This chapter deals with sensitive subjects for some, so just a heads up as your going into this.

I would also like to say a huge thank you to those who have taken the time to read and review. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Deliver Us

Chapter 3 – The truth comes out.

Tyler did not want to be here. At least, not today. He was tired, and unfocused. Sleep had been an impossibility for him the previous night. He had eventually returned to the dorms after the argument with Reid. He should have known that his friend wouldn't have taken to the way he had spoken to him in the diner, and he had dealt with the blow back. Reid had laid into him. Read him the riot act. Tyler knew it was coming. Had expected it, he had kept a huge secret from his friend, and Reid let him have it. Friends did not keep secrets from one another, at least, it had turned into one huge argument, when he had retaliated that if he wasn't such a man whore, who thought with the wrong head, he would have told him. Reid had yelled some profanity as he had stormed out of the dorm room, Tyler hadn't seen him since. It was just typical of Reid as well. He started the arguments, and then Tyler was left feeling guilty for yelling at him, and keeping the secret from him in the first place. As it were, he just wanted to return to his dorm room and try to sleep.

People greeted him in the corridor as he stepped into school that morning. He forced himself to smile. To greet those who greeted him, just going through the motions. He moved through the morning in a daze, his eyes open, but his gaze not focused. He hardly retained any information of what the teachers were giving them. They went in one ear, and out the other. Reid still hadn't shown up, and the whole thing with Kali was confusing the hell out of him. She was keeping something from him. He didn't know what it was, but he hated that she was lying to him. They had once been so close and now she couldn't even tell him the truth. It hurt. Stung.

At lunch he made his way to the canteen. His steps carried him to the table he shared with the other sons. One was missing. Of course there was. He hadn't shown up for the rest of the day, so why did he expect him to be at lunch? "Where's Reid?" Pogue enquired as Tyler seated himself down at the table. In reply Tyler just shrugged shoulder, returning the first bump half heartedly.

"Dunno man, we got into it last night, haven't seen him since" Tyler replied simply. His voice giving away just how tired he as. He ran a hand through his hair before reaching for a fry. Reid was the single most complicated person there was. Reid could be caring. There was little doubt about that. He got a bed reputation yes. But with his family, he was caring, would do anything for them. Yet sometimes he could be so stubborn. You pissed him of, it didn't matter who you were, friend, family or foe, he would treat you all the same. It was just like him to skip out on an entire day just so he could prove a point.

"He gave you the riot act huh" Caleb sympathised. It was just like Reid. Tyler and he were the closest of close. They kept nothing from one another. They had all feared the day when Reid found out about the relationship. Reid would have taken it bad. No matter what.

Caleb couldn't help but feel slightly guilty at the situation though. It had been he, who had told Tyler not to divulge the information to Reid. Especially not until they were certain that Kali was someone who Tyler truly wanted in his life, for the long haul. They did not need a repeat performance of October. They had all been hoping Reid would be able to see how happy Kali made Tyler, and then things would be a lot simpler. Of course, that had never occurred because Kali had just left one day. Now she was back though, they had all known it was only a matter of time before Reid found out the truth, and blew up over it.

"Yea man, went on about how friend's didn't keep things from one another" Damn it Reid really frustrated him. The guy was his best friend and yet he could not trust him not to put himself between him and Kali. Could not trust him not to try and steal her. Now, he was left to worry about where Reid was, what he was up to, and whether he was laid in some ditch somewhere.

"I don't know why you didn't just tell him about her" Sara mused looking over to the youngest son. It baffled her as to why he would have kept something from his closes friend. Especially something like that. Her gaze flicked over towards him and her brow perked in slight interest.

It was Kate who responded, her gaze flicking over towards Tyler with slight sympathy, especially now she knew the whole truth. "Reid tried it on with Tyler's last girlfriend" She stated, her hand curling around her boyfriend's bicep. It had been a terrible time. Tyler and Reid hadn't spoken for a month. Reid had almost gone as far to beg his friend, Tyler had just shook his head and told him to shove it up his ass.

"But I thought he was your friend?" Sarah muttered with a shake of her head, she glance from Tyler to the rest of the people around the table, the confusion clear in her eyes.

