Thanks to Guest and IloveChasey for the reviews! :)

Today has been surprisingly productive study-wise, so I thought I'd round it off with a new chapter here! ;)

The prompts for this chapter technically were: disorientation, blurred vision and ringing ears - but since I couldn't decide on just one, I'll sum them all up in explosion.

ENJOY!

No 25. Explosion (500 words)

The world came back to Chase in a flurry of blurred shapes and colors. Sharp edges and an almost blinding hot red invading the corner of his eyes. The was a loud, insistent ringing in his ears that he was fairly certain wasn't supposed to be there.

He tried to push himself to his feet, but barely made it halfway before collapsing back to the ground. He struggled to draw breaths in as the world swayed around him, but each seemed to be instantly expelled in a rough cough.

Explosion, his mind dazedly provided. It checked all the boxes. Something had exploded – quite close to him if the burns and cuts sending spikes through his arms and leg were any indicator.

He saw rather than heard the approaching figure. The instinctive jerk of his body – another failed attempt at getting up – sent his world tilting again. Chase closed his eyes, swallowing against the bile rising in his throat. At least he was finally able to breathe.

A hand on his shoulder sent panic through his body, his senses struggling to catch up through the disorientation. The hand was gentle though, steadying him as he tried to sit up. Reopening his eyes the blurry shapes turned into his older brother's face. Over Adam's shoulder he could see a Bree-shaped spot amongst the burning debris. It looked like she was talking into her com, probably with Mr. Davenport, but it was too far away for Chase to tell what she was saying.

A second hand settling on Chase's other shoulder pulled his attention back to his brother. Adam was frowning at him. The deep worried crease in his forehead making him look older and more mature than his usually jovial expression. His mouth was moving. Forming words – maybe his name – that Chase couldn't hear.

Chase felt his own frown appear. Adam stilled, a horrified expression crossing his face. He spoke again. Chase was sure he spoke – but he still couldn't hear it over the constant ringing in his ears. He groaned, shaking his head, and then groaned again at the pain and nausea the action caused.

"Can't..." Chase mumbled – or he hoped he did at least. "Can't hear... Ringing."

Adam's voice twisted, his mouth letting out what Chase assumed was a muttered curse. As Adam turned back towards Bree, Chase let his head drop against his brother's chest. He was so tired.

The next time he opened his eyes, Bree was crouched beside him too. She smiled at him – worry clouding her eyes – and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. She didn't address him, instead turned towards Adam as she spoke, so he assumed he did get his message across.

He probably should have been more concerned about... everything that was going on – and had been going on too. He still couldn't remember what had exploded or why. But he knew his siblings could handle it.

As Adam lifted him up into his arms, Chase let his eyes fall shut once more.