A/N: Enjoy!

John Bender had never had a real bed, besides a mattress on his floor at home with a nasty old blanket; he didn't really have a decent bed. Not that he slept much anyway. But do to the fact that he didn't have a nice bed at home, nor had a house that smelled this clean or a home that had been this white he was sure the previous night's adventure had been real. And he had in fact not only escaped his demon of a father with his newly reformed mother, but he had also killed the man.

John attempted to sit up but dizziness over came him and he laid back down quick. "No, don't move. Your head is pretty messed up man." The voice rang in his ears as he tried to open his eyes again and sit up. "That you I hear Jock strap?" John asked through a breathy chuckle.

"Even after a blow to the head your still as smart an ass as ever." John raised his hand slowly and took hold of Andy's, the two held tight to each other and for a long moment they locked eyes. To John's surprise over the past few months Andy and him had gotten real close. They had become as close as to heterosexual men could be. Andy nodded and John gave a weak smirk. Just then he noticed the dark hair and eyes of Allison coming up behind Andy. "How was the other side… see any monsters?" she asked hanging on Andy's should.

"Just one." John said smiling, the girl was creepy as hell but she was quick witted and full of insightful and random remarks. John loved how free she was. "How you doing John?" A small voice came from the other side of his bed. He looked and saw Brian standing there, red eyes, snot dripping from one nostril; he was wearing that awful green sweater again. "Yo Pot pants." He said slapping Brian's out stretched hand in greeting.

The geek blushed and his face screwed up slightly. "Remind me to take you out dumpster diving to find some real cloths." Brian smiled shily and nodded. Finally John looked at the faces before him and realized one was missing. He looked to Andy who instantly knew and cleared his throat. "Come on guys, let's… uh… go wait out side." The other two followed and as they filled passed the bed and out the door John laid eyes on her.

Claire stood by the door, eyes redder and puffier then Brian's. She was in her pajamas and looked tired as hell. As soon as the door closed she dropped her box of tissues and rushed over. She threw herself down onto him and started to sob.

"John!"

He smiled and instantly started to comfort and shush her. "Hey hey hey Cherry. Don't get all bent out of shape… it ain't like I'm dead."

Claire raised her head and looked at him, "Oh John, I prayed so hard. I don't even know if I believe in God but I prayed so hard!" That comment surprised John and he wasn't sure how to respond. "I was so scared to lose you. You're all I have." She whispered in his ear. "Please don't ever get hurt again… please don't… just…. Don't"

John raised her chin with his hand and said, "Claire…" the girl stopped crying for a moment and sniffed, she whipped the tears from her eyes and looked at John.

"Now, you know the kinda guy I am baby doll. I can't promise I won't ever get hurt. But I can promise I won't be leaving any time soon." He pulled her down gently and kissed her sweet lips. "God I missed those." He kissed them again and again and again. Then sucked on the bottom and played and for a long time just refused to let go.

Finally Claire started to giggle which was sign enough that she was back to her old self. He loosened his hold and layback closing his eyes. All of the sudden he was really tired. He took hold of Claire's hand and then whispered, "Love you Cherry." He let himself drift off into sleep with Claire running her fingers through his hair.

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She watched over him for another hour, the others came back in shortly after he fell back asleep. "He almost looks innocent when he's asleep." Andy said.

"He is innocent Andy. Don't you see? Out of all of us he is the most innocent." The group looked to Allison who had learned that it was absolutely safe to speak her mind to them. She spoke up more often now and shared anything she wanted. "He's actually just a boy in a man's body. Imagine having dealt with a dad like that since you were born. No love, no male role model. I even heard from the doctors that his mother wasn't even that great up until a year ago. Growing up in a place where no one cared if you died. I bet you anything that when Johnny was acting his toughest he was really at his weakest. One of the number one rules that abused kids learn is to look tough when they are hurting, that way they can't get hurt more by someone else. If they are at the bottom of the pack at home they want to be on top at school. Instead of being out of control they want to be in control. It's the only safety they have."

Andy wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek, she didn't give long-winded talks like that all the time, but when she did they made sense. "Where'd you hear that?" Brian asked crossing his arms over his chest and grabbing his elbows, this was a common Brian stance.

"I saw a show about it on TV… it was wicked." Andy smiled, and so did Brian. But Claire looked down at John and watched one of her tears fall onto his blanket. "I can't believe how well he could hide it. I mean… he would lift me up sometimes, even swing me around. Give me rides on his back… he never seemed like he was hurting."

"Maybe he wasn't." Brian said.

