The hospital room seemed unnaturally bright by comparison. Fear kept Lovino unconscious through most of the examinations, the situation too reminiscent of his time strapped to tables, poked, prodded, sliced open to see what was inside. He'd been paralyzed then, able to feel everything but unable to do anything about it, even die to escape the agony.

The doctors wouldn't tell Antonio what had happened to him: apparently being engaged to the survivor wasn't enough to get details. But he was allowed to wait in a chair next to the bed, loosely holding his hand through a curtain. He prayed for his fiance's safety, though he was pretty sure God didn't want to hear him anymore.

About three hours later the two of them were left alone in the room, all silent except for the beeping and whirring of various machines. Bored and worried, head still spinning after the climactic last twenty-four hours, Antonio gently poked at the oxygen mask over Lovino's face, and silently begged him to wake up.

His pleas proved fruitful a few more hours later. Lovino, groggy and trembling again as he woke up, stared blankly at the room around him. There was light, and that was enough to prove to him that his body had been delivered from Hell. "T-Toni…?" He wasn't used to not being in pain anymore, but given how fuzzy everything was now, he could only imagine they'd put him on very strong painkillers. "What… What happened…?"

"You're safe now, safe and coming home as soon as your well." Lovino noticed a few gray hairs and dark spots around his fiance's eyes. He'd look young and carefree when the stress wore off.

"I… I'm really not gonna be worth it, Toni… I-I'm sorry…"

"You're always worth it, my love. Always and forever, remember." He kissed the finger from which they'd taken Lovino's engagement ring very early on.

"Toni…" He almost broke down then, terrified of what his Antonio thought when he'd seen the ring was missing. "I-I'm sorry it's gone… So sorry.. I'm really not worth it. I'm- I'm not–…"

"Shh…" He said. He reached around his neck and pulled of a necklace. There, on a piece of twine, was the ring. "They sent this to me. They… did that. Occasionally. Sent me… Images. Video. Pieces of your hair and…" He shook his head, feeling nauseous. His eyes darkened for a moment, then he shook his head and sighed, looking up at him again.

The flourescent light of the hospital room glimmered on the humble ring, and Lovino broke down.

Antonio gently wiped his tears , trying his best to comfort him through it. He honestly couldn't imagine what Lovino had been though, so he didn't try to tell him it would be okay, but made sure his fiance knew he was there for him.

It took a long time for him to calm down. "What… What'd they do while- while I was out…?"

Antonio sighed and picked at the sheet. "Stitched you up and took some x-rays. They had to knock you out more throughly to break and reset your wrist -apparently it healed wrong." He touched the splint on Lovino's left arm. "They tested for evidence of sexual assault-"

"They didn't do that," he was quick to assure. "They… They didn't do anything like that to me. A-All of it was physical and psychological or emotional t-torture… medical torture..." He shuddered and sighed shakily.

Antonio winced in sympathy. He took the ring off from around his neck. "Do you want me to put this back on you?"

Lovino swallowed hard. "I… I don't know. I-I'm not the same man you asked to marry you."

Antonio scooted a bit closer. "I'm staying right here, by your side. Right where I belong until such a time when you should send me away. Even if you don't want to get married anymore, nothing's gonna stop me from loving you."

He sobbed weakly. "I-I… Okay. I-I'd like my ring back…" He was so, so lucky to have someone like Antonio. "… H-How long was I gone for, Toni…?'

He took your good hand and pressed it to his lips "16 weeks, 2 days, an hour and 13 minutes. I counted." He slid the ring back onto the same finger it had been on before intertwining his fingers with Lovino's. "Right where it belongs." Whether he was referring to the ring or his hand Lovino didn't know.

"You… You searched for me all that time?" He could hardly believe Antonio wouldn't just believe him to be dead after just a few weeks. Then again, his tormentors had apparently been sending him… mementos…

"Every single hour I was looking for you," he said, kissing his hand again. "Even when I was at home I'd be looking around the house, thinking it was a dream, and I'd see you cooking or sleeping or painting or dancing…" He kept kissing his fingers. "I couldn't sleep in our bed. I've been sleeping on the couch for months."

"I-… I'm so sorry, Toni. So sorry you had to go through all that.." Maybe Antonio would've been better off if he could've just moved on. Then he wouldn't have had to be so miserable for so long.

He held your hand "The cats miss you. Dora especially."

Lovino knew he'd feel somewhat better holding his little Dora again. It had always worked in the past. "I miss her. I miss all of them."

"And Toma had kittens."

He almost smiled. "I'm… I'm tired, Antonio…"

He held his hand gently still. "I know. You can go back to sleep."

Lovino winced a little as his eyelids grew heavy. "Promise me I'll wake up?"

"I promise."

Going on Antonio's word, he let himself fade out again.

Antonio was asleep when Lovino woke up again, but with a gentle squeeze of his hand he started to wake.

Lovino attempted a smile for him. "Sleep well?"

