"Fuck," Neil whispered, seeing Will close his eyes and pass out against Chad. He had successfully unknotted the rope and was carefully unwinding Will's ankles, wincing at the raw skin. Going to stand up Neil felt dizzy, "Whoa," he whispered breathing labored.

"Neil," Chad said, holding Will against him, hanging up the phone without bothering to say anything to Sonny and Paul, trying to zip up his jacket so Will wouldn't be so exposed, "You don't look so good. I told you to stop moving and wait."

Skin paling, body shaking a bit Neil nodded slightly before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed to the floor on his stomach. The back of his shirt was covered in blood.

"Oh shit," Chad yelled. "Shit." Glancing behind him to see Ian's bloodied, bruised form had his eyes closed Chad adjusted Will, making sure he was comfortable, before kneeling down next to Neil. Hands hovering uncertainly Chad had no idea what to do or where to touch. Noting that Neil still had a pulse Chad sat down on the floor. Patting the back of Neil's leg Chad shook his head, 'You have a gun you dumbass. Why didn't you use it?' "Where the fuck is that ambulance?"

Hearing a throaty cough from behind the bed Chad reached under Neil and pulled out the gun from his jacket. Standing up slowly Chad glared viciously when he saw Ian had lifted himself from the floor and slumped across the bed near Will.

Laughing manically Ian grinned at Chad, blood seeping between his gums, "I guess you didn't come for the party then? Oh, but I guess you didn't need to. You always get a free ride from our little friend here don't you," Ian gestured at Will's prone figure.

Chad stared at the crazed boy in disbelief, "How are you this fucking insane?"

"I'm not," Ian assured him, breath rattling through his nose, "I just gave Will the opportunity he's always wanted. But you just had to ruin it. Too jealous?"

Gripping the gun tightly in his hand Chad sneered, "You don't understand anything about Will Horton."

"What's to understand," Ian asked, wincing when he shrugged his aching shoulders, "He's a filthy whore. You just ruined his big party. If you wanted to join in I would have let you. After the others had their turn."

"There are no others you sick freak," Chad blurted out, "It was just going to be you. That's probably what you wanted though," Chad mused mockingly. "So what was it? Were you so jealous you actually wanted Will for yourself? Or did you want to be Will?"

Snarling Ian hissed, "I am not jealous of him! I hate him. He's disgusting. He's not fit to touch Paul or Sonny. I told him to leave Paul alone and he wouldn't. That stupid whore wouldn't go away. So I had to do what I could to ruin him."

Enraged, Chad stepped forward pressing the end of his gun to Ian's head Chad whispered, "I could do it. Just pull the trigger and never worry about you again."

"No you wouldn't," Ian nodded, completely unconcerned, "You wouldn't do that while I was this close to Will," Ian's eyes glanced to his right, "Not while I was touching him. What if you missed, hmm? Then who would you sleep with? You wanna explain to Will why there's brain matter all over him when he wakes up? If he wakes up?"

Growling Chad blinked rapidly, 'I should do it. I need to do it.' Looking at Will's bloodied face, the thin line of red across his throat, Chad knew Ian was right. 'I can't do this.' "If?"

Ian shrugged as Chad pulled the gun away, "I don't really know what I gave him."

"How do you not know," Chad asked viciously. The ambulance was in the parking lot, Chad could hear them getting stretchers out of the back.

"I just did what I was told," Ian grinned before closing his eyes, savoring the look of understanding that flared in Chad's eyes.

"You know your entire plan was useless," Chad said, refusing to panic, grabbing Will's limp hand, "Paul and Sonny ran around this entire town looking for Will, terrified. When they see him they're going to shower him with attention and love. And you? They're going to hate you. There was nothing you could have done to make their feelings go away."

"Yes they would have. They were going to loathe him when I was finished. I was going to film it," Ian bragged. "I was going to film all my guests taking him and put it online and then the entire town, hell the world, would see Will Horton for what he truly is."

