There had been so many times Philip had stopped breathing in the last few days he thought he should just steal an oxygen tank already. The killer was right outside. And he was coming in.

The cup dropped from his hand and splashed all over the floor, making someone complain loudly down the corridor, but Philip was already inside the private room where Lukas was waiting.

The blonde looked over and noticed Philips empty hands before his expression as he rushed in and started grabbing things.

"Did you forget the only thing you went out for?"

Philip was still trying to suck air into his lungs as his skin crawled and the hairs on the back of his neck tingled. He felt the killers gaze on him already and he moved faster, getting Lukas' bag on and pulling the wheelchair to the bed.

"Lukas, we have to go."

The blonde was paying attention now, trying to sit up on the gurney, grunting as his wound protested.

"What? I thought Helen had it handled?"

Philip was pulling the blanket from Lukas' legs now, slipping his hands under the others back to help him sit up and swing his legs over the side before gripping him in a hug and lifting him down into the wheelchair.

"She does, it's fine. She told me to get you home."

Lukas watched Philip as he draped the blanket over the blonde's knees and pulled his gown up over his shoulder to keep him warm and cover his bandages.

"I can tell when you're lying. You're freaked out." His voice shook as he watched Philip.

"He's here isn't he?"

Philip bit his lip and met his eyes for a second before racing behind the wheelchair and pushing them out of the room.

Philip had, had panic attacks before, he knew that feeling of dread and panic as it filled up your lungs, as if you were drowning, until you couldn't breathe anymore. But Lukas needed him and so he took a deep breath and ran down the halls of the hospital. He would get Lukas out and keep him safe. He didn't have time for anything else.

They had gotten to the carpark of the hospital, a dark mostly empty space, when Philip realised he had no way to get Lukas from the hospital to anywhere safe. Lukas was in pain and still weak from his injury, whimpering softly every time Philip jostled him or turned too quickly. He was gripping his arm now, trying to lessen the weight of his arm pulling on his wound.

Philip placed a hand at the back of Lukas' neck to calm him as he pulled out his phone to call Gabe.

"Don't move. Put the phone down and stay quiet or he dies right now."

Philip's lungs froze as his heart thundered in his chest. He turned around slowly, pulling the phone down from his ear as Gabe called his name. Ryan was holding a gun to Lukas' head as he cried in the wheelchair, he was shaking and so, so, scared. So, Philip needed to be the brave one.

He nodded at the killer and put his hands up, flinching when his phone was ripped from his hand. Lukas just watched him with tear filled eyes, his face pale as he shook.

"Walk to that car over there. Stay quiet and do as I say."

Philip nodded again, sighing in relief as the gun was removed from Lukas' head, only to wince when it was pressed into his back as Ryan walked behind them.

Philip took the handles of Lukas' wheelchair, pushing him towards the car while trying to think of something to save them both. Lukas was still crying quietly, whimpering Philips name as he held his shoulder with one hand and clutched at his blanket with the other.

When they got to the car Ryan looked around, making sure there was no one to watch them, before he popped the trunk and ordered both boys to get in.

Philip looked at the trunk and back at Lukas incredulously. Lukas couldn't get in that trunk, he'd just been shot. Ryan had been trying to kill them both for a while now though so this wasn't the worst thing he'd done.

"I- he can't. His chest-"

Ryan got impatient and went to grab Lukas who let out a sob and cowered away from him, curling in on himself. Philip stepped in front of the boy, raising his hands in front of him as Ryan backed away.

"Okay, I'll do it just- don't touch him."

The man looked at them both with a curled lip, disgust or pity Philip couldn't tell, and nodded, allowing him to do it.

Ryan watched them carefully as Philip bent down to Lukas, lifting the boy's pale arms to his shoulders. Philip was being as careful as he could but the serial killer behind them was impatient and had a gun and Lukas whimpered every time he was moved.

"It'll be okay, Lukas. I got you, just keep holding on to me. I won't leave you, I promise."

Lukas nodded and hugged Philip, pressing his face into the others neck as he was lifted from the wheelchair. His legs were wobbly and weak and he was already so tired. Philip pressed a kiss to his temple and helped him lay down in the boot, curled on his side.

Philip sent a pleading look to Ryan, begging him silently to let them go, or at least Lukas. The sight of Lukas, hurt and scared in the boot of a car was making his chest tighten with panic. The agent refused to meet his eyes, his face a mask of cold steel as he pushed them down and began tying gags to their mouths and duct taping their wrists together. Phillip felt as if the gag was suffocating him but he knew that he could do nothing but lay there.

Once both boys were tied he paused, hand on the lid of the boot, finally lifting his eyes to meet Philips tear filled ones.

"I don't want to do this. But I have to. I don't have a choice." He looked like he was about to say sorry but changed his mind as he grit his teeth, lifted his chin and slammed the boot shut, shutting the boys in darkness with an echo that came from all around them.

Philip could hear Lukas sobbing but he couldn't do anything, he couldn't even wipe his own eyes or offer a hand of comfort. He did the only thing he could do and rolled over a little to press his back to Lukas as the blonde gripped his t-shirt and pressed his face to Philips shoulder blades.

This was the only comfort that they could give each other and it wasn't enough, Philip knew that he would do anything to keep Lukas safe but all he could do was breathe against him.

The car started and the boys could feel the engine rumble through the floor of the boot, car starting to move with a wobbly feeling that made Philip queasy.

He could feel that panic creeping up again, Lukas terrified and hurt, both of them curled, cramped, into a dark and hot boot. The enclosed space along with the heat and the choking feeling of the gag would have usually been enough to send Philip into a panic attack, but this wasn't about him.

Lukas would die if he didn't do something. So, Philip forcefully slowed his speeding breaths, closing his eyes, and shoving every emotion down until he was hard as stone. He would be brave because Lukas needed him to be.

A therapist he had been made to see once told him he had the ability to compartmentalize when under great stress, to prioritize some emotions over others and separate himself from his own mind at will. She had said it was not always healthy but was a useful coping mechanism. He was grateful for it now.

He opened his eyes and turned his head towards the crying boy behind him, nuzzling the back of his head against Lukas as he gripped his t-shirt and huddled close to him. Philip started humming through his gag, it was soft and close in the small space and Lukas' sniffling slowed to listen to it.

It was the tune of a song his mother used to sing him, one of her favourite songs, La Vie En Rose. The melody was sweet and comforting as a lullaby and Philip could feel Lukas calm down behind him. He had put the song into their playlist and knew Lukas recognized the song.

All he could do was wait until the car stopped, and he knew what would happen when they arrive at their destination. But he wouldn't let anyone hurt Lukas again, he had a plan.