Fic: Lullaby, 3/3, Rated PG-13
Title: Lullaby
Author: courts
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story. The boys belong to each other and the lyrics belong to Don McLean.
Rated: PG-13
Summary: Follows Storm and Cry; the third and final part where the boys finally make it back together. This one is written from Andy Skib's POV.
Notes: Okay, so I couldn't leave all that angst unresolved so I hope this is a good conclusion. And I couldn't decide if it should be Archie's POV or Cook's so I decided to do something different and write it from an outsider's POV instead. ::hugs Andy::
Thanks: To mrs_viola_swamp, I'm gonna have to come up with new and inventive ways to say thank you to you, honey. For now, I will just say thanks. You're awesome! And to misskatieleigh for letting me break her heart and still being nice enough to give me her opinion. Thanks hon :)
-=-=-=-=-
Lullaby
It's barely six in the morning when you leave L.A., but the flight and time difference make it after lunchtime by the time you land in Baltimore. Dave's sitting next to you, sleeping fitfully as the plane starts it's decent and you think he looks far older than his twenty-six years these days. These last few months have aged him and you'll be glad when this is over so that you can get your friend back.
The pilot turns on the seatbelt sign and the landing gear lowers and the ground rushes towards you and suddenly you're back on earth. You breathe a sigh of relief like always because, even though you've never been afraid to fly or anything, you just never know.
David opens his eyes and looks over at you, then out the window beside you. You offer him a smile and he reaches down to squeeze your fingers. Dave's the best friend you'll ever have and you hope you've been the same for him.
The hospital isn't far from BWI, so the cab ride is quick. You both rush inside, not sure where to go and you take it upon yourself to ask a woman behind the front desk.
"I'm sorry, we can't give out room information," she tells you.
You smirk and hook a thumb towards David, saying, "Do you see who he is? Come on, you know we're not paparazzi." She glances over at Dave and you see the spark of recognition and you know you're in. Fifth floor, room 502. You smile your thanks and take Dave by the elbow to lead him towards the elevators.
"What if he doesn't want to see me?" Dave says when the two of you are alone in the car and ascending.
"Not possible, dude," you tell him and, of that at least, you're sure.
The doors open and the two of you step out and walk down the long hallway. A nurse stops you halfway but, again, David's familiar face gets the two of you a pass and you continue on until you're standing in front of the closed door to room 502. You squeeze his shoulder and softly say, "Go on," and his hand is shaking as he raises his fist to knock.
You aren't sure what you were expecting, but it wasn't the kid's mother. She opens the door and looks confused as she sees David, but then her lips curl up at the corners and she steps aside to wave you both in, saying that it was good of you to come and that David will be happy to see you. Obviously, the kid never told his parents about himself and Cook.
You hang back, thinking it's not your place to go in, but Dave reaches back and snags your wrist and you find yourself being pulled into the room behind him.
"He's only supposed to have two visitors at a time," Mrs. Archuleta says to you and you nod, as if you're totally expecting this conversation to include you. "I'll just run down and get some coffee while you boys visit." You nod again and watch her go, seeing the door close softly in her wake.
When you turn back around, you feel instantly like you are intruding and almost turn to follow her path out the door. Almost, until Cook looks up at you and you see the pleading in his eyes and you know that he can't do this alone.
David is sleeping on the bed and he's hooked up to a couple of monitors and has an IV and stuff, but the medical technology doesn't look too elaborate. You figure he'll probably be fine. But that's not what has Cook's knees going weak, you know. It's the thin, pale boy, curled up so impossibly small and looking so . . . God, you can't even describe it except to say that, even in sleep, the kid looks just like Dave to you. They have that same hollow, empty look about them and you are sure once and for all that these two can't exist alone. They need each other and you hope that Dave sees that now. If not, you have a feeling you'll be visiting him in a hospital room pretty soon, too.
Cook slumps into a chair next to the bed and reaches out to ghost his fingers over David's pale wrist. His breath hitches and once again you feel like a voyeur.
Then, little David's eyes open and he turns to you, confused, then tilts his head to look at the man sitting next to him. He actually gasps and the sound makes you tremble. His lower lip is quivering and he's shaking and Cook is crying and kissing the boy's palm and you should leave, you know you should.
"I . . . I . . . you're here," David says as his cheeks are covered with fresh tears.
"I'm sorry, baby . . . I'm so fucking sorry," Cook cries. "I never meant . . . I thought it was best for you to . . . God, Archie, please be okay, please." He lowers his head to the bed and his back quakes and David is reaching over to run his hand through Cook's hair and smiling.
