A/N: This chapter, Tyler acts a little weird, but he's going through the beginning of withdrawals, so I think that will make more sense for you if you know that. The song for this one is from Trainspotting, Underworlds - Long & Dark. I just instantly thought of that movie when I was thinking about Tyler going through withdrawals.

Love this quick update, huh? ;)

Chapter Ten
Eye of the Lens

Tyler had decided to try and keep things together. His hand was killing him and was now wrapped in a towel with ice. He knew that Reid was going to be asking questions and he wasn't really in the mood for answering them.

His blue eyes focused on the book in front of him, he hadn't had a hit in at least three days and he was starting to feel the effects. His hands were shaking, his mind racing incredulously, and he couldn't find it in him to focus.

Reid walked in to their dorm room; he had just dropped off his date and was in a particularly good mood. That was until he found his best friend looking completely abnormal, lying across his bed.

"Ty?" Reid questioned his roommate; the brunette boy looked up disturbed by his friend's words.

"What?" He asked irritably.

"Are you ok?"

"Of course I'm ok! Why wouldn't I be ok, huh?" He asked his blue eyes looked glazed over.

Reid lifted a confused eyebrow up at his friend, "I was just asking, you look like you're sick or something man…" Reid placed the keys to the Hummer on the desk and kneeled down next to his best friend's bed. His gaze landed on Tyler's hand that was covered with a white towel scattered with red stains. "What happened?"

Tyler lifted his chin to where the vanity mirror in the bathroom was shattered all over the place. Reid sighed and rubbed his eyes. They fell black and the mirror pieced itself back together, any signs of Tyler's destruction were gone.

"Are you sure you're ok? You don't look so hot…" Reid lifted his hand to his friend's forehead, it was damp with sweat. "You're burning up, maybe you should chill on studying… just relax…"

Tyler looked at him, his eyes narrowed in on the blue ones in front of him, "Yeah," He muttered slamming the book closed and stripping off his clothes which were drenched in sweat.

The blonde was perturbed by his friend's awkward behavior. It wasn't like Tyler to act like this, not even when he was sick, "Maybe you should stay in from school tomorrow," Reid's gaze shifted over Tyler's face and then his body, which seemed thinner than normal.

Tyler snapped out of his revere and looked at the blonde, "What? No," he shook his head. "We've got a meet tomorrow. If I don't go to school, I can't compete…"

"You really don't look good though," Reid was concerned; he had never seen Tyler like this before.

"I'll be fine; it's probably a 24-hour bug or something."

Reid didn't say anything further to the brunette; he didn't want to press the issue. It seemed like more than some 24-hour bug. He had noticed a shift in Tyler's health for the last few weeks, and it was starting to concern the blonde. It appeared to be getting worse as time went on.

Reid tried to push it to the back of his mind, knowing that if something were going on with him, Tyler would tell him. They were best friends after all.

He was beginning to think that Tyler might have something worse than just a 'bug', his mind just wouldn't let it go. He wondered when his best friend had been to the doctor's last.

"If you think any harder you might have a brain aneurism…" Tyler joked with a grin in Reid's direction.

The blonde smirked, "Faggot," He threw a pillow at Tyler's head, glad to see at least his best friend still had his sense of humor.

"I'm gonna go take a shower," Tyler mused out loud, forcing himself off of the bed. The younger boy grabbed his shower kit and looked to the blonde.

"Don't fantasize about me while you're jacking off, Simms…" He quipped.

Tyler laughed good-naturedly and headed to the showers.

Once his best friend was out of earshot, Reid grabbed his cell phone and quickly dialed Caleb's number. He waited for a few rings and then the leader of the Covenant answered the phone.

"What is it now, Reid?" Caleb's exasperated tone filtered over the line.

"What's wrong Cale, am I interfering with you sticking it to Boston?" The blonde joked.

"Reid," Caleb's tone was sharp causing Reid to smirk even wider.

"Look, I've got to talk to you about Ty…"

"What about him?"

"I'm worried…"

Caleb was quiet for a minute. He knew Reid well enough to know that he usually didn't worry about anything, especially other people. He knew that whatever the blonde wanted to talk abut it was more than likely critical.

