{Cricket} No fight left in him

[Tyler Haze]

The fog of the very late night rolled between the cold gray stone slabs, sculptures, crosses, and whatever else stood firm to mark the resting place of loved ones lost. All was still and silent except for the noises of the night life and the swaying of the trees. Everything was in it's place upon first inspection of the death strewn grounds, however, through the fog there appeared the figure of a young man. Normally those who saw him saw someone with a powerful presence, squared shoulders, hardened expression, and cold gray emotionless eyes. Yet now he stood here, among the dead, a totally different person. His eyes were like an open book to his thoughts, his expression was one of grief, his shoulders were no longer squared, and his presence was that of someone who had been mercilessly broken by some cruel twist of fate's mocking sense of humor.

Tyler Haze had seen the worst side of life. He had been shot, and nearly killed, then sent to a full scale prison, only months after his brother, Jacob Haze, who doubled as his best friend, was killed...on Tyler's account. As much as people had told him he was not to blame, he couldn't help but believe that they were all lying just to make him feel better about himself. They thought it was all about him, but in Tyler's mind they were wrong. It had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Jacob dying. It was harder than they knew, to deal with losing the only person in the whole world who you could really truly trust with everything.

Ever since his older brother had died, life had seemed determined to push Tyler over the edge, and now here he was, standing on the brink, and fully prepared to step off. He stood in front of the grave marker with his brother's name on it, in his hand the smooth shining metal, catching the moonlight brilliantly, of that which he intended to end it all with, right there. For several minutes, he stood just looking at the plain stone that didn't do the man buried beneath it any justice. "caring brother" it said, but Jacob had been so much more than that...he was nothing short of a hero to his little brother.

After a while, Tyler's focus shifted down to the gun in his hand, he could end it all right there, put a stop to his suffering. He had no life here. No one would give him a job, he couldn't afford college, everyone he came in contact with ended up getting hurt...the whole world would be better off without him. He might as well take his own life, and save someone else the trouble. So what was stopping him? He honestly didn't know. He was so ready to take his own life, but for some reason or another, he was still here...at least for a little while longer. He had a thousand and one reasons why he should take his life, maybe he was just looking for the one reason not to.

Not too terribly long ago he had run into a girl that he had apparently had sex with in one of his drunken stupors, and gotten pregnant. At first he couldn't believe it, but then he realized that it really probably was true. Shortly after that she announced that Tyler was the dad of one of the babies and Sebastian, who hated Tyler passionately, was the dad of the other baby. That came as a complete shock, and at first he didn't know what to do, and he still didn't. How was he supposed to be a dad and support a kid when he couldn't even support himself. It would make everything so much easier if he was gone...no longer in the world...dead.

After a moment or two, his hands started to tremble with the emotion that was welling up inside of him as he stood there beside the resting place of the only person who he had ever been able to fully rely on and trust. He had let Jacob down. He had screwed up, and now he was paying for it. It hurt more than most people knew. The gun fell from his hand, and he didn't bother to pick it up. He turned away from the grave before he let this emotion get the best of him, and walked away slowly, his hands buried deep in his coat pockets, and his head down. He couldn't take this anymore, any of it.

The streets were always abandoned this time of night, and he'd left both his switch blades at home. The only weapon he'd brought with him had been the gun, and that was lying in the grass beside Jacob's grave. He moved in complete silence, not noticing anything around him. Every step he took was by memory, he wasn't looking where he was going, but down at the ground. He turned instinctively down an alley that made the trip back shorter, disappearing into the darkness, not noticing or caring about the dangers that could be lurking ahead of him, lying in wait.

[luckycricket]

The night was like none other. It was more eerie, more foggy, and darker than ever before. The surrounding town was covered in a dense cloud of fog that just wouldn't lift. The visability distance was only a few feet, if that. It was the perfect night to go out and scare someone and have all around fun. After a few hours of the fog, you could no longer see anything in front of you. It was perfectly quiet because no car or no person would even think about going out this late at night, especially with this much fog. Only the adventurous people would venture out into the foggy night and risk their lives just being able to think to themselves. Well, that what's Drake was going to do. That and try and scare someone.

Drake was never the most serious person to be around. He was always joking around or flirting with some girl or just being all around stupid. This was typical Drake. If you couldn't take jokes, you shouldn't be around him. He was always jumping out at people and scaring them. One time he even made a little girl cry. He had been hiding in the alleyway during the day time when he jumped out at the girl and her mother. The screamed and then cried and her mother chased after Drake. Hitting him with her purse an abundant amount of times. He was a little sore after that, but he loved to play pranks and get people mad. He didn't know why it was so fun, but to him...he couldn't live without it. Anyway, he left his house and then headed for the streets into town. He laughed a little as he saw how much fog was about. He smiled evily and then knew that he would be able to get someone very easily tonight...even if he just walked up behind them and was hidden in the fog.

Before getting into the thickest of fog. He passed a guy who he recognized. He wasn't sure where he had seen him or if he actually knew him, but he watched him for a few moments. No longer was he threatful looking, more just like his spirit or what he had had, had been crushed. You could tell just what he was thinking from his eyes , or atleast what emotion was deep down. His eyes no longer seemed to keep people out, like most people were. They were purely expressive. If anything, Drake had seen him in high school. When he was tougher maybe? Drake glanced over all of him before seeing the gun. This guy could be trouble. Drake went into hiding in the alleyway for a while after watching the guy for some time.

