Letting Him In

Chapter-28

"I still can't see the light at the end of the tunnel
Just see those hometown lights we were both playing under
Wish I could press reset, but it's not that easy"

-Liam Payne, Remember.
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Elijah

"I still can't believe you're making Kaeden tell the others for you," Dean said, looking at him from the driver's seat. He looked like he wasn't sure he he was about to laugh or reprimand Elijah.

After spending most of the day with Dean at his little hideout, he was in a considerably good mood. A couple hours ago, he had texted Kaeden, asking him to tell Allen, Christian and Nate about his cancer; the phonecall from a very distressed Kaeden telling Elijah just how much he sucked seemed to have amused Dean to no end.

In the end, he had agreed to be the one to tell them. It had been harder to explain how Dean already knew, so Elijah had simply said he had told Dean and he couldn't bring himself to tell other people. It was only partiality a lie, but he still felt guilty for keeping secrets from his best friend.

Now, in the car with Dean, Elijah rolled his eyes at him.

"Keep rolling your eyes and they'll get stuck that way," Dean teased.

"Keep talking and I'll never let you drive my car again," he retorted.

Dean frowned, his eyebrows drawing together as he didn't say anything. His lips turned up in a slight pout, making Elijah laugh softly.

"I'm kidding, Dean," he said. "And yeah, I made Kade tell them. Because honestly, I don't think I can do it again without completely breaking down this time. I'm trying to keep it together for everyone's sake, but I can't keep talking about it."

It was hard to admit it, but as much as he was trying to keep it together, he knew sooner or later he would break. And he wasn't the only one who was trying. Earlier this morning, when he had been leaving with Dean, his mother had tried to cover up her puffy, red eyes with a smile and a hug. His father and siblings were already gone by then, but it didn't take a genius to figure out how they felt. Kaeden had been a wreck when they had left the hospital the previous day, and even though he had tried to hide it from Elijah, his shaking hands as he gripped the steering wheel had given him away. Even Dean, who wasn't treating Elijah too differently after the news, would cast him the occasional worried glance or try to subtly ask him how he was doing.

Elijah felt like everyone was waking on eggshells around him. Like he was some cracked glass that would break if touched the wrong way.

He needed everyone to realize that just because they had found out what was going on with him now, it didn't mean that it had just happened. It had been happening for a while. And one wrong move wouldn't shatter him. The endless worry and sympathy and anxiety would.

He didn't notice that they had reached his house until Dean turned off the engine. Elijah blinked, looking around and realizing the driveway lights were still on.

Dean's hand reached across the centre consol to rest on Elijah's, stopping his anxiously drumming fingers against his thigh.

"Li, please. I know I can't even begin to imagine how you feel, but one night. Have fun. We'll figure out everything after that. You're not turning eighteen again," Dean said, his voice soft.

The hand on Elijah's felt like it was spreading warmth all through his body. He cracked a small smile.

"You're right," he said, making Dean smile. A random thought occurred to him, and he added with a little smirk, "You know, since I'm eighteen now, you're finally legally allowed to kiss me. Before this..." he trailed off, a small laugh bubbling up as Dean let out a strangled sound.