Sonny woke to the sound of his phone vibrating across the nightstand. He blearily swiped his finger over the screen, holding the phone to his ear.

"Th'is Sonny," he said, voice sleep-heavy and low.

He almost fell back asleep listening to a heavily accented voice congratulate him on his new job.

"Mr. Larsson expects you to report to the next meeting. It's at 1 pm this afternoon. Afterward, you'll sign all the paperwork. Have a good day, Mr. Kiriakis."

It took Sonny a few moments to process.

He did it.

He got his dream job.

Sonny stumbled out of bed, sheets tangling with his legs. He fist pumped and did a little dance, celebrating his success.

Then he looked at the clock.

11:43 am

Hardly any time to get dressed and to the building before the meeting started.

Today was huge for Sonny. He needed to wear his best suit. He ran to the closet and frowned at the selection. His suits were still wrapped in plastic from the dry cleaner's. But he couldn't find his favorite one.

Will must not have picked it up yet.

At the thought, it dawned on Sonny.

Will

When Sonny went to bed last night, Will none too subtly snuck out of the house. Sonny didn't notice when he returned.

Glancing toward the bed, Sonny was surprised to see Will curled up on his side. Will was never home at this hour and he was certainly never in bed this late.

Stepping closer, Sonny noticed Will's eyes were red and puffy. His cheeks swollen with tears still drying on them.

Will had been crying.

The poor thing must feel so guilty over what he had to do. Over what Sonny convinced him to do.

For a few moments, Sonny felt it. The guilt he'd always get when he'd tell Will one thing and yet do the exact opposite.

Like years before, telling Will over and over he was committed to their marriage. But the second Will was out of sight, Sonny would run to Paul.

He felt a little like that right now. Something unpleasant gnawing at his insides.

But, like always, Sonny pushed the feeling aside.

Will was Sonny's partner. It was Will's job to make sure Sonny was happy. Sonny wanted this job and Will was the only one who could secure it for him.

Sonny did feel vindicated by Will's tears, though. Will must love Sonny a whole lot to sleep with a man he had no interest in, after all.

(Why would Will be interested in Isak Larsson when he had Sonny? Larsson was too tall and skinny and pale.)

Sonny briefly thought about telling Will the truth. That he convinced Will to go to Larsson's place, that Sonny knew the whole time. That Will didn't have to feel guilty or cry or do any of those things.

He didn't.

Instead, Sonny prodded Will's shoulder. Shaking and shaking until Will's blue eyes fluttered open and he frowned up at Sonny.

"What? What's wrong?" Will asked, rubbing his eyes.

His sleep shirt, loose and worn at the collar, slipped, showing off an enormous hickey.

Sonny lifted his brow and pretended not to notice.

Apparently, Will did some pretty thorough convincing himself, last night.

"Where's my gray suit?" Sonny asked.

"What?" Will repeated, sitting up on his elbows.

"My gray suit? You took it to the dry cleaner the other day. Why didn't you pick it up?"

Will blinked up at Sonny rather stupidly, mouth slack-jawed with an unattractive frown.

"I was sleeping."

"Yeah, I can see that. It's almost noon, Will. You need to get up. And besides, I have an important meeting to go to and I need that suit. I have to make a good impression."

"Then go get it," Will said, looking at Sonny like he was staring at a total stranger.

Will flopped on his other side and curled his hands underneath his pillow.

Sonny rolled his eyes and pulled Will back over.

"God, Will. Would it kill you to help me out just a little? I need to get ready and I can't do that without the suit."

Will flapped his hands at Sonny and glared.

"I'm tired. I want to go back to sleep."

"It's almost noon!"

"You sleep this late every day."

"But I actually do things, Will. I don't know what the hell you're so tired for anyway? It's not like writing's hard. Unless you're doing something else I don't know about."

Will stared at Sonny long and hard. Something painful and harsh creeping over his expression.

"I'm not a maid or a servant. You're a grown man. Get the suit yourself."

Will tried to pull the comforter over his head but Sonny blocked him.

