If you should die before me, ask if you could bring a friend. -- Stone temple pilots
A/N: I dunno if this is gonna be a full fledged stoy. You, my good people, tell me. Some have already placed their votes -- no need to repeat. There is a great dire need to review, however. This chapter deals with Reid's reaction toward Tyler's condition. And then there will be a chapter about what happens when Chase finally gets a hold of Reid. But you tell me if you want the in-between story. Do you wanna see how Tyler deals with what has just happened to him? Do you wanna see how Caleb deals with the sudden loss of the covenant? Do you want to see a confrontation between Caleb and Chase that seemed to have been misplaced during the editing of the movie? Or should this just be three chapters. Feed me your ideas, inspire me. Tell me if you accept the Reid and Tyler I have painted for you -- or do I need to go back to art class. I've also been watching a lot of gossip girl lately, so I sincerely apologize if Tyler seems out of character in this chapter...which he's supposed to be kind've -- but if you see similarities between Tyler Simms and Nate Archibald, please alert me, because that is not my intention. But as for the last question -- Do you want a happy ending?
On a lighter yet...darker note -- I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. So tell me if you think it sucks or not; because as the creator -- I'm 100 bias...so I hate everything I write. And -- I'm pretty sure I don't intend on making this story slash. Unless you want me to. I know the undertones of this chapter can seem mighty intimate, but that wasn't my intentions. So tell me how you feel about slash and whether or not that is something would like to see.
And most importantly -- You must review, or I lack inspiration. Something irritate you -- tell me. If you think I'm warped and psychotic for putting Tyler in such a position, please feel free to let me know. Think Reid is utterly adorable, send a review. R&R.
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Reid paused outside of the dorm. Tyler had completely sucked all the potential fun out of Nicky's...and he hadn't even been there. Reid knew that he had hurt Tyler earlier, even if the younger boy had tried to hide it. Tyler couldn't hide anything from Reid. Reid had only been at Nicky's for half an hour, not even at the pool tables, just off sitting at a random table, sipping thoughtfully at his beer, when Aaron approached him. Aaron had gone into this huge speel about how Reid was eyeing his woman while she was on the dance floor, and Reid knew immediately that he gave Aaron the most confused look he could muster through the haze of alcohol. Gone was his Garwin smirk and he hadn't even noticed it. But Aaron did. The two had a special relationship - one that was built merely on hatred and hostility.
Aaron had dragged Reid outside and shoved him back against the back alley wall of Nicky's. Reid was unusually mellow and Aaron almost gained the upper hand until Reid forced himself to acknowledge the situation at hand. His cheek was bright red against his pale skin and he had a deep cut in his lip from where his teeth had bit through. There was a small but deep cut intertwined with his right eyebrow from where Aaron had hit him with his ring. Reid's head was bleeding after Aaron had slammed it into the ground a few times. Reid's own blood was on his hands and it would have pissed him off under normal circumstances. Reid would look worst than Aaron, if he hadn't broken his nose.
Reid lifted a sore hand to knock on the door but paused briefly. He couldn't hear movement from inside but listened intently anyway. Tyler had always been a quiet person, so Reid shrugged and knocked. His knock sounded hollow on the door. "Tyler?" He called, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. There was no response so he gently gripped the door handle and slowly turned it. "Look, Tyler, I'm sorry about what I said earlier, alright?" He began as he softly pushed the door open. He took a step into the room before he lifted his eyes from the floor.
Tyler laid curled on Reid's bed, where Chase had left him. His jeans had been unceremoniously pulled up but they were unbuckled and torn at the seams. Blood stained the material and the sheets beneath him. "Tyler?" he asked, his voice breaking as he dropped to his knees beside his own bed. He reached out a shaking hand to brush back the matted hair from Tyler's pasty forehead. "What happened?" he hissed. Tyler's eyes opened slowly but they looked vacant. "Who did this?" Reid demanded. Tyler's eyes slid shut again and he heaved a big sigh. "Tyler? You have to talk to me. Please." Tyler sighed but didn't attempt speech. "Baby boy, you're scaring me," Reid whispered, drawing closer to his injured friend.
