Caleb had been wrestling with his feelings for Reid ever since the battle with Chase.
That night was mostly a blur, but the further that he got away from it, the clearer some things became. He'd taken Sarah back to his house after the police and fire department let them leave the barn. There was no sign of Chase. Caleb was sure it was over.
Only his problems had just begun.
"Where's Tyler?" Caleb asked Reid as he headed around the car to open Sarah's door.
"He's on his way back. Pogue wouldn't stay in the hospital. But Kate has made a recovery. They're going to keep her for a couple of days. Her parents are there now too."
Caleb nodded. He felt drained but at the same time he felt powerful, like he was invincible. He met Reid's gaze for the first time. His blue eyes were full of concern, his full lips were drawn into a thin line.
"What happened out there?" Reid questioned, a tone more casual than he felt.
"Chase is gone." Caleb glanced down at Sarah; the adrenaline rush was finally starting to wear off. "Sarah, why don't you go upstairs."
She nodded and headed inside. Caleb watched until she disappeared inside. A part of him didn't want to let her out of his sight, but he didn't want to have this conversation in front of her. Besides, Chase was gone. She was safe. They were all safe.
Reid sighed. "Your mom is a wreck."
Caleb's jaw tightened. "My father willed me his power. It's how I was able to destroy him."
Reid stared at him for a long moment, his heart thrumming loudly. There was nothing he could say or do to help.
Headlights streamed down the long drive. Tyler's Hummer lumbered down the drive and stopped behind Caleb's silver Mustang.
Tyler hopped out of the vehicle and hurried around. Pogue was already getting out, refusing to use his crutches. Tyler pulled Pogue's arm around his own shoulders.
"Take your weight off that leg, you idiot," Tyler scolded.
Pogue grumbled but he complied. "Did you put that dog down?"
Caleb was getting tired of talking about it. "Chase is taken care of." Caleb approached Tyler and Pogue, he felt Reid follow him.
"Everyone okay?" Pogue questioned.
"Sarah's upstairs and I'm fine."
"No, he's not," Reid inserted.
Caleb shot him look. "It's done." Caleb studied Pogue for a long moment, and then with a quick flip of the wrist, he cast a spell.
Everyone felt the power, especially Pogue. All his aches and pains were cooled and caressed by the energy and then…like magic…he was healed.
Reid stared as the bruises and scrapes, and cuts disappeared from Pogue.
"what the hell are you doing, man?" Pogue pulled away from Tyler, squeezing his shoulder before his hand dropped away.
"Kate's healed too. You're welcome."
Pogue shoved Caleb. "We were fine. We would've healed on our own. You can't use your powers like that! And what's worse is that you know you can't use your powers like that!"
Caleb's expression darkened. "It's done. I'm fine."
Reid growled, "You're not!" His father willed him his power. My guess he used a lot to take down Chase and save Sarah."
Pogue and Tyler looked as scared as Reid felt.
"I can handle this. It'll be fine."
"Stop saying that!" Reid yelled. "Do you want to end up like Chase?"
Caleb's smiled, it was almost twisted. "You think you could take me?"
Reid took a hesitant step backward. All the times that Reid and Caleb fought, Reid begrudgingly would admit that he knew Caleb was right, but that only pissed him off more. Even when he tried to take Caleb, like an idiot, knowing that Caleb would kick his ass, he'd never been afraid of him…until now.
"Don't be a jerk," Tyler barked. "It's been a long night. Let's just get some sleep."
Caleb backed down and so did Reid. Without another word, Caleb headed inside.
The other three piled into Tyler's Hummer. They headed into town to get Pogue back to his bike.
The next afternoon, Caleb was ambushed. Reid tackled Caleb, while Pogue helped hold him down. Everyone's eyes were obsidian; Caleb was trying to escape and the other three were trying to help him. Their only advantage was catching Caleb off guard. Once Caleb was all but unconscious, the three of them cast a binding spell so he couldn't use his powers until they released him.
Reid and Pogue heft Caleb onto his bed and bound him to the posts.
Pogue and Tyler went to school to keep up appearances. With Chase missing, and all the rumors going around about Kate's being hospitalized, and Caleb's non-appearance the three of them had a lot of damage to start controlling.
Reid took first shift with Caleb.
It only took a couple of hours for the withdrawal to set in. Caleb didn't remember most of it. He remembered Reid sitting by his side, holding his hand when the pain was at its worst. He had vague recollections of Pogue and Tyler too. But Reid was the clearest.
At long last, Caleb's fever broke. Reid was sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the nightstand. He could see his blonde head poking above the bed.
"Reid," Caleb murmured.
Reid moved to his knees and peered over the king sized mattress at his friend.
Caleb had dark circles under his eyes. His naked torso was slick with sweat. His wrists and ankles were red, rubbed raw, and bruised from him struggling against his binds.
"Hey," Reid murmured. "How are you feeling?"
"I think I'm through the worst of it," Caleb replied, his throat dry and rough.
Reid reached for Caleb's bound hand.
"Don't," Caleb snapped. "Not yet." His voice softened.
Reid moved and sat next to Caleb on the bed, threading his fingers through Caleb's.
"Where are the others?"
"Needed a break," Reid muttered. "It's been a long week."
"A week?" Caleb sighed. "No wonder I'm starving."
Reid started to move. "I'll get you something to eat."
"Wait!" Caleb clamped his hand around Reid's. "Just stay here awhile."
Reid nodded, and readjusted so he was sitting again, his hip pressed against Caleb.
"You had us worried there for awhile," Reid said casually.
"Yeah, I don't think I've ever felt anything like that and I'm pretty damn sure I don't want to go through it ever again."
"Yeah, I'll second that."
"Has Sarah been around?" Caleb asked.
Reid shook his head. "Pogue told Sarah and Kate to stay away for awhile. We didn't know what to expect. We let Sarah visit a couple of times, but you were pretty out of it."
"Is everyone okay? I didn't hurt anyone, did I?"
"Everyone's fine, Dude. Kate and Pogue are completely healed…thanks to your little voodoo. Though, I think things are pretty awkward for them. Pogue told her the truth; after nearly dying, it was agreed she deserved to know."
Caleb sighed and nodded. "She's not taking it well?"
"Not really. I suspect that her ordeal with the spell Chase cast on her is coloring her opinion of us."
"Sarah, too, probably."
"I wouldn't count blondey out yet."
Caleb stared at Reid, feeling the warmth of his hand and presence.
To be continued...