A Secret that should never have been hidden

"Mike," John said softly, taking his lover's hand in his. "Why do you always scare me like this."

Mike didn't answer, his hand lay limp and unmoving in his lover's.

John sighed softly.

"You're gonna be okay," John whispered.

Mike softly whimpered and a few of his fingers weakly flexed in John's grip.

John smiled a little.

"That's it, there you go," John said.

Mike didn't move again, but his breathing evened out and he appeared to be more relaxed then he was before.

"It's gonna be alright Mike, I'll be right by your side until this is over," John said.

Mike could dimly hear John's voice but he was far too weak to respond, he continued to drift in the darkness instead...

"Just hang in there okay, you fight this," John encouraged.

Mike lay unconscious for the rest of the night, an occasional moan being the only sign he was still alive.

John didn't sleep much that night, praying Mike would be okay.

As morning dawned Mike's fever finally began to go down and his fingers began to weakly move in John's grip, a soft groan escaping past the ventilator.

"Hey baby," John said softly. "I knew you could fight this."

There was a soft moan and Mike's bright blue eyes fluttered open, slowly focusing on his lover.

John smiled.

"Welcome back baby," John said.

Mike's eyes clouded in confusion and he looked questioningly around the hospital room, at all the equipment he was connected to, and especially at the tube that was sticking down his throat.

"It's alright Mike," John said. "You were out of it in the lockerroom, so I brought you here."

Mike's eyes filled with tears and he leaned back against the pillow looking completely miserable.

"Hey, don't cry baby, it's gonna be alright," John said, rubbing Mike's hand gently with his thumb.

Mike weakly shook his head and turned away,as if he was too ashamed to look at his boyfriend

"Mike," John said softly. "Look at me."

Mike again shook his head and shut his eyes, a few tears trailing down his face

John sighed. He couldn't tell Mike he wasn't upset with him because he was, he was very upset.

As if sensing his thoughts, Mike weakly tried to pull his hand out of John's, crying even more.

John tighted his grip on Mike's hand ever so slightly.

"Mike, I love you okay, you know that," John said.