AN: Thanks for all the encouraging reviews! It's nice to know you guys like this idea too! Hope you enjoy Kyle's POV!

Disclaimer: I don't South Park!

Catch Me

Part 2

One Month and Five Days Earlier

Cartman was acting weird.

Kyle watched from the corner of his eye as Cartman kept glancing at his cellphone, a torn look on his face. He was moving from one foot to the other, biting his lip.

Kyle wanted to say something, but with one glance at Stan and Kenny, it was obvious that they hadn't noticed anything and Kyle didn't really want to bring whatever Cartman was doing to their attention.

It was probably nothing. Just Cartman being an annoying prick like always. Kyle decided to ignore it for now. Cartman would be fine by the end of the day, for sure.

Three Weeks Earlier

Kyle wasn't really sure what he felt right now. Cartman was still acting weird and it looked like he was the only one to notice so far.

Maybe he was just seeing things. Cartman hadn't mentioned anything to them yet. Cartman always told them when he was proud and plotting something; usually being loud and obnoxious.

Now he was just being obnoxious.

Kyle sighed audibly as Cartman stared into space, his lunch untouched and his cellphone placed beside his tray, the battery blinking red. Kyle wondered how often he stared at that cellphone, he seemed almost always glued to it, that same strange look in his eyes.

Kyle really didn't want to admit it, but he was starting to worry.

Cartman suddenly blinked, looking away from over their heads and looking down at his tray, an unreadable look on his face. Sighing, he glanced briefly at Kyle, Stan and Kenny and got up.

"I have to go." He muttered, barely audible. The only reason Kyle heard it was because he was listening for it. It seemed like Cartman grew more and more distant each day.

Kyle watched him leave, suddenly not hungry, growing sick when Cartman emptied his uneaten food into the trash. Kyle pushed his own food away, ignoring Stan's worried look and quite aware of the fact that the other two worried about him not eating, but were completely oblivious when Cartman did not.

He chewed his lip, anxiously.

Two Weeks and Three Days Earlier

Cartman was eyeing the D- on his math test with as little emotion as possible. In fact, it looked like he didn't even care. He stuffed the papers in his locker and brought a packet of more papers out, stuffing those in his bag and slamming his locker closed.

Kyle watched all this from his own locker, brows furrowed together. His fingers tightened into his locker door, ignoring Kenny yacking away to him about boobs. He was to engrossed in his observations to care.

Cartman was hiding something, that much Kyle knew. The real question, was what? He was obviously too into whatever it was to deal with his own school work.

"Do you think Cartman's up to something?" Kyle asked, suddenly.

Kenny blinked and turned to watch Cartman leave the school building. He turned back to Kyle, shaking his head.

"No. Do you?"

Kyle closed his eyes and sighed, shutting his locker more forcibly than he meant to.

"No, not at all." He lied.

One Day Earlier

Nothing had changed and Cartman was still acting the same as before; leaving randomly, throwing out his lunch and failing his classes. Kyle didn't know what he should do. He even tried asking his family.

That had been a bad idea.

"Well, bubala, it looks like your little friend may be depressed. Who did you say this was again? I should tell their parents their son may be suicidal!"

"Son, maybe your friend is just going through some bad stuff. I'm sure he's fine. Just be there for him when he needs it."

"Cartman? Why don't you just ask him instead of worrying about him?"

The last one from his brother made Kyle realize that asking his family was a really bad idea. None of their ideas were anything to write home to. He was still stuck on what to do.

He was starting to think he really should just ask Cartman.

That Day

Mr Garrison had realized that Cartman hadn't been listening at all. It had only taken one month and five day for him to finally call him out on it. Oh well, sooner rather than even later, he guessed.

At Cartman's honesty Kyle realized he'd have to talk to Cartman. It was now or never.

Opening his mouth, he was interrupted by the bell ringing. Frowning, Kyle decided he'd wait for a better time.

