The Lost World

[Rose]

Maria looked up at them with wide, started eyes.

“You’re alive!! Both of you! We thought for sure…well…well you won’t believe what we saw…” She looked grim and slightly frightened, like she didn’t want to admit to the horrors the island revealed. But they hadn’t even seen the worst of it. Erik sighed, waving his hands as he settled down beside Harley.

“Don’t bother. We already know.” The others were slowly coming over to the fire to check on the previously missing boys, and Erik recounted their horrible night. “A fucking t-rex had us trapped up in a tree all night.”

The eyes staring at them widened in horror. Erik was smiling, looking down at the fire, but when he felt the tension rise he slowly looked back up and cringed.

“Oh….uh….that wasn’t what you were talking about, eh?” Erik muttered, and the Dr came over, running a hand through his hair. He shook his head slowly, sighing.

“I expected as much. But the dinosaur we saw was…much less threatening. I guess we’ll have to be alert now. Our situation has suddenly changed drastically.”

The group was muttering loudly to each other, their fear from the initial crash returning. Erik didn’t want to deal with it. He just couldn’t right now. He held his head and leaned over, the t-rex staring at him when he closed his eyes. He groaned softly.

“What do we do now, Harley? I mean, no matter what these people decide, what do -we- do?” He turned his head, peaking at his friend through his hand. “Do we keep going through the jungle for that building, looking for help? Or do we stay in the safety of the cave? I don’t know how long we could last here, to be honest, but thinking of going back into that jungle….Uhg.”

“H-hello…Erik?” The timid voice reached him, coated in its heavy accent. Adalia wandered over, her arms making a bowl with her shirt. It was filled with some dark berries the size of a fingernail. She sat down, letting the berries spill onto the cave floor. She grabbed two handfuls, giving one to Erik, then cautiously reached out to give Harley some as well, like he might bite. “I uh…down by jungle….there are bushes.”

“Fuck yeah* Four course meal!!” Erik happily dug in. He really needed the nutritious food, and everyone else seemed pretty pleased with the find as well. A real breakfast would have been better, but who could complain? Now all they needed was water.

[GnomesAteMyCake]

Harley watched Erik for a few moments, his gut twisting at the fear on his friend's face before reaching his hand out and putting on the back of Erik's neck. Staring into the flames, Harley kept his hand there, offering what little comfort he could while he tried to collect his thoughts and give his friend an answer.

"We stick together, and pray for a goddamn miracle," Harley muttered quietly, his eyes soft as they flicked to Erik's face. He smiled his tiny smile at his friend before squeezing him softly and removing his hand, transferring his gaze back into the fire. He could still hear everyone muttering around him, Denali and Gabriel discussing fortificating the cave, while Maria tried to get Kagan to sit down for five minutes and help her with some food.

A small voice at Harley's side drew his attention, and the blond girl from the plane stood there, her shirt lifted into a makeshift bowel, her flat belly exposed. She dumped her spoils onto the cave floor beside them, gathering two handfuls and offering them to the men. Harley looked at the offering, to her, then back again before reaching out and allowing her to tip the tiny fruits into his palm.

"Thanks sweetheart," he said softly, nodding at her before picking the stems from the berries and putting them into his mouth, one at a time. Harley managed to tune out the discussion around him, which had turned to what everyone planned to do about Sam's wife, who was still pregnant and still a major problem. Dispite liking Sam well enough, Harley didn't really care enough to commit himself to the conversation. Sighing, he turned to talk to Erik when he saw his friend's faraway face, his eyes reflecting a horror that Harley couldn't see.

"Hey dude, you okay?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow as he lent forward to get a better look at the younger man's face. Erik purposefully avoided the man's eyes, and Harley was tempted to take the other's chin in hand and force him to look...but he'd invaded Erik's heavily guarded personal bubble enough today, and it would be a long one if Erik was egnoring him for the better part.

"I'm fine," Erik sighed, avoiding Harley's eyes even more, which lead the man to one conclusion; he was lying. Sighing, Harley shuffled closer to his friend, looking down at the rocky floor beneath them.

"You're a liar," he commented softly, his lip quirking into a smile. "You know you can tell me, right? Who knkows, I might actually be able to help."

[Rose]

Erik scoffed at the notion of Harley being helpful, as if he’d never been saved by the man before. A small smile had appeared on his face though and his eyes flicked up to Harley once more, still distant like he couldn’t quite focus on anything solid in front of him.

“Can you make dinosaurs go away? Can you wake me up from this batshit nightmare?” He smirked and shook his head, looking off again. “Nah, I didn’t think so buddy.”

Erik looked off again, through the trees and out somewhere beyond. He seemed to be in one of his moods where he locked himself away, nearly unreachable and utterly unfocused. It was rare, but it meant he wasn’t feeling great. It meant he was mad at himself for something, or thinking hard on how to fix something far beyond his reach. He’d been like that once for a long time, just before kicking Harley’s ass into being sober. The look in his eyes now seemed to harden and melt at the same time. It was a painful mixture.

