Roman, Abe, Rafe, and Hope stood side-by-side with Justin Kiriakis. They all watched as Clyde Weston sat down in the back of a police car to be driven away.
With Will's evidence they were certain Clyde would be going away for a long, long time.
"Chief," a uniformed officer yelled coming outside. "You need to get in here!"
Everyone rushed back inside the police headquarters.
"The computers all froze and the screens went haywire. This came up after," the officer explained.
Each computer screen showed a video featuring Ben Weston.
"What the hell is going on here?" Roman demanded. "Clark," he ordered someone nearby. "Figure out what the hell this is."
Rafe walked to the nearest screen and forced the volume up as high as it would go.
"You know I think I enjoyed Zoe the most," Ben's voice stated over the screen.
"Where they hell is that?" Rafe asked. "Find out where he is!"
"Oh god," Hope paled when she heard a second voice. "He's talking to Will."
"I thought you said Will was hidden away?" Abe questioned. He put his hand on Roman's shoulder.
"He's staying with Paul Narita," Rafe said, swallowing.
Roman stared transfixed at the screen.
No one moved.
A phone nearby started ringing.
"Chief," another officer called. "Your daughter just called 911. She said to get to the Salem Inn."
On screen, Ben charged out of view, face marred in rage. Moments later, the view on the screen changed, focusing on the floor.
Almost every officer in the building ran for the door.
Justin and Abe stayed behind. Their eyes were glued to the screen when Will came back into view, head smacking into the door.
The two watched anxiously as Ben Weston wrapped his tie around Will's neck and pulled.
Ari sat on Sami's lap and sobbed.
"Want Daddy," she screamed. "I want him!"
"I know, baby," Sami mollified, holding Ari back from struggling. "I know. I want him too."
Sami kept pressing kisses to Ari's damp hair. They were inside the security office at the hotel.
"It's going to be OK. Daddy is going to be fine. You'll see," Sami promised, tears gliding down her face.
"The police are here," Marlena revealed, face pressed against a glass window. "And the paramedics."
Sami, Ari tight in her arms, joined her mother at the window.
The three watched as the paramedics were directed up the stairs to Paul's hotel room. A few police officers came into the office with them.
"Dr. Evans, Mrs. DiMera," one woman nodded. "The police have everything under control."
"I don't want your stupid reassurances," Sami shouted. "Just get me my son!"
"It's OK," Paul whispered into Will's hair. He had pulled Will against his chest. Paul's cheek was pressed to the top of Will's head.
"You're OK," Paul repeated. "I've got you. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."
Will nodded weakly, coughing sporadically. He could still feel Ben's hands pressed to his throat. Feel Ben rubbing against him, all the horrible things Ben said and did.
"Paul?" John said calmly. He noticed the way Will was staring off into space, the glazed look in his eyes.
Paul grunted in reply. He wasn't letting Will out of his sight. Not even to talk to anyone else.
"Fix his pants," John ordered in a low voice. "He won't want anyone to see that."
Paul lifted his head away from Will's.
"Is it OK if I pull up your pants, baby?" Paul asked. He didn't want to do anything that would jostle Will or alarm him.
Will nodded.
"Will?" Paul asked. He had to know. He needed to know. "Did he, did, um. Did he touch you?"
"It's OK if he did," Paul forced out. "You can tell me. I-I, you can tell me."
Will shook his head.
'Oh, thank god,' Paul thought, relieved. He squeezed Will's hand.
Will lifted his hips up to help Paul. He closed his eyes in embarrassment.
"You probably never thought you'd hear that from me, huh? Wanting to put your clothes on," Paul joked weakly. He frowned when he saw the blood on his hands smeared across Will's clothes and face.
'Ben's blood,' Paul realized. 'I don't want that on Will. I can't have that on Will. Nothing of Ben's is ever touching Will again.'
Will's lips started trembling.
"It's OK," Paul pulled Will back into his arms. "It's OK, baby."
Then, the hotel room filled with police officers and paramedics. Suddenly Will was surrounded by several people asking him questions.
Roman, Rafe, and Hope moved to Will's side.
"Is he alright?" Roman questioned frantically. "Anyone?" he barked.
"I think so," Eric told his father, attempting to calm him. "He, um, there were hands around his throat."
Eric demonstrated with his own hands. "And I-I gave him CPR," Eric continued in a small voice. "But Paul got Ben off of him just in time."
