Title: And Then There Were Two
Author: TWBasketcase
Chapter Summary: John is off wandering and Jackie needs to find him help
Disclaimer: Lyrics by Skid Row, the song is called "Breakin' Down." It's a beautiful song when played you should all download it.
A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews guys; the hits for this story and the chapters are phenomenal. You guys are great. I also know you are sick of the angst and I will have you know that the worst is over. So I hope that you all enjoy!

Chapter 20 – Breakdown

Click.

Click.

Click.

"Can you stop that, freak?" One of the boys sitting next to me asked as I ripped apart my finger nails. I turned to look at him and glared, "Fuck you."

"You are so weird you know that?"

"At least I'm not normal!" I spat back, with a nail in my mouth…which happened to thankfully stick to the side of his face. He looked at me in horror, "What the fuck did you do that for?"

I shrugged, "It turned me on." I smirked at him and turned back to the teacher who was watching us impatiently.

"Is there a problem Ms. Reynolds?"

I blinked a few times and hid behind my hair; the whole class is staring at me and it's making me feel very uncomfortable. The kid sitting next to me piped up, "Yeah she is spitting body parts at me! She's crazy!"

I scoffed, and looked at the teacher who pointed towards the door, "Office, please?"

I shook my head and glared at the idiot next to me. The rest of the class is laughing and snickering behind my back but I don't care. They always do that and I've learned to ignore them; that comes with being the school's 'freak'.

I stepped out into the hallway and sighed; why is high school such a crock of shit? I don't even know why the hell I am here! I will probably go down to the office and Dick won't even wanna speak with me and my teacher won't even care if I go back to class or not. I have no friends here and every little thing lately is sad and depressing. If things keep up the way they do I'll probably have a mental breakdown.

The hallways were completely silent around the sounds of my Chuck's hitting the floor. That was until I heard the sound of someone else's shoes hitting the floor behind me. I stopped dead in my tracks and waited for the person to pass me but they didn't; in fact they stopped right behind me. I spun around quickly and was surprised to see Jackie. I gave her a smile but then frowned when I noticed the look on her face. Her eyes were shifty and she seemed a bit flushed and winded.

"What's wrong?"

"We have to go." She stated simply.

I furrowed my eyebrows and stepped back; she's gonna tell me something bad happened I can feel it, "Why?"

"Let's go, it's important!" She urged frantically.

"Just tell me what's…"

She cut me off, "You listen to me! It's important and we have to go! I will explain it to you later!"

I sighed and tried to keep up with her. She was walking quickly with her fists clenched at her sides. Something definitely is up and I don't know if I wanna know what it is.

We cut through the parking lot towards her car and she unlocked my door for me before she took off to her side of the car. She was moving at rapid speed, and every second that went by scared me even more. I know what – rather who – the only link between me and Jackie is and I knew that is was him…and that made my stomach sink. Every worse case scenario was going through my head.

She started the car and peeled outta the parking lot. She looked at me out of the corner of her eye with a frown on her face, "Now you gotta listen to me and listen to me carefully, okay?"

I gulped as my eyes started to well up, "What happened to him?"

She paused and swallowed, "I don't know exactly but he is really messed up."

I blinked back my tears, "What kinda messed up?"

She wiped at her eyes and checked her rear view mirror as she zipped around a corner swiftly, "He's hurt real bad…I seen him walkin' down my street and he was grabbing at his head and literally screaming in pain. I don't think he even knew where he was…he thought I was you."

A tear fell down my cheek, "He has a real bad concussion…I found him in the hospital two days ago but he was doing a little better yesterday. He wasn't screaming or delusional…he was just aching."

She nodded her head and turned the car in yet another direction, "I think his old man mighta hurt him…his cheek was kinda puffy."

"Oh god…" The tears were falling more freely now and I brought my hand up to my mouth, "How the fuck can this happen? He was really fucking hurting and his dad coulda killed him if he wanted to."

She blinked a couple of times and straightened up, "Listen I don't know exactly what happened all I know is that he was screaming for you in the middle of the street. I think he is gonna blow or something cause I've known Johnny since we were ten and I have never…ever…seen him that hurt or scared."

I looked out my window, "Where is he?"

"I don't know…I do know that he usually goes to the park when he is upset or trying to get away from his parents, but in his state I have no idea. We're just gonna have to look."

I nodded and wiped at my eyes again; this is too fucked up. I can't believe that we live in a fucked up world like this where parents are willing to hurt their children instead of protecting them. How the fuck can an eighteen year old kid fight for life every day?