“I just….I don’t like feeling helpless, ya know?” he muttered unexpectedly, putting his forehead on his hand. He waved his hand like he felt stupid for what he was saying, but he went on. “I’m never afraid or anything. I mean, not really. But now…. Yeah, I don’t like being at the mercy of fate. I don’t like sitting here wondering if help will ever come, or if that damn monster will come back and decide to eat us, or if we’ll get swept away by a monsoon.”

Erik rubbed his temples, definitely avoiding Harley’s gaze now, his voice sinking low so no one else could hear his lament.
“I want to be able to take charge. I want to be able to keep everyone safe. But I just….I can’t think of what to do. I’m not my father. I can’t take charge in a war zone, keep cool with everyone’s life on the line. And there is nothing I can do to protect anyone here even if I tried. ” He looked up at Harley finally, sorely hurt by something. It was a few moments when he finally spoke again. “If that t-rex attacked you, there would be nothing I could do to save you. Nothing. I can’t….. I just can’t accept that.”

However many times he claimed he wasn’t afraid, Erik was now, and it showed in his eyes, in the set of his lips, the furrow of his eyebrows. He was truly thinking hard of how to get everyone home. But most importantly, how did he protect his protector?

He scoffed again, not liking the sudden atmosphere, the vulnerable feeling he’d opened in his chest when he spilled out his feelings. He adjusted his face to look more tough, his walls back up instantly.

“I’ll dig a fucking moat around this place, that’s what I’ll do. Whittle a fucking spear. A giant fucking spear. Come at me, bro. I’ll shove this bitch right through your beady little eye… Hmph. Damn dinosaur.”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

Harley allowed Erik to get it all out, his eyes never leaving his friend's face, his face set and gentle while his best friend causiously revealed his worries. Harley didn't care that he was scared; hell, if he hadn't have been Harley would have been seriously concerned about his mental health- but Erik's stout detirmination to protect everyone was something that needed to be nipped in the bud now before the younger man hurt himself.

"Hey dude, lis-" Harley was cut off as Erik raised his eyes to look at them, his grey irises deep and liquid, emotions tumbling across his gaze more freely than he ever allowed them too.

“If that t-rex attacked you, there would be nothing I could do to save you. Nothing. I can’t….. I just can’t accept that,” he muttered softly, holding Harley's gaze for a second more before looking away. Harley felt something falter within him, like the weak beating's of a tiny birds wings before the feeling puttered away, leaving him feeling hot and slightly uncomfortable. Clearing his throat, Harley hastily looked away from Erik, looking around the group to see if anyone had noticed, but they were luckily all involved in their own conversations to worry about the tension that was slowly building between the two men like a brick wall.

Before Harley could form any sort of response, Erik thankfully detected the billowing awkwardness and began muttering to himself, something about a moat and harpooning himself a fucking dinosaur and Harley sighed with relief. Dodged a bullet there, old boy.

"Erik versus The Lizard King?" Harley smirked, shoving Erik's shoulder before pushing himself to his feet, grunting slightly as his cramped muscles stretched uncomfortabley. "I'd pay to see that fight."

"Cock..."

"You love it. Now guys-" Harley addressed the group, clapping his hands together, firelight warming his face and giving his skin a more healthy colour, "-we might be save here, but how long for? No matter what, we'll need to go into the jungle. Maybe we should start looking for help."

"Who put you in charge?" Brenden said shortly over the fire, looking up at Harley with distrust while his eyes continued to flick to the Kagan girl who'd been talking to Erik the evening before.

"I don't see you coming up with anything pretty boy," Harley shot back, his hands fisting and his temper shortening. "You might be content to live the rest of your life in this hole, but I want out. Anyone else got a problem with trying to find a way off this island?"

Everyone remained silent. Smiling, Gabriel also rose to his feet, clapping the man on the shoulder before giving a more convincing smile to the people around them. "Harley's got the right idea; we're low on provisions, water, and we need help. They won't find us. We have to make the risk. If you would all gather whatever things you want, we should head out while we've got good light."

Pulling Harley aside while the group sorted themselves out, Gabriel grinned. "Well done Harley. Your words may have been brunt, but you've gotten us moving. Maria and I will make sure everyone is sorted; you just help your friend or anyone else who asks, okay?"

"Heh, like anyone's gunna ask me for help," Harley muttered, smirking at the older man before stretching. "You got it doc." Scratching the back of his head, Harley grabbed his and Erik's bags from the wall and wandered over to the man, who was making sure that Adalia had everything. He'd certainly taken a shine to the German cutie. "You guys ready to go?" Erik nodded and reached for his bag, which Harley handed over, knowing how his friend hated to look weak. "If you need me to take it, just hand it over, okay?"

[Rose]

Erik sighed and hefted the bag over his shoulder. His side burned a bit, but it showed no signs of infection, no more torn stitches, and no blood. Sure, he needed a hospital, but he wasn’t going to worry anyone. For now he was fine, and besides the pain, everything would be alright. He’d seen worse days.

