The plan was to get Luke and drive like the devil east across Uganda's rough roads and flat plains; not stopping until they absolutely had to and reaching the relative safety of Kenya's border as soon as possible. Hopefully before the Ugandan authorities had a chance to track them down.

They hadn't really counted on Luke's condition.

Noah wasn't doing so great himself. His body trembled and he struggled to breath, paralysed by shock. Najja gave him a bottle of sugar water. These men, having become so accustomed to these life and death situations, had come as prepared as they could in such a limited amount of time.

The sugar kick had helped Noah greatly and he found his mind clearing so that he could focus on Luke.

To his credit, even delirious Luke seemed to sense the urgency of escape. Lying sideways in the backseat of the cramped car, torso curled across Noah's knees; at first he bravely moaned and coughed through each pain-wave. His face pressed into the top of Noah's thigh and he would squeeze Noah's hand so hard, Noah was sure he'd end up with a broken carpal bone.

But only ten minutes into the journey, the constant jolts of the car were already starting to take their toll, despite Noah holding Luke as steady as he could.

Noah hadn't even had a chance to properly assess the damage to Luke's back. They'd stumbled into the car and Lutalo had thrown Noah a grey blanket from the trunk. This was now wedged firmly between his stomach and Luke's back in an attempt to stem the bleeding. Noah used his free hand to squeeze and rub Luke's shoulder, hoping to impart some strength and comfort to him.

Fifteen minutes into the ride and the moans had increased in volume with occasional cries escaping Luke's lips. It broke Noah's heart to see Luke fight to stand it but truthfully he knew they needed Luke too. They couldn't risk remaining in the area. It was simply too dangerous.

The situation was far from ideal. Four of them, Noah by the door, then Luke, Najja and Kigongo were all squeezed like sardines on the back seat of the car.

Magomu took the role of driver, while Lutalo sat as navigator in the front passenger seat. Every few minutes he would peer over the back to check on Luke and Noah, catching Noah's terrified expression.

"Hold on, baby." Noah soothed, "Hold on. Just a little bit longer. You're so strong, Luke. I know you can do it."

Worry clipped the edge of his voice, even as he tried to keep it at bay. He had no idea how badly Luke's wounds were bleeding.

"You're such a fool, Luke. What were you thinking, ha? Look what they've done..."

One thing was crystal clear though, Luke was in an excruciating amount of pain. Thirty minutes into the journey he finally lost the battle as the agony became too much for him. His jaw muscles bunched as he clenched his teeth hard.

"No…ah?" his breath shuddered hot through Noah's jeans as he cried out and drew shuddered air through clenched teeth. "Noah! Hurts…"

"Stop the car!" Noah sobbed, rivers of tears staining his cheeks. "Lutalo, we have to stop!"

Lutalo turned once more in his seat, catching Noah's eyes.

Luke cried out even louder this time.

"He can't do it." Noah argued, shaking his head. "Just look at him."

Lutalo's gaze fell to Luke and then rose to search the horizon through the rear window. He spent a few minutes in deep contemplation and then turned to Magomu, "Take the next road off. We will find a place to stop."

Noah squeezed his eyes shut in relief.

"No…No…ah!"

He was quickly shaken out of his short reprieve by a hellish tremor passing through Luke and he bent over to kiss Luke's temple, dry lips grazing Luke's burning skin as he spoke, "Okay, okay… I'll make it better. It's alright. We'll stop in just a minute."

Luke groaned loudly, fingers digging into skin.

They hadn't driven for too long before they came across a rare clump of trees. Magomu didn't need Lutalo to tell him this was the place. He immediately manoeuvred the car off the road and parked as close to the tree-line as he could.

The men jumped from the vehicle, Lutalo opening the door nearest Noah and helping to pull Luke from the backseat; face down on a spread tarpaulin Kigongo pulled from the trunk.

Noah knelt by Luke's side to gingerly remove the blood-soaked blanket from his gashed back. Luke continued to cry out; body shivering and teeth chattering.

His skin was stained with dried and fresh blood; welted with long nasty lesions, some already swelling and turning blackish blue.

"Oh, Jesus." Noah rubbed a hand down his own face; looking up and down Luke's torso and wondering what the hell they could do for him out in the middle of nowhere. "He needs a doctor."

"There are none." Lutalo told him, clicking his tongue in frustration, but he seemed to get an idea. "There is a witch doctor, in the next village. We would go there when I was a boy."

