Kyle went to school the next day not thinking much of anything interesting would happen, after all, it was a Thursday. He was looking forward to seeing his friends and Cartman however, bound and determined not to look like a bumbling idiot in front of him. Unfortunately, first period went by and he didn't show up. Though he tried to hide it, apparently his disappointment was blatantly obvious to both Stan and Kenny.

"What's on your mind, Kyle?" Stan asked in between whispering to Wendy about some sensual weekend plans.

Kenny tsked loudly, "Isn't it obvious? I'm sure a certain chunky friend of ours is precisely what's on his mind, am I right?"

Kyle blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about at all Kenny. Don't you have Shelley to go harass?" Stan looked a bit annoyed at the comment while Kenny only grinned.

"That's after hours fun, silly Kyle, behind closed doors only."

Stan looked slightly pissed as he leaned away from Wendy slightly, "Watch your mouth that's my sister you're talking about." Wendy grabbed his hand and moved it down to her upper thigh.

"You're sister's almost 19," she whispered, "I highly doubt she needs her kid brother policing her sex life. Just like we don't want her policing ours."

Stan blushed heavily and backed off of Kenny.

Kyle cleared his throat, "I was just wondering where Cartman was though, in case anyone cares."

Wendy piped up further accentuating Kyle's fears, "You raise a good point Kyle. Cartman is always at school no matter what, whether it's just to insult people or play pranks, he wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Maybe he's just sick or something." Kyle said more to reassure himself than anyone else. Most of his friends didn't seem too concerned. Stan deigned not to comment on it, whereas Kenny had his phone out seeming to have missed the conversation entirely.

Kenny commented slyly, "Well I guess we can either draw straws to decide who has to check on him after school or you could just do it since you're the one all worked up over it."

Kyle huffed crossing his arms, "All I'm saying is that he was perfectly fine yesterday at my house and now he's not at school."

"Meow!" Kenny shrieked, "I didn't know he had it in him, get it Cartman!"

Kyle flipped Kenny off in a very Craig-like fashion. "Fuck off, Kenny! This is serious!"

"Well, just text him I guess. Now excuse me." Kenny ran off to go text or sext or whatever Stan's sister.

Kyle rolled his eyes thoroughly frustrated at this point. He turned down to his phone and sent a simple yet forward text, "Yo, are you skipping again?"

"If I don't hear back from him in a bit, I'm heading over there after school." Kyle stated in Stan's general direction.

Stan pulled away from his intense lip lock with Wendy, "Kyle seriously fatass is probably fine, but yeah if you're that worried go over there." Stan didn't sound remotely amused and neither did Wendy but she said nothing thank God.

Kyle's phone then rang. 'Cartman's calling me? During school hours? What the hell'. The news he heard when he answered made his heart skip a beat. "Kyle, hon, this is Liane. I just wanted to tell you that Eric had an accident last night. We're not 100% sure what happened but he is in his room resting right now, you're welcome to come visit after school if you like."

Kyle didn't respond for a beat. "Are you still there Kyle?"

"Y-y-yes Ms. Cartman, sorry yeah I'll come over after school."

"My little Eric will enjoy your visit I assure you. See you then."

Kyle stared at the phone stupidly long after Liane had hung up. Wendy had gotten agitated at all the students walking by staring at her and Stan making out so had opted for leaving and finishing up some homework early instead of continuing having her privacy invaded.

Stan noticed Kyle frozen looking at his phone. "Kyle? What did Cartman say to you? You're white as a sheet."

"He's been in an accident. He's not at school because he got hurt." Kyle seemed detached a sure sign signaling Stan that he was borderline freaking out.

"Slow down. Are you sure this isn't just one of his schemes to trick you into coming over? And don't bite my head off either, I'm just looking out for my bro."

Kyle shook his head furiously. "No Stan! That was his mom! She wouldn't just call and lie to me. As a matter of fact what time is it?"

Stan glanced at his phone screen. "1 on the nose about time for lunch to end, why?"

"Wait, you're not actually considering ditching school to check on Cartman are you?"

Kyle blushed. "Well somebody needs to check on him and um I'm busy after school."

Stan clicked his teeth conspiratorially, "Something fishy's going on here and I fully intend to find it out." His eyes narrowed dangerously at Kyle. The bell rang signaling the end of lunch and the beginning of the personal hell that was 4th period with Mr./Mrs. Garrison and Mr./Mrs. Hat. Yup, you read that right Mr. freaking Hat had had a sex change as well.

"But first, let me not miss another class, text me dude." Stan high fived him. Kyle waited until most of the students had trailed out of the hallways into classrooms, then glanced around an empty hallway making a mad dash for the exit only to be stopped by Mr. Mackey, well after almost barreling into him.

"Kyle Broflovski where are you going in such a hurry, mkay?"

"Sorry, Mr. Mackey. I have to run home to get my book. I just forgot it today."

Mr. Mackey grinned and patted him on the back, "Well, I won't trouble you anymore Kyle. You're my most honest and trustworthy student to date, see you later mkay."

Mr. Mackey reentered his office without so much of a backwards glance at Kyle.

'Great, now I feel like a terrible person'. Kyle swallowed his disappointment in himself and bolted as soon as he was safely out of the school building, straight for Cartman's house.

He knocked firmly on the door in which he guessed was a desperate fashion but decided he couldn't care less at this point. Liane opened the door quickly, "Hi there Kyle, Eric is upstairs in his bed, shouldn't be sleeping just head right on up there."

Kyle bit his tongue to avoid asking Liane all types of questions that were weighing heavily on his mind. How could Cartman have gotten hurt if he had gotten picked up from Kyle's the night before?