"The doctor asked me today if I had known of any previous injuries. I told him I didn't…" Claire trailed off looking back down at John.

"What did he say?" Andy asked in a serious voice.

"John's got old injures all over. His right leg has been broken three times, he left leg twice, and by some miracle they healed well enough to not be a problem in the future. His arms have been broken in several spots too. And apparently he had a broken rib when he came in and by the look of the x-rays he's had several others. One of his ribs was twisted towards his lungs, it could have ruptured. It's been that way for years. Oh God Andy… if he had gotten hit wrong just once…."

"Jesus." Andy whispered. Allison buried her head into Andy's arm, Brian made a face. "Apparently he has scares all over his back… his dad used his belt a lot. That is what the old creeper used on his mother before they came into the station the other night."

"How'd you find all this out?" Claire bit her lip and sighed, "The doctor told me about the old injuries… but the belt thing I learned from his mother."

Brian's eyes grew wide and he said, "You actually talked to her?"

"For two hours actually." Came a voice from the door. The group looked over and saw standing in the doorway was a woman with light brown hair. It was pulled back behind her ears. She had a pretty face but it was worn from being tired and years of abuse. She did have a slight smokers voice but other then that her body was still in decent shape and she looked pretty healthy, if not a little green around the edges.

"Mrs. Bender." Claire said standing up, "Claire, please, call me Wendy. I know it's strange to call someone my age by their first name but I really don't want to hear my husbands name right now." She said smiling and crossing the room.

Claire gave a small smile and put her hands behind her back, "Sorry, Wendy. Um, you should probably meet the rest of the group… this is Andy. He's uh… John's age." Wendy extended her hand to take his and Andy saw light scars running up her arm. His smile faded and he looked back up at her. "Oh, don't mind those old things, just love marks from my husband." Andy gave a small smile and reached for Allison, "This is my girl friend, Allison. She's Claire's age." Allison's hand jerked out nervously and she stood straight up cocking her head slightly. It was obvious she was uncomfortable.

Wendy shook her hand gently and then turned to Brian, "And whose this strapping young man?" there was genuine sincerity in her voice and the group, as a whole seemed to grow even fonder of her.

"I'm Brian." He said reaching out a hand, his voice cracked so he cleared his throat and felt the blood run up to his face. "You're a cutie is what you are." She turned to look at John and the small amount of color drained from his face. Her voice that had only seconds ago been audible and clear seemed to rasp out softly. "Has he been up yet?"

"For a few minutes, then he passed out again." Andy said.

"The doctor told me that the medicine they were giving him was meant to keep him out for a few days. That blow to his head… I think about all the things his father has ever done to him… it's a wonder he can even walk."

"He limps." Allison whispered.

"What?" Wendy asked.

"If you watch him walk, he has a slight limp on his right leg… ever since he fell through the ceiling in the library." Allison said.

"He fell through a ceiling?" Wendy asked looking confused.

The group looked at each other and slowly they all started to chuckle and then suddenly they burst out into laughter.

"Hey, if you're all laughing I musta said something funny." They all turned to see John's eyes open and he was up on his elbows looking around. "You need to stay laid down John." Andy said shaking his head, "You're just gunna extend your stay if you keep refusing to lay still."

"Thanks doc." He said smiling.

"John…" Came Wendy's small voice. The two looked at each other and for a moment a thick silence filled the room.

It was Allison's turn to make the point of leaving; she grabbed Andy's hand and looked at Brian. Using her head she jerked violently for him to leave the room. He jumped when he realized what she meant and headed for the door, Allison made a high-pitched yelp again and started to drag Andy.

"I guess we are going outside." He said.

"Right. See you Jock strap."

Claire rose but John grabbed her hand, "Claire…" she looked at him, "… stay?" She smiled and bit her lip, "Thanks cherry."

Just then the door swung open and two cops, a doctor and to Claire's surprise Richard Vernon, the principle, walked in. He looked haggard, real tired like he had been up all night. Not much better then herself Claire supposed.

"Is the girl gunna stay?" one of the cops asked nodding towards Claire.

Wendy stood and walked to stand next to Mr. Vernon, "Damn right she is." John said with a snap. Claire smiled and blushed.

"You do realize what we are about to discus right?" the other cop said.

"Totally…" John lied.

"Very well." As they shut the door behind them Claire felt a tension build in the room, something bad had happened, something that was worse then she could have imagined. She feared for John, but she also feared for what she what about to hear.

A/N: Okay, the next chapter is either gunna be really long, or really short. Bare with me I'm updating as fast as I can.!!!