Disclaimer – I do not own M7 and if I did the series would still be going.

First chapter of sequel hope it's alright. Am off to visit parents over Christmas for a few days and so will not have access to internet so will not be able to update until Boxing Day, hope to have another chapter to post then. Any reviews, suggestions are greatly appreciated.

The Pain of Paperwork Two.

Chris fought his way to consciousness, he felt heavy and uncoordinated, and he could hear the annoying beep from the heart rate monitor. He could also feel someone gently holding his hand, blinking Chris looked into the worried blue eyes of his closest and oldest friend.

"Buck?" Chris hoarse voice sounded weak to his own ears.

"Hey Stud." Buck gave the man a smile, he was glad the blond had finally woken up; Dr James Frasier had said that the man would wake up today after they had stopped sedating him.

"How long Buck?" Chris glared at the other man, he could tell that the other members of his team where also present and listening to him and Buck talk.

"Three days." Buck saw the anger flair in the pain filled green eyes.

"Damn it Buck." Chris growled, he hated being in such a vulnerable position lying on his stomach, even with his team around, he could not defend himself.

"Easy Brother." Josiah laid his large hand on the agitated mans leg.

Chris jumped startled by the touch and immediately regretted it as his damaged back screamed out in pain, biting his lip sweat broke out on his brow.

Buck rubbed the bony hand he held in sympathy as Chris struggled not to moan out in pain.

"I'll get a doctor." Josiah felt guilty for startling the injured blond.

"I'm fine." Chris decided to take matters into his own hands and began to push himself off his stomach to his side, he knew better than to attempt to lie on his back.

Buck looked at Nathan as Chris stubbornly attempted to turn from the position that he had been placed in. Nathan shook his head, Buck gently stopped Chris's efforts he did not want to see the man hurt himself.

"Chris just stay where you are alright." Buck instructed the blond, he could see Chris wanted to resist.

"Buck take your damn hands off me." Chris growled. "And don't even attempt to drug me again."

Buck did not release the man; he knew Chris was angry his wishes had been ignored previously. The bigger man leant in close and rested his forehead against Chris.

"Chris I am not going to let anybody hurt you." Buck realised that Chris did not like how vulnerable the position his was in was making him feel. "Now behave and relax."

Chris looked into the calm blue eyes, he could see the determination and promise in his friend's eyes, and sighing Chris for now would stay where he was.

Buck nodded when he saw the moment Chris accepted his promise, the moustached man would make sure his friend was never left alone. Buck pushed a stubborn lock of sweaty blond hair from the pale man's forehead.

Vin was relieved that Chris had not put up much of a fight, but he knew it was only a matter of time before the man did as he wanted.

Nathan moved so that Chris could see him, he did not like seeing his friend and boss in such pain.

"How do you feel Chris?" Nathan did not look at the bandages covering the mans lacerated back.

"I'm fine." Chris usual statement was followed by a coughing fit which had all the men cringing in sympathy and involuntary tears to the sick man's eyes.

"Sure Cowboy." Vin wished he could take the mans pain from him.

"Not a cowboy." Chris gave the men a weak smile.

"Hello Chris." Dr James Frasier was glad to see the man awake and speaking with his friends. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine." Chris tried to move from his prone position.

"Don't try to move Chris." Dr Frasier move closer. "Do you men want to wait outside while I give Chris a quick check over?"

Frasier was not surprised when none of the men moved, shrugging he began to examine the injured man. The man kept still and silent but James could tell he was in a great deal of pain and discomfort.

"I'm going to give you some pain relief alright Chris." Dr Frasier was not prepared for the reaction he got.

"No." Chris growled, he began to fight against the hold Buck still had on his hand. "No I said."

Buck immediately released the man's hand as Chris snarled.

"Don't try it." Chris spat he wanted his wishes understood and obeyed.

Dr Frasier held his hands up and did not move any closer to the snarling man. He noted the large older man move to Chris he gently took the snarling man's face in his hands.

"Chris, it's alright Chris." Josiah ignored the snarling, he simply waited for the man to exhaust himself which did not take long.

"No Josiah I said no." Chris appealed; he starred deep into the calm blue eyes.

"No one's going to do anything you don't want them too brother." Josiah could see the anger fade slowly from the green eyes. "Are you in pain Chris?"