"Uh huh." He yawned, and looked at the clock, and then Lovino. "You slept another 18 hours, which is good. I got to go back to the hotel for a bit to feed the cats."

"I'm glad you slept.."

He pulled out his phone. "I took a video of them. Wanna see it?"

"Mm. Okay."

He played it for him. It started out with Captain, curled on the floor. "Hey, Captain." Antonio said "Hey. Wake up. Say hi to daddy." The black cat sprung up inmediately, mewing. "He's not here. But he will be soon!" Captain mewed again. At that moment, a little black and white kitten followed by an even smaller calico kitten came in. They were playing with each other, rolling around. "Oh hello babies!" Antonio crouched down. "Look at you two. First day away from mama and here you are. I can't wait till you meet Lovi, he's gonna love you two. We can finally name you as well." He petted the black and white one behind the ears. Toma came in then, still a bit chubby from pregnancy. "Morning, sweetie." Antonio said, stroking her. A timer dinged behind him, and the camera turned. "Ah- that's breakfast. Don't worry, soon you all get your daddy's meals again." Toma and Captain mewed happily, and the kittens looked up at the camera. The tiny calico one let out the cutest little mew and Antonio cooed. Then the video ended.

Lovino stared at the screen a minute after it was over. "Where… Where's Dora?"

"She's, uh, she's been pretty unhappy since you disappeared. She hides a lot, barely eats…" He frowned and stuffed his phone back into his pocket. He attempted a big, reassuring smile. "But I'm sure everything will be better when she sees you!"

He nodded slowly, and remembered that the world was bigger than just them two. "How… How's everything and everyone else..?"

"Your brother is on his way. He desperately wants to see you." He smiled "other than Dora, everything is fine. Really."

Feliciano wanted to see him, and honestly, Lovino wanted to see him, too. "I-…" He cut himself off, and kept a tighter hold on Antonio's hand. "Did you-.. Does he know what happened..?"

"Not yet." He sighed. "Do you want me to tell him or…?"

"I-I-…" He swallowed hard. "I don't know what it is you know…"

Antonio steeled himself, hoping that talking about it so soon wouldn't put his beloved in a worse place than he already was. He struggled to keep his voice steady and his eyes dry. "They tortured you emotionally, mentally, and physically," he said softly, "and kept you locked away. Because of this, the doctors say you probably will have major PTSD, to the point where you might not be able to live alone ever again." He glanced up at his fiance.

Lovino looked more lost than anything, like he was trying to separate himself from what happened to him. "I… I'd believe that." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "What else..?"

"That's… really all I know."

"They didn't… tell you any results from..?"

"They wouldn't tell me. They said because we're not married and not related the information couldn't be released to me."

"I…" He swallowed again, blinking back tears. "I could if you want.."

"What do you mean?"

"I can tell you if you want.."

His eyes softened "I won't say I'm not curious. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"I… I-I want you to be able to know, b-but I don't know if I c-can right now…"

"Okay." He said. "That's fine."

"I-I'm sorry.."

"Don't be." He shrugged "there are things that happened to me a hundred years ago that I'm still not ready to talk about."

"I-I know… I-I'm sorry, Toni.."

"For what?" He asked

"For everything I put you through…"

"You didn't do anything. The people who kidnapped you did all the work."

"I-I'm sorry.."

"For what?" He asked again, kissing your palm "you didn't do anything wrong Lovi. You survived- you did the right thing by surviving."

"I…"

He kissed his hand.

"Where- Where's Feli now?"

"On his way."

"Did he say anything?"

"He's really excited to see you."

"H-He knows it's… bad, right?"

"Yeah, he knows."

He nodded, shaking. "So… a-apparently I might not be able to live alone anymore?"

"Yeah. But that just means you'll be staying with me until more things are known."

"B-But they said e-ever..?"

"It's just a theory. For now, they definitely don't want you on your own."

"I.. I don't wanna be on my own either.."

"You won't be," he promised. "Not ever again."

"They… They hurt me, Toni. A lot. Really bad.." The anxiety was coming on again, quickly.

"I know."

"I… I'm sorry if I can't just move on now. I-I know I'm safe with you, but-…"

"What do you mean by move on?"

"Like… not be so affected by it… Y'know.. move on…"

"Lovi, no one is asking you to try and move on," Antonio said softly.

But they will. "I-I'm just saying…"

Antonio knew it would do no good to try arguing with Lovino right now. "Okay. It's okay. You don't need to move on now."

"I-I want to, but–"

Antonio's phone started ringing. The sudden noise frightened Lovino, but he managed to calm down quickly enough.

"Sorry." He answered the phone "Hello?"

"Antonio!" It was Feliciano. "How's he doing?"

"He's good," he promised, taking Lovino's hand for comfort. "Where are you?"

"I just parked the car." He'd made it over in half the expected time. When he got the news his brother was found he took the very next flight to London, and drove north well over the speed limit. "I'm walking toward the emergency room."

