Digging Up The Past [Josh]

[Rory Temple]

Rory sat on large, black rock, looking out to sea. The waves were crashing against the rock and splashing cold drops at his bare feet, but he didn't mind the cold. In his hand, he held the locket that had a picture of his brother inside.

He took a breath before he popped it open, and saw a smiling Daniel look up at him. He'd been to the beach with Daniel and their Teddiursa back home once, and he'd almost been washed out to see, but Daniel swam out and got him.

He saw a tear drop onto his hand, and he realised he was crying. He popped the locket shut, stuffed it back under his shirt and wiped at his eyes, before looking at the empty space next to him, seeing an image of his brother looking out to see with a smile. "Happy Birthday, Daniel." he said quietly as the image faded.

He sniffled slightly before shaking his head and reaching for his shoes that were on his other side, socks balled up inside them, and started to pull his footwear on.

[joshua]

Joshua stood a few paces behind Rory. He was watching him quietly with a cold lump in his stomach. He was nervous! Josh McCabe! He jumped out of airplanes and off of buildings. He swam with sharks and leaped across moving vehicles for thrills! And yet...standing there....not a stone throw from the boy he loved...he was afraid. Afraid of what had already happened and of what might happen in a few seconds.

The cool sea air filled Josh's nose and started to lift his confidence. He approached Rory as he began to put his footware back on and then, just as Rory sat back up, Josh reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Rory..." he said softly, quietly, barely a whisper that might or might not have been heard over the sound of the sea. Thinking it might have been too quiet, Josh said again a little louder "Rory..." this second one was choked out a little since the lump in his stomach had risen to his throat, tears starting to fill his eyes.

[Rory Temple]

Rory had both of his socks on when he had this niggling feeling in the back of his head that someone was watching him. Considering the day it was, and the image he'd seen next to him, he let his hopes race into overdrive.

Maybe Daniel hadn't died? Maybe he'd been travelling, trying to find a way to explain what had happened. He quickly pulled on his shoes, when he felt a hand on his shoulders. His heart beat faster as he believed that it was Daniel's hand on his shoulder.

'Oh, God, my brother's back!' he thought, not able to wait any more to see him. He stood up, but as he did, Daniel spoke. But he sounded different. And upset? He turned around, to see his brother, but the past wasn't that kind.

It didn't give him a miracle. Instead, it served him a painful kick in the balls.

Josh. Joshua McCabe. The boy who broke his heart.

The memories hit him all at once, and he thought he was going to throw up. All the days they'd spent together, all their kisses, all their fun. His birthday party. What he'd seen that day. His head was swimming in the memories and it hurt.

He clutched his head in pain and took a step back, losing his footing on the rocks. He started to fall backwards as he lost consciousness. This was good. He could let the ground swallow him and the pain would end. He fell the short distance into the water, but was unconscious before could feel the water engulf him.

[joshua]

Josh's breathing had stopped when Rory began to turn. He saw excitement and hope on his face for the brief moment that they made eye-contact before recognition began to set in on Rory's part. Josh felt hurt as Rory's eyes lost the hopeful glow and his face changed from excitement to confusion and then to disappointment and then, what was worse, to horror.

Josh began to frown and reached out towards Rory, both physically and with his heart, wanting to apologize. to embrace Rory and make up for the stupid mistakes, but all Rory did was step back, moving away, putting distance between them. The distance was only a few inches physically, but it was hundreds of miles to Josh.

Rory lost his balance and began to fall. Josh immediately jumped over the rock the blonde boy had been sitting on and was crouching by him, lifting him out of the water that threatened to take him. My stupidity took you once. I'm not going to let some damn water do it now. he thought as he lifted Rory in his arms and carried him like a bride away from the ocean, laying him back down in the sand halfway up the beach, away from the salt water.

"Rory! Rory!" Josh said, gently tapping Rory's face and hoping he hadn't swallowed any water. He rolled his exboyfrend onto his side and was terrified to see water flow from his mouth. He was still drowning! Josh bent over Rory's head and pressed his lips to Rory's, pinching his nose, and breathing into Rory's mouth. He filled Rory's mouth with air three times before sitting back up and placing his hands on the boy's chest. He pressed down over Rory's lungs three times and then bent back over to deliver more air.

[Rory Temple]

Rory floated silently under the water, just staring up. He opened his mouth and felt no air come out. 'This is way to weird' he thought as he swam for the shore. He slowly hauled himself out and saw something that was not only confusing, but made him want to heave again. Josh was knelt over a boy and looked to be kissing him. How could Josh come all the way to this island just to kiss another guy in front of him.

