Thanks to all the views and reviews. I decided to keep this up! :D 3 It keeps meh going so going I'll do. :] This is for all the Carlos lovers!

Chapter 2

White walls enclosed Santiago. The smell of rubbing alchole and plastic was intoxicating. The moans of the paitents and the footfalls of the doctors wasn't the only thing that made Santiago uneasy. He was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. Bitches think they could throw in some nice potted plants and fucking dandy pictures of kittens and puppies and tag this shithole as the best place on earth? It was hell with white walls.

Johnny shifted in the plastic waiting chair.

"Boss, sit the fuck down, already.." He was concerned, Santiago didn't blame him, but he snarled in response, dark short, messy hair shifting as he swept a hand through it.

"What's taking them so fucking long?" It had been four hours already. Johnny shook his head, moving from the chair to clap a hand on the other man's shoulder.

"Man.. I'm sorry, but I don't think home boy is gunna ma-"

"I dragged him into this shit.. He was only a kid.." Santiago felt his throat close up, he was choking on the words. Was this how Johnny felt? When he lost his girl?

No...

Carlos wasn't Santiago's to lose.. What made him think that? They were both guys.. Male.. That shit ain't right.. But those hopeful eyes Carlos had.. That spark. Santiago liked that..

"It wasn't your fault.. Carlos wanted to help... He had a set of balls on him for it." Johnny squeezed the shoulder in his hand. "You gunna be i'ght?"

Santiago shook his head, eyes clamping shut. The room suddently felt a whole lot smaller. He was already convinced that Carlos was already dead by now.

"Those bitches are gunna pay.." The words sounded different even to Santiago.. They curled around his tongue and left a poisionus aftertaste. Johnny gave an unsure pat to his friend's back.

"And I'm with you all the way, homes.." That helped Santiago, little did Johnny know, without his calm and cool guide, Santiago would've probably been dead.. As much as Santiago wanted to, he couldn't smile. He could only lower his gaze.

The time slugged slower after that. The clocks heavy ticks seemed to slice through the numb silence. Santiago resorted to chipping away the black fingernail paint from his nails. A lot of people never really suspected a guy like Santiago to be a gang member. Dark dressed and "gothed" out as some may have put it. But he ruled with an iron fist and an understanding that was unmatched. That was good enough for the Saints.

The lean statured male looked up, pierced face filled with some hope when a nurse clicked their way in white heels and a lipstick painted smile. Her blonde hair was pulled in a tight bun, a few curled bangs spilled in her face when she nodded.

"You're Carlos' friend?" She asked softly, and Santiago felt his heart shoot up his throat, he could've sworn he felt it beating on his tongue. But he mannaged a nod. "He's ready for vistors, but one at a time, alright?"

A wave crashed into him and left Santiago feeling cold and frozen. Carlos was okay... Santiago bent himself over on a knee with a gasp. Had it affected him this much? Johnny was just as shocked.

"I'll give you some time, Boss.." His voice was soft, smiling. Santiago had to turn to catch the other man's attention.

"Johnny.." Santiago swallowed the lump in his throat along with his pride. It had to be done, for Carlos' sake. For the sake of his own. "Thanks.. For showing as quick as you did..."

There was a shit faced grin in Johnny's lips as he raised his hand in a salute. Dwelling on it just wasn't Gatt's style.

Carlos was half asleep. Eyes half lidded and hazed. His mouth was hooked up to a breather, beaten face was more.. Tolerable to look at. Even in the state he was in, there was still that innocence in him.. Kinda like a puppy that has been kicked too many times. Shy and adorable.

Santiago had to stop himself after that. Because thinking like that.. Just wasn't cool. Carlos would probably agree.

"I-I.. B...Boss..." Carlos was the first to choke out. To shatter the thin silence and echoing beeps the machine gave out. "I-I'm sorry.. I left myself open..."

"Carlos.."

"T-There we..were so many.."

"Carlos..."

"I tried to ta-.."

"CARLOS.." Santiago didn't mean to raise his voice, and it guilted him when the youth flinched under it. The man sighed softly, approaching the teen in the bed. He coaxed his voice to become more softer. "You scared the shit out of me..."

"I scared myself.." Carlos muffled softly. The tube made it hard for the poor thing to speak. And without thinking, Santiago traced the bandaged on Carlos' cheek with his thumb. It really was a glob of gause folded and held in place by medical tape. He quickly retracted his hand after feeling the youth tense.

"Boss..?" The soft voice croaked and shook Santiago, and the man was quick to evade before things got weird.

"I think you should resign..." It was for the safety of Carlos. For his benifit.. He didn't want to ever see that horrific sight again.. Carlos being dragged face down across the asphalt. He only wanted to protect the boy.. But Carlos didn't take it like that.

"Y-You can't.. B-..Boss.. I-I promise, I'll b-be better.. I-I w..won't fail you next tim-.." There was panic burning through his words, Santiago had to cut him off.

"Carlos, shhh, shhh... Esta bien, calmar.." Santiago tried to sooth. He couldn't deny him.. "Fine.. But I'll have to keep a close eye on you, Carlos.."

The teen squeezed his eyes shut tightly. There was hesitence when he finally let the question roll out in a neat little package.

"Ho-How bad is it?" Opening his eyes seemed a lot more of a struggle for the youth, but he was looking at Santiago then..

Those puppy eyes..

Santiago swallowed the lump caught in his stomach. It was like chewing on glass. But he mannaged to hold the eye contact.

"Great.." He softly answered. Truthfully. The teen's chest skipped a breath, but continued to rise and fall at a slow rythem.

"The doctor said I wo-won't ever be the same a-again.." There was a hitch in his words. Santiago had to fight not to lean over and embrace the younger other.

"Fuck them.. You'll be alright.."

"...You didn't pull the trigger.." Carlos was talking to the ceiling. The fan above slowly turned, cutting the air but it didn't feel all that cold. Santiago knew what Carlos meant, but didn't answer. Not until Carlos pushed the envlope. "Why?"

"I.." Santiago started, but the nurse poked her head in. Saved by the woman in white.

"Times up.." She softly answered. As if handling a delicate situation. Which it was. It briefly made Santiago wonder.. Did the medic he pulled a gun on talk to her about it? It made him smirk.

"...W..Will you be.. back..?" There was that hopeful light returning in Carlos' eyes. Santiago almost cheered. But he refrained.

"Do you have to ask?" Santiago was smiling at the clueless expression in the teen's beaten face. So the man clairified. "Si', Carlos... Si'.."

Wooo! Carlos is okay! :D...Happy dance time.. I just couldn't kill the kid off. He is too adorable! Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed typing it. Excuse the poor spanish. I suck at the language and failed at the class, so if I got it wrong, MY BAD. D: