FIC: Western Lovers: Cowboys & Archaeologists 23/30

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

Title: Western Lovers: Cowboys and Archaeologists 23/30
Author: sassywitch
Pairing: BB/DM with a smattering of VM/LT and DW/OB
Rating: NC-17, to be on the safe side.
Summary: Billy is a man to be reckoned with. Can Dom heal his wounded soul and his own into the bargain. Could Billy make him forget the bitter lessons of the past?
Feedback: Feedback is my writers crack, which is not to be confused at all with plumbers crack.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. These men whilst adorable and perfectly happy to slash themselves, their actual relationship is something that they only know. This story is adapted from a series of books that I adored when I was younger written by Elizabeth Lowell.
Word Count: 4926
Header Art: Courtesy of the incredibly talented loki_girl
Previous Chapters: can be found Here
A/N: A huge thank you to dylan_dufresne for the inspiration, the prodding and the beta. She really deserves far more credit than just beta. This fic wouldn't be what it is without her labour of love. My grammar sucks really, really badly so she had to suffer it so nobody else would. Next Chapter on Wednesday.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Dom carefully placed the cardboard box of shards he'd been carrying on the long wooden bench. Pulling the out the discarded t-shirt that he'd tucked into the back of his cut off denim shorts, Dom brushed the dusty sweat from his face and tossed the shirt onto his pack where it lay beside the bedroll.

Casting his eyes around camp, Dom quickly took stock of his surroundings. Nothing appeared to have moved, and there was no sign of Billy having returned already. In fact, Billy's towel was still hanging across the fly wire that secured the tarpaulin that covered their work area.

A frown furrowed Dom's brow as he recalled the last time he had seen Billy today. Their daily routine had started the same as any other day. They wake early, one kissing the other awake, and spend the time as the sky fades from it's deep, velvety darkness, and make slow, sweet, sleepy love.

As the sun crested the ridges behind their camp site, they would untangle their sated limbs and ease into the day. Dom would prepare breakfast as Billy brewed coffee and straightened the campsite. After eating, they would pack enough food for lunch, loop their packs over their shoulders and set off toward the dig site, fingers laced together. Once they arrived at their destination, there they would divide up; Dom would set up to sketch, and Billy would carefully fossick around in the debris, scouring for shards and examples of Anasazi history.

Usually, Billy would return at least every hour, commenting on sketches or bringing back pieces of shattered pottery he'd found on the edges of the wash, or just coming back to press a tender kiss to the base of Dom's damp neck or on his soft, upturned lips. They almost always shared a packed lunch in the shade of an overhang, eagerly followed by a desert of sweet, passionate kisses. But today was one of the rare occasions that Billy hadn't been back for lunch. Dom had sat and eaten in the shade, his eyes traveling up and down the ravine, anxiously watching for Billy. He had stood several times, ready to set off to find Billy and surprise him with kisses but had instead sat again. If Billy had wanted to share lunch with Dom, he would have been there. Last night, Billy's emotions had been rubbed raw by his disclosures, and perhaps he just needed some time alone.

Dom sank down onto the edge of the wooden bench he generally sat on to sort shards, teeth worrying his bottom lip. It wasn't like Billy to leave him alone like this, even before they started 'riding double' as Billy so quaintly put it. From the beginning, Billy would surreptitiously check on Dom hourly, confirming that Dom was safe and then returning to whatever it was that he did while he was quietly offering Dom peace of mind. Glancing up at the yellow ball of the harsh sun that was sinking rapidly behind the cliffs, Dom made his decision.

Pulling a t-shirt over his head, Dom slipped a flashlight into his knapsack and set off in the direction of the dig again. Before he'd made it halfway across the pass, he turned and sprinted back, tucking the first aid kit into his pack, all the while praying that he was just being a worrier. Reaching the dig as the sky began to blacken, Dom moved quickly in the direction that Billy had disappeared to when he had left Dom this morning.

"Billy?" he called as he walked, his eyes scanning the creamy sandstone for any sign of his lover. "Baby, answer me."

Pulling his binoculars out of his pocket he stood still, his heart pounding in his chest, breath heaving, trying to calm himself as he examined the gorge.

"Where are you, Billy?" Dom muttered to himself, as he pocketed the field glasses and kept walking. Rounding a bend in the gorge, he took out the binoculars and scanned the distance again. Frowning as he shoved the glasses back into his pocket, he walked further into the blind ravine, moved a little faster as the shadows began to settle around him.

Seeing a glint of unnatural color, the last slivers of daylight glinting off something in the distance, Dom didn't hesitate as he rushed along the bottom of the gorge, scrambling up the loose walls as he climbed higher. As he grew nearer, Dom immediately understood what he had seen, and redoubled his attempts to get closer. The weak sunlight was reflected off what was probably Billy's broad, shiny watch face, and the flash of color Dom had witnessed was the dark denim that covered Billy's legs.

Nervous tears filled Dom's eyes as he scrabbled across the loose rocks, struggling to get to Billy, his lips endlessly mumbling almost incoherently as he prayed to whatever God's would listen to him not to steal his Billy away.

"I'm coming, Billy," Dom called as he rushed, eyes clouded with worried tears. His climbing was more instinctual than graceful, and for every scrambled five feet, Dom would slide back one, his fingertips bleeding from where he'd grabbed at the jagged edges of sandstone.

As he eventually arrived at Billy's side, Dom tentatively reached out and brushed one hand over Billy's ankle. Long fingers closed around the extended limb, Dom almost scared to touch Billy, for fear of hurting him, or discovering something he did not really want to know, but at the same time, Dom knew he couldn't not touch him.

