Wow. I can't believe that I'm actually writing the last chapter of my first "LXG" story already. I had a great time writing it and I hope that everyone had a great time reading it. I want to say a great big "Thank You!" to everyone who has read and reviewed the story so far, you all really kept me going with this, even if my updates where sometimes far from each other, you all stuck with me.

Well, enough of me, and on with the final chapter of "Affliction"

Chapter 15

Sitting in the back of the car, Allan watched the country road as they passed it, counting down the minutes until they would make it to Tom, and he would be able to save him from whatever it was that M was doing. He had been trying to focus his mind on anything but what M was doing to Tom, knowing that he would probably break David's neck for what he had done, and letting Tom get taken again.Running his hand over his beard, Allan let out a sigh of frustration, the seconds and minutes feeling like hours in the car.

Looking over at Allan, a man who he wasn't so sure he could call a friend anymore, not after the way he had betrayed him, David said in a gentle voice,

"He'll be O.K Allan…he's a fighter, like you"

Turning his attention from the road to David, Allan looked at the other man with a small smile as he said,

"I hope you're right David"

"Scream all you want boy…because nobody can hear you out here…and your friends aren't coming"

Tom let his head fall back against the table as M walked away from him and over to the other side of the room. Looking up at the ceiling, a large crack running through it, the area around it dark with dampness, Tom tried to focus on it instead of the searing pain in his chest and abdomen where M had been ruthless with his knife. Turning his head to look at M, who had his back to him; Tom felt small beads of perspiration run down his face, his body feeling like it was on fire. He didn't know if it was to do with his injuries or the drugs that M had given to him, but he knew that it wasn't right and he prayed that someone would get there soon.

Looking back to the ceiling, Tom let out a small sigh, knowing that Allan and the other's probably wouldn't find him and that M was right…no one was coming for him. Why should they, you've let them done that many times before?

Setting his knife back down on the small table in the far end of the room, M turned on his heel and walked over to the table that Tom was strapped to, and leaned so that he was looking down over him, his face directly above the young agents. Putting his hand on the side of Tom's face, forcing him to look at him, M said with a smirk,

"Do you know how many years that it took me to complete the work that you destroyed?"

Running his hand over his chin, M let out a small laugh as he said,

"Five years…and it took you a mere number of days to destroy it"

Pushing away from the table, M walked to the top end of the table, where Tom's head was, stopping the younger man from seeing him, and said with a trace of a laugh in his voice,

"I'll make sure to end your life quicker"

Back in the car, Allan let out a small sigh of relief when they turned another corner on the winding road, and up ahead David's house came into view. Pushing himself forward in his seat, getting himself ready to jump out of the car as soon as it stopped, Allan looked at David as he said in a stern voice,

"You stay here…if we need you we'll call"

Putting his hand on Allan's arm, stopping his motions as he turned to look at the other man, David swallowed down the lump of guilt in his throat and said,

"He'll be fine Allan…with you looking out for him, he'll be fine"

Looking down at David's hand, Allan let a sad smile grace his features before looking him in the eyes and saying,

"He's a strong lad"

Patting Allan's arm, David settled back in his seat and watched as Allan made his way down the path, Henry a few steps behind.

Down in the basement, Tom's breathes were coming out as short, sharp gasps as he tried to stem the pain that was flowing through his entire body. He felt as if he was lying on a block of ice, even though beads of sweat formed along his brow, and his eyes were heavy, trying to pull him back to the state of unconsciousness.

Picking up a large dagger, M walked over to Tom, and glared down at him as he said,

"I've wasted enough time on you…time that could be spent on something else"

Turning the dagger over in his hands, M barked out a laugh as he slammed it down on the table beside Tom's head, causing him to flinch. Grabbing Tom's shirt in his hands, M pulled him up, earning a pained cry from Tom as he did so, and hissed at him,

"Your time of causing trouble is over, boy"

Slamming his boy back onto the table, M grabbed the dagger and lifted his had back, brining it down and plunging it into Tom's abdomen. Throwing the dagger on the ground, M turned on his heel, leaving Tom gasping on the table as he ascended the stairs and left the basement, shutting the door behind him.

Pushing his hand to the stab wound, and applying as much pressure as he could in his current state, Tom tried to push himself up, but couldn't, the pain too much. Lying back, Tom felt his body shaking, going into shock, but couldn't force himself to move.

As he felt his body growing weaker, the blood gushing out and getting absorbed into the fibers of his shirt, he heard a loud crash noise coming from upstairs.

Walking down the path, Allan had Matilda, his rifle, held tightly and securely in his right hand. Reaching the door, Allan lifted his boot and slammed it into the door full force, causing it to swing open.