"Can you meet me over at my house?" He questioned.

"Yeah, I'll be over in ten…"

Reid scratched the back of his neck; he glanced around the room and saw Tyler's keys sitting next to the door. He got up and grabbed Tyler's keys. If the younger boy asked questions he would just tell him that he forgot something, somewhere. Reid was a good liar; he'd get away with it.

Reid skillfully slipped out and headed down to the truck to go see Caleb. Tyler seemed to be not only acting strange, but was obviously not feeling well, and Reid had no idea what could be causing this.

He was confused. Worst of all he was stuck. Tyler used to be open with him, he would openly tell Reid when he wasn't feeling good, or if something was wrong, but recently he was closed off. He didn't tell Reid anything and when Reid asked he snapped at him.

Ten minutes later he pulled up to Caleb's gated house and waited for the iron-rod gates to swing open. He drove the truck forward and parked it right behind a yellow Ducati.

Caleb and Pogue were waiting outside of the front door. Caleb lifted his chin and opened the door leading them upstairs to his room. Pogue quietly sat on Caleb's bed not daring to say a word until Caleb gave him the go ahead.

"What's up?"

"Tyler just isn't acting like himself," Reid mumbled running a hand through his blonde locks. "I mean he's not even the same person he used to be."

"What do you mean?" Caleb questioned glancing over at Pogue. The brunette's arms were crossed over his broad chest.

"He's jumpy, standoffish, and distant…" Reid's eyes seemed to be pleading with the leader as if he could change something. "Worst of all I think he's really sick,"

"Really sick like the flu—sick?" Pogue questioned.

"No, really sick like, losing weight, pale and maybe deathly sick…" Reid's words were rushed and it hurt him to say them.

"You think Tyler's that sick?" Caleb questioned not sure if he believed it or not.

"I've been noticing it for the last two weeks or so…" Reid chewed his bottom lip, a gloved hand running through his messy blonde hair.

"He hasn't said anything to you about it?"

"No, and that's what bothers me. Ty's my best friend. I mean he used to complain to me about little things. Like if he got something in his eye or his foot was hurting, but now—nothing. And I can tell he's not well…"

Pogue looked at the blonde and knew this was serious, Reid was borderline frantic about what was going on here, "Maybe you should talk to him, Cale?" Pogue proposed.

"It's worth a shot," Caleb nodded his head. "I'll try to talk to him about it tomorrow…"

--

At school the next day all three Covenant members noticed that Tyler wasn't acting like himself. He was falling asleep in class and staring off absentmindedly. Pogue nudged him in the middle of class, trying to grab his attention.

Tyler's tired blue gaze turned to him, "You ok man?" He questioned.

His eyes looked glassy, and the younger boy didn't even look like he didn't comprehend him. He forced a smile, "I'm fine, really…"

Pogue gave him a disbelieving look before settling back in his seat. Tyler fidgeted with his pen and Pogue glanced over his shoulder where Caleb and Reid sat. Reid was staring in their direction with a very perplexed look on his normally absent-of-emotion face. Caleb on the other hand was worrying his bottom lip, hoping that Tyler was just in a bad mood of some sort.

The day seemed to drag on for Tyler and he was beginning to think that his friends knew something was up. He couldn't go ten minutes without one of them asking him if he was ok or if he needed to go to the infirmary. It was starting to become very bothersome.

He even had Kate and Sarah babying him more than usual.

"Are you sure you're ok to compete today?" Caleb questioned taking a look at Tyler, carefully inspecting him from head to toe.

Tyler glanced at Caleb with an odd look, "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You look like you're not feeling well. And Reid said you were burning up last night."

"I'm fine,"

Caleb sighed and followed Tyler in to the locker room. He hoped that Tyler was right. He prayed that his friend wasn't keeping anything from them. That wasn't what the Sons of Ipswich were about. They always told each other everything.

Tyler didn't' say much as they got ready for their meet, which usually wouldn't affect the three other Sons. They were all pretty quiet while getting ready for a meet, it helped them focus and get in to the zone. Today, however, it seemed like he was ignoring them. The youngest son even headed out to the pool by himself.

