I'm really sorry guys. I didn't mean to take this long. It's just that I've been busy and stuff really piled up. Plus this chapter has been giving me trouble. So here's an extra long chapter to make up for the wait. As always, reviews are wanted.

Disclaimer: the only payment I get for this is reviews and thus people should review and tell me what they thought.

Also, this chapter goes out to my lovely big sister Shadowmayne, who is sick at the moment not to mention being the best big sister in the world (she knows why) and as always for nagging me until I update.

Tyler watched from under heavy lids as the golden line tracked its way slowly up the wall. It had been his idea to bring Reid back to the dorms before they became overcrowded with the start of term. It had been a good one. At least from the perspective that, if Reid was going to insist on attending school and refuse to talk to the authorities, it was better that they got this stage over with sooner rather than later. The move away from the security of the house seemed to have undone any and all perceivable improvement in Reid's condition. He had spent the whole night thrashing in his blankets, whimpering, tears pouring down his cheeks as he convulsed and, on a few occasions towards the very early morning, screamed.

Tyler wasn't sure if either of them had gotten any rest as he hauled himself out of bed. Convincing his body that it wasn't allowed to go back to bed he blearily stumbled through the icy air over to his suitcase. There hadn't been any time to unpack last night and so after a fruitless hunt for coffee he decided a shower would have to do. Grabbing his stuff, he pulled open the door, a quick glance back at Reid, who had fallen deeply into sleep at around four that morning reassured him that he wouldn't be waking up any time soon. He shut the door quietly behind him and padded gently through the even icier halls towards the showers.

Once there he warmed himself under the hot water, grateful for the hundreds of dollars spent on pipe restorations. Done, he climbed out and dressed, to find the room not as unoccupied as he had thought. Reid sat huddled in one corner, knees pulled up to his chest with his arms wrapped around them. His eyes were dark and he was shuddering, still wearing only the boxer shorts and shirt he had worn to bed. In this light, with so much of his skin exposed, more than Tyler had seen in the whole time Reid had been staying with him, it was clearer just how bad the abuse Reid had suffered had been.

His left arm was mottled to the shoulder with various bruises and healing cuts with one crimson streak running the length of his forearm. His other arm and both of his legs were pale and looked smooth, as if skin had been taken off. Some research and careful interrogation on his part had hinted at burns, relatively new, probably received over the last course of holidays. He had never noticed them while swimming, at least beyond anything Reid could attribute to his various accidents. But then the two of them had always spent any time out of the pool watching the girls or plotting horrible tricks to play on Aaron and once in the pool anything could be attributed to reflections on the water or allergic reactions to chlorine. In hindsight it was a very clever ploy, clearly well thought out. It didn't make him feel any better though.

He very carefully turned his back, walked over to his clothes, trying desperately not to make any sudden movements, and put them on. That done he turned back to his friend. Reid hadn't moved but his eyes were still focussed on Tyler's. There was a lost look on his face and Tyler realised he had probably woken up when Tyler left, perhaps even been awake before him. He had trained himself over the past few weeks to notice Reid's little tricks. But last night, really just very early this morning, he had been so tired hat he wouldn't have noticed if Reid had been faking sleep. He felt guilt wash over him, suddenly making him crave another shower. He resisted the urge to throw himself back under the burning water, to purge this feeling from his body.

He crouched down in front of Reid and slowly extended his hand. For a minute the blonde cringed, pushing himself farther away from Tyler and into the corner. But as Tyler crouched there patiently, feeling water from the condensed steam soaking through his socks, his eyes fixed on Reid's. Slowly a look of realisation dawned on Reid's face and he stretched his hand out towards Tyler's, placing it after hesitation across his friends calloused palm. Tyler gently folded his own hand around it, not trapping it but making sure the contact was felt. A look of hope crossed Reid's face and Tyler felt a grin split his own face as Reid squeezed his hand back.

"Well isn't this sweet." A voice drawled from the door. Carefully shifting his weight to his free hand Tyler turned to look over his shoulder towards the voice. He almost groaned, but restrained himself, for fear of startling Reid. Aaron stood in the doorway, greasy hair falling over one eye as leaned against the frame.

"Oh I'm sorry, am I interrupting? I'll just come back later." He laughed nastily but made no move to leave. Tyler pulled Reid to his feet and walked towards the door, hoping Aaron would have the sense to move or he would move him. Caleb be damned. But the attack took place from an unexpected flank. Aaron darted past Tyler and before he could do anything Aaron had taken a swing at Reid, who fell hard, his hand wrenched from Tyler's as he fell.

Aaron hesitated a moment, obviously wondering why Reid, who usually landed the first blow, had gone down so easily. Then he seemed to come to his usual cowardly self, he aimed a kick at Reid's side and Reid curled up, his blonde hair already flat to his skull. Tyler could see the bruises and scars showing through in the instant before Caleb and Pogue both slammed into Aaron from behind, dragging him off Reid a throwing him to the ground.

Released from his instant of panic Tyler ignored his two friends where they were standing over the incoherent pile that was Aaron. Instead he crouched beside Reid afraid to touch him and cause any further damage.

"Reid?" He peered into his friend's eyes. He risked laying a hand on Reid's back, alarmed by the ribs he felt through the skin, but Reid seemed unaware of the contact as he stared blankly off into the distance. Tyler waved a hand in front of his eyes, eliciting no response. He quickly pulled his friend up, slinging his arm around his own shoulders he guided Reid past the now unconscious Aaron and their friends and back towards their dorms.

Ok, once again very sorry. More stories of Reid abuse next chapter. Until then tell me what you think. –nods-

Sammy