Eric took a step closer to Roman, Rafe, and Hope. In a low voice he explained the state of undress Will was in when they found him.
Hope had her hand over her mouth. She still couldn't process that it was Ben. That Ben was responsible for all of this, for killing all those women.
'For almost killing Will,' Hope turned away.
Will unconsciously moved closer to Paul. He didn't want so many people around him. He just wanted Ari and Paul. That's all he could think about. He just wanted to see his daughter's beautiful face. He didn't want to think about anything that happened. He never wanted to think about this ever again.
Will opened his mouth to tell everyone to leave. He didn't need any treatment. He didn't need anything.
'I'm fine,' Will thought over and over.
Paul, sensing Will's distress, held Will tightly against him. He refused to let go.
"You people need to back off," Paul stated. "OK, just give us some space."
Will made a tiny, painful sound in the back of his throat.
"Shh," Paul hushed. "It's OK. I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you."
"Sir," one paramedic said to Paul. "We're gonna need you to move."
"No," Paul argued, holding tightly to Will.
"We can't look him over properly if you're in the way," the paramedic tried to reason.
"No," Paul said loudly. "No, the last time I left him alone someone almost strangled him to death. I'm not leaving. I'm never leaving."
"I didn't ask you to leave him alone," the paramedic said. "Just move over. Sir, we have to make sure he is alright."
Will put his hand on Paul's chest and nodded.
'Anything to get this over with faster,' Will thought. 'I just need this to be over. I need things to go back to normal.'
Will took a deep, shaky breath and put on a brave face.
Seeing Will's determination, Paul finally agreed. He let Will go and moved to the side. He made sure to keep his eyes on Will the entire time.
A stretcher rolled towards Will. Paramedics enclosed him, checking his vitals and putting an oxygen mask over his nose.
"He's gonna need to get his throat examined," another paramedic said.
"And head," said another.
"Bruised ribs," commented the one talking to Paul.
"OK, sir," the paramedic Paul spoke with told Will. "We need to take you to the hospital for some tests."
They helped Will stand on shaky legs before insisting he get on the stretcher. Paul and Eric followed quickly behind.
Rafe, Hope, and Roman rushed toward John and Ben.
"Did you see it?" John questioned, head nodding towards Will's laptop.
"Yes," Rafe said firmly. "We saw enough."
Rafe never thought it would come to this. He never thought this could happen to Will.
'Is this my fault for encouraging him to dive into the investigation? Why didn't I send someone to watch over him? Why didn't I do enough?' Rafe thought.
Ben groggily attempted to sit up. Both eyes were practically swollen shut.
Ben chuckled seeing the faces staring down at him.
"Where's Will?" Ben asked with a bloody smile. Paul had knocked out a tooth.
It was only the years of training that enabled them all to hold their emotions in check.
"I had the honors with Clyde. You should take this one," Hope said to Rafe, arms crossed.
Rafe gave Hope a grim smile. He pulled out his handcuffs.
"Ben Weston, you are under arrest for…" Rafe stated.
The elevator opened revealing Will, the paramedics, Paul, and Eric.
Ari, clinging to Sami's hand, ran toward Will when she saw him.
"Daddy," Ari screamed. "Daddy!"
Will tried to reach out for Ari. He needed her. Needed to hear her sweet voice and feel her in his arms.
Paul grabbed Ari and placed her on his hip. He didn't care about protocol or regulations. Paul knew how much Ari meant to Will.
'Whatever Will wants Will is going to get,' Paul thought.
"Daddy," Ari reached out her hand for him.
Will held Ari's tiny little hand and squeezed.
"Go with Daddy," Ari requested, sobbing. "Wanna go with Daddy!"
"Of course we're going with Daddy," Paul told her. "We're never leaving Daddy again."
The front doors opened and they were blinded by camera flashes. News reporters threw microphones in their faces, shouting questions. Photographers snicked picture after picture. They focused on Will's throat, his shell-shocked face flecked with blood. Within seconds the press noticed Paul's busted knuckles. The way he hovered over Will with Ari in his arms.
Several police officers had to rush out the doors to clear a path to the ambulance. Paul covered Ari's face with his jacket. He could feel her shuddering against him, tiny hand still holding Will's desperately.
Finally, the paramedics loaded Will into the ambulance. Paul, holding Ari, jumped in after them. The ambulance's lights began to flash. It slowly made its way out of the crowd and towards the hospital.
"Will," Sami ran after them. "What happened? Will!"
