Matt heard the door opening as he made a dead sprint back to the room. Too far. He turned back around going to the kitchen. He could see Mello walking calmly into the room, starting the computers, The blond moved around the room, peeling off the jacket. He glanced towards the computers, cursing. Someone was not happy.

Matt found it hard to breathe suddenly. He wanted out of here now. Yet there was no moving. There was no leaving. Mello would not know who it was under this helmet, he'd think it was just someone trying to steel. Matt took a deep breath, stepping back further. Don't let him see…

Mello frowned, picking up a pen from the floor. Shit. Matt had dropped his pen! A small blue pen with some Chinese restaurant logo written across the side. The blonde's head jerked to the kitchen, hand going to the gun at the small of his back. Matt's feet pushed into action, carrying him down the hall as fast as humanly possible. He threw open a door to the balcony, running the length of the marble. Mello was right on his tail, shouting at him with curses. Several gun shots went off, all going stray.

"Hey! I said stop!" Mello stayed in pursuit even when his calves began to burn.

Matt knew the end of the balcony. He squeezed his eyes shut and jumped, only hoping to find ground again. He found himself one level lower on another balcony, Mello fallowing the jump with a grunt. He shot off another bullet, hitting the stone beside Matt's head. He cursed, falling back in step behind his target.

"Light, he's on my tail." He huffed into the microphone, praying Mello would just fall or trip. His legs were screaming at him to stop. There was no answer on Lights end. He wasn't there. Matt felt like he had been abandoned. Again.

The ripping through his shoulder came fast and hard, his body slowing. He let out a scream, grabbing his right shoulder. His fingers went under the leather jacket, slipping over his chest. His feet began growing heavy. He couldn't run anymore. When he brought his hand from the jacket, his breathing stopped.

Blood. There was blood covering his hand.

"I got you now, bastard." Mello grinned, stepping up behind him. "Why don't you take off that ugly helmet and show me who you really are." Matt could feel his knee's giving way. He was hit. The bullet still in him! His brows furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line. He touched his chest again. He felt it. The warm metal was slightly through the skin.

"Ready to give it up? Next bullets going into you're skull." Mello chuckled, aiming the gun again. Damn, he would really do it. Matt turned to look the blonde in the eyes. He was going to have to face him. Just yesterday he faced him!

Behind them, the top floor erupted into flames. The glass on the building shattering to the ground below. Mello swiveled around, gasping. "What the fuck did you do!?"

"Mello…" Matt peeled the helmet off, throwing it to the ground. Mello whipped around to face him.

"Matt." His eyes went to the red heads chest, he paled instantly. "Oh, God… Oh, God. I hit you. I shot you." He took a step towards Matt, holding out his hand.

Matt let him take him into his arms, he let Mello hold him against his body. He felt his arms go around the blonds waist; a choking sob catching in his throat. "Don't worry, love, I'm going to help you."

Light had left the rooftop the minute Mello had showed up. The best thing to do in that situation. Trouble was brewing and he did not want to be a part of that cup of Joe. He took the cab after the explosion happened and rode back to the safe house. Matt should have made it through the explosion, he had enough time. If not, it was just one less thing he would have to take care of. Misa was sitting in a big shirt-his shirt-and watching T.V. The moment he got in, she frowned.

"Where's Matt? I thought he was with you."

He loosened his tie, locking the front door. "He stayed behind to clean up."

"I thought you guys weren't supposed to split up."

"Misa, I told you, he's cleaning up. He'll be here anytime from now to tomorrow. Ok?" Light leaned into her, kissing the hallow of her throat. "Don't you trust me?"

"Oh, Light, you know I do." She smiled widely, pulling him onto her. Greeaaat.

Light sighed, picking himself back up. He didn't want Misa asking too many questions, it could cause trouble later. What was he going to say if Matt really did not come back? Hey, by the way, I sent him on a suicide mission and then left knowing he was going to get caught? Yeah right. She wouldn't care if he died, but if Light was the one who did it, she might get thoughts that it could happen to her. Fear was not something he needed her to trip out on. Not so close to success…

Mello had taken them to a gas station that was only a block away. They had to remove the bullet and get him cleaned up. Matt had not looked at him for the past half hour. He didn't talk either. Why should he after what had happened the previous night? The blond watched while the man he loved so much stood over the grungy sink, wiping the drying blood from his skin. His shirt was on the floor with the jacket; his chest heaving in pain. The hole Mello had made was deep, extending from the back of his right shoulder to the front of his chest. A perfect shot that could have killed if in the right spot. The bullet was still visible.

