Disclaimer: I own nothing

Warnings: Slash.

A/N: edited

"Pete! Pete!"

There were voices all around him, people who were running, shouting, screaming.

Someone was sitting next to him, sobbing. And there was pain. His whole body was aching. He could feel the bruises Hatcher's fists had left all over his face, his neck, his chest.

He didn't mind. It wasn't important.

The only thing that mattered was that Shannon was safe. That Matt was safe.

The voices faded and everything was darkening. He felt someone grabbing and shaking his shoulders.

"Pete! Stay with me, mate. Listen, I'm so sorry…I should've…Pete! Stay awake!"

Bov's voice was shaking. Pete realized that he was crying. Why?

He tried to look at Bovver, but everything was blurred. Something warm and wet was in his eyes. Blood. He blinked, trying to focus. But the world kept drifting away, leaving him alone in darkness. The only sound he could hear were Bovver's sobs. Then they were gone, too. Someone was moving his body, touching him, pressing cloth against his injuries. Massaging his chest. He wanted to scream, but his mouth wouldn't make a sound. Matt. Shannon. Matt. Steve would be mad if they were hurt. He needed to know. But darkness was binding him, enveloping his body, preventing movement.

Suddenly he was tired of struggling. If they were fine, good. If they weren't, then he didn't want to be, too. But I would've liked too see them once again. With that last thought, he surrendered to the pain.

"Pete?"

A soft, familiar voice. Someone was touching his hand. He grabbed the fingers, hard and rough, those of a fighter. But to Pete, they were a lifeline at this moment.

"Pete?" The voice asked again. He tried to open his mouth, his eyes, say something, look who was talking. But he couldn't move his face. It was buried under thick layers of cloth.

"It's ok, Pete. Everyone's alright. Shannon is with Steve at the moment."

Matt. Pete suddenly felt at peace. His body was aching to sleep, but he didn't want to. He wanted to stay awake, hold Matt's hand without being ashamed. But Matt wouldn't allow it.

"Sleep, Pete, everything's fine. You need to rest now." If he had been able to, Pete would have grinned. Or smiled. Because of Matt's wrong conclusion. Because Matt cared.

He fell asleep.

When he awoke, everything was quiet, except for the beeping of the machines next to his head. For a while, he remained silent, listening to the display of his heartbeat. Then, slowly, he opened his eyes. It was easier now, most of the bandages had been removed. His face felt mostly nice and clean, if not a little numb. There was a window to his right, showing nothing but darkness outside. The door to his room was on the other side.

His room was empty apart from him. He sighed and closed his eyes. It was foolish to hope he would be there. He closed his eyes. And snapped them open when the door opened a moment later. There was Matt, holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Pete! You're awake!" Pete could feel his foolish stomach tingle a bit at the clearly visible relief on the other's face. "I just need to go out of the room for two minutes or so and you wake up. Great." Pete grinned a t the mock-annoyed expression on Matt's face.

Matt grinned too and sat down at the chair next to Pete's bed.

"How long have I been here?" Pete asked. "Two days or so. Bovver visited every day and Shannon came once, too. Everyone was worried. The doctors all said that there was no hope. Bovver said you actually died on the way here, but they could revitalize you. Tommy Hatcher sent flowers. And an apology card. Strange, huh? He seems to have vanished. Steve and Shannon are planning to go on holiday. They want to visit our Dad in Paris. He's doing some kind of project or so about the new president. Don't ask me. And the doctors also say that…" "Matt?" Pete grinned. "Yes?" "Shut up." Matt blushed and closed his mouth. "I'm hungry" "Er. I should I should fetch a nurse or so anyway." Matt stood up and left.

Pete chuckled. Matt hadn't talked this much for a long time. He was glad Matt had left, because he was sure he would have been noticing Pete's goofy grin.

Matt was sweet when he blushed. He…God. I'm such a queen…He was ripped out of his thoughts by the door opening. A nurse entered, followed by Matt. She was carrying a plate with food. When she had checked his vital signs, she left the room to inform the doctor.

For a while, Pete and Matt sat in silence, Pete eating and Matt watching him do so and drinking his coffee. "Say something. It's boring" Pete said in between two bites of his meal.

"I thought you wanted me to shut up" Matt said and stared at his cup. "Yes. You were babbling. But you can talk to me now. The silence annoys me." "As you wish, my Lord" Matt grinned. He started telling Pete about what had happened after he and Shannon had left.

Ten minutes later, the doctor entered the room. He turned to Matt. "Sir, may I ask you to leave the room for a moment?" Matt stood up "Alright, it's already pretty late, anyway. I'll come back tomorrow, then."

Without waiting for any answers, he left the room. Pete, upset that Matt had left, scowled at the doctor.

The next day, he was already awake when Matt entered. He smiled at him (stupidly, he thought).

His smile faded when he saw who had entered together with Matt. Bovver.

"Mate, I'm so sorry. I did everything wrong. It's all my fault. Everything." Bovver kept on apologizing over and over again, nearly crying. Pete didn't listen. He looked at Matt, who was standing with his back to him, staring out of the window. When he turned around, Pete quickly drew his gaze back to Bovver, who still hadn't finished with his apologies. "It's ok, mate. No harm done." Pete interrupted him, already tired of him. Bovver shut his mouth and looked at him with watery eyes. Oh god. Don't cry. I couldn't stand that. Matt must've thought the same thing, because he approached the bed again and said "Bovver, why don't you fetch yourself a tea or something? I'm sure you need it." Bovver stood up and left the room quickly. "Thanks" Pete murmured. "Oh, no problem. You know, he cried every time he visited. That was quite a nuisance." Pete grinned. He could imagine Matt, sitting awkwardly next to a hysterically sobbing Bovver, trying to calm him. He chuckled.

"I'm going back to America." Matt's words cut through Pete's amusing thoughts like a knife, destroying them completely.

"You…what?" Pete managed to choke."I'm going back to America." Matt repeated. Pete could only gape at him. Suddenly, he felt like crying, too. "I'm leaving this evening." Pete felt betrayed. "Why?" He asked, struggling to hide his emotions. "I want to resume my studies. You know, I've got a plan how to…""Shut up" Pete snapped. "What?" Matt looked at Pete in disbelief.. Pete kept his gaze fixed on the ceiling, fighting back his foolish tears. Pussy. He wouldn't cry. He wouldn't. Suddenly, he felt anger boiling up inside of him. How dare he? Leaving him alone like this? "Pete?" Matt asked softly. Pete closed his eyes. He couldn't show his feelings. He could show any weaknesses. "Have a nice flight. Say hi to Miss Liberty. Bye." Matt didn't move. "Pete…what the hell? I'm telling you I'm leaving, going back to university and you just…just…" Matt stopped, searching for the right words. Pete didn't dare open his eyes. If he did, he would not be able to hide any of his feelings any more. "This is the chance of my life. You could even pretend to be happy for me, you know." Pete didn't answer. "Fine. Goodbye, Pete." Pete felt his heart breaking when Matt stood up and left.

When the door had closed behind Matt, Pete hid his face in his hands. Shit. Shit, Shit, Shit.

He turned to lie on his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. Nobody would see the tears that were streaming down his cheeks, soaking his pillow. Nobody.

Eventually, he fell asleep.