"I'm sorry," Tyler mumbled. His body seemed to shake with the effort of speech but it forced a smile of relief from Reid. A very brief smile that faded before it could reach his eyes.
"Don't be," Reid told him quietly; his fingers were tangled in Tyler's sweaty hair but the warm presence of Reid's skin against his own heated flesh seemed to sooth him. "I shouldn't have left you alone like that," Reid whispered. "Goddamnit!" He shouted, turning his head to the side slightly. He cleared his throat and dropped his eyes to the ground. Tyler squinted at the side of Reid's face. He could have sworn that he'd seen tears. But Reid crying? Isn't that the first sign of the apocalpse? Tyler could distinctly remember the last time he'd seen Reid crying. It was after his father's funeral and Reid had picked a fight with Aaron. The boys had just been ten, but they had a hateful relationship that went back as far as they could remember. It was the day after Reid's father's funeral, and Aaron had made fun of Tyler. Reid didn't do anything until Aaron shoved Tyler and the boy almost fell. But when Reid did do something, he sure did commit himself. It wasn't his fault that he was still a lanky ten year old and Aaron had already had his growth spurt. The boy had gotten lucky and caught ahold of Reid's arm and bent it back until Reid was kneeling before him, practically begging for him to let go. But Aaron kept bending until he broke it. And Tyler had been there, trying to comfort him, much like Reid was currently attempting. That was the last time Tyler had seen Reid look so vulnerable. But he was sure that that particular Reid had died a long time ago. "Look," Reid said, interrupting Tyler's thoughts. He rose quickly to his feet. "I'm gonna call Caleb, okay?" It almost sounded like Reid was asking for his permission. "You need a doctor or...something," he finished lamely. His hands had already delved into his pockets, searching furiously for his phone. After a rather daunting search, one in which Tyler had passed out during, Reid withdrew his phone triumphantly. Trembling fingers hit Caleb's speed dial and he pressed the phone firmly against his ear.
Reid was pacing, glancing down at Tyler every few seconds. The boy's emotionless face seemed to hide the pain that Reid knew Tyler must have gone through. Reid continued to stare down hard at the unconscious form that was his whole world as Caleb answered the phone. "Reid, I'm kind've busy," Caleb said dismissively. Reid had forgotten about all the prank calls he'd made to Caleb. Caleb had grown weary of his phone calls, even though it'd been weeks since the last prank call. Tyler had been there to tell Reid that crying wolf was a bad idea. And Reid, like always, had promptly ignored Tyler.
"Caleb," Reid said loudly, sufficiently drowning out Caleb's next statement. His voice was unsteady and raw and Caleb sat up straighter.
"What is it?" He asked sternly into the phone. The only thought he had was Chase. He wasn't quite sure how he'd react if Chase had somehow managed to get to Reid. Reid had always been so solid and his current voice almost sounded vulnerable; it was unnerving.
"Something's wrong, Caleb," Reid said quickly, his pacing quickening. "I'm sorry," he added. "It's just -- I went to Nicky's, and I was stupid enough to leave him alone. I didn't even think about what could happen."
"What did happen?" Caleb pressed. His voice was firm, but he was listening completely to Reid; more so than he'd ever listened to Reid in his entire life.
"Chase took a shot at Tyler," Reid said. He took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself but it didn't work. He could distantly hear Caleb repeating what he'd just said and knew he must be relaying the message to Sarah. "Tyler's pretty beaten up," Reid mumbled, glancing back at Tyler. "I don't think that's all he did, Caleb," Reid added.
"What do you mean?" Caleb demanded.
"He hurt Tyler," Reid said quietly. Caleb could hear the uncomortable edge to Reid's voice. "Like...sexually," he added.
"Call an ambulence," Caleb said darkly. "Get Tyler to the hospital, okay? Can you do that, Reid?" Caleb's voice was the most gentle Reid had ever heard it, but it still gave him some form of comfort.
"Yeah," Reid said quietly. "Yeah, I think so," he added, his voice faltering.
