Author's notes: I haven't seen Big Time or Betrayal. The events surrounding Terry's gang days are improvised. ;)
After such a wonderful night, and fairly boring weekend, Terry should have known his luck wouldn't hold.
Monday morning began strangely. As Terry walked to school, he was sure he was being watched. Even using every trick he knew to draw out a pursuer, he still couldn't spot anyone. Dismissing it as his fertile imagination, he continued on.
Walking onto the school grounds, kids were looking at him, whispering behind hands, conversations stopping as he neared. It was more than enough for him to *know* something was up. Smiling to himself, he figured news had traveled about his gift to Dana.
"Hey!" Max ran to catch up to him. "Have you heard?"
"Heard what?" he asked slowly.
"Oh boy...." Max muttered to herself before facing Terry again. "Dale Phillips was killed on Friday."
Terry felt his knees grow weak. "You sure?"
Max nodded sadly. "Was all over the news last night."
Sitting heavily on one of the benches outside the school, he ran a hand through his hair, staring at the ground. "I can't believe.... Do you know what happened?"
"Stabbed to death from the reports. Nothing more than that." She looked closely at her now pale best friend. "Did you know him well?"
Nodding he swallowed the grief. "We were good friends when we were younger."
Dana spotted them, frowning as she took in her boyfriend's stance. Taking a deep breath, preparing to help him, she headed right on over. Sitting beside him she engulfed him in a hug.
Surprised by her show of affection, Terry leaned into her, letting his head rest on her shoulder as he returned the needed hug.
"Man, I can't believe he's gone. He was one of the best, taught me most of what I learned during that time."
"Helped you land in Juvie," Max reminded him.
"Yeah, that too," he conceded as he straightened up, but didn't leave Dana's arms.
Shaking his head after a minute, he stood, just in time to hear the first bell ring. "Thanks," he kissed Dana on the cheek. "Catch you at lunch." Waving he trotted off to his first class, leaving Dana and Max staring after him with concerned expressions.
Opening his locker after third period, he frowned at the piece of paper that fluttered to the ground. Picking it up he read it. Everything made sense now. Dropping his head back against the lockers. His instincts had been right on.
Scribbling a quick note for Dana, he slid it into her locker, then headed straight for the manor.
"I take it you've heard?" Bruce asked in lew of a greeting.
"Not only have I heard, but..." he placed the note on the console.
Bruce glanced over the crumpled paper.
'Vacation's over,
if you can take a break from being a philanthropist,
there's an offer for you.
JH'
"This might be just what the police are looking for." Terry just looked at the old man. "I'm calling Barbara Gordon."
"I don't..." Terry began completely baffled.
"It's funny how I always know when I'm wanted." The female voice drifted across the cave. Bruce chuckled as Terry startled. Walking over to the two guys, she read over the paper Bruce held out to her, then quirked an eyebrow at Terry. "I guess the first question is whether you are willing to or not?" Crossing her arms lightly in front of her, she leaned on the side of the chair, eyeing both men.
Terry's eyes widened in realization. "Let me get this straight, you two *want* me to accept?"
"McGinnis listen to me." Barbara began in what she was hoping wasn't a pleading tone. "Your old friends have quite the notorious reputation. Unfortunately, it's also a deserving one. We have been trying to crack that gang for years, even before you were busted."
Leaning on the console, absorbing the full implications, Terry considered his options. "Batman wouldn't be able to patrol, probably for a few weeks."
Bruce nodded his understanding.
"Have you been keeping in contact with them?" Barbara asked. Terry's anger flared momentarily. Catching his expression, she couldn't suppress the smile. "I take that as a no." She couldn't help thinking how alike the two were, though she'd never say that to either of them. "How deep do you think you'll have to go?"
Rubbing his forehead, remembering snippets of conversations with the older boys, "It's all or nothing. There was never halfway. Halfway meant you weren't loyal to the family."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked again.
