D for Drowned

Definition: Drowned; die through submersion in and inhalation of water

Word Count: 917


Oliver gazed longingly at the pools sparkling surface, imagining what it would be like to shed his shirt and let the cool water encompass him. Had he been younger, he would have done it. Now, at the ripe old age of 17, Oliver had more than enough reasons to turn away and retreat back to the safety of the house.

But it was too late. The moment he'd seen the clear blue water Oliver had been reminded of home - or what home used to be. He saw 10-year-old Gene propelling himself into the Davises pool, knees tucked and a wild grin on his young face. He watched the splash in his mind, recognizing his own young face as it appeared over the waves.

His eyes held a glare for his brother but he seemed more at peace than usual. The water did that to him. When he was underneath the surface, he couldn't hurt anyone. He couldn't break anything. In the soothing chill of the water he could lift the mental barriers and there would be no consequences.

Finally there was a place he could be himself. That feeling didn't last long, though.

Not even six months later, Martin had taken the twins on their first ever SPR Ghost Hunt.

Oliver frowned at the memory.

The case had been pretty straight forward. A young boy's ghost lingered in the residence after drowning in the family pool. Oliver had been able to overlook the tragedy, though it had been difficult, and still ached to be in the water instead of beside it.

He remembered Gene wandering closer to the edge than he should have been. At first, when his brother's body disappeared under the surface, Oliver thought he'd fallen in on purpose. It was just like the mischievous twin to fool around in a serious situation.

But when Gene didn't pop back up grinning like he should have, Oliver panicked.

He dropped the temperature gauge and kneeled over the edge. "Gene?" The water was still moving in small ripples, making it hard for him to see his brother's body laid out on the bottom. "Gene!"

Whatever happened next was a blur. All Oliver could remember was the icy feel of hands on his wrists and then water in his mouth as he screamed.

When his head hit the water he was aware that he both was and wasn't himself. He was Michael, the little boy who'd drown. He felt the boy's panic rising well above his own as he grappled for the pool's ledge, knowing it was well out of reach. Michael screamed until he ran out of breath.

Oliver fought off the urge to scream himself as he felt Michael's life slip away.

He was vaguely aware of Gene's still form beside him; or the feel of the concrete pressing into his back. His lungs burned for air and his eyes stung.

It was then that he felt fear for the one thing he'd once found solace in. This pool would now be his tomb.

He was going to die.

Oliver knew his consciousness was slipping; sleep tugged at his mind, his control, teasing his eyes into drifting closed. A powerful current ran through his veins. The mental barrier he'd worked so hard to create shattered into pieces.

Energy pulsed. It swirled around him, mussing his hair and ruffling his jacket.

Just before the end, he felt a warmer pair of hands snake around his torso.

Then the water exploded.

The next time he opened his eyes, Oliver was met with a mirror image of himself. Gene grinned, relief filling his eyes. "Martin!" He yelled in a raspy voice, "He's awake!"

Oliver sat up, head pounding, and gaped.

They were only a few feet from the pool, except it looked... different. Thick cracks stretched out like fingers where he was sure they hadn't been before.

Gene made a noise and followed his brother's gaze. "Apparently your PK was amplified by the water- don't worry, Martin's more amazed then angry." He offered when his twin's eyebrows disappeared under his bangs. "He said something about an experiment when we get back to SPR."

Oliver shook his head but didn't comment. Gene straightened out his legs and sat beside his brother. "So..." he started, bumping his shoulder, "wanna go for a swim?"

The look his brother shot him made Gene throw back his head in laughter. "Maybe not," he managed out.

"Naru?"

Oliver sighed and pinched the spot between his eyes, pulling himself from the memory. "Yes, Mai?"

"The... the equipment is all set up. Lin-san said I'd probably find you out here..." The short brunette held her hands innocently behind her back, stepping towards the pool. "What were you doing?"

He glanced at the girl, fighting the urge to pull her back. It took a moment for him to remind himself that this pool held no danger. That the one in his memory was hundreds of miles away in a different country. In a different time.

Oliver swallowed, remembering that Gene's body was at the bottom of a lake now, waiting to be found.

He turned his back, retreating into the home they were supposed to be investigating. When he realized Mai wasn't following, he paused to give her a pointed look. "I don't pay you to stand around, Mai."

"H-Hai!" She grinned, taking one last glance at the pool before following her boss inside.


A/N: This idea came about from all the beach fanfic's I've been reading recently. Originally, it was based on Noll baiting a ghost in the water but Gene just had to make his presence known xD

A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed! it means more to me than you will ever know.

Also, a quick question on some reviews I have gotten: is Gene's original name J.A or A.J? I've seen both numerous times and am still not sure which is correct.

Read, relax, review!

ELV