"F" as in Falcon

Ok, so here’s chap 3. Better late then never…… I’ll try to update faster here too, I promise!!!

Warnings and disclaimers are still on chap 1…

BIG thanks to all that has reviewed!!!

This is still beta read by Virpi (Birdie) and I owe her a lot!!! *glomps*
So, on with the fic. R&R, you will make me SO happy!

Chapter 3

Bryan and Spencer were sitting in their room, waiting for Ian. They held no hopes of seeing Tala until the early hours of the morning. When Ian finally arrived he immediately cuddled up on Spencer's knee.

"Do you think he'll live?"

"He said he would Bryan. That's all I can say... He said we still have to practise tomorrow... He talked to Mr. Dickenson in the stadium."

"What!!! Is he insane?! There is no way he will live now..."

"I don't think they will hold that against him, Mr. Dickenson approached him and he was just being polite. Besides, they weren't close enough to hear what they were saying." A grim smirk appeared on the small boys face.

"Ok, what did Tala say?" Spencer asked.

"That he will testify if they can close this down and see to it that there is no way of them getting hold of us again."

"Testify... about... everything?" Spencer wondered.

"I think so... He just told Mr. Dickenson that he had information that would put Voltaire away for ever..."

"That means everything... He hasn't told Kai yet..." Bryan said.

"Oh..." Came in union from the other two.


Bryan's POV


We just sat there in silence for a while. I was mainly thinking about how Kai would react when he'd found out... I didn't think he would leave Tala for it... But I had really no idea of how he would react.

"Oh right, Bryan? I've got something for you." Ian said and gave me a letter. "From Ray." He finished with a smile.

I unfolded it and read.

Bryan,
You're forgiven.

I'm not saying that I wasn't angry with you, that I didn't hate you. But your honesty touched me, your pain is now mine. Your regret is all I need to forgive you.

There is still a lot that I don't understand about what has happened. I do, however, understand now that you are not to blame. None of you. You're not cowards, you are strong. Remember that. I hate those men for putting you through this! What was done to you was wrong, twisted and sick. But it wasn't your fault.

Don't feel sorry for things you can't change, try to change the future instead.

You are not alone Bryan. Besides your team, you now have me. I want to be your friend. I want to help you but I have no idea how. If this letter helps you in any way, I'll be glad.

I'll try to help Kai, to be a friend to him. I'm not sure if he wants my help, but I'll try. And I'll tell him.

Now it's my turn to ask for forgiveness. Forgive me for jumping to conclusions. Forgive me for not trying to look beyond the covers.

Forgive me.

We will try to defeat you, we have no other choice. Maybe that's a help to you as well. I know that you will be punished, at least Tala if Tyson wins. But if he doesn't we will all be hurt. I'm sorry for causing you pain, but we have to fight you.

There will be a day when we don't have to fight any more, I'm sure of that. One day our friendship won't have to be hidden any more.

Bryan, Falcon, your letter is so filled with pain. I want to ease it, but I don't know how. All I can say is let your soul rise high in the sky, just like the real falcons. Hold on to hope and your dreams.

I will find a way to help you.

Your friend,
Ray.


I didn't understand... He...he... he forgave me! He wanted to be my friend. My heartbeat became quicker. He... he cared!

"What did he say?" Spencer asked.

"He forgives me..." I whispered.

"Just like that?" Ian was as shocked as I was.
I just nodded.

"He... he wants to be my... friend..." I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

"Bryan, can I read it?" Spencer was puzzled. I gave him the letter and the two lovers read it together. I still couldn't control my tears... I felt so weak, not at all worthy of Ray's friendship.

Spencer came over to my bed and sat down beside me. He gave me the letter and put a finger under my chin to lift my head so that he could look me in the eyes.

"Bryan, hold on to this one. He's good, don't let your self-hatred and doubts in yourself destroy this. Write back to him, the address is on the back of the last page. We'll find a way to get it to him. Just hold on to him."

"I'll try... I'll do my best."
My tears came to a stop as he pulled me into a hug.

"Get some sleep Bry, you're still hurt."

"Only if you promise to wake me up when he's back."

"I promise I will wake you up when Tala's back. There, now sleep."

I laid down and curled to a small ball under the blanket. Sleep came surprisingly easy.

End Bryan's POV

"Spence?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think we have won one back just to lose another?"

"Ian, Tala has survived Voltaire, he survived the things they did to him last nigh. He's strong, the strongest one of us."

"I know, but still..."

They cuddled together, waiting for the sound of steel-toed boots in the hallway. It didn't come until five a.m. Ian rushed over to his own bed and they pretended to be asleep.

The door opened and the sound of something, some one, being dragged across the floor filled the room. Then "something" was thrown on the bed by the window. No hiss, no cry, no sigh, just silence. Three minds made the same pray: 'Please, let him be alive.'

The steel-toed boots left the room, slammed the door shut on the way out and faded away in the hallway again.

All three of them were beside the window bed within a heartbeat. Bryan had woken up by himself, seemed that he at least started to recover...

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R&R????