Chapter 15

Sunlight gently danced across Reid's closed eyelids and with an extreme amount of effort he slowly opened them. The morning light was drifting in inside the small sitting room through the room's many windows and bathing the large room in a soft orange glow.

He yawned sleepily and tried to work the kinks out of his neck from his uncomfortable sleeping position. He turned his head and smiled when he saw Tyler was still asleep on his shoulder. His heart did a full flip from the sight; this was the second day in a row he woke up to find the younger boy curled against his arm and the feeling was still humbling.

Being careful not to wake the other boy, Reid gently lifted Tyler's head off his shoulder and slid off the end of the couch. He laid Tyler's head back on the couch cushions and when he was sure he hadn't woken the other boy with his movements he quietly left the room. He stood in the hallway and yawned, stretching the rest of his sore muscles. His eyes were immediately drawn to the room at the far end of the hall and without even realizing it; his feet started moving towards it.

The door was open and feeling curious, he stuck his head inside. Gorman was sitting the chair next to Pogue's bed, his eyes were tightly closed and his hand was raised above Pogue's forehead. Reid watched quietly for a moment, keeping perfectly still until he heard Gorman sigh and lower his hand.

"You may come in."

Reid waited, making sure he heard the elder correctly before slowly shuffling in the bedroom.

"He hasn't woken up yet?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Gorman sighed and leaned back in his chair.

Reid turned his gaze towards the bed. Pogue's eyes were lightly closed and his breathing was soft, giving the impression that the longer haired boy was sleeping peacefully. However, Reid knew where ever Pogue's mind was, it probably wasn't peaceful.

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know. He seams fine but I haven't been able to get passed his defenses."

Reid's eyes where still on Pogue when Gorman finished.

"So, can't you just force your way passed them?"

Gorman was silent for a long time before he turned his head, his ancient eyes rounding on Reid's green ones.

"Yes I could, if I wanted to cause Pogue harm." Gorman replied firmly. "Pogue's using a large amount of his powers to keep his mind locked."

His statement only confused Reid more.

"How come?"

There was a long period of silence before the elder covenant member responded.

"Because, he's trying to kept someone out."

Reid stared at the elder in disbelief. "Who?"

Gorman continued twisting his cane nervously.

"I don't know."

Reid didn't buy it.

"Don't bullshit me Gorman; I know you're hiding something."

As he expected, Gorman turned his head and glared at him darkly. "Mind your tone boy. I raised you better then that."

Reid ignored him. "I know you're hiding something from us. I saw your am."

"Reid–"

"And I saw you run off when we were at Caleb's. You knew someone other then Pogue was there, didn't you?"

At that, Gorman paused and lowered his eyes slightly.

"Yes, someone else was there, but that's not important now." He raised his hand when Reid was about ready to open his mouth again. "What is important right now is for me to find out exactly what has been extracted from Pogue's mind and to find out how much damage that boy did to him."

Reid bit the inside of his cheek and held his tongue. His mind was reeling with questions. Who was Gorman talking about? More questions started forming inside his mind but he didn't get a chance say anything because Gorman rose from his chair a moment later.

"Where you going?"

Gorman paused in the doorway on his way out. "I'm old boy; I need time to rest in order to build my strength up."

Reid glared at the elder's back as Gorman hobbled from the room, the soft thumping of his cane hitting the floor echoing in the hallway.

(Great...doesn't dance around the bush much does he?)

Reid sighed and slumped back in his chair, his eyes involuntarily moving towards the un-conscious boy once again. Pogue's breathing was still light and undisturbed. Reid was immediately reminded of the time when Pogue was in the Intensive Care Ward after Chase got through with him.

(This is the second time I've had to sit by your side and wait for you to wake up.)

His eyes lingered on Pogue for another moment before he sighed quietly and got to his feet. He walked the few short strides to the doorway and was about to pass trough it when he felt something warm touch the back of his neck.

(What the hell?!)

He jumped and immediately spun around, expecting someone to be standing behind him. There wasn't; the only other person inside the room was Pogue and the other boy was still sleeping quietly.

Reid frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. Did he just imagine that?

His question was answered a moment later when he felt it again. It was like someone was running their fingers up the back of his neck. A shiver went down his spine as the sensation sunk deeper into his flesh. He squirmed from the feeling and tried to fight it off. He kept his mind clear, forcing himself to think of a clear white wall and waited. The hand halted its movements and lingered over Reid's subconscious for a moment before it withdrew from his mind completely. Reid's body jerked as the link was broken. The side of his head throbbed painfully and he groaned loudly and pressed his palm against it.

(What the fuck was all that?)

He took a few deep, calming breaths before he opened his eyes and gazed down at the bed. After a long moment he noticed that Pogue's eyebrows were curved into the shape of a small frown, as if the other boy was focusing on something.

(That was you, wasn't it?)

Reid groaned and stood upright. He rubbed the side of his head and turned towards the doorway when a figure entered his peripheral vision. Gorman stood in the open door way leaning heavily on his cane.

"Um, Pogue just–"

"I know." Gorman interrupted and hobbled over towards Pogue's side once again. "I felt it when I was coming back down the hall."

He raised his hand over Pogue's forehead once again and closed his eyes. With in seconds Reid could feel Gorman's limitless powers circling around him as it flooded through the large bedroom. Suddenly Gorman's powers halted and the elder emitted a frustrated sigh as he removed his hand.

"Reid, come here."

Reid jumped at the sound of his name. "Huh?"

"I said, come here. I need your help."

"Um, okay." Reid nervously replied, raising an eyebrow as he was told. "What do I have to do?"

"Pogue still isn't letting me in, so I'm going to try a different approach."

"Like what?" Reid asked, still not understanding what the elder wanted him to do.

