Tick Tock Part One - Hickory

Phantasmagoria

"Jack?" Reed burst through the wooden door, breathing heavily as he stumbled into the dimly lit tower. "Jack!" he shouted as he looked at the chair. His partner was there. He was right there, and he was alive! He was trying to speak around the tape across his lips, blue eyes wide as he shook his head and struggled against the ropes tying him in place. Reed was there in an instant, throwing himself on his knees as he pulled the tape off and leaned around to get the ropes.

"Detective Reed!" It was Connor's voice sobbing in his ear. Reed's eyes widened as he realised he was leaning against Connor's grey jacket. He didn't have time to think about it. He had to get the ropes untied. Connor's wrists were bleeding blue, his synthetic skin pink and irritated around the edges as he struggled in the chair. Loud steps filled the silence as he finally pulled him free. "Detective, look out!" Reed grunted as Connor grabbed his waist and threw them both down on the dusty floorboards. A shot rang out. Splintering wood cracked as the backrest of the chair shattered.

"What the phck?" Reed grumbled warily as he rolled to his feet, chest lurching as he came face to face with the naked RK900, its silvery eyes cold and hard. It smirked at them as it raised his handgun. Reed checked his holster in disbelief. He'd had it in his hand on the way up the stairs. When the hell had he dropped it? When had he lost it? He grabbed Connor's wrist and dragged him behind, shielding him protectively as he stared at the larger android.

"Shoot it, Detective!" Simon's voice cried in his ear. Reed was so surprised that he turned to face him. Wasn't it Connor a second ago? He was sure it had been Connor, but it was supposed to be Jack! He had to find Jack! But Simon was here, and here was...Where the phck are we? Reed stepped back and looked around, his head pounding at the sudden brightness. Stinging. Blood. Blood on his forehead, running over one eye. Warm. Sticky. There were no bells. It was light. Clean. Clinical. White on blue on black. Consoles. So many consoles. Simon was staring up at him.

"Shit! Get down!" Reed snapped as he pushed him towards the consoles and turned to hit the android stalking towards them. "Connor? What?" he stammered as Connor pressed the barrel of the gun against his bleeding forehead. Green eyes widened as Connor smirked. He never smirked. His hazel eyes looked almost gleeful as he stepped closer. Reed was too stunned to move.

"And this time, it's definitive," Connor mocked in a sinfully smooth tone. Reed gasped as the gun pointed over his shoulder and fired, the shot reverberating in his ear. He turned to look. Jack's stunned face stared back at him with a look of horror and surprise. No! Reed's chest ached. He couldn't breathe. Connor was laughing. It was maniacal. Hysterical. His LED was flashing red and yellow as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"J-Jack!" Gavin sobbed as he slumped down beside him. He was pale. His hands shook as he fisted them in Jack's bloodstained shirt. He couldn't breathe as he sobbed and leaned down. Blood soaked his chest as he gathered Jack in his arms and held him tighter. Not again-not again! Phck! He drew back to meet blue eyes. Blue eyes leaking blue thirium. The child was limp in his arms. He cried harder as he let go and pushed himself away. What the phck? What-the-phck?

He somehow managed to scramble to his feet, stumbling back until he hit a firm chest. A bare arm snaked across his pecs. A firm hand gripped his throat. Squeezing. Squeezing. Choking. He tried to struggle, to pull away. A second arm looped around his waist, bending him over. A heavy weight pressed against his back. He thrashed and writhed, falling away. Dusty wooden floorboards. Pain in his knees. He got to his feet. Dim light. Dust floating through the air. The chair. The bells.

"J-Jack?" Gavin stammered as he stumbled towards the chair. Bile rose in his throat as he fell to his knees, staring at his own dead face. Blood trickled from a hole in his temple. His body slumped forward, green eyes barely open and staring vacantly at his knees. He reached out, touching the cold cheek. Blood on denim. Blood on leather. Slumped forward in the chair. Still restrained. "Give him back! Phck!" Gavin cried as he shoved the chair. Jack was supposed to be here! Jack was always here!

"Gav! Gav, it's okay!" Jack's voice soothed in his ear. Gavin turned with blurred eyes, getting to his feet and stumbling, gripping Jack's warm shoulders and pulling him closer. "Hey, come here. It's okay, Gav." Soft lips caressed his neck. Strong arms held him close. Reed felt his body stiffen. Wrong. Wrong! It was wrong! He pushed back a little. Jack's warm blue eyes met his own. A rough hand touched his cheek. He had that smug grin on his face.