"No, Will. You need to do it."

"I don't want to."

"I don't care. God, Will, I hardly ask you to do anything. Why can't you just do this one thing for me?"

Will looked at Sonny in disbelief, jaw and fists clenched tight. He opened his mouth to say something when blood started dripping out of his nose.

"Ugh," Sonny said in disgust, jumping away. "God, Will, I thought you had those things under control."

Sonny threw Will a tissue although he didn't know why, the blood poured out of Will. It stained his chin and neck, the off-white of his sleep shirt, and the comforter.

Will always did this when he didn't get his way. Ever since they got back together. It was getting on Sonny's last nerve. If Will would just do something when Sonny asked, he wouldn't get so worked up. That's all those stupid nosebleeds were. Will's body reacting in a visceral way to not getting everything he wanted.

If Sonny's said it once, he's said it a million times: Paul Narita ruined Will. He turned him into some ego-inflated stranger who thought he could get his way with everything. Who was only interested in sex in the middle of the day and inappropriate declarations in front of company.

It took Sonny weeks to find the Will he once loved again. Every time Sonny would see Will covered in his own blood stains it reminded him how ruined Paul left Will.

He turned Will into someone Sonny didn't recognize. He claimed to love Will and yet, left Will like it was nothing.

Sonny would never do that to Will, not again. Not after he ran off to Paris and never saw Will until Memphis when everything awful happened in Sonny's life.

No, Paul Narita ruined Will. He rebuilt him into something awful and unlovable and then kicked Will aside like he was nothing.

Now, Sonny had to deal with the consequences again.

"I'll strip the bed," Sonny offered once Will got his nose under control. "You can take it with you to the dry cleaner when you get my suit. Maybe they can get blood stains out."

Will glanced at Sonny, voice muffled from the wad of bloody tissues covering his nose, mouth, and chin.

"Okay," Will replied, eyes glazed over. "I'll go to the dry cleaner."

Sonny's first meeting was not going well despite wearing his favorite suit. This was an initial meeting between the employees of the Swedish branch of the corporation and the new American branch. Sonny was having a hard time understanding the Swedish accents. He also couldn't help but frown any time one of them slipped into Swedish without thinking. Didn't often get the humor or inside jokes and wasn't fitting in.

This wasn't like working for Titan at all. There, Sonny's name alone garnered him proper respect. Here, he was just a newbie earning his keep and not making any impression at all.

He also couldn't stop flickering his eyes toward his boss either, Isak Larsson. The very man Sonny's boyfriend "convinced" to give Sonny this job the night before. Sonny didn't realize how difficult this would be. Sitting at a board meeting with a man Sonny knew slept with his boyfriend. Especially when the man wouldn't stop scratching at a bright red bite mark on the side of his neck.

Sonny needed to prove he could do this job without Will's influence. Which meant he had to contribute something, anything.

They were discussing broadening the company's reach. One of their newest divisions involved medical research. Something to do with Larsson's grandfather contracting some sort of neurological disease and Isak wanting to prevent others from dealing with the same thing.

It didn't sound like a smart business venture to Sonny but whatever.

What Sonny did know was there was a serum in existence no one besides a small few knew about. A marketable serum people could pay hundreds, maybe even thousands to use.

Alzheimer's research, dementia research, amnesia research, any and all research on memories and the brain would skyrocket.

Sonny also knew where he could get the formula.

And it would leave one hell of an impression on everyone at Bästa Industries.

After delivering Sonny his suit, Will couldn't go back to bed. It was already the afternoon, after all. No one needed to sleep then even if Will was tired and sore and his eyes hurt and there were still flecks of blood dried to his skin.

It wasn't like Will got to sleep on the side of the bed he liked anyway. He didn't get to wake with warm, comforting arms around him and the softest, gentlest of kisses to the back of his head.

Instead, Will ordered a car and had it take him two towns over to a free clinic. He didn't think Isak had anything but Will didn't want to take any chances. He needed to protect himself at any rate.

It would be Will's luck. The moment he did something for himself, he'd end up with an STI.

