Words In The Wind (Koe-chan and Zombie_In_A_Box) [possibly 18+]

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander frowned slightly, gently squeezing Beck's shoulder. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked softly, lightly biting his lip. "You know you can just go home if you don't feel so good." The raven added with a smile, pulling his hand away. Perhaps it was because of something he said?.. Oh man, was he too bold? "Err... Beckett, did I say something wrong?" He asked carefully, slight nervousness in his voice. Crap, if he was the one at fault for Beck's state... He failed as a boss sometimes, huh?

[BlaqueCatt]

The young man quickly shook his head in response to his boss' question. "No, no, it's nothing that you did. It's...well, I guess it's just me." This time, when he smiled, it was bitter. "There are some thing that I...that I haven't been able to overcome yet, so if it's anyone's fault, it's mine." He turned away and clicked the send button, turning in the finished report to Alexander. God, I'm such an idiot. He forced back the tightness in his chest and closed his laptop before slipping it into his bag. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I'm just going to use the restroom before I get my next assignment." He gave Alexander another smile; he was grateful towards the older man, but was disappointed in himself. Then, without another word, he made his way to the bathroom. He needed to release some of his emotions before returning to work, or else he'd never make it through the day.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander bit down on the inside of his cheek while listening, his expression going a little bit sour, yet mostly - worried. The raven took a small step back, feeling a bit attacked. When Beckett turned around, the man clenched his teeth, grabbed the other's hand and basically dragged him outside. Quite obviously, he seemed angry. "Cause me trouble? The only one you've been causing trouble for has been you! What's so wrong you can't even work properly? Is there anything I should know? What... Just what the hell can I do to help?" Anger slowly disappeared from his eyes, leaving just a broken man. Honestly, his marriage had already fallen apart - the last he needed was his company dying too.

[BlaqueCatt]

The brunette choked on a gasp when he was suddenly grabbed from behind. Before he knew what was happening he found himself being dragged outside. As soon as they stopped, wide brown eyes that resembled a deer-in-headlights stared up at the taller man. "I-I..." He hadn't been confronted like this in years. Usually people just left him alone; no one had ever reached out except his high-school guidance counselor. He floundered for a response all while Alexander's words sunk into him. Without his knowledge, his shoulders had started shaking. "I-I c-can work properly..." he stuttered, feeling heat prick behind his eyes. Was Alexander telling him that he wasn't good at his job? Before he could ask, the other man finished, and Beckett felt as if he had been punched. "Just what the hell can I do to help? He had not been expecting that, and as a result he stood frozen for several moments. Then he averted eye contact. "I...I don't know if you can help," he confessed, blinking to hold in tears. "I-I've had ext-treme a-anxiety and minor depression for years but I thought I was over it so I didn't put it on my application--" He was once again speaking too fast, not even paying attention to what he was saying. "I'm sorry that I'm not good enough..."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander could feel fear creeping in as he waited for the reply. Once he did, he realized he'd never felt this guilty and ashamed at the same time. His fingertips trembled before he squeezed his hands into fists. "I can hire a psychologist. I can make sure your work doesn't exhaust you in psychological ways. I can... I want to, at least." He muttered out, taking a small step back as he brought his arms around himself. "You should've told me..." The raven added, his voice having a small tremble. He didn't expect this, and now he had no idea what to say or do next. No, he knew what he would be doing after work, but until that moment... How was he supposed to deal with Beckett?

[BlaqueCatt]

The brunette shook his head. "Th-thank you, but you don't have to do anything." His brown eyes had caught Alexander's uneasy movements, and of course, he blamed himself. "I-I can deal with it on my own. You don't have to worry about my condition affecting my work any more. I'll have it figured out this weekend." He gave the older man a timid smile, his hands gripping the hem of his shirt. "You don't have to treat me any differently than the others." There was a pause, then, "Actually, you should be more worried about them. They do much better work than I." After inhaling deeply in an attempt to calm himself, he met Alexander's eyes. "I won't let this become an issue for you. You've already done so much for me."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander stared at the other with utter disbelief in his eyes. "What the hell are you talking about? You'll have it figured out? Beck, I can't... I can't just look away!" He spoke, biting the inside of his cheek. "I don't care how much I've done.. No, I haven't done anything for you. Beckett, you have to let me help you! Your problems are my problems, they're this company's problems! We... Beck, we're like family here. That means we share the problems that can be solved, and this... This can be solved." The raven finished, gripping the younger by his shoulders. "So please, let us help you."