"What are you doing?" Gavin asked vulnerably as Jack leaned in. Gavin pushed against his shoulders, holding him back. Wrong!

"Isn't this what you always wanted?" Jack's teasing lips latched onto his neck again, hands rising from his waist, teasing his hips and spine. Gavin shivered, his chest aching with want as he dodged the lips that leaned in to kiss him. Wrong! It was all wrong! Jack would never. Jack wasn't like that. He'd always known that. He'd accepted that. "Kiss me, Gavin...kiss me," Jack sighed as he cradled his cheek and tilted his head.

"No! Nnmm!" Gavin objected as Jack's lips mashed his own. His stomach dropped at the sensation. It was everything he'd ever wanted, but it felt wrong. He tried to pull away, but Jack's taller form pushed forward. A hand lifted his leg and pressed him against the wall. Wall? A white wall. Gentle light. Soft and warm. Home. He was home, and he was with Jack. "Jack, wait! Sandy!" he objected between gasping breaths. Cool air caressed his skin as Jack shrugged his top off.

"She doesn't need to know, Gav." They were both breathless. Large hands explored his body beneath his top. His skin tingled with anticipation, stomach tight with want. Sandy was like a sister to him. He was the godfather of their child. Jack wasn't even gay. This wasn't supposed to be happening! He pushed him back, meeting silvery eyes and freckled cheeks. He froze in confusion, eyes falling on the blue LED spinning. Spinning. Spinning.

"Kiss me," the RK900 sighed needily as he leaned in. Gavin pushed back warily. Where's Jack? Why was an android standing naked in his bedroom? Gavin gasped as he was lifted, gripping the RK900's shoulders for support as his legs and ankles locked around its waist. He was naked. The android was naked. What the phck? "Kiss me." Gavin's chest felt heavy as he leaned down and accepted the insistent lips. He moaned into it instantly. Hands squeezed his ass. Gripped his thighs. A thrust. A cry. Gasping in his ear. Hot breath on his neck. A gun shot.

Gavin's eyes snapped open as he fell to the wooden floor. He turned over and pushed himself to his knees, finding himself fully dressed again. The chair. Jack's body. The bells. He clapped his hands over his aching head and whined as they rang. The room shook. His body ached to the core. He looked up. The body was Connor's. Blue dripped from his forehead. His eyes. His mouth. No more! No more! Make it stop! Gavin got to his feet, shrieking above the bells as he stumbled to the open edge of the tower. He stepped off. Rushing air. Blurring stone. Make it stop...

He landed hard on the dusty floor. Hands grabbed him. He whimpered as he was forced into the chair. Strong hands forced his arms behind his back, tying his wrists. He heard his name. Connor's voice in his ear. Connor stepped into view. Blue on his forehead. Blue on his lips. Another voice. Jack. Red trailed down from his temple. A hand stroked his cheek. A whisper. The YK600. Staring, crying, choking, chest wide open. The murmur of his name. Simon staring down at him. Blue dripped down his arm and leg. Another voice. A hand on his shoulder. The naked RK900. Bullet holes in its chest and forehead healing fast as it reached out to touch his breastbone. Crushing. Snapping. Can't breathe! His name from all sides. Blue mixed with red. Touches. Hands on his skin. The press of metal. A barrel against his forehead. The RK900. Please...Please...A dull click. Please...I don't want it...

On his knees. Dusty floorboards. Jack in the chair. Body slumping. Temple bleeding. The gun in his hand. Reed choked on a sob. He didn't want to see this again. He couldn't do this again! His lips trembled as he lifted the gun, pressing it against the soft skin beneath his chin. I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I can't...He closed his eyes. Hot tears spilling. Hands shaking. Barrel on his chin. Finger on the trigger. He squeezed. Pain. Pressure. His head splitting. A scream on his lips. It's not over. It's never over. Why? Why? Why?

His back hit the wooden floorboards. He choked on a sob. Jack straddled his hips. Blood running down his temple. A smirk on his lips as he caressed his cheek. Connor's hand in his hair. Blue on his lips. Lips that spoke. He couldn't hear. Make it stop...Please make it stop...Simon playing pat-a-cake with the YK600, thirium dripping on the floor between them. Gavin's head tipped back to stare into piercing pools of silvery blue. Lips on his. A greasy, oily taste. Thirium. Gavin tried to turn his head. No more...A hush in his ear. A hand gripped his throat.