Reid watched Tyler's retreating form, "We always walk out together…"

"There's definitely something up," Pogue stated as the three of them walked out of the locker room together to find Tyler already in the pool and warming up.

"Ty, what the hell man?" Reid asked his hands up defensively.

Tyler pulled himself up to the side of the pool, "Sorry, wanted to get a few extra warm up laps in before the meet…"

"You should have asked, we would have come with you, man…" Caleb slipped in to the pool next to him.

Tyler glared at Caleb, "Do I need a babysitter all of a sudden?"

"I'm just saying…" Caleb replied.

"Seriously man, we always come out together, it's like a tradition. We've been doing it for four years…" Tyler could hear the hurt in Reid's voice, and he knew that he was in the wrong.

He sighed heavily and rubbed his face with his hands, "I'm sorry guys. It's just—I'm having an off day…"

The three Sons nodded in understanding, Pogue and Reid joined Caleb and Tyler in the water and they began their warm-ups. For the rest of warm-ups it was like everything was back to normal, Tyler was acting slightly less awkward with his friends, and they were goofing around like usual, getting yelled at by Coach Hamm.

The meet started about an hour and half ago and both Pogue and Caleb had won their heats. Reid was up next and everyone knew that he had the fastest backstroke in Massachusetts, so there was no contest there.

As expected, Reid won his swim, even beating his old record. That was cause for many hoots and hollers on his side of the pool, and the Spencer Elite that were sitting in the bleachers cheering their team on.

"Amazing swim, Reid…" Caleb congratulated him with a clap on the back.

"Thanks," Reid breathed heavily trying to catch his breath.

"Like he needs a bigger ego…" Tyler scoffed jokingly with his friends. He still had two heats before his, so he just had to sit back and relax.

The group laughed at Tyler's remark and hung back cheering on for the rest of Spenser's team to win their heats. Tyler stripped out of his grey Spenser sweatpants and prepped for his match.

"C'mon Baby Boy, you got this…" Caleb clapped his hands together, cheering the younger boy on.

"Let's go Ty," Pogue and Reid yelled for him as he stepped up on to the starting block.

Tyler shook out his limbs, silently psyching himself up for his heat. He pulled his goggles down over his eyes and glanced around as the other swimmers got ready.

"Swimmers, on your mark…" Tyler positioned himself to dive in to the pool. "Get set," He could feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest, ready to break through the protective barrier that was his chest cavity. The gun fired and Tyler hurdled himself in to the pool with the other swimmers.

He could hear his heart beat through his ears, each stroke was a struggle for him, and his breathing was irregular. He wasn't feeling up to this at all. Why hadn't he listened to his friends? He should have stayed in today; he should have skipped the meet.

He was arguing with himself, and not focused; he nearly missed the wall to turn around and when he did he could tell he was behind. He pushed himself to the limit, as far as his body would let him.

But it wasn't enough.

He lost his heat.

Tyler Simms lost at the breast-stroke.

He stayed in the water, staring up at the scoreboard in disbelief; he could hear the murmurs from behind him. The sound of bare feet slapping the wet pavement as his three best friends came to haul him out of the water, concerned looks on their faces.

"Ty, are you ok?" Pogue asked slipping an arm under the younger boy's to help him steady himself.

"I don't feel so good," Tyler moaned, barely able to hold open his eyes.

"We need to get him out of here…" Reid stated his tone laced with nothing but worry.

Caleb helped Pogue get Tyler to the Spenser bench, everyone was circled around them, asking if Tyler was alright. Coach Hamm pushed through and looked at one of his star swimmers.

"Simms, you look like shit… go sit him down…" He motioned to the three older boys. "Once your relay is over, get him up to his dorm room…"

Caleb, Pogue and Reid nodded their heads and sat Tyler down, getting him dressed in his sweat suit. The brunette tried his damnedest to keep his eyes open but it was nearly impossible. His eyes were so heavy, he felt fatigued—he needed sleep.