It had been at least half an hour, when Drake saw the same guy walking down the alleyway. Drake laughed quietly and then remebered who he really was. They were best buds in high school. Drake was normally the leader of their group and then got into graffiti and what not. This other guy hadn't agreed on something and he brought out a gun and pointed it at Drake. He had said that he had enough of not being able to make his own choices. At that moment, Drake was afraid for his life. He had learned some tricks to aquire a gun from someone though and he got it from this guy. Well, they ended up in a huge fist fight and somehow he got the gun back and shot at Drake. It had hit his arm and soon he was laying on the ground hoping he was going to live. Drake never got full control of his arm back because the bullet had barely hit a nerve, but enough to rip some of it to pieces. Drake would never forget that day and hated himself, but more so the other guy for it.

Drake let this guy pass him some and then he stepped out and yelled at him. You! Stop right there! Look at me...deep into my face. Your remember me? You know that one kid you beat up in highschool on to try to become the gang leader? Drake laughed some and then looked at him. This was going to be the best night. Drake would finally get his revenge and nothing and no one would stop him. At least, that's what he thought. Drake advanced closer to the guy and the became the utmost serious he had been in his life. He held up his arms and hand and then said. That stupid bullet and gun did this to me. Drake's voice was starting to get more enrage by the minute. He soon waited for an answer his facial features not changing. This was going to be a very fun night.

[Tyler Haze]

Tyler was so absorbed in his thoughts that he really had lost all track of time and where he was. It didn't really matter though...he was sort of like on auto pilot. Kind of like when you're driving and you suddenly realize that you are at your destination, but don't remember anything of the trip over there. That's about how Tyler was currently...although he wasn't at his destination and hadn't yet realized that he wasn't paying attention to anything around him. It would have been quite entertaining if he'd taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in someplace that he hadn't ever seen in his life...however, unfortunately, he was right on track.

He heard a voice behind him, and did exactly what it commanded, to stop. It probably would have been wiser to ignore whoever it was and just keep walking, but Tyler really wasn't quite all there tonight. He was totally out of sorts, and he really wasn't paying much attention to anything. He knew that voice from somewhere though, but where? Then when the person reminded him of who he was, Tyler closed his eyes for a brief moment...that had been one of his less glorious moments in time. Needless to say, Tyler had been drinking that night when he shot Drake, otherwise he never would have done it. He wasn't like that...not then anyway.

He reopened his eyes and turned slowly around to face the enraged guy. Tyler knew now exactly what it was like to be shot...only he'd gotten it worse. Three bullets to the chest, one nearly ending his life. This was one more thing in his life that he regretted doing, but couldn't fix...he had so many of those, he should have just killed himself out at the graveyard, everybody would have been better off. He didn't bother to get that cold and emotionless look back up around him like he usually had, he probably wouldn't have been able to do it anyway...there were too many emotions floating around in his head.

For a moment, he kept eye contact with him, but then let his gaze drop to the ground. I'm sorry. He said, no hostility or hatred in his tone. He really was sorry, he hadn't been in his right mind and he knew that he probably screwed Drake's life up pretty bad by shooting him. God, everyone he came in contact with wound up getting hurt somehow or another, and it seemed like it was almost always his fault. His parents divorced because of him, his brother died because of him, Drake's arm was screwed up because of him, Alessandra's life was messed up because of him and now she was dead, there was no one left for him to hurt anymore.

Tyler wouldn't blame this guy if he pulled out a gun and shot him...in fact, he just might thank him for doing what Tyler didn't seem able to do. Anyway, whatever he did, Tyler would just let him for several reasons. One because if he fought back he would be blamed for it and go straight back into prison, two because he deserved it, and three because he just didn't have any fight left in him. What did he have to fight for anyway? He didn't have any close friends, the world hated him, he couldn't get a job, his family had disowned him. He didn't have a thing left that was worth living for.

[luckycricket]

Drake watched as at first Tyler had been in his own world. In a flash of the moment, Drake felt bad for Tyler. Drake had finally straightened out his life. He almost went to jail, but that ordeal had gotten him back in line. Drake wasn't into any gang activity anymore and he wasn't doing anything bad. His life had actually gone on a great path and now he was moving on from his TV show period. It was all in the past and Drake wanted to keep it that way. As Drake looked at Tyler deep in the eyes, he could tell that his emotions were running loose and he couldn't stop them. It was sad really, but Drake had hated that day. If that was one day he could change, he would do it. Heck, if he could change his ending years in high school he would. As he looked back on his life, he was quite disappointed in himself. Nothing had gone right and he could've changed that...

Drake returned to reality. He was doing it again...feeling bad for himself for his past. He tried to bury his past and keep it from everyone, but every now and then, he constantly kept getting reminders of it. Today, it was Tyler. Anger had flooded him as Drake had recognized who he was. In ways, both Drake and Tyler could have stopped the whole thing and left it alone, but no one did and now, Drake was finally getting even. Drake stared at Tyler for a few moments before hearing his apologies. Sorry doesn't cut it. You could've missed my arm that night and actually killed me. You had to go and get yourself drunk... Drake trailed off. His voice was even, but you could tell that he was starting to get mad again.

Soon, a question popped up in Drake's head. He pushed it aside, but it never went away. It was eating at his insides and he could help but to let it out, Why haven't you gotten your life together? Drake started towards Tyler and then stopped not too far in front of him. You've probably had so many opportunities to and you haven't taken them. Drake was wanting to second guess himself at actually fighting, but if it would come to that he would. You see, he didn't want to make Tyler any worse because in some part of his heart Drake still wanted to be friends. Soppy right? oh yes. Drake did care...a little.

