And now...the final chapter!

See? Every now and then I do manage to write something that's not just a oneshot!

Please leave a review, I'd love to hear what you think!


Tyler shifted uncomfortably, blinking slowly as he opened his eyes. Bright sparkling sunlight momentarily blinding him and he knew immediately he wasn't in the hospital anymore.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Reid growled, and it was a statement, not a question.

Turning slightly Tyler rubbed the sleep from his eyes and blinked slowly at Reid. Reid who looked…normal.

His skin was, albeit pale, he had always been pale, but it was no longer sickly pale like it had been. There were no dark circles under his pale eyes and his cheeks were flushed, probably from anger but that was beside the point.

He looked healthy…and alive…

"I…I…"

Reid groaned, "Why the hell are you inside my head..." slumping defeatedly in his seat while Tyler finally took the time to look around at his surroundings.

"Are we in…my hummer?"

"We are. Though we shouldn't be, because you aren't supposed to be here."

Tyler laughed, peeking around the car, which was to Reid's brain's credit, nearly an exact replica to his own hummer.

"This…this is your idea of heaven."

He laughed aloud again at Reid's scandalized look.

"Oh fuck you."

But that only made Tyler laugh harder, until tears were streaming out of his eyes.

"My hummer…my fucking hummer."

"We had some good times here." Reid snapped as Tyler continued to laugh. "Shut up Tyler."

"Make me." Tyler teased watching with slight apprehension as Reid smirked slightly.

And then…suddenly-

"Reid!"

But the blond only cackled, glancing over with mirth in his pale eyes as he took in Tyler's naked body.

"Been working out Baby Boy?"

"Give me back my clothes Reid!"

"Fine…fine…"

Tyler let loose a sigh of relief as his clothes materialized on his body again, giving the smirking blond next to him a glare.

"It may be your hummer, but it's still my head Baby Boy."

Tyler nodded, a slight smile on his lips.

"Of course."

They drove on in silence, thick dark trees flying by, a swirl of green and brown with sunlight shining through. It looked like Massachusetts but there was something off, something different that Tyler couldn't quite put his finger on, either way, it was beautiful.

Tyler relaxed, fiddling with the radio which only seemed to play classic rock on every station and Reid continued to drive.

"Where are we going?" He asked finally, settling on what seemed to be the Pink Floyd station.

"I don't know yet," Reid said after a moment, biting his lip hesitantly, the snake bite piercing stretching the skin. "I guess…I'll find out when I get there."

There was a certainty, a resolution to his words, a soft whisper of something Tyler didn't understand.

His stomach clenched and he pressed his eyes closed tight.

Pale blue, unseeing eyes. Blond hair slick against his head. Motionless as the rain poured down.

"You could always…turn around you know. Make a U-turn or something."

The radio flickered and then went silent without Tyler even touching it.

"Reid…"

But the blond remained silent, eyes narrowed as they continued down the narrow road, the speedometer starting to creep up until they were flying at nearly a hundred mph.

"Why the fuck would I do that Tyler?"

And no answer came.

Static flickered briefly and the radio crackled to life.

Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody this time as Reid eased off the gas pedal.

"There's nothing left for me back there."

"And what's left for you out there?!" Tyler snapped suddenly, surprising even himself with his sharp words.

"Whatever it is it has to be better than…than that."

Color rose up Tyler's neck and he snapped his jaw shut with a clack. Reid glanced over at him, quirking an eyebrow in silent curiosity.

"What exactly…was so awful about that?"

It takes Reid a second, a second to register the anger, and then to understand it and his jaw literally drops.

"I didn't mean it like that Ty!"

His pale blue eyes are wide and worried and he nibbles on his lip, as he eyes Tyler nervously, awaiting his judgment.

Tyler scowls, he knew Reid never meant it in the first place, the blond just didn't think. He had no filter, and it often got him into trouble, but still…

"I know, but honestly…"

"Honestly Baby Boy," Reid gives Tyler a level stare and Tyler shrugs. They have a language all their own and only they can translate these little things into the sentences and paragraphs that they really mean. "My dad is dead and can you even remember that last time you saw my mum?"

Straining his brain Tyler tries to think, "At Caleb's Christmas party…?"

Mrs. Garwin was a spitting image of her son. Only…more frigid with no sense of humor and unbelievably British.

"That was two years ago Tyler, she hasn't been back in the states since…"

"Oh."

Raising a thin eyebrow that disappears into blond fringe Reid nods.

"Yeah, oh."

"But…come on Re, what about the Sons?" The unspoken…what about me…lingers in the air and Reid turns his eyes to the road again. Guilt flooding through him before he can stamp it out.

"Caleb doesn't give a shit and Pogue has Kate, he'll get over it," He pauses and blinks slowly. "You'll be fine Baby Boy, I know you will."

"Reid! You know Caleb cares…"

"He has a funny way of showing it."

"Of course he does, he's Caleb. But he does care…"

Reid sighed, rubbing his eyes, "Baby Boy…there's nothing left for me there. I was already addicted, even if by some…miracle I lived through my ascension, I'm only going to waste away in a few years."

