Okay, I've had a bad day, so I'm going to post the next chapter of this and maybe do some more writing.
Title: Soul of a Family
Genres: Angst, romance, drama?
Ch 2
Summary: After William collapses on stage for an unknown reason, his bandmates try to figure out what's wrong with him. What they find out is not what they expected.
Warnings: mentions of self harm, mpreg. some points might be uncomfortable for some people.
Disclaimer: I haven't even met TAI, of course I don't own them.

Chapter 1: http://bbjkrss.livejournal.com/130502.html#cutid1
Prologue: http://bbjkrss.livejournal.com/130191.html#cutid1

The next time he felt consciousness, he could detect a little bit of light past his eyelids. Morning, then. Faintly, he could hear people moving around on the bus. They were talking. He strained himself to listen, feeling too weak to actually leave the bunk.

“…you’re sure that’s what actually happened?”

“D’you know if he did anything?”

“-’d be able to tell…”

William winced. They still thought he was hurting himself. He didn’t think he was… but he couldn’t think straight at the moment. His throat felt dry, but at least his stomachache was- …oh, shit.

The nausea came back too fast for him to stop, and he felt liquid start to trickle from his mouth. The feeling was revolting and he couldn’t hold it back; he leaned over the side of the bunk, emptying his (already empty) stomach onto the floor.

He heard cursing from outside the bunks and then footsteps.

“Oh, no… William, what did you do?”

Threw up, you idiot, what does it look like?

William thought sarcastically, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He weakly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and felt traces of sweat on his face. Lovely.

“Maybe he really is sick,” he heard Sisky suggest softly. “That would go along with earlier.”

There was a pause, and William knew Michael, the stubborn idiot, was still unconvinced. Then he sighed.

“Somebody clean that up, then we’ll talk to him.”

William slowly propped himself up on his elbows, keeping his breathing slow and steady.

“I’m really sorry,” he murmured; his throat felt disgusting. “I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s okay,” Mike reassured him. “We’ll clean it up, and you’ll be fine.”

William smiled and slowly sat up. “Thanks. I think I’m going to get dressed now.”

He made it a point not to look at Michael as he left the bunk area. He didn’t think he could look him in the eye after what had happened.

-

“So,” Mike started, “we’re going to have a talk about what’s going on. And we’re not going to jump to conclusions or yell at each other, all right?” He looked at each of the others in turn. Sisky and Butcher nodded, but Michael and William were glaring at each other from opposite ends of the lounge.

“Guys-”

“Fine,” William muttered. He really didn’t want to be having a talk. They had a talk last year, and that hadn’t ended well.

“Now… what are the facts?” Mike emphasized the last word, looking around at the others.

“Bill fell on stage,” Butcher said, “but we don’t know why.”

“Feeling sick and tired,” Sisky offered.

“Insomnia and aches,” William said quietly.

“Vomiting,” Michael finished.

Mike, who had been writing it all down, nodded. “Good. All these symptoms could be explained by either argument, but I think it more looks like sickness, to be honest. Maybe all he needs is rest and medicine.”

“But if he’s sick, why haven’t we caught whatever it is he has?”

William scowled at him. “Why can’t you trust me on this? I promised you I was fine last year.”

There was an uncomfortable silence, and Mike sighed. “This is what I was trying to prevent, you guys. Michael, there’s no real evidence he’s been hurting himself. Innocent until proven guilty and all that shit.”

William crossed his arms over his stomach. It was starting to hurt again, though milder this time.

“Even if I was hurting myself,” he said slowly, reassuring himself he wasn’t, “why would my stomach hurt all the time? It’s been really achy for almost two weeks now.”

Butcher let out a small cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. William glared at him. “What’s so funny?”

Butcher shook his head. “Nothing- it’d be really weird… like, it all keeps sounding like you’re pregnant, y’know. All the aches and throwing up and everything.”

Everyone stared at him, and he shrugged. “I’m just saying.”

Sisky frowned. “But that’s not possible.”

“Well, if both of ‘em are claiming they’re right, how about a random third idea to get their minds off it? The guys’ll think it’s hilarious if he takes a test.”

William scrunched up his face at the idea. “Exactly why I don’t want to do it. That’d be embarrassing. Besides, I haven’t-…” he trailed off, and the others’ expressions became concerned.

“What is it?” Sisky asked.

“I- the last time I had sex, I didn’t…” William looked away. “I didn’t use a condom. What if it’s a disease?”

Silence filled the bus for a few moments.