"I'm okay," he says. "I promise, I'm gonna be fine."
You're standing against the wall and it's weird because neither of them even seems to remember that you're there. You should leave, but the scene before you has you mesmerized and you can't make yourself move.
"I'll never leave you again," Cook promises as he lifts his head and touches David's pale cheek. His thumb brushes a few tears away and he leans forward to kiss the boy's forehead. "Can you . . . can you ever forgive me?" he asks weakly and you don't know what he'll do if the answer isn't yes. You're sure it will be the end of him and you hold your breath along with Cook and wait for an answer.
"I love you," the boy croaks and then he's pulling Cook forward and kissing him and you think that's a yes. Cook laughs and cries and kisses him back and you know it's time for you to go. You open the door softly, trying not to disturb them, and walk out into the hall.
When Mrs. Archuleta comes back, you distract her for a while so they can have some more time together. Then, when she goes off to run to the restroom before returning to check on her son, you slip into the room to get Cook, not wanting David's mom to find them in a compromising position that they might not want her to witness.
You round the corner into the room and what you see before you takes your breath away. Cook has crawled into the bed with David and he's cradling the boy in his arms. David looks to have fallen back asleep, Cook rocking him gently with his own eyes closed and singing to him in a low, sweet voice.
"And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them I don't know
I guess they understand
How lonely life has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand . . .
You recognize the song as an old one that your mom used to love and you smile and tear up a little at the scene before you. Cook's voice cuts back into your thoughts as he continues to sing to the boy that you know is his heart and soul and you hope that he's finally realized he can't live without him.
"And you love me too
Your thoughts are just for me
You set my spirit free
I'm happy that you do
The book of life is brief
And once a page is read
All but love is dead
That is my belief . . ."
You watch as Dave kisses the boy's temple and brushes his hair from his forehead. You know that you should tell him that David's mom is coming back and that the two of you should get going and find a hotel or something, but you can't bring yourself to be the one to break the spell they are under. You turn around and slip quietly back out of the room, hearing Dave's voice again as you pull the door shut.
And I love you so,
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them . . . I don’t know . . ."
You close the door and smile. Because now you're sure that everything is going to work out okay.
-=-=-=-=-
The End
July 24, 2008
-=-=-=-=-
Author: courts
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story. The boys belong to each other and the lyrics belong to Don McLean.
Rated: PG-13
Summary: Follows Storm and Cry; the third and final part where the boys finally make it back together. This one is written from Andy Skib's POV.
Notes: Okay, so I couldn't leave all that angst unresolved so I hope this is a good conclusion. And I couldn't decide if it should be Archie's POV or Cook's so I decided to do something different and write it from an outsider's POV instead. ::hugs Andy::
Thanks: To mrs_viola_swamp, I'm gonna have to come up with new and inventive ways to say thank you to you, honey. For now, I will just say thanks. You're awesome! And to misskatieleigh for letting me break her heart and still being nice enough to give me her opinion. Thanks hon :)
-=-=-=-=-
Lullaby
It's barely six in the morning when you leave L.A., but the flight and time difference make it after lunchtime by the time you land in Baltimore. Dave's sitting next to you, sleeping fitfully as the plane starts it's decent and you think he looks far older than his twenty-six years these days. These last few months have aged him and you'll be glad when this is over so that you can get your friend back.
The pilot turns on the seatbelt sign and the landing gear lowers and the ground rushes towards you and suddenly you're back on earth. You breathe a sigh of relief like always because, even though you've never been afraid to fly or anything, you just never know.
David opens his eyes and looks over at you, then out the window beside you. You offer him a smile and he reaches down to squeeze your fingers. Dave's the best friend you'll ever have and you hope you've been the same for him.
The hospital isn't far from BWI, so the cab ride is quick. You both rush inside, not sure where to go and you take it upon yourself to ask a woman behind the front desk.
"I'm sorry, we can't give out room information," she tells you.
You smirk and hook a thumb towards David, saying, "Do you see who he is? Come on, you know we're not paparazzi." She glances over at Dave and you see the spark of recognition and you know you're in. Fifth floor, room 502. You smile your thanks and take Dave by the elbow to lead him towards the elevators.
"What if he doesn't want to see me?" Dave says when the two of you are alone in the car and ascending.
"Not possible, dude," you tell him and, of that at least, you're sure.