This time Terry took a few moments before nodding decisively.
"It's not going to be easy." Bruce pressed his decision.
"I'm well aware, Bruce." Terry's mind was going a mile a minute. No, this wouldn't be easy. Rather far from it. He smirked, shaking his head. "Since I was released from Juvie, I've worked my ass off to stay as far away from them as possible, now I'm about to jump in head first again."
"I'll devise a communication device."
"Uh uh. No way, Bruce. I can't have anything on me." Bruce frowned. "Lets just say they are not against strip searches. Though I'm not overly modest, it's the knives they use to check under your skin that I have a problem with."
Barbara shuddered. "You remember something like that occurring?"
"I saw the older boys do it once."
"We'll need to stay in contact." Bruce swung back to the computer, calling up a map. "Most recent reports have placed their base here." An arrow appeared on the screen.
Terry leaned in close. "It hasn't moved. If nothing else has changed there is an old dumpster here." Terry reached to point out the place on the large monitor a number of blocks away from the house. "I can place the remote for the car there. That way, if I leave the suit in the car, I have two alternatives."
"I don't like it."
"What? You don't trust me?" Terry lashed out at the old man.
Barbara stepped forward. "No, Terry. Quite the opposite."
Looking from one to the other, Terry relaxed. "Sorry, old paranoia."
"Understandable."
"You guys know what this means, what I'll have to do."
Bruce threw a knowing look at his protege. "You'll enjoy every minute of it."
Terry glanced at Barbara in mock surprise, "Did he just crack a joke?" Then frowned. "I'll have to let my mother know. I can't let her think..." He dropped his head.
"Do you think that's wise?" Barbara fired Bruce a dirty look.
"Is there anyone else you want to know?" Barbara asked as if Bruce hadn't spoken.
"Yeah, Max and Dana. Max can be a huge help and Dana needs to know. We've come too far for me to just drop her from the loop now."
"Alright, how do you want to handle this then?"
"Well, Max is over babysitting Matt right now. I can pick up Dana on the way home and we can discuss this tonight."
"The sooner the better, huh kid?"
"They're watching me."
"What?" Bruce spun the chair around.
"I felt like I was being watched today. I couldn't prove it, but I had that feeling. Then I found the note."
"Are you sure this is wise then?"
He looked at the commissioner with sad eyes. "I can't put her through that again, not now, not after dad. And Matt, he thinks so little of me." Terry sighed deeply. "My life has taken on such a positive note. I can't jeopardize that."
"Alright then." His fear of disappointing his family was tangible, and understandable. "We'll begin. I'll tell your mother this is an undercover sting. We'll deal with it from there."
"Good luck."
Terry shoved himself away from the console. "Thanks, I think I'm going to need it," he threw over his shoulder as he followed Barbara Gordon out of the Batcave.
"Terry," Barbara paused, placing a hand on the teen's arm outside as he reached for his motorcycle helmet. "I won't ask you again. Are you sure about this?"
"Yes I'm sure. It's like being Batman; something I need to do."
She nodded once before heading to her car. "I'll meet you at your apartment in about an hour?"
Terry nodded, mounting the bike.
"Hey." Dana greeted him at the door with a delighted smile. "I wasn't expecting to see you tonight." She stopped, feeling dread seep into her. "Is something wrong, Terry?"
He reached out, caressing the side of her face. "Probably not what you're thinking." She shifted, causing the light from the hallway to reflect off her necklace. He touched the charm, where it lay against her skin, just below her throat. "I need you to come with me for a family meeting."
Worried, she nodded. "Let me just tell my dad."
Returning a few moments later, she took the spare helmet from his hands, settling it comfortably on her head before climbing on the bike behind him. Wrapping her arms around his chest, she leaned against his back, hoping beyond hope that she was wrong - that whatever Terry had to talk to her about didn't mark the end.
