Liam was sick and it wasn't  a nice sight at all. He was just glad no one saw him in this situation - apart from the other guy in the ally. He let himself drop back against the cold, damp brick wall sliding down to the ground. The other guy said - in a thick macunian accent - something about Liam exeggerating and being the most sodding lad, who had his head stuck up his arse. "You don't know fucking anything about my life!" Liam wanted to yell, but he was too weak. "Fuck off! Leave me alone!" His tears were running freely now. He couldn't believe it himself -- how he ended up here, like this. Pictures of a distinctive, blood covered face were haunting him.

"Hey, Karen, is Liam there? I need to talk to him really quick." Charlie said, moment of panic in his voice. He shouldn't have let it shine through, but there was nothing for it, he was terrified, and he felt he had every right to be.

Liam hadn't told anyone where he was. He had just rushed off. He got scared. He only ran away and he knew he had to go as far as possible. But how lunatic does one have to be to flee from Sidney to sodding Manchester? Karen must be horribly terrified that he suddenly gone. But he didn't dare to call anyone, however. He didn't even know if the other guy he had left in the backstreet in Sidney with his blood covered face was still alive.

Charlie swore into the phone. "You've no idea where he is? Karen, this is really fucking important." Karen began yelling at him, saying she knew it was fucking important, and to stop yelling at him.

Now, Liam was sitting - right next to his puke - in some dark ally in his old hometown, because he had been stupid enough to go there and the only place he could think of where to go in Manchester was the bar he had frequented the most.

Charlie sat down on the couch, holding the phone loosely in his hand. "if you hear anything, ring me, right?" He said frantically, before hanging up with a muffled 'goodbye'. He had no idea where to begin. Absolutely none.

Liam's resolutions were gone and far, far away. He had gotten back to alcohol some time ago, after Charlie's jail night. But still in some reasonable extent. Tonight though, everything had gone over board. Not only did he get very plastered but also did he touch it again.

There was officially nothing Charlie could do, and he hated himself for it. "Fuck!" he mumbled. Where the fuck was Liam? He'd gotten a call from Sinjin earlier, who said that Liam had sounded really wierd, and was mumbling shit, but he didn't know what was going on. Charlie thanked him, but it really had made him feel so much worse. He stood up, went to find Claire, and once he did, he spoke softly to her, "I'm going to stay with Sinjin tonight, ok babe? We can't find Liam, and I figured I should go there if he shows up, ok?" He kissed her gently, and she hugged him tight.

Liam felt like nothing on earth. It was horrible and he already didn't know anymore why he had been so stupid and had done them again. He knew it was the daftest thing. And he needed to tell someone he was alright - if this state he was in could be called alright at all - so at least Karen could stop worrying. But there wasn't anyone he could call, was there? But if he called someone, it wouldn't take long until the police would know his location and he was sure they'd search for him. But he didn't even know what state the other guy was in. Maybe he was dead!?!

Charlie tried to calm himself as he drove to Sinjin's place. When he got there, he was pulled into loving arms. Sinjin's demeanor hadn't changed, even after Charlie had sent him to the hospital with a broken nose and rib. He still cared about Charlie, that much was obvious. Sinjin held the younger man so gently and sweetly, Charlie felt he was immediately at home.

Charlie! He wouldn't want Liam sent to prison, would he? So he could call him, couldn't he? Maybe he could just tell him to inform Karen he was okay and avoid any other questions or whatever. Yeah, Charlie'd be the only person he could contact.

Charlie checked his cell for the 4 billionth time before Sinjin took it from him, putting it on the table, telling him to try to relax. Sinjin pulled him onto the couch, holding him, and Charlie subconsciously felt himself relax, curling into his friend's arms.

Swaying Liam tried his best to get up. He made it at least high enough to reach his back pocket and get his cell phone. He sank back on the ground and with trembling fingers started to dial Charlie's number.

Just as Charlie felt Sinjin's lips on his neck, his phone rang, the familiar "Good Riddance" by Greenday that he loved. He gave Sinjin a second to finish withdrawing his lips before he sprang up, scrambling for the phone. He took a deep breath before putting it to his ear. "Hello?" He tried to say in a less panicked voice. Didn't work.

Liam had so many feelings at the same time. He felt bad for causing his dear ones so much worries, he felt relieved Charlie had picked up, and he still felt sick. "Hey Charlie, it's me!" was all he could get out at first.

"Liam. God dammit, where are you?" Charlie couldn't help the anger and worry in his voice. "You've been gone for two days, without a fucking call? Liam, where the fuck are you? Are you ok?"

Liam's head was clear enough for him t know that Charlie was pretty angry and had all right to, he definitely had. But when should he have called? He hadn't know where he'd go when he had run to the airport. And then, well then, he didn't know why he was only calling now. "I'm in Manchester, Charlie. I'm sorry, I...am sorry!"

Charlie blanched. Manchester? What the fuckity fuck? "Liam." He tried to sound calm. "Why are you in Manchester exactly?"

"Because - " Liam swallowed. "There was nowhere else. I - I just - I had to run Charlie. I had to leave Sidney and there was no-fucking-where else. Charlie, I did everything wrong I could possibly do." Liam was rambling.

