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After Party - Chapter 18 - The Chill

Sorry this took so long to write. My muse had trouble finding me, so they had to send a back up, and this one only spoke a little English. Anyways, these are my characters, not yours. Grammar is in the eye of the beholder. Adult situations are for adults. Wait one hour after eating to swim. And don't eat red meat. Hope you enjoy some drama and aren't mad for the 2 month cliff hanger I gave you :3

"J...John?" Allen's voice cracked.

He turned his head and winced in pain. The wolf was still strapped into the seat, his arms hanging down and his head limp. A drop of blood fell from his lips.

"J..." Allen's eyes started to swell. "John?"

Allen lifted his arm and grabbed John's paw.

"John, baby, wake up," he said gently pulling his arm, but to no response. "John? John!"

Allen frantically gripped his paw and tried to shake the wolf awake. The cold wind and snow blew in from the

cracked windows and bit at the cheetah's nose.

He reached up and carefully undid the seatbelt and slid his legs out of the mangled mess that used to be a passenger seat. He knelt down on the roof of the car and crawled over to John. He placed his paws on the side of the wolf's head.

"John. Wake up. John?" Tears were pouring from his eyes as he watched another drop of blood fall from his lips.

He gave a gentle shake to his head. "John, don't die on me. You can't die."

His fur was cold as he pulled his paws away and reached up to undo the wolf's seatbelt. With a click, he slid two inches down and swung hanging, limp as can be.

Allen could feel the cold tears dampen his fur as he tried to pull John further down.

"Don't do this to me..." Allen said through his teeth as he tugged.

With a grunt, he heard a tear, and John slid down next to Allen with a gash in his leg slowly leaking blood.

"You're not dead. You're not dead," Allen said to himself as he pulled John out of the car and into the cold, soft snow.

The wet fur froze to Allen's face as he put his head to the wolf's chest, listening for a heartbeat, but the wind was too strong.

"John? Please?"

Allen's paw moved up to the wolf's cheek and he stared into his lifeless face.

A cold gust stole the last of the warmth from his body and he broke down, falling into John's chest, weeping in the roaring storm. Snow collected on their fur as they laid there.

"I don't want to live without you John. Wake up."

Allen curled up next to John and pulled one of his arms around him. Another gust flung stinging snow into his face, but he didn't care anymore. His ears burned from the cold as he clenched his lover's shirt.

"I love you John."

"I love you too," he heard softly in his ear. "But it's a little cold out for this."

Allen looked up at the smiling wolf and jumped up.

"John!" he covered his cold face in kisses. "I was so scared."

"We need to get to something warm now," he said, feeling his busted lip and looking at his bloody finger. "Get back into the car, I'm going to get the blankets in the trunk.

John sat up and shook his head. He tried to stand up, but just fell over in the snow cupping the cut on his leg.

"You get into the car, I'll get the blankets," Allen said and John nodded, crawling back to the car, trying to keep balanced.

Allen stood up and trudged through the snow back around the car. The trunk was bent half open. He brought a foot down on it and popped it open. He gathered everything warm looking he could find including a bag of food and stumbled back to the crushed window. He slipped the piles of blankets and sweaters inside and crawled in. John had taken a piece of cardboard from the back seat and set it up against the large hole in the glass on his side. He gave another piece to Allen and he propped it up to keep the wind out.

Allen crawled over to John and started wrapping the both of them in the blankets and clothing. Soon, dull warmth started to break the stinging cold deep inside the blankets between their bodies.

"How's your leg?" Allen asked touching his nose to John's.

"Could be worse." John winced. "I'm putting pressure on it. Sorry if I bleed on you."

"Don't worry about it," he said smiling, "I'm just glad you're alive."

They both watched as Allen's breath steamed in front of them.

"It's going it get really cold, really fast," John said. "I can't walk, and even if I could, we'd freeze before we got anywhere. I don't know if we will..."