Matt's painful hiss made Mello's head snap up. He hunched over the sink in pain, clutching the wound, his muscles tightening. The blond took a step, reaching for Matt.

"Don't touch me." His command was sharp and painful to Mello's ears. Mello let his hand fall back to his side, brows furrowing. Matt straightened after a minute of catching his breath. He used his fingers to pull the bullet out, wincing and cursing with every tug. After the piece of metal fell into the sink with a clank, he pressed another handful of paper towels to the gash.

"Matt… Let me help you." Mello took another step towards him.

"Help me? You mean like you did last yesterday?" The comment made Mello flinch.

"I was wrong, Matt. I-" He looked down, taking a shaky breath. He never had felt so small. "I was stupid and-"

"Save it-"

"Jealous." Matt's eyes snapped to his. Mello was jealous?

"What?" This time he turned to look at the blond, searching his face for any hint of lies. He found nothing.

"I was jealous and angry. I thought of what would make you want to be with Light Yagami. I know you hate being with me because of the different jobs and cases I get wrapped up in. I have never been a actual friend or boyfriend to you. I took you for granted." Mello looked back up at the red head. "I never thought that I could loose you. But when I saw you with Light, when I saw you make a effort to get him alone and out of the way of those camera's, I knew it was possible to lose you. I knew you could find better and never come back to me."

Matt tried to speak, he tried to say something, but could only stare with a open mouth. Mello went on saying: "I didn't want to lose you and because of that I lost it. I completely broke down on my self control and in the end lost you anyways. Then I find out I was wrong."

Mello shook his head with a grim sigh, turning away from Matt. "I just wanted you to hear that before I left you alone completely. I wont bother trying to contact you again now that you've heard everything."

"Idiot. You selfish inconsiderate bastard." Matt grabbed Mello by the arm, pulling him back. "You think you can shoot me and get away with saying all of that without something more?"

"More?" Mello frowned. "What more do you want? I told you everything that I wanted to say. I'm sorry for everything that I did to you."

"Prove it." Mello's frown deepened. "Prove to me that you are sorry."

"How?"

"A kiss. I want a kiss." Matt straightened, puffing out his chest. "One that I can tell you're really sorry."

Mello gave him a once over, a small chuckle coming from his throat. "Alright, Jeevas." His face softened as he moved in to Matt's space. His lips pressing against Matt's. The kiss was soft, nothing but a small brush of the lips. Mello seemed to hesitate as he placed his hands on Matt's hips. Not moving him closer, just holding him. Matt parted his lips slightly, giving Mello the access he needed to have more. Instead of moving things ahead, Mello slowly explored Matt's mouth with his tongue. The whole thing was slow and easy. Matt could feel how truly vulnerable Mello was right now. His emotions coming out in this one moment.

He was sorry. He was holding back to show Matt just how much he could detain himself. Matt let himself give back as much of the kiss he was allowed, his arms encircling the blonds neck. He could feel the sorrow Mello was going through knowing he had made such a mistake. That he knew he was not the ideal boyfriend he had thought he was. Instead, he had gotten a slap to his reality.

Mello was breathing heavily from the strain of holding back, the front of his pants straining against the obvious erection he was trying to hide. He turned away slightly, trying to readjust. "Sorry about that…" Mello murmured the words with a slight blush rising to his cheeks.

"You really are sorry." Matt smiled slightly.

"Hell yes. I kicked myself all day for what I did." Mello's eyes locked with Matt's. "That's why you killed L and Watari isn't it? You were making sure I wouldn't get to be L's successor. You knew Roger would pick Near."

"I did. I don't regret it either. I don't want you to replace L. You just don't fit the picture." Matt shrugged. "I'm going to end up in prison for it, I know, but I couldn't watch you throw you're life away for the title."

"Oh, Matty… Why did we end up like this." Mello rolled his head on his shoulders, groaning.

"Then why don't we change things. Lets change everything right now."

"I have a plan… Something that will stop this whole mess. But you're going to have to trust me." Mello's stare was intense as he waited for Matt's answer.