~~~

Under most any circumstances, Wilbur would not be walking inside a gas station but this particular one had a seasonal brand of chips that he was craving for. You would think pumpkin spice crisps would taste shitty but for some odd reasons, they made it work. Grabbing a few of the larger bags that were buy 2 get 2 free, the brunette wondered if he should try recording something today. It's been over a month, no matter if he wanted to or not, his career must continue. Maybe something easy like Geoguesser or some throwback to you laugh you lose. His mind was brought out of his trance when someone tripped, almost knocking him down with them. Grasping for the cold drink fridge handle, he stabilized before helping the other out.

"Woah are you ok?"

"Ya are you?"

"Mhm, I'm sorry should've been watching my surroundings more let me pick these up for you." Wilbur helped them pick up a few different bags of snacks, one happening to be the pumpkin spice chips he enjoyed himself.

"No, I should've been more careful. Um thanks for helping me."

"Not a problem at all! Have a- ...good day..." Wilbur had to blink a few times before reaching out for his shoulder. "Tommy...?" The blond's face switched from shock to horror in an instant.

"JIMMY WE GOTTA GO!" Shoving bags into Wilbur's hands, he picked it up for only a moment before it fell to the ground and he gave chase to Tommy and whoever this 'Jimmy' was. He managed to stop the boy at the exit, attempting to pull him to his chest so he couldn't run anymore but he reached out for the other man's hand who he now recognized as MrBeast leaving Wilbur all the more confused.

"Tommy, please! Whatever it is I can help you with just stay! I'll make sure no one hurts you." Tommy looked defeated but he only stepped further away.

"I'm sorry Wilbur. I promise, when it's safe to I'll make it up to you. But if you were to die because of me I couldn't forgive myself." His words perplexed and horrified Will but there was no time to ponder. Rapidly apologizing to the gas station employee he ran after the pair who dodged through mid-day Brighton traffic. They stopped for a moment only to split off in two separate directions. Focusing on just catching up to Tommy, he was smaller and much more nimble so he could get lost in crowds. Passing through a smoke heavy area, he could feel his lungs get a bit clogged, and not wanting to risk an asthma attack, he slowed down. Thoughts caught up to him and Wilbur let realization simmer in. Tommy was actually alive. His Tommy was actually alive and he's rolling with MrBeast for some reason he won't come back until it's safe. The best course of action would probably be to tell his parents just to reassure them then maybe call Desire Drive. Their private investigators were incredible, having brought home 6 missing children in the span of just a few short months and any evidence they could combine to figure out Jimmy, and therefore Tommy's whereabouts would ease his mind. He know Tommy's father would be at work so he called his mother who answered on the 4th ring.

"Will? Is there something you need?"

"No, rather something you should know. I... 10 minutes ago, I saw Tommy."

"...You what?"

"I did! He tripped on me in the gas station and I look up and I saw it's him. But then he just ran, telling me he'll come back when it's safe to. And he's running with someone named Jimmy, the guy who used to run the MrBeast channel you might've heard about his disappearance to. I chased after him for as long as I could but he's faster. But he couldn't have gotten much farther. Right now he should be somewhere in Brighton." He could hear her tear up behind the phone.

"...Is this true?" Wilbur softened his tone.

"Would I get your hopes up if it wasn't?" She went silent for a moment.

"So what do we do now?"

"I'm going to get into contact with the right people. The police have already dropped the investigation so we'll work with people who already have evidence on a now connected case, the one of Jimmy Donaldson. As for you, don't worry too much. I've got the contacts to get this solved efficiently."

"William, can you promise me something? Please make sure my son gets home he means the world to so many people and I... I just want to see him make myself and so many others smile again."

"Mrs. Simons... I swear on my life I'm going to do everything in my power to get Tom back to you in one piece." More trembles could be heard on the other side of the phone.

"Oh, what did we ever do to deserve someone like you in Tom's life!" Wilbur didn't answer right away, he never took well to compliments.