John stopped and the world was very quiet. Allen closed his eyes and a tear fell. John gave him a kiss.

"It'll be all right, don't worry."

A gust of wind blew hard and knocked out the cardboard on the window, sending snow flying in. John shifted and pressed his body against the makeshift barrier, but the heat of the car was almost all gone.

Allen scooted closer to John and placed a paw on his chest to feel his quick heart beat.

"It'll be all right," John said again through the fear in his eyes.

The car was silent for a long time with the howl of the wind shaking and threatening to snatch away what little warmth and hope the two had. John winced as his hand cramped holding his wound as Allen shivered and pressed his body as close together as possible.

"I'm sorry John," Allen said, his voice soft raspy in the chilling air.

John looked into the cheetah's eyes.

"Sorry for what."

"For everything. For getting you in all the messes I have. You'd have a normal life had I just kept to myself. You wouldn't have to deal with all the drama, all of my drama. You wouldn't be here. You'd be safe."

"Why would you not think you're worth it?" John said reaching up with his other hand to pet Allen's cheek."

"Because I know I'm not. I ruined your social life, I've gotten you in serious danger too many times, I've had to move in with you because I fucked up with my family... I'm just a little looser with no friends and no hope. I've caused more harm than anything, and now we're going to die here, so how could that be worth it?" he said, starting to cry and break down.

"Allen, you're the most important thing in my life, and no matter what happens to me, the only part that matters is knowing that you're there for me to love. You are the best thing that's happened to me, and I wouldn't take you back for anything. And, if we don't make it, then at least you'll be in my arms and I'll never be able to lose you."

Allen's arms wrapped around John and gave him a tight hug.

"Do..." Allen asked, "Do you think we're really going to die?"

"I don't know. We're not the luckiest souls out there, but I know that we still have a lot more to do in this world together, and I don't know how our time could already be over."

"I hope you're right. I still want us to enjoy our weekend." Allen smiled.

John's eyes wonder around the over turned car and to the smashed glass on the roof. As he looked back he noticed that Allen was shivering more than usual.

"Allen, are you all right?"

"Yeah, just a lill-cold."

"Allen, tighten your fist for me."

Allen's fist feebly tightened, and a worried look spread across his face.

"John, what's wrong with me?"

"Nothing, just get closer to me."

Allen moved as close as he could to the wolf as John wrapped their layers tighter.

"John, I'm scared."

"Your body is just cold and trying to conserve heat. You'll be alright."

"Why didn't you look me in the eyes when you said that?" Allen asked.

John glanced at Allen's face and looked away.

"Just say it," Allen said.

"You have hypothermia."

Allen just blinked. "But, I feel so warm, I'm almost sweating."

"Your mind just thinks that. We need to get you warmer right now."

"How?"

"I... I don't know."

Allen pressed his face into John and started crying.

"I don't want to die," said his muffled voice.

John just put his paw on the cold cheetah's head and gave him a kiss.

"You'll be fine... just fine..."

John felt a tear roll down his cheek. Allen started softly mumbling something into the blanket between sniffles.

John put his ear closer to hear what Allen was saying into the blanket.

"... Oh Lord, have mercy on me and John..."

"Everything will be fine," John said to himself once more.

Allen's shivering got worse as he poked his head up.

"John... I feel so sleepy."

"Stay awake, Allen."

"I'm just so... tired."

"Just stay awake."

Allen pressed his head against John's shoulder, nodding.

"Can we go to the circus tomorrow?" Allen asked.

"Yes. We'll sit in the front and eat popcorn. Just stay awake for me," John said trying to keep the tears in.

"Good. I haven't been to one in a long time."

Allen's shivering slowed and he stayed quiet. John's tight hug stayed strong around the cold body as he felt his wet fur freeze.

Each second passed like an hour. John's mind spun in his head, unable to figure out what was happening and wondering when the nightmare would end. Allen was almost lifeless in his grip, but the light breath on his neck fur let him know he was still there.