Crawling along Billy's side, Dom leaned over him, unable to immediately cease the sobbing gasp that was ripped from his throat as his eyes registered Billy's appearance. A jagged gash, no longer than an inch or two adorned Billy's head, just inside his hairline, and a steady stream of blood had flowed across his face to pool in a congealed puddle under his pale face.

"Billy?" Dom whispered, his fingertips softly caressing the pale skin of Billy's cheek.

Almost on autopilot, Dom sat back and drew a deep breath before allowing his fingers to trail across Billy's eerily still body, gently probing every square inch of skin, carefully checking for further injuries. Finding none, Dom leaned over Billy, and utilizing his own chest to support Billy's body, he rolled the older man backwards. With his own, outspread legs framing Billy's, Dom's torso held Billy's weight as Dom's arms wrapped around him firmly, and pulled Billy against him snugly. Dom's elegant fingers trailed across the pale skin of Billy's face before probing the jagged gash as he attempted to comfort Billy with incoherent, whispered words.

After his examination and tenderly cradling Billy's head against his wildly beating heart, Dom's fingers smoothed Billy's ginger hair back, drawing his own comfort from Billy's proximity. Glancing at the sunlight that was hastily diminishing, Dom eased his hold on Billy.

"Baby, you've got to wake up.' Shrugging one arm out of his backpack and extracting his water canister, Dom flipped open the pop top lid, and he pressed it against Billy's slack mouth, pouring a small amount of water across his dry lips. Leaning in, Dom's mouth was inches from Billy's ear as he tenderly murmured, "C'mon, Billy. I can't get you back to camp without your help."

"Dom…"

Billy's brow furrowed tightly and his head rocked from side to side, the spontaneous movement eliciting a strangled scream of pain from his parched lips.

"Hold still, baby." Dom's fingers stroked Billy's scalp, offering comfort to him. "It's alright. Just hold still, you're going to be fine."

"You 'kay?" Billy asked on a sigh, his eyes fluttered open and then closed again. "Not hurt?"

"I wasn't here, Bills," Dom whispered, watching Billy struggle with his pain. "Can you remember what happened?"

"Big rock," Billy murmured, one small hand lifting to awkwardly brush his fingers over his forehead.

"There's lots of big rocks sweetheart," Dom replied gently, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "What did it do to you?"

"Fecking jumped out and hit me," Billy ground out as he attempted to sit up in Dom's arms, only to have them tighten around him and firmly pull him back against Dom's hard chest.

"Deliberately waited for you and all, I bet," Dom murmured as he all but giggled in his relief.

"Let me up," Billy argued as he relaxed into Dom's embrace, sighing gently as he settled his head into the curve of Dom's shoulder.

"Not a chance, big boy." Dom's voice was filled with determination. "I've got to look at that cut."

"'s fine," Billy muttered, pushing up against Dom's hold once again. "'s dark," he moaned as he fought to pull away. "Need." Billy pressed his fingers against his forehead as if trying to hold his head together. "Need you safe. Need camp."

"Sweetheart, just this once, let me be the strong one," Dom requested softly, gently batting Billy's hands away and drawing their bodies close. "I'm safe so long as I'm with you," he vowed to Billy. "Will you let me keep you safe?"

"In camp." Billy nodded, his eyes squeezed closed against the nauseous pain at his head movement.

"No, Bills," Dom countered. "Here."

"No," Billy ground out. "Camp." Again, he pulled against Dom's hold, and struggled to sit up on his own.

"You can't even fucking sit up on your own, Bills," Dom said with a sigh, eventually releasing his hold on Billy and watching Billy struggle to remain upright and hold on to his breakfast.

Quietly, Dom rose to stand, one leg bracing his weight on the uneven slope as he looked down at Billy.

"You're a stubborn bastard," Dom sighed, squatting down in front of Billy and tracing his face with his long fingers. "How are we going to do this?"

"What happened?" Billy's hand closed around Dom's, his eyes narrowing, trying desperately to focus on the blood encrusted there.

"Nothing important," Dom replied quietly. "Billy, it's getting dark, and I'm worried about you. How are we going to get you back to camp?"

"I'm fine," Billy moaned. "Had worse hurts before," he added and then shrugged. "Help me up?"

"And when you're up?" Dom asked, one eyebrow quirked with a grin. "How long do you think you're going to stay up?"

"Long 'nuff," Billy answered stiffly.

Dom stood and extended both hands to Billy, who took them willingly, Dom taking as much of his weight as he could while Billy struggled to stand.

"This is a good idea, isn't it?" Dom asked quietly, his voice thick with concerned sarcasm.

"Have to," Billy said tightly, forcing the words from between pinched lips. "No choice." Swaying ominously, Billy's eyes closed as he struggled against the blinding pain.

"Let me carry you, Bills." Dom watched Billy struggle with tears in his eyes. "Let me do this for you."

"Too heavy," Billy ground out, his teeth gritted in pain. Eyes tightly closed as he fought against the pain, then slowly opened them, Billy toed his way down the steep incline, clinging to Dom's hands and wrists. "Can. Do. This."

"Bullshit." Dom wrapped his hands along Billy's forearms, twisting his head to watch where they were going as they traveled lower, towards the base of the gorge.

They struggled down the steep incline, slipping more than walking. As soon as they reached the bottom, Dom paused, pulling Billy against him, knowing how badly he must be hurting, just by the way he melted against Dom's body.

"We're going to do this my way, Bills," Dom stated, the determination like steel in his voice. "Or not at all."

"Can. Do. This," Billy ground out, his face pressed firmly into the curve of Dom's neck.

