He was there.

It was so incredible, so utterly unbelievable that for a moment Noah's knees locked and he could do nothing but watch his husband from a distance, fatigue making his body sway slightly.

Luke was sitting in jeans and a dirty white t-shirt on an upturned log by a large roaring open fire. His hair sparkled in the firelight and he was laughing; engaged in conversation with a young man whose smile Noah wanted to violently wipe off.

It was the action of Luke lifting a tankard to his lips that eventually caused the unfreezing of Noah's knees as an indescribably huge rage bubbled quickly to the surface.

He started toward Luke and the man with whom Luke was conversing looked up with a surprised frown.

The other patrons, sitting on stools beside the outdoor bar or around the fire, forgot their drinks to witness the taller white man stomp into their midst.

Luke turned startled, and stared blankly at the slightly bearded stranger; until recognition flashed in his eyes, then elation, and a huge smile spread across his face.

"You?" Luke asked the question out of sheer shock mixed with joy, unable to comprehend the situation and then, realising the truth the happiness quickly faded.

"FUCK YOU!" Noah lunged forward and got hold of Luke by the wrist, "What the HELL do you think you're doing?"

Luke's face had turned a strange grey, his eyes wide and round. He jerked back, trying to free his wrist, but there was no way Noah was letting him go.

He yanked Luke up, causing him to drop his tankard in the fire with a loud hiss and whirled him around; pushing him forward in an attempt to get them both away from the current set of curious onlookers.

By now the music and singing had stopped and there was an instant stir among the crowd.

The group of men near to where Luke had been sitting began to move forward and Noah realised he had to get away.

The thought came too late. Two of the men grabbed at him and flung him backward while two more stood in front of Luke; protecting him from what they saw as a direct attack.

It was only then that Luke found his voice.

"Wait!" he yelled.

But the testosterone was already flowing and the men didn't hear him. Before Noah knew it he was the recipient of a powerful punch to the stomach that left him winded. The two men holding him let go and he buckled over, coughing onto the floor.

"Wait!" Luke yelled, more urgently this time. He raced around the men to stand with his arms out over Noah, "It's okay. It's alright. I know him."

His friends dropped back but continued to watch Noah with mistrust and dubiousness.

"You want to go with THIS man?" One of them asked Luke, dismissing Noah as though he was some stray dog that had turned up off the street. Luke made a small sound that may have been laughter with a hint of panic. He turned and looked down at Noah, "Yes, Lutalo," he said. "Yes, I want to go with him."

The other man shrugged and held up both his hands; letting them pass.

Reaching forward Luke dug his fingers hard into the back of Noah's wrist; startling Noah with the sudden pain of it. Luke whirled around and dragged Noah up and along behind him.

Once they were out of sight, the grip on Noah's wrist became a vice-hold on his arm, the pain of which may have been enjoyable if it was done solely out of happiness to see him.

But Noah could tell that Luke's anger had risen to the same level as his own. And that just made him all the more furious.

"What the fuck are you…?" Noah hissed through his teeth. "Days looking for you and… and you're DRINKING?"

Luke blinked at him confused and then pushed Noah back. "I wasn't drinking! For your information that was ginger-beer! Give me some credit!"

Noah snorted and gave Luke as good a glare as he was getting.

"We can't talk here." Luke quickly replied with frustration, scanning the area around them. He turned and continued to pull Noah further down the dirt road, out of the town, eventually finding hidden shelter under the dry drooping leaves of a dying willow tree.

It was dark and nobody would be able to see them in there.

Luke whirled instantly on him. "What are you doing here for God's sake?"

"What do you think I'm doing here, Luke?" he yelled back, "I'm looking for you! You fucking overly impulsive idiot!"

Noah took Luke quickly by the shoulders, pulling him flush to his chest and kissed him hard.

Fear, anger, and the sheer relief of finding him were amalgamated into a solid jolt of desire, and he found himself shaking with it. So was Luke. Suddenly Luke was clinging to him, trembling in his arms.

"It's okay." Noah whispered, feeling his fear, burying his face into Luke's hair. "It's okay."