“Well,” Butcher said, standing up, “I say we stop off at a doctor’s office and pick up a test on the way, just to be sure.”

William rolled his eyes. “If it’ll make you happy, we’ll do that too.”

-
 

“So, Mr. Beckett…” the doctor paused and William would have laughed if the situation wasn’t so serious. “what are you in for today?”

William hesitated. “I… want to get tested for an STD.”

“What do you think you caught?”

“I don’t know. I’ve just been feeling really sick lately… and we didn’t use a condom the last time… There wasn’t one…”

The doctor nodded sympathetically. “I see. Well, let’s do an examination, and we’ll take some blood, just in case.”

He really hated the doctor’s, William decided ten minutes later, as he sat on the examination table. Sitting naked in front of a stranger was not really high on his list of things to do, and the fact it was a doctor really didn’t help.

Well, William, everything looks fine. Did you check to see if any of your symptoms matched an STD before coming in?”

William shook his head. “No, I just wanted to make sure- but then I don’t know what’s wrong with me, still.”

“In any case, you don’t look like you have an STD. Of course, if you get more symptoms, you can come back later.”

William smiled slightly and stood, gratefully pulling his pants back on. “Thank you.”

As he reentered the waiting room, his friends looked up, expressions hopeful.

“No dice,” William sighed. “I mean, that’s a good thing, but we still don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Butcher opened his mouth but William held up a hand before he could speak.

“Don’t say it. If you really think it’ll be funny, buy one. I’m not coming with you. Just let me go to the bathroom and I’ll be ready to go.”

-

William washed his hands, looking tiredly in the mirror. His eyes were slightly red, and he was shaking a little… he could blame it on nerves. Being sick with an unknown bug would bother anyone.

He left the bathroom and rejoined his friends. They’d continue tour, and everything would be fine. They’d have a short break before Warped, he’d rest, and things would be fine again.

-

“So, what happened?” Sisky asked as Butcher left the drugstore. “Did they look at you funny?”

Butcher shrugged. “Yeah, a little, but they probably thought it was for my girlfriend. Here you are, Bill- tell us how it goes.”

William rolled his eyes exasperatedly as he took the small plastic bag. “It’s not going to say anything, you know…” But once they entered the bus, he went back to the bathroom anyway. For some reason, he felt nervous.

Well, not many guys can say they’ve done this… But it’s not going to say anything. Or even if it does, it doesn’t matter, ‘cause I’m a guy. Guys don’t get pregnant.

William quickly read and followed the directions, and then started to pace around the cramped bathroom, looking at anything but the test sitting on the counter. He didn’t know what he was so nervous about. He’d check it in a minute, it would be a negative. They’d all laugh about it, forget it, and things would go back to normal.

But… supposing it did say positive? What would that mean, if he was a guy? If it was right, and by some bizarre turn of events, he had a baby growing in him…

He couldn’t take it anymore. He picked up the test and forced his eyes to read the sign.

Again.

He shook it and looked yet again. The small plus remained. A heavy blackness overtook him and the thin white stick clattered to the floor.

He stared at it in disbelief. It lay there innocently, not realizing the simple sign it gave had just turned his world upside down. He was a man. And he was pregnant. What would happen now? What about his music? Would he still be able to tour? Panic pulsed through his veins, forcing him to close his eyes and take deep breaths.

After a moment, he recovered himself and retrieved the stick, forcing himself to accept what it had shown. He slowly opened the door to see his friends gathered around, waiting. Calmly. They hadn’t seen what he had.

“So? How’d it go?” Mike asked.

William didn’t know what to say.

“I- …it’s a positive.”

The smiles were immediately wiped off their faces. Sisky shook his head. “But that- that’s impossible.”

William sighed. “It measures a hormone… if you have it, you’re pregnant. I guess I have it.”

“But…” Sisky looked utterly confused. “What are we supposed to do while we’re on tour? How’re we going to take care of a baby? Who- who’s the father?”

Silence. William registered in the back of his mind that that was happening way too much lately, and looked away.

“I… don’t want to say yet.”

Michael, who had been silent throughout the whole ordeal, sighed.

“I’m sorry I accused you,” he said quietly. I was just worried about you. This is weird, but… I’ll help you through it.”

William smiled slightly. “Thanks, Mike. That means a lot.”

He felt so much better. Yeah, it was unnatural for him to get pregnant, but they’d get through this as a group, like they always did.

-

Okay, so this was a lot longer than the other parts, and it's most of what I have. The next part might not be up for a couple days. I'll see you guys later.