"I know, but you don't have to do it alone. Not anymore. I'm here now. We're a team. Lean on me, for just a little bit, Billy," Dom almost pleaded.

"How?" Billy whimpered into Dom's skin.

"You're going to put my pack on, Bills," Dom explained. "And then you're going to climb onto my back." Pressing a hand to Billy's lips, Dom prevented Billy from negating his plan. "You are, and we're going to do this. This way you'll have somewhere to rest your head when the pain is too bad."

Moving carefully, Dom slipped his arms out of the pack and gently helped Billy put it on. Turning to stand in front of Billy with his back to him, Dom crouched a little.

"Loop your arms around my neck, Bills," Dom said softly, reaching back to take Billy's hands and guiding them into the correct position. "C'mon, sweetheart. I need you to lean forward." Bending his knees, Dom moved to maneuover Billy onto his back, and slid his hands down the outside of Billy's thighs, carefully pulling the injured man against his body and taking his weight. Lifting Billy's legs, Dom shifted carefully until Billy was comfortably settled on his back, then started to walk. Picking his way slowly across the rough ground, Dom tried to take the smoothest route he could find.


Billy had been drifting in and out of consciousness, almost since Dom had placed him on his back at the base of the gorge. Unable to spare the energy to talk as he painstakingly made their way back to camp, Dom's thoughts of Billy's injuries amplified in his head, and hated every step that jostled Billy, hearing the soft whimpers he couldn't quite suppress.

It was completely dark by the time they made it back to camp, and Billy clung to Dom's back, barely conscious. At the campsite, Dom squatted down beside their bedroll, carefully dislodging Billy from his precarious position, and onto the soft bedding. Supporting Billy's head as he tenderly lowered Billy to the pallet, Dom overlooked his own aches from the long walk, and quickly started a campfire, lit one of their gas lanterns, and then turned to Billy.

Now that they were in their familiar camp, Dom began a soft crooning monologue, more for his own benefit, to stop him thinking the worst, than for Billy.

"We're here, sweetheart," Dom murmured, soothing Billy's semi-conscious agitation, as even his gentle movements jarred Billy's pain back into technicolor reality.

Pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of Billy nose, Dom's fingers smoothed the tousled and blood clotted hair from Billy's face. "You can rest now. I'll take care of you."

"Dommie," Billy whispered, his hands rising to press against the sides of his head, his eyes clenched shut with pain. "Need you."

"I know, baby. I'm here."

Dom eased Billy's hands away from his head, then turned his attention to Billy's feet. Sliding Billy's boots off, the socks quickly followed. Dom's hands moved to Billy's button fly, opening it quickly, almost clinically, before sliding the jeans over Billy's hips and tossing the denim in a heap beside the bedroll. Pressing a feathery kiss to Billy's cheek, Dom lifted him a little, holding the injured cowboy tenderly against his body to slip Billy's arms from the sleeves of his bloodstained shirt.

"You realize, if you hadn't gone and hurt yourself, this could all be having quite a different outcome, sweetheart. You'd be getting so lucky," Dom crooned, smiling nervously as he lowered Billy gently back to the fluffy bedroll. Drawing back to look at Billy critically, Dom noted with a tight frown, deep blue and purple bruises on Billy's shoulder, chest and one even wrapping around the side of his ribs. "What happened to you, Billy?" he asked rhetorically. Rising, Dom quickly retrieved a basin of water, a clean washer and the first aid kit.

"You know, not just anyone gets a sponge bath from me," Dom continued as he lifted one of Billy's arms and washed it gently with the damp washer-as before. "And I've got to tell you, Bills, that when you wake up, I will disavow all knowledge of this ever happening. You do know that, don't you?" Dom smiled as he spoke, washing Billy's other arm before moving the cloth tenderly across Billy's chest. Moving slightly, Dom rinsed the cloth and drew it slowly and gently across Billy's throat and jaw, gazing at the large blue and purple bruise that was spreading from the gaping wound across Billy's temple. "I wish you were awake, baby.' Dom talked softly, the washcloth dabbing against the bruise, slowly inching it's way to the wound.

"I think that needs to be stitched, sweetheart, but I don't know if I can do that. Not to you." Dom sighed, his fingers tenderly rinsing away the blood that had caked onto Billy's skin as he had lain, hurt and baking in the sun. "But what really frightens me is you sleeping. It's not a good thing. I know, I know. I've taken all the courses and even had to put it into practice occasionally, but never with someone I love. It's weird, isn't it?" Dom rambled on, happily releasing the fears that his mind refused to contain. "If you were anyone else, I'd know what to do, how to do it. I'd know if you were sleeping too much, or too deeply. If something was really wrong." Dom paused, his eyes glistening. "But this is you, Billy. I'm terrified that I'm going to lose you, that you'll fall asleep, and just not wake up. That I won't get to see those gorgeous eyes open again, or feel your lips against mine. I just want to spare you some of the pain I know you're feeling, and if I wake you, it'll all come back to you. I don't want to be the one doing that."

"Not sleeping." The words left Billy's lips in little more than a breathy groan, but the sound caused Dom's head to snap up, his eyes searching Billy's grimacing face. "Shouldn't."

"You can, baby," Dom said with a nod. "I'll wake you. It'll all be okay."

"Can't," Billy gritted out, his eyes closed tightly. "You'll fret."

"Holy fuck, Billy!" Dom spoke gently, but still rather harshly. "Stop worrying about me. You're hurt. Relax, please. For me?"

"Mebbee," Billy replied, the break in his words long enough to let Dom think he had dozed off again. "Stitch it, Honey."

