Page 80 of Witch's Promise

No. He couldn't afford to lose consciousness. Not now. Not when Sean still needed him.

With a herculean effort, Gabe forced his eyes to focus. The attic swam back into view, the acrid stench of brimstone and burnt wood assaulting his senses. His body felt like one giant bruise, every movement sending jolts of pain through his battered frame. But none of that mattered.

"Sean," Gabe croaked, his voice raw from shouting spells. He dragged himself across the attic floor, ignoring the protest of his aching muscles.

Sean lay where the demon had left him, a crumpled heap of torn clothing and bloodied skin. For a heart-stopping moment, Gabe feared they'd been too late. But then he saw it – the faint rise and fall of Sean's chest, barely perceptible but undeniably there.

"Thank fuck," Gabe breathed, relief washing over him in a dizzying wave. He reached out with shaking hands, gently cradling Sean's face. "Sean? Can you hear me?"

For a long, agonizing moment, there was no response. Then, slowly, Sean's eyes fluttered open. They were glassy with pain, unfocused at first. But as his gaze landed on Gabe, a flicker of recognition sparked to life.

"I knew you'd come," Sean whispered, his voice hoarse and barely audible. A ghost of his old cocky grin tugged at the corner of his mouth, though it was more of a pained grimace than a true smile.

Gabe felt his throat tighten, a complex tangle of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Relief, anger, fear, love – they all warred for dominance, leaving him feeling raw and exposed.

"Save your strength, you idiot," Gabe managed, trying to inject some sternness into his voice. But the effect was ruined by the way his hands trembled as they cupped Sean's face, gentle despite his harsh words.

Sean's eyes slipped closed again, his body going limp as unconsciousness reclaimed him. But the steady, if shallow, rise and fall of his chest reassured Gabe that he was still fighting.

Chapter 24

Sean

He drifted back to consciousness slowly, his senses gradually coming online one by one. The first thing he noticed was the softness beneath him, a stark contrast to the hard attic floor where he'd last been aware. The mattress cradled his battered body, offering a comfort he hadn't realized he'd been missing.

Then came the smell – a familiar blend of sandalwood and something uniquely Gabe that made Sean's heart ache with longing. He breathed it in deeply, allowing the scent to wash over him. If this was death, Sean thought hazily, maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

Curiosity finally won out over the desire to stay in this blissful cocoon of warmth and Gabe-scent. Sean cracked open his eyes, wincing as even the soft light of the room sent spikes of pain through his skull. He blinked, waiting for his vision to clear, and gradually took in his surroundings.

He was in Gabe's room, he realized with a start. The same posters on the walls, the same cluttered desk in the corner. It was like stepping back in time, to a period when things weresimpler, when the weight of the world didn't seem to rest so heavily on their shoulders.

A movement to his left caught Sean's attention. There, slumped in a chair pulled up close to the bed, was Gabe. His head was pillowed on his arms, face turned towards Sean even in sleep. Dark stubble shadowed his jaw, and there were lines of exhaustion etched around his eyes that Sean didn't remember being there before.

Sean's heart clenched at the sight. Gabe looked like he hadn't slept properly in days, and a wave of guilt washed over Sean as he realized he was probably the cause.

Slowly, fighting against the protests of his aching body, Sean reached out. His fingers trembled as they made contact with Gabe's cheek, the stubble rough against his skin. He traced the line of Gabe's jaw, marveling at how familiar and yet how new this felt.

Gabe stirred under his touch, brow furrowing before his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he just stared at Sean, as if not quite believing what he was seeing. Then, with a choked sound that was half laugh, half sob, Gabe surged forward.

His lips met Sean's in a kiss that was achingly tender, filled with all the fear and relief and love that words couldn't express. Sean melted into it, his hand coming up to cup the back of Gabe's neck, holding him close.

When they finally broke apart, Gabe's eyes were wet with unshed tears. "You're awake," he breathed, his voice rough with emotion. "God, Sean, we've been waiting for you to wake up for so long."

Sean frowned, confusion cutting through the haze of pain and lingering sleep. "How long?" he asked, his own voice barely more than a rasp. "How long was I out?"

Gabe's expression tightened, a flicker of remembered fear passing across his face. "A week," he said softly. "You've beenrecovering for a week. I thought... fuck, Sean, I was so scared we were going to lose you."

The raw honesty in Gabe's voice made Sean's chest ache. He reached out, taking Gabe's hand in his own and squeezing gently. "Hey," he said, trying to inject some strength into his voice. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, Choccy."

The old nickname slipped out without conscious thought, a relic from their shared past. Sean tensed, suddenly unsure if he still had the right to use it. But Gabe's face lit up, a watery chuckle escaping his lips even as fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.

"You don't understand," Gabe said, his voice cracking. "You flatlined, Sean. A couple of times. Finn barely kept you alive. I thought... I thought I was going to lose you for good this time."

The pain in Gabe's voice hit Sean like a physical blow. He tugged on their joined hands, pulling Gabe closer until their foreheads rested together. "Hey, hey," Sean murmured, his free hand coming up to cup Gabe's cheek. "I promised I'd never leave you again, remember? And I don't intend to break that promise. I just got you back, Gabe. I'm not letting go that easily."

Gabe's eyes met his, a maelstrom of emotions swirling in their depths. "You better not," he said, his voice thick with feeling. "Because I love you, you idiot. And if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll kill you myself."

Sean couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up, even though it sent a twinge of pain through his ribs. "I love you too," he said, meaning it with every fiber of his being. "And I swear, I'll always come back to you. No matter what."

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