Sorry it's been so long…with a combination of papers and homework due for classes and the silence of the muse for this particular story, I haven't been able to add anything productive to this fic for a while. But the muse came back, if only to help me write this chapter, so here it is. More is forthcoming, don't worry. I have plans for our poor little Reid. Evil laugh here. I've got a big paper for English due next week, though, so it might be a while. I'll post it as soon as I can, I promise.
All the usual things apply; the Covenant and characters are not mine, etc.
When Tyler found him, Reid was in the woods, sitting on the ground, his back against a tree and his eyes closed. "What, Caleb gave up so he sent you?"
"No; I came on my own. What, is that so hard to believe?"
Reid snorted. "I may not be able to use, but I don't need to be able to read minds to know when you're lying, Tyler."
Tyler sighed. "He's worried about you, Reid. We all are. When you go storming out of the room when we didn't even do anything, we get curious."
"Well, you can just stop. I'm fine."
"Now who's lying."
"Wha- I am not!" Reid was incredulous.
"What are you, twelve?" Tyler smirked. He knew something was up; it was just a matter of getting Reid to tell him. It was impossible to room with someone without knowing how they worked, how to get them to tell you something without them even realizing it. Tyler was good at this; it was one of the skills he had been able to develop by being the quiet one. This was why he had been the one to check on Reid. He was the one out of the four that Reid was closest with, and therefore the one he was most likely to confide in. Not that Reid did much confiding, but if he were to, say, let something slip, Tyler would be the first to know.
Reid glared at him. "You all want me to get through this? Then leave me the fuck alone."
"Why do you always have to do this?"
"Do what."
"Push us all away whenever you're going through something. You can't do this on your own."
"Oh yeah? Watch me." He got up and walked away. Was there nowhere he could be totally by himself? He could feel a headache coming on. Great. Just what he needed.
Something wasn't right. Suddenly his vision began to blur, and he stumbled. Tyler ran over to try to steady him, but Reid brushed him off. "Leave me alone," he muttered. "I'm fine, just…" He stumbled again, only this time instead of catching his balance he overshot, and fell to his knees. He couldn't seem to get enough air; what the hell was wrong now?
The voice came back. 'See? I told you; you'll never make it. You're just like your father.'
"No, not true. Liar," Reid muttered. He shook his head, which only made the headache worse.
"Reid? What's going on? Reid!" Reid didn't respond; he was too busy trying to get the voice to stop talking and the world to stop spinning. Tyler crouched down next to him, trying to figure out what was wrong, but Reid pushed him away as his gorge rose and he began puking. He hadn't eaten much over the past few hours, so it was more stomach acid than anything else, but it was enough to thoroughly gross Tyler out. After a few minutes, Reid stopped and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He closed his eyes, moving to a more comfortable position. "Why me?" He asked weakly.
"I don't know," Tyler answered. "Are you feeling better?" He looked over at his friend. He was deathly pale, and breathing raggedly. Every few minutes he would go into a coughing fit, which would last a few minutes until he could get it under control.
Reid looked at him and snorted. "Not really."
Tyler bent down, trying to pull him to a standing position. "Come on."
"What are you doing?"
"Taking you back to the house; if you're going through withdrawal again, you're not going to go through it alone in the middle of the woods, where it's cold and wet."
Reid sighed and reluctantly gave in. Tyler hooked his arm around Reid and the two of them slowly walked back to the house.
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Reid was thoroughly miserable. They had put him back in his bed, and refused to let him leave. He was cold, so cold, despite the blankets they had piled on. "I'm fine," he mumbled weakly.
"No, you're not; drop the act."
He sighed, burrowing deeper into the covers. He was freezing, but his face was covered in beads of sweat, betraying the internal battle he was having with the Power.
"How is he?" asked Caleb, who had just entered the room.
"It's hard to say; he comes and goes. When he's here, he tries to tell me he's okay, but…" Tyler frowned, looking over at Reid, who had lapsed back into a fevered dream.
"Stop it…not true…leave me alone…" They looked over to see Reid muttering to himself. Caleb gave Tyler a questioning look, and Tyler shrugged. "I tried to ask him about it when he was lucid, but he just kept brushing me off."
Caleb sighed. "And there's nothing we can do to help, because any Magyk we use on him will undermine the whole thing. Damn it."
"Therein lies the dilemma," Tyler said sadly.
Cue the suspenseful music! Reviews are always welcome. Next chapter will be up as soon as I can post it, so have no fear.