The fire was doused, the camp packed, and everyone started walking, albeit with some reluctance. They started off into the jungle in a tight group with the hope that no predator would attack them like that. It was a stupid thought, but Erik wasn’t about bursting people’s bubbles and crushing their hopes. Whatever kept them sane, he’d go for.

The trees were thick and wild, the jungle full of plants that Erik was just beginning to recognize. But to his astonishment, it wasn’t nature shows and vacations that he was remembering them from. It was textbooks. At least ten percent of the plants there were long-extinct species from the time of the t-rex. This island was getting stranger and stranger.

Erik kept pace with Harley’s long-legged strides as they disappeared further into the jungle where it was mild but humid, the trees growing high up into the sky now, blocking out sun from the ground below and leaving it mostly bare. It was easier to walk here, but Erik felt like everything in the world could see them. He sighed, nudging closer to Harley. He was panting slightly from the weight of the bag and shifted it to his other arm. The man was silent, not wanting to open his mouth again for fear that more of his scars would show, his fears born from past wounds. Not that this venting was entirely new. Erik had never opened up to anyone so much as Harley.

And Erik couldn’t really place why. Harley wasn’t the best person he’d ever met, if he thought about it. He wasn’t the funniest. He wasn’t the smartest. He certainly wasn’t the kindest man in the world. So what was it, Erik wondered, that made him feel they way he did about Harley?

And then it hit him, and he glanced over at Harley, looking him up and down thoughtfully. The others in the group were talking quietly, low murmurs, but between the two of them there was only the soft crunch of shoes on dried leaves and twigs. Erik realized he’d been staring too long, but he didn’t tear his eyes away quite yet. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, then cleared his throat and finally looked away. He looked…flustered. Of all the things, Erik Chay looked a bit embarrassed.

Erik’s fist pounded against the apartment door. It was 12 at night, not too late to be up but likely too late to be standing in the freezing cold pounding on your friend’s door. But he was already wasted.

“Harleeeyyyyyy. Harl. Hark. Hurl. HARLEY.”

The door finally flew open, Harley’s face looking first tired then pissed.

“What the-”

“Noooooo no no, listen,” Erik muttered drunkenly, pushing past Harley and wandering into the familiar apartment. Harley closed the door behind him with a grumble as Erik went straight over to the liquor, pouring two shots for them. He looked up at Harley with red eyes. “Look, I know I promised I wouldn’t go out and get hammered and cause trouble. So I went out, got hammered, and came here. Haha…..ha…”

Erik laughed but threw back the shot and slammed the glass back to the table with a wince. Harley just sighed and walked over, taking his shot slower and leaning against the counter, eyeing Erik. He sighed again and waved his hands.

“Well…? What happened?”

They found themselves in Harley’s room, Erik sprawled out over the floor. He’d lost his shirt, which happened often whether or not he was sober, and he was taking a long, deep drag of a blunt before passing it over to Harley. He rolled onto his back, letting the smoke drift up from his open lips, curling and twisting in its ascent.

“I called my dad,” He muttered, and chuckled when Harley winced, knowing how their relationship was. “Yeah. It went about as well as expected. We talked awkwardly for about five seconds before he started yelling at me for being a coward. For running away and stuff. I wouldn’t have called it running so much as leaving as soon as possible, but whatever…”

They spent a few minutes passing their light back and forth, muttering as some tuned-down rock played from the stereo. Erik’s eyes looked red again after a while. He’d blame it on the weed. Or the hangover he could already feel as he came off of his buzz. He reached over, fumbling for the bottle of rum and taking a swig of it. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.

“Zach dumped me. I mean, mannnn did he dump me. And by that, of course, I mean that I caught him fucking someone. Hahaha…yeahhh. Go figure…” Erik’s smile faded instantly and his temper showed through the ugly darkness that crept over his face. His fists clenched and he had to lay back against the floor again, shut his eyes and try to relax. Harley knowingly passed him the hit again and Erik took it with a soft thanks.

“That’s it, dude. I’m just…I’m so done. I tried. I did. I tried women. No luck there. Guys, uhg. Just…no. I’m done. ” he rubbed his palms into his weary eyes, cursing his horrible day, his week, his luck and all the bullshit he’d gone through. “I don’t want to do it anymore, get hurt anymore. But….uhg. Fuck. I don’t want to be alone. Fuck, more than anything, I don’t ever want to be alone. I guess that’s why I keep trying, eh? I guess that’s why we all keep trying…”

Erik cleared his throat again, picking at some leaves and tearing them apart in his hands as they walked, letting the mutilated bits fall around his feet. Finally he ran a hand over his shaved head, kicking a rock to let out the last of his reserves.

“Hey, Harley,” he said, glancing over at the man. He made himself grin, shoving away what tension he could. He made a soft noise, a light chuckle. “Thanks for always being here for me and having my back and shit.”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

As usual, Harley pulled ahead of the group, his long legs and desire to be away from them all (except Erik) putting distance between them all. Naturally, Erik hurried to keep in step with him, having to take one and a half steps for every one of the skinnier mans steps.