Suddenly the car jerked to a halt, "There he is!" She almost yelled. There was worry evident in her voice and she hopped out of the car. She stood next to it and just stared. I opened the car door slowly and put my hand over my forehead to block the sun; across the distance in the grass of the small park he sat…crouched down on his feet and holding himself. He was clearly rocking back and forth and his hair was draped over his face; he looked so scared.

"Go," she said quietly.

"What?' I asked shakily.

"I said go…he needs you."

"What about you?"

"I'll wait for you here…just go get him."

"What do I do?"

"Just go."

I swallowed and slowly approached him; it all seemed like a terrifying movie and I felt like at any moment my knees would buckle.

He looked so scared and vulnerable; I have never seen him like this…even when he was in the hospital. Then he looked like a small child, here he looks like he has turned into an empty shell. Each step I took pounded in my brain and suddenly I couldn't hear anything but the hammering sound of my heart. From the time I've known him I always seen him as the strongest person that I know; and to see him like this makes it seem as if there is no strength existing in this world. If he can't handle it how the hell can I?

I was about a mere two feet away from him when I finally stopped. I watched him closely; he had his hands clutching the side of his head and he had dropped to his knees. He is still rocking back and forth and I find it oddly disturbing that this position is comfortable on those broken ribs.

"John?"

"Go away," came a very small, quiet, and un-John like voice.

"John it's me, Allison."

He didn't reply he just stopped rocking. Tears were rolling down my cheeks but I knew that it wasn't my time to be weak. I have to help him…somehow before he breaks down.

I knelt down in front of him and pushed back his hair; he had tears streaming down his face and his eyes were wide, "John? Are you okay?"

"No."

"What happened?" I asked him slowly as I grabbed his hand away from his face.

His eyes darted to meet mine; they were small and sad and suddenly I realized that he knew what was going on. Even if he didn't before, he does now; that distant look from yesterday wasn't there…I think he may have just been shocked when he seen Jackie, "I can't take it anymore."

I swallowed and blinked back tears, "Can't take what anymore?"

He looked at me with sunken eyes, "The pain."

"Just tell me what happened okay?"

He sat back on his butt and stared at me coolly, "He knew I was hurt but he still hurt me…it never ends, all they do is hurt me."

"Who?"

"Everyone."

"It's not always gonna be like this you know." I replied softly. I pushed his hair further away and he looked at me gratefully, "Things will change, John."

"But why are they like this now?" He asked shakily…and in a few moments one tear rolled down his cheek, followed by another, and another, and another until he had hard sobs racking his body and his face fell into my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and rubbed his back gently.

"Just let it out, 'kay?" I swallowed over and over trying to keep my own emotions down. He was sobbing and acting so out of character that it scared me. I could only imagine in my worst nightmares what happened to him and what he is going through. But at the same time all of his hurt and tears just broke my heart.

"I can't handle anymore…" He said into my shoulder, "I wanna be dead."

I pulled away from him and looked him in the face, "Don't you say that!"

"Why not, huh? I'll be better off…"

"No…no you wouldn't, you need to be here. Your mom needs you…I need you."

He wiped his eyes and frowned, "No you don't…you're better off without me…I bring bad shit, I let you see bad things…"

A tear fell down my face, "No don't say that…you're my only friend in the whole world. You're the only one who gave me a chance, John. I need that in my life…you're important to me."

He began breathing heavily and looked at me with pain in his eyes, "I'm not good enough."

I shook my head, "Yes you are…and things will be okay, you'll be okay."

He began rocking back and forth again and his hair fell in front of his face. I looked at him closely and brought my hand up to him; I pushed his hair back, "John you need to calm down, okay? You're gonna hurt yourself…"

He swallowed and nodded, "It just hurts…"

"I know but it will get better…I'll help you." And I meant it; it hurt me so fucking much to see him this way…it broke my fucking heart.

He gave me an eerie smile, "I swear you are like an angel. The only good thing in my life."

I looked down at my feet, "No I'm not an angel…I just wanna be there for you."

He looked at me with sunken eyes, "You're too good."

"Are you listening to me, John?"

"I'm listening, but I know," he blinked and frowned, "Everything hurts except you."

My heart started racing, "John I'm your friend…I wouldn't hurt you."

"I know that's why I love you."

"What?" His eyes widened and I think my heart just stopped.



TBC

UPDATE: SONG LYRICS WERE TAKEN DOWN SO THAT THE SITE WOULD NOT DELETE MY STORY. THANX.