Chad, shaking with anger, fear, guilt, checked on Neil, seeing his chest rise up and down shakily, Chad opened his mouth ready to answer when he was interrupted.

"I'm glad you said that," Roman announced, walking into the room with his gun drawn, "Makes it easier to prosecute when the criminal admits their evil plan."

Hope, aiming her gun at Ian as well, stepped aside to let the paramedics into the small room. Doing her best to not look at Will Hope pressed her gun to the back of Ian's head, "Don't move."

Sonny and Paul paced in opposite directions in the waiting room. They had been there for almost ten minutes and Will still wasn't there. They didn't know what had happened to Will or where he was. All they knew was that Neil and Chad had found him. Sonny, clinging to his elbows with his arms crossed tried not to picture anything but it was difficult. Will was so unresponsive on the phone Sonny wasn't even sure he was there at all. And when the call was disconnected Sonny almost cried from frustration. 'Where is he and what happened to him?'

Paul had his hands covering his mouth and walked backwards and forwards across the small waiting room. He didn't know what to feel or how to think. Everything had happened so quickly. 'Will was taken because of me. And EJ was going to have me killed.' Paul couldn't wrap his head around it at all. 'I just wanted to be with Will how could this have happened? How could it have gotten so out of hand?'

When the doors burst open Sonny and Paul both turned, desperately hoping it was news about Will, but were sadly disappointed to see Sami and EJ. Glaring at them harshly Sonny snorted through his nose, 'Assholes every last one of them. They couldn't just leave us alone, could they?' All this time Sonny thought deep down EJ had Will's best interests at heart but now he wasn't so sure. 'He's just a cold blooded killer.'

"Where's Will," Sami asked frantically, tears already running down her cheeks. "What happened to him? Where is he?"

Paul, avoiding EJ's eyes, shrugged and told Sami, "He's not here yet. We tried to talk to him on the phone and he wasn't responding. I don't know if he's OK. I don't know." Tears lining his eyes Paul covered his face, 'Just please let him be OK.'

Minutes later Justin and Adrienne came into the room followed by Victor. Adrienne ran to Sami, hugging her tightly. The two sat side by side in the hospital chairs while Adrienne attempted to comfort her. Justin nodded at EJ before hurrying to his son. Victor, uncertain of his place, moved to the far corner away from everyone else.

They all waited as patiently as they could until finally a few minutes later Chad burst into the waiting room. When everyone crowded around him Chad shook his head, holding his hands in front of him to block them from getting any closer. Chad, collapsing into one of the chairs, put his head in his hands.

"Shut up," Sonny shouted, "Let him talk." Shoving his dad out of the way Sonny kneeled in front of Chad, "Chad, where is he? Where's Will?"

Closing his eyes and rubbing his face Chad admitted, "They had to take him back for treatment. That stupid fuck he," Chad sighed heavily, "Just let me tell it from the beginning."

"Treatment," Paul repeated quietly, sitting on the floor next to Sonny, gripping Sonny's arm harshly. 'Oh god.'

Chad shook his head, trying to clear it, "I got a call from Gabi. She was on her break and saw a post on the school's message board about Will. That stupid asshole posted pictures of Will he had just taken." Not wanting to recall what he had seen but needing to explain Chad hurriedly explained, "He put up an invitation along with it. For anyone that wanted to fuck Will to have a turn. Neil recognized the location in the pictures." Looking Sonny and Paul in the eyes Chad told them, "He was at your old studio."

Sonny gasped, closing his eyes, "We checked the new place but we didn't look there. Why didn't we look there?" Sonny turned to Paul with desperate eyes, needing answers.

"We didn't know," Paul whispered, "What happened then? Chad, they didn't, he wasn't? What happened?"

Lips in a straight line Chad continued, "We got there and the asshole opened the door when we knocked. Like he was really expecting people to show up. He didn't even put an address on the website who would have fucking come?" Getting back on track Chad added, "We walked inside and he had Will handcuffed and tied up with a rope and he was bleeding."

