CONTENT WARNING: Relentless sap.

*** Hunter's POV ***

I ended up sitting there for the rest of the night. I couldn't sleep, and
besides, even with the injuries and sadness, Chris is still pretty damn
adorable. Eventually, night turns to morning and Chris begins to stir. His
first instinct is to look at the left side of the bed, which is where I was
sleeping. I see the panic flare up in his eyes when he doesn't find me where
I should be. Nervously, he turns over to where I'm smiling at him. "Good
morning, sunshine." I said, trying to be cheerful.

"Hunter?" He's only half-awake and is slurring his words. "What're you doing
over there?"

"Well, I couldn't sleep, so I was going to go for a walk, but you started
freaking out so I stayed." I traced a finger lightly down his cheek. "Chris,
I'm sorry, but I just don't buy it anymore. What's going on?"

Chris sat up, looking at me defensively. "Nothing. Nothing is wrong. The
nightmares are probably a side effect of my pain pills for my ribs. You're
being paranoid." He got out of bed and pushed past me, heading for the
bathroom. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go take a shower, that is if
you'll let me go without a babysitter." He walked into the bathroom and
closed the door.

As soon as I heard the shower come on, I walked quietly into the bathroom.
There's Chris, fumbling through his bag. I stand back and watch as he pulls
out his pain pills, shaking out a handful. "Hey," I speak up. "The
recommended dose on those is two, and though I'm sure you feel triple that is
necessary, I don't think you should down half the bottle."

He turns around, looking angry. "Last time I checked, you weren't my mommy,
so stay out."

"Nope, sorry, can't do that. That many pills is enough to seriously hurt you,
and you know that and you're about to take them anyways, which tells me
something's going on. This whole game you're playing ends now." I walk over
and push him down onto the toilet lid, sitting across from him on the edge of
the bathtub. "Something's going on with you Chris, and I want to know what it
is."

"Nothing is wrong. Go away." he says bitterly.

This is killing me. He hasn't been himself for days and I have no idea why. I
don't know if I did something wrong, if someone said something to him...I'm
totally lost. "Do you want me to call Joanie? Will you talk to her?"

He glares at me. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Just shipping me off to
Joanie so you don't have to deal with me anymore..."

I put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down, but he angrily shoves it off.
I continue anyways, determined to get to the bottom of this. "What then?
Chris, I know something's wrong, tell me what I can do to help..."

"You can just leave me alone!" he yells suddenly, running out the door. I
tried to catch him, but he left, driving away before I could talk to him.

***

I really tried to leave him alone like he asked me to...for about five
minutes. After that, I started thinking of more subtle ways to figure out
what was wrong. I asked Joanie to talk to him, but she just told me that she
had done all she could. Then, I attempted to call him, but he hung up on me
every time I brought up the subject of what was bothering him.

And then finally I got an idea. My goofy cousin is always sending me these
chain letters and little inspirational friendship things. Well, I got one
called "Sixty Things That Are Happening Right Now While You Read This." I was
about to ignore it, but something made me stop and read it. And some of it
was perfect.

So, I set to work editing it, only using the parts which got my message
across. I look over what I've written, nod in approval, and hit send.

*** Jericho's POV ***

There's a million and one ways to distract yourself on the internet, let me
tell you. I've now spent half an hour with a virtual bubblewrap because I
don't have to think. I can shut my mind off, not think about anything that
happened, and just click on the little dots.

My radio is on in the background, playing a song I really don't want to
listen to, but is making its way into my head anyways.

So tired that I couldn't even sleep
So many secrets I couldn't keep
Promised myself I wouldn't weep
One more promise I couldn't keep
It seems no one can help me now
I'm in too deep
There's no way out
This time I have really led myself astray...

My computer then beeps, distracting me from the song and letting me know I
have mail. Well that's odd. Probably from someone trying to sell me a
membership to a porn site. I open up the email and take a sharp breath. It's
from Hunter. Oh well, can't hurt to read it.

From: DXCreamPuff69 <thatdamngood@mopcity.com>
To: Y2JHoneyBun2000 <ayatollah@chrisnchrisinc.net>
Subject: IMPORTANT THINGS HAPPENING AS YOU READ THIS-

- Somebody is thinking about you
- Somebody is caring about you
- Somebody misses you
- Somebody hopes you aren't in trouble
- Somebody wants to hold your hand
- Somebody hopes everything turns out alright
- Somebody wants you to be happy
- Somebody thinks you are a gift
- Somebody wants to hug you
- Somebody loves you
- Somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on
- Somebody thinks the world of you
- Somebody wants to protect you
- Someone would do anything for you
- Somebody wants to tell you how much they care
- Somebody wants to hold you in their arms
- Somebody loves you for who you are
- Somebody loves you for the way you make them feel
- Somebody wants to be with you
- Somebody stayed up all night thinking about you
- Somebody has faith in you
- Somebody trusts you
- Somebody needs you to have faith in them
- Somebody needs you to let them be your friend
- Somebody wants you to know they are there for you.

Slowly, shakily, I breathe in and out...in and out...until I'm sure I'm under
control. I vaguely remember reading these lines before....in some chain
letter....as a matter of fact, I think I still have it in my inbox...yup,
there it is. It had seemed sweet when I first read it, but now it really hit
me. I thought back to that night, after I kissed Stephanie, when Hunter
started crying and I didn't know why. I remember how scary that was, to see
him so upset without having any clue what was wrong...and I thought of my
minute of feeling that way, stretched out for days. That's what I was doing
to him.

I start to hear the radio again, the same song but a different part.

Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
Little out of touch, little insane
It's just easier than dealing with the pain

I have to tell him....it doesn't matter if he thinks I was weak, I just can't
deal with this alone anymore. I went to my copy of the original letter,
selecting what I wanted to say and putting it into my message.

From: Y2JHoneyBun2000 <ayatollah@chrisnchrisinc.net>
To: DXCreamPuff69 <thatdamngood@mopcity.com>
Subject: RIGHT NOW......

- Somebody wishes you were here
- Somebody is thankful for all the support you've provided
- Somebody loves you
- Somebody wants to be forgiven for what they've done
- Somebody is grateful for the forgiveness they hope they'll find
- Somebody wants to share their dreams (and nightmares) with you
- Somebody wants you to hold them in your arms
- Somebody praises God for your friendship and love
- Somebody wants to be with you
- Somebody is glad you're their friend
- Somebody stayed up all night thinking about you
- Somebody is alive because of you
- Somebody misses your advice and guidance
- Somebody cried when they read this
- Somebody needs your support
- Somebody needs to know your love is unconditional
- Somebody wants to talk to you, but is too scared

So that's that then. All I can do is wait. But whatever happens, I'm gonna
deal with the pain.