As the sounds of the others talking became a mere drone in the background, Harley stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking down at Erik who was being strangley quiet. As he looked down, he met Erik's eye before the man purposefully looked away, looking slightly uncomfortable. Had he been staring at him?

Smirking, Harley reached out and flicked one of Erik's gauge's, his smile widening as Erik turned to glare at him. "What's with the face?" Harley asked playfully, stepping over a fallen tree-trunk while Erik stumbled slightly.

"Wh-What face?" his friend panted, jogging slightly to catch up. "There's no face, this is my face, that's all."

"Erie, you're making no sense," Harley laughed, shaking his head as he pushed Erik, dodging the man's shove back. "I just wanna know that you're okay, okay?"

"I told you, I'm fine."

"Okay then, no worries," Harley said smoothly, shoving his hands back in his pockets, a smirk still playing on his lips to show that the subject hadn't been dropped, only postponed to a later date where it could be pursued at his own leisure.

They walked in silence for a few more moments, Erik keeping close to his side while he looked around more that he usually would.

“Hey, Harley?” he suddenly asked, glancing over at the man. He grinned widely, the expression looking slightly painful as it tried to look over-happy. “Thanks for always being here for me and having my back and shit.”

"No worries dude," Harley answered smoothly, throwing an arm around his friends shoulders, pulling him to his side as he smirked. "I promised you I would, right?"

~~

Harley let out a long plume of smoke, his head thrown back against the side of the bed, staring up at the ceiling while he listened to Erik. It was the first time Erik had come to him with a joint with the intention of smoking it, and god was it good. Like slipping back into a comfortable pair of shoes...

"You won't ever be alone," Harley muttered, his brain only firing on half the cylinders, making his tongue loose and words slow. "You honestly think I'd ever let you be alone? Don't be such a fucking tool."

Pushing himself off the bed, Harley leaned over Erik to grab the emptying vodka bottle beside him, his by the side of his friend's head as he smiled down at him gently, the drugs working their magic and making him feel as if he were on a cloud. Kneeling back, he tipped the bottle to his lips, a small trickle of alcohol dribbling from the corner of his lip and down the lines of his throat, the clear liquid leaving a glistening trail in the orange light that flooded the room from the street-lamp outside. Shaking his head slightly, Harley looked back at his friend, egnoring the pink tinge to his face that he assumed was there because of what Erik had revealed.

Leaning back in his original place, alcohol in hand, Harley gestured to his friend. "Come here," he muttered under his breath, holding his arm out. Erik causiously pushed himself up off the floor and crawled towards him, squeaking slightly when Harley pulled him to his side and kept him there, his arm warm around Erik's shoulders and his heartbeat steady under his ear.

"Now you listen to me; I don't care what shit you go through, you'll never go through it on your own. Not while I'm still breathing. You're my best friend, dude; you know me better than anyone. I will ALWAYS be here to listen to you, and make sure you've got someone to drink with, someone to laugh with..." Smiling, Harley swiped under one of Erik's eyes, tears collecting on his fingertips without the boy realising. "...someone to make you smile again when you ain't feeling so hot."

Yawning, Harley lay his head back, welcoming the warmth that Erik provided as he started to drop off. "My door's....always open for you, dude..."

[Rose]

Erik couldn’t remember a time when anyone had truly comforted him, taken him into their arms, told him everything would be okay. His father hadn’t hugged him since he was eight and he never told his boyfriends anything, so in their minds he was the happiest guy in the world. But Harley….there wasn’t a damn thing he didn’t know. Erik just let it all go with him.

And nothing bad came from it. It was Erik’s fear, having to reveal his feelings, his worries, his tears. It was his fear what people would think of him if he showed his heart, that they would walk away, shake their heads, pity him. He didn’t want pity. He just wanted a friend. And here was Harley. He knew everything, and here he was. It was all Erik could ever ask for.

It took him a long time to talk. In his foggy, confused mind, Erik couldn’t come up with the right words. It wasn’t just the alcohol. His feelings….those were suddenly so much worse. Harley was warm, his arm around Erik tucking him in safely. Erik swallowed hard, thinking of the neck just beside his mouth, how he could just turn slightly and press his lips to it. If it were anyone else beside him, he’d just run his hand over their chest, kiss up to their jaw line….

Erik blushed deeply, a rare look for him, but Harley never glanced over to see why the pulse next to him had quickened. He swallowed hard, trying to clear the treacherous thoughts from his head. The alcohol was just making him handsy, he was sure. But….there was that lingering thought that Erik could really enjoy being with Harley, that no one knew him so well, no one cared for him like the other man did. And Erik loved this man more than anyone in his life, more than his other friends, his parents. He needed Harley.

“Yo, Harley….” Erik said, clearing his throat. His voice wasn’t touchy at all. He didn’t want Harley to freak out. “I just…haha… You know, if you weren’t such a fucking prick, I might like you. What do you think? I mean, if you were gay, would you….”

