Title: Resurrected, part 2

Fandom: Sanctuary

Characters: Henry Foss, Will Zimmerman, Bigfoot

Rating: M, for explicit allusions to nummy, sexy acts that we shan't mention outright. A few instances of profanity and other strong, or suggestive language.

Summary: A tumultuous morning after leads to grief, but also honesty. Part 4 of the New Beginnings series. Set immediately following part 3. New beginnings follows my previous series in the same verse: One door closes. Set before, during and after episode 9.

Warnings: This story is quite clearly Henry/Will slash, and happily so. If you're afraid of, or otherwise offended by, SLASH then; might I advise you to RUN, not walk, away as fast as your little underage, or otherwise insecure/bigoted legs can carry you? Thanks. That will be all. What? You're still here? Oh. Well, then. Have at it, if you will.

Notes: Some of the dialogue in the series will be taken directly from the episode's script. If you've watched it, you'll know exactly where it ends and my own begins. Subtext added by the author's fiery imagination for all things slash. Complete phrases or sentences in italics represent character thoughts. Single words italicized for emphasis. Title inspired by this quote:

Only after disaster can we be resurrected.
Chuck Palahniuk

Will felt his heart do its very best to beat its way right out of his chest. Henry's feral visage had not been enough to scare him off, but the snarling howls that still carried down the halls had been bloodcurdling. Instinct took over, and he had blindly fled his own room like Henry had ordered him to.

He ran down the nearest stairs to the next floor and didn't stop his mad dash until he turned a corner and ran smack into Bigfoot. Will screamed when large, hairy hands grabbed him by the upper arms.

Bigfoot grunted a few times in annoyance as he looked down at the struggling, naked man in his grasp. "Where are your clothes, William? You smell like a brothel," he said in his deep monotone. Bigfoot didn't need enhanced senses to smell Henry all over the man. Before Will could answer, he asked in a much more concerned voice. "Where is Henry?"

Will only realized he was buck naked when Bigfoot pointed it out. He didn't even have the decency to blush, he was too worried about Henry.

"He changed... right in front of me. He got upset... I... upset him. He... I'm afraid he might hurt himself... or..."

"Where?" Bigfoot insisted forcefully, squeezing Will's biceps. He wanted to shake the man whom he knew was making his friend suffer.

Will winced, and looked up at Bigfoot with a wide-eyed gaze. "Ow... Okay. You're hurting me now. I left him in my room."

Bigfoot made an exasperated sound and shoved Will aside as gently as his great strength allowed.

It was all Will could do not to fall flat on his rather exposed ass. Will watched the big man take off after Henry and, as soon as he found his balance, turned right back around to follow.

"Wait," Will called out, catching up with Bigfoot at the top of the stairs.

Bigfoot growled softly, making Will look up at him, pale and wide-eyed.

"I'm sorry," Will apologized, surprised and hurt at Bigfoot's unspoken accusation. It wasn't like he didn't already feel guilty, he thought.

They walked briskly to his room, Bigfoot's longer strides leaving Will behind once more. They could both see Will's door was open.

Bigfoot ran inside, "Henry?"

Will was right behind him, but by the time he reached the door, Bigfoot was coming back out. "He's not here."

"Where could he... ow!?"

Will looked down at the floor when he felt a sharp sting under his bare foot. Henry had trailed some of the broken mirror out into the hallway. He followed a faint trail of wood chips and shiny glass with his eyes. "He went that way."

Bigfoot grunted a few times questioningly. Will was already extracting the piece of glass from the sole of his foot.

"I'm okay, big guy. Go. Find him, please," he said, tossing aside the bloody glass. It was just a tiny cut. "I'm right behind you."

Needing no further encouragement, Bigfoot bounded down the hallway with agility and speed that belied his size.

Will was about to follow, but then he remembered. Clothes. He limped inside his room, where he hastily pulled on a pair of jeans, uncharacteristically not bothering with underwear. He then threw on the first shirt he saw and hurried back out to follow Bigfoot and the trail, gingerly jogging in spite of the cut.

Although he was nowhere in sight, Will only had to run around the corner and down an adjacent corridor. He didn't need a trail, he could simply follow the sound of Bigfoot's voice.

"Don't make me come out there," Will heard Bigfoot call out through one of the immense glass windows on this wing of the Sanctuary, which was wide open. The cold morning wind poured into the hallway, giving Will a chill.

"Where is he?" he said, squeezing past Bigfoot to look outside.

Bigfoot put his large paw on Will's shoulder and turned the man to face him. "I think you've done enough," he said accusingly.

Will's cheeks colored with shame. "No. You're right, this is my fault. Which is why I need to be the one to fix it. He'll listen to me."

Giving no sign of having heard, Bigfoot did not release Will immediately. He glared at the young scientist, as if trying to make up his mind about him. Either that, thought Will, or deciding how many pieces to break his bones into.

Will glared right back, setting his jaw. "I'm going," he said stubbornly. Zimmermans are like mules, his maternal grandmother used to say. He could almost hear her now. Will couldn't, in all honesty, say that she was wrong.

Bigfoot grunted meaningfully, and let go of his shoulder, looking unconvinced. Will nodded at him and lowered his gaze, feeling guilty as hell. He looked out and saw the sad spectacle that was Henry, sitting on the eave that hung from a section of sheer wall between windows. He was hugging his knees to his chest, naked and looking miserable.

"Henry, please come inside," Will called to him, giving it the old college try.

