Like Eating Glass-Chapter 10

I loved the beginning of this story and I loved the idea but now it's not coming together like I hoped. Please tell me what you think, give me hints, tell me what I can do to make this better, you're the one reading it after all. I guess this slump is the result of that month long break I took to do my finals, oh well. Funny thing, I actually wrote the beginning of this chapter first as a one-shot before I started this story but I loved the way it was going and it fit so well with the idea for this story that I saved it. Here we go, I still don't own Flashpoint.

Light, it played tricks on you. He stood under the streetlight and felt like he was being engulfed and surrounded by the falling snow. He almost felt suffocated with the rate it fell. The tiny particles swirled around him, blowing into his face and eyes, catching on his short cropped hair. He found it almost funny that he hadn't noticed the snow until he stood under the light. He had been walking for...well he didn't really know how long...but in the dark he barely registered that the snow was falling. It only seemed like a flurry. He thought as he stood, frozen under the light. It looked like things were quickly going into blizzard conditions, but he didn't move. He was partially transfixed by the beauty, he was partially paralyzed and unsure of what to do.

His chest was tight as he continued to hold back the tears that had been threatening to break free all afternoon. He held his breath again and felt the constriction deep in his muscles as he willed himself with all his conscious power to stay strong. His body was long past shivering, he was still in his gym clothes and the thin fabric of his t-shirt and sweatpants were not doing much to keep the biting cold from his skin. He had started heading home when he left headquarters. He didn't have his car keys (probably for the better since he was so emotional) and the walk wouldn't have been far but then he realized the time.

3:30 PM. Usually he would jump at the opportunity to be home in the afternoons, to get his daughters off the bus, help them with their homework, help Shelly with dinner, baths and bedtime stories, the perfect afternoon with his family. Everyday he longed for that perfect family bonding time but he knew that today could not be that day. Tears started to run down his face as he thought of his beautiful daughters and his mind confused the image with Emily's bloodied body. He shivered, though not from the cold. The tears were freezing as they ran down his face but he couldn't think of anything else to do but stand in this spot. The thought of standing in this spot, letting the snow collect around him and entombing him became more appealing to him.

Greg wasn't even sure it was him when he drove by the streetlight, he needed to stop, go in reverse, and stare through the blizzard to actually make out the hulking frame of his friend. Wordy made no move as the car stopped and rolled down the window, it barley seemed that he's noticed the new person speaking to him. He looked up to the sky and saw the snowflakes plummeting to earth, hoping to be pummeled into the ground by them.

"Wordy...buddy...you okay?" Greg asked cautiously as he got out of his car and stepped within a few feet of Wordy. He was about halfway in the circle of light, half of him still partially obscured by the darkness. "Wordy, it's snowing buddy, you know that?" Greg took another step forward as Wordy turned to him with a resentful look on his face.

"You don't need to negotiate me." He said coldly before turning his head and looking straight in front of him.

"I know that Wordy, I'm sorry." Greg waited a moment as he moved closer to Wordy, trying to minimize the curtain of snow that seemed to separate them. "Shelly called me, she's really worried about your Wordy. She says that you never came home today, that you're not picking up your cell phone..." Greg waited for a response, some kind of sign to show that Wordy was hearing him, but he saw nothing but pain on his face.

"Wordy, what do you say I give you a ride?" Greg asked, shivering now despite his coat. Wordy didn't move or look at Greg. "Come on buddy, you've got to be a popsicle by now." Greg moved closer and gently placed his hand on Wordy's shoulder. "I've got the heat blasting in the car, let's at least warm up." Greg smiled, trying to make the conversation friendly. Another few minutes without an answer or a move and Greg began to worry even more.

Wordy had left Headquarters at about 3, now it was after 7 PM and if he'd been outside the entire time Greg knew that he had to frozen to the core, not to mention the possibility of hypothermia. Greg moved in front of Wordy and made eye contact, speaking firmly. "Wordy, you've got to get in the car."

He stood for another moment looking carefully at Greg, pain still evident on his face. Just as Greg was about to try again, Wordy moved his stiff limbs and headed towards the passenger side of the car. Greg opened the trunk and pulled out a thick blanket which he gave to Wordy as he sat down in the driver's seat.

"Thank you, Wordy. Let me turn the heat up." Greg reached over and turned the knobs to full power as the heat engulfed the car. Wordy huddled under the blanket and tried to avoid looking at the drivers side. Greg picked up his cell phone and after one ring started to speak. "Yeah Eddie, I've got him. Can you tell the others?" There was a pause as Ed responded. "Alright, I'll be in touch." He hung up the phone and smiled towards Wordy.

"Everyone was out looking for you. All of us were really worried about you, especially Shelly, you want to call her and tell her you're okay?" Greg asked as he held out his cell phone. Wordy looked at him and at the phone before mumbling something under his breath. "What was that Wordy, couldn't hear you?"

"I...I can't." He said simply in a raspy whisper. Greg looked at him critically for a moment before nodding.

"Okay, Wordy, then I'm going to call her if that's okay." Greg said gently. Wordy gave a slight nod and Greg dialed the number. The phone was again picked up after only one ring. "Shelly, it's Greg." He paused as Shelly spoke rapidly into the phone. "Shelly, calm down for me. I've got him right here, he's warming up in my car." Another pause as Wordy felt tears coming to his eyes again. "We're going to go to my place to get warmed up, have a little chat." Wordy froze for a minute but tried not to let his face show the fear that now coursed through his body. "Alright, we'll give you a call later."

Greg hung up the phone and smiled at Wordy. He was now shivering as his body realized how cold he actually was. His teeth chattered as he shivered uncontrollably. Greg took off his coat and wrapped it on top of the blanket before shifting gears and getting onto the slippery roads, driving as fast as he dare in these conditions.

I know it's short, but it's something. More to come soon, tell me what you think!