The doors open and the two of you step out and walk down the long hallway. A nurse stops you halfway but, again, David's familiar face gets the two of you a pass and you continue on until you're standing in front of the closed door to room 502. You squeeze his shoulder and softly say, "Go on," and his hand is shaking as he raises his fist to knock.
You aren't sure what you were expecting, but it wasn't the kid's mother. She opens the door and looks confused as she sees David, but then her lips curl up at the corners and she steps aside to wave you both in, saying that it was good of you to come and that David will be happy to see you. Obviously, the kid never told his parents about himself and Cook.
You hang back, thinking it's not your place to go in, but Dave reaches back and snags your wrist and you find yourself being pulled into the room behind him.
"He's only supposed to have two visitors at a time," Mrs. Archuleta says to you and you nod, as if you're totally expecting this conversation to include you. "I'll just run down and get some coffee while you boys visit." You nod again and watch her go, seeing the door close softly in her wake.
When you turn back around, you feel instantly like you are intruding and almost turn to follow her path out the door. Almost, until Cook looks up at you and you see the pleading in his eyes and you know that he can't do this alone.
David is sleeping on the bed and he's hooked up to a couple of monitors and has an IV and stuff, but the medical technology doesn't look too elaborate. You figure he'll probably be fine. But that's not what has Cook's knees going weak, you know. It's the thin, pale boy, curled up so impossibly small and looking so . . . God, you can't even describe it except to say that, even in sleep, the kid looks just like Dave to you. They have that same hollow, empty look about them and you are sure once and for all that these two can't exist alone. They need each other and you hope that Dave sees that now. If not, you have a feeling you'll be visiting him in a hospital room pretty soon, too.
Cook slumps into a chair next to the bed and reaches out to ghost his fingers over David's pale wrist. His breath hitches and once again you feel like a voyeur.
Then, little David's eyes open and he turns to you, confused, then tilts his head to look at the man sitting next to him. He actually gasps and the sound makes you tremble. His lower lip is quivering and he's shaking and Cook is crying and kissing the boy's palm and you should leave, you know you should.
"I . . . I . . . you're here," David says as his cheeks are covered with fresh tears.
"I'm sorry, baby . . . I'm so fucking sorry," Cook cries. "I never meant . . . I thought it was best for you to . . . God, Archie, please be okay, please." He lowers his head to the bed and his back quakes and David is reaching over to run his hand through Cook's hair and smiling.
"I'm okay," he says. "I promise, I'm gonna be fine."
You're standing against the wall and it's weird because neither of them even seems to remember that you're there. You should leave, but the scene before you has you mesmerized and you can't make yourself move.
"I'll never leave you again," Cook promises as he lifts his head and touches David's pale cheek. His thumb brushes a few tears away and he leans forward to kiss the boy's forehead. "Can you . . . can you ever forgive me?" he asks weakly and you don't know what he'll do if the answer isn't yes. You're sure it will be the end of him and you hold your breath along with Cook and wait for an answer.
"I love you," the boy croaks and then he's pulling Cook forward and kissing him and you think that's a yes. Cook laughs and cries and kisses him back and you know it's time for you to go. You open the door softly, trying not to disturb them, and walk out into the hall.
When Mrs. Archuleta comes back, you distract her for a while so they can have some more time together. Then, when she goes off to run to the restroom before returning to check on her son, you slip into the room to get Cook, not wanting David's mom to find them in a compromising position that they might not want her to witness.
You round the corner into the room and what you see before you takes your breath away. Cook has crawled into the bed with David and he's cradling the boy in his arms. David looks to have fallen back asleep, Cook rocking him gently with his own eyes closed and singing to him in a low, sweet voice.
"And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them I don't know
I guess they understand
How lonely life has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand . . .
You recognize the song as an old one that your mom used to love and you smile and tear up a little at the scene before you. Cook's voice cuts back into your thoughts as he continues to sing to the boy that you know is his heart and soul and you hope that he's finally realized he can't live without him.
"And you love me too
Your thoughts are just for me
You set my spirit free
I'm happy that you do
The book of life is brief
And once a page is read
All but love is dead
That is my belief . . ."
You watch as Dave kisses the boy's temple and brushes his hair from his forehead. You know that you should tell him that David's mom is coming back and that the two of you should get going and find a hotel or something, but you can't bring yourself to be the one to break the spell they are under. You turn around and slip quietly back out of the room, hearing Dave's voice again as you pull the door shut.
And I love you so,
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them . . . I don’t know . . ."
You close the door and smile. Because now you're sure that everything is going to work out okay.
-=-=-=-=-
The End
July 24, 2008
-=-=-=-=-