"Liam, what the fuck." Charlie said, quite simply. His brother was making less sense than a kangaroo on a tricycle. "Run from what? What all have you done? You need to seriously get home, mate, Karen is fucking terrified. "

"Charlie, seriously, I fucking can't! I ..." He paused, not knowing what to say next. Then a sudden thought flashed his mind and made him sick again. As he could breath and speak again he whispered: "Sawyer... Charlie, is he alive?"

Confusion raced in Charlie's mind. "I don't know, why wouldn't he be?" Liam was making less and less sense per minute. Cold dread gripped him. "Liam, what have you done?"

Taking a deep breath, Liam answered: "I might have killed him Charlie." It was weird how he could actually say it, sounding not to disturbed. But he felt horrible and his upset stomach was reacting to every bit of nervousness. "I might have killed him, Charlie." he repeated, this time silent tears running down his cheek.

Charlie simply gaped, tongue wagging as Sinjin came behind him to wrap strong arms around his wavering figure. "Liam... what happened? What the fuck did you do, Liam?" He said, as if he couldn't believe his brother could do such a thing. In truth, he couldn't.

"I... I... We... He was... I saw him at that bar, I tried to talk to him, tried to make him stop bothering you and... we got into a fight... he wouldn't stop insulting you... wouldn't stop teasing 'bout me and you... I couldn't take it, I thrashed him, I beat him up badly, I... he was bleeding all over his face and other parts and he was... he didn't even defeat himself and... he was on the floor, motionless, I just left, I ran..." It was bloody incoherent rambling but he couldn't tell it differently.

Charlie just stayed quiet. Unconsciously, he let all of his weight fall into Sinjin's arms. Shit. He closed his eyes. What could he possibly say to that? He had to get the whole story first. "What else did you do, Liam? Why did you go back to England?"

Liam shook his head though Charlie couldn't see it. "I... nothing... I just... Fuck, Charlie, I'm bloody plastered and fucking stoned. I don't know why England and I didn't bring anything, I think I'm worse than the worst time back in the nineties..."

More rocks dropped in Charlie's stomach. "What did you use, Liam?" He tried to get himself to calm, but it just wasn't going to happen. He needed to get to his brother and help him somehow. But there was no way he could do that. This was all his fault. Liam did this for him.

Liam felt like he was interrogated by the police. He only called Charlie to let someone know he was still alive and now he felt like some criminal. Well, he was, wasn't he? "The usal. But don't ask me how much, I don't know anymore, all I know is, it was much and I'm fucking sick!" His voice was getting angrier though he didn't want to yell at Charlie or anything.

Charlie sighed. Liam was obviously getting frustrated. But then again, so was he. He couldn't just leave, it didn't work like that. He had to find a way to get Liam back here. "Li, I want you to find a hotel or something, check in, and stay there till your sober. Then I want you to FLY HOME!" Charlie said forcefully, trying to give his words proper emphasis.

"Are you fucking crazy?" There it was! Charlie wanted him to get back to Sidney, he would deliver him to the police, he surely would, wouldn't he? "I... forget it..." He whispered sighing and hung up.

"Liam..." but the line went dead. Charlie let himself go completely limp in Sinjin's arms. What the fuck. He turned his face to his friends chest. "This is not good, Sinjin, this is really not good."

Liam threw his cell phone at the opposing wall, surprised it still seemed to work afterwards. His little brother wanted him to do what he couldn't bring himself to do. But still Charlie was right, he had to find a place for the night. If he was lucky enough he wouldn't have to get a hotel room but maybe Patrick would let him stay at his place. If he could find Pat that was.

Sinjin supported Charlie, helping him back to the couch. "What the fuck am I supposed to do now? I can't go find him, all i know is that he's in Manchester. That’s all!" Charlie said, frustrated. He felt so helpless. There was absolutely nothing he could do.

`No way could Liam find Patrick in this city. He had last seen him seven or eight years ago and he wouldn't call Charlie again, or even Sinjin to know whether they had still any contact and knew where he lived now. No; He'd just find himself some nice bench in the park and wait for the morning and hope he'd be sober by then. And when he was sober he could possibly think straighter and decide whether really to return to Sidney or not. He wished Charlie was here and he wouldn't only be able talking to him on the phone. But he knew well enough this wasn't possible and if it was it would still take him two days to get here.

Sinjin caressed Charlie's back, whispering soft comforts in his ears. Charlie's mind swarmed and wandered, till it almost felt as if he was asleep. But he couldn't be asleep, because he could feel his friends lips on his neck. He could feel the growing warmth in his belly. He felt the solid heat of his friend's body as he was lifted from the couch to the bed.

It had just started to rain. Typical annoying Manchester weather... Liam walked (or rather swayed) down the street, heading for the park. Why? Why had he been that stupid? Well, not so much that he had fought with Sawyer, he had his reasons to do so, but why had he run? Or run that far? It was such a long distance and he wouldn't see his family for at least another two days. So why? But if he returned and Sawyer was really dead he'd get imprisoned and he wouldn't see them even longer... He hated his situation!

