I do not own CM although i would love to. No charecters off the show are mine. Only the characters i made up. This story is set after JJ leaves and before Prentiss leaves so somewhere in early season 6. It is my first CM fanfic as i am a new fan of the show. Please review :)

Anything written in italic is what that character is thinking. It also changes from characters POV. I didn't want to point out when that happens because i feel it breaks up the story. So read slowly so you can follow it. Last thing If you don't understand something i usually refer to them later in the story so if they don't seem relavant let me know and i will make a note of them. Thanks

"Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice" – Charles F Kettering

Briar woke up to the noise she heard every morning. She rolled over in bed trying to ignore it. It wouldn't give up. She sat up and went about her usual morning ritual. Walked into the dark bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. She reached for her toothbrush. But it wasn't there.

Looking around the bathroom she noticed the blood. It was fresh and she had stepped in it and left foot prints. Better clean it up. She thought as she reached for a cloth. After she had finished wiping up the blood she listened out for the noise that she so often heard. It was quite.

She opened the bathroom door and walked into the hallway. Still no noise. She walked towards the kitchen and found her brother sitting at the table. "You were quite this time..." Briar commented. "He started early. Didn't want to wake you." The boy replied as he turned Briar saw where the blood had come from. She quickly grabbed a handful of paper towels and placed them on the boys bleeding nose. "You need to clean yourself up. Then come into my room. I'll get my makeup." The boy nodded and walked towards the bathroom.

Briar went back to her room and got dressed for school. A few minutes later there was a knock on her door. "Come in." She called out. The door opened slowly. The boy walked in. Bruises had started forming on his face. He sat down on her bed. "Asher. We can't keep doing this." Briar whispered as she got out her foundation. "What can we do? No one would believe us..." he winced as Briar applied the makeup thickly over his bruises. She paused and thought for a moment. "No Briar. We can't!" Asher yelled as he grabbed her arm. "Don't even think about it. You know what would happen to us if we did." He stood up and walked out of the room. Briar sat on the bed. She had to do something.

The school bell rang loudly. Mrs Hathaway was in the hallway hurrying kids to their classes. She saw Briar and Asher walking down the hall. They weren't usually late.

"Briar, Asher come here please." She called out. They slowly walked over to the guidance counselor.

"Yes Mrs Hathaway?" Briar asked quietly.

"You two aren't usually late. Want to come to my office and have a chat?" she asked.

She noticed that Asher was looking down again. This was often the case. She couldn't remember if she had ever seen his eyes or heard him talk to anyone besides his sister.

"Mam if you don't mind we would just like to go to class." Briar replied.

"Okay as long as everything is okay. Remember my door is always open." She smiled and walked away towards her office.

Briar and Asher were inseparable. This caused them a lot of problems. They were bullied a lot and had a hard time at school. She had been too many meetings with them and their father about it. It seemed to make them closer. The father was very good about it and very supportive she remembered. Maybe she should give him a ring and make sure everything was okay at home. She decided she would as she sat down at her desk and picked up the receiver.

Briar was sitting in her history class not really paying attention. She got good grades but today her mind was on something else. Her teacher didn't notice and continued talking about the second world war and how it stills effects society today.

She looked out the window and watched the clouds drifting along in the sky. She wished she could leave with Asher. Just for one day. Be away from this life.

The bell rang loudly and caused her to jump.

"Read through chapters 6 to 9 in your text books. We are having a quiz on them on Wednesday." Mr Grant called out at the students as they hurried out the door.

Briar hurried along the corridors, as she turned the corner she saw what she had hoped to avoid. Asher was bailed up against his locker. Two older students were making fun of him and had knocked his books out of his hands. She boldly walked towards them. "Leave him alone!" she shouted as she pushed one of the Jocks out of the way. She grabbed Asher's arm and pulled him away from the locker.

"Sister to the rescue! What you can't look after yourself? You gonna cry now Asher. Go home and cry to your mommy?" the bully said sarcastically.

"Remember he can't. His moms dead." The other jock said laughing as they turned their backs and started to walk away.

Asher leaped towards them but Briar caught him. "Don't!" she warned.

"They don't know what I could do to them..." Asher said under his breath.

"They won't find out either. Will they?" Briar pushed. "Will they?" she said making her brother stare her in the eye.

"No..." he answered.

"Come on let's go home before they come back." She told him as she collected his books off the ground.

"Hello there Mr Robinson this is Mrs Hathaway. I'm just ringing regarding Briar and Asher. Just checking to make sure everything is going okay at home. Give me a ring when you can. Thanks again." Kyle Robinson deleted the message and stood next to the phone. Why did she call? What did that bitch tell her? He would soon find out.

Briar opened the old swinging gate it let out a moan. Needs oiling... she thought as she closed it behind Asher.

They walked up the path and opened the front door. Before she could put her bag down her father grabbed her and threw her across the room. "You little bitch! What in the hell did you tell that women?"

Asher stood staring at the floor. "Nothing." Briar replied. She didn't get up from the floor. There was no point. He would just throw her down again.

"Boy!" he said turning towards Asher. "Get the knife." Asher just stood there. "Did I stutter?" Asher walked quickly towards the kitchen and opened the drawers. He rummaged around and pulled out a pocket knife. "Come over here." Kyle yelled.

Asher slowly walked over and held out the pocket knife. "Hahaha. No boy not me. You do it." Asher looked at Briar she nodded her head. He bent down next to his sister.

"I'm sorry." He mouthed. He flipped out one of the blades. It had dried blood on it. Briar lifted her shirt and closed her eyes. Asher put the blade against her skin. Blood pooled around the blade. He cut a line into her scarred back. He stopped and looked at his father.

"Did I tell you to stop?" he stepped towards Asher. Asher turned back to Briar and continued cutting. Briar heard her father walk away. "Asher..." he stopped.

"I'm sorry." He said as he stared at his sister.

"It's okay. It's better me than you." she pulled her shirt down over her fresh cuts and stood up. Asher threw the knife down and stood up as well.

"I have to go out now" Asher said quietly.

"Again? You went last week." Briar pleaded. Asher walked out the front door. "Wait. I'll come." She followed him out the door.