"I'm fine." Chris wearily stated, he felt the large hand stroke his head, he blinked tiredly.

"Alright then." Josiah continued to maintain eye contact with the other man; he kept up the soothing rhythm stroking the man's head.

Chris fought the pull of sleep, but his exhausted body's demand could not be ignored and his eyes shut. Josiah looked at the other members of his team; he could see that Chris's reaction had shocked some of the men, although Buck just looked sad, even the normally unflappable Ezra looked upset.

"I don't think you should do anything to Chris without clearing it with him first"Josiah looked at the doctor who was in charge of the sleeping man's treatment.

"I can't leave him in pain Josiah." Dr Frasier informed the men.

"Yes but he needs some control over what you do to him." Buck had not been surprised that his friend had reacted the way he did, the stubborn man hated not being in control.

"Alright we'll have to compromise and go from there." Dr Frasier offered. "I'm going to give him something for the pain now while he's sleeping."

"Does that not negate the whole idea of giving Mr Larabee some control over his treatment?" Ezra was not sure he liked the idea of drugging the man while he was sleeping.

A moan sounded from the bed, Josiah began his stroking again and Chris seemed to settle, his harsh breathing sounding loud in the hospital room.

"He's in pain and this will allow him to rest more comfortably." Dr Frasier looked to the moustached man.

"Why can't you give him a PCA pump?" Nathan asked, he could see the question on Vin's face. "It's a way that Chris can medicate himself if he wants by pressing a simple button."

"Great idea." JD bounced in place; he had wanted to protect Chris from the doctor, even though he knew the man had Chris's best interests at heart.

"Alright we'll try that." Dr Frasier told the men. "I'll get it set up."

"Great." Vin was relieved that there could be an easy solution.

The Doctor nodded and went to get the equipment organised, for when the sleeping man woke up. He would hopefully not have a repeat of the scene he had just been involved with.

Chris fought his way back to consciousness as he felt hands touching him; his eyes flew open as he was rolled further onto his stomach.

"What?" Chris grunted, he could hear JD voice protesting.

"You shouldn't be in here while we change Mr Larabee's bandages." A stern voice barked seemingly right by Chris's ear.

"JD." Chris called he began to struggle against the restraining hands.

"Where's Dr Frasier?" JD tried to push past the huge hulking orderly to get to Chris who was beginning to struggle against the doctor and nurse who was assisting him.

"Take your damn hands off me." Chris struggled even harder as his pain escalated.

"Let go of him, your hurting him." JD yelled he did not want to get violent with the orderly but if he did not move then he would.

"Call security and have this idiot removed." The irritated doctor barked, he turned his attention back to his fighting patient amazed the man had the strength the struggle after seeing his chart and the actual state of his injured body. "Nurse get me a Versed injection immediately."

The nurse rushed to obey as two security guards forced the protesting JD from the room, the doctor and orderly where struggling to keep the frantically battling man on the bed. Chris had no idea what was happening he had flashed back to when Fowler had kidnapped him from his ranch; he was desperately trying to locate JD as he was worried the young man was being hurt. Growling he struck the man pinning him down in the face, the orderly yelped in pain. Chris was in agony but he was not about to give in, he continued to struggle.

"Here Doctor Hyde." The nurse held the syringe out, the doctor snatched it from her hand and jabbed it into the snarling man.

Doctor Jeff Hyde was dismayed when the man's struggled increased instead of tapering off like he expected after administering the sedative.

"Nurse get me propofol." Dr Hyde barked he could tell the man had popped some stitches as his bandages where becoming scarlet coloured.

The nurse rapidly returned with the requested drug, she watched as the doctor injected the struggling man, all three medical personal let out sighs of relief as the medication seemed to work.

"Get me some restraints and let's get him cleaned up." Dr Hyde efficiently removed the soiled bandages; he scowled when he noted that some of the stitches needed to be replaced.

JD paced angrily in front of the hospital entrance, he pulled out his phone, the young Bostonian could not believe he had been forced out of Chris's room; he was ashamed that he had once again failed the injured leader of Team 7.

"Buck, some doctor kicked me out of Chris's room and I can't get to him, Buck he was going insane and I don't know if he's alright." JD hurriedly told his surrogate big brother. "Alright I'll be waiting by the exit."

