AU!: In Which It All Fell Apart

NOTE: This is an AU! that happens after chapter 15 (link to the chapter), it's a little after they had broken up, gotten back together and went to Olive and Jim's wedding. Also, in this version of the story, they didn't have that fight over Tom kissing Susannah and so didn't break up, they were together all along ever since that day of Ollie's surgery. And it's an alternate universe, so it never really happened, so please don't kill me and please don't suffer too much (that's more of a self note kbye).

P.S: I don't know if it's really gonna be five parts, I just put that up for now.

Part 1/5

She stared at the clock like some pathetic little girl who waits for her boyfriend. Well, that is what she was doing, but the circumstances were quite the contraire. kept looking at the pointers go by not only because she wondered where Tom was, but also because the alternative was to stare back at her phone. More specifically, at the photo that shone bright in her screen ever since she'd opened it in the first place. She didn't want to see it, then or ever again. Because maybe that would make it not true. Maybe if she didn't assimilate the information, it would all be fine.

– Hi, darling...

When Tom opened the unlocked door, turned back and shot at him her watery eyes. He quickly noticed them, asking if everything was okay as she stood up to him. She walked nervously and slowly, heading to the balcony of her kitchen, which was just by the door.

– Everything's great – dropped her phone on the balcony, and turned back, walking now much faster towards the window in the living room.

It took a while for Tom to assimilate what was before his eyes. 's phone shone bright with the picture of him sitting in the corner table of the cafe he'd been to the day before, where he had told he was meeting an old friend from college. But that second part was lie. And had to find out by seeing the gorgeous brunette tenderly holding Tom's hand over the table.

– ! – Tom ran to her, touching her arm affectionately as she looked outside. – , I'm sorry, I just—

turned around and Tom saw that tears were flushing down. His expression broke apart, and all he wanted to do was hug her tight and make her feel better, but he could tell that wasn't gonna happen very soon.

– , look, nothing happened... Okay?

– You don't understand, Tom – looked up, the last two tears beginning to dry off – This is how it starts. Just one innocent lie.

– She's my ex – Tom fought back, but in a calm voice. – She just wanted to talk to me.

– Oh I know damn well who she is – walked off, heading to the center of the living room – Given that and the fact she just wanted to talk, why the hell would you not tell me the truth?

– Well maybe I didn't want you yelling at me like you're doing now! – Tom raised his voice like had just done. He was just too tired for patience, and was beginning to lose his temper now. – And it's not like you even have reason, having met with James just last week!

– I never lied to you about that! – yelled – On the day he called I told you all that he said, that he wanted to see me, and you were okay with it!

– Yes, and he wanted to see you so he could tell you he's getting a divorce, so you two can get back together again!

– Except we didn't! I didn't fucking do anything! – faced Tom with widened eyes at how defensive he was getting, instead of just coming clean. – I never lied to you, especially about something like this.

That last sentence seemed to crush Tom. He immediately looked down and didn't know what to respond.

– Why won't you just tell me the truth? – lowered her voice and walked closer, trying to be reasonable. Tom was a great guy, and she wanted to believe in her heart that he had a good reason for lying.

– Because... – Tom looked up, facing – I have to come around to tell you the whole truth.

– The whole truth? About why you met up?

– Yeah, she, um... She wanted me to make it clear why I broke up with her, since I never did – Tom spoke with difficulty, and grew confused.

– I thought you both had agreed on breaking up – narrowed her eyebrows – Because you weren't doing so well, and you were moving here...

– Yes, that is what happened... Then – he spoke slowly. – But then she came here just as I was moving, said she'd be here for a while with a play...

– Tom... What are you saying?

The fact that he was looking at her, piercing her with his gorgeous blue eyes, made everything hurt just so much more. Her mind was already starting to make up what was going on, but her heart did not want to believe it. She had to hear it coming from him, in plain words.

– ... When you and I met – Tom spoke in a low voice that started to fail, so he cleared his throat and went on. There was no use putting off this moment any longer. – I had gotten back together with Susannah.

