Scars

Scars of Connection

As soon as the sun had fully set Henry and Karen headed back to Billy's room.

As they approached the waiting room near Billy's room they saw everyone sitting around except for Max, Eddie, Steve, Robin and Nancy.

"Is visiting hours over?" Karen asked, confused because the hospital didn't have any as far as she knew.

Ted went over and said:

"Billy was doing just fine and then Steve touched his hand and with a visible spark Billy's whole attitude changed. Suddenly the only people he wanted in his room were Max and Eddie. He said that they were the only ones who hadn't lied to him. Then out of nowhere, something came over Steve and he started telling Billy he had no right to judge anyone after what he did to him and Lucas which in return Max chewed Steve out with multiple expletives with Eddie joining in with Max on cursing Steve out. Thankfully Wayne, who was feeling his own rush of emotions and myself were able to get everyone out but Max and Eddie since Billy wanted them to stay. Steve stormed off swearing under his breath and when he didn't return after an hour Robin and Nancy went searching for him. Meanwhile, we have a waiting room of teenagers in all sorts of moods, mostly confused. I think their connection is feeding off their emotions over the last year. We need to have an intervention before they kill someone, each other or even themselves. Since the power to control the elements isn't very helpful here I'm going to be taking the babysitter role until their respective parents arrive.
Unfortunately darling It's going to be up to you and Henry to at least get a bandaid on this break".

Karen and Henry looked at each other and sighed.

"We can't do much while Billy is in the hospital but once he's released we will stage an intervention. I just hope Steve is safe wherever he went" Karen said as she slid into a chair between Ted and Henry.

"You know your powers will come in handy if those two end up going wild. You can freeze them in place" Karen said with a laugh and kissed Ted's cheek.

Inside Billy's room was just as tense as the atmosphere in the waiting room.

Billy hadn't said a word and wouldn't touch the dinner the nurses had brought for him.

"Billy you have to eat or you will never get out of the hospital," Max said trying to keep her emotions in check.

Silence.

"Hey Billy your sister and I really would love it if you would just eat a small amount," Eddie said softly.

Silence.

Billy just stared at the door his blue eyes staring at nothing.

"Billy please talk to us" max said and laid her head on his hand.

Elsewhere at Benny's Diner Steve sat at a booth and was staring at a half-eaten hamburger, a full basket of fries and an open beer.

He didn't move or react in the least when Nancy and Robin sat on each side of him and each one put a hand on his.

Robin took the opportunity to steal a couple of fries smiling back at a glaring Nancy as she said "What I haven't eaten and I'm starving" making Nancy sigh in exasperation but she didn't say anything back to her.

Nancy turned her attention back to the broken young man next to her and softly asked "Steve what happened back there"?

Silence.

"Steve, we can't help you if you won't talk to us," Nancy tried again, this time squeezing his hand.

Silence.

As the front doorbell chimed announcing another customer for Benny, Nancy took in a deep breath trying to control her emotions, and said "Steve just tell us what happened".

What they didn't know, what no one knew was Billy and Steve were only there in body but their minds were elsewhere.

And in this place Billy and Steve stood on either side of a mirror staring into the other's face instead of their own.

Steve saw a young Billy reaching for help as his father cracked his belt behind him while Billy saw a young Steve reaching for the vanishing figures of a man and woman as they walked out a door.

Suddenly the mirror burst into a million shards leaving Steve and Billy staring at one another.

"You are the future" whispered a voice in the darkness.

Both Billy and Steve tried to look around but they couldn't move from where they were, they couldn't even close their eyes.

"Only if you two work as one will we all survive," the voice said again as the ground started to crack under their feet.

"Grab my hand Harrington" Billy screamed as he balanced on a higher piece of Earth and reached out for the doe-eyed man across from him.

Steve reached out and as their fingertips touched they both woke up screaming.