Coupled Isolation
Rating: T
Pairing: Will Horton/Chad DiMera
Chapter O N E
Will Horton closed his eyes after his third cup of coffee. The caffeine was meant to keep him awake but he was so exhausted that not even liquid sunshine could put the spring back into his step. The sudden placement of a hand on his shoulder brought the world back to him in a rush. His arms flailed like he was drowning until his eyes met Chad's staring back at him.
Chad had that expression. The one where you couldn't tell if he were about to bust out laughing or if he were really concerned. It was Will's favorite expression from his friend but his mind was too slow to excite him. "Chad? What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing in a public coffee shop at 9:30? Silly me." Will easily saw the hesitance in Chad's eyes as he started to walk towards the door. He was already out when the synapses in Will's brain began to fire for him to chase after him. It didn't take long, even in Will's state, for him to do just that.
"Chad, wait. I'm sorry. I can't seem to get a good night of sleep." The concern was back in Chad's eyes and he led the two of them to a bench. "Are Rafe and your mother still fighting?" Will nodded his confirmation, but he knew that Chad wouldn't need it. They had often spent time talking over coffee discussing their remarkably strange lives. "So you stay out late every night so you don't have to see them. Then you get up early so that you can avoid them in the morning. No wonder you look like crap."
Will was silent. He half felt that his brain were on the verge of shutting down. "Guilty. I'd better get home and face the jury." He fumbled with the keys in his pocket and when he finally held them Chad's hand covered his and gently removed the keys. They both ignored the spark as their skin touched the other. "What are you doing?"
He looked into Will's eyes and smiled. "I'm not going to get a phone call in the morning that my only friend drove his car into a ditch and is in a coma, or worse. Come on. I'll drive you home and I'll pick you up in the morning so you can get your car."
Will was silent. He simply followed Chad into the parking lot and every few steps found his eyes flying open like he were fighting to stay alive. Neither of them noticed the van parked next to Chad's car until two men appeared and shoved them inside. Their mouths were covered with a cloth and they both quickly slipped into unconsciousness as the van drove away.
Chad stirred and sat up quickly. He could hear Will's heavy breathing from the cot next to him and he got up gently to avoid waking him as he began to look around. He noticed a large overextended cage surrounding them, though it provided access to a bathroom and shower, mini refrigerator and microwave. He pulled his hand back from the metal cage as soon as he touched it because of a burst of electricity. It wasn't enough to kill him, he thought, but enough to make continuous touching extremely uncomfortable.
He already felt his cell and wallet missing from his pockets and he was certain their abductors took them to keep the two of them from getting any help. He glanced at his watch, telling him at it was just before 1 p.m. the next afternoon. He sighed and put a hand gently on Will's shoulder. He shook gently until Will sat up. The memories of the previous night quickly returned and he found himself staring at Chad.
"We're okay, Will. Try not to worry. I woke you because we have to figure out a way to escape." The rumble of a vehicle's engine drew their thoughts and diminished their chances, but Chad swore silently to them both that it was only temporary. The sound of a locking mechanism brought him back to the present.