"Chad," EJ asked quietly, realizing someone was missing, "Where's Neil?"

Closing his eyes Chad described what happened next, "Neil threw the asshole to the ground, beating him to a pulp while I tried to help Will. Will couldn't talk or move he just looked at me blankly and whimpered. I looked back at Neil and that stupid fuck shoved his knife in Neil's back. Literally right in his back. And it was like Neil didn't even notice. He tried to rip it out so he could cut Will loose. I got the key for the handcuffs and Neil made some calls. I hung up on the two of you," Chad pointed at Sonny and Paul, "When Will passed out. Then Neil passed out. Roman and Hope came with the ambulance and we came here."

Paul tuned to Sonny, the two instinctively holding each other in their arms. The two were shaking slightly, horrified by what they heard.

"So," Sami sniffled, "So he wasn't, he wasn't, you know?"

Chad shrugged, "I don't know. I don't think so. That Ian guy kept going on about how I messed up his big plans."

"Why did William pass out," EJ demanded, arm wrapped around Samantha, feeling a bit faint himself.

"He gave Will something," Chad said, "He didn't even know what it was. He just said he was following orders." Chad ran his hands through his hair, "What does that even mean? Whose orders?"

Everyone turned to Victor, who held his hands in front of himself, "It certainly wasn't me."

Sonny turning in Paul's arms spat out, "Like anyone would fucking believe that now."

"Sonny-" Victor started to say before he was cut off.

"No," Sonny screamed, "Don't talk to me. You are nothing to me now."

Paul, rubbing Sonny's back, shushed, "Relax. We need to focus on Will, not on anyone else."

Adrienne, wiping her eyes, "So you and Neil saved him?"

Chad admitted, "No, no it was Neil. If it wasn't for him than Will would still be there. It was him. He rescued Will."

"And where is he now," Justin asked, "You said he passed out too. What happened to him?"

"I told you he was doing everything he could to help Will and when Will went down Neil turned this weird white color and just dropped," Chad said, "The paramedics said he lost so much blood his body couldn't handle it. They rushed him to surgery to get the knife out." Chuckling Chad said, "God he actually wanted me to yank it out of him for Will. If I wasn't so relieved he saved the day I'd make fun of him for being so lovesick."

"Why was Will bleeding," Paul questioned, feeling odd about Neil going to such lengths for Will. 'Eternally grateful but what was even going through his head?'

"Ian cut him," Chad said grimly, "Obviously Will tried to fight back." Smiling Chad said, "That's our Will."

"Of course it is," EJ said, blinking tears from his eyes, not wanting anyone to see how effected he was by the situation, "Now what else happened with that Ian guy?"

Turning to look at his older brother Chad breathed deeply, nostrils flaring, pressing his lips together, "He's fucking crazy. He was rambling on about Will being a slut and how he was doing Will a favor. He seriously thinks Will was sleeping with all of us. And that he was doing all of this to prove to Sonny and Paul that Will wasn't good enough for them. Like gang raping Will would make anyone not love him."

Curling into himself Sonny almost hyperventilated, "Oh god." 'How could anyone do this to Will? Oh god, oh god.'

Paul, furious, hissed, "What? He thought Will was a whore when he had to drug him and slice him and tie him up to get what he wanted?"

"He's a nut job," Chad agreed. "I told him that he wasn't going to make anyone think Will was a slut and he said he was going to film it and broadcast it for everyone to see."

"He's disgusting," Sami cried, pressing her face to EJ's chest. "I'm just so glad you and Neil got there in time."

Kate, strolling into the waiting room with Lucas and T, announced, "I just ran into Roman in the hallway. They had to bring that monster here for treatment."

"Neil must have done a number on him," Justin mused with a satisfied smile. "Good."