"He rationalised it by saying that he wasn't good enough that she would have broken his heart in the end, that she was just using him and didn't care who she was with as long as it was a son" Pogue replied with a slight shrug. It was a sore topic. For them all. The covenant relied on them being strong, a unit. But that summer it had almost broke the. Tyler had retreated into himself and Reid had used more and more.

"That's messed up, even for Reid" Sarah shook her head, bewildered. Some of the things she heard about Reid were just crazy.

Tyler sighed to him. Throughout the entire conversation he had tried to just ignore it, to keep his mind from focusing on the very reason he had kept Kali away from Reid. Why he hadn't told him about her. He hated knowing he couldn't trust his friend. Kali had been his world, and he had wanted nothing more than to tell Reid about her, but memories of October, and Calebs words had kept him from doing so. He couldn't risk it, couldn't risk losing her. Waste of time that had been, because he had lost her anyway.

"I got to erm, I lef something in my car" He muttered, hurriedly pushing himself away from the table. He could not be around the conversation any longer. Could not see the pity in Sarah's eyes, nor the rest of them. The cold breeze of the Ipswich air smacked him in the face and instantly cleared his mind. It was exactly what he had needed. The fresh air to just cool him down and clear his frazzled mind. He closed his eyes and just breathed. The fresh air making the corners of his lips to upturn slightly.

He found her sitting on one of the benches near the edge of campus. He had been about to head to his next lesson when he had caught sight of her mousy blonde hair, head submerged in a book, as was the norm with her. He contemplated for all of two seconds before he made his way towards her. The usual bubbles of nerves deep in his stomach. It was always the same around her, the warmth of knowing, and the nerves of unknowing. He knew her so intimately and yet, he could no longer figure out what was running through her mind. It was still the same though, the feelings that he held for her. They had not dimmed, nor had they diminished. They were just as strong as they had always been. More so if that was even possible. When had their lives become so complicated? His smile fell. He knew exactly when they had become so complicated between them. When everything fell apart.

"Mind if I join you"? He questioned gently, his words tentative as he looked down at her. He towered over her at this height. Her head tilted up, and her blue eyes knocked him dead. God she always had that effect on him, it was like a sucker punch to the chest. His air trapped in his lungs, even more so when her lips turned up into a smile. He tore his gaze from her features, watched as she turned one of the corners of the pages down, and then nodded her head, the book pushed away from her slightly, a sign that he had her full attention. Something that was rare when it came to Kali. She was a complete nerd sometimes.

At her nod Tyler lowered his lean frame onto the bench beside him. His head dropping just slightly as he blushed under her gaze. Damn it he had forgotten what affect she could have on him. It was not amusing. He contemplated his words. He had been asking ever since she had come home and she had always come up with a flippant lie. Why did he expect this time would be any different? But it was driving him insane. Eating him up inside, knowing that she was lying to him. Knowing that she could no longer trust him to tell him the truth. "Why did you come home Kali?" He questioned gently. He wanted to reach out to her, but he refrained, he had no idea how she would handle it, and he did not want her pulling away from him. He couldn't handle it a second time.

Kali stayed where she was, her fingers folded together on her lap, her head tilted down. She had no idea what to say to him. He wanted the truth. Of course he did. His eyes begged for the truth, and yet the truth, it would do more harm than good. Tear at truths neither of them wanted to admit to. To face a past neither of them wanted to remember, and a past both of them could not forget. With a deep sigh she tucked her hair behind her ear, unable to actually look at him. If she looked at him it would be done. He would know. "Tyler" Her words shaky as she shook her head. What was she supposed to do? Shame nagged at her. He was one of the few people she knew she could trust, and yet this, it was her burden. Tyler just sighed, and he moved over to capture her hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "When did you stop being able to talk to me?"

"Ill see you after class babes" Pogue whispered into his girlfriends ear, bending down ever so slightly so he could nip at her ear. She giggled batting her hand at his chest, blushing ever so slightly she pulled away and gave him a flirtatious wink, before linking arms with Sarah and heading up to their seats. Pogue watched them until they were seated, before he folded his form into his seat, scooting down as he glanced to Caleb.

"I got to talk to you about Kali" Caeb raised a brow as he glanced over towards his friend. Following his friends previous movements, and lowering himself down, it made it easier to talk without anyone listening in on their converation.

