Sleep lost its tenuous hold on Ace in seconds as the low cry reached his ears. Instantly alert, the magician turned to the young man sharing his bed, nestled amongst the silken sheets.
 Cosmo was home.
 It meant the world to Ace to have his young love back home where he belonged.
 Despite Cosmo’s complaints to the contrary - the teen being exuberant with his release from the hospital- the young man had all but fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillows. Exuberance only went so far with a body still in recovery. But, that much needed rested was disturbed-- a small shuddering traveling through the teen as another whimper escaped.
 “Cosmo,” Ace called gently, hand resting lightly on one bare shoulder. There was little doubt to Ace about the dream Cosmo was suffering. It was not the first time the young man had had it. Memories of the pain, the attack on the damn...
 “Cosmo,” he called more insistently. A minuet spasm ran through the lean body and with a small gasp, Cosmo’s eyes popped open and he stared blearily around in a moments confusion.
 “Ace?”
 “It’s okay. You were having a nightmare,” Ace said softly, scooting over and carefully wrapping an arm around his partner.
 “Oh.” Cosmo snuggled close, wincing. Discreetly, Ace looked to the bandage that encased Cosmo’s torso and was relived to see no signs of blood. While the young man’s lung was healed, the muscle damage was not yet whole and until it was, Ace would worry.
 “Same dream?” Ace asked softly, letting his fingers trace lazily over Cosmo’s collar bone.
 Cosmo sighed and nodded. “Yeah, yeah.. that one,” he muttered darkly. Ace nodded silently and tightened his hold a touch more. Cosmo said nothing, simply burrowed into his embrace. Hid. Hid from the demons that had stalked his every night. The pain, the memories...
 Cosmo wouldn’t talk about it. Any of it. Ace had tried -oh how he had tried- to get the young man to open up. But it was like running repeatedly into a brick wall. His lover was tight lipped about what was going on in his red head. Still... Ace was determined.
 “Cosmo...?”
 A deep sighed interrupted him.
 “I know, Ace.. I know.”
 Cosmo looked up, gray eyes stormy.. haunted. Ace let his hand caress back the red hair. Offered a warm smile to the trouble gaze. “I love you,” he murmured softly, lips brushing along one temple. It was the best way to get to Cosmo. To speak his love aloud. Though the empath didn’t really need to hear it, Cosmo felt it, always, but still....
 Cosmo smiled slightly in appreciation.
 “Love you,” he returned, delivering a kiss to Ace’s chest, playfully nibbling at a convenient nipple. Ace ignored just what that did to him: and it wasn’t easy! The magician **was** determined to stay on his best behavior given that Cosmo’s doctors forbade him from any strenuous exercise, including sex. Ace harrumphed silently. They seemed to put particular emphasis on that when he had picked his partner up at the hospital.
 Ace stilled the lecherous assault with a cautious touch of his hand, long fingers catching and lifting Cosmo’s chin. Cosmo flashed him a look that could be annoyance, could be dread.
 “You need to talk about it,” Ace urged softly, Cosmo turning away the moment the words left his lips.
 “Just want to forget it, Ace,” he snipped, pulling free of Ace’s arm and rolling onto his side, back to his partner. Ace sighed and levered himself on one elbow. Peeked over a slender shoulder.
 “It won’t just go away,” Ace sighed, fingers running along the muscular channel between Cosmo’s shoulder blades. “It never does.”
 He kissed the shoulder, then moved to Cosmo’s neck and up to his ear.
 “Please.. let me help.”
 Ace saw a hint of defeat come as Cosmo let out a deep sigh.
 “Ace.. it’s just that...” his voice tremored and Ace wrapped an arm around the smaller man, let his large hand slid up and rest over Cosmo’s heart. For a moment he took infinite assurance in the powerful beat in the well formed chest.
 Cosmo rolled over, wincing again and looked at him.
 “Just... I don’t want to remember. I just don’t!”
 “But you are.”
 “Yeah.” Cosmo closed his eyes and shuddered. “Yeah. Sort of sucks.”
 Ace was silent as Cosmo did no more than lay there, breathing heavily. The magician knew he was making progress. Sensed a change in the younger man. A willingness to open up. So he was patient, letting his hand move soothingly across the planes of Cosmo’s chest, admiring the young strength in his lover’s body. A strength that the bandage around his waist reminded the older man had not fully returned.
 “It was like the world had ended. Like there was nothing else other then that.. burning.. freezing sensation,” Cosmo murmured softly, eyes still closed. Another tremor racked his body and Ace deepened his massage, moving his hand to knead at a tensing shoulder.
 “I... felt your magic.... your frustration, I think.... Tried.. tried to ignore the pain and focus on you.. but, I couldn’t. The pain... It was everywhere.. everything.”
 The breathing hitched as Ace scooted up, rested his back against the wall and urged Cosmo back into his arms. The young man went, burrowing against him, arm wrapping tightly around the magician.
 “I lost you, Ace. The pain blocked everything out, including you. I.. I’d never felt so alone.... Alone...” A sniffle came with the soft words and Ace felt a tear track over his chest.
 “You were never alone. I will never leave you alone. Never!” Ace whispered fiercely, delivering a kiss to the red head, letting the soft strands drag over his lips.
 Cosmo shuddered and carefully drew in a deep breath. “I know.. I know... It just seemed to go on forever. Forever... “ He shook his head. “Just want it to end now.”
 Ace tilted the pale face up and smiled.
 “It will, Cosmo. It will end now. The pain is gone. Marvin is gone, and you’re not alone.” His hand moving along one cheek tenderly, Ace looked into the despairing eyes and felt his love, felt it’s overwhelming power rush through him, the enormity of the emotion beyond his ability to articulate. “I will never leave you alone. I swear!”
 Cosmo gulped and managed a small smile.
 “Thanks,” he murmured nestling against the larger man. “Thanks.”
 Ace hugged him gently.
 “Whatever you need, Cosmo, I’ll give. Just ask,” Ace assured, cocking a inquisitive eyebrow as Cosmo chuckled softly.
 The teen looked up into Ace’s curious face. “How about giving me the rodgering of my life?” Cosmo quipped lightly.
 Ace laughed and shook his head.
 “Not that I wouldn’t mind, not at all, but doctors orders...” Ace returned.
 Cosmo rolled his eyes and settled back in.“Yeah. That sucks too,” he muttered rebelliously, then gave Ace a tight hug. “Thanks, Ace. Thanks for making me talk.”
 “Whenever you need to...”
 “I know.” Cosmo craned up and Ace reached down and delivered a kiss, feeling the young man melt in his arms. Felt some of the tension melt away. Not all of it. Only time would do that, but Ace would help smooth the way as much as possible. Clear gray eyes glittered up at him even while a yawn escaped.
 “Think you can sleep now?” Ace asked.
 Cosmo nodded slowly and smiled gently. “Yeah.. yeah I can.” He nestled back into Ace’s sure embrace. “Got nothing to fear here,” he murmured.
 Ace smiled and pulled up the blanket.
 “You never will.”