Sami could see the oxygen mask over Will's face, the bright red marks on his throat.
"What happened to my son?" Sami demanded.
A group of police officers stopped her at the door. She couldn't get outside.
Eric caught his sister by the elbow. "He's fine," Eric tried to tell Sami. "He's going to be fine."
"Eric, what happened? Who did this? Eric," Sami shouted hysterically.
Marlena stood next to her children, hand over her mouth.
Eric grabbed Sami's other elbow and forced her to face him.
"Sami, take a deep breath," Eric ordered. Very slowly he explained, "Will was strangled and he took a pretty hard hit to the head."
"Oh, god," Marlena inhaled sharply.
"Paul got there in time," Eric promised. "Alright, Sami? Paul saved him. Will's going to be fine."
"Fine?" Sami hissed, hysterical. "Fine?! Someone tried to kill my son and you think it's going to be fine!"
Sami smacked Eric in the chest repeatedly.
"It's never going to be fine," Sami argued, beginning to cry. "He almost, he, he-,"
"Oh, Sami," Marlena pulled her daughter into her arms. "It's OK."
"No it's not," Sami threw her face in her mother's neck. "That's my baby. Who could do that to my baby?"
"Shh," Marlena rubbed circles on Sami's back. "Shh."
"He-he," Sami sniffled. "He's getting his life together. He's happy now. I know he is. Why would someone take that away from him? How could anyone hurt him?"
The elevator dinged once again. Rafe escorted a bloodied, nearly unrecognizable Ben Weston out in handcuffs.
Sami, sniffling, turned away from her mother and frowned. It took a moment to place the man.
Realizing who that was, what that man tried to do to her son, Sami charged.
"You monster," Sami shouted. Her nails dug into his face, hands and arms hitting and clawing anything she could reach. "How could you?!"
More cameras flashed and the reporters grew even louder. The police had a hard time keeping them outside.
"Sami, no," Roman ordered, rushing forward.
Eric grabbed Sami by the waist, struggling.
"If anything happens to him," Sami threatened. "I swear to god I'll ki-!"
John walked around Rafe and Ben. He put his hand over Sami's mouth.
It took the combined efforts of Eric, Roman, and John to safely pull Sami away.
Ben threw his head back and laughed.
"Considering the bruises I saw on his hips," Ben sneered voice nasal. "I'm sure he enjoyed it."
Eric's grip around Sami's waist grew even tighter when she started struggling again.
"What the hell does that mean?" Sami urged. "Dad," Sami screamed. "What the hell is he talking about?"
Ben continued to laugh.
Rafe tightened his hold on Ben's handcuffs and yanked him away.
"Sami, not here," Roman stated. He glanced at the reporters.
"NO," Sami shouted. "You tell me what that bastard did to my son, now."
John shielded Sami from the cameras. "When we found Will," John explained. "His pants were undone."
Sami made a heartbroken wailing noise. Her knees quivered. Eric had to hold her up so she wouldn't collapse.
"Sami," Marlena urged. "We have to get to the hospital. We have to get to Will."
"Will, Sami," Eric reminded her. "We have to get to Will."
"Take me to my son," Sami begged tears lining her face. "Please."
"Roman," John said. "Can you get some officers to escort them to the hospital?"
"Of course," Roman nodded. He called an officer over. "Take them around the back. The press doesn't need any more fuel."
As they walked away Sami could hear Ben's laugh playing over and over again in her head.
The stretcher burst into the emergency room. Paul, holding Ari, ran behind it.
Will reached his hand out for Paul. He didn't want to go down the hall away from Paul and Ari.
"Sir," one paramedic said, "We need to take you back for some tests."
Will shook his head. "N-no," Will croaked out.
Paul wanted to agree with Will. He wanted to take Will away from the hospital and the probing questions. He wanted to gather Will in his arms and shield him from the rest of the world. He wanted to go back in time when his biggest problem was keeping his relationship with Will a secret.
'But I can't,' Paul realized. 'Will needs to be checked over. I have to know that he's going to be alright.'
"It's OK," Paul squeezed Will's hand. "Ari and I will wait out here and you'll be fine."
Will pressed his lips together. He caught Ari's frightened eyes and nodded. He couldn't let her see how upset he was.
"Just a few minutes," Paul promised.
The stretcher moved away, Will's fingers slipped out of Paul's hand. Two police officers trailed after Will. Roman ordered a protective detail for Will for the foreseeable future.