"What are you doing here," Paul asked loudly, glaring at T. 'That asshole abandoned Will when he needed him most and punched Sonny. Why the hell is he here now?'

"T saw Will just before he was taken," Lucas told everyone. "He came and told Roman he saw Will's stalker hiding around in the trees."

Shifting from foot to foot, hating all the attention on him T added, "Look, I argued with Will then I left. I noticed the guy but just thought he was some creep. When I came back to see Will again I told them what I saw."

"Where the hell is my dad," Sami loudly asked. "Why isn't he in here talking to us?"

"He said he'd be in after making sure Ian was secure in his room. That he couldn't escape," Kate stated. Licking her lips she said quickly, "I also called Austin before I got here."

"What," Lucas glared at his mother hotly. "Mom."

"I'm sorry," Kate shrugged, "But he needed to know. You know how he feels about Will."

"Just what we need," EJ rolled his eyes, "Another one of William's father figures in the mix."

Before anyone could start arguing Roman came into the room with Hope and a doctor.

"Dad, Dad, what is it," Sami shouted, standing up, "What's wrong with Will?"

"Sami this is the doctor treating him. Let her explain," Roman said, putting his arm around his daughters shoulder.

"We had to stitch up wounds on Will's back and ribs as well as a fairly deep cut to his lips. He had a thin scratch on his throat that we used liquid stitches on just to make sure it won't get infected," the woman explained, "We also had to take glass shards out of one hand. He has a mild concussion. But the most troubling is the drug he was administered. We won't be sure until tomorrow when we get his blood work back but our best guess is GHB."

Roman cleared his throat, "We found a vial on Ian's person and he confirmed that he gave a liquid to Will."

"What is that," Sonny asked, confused, leaning against Paul on the floor. "Mr. Brady what does that mean?"

"GHB is most commonly used for date rapes," Roman said bleakly, looking at his feet. 'I deal with these types of things every day at work. I just never thought it would happen to my grandson.'

The doctor continued, "More than half of users end up losing consciousness which explains what would have happened with Will. And assuming the vial was full and Will swallowed all of it the effects might be much more severe. I've seen it cause hallucinations, amnesia and even sometimes a coma."

Seeing the desolate looks on everyone's faces Hope piped in, "But we don't think that's what happened with Will, do we doctor?"

"No," the woman smiled apologetically, "With the concussion, losing a fair bit of blood and the trauma of the situation I just believe Will is passed out. He should be awake by morning." Biting her lip and muttering something to Hope waiting for Hope to nod in approval, the doctor added, "And we found no signs of sexual assault."

EJ, seeing Samantha press her face into her father's chest, asked, "When can we see him?"

"We're prepping a room for him now," the doctor smiled lightly, "In just a few moments a nurse will be by to tell you when you can see him." Nodding at everyone the woman left the room.

"What, what about Neil," Sonny whispered, feelings oscillating between relieved and panicked. "Do we know what's going on there?"

"He's still in surgery," Hope told him. "We'll make sure you find out what happens to him when he's out."

Sami walked into Will's room, hand laced with EJ's, and felt tears spring to her eyes. "Oh, EJ," Sami whimpered. "He looks so young."

Swallowing loudly EJ pulled her towards the bed, "Well don't let him hear you say that." Staring down at William EJ lifted his free hand out to gently trace the stitches on Will's lips, 'William, my poor son.'

"Hi sweetie," Sami whispered, smiling through her tears, "It's so good to see you. And I promise when you wake up I'll stop trying to set you up with guys. I'll let you date anyone you want. You can date as many guys as you want. I won't care."

Surprising a laugh out of him, EJ squeezed Samantha's hand and smiled, "Don't go overboard though I happen to know your boyfriends are the jealous type." Seeing the reality of what happened, William lying in a hospital bed, saved barely in time, made EJ bite his lips harshly. "I am so sorry, William." Falling to his knees EJ put his head against William's legs, shoulders shaking, "Oh god, this is my fault. If I would have just let you make your own choices this wouldn't have happened."

