The Night Shift One-Shots

TC - Trapdoor

Word Count: 1374

Warnings: Depictions of attempted suicide, PTSD

A/N: I didn't intend for this to be as dark as it ended up, but it happened, so there you go. Enjoy! This is based on the Twenty One Pilots song Trapdoor, just in case any of you were wondering.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He wakes up early today

Throws on a mask that will alter his face

TC woke up that evening groggy and too alert. He'd seen Thad die again in his dream, his blood spattered against the door. He's hesitated – and that had cost his brother's life. That guilt haunted his every move.

Drew would notice something was wrong straight away if he went into work looking like this, so he worked on what he could – shaving properly, icing the bags under his eyes to try and reduce the dark purple shadows a little.

Nobody knows his real name
But now he just uses one he saw on a grave

Thomas Charles Callahan. The name everybody knew, but no-one used. He'd stopped using it when it had become Thad's last words. He'd uttered 'Thomas – Charles' as he collapsed. The memory rattled in TC's head as he rode his motorcycle to work. 'Accidentally' crashing the bike was a thought that had crossed his mind more than once, especially in the first few weeks after Thad, and coming home from Afghanistan.

And he pretends he's okay, but you should see, oh
Him in bed late at night, he's petrified
Take me out, and finish this waste of a life

"TC, everything alright?" Drew asked, the very second TC traipsed in, heading for the locker room to dump his helmet. TC waved him off with a noncommittal nod and walked away.

He threw his helmet on top of the lockers – it was too big to fit in his locker – as he did every night. Some kind of regularity felt good, but still didn't calm the raging storm in his brain. Everything was wrong.

Everyone gather around for a show
Watch as this man disappears as we know

"T, you sure everything's OK?" Drew pressed, not letting up. He knew something wasn't right, and TC wouldn't spit it out until he was on his wits end, so Drew would keep pushing until he got to that point. What surprised him, however, was the fact that TC turned to face him and begin to gently pull him back towards the locker room.

Do me a favour and try to ignore
As you watch him fall through a bleeding trapdoor

Both men sat on opposing benches. "Are you gonna talk to me, T, or just sit there?" TC hadn't realised they'd been sat there for a solid five minutes.

"I saw it again. I watched him go." TC admitted quietly, the deathly silence echoing around them. Drew didn't need to ask, he'd seen TC fall apart over Thad more than once, but it was worse this time.

"I know it's hard T, I seriously do, but try ang get through this shift, then we can go back to my place. Bri would love to see you again and I'm sure it will put Rick's mind at rest knowing he's not gonna get called out to you on a highway bridge again." Drew's words were somewhat comforting, showing TC that there were people around him who cared, but his mention of his last attempt – merely three months ago – just put fresh ideas in the man's head.

He thinks that faith might be dead
Nothing kills a man faster than his own head

TC got through the shift but declined Drew's offer. He couldn't intrude on the family like that, and in his current state, who knows what he could end up doing. He was unstable – erratic even – and he didn't want Brianna seeing him like that. The thoughts of yesterday's dream hadn't left him all night.

That highway bridge was becoming a lot more tempting by the second.

He used to see dreams at night
But now he's just watching the backs of his eyes

Oh, how TC wished that was true. Every time he closes his eyes, even blinking, he saw something. Whether it was Thad, or just someone shooting at him, he nearly collapsed every time he blinked.

He pretends he's okay, but you should see
Him in bed late at night, he's petrified
Take me out and finish this waste of a life

He parked his motorcycle in clear view of the street, but not in the way. When someone was inevitably called out to him – it happened every time – he wanted them to know it was him.

Everyone gather around for a show
Watch as this man disappears as we know

The familiar blue lights flashed behind him. He was sat crossed legged, his forehead against the bars. He stood up as he heard, and felt, someone approach him from behind. Leaning heavily on the barrier, he folded his torso just a little over the top. Not enough to fall, but enough to get the rush of being so high up and in so much danger. Enough to panic whoever was behind him.

Do me a favour and try to ignore
As you watch him fall through a bleeding trapdoor

Take me out and finish this waste of life

"TC, buddy. We've been here before, you know the drill man." It was Drew, but there was someone else with him.

"Who else is with you?" His voice was harsh as he spoke, unfamiliar.

"It's just Rick, you know him. You're not going to do anything rash now, are you?" It was a legitimate question, not some stupid reverse psychology. "T?"

"Why shouldn't I?" No-one said anything. "Seriously, Drew. Why shouldn't I?" He spat, almost laughing now. Drew was kicking himself. He shouldn't have let TC go home alone. It was only just getting properly light though, Drew noted, TC never got home.

"List five people you know, who care, TC. If you can't get five, then I'm not going to walk away, but I'll let Rick get you, I am not letting you fall. If you can get five, which I know for a fact you should be able to, then you walk away, and we sort this out. Deal?" Drew negotiated. This had worked last time, but TC wasn't this worked up last time.

Everyone gather around for a show
Watch as this man disappears as we know

"You." TC began, sealing the deal.

"Right."

"Rick?" He was almost questioning that.

"Definitely." Rick interjected, the sudden change in voice making TC jump and fold a little further over the bar. The two men a few feet away from him tensed.

"Topher, Krista, Jordan." TC finished, then sighed.

"All correct. Are you keeping your end of the bargain then?" TC straightened up but didn't let go of the railing. He suddenly pushed up and locked his elbows out, hovering a few inches above the ground, then began to tip forwards. "TC NO!" Drew yelled, dashing forward, feet perfectly in sync with Rick's as they both ran towards the man slowly losing balance and falling over the edge.

Do me a favour and try to ignore
When you watch him fall through a bleeding trapdoor

TC flipped over the bars and began falling, revelling in the feeling of freefall, only to be snapped from his glory by two sets of strong hands gripping him under his arms. "Like I said, I am not letting you fall." Drew reiterated, working with his husband to pull the now struggling TC back onto the right side of the barrier.

"C'mon, buddy. Work with us here!" Rick insisted. "I know this is the last thing you want, being saved and all, but the more you fight the worse this is gonna be."

"I – don't – want – to – be – here!" TC spat between forceful attempts of escape at the men on either side of him. Another two cars pulled up next to the squad car and Jordan and Topher got out of them.

"TC!" Jordan yelled, running over. She stood in front of her boyfriend and cradled his face, a hand on wither cheek. "T come on. Listen, please. I know that right now, you want this, but we can talk this through, and we can get through this. We've done this three times now, and we can do it again." She said, obviously trying to fight back her own tears.

"I love you J. I'm sorry." He went limp between Drew and Rick and finally allowed himself to be put in the back of Jordan's car where he slumped aimlessly in the front seat.

Cause nobody knows he's alive