When seven A.M. rolled around Viktor was at Yuuri's bedside, holding his fiancé's icy hand between his warm ones. Yurio was by his side, having refused Yakov's offer for a ride home. Yakov had lessons to run, but Yurio couldn't leave Viktor's side, even if he was missing practice. The man was too broken to be alone.

One of the nurses told them Yuuri had woken up around four A.M., which was a good sign. But since he didn't remain awake, the nurses would have to come in every hour to check on him.

Viktor and Yurio simply sat in silence for a while, Yurio not knowing what to say, Viktor not knowing how to say it. It wasn't until his beloved began to stir that Viktor found his voice.

"Yuuri?" He kept his voice soft, not wanting to aggravate the pounding in Yuuri's head. The doctor had told Viktor that Yuuri couldn't have any pain killers because they would mask the symptoms of his concussion, which would disrupt the observation period.

Yuuri lazily opened his eyes, looking confused at first. Viktor's voice had brought him out of his dreamless sleep, but he still felt groggy and confused. Why wasn't he in his room? Why did everything hurt? Why wasn't he snuggled into Viktor the way he usually woke up?

"Yuuri are you okay?" Viktor asked, tears in his eyes. Yuuri searched for his lover with his eyes, feeling like he shouldn't move his head. He found Viktor's eyes, bloodshot and shiny with tears. He opened his mouth to ask Viktor what was wrong, what had happened, but he couldn't find his words.

Viktor squeezed Yuuri's hand, trying to be comforting. With the loving gesture, everything suddenly came crashing back. Yuuri's eyes slammed shut as he remembered his head hitting the wall, the knife to his throat, the voice in his ear. Then the hands on his chest, the lips against his, the ropes, the fear, the pain, the shame. The shame. The unbearable shame.

Viktor panicked as he listened to Yuuri's heart monitor beeping faster and faster. He tried uttering soothing words to his fiancé, but the beeping only sped up. Yurio was in the hall, flagging down a nurse while Viktor's tears poured onto Yuuri's shaking hand.

"Does he have a history of panic attacks?" the nurse asked after standing there uselessly, waiting for Yuuri to calm himself down.

"Yes." Viktor nodded, hating that they couldn't give Yuuri anything to help him.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything, if it happens again do exactly what you did, talk to him and call one of us."

"So you can stand there and look at him?" Yurio spat, clearly furious with the minimal care his friend was receiving.

"Normally I would give a panicking patient a sedative, but they would disrupt the observation period and mask symptoms." The nurse explained, keeping her cool. It seemed like everything that could help Yuuri would only hurt him more. "He wasn't hurting himself physically, therefore there was nothing I could do. If he were to become a danger to himself I would be forced to sedate him for his own safety, which is why episodes like this need to be monitored."

"Thank you." Viktor said to the nurse, signalling that the conversation was done and she needed to leave.

"Seriously, Vitya." Yurio pleaded after the door had shut. "What happened?"

Viktor took a deep breath and sighed, grateful that Yuuri looked peaceful in his sleep. "He was attacked when he got home from the rink."

"In your house?" Yurio's jaw hit the ground. Who would break in to their house solely to hurt Yuuri, one of the sweetest people anyone had ever met?

"Yes, four men."

"How can you know it was four?"

"Four… sets of DNA." Viktor whispered.

"DNA…?" Yurio's brows furrowed momentarily before realization hit him like a train. "You don't mean…"

Viktor simply nodded and pressed the back of Yuuri's hand to his lips, closing his eyes as another fresh wave of tears managed to force their way down his cheeks. He felt as though he should be out of tears from all the crying he'd done.

"Yuuri…" Yurio bit his tongue, not knowing what to think. How could people be so cruel? What did they gain from ruining someone else's life?

"Yuri…" Viktor's voice broke with the simple word. "Would you mind… I… I want to be alone with him for a bit…"

"Of course." It was apparent that Viktor was serious when he didn't use the stupid nickname Yurio had actually grown fond of over the past year. "I'll go find us some coffee." He offered as he rose and left the room.

"Yuuri, my love." Viktor was shaking. He didn't know if it came from anger, fear, guilt, or despair, but he shook, holding onto Yuuri's hand as if it were a lifeline, keeping him from drowning in the tidal wave of emotions that threatened to pull Viktor away from the shore of sanity. "I'm so sorry. I should have been there, I should have protected you." Viktor paused to let a sob tear through him, causing his whole body to shake. "You're so strong. You will get through this. We will get through this. I'll be with you every step of the way. I love you so, so much."

Viktor just cried. He let himself sob until there were no tears left to fall. Then, he stared at Yuuri, wanting more than anything to be able to take his place. Yuuri had never done anything to hurt anybody, so why did those bastards have to go and hurt him? He'd been hurt by others his entire life, why couldn't he just be left alone?

"Hey." Yurio peered through the door. "I brought coffee, can I come in?"

"Yes." Viktor didn't take his eyes off of Yuuri as Yurio placed a cardboard cup on the table next to him.

"Do you want me to go…?" He asked after standing in silence for an awkward moment.

"No, stay." Viktor finally tore his glossy eyes away from Yuuri. "Please stay."

Yurio, unsure how to comfort Viktor, took his seat again.

"He'll be okay." Yurio assured.

"How can you say that?" Viktor snapped, immediately regretting his tone.

"He's stronger than people give him credit for." Yurio continued, pretending to be unphased by Viktor's outburst. He didn't want the man feeling worse than he already was. "Even you sometimes. He may be a walking ball of stress, but he's capable of much more than you think. It might take a long time, but he'll be okay."

Viktor stared, dumbfounded at Yurio's sudden change in demeanor. He wasn't one for compliments, especially toward Yuuri, so his speech came as a shock to both of them.

"You're right." Viktor agreed after a lengthy silence. He turned back to the beautiful bruised faced before him. "It's the 'taking a long time' part that worries me."

"We just have to be there for him."

"We?" Viktor flinched.

"You think I'm leaving you alone in this?" Yurio snorted. "I called Phichit and Beka too."

"What did you tell them?" Viktor's eyes widened in horror at Yurio's potentially reckless behaviour.

"Just that Yuuri had been hurt and was in the hospital." Yurio was even surprising himself with the lack of yelling and completely level tone. Who knew he would be the calm one in a crisis? "I told them you would need some help caring for him, so we should all pitch in. Phichit is flying in in a few hours and Beka booked a flight for later tonight."

"Thank you." Viktor's eyes brimmed with tears once again.

"We're here for you, Vitya." Yurio rested a hand atop the pile at the edge of Yuuri's bed. "I'm here for you."