Hey everyone!

IMPORTANT! The point of view does change a few times. It starts off normally then it goes to third person for the rest of the chapter with POV from Tyler, Murphy, and Reid.

Thanks to my Beta waywarddaughter for being a champ and helping me out.

The song for this chapter is Celestica by Crystal Castles – Link in my profile.

Chapter 15

Sink

The next morning came swiftly and as I stretched my arms over my head, I realized that I was alone in the bed. Looking over to the other side of the room, I saw Tyler with his back to me. He turned around, and his eyes went wide.

"You're not supposed to be awake yet," he said playfully, "Go back to sleep."

"What are you doing?" I asked. He looked happy and I had to admit it was contagious. I felt lighter than air as I swung my feet over the side of the bed and strode over to where he was standing.

"Go back to bed," he repeated trying not to laugh as I came closer. When he saw that I wasn't listening to him, he held me at arms length. "At least go and sit back on the bed." I decided to obey because the glimmer in his eye told me that he was up to something. I sat back on the bed in my oversize t shirt and looked at him questioningly.

"I was going to make this a little more romantic, but since you decided to wake up a little too early, I guess now will have to do." He came around my side of the bed and dropped down on one knee. My stomach did a back flip. I couldn't breath. It seemed like time stood still and there was only us. He slowly opened up the small black velvet box and I saw the most beautiful diamond ring nestled into the fabric.

"Since you pretty much proposed to me last night," he said with a huge smile on his face, "I thought that I would go ahead and make it official. Murphy, will you marry me?" I tried to keep the ridiculous grin off my face, that I knew would mirror his as I responded.

"I don't know," I said but my mouth begged to let my smile shine through, "I'm going to have to think about it." He let out a laugh.

"Oh really?" he asked with a mischievous look in his eye. In one quick movement he swept me up and tossed me further back on the bed. He got on top of me and started relentlessly tickling me in a way that I hated and loved at the same time.

"Say you'll marry me!" he said a little too loudly for the early hour of the morning.

"Okay okay!" I said through my laughter. He stopped tickling me sat Indian style next to me on the bed. "Yes," I repeated more seriously "nothing would make me happier."

The ring he slipped on my finger was the most magnificent thing I had ever seen. The platinum radiant cut yellow diamond solitaire sparkled in the morning light that streamed through the window.

"It was my grandmothers," he told me, as he watched me examine the ring. "The yellow diamond is symbolic the the Simms family, my mom has one too." I had always admired Rose's ring and I never thought that I would ever wear one as elegant or as rare. "'The yellow diamond is rivaled only by the rays of the sun, and is worn by those who savor the superior and celebrate the uncommon.'" he recited from memory as if it were a text book article. "That's what my mom always used to tell me and I thought it wasn't all that important until I realized that it was true." I didn't think that it was possible for anyone to be as happy as I was at that moment, not even the events of the last few days could dampen my spirits.

We sat together for a few more moments taking each other in until we realized that we still had to go to school. We were up at an ungodly hour, which was new to me, so we had enough time to shower and and take our time walking down to the dinning hall for breakfast. We were the first of our group to arrive at our usual table.

I couldn't stop getting butterflies in my stomach every time I looked down at my hand and saw the yellow sparkle. I was broken out of my trance when Tyler spoke.

"I think I'm going to tell them tonight," he stated, looking down at his breakfast. I was slowly dragged back to the reality that I wanted to ignore for the day and was torn between wanting to cry for joy or sadness. I looked around to make sure that no one could hear us before I replied.

"Do you want me to be there?" I asked, not sure if it was my place to stand by his side while he told his brothers the bad news. "I totally understand if you want to tell them alone." I didn't want him to feel like he had to let me be there if he really didn't want me to be.

"I'm not sure," he said thoughtfully. "I think this is something I might have to do alone."

"Okay," I said squeezing his hand in support.

"I'll call you after though, tell you how it goes. I think I'll be spending the night at home after that."

"Do you think we should tell people that we're engaged today?" I asked. So far none of my sleepy classmates had noticed the ring. "I think it might be a little hard on everyone if they're all excited about the engagement just to be torn down when you tell them." We had skated around what to call Tyler's situation all day. He wasn't exactly sick, and to call it a condition made it seem like he had some sort of disability. That left us referring to the blood clot by vague pronouns because neither one of us wanted to say it out loud.