"You do that, Reid," Caleb ordered him. But this order seemd different than all of his other commands. "I'll meet you at the hospital." Caleb paused for a moment and could distinctly hear Reid shuffling on the other side of the phone. "Tyler's gonna be okay, Reid," He told him quietly. "Don't you leave his side."
"Never again," Reid promised before ending the call. He blew out a deep breath before dialing 911. He waited in silence for the ambulence, pacing the room furiously. He kept his promise and didn't like Tyler's side, as if he ever could. He rode in the ambulence and made it to the hospital before Caleb and Sarah did. But they had been out of town and the drive was longer. Reid was forced to wait impatiently as the doctor looked over Tyler. Tyler's ribs had been set and the cuts on his face had been bandaged, and Reid had been forced to bullshit his way out of giving a logical reason as to why Tyler wouldn't need a rape kit. Tyler's skin was pale, his face an array of colorful bruises, his eyelids closed. Reid sat apprehensively beside the bed in a plastic hospital chair.
Ried knew that he was fidgeting but he couldn't stop it. "Stop staring at me like that." The voice was a hoarse whisper and Reid blinked. "I'm not dead," Tyler mumbled, his voice low, barely reaching Reid's ears. "It's not your fault," he added. Reid blinked again and realized that Tyler's eyes were open and staring at him. Tyler's eyes were cloudy, and lighter than Reid had ever seen them.
Reid looked away. "Bullshit," he muttered.
"It's not your fault," Tyler repeated; this time his voice was steady, almost firm, forcing Reid to glance back at him. But it didn't sound like Tyler. Tyler had already changed, he was already gone.
"You were my responsibility," Reid told him quietly. "I should have been there."
"I'm not a fucking child," Tyler snapped, his voice lacking the necessary hostility to make the line sound angry. Either way, he hadn't ever spoken to Reid like that before and Reid cocked his head to side unconsciously, sizing Tyler up briefly. "Chase is stronger than any of us can imagine," he murmured, echoing Pogue's previous words. "If you had been there, you would in a hospital bed beside me." Tyler sighed but kept his eyes locked onto Reid's and added, "don't be stupid."
A small smirk crossed Reid's face; a shadow of what the Garwin smirk had been. "Talk about asking the impossible, eh?" He joked half heartedly, but even his smile faltered a bit, before falling apart completely. "Do you wanna talk about?" He asked after a minute of silence.
"Reid Garwin, thinking of someone else for a change?" Tyler asked quietly. Reid opened his mouth but then closed it again. He shook his head and Tyler suddenly felt guilty. Reid had actually asked a question that not only had nothing to do with himself, but also sounded sincere, and Tyler had shot him down. Reid knew he could be self involved and slefish at times, but he hadn't ever thought that this was how Tyler viewed him.
Reid seemed uncomfortable, his gaze had broken away from Tyler's and refused to return. If it had been anybody else who had commented on his self-involvement, Reid could have promptly shrugged it off. But anybody else hadn't made the comment. Tyler had. "Look, Reid," Tyler began.
"No, whatever," Reid interrupted dismissively. "You're right." Reid abrupt rose to his feet. "I'm gonna go see if Caleb's here yet," he announced but when he walked past Tyler, he felt a weak grasp on his arm. Looking down he saw Tyler's pale hand holding him tightly. His hand was cold.
"Could you..." Tyler seemed to hesitate and Reid shifted uncomfortably.
"What, baby boy?" He asked softly.
"Just..." Tyler tried again. "Stay with me," he forced out. "Just for a little bit longer. I really don't want to be alone."
A look flashed across Reid's face. A look that Tyler hadn't ever seen before. "Oh," Reid groaned. "Okay," he murmured, drawing his chair closer to Tyler's bed. When Caleb arrived Tyler had already fallen back to sleep. Reid was still seated in the chair beside his bed; he was lent forward and his head was rested in the crook of his right arm which was rested on the side of Tyler's bed. Reid's left arm was stretched forward, pressed up against Tyler's leg. Clapsed in his hand was Tyler's right hand. Caleb almost laughed, until he saw Tyler's condition. Tyler's free hand was placed protectively over his ribs. His face was turned to the side but Caleb could see the array of bruises and cuts littering his face. Chase had deliberately attacked Tyler. Innocent Tyler. It was one thing to hospitalize Pogue. Pogue could somehow manage it. But Tyler? He will be forever altered. As would Reid. Reid was forced to realize that safe didn't exist. For him -- the harsh realities of life wouldn't be a problem. He basked in danger. But for Tyler?
