There aren't enough words to express my gratitude for all the reviews to the first chapter. I am overwhelmed. And very sorry I kept you all waiting so long for the second chapter. I shouldn't have posted the first knowing I was going to be away for a while this month.

Hope you will all enjoy this one as much!

Chapter 2

"Not fair! I wanna be Joe Frazier."

"Can't. I already called him," Daniel retorted to Evan's whine. "You can be Muhammed Ali."

"But then I'll have to lose," Evan complained. "You know he loses."

The two boys were playing with a gift Evan had gotten for his birthday the previous year: a set of boxing figures on small platforms with buttons. If you put the two figures opposite each other and pushed the buttons the arms would punch out as if they were boxing. They had set them up on the coffee table, but hadn't been able to decide which famous boxers they would be yet.

"Those dolls aren't even black, so maybe you can't be either of the two," Crane didn't even look up from his book. He was sprawled out on the sofa and tried to read, which was a challenge in itself because the two weren't exactly quiet. And the two youngest brothers were even louder as they were playing a card game.

"Can too!" Evan wouldn't give in easily. "It's just pretend. I can be whoever I want to."

"But you can't be Smokin' Joe, cause I'm him," Daniel placed his hands on the buttons. "And this doesn't have to be the famous match. It can be any match."

"Still not fair."

Crane groaned and tried to focus on his book, but there was no peace for the young man.

"That's cheating, Guthrie!"

"No, it's not." Guthrie shook his head and took three new cards. "Evan says you can change the cards with sevens."

"You can't."

"Evan said so!"

"Evan!" Ford looked at the two who were now madly pushing buttons. "Did you tell Guthrie he can exchange his cards if he has sevens?"

"What?"

Immediately, Daniel took advantage of Evan's distraction and punched Evan's boxer hard enough at the right spot that the figure bent backwards at the knees.

"Damnit! You made me lose, Ford." Evan righted his boxer. "I want a rematch. Who cares what I said."

"Better not say that with Adam or Brian around, Ev, you know Adam doesn't like that," Crane warned his brother, but Evan wasn't even listening.

"I won fair and square," Daniel argued.

"You were cheating Guthrie when you told him that," Ford didn't even ask, he knew.

"You cheated?" Guthrie looked at the other two. "That's mean!"

"If you four don't shut up, I'll…" But before Crane could tell them what he'd do, they were interrupted by an angry voice from the doorway.

"I don't care what's going on, but you will ALL quiet down."

"But Evan cheated, Adam," Guthrie looked up at his oldest brother with big eyes, "you always said that you shouldn't cheat."

"And he said a bad word too."

It was so unlike Ford to tattle that everyone looked at him in shock. Then Evan jumped up and was about to jump his younger brother. He would have managed if Adam hadn't been fast enough and held him back.

"Oh no you don't."

"You tattletale!" The boy yelled at Ford. "I never tattle on you!"

"Do too!" Evan struggled against Adam's hold, but the man quickly put an end to it by swatting Evan's bottom, once, but hard enough to get his attention. The boy stopped his struggles, but didn't stop glaring. "It's not fair. Daniel won't let me be Joe Frazier and Ford says I'm cheating when I'm not even playing with him and he tattles on me and I'm the one who gets swatted."

"You got swatted because you wouldn't stop fighting me. If you want to discuss the other things with me you're welcome to, but the outcome might be more swatting, for everyone, including you. Is that something you want to try?"

"No, Adam," The words came grudgingly, but Evan knew Adam would if pushed.

"Good. Now," Adam looked around, "I have a feeling Ford needs to explain the rules to Guthrie again, just to make sure you are both on the same page. Evan, Daniel, you two can take this game upstairs and play in either of your rooms. Crane, you have school work to focus on. And one more thing, I'll ignore the tattling, but there'll be no cussing. If I hear one cuss word, I don't care who it is, the soap will come out. Is that clear?"

Evan was the only one who responded verbally, but everyone nodded, including Crane.

"Damn, it's cold outside!" the door flew open and Brian stepped in. When all his younger brothers started to giggle he looked up in surprise. "What?"

