Where is Home now?

Chapter 2

"Why are you always fighting me, Jeremy!" Brooks snarled quietly below Scott, who was perched up in a tree.

"Will you two knock it off down there." Scotts words were drowned out as the two other males.

"All you ever care about is yourself! Grow the fuck up and get your head out of the clouds. The world doesn't revolve around you! Even if it did your girlfriend and child would have still died!" Jeremy shouted. Brooks snarled and shoved him back into the trunk of the large oak tree Scott was in.

"Guys! Knock it off!" Scott shouted as he climb down from the tree. Brooks had a tight hold on Jeremy's throat as he squeezed tightly.

"Don't you dare talk about my family like you knew them at all!" Brooks shouted between choked sobs. Scott had never seen Brooks angry before and was afraid of what he'd do if he didn't get between them fast Brooks would do something he regret. As soon as he was on the ground Scott charged at Brooks, tackling him to the ground. As soon as Jeremy was free, he dropped to the ground and gasped.

"You can't just do shit like that, Brooks!" Scott shouted at the crying man as he pinned him down. "Yes I know that what he had said hurt you but you have to be the bigger fucking man and Let. It. Go." Brooks continued to struggle under him quietly as he bit back another weak, choked up sob. He finally got off of Brooks and watched quietly as Brooks curled in on himself. Scott sighed and looked over at Jeremy. Jeremy was holding his throat softly as he let out quiet sobs.

"What did you think was going to happen?" Scott asked softly as he quietly walked away.

Jeremy was never the same after that. He was always jumpy which lead to his death.

"Scotty?"  Scott heard a voice off in the distance and began looking around. As soon as his eyes landed on Ryan he snapped out of his dream.

"Huh?" Scott rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he glanced over to Ryan quietly.

"Are you alright?" Ryan asked softly. It was dark outside the tree house which made it hard to tell what time it was.

"Yeah buddie." Scott muttered softly as he sat up and ruffled Ryan's hair. Ryan hummed softly at his touch as  leaned into his hand softly. "How have you been holding up?"

"I'm fine Scotty... I just can't sleep..." Scott nodded softly as he sighed. Scott gave a softly smile and moved over a little bit to allow Ryan to crawl into bed with him quietly. Scott softly wrapped his arms around the smaller boy as he softly rubbed circles along his spine.

"I got you now..." Scott whispered softly for only Ryan to hear.

"I know..." Ryan muttered as he fell asleep.

Scott lay awake, unable to fall back asleep, afraid if he did the young male would be gone. He quietly lay there as the sun came up, shining through the cracks in the dark curtains. He heard movement as Brooks sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes.

"Why are you up?" He heard Brooks ask softly, as his eyes met Scotts.

"I couldn't go back to sleep..." Scott said softly.

"I know that feeling..." Brooks  said softly.

"I had that dream about Jeremy again..." Scott muttered quietly. Brooks knew which one he was talking about so he didn't give it much question. Scott jumped slightly as the smaller male in his arms shifted and rolled over to face the wall, freeing Scott so he could rise to his feet.  

"How's the kid." Brooks asked softly.

"I think he's still having nightmares, but I'm not 100% sure about it..." Scott muttered.

"I need to do a parameter sweep, Scotty." Brooks says softly. "Wanna come with?" Brooks gets to his feet slowly and looks at Scott. Scott gives a soft sigh before he gets to his feet.

"Sure. Let's get out of here..." Scott says softly.

"Stop being so stubborn!" Brooks shouted at Jeremy. Jeremy just quietly glanced up at the boy before he looked back down at the ground in front of him. Blood oozed through his fingers slowly as he held his hand over his wound.  

"Dammit Jeremy! Just listen to me!"  Brooks pleaded with him. "You need to stand up! We need to keep going!"  Brooks never thought he'd get upset for his man in his life but watching him just give up was heart breaking. Brooks watched quietly as he watched Jeremy sink down to his knees finally letting the feeling of dread sink in. 

"Get out of here." Jeremy said softly. 

"No! Not without you! Jeremy dammit!"  Brooks pleaded again. "Scott is just up ahead! We'll get you help!"  

"It's to late for me, Brooks!" Jeremy shouted at him. "I'm bitten!"  Brooks felt his stomach drop as the realization dawned on him. Jeremy had been bitten  in the attack and it was Brooks fault.

"Fucking kill me!" Jeremy shouted at him again, pulling him  from his thoughts.

"I can't do that..." Brooks said weakly.

"I don't want to be one of them..." Jeremy begged. Brooks gave a weak sigh, pulled out his gun and slowly pulled the trigger. He showed no emotion until he found his way back to Scott.

"Where's Jeremy...?" Scott asked softly as if he had already knew the answer.

"He was bitten... Asked me to shot him..." Brooks wouldn't look at Scott. His pistol hung loosely in his hands. 

"Brooks... Come here." Scott said softly. Brooks did as he was told and walked closer to Scott. Scot pulled him in for a hug and Brooks finally broke. He began to sob as he knew that Jeremy's deaths was his fault. "It's alright... I got you now." Scott said softly.

"Hey Brooks? You alright?" Scott asked softly.

"Yeah... I'm fine just thinking." It wasn't a complete lie. He smiled softly as they did their perimeter sweep.

"Scott? Brooks?" A voice Scott barely recognized the voice of the person in front of him. 

"No way... How are you alive?" Scott asked softly.