Shane pushed open the door to the bedroom as silently as possible, Letting out a soft, tired sigh, he looked around the semi-dark room. When he spotted the bundle on the bed, Shane closed his eyes in silent thanks before walking over to the four poster. Sliding his jacket off his free arm, Shane bit back a hiss of pain as his shoulder throbbed. He dropped it on the floor as he slid his shoes off and climbed onto the bed. He'd just checked on the children, happy to see the boys and Amber but he'd been desperate to see A.J. This clawing need inside him, ate at him while he'd been away.
Lifting the sheets, Shane slid under the covers. He searched for the warmth of the body next to him, knowing that A.J was more than likely curled up into a tight ball. "Allen?" He watched as the sheets shifted, a soft humm sounding from under the material. "Honey?"
"Shane?"
"Hi, would be nice if..." Shane was cut off as a hard body slammed into him, knocking him backwards onto the bed. "Easy sweetheart, still not fully healed." He let out a soft hiss of pain as A.J shifted over him.
A.J ran his hands over Shane, searching for any scars or bruises. "You're really here, I'm not dreaming, you're really here." A.J looked up to see Shane watching him. "What the fuck took you so long to get here! I thought you said..."
Shane grinned, listening to the angry man sitting on top of him. He watched as A.J slowly stopped talking, blue eyes wide and chest heaving. "Hello?"
"Asshole, I thought you were supposed to have planned a party." A.J looked down at Shane, looking him over as best he could in the dark. "Where are you hurt? Did they break anything, jesus Shane what the hell is the deal with all of these fucking bruises and bandages?! Did he do this to you, did he..." A.J broke off as he lifted Shane's shirt. "Shane..." Voice shaky at the feel of the bandages wrapped around Shane's waist and stomach.
"It feels worse than it looks?" Shane tried to keep his tone light, to ease the tense expression watching him. When A.J moved off of him, Shane frowned. "Allen?"
"I need to see you better, hold on." A.J turned on the lamp next to the bed. Turning back to Shane, he froze. "What the fuck did he do to you?! Shane what in the hell happened, you look like you've gone through a meat press!" A.J gave Shane a quick once over before moving back beside him. "He used a whip and a belt, I can see that by your arms and wrist, but what the hell did he use..."
"He found it funny to use a razor blade. Not often but enough to where I was to weak to fight back at times." Shane watched as A.J paled, eyes turning a shockingly dark blue. "Allen?"
"Razor blades Shane, seriously? How...that's not...why? Wells was never a fan of them, so why now?"
"Your grandfather asked the same thing but never got an answer." Shane watched A.J.'s face closely, taking in the surprise and worry.
"You met Sebastián?" A.J remembered the dark haired man. His mother had been fond of him and he of her. "Is he...they didn't hurt him did they? Sadie said he'd gone missing but I never thought he'd be with you!" A.J moved back over Shane, running his hands over the scars and bandages he could see. "Turn over Shane, let me see your back."
"No." Shane wouldn't put him through the pain of seeing everything that was done to him. He knew that once A.J saw his back it would be a full on tirade. "That can wait for later. Right now I'd really just like to lay here with you if that's ok?" Shane pulled A.J down, relieved when the brunette didn't resist. "Honey?"
"So you're not leaving again, right? I mean, this time if you leave we leave together?" A.J pressed his ear against Shane's chest, relieved to hear the strong, steady heartbeat. "If for no other reason than for the kids, they really missed you."
"Just the kids? What about work and my admirers? No one there missed me?" Shane chuckled at the soft huff, running his hands over A.J.'s back. "What about my partner, think they missed me?"
"Yes." Voice soft, A.J tightened his hold on Shane, shivering as he pressed his ear closer to Shane's chest. "They missed you a lot."
Shane grinned, sliding a hand down A.J.'s back. "Good because I damn sure missed them. Hoped they wouldn't forget about me while I was missing."
"There is no fucking way that will ever happen, you mean to damn much to me for me to forget you." Sitting up, A.J scowled down at Shane. "How in the fucking hell cou..." He was cut off by a kiss, moaning softly as he pressed against Shane. Pulling back, A.J felt the world shift as he was moved to Shane's side. "Shane?"
"Still kind of sore, tell me what I missed while I was gone. How has work been?" Shane yawned as he stretched out beside A.J. "Everything with the kids ok?"
A.J frowned as he studied the sleepy looking man beside him. Moving closer, A.J wrapped his arms around Shane. "Maybe later, like you said, I just want to enjoy you being here." When Shane nodded, A.J let out a soft sigh. "Have you seen the kids, they're going to be so excited to see you."
"They were sleep when I checked on them so I came here. God I missed you. There were nights where I thought I'd never see you again." Shane let out a soft sigh at the hand running through his hair. "I know it's longer than usual, I'll get it cut..."
"No, I, ummm, you don't have to." A.J cut off Shane's explanation. He was surprised to see the usually short locks now longer and thicker. "You, uh, you look kind of different with it longer." A.J ran a hand through Shane's hair, smiling at the feel of the silver strands. "I don't know, let's wait and see how you feel in the morning, ok?" At Shane's slow nod, A.J shifted lower.
"Allen?"
"Shhh, go to sleep, just...I kind of want to watch you, if that's not to creepy." A.J pulled Shane closer, relaxing as the soft sound of agreement. "We'll talk after you've gotten some rest and the kids see you. They've been waiting a while for you to get back."
"Mmm and what about you, have you been waiting for me?"
A.J grinned at the sleepy voice, shaking his head at the question. "Yes you asshole, I'd wait a lifetime for you." Running a hand through Shane's hair, A.J pressed his face against the bright strands. "Don't you ever leave me again Shane."
"Not as long as I have the breath in me to come back."
"Good now go to sleep, we can talk later when you wake up." A.J watched as Shane drifted off, his breath evening out as he relaxed against A.J and the bed. "I'll make sure he pays for taking you from me. I thought I'd lost you, god you don't know..." A.J shook his head as he drifted off, watching the slow rise and fall of Shane's chest. "I know he hurt you, I know what he's capable of doing and I swear if he..." A.J shivered at the memories, praying Shane hadn't had to go through anything worse than he had. "I love you and I swear, no matter what it takes, Wells will pay for taking you from me."