A few minutes earlier:

Pick had stormed up the stairs and was looking for the right room. Since the hotel was quite winding, it took longer than he expected. Mark's long coat billowed behind him while the drummer frantically searched for the right room. He soon found it and tried to open the door, but it was locked. The drummer looked around helplessly before running against the door with all his might. He cursed and held his aching shoulder before he heard a quiet sob through the door. He pressed his ear against the wood and held his breath before he could place the sob. It sounded like someone was frantically trying to gasp for air. And he already knew who it was. Pick's anger grew. He took another run and ran against the door, screaming. He successfully knocked it off its hinges. The drummer rubbed his throbbing shoulder before his eyes turned to the bed in the room.

Mark was lying on it. His limbs were spread like Leonardo DaVinci's Vitruvius Man. His arms and legs were bound. Blood dripped from his wrists. Tears rolled down his cheeks and Pick could see dry tear tracks. There was semen on his chest and something else that Pick didn't want to think about right now. Dark bruises were forming on Mark's face. There was a gag in his mouth. The drummer felt his stomach turn. The sight made him sick. Pick stormed to the bed.

"Oh my God, Mark." He gasped in shock. Mark's eyes were open to slits as he tried to get air into his lungs before his body went limp and he passed out. Pick felt tears in his eyes and reached out to stroke Mark's cheek. He gently held Mark's jaw and pulled the yellow gag from Mark's mouth. Shocked, he realized that they were lace panties. Damn, that woman had done this to Mark!? Pick rummaged around in the nightstand drawers a bit before finding a pair of scissors and carefully cutting the thick ropes around Mark's ankles and wrists. His limbs fell lifeless onto the bed. Pick sniffed quietly as he rushed to the bathroom and found a fluffy towel. He wet it and began to wash Mark off. The guitarist was still unconscious when Pick found Mark's clothes across the room. All his infatuation was forgotten. Pick didn't even think about looking at Mark's body with longing eyes. He just wanted to help his friend. He carefully pulled Mark up before prying him open.

"Mark? Can you hear me?" He hummed, gently stroking Mark's cheek. "It's over. She's gone. No one will hurt you anymore." Mark's eyes opened weakly. He let out a soft, broken moan.

"P...Pick?" He breathed weakly.

"Yes. It's me. I'm here. Nobody's going to hurt you. I'm here. I'm holding you." The drummer assured immediately. Mark slumped against Pick's chest, just before he passed out again. Pick looked at him worriedly.

*

The drummer had wrapped Mark in his coat and then carefully lifted him up bridal style. Considering that the drummer was almost 10 centimetres shorter than the guitarist, this was quite an achievement. He carried him through the now almost empty bar and waited outside for a taxi. The taxi took the two of them to Pick's apartment. Soon the drummer had carried his friend's tall, lanky body into his apartment and laid him on his bed. Pick felt tears on his cheeks as he looked at Mark. He sat next to him on the edge of the bed, holding his hand and stroking his forehead.

"I'm so sorry." He whimpered. "I should have noticed something was wrong sooner. Damn." Tears rolled down Pick's cheek. Pick leaned on Mark's chest and began to sob weakly into the pyjamas he had put on the guitarist. He had washed Mark's body thoroughly, as well as his hair. It was still slightly damp. "I love you. I was so scared to tell you." Pick sobbed. "And now you had to go through something like this. I'm so sorry. She abused you." Suddenly Pick felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes in shock and raised his head. Mark looked at him. His face was now swollen and bruises were on his cheekbones. His eyes looked tired, but a slight smile formed on his lips. "You're awake." The drummer said happily and sat up. He pretended he hadn't said that a few seconds ago, because damn. He had thought that Mark had fainted.

"Yes." Mark croaked in a hoarse voice. Pick immediately offered him a glass of water. Mark swallowed a little of it. "Thank you." He looked around a little. "Where are we?" He whispered.

"You're in my bedroom." Pick said and gave him an encouraging smile. "I...I brought you here and washed you, I..."

"You saw it." Mark breathed softly and closed his eyes. Tears began to roll down his cheeks again. "Didn't you?" Pick swallowed hard.