Again, Drake was looking way too far into his past. He wasn't just punching or getting revenge. He didn't know why this was any different from fighting another person. Drake sighed, looking down at the ground. For some reason, Drake wouldn't let go of the fact that he could've helped Tyler in some way and he didn't know why thoughts from the past came to him. Maybe it was because Tyler was his past. He was involved in so many days of his high school years, it brought it all back to him. Drake hated how he was thinking right now. He had so many contradicting thoughts in his head. It was quite confusing to him, but he had to get revenge. It was the only way he would ever feel better about what happened. Drake took a few deep breaths and became uber serious again. You had your chances to change you life, and now I have mine. I can finally feel better with my self...Revenge sort of. Drake voice's seemed deadly and rang out in the eerie, dark alleyways. Soon he was only inches away from Tyler and he aimed his fist for his gut.

As Drake started to throw punches left and right, something hit him and he stopped for a moment. What if revenge wasn't the right answer? What if he didn't feel better after this? How could he live with himself knowing that he beat up some poor guy from high school all because of an accident years ago. Yes, it messed up Drake's life, but he was coping with it obviously. Drake sighed and aimed another punch for Tyler's face. Not sure if he hit it. He walked a little ways from Tyler, just contemplating things over. Why did life have to be so complicated?

[Tyler Haze]

Tyler never looked up at Drake, never made eye contact with him. He couldn't. Normally Tyler was completely emotionless and could hold the stare of someone else until they looked away, but tonight he couldn't. He had tried to supress the emotion, but he hadn't been able to. It had all come welling up inside him without his consent and refused to fall back into line and disappear without a trace from Tyler's expression. It was all right there in plain view for everyone to see. Inmate 1326 had finally cracked.

He didn't know what to say to Drake. He knew that sorry could never make up for what he did, but he really truly was sorry. He knew he'd been stupid, he knew what his limits for drinking were, and he had knowingly gone over them that night. But no one except Tyler himself knew. Some people knew that Tyler Haze had gotten drunk and shot Drake Bell. Some people knew that had been the night his parent's split and that he was only trying to forget. But no one, no one except Tyler, knew both of those things and that the divorce had been what had driven him to getting drunk and shooting Drake.

Then Drake asked a question that Tyler really had no answer to. He'd been arrested twice, and it seemed like that still wasn't enough of a wake up call for him. Actually...he had gotten his wake up call, her name was Alessandra and she had been pregnant with his child. After meeting her again he had really honestly tried to make things right...but she died and left him with no one to make things right for. He had seen the baby at the hospital through the window for but a moment, and then left...refusing to visit the child. Most people said it was because she reminded him of Alessandra too much or if it charged him with too much guilt. He knew, however, that the reason he was staying away was because he didn't want his daughter growing up knowing what kind of person her dad was. No, Anex had custody of the child, and her boyfriend Anthony would have to play the part of dad to her. He would be better at it than Tyler anyway.

The word revenge rang strong in Tyler's mind, and he knew he deserved it. He felt like saying "go ahead, take your revenge." But words failed him, and he said nothing. Maybe Drake would be more of a man than Tyler had been and would kill him, do the world a favor really. All Tyler ever seemed to do was make thing worse for people, so if Drake killed him...he should be seen as a hero who did what countless people, including Tyler, hadn't been able to do.

Next thing he knew, Drake's fist slammed into the left side of his ribs powerfully. He had been kicked by his horse not too long ago in that very same spot and so it was far more painful than it should have been. He felt the stitches pop, and the wound break back open, causing blood to seep out. Tyler reeled in pain from the blow, but did nothing to defend himself from the other punches thrown his way. He had no reason to fight back. Just from the pain of the first blow, he felt like he was going to pass out, and he probably looked a bit like he was too. The night was closing in around him, and he was having a hard time breathing through the pain. Them finalizing it all, Drake's fist came in contact with Tyler's bottom jaw unexpectedly, and sent him to his knees. From there, the ground wasn't far and was beginning to look inviting.

Tyler's shoulder hit the ground as Drake started to walk away, his head cracking against the ground. His right hand was reached across his body, clutching the bruised ribs and reopened wound on his left side. Pain was his only friend, and what a cruel friend it was. Through the pain, he managed to form previously uttered words on his lips weakly and almost in a whisper. I'm...sorry... He was almost gone now. Not dead, quite far from dead actually, but consciousness was leaving him now, and it wouldn't be long now before he stopped feeling pain, stopped hearing anything Drake said, stopped thinking about anything that had happened, and stopped seeing what was to become of him.

[Liz]

Drake watched his expression. It was totally helpless looking and Drake couldn't help, but feel bad. There was something that Tyler hadn't told anyone. Drake didn't know what it was, but he knew it wasn't something good. Drake also concluded that it had some relation with him...somehow. He wasn't sure where it came from, but when Tyler had actually recognized him, it seemed as all of his emotions were even more wacked up. Drake sighed thoughts swirling mercilessly around his head. He couldn't help, but think about what could happen if he just left Tyler there. The last thing he wanted to do would leave Tyler to die.