Sami, rubbing EJ's shoulders, said, "It's not just your fault. It's all of our faults. We all did this. All of our meddling and scheming and Will was the one who got hurt in the end." Wiping at her eyes fiercely, "What if he never forgives us?"

Lucas and Kate sat on opposite sides of Will's bed both frowning at his pale body.

"Son, I am so sorry this happened to you," Lucas admitted. "If I could I would trade places with you in a minute. I would do anything I could to make sure you were safe."

"We're all here for you," Kate patted Will's hand, making sure not to jostle the clamp over his finger or the IV in his wrist. "Even Austin and Carrie are waiting with bated breath for news about you."

Rolling his eyes Lucas butted in, "And your real father is actually here for you. I'll always be here for you." Shaking his head sadly at his son Lucas couldn't help but think, 'I'll do anything I can to keep you away from anyone that has hurt you.'

Chad sat down next to Will releasing a shaky breath, "I had to sneak in here before Sonny and Paul because I know as soon as they get here they won't leave." Taking Will's hand Chad whispered, "I just want you to know how sorry I am for everything. None of this would have happened without that stupid article. All I wanted was revenge for you being hurt and all I managed to do was hurt you even worse." Lifting Will's hand and kissing it Chad promised, "I'll be the best uncle in the world from now on. I promise. I'll do whatever I can to make sure you're happy."

Sonny and Paul stood outside of Will's doorway unsure what to do. Holding each other's hands so tightly they were losing circulation Paul took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Seeing Chad kissing Will's hand Paul couldn't even feel upset. All he could focus on was Will. The lump on the side of his head, the stitches on his lips, how small and pale he looked against the sheets.

Chad, gently placing Will's hand back on the bed told him one last time, "I promise OK? I'm gonna leave you alone with them now. They'll watch over you." Chad looked at Sonny and Paul menacingly, the unspoken threat understood.

"Chad," Sonny said just before he walked out the door, "Thank you, for finding him."

Chad nodded, "Of course."

Sonny blinked slowly at Will trying not to cry. Sonny, not wanting to touch Will, afraid he would break him, whispered, "I don't think I've ever been so happy to see you. Not even after our big argument." Closing his eyes Sonny swallowed, "I don't ever want to be apart from you again."

Paul, sitting at Will's other side, tears slowly running down his cheeks, couldn't find anything to say. Nothing seemed big enough or meaningful enough. All he could do was stare at Will, never pulling his eyes away, afraid if he did Will might go missing yet again.

Adrienne, Justin and Victor stood outside Will's door watching Sonny. Leaning into Justin's arms Adrienne wiped her nose, "Sonny really loves him, huh?"

"They both do," Justin answered, seeing the way Paul looked at Will. "And each other."

Nodding Adrienne turned into Justin's chest, "I'm just so glad Will's OK."

Victor, staying silent, watched the three men in the room with keen eyes, mind whirling before walking down the hallway and out of sight.

Victor, mind made up, walked up to the room they were keeping Ian in overnight for observation. 'I have to make things right.' Nodding at the officer stationed outside the room Victor nearly smiled when the man simply stepped to the side and let Victor inside. Bracing himself for what he had to do, what he needed to do, Victor swung the door open and paused.

The room was empty. Ian was gone.

Roman and Hope were talking together, heads bent closely, "This absolutely cannot get back to Sami, EJ, Sonny, any of them," Roman insisted. "We'll put a few undercover officers on the entrance to Will's room as well as the elevators. But they cannot know about this."

Hope nodded, "How could he have escaped? He was on the 5th floor in a room with no window and a guard outside. Security footage doesn't show anything. Where could he have gone?"

"I don't know," Roman answered, "But I'm going to find out."

Chad handed his brother a cup of coffee almost finding it sweet that EJ and Sami were curled up together in the waiting room. "Morning," Chad greeted.

