A/N: It has been done before and it does seem to be popular -- but this is my series of one shots, merely because I get ideas I can't turn into stories, and I want an outlet for that. This first chapter came to me when I was watching Tru Calling and the Sarah Connor chronicles (first chapter I've ever written in one go too). I don't know why, but I felt this impending sadness.

Disclaimer: I don't own Covenant. I do not profit from this.

Warning: There will be sex chapters. There will be explicit cussing and violence and maybe even death….I don't know. So in this warning -- I'm just gonna warn you of all the warped ideas spiraling along in my head. This chapter is merely depressing, that's all. And until my chapters grow more intense -- the rating will be T.

Pairing: Caleb/Reid

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Reid grunted, turning over in bed. The blankets were heavy and itchy, pressing down on him. His hand splayed out and curled around his ribs protectively. He burrowed deeper into the blankets because he was still cold, he still couldn't stop shivering. And every time his body tensed he felt like crying. The continuous shaking was only making the sharp pain in his ribs sharper. He grunted again, tucking his chin down into his chest and clenching his teeth apprehensively.

A hand, smooth and cool, pressed against his head and he jerked. But the hand remained, long fingers gently, almost lazily, stroking his forehead, idly threading through his sweaty blonde hair. The blanket shifted around him and the bed dipped slightly as a body curled against his back. An arm enveloped him and gently pulled him closer against the body. This body felt warm and Reid leaned into it. The hand buried itself in his hair and softly massaged his scalp.

The words, soft and inhumanly calm, melted together to form a comforting noise. The breath was hot against his ear but he liked it. He relaxed beneath the touch, forced himself to relax into the gentle embrace. Force his jaw to unclench and his fists to uncurl. "I'm dying." The words were soft, but his voice shook; it sounded dry, hoarse from disuse and laced thoroughly with barely suppressed pain.

"No," Caleb said behind him. The older boy pressed closer against Reid's back. "You're not. Everything's fine." But his voice broke on the last word. "You're fine," he amended. Slender fingers brushed against the pale face, "It was just an accident, Reid. Just a really bad accident. But it's okay. Because I'm here, and you're here, and you can get better from this." He pursed his lips and brushed them against Reid's neck. "You can get better," he repeated, his voice softer. Broken.

"No," Reid mumbled, tilting his head back against Caleb's chest. "I can't, Caleb. I'm sorry. I let you down."

"No," Caleb murmured, his mouth dangerously close to Reid's ear. "No, you didn't. You never….you never let me down. Never, Reid."

"But we were going so well," Reid mumbled, shifting against Caleb's chest. "And then I died. I know what happened Caleb. You need to stop blaming yourself. You need to stop all of it and start living again. I don't want your death to be on my hands…"

"I can't." Caleb's voice sounded dangerously close to a whine, quiet and broken, tight with barely restrained tears. "I can't…not without…I miss you so much…"

"I know," Reid whispered back. "But they need you, Caleb. The covenant. Quit killing yourself for me…"

"I can't forget you," Caleb hissed, his lips pressed hard against Reid's neck.

"You better not," Reid agreed. "If they lose you, they lose half their covenant. You have to be strong for them, Caleb. You'll always have to be strong for them. I never saw that before. I thought you were controlling, but you always had to be strong. Somebody else. Somebody you didn't want to be, just because you wanted to save us from your misery. I see it now."

Caleb's arms tightened around Reid's waist. Reid felt the tears against the back of his neck but Caleb's sob was quiet, repressed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't say that," Caleb cried against Reid's skin. "Don't apologize. I never -- I never fucking blamed you, Reid. I want it back .I want you back."

Reid shifted against Caleb's chest, and rolled over to face him. The pain that had been consuming him so completely just seconds before simply vanished. It always vanished at those four words. "You have me," he mumbled. "I'm always here, Cay." Reid's hand was cold against Caleb's chest, even beneath the blanket and through his t-shirt. Caleb shivered. "I'll never leave you. I promise."

The door to Reid's dorm swung open and Caleb jumped. "Sorry, Cay," a somber voice mumbled. "I forgot my chemistry book." Tyler shuffled across the room and quietly rummaged through a mess of papers and books on top of his desk. "Are you coming to class today, Cay?" He asked gently, turning away from his desk to gaze intently at Caleb. The older boy was curled up in Reid's bed, like he'd been all week, his body curved around an invisible force.

Caleb licked his lips tentatively. He didn't want to leave the bed, or the room. It'd been three weeks and he still didn't want to face anybody. He still didn't want to move on because he feared the visions would stop. They made him sad all over again, but he didn't want to stop seeing Reid. He didn't want to forget. "Yes," he answered after a long moment of deliberation. "Just give me a minute to get dressed, Ty. I'll meet you in chemistry."

The smile tried to turn up Tyler's lips but his impending sorrow forced it back down. He clutched his chemistry book in his hand and nodded slowly. "Okay. He would want you to move on, Cay," he murmured. The covenant had already stopped using Reid's name.

"I know," Caleb agreed. He reached a hand forward, beneath the blanket, but all he found was the empty air. Reid was already gone. "That's why I'm doing this." He forgives me.