Noah pushed Luke's bangs from his head. Hazel eyes were half open and he was breathing heavily, already feeling the relief of not being flung about in the car. He took Luke's hand and squeezed, "If that's the best there is then we have to go there. "

"No." Lutalo shook his head. "The police will expect that. They know he's injured."

"So what do we do?" Noah asked with aggravation, "He needs help!"

"Keep calm, my friend." Lutalo assured him, one hand coming to rest on Noah's shoulder. "Najja will go ahead to the village and bring her back here." He nodded to Noah and then gestured with another nod in Najja's direction.

"I will hurry!" Najja said.

With the help of Kigongo, Najja quickly emptied the trunk of their supplies before driving off and out of sight.

Noah carefully rolled an ashen Luke onto his side and up into a seated position, bracing the body against his knee; mindful of his injuries.

He held the bottle of sugar water to Luke's lips, "Drink."

Grimacing with pain and shaking all over, Luke shook his head.

"I'm not asking, Luke! I'm telling you."

Noah hated being stern with him, but Luke was dehydrated and it was essential. He'd been strung up in the direct sunshine for who knew how long. His lips were dry, white and cracked, his skin burnt.

Something squeezed and twisted in Noah's gut when Luke turned his head to look at him. His brown eyes were bloodshot and the pain in them acute as they pleaded for release from this request. But Noah held firm and Luke sobbed when he realised Noah wouldn't relent.

"Come on." Noah demanded. "You have to do as I say from now on! After everything you've done to get us into this mess! You hear me?"

The anger inside of him found voice in that and he yelled the words without meaning too. Luke jerked with a face totally stricken in regret and apology. He lifted a hand to Noah's shoulder, squeezing and desperately trying to convey a message. Reading his thoughts Noah softened and cupped his cheek, bringing their foreheads together.

"I know, baby. I know you're sorry. I'm sorry too." Noah sobbed twice; instantly pounding the tears back down. He couldn't afford to fall apart. "I shouldn't have left you alone in the hut."

Luke shook his head and the hand lifted weakly from shoulder to cheek. "All my fault… wanted… to…"

"It's okay… we don't have to do this now."

"Wanted to… call… you…"

"I know. Of cause I know you did..."

"They wouldn't… let… me…"

"Shh…" Luke was weeping and Noah drew him into his chest, placing his chin on the top of Luke's head, "Listen to me… Okay? You are so stubborn and crazy and stupid sometimes! I want to hit you and kiss you and tear my hair out! Half the time I don't know what to do with you! But… believe this… okay?" Noah took a deep breath, looked Luke in the eyes and kissing Luke's lips as tenderly as he could. "No matter what stupid thing you do. No matter how angry you make me. I will always catch you. Okay, baby? I will always catch you…"

He thumbed tears off Luke's dirt-stained cheek as the blonde nodded his thanks, falling forward into Noah's arms.

"And I'll treasure every single moment I have with you."

Noah allowed Luke to rest in his arms for sometime, mostly so that he could steady his aching heart and his own breathing; both of which were one thought away from panic.

Then Luke murmured into his chest, "How's it look?"

Knowing Luke meant his back, Noah replied, "How do you think?"

Luke shrugged and groaned again before saying, "I always did… like stripes."

Noah laughed through his tears, "Not funny, Snyder!"

"Then why… why are you laughing?"

His hand scratched gently, caressing Luke's skull through his sticky hair, feeling Luke's body relaxing.

Becoming too relaxed. Noah's heart began to hammer once more.

"Luke?"

He pushed Luke back by his shoulders and saw how the colour had drained from his face. Luke's head dropped back, his eyes lolling.

"Luke!" he shouted, shaking him, "You keep those eyes open, dammit! That's an order." He hated how much he sounded like his father but in that moment he couldn't find the strength to care.

Luke's eyes flew open wide and his head turned to look at Noah; startled.

"That's it." Noah told him, "You stay awake. You owe me that, buddy!"

Luke breathed a painful inhalation and nodded.

Noah carefully put the water bottle to his lips and Luke drank without complaining. Not much, but Noah was satisfied he'd gulped in as much as he could handle.

Gently, Noah instructed Magomu to help move Luke back onto his stomach so they could try to clean up the wounds.