"I don't want to, Billy. It's gonna hurt, and I can't give you anything for the pain."

"Know." Billy paused, his fists pressing into his eyes. "Have to."

"How did this happen, Bills?" Dom asked, gentle fingers pushing Billy's damp hair away from the jagged cut. Wincing, he felt Billy's body tense even more under his ministrations. "I understand, baby. It hurts, but I have to clean it up."

"Know," Billy breathed. "Rockfall. Stupid."

"Thank goodness it wasn't worse," Dom murmured, his long fingers pulling stray strands of hair from the wound that was still oozing.

"Whiskey," Billy murmured. "In pack."

"I can't let you drink it, Billy," Dom whispered. "No matter how much I want you to have relief from pain."

"Not for me," Billy whimpered, as Dom's fingers pressed the wound together as gently as possible.

"Shit, Billy. I can't do this. I'm hurting you." Dom pulled his hands back. Rising awkwardly, Dom moved to Billy's pack and searched the pockets, pulling out a hip flask before nervously rummaging through the first aid kit to find the small kit that was included for just this reason.

Sitting back on his heels, Dom watched Billy carefully, seeing the pain induced tension in every inch of Billy's body. He had to do this. Dom's own emotions and insecurities didn't matter. Taking a deep calming breath, he moved back to Billy's side.

Laying a clean terry cloth on Billy's bare chest, Dom threaded the needle, then placed it on the clean square of material. Holding the hip flask between his knees, Dom's fingers sought out Billy's, and lacing his own trembling fingers through Billy's, Dom brought them to his lips, and kissed Billy's knuckles softly.

"Ready, sweetheart?" Dom asked, his breath warm against Billy's fingers.

"Whiskey, Dommie," Billy said slowly, his concentration focused on his words. "Clean it, then drink." The movement and noise of each word forced a new sliver of pain through his aching head. "Calm you."

Tilting Billy's head slowly to the side, Dom straddled him, settling on his knees. Moving the towel to the bedroll beside him, Dom flicked open the cap of the hip flask and took a quick slug of the burning liquid as Billy's hands lifted to rest on his thighs.

Leaning forward, Dom tilted the flask enough for a small trickle of whiskey to pour across the wound, and Billy's teeth ground tightly, a long keening moan escaping him that he wasn't able to withhold as his body arched up. Almost dislodging Dom, Billy struggled to push into the burning, stinging pain the whiskey created as it sanitized.

"I'm so sorry, Billy," Dom whispered, his eyes teary, his fingers trailing across Billy's face and chest, willing him to relax and ease himself through the pain.

"S'okay," Billy hissed through his tightly clenched teeth, his bowstring taut body sinking back against the bedroll. "Do it."

Dom poured whiskey over the needle and then leaned forward, his breath warm on Billy's face as he concentrated on the task at hand. One trembling, long-fingered hand pushed the edges of the wound together while the other carefully threaded the needle through Billy's pale skin. His heart clenching every time the needle pierced Billy's flesh, Dom flinched internally. Dom could see the strain and torment in Billy's face, the way his teeth were locked together, and the lines pressed into the skin at the corners of Billy's eyes as he grimaced in what must be near agony.

Each tiny stitch moved Dom just that little bit closer to completion, and after what seemed like hours, but was only minutes later, Dom was reaching for the first aid kit and placing a sterile dressing across the now sealed wound to protect it from the dust in the environment. Supporting Billy's neck with one hand, Dom lifted him several inches off the bedroll, quickly and efficiently wrapping a pristine white bandage around Billy's head to hold the dressing in place.

Moving off of Billy, Dom pushed all the extraneous items off the bedroll and slipped down to lay beside him. Rolling Billy carefully into his arms, Dom pulled the blanket over Billy and held the injured man snugly against his chest. Crooning soft noises against the top of Billy's head, Dom cradled him close, letting Billy try to rest and escape the pain if he could.

"Hurts," Billy mumbled against Dom's chest.

"Would you like a little bit of the whiskey, sweetheart?" Dom asked, his words whuffling through Billy's ginger hair. "I can't give you any pain killers until morning, and I'm sure you're okay, but a little bit of whiskey might take the edge off."

"I'm …good," Billy murmured brokenly. "Just hold me?"

"Forever," Dom whispered, a tender kiss pressed against the top of Billy's head.

"You make it better," Billy whispered, as he closed his eyes again. "Love you."

"I know, baby," Dom replied softly, his fingers stroking up and down Billy's spine. "I know."

The passage through the night was long and worrisome for Dom. Every thirty minutes he gently woke Billy, made Billy open his eyes and look at him. Sometimes the lack of focus and physical presence in the pain clouded eyes that looked back at him scared Dom badly, especially the first time. He had begged Billy to open his eyes and talk to him, only to have Billy crack one eye open and almost growl at him.


"Dom, 'm sleepin." Grumbling, Billy had then closed his eyes again.

"Billy, open them." Dom had cupped his chin and tilted Billy's head back towards him.

"No." Pressing his lips together, Billy had finally replied, his tone snarky and defiant.

"Can you tell me your name?" Dom had asked.

"You first," was Billy's reply.

"I asked first."

"So?" Billy had snapped back, his eyes still closed.

"So, you answer first," Dom had replied matter of factly and then sighed.

"Don't wanna." Eyes steadfastly closed, Billy's voice was slurred as he answered petulantly.

"If you answer me, I'll pay you back with kisses," Dom had wheedled, growing desperate.

"Don't want kisses. Want pills," Billy had whimpered needily, annoyed with the pain he was being forced to suffer.

