The Garden of Vacant Dreams

Out of Your Control

A/N: Saban/Disney own the characters you know. I own the ones you don't. This chapter is dedicated to my big sister, Jordan. I love and miss you, always. 1987-2011

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

OUT OF YOUR CONTROL

"Tommy?" Hayley asked as she walked over to him.

But he didn't respond, his eyes were still on the TV. "Tommy, please say something."

She glanced from the TV to him before crossing her arms and walking to the end of his bed. She stood directly in front of it, blocking his view. To her surprise Tommy blinked once and redirected his eyes up at her.

"Do you need anything? Some water?" Her concern for him was eating at her. He didn't respond, his eyes still in line with hers. "Come on Tommy… I can't handle this silence." She paused hoping for yet another response that didn't come. "Should I go get Carlos? I don't know what else-"

He slowly shook his head, his response impelling her to come back to his side. She pulled up the chair Kim had sat in earlier as she rested her hands on his forearm and looked up at him.

He slowly turned his head in her direction as he swallowed. Hayley noticed this as she grabbed the water bottle she had brought Jason earlier from the table next to his bed.

"Drink some of this." She said as she took the cap off and extended the bottle to him.

It took him a moment to respond as he slowly grabbed the bottle from her with his good arm and took a couple of sips. "Thanks." He quietly spoke as he handed it back to her with half a grin.

Hayley smiled at his response but her expression faded as quickly as his did. She rested her hands on his forearm again as he looked away from her. 'God, he looks so exhausted.' She thought as she rubbed his arm and tried to read his face.

"Jason can't know." He started, his tone soft and slightly strained.

She was about to ask him what he was talking about but then it hit her, "You saw that entire broadcast…" She began without receiving a response, "Tommy, he should know about this. He wants to protect Jamie too."

"No…" He shook his head, "Not until I'm gone."

"What do you mean?" Hayley quickly inquired, "Where are you going?"

He looked back over at her with a solemn expression, "You know the answer to that already, Hayley."

She looked away then as she shook her head. She, for one, couldn't believe how non-chalant Tommy was acting. She had figured he would be angry and irrational with all that had happened to him; especially with this televised revelation they had both just seen. But Tommy was as calm as ever, "I don't understand how there can't be any way of saving you… How there isn't some- some sort of cure or way to break the tie between you and him."

"It's old magic… It's more powerful than anything I've ever seen, Anton too… and Mesogog has found a way to manipulate it. " He paused, grimacing as he started to feel pain in his arm and back.

"What is it?" She asked immediately, "What's wrong?"

"…I'm fine." He told her as he let out a calming breath, "Whatever Carlos gave me is wearing off."

"Well let me go get him." She suggested as she sprung up from her chair.

"Hayley… stay. Please just stay." He insisted as he reached for her arm to hold her back.

His pleading tone grabbed her instantly. She sat back down as she took hold of his hand. She held onto it tightly as he looked at her, 'Be stronger than this, Hayley. I can't bear to see you this way.' He thought as she continued to display her melancholic expression. She was scared and that was more than evident to him.