TW: Not really one for this chapter 

After Virgil had said that he wasn't giving Thomas any more thoughts he popped into his usual place on the stairs. With Thomas no where to be seen he went to the front door and quietly left.  He walked all the way to the park which was deserted this late at night. He ended up climbing into a tall tree and listening to his music in order to stop thinking about Thomas. As he was in the tree he unconsciously took away everything but rational fear from Thomas which made him pale even more than he was and what was a waning fever begin to catch fire again.

Thomas summoned Logan after thirty minutes because he was feeling barely anxious at all and Logan had yet to let him know how Virgil was.

Logan: Yes?

Thomas: How's Virgil?

Logan: I couldn't seem to find him in the mind palace did he pop up downstairs perhaps?

Thomas: I don't see why he would but we can go check

Thomas and Logan went downstairs where they found nothing unusual except that the door was no longer latched.

Logan: Didn't you lock your door today?

Thomas: Ya I'm positive I did...

Logan: Then Virgil must be outside somewhere.

Thomas and Logan went out into his front yard where they saw him nowhere.

Thomas: So where do we look for him at?

Logan: I catch him in the library a few times but that would be closed

Thomas: Why don't we look in the park I saw Virgil go there once when he was upset so maybe he's there now.

They walked the ten minutes to the park to find it deserted. 

Thomas: Where could he be?

***

Virgil looked out from the branch he was sitting on at the two figures below hoping they wouldn't look up. But then just as the two figures were beginning to walk away he fell..

Having not been paying attention to himself  he had let go of the branch to check the time on his phone causing him to lose balance and fall a couple of feet to the branch below where he sat in an awkward position holding his breath.

***

Thomas looked at Logan and the they both turned around and looked up where they could barely see Virgil looking down at them while holding on to the  tree in order to not fall again.

Thomas: Virgil?

Virgil: who?

Thomas: you.

Virgil: I'm not me I'm a bird who fell out of it's nest on accident

Thomas: Then why didn't you fly off?

Virgil: because.....ummmm... my wing is broken?

Thomas: Can you come down so we can help you then?

Virgil: nope.

Thomas: Why not?

Virgil: Because.

Thomas: cause why?

 quickly saying these words Virgil said: Because I know Logan told you how to transfer thoughts and if I'm up here then you can't touch me...

Thomas: oh

Logan: Well if you comply with us we won't have to do that

Thomas: ya!

Virgil hesitated before saying: Ok...

Thomas: wait really!

Virgil: I don't have any other choices it seems from up here.

Logan: No you don't really have any other choices, but be careful coming down.

Virgil: I will but hey can one of you check and make sure my phone didn't crack

Thomas: Yep

Thomas walked over to the base of the tree and picked up Virgil's phone and turned it over not a crack to be seen.

Thomas: It's good.

Virgil: Ok thanks

Once Virgil had gotten down to the ground again he looked at Logan and said

Virgil: Ok what do you want me to do?

Logan smiled at Virgil before he began to rattle of a list of things. As Logan was preoccupied and Thomas was paying attention to Logan Virgil took the opportunity to glace around himself. He saw what he was looking for and bolted  for it as quietly as he could muster.

Logan: Okay so then you need to...

Thomas tapped Logan on the shoulder and they both saw Virgil's figure bolting for the forest.

Thomas: Virgil!!

Logan: Virgil come back!!!

They bolted off after him but were already behind. They chased him for ten minutes before they had lost him.

Thomas: And he's gone...

Logan: He will have to make his way back home at some point.

Thomas We can't go home without him!

Logan: Affirmative so let's be quiet for a moment to determine where he is

They both quieted down the sound of crickets taking over. In the distance they heard someone curse as if they had fallen down. They nodded at each other and slowly made their way following the sound of leaves and twigs crunching and a figure out of breath walking into nowhere. They couldn't see Virgil but they knew they were gaining on him. Suddenly the sound of crunching leaves and people moving stopped as both them and Virgil seemed to be unmoving. They could still hear him softly breathing over the crickets which meant he was close.  

Thomas said softly: Virgil?

There was no reply

Logan: Virgil we know you are near us so if you don't respond I'm going to turn on my phones flashlight and we're going to find you ourselves.

Virgil responded quietly from somewhere: Just leave me be..

Thomas: We would never..

Logan whispered quiet enough so that Virgil wouldn't be able to hear : Thomas, I'm going to turn on my flashlight you grab Virgil but don't transfer yet we should all talk before we do that.

Thomas nodded. Then Logan  quickly turned on his phone and pressed the flashlight hotkey and spanned it around them. No one was near them but that's when a human like shadow from behind a tree moved. Logan elbowed Thomas who after seeing Virgil ran over quickly and Logan followed. Thomas slid down onto his knees because Virgil was sitting with his back propped against a tree and he enveloped Virgil into a tight hug. Virgil tensed and tried to squirm away but stopped when Thomas told him they were going to talk about it first.

Logan sat down in front of them and they all prepared for what that night might bring.

(it's about to be real sappy for a bit)

Virgil sat knees to his chest  propping himself against the tree with his hood up,  hands clasped in front of knees,and sleeves curled over his hands. Thomas was sitting criss cross applesauce next to next to him and had looped one arms through Virgil's to make sure he didn't try and run.

Logan started out: Trust us...

Virgil: I do.

Thomas: Not really though.

Virgil: ...

Thomas: You think that we all hate you...

Virgil: I know you don't

Logan: You simply can't control what your mind perceives.

They were all silent for  second

Logan: Virgil if you continue this you are going to fall into a coma.

Virgil: Which one?

Logan: Depending on how bad you are faring either are plausible.

Thomas: We aren't going to put you into a coma.

Virgil: You might have to.

Thomas: And that's why we are here to stop that from happening.

Virgil: Okay the sappiness is cute but it's only delaying what you guys are here for.

Logan: You are correct we should get on that pronto.

Thomas: yep

Logan: Virgil you can't protect Thomas anymore.

Virgil: I can still try.

Logan: You need to stop trying.

Virgil: no

Logan: yes

Virgil: I can't do that to you ,Thomas.

Thomas: But I want you to be healthy and happy.

Virgil : I'd be unhappier if I knew that you had to think about all of the things I think about

Thomas: If I thought about them enough then we could solve them and they could go away.

Virgil: I've tried that but it only digs a deeper ditch.

Logan: But you've only tried alone.

Virgil: True.

Logan: Do you want any medicine Virgil you look like you're getting worse.

Virgil: I'm fine

Logan frowned but nodded: Ok

Thomas forcing himself to guilt trip Virgil said: See you are just making us sadder by trying to protect me.

Virgil: I didn't think you'd be the type to guilt trip people Sanders.

Thomas: I'm normally not.

Virgil: This conversation is a waste of time nothings going to change my mind. 

Thomas: Okay I guess we can get straight to the point then.

Virgil: If you touch me I will murder you

Logan: That's a completely empty threat Virgil, couldn't you have come up with something more convincing?

Virgil: It's all I've got right now .ok?

Logan: Whatever you say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm trying to give guys as much I can but I'm not really sure where to go from here so we'll see what happens. Thanks for reading peoples.

Peace!