From Aliceinwhumperland's Whump Words of the Day: "You don't understand. I can't stop!"

The whisper of a voice in his dreams.

'Stop, please. I need you to stop. We need you to stop.'

But he couldn't place it as blackness surged around him, pulling him down.

'He's going to kill himself one of these days.' Huh. A different voice, but he knew it.

'I know.' Same voice as before. His interest piqued, he struggled to the surface.

'He won't listen to me.'

'He doesn't listen to me either.'

'We need Dad.'

'Yeah. He could always get Scott to stop.' Oh. They were talking about him.

Thinking about his dad…caused his chest to hurt. They didn't get it. He couldn't stop. He needed to know that they were safe. He promised. He promised.

Of course, that led on to him thinking about his mom, and that hurt even more. He gasped for breath as the blackness reared up to pull him down again.

'S***, his heart rate is going wild. I better administer a sedative.'

And he was drift…

The next time he reached through the blackness there was one thought on his mind. He needed to tell them…he had promised.

'What do you think caused that spike in his heart rate?'

'I think he's coming round.'

'Finally!.'

'Yeah.'

They were talking about him again. He felt guilty, he was worrying them. That wasn't his job, his job was to keep them safe.

'Uh..' Well, that was not what he wanted to say. But it had the desired result.

'Scott!' The simultaneous shout hurt, and he winced involuntarily.

'Sorry! Sorry!' Hands touched his arm and shoulder.

'Open your eyes, Scott.' Ah, yes. That would be a good idea.

It took more effort than he anticipated. He opened them to see Virgil and John, smiling at him. But he needed to say it.

'I can't!'

It was all he managed before he collapsed in a severe coughing fit. Virgil rushed to raise the bed, and they held him until he stopped coughing. John helped him drink some water, slowly.

Scott tried again.

'I can't.'

'Can't what, Scott?'

'Stop.'

There was a pause. Scott could almost hear the lightbulb click on for both his brothers.

'You need to stop, Scott.'

'Yes, you do! Please, Scott. You need to stop.'

Scott took a breath, he needed to stay calm.

'You don't understand! I can't stop! I can't!. I promised. I promised.' And the darkness was clawing at him again.

Hands soothed him, words were calming, but he couldn't hear them clearly as he drifted again.

This time, though, he felt better, more relaxed.

He'd told them, explained.

He couldn't stop.

He promised.