Luke jerked suddenly upright and out of Noah's grasp.

"OKAY?" he gasped; horror in his voice, "It's not okay! FUCK! You're HERE!"

"And where the hell else would I be, with you tearing off into fucking nowhere and risking your stupid neck?"

Luke was visibly shaking.

"Why did you keep it from me?" Noah demanded. "Why didn't you tell me what you knew about Uganda before you left?"

"Because you wouldn't have let me come, that's why! You would have tried to stop me and…"

Noah hit him, a full fisted punch that caught Luke hard across the cheekbone.

"FUCK YOU!" Noah screamed for the second time.

Holding his cheek Luke's head turned back with shock to face the seething Noah.

Then his eyes burned fire and he flung himself forward with a groan of anger, pushing Noah backwards into the trunk of the tree. His forearm crossing Noah's heaving chest.

"Don't you hit me! EVER!"

Noah wanted to hit him again, that sickening mix of love, anger and fear fuelling him. Instead he grabbed a handful of Luke's hair and funnelled the energy into kissing him as hard as he could.

Luke squirmed and struggled against him, making angry strangled noises, but Noah didn't stop. Eventually, groaning, Luke was kissing him back and they sank to their knees together. Luke's arms came round his neck as Noah pressed him down into the leaf-matted ground beneath the tree.

They shared a long and desperate kiss until they were crying; choking and gasping; tears running down their faces as they clutched at each other.

"Why?" Luke sobbed, "Why did you have to follow?"

"You know why… It's not just your life you're risking anymore. Why can't you ever see that Luke?"

"Noah… I had to come. I wanted so much to write this story. Tony was missing and there were all these reports of people dying."

Noah pushed Luke back so that they were once again separated.

"And is that what you want? Ha Luke? You want to die?"

"I thought it would be okay."

Noah laughed sardonically, "They know about you… I followed a trail of gossip to get here!"

"They won't do anything."

"How do you know?"

"Because, they already have the eyes of the world on them with Tony's disappearance. They won't want to risk another white tourist missing…"

"That's a pretty big gamble you're taking Luke."

"I never meant for things to end up like this. I just came to write my story and leave. I promise. But when the guys took me to witness an execution I couldn't just sit by and do nothing. I have to do what I can to expose this to the world."

Lying flat on his back, Noah brought his arm up over his tired eyes. "Do you remember you once told me that some of things you love about me are also the things you hate?"

The blonde head nodded.

Noah looked sideways at Luke, "Well, ditto Snyder…"

"I know. I know it was a mistake to come."

"You must have known Luke. You must have known I'd come. That I'd follow you here when you stopped calling…"

"I hoped you wouldn't… I hoped you'd put Nicky and Mia before us."

Noah drew breath and his eyes widened in realisation.

Luke sadly nodded, "I can't go back via Kampala and they've confiscated my passport anyway. Lutalo's gonna to take me over the border and into Kenya. You have to go back alone Bubby."

Noah shook his head and swallowed hard, "Not without you. Don't make me do it! Don't ask me too!"

"You have to. For the kids."

It was a reality Noah didn't want to accept; couldn't accept, but he was just about to nod his agreement when he realised something, "I don't think I can go back to Kampala anymore than you can."

Luke sat up, "What do you mean?"

"Laarman? I kinda called him the devil to his face."

Luke's hand came up to his mouth and he slowly shook his head, but he smiled slightly at the thought.

Noah reached up and traced a tender path down Luke's jaw before speaking through strangled breaths, "He said you were dead."

"Oh Bubby…" Luke whispered; eyes filled with tears, "Shit. That fucking bastard!"

"I knew you weren't. I felt it."

Luke fell on top of Noah then, grabbing his face with both hands and pressing their foreheads together.

Noah slid his palm up the back of Luke's neck, fingers curling round the nape, a thumb searching the reassuring pulse of his heart. It was racing as was his own. He tugged lightly with his hand, drawing Luke down. Luke came, arms trembling and giving way beneath him.

"Did they hurt you?"

Luke shook his head and Noah sighed.