Erik trailed off there, afraid to continue, but it didn’t matter. Harley’s breath was soft and even beside him, and when he made no response, not even a movement, Erik realized he’d fallen asleep already. Sighing, Erik closed his eyes, letting himself drift off in the safety and comfort of Harley’s arm, unable to pull himself away from it.

Erik’s dream was more treacherous than his thoughts. Harley was beside him, just as before, but the two were talking softly. Erik didn’t actually understand the conversation. He had pulled back slightly to gaze over Harley, at the shape of his lips as he spoke, the squint of his eyes as he laughed. Erik laughed too, but it was a small, distracted chuckle. His focus couldn’t be torn from the man.

Harley muttered something about women being just as stupid and how they only had each other to count on. He reached over Erik, grabbing the vodka bottle as before, but now as the drop trailed down his throat, Erik felt his eyes following it until it past the man’s shirt. Erik leaned forward, taking the bottle from Harley’s grasp and nearly throwing it down on the nightstand. His lips found the wet trail along Harley’s neck and he drew his tongue up it, stopping to softly bite the man’s tender neck.

Harley gasped softly and wrapped his arms around the other man. Erik took that as permission and rolled on top of Harley, straddling his waist as he gripped the man’s neck and kissed him roughly. Harley’s hands gripped slightly into his shirt as he held him and Erik ran his hands down the thin chest of the other man, eagerly deepening the kiss, pressing their bodies closer together...

Erik woke as Harley’s body pulled gently away, slipping out of the bed. Erik groaned, feeling a wicked hangover already and mourning the loss of the dream. His face was red as if his blush had never left him from the night before.

“Oh man. I knew you’d be feeling sick,” Harley said with a laugh as he ran his hand through his messy hair. “I’ll go make your hangover smoothie and eggs.”

Erik glanced up at him and nodded with a small smile, but behind his eyes he still saw Harley beneath him, felt the kiss that had never happened on his lips. With a sigh he got up and followed Harley and help with breakfast. He vowed to never mention the dream.

“Yeah, yeah you did promise,” Erik said with a small laugh, letting his tension go when Harley dropped the subject. He reached over, affectionately messing the man’s hair.

“And I promise to get you off of this fucking island.”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

"Let's just see to the end of the day, okay dude?" Harley responded, grinning as Denali jogged up beside them, her fringe hanging in her eyes as she panted heavily. Harley nodded to her politely, peeved that she'd interupted his one-on-one time with Erik currently being so open, but allowing her in instead of dismissing her; she'd proven herself useful and someone intelligent, which allowed Harley to put a small measure of trust in her.

"You guys okay? We were beginning to worry that we'd offended you or something," she said between breathes, her blue eyes glistening as she looked up at Harley, a small smile on her lips. Harley snorted as he stretched his arms above him, his fingertips disappearing into the low canopy.

"Nah, I just walk fast, espeically when I have somewhere I want to be."

"Oh? And whereabouts do you 'want to be' right now?"

"Out of this fucking jungle, that's where." Erik smiled, shaking his head while Denali giggled, reaching into the bag on her back and extracting a bottle of water (the rest of the supplies had clearly been left with the remainder of the group.) She took a large sip before handing the bottle to Harley, who then passed it to Erik and back, the water soothing their throats and making the dense and heavy air around them slightly more breathable.

The trio marched on, Denali gently probing the friends with questions about their lives back home. Harley allowed Erik to mainly answer for him, as the period of his life before he met Erik was one that he didn't tell people easily, and he wasn't all that proud of it. In return, the boys learnt that Denali had four brothers back home in Carolina and felt somewhat smothered by her home state. More than anything, she wanted to make something of herself in journalism. "I just don't want to die without accomplishing anything, you know?" she muttered as Harley held back a fern for her, the three of them pausing to allow the rest of the group to catch up.

"Well, look at it this way," Erik reasoned, rubbing a hand over his hair as he looked around, the edge of a cliff visable a couple-hundred metres to their left through the trees. "When we get home, you'll have one kick-ass story to tell! That'll be more than enough to make you a household name."

"You think so? We'll see..." she said simply, smiling at the two men before limping forward to help Jordan, who didn't seem to be used to the non-stop walking and was struggling a bit. Panting, Brenden lent against a tree, plucking at the neck of his t-shirt to send little gusts of air up into his face.

"Fuck me! This jungle's dense!" Gesturing at Gabriel, a bottle was soon placed in his hands and he took a hearty swig before contemplating the bottle as if he were tempted to slosh the remainder over himself in an attempt to cool down. Instead, he screwed the cap back on and handed it back to the professor. "We're running out. Where are you leading us exactly, fearless leader?" Looking over a Harley with the ghost of a smirk, Harley cringed as the rest of them fixed their eyes on him.

