Out of control

Kirk rolled his eyes as Adison went hunting for the topping, and purposely kept himself in the way just to be a pain. "Hey, what's under my couch is my own business...not that...I even know what's under there." Because no, he never cleaned underneath it.

As she sat up, he shifted around quickly and draped his legs over her shoulders like a roller coaster harness, locking his ankles to hold her in place. "You dissing my cleaning skills? Huh?" He wriggled his fingers on her head. "Or are you just looking for a fight?"


Garret didn't even hear Nate's first order. He increased the pressure on his arm, his eyes still glaring at Justin as he started to choke him out.

Justin tried to break free, but without any training, he had no recourse, and was completely at Garret's mercy. His eyes were angry and frightened both - he'd made a mistake and he was paying for it now.

Suddenly realizing Nate was there and talking to him, the words finally got through to Garret. He could finish what he'd started...or walk away now with at least a slight chance he wouldn't pay too dearly for this. Though his emotions were out of control, he finally released Justin.

So close to passing out, Justin crumpled to his knees, gasping for breath. Reese had been right behind Nate, and now went to Justin to make sure he was alright.

Garret took a step back and looked down at them before swinging his gaze to Nate. And he knew. Not only had the most vulnerable part of his soul been revealed, but Justin hadn't been the only witness. Reese knew, and so did Nate. It was public now. And that made the wound even more raw. Keeping a lid on his hatred for this place, he said nothing, but stalked out of the room.

Reese knelt next to Justin on the floor. "You okay?"

Justin managed a nod, though he was still coughing. "Yeah," he managed hoarsely. "I think so."

"What in the world were you doing?" Reese shook his head in bewilderment. "I have never seen you go at someone like that - and Garret, of all people! Did you want to die?"

Justin finally sat up to lean back against the wall, regaining most of his breath now. "I dunno." He shrugged lamely. "I didn't want to be in here in the first place - I told you that - and I'd just had enough of this whole thing."

"Well great, but what about Garret now? That wasn't just anger I saw." Even Reese had recognized that. He'd never forget that look in Garret's eye. It had been so...painful. "Is he alright?"

Justin caught Reese's eye. In reality...he didn't know. "I hope so." He knew good and well that the emotional scab he'd just ripped off hadn't been ready. Just like a physical wound that wasn't ready to be picked at, Garret was bleeding...and bleeding badly. Justin had seen it in is eyes, and it was no one's fault but his own. "I messed up...you'll be lucky if he ever trusts anyone around here again, and...I take full responsibility. I just...got out of control."

Reese was not happy, as shown by his facial expression while he stood and offered Justin a hand up as well. "Who needs the counselor today?"

Justin recoiled slightly, gaining back his composure. "I'm done here, Reese. I told you that. I'm not going to risk any more lives just by being here." He might have wounded Garret today, but he was wounded himself, whether he wanted to admit it or not, and the only reason he got mad was because Garret had pushed his own buttons first. But he never should have allowed that to happen. He was better than that. And he'd failed.


Garret didn't break stride as he headed for the main floor and aimed for the door. There was no way he was going to stay here today. On top of everything else, in the pit of his stomach he knew he'd pay for this day. Reese was going to be furious that he'd physically acted out again. He would be lucky if he didn't get put back downstairs in the cell, and he'd even be luckier if Nate let him return to his home. That wasn't the worst thought though. This little episode could be the last straw, having him eliminated from the Elite scene altogether.

Once outside, he finally stopped to breathe. He couldn't remember when he'd felt so emotionally out of control. Without warning, his legs felt like they would give out, and he turned to lean against the wall, only to find that his hands were trembling as well. He couldn't shake the images from his mind...the images of that day so long ago. He'd always been able to keep them buried and locked safely away...until today. Until Justin had so brutally ripped it all to the surface. Why had he done that? And why did it hurt so much? Only now did he realize that he was short on breath as his subconscious desperately tried to remain in control. He couldn't break. He was stronger than that. But the crack had been formed, and there was little he was going to be able to do once that dam broke.