Reid almost looked peaceful; asleep. But Caleb knew what was going to come next. Chase had targeted Pogue first, knowing that Caleb was closest to him. And then he threatened Sarah -- another hit close to Caleb. And now Tyler. Tyler was his brother, not nearly as close as Pogue, but still family; even if the rift of age had occurred within the covenant. Reid was perhaps the furthest, but Caleb knew that Chase would still try. Because Reid was still family. And Reid would resist. He'd put up a fight, a better fight than he'd ever put up with Caleb, and he would lose. Reid was rash and violent, but he would never be able to take on Chase. Not alone, not how Chase wanted him to. Caleb couldn't even imagine the antics Chase would use to get under Reid's skin and scar him for life. Physical abuse couldn't even touch him, even if it killed him. Reid had taken brutal beatings before and smiled through it. And sexual abuse, like Tyler? Well...Caleb wasn't sure how Reid would handle that. He was sure that it would tear him down. Nobody should ever be invaded like that. It was worst than death. But Chase wouldn't use the same technique twice. He would come up with something else for Reid; probably worst. The abuse was getting worst and it scared Caleb. Because eventually, the next step would be death.
Caleb opted to leave the room to wander off somewhere else and find a cup of coffee. He would give Reid and Tyler their time alone as long as he could. But he didn't want to stray too far. Even though Caleb himself thought attacking Reid in a hospital was a pretty stupid move, he wouldn't ever put that past Chase. Chase was psychotic and relentless - a dangerous combination. He had just attacked and sucessfully immobilized two members of the covenant. Caleb had managed to wander back to the hospital room and paused outside the door. "You remember when Aaron broke my arm?" Reid had asked. His voice was faint, drowsy with sleep; slightly muffled because his head still rested in the crook of his arm.
"Yeah," Tyler answered quietly. His hand was still gripping Reid's hand tightly. Or was it Reid who was holding Tyler's hand for dear life?
"It's the first time I can remember talking to you," Reid commented. "Like, I know we grew up together, but that day it's like suddenly you existed to me. And anybody who fucked with you..." He paused for a moment, his breathing suddenly louder in the silence. "Anybody who dared to mess with you...I'd show them what's what."
"Aaron broke your arm," Tyler reminded him. "That must've been some show, with great threats and significant change to the way things were going."
Reid felt himself smile. Tyler was almost sarcastic. "And then he shoved me into the lake the next day," he sighed. "And I couldn't swim with that fucking cast on my arm. And he just stood there laughing." Reid paused. Caleb hadn't ever heard this story before. He'd known these boys his entire life. But he couldn't remember ever knowing why Reid suddenly had a broken arm, and the kid had refused to talk about it. He didn't know that Aaron went this far back with them, but he did notice that Reid and Tyler had suddenly become friends. They joked like they'd never joked before. They joked as friends. "But you were there, baby boy." His thumb seemed to stroke the back of Tyler's hand, almost affectionately. "I didn't even know you were there until you were dragging me out of the lake." Reid's voice was soft, almost distant. Caleb hadn't ever heard him use that tone before. "I don't think I've ever seen you that pissed since. Tyler Simms actually raised his voice."
"Yeah," Tyler agreed. "And you tired to attack Aaron when I pulled you out, but he had that growth spurt over the summer and he was like a foot taller. And you were shivering so badly that every time you tried to threaten him, you would stutter so badly nobody could understand you," Tyler recalled fondly. "He sent you back to the hospital with a concussion and broken ribs."