"Can't have pills till breakfast time, Billy." Dom sighed.

"Breakfast yet?" Billy had enquired as he cracked one bloodshot, pain-filled eye open. "Please?"

"No, baby," Dom murmured in reply. "Please, just answer my questions and you can go back to sleep."

" 'm Billy, You're my Dom, this is Arwen Canyon, and my head feckin' hurts."

"I'm sorry, Billy." Dom let his fingertips trail over the tense, taut skin of Billy's scalp, massaging, lightly loosening the tension as much as he could. "I have to wake you. I need to know you're alright."

" 'know. 'm sorry. Shouldn't be pissy. Not at you. Hurts so much," Billy had muttered as he burrowed into Dom's soothing touch.

"Sleep, sweetheart," Dom had soothed him gently, almost willing Billy back to sleep.


~*~*~*~*~*~

Every thirty minutes they had the same argument with the same answers, until just after the sky started to pinken. Sliding away from his lover, leaving him ensconced in the warm cocoon of their bedroll, Dom quietly made a light breakfast of scrambled eggs, and a mug of weak, herbal tea. Grabbing his own bottle of migraine medication from his pack, Dom moved back to Billy's side, waking him as gently as he could.

"Dom'm still sleeping," Billy muttered, blindly slapping Dom's hand away.

"You know the drill, Billy." Dom smiled at the cowboy's unusually cranky attitude.

""m Billy, you're m'Dom. M'hurt and you care," Billy answered into the bedclothes.

"Correct again." Dom smiled and slid his hand tenderly across the expanse of Billy's bare back. "I think I can trust you with pain killers," Dom decided as he leaned down to speak against Billy's tousled hair.

The hand that had been slapping shot out, palm upturned. "Gimme," Billy nearly begged.

"Food first," Dom stated firmly.

""M hurting, not hungry," Billy grumbled.

"Too bad. You need to take them with food. So, no food, no pills."

Billy rolled gingerly onto his back, one hand pressed against his forehead. "Slavedriver," he complained.

"Nother one of your kinks, Billy?" Dom quirked an eyebrow as he arranged Billy's pack behind him so he could sit up with his head supported.

Lifting the plate of scrambled eggs from the top of his own pack that he had used as a makeshift table, Dom filled a fork with a fluffy serving of eggs before presenting it to Billy.

"Open up," Dom stated authoritatively.

"I hurt my head, not my hands." Billy glared at Dom stubbornly, but opened his mouth just the same.

"Humor me," Dom replied, hiding the small grin he couldn't contain at Billy's obedience.

"I thought that was what last night was for," Billy muttered as he chewed. " 's good."

"Last night was piss my pants terrified, not humorous at all," Dom corrected him. "Thanks."

Forking another serving of eggs into Billy's mouth, Dom handed Billy a piece of toast as he fed him.

"I'm sorry," Billy said from around his mouthful of eggs. "Never saw it coming." He took a bite of his toast.

"Figured," Dom nodded. "Thought I'd lost you." Drawing in a steadying breath, Dom pushed another mouthful of egg into Billy's mouth.

"I'd never leave you like that, Dom."

"You might not be able to help it, Billy." Dom spoke calmly, almost distractedly as he pushed eggs around the plate before scooping up another forkful and guiding it into Billy's mouth.

"No," Billy said, closing one hand around Dom's slender wrist. "I would never leave you without saying goodbye first."

"All the goodbyes in the world don't matter sometimes, Billy." Dom fed him another mouthful of scrambled egg.

"And sometimes they're all you've got left, Dom," Billy replied before he bit into his toast.

"Is your head feeling better?" Dom asked, his eyes filled with tears, but he refused to look up and let Billy see them.

"Some," Billy answered, equally glad to change the subject. "At least I can think now and not have my head explode."

Dom was silent and continued to feed Billy slowly, their eyes never really meeting.

"I am sorry, Dom. I'd never do anything to hurt you," Billy murmured, attempting to comfort his lover.

"It's a moot point now, Billy," Dom said and then shrugged. "Had enough?"

"Yeah," Billy answered, reluctant to nod his head.

Dom handed him two little blue pills and the mug of herbal tea. Placing the pills on his tongue, Billy swallowed them down with a mouthful of tea before he spluttered with distaste.

"What the hell is this shite?" Billy looked into the mug suspiciously.

"Herbal tea that will help your headache." Dom grinned mischievously. "Drink it all."

"Yes, mum," Billy murmured as he obediently tilted the mug towards his lips again, drinking the less than savory liquid quickly.

"You'll sleep for a while now." Dom put the empty mug and plate aside before carefully pulling the dressing away from the neatly stitched gash.

"I can't," Billy said with a frown. "I need to go with you, make sure you're safe."

Dom quirked his eyebrow at Billy, "Because that plan worked so well yesterday, didn't it? I think we've proven that I can look after myself."

"Dommie," Billy protested, but his eyes were already drooping, his mental processes slowing.

"I promise, Billy. I won't leave camp. We'll both be safe here. Okay?" Sliding the pack from behind Billy and guiding him back down against the bedding, Dom gently cupped Billy's scruff cheek for a few moments. "Just sleep, and it'll all be better when you wake up."

"Promise?" Billy grabbed at Dom's hand and pulled it towards his mouth, kissing Dom's knuckles gently. "Need to know you're safe."

"I'll just tidy up a little bit, and then snuggle up with you. Someone kept me up all night."

"And not in a good way either," Billy commented before he yawned, his eyes drifting closed.

"Well, now I know you're feeling better." Dom smiled, then leaned down to press a soft kiss to Billy's forehead.