Drake's adrenaline had now died down and his voice was returning to normal. His back had been facing Tyler, but he turned around and saw blood seeping through his shirt. Drake raised his eye brow. He knew he didn't punch that hard. So there must've been a cut or another wound that opened up again. The damage that he had caused Tyler now hit him like a brick wall. He instantly started to feel bad for even confronting him. It was something he felt he had to do though, but that didn't mean that he couldn't change before he left. It was something that he would have to do. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

As Drake heard Tyler's last words, Drake walked up closer. Everything about his body said that he wasn't coming along to hurt him again. He kneeled down next to Tyler and then looked at him sincerely. I'm sorry too. Drake took his shirt off and wrapped it around Tyler's gash to help slow the bleeding, putting pressure on it would be better than letting it bleed profusely. He didn't know why he was doing this, but his body wouldn't let him do otherwise. He couldn't do anything else, but just sit there and wait for someone to show up. At that point he would run for it and hopefully never cross Tyler again. There was good in Drake's heart. Sometimes it was just covered by the revenge he thought he needed to take. It was a truly bad side to him and he hated himself for it and always would.

Soon, he heard soft footsteps coming his way and he made a run for it. He made it out of the alleyway and then continued to run to his house...his safety for the night. He felt somewhat better knowing that Tyler would be in better hands and that he didn't just leave him there to die or become unconscious. It was something Drake had to and felt he needed to do and no one would stop him. He soon made it to his house and got in. He headed for the shower and let the hot water beat down on his aching mind.

---

Liz had been locked up in her house the whole day and she decided to get out some. It was night and all was peaceful. She didn't know what to expect though when she saw all of the fog. It was dense and she wondered if she should even venture into it. She didn't want a repeat of what happened in the alleyway last time. That was one thing she didn't want to happen again. She walked quietly with her arms crossed and then passed the alleyway. She heard some voices and then walked down the path some. Soon, she heard running and soon saw another guy laying on the ground.

This guy she had found looked to be in a serious condition. He was bleeding pretty badly and he looked to have some bruising on his face and jaw. She sighed and then went next to him. Hello? Who did this to you and I'm going to get you to the hospital. She soon pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911. She told them her location and within minutes they were there assisting her and getting Tyler stabilized. Liz sighed as she watched them wheel him to the ambulance. She hopped into the ambulance next to him. She didn't know who he was, but she didn't care. All she cared about was getting him better. She wrapped her fingers around his tightly and then hoped that he would make it through this all right. Whoever had done this...was going to pay. She really wanted them to serve a sentence, but she knew it might not workout. She hadn't been able to see any of the attacker who had ran away and that wouldn't have been any help in court.

Liz stayed with the guy all night when he was finally admitted to a room. It was quiet in the hospital all but the machines beeping in the room. Her life seemed to be filled with surprises and this was another one dropped in her lap. She had been to the hospital herself way too many times and now, she was back. She wasn't injured though, it was someone else. And it was the worst feeling in the world to not know what was going to happen over night or the next day.

[Tyler Haze]

Tyler was surprised to see Drake coming back in the way that he did. Usually when someone turned around and came back after their victim was on the ground it was only to do more damage than they already had. Drake didn't seem like that was his intent though. He seemed like a different person really. It was sort of like Tyler. Here on the ground in pain, surrounded by painful memory and emotion, and really truly sorry for what he did he was Tyler Haze...a nice guy who's life was just a bit messed up. Elsewhere he was a hardened and dangerous criminal, Inmate # 1326. He didn't know what the other side or Drake was called...the side that had just attacked him...but he sure liked this side better.

The pressure on the wound hurt like hell, but he knew it was the only way to do it, otherwise he'd bleed to death. The pain sort of slowed the closing darkness around him, and he heard Drake's apology loud and clear. Don't be. He said...Drake had nothing to be sorry for in Tyler's mind. He'd done so much stuff that he regretted, and he was pretty sure this was justice being played out on him. He deserved every bit of pain he was in right now, and much much more. He wanted to ask Drake why he was doing this, but he couldn't seem to get any other words to form on his lips. He was fading fast.

Just as he was about gone, Drake stood up and took off. He didn't blame him. But then, before he knew it, someone else...a girl...was next to him, and she was asking who did this, and telling him that she was going to get him to the hospital. Tyler really didn't want to go to the hospital...he'd been there way too much in recent years, and had come to hate the sterilized white walls, and the doctors who could care less about him...they just did a marginal job and got money from the government for it...but he had no say in the matter.

He wasn't going to tell anyone who did it. If he had to, he would say he didn't know who they were, but they were looking for money. Why would he want to protect Drake? Well, he had stayed afterwards and seemed like he was a different person from the one Tyler had shot. Moments after the girl pulled out her phone, he felt like his lungs completely collapsed, and his heart had stopped. He wasn't dead...his heart and lungs were working fine...it just felt like that as he lost consciousness. Unfortunately, this time, unlike the other times he'd gone under...he didn't loose feeling.

He felt as the hands of doctors ran over his body looking for breaks and injuries, he felt the oxygen mask slip over his mouth, he felt his body lifted onto the stretcher, he felt his hand grasped by someone else's, he felt himself moved into the hospital, he felt the busy hands working to repair the gash, and most of all, he felt pain. Then finally, after what seemed like a life time, his feeling faded to, and he was completely out...not because his body told him to, but because of whatever drug they had just injected into him to reduce the pain. That made it worse...now he really felt like he was dead.

Some many long hours later, he stirred slightly, and with that slight motion, things started coming back to him. He didn't feel any pain, but he was pretty sure that was only the morphine blocking all his nerve endings and stopping the messages of pain from getting to his brain. Slowly, he opened his eyes just a bit, instantly knowing exactly where he was, although he couldn't remember exactly why. In a brief moment he thought he was here because he'd been shot and that he was hand cuffed to the bed...he thought it was back when he'd been arrested the first time. When he saw the girl sitting next to the bed though, he knew it wasn't.