"Just a few minutes," Paul repeated to Ari. "Only a few minutes."
"Sir?" a nurse came over to Paul. "There's a bathroom down the hall if you'd like to clean up."
Paul looked down at his hands and nodded.
Ari touched Paul's knuckles. "Paul has boo-boos?" Ari questioned.
"Yeah," Paul confirmed. He walked the two of them into the bathroom.
Paul placed Ari on the sink counter. He started washing his hands.
Paul watched as the water turned red and circled down the drain. Paul pressed his forehead to the mirror, taking a deep breath.
'It's OK,' Paul assured himself. 'Will's OK.'
"Will," Dr. Daniel Jonas greeted. Will had been pushed further into the hospital. "I'm going to check you over. OK?"
Will nodded. He wanted this over as soon as possible.
'I'm fine. I don't need to be here,' Will thought.
Daniel pushed Will's neck back and frowned.
"I'm gonna look down your throat," Dr. Jonas told Will. "Then we're going to get you in for some tests. I just want to make sure nothing is torn or damaged."
Will patiently followed all directions. He sat through the x-rays and the CAT scan. He answered all the questions for the concussion test. Will even allowed someone from the police department to photograph him. Then take DNA samples from under his fingernails and from the blood Ben left on him.
'I want Ari and Paul,' Will realized. 'When is this going to be over?'
Will sat on an exam table. He scratched at the back of his neck. Something tacky was bothering him.
"Will," Dr. Jonas said. He put his clipboard down. "We're going to take you to your room now. I'm gonna need you to put all your clothes in these bags."
Will looked at the plastic evidence bags Dr. Jonas offered him.
After being escorted to the surprisingly large hospital room, Will went into the bathroom. He waved away the nurses.
'I'm fine. I don't need any help,' Will thought.
He started taking off his clothes, mind blank.
'I'm fine. I'm fine,' Will insisted.
Will looked in the mirror above the sink. He saw specs of blood on his skin and a large glob behind his neck.
Will gripped the sink in his hands, shaking.
'I'm fine,' Will licked his lips. He turned on the water and started cleaning himself. 'I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.'
Ari cried into Paul's neck. "Want Daddy," she begged.
"In just a few minutes," Paul promised. He held Ari tightly against him. "They're giving him some tests. They'll put Daddy in a room and then we can go in."
Paul and Ari stood in the hospital waiting room. Both had been given a change of clothes by the hospital staff. Paul had left traces of blood on their old pairs. The clothes were bagged to be sent away to the police.
Paul felt a bit of relief at that. He was pleased the police were taking every bit of evidence they could find. Paul knew sooner or later the police would be by to take their statements. That Paul would have to relive what happened, what he saw.
'Where the hell is Will?' Paul refocused.
If it wasn't for Ari, Paul would have argued his way back to Will. But Ari was scared enough.
Paul could only think of two things-Will and the photographers outside the hotel. He didn't understand how they knew to be there.
'Why did they have to be there? Why did they have to see that? See Will,' Paul shook his head. 'I hope they didn't get anything with Ari.'
With a sigh, Paul kissed the top of Ari's head.
'When the hell are they going to be finished?' Paul sighed. 'I need to see Will. I need to make sure he's OK.'
"Mr. Narita?" an orderly called.
"Yes," Paul moved away from the wall he was leaning against.
"We moved Mr. Horton to a private room like you asked," the orderly explained. "Follow me."
When Paul walked into the room, he bit his lip. He hated seeing Will in a hospital bed.
"Daddy," Ari whimpered. She struggled against Paul's arms until he let her down.
"Hey," Will whispered, voice raw. He felt so much better with Ari and Paul there.
Ari jumped onto the hospital bed and cuddled against Will.
"Daddy," Ari cried. She nuzzled against Will's chest and refused to let go.
Will smiled gently and pet her hair. "Love you," he said.
Paul stood by the door nervous and shaking. He didn't think the hospital or anyone else knew how badly he needed to keep Will in his sights. But seeing Will, the marks on his throat, Paul knew he couldn't leave again.
Will looked over at Paul. He held out his hand.
"Puddin' pop," Will scratchy voice called.
With a sigh of relief, Paul rushed over. He pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down, grasping Will's hand.
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that stupid nickname," Paul told Will.
"How are you feeling, baby?" Paul wondered.
"Hurts," Will blearily responded. He squeezed Paul's hand.