The Sons of Ipswich all swam a relay towards the end of the meet, usually it was the four of them, but this time they had to use a sub-in. Tyler was nearly passed out on the bleachers, with a towel under his head.

Caleb, Pogue and Reid were not in the right state of mind during their relay, but still came out on top. They finished in a hurry, and found themselves quickly grabbing their things and hauling Tyler up to his dorm room.

It had been awhile since they had ever been this worried about one of their own before. They were already in the lobby figuring out the best way to haul Tyler up the stairs to the room. The three of them whipped around when they heard the clicking of heels and raised voices of two very familiar teen girls.

"Oh my goodness, is he ok?" Sarah asked her blue eyes wide in shock.

Caleb pulled Tyler's arm from over his shoulders and let the weight rest on Pogue as Reid scuffled around to pick up the slack. Caleb walked up to Sarah and Kate trying to keep his voice quiet.

"We don't know," He started to explain.

"I should have known there was something wrong with him," Kate chewed in her bottom lip.

"What do you mean?"

"He's been showing all the classic signs…." Kate pointed to the boy who was being helped up the stairs by her boyfriend and his best friend.

"Classic signs of what?" Caleb pressed.

"Anorexia," Kate stated with a huff, watching Tyler's retreating figure.

"Anorexia? You think Tyler's suffering from Anorexia?" Caleb all but laughed.

"It's not funny, Caleb… it's serious…" Kate pursed her lips together. "I went through it three years ago; all the signs are there…" She looked over at Sarah. "I've noticed at lunch he barely eats anything, and if he does he pushes it around his plate like he's playing with it. He's tired all the time, he looks like he's lost a lot of weight. He just isn't acting like himself."

"I don't think he's anorexic, Kate." Caleb shook his head.

"It's possible; guys can suffer from it just as much as girls do…" She argued.

"Do they need help; is there anything we can do?" Sarah asked not wanting her best friend or her boyfriend arguing over something like this.

Caleb glanced at Kate and then back to Sarah, "No, you girls just go back to your room, we'll let you know if we find anything out… ok?"

Kate sighed and turned on her heel heading to her dorm room. Sarah looked at Caleb, giving a silent shake of her head. She got on her tip-toes and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before scurrying off after Kate.

Caleb let out a long breath and looked up the stairs, not seeing Reid or Pogue, but he had felt the use of power. Grinding his teeth together he jogged up the stairs to the dorm that Reid and Tyler shared.

Once he got in to the room, he saw the boys changing their younger brother who was like a dead wait in their arms. He could tell that Tyler wasn't asleep, he was almost there though.

"Do you think he's anorexic?" Caleb blurted out as Reid forced Tyler to put on his t-shirt.

"Anorexic? Are you kidding me?" Reid scoffed shaking his head. "Tyler is not anorexic… are you?" He looked at Tyler who was trying to keep his eyes open.

"Where'd you get that idea?" Pogue asked helping Tyler put a pair of clean sweatpants on.

"Your girlfriend," Caleb answered.

Pogue stopped and looked up at Caleb; he could see his mind working hard to comprehend him. He knew all about Kate's struggle with anorexia three years ago. He bit his bottom lip and shook his head.

"Ty's not anorexic. He's not obsessed about his self-image and he doesn't talk about how fat he is…" Pogue shook his head. "Nothing like how Kate was—" He let his words trail off and glanced up to see Reid's reaction.

The blonde didn't look surprised at all; he just situated Tyler's blanket and pillows to help get the younger boy in bed, "I don't think that's what's going on. I don't think we're going to get our answer now… we'll have to wait until he wakes up and has his strength again…"

Pogue and Caleb both looked at Reid, they could tell that he was really concerned about Tyler, and he had every right to be. They were all really worried about Tyler. The two older Sons nodded their heads in reply and left Reid to take care of the youngest member of their family.

The three teens silently hoping that Tyler would pull through whatever this was; having Tyler be this sick with Chase on the loose probably wasn't the best predicament for them to be in. They all knew that this was going to be the fight of a lifetime to finally get rid of the fifth line of the Covenant, for good.

Let me know what you think, do you still love bad boy Tyler? I do... yay! :)