Still, memory refused to give him the answers he was wanting. He didn't know what had happened this time, and was thoroughly confused. There was a bandage around his abdomen, he could tell that much, and some sort of make shift home made bandage on his hand. He knew what had happened to his hand...it had been that horse of his, and Alessandra had fixed it up for him, but the other one...he hadn't had anything on that injury last time he could remember. That must have been the reason he was here, it had been re opened somehow. How though, was what he wanted to know.

[Liz]

Before Drake had fled, he heard Tyler's words and then nodded. He wasn't going to argue about it with him now. So, he left it at that. The words that Tyler had said played over and over in his mind like a broken record. Those words made him feel a little better about what he had done. No doubt, he still had regrets, but that was the past. He was ready to bury his past for good. If he saw Tyler around town, then he'd say hi and smile. He'd be able to knowing that he tried to do the right thing that night. He tried not to take revenge, but his mind wanted it so badly. He couldn't resist the temptation because it was too strong.

Even though the words made Drake feel better, they meant nothing to him. He knew he could've stopped what happened years ago and what happened now. He could've recognized that Tyler was drunk and completely out of his mind. Drake sighed as he thought the words over back home. He was now warm and fresh smelling since his shower. Drake had to be sorry, or else, his conscious would invade and he'd never be able to live with himself. Drake didn't care that Tyler told him not to worry. He worried anyway and he had good right to. Drake moved upstairs and tried to fall asleep, but to no avail. He finally fell asleep thinking over everything that had happened tonight and in the old events of his life. He wasn't happy, but he was at least satisfied.

---

Liz had been waiting in the hospital waiting room while they stabilized the guy. She was happy that she'd found him because he might not have made it otherwise. She thought about him for a moment and then thought about where Logan might be. She sighed and hoped that he would understand her being here all night. She texted him a message saying where she was so he wouldn't get worried and then she turned her phone off. Soon, doctors came out to get her and tell her that they were moving him to a room. She nodded and then went up to the room they told her after about 10 minutes.

She had rested for a while until she saw and heard a little bit of movement. She smiled slightly and then looked at him. She saw he was a little bit weary of where he was. So, her voice was soft and comforting...as comforting as it could be being in a hospital anyway. You were beaten up by someone pretty badly. Your wound opened up and they had to stitch it back I guess. She had scooted over closer to the bed and then looked him over. He seemed pretty mixed with emotions. Even during the night, she could tell he already wasn't in the best condition. Now that he was more aware, she didn't want to go openly hold his hand. She didn't really know who he was and vice versa.

He had been out for a while now and she was glad that he was finally waking up and responding to things. She didn't know if he could hear her clearly, but she would give him her name. I'm Liz by the way. It may not have been the most appropriate time to do so, but she figured that it was now or never. As she looked him over once more, she could tell that there was more color to his face now which was always a good sign. She hoped that things would only get better from here and he'd be out of here within the matter of a few days. The would be the major goal.

Liz knew what it was like to be in a hospital and it wasn't fun. She had been in here for Santi's horse attacking her. That was something that took weeks and months to heal from. She wasn't fully talking and responding to anything for at least a good week. Yes, she would periodically try and talk or try and keep her eyes open, but it would never be for long. Her body would always make her want to go back to sleep. Logan had been there the whole time for her and she was grateful for that. It was something and someone that kept her going and kept her fighting for her life day by day. Then, don't forget the Sonny accident. She was in the hospital for a little less than a day just to make sure she was ok and doing better than she was. Other than that...it was house rest and staying home. She had hated house rest even more, but at least she was at home.

Her life had been a small mess when she was younger, but she quickly straightened it out. She actually dated Sonny, but regretted that moment for ever and ever. She had gotten into drugs and didn't like it. So, she quit. Sonny didn't help her quit, in fact he forced her to do more. Which led up to their breakup, she broke up with him because of his abusive behavior mainly. It was something she hadn't looked back on until then and she regretted it. It seemed as though everyone had a little bit of their past that they hated and that was Liz's.

[Tyler Haze]

Tyler turned his head slightly towards Liz as she started to speak, explaining what had happened to him, and instantly regretted the action. The moment he moved, it was like all the numbness was instantly gone, and the pain came rushing to him. There was the painful reminder of getting nearly killed by his horse was one, then his head. It was like having a killer of a hangover without the benefit of the high the alcohol gave you before the hangover. Tyler hadn't had a drop of alcohol since he'd gotten out of jail and met Alessandra, but he was pretty sure that was going to change very shortly after he got out of here. There was only so much a guy who just recently quit drinking could take, and Tyler was way over that limit.

Yeah, most of the time when people came out out of something like this they were slow to start responding to things, but for some reason Tyler always snapped out of it much quicker than usual. He heard every word she said loud and clear, and it all instantly came back to him. He'd run into yet another person who hated him. Just one more to add to the list. Tyler didn't have a long list of friends...in fact, now what Alessandra was dead, he was pretty sure he didn't have any. Maybe this girl...Liz...was borderline friends since she was here...Drake, even though he'd put Tyler in here was borderline friends...Alex and Anthony, they had custody of his kid and had been nice enough to him, so they were borderline friends. But that was pretty much it. He could probably name off at least 100 people who hated him and wanted to kill him.

