A/N: Hello to all! I have had my confidence as a writer knocked severely over the last couple of days, which has not been much fun (to put it mildly). As a consequence I am not feeling in the most positive frame of mind but these things happen.

I have (yet another) recommended story for y'all. I'm pretty sure most of you will have already read her stuff but in case you haven't I strongly advise you to check out Neon Daisies' work. I haven't read the whole of her second OUTIM fanfic but if the first is anything to go by then it will be fantastic. But her other fics are wonderful too so if you have the time or inclination then please check them out.

Chapter 16: What a little thing called love can do

Sands thought about calling the Mariachi back, at least arguing with him distracted him from the pain but he would never have called him, his pride would never have allowed it. Sands sat very still his mouth tight shut to stop the cries of pain he longed to emit. He should have been used to pain by now but evidently it was not sort of thing a person could get used to. He heard footsteps but his brain was not working properly so he ignored them and whoever they belonged to until he heard El speak.

"I brought you painkillers," he said, "The doctor left them."

"Christ," said Sands with more relief than he would have liked. El watched Sands swallow the large pills and then lean back again wincing with every movement.

"Don't expect me to thank you," he snapped. El smiled wearily and then remembered Sands couldn't see.

"You're welcome," he said and he sat down again in the seat he had occupied before. They both sat in a silence for a long while. Gradually Sands relaxed a little, an indication that the painkillers were taking effect.

"Feel better?" El asked.

"I feel like shit," was Sands' reply. El rolled his eyes.

"Why do you care anyway?" asked Sands his voice more natural now, "Why are you still here?" That was a good question and one which El was not quite sure the answer to.

"I wanted to make sure you were ok," he answered eventually.

"Bullshit," said Sands. El found himself getting angry which was obviously the effect Sands had been trying to achieve.

"I saved your life," said El, "There didn't seem much point to going to that trouble and then walking away to let you die here."

"What do you expect me to do? Kiss your ass?" Sands asked.

"No," said El, "But if you insist..." Sands gave him a sardonic smile. El decided to change the subject.

"When you're fit again I suggest you leave here," he said. This statement received a bad reception.

"And why the fuck should I do that?" Sands asked. El wondered whether he ever got tired of swearing, he certainly got tired of listening to it.

"The cartel will hear you survived," said El.

"Fuck them."

"They will come to kill you."

"Can't you see that I don't give a fucking shit El?" Sands said temper flaring.

"Si," said El quietly. Silence descended on them both again. The sun was beginning to rise now, warming the air. This time it was Sands who spoke first.

"She's not dead." El was not sure what to say, anything was going to trigger a reaction. Apparently saying nothing had the same effect because Sands said, "Conversation is a two way thing fuckmook."

"She was taken by the cartel Sands, they will not have kept her alive." Sands shook his head.

"I don't believe you," he said, "Why didn't they just kill her right...then..." His question trailed off. El watched him closely. They had not killed her then for the same reason they had tortured Sands and then thrown him out onto the street. Sport. Fun. Whatever they wanted to call it. Sands shook his head again.

"No," he said under his breath but El heard him. There was nothing he could offer in the way of comfort. Suddenly he realised Sands had turned his head so that his dark glasses were staring right at him. El did not have time to react before Sands was on his feet and El was struck by how tall he seemed all of a sudden.

El fell off his chair at the first punch and landed hard on the floor. Sands had hit him square in the jaw with precision accuracy. Now he was above him. El tried to get out of the way but Sands kicked him hard in the ribs. Then Sands bent down and, with a show of strength El would never have thought possible even from an uninjured Sands, picked El up by the shirt and slammed him bodily against the wall of the house.

"Why didn't you save her?" Sands demanded, "You were there. You were right there. You could have saved her, why the fuck didn't you?" He slammed El into the wall again, the back of El's head bounced off the brick causing everything to spin for a moment.

"Answer me damn it!" shouted Sands.

"I didn't have my guns," said El rather pathetically but it was the truth. Sands laughed, a dry horrible laugh which conveyed no amusement whatsoever.

"You didn't have your guns?" he repeated in numb disbelief which turned abruptly to anger.

"Why the fuck didn't you have you god damn guns?!" he yelled and then he threw El to the floor. He could not have held him any longer anyway. He sunk to his knees and heard El get up.

"I don't give a shit if you kill me," Sands said, "Just don't do it in front of Nino." El had not even intended to strike Sands but clearly Sands was expecting him to exact revenge.

"I'm not going to kill you," he said. His jaw ached from the American's punch. Sands said nothing; he looked thoroughly defeated as if it had been him pinned against the wall. El bent down to help him up.

"I don't need your help," said Sands roughly.

