A/N: I am still apologising for the last cliffhanger, and so, I am giving you an especially long chapter to make up for it.

Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed this story - I can't believe I have over 40 reviews now, do you think we could make it to 50? Please?

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.

His trembling fingers failed to find a pulse.

"No!" Jeff practically howled in despair, "No, Nick! Please, I love you! No, this can't be happening!" He knew that he had to get out of the house as fast as possible, the smoke was becoming thicker, and he could practically hear the flames roaring behind him.

Without thinking twice, he gathered Nick's limp body up into his arms, making sure that he had a firm grasp on the poems as well, and then went stumbling towards the door. He couldn't get lower while he was carrying Nick, and so he was forced to walk straight through the smoke. It was suffocating. The intense heat felt scorching against his back as he ran in the direction of the side door.

In a panic, Jeff halted. Where had the door gone? He was sure that he'd left it open in his rush to find Nick; he should have been able to see outside world, but he couldn't.

Thinking fast, he got closer to the wall, and found the door. It appeared to have slammed shut at some point. Jeff put his back against it and pushed on it.

It didn't budge.

"No, no, no," Jeff said, trying the door again.

He could see the flames clearly now; they were quickly devouring the wall draping less than ten feet away from him. He needed that door to open, and he needed it to open now. He faced away from it and shoved it with his back again.

There was still no movement.

Jeff tried again, this time even harder, and he could have sworn it moved a little.

The flames were barely a few feet away, and the combination of heat and smoke was making Jeff's eyes water, while the smoke was tickling his throat and forcing him to cough repeatedly.

Jeff knew that he now only had enough time for one last try to get the door to move, before he was consumed by the fire. He put all of his weight behind it, and shoved against the door as hard as he could.

At first, he was terrified that nothing had happened, then door was flying open and he was stumbling out into the street, just as the doorway itself burst into flames.

"I've got him," Jeff announced to Nick's parents, and Nick's mother immediately ceased looking so panicked. "But he needs medical attention urgently."

"Let's get to the palace," Nick's father said, once again giving more orders to the slaves, "There will be someone there who can help us."

Jeff nodded, and then followed after Nick's parents, who didn't even once approach their son to actually check on him.

As they hurried up the Palatine Hill towards the Emperor's palace, Jeff looked down at Nick's body in his arms. He'd told Nick's parents that their son needed medical attention, but he feared that a doctor would not be able to do any good. He could feel tears building up again, and he had to muffle a sob as he thought about the possibility of having to live without Nick; the possibility of never hearing him speak again; or the possibility of never being able to kiss him again. Jeff just couldn't deal with that prospect. Nick had been his only friend, his protector, and now, he decided, the love of his life; who could live without that?

The Emperor's palace was already swarming with people when they arrived, and Nick's father had to use his high social status to demand to be seen by whoever was in charge.

One of the Emperor's advisers came down to meet them, and upon Nick's father's request, promised to fetch a doctor for them, and told them that they could use any of the rooms.

"In here will do," Nick's mother said, as they entered a large room, with a few couches scattered around, "You may as well put him down on one of those." She motioned for Jeff to place Nick on the nearest couch.

If Jeff was honest, he didn't want to let go of the boy in his arms, but he didn't fancy explaining the reason why to Nick's mother, and so he complied. As delicately as he could, he laid Nick down on the couch, and smoothed his hair out of his eyes. He could have been sleeping. Jeff kept hold of the poems, attempting to keep them out of sight from Nick's parents.

Eventually, one of the Emperor's doctors arrived, and he came over to see his patient. He appeared to prod Nick a few times, with no apparent response or reason, and then he stood up, proclaiming that there was nothing he could do.

"What?" Jeff cried, before he could stop himself.

"Shut it, boy," Nick's father snapped, as both he and Nick's mother glared at him for speaking out of turn, while the doctor looked at him sympathetically.

Internally, Jeff was terrified, he'd hoped that there might have been a miraculous cure that would mean that Nick would wake up and be completely fine.

"I'm very sorry," Nick's father apologised to the doctor, "The boy didn't mean to be so rude, I'm sure, he's just very close to my son." He shot Jeff another glare, but the doctor just waved it away.

"It's good to see such a loyal slave," he said with a smile, "Some of them nowadays just don't care." He looked back over at where Nick lay. "The good news is that your son is still alive," he addressed Nick's father, but appeared to be glancing at Jeff while he spoke, "But the bad news is he's suffering from the effects of the smoke from the fire. There's nothing I can do for him; if he wakes up, then he'll make a full recovery, if he doesn't wake up, then I'm sorry."