"You don't have to talk then," Paul told Will. "I just want to be with you."
Will nodded and held Paul's gaze.
"Will," Paul lifted up Will's hand to hold in both of his. "When you didn't answer your phone," Paul shook his head. "I was so scared. I knew something bad was happening. I could feel it."
"Your mom and uncle came to the apartment," Paul explained. "I told them what happened and I ran all the way to the hotel. When I saw him with you," Paul cut himself off.
'Ari doesn't need to hear this,' Paul knew.
"I couldn't stand it if I lost you," Paul confessed. "Will," Paul licked his lips, "I-,"
Ari lifted her head from Will's chest. "Boo-boos," she cried. Her hands went to Will's throat.
Will winced. His neck and throat were tender.
"I make better," Ari promised.
Ari started placing feather light kisses over Will's neck.
"Much better," Will told Ari.
"I take care of Daddy," Ari guaranteed. "My daddy," Ari laid her head back on Will's chest.
"Will," Paul took a deep breath. "I realized something when I was running to the hotel. Something that I don't want to wait to tell you. Will, I-,"
"Where's my baby?" they heard a loud voice shriek from the hallway.
"My mom," Will whispered.
"Yeah," Paul huffed and closed his eyes. "I better go save the nurses," Paul told Will.
Paul kissed Will's hand and got up.
Sami frantically moved from door to door, aggravating the nurses. "Where is he?" she demanded.
"Sami," Eric grabbed her upper arm. "Paul," Eric pointed down the hall.
Eric, Sami, and Marlena looked towards Paul.
Paul gestured for everyone to come down the hallway.
Paul figured he would get an earful from Sami. For letting Will get into such a dangerous situation, for leaving Will alone, or even for taking Ari from the hotel. He didn't know what. He just assumed it was coming.
Sami surprised Paul instead.
"Paul," Sami cried, running down the hall. She yanked Paul into a tight hug.
Paul made a loud oompf sound, shocked.
"Eric told me what you did," Sami sobbed. "That you saved him."
Paul lifted his arm and awkwardly patted Sami's back. "Of course I did," Paul stated. "I couldn't let anything happen to him. I'd never let anything happen to him."
"Thank you," Sami insisted. "Thank you," she repeated. "Thank you. Thank you."
Paul nodded. He pulled away from Sami and made to guide her to Will's room.
Just then, a large group came out into the hallway.
"This is a hospital," Victor Kiriakis growled. "Who the hell is screaming?"
Victor saw Sami.
"Oh, it's you," Victor rolled his eyes. "Hysteria does not become you."
"Marlena?" Maggie followed after Victor. "What's going on?"
Coming out of Caroline's room nearby were Theresa and Brady with baby Tate. Following behind were Shawn and Belle.
"What's going on here?" Brady wondered seeing the rest of his siblings. "What happened?"
Sami ignored everyone and followed after Paul towards Will's room.
Marlena wiped her face and shook her head.
"Eric?" Maggie questioned.
Eric rubbed his hands over his face. "Will's here. The Necktie Killer made an attempt on his life," Eric told them.
Everyone began talking at once.
"Oh my god," Maggie gasped, clutching Victor's arm.
"Who was it?" Victor asked.
"Victor," Maggie smacked his arm. "How's Will? Is he alright? What happened?"
Eric didn't know what he should reveal, what he could reveal.
'But the press followed us here,' Eric recalled. 'It's only a matter of time before everyone finds out. It might as well be from me.'
Eric took a step closer to everyone and began to explain.
"Oh, my baby," Sami's face crumpled when she burst into the hospital room and saw Will.
Rushing towards Will, Sami hovered over him. She started running her hands through Will's blonde hair. She needed to check over every inch of him the way only a parent could.
"M'fine," Will tried to say before coughing, dislodging Ari from his chest.
Paul moved towards Will, helping him sit up.
"Relax," Paul suggested, patting Will's back. He buzzed for a nurse.
Sami watched Paul taking care of her son. Watched the trusting way Will gazed at Paul, leaning into his hands.
For the first time, it really dawned on Sami how much they cared for each other.
"There you go," Paul eased once Will started breathing easier.
Will nodded. He put his hand over his throat and winced.
"It's so red," Paul commented with a frown. "If I arrived even a few seconds later," Paul trailed off and closed his eyes.
"Didn't," Will shook his head. "Saved me," Will's eyes glistened.
"I'd do anything for you," Paul promised. "Anything."