"I don't know, I'm not leading you anywhere. You guys wanna pick a direction, fine, I'll follow. I didn't exactly sketch a map of the island as we were plunging down on it, I was a little distracted funnily enough," Harley bitched, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground, grinding his teeth harshly. Just as Erik was about to step forward and offer a peaceful solution, a distant roar caused everyone to look up sharply, every single face showing some level of terror. The sound was long and loud, and the very air seemed to vibrate. Taking a few steps back, Maria stumbled over a protuding rock and into a rotting tree, the trunk wobbling beneath her weight.

Is if in slow motion, Harley watched in horror as the old wood creaked with the sound like nails on a chalkboard and began to fall, branches cracking and whipping as it plunched through the dense leaves surrounding them. Harley raised his arms to protect his face from falling debris, and to his left saw Denali and Erik do the same. After a few moments of noise, silence fell, and damn was it heavy.

It was as if they'd be paralysed; the silence lasted for all of two seconds before the heavy footfalls of some monstrosity began, the ground beginning to shake with each step. It had heard. And it was coming.

"RUN!" Harley shouted, grabbing Erik and Denali's wrists and bolting in the opposite direction of the dinosaur. As if electrocuted, the rest of the group followed, the sound of them fighting their way through the dense jungle almost deafening to Harley. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Brenden dragging Kagan as he was Erik; Gabriel giving Maria a shove in the right direction while Sam was practically carrying Jordan while she screamed at him to put her down. Harley egnored them all, focusing on looking ahead for safety and the feeling of Erik's wrist against his palm, his pulse almost like a sledgehammer against his fingertips.

Don't you let me go, you son of a bitch. Don't you FUCKING let go.

Leaping, dodging, panting, ducking....it seemed like forever they were running, the roar of the following monster acting like a stimulant and making Harley press forward harder, his lungs screaming at him to stop, and while he wasn't in the best of condition, he couldn't imagine how hard it had to have been for someone like Jordan, who was full of baby and not all that fit. And Denali....

Fuck, Denali!

"Erik, there!" Harley shouted, pointing through the trees. As if sent by some merciful god, the grey of some sort of bunker stood out against the dense green, a beckon of safety that had Harley wanting to kiss the fucker who built it. "Get everyone in there and don't come back out for anything, you understand?!"

"Harley, wh-"

"Just fucking do it!" Harley shouted, swinging the arm holding Erik and propelling the younger man foward as he skidded to a halt and ran back towards the monster, his heart hammering. Please Erik, LISTEN FOR ONCE, please please PLEASE....

How could he have forgotten Denali's leg? She could barely walk that morning, nevermind run. He'd been so focused on Erik that he'd not even registered the girl's slim wrist falling from his grip....

"Denali!" Harley bellowed, his heart stopping as he saw the girl sprawled on the ground, her eyes wide with abject terror, clawing her way forward as the sound of the approaching dinosaur vibrated through his skull....

Grabbing her shoulders, Harley gave her an almightly yank, pulling her to her feet and dragging her towards the bunker just as the head of the dinosaur broke through the trees in front of them.

It wasn't the Tyrannosaurus Rex they'd seen that morning; no, it was smaller, with different colouring. If Harley had been given time, he might've been able to catalogue it's species, but damn if he was going to give himself the time; it was still double his height, still huge, and still coming after them.

"Come on come on come on!" Harley muttered, his sides burning, his heart bursting, Denali's weight incredible as he put on a final spurt of speed, seeing Erik holding the bunker doors open, his eyes filled with fear as he ran out, grabbed Denali's other arm and pulled her forward, his added help getting them halfway through the door-

Screaming. Pain-filled screaming...

Harley pulled, Erik pulled, Denali screamed...the dinosaur refused to let go of her leg, it's teeth clamped at her knee, it's head too big to fit fully through the door... There was the clinging rip of flesh giving, and Denali flew through the room, the two men collasping on the floor with her on top of them as the remainder of the group began pushing the heavy metal door closed, the roaring of the dino loud as they shoved against it.

"It's okay, girl, it's okay...we got you..." Harley muttered, turning Denali over and laying her on the floor, beginning to smile before he heard Erik gasp and looked down. His stomach turned at the sight of her leg, half of the left one missing as she bled out, a huge pool of blood spreading beneath her. "Shit, shit shit-" Harley stammered, his voice breaking as he attempted to strug out of his shirt but Erik was faster, ripping his t-shirt off and balling it around the wound. Harley grabbed her twitching hand in his own as the sound of a huge bolt rang out. People began gathering around them, more clothes contributed to the makeshift tourniquet, but it was no good.

All he had to do was meet Erik's eye, and he knew.

Denali had minutes. Pulling her head into his lap, Harley wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, his lips brushing her temple as he bent over her.

"Tell me about your brothers, baby girl....come on, I wanna hear their names...picture their faces for me, okay...? Come on baby, I need to hear them..."

"...K-Kenny....Ja-a-ason....M-Mark...a-an-nd..."

