Ray carried Henry to the couch and set him down to allow them to change back into their civilian clothes. Ray, then, knelt in front of Henry and tried to pull his pants up on his right leg, but Henry backed away from and ended up whimpering from the pain that lanced through his leg at the movement.

Ray looked worriedly at Henry and softly asked, "Hen, what's wrong? If you back away like that I can't help."

Henry shrunk into the couch and pathetically said, "Don't want you to leave."

Ray's face scrunched up in confusion. "I don't understand, Hen. Why would I leave?"

"Everyone else has left when they saw."

"Hen, I still don't get it."

Henry ignored Ray's statement. "But I don't want you to leave. So you can't leave if you don't see right?" At the end of his sentence, Henry broke out into a sob.

Ray grew even more concerned by the tears streaming down Henry's face. He had no idea what was going on, but he sure as hell was going to find out. "What don't you want me to see Hen?" Ray asked while still kneeling in front of him.

All Henry did was shake his head and sob harder as the pain somehow increased.

Ray felt panic bloom in his chest as he saw his Henry in pain. Not knowing what else to do he said, "I won't leave you, Henry. I just want to help, but I can't if you don't let me."

Henry only whimpered in fear and pain. He'd heard the same lie before. They always say that, but when they see it they all leave, every single one of them. So why would Ray be any different?

Ray started to beg with Henry to let him help as Henry's whimpers turned whines and those into sobs. Henry wanted to believe Ray, but he just couldn't. He didn't want to feel his break again. He doubted that he could handle it. Especially since he loved Ray with all that he was.

Ray gently held Henry's head, bringing him out of his thoughts. "You can trust me, Hen. I won't leave, or be disgusted, or whatever else you think will happen. I love you and nothing will change that."

Henry stared wide eyed for several seconds, a war going on inside his head. Finally, a side won. He lowered his head and gave in.

Ray mentally sighed in relief as he brought his hands down to grab the bottom of Henry's right pant leg, when hands stopped him. Ray looked up into Henry's eyes as he said, "You promise not to be disgusted or angry or hate me?"

There was a cautious hope in his eyes and it nearly broke Ray to hear the soft tone of Henry's voice. He crossed his heart while saying, "I promise."

Henry hesitantly let go of Ray's hands and leaned back into the couch with a small smile gracing his lips at Ray's childishness. Ray softly asked where it hurt the most and when Henry pointed to his mid-thigh Ray grabbed a pair of scissors. Before he started cutting, he told Henry what he was planning to do, and, once he got a shaky nod, he started. Once the pant leg was off, Ray sharply drew in a breath. The entire leg was mechanical and the flesh that met metal was completely charred.

Henry's whimpering pulled Ray away from the charred flesh to look at his lover's face, but Henry was hiding his face in his hands.

Ray grabbed Henry's wrists and gently pulled them away from his face. Tears were running down Henry's face. Ray pulled him into an embrace and whispered into his ear, "Henry, your leg does not define you. I still love you. I still want to be with you. Nothing will scare me away. Not your sister and definitely not your leg. I need you to understand this."

Henry gave a choked laugh and hugged Ray back tightly, burying his head into Ray's chest and whispering, "I love you."

Ray gently hugged back, giving Henry the support he needed, and said, "I love you too. Now, let's fix you up."

The End