Chris took a breath and once again he began to fight the restraints, he snarled angrily as they where tightened, he felt immense rage and pain fill him he did not realise he was in hospital he thought that he was back with Fowler being tortured and tormented.

Dr Jeff Hyde could hear the snarls from the restrained man, he could not understand why the drugs he had given the man had not put him under, the patient was unable to move and so Hyde decide he would repair the damage done to the stitches and clean the wounds, the medication would make sure the man would not feel any pain and hopefully he would settle down once he realised how futile his struggles where.

"Nurse change the catheter while I repair these stitches." Hyde ordered.

Chris snarled when he felt strange hands on intimate parts of his body, he hardly had the breath to snarl as the torture continued on his body; he felt every stab of the needle.

The nurse was becoming concerned by the doctor's actions, she had removed the catheter and the patient was snarling and fighting against the restraints, the huge hulking orderly had tightened them as tight as he could and still the sick man fought.

"Doctor Hyde maybe we should allow Mr Larabee to calm down." The young nurse could hear the man distress breathing interspersed with animalistic growling.

"Just do your job." Hyde barked.

Chris was in a world of pain and torment, he continued to struggle, he would not give his torturers the satisfaction of hearing him scream.

Buck hurriedly parked the car; he had been headed back to the hospital with Josiah when JD's call had come in. He rushed towards the entrance he could see JD pacing angrily, being watched by two large security guards. Buck saw Dr Frasier arriving he the man looked up as he ran towards the doors with Josiah on his heels.

"Buck we need to get back in there." JD almost shouted.

"What's going on?" Dr Frasier thought the men where not going to leave Larabee on his own at any time.

"Some doctor threw me out and Chris was fighting them." JD quickly burst out.

"Let's go." Dr Frasier stared hard at the security guards who had been watching the young man. "These men are with me."

"Yes sir." One of the security guards quickly responded.

The four men quickly made there way to Chris's room and where all horrified by what they discovered.

"Dr Hyde what the hell do you think your doing?" Dr Frasier made his way into the room.

"I'm dealing with this patient Dr Frasier." Dr Hyde did not look up from where he was stitching.

Buck went to rush forward intent on ripping the man limb from limb; he could not believe the noises coming from his struggling friend. He was stopped by Josiah's arms wrapping around him.

"Stop what you're doing immediately." Dr Frasier quietly commanded he was disgusted that the arrogant doctor was ignoring the patients obviously distress.

"Let me go Josiah I'm gonna kill him." Buck snapped he glared at the Doctor who looked up shocked.

"Get out of this room right now Hyde and by the time I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to be able to practice on the dead." Dr Frasier moved close to the man and quietly promised.

"I'm trying to help this man." Dr Hyde retorted.

"Look at him Doctor are you seriously saying you're helping him?" Dr Frasier loomed over the smaller man.

"Help Chris Buck."Josiah released the other man who rushed to the head of the bed.

"Chris Chris." Buck called his friends name. He looked into the man's face and realised to his horror that Chris was not with them his mind had gone back to being tortured.

Dr Hyde looked down at the restrained man, it suddenly dawned on him that he had made a mistake and one that he could possibly pay a high price for. He could hear the growls and see the man was still actively fighting the restraints.

"Get out." JD spat he wanted to punch the doctor who stood in front of him.

Dr Hyde quickly left the room, Dr Frasier looked down at the ravaged back he scowled as he realised that he would have to repair the stitches once they got Chris to calm down. The sick man was still growling and fighting against the restraints, he quickly began to undo the straps holding the man to the bed.

"Chris come on brother you have to calm down." Josiah began to help undo the restraints.

As soon as Chris realised he was no longer restrained he flew off the bed and wedged himself in a corner of the room, his back to the wall he snarled angrily.

JD gasped he never expected Chris to move that quickly especially with how wounded the man was, Chris was stood poised to lash out at anybody who approached him.

Dr Frasier could see the confusion as well as anger in the stormy green eyes, the man was shaking like a leaf but he was stood ready to defend himself. James picked up Chris's chart and noted that Hyde had recorded what he had given the man; he was surprised the man was still upright.

"Buck." Josiah called gently the jovial man had remained silent when Chris had shot off the bed and into the corner.

"Don't touch me." Chris snarled he shook his head as he attempted to clear it.

