Episode 1-3

Half Brothers

Grace Mental Institution- Denver, Colorado

The hustle and bustle of the city of Denver zoomed past Grace Institution, a place that seemed to stand frozen in time. Behind one of the windows of the old building sat Scott Tenorman, observing the sights of the city that were beyond his reach. Not for long.

Today would be the day, the day that he, Scott Tenorman, would finally be released from his confinement. He'd gotten into a lot of trouble the last time he'd tried sneaking out, making himself the Head Ginger, but ultimately failing to exact the revenge on his half-brother.

He'd gone on the run, but soon enough he'd been captured and sent back to this miserable place. He hated Cartman, absolutely hated him. He had lots of time to stew with his hate and other thoughts.

Yet as the years passed on and lonliness took it's toll, Scott's outlook began to change. Several therapy sessions had helped him work through some of the bitterness and anger. Dr. Davis, one of the institution's top professionals had worked wonders. Scott could remember the many times they had spoken.

"Tell me what would provoke this Eric Cartman to kill his own father," Dr. Davis had said, notepad in hand.

"Well he didn't actually know he was," Scott admitted. "His mom and all the townspeople where keeping it secret to save the Denver Broncos from scandal."

"You are saying that this Eric killed your father unknowingly?" Davis went on.

"Yes," Scott nodded. "He didn't know. If he had, I wonder if it would have made a difference. Even I didn't know at the time doc. I had no way of knowing that the boy I antagonized was my own little brother."

"You antagonized him?" Davis pressed.

"Yes, and I wonder," Scott persisted. "I wonder if it isn't partly my fault. If I had never antagonized Cartman my parents might still be..."

Scott stopped and bit his bottom lip. He couldn't say it. He couldn't contemplate his parents might still be alive, and it was partly his fault they were dead.

"Scott," Davis said gently. "Do you still want to talk, or do you want to stop?"

"Let's stop for now," Scott agreed, drawing in a breath.

Several sessions had followed that one over the years. With Dr. Davis's help Scott had begun to see things differently. Cartman had been a troubled child, no doubt about it. It would be foolish to knowingly provoke such a disturbed individual, yet Scott had. It was partly his fault because he had wanted to play the bully.

With this admittance came feelings for Cartman. Cartman wasn't entirely to blame, he was a troubled and disturbed boy. Brotherly feelings. Scott wanted to help Eric, to be there for him.

Was he still upset about Cartman killing their father? Yes. Part of him would always hate Eric for that, but he owed it to himself to try. To try to build something with his last living relative.

Scott looked at the picture of Eric he'd kept all these years. The picture still portrayed a short, fat boy now much older in years. Scott wondered what Eric would be like now. Would he still be the snide, psychotic, hateful little boy he had been, or had he actually changed since then?

Scott remembered back to his parents and felt a fresh surge of both hate and guilt. Cartman had murdered them, killed them in cold blood, but Scott had been the one to send them to the ranch in the first place.

Scott pounded the wall of his cell with his fist. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't hate his brother, could he? He should, he should hate him. He should want to make him die. Yet, that one fact was always in the back of his mind, tormenting him more then anything else ever could. That small boy was a part of him in a way. They were half brothers, and nothing on earth could change that.

To be continued...