Terry refused to settle, his nerves totally on edge. Nothing he had done as Batman had ... he didn't want to use the word 'frighten', but it was the closest to what he was feeling at the moment. Terrified out of his mind in actuality over his mother's possible reaction.
"McGinnis." Barbara had been sitting on the end of the couch, watching the teen's nervous pacing. "You have got to settle."
Her point drove home. If he was this edgy, his mother would read it and forbid him from going ahead with this. He had to get his nerves under control. He smiled, watching Max, Dana and Matt playing a game on the TV. Matt was thrilled to not only be allowed to stay up, but that the Commissioner was sitting in their living room, talking to his brother.
Mary McGinnis was extremely confused as she entered her home. The fact that Matt was still up playing games upset her, until she saw who her eldest was speaking to. Dropping her purse on the table in the hallway, with a heavy heart, she strode into the living room.
Barbara Gordon smiled at Mary, knowing this was going to have to be her ball game, wanting to put the other woman at ease. She glanced at Terry, signaling for him to pull the three others from the game.
"Hello, Mary." Barbara greeted pleasantly.
"What's going on?" Once again, Barbara was happy she had never had kids, that she would never have to feel the concern that must be going through the red-headed woman's mind.
"Terry and I have something to ask all of you." She motioned to the living area. Once everyone was seated, other than Terry, Barbara began.
"I'm sure you have all heard about Dale Phillips." She waited a second for everyone to confirm. "Today, Terry received a note from Josh Hughes. Hughes is most likely the new leader of the gang."
"Wait a minute...." Mary eyed her son, who was leaning on the door frame into the kitchen. "I remember that name."
Terry nodded, crossing his arms tighter in front of his chest. "Josh and I were best friends." It was easier than he had thought to keep his voice level.
"Your son and I have spoken, and I have asked him to agree to meet with Hughes."
Mary McGinnis' eyes widened in shock. "There is no way I'm letting him go back into that group. How can you even consider asking a teenager to..."
"Mom," Terry quietly interrupted his mother's tirade. "It's not what you think. They know me, they trusted me. I can provide the information to help the cops break the gang."
"How Terry? How can I let you do this? Especially after last time."
Taking a deep breath he closed the distance between him and his mother. "They brainwashed me, Mom. I can't even remember why I began running with them. There was no legitimate reason. But they convinced me they cared more for me than you and Dad did." Terry dropped his head for a moment, the guilt threatening to overwhelm him again. "I ruined your relationship with Dad, almost destroyed my own life." He stood tall, wanting her to understand his reasoning, needing her too. "This is my chance to stop them from conning another kid, maybe prevent others from going down the same road I did."
Mary deflated somewhat, a spark of pride causing her to smile. Maybe Terry wasn't as far gone as she had thought. "You've grown up." He waited for her decision. "You'll be in contact with the police?"
"As often as possible." He looked around the room, at Matt's look of disbelief, at Dana and at Max who both had the same concerned, but understanding expression. "I want you to know what this means." He faced his mother again. "My behavior will revert. I need them to believe that I'm with them again."
Mary nodded at her son. "I don't like it, but I understand."
"You guys are my family," he glanced around the room again. "I'm going to say and do things that I'm not going to be proud of, but I'll have to do. They will be watching me."
Max snorted, "yeah, I remember the jackass you were."
Mary chuckled. Max wasn't kidding. "Ter, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah, Mom, I'm sure. I need to do this. Set things right - maybe not for us, but maybe for someone else."
"No one else can know about this." Barbara spoke up. She turned to young Matt, "Do you understand how important that is? No matter what your friends are saying, you can't let them know anything about your brother." Matt nodded, comprehension glowing in his young eyes. "Good." Barbara stood. "Then I'm going home. I'll contact you later, Terry. And Mary, if you need anything, call me. We can make it look like old times." The two women shared a knowing smile before Barbara nodded her goodbye and let herself out.
Mary looked at her sons. "I'm going to put Matty to bed, then can we talk about this?"
