Outskirts of St Louis, Missouri, K-River Inn and Campgrounds, 2019

The motel they found was built all on one level. The room Chris checked them into had the standard double bed, sofa, two nightstands complete with a worn copy of the Bible; and a small television that didn't work. A door on the right led to a bathroom, small but surprisingly clean. But unlike most standard motel rooms, this one also had a rounded archway concealing a small kitchenette. A back door led outside onto a private decking area with a view of the countryside.

The moment they arrived, Chris settled down at the small kitchen table, plugging in his laptop to continue his download of information from the FBI internal website.

It gave Luke and Noah some privacy, while they tried to catch up on their sleep.

They stripped off their jeans and fell into bed, neither having the energy to shower first. They lay facing one another, blinking softly, waiting for sleep that was slow to come despite their desperate need for it.

Noah put his hand to Luke's cheek and traced the bones and dark circles over and over again; ignoring the hot wetness there. He sniffed and snuggled closer, feeling Luke's hands caressing his waist.

"I miss him," Luke mouthed.

"He'll be alright," Noah assured Luke, keeping his voice low.

Unable to speak, Luke's breath studdered; his brow creased. But he nodded.

"He's strong," Noah continued, not sure if he was trying to convince Luke or himself.

"He has… He has your brains…" Luke finished.

"Yeah…" Noah smiled, "...and your mouth!"

Luke playfully punched Noah's shoulder and giggled through his tears. "Only he knows the right time to use it! He at least thinks before he speaks!"

Noah stared at Luke for a long moment then smiled wide and fondly. "Yeah... he does."

Noah was beginning to realize how hard it was going to be to fall asleep. They were both gripped by terror, bone-tense with it.

Luke sighed. "It's gonna be hard going home and…"

Noah knew what Luke meant. "Being so close and not being able to see them?"

Luke quickly nodded.

Noah stretched his arm over him as much to stop his own trembling as Luke's.

Luke found Noah's other hand and bent his lips to it. It was feather-light and tickled slightly. Luke's fingers touched the ring and stopped there, rubbing the metal lightly between thumb and forefinger.

"I hope…" he softly said, "...that one day we can do this for real."

"This is real," Noah replied. "I don't need some legal document to tell me you're my husband, Luke. You have been for so long now."

"Yeah," Luke agreed. "But it would be nice if we could stand up as ourselves and tell the world that." Everything Luke felt was evident on his face as always; urgent hope, desperate fear, and the struggle to contain both.

Noah's tears were already starting out as dammed saucers. But Luke's sentiment sent them overflowing. They fell, full and round down Noah's face.

Luke's hands cupped Noah's chin with gentleness. He placed his mouth on Noah's; and Noah's eyes closed for the first time since they'd lain there.

…

A nightmare woke him. But he must not have cried out because Luke still slept soundly beside him; and he could hear the uninterrupted tapping of Chris's keyboard coming from the kitchenette.

It was dark outside; the only light that which spilled from the kitchen in an eerie arch. It reached out into the bedroom, creating shadows. Noah felt an ominous ache deep inside that caused him to shiver. He breathed through the shock waves and turned his head to Luke, lifting his hand to lay it over the spot where Luke's pulse beat slowly and strong, just at the base of his breastbone.

Noah rested his head in the curve of Luke's shoulder to listen to its steady rhythm. He slipped a few fingers under the neck of Luke's shirt and played with the soft blonde hairs on Luke's chest. The territory of Luke's body was warm under Noah, solid and comforting.

An electronic rendition of Saturday Night Fever broke through the silence. Luke shifted position; groaning in his sleep.

The sound cut off quickly and Noah heard Chris softly answer, "Hello?"

"Shh…" Noah soothed Luke, until he was sure the man was still asleep.

He kissed Luke's temple and stood clumsily on his feet. Stretching and yawning, he waited for the dizzy feeling from getting up too quickly to leave him, before slipping back into his jeans.

As he slipped the hospital shirt back on, he grimaced when his nose came too close to his armpit. He was beginning to wish he's taken that shower now. He decided he'd do just that after a quick catch up with Chris. He wasn't likely to sleep again now.

He padded barefoot into the kitchenette. Chris was still on the phone and seemed concerned by something. But he acknowledged Noah with a short smile and indicated the other chair.

"When was this, Sweetheart?" Noah sat while Chris continued his phonecall. "Aha? And… did Jacob say who it was?"

Noah spotted a bag of cheese curls on the table and popped a few in his mouth.

"Okay…" Chris said into the phone. "Don't worry. I'm sure it was nothing. I'll see you soon, I promise." Chris waited for the other person to finish talking. "I love you too. Bye."

The doctor hung up and stared out the opened back door; deep in thought. For a moment all they could hear was the persistent chirp of crickets.