He was completely ignored, so Will sighed and climbed out the window under Bigfoot's disapproving glare. It gave him a small measure of comfort that the eaves on this side of the building were wide enough to be verandas. Still, he couldn't help the slight tug of vertigo as he stepped out onto the breezy ledge.

As he got closer, he saw the slightly bluish tinge of Henry's lips. He ignored the sandy dust abrading the cut on his foot and made his way to his lover. Yeah, because that's what he is. Isn't he? My lover. Whether I'm comfortable with it or not, that's where we're at. God, I'm such an idiot.

"Go away, Will," Henry said, sounding defeated. "Just leave me alone."

"You're gonna freeze to death out here," Will said, in the same stubborn voice he'd used on Bigfoot.

"What do you care?" Henry had shut himself off, just like he had after that whole business with the snake creature. He was sullen and unresponsive.

"I care. I never said I didn't," Will insisted. "Please come inside. I'm getting a chill, and I'm clothed. You must be freezing."

Henry finally moved. He turned his head to the side to face Will. His eyes were hurt, accusing, angry, hopeless, and still that metallic golden green hue from before.

"Please stop sulking and come on. Please?" Will begged.

"I was right all along," Henry said sadly. "I could have killed you." His voice sounded very far away. He was consumed by shame and more than a dash of self-pity.

Will insisted. He wasn't having it. "I doubt that."

"Are you stupid?" Henry spat, and his eyes sparkled. "Weren't you there? Jesus, Will. You saw... you... I tore your room apart because... because you won't... I'm a monster, man. You better face it. Get out while you can. It's what you wanted, right? So, this is your chance. Go for it."

"I'm not stupid, Henry. You put on a big show to scare me off. Why? Because you were afraid you might hurt me. You pushed me away to keep me safe."

Will took a moment to consider his own words. He snorted with very little humor and shook his head.

"What's so funny?" Henry asked, considering Will's words carefully.

"That I guess I was trying to do the same to you. Turnabout is fair play, I guess."

"Okay, Will. You lost me there."

"I was pushing you away too, because I was afraid of hurting you."

Henry steeled himself. He couldn't afford to hope. Not again. It was over.

"Still don't follow," he said in a tight voice. His thoughts were all over the place. I just gave you an out. Seriously. Why don't you just take it and leave me the hell alone?

"I realize that, Henry. And I'm sorry to put you through this but, that's the thing. I don't wanna leave you alone. Even when I tell myself I do, I know it's not true."

Fuck. "Did I just say that out loud? Or are you reading minds now?" Henry asked, glancing over at Will with a stricken face.

Will was blushing fiercely. He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering slightly from the cold, but gave Henry a tiny half smile. "Loud and clear."

"Aw, crap," Henry said, closing his eyes tight. It was national faux pas month in Henry's world, it seemed.

"Okay. Truth? The problem isn't that I'm confused. It was never that. It isn't that I don't feel, Henry. It's that I already feel too much stuff that I don't even have a name for, and it's way too fast, and I," Will paused, heaving a tired sigh before finishing his thought. "I... uh... freaked out. I'm sorry."

"What the fuck are you talking about? You're kidding. Right?" Henry said, but his voice wavered and sounded very small. It was almost lost in the whistle of the wind. His eyes filled. "Don't, Will. Stop giving me hope, man." Not unless you really mean it.

Will figured he might as well get it all out of his system, since they were already on the subject. God knew he would rather be flayed alive than bring any of this up again.

"I don't know what to do. That's the problem. I'm afraid that it's all happening too soon and that I won't be able to... to go the distance. I'm afraid I'm just gonna hurt you more in the end if it doesn't work out. And it's not fair. It's not fair to you... to either of us."

Henry groaned and thumped his head back against the wall a few times. He rubbed his hands all over his face then draped them over his knees. A gust of wind swelled past them and he finally started to feel the cold. Either he had been too caught up inside his head, or the change generated enough heat to have lasted him until now. Something to ponder at a later date. He gave Will a haunted look, then turned his face forward to gaze down at the city. He sounded very tired when he spoke.

"I could give a crap about fair, Will," he confessed. "All I want is you."

"Oh, Henry," Will whispered, feeling like a fist had tightened around his heart.

"See? I told you, you weren't ready," Henry joked weakly, looking so sad that it made Will want to wrap him in his arms and never let go.

"Let's go inside," Will said softly, laying his hand on Henry's bicep. "Jesus, you're really freezing!" Will hurriedly pulled off his shirt and forced it on Henry.

"Will, what are you doing? Aren't you cold?" The act somewhat snapped Henry out of his misery.

"Yeah, but at least I have pants. Come on. It's miserable out here, and my foot's bleeding," Will answered, getting up and offering Henry his hand. "I'm already on Big's shit list for this. If you get sick, he'll probably poison my coffee."

"He wouldn't dare," Henry muttered darkly. He put the shirt on and got up, reluctantly following Will. He stopped before they reached the open window, even though his teeth were beginning to chatter.

Will turned around when he couldn't pull Henry any further. He knew this conversation was far from over.

"Let's get inside," he repeated. "We can talk more if we don't freeze to death out here." Will used the puppy dog look that had always gotten him pretty much whatever he wanted. It was a dirty trick, but his nipples felt like they were about to crystallize and fall off from the cold. Henry had to be literally freezing his ass off, he thought, what with no pants on. "Please?"

Henry held his gaze valiantly for all of five seconds before giving in. He ducked his head. "Aw, man. Don't... No fair. You play dirty."

"Only it it'll save us from frostbite. Come on." He gave Henry one last tug, and finally they were inside, where a very unhappy looking Bigfoot waited for them.

TBC