Title: Turn of the Tide (4/??)

Author: slashburd
Pairing: HHH/HBK

Rating: M?
Disclaimer: I do not know of any of this to be true, I don't know or own these people (but I'd secretly love to!).

Summary: M/M Slash, bad language (lots, but in context), violence, angst

Lowering himself into the chair at the side of the bed Hunter took a moment just to look at Shawn. A bank of screens and monitors flanked the opposite side of the bed, each connected up to Shawn somehow. The low repetitive beep of the heart monitor was the most comforting noise he'd heard for some hours, it meant Shawn was at least still alive. He wished that he could just get onto the bed, take Shawn in his arms and whisper to him that it would all turn out okay but he knew that wasn't going to be possible for some time yet.

Dr Lee told him he had an hour and then that was it, he could stay but not in the room. On hearing the door close behind him Hunter gingerly reached out for Shawn's hand, comforted that this time the fact that it was warm and relaxed, even if the latter was down to the sedatives. He couldn't help but recall the many mornings he'd laid awake and watched the gentle rise and fall of his partner's chest, enraptured by the peaceful look that swept over his face when he slept. Looking at Shawn's face now the look was almost there but rudely disturbed by the breathing tube he'd had inserted and a slight furrow of his brow.

"Hey, Shawny. It's me, Hunter. Just wanted to let you know that I'm here, I've been here all the time, waitin' to see you. The doctor says you're gonna be just fine, and he seems like a good guy, we're all pullin' for you here........"

His words trailed off as the tears finally fell down his cheeks. He didn't know if Shawn could hear him, if he even knew who was talking to him or what was being said but that didn't seem to matter now. The reality of seeing the love of his lifetime so battered, bruised and fragile shook Hunter to his core. What would he do without Shawn if the worst happened?

He shuffled the chair closer to the bed so that he could rest his head against the back and still keep contact with Shawn. After checking through the window that the nurse had gone back to the station across the corridor he closed his eyes and cried, violent burning sobs escaping from the pit of his stomach. He knew he was meant to be being all solid and strong but right now, he just didn't feel that way.

This outpouring of all his emotions carried on for over ten minutes and although he felt bad that he'd not been able to suck it up and carry on he knew that Shawn would understand why he was like this. Finally burning out Hunter mopped his face with a handful of tissues he'd grabbed from the bedside cabinet, blew his nose loudly and with a deflating and almost defeated sounding sigh allowed his head to dip in prayer.

He often prayed with Shawn, not that he ever really believed that it could make any difference. The only thing he'd ever had to thank God for was Shawn so it seemed somehow appropriate to ask for help with this aspect of his life.

"Now God, you know that me and you don't always see eye to eye. I've never really asked nicely, I know I've asked for things I wanted rather than needed and you've never really done me any great favours. However, this man here, well he's the one thing you brought me that I needed and I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. He believes stronger than anyone I've ever known. You brought him back from the edge once, and maybe for me, but mainly for him, I'm wonderin' if you'd consider steppin' in to do the same again.

Now I know its a lot to ask and I'm sure that you've got other things to be dealing with than a lousy asshole like me asking for favours I probably don't deserve but hey, if there's a string you can pull, a deal I can make, anything at all to make this right, well, I'd appreciate that right now. I don't know if I should say Amen now or just get right down on my knees and beg but I swear now I would do anything, anything at all to take his pain away. Can't you just cut us some slack here, just make him well ag.............."

*

Before he had the chance of finishing his rambling prayer he heard a commotion starting outside in the corridor. Not wanting to leave Shawn for the rest of their precious and limited time together he decided to stay put and let whatever it was pass, it wasn't his concern and there as plenty of security around to sort stuff like that out. The only battle he wanted to fight was happening right there in the room they were both enclosed in. The nurse was shouting and he assumed that there was an emergency in one of the other rooms. Bowing his head again he concentrated on how to end his prayer to give it the best chance of being answered.

Without warning the door of the room flew open, banging back against the wall. Hunter looked up and, unable to believe what he saw, closed his eyes and shook his head. He looked again and there in front of him, filling the entire door frame was Paul, panting and swatting away the nurse who was frantically trying to tell him that he wasn't allowed in and shouldn't be there, screaming for her colleagues to call security.

Hunter brought Shawn's hand up to his face and kissed the back of it gently, savouring the second of warmth and familiarity he felt from the contact of his lover's skin on his lips. Resting the hand back down on the soft white cotton sheets he took a deep breath, whispered "I love you", stood up and flew at Paul for all he was worth.