"I think you're right. It'll probably be better to go with the bad news then good news approach." His eyes turned black and the ring disappeared, but I could still feel it. I looked up at him in confusion. "It's still there," he explained, "But no one can see it." When I still looked confused he added, "I'm not about to take back your engagement ring Murph." Just as he finished the sentence, the rest of the group approached our table looking tired.

"What's up Baby Boy?" Reid greeted slapping Tyler on the back. Tyler didn't protest to the use of his hated nickname as he responded. "I was wondering if you guys wanted to come over my house tonight to play some pool and hang out or whatever," Tyler suggested. The boys all nodded in agreement. Caleb shot a glance my way, but I pretended I didn't see him and kept my face blank.

We ate the rest of our breakfast talking about nothing in particular. I was worried about him telling them, especially Reid. Caleb saw this coming, and I believed that Pogue could handle himself, but Reid would go off the deep end. Tyler was his best friend and Reid wasn't the most stable person.

I gave Tyler a quick kiss just like I did everyday, and headed off to class.

xXx

Tyler wrung his hands together in nervous anticipation. It was fifteen minutes until he told the guys to meet at his house for what they thought was a guys night and a few games of pool. He knew that they would be able to tell there was something wrong with him the second they walked through the door. Tension ran through him as he paced the length of the game room over and over again, wearing the Persian carpet thin with his steps.

Finally he'd had enough and paced over to the liquor cabinet that housed all of the expensive booze that his parents never really drank, but the boys helped themselves to every time they had a guys night. He haphazardly opened the bottle of fifty year old Glenfiddich whiskey and took a hearty swig, closing his eyes and letting the liquid warm him. After letting that settle, he took another one, and another. Putting the bottle back in the cabinet he took a deep breath and told himself to relax. He still hadn't thought about how he was going to tell them. Part of him wanted wait until later, but a more practical part knew that waiting would only make it harder, and only make it hurt more.

The sound of the front door opening and shutting with a deliberate click broke Tyler out of his revelry. As expected, Caleb was right on time, and he was relieved to see that Pogue was with him. It would take the attention off him, because keeping secrets from Caleb wasn't easy.

"Where's your bike?" Tyler asked trying casually to talk about anything but himself.

"It's in the shop again," Pogue sighed. "I swear that thing is more trouble than it's worth. The amount of money I've put into it..." He trailed off as the door opened again, this time slamming shut. Reid walked into the room, late as usual. He tossed a pair of keys at Tyler with a gruff, almost inaudible, "Thanks man," as he helped himself to the contents of the liquor cabinet. Tyler wanted to say something about Reid maybe rethinking his beverage choice given the announcement that was going to be made later that night, but he didn't want to blow his cover.

"Lets get this show on the road fellas," Reid said, turning around and taking a swig of the drink he'd just poured. "I'm on Pogue's team this time." Reid walked over and slapped Pogue on the back affectionately. "No offense Baby Boy, but last time we were on a team you blew it for us," he said matter of factually.

"I missed the last shot, that's hardly blowing it," Tyler hit back allowing himself to smile.

"I guess that leaves you and me," Caleb concluded handing Tyler a pool cue.

The game began as usual. Pogue made the break and they began to chatter mindlessly about their lives. It was moments like these that Tyler would miss the most; just talking. There was a certain comfort in knowing that his brothers would never be far away. They were all moving to the city for school next year and would probably all move back to Ipswich once they graduated. It was understood that they would always have to be together because of a sense of duty to the Covenant, but that was something that none of them minded. Everyone had their days when they wanted to leave this town and start over, but deep down they all knew that there was no where else in the world that they belonged.

Reid missed a close shot a swore loudly while Caleb chuckled, knocking the stripped ball Reid missed away from the desired pocket while sinking his own solid.

"I call bullshit on that one, Danvers," Reid argued, pretending to be serious. They all knew that Caleb never cheated, and even if he wanted to they would all feel him use. That's why they liked to play pool together; it kept them all honest.

"I'm not the cheater, you're the cheater," Caleb bantered back trying to hide a smirk. "You missed on purpose so you could accuse me of cheating and get the free shot."

"I would never cheat. I wouldn't even cheat death if it were looking me in the face," Reid joked melodramatically.