It seemed like Tyler had, while unconscious, gotten himself back under control, and almost instantly after she introduced herself, all traces of emotion vanished from him. Maybe he had gotten more color to his face, but emotion...that was a no. In his book there was currently nobody left alive that he could trust with his emotions, thoughts, feelings...anything. Alessandra had sort of given him back that little bit of hope that there was someone he could trust...besides her. He had found himself completely trusting her with everything...forget that, he loved her. Even though she was gone now, he was still hoping that maybe there was someone else out there like her and he would somehow manage to find them.

Now that Tyler could see her properly, he noticed that Liz really was quite pretty, but he didn't let on to it. Just because someone was pretty didn't mean they were trustworthy. Although Tyler was perfectly capable of responding instantly, he chose not to...he had to think for a moment about how to respond before he did. He wasn't sure if he should give one of those short curt replies that came across as somewhat cold, or if he should at least try to be a little bit nicer to her. He decided on the latter. I'd tell you who I am, but I'm sure you already know. He said, no emotion in his voice, but no hostility either. She was lucky he was feeling generous.

He said that he was certain she already knew who he was for a few reasons. The first reason being that the hospital band he wore had his name on it, as did the charts right near the bed...not to mention the doctors had probably told her. The second reason was because nearly everyone who had been in Pinewood for at a year knew who Tyler Haze was...or at least they thought they did. He'd been in the news multiple times for all the junk he'd gotten into. Multiple MIP's, the bank robbery, the arrest, the knife fight, the second arrest, his release...it seemed like anything he did was big news in this little town. He was like the celebrity that everyone hated.

If it was up to him, and he knew it would be, he would be out of here by the end of the day. Heck, he'd only been in the hospital for a week after getting shot three times and undergoing four hours of surgery to get him stabilized. This was nothing in comparison. Sure he'd be in a lot of pain, and he would refuse any pain meds or any sort of help offered, but he would survive. He always did. If he could survive getting nailed in the ribs by his horse with only the stitches Alessandra put in, he could sure as hell survive getting the injury reopened with extensive stitches and all that bandaging without being in the hospital. He didn't need a nurse to look after him, he'd be fine on his own. Or at least that's what he thought. Tyler knew he wasn't indestructible, but he never wanted anyone's help...anyone's charity. Then again, no one had ever offered it out of the kindness of their heart.

[Liz]

Liz watched as he turned his head. She could tell by his expression that it obviously was very painful to do so. She sighed and knew what that pain was like. Santi's horse had kicked her in her head. It was very painful and when she was starting to respond. It was almost like she was in a hangover without the alcohol. She hated it a lot and wouldn't ever want to get kicked by a horse again. It was probably the quickest, but most painful injury she'd had in her life. She had recovered well, but still had a broken arm as a concession of the accident. She didn't regret any of what she had or hadn't done though because she got to know Santi pretty well through that whole ordeal.

Liz watched him quietly before picking up a magazine she had had and started to read some of the articles in it. It was something to occupy her time while she was there supporting someone. She sort of knew what it was like to be alone in a hospital and it wasn't very fun at all. In fact, it was the most boring and lonely thing that Liz had come to know. It was like people seemed not to care for you, or they didn't have time for you. You felt left out on the rest of life while you sat in the sterile white hospital rooms "healing." What's healing and homey about a hospital...absolutely nothing. Yes, physically you can heal, but it doesn't help you mentally, not at all.

Liz looked down for a moment as she heard his voice. It was somewhat distant sounding, but there was no hostility to it. She was glad of that because she had just helped him through a hard time. Although, this wasn't anything compared to what Tyler's life had actually been and Liz didn't know any of that. So, her thoughts were a little, distorted to say the least. She smiled slightly as she heard his somewhat guarding words. Well, I don't really know who you are or what your name is, but I've found it for myself. So...I guess introductions are as much as gone. Her tone wasn't hostile nor was it spunky. It was just sorta of plain and sweet. Her voice held a naturally sweet tone, something that was always evident unless she was mad.

She looked at him and tried to get any expressions, but she was pratically locked out. His eyes were full of emotions last night and she didn't know why this was any different. She shrugged the thought off and would leave Tyler alone because of it. She didn't know what had gone on in his life and she didn't want to bother him for it, unless she somehow got him to open up to her. It would be a miracle, but she could do it somehow. She was now more determined that ever to get him to open up, but it would be a hard task to do. So, what were you doing in the alleyway last night? Her voice was once again even and steady, no real interesting tone to it. She didn't want to be nosy, but she was slightly curious. It was pretty bad to just be wandering around town, but then she couldn't talk because she was doing just the same. He seemed like a slightly lost person, but maybe that was just her. Either way, she'd offer all the help he needed if that was the case. Anything to help him get on his way to recovery.

[Tyler Haze]

Tyler really didn't know how to answer that question. What was he supposed to say? That he'd been on his way "home" from the grave yard where he'd been planning on killing himself when he ran into someone he'd shot when he was drunk and the guy decided he wanted revenge and Tyler just decided to not defend himself? Well it sure made for a good story, but not one he was wanting to tell just yet. If Liz were Alessandra he wouldn't have hesitated to tell her...but she wasn't so he would just leave out the details and make it seem like something that was just a freak encounter that had nothing to do with his past.

Just heading home. He said after a moment or two of contemplation on what to say. I think the guy was looking for money, and was pretty pissed when he figured out I had none on me. Okay, so the second part was a lie, but for once in his life he'd told a lie that sounded a bit convincing. He still wasn't sure why Drake had hung around to help him after attacking him...but if he was nice enough to do that, then Tyler was sure he could be nice enough to not tell anyone that he really knew who it was. He wasn't all that good at lying though, and if she was paying close enough attention, she would catch the lie.