"Guess you've got your first victim, Adam," Daniel said gleefully. "Are you gonna?"

"Is he gonna what?" Brian hadn't even realized he'd sworn and was utterly confused.

"Wash your mouth out," Evan laughed.

"He can try," Brian hung up his coat, "But we both know I'm stronger. I'll kick his butt if he tries." But he turned around with a more serious expression, "I shouldn't have said that though. Didn't even realize. Guess that's more money for the swear jar."

"Yup," Adam nodded.

"Not fair," Evan pouted. "You just said you didn't care who it was."

"Come on," Crane shook his head, "Did you seriously think he'd wash Brian's mouth out? That's silly."

"He would you," Evan retorted.

"Well," Crane turned a little red, "I haven't exactly proven to be very mature lately. So I can't blame him for not treating me like an adult. But I don't swear usually, anyway."

"Alright, Daniel, Evan, up you go." Adam released Evan and the two boys took their game and made their way upstairs. "And Ford and Guthrie, make sure you play a bit more quietly, or you play upstairs too."

"Yes, sir," the two nodded dutifully while Adam walked over to the sofa.

"You're a bit hard on yourself, kiddo, I'm very proud of the way you've handled your punishment so far. You haven't pouted, you haven't argued, not really. You've accepted it very maturely. I know it was hard when I took your brothers to town yesterday to spend aunt Christina's Christmas money and you had to stay behind with Brian, having to make do with Brian's cooking instead of lunch at Marie's."

"Hey!" Brian protested, "I'll have you know I made us a pretty nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich!"

Every year, their great aunt Christina, their dad's now 88 year old aunt who lived in Texas, would send them all her Christmas wishes with some money for each of the boys. They were her only living relatives and although they never saw each other, she always called on their birthdays and always thought of them at Christmas. Adam didn't allow himself to wonder how much longer she would remember or worse, how much longer she'd be around.

"It was a good sandwich, but you're right, it wasn't easy," Crane admitted. In fact, it had been even harder to know that Brian, too, had to miss out because of him. It would have been better if he'd been allowed to stay home alone, but he wasn't.

Adam couldn't help tousling his brother's hair, "And at church I also heard some of your old school friends ask you to come over and that can't have been easy either."

The 18-year-old swallowed, "It was hard. But I know I deserve it."

"We all make mistakes. It's how we handle ourselves afterwards that matters." He nodded at Crane's empty mug, "Want some more chocolate?"

"I don't think I could drink another chocolate if you forced me to. Coffee is another matter though."

Brian immediately jumped in, "Me too! I'll go and make some. Might toss in some more p&j sandwiches for everyone too."

"I wouldn't mind one," Adam admitted. "How much of your reading did you get done so far?"

"This is the seventh and I still have three to go."

"Are you seriously telling me you've read almost seven novels in less than two weeks?"

Crane shrugged. He'd pushed himself up to a sitting position during the argument, but was still holding his book, "When it's all you're allowed to do during the day…at least when I'm reading I get to escape the house, if only in my own mind."

"Hmm," Adam grinned, "Maybe I should have made you work with us after all. Don't want you day dreaming here."

"Just say the word and I'll put this down," Crane's hopeful eyes nearly made Adam give in, but he knew it was too early. And if he was honest, he really liked the idea that Crane was starting the next semester ahead of the game.

"Nice try, buddy," the oldest McFadden sat down as well. "Aren't you afraid you'll forget the important details?"

"Not really," Crane leaned back, "I've been taking notes on everything I've read. I've got a notebook full of notes already. I'm sure I can write essays on each and every one of them by the time we get the assignments."

"Good, so time well spent then."

"Yes, Adam, time well spent" Crane couldn't help the eye roll, but fortunately for him, Adam just looked around at the opening to the kitchen where Brian appeared.

"Coffee's brewing," Brian was carrying a tray with the remainder of the Christmas baking. They always seemed to bake enough to feed an orphanage and were eating squares till the new year. He walked over to the younger boys and offered them a cookie and some lemonade, before going to the sofa and putting the tray down on the coffee table.

