A/N: It's been a while since I have posted anything or written anything for that matter. I took my stories down a long time ago and haven't done anything since. By a fortunate turn of events, I have been inspired to write again. This, my first Covenant fanfiction, was a request from my lovely sister. I hope you all enjoy it as well!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Covenant. I am merely inspired by the wonderful characters and concept. I wish Toby Hemingway was mine, but he's not. I also wouldn't mind having Steven Strait, but alas it cannot be.

Reid sauntered through the group and up to the very edge of the cliff. All eyes were on him as he assessed the situation below. He liked the freedom up here. Separate from the world with his friends, his brothers. Nothing could hurt them, no secrets to protect. The party was well underway below, and they would make a grand entrance.

Reid turned to the others. Caleb could tell by the look in Reid's eyes that he wouldn't like what was coming next. Reid watched that register in Caleb's face and let a little smirk of satisfaction show.

"Well, I'd say it's time we dropped in," he said. With that, he let himself fall off the cliff, Caleb's shout following him down.

"Reid! No! Dammit!"

"Oh hell yeah!" was Tyler's answering shout as he followed Reid down the impossible drop. Well, impossible for anyone but them.

"Tyler!" Caleb called after him as well.

"Come on, Caleb. It won't hurt us … yet." And Pogue soon followed the others into that mighty fall. With a sigh, Caleb casually took that final step off the cliff and joined the others at the bottom.

"See, Caleb? That wasn't so bad, was it?" Reid mockingly asked. Caleb shot a glare in his direction, his temper already rising. He seemed to always have less patience with Reid, no matter what the situation. At this rate, he could tell it would be a long night. He knew Reid liked to egg him on, precisely because he could rile Caleb up so. Even knowing that, Caleb couldn't seem to control his emotions around Reid.

"Let's just go," Caleb muttered.

"Aww, you say it like you won't have fun. It's a party after all!" Reid began making his way towards the party, the others close behind.

They made their way into the crowd and took in the scene. It was a beautiful night. The stars were visible with only a few clouds in the sky. The bonfires provided a pleasant warmth from the distance they were at as well as a soothing glow to the area. But the DJ was busy, and the music was anything but relaxing. The beat was loud and hard, and the partygoers were laughing, dancing, drinking.

The boys could tell, though, when the partiers noticed their arrival. A hush swept over them as all eyes glanced their way. Quickly, conversation started up again, but their presence was definitely noted. Came with the territory, they figured. The Sons of Ipswich had their own reputation, in addition to being popular and well-liked.

Unfortunately, Aaron and his gang had also obviously noticed their arrival. Aaron hardly ever passed up an opportunity for confrontation, so he was already making his way in their direction.

"You know, I was just saying that it was nice to get out here to the beach with the nice open air and get away from the smell of pussy, but then you all had to show up and ruin it," he taunted.

"Ugh, I know what you mean. That smell just makes me wanna puke," one of Aaron's buddies added.

"Is that so?" Reid asked.

A newcomer had been observing everything up to the four's arrival and confrontation. Here were the Sons at last, and boy, did he have plans for them. But the blond one caught his eye and held him fast. He continued to watch him as he spoke.

"Actually, Aaron, that smell just follows you wherever you go. You can't get away from it. It's who you are," Reid replied.

Aaron made to punch Reid, with his gang right behind and eager to fight. Caleb had placed his hand on Reid's shoulder in an effort to deter him.

Reid didn't need to Use to win a fight. He could take a hit, and he could avoid one. He ducked down to dodge the punch and elbowed Aaron in the gut. At the same time, his eyes flashed pure black and one of Aaron's buddies began vomiting almost uncontrollably. Reid laughed, but Aaron wasn't distracted enough to end the fight. He swung again at Reid. Just as Reid was contemplating what to do next, a body stepped in the way. The stranger had caught Aaron's fist and pulled it off track, knocking Aaron of balance and sending him tumbling to the ground.

"What do you think you're doing, jack ass?!" Aaron coughed out as he picked himself up, his buddies trying to help while he shook them off. He was still recovering from that elbow to the gut. Reid had got him right in his diaphragm.

"Now, now. You were being kind of bitchy," the stranger commented. "They hadn't even done anything when you started your little pissing contest to impress your boyfriends here."

"Why you—"

"Hey guys!" came over the speakers. All movement and talking stopped as everyone tuned in to listen. Aaron became momentarily distracted, thus the conflict was put temporarily on hold. "Kevin just called and said he saw a bunch of cops heading this way!"

The beach became a sea of chaos as everyone rushed to their cars to leave the incriminating area.

"This isn't over," Aaron promised as he, too, rushed to leave.

"We'll see!" The stranger called after him, before turning around to look at Reid and the others.

Reid was glaring at him, but the others looked mildly impressed.

"Sorry for interfering, but he was pissing me off," he put in mildly.