"How about you call your husband, I'm sure he wants to hear the good news."

"Your right, call me with any updates you get alright?"

"I'll be sure to, have a good afternoon."

"You to." He hung up. A bit overwhelmed, he contemplated his next steps. Going into Google, he began his short-lived quest for a Desire Drive phone number...

***

"And then I called you and that's basically where we are at." Chris leaned back in his chair, taking a quick breather.

"That's... a lot to take in. I'll give you a rundown of our options. Right now I can get a team of investigators stationed in Brighton and it's neighboring cities. As for Tommy, I'd like to get into contact with people who know more about the circumstances of his disappearance. Depending on the information we get, I think we can back up a theory that something happened to Jimmy which made him disappear for three weeks, and unlike Tommy, he chose to return home, if only for a little while."

"Well what do you think that something is?"

"...We don't quite have the answer to that." Chris's phone buzzed. Sighing, he noticed it was one of his PI's. "Er excuse me for once sec. Yes Damien?"

"One of my contacts got us some very useful informations about their current location. Approximently three hours ago, Jimmy Donaldson and Thomas Simons stepped on a plane from Gatwick Airport that is taking them across the country to Bob Hope Burbank national airport. What course of action would you like us to take?"

"How the hell does Jimmy have the money for so many flights! Well get all of the London teams over to Burbank right the fuck now. We have got to beat their flight so we can surround the exit."

"But Christopher they got a huge headstart. I don't think we can fill in the gap of 3 hours."

"I hired some of the most skilled investigators in the world who ran on more of a time crunch than this! Step on it!"

"Yes sir, would you like us to arrange a flight for you as well?"

"That would be great. Text me the address and a time." Hanging up, he turned over to Wilbur who was sipping at a mocha. "Hey Will, uh they are already apparently out of the country."

"Huh?"

"They got on a flight to Burbank."

"How-"

"I'm just as shocked as you are but he has done this before... Say would you like to come with us to California? I can tell you really care about Tommy just as much as I do Jimmy and I think our minds combined together could get some work done."

"Honestly fuck it, I don't have a big motivation for YouTube anything right now. Let's find our friends! Though may I see about one of my own friends joining us?"

"The more the merrier!" With the nod, Wilbur went scrolling through his contacts and ringing up someone who to held Tommy close to their heart.

"Sup Wilbur!"

"Hey Phil, are you busy for the foreseeable future? I got a little bit of a... project... I'm going all in on."

***

"Flight number 217 is now boarding all regular passengers. Please have your identification ready, thank you." Tommy perked up but Jimmy shook his head.

"We're 219. It'll be soon don't worry." Disappointment on his face, he returned to staring aimlessly out of the window. "Are you alright? You've looked down since yesterday."

"I... I just miss him, that's all."

"I'm sure you do, but that's ok. I mean god what wouldn't I give to have Chris just assure me everything is gonna be alright like he did when we were kids... You don't deserve to have to go through this at such a young age. You should be making content with your friends and wrapping up school. You shouldn't have to be out here running out doing this whole investigation with me. But you are and you want to protect your loved ones and I'm proud of you. You're taking on a lot of mental stress and pressure and your handling it extreamly well. However I'm going to make sure you aren't living out the last of your teenage years on the streets with me. Someday, I'll make sure you get home, you don't belong out here. Before I was kidnapped I watched a lot of your videos. Toms you got so much potential, I promise I'm not about to let T-Series and D-Company steal that from you." Tommy was honestly a bit suprised. He truly had as kind of a heart as the videos showed him to have. Finally letting out weeks of pent up emotion, he buried his face in his chest. Fingers running through his hair, Tommy understood that Jimmy was no Wilbur. He never could be. Wilbur was distant and closed off and he showed his affections sure but it was a rarity since it felt like 90% of their conversations revolved around bits. But here was Jimmy who was just as broken and scared and lonely as he is. And right now, his overprotectiveness was something he didn't want to argue...

~~~