"You can fight it Reid."

"You've seen me fight it Tyler, you know what happens. You know I can't beat it, you know…"

Tyler does know, he's seen Reid shaking and sweating, screaming out in his sleep. He's seen him try, and seen him fail, time and time again.

"Yes…but…"

"And then what? I get to die an excruciatingly painful death twice? No thanks."

"But-"

"I mean I'm nearly a high school dropout! There's no way I have the grades to graduate, and no. I'm not going to manage to pull them up by the end of the year." Reid added seeing the look on Tyler's face. "My only other friends beside you and the other Son's are druggies or drug dealers. I'll probably just end up working at Nicky's and hustling people for drug money. Getting high while I slowly waste away and then die in the back alley!"

"Ummm…"

Queen has faded into Bob Dylan in the background and Tyler chooses to ignore Reid's glowering features and focus instead on the singer's scratchy voice.

"Well, that's how I think it would turn out."

"You have an overactive imagination."

Reid laughed, a real laugh and it made Tyler smile and then after a moment frown. Of course, this didn't escape Reid's notice and his hand snaked over the cup holders and gave Tyler's a slight squeeze. Rough wool against his fingers.

"Reid…" Tyler started then trailed off, glancing out the window at the crystalline blue sky and dark trees. Looking for something, courage maybe?

"You know I love you right…?"

Reid's hand stiffens in Tyler's and a muffled noise comes from deep in his throat.

"Yeah…I know." Neither of them dare to look at each other, emotion had never been Reid's strong point and Tyler had long ago learned to tip toe around it. But he couldn't now. Not now…when everything, Reid's life, his own happiness was hanging in the balance.

"I…I love you too." The blond looked like he wanted to say more…but…

Tyler let out a long breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding in, hands gripping the door handle a little too tightly.

They sat in silence, neither one daring to make eyes contact. They could both read one another far too easily and for once, neither wanted to know what the other was thinking.

Tom Petty's "Brown Eyed Girl" came on and Reid tapped his fingers to the drum beat on the steering wheel. It was suddenly all Tyler could focus on. Those long pale fingers with delicate feminine looking nails poking out of black woolen gloves with frayed edges. Piano playing hands, though Tyler was sure Reid had never touched a piano in his life. The piano was too delicate an instrument for Reid, who had always been bursting with energy and life, and…it required patience. A word Reid had never learned.

And then, before he even knew what he was saying, thinking, it all came out.

"You know, when I said I love you, whatIreallymeantwasI'minlovewithyou."

The silence that follows this is stifling and Tyler is almost positive that Reid can hear his heart pounding against his chest.

"Oh."

The volume of the radio jumps up and Tyler turned away again, staring out at the trees. He'd rather see them than Reid's face right now.

Reid swallowed loudly and his hand rather clumsily grabbed Tyler's, thick woolen gloves scratchy against his palm.

A smile crept onto Tyler's face and wouldn't leave, because he knew this was Reid's version of saying I'm in love with you back. Reid's acceptance. And really that was all he needed, all he'd ever needed.

"Don't leave me Reid…please…"

Reid hummed in thought but continued driving.

"You don't need me Baby Boy."

"Yes I do! I love you!"

"You have your parents, and your trust fund. And Caleb and Pogue to take care of you. In all honesty you're probably better off without me in your life."

"Reid!" Tyler gasped, hand clasping over his mouth. "That's not true!"

"Are you sure?"

Letting out a groan Tyler rubbed his face roughly.

"Reid. You are not them, Caleb and Pogue, my parents…and while I have them I don't need them." He paused to make sure Reid was looking at him, blue on blue. "I need you."

Reid doesn't say anything, but examines Tyler's face carefully. Searching for something...something unidentifiable…

"Please…please don't leave me Reid. Not now, not after…this…"

And everything starts to break inside. Everything that he's been trying to hold in and keep quiet…

Thick hot tears stream down his face and he can't make them stop, he just can't.

Reid's hand clutches his tightly, but Tyler knows…he knows that even though Reid is right here. Right fucking here, he's not.

In the real world…in the real world Reid is lying motionless on a hospital bed, trapped in his own head, living off the flurry of machines surrounding him.

"I can't do this alone…I need you Reid. I need you and I fucking want you!"

"Tyler…"

"Doesn't that mean anything to you?! Please…please don't do this…if not for yourself…for me. Don't leave me…"

The tears were coming faster now, his nose was running and Tyler was sure he looked as much a mess and he felt but he couldn't stop, even if he wanted to.

"Tyler."

"Please…I love you…"

And there it was, a faint whisper…

"I love you too…"

Tyler.

Tyler!


Caleb's worries brown eyes were staring down at him.

"Tyler…wake up Ty…"

"Cay…"

Caleb's face broke into a worried smile and he kissed Tyler on the forehead.

"You were out, we've been trying to wake you up for ages." Pogue chuckled, sinking into the chair next to Tyler.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm…" The words stuck in his throat and his eyes strayed to Reid's too still body on the bed.