As soon as is mother was out of the room, Terry turned to Dana.
"Uh oh," Dana groaned. "I know that look."
"Dane, this applies to you too. There was someone before you, I don't know if she's still with them but..."
"But if she is, you'll have to be with her, won't you?" Dana felt as if all the wonderful feelings from the weekend were rushing down a drain.
"Acting like I'm with her." Terry corrected, pulling her into his arms. "There is no one else for me, Dane. I'm going to need you and Max on this one."
"They aren't going to trust you are they?" Max closed in on them. Not wanting to interrupt the moment, but needing answers as well.
"Probably not. They're going to want me to prove myself."
"How?" Dana asked slowly. She had known what he had been up to before, but to face that now was not easy, especially considering what she had recently discovered about him.
"Most likely a job. Break into somewhere, steal something. That's what it used to be." Placing his hands on Dana's shoulders, he bent closer to her. "Remember this," He touched the heart around her neck. "I've never given anything to anyone before. This is how I feel, not what you might see in the next few weeks."
"Be careful, please."
He wanted to tell her that there was nothing to worry about, but he couldn't lie to her, didn't want to lie to her. "I will." There was a lot riding on this.
"I'll take you home." Max offered.
"Please," Dana smiled thankfully at her friend. Turning back to Terry, she hugged him tightly, relaxing as he returned the possessive embrace.
"We'll talk about the details?" Max asked, not hiding the underlying question as Terry and Dana separated.
"Probably tomorrow, when I know more." She hugged him quickly before walking out the door with Dana.
Terry sat on his bed going over files on his laptop. The room was completely dark, the only noise came from the whir of the computer, and the occasional car outside. Turning his head, he noticed the time on his nightstand digital clock. 03:10. He sighed, too antsy to sleep. Calling up the next file, he read through the recent events surrounding that particular gang. Searching for Dale's or Josh's name revealed many jobs they had done. Dale had been big on bank hits, getting in and out without being seen, which also left no way to track them. The news reports were showing an ever increasing violence rate. That disturbed him. Granted, violence was all part of the game, but most of the incidents surrounding Dale and Josh were uncalled for. A woman beaten half to death, just for crossing paths with Josh, another man knifed for trying to get in on one of the hits. The list went on. Needless acts - in Terry's mind anyway.
"Terry?" Terry's head jerked as his door slowly opened. "Can I come in?" Matt asked in a small voice.
"Yeah, sure." Terry closed his laptop.
Matt hopped up to sit on the bed in front of his brother. "Do you really need to go?" Matt asked slowly.
Taking a deep breath, he wanted to answer as honestly as possible. "Yeah, bro, I do."
"Why?" Matt asked again, feeling a little more confident since Terry hadn't reacted badly to his question.
"Matt, they tricked me into believing that I needed to be with them. They did it so easily that I can't remember how they did it. If I can stop them from fooling another kid, then I've done something." He was amazed, Matt really seemed to understand. "I've really been scared that they would go after you."
That caught Matt's attention. "Why me?"
"Because we don't really get along well. Cause of Dad; these are the kids they usually go after to recruit."
"Then why did they want you?"
"Maybe because I learned fast. Josh, Dale and I were friends since grade school. They taught me things."
"Like what?"
"How to pick a lock, how to sneak around." Terry shrugged, not wanting to encourage his younger brother.
"That's cool."
"No Matt, it's not. Look at all the problems I caused Mom and Dad. I still think that maybe, if I hadn't left that night...." The guilt did overwhelm him this time, tears pricking his eyes at the memory of that night.
"You can't blame yourself for Dad." Terry's head snapped up, not believing what his younger brother had just said to him. "If you hadn't left, then you....." Matt's voice cracked. "Then they would have gotten you too."
Terry pulled his brother into a tight hug as the full implication sank in. "I'll come home this time. I'll only be gone a few weeks, just long enough to figure out what they're doing." Matt hung on, cherishing the moment of bonding with his older brother.