"He was moved up to the ICU last night. Ask the receptionist for a room pass."

Feliciano froze momentarily. "He- He's in the ICU?"

"They wanna keep an eye on him."

"But he's doing fine?"

"Yes he's-... he's awake and everything!"

"A-Awake is great, but that doesn't mean, um-.." He cut himself off, shaking off fear of what his brother had been through. "O-Okay! I'll be up in a few minutes."

"Okay." He hung up. "Feli will be here in a few minutes."

He nodded, shaking.

He held your hand

"I'm… I'm tired…"

Antonio was worried by how Lovino could only seem to stay awake for an hour or two at a time, but knew rest would help him heal more quickly. "You can sleep if you want too. Feli won't mind I'm sure."

"He's coming all the way to see me…"

"And I will bet you a bunch of money that he will still be here when you wake up."

"He.. He doesn't have to stay. He didn't even have to come.."

"He wants to be here Lovi. He's your brother."

"I know.."

He kissed his hand.

A sudden wave of fear came over Lovino. This could still all be a dream. He'd wake up again and Antonio and Feliciano wouldn't be there. He may never see them again. He squeezed Antonio's hand as tight as he could manage. "Don't- Don't leave me alone."

"Never ever," he promised. "Ever."

"I-I-…"

"Yes?" He asked softly

"What happened to them, Toni?" he asked instead, eyes wide and frightened.

"What happened to who?"

"The- The people who took me…" He was shaking all over and starting to breathe faster.

Antonio was hoping they wouldn't have to discuss this so soon, but maybe the closure would give Lovino some peace of mind. "They're gone Lovi. They'll never touch you again."

"What- What do you mean gone?"

"They're dead."

"They're… They're dead?"

"Yeah," he said softly, squeezing his hand.

"So… they'll never pay for what they did?"

"They paid. Trust me."

"They didn't."

"How so?"

"They didn't live to see their crimes come out into the open, for the world to see. They didn't have to face their- their v-victim–…" He was cut off by a loud sob.

Antonio had never believed that it was worth it to keep the sorry sons of bitches alive long enough to see the inside of a jail cell. They were better off dead. But at the same time this wasn't about what he believed. "Oh Lovi… I'm sorry." He took your other hand too.

"Dead people don't care that they're dead! They- They got to die doing exactly what they wanted, with no consequences! They- They what? Died within a few minutes? While I died for months at their hands?"

Antonio nodded "I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"They- They never have to face what they did. I don't know if they ever did the same to anyone else, there was no one else when I was there, but that doesn't mean anything. But they BROKE at least ONE person. And got away with it." He was honestly breaking down, barely getting the words out.

Antonio tried to hold him, but was shoved off, and an IV drip was yanked from Lovino's arm. Antonio sat back in the chair and let him calm down a bit before he could do anything. Lovino was shaking and sobbing, curling in on himself and nearly pulling his hair out, and the sight broke Antonio's heart.

A passing nurse came in to check on him. "What happened?" she asked carefully, directed to Antonio considering the patient's current state. She hushed Lovino as she pushed the drip back into his arm.

"He just got upset," he said, almost too quietly to be heard over his fiance's painful wails.

She very gently checked his physical status and nodded slightly. "I'll leave you alone for now. If anything happens, the call button is right there next to the bed. If he doesn't calm down in a few minutes, please press the button."

Antonio nodded, starting to regret how the interrogation had ended.

Just as she was leaving, Feliciano appeared in the doorway. He was about to rush right in and hug his brother tight, but saw what was going on inside and managed to stop himself. The first time he'd seen his brother in several months, and he was crying like this. It honestly broke his heart all over again.

Antonio looked up and saw him there. "Ah… Lovi. Hey. Lovi." He gently touched his arm. "Lovi, please calm down, Feli's here."

"I-I'm sorry, I can't…" He was trying -dear God, he was trying.

Antonio rubbed his back, thankful to not be pushed off this time. "Hey… Take a deep breath. I'll do it with you even, can you do it?"

He couldn't choke out an answer, and had to just shake his head against Antonio's shoulder.

"I… I can come back later…" the younger brother offered, awkwardly trying to gauge whether or not his mere being there would make the situation worse. Though their relationship had been improving prior to all this, the two still had several issues to work out, and Feliciano being there might make Lovino feel even worse. He realized with a pang of guilt he selfishly hadn't given much thought to whether his big brother would want him there.

"Yeah… Sorry." He hit the nurse call button.

Feliciano bit his lip and nodded. "I'll wait downstairs." He smiled a little for Antonio's sake, and left just as a nurse -a different one- came in.

"He won't calm down," he said softly.

"Sir? I'm going to put a sedative in your IV bag, is that okay?"

He couldn't answer. He felt like he was drowning.

The nurse, in good faith, went ahead and administered the sedative. Lovino was asleep ten minutes later. But this sleep didn't last long.