Jared was half asleep when his door creaked open. For a moment, he was bleary and confused, vaguely registering the tall figure that stood in the doorway, haloed by threads of light from the corridor. But then his senses snapped into focus and he jerked upright, his eyes widening as the silhouette stepped inside and closed the door, plunging the room back into darkness.

Jared's breath rushed out harshly, his pulse spiking in panic. He never had visitors at night, and he couldn't help but presume it wasn't a good sign someone was here now.

"Who's there?" he asked, eyeing the shadows.

When no one replied, he swallowed hard, trying to think this through rationally. If this person was here to hurt him, he couldn't do anything about it. Besides, there wasn't much this stranger could do that Parker hadn't already. The thought sent a familiar stab of bitterness and hurt ripping through his stomach, but it was oddly reassuring.

"If you're here to kill me, I should warn you that you'll probably be unsuccessful," Jared said, peering into the darkness.

For a moment, everything was quiet, and then the ceiling light flicked on. Jared blinked away the glare and when his eyes focused again, he found Tai Jackman standing by the door, watching him quietly.

Jared's pulse spiked. Tai had the sort of build people crossed the street at night to avoid, and this last week he'd taken every possible opportunity to hint at his anger at Jared's presence.

"I should've known," Jared said, biting down on his unease. "I bet you've been itching to get to me since I woke up, haven't you?"

Tai's mouth curled into an unamused smile as he walked over and sat down in the bedside chair, resting his elbows on his knees and watching Jared quietly. His expression was completely devoid of emotion, with none of that manic intensity Jared had seen in torture's eyes before. Tai's blankness was eerie in comparison, more unpredictable.

"You're really fucking things up for yourself, Caldwell," Tai said. "Did you know that?"

Jared blinked in surprise. If he was right as to why Tai was here – and he was sure he was – he hadn't thought there'd be small talk first, just violence.

"I didn't think there was much left for me to fuck up," Jared said.

Tai frowned at that.

"Well then, you're an idiot. We've been kinder to you than your own allies and you're throwing it away."

Jared's mouth curled into an unintentional snarl. He knew Tai was right, but he didn't appreciate the reminder.

"Do you want me to give you a good Samaritan award?" Jared asked, the anger rippling beneath his words.

Tai leant back, his eyes shadowed. "No, I want you to help us."

"I'm not going to," Jared snapped. "I don't care how kind you think you've been."

He was sure Tai would hit him then, but instead he lapsed back into silence, and it made Jared irrationally furious. If he was going to be tortured, he wanted it to happen sooner rather than later.

"Can we get on with this?" Jared demanded. "I was hoping to get some sleep tonight, even if it has to be half-comatose."

For the first time, Jared saw something decipherable enter Tai's expression, but it still took him a moment to realise what it was.

"Do you actually think I'm here to hurt you?" Tai asked, shocked.

Jared's silence made realisation dawn on Tai's face and Jared felt suddenly foolish, though he wasn't sure why. Tai had given him every indication this last week that he'd take great pleasure in smashing his head in.

"Why else are you here in the middle of the night?" Jared grunted.

Tai sighed and ran a hand though his hair, his jaw clenching and his expression growing even blanker than before.

"I'm here because Leah thinks we should let you go," Tai said.

Jared froze, his pulse slowing, and the heart rate monitor followed its lead, as if trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, as unthreatening and innocent. He wanted to get out of these handcuffs badly. He needed to. If he stayed here much longer, with nothing but what'd happened to focus on, he was sure he'd go crazy.

But he could see from Tai's expression that what Leah wanted and what the S.I.S wanted didn't match up. There was a conflict there that Jared recognised well enough, that only came from disobeying orders.

"And not many people agree with her, do they?" Jared asked quietly.

Tai shifted and his eyes landed on Jared again, weighing him up.

"No," he admitted.

"But you do?"

Tai shot him a sharp look. "What makes you think that?"

Jared shrugged. "You're here."

Tai groaned and leant back, rubbing his hands over his face. Jared watched him, trying not to let his impatience show as the silence dragged on.

"If it makes you feel better, I agree with her too," Jared offered eventually, hoping it would jolt Tai into talking again.

It worked. Tai snorted and sat up.

"God, you're an annoying prick."

Jared waited another moment, hoping Tai would elaborate, but he didn't. Jared was just beginning to consider speaking again when Tai sighed and leant forward.

"Here's the thing," he said. "The way I see it, you aren't the sort of person who's going to do something you don't want to, no matter what we do to you. So, you need to want to help us. If letting you go back to the world of the dead is the only way that'll happen, then I think Leah's right and we should let you go."

Jared remained silent.

"But," Tai continued, his brow furrowed with worry. "If I do let you go, you could also disappear for good, and then I'm up shit creek."

Jared swallowed, his heart beating hard.

"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to go back to the people who tried to kill me?" he asked softly.

Tai was quiet for a moment and Jared shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. He wasn't exactly sure when he'd come to the conclusion that he'd never be able to go back to the rebels. Maybe he'd known it from the moment Parker had shot him. But it wasn't until he'd spoken those words that the truth really settled in.

"No," Tai said eventually. "But that doesn't mean you won't still run off."

Jared waited, tense. He wanted to point out that he had nowhere to run off to, but he had a feeling that any attempt to sway Tai would work against him.

"So..." Jared prompted.

Tai shot him an aggravated glare.

"So, I don't trust you," Tai said, and Jared's heart dropped for a moment. "But I trust Leah."

Tai reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, silver and glinting in the small strip of moonlight that came through the window. The relief that flooded through Jared was immense, and only slightly tinged by something darker, something that reacted angrily to the way Tai's voice softened when he'd said Leah's name.

"I'm going to take those off," Tai said, gesturing at the handcuffs. "And you're going to go and do whatever you need to in the world of the dead and be back by morning. If you don't come back, I promise, I will dedicate the rest of my life to hunting you down and making you pay. Got it?"

Jared just nodded and he watched, disbelievingly, as Tai stood up and unlocked his handcuffs.

The moment Jared was free he jumped up and stretched, his muscles screaming with simultaneous relief and strain, and Tai's face twisted into a confusion of worry and determination.

"Don't make me regret this," Tai muttered.

Jared glanced over at him and felt a heavy awkwardness settle in that air. This was probably the moment he was meant to say thank you, and yet –

"Just so you know, this doesn't mean I like you," Jared said.

Tai glared. "Trust me, that feelings mutual."

"Good," Jared said, moving over to the window. He was about to duck out when he hesitated, cursing himself for wanting to give Tai some sort of reassurance.

"I'll see you in the morning," he said awkwardly.

And then he slipped out the window and disappeared.

...

Hello everybody!

Sorry about the super late update! I've been really sick these past two weeks and haven't had much chance to write. But here we go! Next chapters up!

What do we all think of Tai and Jared's love/hate bromance? :P

In other news, I've just posted my submission to National Geographic's 500 word #planetorplastic competition on my profile. I'd love it if any of you wanted to give it a quick read. Let me know if any of you have entered as well! It'd be great to read any of yours.

Anyway, next chapter out in 2 weeks!

This chapter is dedicated to booklover241014! 

Until next time,

- Skylar xx