Quinn is in love with a very much taken Skylar. But after finding Skylar bleeding and unresponsive at the hands of his boyfriend, Quinn is sure the world is playing a cruel joke. Recovery is long and hard, but Quinn is determined to be supportive and caring for Skylar. He just wants the chance to show Skylar there is still hope for him, that someone cares and loves him. And Quinn will be there for Skylar, whatever he needs, even if it's just a hand to hold.<br><br>Skylar isn’t prepared for his whole life to crash down around his ears. The lies he told, the dark secrets he kept, the shithole his life had become. Now everything is out in the open and Skylar isn’t coping well. Quinn is the only reason he hasn’t completely shattered, guiding, helping, and caring for him in ways he had never expected or thought possible.<br><br>But with more and more secrets being revealed, can they navigate the shattered remains of Skylar’s life and, together, build something new?

Searching for Solid Ground

Quinn looks up and meets his gaze, eyes red-rimmed and puffy. “Skylar?”


Skylar frowns at Quinn’s appearance, wondering what has got him so worked up. “What’s wrong?”


“Skylar,” Quinn says with such despair and heartbreak that it makes Skylar’s stomach clench painfully. He has no idea what could give Quinn so much pain, but all he wants to do is soothe it and put the world right again. Where this desire comes from, Skylar doesn’t know. He just knows that he will do anything to make sure Quinn never looks so miserable ever again.


“Where am I?” he asks when Quinn shows no sign of answering his previous question.


“You’re in the hospital, Skylar.”


Skylar’s stomach plummets, fear squeezing his lungs. “Wha—? Why? What happened?”


Quinn’s eyes are misting over and he looks ready to break down. Skylar wants to reach out and console him but he can’t bring himself to, not yet.


“You overdosed on sleeping tablets,” Quinn says, pained.


Chapter 26