A/N: Hello, guys :) Here is a one-shot I wrote about my favorite character in my favorite movie, because I honestly believe that Pittsie deserves more fanfics. I made an attempt to make him more combative and determined and I hope you will like it :) The statement about the "small candidates" is referring to the book "Dead Poets Society", which is actually the movie in a novel, with additional scenes. In this scene in the book, Keating, after explaining to the boys what the Dead Poets Society was, he says "The living were only candidates. You could be an actual member only after your death. Sadly, I myself am only a small candidate"

Disclaimer: I do not own Dead Poets Society

The sound of Steven reading through one of his books and Pitts' steps while he walks up and down in their small room in Welton Academy are the only things that break the suffocating silence in the corridor that hosts some of the dormitories. Pitts hates this silence; it adds something eerie, dangerous even, to the familiar environment. He remembers it once being filled with laughter, jokes, even arguments, but this silence is something he experiences for the first time and it makes him shudder. He approaches the door, lays an ear on it in an attempt to catch any non-existent sound out there, opens it a few inches, but no one is outside. With a groan of frustration and impatience, he slams the door shut and the noise echoes all around.

Steven looks up from his book (history, as Pitts concludes), startled, but not surprised. He doesn't say anything, because he knows very well why his best friend acts like that. No one of them is well after Neil's tragic death, with Todd reacting the worst; and, although Pitts pretends to be composed and strong in order to stand by the others' side, Steven knows better. And now they are waiting to be summoned in Nolan's office, supposedly to give their own point of view of the recent events, but basically to confirm Cameron's story about Mr. Keating being responsible.

'Seriously, where do you find the patience to read?' Pitts asks him and stares at the clock. 'Ugh, the time doesn't pass'

'And do you think that pacing up and down will make it pass quicker?' Steven replies and closes his book. 'Sit down for a few seconds, it will not harm you'

'It will harm my already disturbed nerves' Pitts comments and sighs loudly. 'Anyway, have you planned what you'll tell Nolan?'

'Will it have any sense to tell something different now?' Steven shrugs, trying to sound indifferent, but Pitts can not avoid the bitterness in the other's voice. 'Cameron, the teachers' pet, has told them his own version and they believed him…What difference will it make if we say otherwise?'

'So, that's just it? We will just throw away everything we lived in that cave and the best teacher we could ever have in this rat hole named "school" because of this fink? Does this seem fair to you?'

'No' Steven shakes his head, this time actually startled by the outburst. 'Of course it's not fair. But, even if we say that it is not Mr. Keating's fault, which is the truth, do you think they will believe us?'

Pitts doesn't answer, but the way he lowers his head and balls his hands in fists is a good enough answer for the ginger-haired teenager. Just then, a voice can be heard from the corridor.

'Gerard Pitts!'

Two heads turn abruptly towards the wooden door. Pitts sighs shakily and Steven places his hand on his shoulder, wanting to show him wordlessly that it would be fine, although they both knew that nothing will actually be fine.

'This is a battle, a war, and the casualties could be your hearts and souls'

'Into battle, then' he whispers and goes out.

Dr. Hager is waiting for him at the stairs leading to Nolan's office and Pitts walks with determined steps. Even if Meeks is right and the battle is lost, he will not do them the favor to give up so easily. The Dead Poets Society had opened his mind more than school would ever do and he refuses to agree with the statement that it was a mistake and didn't respond to the four pillars.

Pitts is not surprised to find his parents talking with Nolan. As he sits down, his mother caresses his arm and offers him a small, sad smile, which he returns with gratitude. At least his mother understands what he is going through and this eases a bit the huge burden inside him. His father, on the other hand, looks angrily at him and it is not difficult for Pitts to guess what he is thinking.

You failed me once more. You are nothing but a disgrace to this family!

'Mr. Pitts, I believe we should go straight to the point' Nolan starts firmly, holding some papers. 'According to our reports, you belonged to this Dead Poets Society. Do you deny it?'

'No, sir' And I am very proud to belong to them.

'I have a description of the concept of your secret meetings, which are considered inappropriate and do not agree with the academy's four principals' the director continued. 'Mr. Keating was the one who encouraged you to create this society and he convinced Neil to defy his parents' dreams and expectations for him, using his authority as teacher. Despite being aware of the consequences, his methods of teaching were not the ones Welton Academy approves and led you and the rest of his class to behavior that does not suit with a highly recommended school'

'He wanted to open our minds; and he wisely did so' Pitts says as calmly as possible, although he would rather shout it at him.

'Shut your mouth and listen to what Mr. Nolan has to say!' his father snaps at him, ignoring his mother's tearful tries to calm the spirits down.

