Obsession - Part Six

[rycolfan.livejournal.com]

Title - Obsession
Rating - NC-17
Pairing - I think you should know by now!
Summary - Ryan discovers the sinister side of fame...
Disclaimer - I only own the story...
Feedback - Pretty please!

Once again, thank you to those of you who continue to voice your support for this fic. Rest assured I am still working hard on it and can now bring you the next part...

Part Six

Time seemed to stop and everything went quiet as Ryan lay on the ground with Drew's hands holding on to him tightly. Paul was still talking on the phone but he couldn't hear the words, his eyes fixed on the car which Colin had dived behind as the distant sound of sirens approached.

"Let me up Drew," he said quietly, "....please."

Drew, who had been listening to Paul anxiously, looked down at Ryan's lifeless expression and sighed before slowly releasing his grip. "Ryan....don't," he whispered. "It might not be safe yet".

"I don't care," Ryan replied as he shakily got to his feet, thinking that he would gladly take a bullet to the head if Colin was dead.

As he was about to move forward Ryan heard something that made his legs weak with relief. It was a voice he thought he might never hear again.

"Ryan?"

"I'm here Col," he shouted, forcing his legs to move forward as Drew breathed a sigh of relief behind him. When Ryan reached the far side of the battered car he stopped, staring in shock at the scene. Colin was sitting up against the side of the car with his hand pressed over the top of his left arm, surrounded by broken glass. Paul was pressing his hand over a heavily bleeding bullet hole in the chest of the security guard who lay unmoving.

Ryan ran to Colin's side and dropped to his knees, tears of relief slipping freely down his cheeks as he pulled him close. He felt guilty for thinking it but he was very glad it was the security guard and not Colin who'd taken a bullet in the chest.

Colin smiled weakly at Ryan, relief evident in his eyes as he saw he was unharmed. Ryan looked down and froze as he noticed the blood oozing out between Colin's fingers around his arm.

"Oh God, you've been hit," Ryan choked, trying to get a better look at the wound.

Colin shook his head calmly, "It's not bad," he said softly, "the bullet just nicked me. Frank wasn't so lucky though." He nodded towards the security guard as the screech of tyres heralded the arrival of the police and the ambulance.

The next moment they were surrounded by police officers, and an EMT dropped next to Colin to check his injuries. Ryan moved out of the way, wiping his face on his sleeve.

Colin waved the EMT away, "I'm fine, look after Frank."

The man smiled. "Frank's in capable hands. Let me take a look at your arm ok?"

Colin sighed and dropped his hand, hissing in pain as the EMT examined the wound. Ryan winced at the bleeding gash visible through the hole in Colin's shirt as he overheard Paul filling the police officers in on the situation and telling them to search the area for the shooter.

"Ryan? Colin?" They heard Greg's panicked voice just before he came into view and stopped short at the sight that met his eyes.

"Holy fuck," he shouted as he ran forward, only to be stopped by an officer who barred his way.

"Hey, you'd better let me through man," Greg said fiercely. "Or so help me God..."

"It's ok, let him through," Paul called and Greg pushed past him quickly.

"What the hell happened?" he asked in disbelief as he dropped down next to Ryan.

"We'd just arrived when someone started shooting," Ryan explained, his voice wobbling. "Frank took a bullet in the chest," he nodded to where the other EMTs were working, " and Col got hit in the arm."

"Fuck," Greg whispered. "It was her wasn't it?"

Ryan didn't answer, he didn't need to. He looked back at Colin who had closed his eyes and rested his head back against the car as the EMT cleaned his wound gently. Greg looked at both of them worriedly.

"Are you alright Ryan?" Greg asked as he laid a hand on his arm.

"I'm fine," Ryan replied quietly, keeping his eyes on Colin. "I was over with Drew when it happened." He shook his head angrily. "I shouldn't have left him."

Colin opened his eyes and looked at him. "There was nothing you could have done Ry," he said firmly.

Ryan's reply was cut off as a police officer ran up to Paul. "We've secured the area sir. There's no sign of the shooter or the gun."

"Damn," Paul swore. "Ok, let everyone know it's safe and get a statement from any witnesses." The officer nodded and moved away to coordinate with his colleagues.

"Okay," the EMT said as he finished bandaging Colin's arm and they all turned back to him. "All done. The wound will need to be cleaned and re-dressed once a day but you should be fine."

"Thank you," Ryan said as they all helped Colin to his feet, Ryan putting an arm around his waist to support him as his legs wobbled.

"No problem," the EMT replied as he moved away to help the others move Frank into the waiting ambulance which then sped off, sirens blaring.

Colin stood still and silently watched it go, offering up a prayer that Frank would make it. He knew that if it hadn't been for Frank's quick reflexes he would probably have been killed. He would never forget that moment of sheer terror as they had dived to safety.   