After such a wonderful night, and fairly boring weekend, Terry should have known his luck wouldn't hold.
Monday morning began strangely. As Terry walked to school, he was sure he was being watched. Even using every trick he knew to draw out a pursuer, he still couldn't spot anyone. Dismissing it as his fertile imagination, he continued on.
Walking onto the school grounds, kids were looking at him, whispering behind hands, conversations stopping as he neared. It was more than enough for him to *know* something was up. Smiling to himself, he figured news had traveled about his gift to Dana.
"Hey!" Max ran to catch up to him. "Have you heard?"
"Heard what?" he asked slowly.
"Oh boy...." Max muttered to herself before facing Terry again. "Dale Phillips was killed on Friday."
Terry felt his knees grow weak. "You sure?"
Max nodded sadly. "Was all over the news last night."
Sitting heavily on one of the benches outside the school, he ran a hand through his hair, staring at the ground. "I can't believe.... Do you know what happened?"
"Stabbed to death from the reports. Nothing more than that." She looked closely at her now pale best friend. "Did you know him well?"
Nodding he swallowed the grief. "We were good friends when we were younger."
Dana spotted them, frowning as she took in her boyfriend's stance. Taking a deep breath, preparing to help him, she headed right on over. Sitting beside him she engulfed him in a hug.
Surprised by her show of affection, Terry leaned into her, letting his head rest on her shoulder as he returned the needed hug.
"Man, I can't believe he's gone. He was one of the best, taught me most of what I learned during that time."
"Helped you land in Juvie," Max reminded him.
"Yeah, that too," he conceded as he straightened up, but didn't leave Dana's arms.
Shaking his head after a minute, he stood, just in time to hear the first bell ring. "Thanks," he kissed Dana on the cheek. "Catch you at lunch." Waving he trotted off to his first class, leaving Dana and Max staring after him with concerned expressions.
Opening his locker after third period, he frowned at the piece of paper that fluttered to the ground. Picking it up he read it. Everything made sense now. Dropping his head back against the lockers. His instincts had been right on.
Scribbling a quick note for Dana, he slid it into her locker, then headed straight for the manor.
"I take it you've heard?" Bruce asked in lew of a greeting.
"Not only have I heard, but..." he placed the note on the console.
Bruce glanced over the crumpled paper.
'Vacation's over,
if you can take a break from being a philanthropist,
there's an offer for you.
JH'
"This might be just what the police are looking for." Terry just looked at the old man. "I'm calling Barbara Gordon."
"I don't..." Terry began completely baffled.
"It's funny how I always know when I'm wanted." The female voice drifted across the cave. Bruce chuckled as Terry startled. Walking over to the two guys, she read over the paper Bruce held out to her, then quirked an eyebrow at Terry. "I guess the first question is whether you are willing to or not?" Crossing her arms lightly in front of her, she leaned on the side of the chair, eyeing both men.
Terry's eyes widened in realization. "Let me get this straight, you two *want* me to accept?"
"McGinnis listen to me." Barbara began in what she was hoping wasn't a pleading tone. "Your old friends have quite the notorious reputation. Unfortunately, it's also a deserving one. We have been trying to crack that gang for years, even before you were busted."
Leaning on the console, absorbing the full implications, Terry considered his options. "Batman wouldn't be able to patrol, probably for a few weeks."
Bruce nodded his understanding.
"Have you been keeping in contact with them?" Barbara asked. Terry's anger flared momentarily. Catching his expression, she couldn't suppress the smile. "I take that as a no." She couldn't help thinking how alike the two were, though she'd never say that to either of them. "How deep do you think you'll have to go?"
Rubbing his forehead, remembering snippets of conversations with the older boys, "It's all or nothing. There was never halfway. Halfway meant you weren't loyal to the family."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked again.
This time Terry took a few moments before nodding decisively.