"I didn't need your help," Reid ground out before turning around and heading towards their car.

"Well, you're welcome," the stranger muttered under his breath. Pogue and Tyler had begun to follow Reid. The stranger's eyes followed Reid's retreating back. Caleb had heard his comment and glanced over to catch him watching Reid. Caleb's eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure he liked the way that guy was looking at Reid.

"Don't mind him. He likes to act tough, but thanks for diffusing the situation. Not many people stand up to Aaron."

"Yeah, no problem."

"Hey, do you need a ride?" the well raised gentleman in Caleb asked.

"Actually, yes. I have no idea where mine ran off to," the stranger replied.

"Cool. Come on." Caleb began walking in the same direction as the others, followed by the stranger. "I'm Caleb Danvers, by the way."

"I'm Chase Collins," returned the stranger.

"Aww man, what's he doing here?" They had caught up to the others and heard Reid's complaint.

"He needs a ride. We're giving him one" was Caleb's response.

"No way, man, no way." Reid was shaking his head.

"Reid, he helped. Now we're helping. Get over it," Caleb finished. His statement was followed by a dramatic sigh to which he rolled his eyes. He looked at Chase and saw him smiling. Realizing Reid's antics were actually pretty amusing, he let out a small laugh and climbed in the passenger seat of the car. Pogue was driving, which meant that Tyler, Reid and Chase were squeezing into the back.

"Oh no no no" came from the back seat. "I am not sitting next to this guy." Chase had maneuvered himself so that he sat in the middle and next to Reid.

"We don't have time Reid," Pogue said.

"Dammit" was the only response. Then they were on their way.

"Chase was it?" Tyler inquired from next to him.

"Yep." Chase could hear a barely inaudible "Who cares?" come from his other side. He smirked.

"I'm Tyler Simms and the one driving is Pogue Perry. The indignant child sitting next to you is Reid Garwin," he introduced.

"Who are you calling a child?" Reid gasped, offended.

"Why the youngest one among us, who also happens to act like a child," Caleb called from the front seat.

"Fuck off, Caleb." Reid could almost hear Caleb's teeth grinding. There, now he felt better.

"I seem to have done something to upset you," Chase commented to Reid.

"You think?" Reid asked. "That fight was none of your business."

"I couldn't stand to see such a beauty terrorized," Chase said as he brushed his fingers gently across Reid's hand. Reid's hand twitched but didn't move as he turned to stare pointedly out the window.

Tyler on the other hand was blushing, and Pogue catcalled from the front seat, "Damn, Reid! You must have been putting on the right moves tonight!"

"I didn't do anything!" Reid protested, but he noticed that Caleb hadn't said anything. He tried to send a furtive glance his way and noticed that his hands and jaw were clenched. He looked pissed. Now, why is that? Reid thought. Did I piss him off? I usually do. Must have been something I did. Maybe he's just still mad that I picked a fight … or maybe it was the puking thing … or maybe it was the jumping of the cliff thing. Yeah probably that one.

Chase noticed where Reid was looking and also noticed the state Caleb was in. But he took it for what it really was. Hm, interesting. This should make things much more … amusing, Chase smirked. Reid saw it out of the corner of his eye and turned more fully to look at Chase. Chase caught him and turned a full-blown smile on Reid. If you could call it that. To Reid, it felt more like a leer. He blushed and looked out the window again.

Meanwhile, Caleb was regretting offering the guy a ride. No one got to look at Reid like that except … He shook that thought away. Reid pissed him off half as much as he attracted him. It wouldn't do to dwell on those thoughts.

They had made it back to the school and parked. The four began making their way to their dorm hall, Chase following them.

"You live in Booker?" asked Pogue.

"Yeah, second floor."

They made their way into the building and said their goodbyes when Chase began to head to the stairs. As they neared their dorms, Caleb slowed Reid with a hand on his arm.

"You guys go on ahead. We'll catch up. I need to talk to Reid."

Figuring Caleb was about to lecture Reid as usual, Pogue and Tyler carried on without question. Reid sighed and rolled his eyes. He turned to Caleb preparing for his usual scolding. He never let it go without a fight, though.

Pogue turned a corner, and Tyler continued on and into his and Reid's dorm. After that, the hallway was dark and deserted, it being way after operating hours. It was very quiet, and suddenly it became quite clear that both of them were breathing slightly harder than necessary.

Reid began to fidget. Caleb wasn't saying anything. He looked up into Caleb's face. The look Caleb was giving him was strange. He couldn't put his finger on it. Caleb seemed to realize his hesitation, and his look cleared, then changed to one of irritation. There, Reid thought. That was more like it.

"Reid, how many times have we talked about this? You can't be so irresponsible." He was trying, he really was. He needed to stay calm.

"Whatever, Caleb. They were asking for it. Aaron was being a douchebag. He deserved it."

"No, that's where you're wrong. In the long run, it'll be worse for you," Caleb tried to reason.

