DESTROYED

Chapter 15

SUMMARY: Okay, so Collins is giving Sam a pretty good beat down, but things aren't getting any better… for Julian has snuck into the hospital and is about to pay a visit to our sleeping Angel. Warning for this chapter, more Angel torture. I know I'm a sucker and I shouldn't keep going like this, but hey… it keeps things interesting… poor Angel's been through enough, but I'm not done with him yet.

NOTE: I know Collins character and that he's not a violent person, but when someone threatens the life of someone you love, I doubt that anyone would be acting as they normally would. Thanks for pointing out the character flaw though, and I will make sure not to go overboard with Collins reaction to Sam. But there is a point to this and it leads up to this chapter…

SPECIAL THANKS: Goes to my really, really good friend Daina (AKA Phoenix!) You have been such a great friend and a loyal reviewer, and thank you so much for the input of creative ideas you've helped me with in this chapter. I appreciate it more than you know Big hugs LATINO HEAT LIVES ON, GIRL! Keep it burning!

More thanks goes to everyone else who have reviewed, I really appreciate the kind words!

Pain... no matter what Collins did to him, there's no way Sam could no of the pain he was feeling, and it was hurting so badly. Blood had now severely distorted the handsome features of the junkie, and his breathing was shallow – he was terrified of Collins. Never before had he seen so much force… he wasn't one to kill, but if Collins was pushed any further, who knows what he'd do. They were in a fairly secluded area, so the possibility of being interrupted was minimal, as it was approaching midnight. Collins leaned further against Sam and grabbed his wrist and started to twist it… Sam, in response, began to struggle and scream – but his screams were still hindered by the professor's hand still covering his mouth, and just when Collins got to the point where he could easily snap Sam's wrist, he stopped twisting.

"You almost destroyed me, Sammy," he breathed. "I loved you once upon a time, and you lied to me. And now… you try punish me by trying to kill Angel?" his voice cracked with the emotion taking a hold of him. He was almost blinded by his tears and his throat was beginning to hurt from all the pressure of it constricting so much because of such emotion. He removed his hand from around Sam's mouth, wanting an answer as to why he was here, but he already suspected the junkie's motives, so… "I won't let you near him, you hear me?"

The fear and terror in Sam's eyes only masked what was really going on inside his dark, twisted mind, which, at that moment, was pretty calm… unmolested by drugs for once. That's because he was hiding something, but obviously he wasn't going to reveal it. There was evil there, and Collins could see it… brooding silently and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

He pushed himself off Sam, who slid to the ground against the wall again, crying and whimpering at the pain, and held his wrist to his chest. This wasn't part of the plan at all! Collins backed away from him in disgust, wondering why his body wasn't following through with his ultimate desires of putting Sam's head through the brick wall. But he just couldn't do it… seeing him withering in pain was enough to satisfy his desires for revenge while he tried to get answers out of him.

"Just tell me why!" he yelled, torment dripping from every word. "Why the fuck did you go after Angel! Why didn't you come after me!" his heart was being torn to shreds all over again, and the pain was becoming too unbearable. These were questions that he wanted answered for so long were being blurted out, although he wasn't sure where to go from there. Sam glared up at his, his bottom lip quivering and tears glistening under the light… the blood although was reflected in the light as it clung to his skin, with droplets falling off him and mixing with the dirt. Collins had split his lip and broken his nose… he also had given him a hard beating to his abdomen, which explains why he was coughing up blood. With one arm held against his chest and the other used to prop his body up to keep him from collapsing entirely, Sam's eyes followed Collins pacing up and down in front of him. Even Sam could see that his ex was restraining himself from going after him again, and desperation had replaced the anger. But still, Sam didn't answer.
Collins stormed over to him and grabbed his shirt again, almost shaking him.

"What'd I do, Sam!" he continued. "Why him! WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE HIM! WHY DOES HE HAVE TO DIE FOR YOU TO PROVE YOUR FUCKING POINT?"

