A/N: I couldn't bare to keep you in suspense, so here is the next chapter. Things will get moving properly again in the next one! Thanks for reviewing – they really put a huge smile on my face!

xxxx

Vince's ears were ringing. His head throbbed as everything around him became hazy, moving slowly and fluidly as though he were underwater. His scream echoed painfully in his head as he lay where he'd been pushed to the bed only seconds before. It felt like hours, but really it was only a moment after the shot rang out that comprehension set in and he looked down, fighting the urge to throw up when he saw the love of his life lying broken on his side, blood flowing from a wound in his chest.

"Howard!"

Vince panicked and threw himself to the floor beside him, gently rolling him onto his back and staring wild-eyed at the large, scarlet stain seeping through the material of his shirt. The blood made him dizzy, and he looked up at Jenna, a look on his face that summed up everything he was feeling – if Howard died, then so would she.

Jenna, who was still stood rooted to the spot, watched as Vince pressed his hands over Howard's chest, trying to stem the flow. She vaguely heard footsteps outside the door, and she turned her head towards it, panic replacing the shocked look on her features. She jumped violently when Vince suddenly screamed at her: "Get a fucking ambulance!"

Vince put his face near Howard's, listening to his breathing and trying unsuccessfully not to cry. He lifted a blood soaked hand to Howard's hair and pushed it back out of his eyes, leaving a trail of red over his forehead. "Stay with me," he sobbed, carefully taking him into his arms and rocking him, his cheek resting on the top of Howard's head. "Stay with me... please, stay with me."

Howard's eyes fluttered open. "Vince?" he whispered, painfully, trying to turn his head to look at him.

Vince wanted to jump for joy that Howard was awake, but deep down knew that this development did not mean that everything was going to be okay. He tried to smile reassuringly, tears clouding his vision. "Shhh, it's all right, I've got you."

The door to the room banged open, causing Jenna to yelp. She tried to run, but a pair of strong arms grabbed hold of her. "Let me go!" she screamed. "Howard – I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Vince looked up at the man who was restraining Jenna.

"It's okay – I'm a police officer."

Jenna burst into tears, battling against the restraints of the officer's arms. "I didn't mean too – it was an accident! I didn't mean too..."

A crowd was beginning to gather at the doorway, and the officer shouted out at them. "Someone call 911!"

"Vince... Vince, it hurts."

"I know, darling , I know," Vince said, trying to remain calm for Howard's sake, but his voice still broke, devastated and afraid. He put a hand to Howard's cheek and stroked it lovingly. "We're gonna get you to a hospital, okay? I won't let anything happen to you – I promise."

Howard tried to smile, his face straining from the effort, voice weak and hoarse. "Don't... don't..."

"Shhh."

"Don't make... promises... you can't... keep."

Vince bit down on his lip as he trembled violently. "But... I... you'll be fine – you will."

Howard squeezed his eyes shut tight, trying to clear his failing vision. He opened them again and stared at his boyfriend, who was becoming more and more out of focus. "Vince... Vince, I love you."

"Stop it."

"No... listen to me. I Love you... and I'm so, so, sorry." He started to cry, the shuddering gasps threatening to take the last of his breath. "I don't want to die," he said, heartbreakingly.

Vince let out a loud sob. "Don't say that. You're not going to die – d'you hear me? you're not."

Howard coughed harshly. He grabbed Vince's hand as tightly as he could. "You're worth it though."

Vince looked confused. "What?"

"You're... you're worth... dying for. All this... everything... you were worth it." He used the last of his energy to smile up at him before his eyes closed, the smile fading.

"Howard, no!" Vince cried, tears dripping from his cheeks and onto Howard's shirt. "Wake up... please, wake up! Don't leave me, not again. I love you... I love you." He clutched Howard to him, rocking backward and forward and wailing painfully.

"Hey," a voice beside him said, making him jump. He looked up and saw the police officer, who had managed to bundle Jenna into the grasp of several of the hotel's residents and the manager. They were holding her tightly, making sure she had no means of escape, but Jenna was passive now, her head hanging down, chin on her chest.

The officer pulled his shirt off, scrunching it up and pushing it onto Howard's chest. Vince moved his hand out of the way, but still continued to rock.

"What's his name?" the officer asked, quickly assessing him.

Vince swallowed heavily, trying to remember how to talk. "Howard."

The officer bent down and placed an ear to Howard's mouth. "Howard... Howard, can you hear me?"

Vince shook his head slowly. "He's gone."

"No, he hasn't."

"He has."

"He's still breathing – faintly, but it's there. Are you his...?

Vince blinked, still trying to process the fact that his Howard was still, somehow, clinging to life. "I'm his boyfriend - Vince."

The officer nodded. "Vince, I'm Marcus. The ambulance is on its way, and Howard's going to get the best care possible – just hold tight. Can you tell me what happened?"

"She..." Vince's voice shook, and he fought for control. "Jenna, she's Howard's wife – but they're separated. Well, they're getting an annulment, 'cause, 'cause..."

Luckily, Marcus understood the situation very quickly, and he nodded to let Vince know.

"She followed him back here and threatened to kill me if he didn't go back to her, but when she went to shoot me, he jumped in front of the gun and pushed me out of the way... it should be me lying there!"

Marcus put a hand on his shoulder. "That'll do for now. And it's not your fault – okay?"

Vince sobbed again. "Please don't let him die."

A few minutes later, a commotion at the door alerted them that the emergency services had arrived. Two paramedics rushed to Howard's side, gently prising him away from an emotionally wrecked Vince. Jenna was handcuffed and led away, whilst another police officer knelt down to retrieve the gun, putting it in a plastic evidence bag.

Howard was strapped to a stretcher, oxygen mask over his face, portable heart monitor attached to his chest. Vince followed closely as he was carried out, bloodied hand clasping Howard's for dear life, hoping, desperately hoping, that this wasn't the end.