"You're in so much trouble when I wake up," Billy murmured dreamily. "Come to bed naked. It'll save us time later."

"Not until I know you're better, Billy." Dom grinned, pressing a lingering kiss against Billy's lips. "You've had a head injury."

"Mmmm," Billy slurred. "Didn't hurt anything vital. Still all works."

"Go to sleep, Romeo." Dom almost laughed, his fingers gently stroking Billy's hair, watching as the painkillers took complete hold, and muscles that had been tense with pain finally relaxed against the bedroll.

Laying beside Billy, watching him sleep, Dom's fingers reached out to stroke Billy's forehead and the nasty bruise that was radiating out from under the bandage. Yawning widely, Dom realized just how tired he was. Rising to his feet slowly, Dom tidied the remnants of last night's first aid adventures, then washed Billy's breakfast dishes and tidied their kitchen area. Arranging the fly sheet that protected their bedding from the elements, Dom then slipped off his jeans and the bloodstained shirt he had forgotten to change out of, and stretched out, clad only in boxers, onto the bed roll beside Billy.

Tension of the last twelve hours slowly left Dom as he relaxed next to Billy, and he turned his head to watch as Billy slept beside him, checking Billy's breathing, noting the healthy color returning to his cheeks, content just to watch his lover sleep. Billy seemed to realize Dom was there, and one hand slid across the bedding to brush across Dom's own hand before he rolled into his lover. Wrapping his arm around Dom's waist, Billy pressed the uninjured side of his face into Dom's chest as his leg wrapped across Dom's thighs. Dom couldn't help but smile at the contented sigh that left Billy's lips as he slid back into his deep, healing sleep. Rolling slightly into Billy's embrace, Dom rested his head against the top of Billy's, his arm wrapped snugly around Billy's waist as he struggled to stay awake. Eyes wearily dropping closed as he pressed a gentle kiss to Billy's hair, Dom's long fingers absently smoothed along the length of Billy's spine, and then he was fast asleep.

~*~*~*~*~

Gazing down at the sleeping man in his arms, Billy noticed that Dom appeared to be exhausted. Dark shadows framed Dom's long lashes as they brushed against his cheeks, and his skin was pale under the golden tan he'd gained over the summer

Billy couldn't help but feel a little guilty, but by the same token, he was beyond proud of his sweet, innocent lover. Though he couldn't clearly recall everything that happened, through the clouds of pain that constituted his memories of the last day, Billy clearly remembered Dom's soul-eating fear, and the calm, gentle authority that had overridden his every action.

While his head still throbbed, the dull, nagging pain a godsend to Billy,compared to the blinding, white hot agony it had been. Dom had been his angel, and always would be, but over the last twenty-four hours, Dom had been his tether to life and lucidity. One of Billy's hands traced along Dom's cheek gently, his thumb brushing across Dom's soft lips, barely even aware he was moving.

"You know, you could kiss me," Dom murmured without opening his eyes.

"You need your sleep," Billy replied, his fingers tracing across Dom's eyelids.

"I need my lover," Dom corrected.

"You're exhausted," Billy whispered as he moved his face closer to Dom's mouth, his breath warm on Dom's parted lips.

"Slept all day," Dom answered, his hand trailing across Billy's shoulders to cup and support his neck as he guided Billy's face towards his own.

"That makes it all better then?" Billy murmured as he pressed his lips against Dom's, unable to resist the invitation.

"No," Dom mumbled, pressing his face closer to Billy's. "But a kiss would go a long way to fixing the world."

"What about just you?" Billy asked. "What does it take to fix just you?"

“You," Dom answered without hesitation, his eyes still closed as his mouth sought Billy's.

"Surely not," Billy murmured, pulling his mouth back, evading Dom's as he watched lines of disappointment furrow his brow.

"Billy?" Dom's voice was little more than a mewling whisper.

"Yes, Honey?" Billy asked softly as he pressed his thumb against Dom's forehead, smoothing the frown lines.

"Shut up and kiss me."

"I think I should let you sleep," Billy replied, his thumb sliding across the shadowed circles on Dom's cheekbones.

"So says the randy bastard who told me to sleep naked so we could save time."

"Can't have been me, I'm injured," Billy murmured, pressing feathery kisses to the soft, golden skin of Dom's neck and face, but never letting their lips meet.

"Fuck me, Billy," Dom sighed in frustration as his head tilted back to give Billy greater access. "Please. Don't tease."

"Not teasing." Billy licked the skin that was suddenly unrestricted to him. "Tasting," he whispered, his breath hot against the damp skin. "And that comes later anyway."

"What?" Dom's brow furrowed, his concentration focused on the feel of Billy's lips against his skin, and the deep, rumbling brogue of Billy's voice in his ear, more than the actual words.

"Fucking you," Billy breathed against Dom's lips, his pointy tongue flicking out to lick across them. "Much later."

"Not that much later," Dom whimpered, struggling not to surge forward and capture Billy's teasing lips with his own.

"Mmmm," Billy murmured. "I'm injured, remember?" He smiled as he watched Dom's eyes flicker open, concern coloring the burning passion in the glittering blue depths. "I'll need to take things slowly."

"Like Hell," Dom whispered, lifting both hands to cradle Billy's head, his thumbs brushing Billy's jaw line. Rolling them over, Dom's hips fell into the space between Billy's thighs, his elbows taking his weight as he looked into Billy's emerald gaze. "You relax. Let me look after you."

"There's an offer I can't refuse," Billy moaned as Dom's mouth roamed across his stubbly skin.

"Besides, this way I might actually get a kiss." Dom grinned against Billy's neck.