"It's not going to be easy." Bruce pressed his decision.
"I'm well aware, Bruce." Terry's mind was going a mile a minute. No, this wouldn't be easy. Rather far from it. He smirked, shaking his head. "Since I was released from Juvie, I've worked my ass off to stay as far away from them as possible, now I'm about to jump in head first again."
"I'll devise a communication device."
"Uh uh. No way, Bruce. I can't have anything on me." Bruce frowned. "Lets just say they are not against strip searches. Though I'm not overly modest, it's the knives they use to check under your skin that I have a problem with."
Barbara shuddered. "You remember something like that occurring?"
"I saw the older boys do it once."
"We'll need to stay in contact." Bruce swung back to the computer, calling up a map. "Most recent reports have placed their base here." An arrow appeared on the screen.
Terry leaned in close. "It hasn't moved. If nothing else has changed there is an old dumpster here." Terry reached to point out the place on the large monitor a number of blocks away from the house. "I can place the remote for the car there. That way, if I leave the suit in the car, I have two alternatives."
"I don't like it."
"What? You don't trust me?" Terry lashed out at the old man.
Barbara stepped forward. "No, Terry. Quite the opposite."
Looking from one to the other, Terry relaxed. "Sorry, old paranoia."
"Understandable."
"You guys know what this means, what I'll have to do."
Bruce threw a knowing look at his protege. "You'll enjoy every minute of it."
Terry glanced at Barbara in mock surprise, "Did he just crack a joke?" Then frowned. "I'll have to let my mother know. I can't let her think..." He dropped his head.
"Do you think that's wise?" Barbara fired Bruce a dirty look.
"Is there anyone else you want to know?" Barbara asked as if Bruce hadn't spoken.
"Yeah, Max and Dana. Max can be a huge help and Dana needs to know. We've come too far for me to just drop her from the loop now."
"Alright, how do you want to handle this then?"
"Well, Max is over babysitting Matt right now. I can pick up Dana on the way home and we can discuss this tonight."
"The sooner the better, huh kid?"
"They're watching me."
"What?" Bruce spun the chair around.
"I felt like I was being watched today. I couldn't prove it, but I had that feeling. Then I found the note."
"Are you sure this is wise then?"
He looked at the commissioner with sad eyes. "I can't put her through that again, not now, not after dad. And Matt, he thinks so little of me." Terry sighed deeply. "My life has taken on such a positive note. I can't jeopardize that."
"Alright then." His fear of disappointing his family was tangible, and understandable. "We'll begin. I'll tell your mother this is an undercover sting. We'll deal with it from there."
"Good luck."
Terry shoved himself away from the console. "Thanks, I think I'm going to need it," he threw over his shoulder as he followed Barbara Gordon out of the Batcave.
"Terry," Barbara paused, placing a hand on the teen's arm outside as he reached for his motorcycle helmet. "I won't ask you again. Are you sure about this?"
"Yes I'm sure. It's like being Batman; something I need to do."
She nodded once before heading to her car. "I'll meet you at your apartment in about an hour?"
Terry nodded, mounting the bike.
"Hey." Dana greeted him at the door with a delighted smile. "I wasn't expecting to see you tonight." She stopped, feeling dread seep into her. "Is something wrong, Terry?"
He reached out, caressing the side of her face. "Probably not what you're thinking." She shifted, causing the light from the hallway to reflect off her necklace. He touched the charm, where it lay against her skin, just below her throat. "I need you to come with me for a family meeting."
Worried, she nodded. "Let me just tell my dad."
Returning a few moments later, she took the spare helmet from his hands, settling it comfortably on her head before climbing on the bike behind him. Wrapping her arms around his chest, she leaned against his back, hoping beyond hope that she was wrong - that whatever Terry had to talk to her about didn't mark the end.
Terry refused to settle, his nerves totally on edge. Nothing he had done as Batman had ... he didn't want to use the word 'frighten', but it was the closest to what he was feeling at the moment. Terrified out of his mind in actuality over his mother's possible reaction.