"Yes, I... I found you. Tied to the bed. I... shit, Mark. I was so scared for you." Pick whimpered. "How are you feeling? Are you in pain?" Mark opened his eyes and looked at him sadly.

"I'm ashamed." Mark whispered softly. Pick looked at him in shock. "I...shit, she threatened to tell the press that I raped her if I didn't let her do what she wanted and...fucking shit." Mark started to sob. Pick immediately pulled him into his arms and rocked him gently.

"Sh. Don't cry." He hummed, brushing some of Mark's hair from his forehead. "Don't cry, it's over. I found you and everything's going to be okay, you hear me?"

"She wanted to tell people I was a rapist." Mark sobbed, clinging to Pick's shoulders. Pick rocked him gently and held him tightly in his arms.

"You're not, Mark. And she won't tell anyone. Sh. Calm down." Pick gently pushed back a strand of his hair and stroked his back. "It's all good. You're with me now. She won't hurt you anymore."

"I'm so ashamed." Mark sobbed, trying to hide his face behind his hands. "She called me... she called me a whore." Mark whimpered. Tears ran down his cheeks in masses. "I swear to you, I tried not to react to her touches, but I..."

"Sh." Pick hummed and kissed Mark's head. He rubbed his shoulder gently. "Calm down. You're not a whore. And you can't help how your body reacted." He rocked the guitarist gently in his arms. Mark whimpered brokenly. "It's all good. I'm here."

"Pick?" Mark sniffed after a while.

"Mh?" Hummed the drummer. He was still holding him tightly. Mark bit his lower lip hard before raising his head and pressing his lips to the drummer's. Pick's heart skipped a beat. Damn it! Mark Freuder Knopfler is kissing me! This is a dream! Pinch me, this can't be the truth! Pick leaned firmly into the kiss and hummed. Tears were now running down his cheeks. He didn't hope that Mark returned his feelings. When they broke the kiss, Pick immediately lowered his head and looked down at his hands.

"Do you really love me?" Mark whispered hoarsely. Pick swallowed hard. "I...I heard what you said to me earlier."

"I didn't want you to hear." Pick said quietly, feeling his cheeks warm with embarrassment. Mark giggled weakly.

"But...do you?" Mark bit his lower lip. "Do you love me?" Pick swallowed hard.

"Yes." He finally said. "Listen, I tried to make the feelings go away. I swear to you. I don't want our friendship to end and I was so scared to tell you because I didn't want us to hate each other and I...shit, I..."

"Stop babbling." Mark whispered before he had to cough and fell back into the pillows with a groan. Pick looked down at him. Mark slid a little in the bed and made room for him. The drummer lay down uncertainly next to him. "I love you too, you know?" Mark breathed and looked at the ceiling. Pick felt his heart swell. "But, I...shit, I don't know how this is going to work."

"What do you mean?" Pick asked worriedly, looking at the younger man.

"I...I'm so ashamed and I don't deserve you. I'm not good enough for you." Tears shimmered in Mark's eyes again. "Look at me. I can barely take care of myself. Damn, how am I supposed to take care of you and..."

"Sh." Pick put a forefinger to his lips and smiled gently at him. "I'm older than you, honey." Mark felt his cheeks warm. "I know you have an eating disorder." The guitarist bit his lower lip hard. "I know you need help. And damn, you were just raped." A tear rolled down Mark's cheek. "But I love you, you know? And I'll take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again, okay? I'll take care of you. You don't always have to worry about everything and everyone, darling." He gently stroked Mark's swollen cheek. "I'll take care of you." Mark whimpered weakly. "Because you're very special. And because I love you with all my heart."

"I love you too." Mark whimpered. Pick pulled the taller man to his chest with a smile and wrapped him in his arms.

"I love you and nothing so terrible will ever happen to you again. I promise." He kissed Mark's forehead. "Forget everything that horrible woman said to you tonight." Mark sobbed weakly and clung to the older man. "I'll show you what love means. Because I love you." Knopfler raised his head and smiled weakly at him. Pick kissed his lips firmly. He would heal this man. No matter how long it took.

THE END ;)