"Oh come off it, Caleb! You're not my mother. Stop acting like you care!" Reid argued.

The insinuation that he didn't care … it was preposterous. He couldn't believe Reid would even say that. Maybe it was a culmination of the events of the night. Maybe he missed a meal, or maybe he didn't get enough sleep. Maybe Chase's blatant flirting with Reid got under his skin more than he thought. Whatever the reason, he snapped.

Caleb shoved Reid against the wall and pinned his arms above his head. A protest of "What the hell?" was quickly cut off as Caleb shoved his face right up in front of Reid's. Their faces were centimeters away from each other. They could feel each other's heavy breathing filling the space between their mouths.

"Have I ever given a reason for you to believe I don't care?" Caleb quietly questioned. His voice was so calm and quiet, Reid was tense and scared. He had never seen Caleb act like this. He had pissed Caleb off on multiple occasions. Lord knows he did it almost on a daily basis. But Caleb had never done this before.

Reid had begun to notice his feelings for Caleb change years ago, when he was mature enough both physically and mentally to know what it meant. He saw Caleb differently, reacted differently whenever he was nearby. He didn't like it. Didn't like the possibility that the four's easy friendship could change and possibly be ruined by what that might mean. Didn't like the change. Didn't like that Caleb might not like him back. Didn't like the possibility of rejection. It was around that time that Reid began acting up around Caleb. Goading him, egging him on, doing almost anything to try and distract Caleb, and himself, from what his real feelings were. He would never act on them, could never act on them. He would get over it. Things weren't meant to be like that. It wasn't meant to be. He'd been telling himself that for such a long time now.

Reid had been silent for a while now. Caleb questioned again, "Have I?"

"You just act so above it all …. But … no" was Reid's quiet response. They stayed like that for what felt like forever. Eventually, Reid began to lose a little feeling in his arms, still being held up the way they were by Caleb. He tugged on them a little, and Caleb, getting the picture, let them go, but not before he say the flash of Reid's skin on his abdomen before his shirt lowered back down. Caleb had to close his eyes to gather himself together. It wouldn't do to scare the youngest right now with his ridiculous feelings. But at this rate with the Chase situation, Caleb would make it soon.

Reid held his left wrist. Not because Caleb had hurt him, he hadn't. It was just something to do, and he was feeling a tad defensive. He didn't know how to react to Caleb's advance. It had seemed so intimate. But it couldn't be. Caleb didn't know and didn't feel the same way. Hell, half the time it seemed like Caleb could barely stand to look at him. And that hurt … like a lot. Which in turn caused Reid to act out more.

Finally, Caleb broke the silence Reid's response had inflicted on him. He hadn't seen Reid so vulnerable in a long time, since before their relationship had become the constant fight it always was now.

"Reid, I don't mean to –"

"Oh please, Caleb. All you do is yell at me. You're always mad at me," Reid insisted.

"And you're always doing shit to piss me off," Caleb almost yelled. Remembering where they were and what time it was, he tried to calm himself back down. "You do it on purpose, I know you do," he continued on more quietly. "Why, Reid? When did we become like this?" Wow, Caleb thought. He was being very open with his feelings tonight.

Reid, on the other hand, looked like a deer trapped in the headlights. He didn't know what to say. His eyes darted around looking for the answer.

Caleb, realizing he wasn't going to get an answer out of Reid, let out a sigh and looked down. "Well, when you feel like talking about it, be sure and let me know." With that, he turned to walk away.

"Caleb." The quiet call had him turning back, and Reid was right there with his hand on Caleb's shoulder, for his reassurance or Reid's, Caleb didn't know. Reid was looking at him with an indiscernible look. Could it be what he thought, what he hoped it was? He swore it was so similar to the look he must make when chasing after Reid's retreating figure with his eyes. They had known each other their entire lives. Was a relationship like that between them even possible? But even as Caleb contemplated all the possible meanings of that look, the moment passed.

Reid let his hand fall from Caleb's shoulder. With a quiet "never mind", Reid turned in the direction of his dorm. With a last sad almost wistful look, Reid said "Good night, Caleb" and continued on into his dorm.

Even after Reid had closed the door, Caleb was still staring at where Reid had been, wondering what just happened. Deciding he'd think about it later and after some sleep, Caleb turned down the hallway to join Pogue in their dorm. Normally, he stayed at home, but on the occasional nights like this where he and his friends had all been out together and only taken one ride, he would spend the night in the dorm.

As Caleb disappeared into his dorm, Chase's hand clenched into a fist. He had witnessed the whole thing. After laying eyes on Reid the first time, Chase decided he must have him. He wanted the delectable blonde in every way possible. Caleb could not interfere with that. It would make things more difficult. Then again, maybe it would make things more entertaining. When he was done with the Sons of Ipswich, Reid would be the only one he spared.

A/N: Please let me know what you think!