"What the hell?" came the shout of Charles as he jumped up from his seat on the sofa in the parlor area of the house. Spinning around, he shouted,

"James!"

Rushing over, Allan grabbed Charles by the front of the shirt and slammed him into the wall, shouting out at him,

"If there's one mark on the boy…you'll be sorry"

Laughing, Charles, looked up at Allan as he said,

"He's dead…I don't think it'll matter much"

Slamming Charles into the wall, Allan was about to retort back, but was cut off when M came walking up the hall, a cocky grin on his face as he said,

"That's another son that you've killed Quartermain…I think maybe you've got a natural talent for killing stupid children with a want to follow in your footsteps"

Taking a deep breath, Allan let go of Charles, and walked over to M, his gun gripped firmly in his hands and rose so that it was level with M's chest, the other man not flinching.

"Where is he?"

Henry, who had been standing by the whole time, noticed that M was standing directly in front of a door that led to the basement, and guessed that was an obvious place for them to be keeping Tom. Walking over to Allan, Henry touched him lightly on the shoulder and said in a quiet whisper so that only Allan could hear,

"The basement"

Nodding his head slightly, Allan cocked his gun back, watching M and Charles at the same time, the latter still visible in his peripheral vision. With a scowl on his face, his brow furrowed, Allan said,

"Well, I'll make sure you never have to live to see another, James"

Before M had a chance to respond, Allan's finger squeezed the trigger, sending a bullet from the barrel of the gun and into M's chest, causing him to drop to the floor in a lifeless heap, his eyes opened, yet unseeing to the world around him.

Spinning round, Allan grabbed Charles by the front of the shirt and said to Henry,

"Get David in here and tell him to watch him", indicating to Charles with a nod of his head before continuing, "I'll go and get Tom"

"Certainly" Was Henry's quick response as he went out to the car to fetch David and returned, allowing Allan to go down to the basement.

Pushing the door open, Allan flicked on the light and rushed down the stairs, dropping his gun when he saw Sawyer lying on the table and covered in blood, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his lungs tried to take in the air that they needed.

"Lad, can you here me?" Allan asked in a worried voice as he gently lifted Tom's upper body off the table and cradled him close to him, one hand on the side of Tom's face, his thumb running back and forth over his cheek.

Opening his eyes slightly, Tom felt his body shaking all over, and also the feeling of someone holding him. Letting out a small groan, Tom realized that it was Allan who was holding him, keeping him safe.

"Allan" He said in a pained voice, his hand reaching up to grab Allan's arm.

Cupping Tom's face in his hand, Allan looked him straight in the eyes, which were glassy and unfocused, as he said,

"Yes son, it's me…I've got you"

Rushing down the stairs Henry ran over to the table, and felt shocked wash over him at what he saw. Lifting Tom's hand from the wound on his side, a hiss of pain emitting from the youngest mouth at the action, Henry said in a tone of urgency,

"He's already lost a lot of blood…we need to get him out of here Allan"

Nodding his head in response, Allan wasted no time in lifting Tom off the table, even as a pained cry ripped from Tom's throat, his fingers gripping onto Allan's shoulder.

"Sorry lad" Allan said as he clambered up the stairs, Jekyll close behind. Walking out the door, Allan noticed that David and Charles where gone, he didn't know where to, and he didn't really care at that moment. All he cared about was getting Tom to safety.

Opening the door to the carriage, Henry waited until Allan was in and sitting before climbing in behind him and closing the door, ordering the driver to go back to the Nautilus as fast as possible.

"Allan" Tom chocked out between heaving breaths as Allan held him close to him, his hand on the side of his face as he ran his thumb back and forth over his cheek.

"It's O.K Tom…you're O.K" Henry said as he looked at the wound, using a piece of cloth from his medical bag to try and stem the blood flow, trying to stay as steady as he could with the swaying of the carriage.

"How is he?" Allan asked as he kept a tight hold on Tom, the boy in his arms clutching at his shirt at the pain that was ripping through his body.

Looking up at Allan, Henry said in a calm, steady voice, although he didn't feel that way, holding the life of their youngest in his hands,

"We need to get him back on board as soon as possible"

Looking at Tom's face, a film of sweat on his brow, his blonde hair sticking to his forehead and his hazy eyes, Allan pulled him closer to him, feeling a lump in his throat at the thought that he might lose another son.

"Cold…"Tom said as he fought to keep his eyes open, his head lolling to the side and against Allan's shoulder.

