Hospital

The paramedics came over to assess his injuries as he finally stumbled to the ground holding fast onto the bottle of dilaudid. They tried to take it off him but he just tightened his grasp around it. He just wouldn't let go of the bottle; he needed it. It was the only thing that took away the pain and horror of what he'd just been through.

Spencer watched with tears in his eyes as they placed him on the stretcher and into the ambulance. In there they cleaned up his leg and stomach then bandaged them. At the hospital they'd take a closer look to see if the sand hadn't got into his blood.

He got in beside him and they shut the doors of the ambulance beginning to drive off to the hospital. He saw the bottle held tightly in his boyfriend's grasp and recognised what it was immediately.

"Aaron, please give me the dilaudid. You don't need it," he said gently.

"I'm sorry, Spencer, I need it. It's the only thing that helps," he replied looking down guiltily. He knew he had an addiction but it had been the only thing that had helped take him away from the horror and pain of his time as a hostage. Now he was scared the pain would all come back.

"I once thought that too, Aaron, but believe me you don't. Please don't go down this road. It's the hardest thing to do to get over an addiction and Jack and I can't lose you. Trust me you don't want to carry on down this route. I'll help you over this and through everything else. I'm not going anywhere ever again. I'll never leave your side again. I love you," he answered kissing his hand.

Seeing the pain in his lover's eyes he uncurled his fingers. He just couldn't bear to see his boyfriend in pain and knowing he was the one causing it almost broke his heart again. "I'm sorry, darling, I'd never hurt you on purpose," he said quietly.

"I know," he answered taking the bottle and placing it in his pocket.

"I love you, too," he replied taking his hand.

"I know that as well," he smiled back. "I know it isn't going to be easy but I'm going to help you every step of the way."

"Thanks."

He patted his hand and smiled at him reassuringly.

A couple of hours later he was lying in his hospital bed all alone. Thankfully the sand hadn't done any damage inside his wounds; they'd just had to clean them out. They only wanted to keep him in for observation much to his annoyance. After all he just wanted to get back home to his son.

The team had come to see him for about half an hour just to check up on him that he was going to be alright. He brushed them off assuring them he'd be fine; it was just two flesh wounds no biggie he'd suffered worse.

Spencer had gone down the hall to get a drink and something to eat. He'd informed him he was staying the night and there was nowhere else he was going to be than by his side. He was glad he was but he also wanted time alone.

Especially as he felt the pain cross his stomach and come up his leg again. He smiled as he saw Spencer had accidentally left his jacket behind and the bottle peeking out of his pocket.

He found a syringe in the top drawer and getting up making sure no-one was around he took the bottle out. He took the bottle out and placed the liquid in the syringe. He made sure to screw the lid back on top and place it back in Spencer's pocket.

Making sure no-one was around still he injected the drug into his arm then threw the syringe back into the top drawer so no-one could see what he'd just done. "I'm sorry, Spencer, I'm just not strong enough," he whispered.

Hearing footsteps he panicked and climbed back under the sheets closing his eyes pretending to be asleep. He knew he was being a coward but he couldn't bear to see Spencer's disappointment. He knew he'd work it out as soon as he entered the room.

Spencer smiled when he saw his boyfriend was finally asleep but then his eyes got drawn to his pocket and the dilaudid he took off him earlier. He took it out and saw the liquid had decreased. He shook his head and sighed with tears in his eyes. He knew now the hold on Aaron was stronger than he'd originally feared but he'd do everything in his power to help him overcome it.