"You're married?" Noah asked, noticing Chris' wedding ring.

Chris blinked at him and then glanced down at the ring on his hand. "Um… yes. Yes, I am. A few years now."

"That's great." Noah nodded. "Do I know her?"

"Yeah!" Chris said with a smile that dropped just as quickly. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it again.

Noah's sensed he was holding something back.

"Well?" Noah asked. "Who is it?"

"Um… Noah… With the way things are right now… I mean… Now isn't the time to start talking about home. There are some things you two are better off not knowing for now."

Noah frowned, "Wait… When you say I know her… do you mean…"

Chris held up his hand, "Noah, like I said… when we've cleared all this stuff up… then you guys have all the time in the world to get caught up on home. Right now, I just don't think it will help you."

"Please Chris. You can't just say something like that and not tell me."

Chris sighed. "But keep it to yourself for now, okay?"

Noah didn't reply. He didn't want to make a promise he wasn't sure he could keep.

"I'm married to Katie."

Noah blinked. "Katie?" He frowned in confusion as he realized who that was. "Katie Snyder?"

"Katie Hughes now."

"But… but…"

"Brad?"

Noah nodded, suddenly regretting he'd asked.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Noah. Luke's cousin was killed in 2010."

Noah's hands came to his face. He didn't get to know Brad Snyder all that well, but he knew this news would be devastating for Luke.

"Katie was pregnant at the time. Their son, Jacob, is now my step-son."

Noah shook his head, unable to speak past the burn in his throat.

"Again… God, Noah… I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," Noah replied, holding up a hand to gather himself. "It's just… I guess we're stupid if we think things won't be different if…" He breathed deeply and steeled himself, "...whenwe get home."

"A lot will have changed. You're right."

"We've missed out on so much, Chris! But do you want to hear the funny part?"

"There's actually a funny part in all of this?"

Noah sadly smiled. "If we'd never gone on the run… If none of this ever happened… then… then we'd never have known about Leo. I have a son and I'd never have known!"

"Wow." Chris was breathless for a moment. "That's a tough one to get your head around."

Noah nodded. "Tell me about it! You know, for all the pain we've had… there's also been so much happiness. I mean… I never really had a proper family before I met Luke… not with my dad."

Chris smiled. "I'm glad things weren't always bad for you guys."

Noah puffed a laugh and then spotted a supply of instant coffee Chris must have gone out to get while they slept. He stood and turned on the kettle.

"Shit!" Chris suddenly gasped.

Noah spun around. "What is it?"

Chris began fervently tapping at his computer. "Fuck!"

"Chris?" Noah's heart began that menacing thumping he always got when things turned sour.

When Chris looked up, his eyes were wide. "I think they found us!"

He'd barely gotten the words out when somebody banged loudly on the door. "FBI! Open up!"

Noah's first instinct was to run to Luke. He charged forward, but Chris quickly pulled him back; snatching his laptop and hauling the two of them outside.

Noah pulled against the surprisingly strong doctor, desperate to get back inside; especially as he heard the motel door bust open and somebody yell, "Freeze! Hands where I can see them!"

"No!" Chris' muscular arms wrapped around Noah as he struggled to save Luke. With iron determination, the doctor pulled Noah into the dark shadows cast by the building's walls.

"Let me go!" Noah gasped.

"If you go in there, it's over!" Chris urgently whispered in Noah's ear, his breath hot on Noah's cheek. "But if you come with me there's still a chance!"

Noah paused on those words. Every bone urged him to help Luke, while his rational side knew Chris was right.

"They'll kill him," he sobbed.

"If you go back, for sure!" Chris stated. "But while you'restill on the run, they'll keep him alive to find you! You hear what I'm saying?"

Noah took one look at Chris, bit down on his lip until it bled, but finally nodded. Going against every one of Noah's instincts, they scurried along the shadows; disappearing into the dark just in time.

"There's a fucking back door!" they heard an agitated voice yell.

They located the car given to Chris by Damian's men, grateful they'd thought to park it away from the motel. Having lost the Ford at the hospital, Noah wasn't taking any further chances as far as transport was concerned.

They traveled away in silence. Chris obviously didn't know what to say and Noah, simply to maintain some semblance of control on the situation, forced his mind to concentrate on nothing but counting the spots of street lights as they shot past; becoming slowly mesmerized.

Leo was on his way to God only knew where; Luke was captured; and suddenly flight was no longer his goal. Revenge was!

The only chance at a life together now rested totally on him, when he didn't even know whether his actions would make any difference.

Without Luke by his side, it was so unbelievably tempting to just give up. But he couldn't. He promised.

So, he would carry the burden of this pain that grew as tremors through his heart, for as long as he possibly could; even if it was like keeping a candle burning in the rain.