"Thank you," Nick's father said, dismissing the doctor quickly.

Jeff felt a surge of hope wash over him as the doctor spoke, there wasn't a definite chance of Nick being perfectly fine, but at least there was a possibility now. Maybe, just maybe, all of Jeff's prayers had been answered.

"Now, boy," Nick's father turned around and spoke to him, "I want you to stay here with my son until further orders are given to you, do you understand? If you disobey me, there'll be consequences."

Jeff nodded mutely, not risking talking aloud, in case he said something out of line again. Fortunately, Nick's father hadn't brought up the topic of his previous outburst; he was probably just in a hurry to get away so that he could get on with his own business.

"Good," Nick's father said, and then he left the room with Nick's mother, neither of them even sparing a glance for their son.

At last, Jeff was alone. He got up from where he was kneeling, and sat down on the couch next to Nick. He smoothed another stray strand of hair away from Nick's face, and then placed his own hand over Nick's limp one.

"Come on, Nick," he whispered softly, entwining their fingers together, and bringing Nick's hand up so that he could kiss his knuckles in the same way that Nick had done to him. He couldn't believe that moment had happened less than an hour ago, and now their lives had been turned upside down in one of the worst ways possible. "Nick, please," Jeff was actually begging now, "Nick, please wake up. I love you, Nick, you can't just leave me."

His tears were falling faster now; rolling down his face, and soaking both his tunic and the couch beneath him. He couldn't do this anymore; he didn't want to live without Nick. Tears clouded his vision, and he could no longer see anything but the beautiful boy in front of him. Everything else had faded away, and he was left just staring down at the boy he loved. At some point, he moved Nick's head into his lap, and half-cradled his body in his arms, but apart from that, he sat motionless; just staring and crying.

And that's when he felt it, the feeling of something brushing past his fingers. Slowly, Jeff blinked away a few tears and looked down at where his hand was wrapped around Nick's. Surely not…no, there it was again.

Jeff watched as Nick's fingers twitched a few times. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Nick?" Jeff choked out, squeezing Nick's hand tightly so that he knew he was there.

At the sound of Jeff's voice, Nick's eyelids started fluttering, and, eventually, he opened his eyes; quickly blinking them closed again at the sudden light.

"Jeff?" Nick managed to croak out, his voice sounding rough and cracked from the smoke.

"Oh my…!" Jeff quickly picked the other boy up so that he was held tightly against his chest, cradling his head carefully on his shoulder. Nick wound his arms around Jeff's neck, and held onto him as though his life depended on it. "I thought I'd lost you," Jeff sobbed, as both he and Nick cried together now, "I thought I'd never see you or hear your voice again."

"I'm never leaving you, Jeffy," Nick sobbed as well, "I wouldn't do that to you."

He coughed a few times, his throat felt like sandpaper and it was painful to talk.

"Jeff, do you think you could get me some…"

"Water? Yes, of course," Jeff replied.

"How did you know what I was going to say?" Nick asked curiously, leaning back and studying Jeff's face.

Jeff grinned.

"One, I know you too well," he said, "And two, your voice sounds awful."

Nick laughed, and then coughed violently. Jeff kissed his forehead, and then detached himself from the brunette boy, and climbed off the couch.

He stuck his head out of the door, and managed to startle a passing slave.

"Are you trying to scare me?" the slave asked, immediately registering that Jeff was also a slave, and therefore deciding that he could talk so casually to him. The chaos around them, as people sought shelter in the palace, also meant that there was less risk of a reprimand.

"No, sorry," Jeff apologised quickly, not wishing to suddenly offend the other slave, "But my…" He stopped before he called Nick his friend. "My, er, master has been suffering from the effects of the smoke, and wishes for some water, do you think you could fetch me some?"

"Can't you do that yourself?" the other slave asked.

Jeff had to refrain from wanting to slap the man in front of him for his unhelpfulness; normally he wouldn't have felt so annoyed, but he was worrying about Nick, and he wasn't as calm as usual.

"No, because I don't know where I can find water here," he said, taking a deep breath, "And my master's father has ordered me not to leave this room."

The slave still looked unimpressed.

"If you don't believe me, you can go and ask my master's father," Jeff said, pointing at Nick's father, who was standing with a group of senators, "That's him over there."

The slave visibly paled as he realised who Jeff was talking about.

"Was it water that you wanted?" he asked hurriedly.

Jeff smiled.

"Yes, please," he said, "Bring a fair amount of it, and while you're heading that way, would you mind telling my master's father that his son has woken up?"

"Of course," the slave nodded and quickly walked off, looking mildly terrified.

Jeff grinned to himself, and then went back to Nick's side.