Will didn't have to rush home. Ari was going to her slumber party after school. Will dropped off a bag for Ari at the apartment down the way before he left. It would give Will some peace and quiet for the night. He could finalize all the last minute details for her party too.

Will not needing to rush back to Salem was why he decided to go to bed after his shower that morning anyway. He knew he had time even if Sonny didn't care.

Instead of going home right away, Will went to a Starbucks down the street from the free clinic. He needed time to think.

With a hot white chocolate mocha, buried in a sweater despite the early summer heat, Will found it easier to concentrate.

He already got his test results back. Negative for everything. They'd send him the HIV results in a few days. He was relieved even if he didn't expect anything else. Otherwise, Will felt so off-kilter. Pulled in too many directions and stretched thin.

Will gave his everything. Poured his heart and soul into giving Ari a proper home and nothing he ever did was good enough for Sonny. Will worked ten to fifteen hours a day just on his writing. That didn't even include cooking, cleaning, and playing with Ari. Or helping her with her schoolwork or parent-teacher conferences or activities at school. That didn't include running errands for Sonny whenever he demanded. Or enduring the mindless, passionless, heatless sex Sonny wanted once a week. Where Will's heart rate didn't change and he only got hard if he thought about something else.

Will knew he wasn't perfect. He wasn't the best boyfriend. But he tried. He tried for so long to care about Sonny, to make things work. They didn't work, though. They never would.

Because when it came down to it, if Will had a choice, he would rather be with Paul. If Will could go back in time, he would never have left Paul. He would have held on to Paul's legs, yelling and screaming, begging Paul not to leave him alone in Salem, with Sonny.

But, Will couldn't do that. Will left Paul and he still didn't understand how or why. It was almost like it wasn't his choice.

It felt like his entire life since he left Paul wasn't his choice. No, before then, even. Before John and Marlena's wedding. Before Ted and the money. Before Leo.

Since the serum, that was the last time Will felt like he had any control over his own actions.

But, that was stupid. Of course, he had control. Why wouldn't he?

Besides, that wasn't even Will's biggest concern now.

He didn't know if he should tell Sonny what he did, how he cheated, again. That Sonny joked Will should help him any way he could and Will did. That even if Isak gave Will an out, Will didn't want to take it. Because Will was all too willing to cheat on Sonny and he wasn't too sure if he would do it again or not.

As terrible and guilty as it made Will feel now, it felt so good in the moment. Isak made Will feel so good. Good in a way he hadn't felt since Paul. Good in a way he couldn't wait to feel again. So good Will wondered when he'd see Isak next, if he'd see him again.

Will took a large gulp of his mocha and shook his head.

How did this become his life? Trapped in a life with a man he didn't want. In love with someone who must hate him by now. Thinking about the next opportunity he might get to sleep with his boyfriend's boss, again.

Will was sad and pathetic.

And miserable

His phone vibrated several times in his pocket. One buzz right after the other. All he wanted was to go home and relax and push real life aside for one day, one hour. Just a little bit longer.

Will pulled his phone out. He had several messages from Sonny and one from Isak.

It didn't take any time to decide which message to read first.

Will stood outside the Starbucks, left leg jittering. Across the street, Will could see workers putting together a traveling carnival. He thought about taking Ari when a black Tesla Model S rolled to a stop in front of him. He took a deep breath before opening the car door.

He slipped onto the leather passenger seat and closed the door behind him, buckling up.

"Hey," Will said, glancing at Isak out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey," Isak repeated. He put the car in gear and drove around to the other side of the parking lot. A bit out of the way yet still close to foot traffic.

As soon as the car was off, Will pounced.

He dragged Isak into a kiss. Their lips and tongues sliding together perfectly. Mouths hot and heavy and Will got rid of his stupid seatbelt.

In no time at all, Isak switched spots with Will. Isak sitting on the passenger seat, pushing the seat all the way back to accommodate his long legs. Will writhing and bouncing on top of his cock, head skimming the roof. Isak's hands holding tight to Will's hips and bucking into Will's tight heat. Biting at Will's neck and grunting into Will's ear.