.

.

.

Kyle was getting real pissed at Cartman staring at his food.

Just fucking eat it already!

Looking up, he glared at Cartman, annoyed.

"What's wrong, Cartman? To healthy for you?" He asked with more insult than he should have allowed, but he was sick and tired of this. He just wanted Cartman to act himself again, something he'd never think he'd wish for, until now.

Cartman didn't move, still staring at his food.

He spoke.

"I've lost ten pounds."

Instantly, hot acid like guilt filled Kyle's stomach. He was too lost in his head to hear the rest of what Cartman said, but came back when Cartman left.

His eyes widened with a startling realization.

It's time.

He didn't hesitate to follow Cartman.

.

.

.

He was staring at that fucking cellphone again.

Kyle would have screamed if it wasn't for the look on Cartman's face.

He looked scared; broken.

Cartman let out a shaky whimper and suddenly opened his eyes, laying flat against the lockers behind him. It took a few seconds for Kyle to realize he had spoken Cartman's name when he made that sound. Cartman wasn't aloud to make such broken and defeated sounds. It didn't fit him.

"What do you want?"

Cartman sounded defensive and ready to bolt. Kyle couldn't have that. He spoke the first real words that came to him, praying Cartman would listen to the meaning behind the meaningless words.

"Look, dude, I'm sorry if I hit a nerve or something. If it helps any, I think it's really awesome that you're trying to lose wait. I shouldn't have pushed you like that. I know you're probably going through a hard time with this. I just want you to know that I support you." He stared Cartman in the eyes, willing the meaning to reach Cartman.

Cartman didn't react. Then he left.

Kyle sighed, turning suddenly in anger to kick at the lockers beside him, growling.

"Sonofabitch!"

.

.

.

"Uh, I can't. I, um, need to... leave."

Oh, hell no.

Kyle wasn't going to allow this. He was going to do something.

Ignoring his other two friends, he sneaked after Cartman's retreating form.

He was shocked at what he saw when he did reach Cartman.

.

.

.

Kyle watched as Cartman left the building, South Park High, with purpose, emotionless.

He had watched and was still unsure what was going on. All he was really aware was that Cartman needed to stab people for whatever he was doing and it didn't seem like he was having any fun doing it by the way Kyle had seen Cartman wince visibly when he had.

That was a small comfort, Kyle supposed.

He followed Cartman to the rougher part of town, through many alleyways. He was surprised Cartman hadn't noticed him yet. He could only guess Cartman was to distracted by what he was doing.

They finally reached their destination and Kyle hid behind a wall, shadowed in darkness as he peeked behind the brick wall.

His eyes narrowed at what he saw.

Cartman was standing in front of a teen about a head and a half taller than him who was grinning, cat like, at Cartman.

Kyle couldn't see Cartman's expression from the way they were standing; Cartman had his back to Kyle.

"I'm guessing you got it. You're such a sweet servant. Let's see if you'll stay that way." The older boy held out his hand, expectantly.

Cartman handed the folder he had stolen from the school earlier.

Well, that explains why he did that.

The older boy read it over.

"Looks about right." He said, then gave Cartman a look that set Kyle on edge, though he wasn't sure why.

Cartman actually backed away, causing Kyle to worry more, eyes trained on that evil look on the older boys face.

This didn't look good.

"Well, you don't need me anymore, right? This is the end. The year ends with an exam. What would you need me for now? Nothing. So, you should let me go." Cartman spoke with a shaky voice.

Kyle held his breath, waiting for the others response.

Laughing, the teen said, "Oh, of course. I have no use of you. Guess I'll have to kill you. Oh, well." He said in fake sadness.

Kyle froze.

"Wait, what-" He said outloud, only for something he hadn't expected to happen.

The older boy kicked Cartman to the ground and continued beating him with an elated look in his eyes, grinning and screaming.