"Brian…." Guthrie's tone betrayed he had a request to make.

"What is it, Guth?"

"Will you go sledding with us?"

"Now you mean?"

"Yeah, pleeeaaase…."

Brian sighed, "I just got in from the cold, kiddo, I'm trying to thaw out here."

"It's boring playing inside all day."

"No one said you had to stay inside all day, did they?" Brian glanced at Adam for confirmation.

"I suggested staying inside where it's warm for now. It really is freezing outside," Adam shrugged. "That doesn't mean you weren't allowed to, Guthrie."

"I wanna go outside now. I'm bored with this game." Guthrie still had trouble with the concept of losing and he'd lost twice in a row now, which meant he was at risk of getting very moody.

"We can go build a snowman," Ford suggested, but that was shot down.

"That's for little kids I wanna go sledding. Or play fort." The previous year the older boys had built snow forts in the yard and they'd divided up in teams to have a snow ball fight.

"We need all of us to do that."

"So?" Guthrie wasn't discouraged by Ford's words. "We'll get everyone."

"We also need more snow for that, buddy," Brian knew he had to be the voice of reason. Even if there was enough snow, he knew most of them weren't in the mood to go out in the cold. But there wasn't enough snow. At least not around the house. There was more higher in the mountains, but he wasn't taking them that far out today. "They've predicted more snow this weekend, I bet we can do it in a few days. Might even get old Crane here to come out as well."

Crane looked at Adam as if to say 'May I?' and Adam just laughed, "Well, if he's ready to have his butt kicked…or rather….ready for a snow bath…."

"Bring it on, brother!" Crane's voice betrayed excitement that the older teen wouldn't normally show. "You may have to be ready for a nice freezing snow bath yourself."

"We'll see.."

"So can we?" Guthrie insisted.

"Yeah can we?" Ford was all excited now too.

"In a few days. Just keep an eye on the snow. We need a lot of snow to build two forts," Brian reminded them. "But I'll play cards with you. Or another game."

But they never got to playing another game. At that moment the sound of a loud crash came from upstairs followed by yelling. The next second Brian and Adam headed for the stairs. Brian had the advantage, because Adam had been sitting, so he was the first to reach the source of the noise in the room Evan shared with Ford and Guthrie.

Evan's bed was still unmade with the quilt all bunched up in the middle. Next to it was a record in two pieces. The two boxing figures were also clearly broken and the pieces scattered around the room. Evan and Daniel were rolling on the floor, fighting. Evan, although the younger of the two, seemed to be having the upper hand. But then, he seemed the angriest too. Neither older brother could make sense of what the two were yelling at each other, although they could understand the insults, but the sight of two brothers in a real fight (rough housing was a common thing in a household of 7 guys) and the broken items was enough for each to grab a younger brother by the scruff of their necks and pull them apart. Not that they let themselves be pulled apart without a struggle.

"Let me go!" Evan yelled.

"I don't think so, buddy," Brian tightened his hold on the boy's torso. "not if letting you go means you'll strangle your own brother."

"He deserves it!"

"Do not!" Daniel protested as he tried to lunge at Evan, in vain, as Adam had a good hold on him. "I didn't do anything you didn't do as well. It's not my fault!"

"It IS!"

"Is not!"

"I don't care whose fault what is…you're NOT fighting!" Brian shook Evan a little, "Do you understand?"

"I just wanna…"

"You're not going to do anything, except tell me what happened," Adam added in a firm tone, "and Daniel is not going to interrupt."

"He broke my new Kenny Rogers!"

"I did not!"

"Daniel!" It was Adam's turn to do some shaking, "You'll get your turn after Evan is finished. Open your mouth and I won't listen to your side of the story."

Daniel wanted to say something, badly, but after a long hesitation he finally nodded.

"Okay, Evan, start talking."

"I just told you. He broke my record."

"Did he just pick up it up and break it?" Brian asked, trying to sound as neutral as possible, even though he couldn't imagine any of them to do something this mean.

"No, but he broke it." Evan still sounded angry, but it was now mixed with frustration.