Ari, frowning at them both, butted in. "Paul save Daddy?" she asked.
Will nodded. "Paul saved me," Will told her, grabbing her hand.
"Paul hero," Ari gushed. She turned to her grammy. "Paul save my daddy!"
"Yes, he did," Sami nodded. "And we couldn't be more grateful."
A nurse and Dr. Kayla Brady rushed into the room.
"Will," Kayla urged. "I just ran into Dr. Jonas. Oh, sweetheart, let me take a look."
Ari, refusing to move, cuddled closer to Will.
Kayla took out her stethoscope and began to listen to Will's chest. She prodded near Will's ribs.
"How is he?" Paul demanded. He kept his hand on Will's shoulder.
Kayla looked down Will's throat.
"His throat is swollen," Kayla revealed. "But I don't think it's anything serious. Your ribs are a bit bruised but should be OK. The bump on your head though…" she tittered.
"Not s'bad," Will said.
"I'm just so glad you're alright," Kayla sighed. She grabbed Will's chart. "Mild concussion but it could be worse. I can't believe this happened."
"M'fine," Will choked out.
Eric finished explaining what he knew about the case. He left out the detail about Ben's attempted sexual assault. Eric knew Will would prefer to keep that a secret. It also took the entire car ride reassuring Sami that nothing happened.
'Who even knows what anyone else will think if they find out,' Eric frowned.
"This is terrible," Brady stated. He had his arm around Theresa.
"What does Will need?" Belle asked. "What can we do?"
"What's going on here?" Lucas questioned behind Eric.
Lucas came to support Adrienne at her doctor's appointment. Adrienne stood next to him, a hospital folder in her free hand.
Lucas readjusted his hold on Adrienne's hand. "What's happening?" Lucas didn't like the looks on everyone's faces.
Everyone stared at Lucas.
Rafe shoved Ben into a seat inside the interrogation room.
"You know," Rafe commented. He had Will's laptop in his hands. "We have proof of everything."
Ben glanced at Rafe out of the corner of his eyes.
"Will do all the hard work for you?" Ben mocked.
"Did you really think you were going to get away with it?" Rafe wondered.
"It didn't matter," Ben smiled. "I got what I wanted out of it anyway. Or at least I almost did."
Rafe set his jaw.
"Will was almost as much fun as Zoe," Ben commented.
Rafe moved to walk out of the room. He couldn't hear this.
"Think he'll write about our time together?" Ben called out with a laugh.
Rafe slammed the door. He closed his eyes and took a calming breath.
When he opened his eyes Justin was standing before him.
"My turn," Justin said.
"Good luck," Rafe shook his head.
Justin walked into the room and closed the door.
"Oh good," Ben smirked. "The one that let me get away with it for so long. That evidence against Chad really wasn't convincing. You should have known better."
Justin glared at Ben and tossed a packet of papers on the table.
"Full confession," Justin stated. He pointed to the papers. "Write it. Sign it."
Ben chuckled. "You want to hear all my dirty little details?"
Justin offered Ben a pen.
Ben took the pen and started writing. "Let's start with the latest," Ben mumbled.
Justin rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Do I begin with when I wrapped my hands around his throat or when I pulled down his pants?" Ben asked himself.
Ben tapped the pen on the table. "Maybe Sonny can come visit me in jail and we can compare notes? I'm sure he's thought about killing and fucking Will at the same time."
Justin snatched the pen away from Ben and walked out the door.
Justin glanced at Hope.
"Your turn," he huffed.
Will looked at his aunt. "Wanna go home," he told her.
"I want you to stay overnight," Kayla said to Will. When she saw his face, Kayla held up her hand. "I know you want to go home but I'm not having it. You're my nephew and I'm not taking any chances."
Before Will could respond, the door to his room opened.
"Where's my boy?" Lucas shouted.
After Lucas, everyone else from the hallway crammed into the room.
Spying Will, Lucas hurried towards him.
"Will," Lucas gently pulled him into a hug. "Son," Lucas repeated.
"Dad," Will huffed slightly.
"God, Will," Lucas eased away and wiped at his eyes.
Adrienne moved to Lucas' side. She glanced at Paul awkwardly. Adrienne could feel Sami's glare on her.
"M'fine," Will tried to say before coughing.
Paul rubbed circles into Will's back. Ari patted Will's chest saying, "S'OK, Daddy."
Once Will's coughing fit subsided his visitors descended. One by one everyone came up to Will offering him well wishes and their love.