Using water from a 2 litre cola bottle, Noah washed most of the blood and dirt way, making it more obvious where the leather had connected with skin. The welts crisscrossed neatly like stitching, the most painful areas where one cut passed over another. These spots were raised, black and purple patches starting to blister. Noah could feel a sick ball of rage building in his belly at the person who had done this.

Luke's breathing became more erratic with every passing minute. He struggled more and more to stay lucid; each exhaled breath a shuddered moan. His eyes slanted up at Noah.

"You look fucking terrible, Luke."

It was surprising he'd managed to stay awake for as long as he had, and Noah couldn't help feeling slight guilt at that. He knew Luke was fighting the overwhelming urge to pass out merely because Noah had asked him too. This fight was becoming too difficult for Luke and Noah knew it, but he was terrified that Luke would close his eyes and not wake up.

"Where are they?" Noah asked nobody in particular. It was said out of aggravation more than anything else. There was no telling whether this witch doctor could even help.

Luke was trembling violently now, the shivering causing him to moan in pain. Noah was afraid to hurt him, but more afraid of allowing the shivers to continue. He crouched over Luke and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, holding him tightly. Bringing one hand up to deeply massage at Luke's neck muscle until finally the trembling eased.

As gently as possible Noah eased against him, giving him the comfort of his body heat. Luke's face burrowed into Noah's shoulder like a small boy and Noah stroked his hair gently until they heard the chug of a tired engine.

Their friends all ducked low, watching the road as their little white car appeared over the horizon through the yellow long grass.

The vehicle drew to a stop and Najja climbed out, followed by the strangest creature Noah had ever seen; like a character from a Tolkien novel.

She was tiny and had incredibly black skin, like charcoal, and this was obvious even underneath the white chalk that coloured her entire face. White fragments of what looked like bone pierced each earlobe.

At first Noah thought she must have long hair, which was rare in Uganda, but as she drew closer he noticed that she wore a headdress made from the tail of an ox.

Dark eyes peered out at them from beneath painted eyelids.

She was naked from the waist up, untrained and wrinkled breasts hanging low to the floor; belt of coloured beads a seeds wrapped around her waist and neck and a brown leather satchel like bag slung over her shoulder.

Her hips were covered by a cow skin skirt that ran as low as her knees, the long dead cow's tail hanging behind her. She was a terrifying sight and did nothing to put Noah's fears to rest.

She did not address Noah or the other men standing around. She fell immediately to her knees on the other side of Luke and sang some nonsensical song over him; a strange mixture of Swahili words and guttural grunts.

Her hands hovered over his back as she eyed the wounds there.

Strangely, and perhaps as testament to the agony he was suffering, Luke didn't react at all. He kept his eyes fixed on Noah and their hands interlaced; using Noah to help ground him in some way.

Noah was in despair, sure that this 'magical' healing would be of no benefit to Luke. But he allowed it to continue and watched as the witch doctor slung the leather bag over her head.

Reaching inside she withdrew a long and sharp aloe frond. She used a home made knife to slice open the thick and fleshy leaf, creating dripping strips which she laid neatly along the cuts in Luke's skin.

Noah knew all the healing benefits of the aloe plant from countless books, movies and drugstore products and he sighed with relief. Yes, this should help sooth for the time being and keep infection at bay. At least until they could find a western doctor.

Finished applying the aloe, the woman withdrew an animal skin cask from her bag, pulling out the stopper and pouring the contents, a clear liquid, over Luke's skin.

"Tea tree." Noah recognised the smell. Maddie was always going on about the benefits of tea tree oil. Noah prayed she was right.

...

A soft and warm breeze tickled Luke's bangs, blowing the hair over his face and into his eyes. Flat on his stomach, his countenance, illuminated by the fire, was turned toward Noah. His throat muscles pulsed as they worked hard every time Luke swallowed.

Noah had been lying on his side next to Luke's sweating and shaking body since the witch doctor departed. There were tears settling on his lower lashes and Noah held back from blinking, not wanting Luke to see the drops run down his cheeks as he gazed deeply into Luke's eyes; rubbing his thumb up and down the rope burn around Luke's wrist.

The other men had given them their space; busying themselves making camp for the night. Kigongo had brought them food but neither could eat and the kind man eventually gave up insisting.

Noah broke the hand contact for a minute to push the hair back out of Luke's face. His fingers found Luke's once more and interlaced over the top of his.

Luke gave him a soft smile; faint and tired, "Are you… okay?"

Noah sniffed, "I won't be until you are."