His need to beat the shit out of Sammy subsided, and now all he wanted was answers… the two of them had always been different, though such differences never appeared so obvious to him as they did now. Sam just stared up at him, with total disbelief at how violent Collins' reaction to him was – it was not Collins' nature to be violent, as his personality was that of warmth and calmness… the voice of reason and calm when everyone else seemed to be falling apart. So for him to react as badly as he did, it was just so… not Collins. He was shivering but every time he moved, the pain reminded him that he was in a very precarious situation. Collins' expression was one of confusion and hurt; betrayal and anger… mixed emotions that only complicated the situation further and what the next step to take was, he didn't know. Instead, he leaned against a light post and held onto it as if his life depended on it – he wanted distance between him and Sam now.

"Angel didn't deserve it…" his voice was so soft that Sam could barely make out what he was saying. "Why Angel?"

Coughing some more and wiping some of the blood off his lip, Sam nursed his wounds though became dizzy. If anything, Collins gave him a few cuts and bruises, a couple of broken ribs, and maybe a mild concussion… nothing very serious. With Collins' uncommonly violent outburst having calmed down, Sam struggled to pull himself up, using the wall as his main means as support.

"I…" he started, but stopped when a rush of pain went through his chest. "I… we need to talk…"

"About what? You never gave Angel that option."

"I was angry!" Sam cried and bit his lip. "I was just angry! I'm sorry, I—"

"Is that all you can say?" Collins snapped. " 'I'm sorry'? You almost killed him, and all you can say is sorry? You should be saying it to him… not that I'd let you anywhere near him, but it's pointless."

"What do you want from me?" Sam huffed and folded his arms across his chest to form some sort of protection for his now vulnerable form. "I'm trying to make this right—"

"You?" Collins scoffed, still leaning casually against the pole. "Making things right? Sam, you've had so long to make things right… and this is not something you can fix!" Strangely, he was very much calmer than he had been only minutes before… maybe that's because this is the first time he's really had a chance to confront Sam and get answers.

"You know, when I first saw you all I wanted to do was kill you. Do to you what you did to my Angel – you almost destroyed my life and then you saw fit to try and destroy Angel's, too?"

"It wasn't like that!"

"Oh no?" Collins let go of the pole and slowly walked over to him, with Sam still leaning against the wall for all the support he could get. But Collins didn't touch him, but just folded his arms over his chest. "What was it like, Sam? You figured you'd get rid of Angel and I'd come back to you?"

"Something like that…" Sam muttered and finally got up the courage to look Collins in his life. The darkness had gone, and he could see there was still a spark of life in there. "I was fucking high, man…"

"So that's your excuse?" Collins spat. "You were high?"

"I loved you!" Sam choked up. "I loved you and you left me! Just like you did with Angel! Doesn't that say something?" that comment was sure to provoke Collins further, but he didn't react. He just stared.

"You're right. I fucked up. Who knows, maybe you have rubbed off on me."

"Collins," Sam pleaded. "Let me try making it right! Take me to Angel, I'll make it right, I promise!"

Collins felt like bursting out laughing at that idea, and he smirked bitterly. "You gotta be kidding right?" there was no chance he would ever consider allowing Sam near Angel, and he was stunned that Sam would even ask such a ridiculous question. But instead of hitting him or reacting violently, Collins just looked down at him with total disgust and stepped back from him. He didn't trust himself to not lose control at any given moment. Sam cringed at feeling his whole body beginning to throb uncontrollably and his head felt like it was being beaten repeatedly with a brick or some sort of dense object, making it very difficult for him to focus. And he felt like he was going to throw up, but he got himself under control. Collins, though, had absolutely no sympathy for the man and, inside, was satisfied in knowing that Sam was suffering – as totally uncharacteristic and cruel it may seem for him – he just had no love lost for him. The mental images of Angel lying in that alleyway, and being hooked up to all those machines were enough to quash any rising sympathy he could feel developing in him, as he did (once upon a time) really love Sam, and Sam was the first man he truly loved and gave his heart to. But now his heart would forever be with Angel, and Collins had moved on a long time ago…

"I fucked things up," Sam cried. "I'm sorry!"

