Chapter 1

***Trigger warning. Some angst and retelling of abuse in this chapter***

Don't stop, keep running, get to Zee. Saint chanted it like a mantra as he sprinted through the rain drenched streets, ignoring the aches and pains as he went. His lungs burned and his eyes stung from the rain and sweat that ran down his face, but nothing would stop him now. He would run til his heart exploded if it meant he could get to safety, get to Zee. Don't stop, keep running, get to Zee.

His legs were about to give out when he finally saw the familiar blue door. Using his final ounce of strength he pounded on the door, before stunbling forward and all but collapsing on it. It could have been minutes or hours but suddenly Saint was aware of the hardness of the door being gone and replaced by a strong set of arms. He allowed the comforting scent of Zee to enfold him and promptly lost consciousness.

"...Don't tell me to calm down! I called for an ambulance an hour ago, so where the fuck it is?" Zee screamed at someone. "I wonder who needs an ambulance..." thought Saint to himself. He tried to ask Zee but when he started started to talk all he could manage was a pained groan. "Wait, he's waking up I think. Just fucking hurry up!" Zee snapped harshly. "Saint?" He said in a voice usually reserved for his son, Lee. "Can you here me?" He continued equally as gently. Saint felt a gentle brush of a hand a against his cheek and attempted to open his eyes, desperate to finally see his friend.

That proved to be more difficult than it sounded. His left eye simply refused to comply while his right fluttered open and close of its own accord. Saint caught a glimpse of his friend and tried to let him know he could hear him and that he was ok. "Zee..." he said leaning into the hand on his cheek. He wanted to say more but his eye fluttered closed and darkness overtook him once more.

Saint slowly became aware of a steady beeping. He opened his eyes and tried to take in his surroundings. It looked like he was in a hospital room, from the corner of his eye he thought he saw a figure in a chair. Turning his head to check, made him wince and groan in pain. This was enough to wake Zee from the light sleep he was currently in.   Seeing that Saint might waking waking up Zee ran to his bedside. "Saint" he said softly, waiting for a sign his friend was in fact awake. "Zee..." Saint said with a horse voice. He slowly opened his eyes and was glad to see Zee smiling over him.

"Finally you're awake! They said you were probably just exhausted but I was so worried about you!" Zee said, his voice faltering. He pressed the button to summon the nurses. "Can you speak? Do you remember what happened? We tried to call Matt but he's not picking..." Saint's eyes flew wide open at hearing this. "No! Please! You can't..." Saint could feel his heart racing and the panic setting in. The machine he heard early started going crazy. "...reathe... Come on Saint, breathe for me, please?" Saint knew that was Zee's voice so he tried his best to listen and do what he was asking.

The nurse arrived and pushed a syringe into Saint's arm. Saint felt himself relaxing in almost an instant and realised he was clinging onto Zee's arm. He decided given the circumstances he would just enjoy the moment and the comfort it brought him. "He did this didn't he?" Zee asked, though he tried to keep his voice calm Saint could hear the rage in his voice seeping through. He must have flinched because Zee wrapped his other arm gently around him. "Saint I'm sorry... I didn't mean to scare you." He began gently rubbing soothing circles on Saint's back.

Saint was relaxed in moments but that was probably down to what ever he'd been injected. "No I'm sorry Zee..." he said with tears filling his eyes. "You tried to warn me about him but I wouldn't listen. You said he was dangerous but I thought he loved me and look what he did..." Saint's face throbbed as he cried, the swelling from the earlier punches making themselves evident. The soothing circles on his continued as Zee allowed him to cry his heart out in his arms. "Shhh, it's OK Saint." Zee said sincerely "I will never let him hurt you again."

Saint must have passed out again because he blinked and it was light outside. Zee had pulled his chair over to the bed and was holding his hand while fast asleep. Saint wanted to smile at the sight but his face hurt too much to move. There was a knock at the door and a police officer came in. Zee woke up in an instant ready to protect Saint if he needed it. The officer explained that he had come to take Saint's statement. Zee had given them the basics he knew last night while Saint was asleep, but now they needed a full account of the incident if Saint wanted to press charges. He also explained that his colleague would also be coming to take photos if that was the case.

Zee stayed silent but never let go of Saint's hand. As much as he wanted to beg Saint to get the bastard put away, he knew it had to be his own decision. Saint was shaking but he knew he had to be brave, he gripped Zee's hand tight and began to tell the events of the previous evening. Zee and the officer listened to how Saint had been out to a club with Matt. That Matt had been drinking and getting progressively more aggressive as the night went on. How Saint had tried to get Matt home and calm him down but things had gotten worse after Saint refused to have set with him. Matt had tried to force himself on Saint and when that failed because he was too drunk he'd taken all his anger out on Saint using his fists.

By the time he had finished Saint's face was soaked with tears and they wouldn't stop flowing, even after the officer left. Zee wanted nothing more than to take this away from him but all he could was hold Saint as he cried himself to sleep. Even when the crying stopped and Saint's breathing evened out Zee still wouldn't let go. He swore to himself that no one would ever hurt the man in his arms ever again.