'These actions from Mr. Keating's side brought the disagreements between Neil and his family, having as a result to Neil ending his own life'

Pitts can no longer look at him and takes a particular interest at the floor. He does not show any emotions, but he is boiling inside. All this sounds ridiculous to him and he understands that it is all a matter of putting the blame to a scapegoat. Of course, they could have explained everything, the six of them, like the team they were, but, of course, Cameron had to save himself, indifferent about what would happen next, just like the ostrich, which hides its head to the sand when things are not well.

'Read through this paper, Mr. Pitts' Nolas concludes and hands him a document, which dooms Mr. Keating as responsible for Neil's death and the Dead Poets Society as illegal for the school. At the bottom of the page, Pitts can see that Cameron has signed the paper, though the line that has Charlie's name is empty. Pitts can not hold back a wide smile; Nuwanda stayed true to his beliefs.

'Stop smiling like an idiot!' his father snaps at him again.

'Mr. Pitts, do you have anything to sign before you sign this paper?'

'Only this, sir. That you are willing to believe Cameron's lies, only because it does not put the image of the school in danger. You do not care about the actual circumstances that had this tragic end'

'Mr. Pitts, watch your tongue!' Nolan raises his voice slightly. 'I am willing to show understanding because of the fact that you lost a dear friend…'

Like hell you are!

'…but I advise you to not play with my patience, otherwise you will follow Mr. Dalton and will be expelled from this school'

Charlie expelled. Pitts' smile fades and gives its place to pure anger. He would love to tell the man sitting in front of him that the last thing he cares about is what he believed. Maybe he would say it out loud, had his mother not prevented him by taking his wrist, gently, but determined.

'Think logically, my son' she pleads him. 'What will you achieve if you continue to resist?'

Two hours later, Pitts walks alone through the snowy graveyard. After learning that they forced everyone else, Steven, Knox and a distraught Todd to sign the paper that fired Mr. Keating from his job, he needed to get out of the school, at least for a while. Never before did he feel so much hatred for someone and he wishes he could leave this place. He wants to be away from the place that did not allow him or anyone else to think critically, locking them behind walls where there was only one acceptable answer and truth.

He is not surprised to see that Todd is already standing in front of Neil's grave, arms crossed in front of his chest, as if he wants to protect himself from an invisible enemy. If Todd was depressed one time, now he is a hundred times. Pitts may be the last wheel of the carriage (or that is what his father makes him feel), but he always tries to be next to his friends, he laughs when they are happy, wants to find solutions when they have problems, and right now, despite his own sadness and shock, he believes that his duty is to be by Todd's side. Steven had once told him that he was their protector, a silent guardian, the one who keeps the balances in their small group.

'We should follow Charlie's example, all of us' Todd's shallow voice brings him back to reality. 'That would be a proper blow to Nolan and his so-called "image". But right now I feel so guilty…I feel I have betrayed Neil, Mr. Keating, the Dead Poets Society…'

'They forced us, Todd' Pitts answers and locks his eyes on Neil's gravestone. 'Not that I do not admire Charlie's stubbornness, but we can not think clearly. They brought us before a dilemma we could not handle. But let me tell you one thing' he goes on, more determined now, making Todd look at him. 'You did not betray them. Not the Dead Poets Society, not Mr. Keating and most certainly not Neil; on the contrary'

'How can you be so sure?'

'Because he told me' Pitts smiles gently and Todd understands at once that he is speaking about their lost friend. 'Just before he left for the theater…that night. He said he was very happy for you starting to come out of your shell'

'Are you serious?' Todd chokes on fresh tears and his friend nods his head eagerly.

'Yes, Todd. He was happy. And we may have lost this battle, but this does not mean that we will simply forget everything we lived and learned, right?'

Pitts continues to speak encouraging words, saying that they will continue to believe in things like open horizons and free will. They owe this, if not to themselves, then to Neil, who died in order to stay true to his dream. When he stops, Todd looks slightly better and even forces a smile on his face. Pitts' eyes are still focused on the grave, cold and determined to honor the memory of a friend. Neil will always stay in their memory and, unlike Nolan, those close to him will never stop being inspired by him.

'The death of Neil Perry is a tragedy. He was a fine student, one of Welton's best'

As if that was what mattered. What is Neil to Welton? A brilliant student who died, full stop. A number. A statistic. Nothing more. But for those who truly knew him, he was and will always remain a loyal friend, a leader, an example for everyone. And now that he learned what it means to be yourself and not what your father wants you to be, Pitts is not willing to return to the way he viewed life before the Dead Poets came into his life…even if he is just a small candidate, as Mr. Keating had told them.

'We are going to make him proud, Todd' he whispers. 'And that's a promise'

A/N: Okay, people, that's it. I hope you liked it and I can not wait for your reviews :)