CHAPTER 1: FLASHBACKS

After going AWOL Tommy's case had been disposed of with an administrative discharge he didn't receive a sentence due to the fact that he was suffering from PTSD when he abandoned his unit. It has been 3 months since Sparta and not much has changed for Tommy. His relationship with his brother Brendan is a little bit better since they came to blows at Sparta. Tommy is trying to move forward and forgive Brendan for choosing Tess over him and there mum. But sometimes Tommy can not help but be jealous of his brother for all the things he got to experience that he didn't. Tommy never got to hang out with friends or go on dates. He never got a proper education, he had to leave school to look after his mum. While most teenagers were out with there friends having fun he was at home holding back what was left of his mothers beautiful brown hair while she puked from the chemo. And even before his mum and him moved away his childhood was stolen.

TOMMY AGED 14:
Tommy used to sit up every night and wait for paddy to come home knowing he would be drunk and start on his mum. one night when Tommy was lying awake in his room he heard paddy shouting which was nothing new so he didn't go down stairs at first. But then the shouting got louder and he could hear glass breaking and his mum screaming at paddy to stop. Tommy ran into Brendan's room to wake him up. But Brendan was not their, his window was left open he had snuck out to be with Tess. He did that a lot. Tommy ran downstairs to see paddy throwing his mum all over the kitchen she banged off the wall and fell to the floor, where she curled herself up into a ball to trying to protect herself. Paddy stumbled over to where she lay hardly able to stand himself from the amount of alcohol he had consumed. He pulled back his leg and just when he was about to kick her. Tommy jumped on top of her receiving the blow instead.

Tommy stood up trying not think about the pain in his ribs from the blow he had just received. He screamed at Paddy leave her ALONE!" Paddy froze for a second but then just started to laugh. Go to bed Tommy like a good boy!" he said sternly, Tommy looked up at his father who was much bigger than he was. He could feel butterfly's in his stomach from fear and felt like he might vomit. but he swallowed it down and shouted NO" you touch her again and ill kill you" His voice quivered a little and he could fell his body trembling. Tommy's mum was screaming at Paddy please Paddy," please don't hurt him" the look in Paddy's eyes was now dark and cold. Not the way a father should look at his son. He grabbed Tommy by his t-shirt and said do as your told you little shit," and go to your room!" He released Tommy shoving him hard in the direction of his bedroom. Tommy stumbled a little but managed not to fall. He new if he did as he was told and went to his bedroom that paddy was going to hurt his mum. He knew he had to do something. So he walked back towards Paddy and swung at him with all the strength he had, his fist meeting with Paddy's jaw. Paddy had not seen the blow coming and had bit down hard on his tongue with the blow. He started cursing, fucking little cunt! And blood was coming from his mouth. He stumbled over to the kitchen sink, turned on the tap and began to slurp up the water from the tap gargling it and spitting it out.

While he was distracted. Tommy helped his mum up off the ground as fast as he could and they headed for Tommy's room. Taking the stairs two steps at a time. They entered the room and locked the door be hind them. They sat down on Tommy's bed and his mum began to cry.

You should not of gotten involved Tommy he could of really hurt you" she said as the tears ran down her cheeks.

I'm so sick of him hurting you mum I hate him I hate him so much!" why do u stay with him?" he is never going to change mum you do no that don't you," he is always going to be a useless drunk! Tommy stated.

Stop Tommy he is your dad and he loves you he loves all of us its just when he is drunk he ….,"

he is always drunk mum" Tommy interrupted and he began to cry.

Please Tommy don't cry lets try and get some sleep" she said compassionately, wiping the tears from Tommy's face.

They laid down on the bed but neither of them could sleep, Paddy was banging on the door for about 20minutes for them to open it but he eventually gave up and fell asleep snoring outside the door .

The next morning when Tommy woke he could hear his mum and paddy talking downstairs. He hoped that his mum was telling paddy that she had enough that they were over and she was going to leave him! but that was not the case. Then there was a knock on Tommy's door. The door flew open and paddy walked in. Tommy backed up against the wall afraid of what he might do to him, remembering that he had hit him last night.

I am not going to hurt you Tommy," he said calmly sit down I want to talk to you.

Tommy slowly sat down on the bed beside him. Me and your mum talked and she gave me an ultimatum. If I don't stop drinking she is going to leave me," so I am done Tommy I promise no more drinking," I am sorry about last night Tommy can you forgive me?"

Tommy didn't answer he just looked at his father in disgust how can he think he can just say sorry and it will all be forgotten he taught.

That's one hell of a right hook you've got son," Paddy said smirking, we could train together if you wanted? "I think with some training you could be a very talented fighter and it would give me something to do, "keep my mind off the booze," well what do ya say Tommy will you train with me?

Tommy taught long and hard about his fathers proposition. At first he was going to say no why would he want to do anything with the man, he despised him. But then Tommy taught if I get strong enough and fast enough and I know how to fight," the next time he tries to hurt my mom I can take him down. Tommy agreed but made it clear to Paddy that this did not mean that he was forgiven.

They began training right away. Tommy would go to school and then head straight to the gym. Brendan started training with them also but he never seemed as serious about it. he always seemed to be distracted with Tess.

Tommy was surprised at how much he enjoyed fighting. He found it therapeutic. Every fight he had he would imagine it was Paddy in the ring and he would take out all his pent up anger on his opponent.