"If all you wanted was a kiss, Honey, all you had to do was ask," Billy groaned as Dom strung wet, nipping kisses across the curve of his shoulder and along his neck.

"I believe I did, sweetheart," Dom murmured, his teeth catching Billy's earlobe and tugging gently. Hands still holding Billy's head in his long fingered hands, the tips of Dom's fingers gently massaged the taut skin of Billy's scalp.

"Seems you've forgotten what you wanted," Billy sighed, his fingers trailing up and down Dom's golden back.

"Not me." Dom shook his head, his tousled blonde hair fanning across Billy's skin as he did. "I'm just taking it slow for the invalid. Wouldn't want to inhibit your recovery, now would I?'

"Fuck my recovery, Dommie. Kiss me? Please?" Billy whimpered as Dom's teeth closed over his nipple, his tongue flicking across it wetly.

"Don't think so, Billy," Dom murmured. "Would rather fuck you." He grinned, but when he looked up into Billy's face, his expression was serious. "And that's not happening today either."

"What?" Billy almost screeched. "Why? Dommie, please. You can't. Please, Honey. You know we both want to."

"You're hurt." Dom shrugged, closing his lips over Billy's chin and suckling gently. "If you survive tonight in one piece, tomorrow I'll shag you through the bedroll and back again, but tonight…." He shook his head.

"But-" Billy wailed in protest, his hips thrusting upwards to rub his full erection against Dom. "Please Dommie," he whimpered. "I'm so hard. I want you. Please?"

"I wouldn't leave you high and dry, sweetheart." Dom grinned against Billy's neck, grinding his hips into Billy's urgent erection. "But no strenuous activity."

"Not strenuous if you ride, Dommie mine," Billy moaned as he bent his legs, increasing the friction against his arousal. "Please, Honey. Ride me?"

"Bribery won't get you anywhere." Dom ground back, his buttocks rubbing against Billy's boxer clad length a little roughly. "You know-" he gasped as his own arousal rubbed against Billy's belly. "You know you can't be still while we make love," Dom moaned, rocking against Billy rhythmically.

"You know you want to, Dommie," Billy spoke, his voice low and rumbling, filled with seductive promises. "You know you want me deep inside you," he murmured. "Filling you ," Billy groaned as his hips bucked forward at the thought of his own words.

"Billy," Dom gasped into his neck, nipping gently as he ground into Billy. Thrusting forward, Dom's own leaking erection rubbed against Billy's taut belly. "Stop," he moaned.

"You first," Billy whimpered.

"Can't," Dom moaned again. "Can't." Body rocking against Billy's, Dom's hips moved more frantically with every grinding thrust.

"Dommie, please," Billy almost sobbed with longing. "Need to, want to, Dommie." His voice broke wantonly as Dom reached behind him, releasing Billy's throbbing erection from the fly of his boxer shorts, fingertips tracing his length tenderly before moving back to continue their support of Billy's head.

Billy's fingers traced up and down Dom's back before settling on his waist, gripping tightly, pushing insistently as Dom ground into him. Back arching with every downward thrust, Billy's hand slipped from Dom's waist to rub across the damp, tented front of Dom's boxers, quivering fingers struggling to release Dom from the material.

Dom pushed Billy's hand away, his mouth closing over one taut nipple, his teeth tugging on it as he lifted his hips off Billy's body. Reaching between them, Dom closed his long fingers around their leaking erections, gasping at the pressure of his fingers on their heated flesh.

"So good, Dommie." Billy arched into the touch, desperately seeking something just outside his reach.

Dom leaned down, trailing his tongue across the shell of Billy's ear. "You want this, don't you, Billy?" Dom whispered, his breath feathering across the damp path left by his tongue. "You want to come with my hand wrapped around you." Squeezing his fingers snugly around their erections, Dom gasped at the increased pressure. "I want it, too, sweetheart." His teeth found Billy's earlobe and tugged and nipped at it before he spoke again. "Come for me, Billy," Dom whimpered, struggling to hold onto his own control.

Billy's skin prickled with longing, as he needed to be closer to his Dommie, needed to feel his skin against his own, feel his sweet lover all over him. The sensation of Dom's warm breath on his neck and blowing against his ear sent a shiver down Billy's spine that he couldn't suppress.

"Yessss," he moaned as Dom's seductive, husky voice groaned into his ear. "Need." Hands gripped Dom's hips so tightly his nails left indentations in Dom's soft skin. "Please, Honey. Please."

"So beautiful, Billy," Dom whispered into his ear. "Do you know what it does to me when you beg?" He trailed his mouth along Billy's jaw as he spoke. "You make me so hard, makes me want you, so much."

"Fuck, Dommie," Billy whimpered. "Harder," he gasped as Dom's grip tightened, thumb flicking across their leaking tips and fingers sliding along their lengths, squeezing them together, grinding against each other slickly.

"Come for me, Billy," Dom whispered as he let his lips finally touch Billy's. "Please," Dom begged.

Beyond coherence, Billy's hips arched up into Dom's touch, his body taut under his lover. Whimpering brokenly, Billy's fingers clenched Dom's hips, his release spurting over Dom's fingers and belly.

Eyes dark with his own passionate arousal, Dom watched Billy fall apart beneath him. Feeling Billy arch into him, and the desperate clutching of Billy's fingers on his skin was Dom's undoing. Moments after Billy found his release, Dom let go of his own, unraveling control.

Chest heaving with exertion, desperately trying to catch his breath, Dom's long arms wrapped around Billy and he pulled the older man firmly to his chest. As their breathing calmed and their skin cooled, Dom lethargically pulled the blanket around them, Billy's soft snores already whuffling against Dom's chest as Dom's eyes sank closed once again.

