Jacen slammed into the security door and it smashed open as he burst out onto the street. He glanced from left to right and he saw Seth sitting on the curb. He sat down beside them and they both looked straight ahead into the darkness, their eyes adjusting and picking up every detail. When Jacen glanced over at Seth he found that he wasn't devoid of motion but his jaw was clenched and his eyes focused on something that only he could see.
"Seth, I'm sorry. I know, I figured out what was going on. I...." Jacen trailed off as he got the feeling that Seth wasn't really there.
"I remember one time," Seth suddenly spoke, "when you were up late at night. I used to watch you leave while everyone else is asleep so you could do extra chores and jobs for more food. I would watch you come in hours later and surprise one of our brothers or sisters with the food. Every night and it wasn't a matter of gratitude. The look on their eyes showed that they looked up to you because you would always be there for them. You would always put them ahead of yourselves.
That's what I'm missing. You always knew what to do. Always had control of the situation. It seems everyone I connect with dies on me."
This grabbed Jacen's attention and caused him to turn to Seth, "You can't blame yourself for that. We've always had a connection and I'm fine."
Seth sighed and looked at the ground, "That's what I'm afraid of Jacen. You're next in line."
Jacen nudged Seth in the shoulder gently laughing, "Don't believe this bullshit. You're my brother and I'm telling you that none of this is your fault. Trust me."
It was like Seth wasn't even listening to him as he stared out into the night, "We're so alike it scares me. I think that's why we connect like we do. We both don't require sleep, we both know our limits and boundaries, and we both know how and when we can count on each other. What I lack is your leadership skills. I've always admired that about you."
Jacen didn't say anything but just nodded. Seth had never said this much in the past ten years and Jacen didn't want to stop him from getting out what he had to say. "I watched you go out every night and I eventually started to do the same while you were out. I worked around you so you didn't know I was out but I would follow you sometimes and that's when I saw you meeting with Zack. I guess he was doing extra stuff for X-5. It was then that I saw Ben following Zack. We spent hours trading stories and such. I learned all about the X-5 but I never said anything. I don't know why but I just couldn't talk to anyone like I used to. Not since Kris died."
Seth suddenly stopped as the sound of gunfire erupted from the penthouse sixteen stories up. Jacen looked up and his eyes went wide, "Come on. We have to get up there." They both rushed in and ran effortlessly up the stairs. The shots had already stopped by the time they broke through the penthouse door. Jacen rushed into the room but all he found was Logan unconscious on the ground next to Wren and Max trying desperately to wake them both.
"Seth, I'm sorry. I know, I figured out what was going on. I...." Jacen trailed off as he got the feeling that Seth wasn't really there.
"I remember one time," Seth suddenly spoke, "when you were up late at night. I used to watch you leave while everyone else is asleep so you could do extra chores and jobs for more food. I would watch you come in hours later and surprise one of our brothers or sisters with the food. Every night and it wasn't a matter of gratitude. The look on their eyes showed that they looked up to you because you would always be there for them. You would always put them ahead of yourselves.
That's what I'm missing. You always knew what to do. Always had control of the situation. It seems everyone I connect with dies on me."
This grabbed Jacen's attention and caused him to turn to Seth, "You can't blame yourself for that. We've always had a connection and I'm fine."
Seth sighed and looked at the ground, "That's what I'm afraid of Jacen. You're next in line."
Jacen nudged Seth in the shoulder gently laughing, "Don't believe this bullshit. You're my brother and I'm telling you that none of this is your fault. Trust me."
It was like Seth wasn't even listening to him as he stared out into the night, "We're so alike it scares me. I think that's why we connect like we do. We both don't require sleep, we both know our limits and boundaries, and we both know how and when we can count on each other. What I lack is your leadership skills. I've always admired that about you."
Jacen didn't say anything but just nodded. Seth had never said this much in the past ten years and Jacen didn't want to stop him from getting out what he had to say. "I watched you go out every night and I eventually started to do the same while you were out. I worked around you so you didn't know I was out but I would follow you sometimes and that's when I saw you meeting with Zack. I guess he was doing extra stuff for X-5. It was then that I saw Ben following Zack. We spent hours trading stories and such. I learned all about the X-5 but I never said anything. I don't know why but I just couldn't talk to anyone like I used to. Not since Kris died."
Seth suddenly stopped as the sound of gunfire erupted from the penthouse sixteen stories up. Jacen looked up and his eyes went wide, "Come on. We have to get up there." They both rushed in and ran effortlessly up the stairs. The shots had already stopped by the time they broke through the penthouse door. Jacen rushed into the room but all he found was Logan unconscious on the ground next to Wren and Max trying desperately to wake them both.