He really didn't want to lie, it was just one of the good things about him that his screwed up life hadn't demolished. Honesty with him was huge, and he did his best to always be honest...even when it didn't do him much good. Like when he was in court and honestly told them that stabbing those two guys had been self defense...and he still went to jail. Or when he told Alessandra that he didn't remember her name and she slapped him then walked away. Sure the first time had been an injustice to him, but the second time he had completely deserved it. He was pretty sure he deserved to get beat up too.

I could ask you the same question though. He added after a few seconds of silence. It's not everyday I'm lucky enough to be found by someone who doesn't want to kill me, and wouldn't take advantage of my half dead state there in the Alley. Tyler always seemed to warm up to girls a lot faster than he did to guys. Why? He wasn't really sure. Maybe because girls were almost always more understanding of emotional pain, where as guys would just scoff and use it against you. Besides, Liz had saved his life and had stayed here all night without knowing a thing about him except that his name was Tyler Haze, and he'd been lying in an alley bleeding. Not to mention he knew nothing about her except that her name was Liz and she'd been kind enough to get him taken care of and stay with him. He was fairly sure that the hand he felt grasping his on the way to the hospital was hers too.

He was sort of wondering though, how she had managed to get the doctors to let her stay. Usually only family or close friends were allowed to stay with a person like this...especially if the victim was a known criminal who, if he wanted to, could break somebody's neck. Then again, Tyler didn't have any family or close friends...so maybe they'd made an exception. It was either that or she'd lied her way in here. Either way, it didn't really matter. She was here, and just that meant a lot to him.

[Liz]

Liz watched him in a bout of silence. It was almost like he was thinking of how to explain it. She thought that he might not be telling the whole truth after seeing that, but then she shrugged the thought off. He seemed like an okay guy and he didn't need to lie. Did he? Once again, she shook the thought away and then listened to him as he formed words. She nodded when she heard everything he said about heading home. It sounded sort of stretched, but she would take it none the less. If he was truly hiding something, she wouldn't invade his privacy just to get the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It just wasn't something that Liz liked to do that often. So, Liz had sort of caught the signs, but let it go that she knew he might be telling a lie. If he was ready, he could tell her in time.

Liz rarely ever tried to lie. She was a really honest person and that was one good thing about her. She might not always make the best decisions, like that one time getting drunk and having a guy use her for nothing, but trying to get laid, but no one always makes the best decisions. There was always one that would lead to more danger than the other and in that case it was getting drunk in the first place. After that though, she tried to be completely honest with Logan. For her, that was hard, but she did it no matter how mad Logan was. Although, it was more that Logan had seen her with him and he came to save her. Anyway, people do make mistakes and that was one of her major ones. She had plenty more, but she tried in her best ability not to lie to her friends and the one she loved most...Logan.

Liz laughed a little at his comment and the nodded, Why, yes you could. And I have an honest answer. I've been cooped up in my house for too long and decided to walk, when I came across the alleyway and voices, which was you and whoever beat you up.
Liz eyed him for a moment, not like "stay away from me," but like "why would you think I would kill you," look. It wasn't everyday that Liz came across someone who said he pretty much always had someone wanting to kill him. That was pretty sad to her. It also gave a clue about how his past might've been...a dark one at that. Why would I ever think about killing you? I mean... I didn't even know you and you looked half dead. The very last thing, if that, on my mind would be killing you. Not that I ever would. She laughed a little and then made quick eye contact with him. She soon looked back out towards the hospital hallway and then back at Tyler. he was pretty cute, if she had to say so herself, but she was dating and she couldn't even think about doing anything with him.

She was happy to do anything to comfort him and help to get him better. It was just how she was. Liz was had usually been a very sweet and caring girl. She went through a darker drug period, but she ended that fairly quickly. The rest of her life was very rewarding and very good. Her parents were supportive of her and always wanted the best for her. Nothing seemed to really go wrong until high school when she met Sonny, but as said before she got herself out of that rut and fixed her life. It was something she had to do and felt that she needed to do.

At first, the medic's were hesistant to let her come, but seeing as she practically saved his life. They let her come. They were forgiving towards the end, after he was more stabilized. Then, they told the doctors to let her see him whenever he was ready to be seen in a room. It wasn't too hard to get around, but she had to get her way in slyly. It worked, but only after much convincing. Truthfully, she wouldn't have slept or done anything other than go to the hospital anyway. So, they couldn't have kept her away from seeing how he was doing. The best she could do was at least visit him and then go back home. It was all she needed to reassure herself.

[Charlie Parker]

Damn, Tyler hadn't thought about her noticing that...he hadn't thought over what he said quite well enough before he said it. She wasn't supposed to get the impression that he was hated by the world. Ah well, he'd said it, and it was out there now, he couldn't take it back, and she seemed like she sort of wanted an explanation. He owed her that much for saving his life...though he still thought that maybe it would have been better if he'd died in that alleyway. He had sort of hoped that he would end up dead after that night, he just wasn't man enough to do it himself, and then when someone tried to do it for him, he got his life saved...again.

Tyler sighed slightly before making up his mind that he should at least give her a few details. I've been in and out of jail a few times the past two years. He said finally slightly hesitantly, In a place as small as this that kinda makes you infamous, and as you can imagine, there's not a whole lot of people out there who are too...fond of me. That was really putting it lightly. He was basically hated by most people out there, even the ones who had never seen him face to face and just heard of him through the news. It was hard for someone only 17 years old to go through that hate, and it had only gotten worse now that he was 19.