"I would," Tyler was surprised to hear his own voice in the air. Part of him wanted to take back the comment he had made; they would probably disregard it anyway. Another part of him was grateful that Reid had brought up death, so that he didn't have to.

"Wouldn't we all," Pogue said, but his smile receded slowly as he saw the look on Tyler's face.

"Would you like to elaborate on that?" Reid's voice was light but there was no doubt underlying concern for his best friend.

"I'm just not going to live that long, that's all," Tyler responded. He cringed at his own vagueness.

"You use the least out of any of us Baby Boy," Pogue reassured. "I don't think you have anything to worry about.

"It has nothing to do with using." Tyler took another shot knocking the eight ball with excessive force into the corner pocket. He looked at his brothers one by one. Reid looked nervous; Pogue looked concerned; Caleb looked expectant, like he was hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. "Look," he continued, "I've been missing classes and acting weird because I've been going to the doctor. I've been getting these really bad headaches ever since I hit my head at the Putnam barn and they've only been getting worse. Murphy wanted me to go to the doctor to see if anything was wrong and there is." Everything was still, and Tyler thought for a moment that the world had stopped spinning and he could take back what he said and go back to playing the game, but that was the thing about pool, it kept them honest.

"So?" Reid coaxed with fire in his eyes. He was about fifteen seconds from exploding and there was nothing that Tyler, or any of them could do to stop it. He decided not to string them along any longer and stated the facts.

"I have an inoperable blood clot in my brain and I have about five years."

In a sudden whirl of motion, Reid crossed to the bar and snatched up Tyler's keys and stormed out the front door, not even bothering to slam it this time.

"Reid!" Caleb yelled as he followed, but he was too slow; the Hummer was already backing too fast down the gravel driveway. "Shit," he said under his breath as he rejoined the others.

Pogue sunk down on one of the leather couches with his head in his hands. Caleb was the only one that was capable of speech.

"What does that mean exactly?" he asked Tyler who was leaning against his pool cue.

"For right now I just have headaches and according to Murphy I wasn't acting like myself. I'm prone to seizures I guess but I haven't had one. They gave me morphine for the headaches. The doctor said the symptoms will get worse as time goes on, and then..." He trailed off.

"Jesus, Baby Boy," Pogue said from his position on the couch, running his hands through his hair. Tyler exhaled loudly as the stood there in silence hearing the first drops of rain hit the sliding glass door that led out onto the patio.

"I need to go look for Reid," Caleb announced into the silence and Pogue stood up to go with him. Tyler had to admit that he wasn't sad to see them go. What would they talk about if they stayed?

"Yeah," Tyler agreed. "I have to call Murph," he said to no one in particular. He wanted to seem busy so they wouldn't feel bad for leaving him.

"We'll call you when we find him," Caleb threw over his shoulder as he walked out of the house, Pogue following behind him.

Tyler dropped himself on one of the couches, especially grateful that they were so comfortable. Closing his eyes, he listened to the rain running down the gutters outside, wondering what kind of damage he had done to the Covenant.

xXx

She heard it before she saw it. The screeching sound of tires against wet pavement drew Murphy to her dorm room window. The beloved black Hummer had made a too fast turn, the two right wheels lifting off the ground for a moment.

"God dammit," she swore, jumping out of her chair and tossing a windbreaker over her t shirt and leggings. Stuffing her feel into an old pair of flip flops, she grabbed her keys and made a swift exit. When Murphy got to the parking lot, she unlocked the door of her car as quickly as possible and headed in pursuit of the rogue black truck.

Murphy knew that Tyler wasn't the one driving. He wasn't the kind of person to take off in a fit of reckless road rage, but Reid was. The Hummer was no where in sight, but she had a good guess as to where it was headed. Chances were Reid wanted to be alone, and the only place to find solitude would be the outskirts of town by the old colony houses.

Her phone rang from the passengers seat and she picked up recognizing Tyler's ring tone.

"What's up?" she answered, keeping her eyes on the road.

"Caleb and Pogue just left to find Reid, he was pretty recked about everything."

"It was that bad, huh?"

"It didn't go as bad as it could have, but it was pretty horrible," Tyler confided. "I feel kind of sick to be honest."

"If it makes you feel any better, I think I found Reid," Murphy told him turning onto the dirt road that would take her over the old Ipswich Bridge. "It seemed like he was going to turn and come into the dorm parking lot, but thought better of it," she explained. "I can see the tail lights through the trees up ahead." She slowed her car down as she approached the end of the bridge, examining the truck to make sure it was really Tyler's.

