A Shadowed Double Act

(A/N: Hello … Well if any of you read my king Arthur story than this is old news to you. But though I could – and would like too – give excuses for my absence I have returned with the guilt of leaving readers empty handed. I seemed to have hit a writer's block with some of my stories and have taken this time to perform a demolition against that block. So if you're angry for my lack of updating send a review and tell me or if you're happy with the update, review. Review, Review, review. It is much appreciated)

Chapter Two: Uncharacteristic Violence

A girl with long tangled blonde hair rested her cheek against the cool glass of the transit bus window. Her cobalt eyes were closed in annoyance as the snickering teens behind her continued to recount a long winded tale into the early hours of the morning. Sighing and lifting a hand to her temple Dana tried desperately to erase memories of other snickers and long winded tales. Tales and laughs that had been eliminated by the fire.

"The fire that made him leave" Dana thought bitterly, stubbornly brushing away the tears that had finally been allowed to fall "Leave and abandon the only family he has left" Shifting further in her seat Dana lifted her head as the bus came to a jarring halt, her worn green back pack sliding onto the floor. The heavy thump resounded through out the bus, and smiling tensely at the curious look of the driver Dana lifted the tattered back pack that held enough non-perishable food for a week, a few days worth of mix matched clothes salvaged from the fire and a small envelope of coins, into her lap. Wrapping her arms around the only things she had left of her New York City home, Dana curled into the seat with her cheek against the window, watching the lights of passing buildings zoom past and felt a terrible home sickness for the place she'd left behind.

"We stick together" Dana remembered "We don't run from our problems we face them as a family" the saying her father had repeated to her all through out her childhood.

"Well" Dana thought determinedly ignoring the tears that had dried on her pale cheeks "I'm going to find the one remaining member of our family, because Winstons stick together."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Her breath came in frantic burst as Elaine flew through the cold night air; she barley registered the Goosebumps over her bare arms as the muscles in her legs strained against the exertion. The blurs of houses became clear as El abruptly stumbled to a halt, her hands clenched angrily into fists.

"Where would he have gone?" Elaine thought desperately, raking her mind for an answer; her thoughts jumbling in fear "Where is he? Rosalie followed him, where would they go?"

She began to turn back when a voice invaded her mental hysterics.

"Arrr-n't youu Bobb'ss Sis-ster?" An extremely drunk voice slurred behind her.

Turning slowly, her frantic thoughts stopping abruptly as her eyes focused on the fallen figure of a lanky teen. He was sprawled carelessly across the manicure lawn, of his own house. A pair of hazy brown eyes met hers with recognition.

"Bruce, Where's Bob?" El asked tensely her voice tinted with an obvious tone of anger even the inebriated Bruce understood.

"The-y alllll headed to the par –ark..." He drawled slowly, in his inebriated state neglecting to realize his voice had become even less understandable or that El had dashed off "Doon't kn –now what go-ot her all-ll innnn a twist" He muttered sourly,lifting a jagged brown bottle before promptly passing out.

Her feet moved inconspicuously across the ground towards the park. Her aching legs had brought her far enough that she could now discern the lone pair of headlights intruding on the darkness of the night. Two tense figures were silhouetted in the glare, their bodies tensed on the curved wires of the jungle gym alert to the drunken forms emerging from the interior of a blue convertible. She could sense a heated conversation but hidden in the shadow of a tree couldn't hear it. El' dark blue eyes searched the scene until they landed on the small, shadowed figure crouched behind the nearest tree. Her sister's head was turned stiffly toward the figures in the park her small blue eyes round with fear.

"Crouched, ready to run" Elaine noticed frantically, crossing the space between them swiftly. Standing behind her sister El reached out to alert her but bravely yelled words halted her hand.

"You know what a Soc is?"

"What?" yelled the all too familiar voice of her brother.

"White trash with mustangs and madras"

The sound of a bottle shattering on the pavement had El surging passed a startled Rosalie as the forms silhouetted in the glaring light leapt into action. Twisting and tangling against each other. El's feet slowed not far from the tree, remembering the little girl who trembled there.

"Rosalie" El said quietly while her fear swirled dizzily inside her head, she managed – barley – to meet the wide eyes of her sister "Stay Here" she warned firmly before he feet raced across the ground.

Her eyes latched onto the form three boys – all of them familiar – lit surreally in the light. Their hands curled around the form of another boy's neck or placing pressure on his shoulders; restraining him from lifting his head out of the water. Disgust rose in her throat as she rushed forward, without thought she grabbed onto the closest figure. He whirled around drunkenly, spewing out some swear words, Randy's dull brown eyes locked on El's before he lost his footing and fell. His head hitting the side of the fountain with a painful crack.