Charlie let himself be set on the bed, curling onto his side. Immediately, his friend was there, holding him carefully. He felt all the emotions in his body well up, but he couldn't cry. This sucked.

Sodding rain! He couldn't stay in the park with that rain. Maybe he'd really better get a hotel room? Wouldn't there be something like that around the park? People like hotels with park views, don't they? And even if he had brought nearly nothing, he had at least his credit card, some cash and his ID.

Charlie let Sinjin take care of him, let Sinjin's lips caress his own and tried to make the worry in his mind fade. It didn't seem to be happening. But he tried to relax the best he could, and let his friend take over.

Liam was sure he looked like he felt - meaning: he felt like utter shit! But he was lucky to find a not-at-all-posh-style hotel and get a room. It felt great to get rid of his wet (and not fresh at all) clothes and crawl under a warm blanket. He thought about calling Charlie again to tell him he was okay and 'safe', but he felt too tired and lazy to get out of the bed again to get his cell phone.

Sinjin was removing his clothes, but he couldn't bring himself to protest. It felt too good. It felt very welcome in fact. Had he had anything to drink? Nooo... he felt drunk though. He felt Sinjin's warm breath all over his body and he practically purred. It felt so good.

Liam drifted off to sleep at last. It wasn't recreative at all, rather tossing and turning and weird dreams; but at least he was asleep.

It was sex. Again. It had been so long since he'd been with a man. It felt good, and it felt strange. It just felt foggy, because he wasn't really focused still. His mind was still on his brother. But he let Sinjin take him over the edge and beyond.

When Liam woke up again it wasn't that much later, but it wasn't dark outside anymore. He felt almost more exhausted than before sleeping but every try to get back to sleep didn't work. So why bother any longer? Liam took advantage of the shower and then checked out and finally went back to the airport.

Charlie woke up, smelling of sex and sweat. Oh shit He shook his head to clear it, to no avail. He slipped out of the bed, trying not to wake his bed partner, and got in the shower. Once out, he checked his phone to see if Liam had called again. Nope. Crap.

All his way to the airport Liam was thinking about calling his brother again, but then he decided it would be best if he called him only when he had a ticket back home and knew when he'd get home.

Charlie couldn't eat anything. He felt sick. He even walked to the bathroom a few times, fearing he'd vomit all over his friends kitchen. He just paced back and forth, twitching and grabbing his hair and fiddling with his rings. He called Claire, telling her he was ok. He really felt as if he was going to throw-up when she said she loved him. He'd replied the same, then hung up, swaying. He knew nothing else before he passed out cold on the floor.

Liam didn't know whether to feel lucky that his flight would be already this noon or to be frightened. But when he had his ticket he felt one thing for sure: something wasn't right. He had that gut feeling and normally he could rely on that. He dialed Charlie's number.

There was nothing. Everything was black and Charlie felt completely alone. Thoughts swirled in front of his vision and he panicked. He wanted to get out of there, now. But he couldn't. He tried yelling for help, but no sound came. He was lost.

When Charlie didn't pick up Liam got even more worried. He knew the time difference between Manchester and Sidney and he knew it was a time Charlie'd be awake, and would pick up his phone. If he hadn't that bad gut feeling he would have said Charlie was occupied with something more important...

Someone was shaking him. It did not feel good. He groaned, glad to be able to hear himself, but his stomach lurched. He heard Sinjin's voice, calling him back awake. He heard sirens. Where was he?

Liam didn't know what to do. Now he wished more than anything to be at home, but he was too far away. And until he'd be back home it might be far too late. He didn't know too late for what, but it made him crazy. He tried Charlie's number again. He had nearly forgotten why he was in Manchester.

Charlie heard his ringtone. His mind moved to pick it up, but of course his body didn't respond. He heard Sinjin pick up the phone, talking in a hushed voice. He couldn't make it out. His head was spinning again, and soon, he felt darkness enclose him again.

"Sinjin? ! ?" Liam nearly went nuts when Sinjin picked up Charlie's phone and when he was told Charlie had passed out he was beat. He thought he couldn't speak anymore. He only could tell Sinjin to tell Charlie - if he woke up - he'd be on his way home.

Darkness swirled around him, and whispered ramblings rolled through his ears. He couldn't tell if they were his thoughts or Sinjin. He really didn't care. He embraced the darkness. His head hurt, and all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep.

Liam hung up. He couldn't say anything anyways and for his biggest frustration he couldn’t' do anything! He sat down on the nearest bench trying to kill the time. But waiting to get home only makes time go by much more slowly.

His mind wandered back to the island. God, things were so weird there... So many people had died. So much horrible shit had happened. He missed those people so much. He felt his heart tug. Farewell, sweet memories.

He was nervous as hell. His mind was fixed on Charlie, his own problems nearly forgotten. He was tapping his foot nervously on the ground, his fingers on his knee. He stayed like this for what seemed to be an eternity but really was like 10 minutes. Then he got up frustrated and went to the tobacco shop.

He didn't know how much time had passed. He wanted Liam there. He wondered when his plane was getting in, but he knew it would be ages. No point in waking until he came...