He speared Paul back through the open door and out onto the cold tiled floor. Paul was clearly winded by the impact of two hundred and fifty pounds of sheer determined hate hitting him in the midriff. Hunter knelt with one knee on the floor and the other dug deep into Paul's chest and the punches he began to flow. There were no feints or slight tags this time, these were so real that within the space of three blows blood had started to spill from the nose and lips the punches landed so squarely on.

Still struggling to get his breath back Paul was startled by the impact and the pain he could feel. He lay there, eyes screwed shut, totally defenceless as the punches continued to land. He didn't notice Hunter standing up and swinging the first of a string of kicks into his side until he was sure he heard one of his ribs shattering.

Just as he was lining up another kick Hunter felt his shoulders being grabbed at by several pairs of hands. He fought the bodies attached to those hands for all he was worth but as they slammed him against the wall Shawn came back into sight through the window. A deep ache consumed him just looking at his broken lover, an ache that stopped him shoving and trying to get away.

Hunter wondered for a second what the hell he was doing. He knew this was no way to be acting when he should be in there with Shawn but the sight of Paul and the audacity he'd shown by even turning up to the hospital had made Hunter lose all grip on reality for those few minutes. He was so desperate to start punishing Paul that when the mist had descended for the second time in twenty four hours there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Just what in the name of fuck do you think you're doing here? You're a fucking animal – get off the fucking floor and look through that window and see if you feel like a big man now. You lousy, unprofessional fucker I oughta kill you stone fucking dead right now for what you've done to him."

Hunter had stopped short of shouting but the menacing tone to his voice made his message so abundantly clear that a raised voice was not needed.

"I said get up!"

Paul was still writhing in pain on the floor, more security supervising his limited movements. He looked up at Hunter, his face racked with pain and through gritted teeth he finally spoke.

"You're so fucking blind aren't you Hunter, everything is so damned perfect in your life but you really can't see past the end of your damned nose can you? He deserved every bit of what I did to him, you'll see."

Hunter made a break for it but the uniformed men stood strong, holding him back.

"What's that meant to mean? How fuckin' sick are you, nearly killing him and then coming here to gloat? Just where do you get off on this you sick bastard? If I get my damned hands on you I'll tear you apart. Come on big man, lets finish this now, try pickin' on someone closer to your own fucking size...."

He began to struggle again and after some more scuffling Hunter was slammed back against the wall, this time never breaking the icy stare that was directed at Paul who had finally been helped to his feet by the men surrounding him.

Paul rubbed his lip and looked down at the dark blood that came off on it, wincing with the pain of contact with the badly split skin. He risked speaking again, this time with a softer voice and an almost pleading look on his face.

"Look Hunter, I've known you for a lot of years, and I.... I just don't want you to get hurt again, okay. I know what I did was wrong but he deserved it, he really did. I really just came to give you this. It might just save you a whole lot of heartache and wasted hours of waiting...I've done it myself and I can't ever get that time back. Be smart, get out while you can."

Paul reached inside his jacket and the security guards moved their hands to their waists, not knowing what to expect. Not wanting to risk getting tazered or shot Paul put his hands up. "It's just an envelope guys, nothing to panic about – pat me down if you like."

One of the guards moved forward and frisked Paul's upper body, finding nothing suspicious. He nodded to the others and they cautiously relaxed, still watching intently to make sure that there were no nasty surprises coming.

Again Paul pulled his jacked open and after delving into the inside pocket withdrew a folded white envelope.

"Can you pass that over for me?" He gestured towards the guard who had patted him down and nodded in Hunter's direction, deciding wisely to keep his distance. The man took the envelope and as he tried to pass it over Hunter snatched it out of his hand. Without even looking at it, let alone opening it, he stuffed the envelope in the back of his pants and using the same low, clear tone spoke again.

"Well now you've done what you came here to do why don't you turn around and get out of here before I kick your ass. I hope you're proud of yourself man. Real proud."

Paul shook his head and a fleeting smile crossed his lips then fell away.

"Hunter, listen to me. You have a good look at what's in that envelope and then we'll talk again I'm sure. You've got my number for when you're ready to talk and trust me, you're going to want to. See you around."

Paul turned and started walking down the corridor towards the exit. He stopped, looked back over his shoulder and all he could see was Hunter with his face pressed against the glass of the window into Shawn's room, clinging on to it by splaying his fingers just to stay upright. Sure Paul felt bad, and maybe his timing did suck but he had to cruel to be kind right?

Right?

*

A/N: I hope this is starting to put some more of the story into context now, I promise that it is going somewhere, its just the angsty stuff was needed to set the tone. All reads and reviews appreciated as always :)