OI. I'm telling you (yeah, you) right now that this is a steamy chapter. I mean steamy steamy. If that bothers you, read with caution!

Consciousness returned like a sunrise. The sweetness of oblivion faded. Gradually, beams of sunlight fell upon Cole's mind, reminding him of everything that had happened. He jolted awake, ignoring the pain that tore through him as he forced himself upright. 

He was in the hospital wing. He could tell by the room design, empty except for what was necessary. Bland, but practical. He had spent days by Lionel's beside, and it had looked just like this. There was no one in his room, though. Cole reached down and angrily ripped out the IV in his arm, barely even feeling it. He swung his legs over the bedside and was across the room in seconds. He had to find out what had happened. 

He was himself again, which was a good sign. Although, he didn't entirely trust his body any longer. Any second, that feeling could return. He could feel the shifting of his insides, moving to make room for him. His skin crawled as he slammed the door open. 

The doctor stood on the other side of the door. It had nearly hit him in the face as Cole opened it. "Oh, my," Jaeger exclaimed. "Sir, you should still be in bed. You haven't received the proper-" 

"What happened? How long have I been out?" Cole demanded. 

Jaeger looked unimpressed. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It hasn't even been a day since you fell unconscious. As for your other question, a fenithrope attacked Luna Kaia. I believe you were caught in the crossfire. She is quite alright, however. Just a head injury."

He exhaled. Kaia was ok. "And Lionel?" Cole swallowed hard. "Did he--did he survive?" 

The man hesitated, and it made Cole want to punch him in the face. Hard. But he held back his rage, clenching his hands into fists. Cole didn't know what he would do. He would keep going, of course. For Kaia. For the Pack. For Albert. 

But without Lionel, Cole knew that he would never be the same. He would live every day with a broken heart, like a clock that doesn't quite tick right. 

"He survived. Last I saw him, he was by your side." 

Cole let out a shaky breath and leaned heavily against the wall. His strength left him suddenly, and he closed his eyes, fighting the dizziness that washed over him. He clenched his jaw and waited for it to pass. "Are you alright? You really shouldn't be upright. You lost a lot of blood." 

"I need to see Lionel," Cole said, opening his eyes. "Where would he have gone?" 

Jaeger shook his head. "I don't know. It's possible that he went somewhere to transform back and get clothes. Check his room. And do bring him back here if he's changing back. I'll need to rebind his wounds." 

"Thank you," Cole said. 

He smiled subtly. "You're quite like your sister, you know." 

Cole blinked. "What?" 

Jaeger shook his head. "Go on. Take care of your wounds, as well. That arm is bandaged for a reason." 

Cole nodded. He didn't hesitate, bounding down the hallway towards Lionel's room. He winced as he twisted the knob, his shredded arm howling in pain. He shut the door behind him, walking steadily into the center of the room. "Lion," he said, looking around. 

He wasn't here. Or, that's what Cole thought at first. But then he heard the shower going. He walked towards the bathroom, pulling the door open immediately. He paused in the doorframe as he set his eyes on his mate. 

Lionel stood in the shower. The distorted glass between them was fogged up. For a moment, Cole just stood there. He watched Lionel bow his head and hang an arm off of his neck as the water dripped from his hair. Lionel's features were hard to make out through the glass, but it didn't matter. He was still outlandishly beautiful, painfully perfect in every way. 

Cole stepped forward and pulled the shower door open. Lionel jumped and spun around, not having noticed Cole's presence. When he saw Cole, though, his expression faded from surprise to...mournful, regret-filled pain. 

Once the glass was out of the way, Cole saw it. Angry, foul bruises were scattered across Lionel's body. An open gash cut its way across his left shoulder, leaking tiny amounts of blood that turned the water light pink. Cole felt like he was going to throw up. 

Lionel stood there, staring at Cole. It was like neither of them knew what to do. They'd destroyed each other, and now here they were, in pain because they were in love. 

The only sound was the water rushing from the shower head. Lionel stood there naked, hugging himself. He was trying to cover his bruises as best he could with his arms. Cole gripped the door until his knuckles turned white. 

