Better Left Behind. (Michael Afton AU)

Time.

I'm so so sorry for not updating I had major writers  block and was busy with a few other things. Enjoy!

(Michael's POV)

"Who the hell would be knocking at this hour?" He muttered to himself.

Elizabeth and Charlie were laying down, attempting to fall asleep, or they must've passed out the moment their heads hit the pillows. Everyone else also appeared to be asleep as well, as nobody got up to answer the door. Michael tiptoed towards the door and opened it quietly.

"Hi." Chris said, smiling. His smile faltered though when Michael didn't respond. "Am I late?" He asked, a bit concerned as Michael looked like he was ready to pass out from shock.

"Uh well..no. Just wait here one second.." He responded. He quickly walked down to the couch where Elizabeth and Charlie were curled up. He shook Elizabeth's arm which caused her to bolt up and hit him in the face.

"Sorry!" She whispered.

"He's here..uh. I'll go wake the others."

It took her a second to process what he was saying, but she immediately got up and walked towards the door. Charlie had also begun to wake up as Elizabeth's movements disturbed her sleep. Michael walked down the hall and turned to face the guest bedroom door. He debated if he should wake up Jeremy and decided he probably should. As he walked in he heard faint cry's coming from Jeremy. He quickly walked over, Jeremy's face was contorted in pain. Michael shook him, wanting to wake him up from whatever nightmare he was having. He shot up breathing heavily, his eyes wide with fear.

"Jeremy? It's ok..it's ok."

"I-I'm sorry..I didn't..mean to s-scare you."

"No..Jeremy no..just-" Michael's sentence was cut off early when Jeremy hugged him tightly.

"Hey..I..do you wanna talk about it?"

"Maybe later.." Jeremy said, his voice sounding like he was about to cry.

"I care about you..and I don't like seeing you hurt, I just..you can talk to me.." Michael was blushing and tried to turn his head, but he didn't notice that Jeremy was also blushing and trying to hide it.

"Oh..I have been meaning to tell you something, Michael..I think-" Jeremy's sentence was cut off  by a loud knock at the bedroom door which caused him to jolt in fear and he instinctively reached for Michael's hand. The door opened and Henry stood there.

"Am I interrupting something?" Henry said still trying to figure out if Michael was lying about not being Jeremy's boyfriend.

"Oh-..um nothing, it's all..good here." Michael said, slowly removing his hand from Jeremy's.

"We..um-..I'll be right out."

"Good, I just wanted to make sure you weren't hiding." Henry sighed, while walking out.

Jeremy turned to face Michael, with questioning eyes. "Why would you be hiding?"

"I actually came to wake you up..uh..my brother is here..and-..I don't know. Just thought you should know."

"Oh well..this is great right? You guys can talk?"

"Yea, well I recommend you get some more sleep."

Right before Michael walked out the door he said one last thing.

"Iloveyougoodnight."He said it so fast Jeremy could barely understand him and didn't get to respond before he shut the door.

Things went off without a hitch, although it was a bit awkward at first. After a bit of small talk and pleasant conversation a bang sounded from the guest room, followed by a shout and a thud.

"What was that?" Chris said, sounding a bit scared, assuming that someone could have broken in.

"It's just Jeremy, I gotta..go check." Michael got up and walked quickly towards the room, Chris following closely behind. He opened the door and switched the light on.

Jeremy was on the floor, blankets strewn about. His eyes were wide with fear, and his breath came in ragged gasps.

"Jeremy..what's wrong?"
Jeremy immediately looked up and crushed Michael in a tight hug.

"Oh thank god you're still alive.." he said muffled against his chest.

"I..um.. Chris? You can go back out-..I'll be back in a minute."

Chris just nodded with a confused look on his face and closed the door behind him.

"Why wouldn't I be alive? Jeremy what's..wrong?"

"I-I was having a dream and you ..and you died and I couldn't get to you in time and everything was ..was so bloody." He was rambling at this point, his words almost unintelligible as he cried into Michael's chest.

Michael just held him tighter, not knowing what to say.

"Promise me y-you won't e-ever leave me like that?" He asked, his sobs lessening.

"I..promise." Michael said feeling guilty. He knew very well that he might one day break that promise, But he didn't want to make Jeremy more distraught.

Jeremy's sobs had lessened and he had pulled away from Michael.

"I didn't want to tell you but ..I've been having nightmares, about ..it."

"About when you were kidnapped?"

"Yea..I just..keep seeing him..I haven't been sleeping much. I'm sorry. I should've told you."

"It's okay. Anything I can do to help?"

"I..not really no, I think I'll be fine so you can go now."

"You sure?"

"Yea."

When he walked back out, all eyes were on him.

"What happened?" Henry asked.

"It was just Jeremy, he had a nightmare." Before anyone could ask questions about it Chris spoke up.

"Who is Jeremy? Is he your-"

"No."

"I didn't even finish though?"

"You were about to say boyfriend, we just live together."

"Oh, so you're not gay?"

Michael swore he heard a laugh from Charlie.

"Probably not. I mean no, uh. So..are you dating anyone?"

"I had a girlfriend about a year ago, she just kinda..disappeared? No idea where she went."

"Oh. I'm sorry." Michael said, feeling bad for his brother.

"It's okay, so..have you dated anyone?" Chris questioned.

"No. Never found the time." He responded quietly.

"What have you spent your time doing?"

Michael had the undying urge to make a your mom joke, but refrained from doing so.

"Just some research. Not much."

He heard the door open, and quiet footsteps sounded down the hall.

A horrified looking Jeremy stumbled out, his hair sticking out all over the place from sleeping.

"I think we have a problem."

Hello! I know it's been quite awhile, I'll try my best to update more frequently. Please tell me what you thought or what you would like to see next! Have a wonderful day!