People expected him to get more responsible and start getting things straightened out as he got older, but it wasn't that easy. As he got older, it got harder...people mistrusted him more, held him more accountable for what he did when he was younger. Having a criminal record was what had gotten him turned down from every job he applied to, especially since he was cited for a robbery. They always pretended it was something else, but Tyler could see right through their fake reasons. He was good at that...seeing through people and into what they really were. Lying to him never worked.

The assumption that "once a cheater always a cheater" was very true here. No body believed in the idea that some people change. So Tyler really saw no other choice for him but to keep living in the criminal lifestyle. He only knew two things, the honest life, which no one would accept him in anymore, and the criminal life which seemed to be where he was trapped. It was hard, but nobody understood. Nobody even tried to understand. All they saw was inmate 1326, no body saw the other side of him, lurking just beneath the surface, just waiting for someone to take the time to get to know. Nobody cared to look for it...they were all blind to who he really was. The only person who saw Tyler Haze was buried six feet below the surface of the earth.

[Liz]

Yes, Liz had noticed. It was easy to notice though since Tyler had given her a hint to it. You had to be paying attention to it, but if you did, you could get him to open up. She smirked slightly to herself and then continued on the path that she was on trying to get him to open up a little more. Her face turned to that of some disbelief. She couldn't picture someone like him there, but then again, that would explain his cold and uninviting expression that seemed to be plastered on his face when he wasn't making conversation. It just seemed like he needed help and that he could stay out of trouble if someone or a few different people helped him whenever he needed it.

After this whole thing, Liz had a feeling that they would become at least good friends. Friends that are always there for each other. As long as Liz stayed her distance from him relationship wise she'd be ok. She didn't want to get Logan anymore mad at her. She had already caused him enough trouble as it was and she didn't want him to worry about anymore of it. It wasn't something she or him needed to worry about and she hoped that she could remind herself of that constantly. She was starting to feel really bad for the poor guy and she just wanted to get close to him and comfort him, but she knew that couldn't happen. Or else it would go down hill from there with herself and Logan. It was just something she couldn't risk.

Liz sighed as she heard what he had to say. It was quite sad actually seeming that no one tended to like him or really get to know him. Just from the few moments that she had been talking to him, he seemed somewhat nice. She didn't know his deeper side, but she wanted to see it or at least help it break out of the shell inside of him. Wow, that's not good at all. I'm really sorry to hear that. Just to get one thing straight, I'm not one of those people. She looked up and then looked him in the eyes and then smiled. Yes, she was flirting...a little bit. She shrugged the thought off and then looked down at her hands running along each other.

Liz thought that Tyler might have a nicer and more caring side to him, but it just needed to be brought out. She was once shy herself, but not look at her. She was saving random people's lives and then talking to them afterwards. It was something she probably never would've done a long time ago, but different people helped her along and now she was no longer shy. If Tyler was like that, then she was going to do the same and be a good friend. She was going to be one of the ones who was going to help him out of this depression. It was going to be hard and slow, but she was willing to work at it with him if he was willing to work for it. It would be a long stretch, but she knew she could do it somehow.

[Tyler Haze]

When he finished talking, he averted his gaze once more to the blank white wall across from him. Honestly, the cleanliness of this place made him want to break something. He wasn't really sure why, it just made him mad. No, that was a lie, he knew why. It was because they put more effort into keeping this place clean than they did saving the lives of the less...blessed financially. That was why Jacob was dead, that was why Alessandra was dead, that was why he would be leaving here as soon as he possibly could. Doctors were very far from his favorite people in the world too, so that didn't help how he felt about hospitals.

Not good at all... Tyler was certain he knew what came next. Every page of his life was so predictable. Now she would get up and walk away, trying to make it seem like she had somewhere to go, just so she wouldn't seem impolite. Well, he didn't blame her. Who wanted to be associated with someone like him anyway? Anybody who wanted to keep their good reputation would steer well around him. He'd actually gotten a few people into trouble just by being hear them...unfortunate, but true. If someone was just thought to be an aquaintence of his, they could find themselves in a tight spot.

But then she said something he hadn't expected, and he turned slowly back towards her again. Get one thing straight? That wasn't what most people said...unless she was then going to say something like "I was never here." Then he would totally expect that. But she didn't...she said she wasn't one of the people he was talking about. Did that mean...could it really? Was this really honestly happening? Was she his next Alessandra? Did he have to nearly get himself killed every time he wanted to find someone who cared? It sure seemed that way. He couldn't really believe what he was hearing.

Then he started feeling guilty about lying. He used to be able to bear guilt very easily, but now...now he couldn't take it at all, ever since he'd completely broken down in front of Alessandra, Sebastian, and Chey. I don't want to lie to you. He said, looking away once more, not wanting to see her reaction to what he was going to say, I wasn't just walking home, He continued rather reluctantly, I was going to kill...myself...but I couldn't do it. On the way back I ran into someone who I...I shot when I was drunk. He thought he'd be getting his revenge, and I knew I deserved it, so I didn't do anything...and then you found me... He sort of left it there sort of floating for her to respond to.

After a moment or two, he again turned very slowly back towards her, expecting a look of both horror and shock. That wasn't exactly easy for him to say...but it was the truth, and it felt better getting it off his chest. Guilt was the devil and dragged him down every time....he had given up on fighting it a long time ago. It was better just to let it have its way to do with you as it pleased.