Taking the offered cup EJ took a sip, muscles sore from being on the uncomfortable hospital chair all night, "Morning."

"He didn't wake up yet," Chad asked, "I looked into the window on the door and I saw Sonny and Paul asleep face down on the bed."

"Not yet," EJ supplied. "But the doctor thinks it should be soon." Nodding his head toward William's room EJ informed Chad, "They put Neil in the room next to him. He doesn't have any family in the area so I don't think anyone is coming."

Chad nodded his head before walking over to the door and peaking in, a bit surprised to see Neil moving gently on the bed. Chad immediately walked inside.

Face down, head supported on a pillow Neil groaned uncomfortably. He had woken in the middle of the night in a lot of pain. After getting his pain medicine increased Neil fell easily back to sleep. But now he was wide awake and anxious over Will. Using all of his strength Neil tried to get up off the bed to find someone who could give him any information.

"I don't think you're supposed to be doing that," Chad said casually, turning the light on and sitting down in the chair next to Neil.

"Fuck," Neil yelled, "You scared me." Realizing who he was talking to Neil rushed out, "Where's Will? What happened to him? Is he OK?"

"Calm down dude," Chad said laughing slightly, "Will's in the room next to yours. They stitched him up and we're all waiting for him to wake up."

"Oh thank god," Neil uttered, body literally calming down the second he heard the news. "So we did it? We got to him in time?"

"Yeah, thanks to you," Chad smiled. "You definitely rushed in there like Prince Charming. I'm sure if Will were aware of his surroundings he would have swooned."

Neil, frowning, remembering what Will was like, "Wait, what was wrong with Will?"

"That douche drugged him. The doctor and cops are pretty sure it was some kind of date rape drug. He must have given Will a lot because he's still not up yet."

"What happened to that guy," Neil questioned, voice angry, "He didn't get away did he?"

"No," Chad assured him, "No, the police have him. He's not going to hurt Will anymore. But hey, what about you?"

"Oh," Neil said shifting awkwardly, "I wasn't so bad after all. I just lost a lot of blood and my blood pressure dropped. I was really lucky; the knife just barely missed my lungs. They had to pull the knife out and cover me up with some stitches and it's covered with antibacterial cloth. It's going to gross for a long time but it was worth it."

"You had a gun you know," Chad said with an amused smile.

"Oh," Neil said, lips forming a circle, "I forgot about that. Damn, what the hell I could have just shot him." Smiling a bit, back aching, Neil, attempting to be casual, "Um, so when do you think I can see Will?"

"I don't know man," Chad shook his head, "You probably need to rest and Will's still out. I'll let you know when he's up though."

Sonny moaned softly in his sleep, something moving his head back and forth. 'What,' Sonny thought sleepily. Lifting his head Sonny almost shouted when he realized Will was moving in his sleep.

Attempting to roll over onto his side Will found himself blocked with Paul's large head lying on Will's legs.

"Paul," Sonny hissed, reaching over the bed and flicking him in the ear, "Paul, get up."

"What," Paul mumbled grumpily, eyes barely open.

"Will," Sonny breathed, looking at Will's face with a tender look in his eyes.

Paul, sitting up straight, wiping some crust from his eyes, "Oh my god."

Sonny and Paul moved as close to Will as they dared holding their breath when they saw his eyes flutter gently, mouth opening slightly before Will opened his eyes. Blinking once, twice, Will caught sight of Sonny and Paul.

"Hey," Sonny whispered with a smile, "You're OK."

"You're back," Paul grinned, eyes misting over again.

Will smiled slightly before humming gently. 'I'm OK.'

Author's note:

Short one this time. Next time will be longer.

I made the medical stuff about Neil brief because I know very little about stab wounds and what I looked up made me a little queasy. If you ever come across videos on medical websites please don't watch them.

Please review. Anyone have any requests or suggestions for how Will recovers?

Also thank you to any guests that review. I wish I could respond individually to them. But please know that I appreciate them.