He was afraid. He wanted to touch Lionel. He'd expected to come here and immediately rush to his mate. But it was harder than that. The moment he saw those bruises, he remembered the feeling of striking Lionel. He heard Lionel's whimper over and over again. And, it seemed, Lionel felt the same. He didn't move to approach Cole. He just stood there, shaking ever so slightly. 

Steam drifted around them. Cole's lips parted. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't. He bit his lip hard, tilting his head back as pain coursed through him. Lionel's lip quivered. His expression contorted as he felt what Cole felt. Despair. Regret. Cole couldn't turn back time, no matter how badly he wanted to. He couldn't erase the memories, much less the deeds. He could feel Lionel's pain, too. They'd both hurt each other. They both felt the same. 

Lionel let out a sob. "I'm sorry," he whimpered. His composure broke entirely. His body started shaking. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I-" Cole stepped into the shower fully clothed. He felt hot tears behind his eyes. "No," Lionel said, pressing his back against the wall. 

Cole paused, staring. Lionel shook his head. "You'll get wet." 

Cole stared at him for a long moment before he expression broke. He smiled. What a stupid thing to say. Who cares? Who cares? 

He closed the distance between them, reaching up and pulling Lionel's closer by the back of his neck. Water poured onto both of them, drenching Cole instantly. Cole cradled Lionel's head as he sobbed and clung to Cole's clothes. Cole's arm wrapped around Lionel's chest, hugging him tightly. 

Their embrace hurt. Cole's body screamed at him, telling him that it wasn't ready for something like this. His injuries hated it, but Cole was helpless. There was nothing he could do but hold Lionel close. 

It was one of those embraces where bodies seem to melt together. You hold each other so tightly that you can no longer tell where you end and they begin. It was desperation. 

"It wasn't me," Cole growled. He kissed Lionel's neck, water dripping from his nose. His wet curls fell in front of his eyes. "I didn't-" 

"I know," Lionel said, stopping him. His arms slid along Cole's back. "It was me, though." He hesitated, his voice barely audible over the water. "Cole, I had to..." 

Cole pulled away slightly, holding Lionel's face. He shook his head, looking down at Lionel. They were both crying now, but their tears were invisible, mixed with the water that cascaded around them. "It's ok. I wanted you to. You had to, and I wanted you to. It's not your fault." 

Lionel leaned heavily on Cole when he heard that. He clung to Cole's wrists. As it had happened, it felt like his childhood all over again. He'd chosen to fire that gun, to risk everything. His mom had died for it. And now, he'd done it again. "I tasted your blood, Cole," Lionel whimpered. He sucked in a breath, having forgotten to breathe. 

Cole leaned down to kiss Lionel, but Lionel ducked away. "Don't," Lionel said, pressing a hand to Cole's chest. He was angry. "Don't you get it? I bit you! I could have killed you!"

Cole pinned Lionel against the wall. Even if Lionel was a lycanthrope, Cole was stronger than him. He stared into Lionel's eyes, his expression serious. "I would let you tear my body apart, Lion. I would die in a heartbeat because I know you would only do it if you had to." 

Lionel rested his head against the tile behind him. Pain still roiled inside of Lionel. Cole could feel it, too. Something terrible had happened, but they could live through it. Their lives had proved that much. The steam drifted between them. 

"Let me show you," Cole said quietly, leaning closer to Lionel. He pressed his body against Lionel's, taking Lionel's hands and weaving their fingers together. He lifted Lionel's hands above his head, holding them to the wall. "These lips..." Cole breathed, barely caressing Lionel's lips with his. Cole could tell he was dissolving Lionel's fear, his pain, his resistance. An inch of space lingered between them, something Cole meant to maintain until Lionel wanted it closed. "...can't hurt me." 

Cole's eyes ran the length of Lionel. Even bruised, his body was beautiful. And where before the bruises made Cole sick, now he only felt competition. The disgusting asshole who'd done this was still out there, but he wasn't between them any longer. All Cole wanted to do was replace Lionel's pain with pleasure. 

Cole met Lionel's eyes. "Please?" 