Will hated the looks everyone gave him. The soft expressions of pity on their faces. He hated it. He knew they were only there to support him but he didn't want them here.
Victor bent his head towards Maggie once she spoke to Will. He whispered to Maggie before slipping out of the room. "I need to make a call."
Paul could sense Will's discomfort. He understood entirely. Will didn't need or want that many people suffocating him in an entirely different way than Ben.
Sami stood up from her seat and grabbed Will's hand. She started talking rapidly at Lucas.
Brady and Eric were conversing in low voices. Theresa was attempting to shush a crying Tate. Belle pulled her mother into a hug while Shawn spoke to them both.
Kayla began talking to Sami and Lucas about Will and his condition. Adrienne eagerly listened in.
"Baby," Paul asked. "Do you need anything?"
"I'm fine," Will told Paul. "M'fine. I feel fine. I don't need to be here. I'm fine."
"Um," Paul settled his hand on Will's back. "I don't think you're fine."
"I'm fine," Will shook his head. "Fine. I-I'm fine."
"Right," Paul swallowed. He knew what he needed to do.
Paul stood up and cleared his throat.
"Everybody," Paul clapped his hands to get their attention. "I need you all to leave."
Everyone stared at him.
"Thank you for being here," Paul explained. "But Will needs some time alone now. So, everybody out."
Sami and Lucas began to loudly protest.
Marlena, seeing the look on Will's face, took Sami's arm. "Come on, we can go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat."
"But Will-," Sami started to say before stopping. She saw Will's desolate expression. "Right," Sami nodded.
"Come on, Ari. You wanna get some lunch?" Sami asked, holding out her hand.
Ari looked between her daddy and grandma. She wanted to be with her daddy, didn't want to leave him. He might need her after all. But she was hungry.
"Go with Grammy," Will told Ari. "I'll wait for you."
Ari nodded before gripping Will in a tight hug. Before leaving, Ari ordered Paul, "Take care of Daddy."
"Promise," Paul earnestly replied.
Will and Paul were finally alone for the first time since the incident.
Will leaned against Paul, exhausted.
"Do you need anything?" Paul asked.
Will shook his head. "No," he rasped.
Paul brushed his hand over Will's forehead. "You've got a nasty looking bruise," Paul frowned.
Will winced. "Yeah," he responded. "I hit the door."
"That's," Paul winced. "Baby," Paul gently held Will's face. His thumbs rubbed over the apple of Will's cheeks.
"I'm OK," Will said voice sandy and gruff.
"But you might not have been," Paul argued. "I left you alone. I left you alone and he," Paul looked down at his lap. "I left you alone."
"S'not your fault," Will placed his hand over Paul's. "Glad you and Ari weren't there."
"You could have been-," Paul continued. "I might never had gotten to see you again. God," Paul clenched his eyes closed. "The last thing I told you was to call someone to clean up the bathroom."
Will shook his head.
"I'm alright now," Will told Paul. "Sound like a smoker but," Will shrugged.
"I don't know. It's kind of sexy," Paul smiled.
"Will," Paul said a moment later. He had something he wanted to say, needed to say.
But hearing the steady beep from the monitors and seeing Will in his hospital gown, Paul knew it wasn't the right time or place.
Instead, Paul requested, "Tell me how you feel. How you really feel."
Will blinked rapidly. "I, um, I-I," Will trailed off.
Will brushed his fingertips against his throat. If he closed his eyes he could feel hands wrapped around him. The painful pressure against his windpipe. Ben hissing in his ear, touching him.
Will looked at Paul. Paul and his gentle, understanding eyes. Paul wasn't like everyone else who crowded Will. Paul didn't make Will feel like he was on display. Paul made Will feel safe and protected. Will trusted Paul.
"I'm not fine," Will confessed voice shaky.
Paul enveloped Will in his arms by the time the first sob bubbled out.
"I know," Paul admitted. "I know and I've got you."
Will clutched Paul in a tight grip. "Please don't leave me," Will begged. "Please."
"I'm not going anywhere without you," Paul promised. "I told you a while ago, Will. It doesn't matter how wild or crazy your life is. I want to be with you. This doesn't change that."
"Thank you," Will cried.
"Trust me," Paul kissed the side of Will's head. "I don't plan on ever leaving."
Author's note:
Not sure how I feel about this chapter.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading!
As for iluvh0rs3s, you're the best!