"Col? You ok?" Greg asked gently.

"He saved my life," Colin said quietly, still staring into the distance.

"Come on," Ryan said, squeezing him reassuringly, "let's get you inside."

Colin let Ryan and Greg support him as he slowly walked towards the building and saw Drew being questioned by a police officer. Drew stopped speaking mid-sentence and looked at Colin worriedly but Ryan shook his head and mouthed "later," anxious to get Colin safely inside.

After stopping several times to reassure concerned crew members they finally arrived at Colin's dressing room. Ryan and Greg carefully sat him down on the sofa before Ryan sat next to him and pulled him into his arms gently. Greg sat down opposite them and watched anxiously as Colin stared straight ahead, seemingly oblivious of everything around him. He hadn't said a word on the way there but had gripped Ryan's hand tightly as the magnitude of what had happened began to sink in.

"Do you need me to do anything?" Greg asked Ryan softly.

Ryan looked up at Greg. "I think he just needs some peace and quiet for a while. Do you think you could keep everyone away until he's ready to see them?"

"Sure man," Greg replied, getting to his feet. "I'll personally stand guard outside. Woe betide anyone who tries to get past me. I'll whoop their ass."

"Thanks Greg," Ryan said with a chuckle as he watched him go. He turned his attention back to Colin as the door closed. He hadn't moved or uttered a sound since they'd got there and Ryan was worried. He gently placed his hands on either side of Colin's head and raised it to look into his eyes before placing soft kisses over his face.  The last one was on his lips which, after a moment, began to gradually respond to his touch. The kiss was slow and tender, both of them drawing comfort and reassurance from it, and Colin wrapped his arms tightly around Ryan's waist.

When Ryan eventually pulled back he was relieved to see Colin looking more like himself, although he was still very pale. He stroked his face gently before pulling him back into his arms and adjusting their position so that they were lying back on the sofa, Colin's head resting on his chest.

As he lay there and rubbed Colin's back gently, Ryan tried not to think about how close he'd come to losing him. For a few moments it had felt like he was back in his nightmare, that Colin was dead, and the feeling of utter desolation had been overwhelming. If he ever got his hands on that woman...

His thoughts were interrupted by raised voices outside the door.

"Well you can't," Greg was saying loudly.

"Get out of the way Greg." Ryan recognized Brad's voice and then heard Wayne's. "We just want to check he's alright."

"You'll have to take my word for it," Greg replied. "Ryan's looking after him and he doesn't want to be disturbed."

"Oh come on Greg," Ryan heard Jeff say, "it'll only take a minute.....please?"

"No," Greg replied stubbornly, "you'll have to wait."

"Move," Brad growled.

"Make me," Greg replied angrily. Ryan heard the sounds of a scuffle and muttered curses and assumed that Brad was doing just that.

"You'd better let them in before they kill each other," Colin said quietly.

Ryan looked down at him anxiously. "Are you sure?"

Colin nodded and Ryan gently disentangled himself, walking to the door and opening it forcefully. The sight that met his eyes would have been funny if it wasn't for the current situation. Brad had Greg pushed up against the doorframe with his glasses askew and Greg had hold of Brad's shirt which had ripped. Both had frozen mid-fight as Ryan had opened the door. Wayne, Jeff and Chip were standing further back looking awkward.

Brad released Greg and stepped towards Ryan. "We just want to check he's ok," he said defensively.

"Come in Brad," Colin's voice called from inside and Ryan reluctantly stepped aside to let everyone in. Greg looked at him apologetically as he passed.

"Wayne's filled us in on what's been going on," Brad said as he sat down opposite Colin, looking worriedly at his bandaged arm. "How're you doing?"

"I'll be fine," Colin reassured him, taking Ryan's hand as he sat down beside him. "I can't say the same about Frank though."

Jeff shook his head. "I can't believe it. Who the hell is this woman?"

Before Ryan could reply, Paul and Drew walked in with grave expressions and everyone turned to look at them.

"I've just received news from the hospital," Drew said, looking at Colin and Ryan solemnly. "Frank didn't make it."

There was a moment of silence as everyone looked shocked. Colin stared at Drew, his eyes filling with tears. "It should have been me," he whispered.

Ryan's gaze snapped back towards Colin. "Don't say that," he said sternly.

Colin looked at him miserably. "Why?" he asked, a tear rolling down his cheek. "Frank had nothing to do with all this; that bullet was meant for me." He paused and shook his head. "How will I face his wife and kids Ry?"

Ryan wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly. "It wasn't your fault Col," he said firmly as Colin sobbed into his neck. "The only one to blame for all of this is Rachel and we're gonna make damn sure she's brought to justice."



To be continued....