"What's up?" He imminently questioned. Pogue only truly got concerned when it regarded Kate. But he had been extra careful since the Chase incident. He had the same look in his eyes, that he had when Chase had been around. A gaze filled with concern, and confusion. Caleb regretted not listening to his friend, instead choosing to believe it was his friends jealousy that had got his back up, and nothing else. He wouldn't make that mistake again. He hoped this was not another Chase situation, although he doubted it. It was hardly like Kali was new to their lives. She had known them for all their lives. One never could be to careful though.

"I went by the café last night," Caleb raised his brow with scepticism, he knew that Pogue couldn't have gotten a good reception from her, the only one of them that she had ever taken a liking to was Tyler and Caleb could only guess that was because they had grown up as neighbours.

"And she didn't kick you out" Caleb joked throwing shaking his head, it was baffling him as to why Pogue had gone by the cafe in the first place. Pogue sent him a mock glare in return, he had none the risks of going in and already had the, my bike broke down, its cold I just want a warm drink, line to feed her if she had gone to kick him out, not that he had thought that it was going to do any good.

"Man she was acting weird, she spewed this shit to me and practically begged me not to tell any one, she isn't the same girl who left for Cali last year"

Caleb raised his brow in interest, he had seen the difference in her, sure she looked like the same girl, acted like her as well, but the changes in her were obvious. She had switched glasses for contacts, she was slimmer, and more tanned but they were all to be expected. It was working working at the cafe that was the most confusing of all. Yet at heart she seemed to be the same girl. She still carried a book around with her, tucked neatly under her arm like she had before. But it had been her eyes that had tipped him to her change, they held so much pain and deceit he had been shocked and interested all at the same time.

"What did she say" He questioned glancing slightly over to the front to make sure that they weren't missing anything vital. Pogue followed suit taking in some of the notes and partially copying them down, they had to at least make it look like they were paying attention even if they weren't.

"I asked her why she came back, said she missed Tyler, she said it was none of my business, nor was the reason she had decided she came home" Caleb flicked his gaze over to him and nodded his head, Pogue really should have known not to have gone up against the one person who didn't fawn their selves all over them.

"She has a point man, but none of this is sounding strange" Caleb replied Pogue, pursed his lips shaking his head, Caleb really didn't have any patience he thought.

"She said she was working because apartments wast cheap, that not all parents forgave the mistakes their children made"

"Her parents aren't renting it for her?" Pogue shrugged a shoulder.

"Doesnt sound like it man" Now that was strange. What the hell had Kali done that would make her parents give up on her?

Kali sighed deeply. The bell signalling the start of lesson had run over half an hour ago but neither of them had moved. This was a conversation that was either going to happen, or wasn't. Oh who was she kidding, this conversation was going to happen, even if she didn't want it. Tyler was waiting for an answer and he was not going to let her ignore it this time. He was hurting, and she had put that hurt in his eyes. Licking her lips she sighed softly. She had to tell him. Needed to open up to him. She finally opened her eyes and looked over to him. God he was looking at her with such concern. If she told him there was every chance he would leave.

"Ty…." She shook her head not being able to continue, how could she, it had been to painful for the both of them the first time around, how could she bring it back up for them.

"Kali, just talk to me. Whatever it is im right here, we'll get through it together" Just like they had before. She finally sighed and just nodded her head.

"They found out about the baby, the miscarriage everything"

Tyler paled visibly, he forced himself to keep looking at her. To be there, for her. But she could see his eyes mist and she could feel her own do the same. She forced back the tears though. She had to. If she lost it now she would be unable to stop. She had shed to many tears, she could not shed anymore.

The memories flooded him instantly. They had been going out for a while. The pair of them had been drinking. He had just had a huge blow up with Reid, she, her parents. They had started fooling around and one thing had led to another. She had found out two months later. And two months after that he had found her on his bedroom floor with blood surrounding her. Neither of them had needed the doctors to tell them what had happened. Two weeks later she had left for California. He had been left dealing with the loss of his child, and the loss of the girl he had loved.

"I take it they weren't happy" He said after he had finally managed to compose himself long enough to talk. Kali shook her head, she was holding onto his hand so hard she was sure she would bruise them.

"No. They said that there were some mistakes that even they couldn't forgive. Gave me some money and told me to leave. They haven't spoken to me since...said I was a disgrace to the family name" Anger clenched at his heart. All he could do was wrap his arm around her body and pull her close.

Would love to know what you all think. Reviews would be great. :)