"You're going to speak to him for me."

Reid gazed at Gorman fearfully. "You want me to do what?"

"He's still not letting me help him so I'm going to have you contact him for me." Gorman said, his sharp eyes never leaving Pogue's face. "I'll do most of the work; I just need you to speak to him."

Reid blinked and stared down at Pogue's face once again.

"What should I say?"

Gorman looked slightly annoyed but he answered Reid's question.

"Just tell him he's safe. He's already recognized your presence so he should believe you."

Reid moved his eyes from Pogue towards Gorman and back again before he cleared his throat nervously.

"Um, okay. What do I have to do?"

"Just give me your hand."

Reid waited for a moment and hesitantly held out his right hand. The elder gently grasped it, his long, thin fingers curling around Reid's palm, and gently placed it in the air above Pogue's forehead. Within seconds Reid felt a tremendous surge of power flow through his entire body.

"It's alright." Gorman whispered softly. "Just relax."

Reid grimaced, Gorman's powers felt like they were about to tear his whole body apart if he moved the wrong way. Gorman then moved his hand down until it was only a few inches above Pogue's forehead.

"Are you ready?"

Reid swallowed hard and nodded. Gorman combined both of their powers and mentally propelled them forwards and Reid felt like he was being pulling out of his own body. Their surroundings soon faded out of his vision and he found himself standing in complete darkness. He looked around nervously and found that he was alone; Gorman wasn't standing at his side, but somehow, he knew the elder was still with him. Summoning his nerve, Reid tried to think as loudly as he could.

(Pogue? Are you there?)

He waited for a moment, wondering if the other boy heard him. His question was immediately answered as an invisible weight started crushing against his head. He yelped and tried to fight it back but the pain increased tremendously.

(Pogue stop! It's me, Reid!)

Just as quickly as it came, the pressure against his mind halted. The air around him was full of confusion and Reid waited for a moment, letting Pogue's power gently wash over him.

Reid?

The blond sighed when he heard his friend's voice radiate through his head.

(Yeah, it's me buddy.)

The air around him thinned as Pogue hesitantly let down his mental barriers.

What's going on? How'd you get here?

Reid fought against his normal urge to say something sharp. Pogue probably wasn't in the mood to put up with his smart-ass comments right now anyway.

(You're at Gorman's. We found you at the Danvers house and bought you back here.)

There was a long pause before Pogue spoke to him again.

I'm at Gorman's?

(Yeah, he's been trying to contact you since last night.)

Pogue's presence halted and faded away. Reid felt a cold chill against his skin as Pogue's warm presence left him alone in the darkness. He lingered for a moment, wondering what he should do next, when he felt Pogue's power return a short time later.

I thought that was him, but I wasn't sure.

Reid nodded, unaware if Pogue could see it. He waited for another moment, seeing if Gorman was going to pull him back out before he decided to ask another question.

(Why weren't you letting him in then?)

Like I said, I wasn't sure it was him.

Reid grew confused.

(Of course it was him, how many other people can get inside your head?)

A small wave of fear washed over Reid's mind and he instantly knew it came from Pogue.

(Pogue what's wrong?)

Where's Gorman?

(He's here with me. What's wrong?)

More fear drifted into Reid's mind as the older boy hesitated for a long time before he finally answered.

I need to show him something.

(What?)

Pogue's presence severed their link and images started flooding through the teen's mind. Reid groaned as thousands of tiny pictures ran in front of his eyes. Suddenly he found himself back in the sitting room of the Danvers house. Pogue was standing a few short feet away from him, his eyes clearly focused on the man standing in front of him. When Reid moved his eyes to see who it was, he did a double take.

"Caleb?"

The image quickly faded and reassembled into another one. This time, both covenant members where slumped forwards and breathing deeply as if they had run a marathon and both sets of eyes were black.

Once again the image faded out and was replaced by a new one. This time, Pogue was un-conscious on the floor and Caleb stood looming over him. The older boy raised his head over Pogue's forehead and the room was filled with painful screams and wails as Caleb's powers forced their way into Pogue's mind.

The memory ended shortly after that but Reid swore he saw Caleb lean close towards Pogue's ear and whispered something that brought a dark grin to his face. He didn't have much time to wonder about it because he soon found his body being pulled backwards until he felt the hard wood floor of the colony house crash into his back. His insides turned violently as he tried to regain himself. A pair of thin hands slid under his shoulders and Reid panicked and tried to shove them off.

"Relax, it's over now." Gorman said gently. "You did very well."

Reid coughed loudly as his lungs fought hard to hold air in. His head was spinning rapidly, causing his stomach to turn it's self inside out.

"Is it always like that?"

He heard Gorman sigh behind him.

"At first, but you get used to it."

(Damn, I'm never making fun of Pogue again.)

"Just lie down there; it'll pass in a moment."

Reid didn't object as Gorman rolled him onto his side. He heard the elder's footsteps walk away from him and Reid assumed he was going to check on Pogue. After a long moment his vertigo passed and he found the strength to roll onto his knees. Footsteps echoed in the hallway but Reid could hardly hear them over the sound of his frantic heartbeat.

"Oh my god. Reid, are you okay?"

A second pair of hands touched his shoulder a second later and Reid sighed inwardly, recognizing Tyler's warmth.

"He'll be alright in a moment." Gorman called from the other side of the room.

Tyler pulled him close, letting Reid's head lean against his chest. Instantly Reid found himself relaxing in the other boy's arms.

"It's okay Reid. I got you."

Reid felt his stomach turn again, except it wasn't from his little out of body experience. It was from Tyler's warmth and before he even realized it, he burrowed closer towards him. Tyler only tightened his arms and held him closer.