I Need a Hero to Save me Now

Evan's head turned toward the sound of Matt's voice and his eyelashes were fluttering wildly in an attempt to open.

"Come on Evan, you can do it," Matt encouraged. "Open your eyes for me baby."

With a groan, Evan did as he was commanded, but something was very wrong. His eyes, normally a beautiful shade of brown, were glazed over thickly and when he looked at Matt...there was no recognition, no sign that the high flier knew the man before him.

"Evy?" Matt asked softly.

Evan's eyes were filled with confusion as he continued to look up at Matt. On the other side of the bed, Jeff caught his attention and he turned to look at him, the same confused look filling his eyes.

"Chris?" Matt asked worriedly. "What's wrong with him?"

Chris sighed "It's the fever" he explained "Jenna told me once that people who have extremely high fevers can often enter a state of delirium where they can't remember anything, who they are, where they are, or even the ones they love. I think that Evan recognizes your voice, but he doesn't know how." Chris' eyes filled with sadness "Unfortunately there's nothing you can do until his fever comes down, just comfort him."

Matt nodded, squeezing Evan's hand.

Evan turned back to Matt and whimpered, a pleading look filling his eyes. He KNEW that face, it was there in his memory, but who? Oh if only he could remember!

Matt smiled slightly as he squeezed Evan's hand and began to sing softly.

When the visions around you,
Bring tears to your eyes
And all that surround you,
Are secrets and lies
I'll be your strength,
I'll give you hope
Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call,
Who's standing here all alone...

And I will take
You in my arms
And hold you right where you belong
Till the day my life is through
This I promise you
This I promise you

I've loved you forever,
In lifetimes before
And I promise you never...
Will you hurt anymore
I give you my word
I give you my heart (give you my heart)
This is a battle we've won
And with this vow,
Forever has now begun...

Just close your eyes (close your eyes)
Each loving day (each loving day)
I know this feeling won't go away (no...)
Till the day my life is through
This I promise you.
This I promise you.

Over and over I fall (over and over I fall)
When I hear you call
Without you in my life baby
I just wouldn't be living at all...

And I will take (I will take you in my arms)
You in my arms
And hold you right where you belong (right where you belong)
Till the day my life is through
This I promise you baby

Just close your eyes
Each loving day (each loving day)
I know this feeling won't go away (no...)
Every word I say is true
This I promise you

Every word I say is true
This I promise you
Ooh, I promise you...

That voice...those words...Evan remembered now, he remembered the first time he'd heard that song, he'd cried the whole time when...Matt!!!!

Mattie? Still incredibly weak, Evan mouthed the name as best he could, fighting the exhaustion that was trying to pull him under once more.

Matt nodded.

"Yeah baby, it's me," Matt smiled. "I'm here Evy."

Evan weakly squeezed Matt's hand as he fought to stay awake, he looked vaguely afraid of falling asleep again.

"It's okay Evan," Matt whispered. "I'm here now, nothing's gonna happen to you."

A few tears splashed from Evan's eyes before he went back to sleep, he was still very sick.

"I'm going to get you through this Evan. Matt whispered, placing a soft kiss on Evan's forehead. "THAT I promise you."

Evan quietly whimpered and tightened his grip on Matt's hand.

Matt rubbed Evan's hand with his thumb. "It's alright Evy," Matt murmured.

Evan relaxed and really dropped off to sleep now, he didn't whimper again.

Matt didn't sleep that night, his eyes locked on his younger lover.

Chris awoke at dawn and sighed when he saw Matt was STILL awake "Matt..." he got up and shook his head "You need to get some rest."

"Not until I know he's alright," Matt muttered.

"Matt...." Chris groaned in frustration "Evan's going to be fine, his fever's been dropping all night, you need to get some rest or you're going to be in a hospital bed yourself!"

"I'm no good to him if I'm sleeping," Matt muttered.

"Will you be any good to him in a hospital bed?" Chris rolled his eyes when Matt didn't answer "You know Jeff warned me you might get like this, you get so busy caring for other people you totally neglect yourself!"