Authors note: I know quite a few people read this and I'm sorry for being late. I'm running on lack of sleep and boredom so here's your newest chapter. Please read, review and enjoy.

What has passed

Matt rolled over for what had to be the fifth time tonight. He was still sitting there, staring at him. He wasn't sure if in all the years he hadn't seen Mello he had learned how to sleep with his eyes open or the blond was actually still watching over him. Fingers ran through red tresses for something to do, anything to keep his mind off of Mello. The blond was back after all this time saying scary misleading things. He had trusted Mello before and look where that had led him. He was the property of some Don that just wanted a pretty pet to play, pet and touch anytime he wanted.

He bit his lip remember the words he had spewed about Louis. The man had seemed like the only person in the world that cared about him and what would happen to him. He shivered at the idea of what they had already done to him and it was his fault. Louis knew the truth, he had always known that Matt didn't love him but that didn't stop him from loving Matt. He wasn't sure how he should feel about any of it but he was positive that it wasn't good. No, nothing good had come from last night. Tears prickled at his eyes at what he had caused. Somewhere out there a woman had lost her husband and their children had lost their father.

"I'm sorry." He whispered knowing the words would never reach them. Who they did reach was the blond sitting quietly still watching him with a look to shatter glass. He turned his face away from Mello's not wanting to think about him right now either.

Mello shifted slightly in his chair, "Sorry about what?" He questioned aloud guessing that the other didn't want to hear his voice. He tilted his head to the side still watching Matt.

Matt shrugged lightly, "Don't worry about it. It doesn't have anything to do with you. Trust me." That was only a white light. He was just trying not to think about anything right now and no matter how far a sleep he lulled himself into it wouldn't save anything. His conscious was screaming. His body twitched with ghost touches from Louis. His mind seemed like it was imploding upon itself. He shivered thoughtlessly again as he heard the sound of movement behind him. Mello had moved to stand. He was really taking this whole 'watching over Matt' thing seriously. He was even trusted enough to be left in a room with him.

The bed creaked under the weight of another person. Mello's hand was on his back stroking gently. It wasn't the touch of someone that wanted something from him. He knew that feel all too well. It was the comfort that he had been searching for in sleep. It was actual comfort coming from his oldest friend that still, somehow, knew that despite his words Matt was hurting. It didn't matter how long they hadn't seen each other somehow they would always be friends, able to communicate things at the drop of a hat through a look or touch.

"Don't cry Matt." Mello's voice was heavy. Matt glanced over his shoulder. The blond was staring into space again, almost as if he wasn't fully there. He continued with his stroking, "This is my fault. I'll fix it somehow." His hand tensed slightly at the words but he didn't stop petting the other. "Matt, you shouldn't have followed me. You don't belong in a place like this."

Matt rolled over. Mello's hand stilled but remained in place now on the red head's stomach. "So what I should have just stayed in Wammy house and been a good boy?" He questioned aloud watching the blond shrug slightly. "Nothing is that simple Mello. I've made a lot of mistakes in the last six years but I'll be damned if I let that be one of them."

Mello glanced around, "Look where the fuck you are Matt. Even I'm having hard time thinking about a way that I can get you away now that the Don likes you." He sighed shaking his head roughly. "It's a very delicate world Matt."

The red head shrugged, "I know that already. I can stay along as long as I need to." He replied seriously. "I don't regret coming after you Mello so don't act like I should. The only thing I should regret is not being able to find you before you got yourself into this." The blonds head snapped in his direction. Matt smirked, "You should have known that was coming."

Mello sighed, "Should have but didn't expect you to say it out loud. Matt, let me take care of this. We'll leave this. I promise."

The dark eyebrow cocked, "How? Magic?" He questioned watching the blond shake his head slowly back to thinking. There was once a point where Matt always knew what the blond was thinking but now looking at him older, tanner, more slender and dangerous. He tilted his head to the side before looking away before the blond could glance in his direction. Mello still struck awe though him. It was almost sickening.

Mello frowned, "Don't worry about that. You just play your part and stay out of trouble with that mouth of yours." He glanced at his hand laying on Matt's blanket. "If it means I leave with you then I'll leave the Mafia."

Matt shrugged, "Something like that would take time, and a lot of it. Plus you don't know that you can trust me."

Mello chuckled, "Six year later, stripper Matt is still my best friend." He replied ruffling the others hair.

~*xXx*~

Mello jerked away from the pain as it connected to his nose. He pulled himself up tangled in blankets and something…someone else. He growled grabbing at one of the limbs swinging restlessly around near his face. It was Matt, he hadn't remembered falling asleep but what was worse he didn't remember falling asleep in bed with Matt. The red head was still sleeping, tears streaming down his cheeks leaving teardrops on the blanket that matched his hair. It turned the spots black in the rays of sunshine.

"Please, please God no." The red head whispered over and over again. Mello caught his other hand before he could swing it again. "Don't…I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." His voice was rising towards a scream.

Mello clamped his hand over the others mouth. "Stop it. You're dreaming, Matt." He gave the other a forceful shake. "Matt, you're fucking sleeping. Wake up."

Matt released a final gasp, "Louis, I'm sorry." He breathed before his eyes snapped over. He looked horrified, almost as if he had seen a ghost. His body was covered in sweat and tears as he jerked his hands out of Mello's. His body shook is frightening tremors as he shook his head desperately. Mello opened his mouth to speak, "Leave." Matt's voice was rough and hoarse. "Fucking leave Mello." He hissed pulling himself to his feet as he moved across the room towards the bathroom. "Leave!" He screamed a final time slamming the door behind himself.

Mello frowned, it seemed like his friend was more gone than he had originally thought. The faster he got Matt away from here the better for his mental health. He could only imagine.