Friends

I do not own these characters and make no profit from these stories

With rumour flying that Dan is in serious trouble in college Jim and Brian begin an investigation into what is going on with there friend. But as damning evidence mounts they do not know what action to take.

Rated T for mentioning drugs

Chapter 1 – a chance meeting

Daniel Mangan studied his reflection in the mirror his eyes were bloodshot and face pale.

Opening the medicine cabinet he reached for the eye drops, there was no way he could go to class looking like he did or some awkward questions were going to start. Picking up the eye drops he noticed his hands were trembling as they held the dropper, he'd have to try his hardest to mask that as well. But he knew things were getting a little more difficult to conceal and as each day went by he dreaded the moment someone would confront him.

A couple of squeezes of the eye drops a quick wash of his face with a warm towel and he was as ready as he could be for class. Going out into the main room his heart skipped a beat when he saw a paper lying on the desk, the assignment that was supposed to be due in today, half written it taunted him. A quick glance at his watch revealed he had 20 minutes before class. This was supposed to be time to visit the library, instead he was about to write the quickest assignment ever. Sitting in his rickety chair he picked up the pen.

18 minutes later he was rushing along the familiar path to his class. The assignment had been safely delivered and he was not going to be late, disaster averted for yet another day. But he still felt like he could hear the ticking of a timer set on a countdown to an explosion.

After class had finally finished he took the results for his just finished papers in his hand and made his way to the library to meet Mart. To save time he took the short cut to the library through a damp, leaf strewn alley way between two tall buildings. As he passed a gap in the buildings he of habit looked up into the windows of an ugly blue building. He thought a few days back he'd seen a young childs face at the window. But now he was not so sure, this was a college campus and not a place for a child so young. Pulling his eyes back from the empty window he skidded to a halt in the alley way, there was a child standing just a few feet in front of him. The boy of about 7 had not noticed him seemingly intent on starting at a small river of water that ran down one of the buildings. "Hello", Dan said softly not wanting to scare the child.

The boy did not turn just remaining staring at the water. Reaching inside his pocket Dan came up with one of the carvings he always carried, "do you like dogs, here look at this one, he placed the carving on the ground beside the child then stepped back. The eyes switched from water to dog and the child bent to retireve the figure. He made no sound at he cradled it in his fingers, "Jarrod, Jarrod, a mans voice, pitched higher in fear called. Dan turned toward the voice and called back, "if it's a young man you are looking for then he's here". Seconds later out of a door shot a tall man of around 35 years old. Ignoring Dans presence he rushed to the boy, "just what do you think you were doing down here", he rushed out as he grabbed the boys hand. Jarrod made no reply just holding up the carved dog in front of his fathers face. "Where'd you get that", the man asked. "Umm I gave it to him", Dan told him carefully. He wondered if this unfamiliar man was angry at him for talking to the child.

A pair of dark blue eyes turned to regard him and seemed to sweep him from head to foot. Dan found himself holding his breath. "Then the mans face softened ,"thanks, if he's not distracted he could have easily run off somewhere", he stated. The man tried to pry the dog from his sons fingers but found him clasping on tightly. "Sorry he apologized to Dan, I will see he gives that back later. Dan looked at the boy who was smiling at the dog and made a quick decision, "he can keep it", he told the man.

The man smiled agin, "thank you ", he acknowledged. "Its okay, Dan responded. The man scope up Jarrod into his arms, "I must go now", thanks again for the dog", he stated.

Dan just nodded and watched as the pair went back inside the building. He had no idea who the man or child were but guessed he must have a role in the college or else he would not be staying in one of the buildings. Pulling his mind away from the strange encounter he hurried to the library where he found Mart Belden sitting alone at a table. "Hey Mart, Dan greeted. "Hey Dan, Mart smiled widely, I was just basking in the joy of another A, he flipped his paper at Dan. Dan forced a smile onto his own face, "that's great Mart, at this rate you'll pass with distinction. "Yeah well buddy I'm sure you will too", Mart stated. Dan however had already looked at his own mark a C. He knew with grades like that he was going to have to repeat a year or flunk out of college. But he didn't say that to Mart just sitting beside his friend and pretending to study a book. About 1 hour later the two finished up and made their way back to the room they shared.

As they walked past the tall blue building neither one was aware of the scrutiny from above. "Do you know those two", the man Dan had met earlier asked. The other man looked down, "yes, He stated, "the blonde one Is Martin Belden, you would probably remember teaching his brother Brian." Ah yes, excellent student Brian, I am not surprised he got that position in the campus medical centre",Mr Dale Yates acknowledged. "Well Mart is a bit of a goof in class but he always gets excellent grades on the work he hands in to me". Giles Reid remarked. "What about the darker one, who's he", Dale asked. "That is Daniel Mangan, he's from the same town as Brian and Mart Belden .He's got an interesting history, was in a street gang for awhile before moving to Sleepyside with his uncle who is his only living relative. He held a bit of promise when he first came here 7 months ago but I'm afraid his grades have been slipping rapidly", Giles stated. "Is he just having problems with the work or is it something else", Dale wanted to know. Giles studied him seriously, "well you know there are all sorts of 'distractions that can interfere with a students work. I have heard a few rumours about young Daniel but do not have enough to go on myself to get him into trouble."

Dale sighed and nodded, 'he been close enough to Dan to see the redness in his eyes and the moisture that came from trying to clear this up ."I would have thought Mangan knew better than to get involved with the wrong element though. But maybe it's to easy to fall back into that sort of life, Giles told his friend. "Yeah well I suppose we can all be stupid. But is he going to be stupid enough to let it continue and either be expelled or flunk out, Dale queried. "Well time will tell on that one Dale. Why are you so interested anyway, you've never taught him", Giles asked. "No but Jarrod met him earlier and didn't scream his head off like he usually does when encountering a stranger. He even took a little dog Dan gave him", "usually Jarrod only takes to certain people as you know", Dale explained.

Giles looked over at him, "well I how for his sake that kid can pull it together but legally he's an adult Dale and not one of our kids so he's not our responsibility. We can't worry about them all", his friend told him firmly. Dale sighed again, "no I guess not", he agreed.