Buck moved closer to the clearly traumatised man.

"Careful Buck." Josiah did not want to see the large man hurt.

"Chris, its Buck." Buck held his hand out to the injured blond.

Chris shook his head, Buck was not here really they where trying to trick him.

Buck noted the shaking head, he still advanced towards the growling man, and he held his hands out in front of him, watching Chris closely.

"Chris listen to me, your alright now, I'm here." Buck kept his voice low. "Just stay where you are guys."

Josiah and JD stayed close to each other watching as Buck slowly approached their leader. Dr Frasier waited, he knew that if Buck could not get through to the sick man then he would have to intervene, he quietly left the room to prepare the medication he hoped would help.

"Chris I want to help you." Buck could see more confusion replacing the anger in the pain filled green eyes. "Come on Big Dog you know me, I wont hurt you."

"No it's a trick." Chris blinked as he tried to see the other man clearly. "Don't come any closer."

"No tricks Chris, come on now listen to old Buck." Buck was literally within touching distance of the tense man. "You don't want to hurt me Chris."

Chris felt the other man gently touch his raised fists, he was confused, and he hurt from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.

Buck held Chris's clenched fists in his larger hands, he could see that Chris was still very confused, but atleast the man had not lashed out at him. Buck wanted to hug the man but was scared of causing anymore damage.

"Buck." Chris felt himself pulled closer to the larger man; he wearily leant against the man who was his best friend.

"Chris let's sit on the bed." Buck offered, he realised his mistake when the man pulled away cringed back into the corner.

"No, I won't be tied down." Chris backed himself into the corner.

Buck could see the blond man was close to collapse but he was angry and fearful and the man would not be forced against his will. Buck new he needed to tread carefully otherwise Chris could snap or collapse and no one wanted that.

"Chris do you trust me?" Buck hoped that Chris was still aware enough to consider what he was saying.

"Yes." Chris's head tilted as Buck once again came close.

Buck nodded he took one of the thin hands in his and gently encouraged the naked man from the corner, leading him towards the bed.

"No." Chris tried to pull his hand from Buck's gentle grasp.

Buck stopped but kept hold of the man.

"Chris you trust me." Buck rubbed the bony knuckles of the hand he held.

"You know I do." Chris allowed himself to be led to the bed.

Buck gently guided Chris to sit on the bed facing the door to his room; he sat next to the shaking man.

"We'll just sit here for a minute Chris." Buck kept his voice low and even, he could see Josiah and JD wanted to come closer he shook his head negatively and the two men stayed where they where.

Chris could feel Buck gently stroking his hand; he leant against the moustached man as they sat shoulder to shoulder.

"Well now shall I tell you about my date with the delectable Luisa, she works in accounts and she's simply divine." Buck began to regale the other man with his tale of romance; Buck could feel Chris relax as he talked.

Chris allowed his friends voice to wash over him, he trusted the other man to look out for him. He had always associated Buck with safety and security and he did not think he trusted anyone else as much as his life long friend.

Josiah could only watch as Chris sagged against Buck, the man's eyes where barely open.

"Chris lets make you comfortable." Buck stood up he manoeuvred the barely awake man onto his side.

"No Buck." Chris began to tense up and panic slightly at the thought of being back in the same position where he could be overwhelmed.

"Chris you can see who comes into the room and lying on your side is ok." Buck stroked the pale face of his friend. "Let me help you Chris."

Chris put his trust in Buck as he allowed himself to be laid down on his side facing the door, the caring man kept up a running commentary of inane chatter as he stroked the still tense man's head.

"See Chris this is alright." Buck was glad to see the other man begin to relax; he saw Dr Frasier stood watching in the doorway. "Chris Dr Frasier is going to look at your back."

"Alright Buck." Chris tiredly replied he was soothed by the repetitive motion of Buck's hand over his head.

"Nice and slow." Buck warned the Doctor who nodded.

Dr Frasier moved round the bed he could see the blood covering the sick mans back, he would have to repair some stitches, he also did not like the shaking and shivering the prone man was doing and his breathing sounded extremely harsh and so Frasier wanted to get an oxygen mask on the man.

"Chris I'm going to touch you alright." Dr Frasier took his thermometer out and gently placed it in Chris's ear.