"Sorry!" Collins' voice raised again, the intensity and force giving Sam a jolt and he cowered just a little more. Honestly, he didn't expect his ex to go off like he had (as stupid as it seems) because Collins was never the violent person, except when he found out about the drugs and deception… so really, it shouldn't have been too hard to figure out that once pushed over the edge, Collins could become aggressive when he had to. Only in extreme cases. But then again, this is Sam, and he's well… self-delusional, to say the least (maybe thanks to all the chemical friends he has flowing through his body). "After what you done to Angel… the blood… the depression… the fear… all you can say is 'sorry'?" he lowered his voice to a barely audible whisper. The sudden changes in his tone were worrying, because it meant that he was experience multiple and polar opposite feelings and emotions that could lead one to become…emotionally unbalanced, to put it lightly.

"You really don't get it, do ya Sammy?" Collins licked his lips to give moisture to them which had dried from panic, anger, fear, and pain.

Blood trickled down and dripped off Sam's chin and hit the pavement just at his feet. Droplets of blood were staining the pavement red, in much the same fashion that Sam had threatened to do to Angel only days before… this time, though, he was on the other side and he was feeling what it must have been like for Angel, only he wasn't thinking about that at the time. Collins was in a position to do to him what he had done to Angel, and yes those fears were in his mind – Collins wasn't the same man he had fallen in love with. He was different. Probably for the better. No, actually, definitely for the better – and Angel's influence on him had not gone by unnoticed.

"So what now?" Sam queried and moved himself, slowly, into a position where he could properly face the other man. "What you gonna do?"

Collins had the opportunity to basically fuck him up, but instead he just chose not to. He shoved his blood covered hands into his pockets and took a couple more steps further. "Walk away." Was his simple reply. "You do the same. I wanna kill you Sam… I wanna hate you… I want to do to you what you did to my Angel… but I can't."

"Wh… why not?" Sam stammered.

"Because," Collins paused. "You're right. We had something once. And it was good – hell, it was great. But it's gone now, Sam. So just walk away… walk." He turned his back to Sam and slowly started walking away from his past, finally letting it go. He could've stayed and demanded more answers to the many more questions he still had… or he could've continued beating Sam into the same state Angel had been in at his worse. But… all he wanted to do; all he was capable of doing, was to walk away from everything that had tied him and subsequently Angel to the dangerous past that almost destroyed him. Spiritually, each step taken further was another one liberating him (of course, he didn't really feel it)… each one became easier. He was walking away for himself…

Sam started hyperventilating – it wasn't supposed to happen this way! No! Collins wasn't supposed to beat up on him! And Collins wasn't supposed to be walking away like this… how could he let this go now! It was too soon…

Trying with all his willpower to push through the agony his body was feeling, Sam desperately tried to think of what to do next… it was too soon, he couldn't let him leave now! Sam loved Collins, though knew he couldn't get him back… but there would be nothing that would stop him from loving him. Not even Angel. And to see his love walking away now, back towards the hospital, it would not only ruin the plan… but it was just too unbearable for Sam to watch it. Watch Collins go back to him. His heart was tearing into shreds and hurt more than any of the injuries he had sustained, and there was only one last thing he could do…

"Tom!" he desperately begged him to stop. "Tom, wait! God dammit! WAIT! Please!"

Collins, against all his better knowledge and his instincts, stopped in his tracks but hesitated a few seconds before turning around again.

"What! There's nothing more to say!"

Sam struggled into a semi-controlled standing position and took a few more seconds to regain his breath. His energy was lost and the sweat and blood mixed together with tears that proved it…

"I know," he answered, exhaustedly and slowly approached him, taking small yet significant steps. Collins remained frozen in his spot though was fully aware of the shortening distance between them, but he didn't flinch. Even when Sam came to within inches of him, Collins found himself staying perfectly calm – the once beautiful features of the young man whom he had once been in love with, were now so distorted that he could barely recognize him.

