Ok, here's another chapter. Now how many reviews can you give me? I had at least ten on the first few chapters but it's gone down since then. Come on, can we get it up to ten again? Then maybe I'll update sooner.

Disclaimer: If I owned them this would probably have at least featured in the first movie and would soon be coming out as a sequel. Sadly I don't. Nor do I own the song Cloud Nine by Evanescence. Yes Evanescence again, they really do fit into this a lot…hmmmm


If you want to live, let live

If you want to go, let go

I'm not afraid to dream- to sleep, sleep forever

Tyler sat in the hospital. It smelt funny. There was blood everywhere. It was unusually clean. Soaking into the carpet. The lights were so bright it was making his head hurt. Dripping down Reid's arms. He rested it in his palms, digging the heels of his hands into his eyes. Reid's skin was unnaturally pale under the blood , as if all the colour in him had dripped down to his forearms. He carefully tried to block out all the light, but a red glow shone through at the corners, reminding him of the blood. He had lifted him, feeling how light his friend was. How had they missed this? How had they let it go this far.

I don't need to touch the sky

I just want to feel that high

And you refuse to lift me

He had been worried. He was always worried. Worried enough to try calling Reid. Worried enough to drive over when he didn't answer his phone or his messages. But he couldn't lie to himself. Part of it had been his need to get away. Get away from that stifling house and do something with the desperation he always felt when he was there. He'd picked up some dvd's and a packet of chips on his way over. He hadn't been to Reid's house in...when he thought about it, not since just after his mum had left. He'd always been too busy looking after his father. He wondered why he thought that could make it ordinary again.

And now he was sitting here. In the emergency ward, waiting. Waiting until Reid came out of...wherever they had taken him. Waiting for someone to tell him what was going on. A nurse came out and looked around. He lifted his head and met her eyes. She nodded at him and beckoned him over. He stood and moved towards her.

"Your friend," She spoke before he could say anything, "Mr Garwin. We don't think he's going to make it." Tyler blinked at her for a moment. Wasn't going to make it, Reid wasn't going to…it finally sunk in. Reid, they didn't think Reid was going to make it. No. Reid had to make it. Tyler needed Reid. There had to be something he could do…

Guess it wasn't real after all

Guess it wasn't real all along

He was sitting beside the bed. Reid still hadn't regained consciousness. He looked worse now. His hair almost white against the sheet. His skin somehow paler without the blood. Surrounded by machines, the blips of the monitor, loud in this private ward, measuring out the beats of Reid's life. They said he'd lost too much blood, that he was bleeding somewhere deep inside. They had hooked him up to a bag of blood, one of the many needles feeding into his arm, but they didn't think it'd be enough. Didn't think he'd pull through.

Tyler bent over him, eyes shimmering black. The air around them seemed somehow thicker as he rested his hands on his friend. One on Reid's head, one over his heart. It would be ok, they didn't know Reid like Tyler did. And they didn't know Tyler like Tyler did.

If I fall and all is lost

It's where I belong

If you want to live, let live

If you want to go, let go

I'm never gonna be your sweet, sweet surrender

He could feel Reid's mind. Slipping away and as fast as he pushed his power towards it, into Reid's body, it slipped away faster. Desperate he formed a net and threw it towards it, feeling it catch on something. Hoping it was his friend, know there was no time for another try, he pulled. Lips moving soundlessly in a mantra of hope he hauled back with his mind.

"Don't leave me Reid."

Guess it wasn't real after all

Guess it wasn't real all along

If I fall and all is lost

No light to lead the way

Remember that all alone is where I belong

It fought him. Pulled against him as he dragged it upwards into the light. Tried desperately to descend. Thrashing to escape his net and making flames race across his vision as he sank even deeper into the magic, dipping into reserves he didn't even know he had. It fleetingly crossed his mind that he was probably burning off years of his life. But at the moment he didn't care. He didn't know what kind of life it would be without Reid by his side.

"You can't die Reid. Don't let go. You're stronger than this. You're not weak." He could feel more tears choking his voice and his grip on the life force slipping through his grip. Then suddenly it was rising. Rising up to him through the darkness and he could see something below. It wasn't that Reid was glowing it was just that there was a different texture to the darkness below him. It seemed to be protecting something, shielding it, not hiding it from his sight.

In a dream

Will you give your love to me

Beg my broken heart to beat

Save my life

Change my mind

"Please Reid. Don't die."He whispered again. Then he felt his hand, the one resting on Reid's chest, lift as Reid sucked in a breath. He sat up slightly and the monitor started beeping like crazy. Tyler grinned down at his friend. Simply glad that he was alive as he leant forward to wrap his arms around him. For a moment he closed his eyes, inhaling his friends scent and just being content.

If I fall and all is lost

No light to lead the way

Remember that all alone is where I belong

Tyler paced up and down.

"Broken ribs, badly healed ribs, broken arm that had healed crooked, broken ankle, extensive blood loss, beating marks, scars all over your body. Reid I'd say that's more than a few accidents."

"So I'm an active boy. I've been in a few fights and I didn't know how badly they were hurt." Tyler spun and caught Reid's eye for a moment. There was some fear there, though Tyler couldn't imagine what he was afraid of here with him. He'd go to the ends of the earth to protect his blonde friend. Then Reid tore his gaze away and went back to shoveling down the food the hospital served like it was ambrosia. Tyler shook his head and dismissed those worries. He would deal with them once he'd got the bottom of these ones. Though when that would be he wasn't sure.

"She said the bones were nearly hanging out of your arm. Broken the skin Reid!"

"Tyler I can handle it. It's not that big a thing."

"Reid I'd say it is that big a thing if you're trying to kill yourself to get out."

"I am not trying to kill myself!"

"The knife was in your hands Reid."

"I was framed then." The boy tried to smirk, but the hospital pyjamas detracted from the effect. Somehow he just looked lost and Tyler was reminded of the expression Reid had worn at his own fathers funeral. That was the last time he had seen the blonde son cry.

"No Reid, you weren't"

Tyler noticed a change come over his friend. His shoulders slumped and a shadow that had nothing to do with power crossed his eyes.

"Just…just don't tell the others."


Has Tyler promised Reid not to tell? If he has what will they tell the others? What do you think?

On another note that apparently has people worried: it's okay, I would never kill Reid off, I just wanted to see your responses. Surprised Shadowmayne fell for it though. I already did it to her once (her facial expression was hilarious). I have come to the conclusion that you don't want me to kill Reid anyway, I'm glad we are in agreement on this point. Too late to kill him now. Shadowmayne made me promise to write a sequel under threat of breaking my pinky. Ah well. Taking ideas for a sequel, I have a few and I'll put them up at the end plus any good ones you guys give me. Now review and tell me what you think.

Sammy