Frowning Frasier placed his fingers on the pulse point on Chris's neck, he could tell the three men where watching what he was doing.

"Chris can I reconnect the drip." Dr Frasier saw the man nod; Frasier gave some instructions to the nurse who had stood waiting to see if she could help, Frasier was glad it was not the one who had assisted Dr Hyde. "Can you use the oxygen mask Chris?"

"I'm fine." Chris declared, he fought the urge to cough but his body had other ideas, he felt every cough burn through his chest and his back screamed for attention.

"Chris." Buck called, he could see the moment Chris body decided it had had enough and he lost consciousness or succumbed to the drugs the idiot doctor had pumped into him, Buck was not sure which but he was relieved that Chris was no longer aware of the tasks Dr Frasier quickly undertook.

Dr Frasier was glad the man's body had given out; he would now be able to quickly begin to correct the mistakes and blunders made by his ill feeling colleague.

"Buck I'm going to give Chris some pain relief to make sure he doesn't come round while I'm helping him." Dr Frasier waited for the gentle rogue to speak.

"Alright but that Doctor best not come anywhere near Chris ever again." Buck told the man, he moved out of the way as Frasier and his team of nurses quickly and efficiently cleaned Chris up and repaired the damage done by Dr Hyde's careless behaviour.

JD was glad that Chris was asleep, he cringed everytime the needle entered the thin body, he almost threw up as Chris suffered through a coughing fit that resulted in him coughing up disgusting coloured crud, the man moaned as his body was moved, cleaned and medicated. The hated oxygen mask was placed on the gasping man's face then the nurses withdrew leaving Buck Josiah and JD alone with Dr James Frasier.

"I'm going to make an official complaint regarding Dr Hyde's treatment of Chris." Dr Frasier declared he could see the anger on the three Team 7 member's faces. "I will make sure that from now on one of you men can stay with him at all times, and hopefully this hasn't caused a backwards step in his getting better."

Buck looked at his sick friend, Dr Frasier's hope that the episode with Dr Hyde had not affected Chris had been in vain, as the blond had suffered a serious setback, he had developed and infection and his temperature had sky rocketed, his breathing already compromised had deteriorated to the point that Chris was back on a ventilator and he was being pumped full of a cocktail of various drugs to try to get a handle on the infection.

Dr Frasier was gently examining the sick man, he was pleased to see his temperature was finally coming down, he was glad that he could now give the members of Larabee's team some good news.

Buck, Nathan and Ezra where in the room with Chris, the members of the team had tried to get Buck to go home a number of times but the big hearted man had rarely left Chris's side, only to rush back to the apartment he shared with JD to change and shower. The others all stayed to keep the sick man and his shadow company, Nathan was considering dosing Buck with sleeping tablet just to get the man to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time.

"So what's the verdict Doctor?" Buck rubbed tiredly at his eyes.

"Chris's temperature is coming down, and I think we've turned a corner." Dr Frasier smiled at the three men.

"When will he wake up?" Buck hated seeing Chris so still.

"I don't think it will be long before he does and then we'll see about removing the ventilator." Dr Frasier left the men gather around Chris's bed. He had a meeting to attend with the hospital board regarding Dr Hyde; he was determined to see the man punished for his arrogant behaviour.

Ezra and Vin exchange a concerned look as Buck sat at the head of the bed; the normally exuberant man was tiredly running his hand through his thick hair.

"He'll wake up soon Buck." Vin patted the sleeping man's knee, he hated how ill his friend looked, the man was laid on his side and his back was still swathed in bandages, the rise and fall of his chest caused by the hated ventilator.

"Indeed Mr Wilmington, I believe our esteem leader will wake sooner rather than later." Ezra smiled at the tired looking man.

No sooner had the words left the southerners mouth than the heart monitor went wild as Chris's eyes flew open and he began to fight against the tube down his throat. Buck grab the flailing hands as Chris somehow managed to roll onto his back.

Vin cringed as Chris arched in pain, Ezra simply grabbed Chris's elbow and with Buck's help they got the struggling man once again off his back.

Vin rushed out the room he alerted the nurse that Chris was awake and they needed Dr Frasier or Raine to help them.

Buck kept hold of one of Chris's hands while Ezra held the other, Chris luckily had stopped struggling and was just starring at the two men.

"Welcome back Big Dog."