"Yes you do," El said and he pulled Sands to his feet. Sands swayed slightly and then sat back down on his chair.

"It's alright Nino," he said, "Everything's fine." El turned and saw the little Mexican boy standing in the doorway wearing a pair of faded red pyjamas and an expression of uttermost concern. El looked back at Sands, how had he known the kid was there?

"Did he hurt you senor?" Nino asked eyeing El suspiciously. Sands smiled slightly.

"No," he said, "I may have hurt him a little but I'm sure he'll live." Nino hesitated uncertainly in the doorway.

"Make yourself useful kid," said Sands, "Make some coffee." Nino dashed off at once glad to have something to do.

"I don't even want any," said Sands once he knew Nino was out of earshot.

"I wouldn't mind," said El as he moved his jaw with his hand, "You punch hard."

"Just be grateful my guns are inside," said Sands dully his attention not entirely focused on El. El was grateful, he had not doubt that had Sands been armed he would have killed him.

Nino, who had got changed into a yellow T-shirt and khaki shorts, brought out the coffee. Sands felt the bulk of the pain returning but he hid it from Nino who would only worry himself and start fussing like an old woman. It was an awkward group they made sitting out on the porch in the morning sunshine. Nino tried to talk of things unconnected with the cartel or pain or misery or Evelyn but his efforts fell flat as Sands refused to comment and El's answers were short and abrupt. Sands was finding it increasingly difficult to hide his pain and wished Nino and El would leave so he could just scream but they were not about to disappear so Sands focused his mind elsewhere. He wanted Evelyn back and if that was going to happen he needed information. If he wanted information out of El he would have to plan carefully. First thing first...

"Nino, I need cigarettes and you might as well visit your family while you're out."

"Si senor," said Nino. He sounded hurt, he knew Sands was getting rid of him and Sands felt the accusing stare from El. It had to be done. Once Nino had hopped onto his bicycle and ridden away El asked, "Why did you want him gone?"

"I just did," said Sands. He paused, time to play.

"How many of the cartel are left?" he asked casually as if that were the kind of question everyone asked.

"Why?" asked El suspiciously.

"Christ El," said Sands letting the pain show clearly in his voice, "They killed Evelyn, is it so hard for you to just answer me?" El felt sorry at once, he was fooled, just as Sands intended him to be.

"Not many," said El, "Twelve at most. They have been unable to recruit new members and I have dramatically cut their numbers."

"Well done, you must be very proud." El wondered if Sands was this sarcastic with everybody.

"I thought you wanted me to answer," he said.

"Yes, answer not blow your own horn," said Sands. El bit back a retort, he would never win.

"So where did they take her?" Sands asked.

"You're not thinking of..."

"For Christ's sake El, I can't fucking see! How could I hope to fucking find the place?"

"Alright, alright," said El quickly, "They have a small stronghold south of the city, their last refuge. They probably went there."

"And that's where you'll go when your conscience decides you can stop baby sitting the blind man, am I right?" El was silent.

"I guess so," said Sands interpreting his silence as positive, "The sooner the better." He stood up with visible difficulty and entered the house.

Sands made his way into the kitchen. He could not stand unsupported for very long so he leant on the worktops. Damn the Mariachi for everything. That was the last thing he thought before he collapsed.

Nino did not go to his family as instructed but pedalled back to the house as fast as he could prepared to face Sands' anger. But neither Sands nor the Mariachi were in sight when he drew up outside the house. He jumped off his bike before it had completely stopped moving and sprinted into the house only to find El bending over an unconscious Sands. Nino dropped the cigarettes he was holding onto the floor.

"What have you done?!" he hollered in Spanish. He ran towards El and began to hit him with his fists. El grabbed the boy's shoulders which pinned his arms to his sides but Nino was not through yet. He kicked wildly and one well aimed shot connected with El's shin. El pushed the boy away so he could make time to speak.

"I haven't touched him," he said before Nino could gather himself for another attack, "I found him like this." Nino stood still.

"Really?" he asked.

"Really," replied El looking down at Sands, "He's been doing too much too soon." He knelt and picked Sands up gently. He carried him to his room followed by Nino who was spouting constant apologies and wringing his hands melodramatically. El deposited Sands on his bed and the American's sunglasses slipped.

"Meirde!" El stepped backwards appalled by the sight. Nino looked and fell silent. He walked up to Sands' bed and straightened the glasses without a word.

A/N: I should have mentioned this ages ago (oops), I have been replying to reviews via email so if any of my anon reviewers would like me to reply to them this time then please include your email address so I can do so.

Once again thank you for all your wonderful comments, you all put a smile on my face! The response to the last chapter was really great, I can't thank you guys enough...but I'll keep trying. :D!