"McGinnis." Barbara had been sitting on the end of the couch, watching the teen's nervous pacing. "You have got to settle."
Her point drove home. If he was this edgy, his mother would read it and forbid him from going ahead with this. He had to get his nerves under control. He smiled, watching Max, Dana and Matt playing a game on the TV. Matt was thrilled to not only be allowed to stay up, but that the Commissioner was sitting in their living room, talking to his brother.
Mary McGinnis was extremely confused as she entered her home. The fact that Matt was still up playing games upset her, until she saw who her eldest was speaking to. Dropping her purse on the table in the hallway, with a heavy heart, she strode into the living room.
Barbara Gordon smiled at Mary, knowing this was going to have to be her ball game, wanting to put the other woman at ease. She glanced at Terry, signaling for him to pull the three others from the game.
"Hello, Mary." Barbara greeted pleasantly.
"What's going on?" Once again, Barbara was happy she had never had kids, that she would never have to feel the concern that must be going through the red-headed woman's mind.
"Terry and I have something to ask all of you." She motioned to the living area. Once everyone was seated, other than Terry, Barbara began.
"I'm sure you have all heard about Dale Phillips." She waited a second for everyone to confirm. "Today, Terry received a note from Josh Hughes. Hughes is most likely the new leader of the gang."
"Wait a minute...." Mary eyed her son, who was leaning on the door frame into the kitchen. "I remember that name."
Terry nodded, crossing his arms tighter in front of his chest. "Josh and I were best friends." It was easier than he had thought to keep his voice level.
"Your son and I have spoken, and I have asked him to agree to meet with Hughes."
Mary McGinnis' eyes widened in shock. "There is no way I'm letting him go back into that group. How can you even consider asking a teenager to..."
"Mom," Terry quietly interrupted his mother's tirade. "It's not what you think. They know me, they trusted me. I can provide the information to help the cops break the gang."
"How Terry? How can I let you do this? Especially after last time."
Taking a deep breath he closed the distance between him and his mother. "They brainwashed me, Mom. I can't even remember why I began running with them. There was no legitimate reason. But they convinced me they cared more for me than you and Dad did." Terry dropped his head for a moment, the guilt threatening to overwhelm him again. "I ruined your relationship with Dad, almost destroyed my own life." He stood tall, wanting her to understand his reasoning, needing her too. "This is my chance to stop them from conning another kid, maybe prevent others from going down the same road I did."
Mary deflated somewhat, a spark of pride causing her to smile. Maybe Terry wasn't as far gone as she had thought. "You've grown up." He waited for her decision. "You'll be in contact with the police?"
"As often as possible." He looked around the room, at Matt's look of disbelief, at Dana and at Max who both had the same concerned, but understanding expression. "I want you to know what this means." He faced his mother again. "My behavior will revert. I need them to believe that I'm with them again."
Mary nodded at her son. "I don't like it, but I understand."
"You guys are my family," he glanced around the room again. "I'm going to say and do things that I'm not going to be proud of, but I'll have to do. They will be watching me."
Max snorted, "yeah, I remember the jackass you were."
Mary chuckled. Max wasn't kidding. "Ter, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah, Mom, I'm sure. I need to do this. Set things right - maybe not for us, but maybe for someone else."
"No one else can know about this." Barbara spoke up. She turned to young Matt, "Do you understand how important that is? No matter what your friends are saying, you can't let them know anything about your brother." Matt nodded, comprehension glowing in his young eyes. "Good." Barbara stood. "Then I'm going home. I'll contact you later, Terry. And Mary, if you need anything, call me. We can make it look like old times." The two women shared a knowing smile before Barbara nodded her goodbye and let herself out.
Mary looked at her sons. "I'm going to put Matty to bed, then can we talk about this?"
As soon as is mother was out of the room, Terry turned to Dana.