"How did you know?" Luke asked.

"I told you. I followed a trail of gossip to find you. I just didn't expect to find you here. We thought you'd be at the prison."

Noah snaked both arms around him and drew Luke in tight, revelling in the warm and alive weight of him. He snuggled his neck closer so that he could feel the full force of Luke's breath on his skin. He lay back in the dust, bruised, sweaty, starving, dehydrated but relieved beyond all description.

They stayed there long enough for the crickets, temporarily silenced by the noise of their argument, to resume their gentle songs.

Sniffing, Luke sat up to look down at Noah, really studying him. "Looks like you haven't seen a razor in a while."

Noah laughed as Luke reached down to feel the hair on his jaw. Noah hadn't had time or the will power to shave since he'd arrived in Uganda.

"You like?"

"I could get used to it." Luke replied. He sighed and lay back down to tighten his hold on Noah. "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to come after me but… Noah… right now I'm so glad you're here."

Noah kissed his temple, "So am I. I'm sorry I punched you."

"I deserved it."

Noah reached under the hem of Luke's shirt and searched out bare skin which rippled into goose-bumps under his touch. He pulled Luke close, ran his hands over bare back and shoulders, burying his face into Luke's hair and neck, exploring, desperately needing more.

"Luke?" he asked, it was almost like begging.

Luke pulled back and rubbed at Noah's cheek, "I know. Me too. But we can't here."

As if to prove Luke's point they heard the footsteps and voices of a group of people walking the path past the willow under which they were hidden. They both scrambled back up against the trunk, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Their faces were so close and their eyes burned together.

"We shouldn't even be talking here like this." Luke whispered, "It's too dangerous."

Noah nodded, "Where? I have to have to you."

Their lips met in heated fire and Luke groaned as they parted. "Lutalo organised a hut for me. But we can't be seen. Follow close, okay?"

"Always." Noah replied and Luke smiled at him, eyes shining.

There were still so many unanswered questions, so much to talk about, but their need for each other in that moment overrode all else.

...

Luke's hut was some distance from the willow tree. But Lutalo had been smart and picked a location on the outskirts of the village that was dark and quiet. They reached it by ducking quickly from shadow to shadow, hiding behind walls, trees and buildings; avoiding people at all cost.

They stood beside the walls of one hut and Luke pointed over the dirt road.

"It's that one."

There was a fire burning in a metal drum nearby and for the first time since the bar, Noah could really see Luke's face clearly, the leaves from a nearby tree created strange patterns on his cheek.

Noah looked about to make sure they were alone and took Luke's hand in his, palm to palm. His breath hitched and he swallowed when Luke smiled out the corner of his mouth. Luke brought their linked hands down together and leaned up to kiss Noah gently on the lips.

Noah raised Luke's hand to his mouth and kissed it, on the knuckle of his fourth finger where the gold ring blinked, solid and real in the dim light.

Luke pulled him quickly over the road stopping to unlock the crude bolt on the door with a small key from his pocket.

The circular, stone-built hut wasn't much on the inside. Thatched like all the buildings in the village it consisted of a straw mat, a handmade table and a box of cooking utensils which Noah then realised must take place on the tiny fireplace in the middle of the room.

With no windows, Noah was pleased the fire was not currently burning. He hated to imagine how hot and acrid the place must become otherwise.

Luke left him by the door and felt his way through the room until he located a small kerosene lamp. It didn't provide much light, but it was better than nothing and if there was one thing Noah was sure of… he wanted to see Luke; every part of him.

Luke searched a crude wooden box under the table and Noah wondered what he was looking for until Luke smiled and pulled out a tub of Vaseline.

"Good thing I saw this in here earlier."

He smiled and Noah smiled back.

"Do you know what I thought when I saw it?" Luke asked.

Noah shook his head as Luke placed the tub within easy reach of the mat on the floor.

"I thought about you and how much I wanted you. All of you… inside of me…. And… as if by some kind of strange African magic… here you are."

