No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 10

Chapter Summary: Thomas feels the consequences of his actions, and Newt gets a worrying phone call.

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"Mom? What is it?" Thomas was startled awake by his phone vibrating its way across his bedside table - she must have called several times for it to get past his do not disturb setting. Worry clenched in his gut as he answered, knowing she wouldn't have called so late were it not important. He had since gotten over his cold in the week that had passed, as had Newt, and their routine was entirely back to normal.

"It's Chuck."

Immediately, he was wide awake as a bolt of fear clanged through him. He felt Newt stir beside him and slipped out of bed and into the living room so as not to wake him. He sat on the couch and took a breath, "Is he okay? What happened?" Thomas thought back to the past week, recalling how Chuck had told him he came home from summer camp with a cough that was annoying. At the time, he thought nothing of it. But now. . . had it gotten worse?

"Before you panic, he's okay. We're at the hospital right now because he's having chest pains and is coughing so hard it's difficult for him to breathe. He has a high fever. The doctor's taking a look at him, and we're waiting to see what he says." She sounded so worried, so tired. Thomas checked the time to see the clock read two am, then rubbed a hand over his face.

"I didn't think his cough would turn into anything so bad. What do you think it could be?"

"Dad thinks it could be bronchitis, but I'm worried it's worse than that."

"What, like pneumonia or something?"

"Ye - oh, the doctor's here with more information, I have to go."

"Wait - can I come see him in the morning?" Thomas asked hurriedly, before she could hang up.

"We don't know if it's contagious or not yet, so I'm not sure sweetheart."

His heart sank - his little brother was in the hospital and he couldn't even go see him? He understood if it was contagious, of course their parents wouldn't want him to catch it too. But if it wasn't? There was no reason he shouldn't. He sighed, "Right, 'course. Let me know, though, please? I'll come by in the morning if I'm allowed."

"Of course. As soon as we know, I'll tell you. Don't stay up because of this though, Chuckie will be just fine. No matter what, he'll be here in the morning. Okay, I have to listen to this and go check on him."

"Okay, bye." Thomas nodded though no one could see him, and the line clicked dead. He tossed his phone on the cushion next to him and sunk his head into his hands, letting out a shuddering breath. He wasn't sure if it was just the fact that it was so late and he was exhausted, but learning how sick Chuck was had him feeling like it was the end of the world. He shivered, unwilling to let the tears burning his eyes fall. It was fine, Chuck was going to be okay, it was an easily treatable illness whatever it was - right?

He headed back to bed, and found Newt awake and blinking at him as he slipped back under the covers. "Everythin' alright?" Newt asked quietly.

Thomas pressed his lips together and shook his head quickly, not trusting his voice. Newt caught his gaze and the look of concern on his face was what had the tears finally spilling over his lashes. He crawled forward into Newt's waiting arms that banded around him tightly - holding him together as he split at the seams with sudden, violent sobs. It became all at once too much, and the weight of everything was crashing down upon him. Thomas found himself crying not only for his brother, but for all of his work stressors, and the things that needed fixing around the house, and the guilt that had been steadily rising over the past months at having trapped Newt into a marriage neither of them had asked for - because surely his best friend hadn't wanted to be shackled to him for the rest of his life in that way?