"How did it get broken?" Adam asked, sensing, just like Brian, that there was more to the story.

"It just did." Now Evan simply sounded sullen and it was Adam's cue to move to the next teen.

"Okay, lost your chance to tell me what really happened," Adam had no patience for this type of discussion and they knew it. "Daniel, your turn."

"We were playing with the boxing set and we decided it was kinda stupid. It wasn't real boxing, just pushing buttons and eh…" Daniel colored a little knowing how his older brothers felt about willful destruction of things, "Well…it was more fun using them as weapons between us two."

"You destroyed the game together," Adam's tone was terse and both boys cringed.

"Yeah…sorry…" Daniel looked down.

"But that still doesn't explain how the single got broken," Brian glanced at the bed with Kenny Rogers' The Gambler was now a sad reminder of the hit.

"Cause it was underneath the quilt and we didn't know. Or I didn't know and Evan'd forgotten." At Daniel's admission Brian's heart broke a little for the other teen. While they'd had their fun with the unwanted boxers, ready to break that game to pieces, they had unwillingly broken Evan's new record. The boy had spent a good chunk of his Christmas money on it and hadn't had much chance to even play it yet. And now he'd never be able to. Brian immediately realized who Evan was really mad at and it wasn't Daniel at all. Before he could see something, though, Adam already spoke up.

"Well, that was your own fault then. That's what you get for not tidying your room like I told you a million times."

Brian felt the young teen in his arms shudder. "Adam…."

"No, Brian, don't you go defending him. And don't you dare spend your own money replacing what he destroyed. You two played rough. This is the price."

It was a high price to pay, Brian felt. Judging from the trembling he felt Evan thought the price was too high.

"I'm sorry, Evan," Daniel offered, "I really didn't know. If I'd known I would have warned you."

"If you two hadn't decided to destroy a perfectly good toy, nothing would have happened either," Adam lectured, "Aside from other things that could be broken in the process, this thing was broken. Destroyed. For no good reason. Last year you begged to get this for your birthday, Evan. And earlier today you two seemed to be having fun with it. Can't imagine what brought on this sudden change of heart. And even if you didn't like it anymore, someone else might have. I know Guthrie still likes it. And if he didn't want it, it could have gone to charity. There's always poor people who would love to get a toy for their kids. And you two just destroy it! That's not how you were raised. I'm very disappointed in you two. Very disappointed."

Brian was still holding on to Evan, but not because he was afraid the boy would attack Daniel. No, he was pretty much holding him up. Brian didn't have to see Evan's face to know the boy was crying. Daniel wasn't exactly crying, but if Adam's words didn't cut through him, Evan's tears did. And Adam just continued to lecture on.

"Well, you're not getting money to replace that record. Or that game. Nothing. You'll just have to do without. You clearly don't deserve to have something nice." Finally, Brian's dagger look and Evan's tears penetrated Adam's rant and the man shut up. "Look, I know you didn't need to hear me tell you all that. But it really is hard for me to watch you destroy something when there's so little money to spare as it is. But I know you'll be much more careful from now on. Doubt you'll ever do something like this again."

Evan shook his head and Daniel followed suit. "We won't, Adam," the latter assured. "I still have some money left from aunt Christina's money. Can I give that to Evan?"

Evan looked up hopefully and Adam sighed. He wanted to say yes, but he felt a lesson had to be learned here. "Maybe in a little while. But not now."

"I don't want Daniel to sacrifice his own present anyway," a teary Evan said. "Sorry I got so mad."

"It's okay. It was a rotten thing to happen."

"Well…." Adam glanced at Brian, but as oldest it was his call anyway, "enough said about the act of destruction. Losing your new record is punishment enough. The fight, however…"

"Aw Adam," Daniel pleaded, "Evan didn't mean to get so mad. He was just so disappointed. And I just defended myself."

"He didn't mean to get so mad, but he did it anyway. He saw red and started punching. And you got mad that he accused you and you were perfectly willing to do some hitting yourself. That about right?" Adam had let go of Daniel only to turn him around and lift his chin with one hand, forcing the boy to look him in the eye.