's first instinct was to take a couple of steps back, still silent from the shock. Her mind was always so imaginative she considered all possibilities, even the worst. But after he spoke, instead of being able to finally shake those thoughts away, she was assured that they were true. And that her worst nightmare was real: one of the greatest man she'd ever met had lied to her. From the very start.

– Get out – It was all she could bring herself to say by then, and she hoped with all of her strength that he'd be reasonable enough to obey, because the more he insisted, the more it would hurt.

– , come on – Tom pleaded.

– No. I don't care what excuse you have, just get away from my face – walked fast as she could and opened the door, waiting by it and looking back at Tom.

– , listen to me – Tom walked by the door and spoke the most calmly he could. – I am truly sorry that I lied to you.

– No, I'm sorry! – shouted once more – I'm sorry that I met you. I'm sorry that you tangled me into whatever this is you have with this woman. I'm sorry that you deliberately made me your mistress, and then tried to make me feel bad about meeting up with my ex-boyfriend of ten years! I'm sorry that I make such poor choices on men!

Tom was facing the whole time, but his expression fell apart at the last sentence. Her previous relationship had ended – and badly, at that – exactly because of all the lies that were shared, and now this one seemed to be faded the same way. He knew that there was no trying to convince her, and even if there was, he had no patience left. He should just go home and think of a better way to tell her how much he cared about her and only her, and let her calm down while doing so. Looking down, since he could no longer stand seeing her like that, Tom passed through the open door, fading into the distance.

*

After only about twenty minutes, called Chris, and ended up telling him everything. She was just going to ask him if she could spend the night at his place, but he was just too startled by her failing voice, and so she explained everything that had happened. After that, she gathered some of her things in her bag and went away to Chris'. But when she got to the sidewalk just outside, there was Tom again. He was holding a bouquet of lilies and was about to buzz at her apartment. His eyes were full of hope looking at , but she gathered all her strength to not fall apart and keep up only with the anger.

– You're supposed to wait about a week before showing up with flowers – grabbed the bouquet and threw it in the trash by the sidewalk.

– But I'm already sorry now.

– Oh yeah? Were you sorry when you were fucking the both of us?

– , please. Just stop and think. I love you.

– I don't wanna hear it. Just go away – turned around and left the sidewalk, standing in front of a parked car. Tom then grabbed her by the shoulder.

– —

– Tom, please! – turned around with a scream – Don't you think I've been hurt enough? Just get away from my life!

made a brutal movement to be set free of Tom's arms. And just as she'd turned back and walked off, a black sedan made its way through, and the screech of it against the asphalt was the last thing she heard before turning to it, and having her body be thrown by it across the street.

Part 2/5

She wasn't moving at all. She was just still, deadly still. It was so scary. And it was so different from the last time Tom had seen her, when she was throwing things at him and screaming at the top of her lungs. He couldn't stop crying at the thought that that could have been their last conversation ever. Him admitting to have cheated on her.

And now Chris was arriving. Damn, he was gonna be so fucking pissed. But he didn't even care. He couldn't care. He just wanted her back.

Chris was only silent for a couple of seconds by the door, before sounding it out.

– Get out of here. I don't care what you say. Get out.

Tom didn't know if he should do it or not. Sure, Chris was right to be mad at him, but that was the woman he loved, he should be there too.

– Look, Chris – Tom started – I know that...

– I SAID I DON'T CARE – Chris shouted. – And I meant it.

His look was threatening. Tom really should get out. And so he was heading for the door, but when he walked past Chris, he felt his fist come his way in a second, and then he was on the floor.

Tom didn't fight back, of course. Not because he probably couldn't take Chris, but because he felt like he had deserved that. So here is what Tom did: he picked himself up and he walked out. Because as much as he wanted to be with his love, he understood Chris' motives. He would've done the same in his shoes. So staring at random people in the lobby with his bruised eye was all he had for now.

– ... – Chris sighed deeply when seeing his best friend lying unconscious. He sweetly started caressing her hair with one of his hands, as his eyebrows frowned with worry.