Their eyes were locked and connected…

"What, Sam?" Collins whispered – he sounded like he was giving up. His past. Them. All the anger he felt for what happened to Angel… none of it mattered anymore. No day but today, remember? And right now, all Collins could focus on was rebuilding his life with Angel and his friends. He was letting everything go.
Sam's impulses were no less running wild than usual and so he did the first thing that came to mind – the first and only thing he wanted to do. He grabbed the back of Collins' neck and before he could resist, Sam pulled him into a soft yet firm kiss…

Stunned, Collins felt himself being lightly pushed against the wall and so it had begun… Sam's lips massaged his own. Finally finding the strength and pulling himself out of the shock, Collins pressed his hands against Sam's chest and harshly pushed him away. Feeling Collins' fingers dig into his cracked ribs, Sam let out a bloodcurdling scream and fell backwards, almost falling over. Fuck… he thought. This wasn't supposed to happen…

MEANWHILE…

His footsteps barely left a sound as he walked briskly down the corridor. He had seen Sam and Tom Collins outside the hospital and had taken it as his cue to quietly sneak past, and luckily enough Collins had been distracted enough not to notice him go by. But arriving on the floor which was the ICU ward, everything was quieter and darker – a dark peacefulness, a somberness. Sticking closely to the wall, Julian did not catch the attention of the attending nurse who looked busy enough, her head was down and she didn't look up, so he assumed she didn't hear him approach or move past. How Sam managed to find the floor and hospital room number that Angel was in was beyond Julian's comprehension but that wasn't his concern right now. Business was being disrupted by Sam's weird obsession and passion for Collins, again to which Julian didn't understand (nor wanted to), but alas he was going to help his friend… and save their 'business' ventures in the process. Julian was generally the more 'violently inclined' out of them two, but when pushed beyond his limits, Sam could become equally, if not more dangerous.
He checked the names on each door as he passed… Julian was like many people, and hated hospitals with a passion. But soon enough he found what he was looking for and on the nameplate in the middle of the door in front of him were the words, printed in block letters – ANGEL SCHUNARD. With a deceptively cunning smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Julian opened the door a peered inside. The heart monitor was beeping away – that was the only sound that could be heard. And lying there covered in bandages with multiple tubes running into and out of his body, was the sleeping Angel. Immediately Julian, wasting no time, stepped into the room and closed the door… what to do next…

He walked, in a very cavalier manner, over to Angel's bed and stood at the end of it, his hands holding onto the metal railing at the end of it and pouted his lips, cocking his head to the side. His maliciousness was only further heated by the fact that after all that Sam had done to him; Angel had actually survived and was probably going to recover. So Sam went through all that for nothing? Not if Julian had anything to do with it.

He reached into his pocket, not taking his eyes off Angel, and it only took half a second for him to feel the small metallic object he was looking for and slid his fingers around it, firming his grip on it.

Balancing the pocket knife between his two index fingers, Julian pondered his next move. Never had these kinds of situations been so personal for him, but this was just a whole new level of anger. This wasn't really about Angel at all as it was about Collins… to Julian, Collins was the one who fucked Samuel up and so he's the one who deserved the punishment as dictated by the ways of the street… violence.

Julian stepped around the corner of the bed and approached Angel's side and decided on what to do. The blade of the knife was exposed and shining under the soft light – all the attention that was in the room was drawn to that silvery, sharp blade… death, or impending death… violence… is usually a major attention drawer anyway. Julian then reached over and pulled the blankets down just enough to expose Angel's left arm and held the knife to it. The subtle terror of the entire scene was not lost on him, as it was one of Julian's many dangerous gifts… life on the street had taught him many things, including the value of sheer intimidation and perceived danger, rather than just going around and killing people. On the street, you didn't necessarily have to earn respect, but scaring it out of people was a more common practice… it didn't matter to Julian whether people feared him, respected him, or both – as long as they know who he is and what he can do.

"What you gonna do to him?" Sam had asked, tentatively, earlier that evening. It had been completely Julian's idea to go to the hospital, and Sam had been very reluctant as he had an idea of how Collins would react… and also, by the fact that they could get caught was another very concerning reason. But Sam just thought that it wasn't worth it anymore, and Julian had to convince him that they had to show Collins exactly what he has done…

"Collins messed with the wrong guy, Sammy," Julian insisted.

