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A scream rips through the abandoned church grounds as Rester wrenches open one of the truck’s doors. The sound of a struggle follows shortly after and Near remains frozen in place as he watches Rester’s broad shoulders tense in a final act of force. In the next second, the burly man turns, then heaves a body through the door’s opening.
Mello writhes like a demon as Rester attempts to detain him, his eyes wild as he desperately tries to free himself.
“Rester. Please release him.”
“Near, I don’t think that’s wise. He was armed-“
“Near!”
Mello’s broken wail sends a chill through his body as Near takes a step closer.
“IS HE DEAD? DID I KILL HIM? NEAR, PLEASE TELL ME HE’S ALIVE!”
Mello thrashes with all his strength as he screams, and Rester has no choice but to wrestle him to the ground. Once Mello’s knees connect with the hardened earth, all of the fight leaves him in an instant and Near swallows as his old rival hangs his head in defeat.
“Oh God, please let him be okay.”
Near steps closer despite Rester’s protests.
“Rester. Release him now,” he commands, though it’s almost inaudible against Mello’s anguished cries.
“Sir-“
“There isn’t time for this. The longer we stay, the more at risk we are. Please, release him and check the rest of the truck, we have to confirm-“
“MATT! MATTY, WHERE ARE YOU?”
At last, Rester releases his hold on Mello. The blonde falls limply into the dirt, then digs his fingers into the ground as his shoulders heave violently. With a final look of caution, Rester turns to investigate the remaining contents of the truck. Near swallows before he takes another step closer to Mello’s shaking body.
“Near,” he pleads, voice almost unrecognizable through his audible pain. “Just kill me. I don’t want to live if he’s-“
Another painful sob wrenches through his thin frame as he dry heaves a few inches from Near’s sneakers. Surprising himself, Near extends his hand to help him up.
"Mello-"
“Mary, mother of forgiveness, may you-“
“He’s alive.”
At once, Mello’s head snaps up to face him, and Near almost flinches at his frantic expression.
“What did you say?”
“Matt is alive.”
“But the news, I saw-“
“He’s badly injured, but he will live. Halle is with him now.”
Mello lets out another sob, this time out of relief, and bows his head again. Rester joins them, phone jammed beneath his chin as he comes to stand behind Mello again. When he ends the call, he gives Near a single nod, confirming that his theory had been correct. He grins triumphantly, then turns his attention back to Mello, extending his hand once again.
“Mello, it’s over.”
His words have the desired effect, and at once, Mello regains control over his panic and pulls himself onto his hands and knees.
“You’re positive?”
“Yes. We’ve won.”
“Thank the Mother,” he breathes, bowing his head for a final time. “Christ in Heaven, thank fuck.”
And with that, Mello pushes off the ground, ignoring Near’s outstretched palm as he rises to his feet. Near drops his hand, but before he can give Mello a moment to collect himself, the blonde gently squeezes his shoulder in silent thanks. Rester tenses, hand poised above his holster as his eyes bore holes into the back of Mello’s head, so Near catches his attention with a wave of his hand, and sends him back to the car.
“Take me to him,” Mello demands, though his voice is still breathless with relief.
Near nods, and Mello parts from him with a final pat to his shoulder as they make their way towards their getaway car. They pull out of the abandoned lot just in time to see the truck erupt in a sea of smoke and flames through the review mirror.
---
Mello is silent beside him as Halle meets them outside of Matt’s hospital room. He nods as Halle murmurs something to him, then doesn’t waste another second as he pushes through the heavy door. Near steps in behind him, and watches Mello falter at the sight of Matt’s bandaged and unconscious form laying in the hospital bed. Mello’s expression is unreadable as he moves to stand beside the bed and runs a hand through Matt’s auburn locks.
Near watches silently as Mello sinks to his knees and places his clasped hands on top of Matt’s chest. His rosary gleams under the fluorescent lights and illuminates the whites of Mello’s knuckles as he shifts to bow his head. Once the blonde’s forehead rests against Matt’s heart, his lips begin moving rapidly, and Near looks away as the Hail Mary fills the silence.
With a final look over his shoulder, Near exits the room with the sound of Mello’s frantic prayers ringing in his ears.
---
When Near returns the next day, it’s clear that Mello hasn’t moved in the past 24 hours. Every muscle in his body is rigid as he remains folded on top of Matt; voice hoarse as Latin prayers fall from his chapped lips. Despite the doctor’s assurance that Matt would make a full recovery, the redhead hadn’t yet regained full consciousness, and Near knew that Mello would remain rooted to his side until he woke.
Mello doesn’t budge as Near silently shuffles into the room and takes a seat beside Matt’s bed.
“Mello.”
The only acknowledgment he receives is a slight pull in Mello’s shoulders as he tenses further into Matt’s chest. Near talks over his incessant prayer and fills him in on the next steps of the investigation. Though he knows most of what he’s saying will go ignored, he continues his debrief until he runs out of things to say. Mello does nothing but begin another prayer, this one in Russian, so Near takes the hint and rises from his chair. He loiters by Matt’s side for another moment, then clears his throat once more.
“He will be alright, you know.”
Mello’s voice cracks mid-prayer, and he lets out a small cough before he starts the invocation from the beginning.
“We could use your assistance-“
Mello’s strained voice grows louder and Near gives up on trying to speak over his frenetic praying. He stays for a while longer, unsure of how to proceed in this instance. Just as he’s about to turn to walk out of the room, he sees movement out of the corner of his eye.
Near remains silent as he watches Matt’s eyes blink open. He nods to him and Matt catches his eye before he turns his attention down and slowly lifts his palm to rest atop Mello’s painfully clasped hands. Near sees Mello tense again, then lift his head as Matt clears his throat.
“Give it a rest Mel, God’s ears must be bleeding.”
Mello instantly falls silent and lets the rosary drop from his stiff fingers, then slowly turns to tuck his face into Matt’s neck. Matt winces as he lifts his arms to wrap around the blonde’s trembling shoulders, but he lets out a relieved sigh as he presses his face into Mello’s hair.
At once Near feels as if he’s intruding, so he turns and begins walking toward the door. Before he steps out, he can’t help but cast a final look back at their entwined bodies and breathes out his own sigh of relief. He’s instantly hit with the realization that things could’ve ended much differently and is overcome with the wave of emotion that washes over him. Matt catches him staring, and even from across the room, Near can see the look of understanding in his tired eyes.
Near sends a final nod in their direction before he slips through the door. As he walks through the hospital corridors, he can’t help but acknowledge how grateful he feels knowing that both of his friends have lived to see another day.