Tom cheated on me. just blurred it out when Chris picked up the phone – which he then almost dropped. Tom? Cheating? That was not possible. Tom was one of the greatest guys he knew, he wouldn't do that. Especially to .

But then she told him the whole story. And he still couldn't quite believe it. She couldn't either, he could tell, but as her brain tried to process the information, she only responded with tears. And Chris couldn't wait for her to arrive so he could try and make her feel better. He insisted she stayed in and he would drive there, but didn't want to be in the "crime scene" any longer. And she always loved Chris' place, so he figured that'd be good. He waited for hours and called her multiple times. Chris thought she'd given up on getting help from him and was sobbing on her couch, so he got ready to go there. But as he shut his door, he got the message from Olive. Tom just called me, was hit by a car. I can't leave work right now. Please text me when you know more. She's at St. John's.

He ran as fast as he could, he didn't even think about going back for his car. And when he arrived, adrenaline pumping through his veins, he saw his best friend in that state – and the causer of it right by her side. So instinct spoke louder. And he would apologize eventually, yes, but for now, if Tom had stayed in the room, reason would take longer to come by.

He spent a full hour watching her, watching the view from the window, watching TV. He wasn't really worried that she'd die because he couldn't process that idea if he tried. He was just anxious for her to wake up because then he wouldn't have to. As he observed the beautiful garden of the hospital, he heard footsteps, and turned around to find a tall, black-haired doctor. Tom was right behind him.

If he gave him another punch he'd be kicked out. Tom wouldn't retort. And, yes, okay, he had a right to listen to what the doctor had to say.

– Are you Ms. 's family?

– Yes.

Tom looked down after Chris' answer. Family wasn't just the blood one, and so he was becoming family for too. But then he went and screwed it up. Family is people you love. People you trust and become trustworthy for. People you tell the truth to, even if you think it'll hurt more than the lie or omission.

But oh, how he didn't want to hurt her. was so special, she was the most special person he'd ever met. All Tom wanted was to sit and watch her amazing existence. Just watch her be extraordinary. So to be able to actually live along her side was like a dream. And she was committing to him, she showed interest in knowing him too. would get genuinely observant when he started to tell a story, and if he talked too much and apologized, she'd tell him with a big smile that he didn't have to, and ask him to go on. But she had the most amazing stories for him to hear. Even if they were daily things, she told them with such passion and intensity. Tom wondered how she would tell their story in the future.

– suffered a severe concussion to the head when she was hit – the doctor spoke clearly, shutting down Tom's thoughts. – When blood trauma irritates brain tissues, it causes swelling. This is known as a cerebral edema. The pooled blood collects into a mass called a hematoma. These conditions increase pressure on nearby brain tissue, and that reduces vital blood flow and kills brain cells. But the bleeding in Ms. 's brain is not enough for us to go in and make a surgery, so we have to wait for it to stop by itself.

– How's it going to stop by itself? – Tom intervened, and the doctor looked back at him.

– It's the natural thing for the brain to do – he assured. – We only go for surgical intervention when it's so much that the natural system cannot take it. But her swelling should diminish and so she should wake up in a day. If you have any questions, just have one of the nurses call me – the doctor smiled empathetically at both men and left the room.

Chris hat sat back down by then, and stared at his hand, which held 's. Tom sat in the opposite chair, across the bed, and looked down as well.

– I am so, so sorry that this happened.

Chris didn't respond at first, or even looked up for that matter. People fuck up, Chris. They do shit and they're right to be sorry later. And you know he loves her. And almost got her killed. My best friend.

– That doesn't change the fact that she's here because of you.

Tom still looked down, but Chris was now looking at . She looked so beaten and pale, it was horrible. Suddenly, with the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a figure appear and stand by the door. As he looked over, his expression fell apart, and Tom, noticing that, looked back as well. And so Chris sounded out what Tom's expression of shock was saying:

– Oh, you have got to be kidding me.