As soon as Luke was close enough Noah began to undress him, eyes urgently inspecting for damage. Seeing none, Noah's fingers curved and flattened over Luke's chest, checking again… just to be sure; before coming to rest on his nipples and circling them in a way that made the blonde gasp for breath and Noah's eyes shoot up to meet his.

"Do you have any idea what 'rafiki yangu' means?" Noah asked.

Luke had moved forward now and his small laugh brushed Noah's skin, making him shiver even in the heat.

"Why?" Luke asked, pulling back to smile his dazzling smile.

"Kigongo." Luke's eyebrows lifted with surprise as Noah continued, "Kigongo keeps calling me that."

"You found Kigongo?" Luke smiled with amazement.

Noah nodded. "Actually, he found me. He's here."

Luke blinked. "He's HERE? You mean here… here…?"

"Yes. He was determined to help me find you. He was pretty beat when we got here so he turned in for the night."

"Wow!" Luke laughed, shaking his head just as Noah bent, finding his mouth on the first try.

"So?" he murmured against the wide, sweet curve of Luke's lips. His hands slid down to Luke's hips, cupping. "What does it mean?"

Luke shuddered against him, the jitter of his laughter passing from his lips to Noah's and into Noah's soul like sustenance.

Luke's hands worked at undoing the buttons down Noah's shirt, pushing the cotton from his shoulders until the shirt lay in creases on the clay floor of the hut. His hands quickly began working on releasing Noah from his jeans

"It means 'my friend'."

Noah smiled at that and then felt the heat rise as Luke dropped his own jeans and stood completely naked before him.

Noah slid his arms around him and pulled Luke closely against him; having to pause for breath; before slipping his tongue between the man's lips. His taste was intoxicating and he lost track of his senses, breathing Luke's breath.

Noah could feel the sexual tension in every part of Luke's body and Noah felt a strong surge; wanting Luke madly.

Luke kissed him deeply. Noah responded with a desperate affection, hungry for his touch. Oh God, he loved Luke to distraction.

Losing control Noah hoisted Luke up, the blonde grunted with surprise but didn't fight it. Noah just about slammed Luke down onto the straw mat brushing his nose over Luke's stomach and inhaling deeply.

Quickly, urgently, he flipped the lid on the Vaseline and smothered two fingers with it just as Luke was putting a hand on the back of Noah's head. But Noah needed no encouragement to take him into his mouth.

Luke was hot and tasted gamey; smelling like sweat and dry grass and the smoke from the fire. Running his tongue down Luke's length, Noah worked his mouth back and forth, sucking and spreading spit over him.

Luke grunted and stroked Noah's face, meshing his fingers in his hair, sometimes so tightly it hurt. Keeping his mouth in place, Noah pushed the two lubricated fingers inside of Luke.

"Jesus!" Luke exclaimed, his hip lifting slightly. "I missed this! I missed you baby."

Luke thrust into his mouth, his skin brushing against Noah's chin. A drop of salty liquid slid onto Noah's tongue and he knew Luke was close, so he withdrew both his mouth and his hand to press kisses up Luke's navel to his chest and eventually finding his willing mouth.

Luke's hands were already pressing the small of his back, urging him down until Noah was filling him with a laud moan of pleasure. He was so hard and swollen that the slightest movement from Luke was sending exquisite sensations raging through his pelvis.

Not able to wait, his previous state of exhaustion momentarily forgotten, he started pounding and the climax began to build quickly. He squeezed his hands under them, cupping Luke's buttocks, to pull himself even deeper inside.

"Fuck!" Noah grunted, leaving one hand where it was and interlacing the fingers of the other with Luke's; squeezing tight.

His pelvis rammed up tight against Luke as he emptied himself inside. Breathing hard, he bent over Luke, taking his weight on his hands, while the contractions of Luke's own orgasm bled him of every last drop of pleasure.

It was a moment before either of them could move, but once Noah came back around he pulled himself back up to nibble at Luke's lips; Luke's hands twirling Noah's hair.

Only when he had to did Noah withdraw.

"I love you." He whispered into Luke's ear. "God, Luke, I love you…"

"Stay with me." Luke said, snuggling close.

"All my life."