Was he trying to make Rory suicidal? Then he noticed the boy wasn't moving, so he quickly thought that Josh was giving him CPR. "What happened?!" Rory yelled as he ran toward the pair, when more confusion and nausea washing over him as he saw that Josh was giving CPR to... Rory?! 'Wait, I'm Rory... and I'm there. But I'm here.' "What the hell is going on?!" he yelled, waving his arms madly.

He froze as he saw his hand, and what was behind his hand. How could he see through his hand?! 'This is mad.' he thought as he turned around, trying to make sense of what was happening. What he saw then made him forget everything else. Up in the clouds, a beam of light came down and hit him, making Rory throw an arm over his eyes. He waited to adjust to the light, before he saw a figure in the light.

It was... Daniel. 'This is crazy.' he thought, finding it hard to believe Daniel was stood in a cloud looking down at him. A crystal staircase started to materialise and he was drawn towards it. He started to climb the staircase, the Daniel-shaped figure coming to meet him. Rory broke into a run, and after a moment, crashed into Daniel with a hug.

"Is it you, Dan? Is it really you?" he asked, his voice breaking slightly as a couple tears rolled down his cheeks. The figure put his arms around Rory. "It's me, Rory. But I can't stay long. They said I could come and see you, but only for a couple minutes." he said calmly as Rory looked up at him. "No, you can't go again! I won't let you, I'll, I'll come with you!" he pleaded with his brother. "You can't, Rory. It's not your time." he said, still as calm as ever.

"But I've just gotten you back, you can't leave me again!" Rory cried, breaking down and dropping to his knees in front of Daniel. Daniel knelt in front of him. "I'm sorry, Rory. I was lucky enough to even get to see you now. And I'm so glad I did. You've grown so much. Mum and Dad must be so proud of you." he said softly, holding Rory tightly, who was trying to control his breathing.

Rory sniffled quietly before looking at Daniel "When will I see you again?" the boy asked quietly. "Next time you knock yourself out, I'll see what I can do. But otherwise, I'm always watching over you, and I will never leave here." he said, reaching under Rory's shirt and pulling out the locket. "I'm always in your heart." he said, kissing Rory's forehead.

Daniel looked past his brother to the scene on the beach, before looking back to Rory. "Sorry, but I've got to go. Don't forget, I'm always in your heart." he said, giving Rory a final squeeze before standing up and turning up the staircase. He gave Rory a wave, but the boy could bring himself to wave back. He mumbled a sad goodbye before Daniel faded away into the clouds. Rory let out an agonised sigh, before falling backwards towards his body.

The next thing Rory knew, he was coughing up water and Josh was knelt over him. He sat up and coughed up the remaining water before taking several deep breaths. He glanced up at the sky, but saw that it was completely clear. He turned to Josh, and felt nausea wash over him again, but held it back. What should he say? Thank you for saving me, but piss off and never talk to me again? No, that would be rude.

He contemplated running away, but he was in no state to run. So he settled for walking. He stood up slowly, turned away from Josh and started walking down the beach, tears dripping down his face as he furiously wiped his sleeve at them, sad that he couldn't keep hold of Daniel, and also because Josh had stirred up all the emotions he'd wanted to bury.

[joshua]

Josh repeated the process of breathing into Rory's mouth and then pressing on his chest, trying to force the water out of his lungs and fill them with that much needed air. Color began to fade from Rory's lips and tears ran down Joshua's eyes as he forced away the thoughts that were threatening to break into his psyche. He can't be...he can't be....he can't- he thought ever more desperately until Rory's body jerked and he coughed up water. Josh rolled him over quickly so that he wouldn't swallow what he was coughing up.

Josh asked if Rory was alright, but the boy only stood and slowly began to walk away. Josh sat there for a long, long half second before scrambling to his feet and catching up to him, reaching to grab his hand. "Rory" he said "Its me, Josh. Don't you recognize me?" he asked, thinking maybe the time they had apart had changed him more than he thought. Puberty could make someone change significantly in a short amount of time.

[Rory Temple]

Rory heard Josh stand up and start to follow him. He felt the boy's fingers brush against his hand, but he snatched it away. He stood still for a moment before turning around to face his heart-breaker. "Nothing!" he shouted, letting his emotions flow through him angrily.

"You... You broke my heart." he whimpered, tears rolling down his face again. "I have NOTHING!... To say to you." Rory turned and stalked away, no longer caring about wiping the tears away. The only way things could get worse were if Joshua had been placed into the Black Dorm

[joshua]

Josh had been about to hold Rory's hand once more when Rory yanked his hand away and shouted 'Nothing'. Josh froze, having not heard Rory in that tone of voice since the most unfortunate party. Josh stayed in place as Rory stormed away. He couldn't move. He didn' tknow what to say. "I...I'm sorry" he mumbled, far to low for Rory to hear, and then he followed it with a yell "I'm sorry!"

There was a low rumble of thunder in the distance.