[Rose]

Everyone watched in horror as Harley bent over the battered woman, whispering comforting words to her, encouraging her to take her mind away from the stump her leg had been reduced to. There rest of the group was deathly silent, watching with wide, wet eyes. Most of them were shaking from this new brand of fear they had never experienced before. Their faces were pale, turned away from the sight.

Only Gabriel stepped forward, taking Denali’s hand and muttering to her quietly. Her eyes went up to him and she half-smiled in a daze. Erik recognized the signs of shock in the woman, her skin cold and her eyes glassy. At least that and the adrenaline kept her nearly free of pain, but her heart was hammering blood out faster. In a panic, wishing someone with more expertise would step forward, Erik looked from face to face, waiting expectantly. But even the doctor had given up, and as Denali muttered he could see the life leaving her with the blood that poured over Erik’s hands as he struggled to stop it.

“No! No!” Erik was pissed that they were just coddling her, just letting her go gently. She had brothers. She had that paper to write. She had a fucking reason to live, so why let her go? Erik pressed the bundled clothing tighter to her leg with one arm as he threw out the other, waving at everyone impatiently.

“Give me another shirt. GIVE ME FUCKING SOMETHING.” He turned around, looking venomously at everyone, but the faces just stared back at him. Adalia was crying silently, but she let out a gasp when the fiery eyes landed on her and she started sobbing. Erik cursed and slammed his fist on the ground. “Make a fire or something! We can cauterize the wound!”

Now Harley growled, looking sharply up at Erik. His look was dangerous, lip curled over his teeth. Erik would scare the girl if she could think properly. He’d hurt her more, and in vain. Erik wouldn’t listen to anyone else, he knew as Gabriel tried to calm him.

“ERIK! Erik, calm down! We’re not fucking burning her. She’s gone, Erik. Don’t put her through that…” Harley gently let the girl go. Her eyes were blank, staring emptily up at Gabriel. He set her head down on the stone floor and stood, going to Erik’s side, but the younger man grabbed his outstretched hand and threw it away, desperately lifting the woman’s leg. Her blood was all over him, down his arms and splashed over his chest from when the dinosaur had torn the flesh away.

“Fuck, Erik! Just stop! She’s gone.”Harley went for Erik again, this time grabbing his shoulders firmly and yanking him away. Erik struggled, but he was tired and weak from the run. His eyes landed on the woman and he seemed to accept that he was gone, but his fury had only just begun. Erik stumbled to his feet and turned sharply, grabbing Harley and pushing him back. His face was twisted with more fear than anger now, however, and his shove wasn’t as powerful as he felt it should be.

“What the fuck were you thinking, Harley?! That thing would have killed you! That….that could have been you, dammit…” Erik panted hard, all of his anger and energy sapped from him at once at the thought. He fell forward, pressing his forehead against Harley’s shoulder, his blood hands on the man’s arms.

“You keep fucking asking me to stay behind….” Erik’s voice fell, barely a whisper but full of fear. “Stop leaving me, Harley…..god dammit, stop leaving….”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

Harley stared blankly over Erik's head, the younger man's hands gripping his forearms so hard his nails bit into his skin, his forehead pressing heavily against Harley's collar as he struggled to keep himself in one peice. Sighing, Harley flopped backwards, his back hitting the wall while Erik fell with him, slumping further against him.

Harley absent-mindedly raised a hand to Erik's head, running it over his hair as he continued to look forward, eyes focused somewhere in the distance. The sounds of the others were just as distant; Gabriel's voice asking the group to look for a taupe or something to cover her with till they could bury her properly holding as much substance to him as the wind.

None of them had held her as her life bled away. None of them had seen the light leave her eyes as her heart stopped.

Harley S. Sharpe didn't usually bother himself with 'what if's'; he'd made his mistakes and he'd learnt to live with them. However, one was running rampant through his head now thanks to Erik's words, and it was making his heart trip and his palms sweat and making a heavy weight of fear settle in his stomach...

What if that had been Erik. Fuck, what if it was Erie....

Sliding his hand from Erik's hair to around his shoulders, Harley pulled his friend closer, desperate to feel the man against him just to prove that he was still alive. Drawing a shuddering breath, Harley closed his eyes briefly.

"You...you can cry, if you want," Harley muttered quietly against Erik's ear, his eyes still haunted. He heard a humorless huff of laughter against his collarbone, though Erik didn't move his face away.

"Stop trying to change the subject, asshole," Erik muttered, his grip on Harley's arm that wasn't clinging to him as if he might fade away squeezing tightly before letting go. "I'm pissed at you."

"You're always pissed at me," Harley commented, his eyes now following the others as they spread out searching for a cloth to cover Denali with. Most of the women were crying and being comforted by their significant others. The feeling of dread that hung in the air was thick enough to cut.

"S'not the point."

"I know."

"..."