Chapter 24

Comments

[daydreambeleevr.livejournal.com]

"They wake early, one kissing the other awake, and spend the time as the sky fades from it's deep, velvety darkness, and make slow, sweet, sleepy love."


you make me smell the sweet freshness of the cold morning air. it's lovely.


"Nervous tears filled Dom's eyes as he scrabbled across the loose rocks, struggling to get to Billy, his lips endlessly mumbling almost incoherently as he prayed to whatever God's would listen to him not to steal his Billy away. "

i already guessed when Billy didn't show for lunch that Something Bad was gonna happen. no way, no how Billy's gonna not check up on Dom, no matter how raw he felt from the night before. Good foreshadowing here. nice.


"I know, but you don't have to do it alone. Not anymore. I'm here now. We're a team. Lean on me, for just a little bit, Billy," Dom almost pleaded.

ok. i'm bawling here now. not a dignified little tear or two, but great gasping snotty crying. you happy?? :grin:



Dom's palpable fear in having to treat Billy but not wanting to add to Billy's injuries made me hold my breath. It actually reminded me of when I gave birth to my son. I had to have an emergency C-Section, and I was scared out of my mind. There's about 10 people in the room, all wearing gowns and masks, I'm hurting and more frightened then I'd ever been before in my life. Then it just really hit me, my son's need was greater then my own fear. I remember taking a deep breath, and telling myself that I could do this, I was a mom now and my baby needed me. It ended up being a piece of cake. But getting past that fear, man, it really was a challenge.

""m Billy, you're m'Dom. M'hurt and you care,"

that is beyond precious. I *love* their interaction in this chapter. love love love!


btw... BILLY SAID THE WORDS! BILLY SAID THE WORDS! BILLY SAID THE WORDS! BILLY SAID THE WORDS!


"You make it better," Billy whispered, as he closed his eyes again. "Love you."

he said it and he can't take it back!



i was afraid at first that Billy had been jumped by some claim jumpers or something. I've never been sure that the bad guy from the beginning wouldn't be back.

loving every bit of this!


*hugs*

kerry =)

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

No claim jumpers just big rocks. I do so love Nurse!Dom.

Billy said the words but he doesn't realise he has, Dom will remember them always tho.

Glad you're still enjoying hon.

[-vanillashake.livejournal.com]

"What about just you?" Billy asked. "What does it take to fix just you?"

“You," Dom answered without hesitation, his eyes still closed as his mouth sought Billy's.

Best line of the whole chapter. Besides all the others ;D
Great one, too - poor Bills, but Dom's caring for him, that's the good thing about it :)

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

They're all they need to fix each other, aren't they. As long as they've got each other it'll all be alright.

Happy you're still enjoying hon.

[hmcgirl.livejournal.com]

There is so much squee happening right now. Poor, injured Billy!! Nurse Dom to the rescue with a high dosage of sex comin' up!

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

There's always a high dosage of sex with this pair isn't there?

Happy the squee factor is high for you.

[(Anonymous)]

Yay! My Sunday treat! *G* Oh, boy... Billy's in DEEEEEP! *G* Nice use of humor here, too. *S*

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

I love their snarky humour, don't you?

He is in deep and I don't think there's any hope for him. Do you?

glad you're enjoying.

[crsty1961.livejournal.com]

Thanks great chapter. :D

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

Glad you're enjoying.

[uraneia.livejournal.com]

Glad I read this at home tonight rather than at work tomorrow. *fans self* Billy is damn hot when he begs. Not that I didn't know that already... I just appreciated being reminded. ;)

I also love when Dom gets to take care of Billy for a change... it's very sweet, and happening more and more often. At this rate Billy should be all emotionally intact in only 7 more chapters! *crosses fingers*

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

*fans you*

He is rather hot isn't he?

The balance of power has shifted quite a lot hasn't it? Dom seems to be the one that is the strength now doesn't he?

[sourgreenapples.livejournal.com]

Hey sassy! I apologize for the fact that I didn't comment on the last two chapters and that this feedback is gonna suck, but it's almost midnight and I have to get to sleep and the such like.

I just love this story. Everything about it. I haven't been able to find one little thing i don't like (not that I look for those things, I'm just saying). Your writing is absolutely beautiful. I have successively thought at every chapter that that chapter was my favorite. The next chapter is gonna have to be a doozy to beat this one though.

P.S. I love the way you handle sex in this fic. It is obviously very central (and OMG SO HOT), but I honestly don't think any of it as gratuitous and i think that each scene is needed by the story as a whole in some way, and you always bring the plot into it(or advance the plot) with the sex alone. Very good work! I can't wait for the next chapter.

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

Don't apologize sweetie, and it doesn't suck, you're FB is always wonderful.

*blushes* Trust me it wouldn't be half as beautiful as it is without dylan_dufresne whipping it into shape.

Maybe one of the final chapters will be your favourite, I know there's a couple of prospects coming up.

Hot sex between the two of them could never be a bad thing could it?

Glad you're still enjoying it hon.

[loozy.livejournal.com]

Very nice chapter, what with the angst and the hurt!billy etc... Veryyyy nice :)

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

Everyone needs a little Nurse!Dom occaisionally, don't they?

Glad you enjoyed hon.

[darkfaery1.livejournal.com]

Lovely as always. Great to see Honey as the strong one here. BTW, hot frot, thanks! :)

[sassywitch.livejournal.com]

I think he needed to be strong this chapter don't you? Good thing he was too.

Your welcome. Glad you're enjoying.