He entered Cartman's room after lightly knocking and getting the affirmation to come in. What he saw took his breath away. Eric Cartman was lying in his bed shirtless with a bandage wrapped around his chest and another one wrapped around his arm as well as one around his head. He had many cuts and bruises littering his body.

"Eric, what happened?" Kyle blurted out before he even thought much about it.

Cartman smiled faintly at Kyle's presence and even more at the use of his first name, 'fuck it was sexy when Kyle said it.'

However his expression grew dark at Kyle's question. He patted the side of his bed and motioned Kyle over. Kyle complied curiously. He beckoned for Kyle to lean in to whisper something in his ear.

Cartman spoke in a tone that Kyle could only barely hear, "I told my mom I fell out the window trying to get something off the ledge but this was no accident. Someone broke into my house last night after we got back home, caught me off guard, and pushed me out of the window. Luckily, nothing was broken just scratched up and bruised."

Kyle gasped audibly, "Did you see your attacker?! You should tell the police. We have to catch whoever did this to you."

Cartman patted his arm gently with his good arm, "Easy Jew, didn't know you cared so much, but seriously you need to stay away from me I feel pretty confident this is a not so subtle warning for me to stay away from you."

Kyle looked sad then grew confident, "I'm not staying away from you, Eric. That's not how I am. We're going to find out who is doing this and put a stop to it. Together." The intense look in Kyle's green eyes plus the certain way he had said together made Cartman's heart leap with joy.

Cartman ignored the butterflies in his stomach for the most part, "Kyle you should know. Scott's involved. As in Scott Tenorman. He mentioned before he pushed me that he hated me but that what he's doing is part of a job. I had kind of pieced together he was involved last night but the job part is throwing me off. He's getting paid to keep us apart. Who would do such a thing? I don't think he is anymore but Clyde was likely involved too, with the bit about not being paid enough."

The only possible answer Kyle had was either a seriously misguided love interest not that either of them had those, except for each other unbeknownst to the other. Or. Kyle's blood turned cold. "My mother might." Kyle's face looked haunted.

Cartman went to laugh but noted Kyle's serious expression. "You really think that fat bitch would go that far to hire a known hit man just to keep us from hanging out?"

Kyle didn't look at him. "She's been acting really fucking weird lately. I overheard my dad saying something to her the other night to see if she's been taking her meds right, plus her reactions to Ike's girlfriend and me bringing you over and even mentioning Stan lately has been really off. I couldn't say when she gets like this what she is and isn't capable of."

Cartman hated how worried Kyle looked especially over him, "Relax Kyle, I'm fine, just a tad sore, but thanks for stopping by."

Kyle reached for Cartman's hand and looked meaningfully at him, "Just take care of yourself. Are you comfortable staying here?"

Cartman swallowed hard, "For the most part, yeah. I'll be more alert now. I'll be expecting them per se."

His heart pounded quickly at the warm constant pressure of Kyle's hand on his. 'I wonder if he does this with Stan? I sure hope not.'

Cartman squeezed Kyle's hand lightly.

That was all the confirmation Kyle needed to wrap Cartman gently but firmly in a full on hug. Kyle went to pull away but Cartman held him back, "Stay with me tonight. I know I'm being selfish, but-"

"I'll try to tell mom I'm staying at Stan's since I have to go back and get clothes anyway, but no I'd be happy to stay with you if I can, somebody's got to make sure you lock your windows and doors thoroughly tonight." He joked.

"Oh and before I forget." Cartman released his possessive hug. "Take that gun and ammo from that dresser. Not the AK or the automatic though, the handgun will suit you more and have less of a kick if you need to fire multiple rounds."

Kyle's eyes widened. "You're giving me a gun?"

"I'm not giving you anything, Kyle. I'm loaning it to you, if you break it you buy it but my God you need some sort of protection if I can't be with you."

The worry for his safety made Kyle insanely happy.

He took the gun out and examined it intently. "I-really have no clue how to use this Cartman."

The larger boy could have face palmed. "It's a fucking gun Kyle! Have you not ever shot a gun with Stan's redneck ass Uncle Jimbo and his buttbuddy Ned?! For God's sakes. It's the same as a rifle as far as loading, cocking, and firing, just smaller and easy to conceal."

Kyle almost pinched his hand as the magazine popped out as he turned the gun over in his hands. He inserted it a few times until he got it right.

Cartman reached a hand over to take the gun from Kyle's hands, deciding instead to just guide Kyle's hands on the gun. Cartman winced slightly in pain as he twisted his shoulder wrong. "Okay, so you figured out the magazine part," he moved his hand over Kyle's hand moving his finger over the safety switch.

"Pay attention. This is the most important part. After you make sure your gun has ammo, flip the safety OFF and then cock and fire. Only shoot at someone if you intend to kill them. Don't have the fucking safety off if you're not about to shoot."

Kyle's face paled at the word kill, but he nodded in understanding. Cartman sighed in relief, "now I can worry about you a little less."

Kyle glanced at the time, "Shit I need to get going so that I'm home before my mom starts asking questions. Maybe I'll see you later tonight?"

Cartman nodded, "Sounds like a plan."

"Oh and Kyle for the record, I don't mind you calling me Eric whether it's through text or in person." He looked away "It has a nice ring when you say it."

Kyle's smile was unparalleled as he left Cartman's house.

A/N: I really don't know much about guns except that I've shot them, feel free to correct me if my information is off but it might be forever until I get around to correcting it. And in case you missed it there is some progress towards their eventual relationship here it's still building but I'll make sure it's worth the wait. Thanks to a buddy of mine Dark Noel this was edited and hopefully improved Aug. 24.