"Why shouldn't I? No one would care anyway! You hear that. No one cares! No one ever did, except your stupid mother, but she made you, so who's counting her. Your friends don't care. They don't care because they would be here, wouldn't they?"

Kyle shook slightly, feeling that strange feeling he felt only one other time.

He pulled his hat off and stripped his coat, ignoring the abnormal cold that night.

"Why aren't they here, hey?!"

'He was asking for it,' Kyle thought, hands turning into fists and shaking more, 'He was fucking asking for it!'

"Why aren't they-"

Something snapped in Kyle and he ran out from behind the brick wall and flung himself at the teen hurting his friend, snarling and kicking and screaming and punching and doing whatever he needed to stop this asshole.

What happened during this time was a haze to Kyle. All he managed to really wonder about was the fact that the only times he had let his Jersey side out, he was saving Cartman; first from rape, now from a bully. He wondered what the significance of that was.

He decided he really didn't want to know.

Eventually, he managed to stop and he pulled back, the other now unconscious. He was unaware that he was even strong enough to take down someone a head and a half taller than him, but he had.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, only to pause. A loud, echoing sound was trying to pierce his dull senses. After a few seconds of blinking in confusion, all sounds came back to him at full force.

He flinched.

"Wholly shit, Cartman! What the fuck?" He cried, turning around and covering his ears, already recognizing whose voice that was.

Cartman didn't seem to hear him and continued screaming and stomping the ground, voice growing horse. Kyle wondered how long and loud Cartman had to be doing that for him to reach that level already.

Realizing he needed to do something before Cartman ruined everyone in towns ears and not just his own and Kyle's, Kyle came forward, resting a hand on Cartman's shoulder.

He blinked in shock when Cartman grew quiet the second he touched his shoulder, but quickly shook his head.

Just go with it.

He sighed.

"Cart-"

Quicker than Kyle could react, Cartman was on him. Before he could worry that Cartman thought he was the boy lying unconscious a few feet away, the tears leaking into Kyle's thin shirt explained otherwise. Kyle blinked up at the sky, trying to figure out what was happening, but Cartman abruptly stopped crying, only to start laughing hysterically. He was loosing his mind. It didn't help that Kyle started to realize that Cratman was smiling (of all things) throughout it all.

Cartman grew silent, then looked up at Kyle. Kyle stared back, thoughtful on what he should say.

He decided on the truth.

"You should have told someone." He said, because it was the true. He really wished that Cartman had told him. All this torment would have been over in about a week.

"You don't need to feel that way, okay. I'm not going to say this for the others, but I care. I wouldn't have followed you here and beaten that guy up if a didn't." Another truth. This whole ordeal had given Kyle an idea on how much he did care. He had worried for a whole fucking month. He had also been the only one to realize something was up. He really couldn't tell Cartman if the others cared or not because of this.

Cartman stared for a few seconds then snorted in amusement. He padded Kyle's shoulder and rolled his eyes, getting up.

"Thanks Kahl, I really appreciate it." And he meant it. Kyle smiled at that.

Standing up, Kyle stared along with Cartman at the body of the bully.

He suddenly remembered something.

Cartman had been crushing some cellphone. He probably was being manipulated. There were probably others...

Turning to look at Cartman, knowingly, he spoke.

"There were others, weren't there? You want to trash all their computers and cellphones, don't you?"

He was right. The way Cartman was looking at him was comforting. It was similar, but different. Kyle had a feeling after today, they'd treat each other the same, but different as well.

It made him smile wider.

"You know me so well, Jew. Well, come on, lets get started. I can't wait to ruin those pussy's lives."

Kyle picked up his hat and coat and they both left. Kyle glanced at Cartman, silently. If Cartman could get into this kind of situation once, Kyle knew he could get into this situation again.

I guess I'll have to keep a better eye on him.

It was the only way, of course.

AN: Thanks for reading! Tell me what you thought in a review, please!

-xXxShiningDarknessxXx-