Disclaimer: I don't own anyone.
Rated: M
Warning(s): Slash, Murder, etc.

A/N: Guys... seriously, I can't convey how thankful I am for every single one of the reviews that have been left on this story. I honestly never thought that, entering into the fiftieth chapter, I would be seven away from four-hundred reviews. Your continued curiosity and interest in this story is what fuels my drive to continue writing it, and all of the others. Thank you again.

Roman and Seth sat on the hotel bed, Seth seated comfortably on the larger man's lap. Roman sat, back propped against the pillows, his large arms hooked tight around Seth's midsection. They were partaking in one of Seth's favorite activities before everything happened and their world was literally flipped upside-down - reading together. More specifically, Roman was reading to Seth, and Seth, comfortably resting in Roman's arms, was walking the fine line between consciousness and unconsciousness. It was a beautiful sensation.

Roman's deep, almost gentle voice, washed over Seth like the calm lapping of the waves against the shore. And as he read from the novel, he gently stroked Seth's arm, eliciting the slightest of shivers from the thinner man. This was what they had both craved for so long... This was what they needed... In moments like these, their bodies seemingly checked out. There was no fear of accidental sexual come-ons, no fear of overstepping the carefully placed bounds. In moments like these, they could simply be themselves... and be happy.

After a moment, Roman paused. Turning to Seth, he saw those beautiful, heavy eyes drooping, and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his stubbly cheek. "I think it's time to call it a night. You're exhausted."

But instead of listening to what Roman had to say, Seth softly inquired, "Do you ever feel responsible for what happened to Dean?"

Roman's heart suddenly constricted in his chest. For a moment, he wondered if he had heard Seth correctly... but knew, without a doubt, that he had. Swallowing hard, he reasoned, "Dean made his decision." He squeezed Seth a little tighter. "We made ours."

"Do you think that he's been arrested?" Seth asked. By now, his eyes were closed and he was clearly halfway off into dreamland.

"No." Roman knew that he hadn't been arrested. But he couldn't tell Seth that. "We would've heard about it on the news."

"Ah." Seth nodded. Rubbing at his eyes, he slowly slid off of Roman's lap and landed with a plop onto his side of the bed. Turning back for only a moment, he puffed out his bottom lip and asked, "Hold me?"

Roman quickly acquiesced. There was really no point in allowing his boy to suffer over there alone any longer. It was a little bit difficult to come to terms with the fact that their relationship was changing, that they were no longer dominant and submissive - rather, they were going to soon stand as equals, that they had each been corrupted in a way that could never be taken back. So, Roman moved over and wrapped an arm around Seth, pulling him as close as possible. Because change today could mean the end tomorrow.

"Goodnight, Roman." Seth said, eyes falling closed for the final time.

"Goodnight, babe." Roman drifted off soon after, missing the slight smile that came over Seth's face.

Meanwhile

"You wanted to see me?" A nod came from the man half-concealed in shadow. Vince ventured a little bit further into the hospital room, before checking the hallway and closing the door as quickly and quietly as possible. "I hope you realize the danger you are imposing upon yourself."

The man didn't meet Vince's eyes, but offered, "I'm fully aware of the risks. I just need to know... how are they?"

Vince frowned. "Just as well as could be expected. Roman seems pretty well off, but that's a superficial observation. I can tell that he is deeply upset by what happened. And Seth... well, he just about had a breakdown. I broke the news to him about an hour before he was released from the hospital."

"And they allowed you to send them on their little 'vacation'?" He asked, almost disbelieving.

"I didn't give them very much of a choice." Vince informed him. "Three months in Rio. That should be enough time."

The man looked away. Vince took in the battered form on the bed, amazed at how far the mighty could fall. "I called because you said that you could help me." The man told him. "Normally, I wouldn't ask. But as you can assume, I have nobody else to turn to."

"It must be awfully quartered off in here." Vince said off-handedly. The room was terribly stuffy.

"I make due." He shrugged. It was clear that he was on the brink of stir-craziness, however.

Quite honestly, when he had called, Vince didn't know what to think. There weren't words to describe how much he wanted to wash his hands clean of the entire incident - it was awful publicity to have a murder in the company, and when the victim also happened to have raped two of his top-contending superstars? Vince was battling a shit storm from the media, the press... and he just didn't know what to do anymore. His presence in this room wouldn't help matters, either. After feeding the press stories about his death, they undoubtedly would not react well to finding out that he was alive.

Vince had only agreed to cover up the death in order to put the entire scandal on the backburner for awhile. If he re-focused the media's attention somewhere else (say, on a totally fabricated suicide), then he had a chance to get to the bottom of the situation whilst temporarily out from under the scrutinizing eye of the media. The man had bought into it easily... he was willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to protect his mates. Vince had used that to his advantage when staging the scene of the suicide - fake knives and suppressants, along with several complacent paramedics, made his job remarkably easy.

Vince finally stepped closer, allowing the man on the hospital bed to come into the light. He looked considerably disheveled and lonely, but still had that same manic look in his eyes. "We need to talk about the next stage of the plan, Dean."