"Uh oh," Dana groaned. "I know that look."
"Dane, this applies to you too. There was someone before you, I don't know if she's still with them but..."
"But if she is, you'll have to be with her, won't you?" Dana felt as if all the wonderful feelings from the weekend were rushing down a drain.
"Acting like I'm with her." Terry corrected, pulling her into his arms. "There is no one else for me, Dane. I'm going to need you and Max on this one."
"They aren't going to trust you are they?" Max closed in on them. Not wanting to interrupt the moment, but needing answers as well.
"Probably not. They're going to want me to prove myself."
"How?" Dana asked slowly. She had known what he had been up to before, but to face that now was not easy, especially considering what she had recently discovered about him.
"Most likely a job. Break into somewhere, steal something. That's what it used to be." Placing his hands on Dana's shoulders, he bent closer to her. "Remember this," He touched the heart around her neck. "I've never given anything to anyone before. This is how I feel, not what you might see in the next few weeks."
"Be careful, please."
He wanted to tell her that there was nothing to worry about, but he couldn't lie to her, didn't want to lie to her. "I will." There was a lot riding on this.
"I'll take you home." Max offered.
"Please," Dana smiled thankfully at her friend. Turning back to Terry, she hugged him tightly, relaxing as he returned the possessive embrace.
"We'll talk about the details?" Max asked, not hiding the underlying question as Terry and Dana separated.
"Probably tomorrow, when I know more." She hugged him quickly before walking out the door with Dana.
Terry sat on his bed going over files on his laptop. The room was completely dark, the only noise came from the whir of the computer, and the occasional car outside. Turning his head, he noticed the time on his nightstand digital clock. 03:10. He sighed, too antsy to sleep. Calling up the next file, he read through the recent events surrounding that particular gang. Searching for Dale's or Josh's name revealed many jobs they had done. Dale had been big on bank hits, getting in and out without being seen, which also left no way to track them. The news reports were showing an ever increasing violence rate. That disturbed him. Granted, violence was all part of the game, but most of the incidents surrounding Dale and Josh were uncalled for. A woman beaten half to death, just for crossing paths with Josh, another man knifed for trying to get in on one of the hits. The list went on. Needless acts - in Terry's mind anyway.
"Terry?" Terry's head jerked as his door slowly opened. "Can I come in?" Matt asked in a small voice.
"Yeah, sure." Terry closed his laptop.
Matt hopped up to sit on the bed in front of his brother. "Do you really need to go?" Matt asked slowly.
Taking a deep breath, he wanted to answer as honestly as possible. "Yeah, bro, I do."
"Why?" Matt asked again, feeling a little more confident since Terry hadn't reacted badly to his question.
"Matt, they tricked me into believing that I needed to be with them. They did it so easily that I can't remember how they did it. If I can stop them from fooling another kid, then I've done something." He was amazed, Matt really seemed to understand. "I've really been scared that they would go after you."
That caught Matt's attention. "Why me?"
"Because we don't really get along well. Cause of Dad; these are the kids they usually go after to recruit."
"Then why did they want you?"
"Maybe because I learned fast. Josh, Dale and I were friends since grade school. They taught me things."
"Like what?"
"How to pick a lock, how to sneak around." Terry shrugged, not wanting to encourage his younger brother.
"That's cool."
"No Matt, it's not. Look at all the problems I caused Mom and Dad. I still think that maybe, if I hadn't left that night...." The guilt did overwhelm him this time, tears pricking his eyes at the memory of that night.
"You can't blame yourself for Dad." Terry's head snapped up, not believing what his younger brother had just said to him. "If you hadn't left, then you....." Matt's voice cracked. "Then they would have gotten you too."
Terry pulled his brother into a tight hug as the full implication sank in. "I'll come home this time. I'll only be gone a few weeks, just long enough to figure out what they're doing." Matt hung on, cherishing the moment of bonding with his older brother.