14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

"Owen?"

Owen shook his head a few times to confirm he wasn't dreaming. His name being tentatively whispered was like music to his ears. He raised his head, dragging his gaze from the bowl in his hands, and meeting Sebastian's gaze. The stab of emotion nearly knocked him over.

"Oh my God," he whispered, fearful the bedraggled man standing there was an apparition, not the actual man he loved. His throat choked, and tears welled again. "Oh my God."

Sebastian stepped into the room, stumbling to his knees in front of Owen. Owen thrust the bowl onto the bed beside him then reached out to wrap his arms around Sebastian's shoulders and haul him into a hug. He needed to feel him close, to hold Sebastian, the warm, and living, and breathing Sebastian.

Sebastian tensed and made a sharp exclamation, then his shoulders shook, his whole body quaking with sobs that mirrored Owen's own ragged breaths. He could hardly believe Sebastian was in his arms—that they were together again.

"It's all right, baby. I'm here, I've got you. You're going to be okay." Owen crooned the words against Sebastian's ear as he rocked him in his arms. He repeated the mantra over and over again. Owen wasn't sure whether it was to reassure Sebastian or to comfort himself. They'd found each other, Sebastian was here with him in what remained of their bedroom.

Sebastian's sobs gradually subsided but he still shook, his entire body trembling. He was damp and smelled of the sea and something earthy and musty.

Owen pulled back slightly to give himself space to look at Sebastian, really study him, to make sure he was truly okay. Reluctant to lose contact completely, he held Sebastian's upper arms as he scanned him from the top of his tousled hair down. The entire left side of Sebastian's face was grazed, a series of red lines framing his face from brow to chin. Some of the lines were deep gouges, blood still beading in the grooves. A huge knot had formed near his temple, the bruise already forming.

"Oh, baby," Owen whispered and moved a hand up to cup Sebastian's undamaged cheek. He wanted to kiss him but the split lip stopped him. Instead, Owen glided his mouth gently across Sebastian's forehead, avoiding the lump, but needing the contact. He held his lips against Sebastian's cool skin for a moment as he took a deep breath and tried to settle himself. Once he had his emotions under control, Owen pulled back.

"Are you okay, baby? Where else are you hurt?"

Sebastian tried to smile, or maybe he was going to speak, but the movement stretched his lip, causing him to flinch.

"Shh… Don't try to talk if it hurts too much. We'll get you to a doctor—"

"I… I'm all right," Sebastian finally whispered, his voice thready. "I'm so glad you're here." Sebastian's right hand gripped Owen's knee as he wobbled slightly. His voice was hoarse but he was speaking, and Owen didn't think he'd ever heard such sweet words.

Sebastian was wearing the remnants of a short wetsuit—remnants because the garment was torn open up one side, hanging open and exposing more grazes up Sebastian's torso. An area over his ribs looked like it had been scraped raw.

"Your ribs?"

"Broken, I think," Sebastian whispered. "Hurts. Hurts to breathe."

"Jesus. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have grabbed you."

Sebastian smiled despite his lip. "It's okay. Not too bad. Nothing would've stopped that hug."

Owen had needed that hug too, but it didn't stop worry from surging through him. "I need to get you comfortable, out of this muck." Owen looked around the room. Fuck! He couldn't even lay Sebastian on the bed unless he wanted him lying in damp filth. The place was probably teeming with germs, and with all that raw skin, Owen didn't want to expose Sebastian to infection, any more than he had been already.

"Can you walk?" Where had he even come from? How far has he walked in this state already?

"I think so." Sebastian moved slowly to stand and Owen quickly leaned forward to give him a hand.

"Fuck," Sebastian hissed, and Owen immediately let go of his elbow.

Sebastian looked apologetic. "My arm. I think it's broken too. Or maybe it's just sprained." Sebastian's left arm hung limply at his side.

"Oh, fuck, I'm sorry."

"S'okay."

"It's not okay." Dread filled Owen at the idea of causing Sebastian pain.