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett flinched when he was grabbed, and his eyes widened. Disbelief and insecurity were reflected in their depths. "B-but...I..." I can't be part of your family. I haven't done anything to warrant that. The words stayed lodged in his throat, however, and no matter how many times he swallowed, they wouldn't come out. "I don't understand," he whispered at last, and the teary shimmering had returned. "Why do you want to help me? I haven't done anything for you. I'm just causing trouble." He sniffed and quickly brought a hand up to wipe at his eyes, trying to pull away.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander felt a twinge of pain somewhere in his chest as Beckett tried to pull away, tears shimmering in his eyes. Without thinking, the raven pulled him closer into a hug, holding him tightly. "We'll help you overcome all problems. Besides, you haven't caused us any trouble! Look, if... I think you could be a great journalist if you managed to overcome your anxiety. Just from your reports I can see you're a good writer... Everyone here is ready to help! And... I really want to help in whatever way you need."

[BlaqueCatt]

The brunette inhaled sharply when he was suddenly pulled into a hug. He stiffened at first, but then he gratefully accepted the comfort. For a few moments he worked on steadying his breathing, not saying anything. Then he slowly pulled away and wiped again at his eyes. "I...thank you." Beckett gave Alexander a shaky smile. The uncertainty was still there, but he seemed much calmer. "But I'm not really sure what you can do." He took a step back and nervously rubbed his left arm with his right hand, his gaze shifting to the ground. "I...I used to have a counselor, but when I turned eighteen my mom said I'd get over it, so I stopped seeing her. She never allowed me to think about...about medication, and I'm sot sure if I'm comfortable with that yet." A few stray tremors moved down his body. "I-I should probably call my sister...but she's in Germany now..."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander watched Beckett worriedly, his lips parting as if he was about to say something, but held himself back. Instead, he opted to just listening. What he heard, he wasn't sure he liked all that much. "Go and find your counselor's number, call her. If you can't pay for it, I... I'll pay for you." The raven sighed out as he placed a hand on the other's shoulder. "I mean... If it's bad, you probably should try medication. Although you don't have to listen to me." Alex smiled slightly, tightening his grip slightly. "As for your sister, if you really feel like you should call her, do it. I'm sure she'll understand."

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett's eyes widened when Alexander said he would pay. How far was this man going to go for someone he barely knew? I didn't think people like this actually existed... It was either that, or Alexander would want something from him later. However, the brunette doubted that for some reason. "I...o-okay. I'll call my counselor. And my sister." He gave the older man a timid smile, unsure of how to react in such a situation. "Thank you. I'll pay for it, though." He rubbed his arm uncertainly. "U-um...d-do you want me to go back to work?" he asked, his voice somewhat timid. "I can keep going..."

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander let out a soft sigh of relief, not fully realizing he may have gotten a bit out of line there. "Back to work? If you're one hundred percent sure, you can go back to work. I'll understand if you need a break..." The raven smiled, beginning to feel a bit awkward. "And, err... You know, I'm always here if you need someone to listen." He added with a slightly sheepish smile. The man stepped backwards, letting Beck get inside first. He was sure that there would be questions about what happened, but he was most certainly not in the mood to answer them.