Everything was quiet. The wind died down enough to stop rattling the cardboard on the windows. John laid there waiting for something, but he feared what it was.

He heard the crunch of snow outside and the thump of knees on the ground. As a scraping noise hit the cardboard, John tried to wake Allen up. A gloved paw pulled the cardboard out and the face of an all white fox poked inside and gasped as his eyes met with John.

"Is anyone injured?" he asked in a deep voice seeming unfit for the small looking animal.

"I have a cut on my leg and I think he has advanced hypothermia."

The fox reached in and touched Allen's shoulder. Allen's face moved and looked up at the fox who was trying to shift his body to pull him out.

"Are you'n angle?" Allen slurred. "Did I die?"

"No, but you need to work with me as best you can. Can you move your limbs?"

Allen tried, but could only budge them a little.

"Ok, I'm going to pull you out and bring you to my warm car, ok?"

Allen attempted to nod and the fox pulled him out by his armpits into the snow and scooped him up. John watched the fox stomp across the snow and up the steep hill with Allen across his arms like he had done it a thousand times before.

A minute later, the fox's face was back at the window for him.

"Can you get out on your own?"

John tried, and managed to scoot across the car and out into the cold snow. The fox helped him up and helped him walk to the car.

Inside, Allen was wrapped up in some tan wool blankets and his blue lips smiled as he saw John.

The fox got into he car and quickly drove off with his sirens. They were soon in front of a large wooden building and a group of coated figures ran up to the car with a stretcher and wheel chair for the two.

As Allen disappeared past the doors, they wheeled John into a room to get his gash looked at.

"You're lucky to be alive. We don't have too many people walking away from situations like yours," said a tall, male hawk looking at the wound on his thigh. "And it looks like the cut isn't very bad, considering. A few stitches and a lot of rest, and you should be fine."

"What about Allen?"

"He's on the other side of the building probably taking a very hot bath. I can find out exactly after your stitches, if you'd like."

"Can I see him?"

"I'll ask, but I can make no promises."

After the stitches were done, the doctored left and John sat in the room looking down at his sewn up leg, wondering how Allen was.

A few minutes later the doctor walked in and beckoned John, who hopped off the table and walked out suddenly very aware of the opened backed gown he was wearing. The doctor had a wheelchair for him and they went to the other side of the building to a room with a series of metal tubs, the first of which was bubbling with Allen's head poking out. He looked over and almost hopped out of the tub when he saw John, but was too weak.

The doctor rolled John up to him.

"So, I get sewn up like a piece of needlework, and you get to sit in a Jacuzzi. That doesn't seem fair."

Allen just stuck his tongue out and sank a little deeper in the churning, steaming water.

"So, you're not dead."

"Neither are you."

They both laughed and John put a paw on the side of the tub and stuck his fingers in.

"You warming up?"

Allen nodded and John felt a paw gently touch his.

"Everything will be just fine," Allen said smiling.

"Your lips are a prettier color now."

The doctor who was awkwardly trying to waste time in the back of the room coughed and excused himself out side.

John carefully stood up and leaned over the tub to kiss Allen.

Allen giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"Sweetie, you just leaned forward in something that doesn't normally cover your butt and you're currently giving the nurses a free show."

John looked over at the window on the door, and two faces quickly disappeared, giggling.

He stood up and clenched the back of his gown as his cheeks turned bright red under his fur.

"I wonder if they'll let you keep it so we can have a little fun later," the cheetah said

Allen watched the lump form under his gown and giggled.

"You're so fun to tease," Allen said. "Glad I can keep doing it."

"Me too," John leaned over and gave Allen a kiss again.

After a few hours, John's parents arrived at the hospital and after the initial screaming and yelling, they were just glad they were both ok.

Allen was kept overnight just to make sure he was ok, but they were soon on the drive back home. Allen and John held hands in the back trying to ignore the bickering between his parents over what was the best route to take back to the house.