"Did you have to scare him like that?" Nick asked, as he rested his head on Jeff's shoulder.

"Yes," Jeff replied, "Now, stop talking, otherwise your throat will get worse."

"What if I don't want…?" Nick never got to finish his sentence, because Jeff managed to shut him up with a kiss.

"There," the blonde boy said triumphantly, "I think that worked."

"I don't think…"

Jeff kissed him again.

"If you're going to kiss me every time I talk," Nick said, "Then I can keep this up all day."

Jeff pouted when he realised the flaw in his plan.

"Fine, no kisses," he huffed, turning his face away from Nick.

Nick grinned and reached up to take Jeff's face in his hands, and turn his head so that he could kiss him again, when there was knock on the door.

"Stupid slave," Jeff muttered again, earning a laugh and a coughing fit from Nick.

The blonde boy slid off the couch and went to the door. He opened it to find the slave standing there with a large jug of water and a cup.

"Here you go," the slave said as he passed the jug and cup over.

"Thank you," Jeff said. He looked up at Nick's father, who was still talking with the other senators. "But I thought I also told you to tell my master's father that his son had woken up?"

"I did tell him," the slave looked slightly put out that Jeff didn't appear to trust him.

"Fine," Jeff nodded, "That'll be all."

The slave left hurriedly, and Jeff turned around to face Nick.

"My parents don't care, do they?" Nick said, looking down at the couch sadly.

Jeff set the water down, and then pulled Nick into a tight hug.

"I'm sure it's not like that," he said, "When we thought you were dead, your mother nearly fainted, surely that's got to show that she cares?"

"Jeff, it took me almost dying for them to show any sort of love towards me," Nick said, "I think that says a lot. But Jeff, you know what, I don't even care anymore, because I have you now, and I love you so much, Jeff."

Jeff felt himself tearing up.

"I love you too, Nick," he said, hugging the other boy again.

Nick was about to respond, when he succumbed to coughing fit instead.

"Now, here's the water," Jeff said, filling up the cup from the jug, and handing it over. Nick thanked him, and then quickly swallowed the cool liquid, holding his cup out for more once he'd finished. Jeff laughed and complied, watching as Nick then gulped that lot down too.

"Thank you," Nick said, "That's much better." He put the cup down and grinned at Jeff. "Now, where were we before we were interrupted?" He winked and Jeff blushed violently.

"We heard about your son," one senator said, addressing Nick's father, and another group of men nodded, "It must be such a relief that he survived."

"Yes, it was," Nick's father replied, forcing a smile onto his face, "His mother and I were very concerned."

"We also heard about how his slave boy carried him to safety," the senator continued, "You're very lucky to have such a loyal slave in your household, that boy has done a great service to your family; I'm guessing that you've considered freeing him, since he's done more than enough to earn his freedom."

Nick's father failed to find an immediate reply. The thought of freeing his son's slave hadn't even crossed his mind, but now all of these senators were murmuring their agreement to this proposition, and waiting for his answer expectantly.

"Er, yes, as soon as this is cleared up and the Emperor has made an appearance, I'll be asking him to personally perform the ceremony," Nick's father said eventually.

"Well, you're just in luck," the senator said, patting Nick's father's arm, and then pointing towards the main entrance of the palace, "The Emperor has just arrived."

Nick's father glanced over in the direction that the senator was indicating, and there was the Emperor, sweeping into the palace surrounded by a large number of his bodyguards.

Great, now, he'd actually have to go through with this.

"Jeff, what actually happened in the fire?" Nick asked suddenly, looking up at Jeff, from where he had his head resting against the blonde's chest. "I don't remember anything after I went inside."

"You passed out in your room," Jeff explained, "I thought you were dead when I found you, and then I got you outside and we made it here, and then you woke up."

"My hero," Nick grinned, cuddling into Jeff's chest even more.

Jeff laughed, and carefully laid down, so that Nick was curled into his side.

"Jeff, what happened to my poems?" Nick asked, suddenly serious.

Jeff smiled.

"They're underneath this couch," he said, "I hid them from your parents."

"Thank you," Nick said gratefully.

He lifted his hand and began tracing patterns into Jeff's chest and stomach.

"That tickles," Jeff laughed, lifting his head to watch what Nick was doing. Nick grinned, but didn't stop.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Nicholas?" Nick's father's voice interrupted them, and Jeff practically fell off the couch as he tried to untangle himself from Nick in a hurry. As soon as Jeff was upright, Nick called for his father to come in. "You took you time," Nick's father said, as he entered the room.

"Sorry, Father," Nick hung his head and didn't offer an excuse; he didn't think telling his father that he was actually enjoying some alone time with Jeff would go down very well.

