Falling Asunder
Chapter 2"
Kevin didn't know what else to do, he had no one else to go to—in fact he didn't even really have anyone else in his life.
It was winter in Miami, and there may not be any snow falling, but that didn't mean that Kevin wasn't freezing something off the way that he was huddled in the phone booth, flipping through the yellow pages. Winters had never been much friendly to Kevin ever since he was shot; it had to do with blood flow or something.
His fingers shook, the tips frozen as they slid across the corner of page after page until he finally found the "W's". Now his finger was gliding down the page, his eyes scanning name after name in each column, until finally—nearly missing it—found the name he had been looking for; "Westen". He inserted two quarters into the payphone and tucked the receiver between his ear and shoulder, dialing the number that was listed beside the only "Westen".
It rang a few times before it was finally picked up.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Madeline Westen?" Kevin asked, forcing his voice to sound as normal and as un-distraught as possible as he read the name from the page.
"Yes, who is this?"
"Um, I apologize for the disruption, Ma'am, but I'm looking for Michael."
"Right."
"I'm an old friend of his, but I don't have his number or address."
It took a while, but after coaxing the woman, Kevin got Michael's cell number as well as address. Kevin gently set the phone back onto the cradle, clenching his hand as it trembled with the absence of something to grip. A shuddering breath left his pale lips, the moist breath curling like steam as it entered the frozen air.
Kevin knew that he should take a cab or something, that walking all the way to Michael's loft would make him far more worse off than he already was. All this movement and the cold wasn't doing him any favors, not to mention the state of mind that he was in. It was obvious that he and Amy were getting a divorce, she had filed for it the same time she did for custody for Devin—the only true flesh and blood that he had in this world.
Kevin shook his head, pushing away the black hole that wanted to burn his heart. Without his knowledge, he had found his way to Michael's loft down by the river, a black Chevy Charger parked below some stairs that led to an upper walkway with a door.
He stayed at the bottom of the steps though, knowing that beneath his despair and the yawning depression, was the selfishness of it all. Kevin had not seen Michael for a while, and now that something bad had happened in his life he came running to the man.
It never used to be like this; Michael had been the one that was like family to him, had been there for him, and had helped him get used to living without the Air Force. But when he met Amy, Michael was slowly pushed from the picture. Kevin didn't mean for it to happen, but after what had happened he was seeing the light of it all for the first time. With the divorce and the custody hearing, Kevin had seen Amy's true colours. She had slowly woven herself into Kevin's life, and at the same time had slowly pulled the Michael thread out.
Kevin couldn't believe that he didn't notice the fact that Michael was missing from his life until everything else was torn away too; it was as if Amy had put a spell on him. Kevin hated himself and he hated the fact that the way his heart was beating made it feel as if something wanted to burst from his chest. The way that his hot breath froze in the air as it left his mouth, burning down his throat. The way that despite the fact that the Miami air was chilling and he was wearing a thick coat, that he was sweating and shivering, involuntary shudders running through his limbs. The walk here had indeed not helped him, and with his mind so muddled . . . it was a wonder that he seemed to still be standing. His hair was pasted to his temples, his face pale and dark bruises under his eyes, even his lips were pale. His breath came in short gasps, and his hand came up and clenched the material over his heart, doubling-over slightly as it felt as if it were being squeezed.
"Kevin?" Michael's familiar voice sounded from behind him in surprise.
Kevin's eyes snapped open—not even realizing that he had squeezed them shut—and he spun around. A real bad idea on Kevin's part, because when he stopped to face Michael, the world around him didn't, and the world flashed white before it went to black as his eyes rolled into his head.
Shocked at having found Kevin standing on his steps, Michael's reaction was slightly delayed, but still quick enough to catch Kevin before he hit the ground unconscious—if just barely. Michael gave a grunt as he hefted Kevin into his arms, caring him up the stairs bridal-style and all but having to kick in his loft door open. He laid the younger man on his bed and first checked to see if he was still alive before his striped Kevin of his boots and coat, tucking his under the covers. Michael took off his own boots and jacket before going over to the sink and filling a glass with water, and putting it on the stand next to his bed. He then patted down Kevin's coat, leaving everything but taking out the bottle of pills—it was a very light relaxant that was prescribed to Kevin for when something such as this happened. Michael set the bottle beside the glass of water, before sitting his favorite chair to lie in wait.