A/N: Here's the final lot of angst for you all. One more chapter after this

Chapter Nine

Syed felt as though his entire body was on fire. He wanted to cry out in pain but something seemed to stop him. His throat was dry and his limbs felt like lead, he didn't have the energy to move them. He tried to crack open his eyes but the light hurt them; piercing his retina's like lasers. Feeling even worse; he gave up and just let the darkness take him.

Christian was worried about Syed. He was far too hot and seemed to be completely out of it. The doctor had warned that it could be dangerous if Syed were to become ill as his immune system was depleted due to the chemotherapy. It scared Christian to see Syed like this.

"Zainab, Mas!" He called out, turning back to Syed as they entered their room.

"What's wrong?" Zainab asked, rushing over to her son's side.

"I think we need to call an ambulance," Christian told them. "He's burning up."

"I'll call them now," Masood said as he hurried out of the room.

Christian grabbed hold of Syed's hand and squeezed it gently. "Sy?" He said gently. "Sy are you awake?"

Syed gave a weak groan but made no attempt to open his eyes. Christian looked at Zainab with fear in his eyes. Zainab had the exact same look.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine," she reassured him but her face spoke differently. She was just as scared as he was.

The pain had stopped a while ago and now Syed felt like he was floating. He felt peaceful like nothing could bring him down. He wanted to stay that way forever. He felt happy.

Somewhere; far off in the distance, he thought he could hear Christian's voice calling his name and asking for him to wake up. It felt like too much energy to do that though so he just kept on sleeping. Maybe he'd wake up later.

Christian had not left Syed's side since he had been brought into the hospital. The doctor had told them Syed had acquired an infection and they began to pump him full of antibiotics since his own body was too weak to fight it off.

"I brought you some coffee," Zainab said as she handed him a polystyrene cup. "It doesn't taste too good though."

"Thanks for warning me," Christian grimaced as he took a sip. "God that's awful."

Zainab smiled slightly and took Syed's hand in hers. "He looks like he's sleeping," she said.

"I just wish he would wake up," Christian replied.

"When he was a baby I used to watch him sleep all night. He was so small and he looked so peaceful when he was asleep I could watch him for hours. It's strange to think of him as that small, defenceless child now he is all grown up. I am proud of him though," she said.

"You are?"

"He has grown up into a fine young man; not afraid to make his own decisions, however questionable they may be," she said as she raised her eyebrow at Christian.

"And I'm one of those questionable decisions?"

"But you make him happy," she admitted. "I never saw him that happy with Amira. He loves you."

"And I love him."

"I was so angry when I found out; it made me want to scream. All I cared about was how it would shame the family if everyone knew that my son was gay. It wasn't until you both left that I realised that I was wrong. I should have put Syed first not my religion or my own pride. I should have wanted to see him happy. I'm sorry."

"It's Syed you should be telling this to, not me."

"And I will when he wakes up. I have spent too much time being stubborn and now it is time to make up for it. I don't want to lose him again."

"I'm not going anywhere, Zainab," Christian told her. "You need to know that I am staying right where I am and you're going to have to accept that."

"I do accept that," Zainab told him. "Just make sure he's always happy. For me."

"I will," Christian smiled and turned back to Syed. "See, now you have to wake up. Your mum just made Hell freeze over."

Syed felt as though he had been hit by a lorry. Every muscle in his body ached. He didn't want to wake up but he felt himself being pulled out of unconsciousness by an unknown force. As he began to wake up he could hear muffled voices around him.

"He's waking up," he heard his mother say.

"Come on Syed, open your eyes," that was his father.

Syed groaned and slowly cracked one of his eyes open. They were all standing there; his mum, dad, Christian and even Tamwar. How long had he been out?

"Hey," Christian smiled gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Sick," Syed whispered; his voice cracked as his throat was so dry.

"You've been out for a few days now, we were beginning to think that you weren't going to wake up; lazybones."

"What happened?" Syed asked. Everything seemed so blurry.

"You had an infection and your body couldn't fight it off. We had to call an ambulance."

"Am I okay now?"

"You're getting better. Doctor says you should be fine now the antibiotics have kicked in. You'll be up and about in no time."

"Gonna go back to sleep now," he said as he closed his eyes again.

"You just get your rest," Zainab said and the last thing he saw was his entire family smiling at him.

A few days later and Syed was feeling better, as well as someone with cancer could feel, he supposed. Christian and his mother had barely left his side whilst he had been recovering and it showed on Christian who was now sporting some impressive stubble.

"Like the facial hair," Syed grinned as he ran a hand over Christian's cheek. "Makes you look manlier," he teased.

"Don't tease me; I've been here worrying about you."

"You could do with a shave though," Zainab smiled.

"What about him? He always has stubble. And long hair."

"And I always told him to get it cut."

"Oh, so I'm going to have to start living by your rules now?" He said in mock anger.

"Whilst you're in my house, yes."

"We're not in your house, we're at the hospital."

"Since when did you two get so friendly?" Syed asked; his eyes wide in shock. "Last I saw you couldn't stand the sight of each other."

"We bonded over you being sick."

"And now you're the best of friends?"

"I wouldn't go that far," Christian said. "But we can stand to be together in the same room for more than ten seconds now."

"I'm glad. Now when can I go home?"

"You only just woke up. You're not going anywhere until the doctor says it's okay."

"But I feel a lot better."

"That may be," Christian said as he leaned in and gave Syed a kiss on the lips. "But I'm not taking any chances. You're staying."

"Spoil sport," Syed replied; faking being angry.

"Christian, can you leave us alone for a moment?" Zainab asked. "I want to talk to Syed."

"Sure," he said. "I'll go and shave," he grinned, kissed Syed one final time and left the room leaving Syed and Zainab alone.

"What is it mum?" Syed asked, feeling a little nervous at what she might say.

"Don't worry pappoo, it's nothing bad. Don't sound so scared. I just wanted to apologise for everything. I shouldn't have reacted like that. I just wish I had realised that without you leaving and being sick. I just want you to know that I accept that you are in love with a man and I'm not going to interfere in your life anymore."

"Thanks mum," Syed smiled and pulled his mother into a hug. "It means a lot to me."