"Where are you?"

"I'm near where the Putnam barn used to be," she said with a chill. Whenever Murphy drove past here, she always avoided looking at this side of the road but tonight it was unavoidable.

"I'll call Caleb and tell him to meet you there. Be careful," he warned. "He could be using and I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine," she replied as chills ran up and down her spine. What was Reid really capable of? "I'll head over to your house once we take care of him, okay?" she told Tyler.

"Alright, I'll see you in a little bit,"

"Bye," she hung up.

Pulling the car over onto the shoulder of the road, she cut the engine leaving her headlights on. Murphy approached the Hummer cautiously; even though she knew that Reid would never hurt her on purpose, there was no telling what he could do by accident.

When she reached passengers side of the car, she realized that the hood was smoking and she started to panic. With one last stride, she rapped her knuckles on the window hard startling Reid, who was not hurt, but staring out into space gripping the wheel hard. Leaning over, he opened the passengers side door to let her in.

xXx

"What the hell happened!" Murphy asked climbing into the Hummer and shutting out the rain.

"I forgot to hit the fucking brake when I parked." Reid's voice was calm, but he was pale and shaking, like he was going to explode at any moment.

Reid's insides felt like someone had reached into his stomach and twisted just to see him squirm. His best friend was dying and it was his fault. He was the one who insisted they go to the barn and play hero. He was the one who sprinted out of the car when Tyler had told him to wait. If he had listened, maybe things would be different. Maybe he wouldn't have killed his best friend.

"Are you alright?" Murphy asked, lightly laying a hand on his shoulder. Her eyes were searching him cautiously.

"Do I look alright to you?" Reid snapped pulling his shoulder away. He was a mess. There was nothing to do right then except feel like shit about himself and he wanted her to leave him to it. He was already pissed off enough that he broke Tyler's car and what he really needed was a stiff drink.

"This is so fucked up," he said more to himself then to her.

"Yeah, I know," she sighed as she leaned back in her seat. He'd forgotten that she felt the same way he did, if not worse. Murphy was at the barn too and she had told all of them how guilty she felt the second she woke up. He had also felt guilty, but he didn't want his friends agreeing with him and placing the blame on him even though Tyler never would. She was braver than him then and she was still braver than him. He was acting like a child and she was trying to help him.

"How do you do it?" She looked at him puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"How are you so calm right now?"

"I've known about this for a while now, all the doctor's appointments and everything. I've had time to realize that panicking isn't helping Tyler; he needs us." She was right and he was selfish once again. He let out a deep breath and released it slowly into a moment of silence.

"Reid, do you think there's a way we can help Tyler, like in those books in the Danvers' colony house?" Murphy said breaking the silence. Reid knew that there was nothing they could do. Even though he hadn't been paying as much attention as he should have when their fathers had told them how the power worked when he was thirteen, he knew the laws of the Covenant, and cheating death was definitely something that couldn't be done. The look on her face was hopeful and he knew that she was clinging to the hope that there was a way around this. His guilt and her hope convinced him that it was worth a try. It would be something to focus on so he would go crazy and be destructive.

"I guess it's worth a shot." Her face visibly relaxed and he felt a little bad for leading her on to thinking there was something they could do. It seemed like there was no way he could escape his selfishness.

Headlights shone through the drivers side window as a car crossed the bridge.

"That's probably Caleb," Murphy said as Reid swore under his breath. His eyes went black and the Hummer rocked backwards a half a foot and the rumpled hood stopped smoking as it smoothed out.

"The last thing I need is a lecture from the manners police," Reid remarked referring to Caleb.

The Mustang pulled up next to the Hummer and both Caleb and Pogue got out while Reid and Murphy stepped out of the Hummer.

"You guys alright?" Caleb asked, coming closer to them.

"We're fine," Murphy answered for the both of them. "Pogue, you can take Reid back to the dorms in my car, I'm going back to Tyler's so I can just take the Hummer."

"That works," Pogue agreed. "Come on big guy." He grabbed Reid by the upper arm, leading him over to Murphy's Audi across the street.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Caleb called as everyone went their separate ways. It seemed like everyone wanted to be alone just then.

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