"Is there anywhere else?"

"The back of my head. I think I hit it on the rocks. Or maybe it was a tree."

The rocks? Sebastian had been flung against rocks and trees? Owen wanted to know what happened but there would be time enough for that later. Right now he needed to make getting Sebastian some medical help a priority.

This time, using a lot more care, Owen assisted Sebastian to his feet. "Wait here a second." He left Sebastian standing at the side of the bed and raced to the wardrobe. He pulled the door open, fighting against the drag caused by the wet carpet. The top shelf held spare blankets and he pulled one of those down and hurried to the bed with it. Once the bed was covered with the clean and dry blanket, Owen manoeuvred Sebastian down. The moisture would no doubt soak through quickly, but for now the surface was dry and, most importantly, it was clean.

Sebastian sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, his hurt arm hanging limp, using his good arm to grasp his ribs, and his flinch was unmistakable. Owen cringed as he saw the flash of pain cross Sebastian's features.

"Wait here, babe." He tried to keep his voice as upbeat as possible, not wanting Sebastian to see how panicked he was. "I'll be back in a sec with some stuff."

Owen grabbed a couple of extra blankets, hurrying to wrap them around Sebastian's shoulders. From the look of Sebastian's pallor and his shaking, he was at risk of hypothermia and no doubt going into shock. He needed to be warmed and quickly.

Owen dashed into the bathroom. The usually pristine white room was awash with grey instead of the sparkling white porcelain. Dirty water was pooled on the floor but thank God the medicine cabinet was mounted on the wall. Above waist height, it had missed the worst of the water. Owen ignored his own dishevelled and pasty reflection in the cabinet mirror as he pulled the door open. He grabbed disinfectant and cotton balls, plus a bottle of ibuprofen. Should Sebastian take the painkillers? What if he has a concussion? Are you supposed to give medication to people with a head injury? Owen shoved the small bottle into his pocket anyway.

Back in the bedroom, Owen hurried to Sebastian. He dropped to his knees on the soggy carpet and peered up anxiously at his pale face. It was obvious that Sebastian was in a lot of pain. His breathing was shallow, and he kept his good arm wrapped around his ribs. His hair was a bird's nest, sticking out all over his head and clumped in damp sandy strands. His complexion was pale, apart from the side of his face that was pink and red from scratches, and the bruises forming on his forehead. Even though the bed was damp, Owen supported Sebastian's arm and helped him lie down, tucking the blankets around him as best he could.

Owen worked quickly and gently, removing the shredded garment then cleaning the wounds, desperate to ensure Sebastian didn't face infection, but feeling sick inside at the knowledge he was causing Sebastian even more pain.

"I knew you'd come," Sebastian whispered.

Owen looked up from the graze he was dabbing with Dettol. Sebastian's eyes were filled with so much love, albeit tinged with pain, but his smile was wonderful. Owen smiled back, even though tears threatened to fall again. "Of course, baby, where else would I be?" He began the process of disinfecting the angry red streaks on Sebastian's cheeks.

"When the wave came, it was unreal, you know?" Owen nodded at Sebastian's words. "I wasn't sure what was happening. I wasn't very far out when the tide went funny, and the rocks—there were rocks exposed that I didn't even know were there." Sebastian's voice quavered. "Then… then the water all came back. It… it was… water everywhere, and rushing, and over and over. I lost the kayak. And there was stuff in the water. I'm not sure what, but I hit my head. Oh, fuck, Owen." Sebastian's breath heaved, and he flinched from the action. "I thought I was going to drown. That I was going to die."

The tears started to fall then, as Sebastian fell apart. Owen tried to take him into his arms, trying to be gentle lest he cause him more pain, but Sebastian was manoeuvring himself into the hug, heedless of his injuries.

Owen placed tender kisses to his cheek, the taste of Sebastian's tears mixing with the bitter antiseptic, but nothing mattered more than showing Sebastian that he was there. Owen needed to let Sebastian know he was safe in his arms.

And he was never going to let him go.