[BlaqueCatt]

This time, Beckett answered with a more genuine smile than before. He was a cautious person by nature, but he was sure that Alexander wouldn't have done what he had if he hadn't really cared. I don't understand why...but I'm glad. The younger man was clearly relieved; though he wasn't sure how, he had found someone who was willing to listen to his problems and not cast him aside because of them. "Thank you," he repeated, more determined than ever to overcome his issues. Not only did he owe it to himself, but he owed it to Alexander now, too. The brunette turned around and made his way back to his desk.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander slowly exhaled, realization hitting him like a brick. He must've looked like a creep, who even does all this? Even when Beckett was already inside, the man stayed where he was. Instead, he pulled out his lighter and a pack of cigarettes, his fingers shaking slightly. He barely knew this guy and he was offering to fix his life, basically. Who does that?.. The man closed his eyes, taking in the first smoke. He didn't even have enough money to pay for all he said he would do. Was he this desperate for a new relationship? He was making this about himself again. In the end, everything had to be the best for him... It wasn't completely intentional, but it was true. Maybe this time he wanted to prove his wife he was better off without her. But hell, a part of him still believed he was actually doing this for someone else.

[BlaqueCatt]

The rest of the workday passed by a lot more smoothly, but Beckett still avoided his coworkers as often as he could, not trusting himself to appear completely normal quite yet. He still returned the smiles they gave him and answered questions when necessary, but other than that he stayed at his desk. The panic had left him, but the unease was still there. He wanted to get better, he did, but he was afraid of what that would take, and afraid that he wouldn't be able to do it. He was also unsure of what Alexander was doing. The man was being nice, but a bit too nice, and it unsettled the brunette. By the time the day had ended, Beckett was extremely tired, and he wanted nothing more than to go home. "Goodnight," he said softly to his boss when they met at the doorway. He attempted a smile, but his doe brown eyes conveyed his conflicting gratitude and uncertainty.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander spent a little bit more than necessary outside, standing in the cold, the bud of the cigarette on the ground, slowly going off in the snow. He wanted to get his life together... When he was finally ready to go back inside, the raven mostly avoided any questions or even glances, the realization of what he'd done still sinking in. The man spent the rest of the workday in the office, not daring to set a foot outside. He wasn't a simple man after all, although he wanted to be one so bad. The raven got ready to leave after he thought that everyone had too - that proved to be wrong, as he soon heard Beckett's timid 'goodbye'. Alex glanced at the other, a small smile pulling at his lips - it seemed a bit forced out. "Goodnight. Make sure to get enough rest..." He trailed off, as if he wanted to say something else, but changed his mind and left. He didn't want to go home tonight.

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett was instantly drawn to the discomfort in his boss' demeanor. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but his emotions were still confusing when it came to Alexander, and he had a feeling that the older man wasn't in a mood to talk. So he simply nodded, said a quiet 'thank you', and stepped out of the building and into the cold night air. He shivered and pulled his coat more tightly around his torso before taking a hold of the strap of his bag and making his way towards the train station. If he hurried, he would be able to catch the last one; if not, he would have to walk again.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander was lost in his thoughts as he walked towards his car, paying nearly no attention to what was happening around. The man got into the vehicle, but didn't start the engine. Maybe he could just sleep in the car? No... No, he wanted to hit up a bar. With that thought, the raven finally turned on the engine and drove out of the parking lot. He drove in the direction Beckett was walking, although he didn't see the man himself - that wasn't the only thing he failed to see, however. Everything seemed to slow down as he looked up, body freezing. He didn't manage to hit the brakes in time. He'd crashed into another car, and the only thing that kept him from flying out through the window was his seatbelt. The raven found himself unable to move, his eyesight going black, for now just partially. Hell... He thought this day couldn't get any worse, but life just loved proving him wrong.

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett's eyes widened and he whipped around the instant he heard the screech of tires. He was momentarily frozen in shock, his breath catching in his throat as he watched the two cars collide in the middle of the street. Then, without even thinking about what he was doing, he ran over to the wreck, trying to assess the damage. He was relieved to find that there was no fire, but he knew that the passengers were probably injured; it had sounded like a pretty bad accident. With trembling hands, the brunette pulled out his cheap cellphone and dialed 911. However, just as he was partway through his explanation, his eyes landed on the driver of one of the cars, and his words faltered. He swallowed, barely hearing the man over the phone asking him if he was okay. "I-I'm fine, just come quickly," he breathed before making his way over to Alexander. Luckily it was only the front of the car that was damaged, so he was able to open the passenger door. His heart sank, however, when he saw that his boss' legs were trapped between the crushed plates of metal. He crawled into the wrecked car and knelt on the passenger seat, checking the older man for injuries. There was blood trickling down the side of his head, but other than that and his legs, nothing seemed to be wrong. I can't risk moving him... He bit his lip, then reached out and put a hand on the other man's cheek. "Mr. Black? Can you hear me? Mr. Black!" Now he was trying not to panic. He knew concussions could sometimes be fatal.Please, hurry... "Alexander!"