"It's not like I didn't fuck things up either, you know…"

"I'm talking about me, idiot!" Julian snapped and picked up the pocket knife off the table and slipped it into his pocket. "What he's done to you… what he's done to us… Randy is threatening to take his business elsewhere; we can't afford that at the moment!"

"So you're gonna kill Angel!"

"Just gonna finish what you started! And why are you objecting now? Last week you shoved a knife into his gut!"

"And he knows I did it! I'd have to be an idiot to go after him now, and besides! It's not worth it! I don't need you to fix my problems, Julian! It's none of your damn business!"

"It is when our business starts to suffer…" Julian zipped up his backpack and turned around to face his doubting friend. He grabbed Sam by his shoulders and gently shook him. "What's with you, man! I thought you'd wanna see Angel gone! Get a fucking grip!"

Sam stared. "Not at this cost, man… maybe its better just to leave them alone, you know? Collins has chosen who he wants..."

Finally, though, after a little more prodding and convincing, Sam had agreed to the terms set down by Julian – he didn't have to go and find Angel (Julian volunteered to do that) – all he had to do was find Collins and keep him distracted. Since it was late at night, there wouldn't be many people, and since Angel was still in the ICU ward, there were no restrictions on visitor times. Now, Julian was on the verge on completing what Sam didn't, and it wasn't hard for him… Angel was just lying there, sleeping – he couldn't move even if he wanted to.

Julian held the knife closer to Angel's skin and lightly made contact… he started gently drawing the knife along Angel's arm, up from his wrist to his elbow and then gently poked his skin, trying to get his attention. And it worked. Angel's eyes started to flutter and the drag queen felt something tickling his arm… it was something with a pointed end and it was just plain irritating. Fuck, Collins… were the first words that ran through his mind and he finally pulled his eyelids apart and squinted to see what his lover was doing. Obviously Collins must be bored… but as soon as he visually came into focus and allowed a few moments for the weariness to subside, Angel's heart practically stopped right there and then. Standing over him was someone he didn't recognize, but had a very dangerous glint in his eyes…
Angel started to quiver as he succumbed to the rising panic – he glanced around the room for any signs of Collins only to find that he and the stranger were alone. Whoever he was, he was just glaring very menacingly at him, and Angel gripped his blankets closer to him.

"Who—who the hell are you?" he whispered. He broke eye contact for a split second to look down at what the man was doing to his arm, and there it was. A glistening silver pocket knife was being pressed against his arm and teasing his skin – Angel started to open his mouth to scream, but like lightning, the man clasped his hand over his mouth and inhibited any noise he could make. Angel began to physically struggle, however almost let out a shriek of pain from his already aggravated injuries – this stress now wasn't going to be any better for him. Julian pressed his weight more onto Angel's petite body to keep him still, and in response Angel was struggling to breathe (as both his nose and mouth were restricted of air). Julian narrowed his eyes and then, using his free hand, brought the knife up and pressed it against Angel's throat, in very much the same manner Sam had done.

"I'm sorry," Julian apologized, half-heartedly, watching Angel's rising desperation to get air into his lungs. "But business is business… and you, my friend, are a heavy liability. Now, I'm gonna take my hand away from your mouth. One scream. One call for help. And I'll finish off what my good buddy Sam couldn't get done. That's all you need know."

At the mere mention of Sam's name, Angel knew this was retribution… that this person must also be someone of Collins' past. And Collins would definitely have some explaining to do… about this, and why he wasn't in the room when he promised he'd stay. He furiously nodded his head in agreement, and Julian then released him. Angel gasped and despite the pain resonating through his chest from the deep relaxation and contraction of the muscles of his ribs, the air tasted like heaven to him.

"Sam… sent you!" he breathed heavily, drinking the air. He pressed his hand to his chest in a futile attempt to control his breathing and the subsequent pain that was emitting from the cracked ribs.

Still holding the knife at Angel's throat, Julian shrugged nonchalantly and smirked.

