Shannon Moore fiddled with the knob, trying to find a station that he could stand to listen to as he and his lover drove through Tennessee. The only stations he could get were either Country or Talk Radio and the stations that played any good music were distorted by static. He was beginning to wish he'd never agreed to go on this cross-country road trip with Sean in the first place. All they'd seen were trees, fields, and cows so far and he was getting sick of it. If Shannon had wanted to see any of those he would have just stayed home in Cameron. That was the epitome of Hicksville, if you asked him.

"Leave it there," Sean told him as a station came in. He nodded. "Dixie Chicks ain't half bad."

The smaller man eyed him curiously before shrugging and leaning back in his seat. "Wide Open Spaces" came through the small stereo. At least it was better than hearing the same weather report fifty times in a row.

"That's a great song," Sean smiled as it ended. He listened for a moment as the DJ announced the next that he would be playing. "Hmm, never heard of that one. I thought I knew every song that Jewel put out, but I ain't never heard this. You know it, Shanny?"

Shannon turned and stared out the window.

"Yeah, I heard it before," he whispered.

All through the night I'll be standing over you
All through the night I'll be watching over you

He'd heard it before alright. It was the song his Matt had played for him right before he'd passed away two years ago. It was the song that reminded him so vividly that Matt was no longer in his life- that he was an angel standing by.

And through the bad dreams I'll be right there, baby
Holding your hand, telling you everything's gonna be all right
And when you cry I'll be right there
Telling you you were never anything less than beautiful

He'd sworn to Matt as they listened to that song that he'd never love another, never touch another, never think of another as long as he lived. Matt had only smiled and told him not to make promises he couldn't keep. Matt had known he was going to die for a matter of months before it had actually happened and he'd made sure that there would be someone for Shannon to lean on-to help him pick up the pieces and move on with his life after he was gone. That person had been Sean.

Shannon snuck a glance over at him. The light June breeze whipped through his dark shoulder-length hair, making it twirl around his full pink lips and intense blue eyes. Sean was probably one of the most beautiful men he'd ever met, Shannon realized as he looked at him. But, he wasn't as beautiful as Matthew. There was only one of him and he was gone now.

It was hard for Shannon at first. He'd been so attached to Matt-had been since they were just kids. There was something about Matt that had outshone every single person that Shannon had known in his life. Even when he'd found out about the cancer in his brain, Matt had remained cheerful and smiling on the outside no matter what he might have felt on the inside. Hell, even when they were alone Matt would try to keep the subject away from his illness and focus on something that had happened that day or that they planned on doing the next day. Not once did he ever complain or make someone feel sorry for him. It wasn't his style.

"Damn, she's got an amazing voice."

Sean's words broke Shannon's thoughts and he turned to stare at the man sitting next to him in the car. Sniffing quietly, Shannon blinked back the tears that had started to form unnoticed.

"Yeah, it's great."

"This is a really beautiful song," Sean continued, unaware of how it was affecting the man sitting next to him, "So sad and so beautiful at the same time. I wish I could write something like this."

His lover only nodded his head and turned to stare back out the window at the passing trees and cornfields. It was killing him to listen to the song, but he couldn't just turn it off without a reason. And he couldn't tell Sean that it was Matt's song. That was something private-something only one other person knew and he wasn't going to tell anyone. And neither would Shannon.

Sean suddenly seemed to notice that Shannon had gone unusually quiet and he reached over to pat his knee.

"You okay, Shanny?"

"Fine," Shannon managed to whisper.

"You're really quiet baby. Are ya sure?"

"Yeah."

Shannon continued to look out his window. He wouldn't tell Sean. As much as he loved him, he couldn't bear to tell him that he was thinking of Matt. It had been two years and he should have gotten over it by now. He had moved on-fallen in love with someone else despite what he'd told Matt the day he'd passed on. Why should this song be doing this to him now? Why did they have to play it now while he was in a car alone with Sean and had nowhere to hide? It wasn't fair-he shouldn't feel this way! He took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to his current lover.

"It's just a sad song about someone who died and left another person behind. It makes me sad, that's all."

That wasn't a complete lie. It did make him sad and that WAS what the song was about, after all. It wasn't like he was lying to Sean- he just wasn't telling him the whole truth. There was nothing wrong with that.

"It is a sad song," Sean agreed, nodding slowly. One web and flame-covered hand began softly rubbing Shannon's knee. "But it's also beautiful. I think it's more about hope and love than about death, baby. And it's about that person who died always being there no matter what."

Shannon sighed softly and bit his lip. His words were true. Sean understood. He didn't need to tell him that the song had made him think about Matt at all. It was almost like Sean had read his mind and had realized exactly what it was that he needed to say to comfort Shannon.

So don't you worry, I'm your Angel standing by

"He's an angel now," Sean whispered as he reached up to wipe away a tear that had slipped down his lover's cheek.

Shannon smiled.

"So are you," he said softly-so softly that Sean wouldn't be able to hear him, "So are you."