Chapter 15

They lay in the dark. Christian could hear Syed's breathing but it didn't sound right. Half sobbing he felt around in the dark until he could feel a leg.

"Sy, can you talk? Speak to me, please. Are you okay? Where are you hurt? I'm gonna get us out of here Si I promise you. James knows we're in trouble. Someone will come Syed."

Syed seemed to be unconscious. Christian got up and although he felt horribly sick from the blow to his head, he realized that he could walk okay. He couldn't see anything and he felt for a wall. Tripping over something that lay on the floor and cursing loudly he realized it was useless. It was pitch dark and he was terrified he would lose Syed. He got on his hands and knees and followed the sound of Syed's breathing

He found Syed's head and he could feel it was sticky with blood. He was terrified of moving him so he just lay down behind him and tried to keep him warm. A little later Syed suddenly jerked up and started to moan. His voice sounded thick and strange as if he had been hit in the mouth and lost some teeth.

"Is that you Christian?"

"Yes Si I'm here. Don't worry. It'll be okay. We're gonna get out of here"

"Christian I'm so sorry. I didn't want you to get dragged into this, I'm so sorry."

"Shhh Sy don't talk. I 'm exactly where I want to be. Just save your strength."

"Do you think they'll come back? I don't think I can take any more."

"I don't think they're coming back Si. They've left us here to rot. Where are you hurt Syed? Can you move your legs?"

"I think… they're… broken. Christian, I'm so sorry I've been such an idiot."

"Sshhhh don't talk..."

"No Christian, I need to tell you. I've asked god day after day to help me but I can't change what I feel, Christian, I don't care about any of it any more. What does it all mean? You could have died. I love you, more than you know. I've loved you from the day I first saw you. I've tried so hard to stop myself…"

"Syed stop, you don't need to say anything…"

"But I do Christian I need to tell you how much I love you. I need you to understand why I keep pushing you away. It frightens me. I'm so full of love for you I'm half mad with it. It's like I've had a fever from the day we first kissed. If I get out of here I'll never leave you again.. I don't care any more what any one thinks. I don't deserve you. You keep on loving me and I've treated you so badly. Why do you do that? No-one ever loved me like that. Kiss me Christian, I need to feel you. If I'm gonna die I need to feel you next to me- I'm so cold."

Christian was crying, stroking Syed's face as gently as he could. Tracing his fingers lightly over every contour of the face he loved more than any one he'd ever known. He kissed Syed lightly on the lips and they lay there curled up in the dark.

That was how the police found them; both of them unconscious, Syed in a critical condition, with 23 broken bones, including cracked ribs, a broken leg and severe bruising to most of his body. Christian had come off a lot lighter. He'd suffered concussion, cuts and bruises.

When Christian woke up, it was to see James sitting by his bed watching him anxiously.

"James, where is Syed?"

"He's okay Christian, he'll be okay. He's in a bad way but he's survived. Its gonna be okay."

"Thank you James, for everything. I need to see him where is he?"

"His family came and they've moved him to another hospital near them. I told them you wouldn't want to be separated, but Syed's mother was insistent. As soon as you're fit I'll take you there, I promise. I'll go and see him for you if you like and find our how he's doing. You don't need to say anything Christian, you're still my best friend, I love you dearly and I know how much you love him. I understand. You're both so lucky. Qadim was arrested on his way out of the country and Amira has been at Syed's bedside, she was horrified at what her father had done."

Christian could picture the scene. Syed, with all his family around him, and Amira. He knew that that he had lost. He didn't for one minute think Syed would keep to the things he had said in the warehouse. Syed had what he really wanted which was the love of his family and Christian knew that he was not going to fight that any more. He loved Syed with all his heart but he was tired of fighting.