"I guess you could say that… but Sam… he's tied up in this emotional shit right now… what, with all that's been happening with you and Collins," he said Collins' name with an added touch of venom. "Like I said… this is purely business. Sam's been distracted recently, and my driving force behind my… 'business'… is threatening to go elsewhere, and I can't afford that right now. I doubt you understand…"

"Where's Collins?" Angel demanded, softly. Julian raised an eyebrow.

"I hardly think you're in a position to be demanding anything from me right now, Angel…"

The restrictions of his injuries and being hooked up to so many machines gave Angel no option but to stay quiet and not struggle. Silently, he was praying for Collins or someone to return… but Julian shrugged.

"But since you look so concerned for your lover… he's been distracted."

"By Sam?"

"By his past. Think of it as liberation for him… he can confront his past…"

Angel wiped tears from his eyes. The look in this person's eyes, and the knife, and the whole given situation suggested that this might be a predicament that he may not live through.

"Don't do this…" he begged. "Don't…"

"I really got no choice here, Angel. This is isn't something I want to do," he lied. "But it's strictly business and I can't – and Sam can't – afford to have you and Collins screwing things up… not now. Not ever."

"We didn't do anything!" Angel sobbed. "We didn't—"

"Well, okay I stand corrected. You didn't necessarily do anything, but Collins has a lot to answer for… and let's face it, you are a liability." He pressed the knife further into Angel's neck and caused his muscles to contract and stiffen up. "Nothing personal from me… I just have to protect my money…" he paused and then added, "And my best friend."

"You're pathetic!" a sudden rush of aggression surged through Angel's veins, and in response was met by Julian again clamping his hand over his mouth and then viciously slapping Angel with the back of his hand. The muffled scream of pain let him know that he had gotten his dominant point across very well and he removed his hand to the sounds of Angel's whimpers. He then reached into his backpack and removed a small cloth-type material. Thick material. Julian then grabbed Angel by his throat and began to squeeze. Choking, Angel was coughing and spluttering but Julian didn't care at this point. He raised the material to Angel's mouth.

"Open." He instructed, and lightly tapped Angel's jaw, encouraging him to open his mouth. Angel hesitated and tried to resist, but of course he couldn't and still needed to breathe, so when his lips parted, Julian immediately shoved the cloth into his mouth. After all his years on the street, Julian knew how to keep things quite… he could do whatever he wanted to Angel and still be as quite as a mouse about it. He definitely had his way.
Julian then grabbed Angel's hand and then cut it, deeply, with his knife and Angel reacted as anyone would – but no one could hear his screams… no one… Tears rolled down his cheeks and his eyes and face became flustered and red. His muscles were so stiff and the pain ripped through the rest of his body, resonating in his hand. Angel cried as best he could, and Julian removed the cloth so he could breathe. Within seconds of the cut being made, blood had transformed the surrounding white sheets into ones of a deep crimson red and the intensity of the pain for Angel was so unbearable that he felt like he was about to pass out.

"That was lesson number one," Julian said, darkly. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be lucky if there's any blood left in your veins!"

And yes, Julian was being careful as he was fully aware that Angel has AIDS, and keeping that in the back of his mind, he let him take anther couple of breaths before forcing the cloth back into his mouth and gripped the knife one more time. This time, he held it to Angel's other hand, and it sliced open as the blade pierced his dark skin. The bloodcurdling scream that was restricted by the material was even enough to make Julian cringe… as much as the blood was soaking into the bed, Angel's tears were making his eyes hurt and his vision blur – Julian's face became just a blob of pure evil. Even worse that Sam in the sense that Julian was lingering… torturing… his technique was subtle. He wanted to inflict pain in the slowest way possible, whereas Sam just wanted to deliver as much of it as possible.

Angel could barely swallow the pain in his throat without swallowing and choking on the cloth too. Julian was good at this kind of thing… every time he did something, he would remove the cloth so that Angel could breathe – so he wouldn't lose consciousness and thus the ability to feel the horrific inflictions… he was keeping Angel awake – alive – longer. He was gonna feel every bit of this. And again, Julian removed the cloth and Angel's cries were still soft, yet more audible… and the pain he was feeling was nothing compared to the hell his mind was being put through. The corners of Julian's mouth tugged into a small smile and knew that it was working…

His eyes locking with Angel's, he saw the young street drummer struggling so much, it almost made him feel an ounce of sympathy. Almost. He then sat on the bed, with blood now drenched the blankets on both sides of Angel… Julian then touched the blood with his index finger and then smeared some on Angel's lips.