Noah blinked away the tears as Luke stroked his hair.

"Come… closer." Luke wheezed, "Need… hold… you…"

Noah shifted as close as he dared without hurting him. Luke's arm fell comforting around his shoulders. He rested his head beside Luke's and they lay in silence, drawing strength and peace from each other.

Luke's arm shifted upward and he traced a finger over Noah's eyebrow.

"I… thought…" he swallowed, "I thought I wouldn't get to… see… you…"

"Sh… Luke." Noah didn't want to him going there while he was so weak.

Luke's voice was low and rusty from screaming, "I'm glad… you're here."

Gazing intently at Noah, Luke took hold of his hand.

Noah didn't want to accept the desperate plea for permission radiating off of Luke. He knew Luke was suffering. He knew how much that could be alleviated if he just allowed Luke to close his heavy eyes and sleep. But Noah had never been more terrified of that in his life.

After a minute more Luke coughed and cried out and Noah knew he had to help.

He leaned forward and kissed Luke between the eyes, allowing his mouth to linger there as he said, "Okay."

Noah inhaled the distinct scent of him before pulling back and Luke reached over to wipe two tear drops from the side of his nose.

Noah sucked in his lower lip and tried to smile, swallowing back the clog in his throat. He could feel the deep frown lines forming on his brow against his will.

"Okay, Luke. You can sleep."

Luke nodded; relief obvious.

"Just promise me something…"

"Any…thing…"

"Wake up again."

Luke smiled drunkenly, "I always… come back to you…" before closing his beautiful eyes and immediately falling into a healing sleep.

Released from having to be strong Noah allowed the sickness to claim him; the events of the day overwhelming and rushing in on him. He lifted himself, shaking in every limb from the strain of the day, his shirt soaked with sweat and stained in blood. He willed his feet to stagger the few yards to the first tree he could lean against so that he could gag and cough; spluttering beside the tree.

Nothing came up. His stomach was empty. He'd hardly eaten or drunk anything in days and his head throbbed.

He turned and flopped down to the floor leaning his back up against the tree trunk and closing his eyes.

"He sleeps?"

Noah jumped at the voice. Shocked to discover he'd nodded off.

"Shit Lutalo! You really have this way of sneaking up on people, you know that?"

The older man cocked his head and smiled.

"I am sorry. I brought you some more bread. You should eat."

Noah rubbed his eyes and sniffed before taking the bread.

"Thank you."

He broke off a small bit of crust and began chewing it. It was stale and tasteless and he had to force it down. His throat was so constricted with anxiety he didn't think he'd eat again until they were safely out of Uganda.

But Lutalo was right. He had to keep up his strength. He broke off another piece of bread and resolved to swallow as much as he could, even if it took a few hours.

"Will he make it all the way to Kenya tomorrow, do you think?" Noah asked.

Lutalo looked over to where Luke lay sleeping fretfully.

"We will make more room in the car… leave Najja here at the village."

"Kigongo?"

Lutalo smiled and nodded his head toward the fire. Kigongo could be seen sitting there, silently watching Luke like a sentinel.

"He will guard you and Luke with his life until you are safe. He will not stay behind."

Noah nodded and chewed on another lump of bread.

He blinked when Lutalo was suddenly crouched beside him, his hand brushing the side of Noah's temple. Noah frowned a question.

Lutalo gazed at him intently, "I am sorry I was forced to hit you, my friend."

Noah lifted his hand to this head and flinched as it brushed the bruise there. Looking after Luke he'd completely forgotten the incident outside the compound.

"It was regrettable but necessary." Lutalo continued.

"I know." Noah reassured him. "You did the right thing."

"Thank you." He sat down beside Noah. "Your forgiveness means much; as does your friendship."

Noah smiled, "Same here."

"What will you do? When you get to America?"

Noah turned to him, "You mean about this?"

Lutalo nodded.

Noah glanced around at the camp. At the men, mere reporters, who had taken a dangerous stand against their own country. Brave men.

"We will do whatever we can, Lutalo. Whatever is needed, I promise. Starting with getting Tony and Kizza, if he's also there, out of that camp."

"Thank you."

"Believe me when I say there's nothing that can come between Luke and his causes. Not even me. You have actually MET Luke, right?"

Lutalo burst into a loud and warm chortle and Noah grinned. It was the first time he'd heard the man really laugh.

"He keeps you alive I think."

"In more ways then than you know."

...

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