"Yeah," Reid sighed. "I was shivering so bad that I bit through my lip and I couldn't get it to stop bleeding," he added. Reid didn't say this, but after that day he signed up for swimming, just to guarantee that he would never be placed in that situation again. He had felt fear that day, when he couldn't resurface, and he made damn sure that he never felt that fear again. Until today.
"Do you think you would have Used?" Tyler asked quietly. "If you could. Would you have used on him?"
Reid was quiet for a moment. In all honesty, he wasn't sure, but then he shook his head. "No," he answered hollowly. "I never Use when I fight Aaron."
"I never tried to Use," Tyler told him, his voice dropping in volume, Caleb almost didn't hear the words.
"Even if you had, it wouldn't have made a difference," Reid told him, slowly lifting his head from his arm. "Chase is ascended. He's got all of us beat; nows all hes got to do is pick us off one by one."
"You would have Used," Tyler murmured. "This is why we have the Power, right? To Use in necessity. Why isn't it natural to me, Reid?"
Reid was quiet for a moment. "It's natural to try to fight," Reid told him, leaning forward slightly. "Without the power. When I fight Aaron, natural instinct takes over. The Power isn't even in my mind." He paused before adding, "It's the only time that the Power isn't in on my mind."
"Your fists are good enough, though," Tyler told him dejectedly. His knuckles hadn't even scabbed over yet but Reid knew that Tyler had tried to fend off Chase. Tyler had fought before, on Reid's behalf. Reid knew how quick Tyler was, both physically and mentally. He could out run or dodge anybody. Unless the fight was rigged. Reid hadn't ever taken Tyler for helpless; he wouldn't ever do that to a friend. He couldn't view Tyler as the baby -- not how Caleb and Pogue viewed him. But what now? How could he ever leave Tyler alone again? How could Tyler be anything but helpless in his eyes?
Reid's grip on Tyler's hand tightened; his eyes had slid closed but he could feel Tyler watching him. They had gotten into a fight earlier, right after seeing Pogue. Tyler had said it would have been wise, to just go back to the dorms. Just for the night. He almost sounded desperate, like maybe he was pleading. Why can't we just play it safe for once? But Reid had ignored him. He'd called him a baby, told him to suck it up; this is what happens in life. People get hurt. Why piss away the night? Tyler had been hesitant, hurt. After Reid had told Tyler to grow a pair, he had told him, quite blatantly, to let him borrow his car. Tyler had told him to fuck off but Reid had pinned Tyler against the car and told him again to let him borrow the car. Even while Reid was doing it, he knew he shouldn't be threatening Tyler. Tyler had made an irritated noise in his throat and angrily shoved the keys at Reid, shoving him back in the process. He'd gotten into the car and told Reid to drop him off at the dorms. They drove in a tense silence and Tyler left without a word when they'd arrived.
"I shouldn't have abandoned you," Reid said after a moment of silence.
"Whatever," Tyler said. His voice held a tone that told Reid to just drop it.
"I mean it," Reid said, his voice hard. "I'm supposed to be your friend. Your fucking family. If I hadn't been such an ass then you --"
"We already went through this, Reid," Tyler interrupted abruptly. "Chase did this to me. He is the only antagonist here. Stop blaming yourself. It doesn't suit you."
Reid shook his head, but he didn't turn away. His eyes seemed larger and then Tyler realized that they contained unshed tears. He was almost flattered...he was worthy of Reid Garwin's tears. Reid never cried for anyone. He caged his heart and ignored his feelings, but he couldn't ignore the fear he felt for Tyler. He had always refused to acknowledge the danger they were all in because of the covenant. He knew Tyler wouldn't experience the addiction that he certainly would after ascension. But that wasn't the only danger in their lives. He couldn't even imagine Tyler in danger. Tyler had always been this untouchable essence. Reid had seen Tyler banged up a bit before, after fights with Aaron, and seeing those bruises on such soft features had unnerved him a bit. Always. But this time it was amplified. Aaron was a baby kitten compared to Chase. Aaron had always been harmless.
"Buck up, soldier," Tyler whispered, squeezing Reid's hand momentarily. "I'm not dead," he repeated, tilting his head back against the pillow.
"Somethings are worst than death," Reid told him solemnly.