Touching his hand to Tom's face, Henry said in a stern voice,

"Tom, you have to stay awake…you hear me, you can't fall asleep"

Trying hard to keep his eyes open, Tom shifted in Allan's embrace, the stab wound on his stab burning, causing his eyes to water, and a moan escape his lips.

"That's it Tom…stay awake…not too long now" Allan said in a gentle voice as he looked at Tom and then to Henry, the look of worry and concern that was on his own face mirrored in the doctors.

"I need more water and towels!" Henry yelled out as he worked on stopping the blood flow on the wound in Tom's side. They had returned to the Nautilus a few minutes prior, much to the shock of the others upon seeing the condition that Tom was in. Tom had been brought to the infirmary immediately, and Henry had been trying to stop Tom losing any more blood ever since.

He guessed, from what he had seen, that Tom had already lost approximately five litres of blood, and that if he didn't stop it soon Tom's condition would worsen even further and his chance of surviving, let alone recovering, where going to greatly decrease.

Allan was standing close by the bed, his hand gripping onto Tom's, the other stroking his warm forehead as Henry continued to stop the bleeding.

After a few tense minutes, and a few cries of pain from Tom, Henry ran a hand over the back of his neck, which was covered in sweat, and said,

"I've managed to stop the bleeding…but I still need to clean it and stitch it shut to ensure that it doesn't get infected"

Sitting down on the chair beside Tom, his hand still holding onto his surrogate son's, Allan smiled at him as he said,

"Good lad Tom…you're doing great"

Turning his head to look at Allan, although the action was slow, his body feeling like it was made out of lead and that he was going to sink through the bed, Tom gave the hunter a small smile, his slim fingers tightening their hold on Allan's hand slightly.

"You certainly did Tom" Henry said as he cleaned the area with alcohol, preparing it to be sutured before he would begin to assess the rest of Tom's injuries.

Looking at Henry, and then to Tom, whose eyes where fighting to stay awake, his lids falling shut, Allan leaned closer to him and said in a soft voice,

"It's OK son, we've got you now"

As soon as the words had left his mouth, Allan watched as Tom gave in, and his eyes fell shut, and he was asleep, his mind taking him away from all of the pain that he was feeling and allowing him to have a short reprieve.

It was a few hours later and Tom was still asleep, Allan sitting in the chair beside his bed. Henry was in the next room, allowing Tom and Allan some privacy, but also making sure that he could keep an eye on Tom and would be there in an instant if he needed anything.

Turning his head when he heard the sound of footsteps on the tiled floored, Allan offered a small smile to Mina Harker, who returned it as she made her way over to the bed. Touching the back of her hand gently to Tom's cheek, she said in a quiet voice,

"He's a fighter…to pull through such things as he has"

Nodding his head in response, his eyes never leaving Tom's face, Allan said in a soft voice, laced with fatherly pride for the agent he had come to consider a son to him,

"That he is"

Tom stirred slightly in his sleep, turning over onto his side, his blonde bangs falling in front of his eyes as he did so. Looking at Allan, Mina added,

"You should be proud"

Sitting down in the vacant chair beside Allan, Mina started,

"I tested the drugs which you retrieved from the basement"

Turning in his seat so that he could look at Mina, his hand still holding onto Tom's, not wanting to break all contact, but wanting to give Mina his full attention, Allan asked,

"And what did you find?"

Looking over at Tom briefly, Mina looked back to Allan before saying,

"Thankfully whatever it was young Sawyer was given won't have any long term affects. It was mainly used to weaken him…make it easier for them to hurt him"

Looking back at Tom as he shifted slightly on the bed, Allan rested his hands on his head, brushing some of his hair from his eyes, and said,

"They didn't know that he had so many people that cared for him…that was their downfall"

Smiling, Mina added, quoting Tom,

"Yes, it appears Tom was right…bringing us together may have been the worst move they made after all"

It was a few hours later and Tom was finally awake. He was still lying down in bed, his injuries too sore to do otherwise, and Skinner was now occupying the seat which Allan had been. Just before Tom had woke up, Henry had told Allan that he should get some rest and that he would get him as soon as Tom was up again. After a few minutes of arguing that he wasn't going to go, that he should stay by Tom's beside, Allan gave in, saying to get him as soon as Tom was awake.

Of course Henry had agreed to this, knowing that it was the only way to get Allan to go, but even so, he would wait until he had checked Tom over first before getting Allan. And that was exactly what he had done, leaving Tom in the company of Skinner, the invisible man having taken up residence in Allan's seat.

"So Kid, how ya feelin?" Skinner asked as he leaned forward to cup his chin in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees.