Lionel nodded immediately, and Cole erased the memory of blood on Lionel's tongue. As before, kissing Lionel made Cole's entire body react instantly. It was like a drug, making Cole lose himself and leaving his mind spinning. He lost himself in it, barely even feeling the water pounding his back as he pressed Lionel against the slippery tiles. "I'm not fragile," Cole said into Lionel's mouth. Lionel moaned as Cole's tongue slipped between his lips. Cole smiled as ecstasy flooded his body. Somehow, he could feel what Lionel felt. Every bit of Lionel's pleasure, everything Lionel liked...Cole felt it, too. 

He knew what Lionel wanted. Cole pulled away, leaving Lionel's mouth and moving to his neck. He whispered into Lionel's ear. "All I want to do right now is be inside of you. I want to fuck you until you realize that I'm not afraid of you." 

Lionel bit his lip, nodding desperately and pulling at Cole's shirt. His hands wandered underneath the wet fabric, caressing Cole's muscles. "Please." 

"I won't, though," Cole said, sliding his tongue along his wet lips. Lionel looked pained. Water cascaded down his heaving chest. "I want you to trust me." 

"Please, Cole," Lionel begged. "I want it." 

Cole loved the deliriousness that twisted in the air around them. It was like the steam from the hot water, drifting around them, clinging to their skin. Every breath drew it in, taking over their bodies from the inside out. Somehow, Cole held back. 

"I just want to watch you," Cole said huskily. He reached forward and slid his hand along Lionel's chest, taking Lionel's nipple between two fingers. He twisted it and watched Lionel's back arch slightly and his lips part. With his other hand, he reached down. Lionel immediately reacted, grabbing Cole's shoulders and holding tight. "Forget it all, Lion," Cole said. He watched Lionel shudder. "It's just you and me."

Cole listened to Lionel's moans, watching his body move eagerly. It made Cole feel in control again. He needed that. He wanted Lionel to trust what was between them, but he had to remind himself that he should, also. 

Lionel's knees buckled beneath him. Cole caught him, gently lifting him up with one arm. Lionel's arms rested on Cole's shoulder, tightening and tightening around them. His fingers grasped Cole's hair, pulling Cole's face so that Lionel could kiss Cole again. Cole obliged. Their tongues mingled until finally, Lionel cried out, pressing his body against Cole's and biting Cole's lip. He was breathing hard, and so was Cole. 

"Fuck," Lionel groaned. 

Cole smiled. "Feel good?" 

Lionel nodded, kissing Cole again. "Your turn," he said, reaching down and unbuttoning Cole's pants. Cole let him, watching him deftly maneuver. Lionel smirked deviously as he slid down Cole's body, falling to his knees. 

"Wait, are you serious?" Cole exclaimed. For some reason, he was surprised. 

Lionel didn't answer. Before Cole could say anything else, Lionel had utterly stolen his voice. Cole's mouth hung open as his body became more important than his mind. He was no longer Cole. He was only what Lionel let him be, made him be. Cole braced his body against either wall with his arms at first, trying to find the will to stay upright. This was so much more, so much better than he'd ever felt. 

He couldn't help it. His voice escaped him. The water fell from above, dripping down Cole's body to where Lionel was. Cole watched Lionel, the sight of his mate like this weakening him further. The pain from his injuries vanished. Cole could only feel Lionel's hands, his mouth. He reached down and touched Lionel's head. "Wai-" Cole gasped. "Lion, st-" 

But he didn't stop. He kept going and going until Cole lost himself. Cole's hand slammed into the shower door with a loud bang. His hips rocked forward as Lionel's lips caressed him one last time. Cole's mouth opened wide, and he tilted his head back, his muscles tensing and his body erupting into heavy weightlessness. He felt his heart twist and his legs weaken. His voice came louder this time, bursting out of him before he could stop it. 

When the dizziness faded and Cole started to drift back into reality, he heard Lionel's voice. "Feel good?" 

Cole bit his lip, looking down at Lionel. "Come here." 

Lionel rose quickly. Cole took his face, smoothing his wet hair away from those blue eyes. He lost himself in Lionel's eyes for a second before kissing him. Cole could feel his body reeling, still in the grips of the aftereffects, the tsunami after the earthquake. "We're ok, Lion," Cole whispered against his lips. 

Lionel nodded slowly. Cole started to feel the pain of his injuries again, gradually realizing that his blood had seeped through his bandages. Lionel met his eyes and touched Cole's face. "Hey." Lionel pulled Cole's body close. "I love you."