"Fuck, yes, feel so good. Just like that, Raring. Ride my cock, so good."

Will relished the praise. Wanted to live in it, feeling it spread all over him and mark his skin.

Isak's cock was so long and hit Will in just the right spot every time. He stretched Will so good and all he wanted was to make this moment last.

Every time a person walked near the car, Will felt a little thrill shoot up his spine. He wanted them to see him. Wanted them to notice the rocking of the car and know Isak was fucking Will exactly the way Will needed.

Will planted one hand on the roof and slammed the other on the window when Isak rucked Will's shirt up. Lips sucking and teeth biting at Will's sensitive nipples.

It didn't take Will long at all after that to come. Shouting and praising and slamming down on Isak's cock. Spraying come all over Isak's fancy dress shirt and tie.

It took a while to recover and redress. Will practically having to crawl in the backseat to find where he tossed his pants.

Somehow Will ended up in the driver's seat, pulling his jeans on and leaving his boxers off. He used them to clean himself up with anyway.

"Nice car," Will said once he was dressed.

Isak lifted one brow and smiled.

"You look sexy behind wheel."

Will ran his hands over the steering wheel with an impish grin. With only a passing glance, Will adjusted the seat so he'd reach the pedals and started it up.

Windows down, volume on the radio up, Will sped all the way back to Salem with the wind in his hair and a flush to his cheeks.

"You do not have to go," Isak insisted, dragging Will into another kiss.

"I – mmm – I do," Will argued half-heartedly.

They were parked outside Will's apartment.

"Someone could see us."

"Good," Isak responded, hand crawling up Will's shirt.

Will threw his head back into the window, sighing.

"Come on, I gotta go."

Isak pulled his hand away and gave Will a sad little pout on his luscious lips. He held Will's gaze before saying, "kiss me."

Will didn't have a choice in the matter, not that he'd argue.

It took him another ten minutes of wet kisses and heavy petting before he got out of the car. Hair a mess, shirt askew, cheeks flushed and lips swollen and red.

A walk of shame in the middle of the day. Good thing Ari wasn't home.

Will planned to eat something for the first time that day before crashing early.

He didn't get the opportunity.

"Where the hell have you been?" Sonny demanded when Will walked in the door.

He stood up from the couch and crossed his arms.

"I've sent you a million messages. My parents are taking us to dinner to celebrate my new job. We can't be late. Get in there and get dressed."

"I need to take a shower."

"There's no time. Why do you always do this? I asked you to be ready at 5 and you didn't even bother getting home until 4: 30? Really? I already picked out something appropriate for you to wear. Hurry up."

Will didn't have the energy to argue.

Isak fucked it out of him.

Will didn't pay attention to where they were going. He adjusted in the back of their Lyft car. Doing all he could to not think about the last car he was in earlier. The feel of Isak deep inside of him, the burn in his thighs. Even the feel of the steering wheel under his fingertips, all that power under his foot.

Because of that, Will didn't notice where the car dropped them off.

Will followed Sonny out of the car. It took several seconds for reality to hit.

"No," Will said, taking a step back and almost falling off a curb. "Absolutely not, Sonny, no."

"Come on," Sonny rolled his eyes and pushed Will toward the door. "Suck it up, Will. This is important to me. I finally have the job of my dreams and my parents want to celebrate. Don't ruin it with your stupid fears."

Will shook his head over and over, digging his heels into the cement.

Salem was not too large of a town. Will had been to every restaurant in Salem except one. His parents tried to take him when he was in high school. It didn't go well.

The restaurant, Gertrude's, was at the top of what stood for a skyscraper in Salem. Ten stories and at the top a restaurant with beautiful views of the lake, river, and all of Salem.

The one and only time Will tried to go he made it to the top before spazzing out when he saw how high up they were. Screaming and yelling and what were his parents thinking taking him to a restaurant so high in the air. They knew he hated heights. Just like Sonny knew.

