Thanks to everyone who reviewed part one of this - I really appreciate it. I hope you like the conclusion, this is dedicated to you.

I haven't got any plans to continue this at the moment but the bunny may return and want to carry on one day - if you want me to keep going then obviously let me know cos encouragement really helps the muse! Thanks :)

Pride before a Fall

Part 2

Ray stared up into the furious face of Gene, fear creeping over him. The DCI looked ready to kill.

"Guv," he said, "what are you..."

"Shut up." Hunt snapped. "Don't you even breathe".

Gene took a step towards Ray, whose eyes were already flicking towards the open door behind Hunt.

The DCI looked horrorstruck. "What.. how could.. you dirty.."

"He had it coming Guv!" Ray stammered. And then added hurriedly, "He's a faggot Sir! He came on to me. I tried to tell him no. I did Guv!"

Gene shook his head in disbelief. "You're a liar," he hissed, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I can't stomach liars. You know that."

Sam moaned from behind Hunt and the furious man turned his back on Ray, gazing down at Tyler, not knowing what to do for the best. Sam wouldn't look at Gene, he was frantically trying to pull up his trousers and it was obvious how much agony he was in. Gene looked down, visibly uncomfortable. Ray saw his chance, quickly scrambled to his feet and made a break for the door. Gene was having none of it.

He flung himself at the escaping Sergeant and, bellowing in anger, rugby tackled the man to the floor. He pinned Ray beneath him and then began to hit the man repeatedly with closed fists. Ray couldn't move, let alone attempt to fight back or protect himself. Gene was like a man possessed, out of control from his rage.

Sam, who was watching the scene with a growing sense of horror, knew Gene was going to kill Ray. As much as he felt that the Sergeant deserved this fate, Sam couldn't let Gene commit murder for him. He, painfully and carefully, got to his feet and gasped, "Guv!"

Gene didn't even pause.

Sam lurched forward, grabbing his DCI's arm and clinging on for dear life.

"GENE! Please, stop it!"

Gene stopped, his arm raised in mid punch. He stared at Sam in confusion and then looked down at the beaten and bloody form of Ray Carling. Gene moved back reluctantly.

Ray moaned and flicked open his eyes. He gave Gene a fearful look, and then fixed his gaze upon Sam. There was no gratitude. Ray's opinion of Tyler hadn't changed. Sam couldn't hold the stare. He swallowed hard and glanced down.

"As I thought," Ray sneered, spitting out blood. "Soft."

Hunt made to go for Carling again but Sam tightened his grip on the older man's arm.

Ray didn't wait. He leapt up and sped off through the open door, pausing at it for one second to look back and blow a mocking kiss at DI Tyler, who cringed in response. Then, the rapist was gone.

Sam sank to the ground again, all his energy spent, Gene watching him restlessly, anger again rising inside him. He wanted to help Sam but didn't have a clue what to do. Sam zipped up his trousers with shaky fingers and then curled up into a ball, trying to protect himself, apparently from Gene's pitying looks. He wiped the tears from his eyes, careful to hide his face from Hunt.

Gene reverted his eyes back to the doorway. There was an uneasy silence.

Gene cleared his throat. "You're as mad as a hatter you are, Tyler. Why did you stop me?"

"Because you were going to kill him." Sam croaked.

"Good!" Hunt exclaimed. "No more then the bastard deserves."

Sam shook his head. "You're not a murderer, Gene."

Gene frowned. "And ten minutes ago, Ray Carling was not a fairy."

Sam attempted to laugh at that but it turned into a pained cough. "He's still very much a man's man, Guv."

Gene scoffed. "Don't make me laugh, Tyler! He just.."

Sam closed his eyes. "I know exactly what he did, Gene. And he did it to humiliate me. It was all about domination. He was proving he could control me. Believe me, Ray is definitely not gay. He hates gays."

"Well, I'll take your word for that. I've never known of a man doing that to another fella though. I mean, I've heard of it obviously but not in my town, not in my station. And not to my DI."

Sam gritted his teeth. "I don't really want to talk about this right now, Guv."

With a nod, Hunt moved forward and gently helped Sam up. Once Tyler was upright, Gene brushed the dirt off of his DI's leather jacket, actually gaining a smile from the smaller man.

"Thanks," Sam whispered, "All better now."

He hunched forward suddenly, his superior just catching him, preventing the frail man from tumbling to the floor. Sam clenched his teeth and moaned in pain. Hunt swore under his breath. He could see the blood for the first time, still pouring down Sam's thighs.

"Look Tyler, you're bleeding. You need proper help. I'll call one of the plonks in here."

"No Guv," Sam gasped. Gene ignored him.

"Cartwright. She'll know what to do. Then I can get on with finding that son of a bitch. You stay here, I'll fetch her.."

"NO!" Sam yelled, pulling back from Gene and grabbing the wall for support. The effort caused him to cry out. "Annie mustn't find out. I don't want anyone else to know about this!"

"But Tyler.."

"I said no Gene. Not ever! You promise me. And before you say it, I won't be reporting this either."

"He's not gonna get away with it!"

"That's your decision. He's your sergeant. I'm not making an official statement, understand?"

Gene was silent for a moment.

"I don't know how to help you, Sam, " he said softly. "I don't do nursemaid."

"Just promise me it stays between us."

"You need hospital."

"I need home." Sam knew Gene couldn't really help him on that last statement. Though, he did try.

"I'll get my keys. I'll drive you."

"Gene?"

"The place is nearly deserted. We should be okay."

"Gene!"

"Bloody Hell! I promise!" Hunt snapped, angrily. He took a deep breath to calm himself and then offered his hand to Sam.

Sam took it, satisfied. Helped by Gene, he began to move gingerly towards the exit. Gene noticed that Sam was trembling.

"Wait," he said softly. He crossed the room and pulled a blanket off of the floor. He then draped it around the younger man's shoulders. Sam looked up at his DCI, a thankful expression on his face.

"To keep you warm," Gene offered, unnecessarily. And then seeing Sam's look, added quickly; "Come on Gladys! It's just a blanket, don't go getting all funny about it. Let's go."

Together, they made slow progress towards the station front entrance. No one saw them. Annie had given up waiting for Sam and had gone home. Only Phyllis remained and she wasn't at her desk. She had probably missed Ray tearing out of the building aswell. Sam knew he would have to face Ray again, both awake and repeatedly in his dreams. Ray had wanted to change him, too break him. At that moment, he had succeeded.

Sam felt Gene's protective arm around him and leant in closer to the other man. Gene was quietly telling him about a "good doctor" he knew, a trustworthy man. Sam knew he would have to take Gene's word on that one. He knew he needed serious help. It hurt. It hurt so much.

Sam glanced across at the determined looking man beside him, supporting him in every agonising step. Maybe he did have a chance of getting through this. With Gene's help. Maybe.

~fin~