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

It felt like he was slowly drifting away somewhere. Like he was on a cloud! A sharp, painful cloud. Alex slipped in and out of consciousness, his head throbbing. Weirdly, he couldn't feel a thing in his legs. Or maybe it was because he didn't realize yet how bad they were hurt; maybe the pain would just come later. Although there was always the possibility of something else being wrong. His breathing came out in shallow pants, the crash having some impact on his chest. For whatever reason, his safety pillow failed to work. At some point, he felt a hand on his cheek, but by then he was sure he was dreaming. His eyelids fluttered slightly, attempting to reveal his eyes, but they didn't manage to do so. They just seemed so heavy... As his mind floated away, the raven's body fell limp on the steering wheel.

 

It merely took a few minutes for the ambulance to arrive. As a few doctors rushed out of the vehicle, two went for each car. Alexander, however, was barely breathing by then.

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett felt a small spark of hope when Alexander's eyes fluttered, but all of it crumbled when the older man refused to wake up. There was something bubbling up inside of the brunette's chest, something that was potentially strong enough to cause him to lash out in desperation. He dared not move, however, his fear for his boss overriding his panic. Instead, he remained where he was, a hand on Alexander's face, until the paramedics arrived. At that point, he scurried out of the car and allowed the professionals to take over. He remained hovering by the side of the car, biting his lip as he watched the EMTs place Alexander onto a stretcher so they could carry him into the ambulance.

 

"Are you a relative?" Beckett lifted his head, surprised to see one of the paramedics looking at him. He had short, straight auburn hair and bright, wide blue eyes. The name on his pristine white shirt read, 'Bo Riley'.

 

"N-no. I work with him." The young man seemed to consider his answer.

 

"Do you know of a number we can call?" Becket shook his head. "All right then. You'll serve as his contact until he wakes up. Follow me." The two of them made their way over to the ambulance and stepped inside.

 

{References. I had to ^^'}

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander seemed to partially regain his consciousness when he was freed from his car. The pain brought him back to his senses. He'd managed to open his eyes, but seeing the sky and some faces just didn't make sense. Why was he even laying? Why did it hurt so bad? What was even hurting?.. The raven's fingers twitched as his lips parted, but through the oxygen mask on his face, even if he did manage to say something, no one could hear. It didn't take long for him to fall back into unconsciousness, once he was in the ambulance.

 

"Page doctor Shepherd, we may need a neuro consult." One of the paramedics said while checking Alex's pulse. "We've got multiple fractures, his ankle's completely crushed. Make sure doctor Torres is ready to get to work as well." He continued to speak while checking over the man. He glanced at Beckett, eyes narrowing the slightest bit. "Do you know how this happened?"

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett tore his gaze away from Alexander to look at the man who was speaking to him. "Um, well, I don't know the whole story," he said shakily, "W-we had just gotten off work and I was walking home. Mr. Black usually drives his car. I heard a crash behind me, and when I went to look..." He took a moment to clear his throat, unwilling to let his emotions take over. "I found him." His hands were clenched tightly together in his lap, and he avoided the paramedic's gaze. "Will he be all right? What about the other driver?"

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

The man listened quietly, his eyes darting from Alexander to Beckett. "We've got the best doctors. The other doctor is in the other ambulance, but I cannot tell you anything about his condition." He explained before his attention turned to Alexander. "Crap... We've lost pulse. Start compressions." He ordered, a woman immediately beggining CPR. In an ambulance, they couldn't do much more than this. With an oxygen mask on his face, Alexander now was completely in the hands of the few paramedics. They had to get him to the hospital in one piece.