Finding Light in the Shadow (Solangelo)

Chapter 20

One month later...

Will

"Doctor Solace, we have an emergency patient coming in.  Caucasian, male, and around 18, he has a abdomen wound bleeding out of control.  He is in critical condition and needs immediate care."  Just then, they brought the patient in on a stretcher.  There was so much blood, it was all I could look at.  They were giving him air with an air bag.  We took him into triage room one and got him on the table.  My sister took the air bag off his mouth briefly to take off his armor.  Suddenly, I saw his face and realized that it was my Nico.  The nurse cut his shirt off and I saw the severity of his wound.  The gash in his abdomen was at least three inches wide.  His precious blood kept pouring out him.  There was blood coming out from behind his back as well.  I knew then that the wound was through both sides.  This was way beyond what we were capable of curing.  The damage was too extensive, there was no way we could stop the bleeding.  He looked almost white, as his life was pouring out of him.  His breathing became more shallow and his heart rate was dropping.  I swatted the air bag away from his face.  Leaning in close, I looked at my angel's face and brushed his hair away from his eyes.  I gave my lover one last kiss just before he took his last breath.

Nico

Will's bare torso was covered in sweat, he was twisting around and shaking.  I kept trying to wake my baby up, but he kept saying words I couldn't make out.  Finally, he woke up screaming, "Nico, No!"  After he finally came around he started bawling.  I pulled his head against my bare chest.  I put my other arm around his sweaty back, holding him tight as he shed his tears.  Ever since we came back from the Underworld, his nightmares have started to rival mine.  I reached up to his head and ran my fingers through his soaked hair, trying to comfort him.  My sunshine's tears ran down my chest and stomach.  After what seemed like forever, his sobs stopped.  When he fully calmed down, I pulled his head up until we were face to face.  He looked like complete shit, and beautiful at the same time.  I kissed my man with all that I had, running my hand up and down his back trying to comfort him.

Eventually he broke off his kiss.  "I'm so sorry Nico, I hate waking you up like that."

"It's OK my sunshine, it was only a nightmare."

"The thought of losing you was too much to bare.  I couldn't imagine living my life without you."

He started crying again, I pulled him back into my embrace.  His tears started flowing down my torso once more.  In between the sobs I could hear whimpers, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.  It hurt me to see my baby having this much pain.  I started crying, my tears soaking his hair even more.

"Baby, I know what you saw and heard had to be difficult for you.  Just know that some parts of the Underworld that you didn't see are actually quite nice.  I would have shown you Elysium if I could, but it is under heavily watched guard.  It is so nice there, no pain, no suffering.  The Isle of the Blessed has everything you could want for eternity.  You only saw the bad parts, full of pain, loneliness, and suffering.  It doesn't have to end that way.  We don't have to end that way.  I love you Will Solace with all my heart. I'm not going anywhere."

I kept running my hand through his now really soaked blonde hair.  He kept crying with no end in sight.  No matter how much I tried to comfort him, nothing worked.  There was only one thing I could think of at that moment.  Lord Apollo, please help me.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away."

When I finished my brief serenade, Will looked up to me and smiled.  I leaned down and kissed my lover.  He started kissing me back and soon we were laying with our heads on the pillow, locked at the lips, holding each other tight.  Eventually, the tears stopped flowing and he let me go.

"Darkness, once again you shocked the shit out of me.  I never knew you could sing like that."

"Ssshhh, it's a secret."  I started giggling and gave Will a kiss on the forehead.

"That dream Nico, it was just so terrifying.  I can't bare the thought of losing you."

"I'm not going anywhere sunshine.  That's the way those dreams can be.  Once you let those images in, it's hard to get them back out.  Thank the Gods I didn't have to take you somewhere worse, or you would have really been fucked."

I smiled and gave him a peck on the lips.  I curled my head back up on his sweaty chest.  Will wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me against him tight, and we both drifted back off to sleep.