Looking at Skinner, Tom offered him a small smile as he said,

"Um, fine Skinner, thanks"

But before Skinner even had a chance to ask another question, the booming voice of Allan was heard as he marched through the door to the infirmary,

"Son, you're up! How do you feel lad?"

Rushing over to Tom's side, Allan rested his hand on Tom's cheek and smiled down at him as he waited for an answer.

"I'm fine…jus'a little sore" Tom replied truthfully, knowing that Allan wouldn't believe that he felt alright after all he had been through.

"He'll be chasin' skirts in no time…ain't that right old boy" Skinner said as he nudged Allan in the ribs with his elbow, earning a glare from the hunter and a small laugh from Tom.

"Shut up, you fool" Allan said as he watched the floating hat and coat leave the room, Skinner saying something back, but he was unable to hear what it was. He had no doubt in his mind that it was something crude or vulgar if Rodney was concerned, and guessed he was probably better off not knowing. Sitting down on the bed beside Tom, his hand still cupping his cheek, Allan said in a gentle voice, a sad smile on his face,

"Gave this old man quite a scare seeing you like that"

Looking down at his hands in his lap, Tom bit his lip as he said in a soft voice, almost a whisper,

"I'm sorry Allan"

Running his thumb over Tom's cheek before moving his hand so that he was cupping the young man's chin, tilting his face up to look at him, Allan said,

"Don't be sorry…I'm just glad that you're alright Tom"

Tom felt tears welling up in his eyes, and bowed his head so that Allan couldn't see, but Allan be Allan, knew that something was wrong with the agent, and again, he lifted Tom's face to look at him. Only this time, Tom turned his head so that he was looking out the window, and said in a low voice, choked with emotion,

"I didn't think ya were comin' Allan…I thought he was gonna kill me"

Not saying anything, Allan pulled Tom to him in a hug, Tom burying his face in Allan's chest, his arms wrapped around him as Allan held onto him, one hand resting on his back, the other on his head, rocking him slightly as he said,

"Of course we were coming Tom…everyone here loves you and would do anything to make sure you were alright"

Turning his head so that his cheek was pressed against Allan's chest, his eyes still closed as tears ran down his face, Tom sobbed out,

"He said… you wouldn't…come"

Hugging Tom tighter to him, Allan ran his hand over Tom's back in circles, and moved his hand from his head to his cheek, his thumb running back and forth and catching salty tears as they fell.

"Shh, it's alright…you're alright now" Allan murmured over and over again until Tom's tears stopped, although he was still clinging onto Allan, his hand grabbing at the hunters waist coat, afraid that this was all a dream, just like the many that he had dreamt before of Allan coming to save him.

"I've got you son" Allan said in a soft voice as he placed a fatherly kiss on Tom's forehead, feeling Tom's breathing steadying out as he fell asleep in the arms of his father.

It was a few weeks since Tom had been kidnapped by Tom, and the League and Tom himself were slowly getting back to normal. It had been hard for Tom at first, himself not believing that he should be in the League anymore if all he was going to do was put them all in danger, saying that he should just go back to the American Secret Service. Of course all of this was stopped when Allan had sat down and talked to him one night, telling him how much the League did in fact need him, and how much he himself needed him there. Since then Tom hadn't once thought about leaving, knowing that he would never find friends like the one's that he had now.

Sitting in the dining room, Tom was slouched in his chair, waiting for Allan to come to the dining room. He had told them all that he had some news that was of great importance, and that they all had to gather immediately.

"Don't see why this can't wait till mornin' anways…it's three in the mornin for Gods sake!" Tom said with a tired yawn as he leaned further down into his chair, trying to stay awake.

"I know. I wonder what is so important that we must know now." Mina added with a curious eyebrow, watching the door for the entrance of Allan.

As if on cue, Allan pushed the large doors opened and walked over to the table and took his seat beside Tom, patting him on the shoulder and saying in a fatherly tone,

"Sit up lad; we have business to talk about"

This instantly perked Tom's interest, and he sat up in his chair, a grin on his face as he looked at Allan and said,

"Really, what sort of business?"

Laughing a little, Allan set a pile on papers that he had carried in with in on the table in front of him, and looked at the group as he said,

"Well, I've been in contact with your boss, Mr. Wilkinson, and it seems that we have some business to attend to in America"

Looking at Allan with a raised eyebrow, Tom asked,

"What sort of business?"

Grinning, Allan looked at the League and then Tom as he said,

"I take it you've heard of the seven deadly sins, boy"

Fin

Wow! I can't believe that was it…but don't worry, I have a sequel to this, so this isn't the last you've seen of me!

I hope that you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, and please review and let me know what you thought.