Title: THE LOCK
Author: therubyone
Length: 8 chapters, 9,706 words, complete.
Rating: Mature – contains het and slash (starting with Ch. 5)
Pairings: Drake & Josh/Hot identical twins, Drake/Josh
Characters: Audrey, Walter, Megan, Drake, Josh, Eric, Hot Identical Twins
Notes: Story begins where "The Tree House" episode leaves off, later that night, and continues for one week
Disclaimer: With humble respect to the powers that be at Viacomm and Nickelodeon who created and own the show, I own nothing, seek no profit
Spoilers: Contains specific information from "The Tree House" and contains general information from the entire D&J universe.
THE LOCK
Chapter 1.
Sunday morning, the wee hours
Audrey Parker Nichols was in shock. The evidence had been piling up over time, little by little, but now she could no longer deny to herself that her daughter Megan was not the perfect little angel she seemed to be. The school psychologist had recently contacted Audrey about some routine middle school psychological testing results: although Megan had a high I.Q., she also showed signs of some deep-seated and disturbing problems. Audrey's reverie was broken by the sound of the front door opening, and the lights being switched on. She stood up as Walter entered the living room, not even realizing she was wringing her hands. "How is he?" she asked, anxiously.
Walter put his hands on her shoulders, saying, "Don't you worry yourself. He's just dehydrated. He's going to stay overnight so they can observe him and keep the IV in for the fluids. The rib wasn't broken, just bruised, so that's been taped up for his comfort. The chin laceration required a number of stitches. As far as I know, Drake can come home tomorrow, whenever Dr. Holland decides to release him."
Josh had been pacing anxiously in the shadows in the foyer, when Walter turned and told him to go on up to bed. It had been a long, tiring day, and Josh was ready to obey, but he had to get something off his chest first: "Mom, Dad, I hope you won't ground Megan over this. It will only give her more time to think up ways to torture me and Drake. All we are asking for is a lock to put on our bedroom door, and you two can have a key, if you can find a safe place for it."
Walter sighed and answered wearily, "We'll discuss it in the morning, son. Just get some rest."
Audrey hugged her stepson, saying, "Honey, I'm glad you're okay, aside from the bruises . . ." Audrey wanted to say "Sorry I never believed you all this time," but the words died in her throat. She kept replaying the scene in her head from earlier that night, it seemed so unreal to her.