Chapter One

"Hey Jake." Dr Cox said, walking into the room, file in hand. Looking at what was on it, he smiled at the youngster. "Got some good news for you. Seems you'll be home in time for the holiday's, great huh?"

"Oh, yeah that's great. Thanks." Jake said, voice making it clear enough that he wasn't thrilled however he tried to disguise it.

"You don't want to be at home?" Perry asked. He'd treated Jake over the last few weeks and had grown fond of the kid, although their conversations rarely took a serious turn.

"I'm a little stuck. You know how most kids want to go home from school, well, I don't. But I don't want to stay at school either."

Deciding to tackle one problem at a time, Perry sat in the chair by the bed. "What's wrong with school?"

"I get teased." Jake said, head down.

Perry looked at the kid. Couldn't think what they'd tease him about. "About what?"

"I'm a geek."

Perry laughed a little at that. Jake looked up and was clearly confused by the reaction. "I'm sorry, I know what it's like to be picked on at school and it sucks, but you know the people who are teasing you are just jealous that your smarter than them, right?"

"I'm not so sure."

"Trust me. I'm a doctor."

Jake smiled slightly. "You were picked on?" Jake asked.

"C'mon, I've got red, curly hair and my name's Percival Cox. I'd have picked on me!"

Jake laughed. Perry was glad the kid was smiling. "So what about home?"

"My dad's an idiot."

"Yeah, mine was too."

"Okay, you're just saying this now."

"Want me to go first?" Perry asked. A small nod from the troubled boy indicated he wanted to know. "Well, my father was an alcoholic and my mother was... I don't know. I'm not sure if she was scared of him. I don't think she was but she never stopped him. He used to hit me and my sister. I don't want you to think it was a constant barrage of blows everyday, cause it wasn't, but you just never knew."

"Sounds like my dad too."

"You know, it's sort of my obligation as a doctor to report suspected child abuse."

"You can't. He'll kill me."

Perry sat forward in his chair so that he got the boys attention. "If you want me to, I'll get this reported right now. I won't ever leave this room and I won't allow him in here with you."

"I- I don't know." Jake said.

"Look, I can't make you agree to this, but honest to God if someone had made me this offer when I was a kid, I'd have grabbed it with both hands."

"I'm scared."

"You've got nothing to be scared of. I'm right here."

The slighest nod told him; do it.

"That a boy." Perry replied, pulling out his mobile.

TBC