Chapter 7

"I did it again. I did it again." Tyler sobbed loudly into Pogue's shoulder.

"It's okay Tyler." Pogue said softly, trying to clam the younger boy down. "Aaron's gonna be fine. It's alright."

"Yeah Tyler, Aaron still doesn't remember the last time." Reid spoke from his bed, watching the other two.

"Reid!" Pogue growled loudly as Tyler's fingers clutched his shoulder tighter.

"What?" The blond shrugged and looked at him confused.

Pogue rolled his eyes and continued running his hand up and down Tyler's back soothingly. He hoped the younger boy would pull himself together soon but from all of the distress and fear waves he was picking up he seriously doubted it.

"Tyler, look at me." Pogue waited until Tyler moved his head away from his shoulder before he continued. "It wasn't your fault. You did nothing wrong. Okay?"

Tyler gave him a long look before he moved away from him. Pogue fought the urge to roll his eyes at himself. He knew he was horrible at comforting people, something Kate was always on his ass about when they were together.

Fear and distress were still pouring off of the younger Covenant member as Tyler brought his knees to his chest and curled his arms around them tightly. Pogue's heart wrenched at the sight. He hated seeing Tyler like this; he hated feeling it even more. He was about to move back over towards the younger boy when Reid get up off his bed and flop down next to the upset teen.

"Look baby-boy, it's gonna be alright. Just calm down." The blond cooed as he slid an arm around Tyler's shoulders.

Tyler's shoulders tensed when he felt Reid touch him but other then that the younger boy kept completely still and quiet. Even when Reid pulled him closer Tyler still stayed curled in his little ball.

After a moment, the pressure inside of Pogue's mind started to fade as Tyler slowly started to calm down. Pogue sighed softly, relieved that his mind was slowly returning to normal. Well almost normal. There were still a few feelings bouncing around inside of his head and he was having a hard time trying to figure out what they were.

"There we are." Reid smiled as Tyler looked up at him.

Tyler blinked and stayed silent. His eyes were still red and puffy but he looked like he was done crying for a while. He wasn't broadcasting any emotions either, another thing that Pogue was thankful for.

"I know, how about a trip to Nicky's? My treat."

Reid's smile was still plastered to his face as he waited for Tyler's answer. The younger boy was still huddled in ball but after a few moments he nodded.

"Whatever." Came Tyler's defeated whisper.

Reid winked at Pogue triumphantly as he slid off Tyler's bed. Pogue rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Well, looks like you boys should have a fun night."

Tyler jerked his head up. "You're not coming?"

Pogue shook his head. "Nah, I'm not really feeling up to being around five hundred drunk people who can't control their emotions."

"But that's the best part." Reid laughed as he started going through his dresser.

Pogue rolled his eyes at the blonde. "For you maybe. You don't feel it pounding against your head."

Tyler stared at him quietly the whole time and drew his knees closer. Pogue saw this and crouched down near him.

"It's okay Tyler; you two go and have a good time."

Tyler shrugged and lowered his head. "Okay."

Pogue smiled at him but Tyler didn't return it. The younger boy just ignored him and rested his head against his knee. The eldest teen sighed quietly and stood up.

"Make sure he has some fun, alright." He whispered to Reid as he passed the blonde on his way to the door.

"Oh come on, this is me you're talking to." Reid scoffed as Pogue opened the room door.

Pogue gave them both one more look over his shoulder before he stepped out into the main hallway. He lingered in front of Reid and Tyler's door for a moment, seeing if he'd pick up anything. He felt some excitement coming from the blonde, but nothing from Tyler.

He waited for another moment and then left, feeling frustrated.

--

Pogue sighed deeply and watched as the mist from his breath fogged up the large window next to his head. The large engine of the buss roared to life under his feet and soon he felt the large metal giant he was riding in pull away from the curb and onto the main road.

Normally public transportation wasn't his first choice of getting around but with his bike in the shop he didn't have much of a choice. He got lucky this time because the buss was only occupied by a small handful of people and none of them were projecting emotions strong enough to trouble him.

He leaned back in his seat and let his eyes drift closed. A few more stops and he'd be home. He was exhausted, mentally and physically. After letting out a loud yawn he wrapped his jacket tighter around his mid-section and curled up against the large window.

The quiet hum of the engine lulled him into a soft slumber. He could faintly hear movement around him as the buss pulled into another stop and people rose to get off. He paid them no mind, just curled up tighter against the window and waited for the world to slip from his grasp.

--

"You ever get the feeling that this isn't right?"

Pogue stopped scratching his name into the wooden surface of the picnic table and looked up when he heard Caleb speak.

"What isn't?"

The darker haired boy lowered his head slightly and stared at something on the ground.

"Us, the four of us having all of these powers. It doesn't seam right sometimes."

Pogue fought the urge to laugh. "What's wrong with it?"

Caleb sighed softly as he ran and hand through his hair. "Why do we have it? Why only the four of us?"

Pogue blinked and gave up on marking the table for the moment.

"I dunno Caleb we just do. We've had them ever sense we turned thirteen. It runs in the family blood I guess."

Pogue cursed after he finished. "Family" and "Powers" were two words you never used in the same sentence with Caleb.

"I know..." Caleb sighed and looked over his shoulder at him. "Sorry. I'm just thinking too much, I guess."

"Worried about turning eighteen this year?"

Caleb smiled and locked his fingers together. "Is it that obvious?"

Even though Caleb played it off as a joke, Pogue could clearly see the worry in Caleb's deep brown eyes. He slid his legs out from under the table and crawled onto the wooden surface next to the older boy.

"You shouldn't worry about it man, Gorman said it'll be fine."

Caleb's head was still bowed and he played with his fingers nervously.

"I know."

Pogue's heart tightened as he gazed at his best friend. Caleb just looked so damn vulnerable in this state. His eyes were full of fear; signaling that he didn't believe Pogue's reassurances.

"Look man, it'll be okay. As long as the four of us stay together nothing's gonna happen."

The dark haired boy turned his head and forced a smile grin.

"Yeah, as long as we stay together...we'll be fine."

Pogue nodded and leaned back on his palms.

(As long as you're with me, I'll be fine...)

--

"Hey son. Wake up."

Pogue jerked awake as someone shook his shoulder roughly. He blinked a few times, trying to get his eyes to focus and turned his head. The buss drive stood a few feet away from him, looking slightly annoyed.

"Come on boy, end of the line."

Pogue raised his head and looked around. The buss was completely deserted expect for him and the buss driver.

"Oh, sorry man." Pogue yawned and grabbed his backpack off the seat.

The driver eyed him wearily as he stood up and headed to the front of the buss. He quieted another yawn as he neared the doors but stopped fully when his eyes noticed something on one of the seats. Pogue rubbed his eyes softly and reached down to grab the discarded paper sitting on the cushion.

"Break -in at local clinic leaves one man dead."