Oz was awake but kept his eyes closed. His mind was running through the confrontation with Gil from earlier. Were they ….okay? He could have imagined it. He knew Gil blamed himself for being tricked by Vincent. It wasn't your fault, Oz's mind cried, it wasn't your fault.
"It wasn't your fault."
Hearing what Oz had said, Gil abruptly turned to glance at him. Oz opened his eyes upon hearing his own voice and he frantically looked around until he found Gil standing by the open window sneaking a cigarette. Their eyes locked.
"It wasn't your fault," Oz finally said directly to Gil.
Gil put out his cigarette and came to the bed, sitting on the edge. Gil stared at Oz's hand as if it was the most fascinating thing he had ever saw. Then he slowly slid his hand underneath, forcing Oz to raise his and their fingers entwined, hold on for dear life.
"I would never willingly give myself to anyone but you, Oz. Gil said just above a whisper.
"Ahhh Gil, I know that. I mean after all, you did spend 10 years trying to get me out. Better yet, you waited for me to be your….your…." Oz's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, "your first." Then through Oz's laughter he said, "I am just glad it happened before the Vincent incident. I was never very fond of leftovers, ha, ha, ha."
"Huh?" Gil gave Oz a look of utter disbelief that he had just said that.
Oz couldn't help how cute Gil looked when he was flustered. Then a deep laughter rose from Gil.
"You are just the same. You will never change, will you?"
"No, why? Do you want me to, Gil?" OZ's eyes sparkled, teasingly.
"Oh hell no!" Gil nearly shouted. "I want you just the way you are right now."
"I need you, Gil," Oz said quietly, lowering his eyes.
Gil climbed onto the bed on all fours, hands at Oz's sides and bent knees straddling Oz's hips. He looked down at Oz with such fire and passion in his golden eyes.
"I am yours to do with as you please….once you've recovered." He grinned.
Then Gil sat behind Oz, pulling Oz's back to rest on his chest.
When Gil woke a few hours later, he gasped and quickly sat up. Oz's upper body was draped across Gil's leg and he was burning up. A fever, Gil thought. No, no, this isn't good.
"Oz," Gil shook the frail boy but he didn't respond. No, no, no," Gil's head pounded. "Breeeaaakkk," Gil yelled at the top of his lungs.
When Break, Sharon, and Alice came running into the room, Gil couldn't move. Fear gripped him and he just stared down at Oz with wide eyes. They managed to find a corner to sit Gil down in while checking Oz out.
"I'll call for the doctor," Sharon said calmly. Though they all knew this meant that Oz's wounds were worse than they first thought. He would have to be very strong to overcome it. He would have to fight to survive.