"I guess," Daniel admitted and Evan just nodded.

"And what's the usual consequence for really fighting?" Adam pressed.

"Ah come on, Adam," Daniel looked sick and Evan didn't look much better. For the younger of the two, the guilt for getting Daniel in trouble too, was added to his own guilt.

"No, no 'come on, Adam', Dan'l," Brian finally spoke up. Part of him felt Adam could let this go since he felt the boys had learned their lesson already, but the other part, the more rational one, knew that they had to follow through on threats and promises. "You both made some choices today that led you to this position. You knew the rules. You chose to disobey. So you answer Adam's question."

The boy kicked at the floor with his foot, but it was Evan who finally murmured, "You whip our butts."

"Well, not exactly whip, but close enough." Adam appreciated that none of them actually wanted to use the word spanking.

"Yeah well…." Daniel fell silent. He really didn't want to be spanked. Of all the things to be spanked for, this really felt stupid.

"I know you two probably don't think it was a big deal, but you know how we feel about fighting. Sure, it's a part of growing up. Sure, if you're attacked you're allowed to fight back, if there is no other way. But you can't just use your fists to solve your problems all the time. And more importantly, you two are brothers. Nothing between you can be that bad that you have to use your fists."

"We know," Evan nodded miserably. He didn't like it, but unlike Daniel he'd already accepted that this was leading to time over either Adam's or Brian's lap.

"Good, so you'll appreciate the time you'll get to think about that till dinner. In your rooms."

Two heads shot up to look at Adam. Brian almost chuckled at their confused looks. "You mean no…."

"I mean exactly what I said, Danny. So scoot…" with a firm swat to the butt Adam sent Daniel in the direction of his own room. "I'll call you when you can come down."

"And you….," Brian looked around the messy room they were standing in, "No reason you can't tidy while you're thinking. This place is a pig sty."

"It's not just my mess!"

Having watched Daniel leave the room, Adam now stood in front of Evan, "Do you still want a spanking?"

"No!" The word sounded disgusted.

"Then can the attitude!"

Swallowing his pride Evan nodded, "Yes, sir."

"Good, now clean up your own mess while you're in here anyway. Like Daniel, I'll call you when you can come down."

A miserable Evan watched his older brothers leave the room and shut the door before he sank down on his bed and looked at the broken record. It wasn't like him to cry over something like this, but he had really waited to buy this. He'd liked the lyrics from the first moments he'd heard them on the radio. Most likely because it coincided with playing poker with Tony from school and a couple of their buddies. The buy had been something of an impulse buy. Up till then he'd been perfectly happy listening to it on the radio.

However, his tears had not been brought on by a piece of broken vinyl. He just couldn't believe that he'd actually been this stupid. He'd gotten so caught up in the game with the boxers that he'd forgotten everything else. And when he'd found out the single was broken he could have kicked himself. The money he'd spent on it, could have been spent on something much more useful. Something for Diablo. Something for riding. Anything. So not only had he wasted money on something he didn't really need or really want, but he'd then wasted it by breaking the thing he'd spent it on. And he'd broken it by being stupid. And then blamed his brother. And got them both in trouble. The list of stupid decisions just didn't end.

On the other side of the hall way Daniel had found a spot in the window, sitting on the window sill, one leg dangling towards the floor, looking outside. It wasn't so much that he hated being in his room. On the contrary, he liked spending time in his room. He often chose to escape to his room to work on some lyrics or play the guitar. But when he was send to his room, everything changed. All of a sudden he hated being here. He kicked the wall with his right foot. He was mad that he'd allowed himself to fight his brother. After their parents died, he'd gone through a tough year where everything seemed to push his buttons and not a week went by without a fight, usually started by himself. Thankfully, the principal had been understanding and although Daniel hadn't appreciated the counseling sessions right away, he'd learned a lot from them and had come to look forward to them. Still, despite the long way he'd come in handling his temper, every now and then it flared up. Maybe he was genetically burdened. Only Crane seemed to use words instead of his fists, although Daniel knew for a fact that Crane, too, had been in a fight or two growing up.