"Now, I have some important news," Nick's father said, "The Emperor has just arrived, and he's announced his new great plan, he is going to build his Domus Aurea over a large proportion of this sector of the city. Construction will start immediately after the fire has been safely put out."

"But…" Nick looked shocked, "That'll be right over our house. How are we supposed to rebuild our house, if the Emperor builds straight over it?"

"That's the good news, Nicholas," his father insisted, "He's allowing us to live here, with him, in his new Domus Aurea, once it has been built; for now, we'll be staying here."

"Jeff, too?" Nick's eyes narrowed as he imagined his father sending Jeff to work with the other palace slaves.

"Your slave as well," his father replied, still not bringing himself to address Jeff by name, "You'll be shown to your new rooms soon. Your slave can ever stay with you, or you can send him to the same quarters as the rest of the Emperor's household."

"Jeff will be staying with me," Nick said defiantly.

"Good," Nick's father nodded, "Because he can't go to the slave quarters anyway; the Emperor has agreed to free him once he's sorted out the mess the fire's caused."

Nick felt his chest swell with happiness. Jeff was going to be free! No more having to pretend around his parents; no more having to worry about being separated.

"Thank you, Father," he said, a grin spreading across his face, as his father nodded and then left the room.

"Did he just…?" Jeff asked, his eyes wide in shock.

"You're going to be free!" Nick cried, as Jeff shouted happily and practically threw himself back onto the couch beside Nick.

"I'm going to be free!" Jeff repeated in awe, leaning down and kissing Nick passionately.

"You are," Nick grinned, reaching up and putting his hands on Jeff's waist, before quickly flipping them over so that he was looking down at the blonde. "This is the best news ever."

"It would be even better if you kissed me again," Jeff said.

"I'm sure I could manage that," Nick replied, winking at the blonde boy, before kissing him again.

Jeff had just gathered up the courage to slide his hands under Nick's tunic, when there was another knock on the door.

"Nick! Jeff!" Wes' urgent voice floated into the room, "Are you in here?"

"I am going to kill Wes in a minute," Nick said, sounding rather disappointed as Jeff removed his hands, and they both had to separate and sit up. "As always, his timing is impeccable."

Jeff laughed.

"That's a little extreme," he said, kissing Nick's forehead, "Anyway, I'm pretty sure that your father said something about us sharing a room later." He winked, and Nick groaned, throwing himself backwards onto the couch.

"Jeff," he whined, "You can't remind me of things like that now, not with Wes standing outside the door."

"Nick! Are you and Jeff okay in there?" Wes' voice called again.

"We're fine, Wes," Nick called back, "You can come in!"

"Finally," Wes said, as he pushed the door open, and he and Hunter entered, "I was worried something was going on in here."

Both Nick and Jeff blushed, and looked down at the floor. Wes watched them with a curious look on his face; he knew he could make a rather accurate guess as to what had been going on.

"Anyway," Wes quickly changed the subject, "We've just heard what happened to you, Nick, and how Jeff saved you; we're glad to see that you're both okay."

"Apparently, I'm going to be fine," Nick said, once he'd managed to recover from the shock Wes had given him.

"Glad to hear it," Wes smiled.

"Hang on," Jeff interrupted quickly, as he noticed the pained look on Hunter's face. "Where are David and Sebastian?"

"David's outside, tending to some of the people who have come in for shelter; he has some medical knowledge," Wes explained, he frowned and didn't continue.

"Wes, where's Sebastian?" Nick repeated the question, slowly starting to worry.

There was a tense silence, until Hunter spoke suddenly, his voice sounding panicked.

"We don't know. Sebastian's missing."

A/N: Aren't I evil? I resolve one cliffhanger, give you some cute Niff, tell you that Jeff is going to be freed, and then I leave another cliffhanger!

Historical Points:

1. The Palatine Hill is one of the Seven Hills of Rome, and is located in the centre of the city; traditionally, the Emperor's palace was built on top of it, along with other large temples to various gods.

2. The Romans did have proper doctors, but I have no idea how they would treat smoke inhalation, probably with nothing, because nowadays, they used ventilators to counter the carbon monoxide poisoning. So, if it had been that serious, Nick probably wouldn't have survived...

3. Nero's Domus Aurea, which means Golden Palace (literally: Gold Home) in Latin, was a large palace that Nero began to construct over many burnt out buildings after the fire, which left lots of people homeless. It was never completely finished, and the next Emperor actually knocked it down.

Thank you, and please leave a review to tell me what you thought! Or to ask a question about the story or the history behind it :)