Hmmm, this series seems to make everyone want to hug Reid…isn't that why you're all reading in the first place?

As usual read it then tell me what you think. I was kinda disappointed, only my old faithful readers are reviewing now. Come on everyone. Tell me what you think and I mean everyone who's reading this. Come on, it doesn't take that long! Once again a big thank you to Shadowmayne! -runs off with fingers held like gun singing the Mission Impossible- (don't worry, I'm not crazy!)

Disclaimer: I don't own them, you don't sue me, I will be able to keep writing and won't lose my pinky and you won't lose your life so we'll all be happy.

Caleb pulled up in front of the house. He sighed. He was inexplicably nervous about this. He wasn't sure why but it felt like he was invading something private in Reid's life. He stared at the doorknocker willing himself to touch it.

It's my job to protect them. I have the power and I'm the oldest. He raised his hand and paused with it over the knocker. But maybe he doesn't want me prying.

No.

Still unconvinced, he lifted the knocker and let it fall on the metal. Tyler answered the door almost immediately and Caleb smiled at him.

"Hey, I was just going into town and wondered if Reid wanted to come." Tyler looked at him suspiciously then nodded abruptly.

"I'll ask him." He disappeared back inside the house and Caleb could hear a hurried conversation. Then Reid appeared in the door way, pulling on a coat.

"No, it's okay. I want to go." With that he pushed the door shut behind him. For a moment they simply stood. Reid with his back against the door, staring up at Caleb while Caleb stood at the top of the steps, looking down a little into Reid's face. He really looked quite badly hurt. Cuts and bruises marred his unusually pale skin. His face was thinner than it had been but it was the eyes that really caught Caleb's attention. So different from the cheerful eyes of the Reid Garwin he knew. There were some similarities but these ones were so much darker, afraid.

"So are we going to drive or are we going to stay in this lovely little pose for a while longer?" A grin split the thin face and Caleb smiled back. It wasn't the Reid he knew but it was closer than the burnt out wreck, which had taken over his body and destroyed it. They drove in silence for a long time. Every time Caleb looked over at Reid to say anything he had his eyes closed. He took this as a bad sign and would close his mouth and turn back to driving. The thirteenth time he did it Reid spoke without opening his eyes.

"Just say it." Caleb drove in silence for another few miles, not to be outdone. Then casually found his opening line.

"Those cuts you got from your accident were awfully neat." He kept his eyes fixed on the road as he waited for the response. A sigh from beside him broke the silence for a minute before it faded and once again a blanket fell over them.

"It wasn't an accident." Caleb almost didn't catch the words, so softly were they spoken. Then it took a moment for them to sink in. Once they had he glanced across at Reid, who still hadn't opened his eyes. The sunlight and shade played in random patterns across his face, making odd arrangements with the cuts and bruises visible. He looked even worse with his eyes closed, as if he were dying. The story came out as they drove along country highways, alone with the trees. Caleb listened as Reid told in a soft voice. He skipped details and whole chunks seemed to be missing.

Caleb almost crashed the car when he heard about the attempted suicide and Tyler's rescue. Whatever explanation he had been expecting it hadn't been this. And so the two friends drove through the clear day, their lives now pulled yet closer together by the web of pain and deceit which had held them apart for so long.

Tyler pace worriedly in front of the door. He felt a little guilty for doing so. It wasn't as if Reid belonged to him. The blonde was not obliged to him in any way. That much was obvious. If he did, or was, he would have told Tyler months ago. He wouldn't have suffered in silence while the other sons did nothing. Reid wasn't beholden to anyone. Thinking about what had happened with the last person he was beholden to made Tyler's blood boil. It was a prime example why the Garwin boy couldn't be expected to trust a single individually at all deeply.

Still. It hurt how readily Reid had bounded down the stairs at Caleb's beck and call. Tyler tried not to think about how much his chest was aching as he remembered the light in the boys expression. It wasn't the old Reid, but it also wasn't the wreck he'd been dealing with for weeks. That just Caleb's name and interest could spark such a reaction...

His rubbed his knuckles against his head and sighed. Not any of his business, remember. If Reid wanted to talk to Caleb then that was the most important thing. If Reid wanted Caleb's help then it shouldn't matter to Tyler as long as he was getting help.

So what do you think? Come on, review and tell me. THIS MEANS YOU! Even if you're reading this ages after the story's finished I still want to hear what you think.

Sammy