So what bothered Daniel most was that he'd lost his temper when Evan accused him. And he felt guilty. He felt so bad for Evan. Evan was the first brother under him and he always felt responsible for him. To see his brother cry had cut right through him.

Slowly, Daniel picked up his guitar and started to softly play The Gambler. In his head, though, he was quickly rewriting the lyrics.

"I never know how to handle

Know what to tell you

Know what to say when things

Get out of hand

I only know that I'm sorry

I never want to hurt you

Don't want to lash out when I'm feeling mad"

It was funny how he could put his feelings to music but could never voice them in a regular conversation. It frustrated him, but Crane had told him he should be grateful. So many people had no way to voice to their feelings at all, at least Daniel had this way. So Daniel tried to be grateful, but it wasn't easy. So he changed the lyrics again:

"You gotta know when to be patient

Know when to push through

Know when to speak your mind

When to shut up

You never learn these lessons

While you're looking out the window

You gotta fall flat on your face, boy

Pick yourself up"

Downstairs Brian had poured them some coffee and the three oldest were gathered around the fireplace. Daniel's voice reached their ears and they could hear he wasn't singing the regular lyrics to the song, but neither of them could really make out the words he was singing to himself. At least, not at first, but the second time the boy picked up the volume and ended up belting out the last two lines. It made the older brothers smile.

"Well, sounds like he isn't too upset about being confined to his room," Brian took a sip of coffee and put his mug down, "Normally he sulks more."

Crane grinned, "As soon as he plays the guitar he's fine, haven't you noticed yet?"

"We'll hear at least five different versions before dinner, I'm sure," Adam got up and stoked up the fire, "At least they're not fighting anymore."

"Adam?" Guthrie and Ford had managed to play quietly for a bit, a little shocked by the fighting upstairs, "Why did Daniel and Evan fight?"

Without a hesitation Adam walked over to Guthrie and picked him up, glad the boy was still small enough to be lifted in his arms like that, "Brothers fight, you know that. But that doesn't mean they don't love each other. You know that too, right?"

Guthrie nodded, "Uh huh, like when you and Brian fought when he didn't come home till almost morning and you said you didn't care if he was up all night, he'd better be in church."

Brian closed his eyes to block out the thought that Guthrie had heard that conversation. Adam just said, "I guess you heard that, huh?"

"You two were real loud."

"I didn't hear it," Ford piped up.

"Thank God," Brian whispered and Crane hid a smile. Brian continued out loud, "Sorry we woke you up, little man."

"I didn't wake up till you told Adam to go to…well, that word I'm not allowed to say."

Adam nodded, "And don't you go repeating it."

Brian made a mental note to watch his language. He'd been spouting some cuss words whenever he was frustrated or thought he and Adam were alone. You'd think he'd learned his lesson about forgetting how many younger ears were listening, but he still hadn't. But no more. Besides, he was running out of money by the rate he was going.

"I won't, Adam. But that's what you meant, right? That you still love Brian."

"That's what I mean, buddy," Adam agreed and buried his head in Guthrie's hair for a moment. It wasn't something they often said, but he figured he'd better now, "I love him. He loves me. We're all good. Just sometimes we blow up. And we shouldn't. We need to work on our tempers."

"I will, Adam. I won't yell at Ford no more. Not even when he says I'm cheating."

"You didn't know you were cheating," Ford consoled, "So I'm not mad."

"Good, I don't like it when you boys fight," Adam reached out with his free hand and pulled Ford up, "brothers need to look out for each other. Have each other's backs. That's what mom and dad always wanted and now that I'm older I know what they meant."

"Took you all those years, Adam? Wow, no wonder you failed comprehensive reading in…"

But Crane didn't get to finish that sentence as Brian had picked up one of the cushions from the sofa and started hitting Crane's head with it, "See? We got each other's backs! I'll always stand up for my brother."

"Not exactly what I meant, but I'll take it…come on, boys," Putting Guthrie down, all three of them picked up cushions as well and within seconds there was a full fight going on, a pillow fight, that is. After a while it wasn't exactly clear who was hitting whom, but that didn't really matter.

T.B.C.