"It's okay Baby Boy, you don't have to answer. Come on, show me the food court, I'm starving."

Tyler nodded, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He could still feel the faint whispers of the dream…Reid's hand in his, his words in his ear…

It didn't escape his notice that Caleb veered off toward the doctor overseeing Reid's case as he lead Pogue down the hall.


"He's in a coma…indefinitely. Massive internal bleeding they say, it took three different surgeries to stop it."

"From ascension?"

"The doctor aren't sure, but I think so. It makes sense, apparently his brain is 'shut down' while his body attempts to…heal."

"What about the scars?"

"Lichtenburg figures. Tyler has them too, they're from the lightning."

"Lightning?" Pogue questions and Tyler flinches at the concern in his voice. Caleb is silent for a moment and Tyler can just imagine the expression on his face. Eyebrows drawn and the left corner of his mouth turned down.

"Apparently…Reid died at 9:40-"

"Died?!"

There is silence for a moment before Caleb continues.

"He was dead for approximately fifteen minutes…before both he and Tyler were struck by lightning during the storm. Which…thankfully restarted his heart…"

"That's…impossible."

"Near…but not quite."

"He's lucky…"

"It's not over yet…he's still in a coma Pogue."

"What are his odds?"

The silence is overwhelming and Tyler squeezes his eyes shut tighter, he doesn't want to hear this…he really doesn't want to hear this.

But the Caleb's voice sounds again…

"Slim…slim to none…"


Tyler gripped the edges of the sink tightly. Staring at his pale face in the mirror.

The scars had faded from the lightning, but not from his heart.

So what?

He confessed his love to his best friend while he was in a coma?

And it had been two days and there was still no change in Reid's condition.

What did that mean?

Was he not important enough to Reid? Did Reid not love him back in the same way?

Could he not get out? What if one miracle wasn't enough?

What if…

"Fuck!" Tyler screamed, slamming his fist into the wall sobbing. He slid down the wall slowly tucking his knees to his chest.

Eventually his breathing slowed, calmed and he got up. Wiped the tears from his eyes, splashed some water on his face and turned towards the door. To face the world.


Caleb and Pogue were talking in low voices just outside Reid's room, conspiring quietly with the doctor and Mr. Parry who had arrived recently to take care of the legal matters that were starting to arise.

Tyler turned away from the window and back to Reid, rubbing small circles on the back of his cold hand.

"Your mom's coming back Reid, she got on a flight from London a few hours ago. Mr. Parry says she'll be here in the morning."

There is no answer, no change, same as the last few days.

"I just thought you'd want to know…they're talking about taking you off life support-" He stopped suddenly and squeezed Reid's hand.

"Re…I know it's selfish of me, but I really need you to wake up. I need you Reid…please, I can't lose you…"

The only sound in the room was incessant beeping of the machines surrounding Reid. Tyler closed his eyes and rested his head on the wall behind him.

"I love you Reid…doesn't that carry any weight?"

The beeping paused and started up again and Tyler peeled his eyes open, staring at the machines in confusion.

"Reid…?"

The beeping started moving faster and Tyler's heart started pounding, until all he could hear was the blood rushing in his ears.

"Re. Reid…"

A slight flicker of an eyelid and Tyler tries to hold back a sob and fails.

"Reid!"

A pair of ice blue eyes stared out unseeing and confused for a moment before focusing on Tyler's face.

"Ty…"

It was all Tyler could hear before the room was stormed with doctors and nurses pushing him this way and that, shoving him from the room.

But Reid was alive.

And awake.

And that was all the mattered.


It had been three days since Reid woke up and Tyler hadn't left his side since he was allowed into the room again.

The Son's of Ipswitch were reunited again.

"That is not how it went." Pogue laughed at a frowning Caleb.

"Then how did it go? Because that's certainly what it looked like."

They bickered back and forth as Tyler lay on the bed next to Reid, they shared an amused look and Reid leaned toward Tyler, his breath tickling his face. They were only inches apart and all Tyler could think about was those lips…and kissing them…

"It would have been a whole lot easier if you had just bucked up and told me about this before I died." Reid teased, licking his lips, tongue catching for a moment on his piercing.

Tyler flushed.

"It's not easy confessing your love to your best friend okay? You should just be glad I managed to get into your head while you were in the middle of a fucking coma."

Reid rolled his eyes, a smile on his face.

"Please, I was the one who found you, all curled up like a lost puppy next to my bed."

"As if."

"Oh, and you think your power was strong enough to pull you into my head?"

Tyler laughed and stuck his tongue out.

"Not my power, my love."

"Oh, of course! How could I have overlooked that."

Reid laughed, lacing his fingers with Tyler's smiling as he leaned over and kissed the other boy gently. Both blissfully unaware of the shocked silence that Caleb and Pogue had fallen into.


And that's it folks! I hope you liked it, it's one of the longer versions of Reid/Tyler stuff that I've managed to write...so please leave a review!

I'd really appreciate it if you did!