Chapter Text
Tyler. No, no, no, Tyler, NO!!
They heard a bloodcurdling scream as he plummeted to the ground below. Immediately, Brendon, Dallon, Gerard, Mikey, Pete, Patrick and Josh were all pushing towards the door of their treehouse, to scamper down the ladder to see if Tyler was okay.
Everyone was feverishly praying that he was, in fact, fine. It had to be a good 10 foot drop at least, they reasoned.
Gerard was the first one down, instantly at Tyler's side. Josh was next, pushing Gerard out of his way. He knelt down over his best friend.
Patrick crouched down opposite Josh, lightly slapping Ty's face, hoping it might make him come to, but with no results. Immediately, he called out.
"Brendon! Dallon! Get me some water, and HURRY!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Brendon took off towards the rippling creek, while Dallon ran up the ladder, taking 2 steps at a time, to grab the small pail they kept in their makeshift hideaway. Within 30 seconds, he too was rushing past the others to catch up with Brendon.
Pete, Mikey and Gerard were standing behind Josh, trying their best to stay alert in case Patrick needed them for something.
Meanwhile, Josh was on the verge of tears. There was a tiny trickle of blood that was running out of a cut on Tyler's head. Of course, being only twelve, he was prone to overreacting. He was mumbling to himself, "No Tyler, not now! You can't die! It's not time yet, you're too young to die!"
Minutes felt like hours to Josh as he impatiently waited for the other 2 boys to come back. Finally, they arrived, pail half full, and water sloshed on their legs from the sprint back to their unconscious friend.
Patrick took the pail from Brendon and promptly splashed the remaining contents onto Tyler's face.
His eyes shot open, coughing violently from the water that had run down his throat. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Patrick and Josh carefully helped him sit up as Mikey knelt down and patted his back, trying to help him breathe.
"Hey guys, what happened?" Tyler rasped.
Josh and Patrick exchanged glances.
"You were sitting too close to the edge of the treehouse, and when you leaned back, you fell," Patrick said with a note of concern in his voice.
A single drop of blood fell into Tyler's hands as he inspected the several cuts and scrapes littering them. He reached up, touching his wound gingerly, getting more blood on his fingers.
Gerard spoke up, "We can carry him back to my house. It's the closest, and our parents aren't home so we don't have to deal with them freaking out." Mikey rolled his eyes.
Tyler's whole body was aching with pain, but he managed to pick himself up and limp over to Brendon, Dallon, Pete and the Way brothers as Josh and Patrick followed closely behind, ready to catch him if he should fall. "I can walk back, guys, I'll be okay," he said, wincing in pain.
Gerard and Mikey walked over to Tyler, supporting him on their shoulders, and started the half mile walk back to the house.
Josh thought to himself that he would always do as much as he could to keep Tyler safe. That day had almost broken his heart as he watched him, bleeding, unconscious and in pain.
"I'm not gonna chance losing him if I can help it."