The only difference was his parents cared enough to get him out of there. While Sonny was literally dragging him inside.

"Sonny, please, I don't want to go in there. Anywhere else, please, please. I'll get us a spot at the place on the dock. The owners love me there. Please, let's go there? Please? Anywhere but here, please?"

Sonny huffed, grabbing Will by the elbow and pulling him toward the building.

"Get over yourself, Will. I know you're not that afraid of heights. It's dinner. Don't ruin this for me."

"Sonny," Will pleaded, holding onto the side of the door and refusing to let go.

Unfortunately, Will hadn't eaten anything all day. After hours and hours of early morning sex, Will didn't eat anything before collapsing in bed for a few scant hours. He didn't eat before getting Sonny's laundry. He didn't eat before going to the clinic. He only had coffee at Starbucks. He was a little too busy with Isak in the afternoon to think about food.

Will was hungry and tired and shaky and his head hurt and his nose was throbbing.

This couldn't be happening, not here, not now.

Will let go of the door to grab his nose. It gave Sonny the momentum to pull him toward the first of two elevators.

"Sonny, no, please, no. I don't wanna. I don't wanna. No, no, no, no, no."

"God, Will, shut up," Sonny yelled, practically tossing Will into the empty elevator. He slammed his thumb on the button for the top floor and rolled his eyes.

Paul Narita arrived in Salem after months away with little fanfare. He didn't know why he came back, how he could stand it. But, something told him to return. He needed closure, needed to see Will moving on with his life in order for Paul to move on with his.

He spent the past few months in a daze. Traveling and recuperating, working his body back to the shape it was before. Experimenting with different herbal and natural treatments as well as working himself physically. Paul spent a lot of that time with his mom and grandfather, reconnecting and exploring all of Japan.

Through it all, he missed Will. He'd wake up every morning, arm stretching out for Will on the bed. Picking up his phone to send Will a text, a picture, anything before remembering he wasn't talking to Will. Not after everything Will did, all the promises he broke.

Paul didn't know how Will could have gone from telling him he was the one and only man he loved, to leaving him for Sonny. The second choice, again, always.

This time it hurt even more coming from Will.

Paul tried to move on. Going on dates, going through flings, anything. Nothing got his mind off Will.

No one's smile lit up his soul the way Will's did. No one's touch was as warm or lingered so long. No one grabbed Paul's neck, shutting him up with a kiss in just the right way. No one was as sweet, as sexy, as beautiful, inside and out, even now, after months of hurt.

No one was Will Horton.

Paul still loved him. He'd always love him. Not in the way he once loved Sonny, no. He didn't feel anything for Sonny now besides resentment. But, Will? God, Paul felt everything. Even with all the pain and the never-ending hurt.

Paul loved Will Horton but he needed to move on.

After arriving, Paul needed time to himself. To walk around town, get the feel of the old place. Try to rewrite his memories of Will, see if he could make it all hurt less.

Paul let John know he was in town. They planned to meet at Gertrude's. The one place in town Paul didn't have any memories of Will.

He knew Will would never go there. He heard Will's explanation for his fear of heights. Something to do with a circus and a man-eating tiger. Will's eyes always glazed over in fear every time he even mentioned heights.

Paul wouldn't put Will through that. Which was why he thought Gertrude's was safe.

But, Paul was never safe with Will around. The man always seemed to worm his way into Paul's life and under his skin, be it good or bad.

Paul sent his dad a text, letting him know he arrived at the restaurant. He rounded the corner and stopped in front of the skyscraper that housed Gertrude's. Almost as if he had laser vision, Paul saw Will.

Stepping out of a car, slumped shoulders and circles under his eyes and he was still the most beautiful thing Paul had ever seen.

He thought he was safe choosing this restaurant. Thought there would never be any way he'd see Will anywhere near here.

By the looks of it, Will would rather be anywhere else.

Paul didn't know what to make of Will planting his heels and shaking his head. Without a thought, Paul stepped closer. He saw Will clinging to the door, trembling.

