Title: Jumping
Author: Tehb
Summary: Sometimes you have to face the risk and jump.
Rated: PG-13
Warnings: Slash

Jumping

The wind flowing through the 200 ft. deep ravine came up and whipped Micah’s black hair around his face; his blue eyes stared out into the expanse of the pale blue sky. Lifting the helmet he held in his hands he placed it on his head, snapping the clasp making sure the strap under his chin was tight. His feet were heavy as he stepped up to the edge of the bridge. His heart pounded in his ears overlapping the echoing words of his and Kevin’s latest fight. Tears stung Micah’s eyes but he quickly blinked them away and focused on the wind, the air, and the freedom it offered.

Freedom… the single thing that so many risked and gave their lives for… when it was right here. His feet on the edge were the only things anchoring him to the here and now. Another deep breath and a slight smile, just another minute or so and it would be time to jump.

--

Kevin pulled back into the driveway, turning the car off; he sat there for a moment getting his thoughts together. Taking a deep breath he got out of the car and went inside the house. He expected to walk in and see Micah sitting at the island bar with a cup of tea between his hands, staring down into it, just like he always did when they had a fight. But Micah wasn’t sitting at the island bar. There was no cup of tea, not even an empty one in the sink. Kevin looked around the empty house, searching each room for his lover. The last place he looked, always the last place, was the table they always left notes for each other on beside the phone. He picked up the note expecting Micah to have gone out for a bike ride or something. What he did not expect was the two words that greeted his sight.

I’m jumping.

Kevin dropped the note and blotted out to the car. He had been gone for almost thirty minutes, which gave Micah enough time to ride his bike to the bridge and get ready. His heart was pounding, Micah wasn’t supposed to jump without him! He had to get there in time, he had to!

By the time he reached the bridge a small crowd had gathered to match. Many people were asking questions but Micah was not answering any of them. His lover was standing staring unseeing at the sky before himself, never looking down. No one but Kevin knew that Micah was completely and utterly terrified of heights, was he the only one that could see Micah trembling? The first time Kevin had gotten Micah to jump had been a total accident, it had been the time he had discovered Micah’s fear of heights. Even though it wasn’t the time the memory came back.

Kevin snapped the clasp on Micah’s helmet tightening it, securing the snap under Micah’s chin. He then moved on to the harness at Micah’s waist. Glancing up he saw that Micah was taking in deep breaths, his eyes looking out from the bridge but not down.

“Nervous darl’n?” Kevin questioned.

“More like terrified,” Micah replied his voice shaking. Kevin laughed thinking that Micah was joking, then he looked into his eyes and saw the raw fear there.

“Mic? You are serious aren’t you?”

“Completely. I’m terrified of heights Kev… I can’t believe I thought I could do this…” Kevin cupped Micah’s cheek, stroking with his thumb just under Micah’s right eye. Micah’s eyes closed and he relaxed under the gentle touch.

“You can do this Mic. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere. I won’t force you, but if you’ll give this a try then we’ll jump together. I’ll never let you jump along until you’re ready,” Kevin promised. Micah opened his eyes and looked into Kevin’s.

“I… I don’t know Kev…” He murmured.

“I’ll never let you go Mic; my arms will be around you the entire time.” Micah swallowed hard but nodded.

“Okay… I think I can do this if you hold me.” Kevin gave him a bright smile and a gentle kiss on the lips before pulling away to get another hook from his pack, hooking the harnesses at their waists together.

The memory stopped and Kevin blinked. He saw Micah moving forward to the edge of the bridge. Kevin started pushing his way through the small crowd. He had to get to Micah before he jumped!

Micah took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them and let his death grip on the railings go. His toes were at the edge now.

“I can do this,” he thought. “I can do this.” Micah closed his eyes once more and he started to lean forward. Kevin reached the front of the crowd as Micah started his fall.

“Micah!” He yelled. Micah’s eyes snapped open, fear entering them as he looked down and then back at Kevin. His arms went out to try and regain his balance but he was too far into his fall to stop. He opened his mouth and screamed as he fell from view.

Kevin rushed forward to the edge as many of the other people did to watch Micah’s jump… well fall really. He could still hear Micah’s scream and his heart pounded. The bungee rope reached its peak stretch and snapped Micah back up. Now the scream changed from fear to excitement. Kevin smiled; Micah always liked the second fall better than the first.

When the jump finally ended, Micah was swaying back and forth a few feet above the water. He reached up and unsnapped the book that held him to the rope, falling into the water. When he came up a few moments later Micah looked around himself for a moment before looking up and waving with a smile. Kevin let out a sigh of relief and waved back. He watched as the crew that was almost always there to recover the jumpers drove their boat out and helped Micah into it.

Later that night they sat on the couch, Micah resting back against Kevin, his eyes halfway closed. Kevin stared into the fireplace, the dancing flames were mesmerizing but his thoughts were elsewhere. He arms were wrapped around Micah’s waist holding him close.

“Mic,” he finally said softly. Micah blinked, yawning.

“Hm?” Micah questioned.

“Why did you jump today? I told you I would never let you fall alone.”

“You did… but I thought it was about time that I grew up.”

“Grew up? Mic, it’s okay to be scared of things sometimes, you don’t have to…” Micah cut him off.

“Shh. Sometimes you just have to face the risk and jump.” Kevin smiled and kissed Micah’s temple.