"...What do you want me to say, Erie? That I'll let you put yourself in danger just because I'm being a idiot? I don't think so. You mean more to me than that," Harley muttered, his fingers idlely tracing patterns on Erik's bare shoulder. "I've had my chances, and I've fucked them all. Not that I'm gunna go looking for trouble, but should shit happen, I wouldn't be surprised. You, on the other hand-" Pulling Erik away so he could see his face, Harley allowed himself a small smile. "-You're little miss perfect. You've never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it, and if I've told you once, I've told you one thousand times; I ain't dragging you down with me."

The two men stared at eachother for a few moments before the heat of Erik's glare began to burn and Harley pulled him against his chest again, hiding his friends face from view. "I only wish we knew how to get hold of her parents...Hell, I wish we could take her with us. It doesn't feel right to leave her here, you know?" Erik was silent, except for the slight shaking of his shoulders. "Don't worry; I won't let anyone know. Cry it out while you can, bro."

[Rose]

Erik didn’t say anything, but his fingers curled tighter into Harley’s shirt at the gentle coaxing and a small, sorrowful gasp escaped him. It might have been a small sob, but he’d never admit it. He felt like he was falling apart, breaking down when everyone needed him the most, when Harley’s safety might depend on his clear head.

That thought hardened his face, dried the tears in his eyes. The fear in him was something he had never experienced before. Thinking that you were going to die was a humbling experience, but it grew easier the second time. Erik had experienced it before and it didn’t bother him so much now. He didn’t want to die, not by any means, but he wasn’t afraid. No, this fear was something dreadful, something that couldn’t be ignored or pushed away. It threatened to eat him from the inside out and drive him mad. It was the fear of losing all that you had left. It was the fear of losing the one thing you loved, cherished, needed in the world. Without it, life was meaningless.

Erik pulled back slowly, eyes red but lips drawn in a hard line. He looked over Harley, over the scruffy, thin face he’d known so well. He took in a deep breath, a new determination flowing through him. Harley would not end up like the empty woman on the floor. Harley didn’t know it now, but Erik knew. He knew that there was a future out there for Harley, somewhere. The man just didn’t have enough faith in himself to get there on his own. He needed Erik’s strength. So Erik stared hard into his best friend’s eyes.

“Fuck you, Harley.” This was obviously not going to be a “tender Erik” talk. His message needed to get across another way, it seemed. “You may not care about your life, but I do. So here’s the deal: If you don’t make it off this island alive….neither do it. I promise you I will sit in this hell as long as you do. Do you understand that? So every stupid ass stunt you pull doesn’t just put you at risk. It’s my life on the line too. Do you understand that? Don’t argue. It doesn’t matter if you do. You are all I have, you stupid bastard. I don’t want a future without you, so stop picturing me with one. It’s never going to happen.”

Erik turned away from Harley before the man could protest. He clapped his hands a few times and whistled for good measure, getting everyone’s attention. The room was lit by some old emergency lights that had to be solar powered. They were dim, casting very little light around the area, but it was just enough to get around with a bit of feeling. The group turned to Erik, their faces shadowy. His must have been as well, but his determination was tangible through the darkness.

“Look for weapons while you’re searching. I’m not letting that happen again. If you don’t find a gun, find something that can take its place. Sharp metal, poles, glass. Search your packs. String for binding, blunt objects. Anything. We’re not going out there unprepared again.” Erik marched over to the metal door, pressing his ear against it. He waited a moment, listening for the dinosaur, then nodded curtly. “A small team of us can go out and look for better materials if we need to. We’ll look for water and food while we’re out. The rest will stay behind and be ready to close to the doors if anything happens.”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

Harley stared after Erik as he walked away, the younger man's words ringing in his ears as Erik clapped and began organising the group. "I don't want a future without you, so stop picturing me with one..." Where had that come from? Erik never spoke like that; with so much... emotion and desperation. It stunned Harley so much that for a few moments, he couldn't speak, couldn't move... his mouth hung open and his heart hammered uncomfortabley due to some unknown emotion he couldn't put a name to.

Nevertheless, he couldn't let Erik have the last word; he stalked foward, a hand shoved in his pocket, the other clapping his friend on the shoulder, a small smirk on his face.

"Whatever you say, fearless leader. I'll go check the upper floor-" he gestured to a small iron staircase in the corner, the ladder dropping from the ceiling and looking like it had never been used, "-and see if there's anything useful. If anyone hasn't got a job, send them up."

~~

Meanwhile, Sam guided Jordan through the lower floors to a small room to the side, setting her gently on the floor. Holding her hand tightly, he lowered himself beside her and pulled her head to his shoulder, stroking her hair gently while tears rolled from her eyes.

"Hey baby, it'll be okay....I won't let that happen to you or our baby..." he whispered softly, running his free hand through her hair soothingly as she turned her face into his neck, small sobs escaping her lips.

"It's just....so scary...that p-poor girl..." she stammered, her hand fisted into the front of Sam's shirt. He looked worriedly over her head, his lip clamped firmly between his teeth as he tried to desperately think of a way out of this mess...no doubt the only way would be to get back out there and try to find other people... people who would be prepared for this type of thing.

But no way was he going to risk Jordan's life. Not again.