Paul's fists and heart clenched when he heard Will's begging and pleading. He could hear the tears in Will's voice plain as day. Paul also heard the callus way Sonny spoke to Will. Dismissing Will's valid fears, his pain.

Paul ran to the second elevator when Will and Sonny's closed. He didn't know what the hell was going on but he had to stop it. Brokenhearted or not, he could never stand to see Will in pain.

By the time Paul's elevator deposited him on the tenth floor, Will was stumbling toward the bathroom.

There was blood dripping down his face.

Paul glanced to the side and saw Sonny casually walking toward a table. Paul could see the vague shape of Justin and Adrienne Kiriakis in the distance.

How Sonny could walk away without a care when Will was hurt, Paul would never know.

Paul ran after Will, slamming the door to the bathroom open. It was even worse than Paul thought.

Will's mouth, chin, and neck were covered in blood. His shirt was ruined and his skin was so pale. Will also lilted toward the side, unsteady on his feet.

When Will stumbled, Paul ran to his side. He caught Will before his head could slam into the sink.

"Woah, okay, okay, come here," Paul said. He held Will by the elbows as gently as he could.

There was nowhere to sit so Paul helped ease Will onto the top of the sink.

"Oh, Will," Paul said when he got a good, up-close look at Will. "What happened to you?"

Will mumbled the same words over and over again.

"I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be here."

"Okay, okay," Paul kept one hand on Will's chest so he wouldn't fall over. He grabbed a large stack of paper towels with the other. "It's okay."

Paul pressed the towels to Will's face but the blood kept gushing out of him. When Will's eyes fluttered and he leaned to the side again, Paul panicked.

He cupped Will's cheek, thumb brushing along a glob of blood. When Will opened his eyes, they were dilated and unfocused.

Paul didn't even know if Will recognized him.

"You gotta keep your eyes open. It's okay. I got you. But you gotta tell me what happened."

Will continued muttering the same phrase over and over, eyes dull and lifeless.

Paul couldn't make any sense of it. He'd never seen Will like this before. Never seen him sick or truly injured. How could a simple elevator ride end like this?

The last thing Paul saw when the elevator door closed was Will's terrified face and the look of disdain on Sonny's.

Sonny, who yelled at a frightened Will. Who was alone in an enclosed space with Will and waltzed off like nothing happened when Will was bleeding.

Paul's grip on Will's face tightened.

"Did Sonny do this to you? Will?" Paul shook Will a small bit, needing him to focus. "It's me, Will. Paul, your Paul. You can tell me anything. You always have. You have to tell me if he hurt you, Will."

The door to the bathroom opened.

"Paul? Are you in here, son?"

"Dad?" Paul asked, turning his head to see his father, John Black, walk inside.

"I got your text and saw you rush in here. You need to know I saw Sonny – what the hell?" John demanded, rushing to the sink. "Will? What happened?"

By now, Will was shaking and as pale as a ghost under the deep red of his blood. Blood that covered his face, chest, reaching his pants, and ran down Paul's hand.

"Paul?" John asked, grabbing more paper towels and helping sop up the mess.

"I don't know. I don't know, Dad. I saw him downstairs and he was crying and when he got up here…" Paul trailed off. He bit his lip before catching his dad's eyes in the mirror. "I think Sonny did this."

"Sonny?" John asked, fists clenched tight.

As angry as he was at Will for breaking Paul's heart, John never wanted this.

"I – I don't know. He was yelling at him, Dad. Will was horrified and begging Sonny to go somewhere else and Sonny yelled at him. They got in an elevator alone and when they came out Will was bleeding."

John and Paul had never looked more alike. Faces flushed red in anger, taking all of their strength not to hunt Sonny down and make him pay.

Instead, they both took a deep breath, exhaling on cue and saying in sync, "Marlena."

Paul couldn't wait for John to get back with Marlena. Will wouldn't stop bleeding and Paul couldn't take it anymore.