"Taste it," he whispered. "Is Collins worth this? Is he worth you tasting your own blood like this? Man… you two must really love each other…"

Angel didn't say anything in response, but small sobs were all the sounds that escaped him and the full reality of what was happening was beginning to set it. Julian gave a light, yet humiliating, taunting slap to his victim's face. Angel closed his eyes, not wanting to see anymore, and this did not pass by Julian's attention unnoticed, and the physically larger man shoved the knife under his chin, where Angel could feel it pressing further and further into his skin.

"Open your eyes, boy… girl… whatever you are."

Angel did as he was told and opened his eyes. Like a wild animal caught in a trap, he knew there was no way out yet he continued to struggle… and why shouldn't he? This stranger was obviously intent on dragging this out and make him feel every single bit of this. The worst thing of all, was that Julian wanted Angel to see all of this… one of the most lethal; powerful aspects of torture. His tormentor leaned closer to him and whispered…

"You're gonna feel this for the rest of your life… however long I decide that may be."

Close to the exact same words Sam had told him with the exact same tone almost a week earlier. Why was this all so repetitive? Why did Angel have to go through the same thing over and over again? What was he being punished for?

"Don't…" Angel whimpered… the very deep cuts on his hands left him unable to defend himself further (strategy-wise, it was very good thinking by Julian). He was left totally at the mercy of Julian. "Please…"

His pleas fell on deaf ears and Julian paid no heed to him. He wouldn't get caught, not if everything went according to what he and Sam planned. Instead, as Angel continued to plead for some sort of mercy, he shut him up with the cloth again… this was it. No more time for games, as the nurse would surely be making her rounds shortly. Julian would have to speed this up and his arm moved so fast that Angel barely had time to register what he was gonna do, and the knife then cut through the bandages of his damaged shoulder and dug into his skin and the broken tissue and screaming as loud as he could, Angel almost passed out from the pain – he started shaking and frantically trying to pull away. All there was now was pain, from his pre-existing injuries and these newly inflicted ones. Everything was becoming cloudy and confusing, with the sweat, blood and tears once again only showing a tiny bit of the terror and hurt Angel was feeling and experiencing. Julian had sliced his shoulder open and the amount of blood was even worse than in the alleyway – that's because he knew exactly where he could inflict the most damage. But then, something unexpected happened. The heart monitors beeping sound grew more rapid, indicating that Angel's heart rate and blood pressure were sky rocketing and the lack of oxygen into his system made things all the more worse... Julian looked around, panicking. A buzzer went off that would indicate to the attending personnel that something wasn't right, and he hadn't had the time to do what he was supposed to.

"FUCK!" he growled and tried to get a grip on himself. He knelt down next to Angel, not before noticing drops of blood dripping from the bed and onto the floor… everything was turning red for Angel, and that (in Julian's opinion) was how it should be.

"I guess time has cut our little rendezvous short, Angel," his whispered and disturbing placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Well, I guess we can leave a little surprise for your Collins, before I leave," and then removing the cloth one last time, Julian risked what could be his own freedom in this next move and quickly brought the knife down to Angel's through… and pierced the skin, dragging the knife along Angel's neck…

Angel couldn't scream. All he could do, with his eyes wide and in a copious amount of pain, gagged and struggled for breathing… he squeezed his eyes shut and all that was going though his mind was the pain. The agony. Not again… one of the last things he heard before consciousness consumed him was the room door slamming open. He opened his eyes, only to see Emily rush to his side, apparently screaming his name, but he couldn't hear her… and Julian was already gone. Angel's eyes closed and blackness ensued…

AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the next chapter, Collins arrives back at Angel's room only to find him to be gone, and Emily informs him of what happened. Everything in this story is there for a purpose, and I know the direction this story is going. I'm sorry for more Angel & Collins torture… I promise I won't go overboard, you don't have to worry.

Please review.