John was grounded for a month and Allen refused to go outside without at least four layers on, but life moved on, and the last of the school year slipped by without anyone noticing.

Allen had been accepted to a university down south, and John filled out applications for a community college two miles down the road from it.

As the days flew past, graduation arrived as the two tried on their robes and mortar boards in their living rooms.

"This is such a hideous color," Allen said trying to smooth out a wrinkle in the burnt-orange fabric.

"Well, I'm just glad to be wearing the thing at all," John said playing with the tassel.

"You better do better next year in college. I don't think they'll be so willing to graduate you by the skin of your teeth."

"Well, I have faith you'll whip me into shape. You usually do."

"That's not all I'll wh..."

"AWW! Look at you two," Lucy and Adam said walking in from work. Before Allen could finish zipping up his front, Lucy had a camera in her hands and was taking as many pictures as she could get away with.

Adam stood there laughing as the scenario before walking over and straightening John's cap.

"You look good."

"Thanks dad, ready to leave?"

"Car's still running, let's go!"

Adam, John and Allen walked out to the car with Lucy snapping up pictures all the way.

"Are you two excited?" Lucy asked as they got into the car.

They both nodded and Lucy started rambling about it being such a big day. By the time the car drove into the high school parking lot, John and Allen almost leapt our running.

"She's she excitable," Allen said.

"She's better than she was. Remind me to show you some old home videos."

"Haha, ok. Now, where are we supposed to go?"

John pointed to a large crowd forming near the football field, so they walked over. There was a series of tables and a panda yelling out instructions. Allen waved goodbye to John as he got into his line.

As John got his seating assignment, he sat down and looked around for Allen. About 30 feet away he spotted a pair of cheetah ears. Allen turned around and smiled and John waved. As more people sat down, Allen disappeared behind the crowd and John's paw felt his pocket for something and smiled.

Soon, the principle was giving his speech and the long list of names was being called. One by one the students walked up to get their diplomas. As Allen was called, John stood up and cheered his lungs out with Lucy and Adam, ignoring the strange looks from the people around them. Allen blushed as he had his picture taken.

When John's name was called, Lucy and Adam cheered, but John's eyes were stuck on the cheetah grinning at him from across the field. He got his diploma and picture and walked back to his seat.

John's foot tapped impatiently and his paw kept moving to his pocket. The mouse sitting next to him looked nervous and watched him out of the corner of his eye, ready to spring away when he finally exploded.

As the final speech ended, and everyone grabbed their caps to throw, John was already working out how to get to Allen.

The sky went dark with flying squares and the mouse looked over at the empty chair next to him and sighed.

Allen watched as his mortar board came sailing back to the earth and felt a pair of arms around his waist pick him up. He yelped and felt a kiss on the back of his neck.

"Hi John," he said as he was set down.

"I have a surprise for you, come with me."

John grabbed Allen's paw and they made their way across the maze of chairs to the school.

When they were alone John looked into Allen's eyes and held his paws.

"Allen, we've been through hell and heaven together. Our bodies, our minds and our hearts have been through a life time's worth in just a year , and we still have the rest of our lives ahead of us."

John knelt down and dug into his pocket. Allen's paw moved to his mouth.

"Allen, will you share that time with me?"

John held up a little box with a gold ring inside. The darkening sunlight made the ring shine and Allen cried and got down in his knees too.

"Yes!"

Allen lunged for John and wrapped his arms around him, smothering his muzzle in kisses.

They both saw a flash off to the side and they saw Lucy running towards them with the camera

"You were supposed to wait!" she said out of breath as she got closer. Adam was close behind.

John just smiled and pulled the ring out of the box and slid it on Allen's finger, who was gleaming with joy.

Allen dove into John's arms again and Lucy snapped away.

"I love you John," Allen whispered into his ear.

"I love you too Allen. Now let's start spending forever together."

As the sun set, the group headed back to the car, Allen's paw in John's as they shared a soft kiss.

The end.