Disregarding all his physical therapy and the warnings his doctors gave not to overwork himself, Paul scooped Will up in his arms and rushed out the door. John and Marlena ran into him at the elevator, all of them rushing inside.

Marlena fretted over Will who was barely conscious. His lips moved but no sound was coming out anymore. He looked like a victim in a slasher movie.

"Oh, God, Will," Marlena pulled at his eyelids and checked his pulse.

Paul didn't know what he was doing or where he was going. All he knew was he had to get Will away. All Will wanted, what he begged Sonny for, what he repeated over and over was he didn't want to be there.

Paul would carry Will in his arms across the whole damn state of Illinois if he asked.

"I should call an ambulance," John said as they stepped off the elevator. He jogged ahead to open the doors when he noticed Paul didn't slow down any.

All three kept their eyes on Will and saw it happen. The minute Paul stepped over the threshold and out into the cool night air, Will's nose stopped bleeding.

"Did you see that?" John asked, grabbing Marlena's forearm.

"Yeah," Marlena nodded. She tentatively put her hand on Will's cheek and frowned when his eyes slipped open, calm and alert.

"Grandma?" Will whispered in a strangled voice. "What – what happened? Where am I?"

His eyes flitted over Marlena and John before he realized he wasn't standing on his own.

All three saw his expression change when he caught sight of Paul. It was almost heartbreaking to see. Will's eyes watered and his lips twitched between a smile and a frown.

"You're bleeding," Will said in wonder, touching a small spot of his own blood on Paul's chin.

"It's not mine," Paul answered, still holding Will in his arms despite feeling his body beginning to strain under Will's weight. If it was up to him, he'd never set him down again.

"Paul?" Will asked, voice cracking. "Am I dreaming again?"

"No, I'm thinking this might be a nightmare, though. You scared the hell out of me."

"What happened?" Will licked his lips, wincing at the taste of blood on his tongue.

"You don't remember?" Paul wondered. His arms began to shake.

"Paul," Marlena said in a gentle voice, touching his forearm. "I need you to put Will down so I can examine him. John, my doctor's kit, in the car?"

"Right," John mumbled before dashing off down the street.

Will bunched up Paul's now-red dress shirt in his hands, wrinkling the fabric.

"No," Will shook his head, feeling a little light headed. "This is the part where I always wake up. I just want to sleep a little longer."

"Will, sweetheart, you're not asleep. You're very much awake."

"I'm not dreaming?" Will gasped, eyes flittering to Paul's face again. His eyes widened, mouth dropping open.

Paul's heart constricted at the words, at Will's expressions, and especially his eyes. Whatever progress he made in moving on from Will crumpled into a pathetic heap.

"Paul?" Marlena asked in an urgent but gentle whisper. "Please."

Paul nodded, attempting to put Will down on his feet.

"But, you left," Will whispered, fists clenched around Paul's shirt. "You left and I didn't want you to go and I didn't know what was happening. I didn't want you to go. Why did you leave me here? With him?"

"Will," Paul swallowed, keeping a tight hold to his waist when Will started swaying on his feet. "You chose Sonny."

Will shook his head for so long and so fast he saw stars.

"I didn't. That wasn't me. I didn't want anyone but you."

"Will," Marlena cleared her throat. "You're confused, sweetie. And this isn't fair to Paul. You lost a lot of blood and I think you need to go to the hospital."

"No," Will said. "No. No. No. No. No."

"Ssssh," Paul didn't even think. He just pulled Will into a hug, letting him rest his blood-spattered face all over Paul's chest.

"I don't wanna go. I don't."

"At least let me take you home," Marlena urged.

"No," Will clung tighter to Paul. "No. No. No. No."

"Will, please," Paul asked, running a hand through Will's hair and leaving a trail of blood. "You can't stay here. Either the hospital or home, you have to pick."

"No. No. No. No. No."

Paul and Marlena shared a helpless look before deciding for Will.

"Let's take you home," Paul whispered, keeping an arm around Will and attempting to walk them toward John and Marlena's car. "I'll take you home."

"S'not home," Will mumbled. "Doesn't have you."