monsoon, but she's getting the first flight here when it's safe."

"Oh good." Jude responded. He was actually quite tired.

"Hey, thanks for before." Zero added, before Jude could fall asleep again.

Jude turned his head to look Zero straight in the eye. "What?"

"You know, when you pushed me down, and covered me with yourself, right before the car went up into a thousand pieces and ash." Zero squeezed Jude's hand slightly. "I'm still awestruck that you did that for me-"

"Of course I did that for you, Stupid." Jude rolled his eyes. Flipping heck, these drugs did make him loopy. "You pulled me from the car, I pushed you from an explosion." He shrugged his shoulders. "I love you more than you probably realise, more than I probably do. I managed without you for so long that, to me now, that part of my life seems foreign. As if I wasn't the one living it, because the only times I ever feel truly alive are with you. That's never going to change. I love you Gideon, with all of my heart, and I will do forever." As he finished, Jude wiped away a tear that had escaped and rolled down his cheek.

Gideon reached up and held Jude's hand in place for a little while longer. "You've already heard my confession so I'll give you a condensed version. You are everything to me and I love you more than I thought was ever humanly possible. You and I are in whatever this is together. I can't live without you, so let's not go and get ourselves into any more potentially lethal situations. Okay, Stupid?"

"Okay, Stupid." Jude smiled and the pair shared another brief kiss.

When they broke apart, a sated look covered Jude's face as he leaned back against the pillows. An enormous yawn escaped his lips and his eyelids became very heavy.

"You should rest. I'll let you get some sleep." Zero offered and went to leave.

Jude grabbed his hand, incredibly quickly, causing Zero to stop. He turned around and looked at Jude. "You know for two people in it together, I sure am alone in this bed..." Jude knew Zero wouldn't be able to resist a request like that. He slowly slid further over the other side, to make room for the man.

Zero rolled his eyes, but didn't refuse his love's offer. "Fine, but if you are in pain, any pain at all, then I'm up and out fetching a doctor faster than you can say 'serendipity'."

"Ooh," Jude cooed as he snuggled in closer to the man he loved with everything he had. "That's a big word for jock to know." He teased.

"How's about you shut up now, and get some rest." Zero urged.

"That sounds like a good idea." Jude agreed. "But only if you stay with me and get some rest too."

Zero smiled. "I promise I won't go anywhere."

Jude purred in joy at that. He interlocked his right hand with Zero's left, clutching to it, never wanting to let go. He rested his head on Zero's shoulder and he was out light a light.

Zero reached and pulled the blanket over them. He glanced down at his sleeping beauty and smiled. This is right where he wanted to be, by Jude's side, now and forever.