"Bob!" El yelled loudly shaking him fiercely, as if in a trance he continued to hold the boy under the water. El's next cry caught in her throat as a flying punched slammed into her jaw. Stumbling backwards she managed to catch her balance just in time to miss the second blow Nick threw at her. While gathering her footing El saw another limp form slumped on the grass behind Nick, her thoughts cleared.

"This had got to stop. Their throwing away people's lives" El thought furiously, dodging again the flailing arm of the dark haired boy, she ducked under his arms and wrenched on Bob's shoulder. Nick spun around quickly and commenced towards her as Bob's head wrenched up, his blurry blue eyes focusing on her face. Neither noticed the form of Nick jerk in surprise and retreat.

"Wha – t the - ?" Bob's slurred question broke off as his hand went to his side, the culprit blade shining dully in a pair of unsteady dark hands. El's eyes widened, acting instinctively she threw her form protectively in front of her brother . She felt the cold blade tare through the skin of her stomach, her breath came out in a gasp of pain. El's eyes lifted to meet the owner of the blades as she heard Bob collapsed beside her, her own feet unsteady. The dark, trembling hands that held the knife ready to strike seemed to freeze as his black eyes met pain filled blue. Their eyes held for an instant as his chest heaved and his hands lowered, caught in each others gazes his movements hesitant and languid as if coming out of a trance. His eyes only leaving hers when the pounding of feet had him instinctively swirling around.

"El!" the terrified voice of Rosalie echoed through the park as the blade the boy still held slit through her cheek. Marring her face cheek to cheek. The blade clattered to the ground as it fell from Johnny's hands, his throat clogged and his eyes widened. His hand lifted unsteadily to his own cheek, the old scar burning with phantom pain as he watched the little girl stumble and fall.

"I'm… I'm " the girl struggled, tears falling from her eyes. Trailing through the dark blood that stained her cheek, her head fell to rest atop of folded arms as the wail of sirens filled the air. Johnny's breath caught as a cop car and ambulance squealed to a halt and people came running from both. His body tensed but the small gasps of pain behind him halted any retreat, as strong hands took him by the shoulders a pair of afflicted blue eyes lifted to meet his. Even through the shock and the pain that shone in her eyes Johnny saw the flicker of a quick decision in those eyes.

"It …" the girl whisper, pain causing her voice to lose volume as she clutched a hand to her side "My … Fault" her eyes closed in pain, and the last thing Johnny saw before the ambulance door was closed was a near by police officer carry away the sobbing little girl.

The hands of a pale, dark haired girl clenched into fists as a much hated voice echoed down to the run down street where she stood tensed at the corner.

"AND STAY OUT!"

To angry to respond she continued down the street until the loud slamming of a door reached her ears. Pausing she turned to stare at the run down apartment building squished in between a video store and another apartment. The apartment building she'd spent most of her childhood in along with her 4 foster siblings. The apartment that she now got thrown out of weekly.

"I can't stand her" RJ thought furiously " She doesn't care about us! She only cares about the checks she gets in the mail every month"

Shrugging her shoulders, RJ turned the corner and continued walking in no specific direction her bitter thoughts distracting her from noticing the drunken forms at the side walk. Or the interest they took in her frayed jean skirt and tank top as she angrily stalked, subconsciously heading nearer to the park.

"In half a year I can move out and she can't do a thing to stop me" RJ sighed, this freedom bringing scenario only brought on more angry thoughts "And leave Tara?" Images of a little scowling red head flashed through her mind at the same time that RJ heard the none too discreet sound of stumbling footsteps.

Stumbling around RJ faced the swaying forms of three teens around her own age, even in the dark RJ could recognize the cruel glint that only alcohol put in someone's eyes and the brand name, clean, respectable clothing that they were dressed in.

"Drunk Socs" RJ thought in annoyance stubbornly ignoring the fear that rose in her when she started to cautiously back up and hit a wall. Glancing behind her she scowled as she realized she'd made it all the way to Buck's, and was now surrounded by drunken Socs "Perfect"

(A/N: REVIEWS: more frequent updates and longer chapters. Thank you to those of you who did review and I hope my lack of updates didn't deter you. The next chapter will be much longer I swear, I just had to get this up. Review to tell me what a terrible update rate I have because believe me I can think of at least three readers who will happily oblige… but I would appreciate reviews telling me what you thought of the story as well )

Not as harsh as the first,

Madusa's Daughter