Callen awoke to the sound of birds singing. Groggily he opened his eyes and wondered why he could hear the chirping of wildlife. It took him several seconds to realise where he was and that he had slept with the window wide open. He could not hear many vehicles on the nearby roads and only soft sounds emanated from the house. He guessed the time was around five thirty or six in the morning. The kitchen clock was reading ten past one when he had ventured downstairs; for him that was a decent night's sleep. Sitting up Callen pondered the reasons why; exhaustion, feeling ill...or did he just feel a little safer here? Possibly all three he thought, standing up and stretching. He walked to the window and leaned out. Elizabeth was right. If he looked he could see the glistening of the ocean in the distance. Silent and calm. That's what he needed to be today, silent and calm. Not let his mouth run away with him and not allow anyone to wind him up. Best behaviour for Mr Chivers and maybe, just maybe luck would swing his way. He looked back at his room, figuring he'd better replace the mattress on the bed and tidy the sheets and blankets unless he wanted to answer a whole barrage of questions about how he spent his night.

Gradually the rest of the house came to life. Doors opened and closed, teen voices, male and female grunted and Frankie could be heard asking if he could wake Callen. Despite himself, Callen smiled. It actually sounded like a normal family, not one made up from a collection of damaged and unwanted kids. But then these kids were wanted, they had been found by the Findens and given a loving home. He was the one not wanted here. Eddie had made that abundantly clear the previous evening. There was a patter of little footsteps on the stairs, followed by a knock on his door and Frankie shouted.

'Callen are you still asleep? Elizabeth told me to tell you breakfast is ready.'

'I'm awake now,' Callen muttered under his breath despite having been awake for several hours already. Silent and calm, he told himself. 'I'm not hungry.' He called back.

'Um. OK. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Elizabeth says so. And I say so. Are you ill?'

'No.'

'Um. OK. Can you come down to breakfast then - please?'

'I'm not hungry.'

'Um. OK I'll tell Elizabeth you're ill. I hope you don't need a doctor.'

Frankie charged back down the stairs before Callen could formulate a response. He was now convinced the six year old was plain crazy. Five minutes later there was another knock at the door, this time preceded by the heavy footsteps of a man. Donald.

'Callen? Just checking if you're OK. Frankie says you're not feeling well.'

'I'm not hungry.' Callen repeated, starting to feel like a parrot.

'Are you ill?'

'No.'

'Can I come in?'

'No.'

'Please? I'll stay outside your room, I just prefer to not talk to anyone through a closed door.'

'No.'

Donald softened his voice. He did not want to converse with Callen through a closed door however he also wanted to respect the thirteen year old. He took a step closer so he was next to the doorframe and started speaking.

'Look Callen, I think you might be ill. I fell asleep downstairs last night and briefly woke up when you came down. I saw you sitting at the table. You were clearly not well.'

Callen stood still on the opposite side of the closed door. Donald had seen him. Had been watching him? For how long?

'Why were you watching me?' He asked accusingly.

'I didn't want to scare you.'

'So you watched me instead?'

'I didn't want to scare you,' Donald repeated. 'I wanted you to feel safe, secure. If I had walked over to you, you would have bolted either out the door or back to your room. I just wanted to make sure you were OK.'

'You said I looked ill so why did you think I was OK?'

'Because you took food and water upstairs. You were fully dressed but you didn't run away. Are you ill?'

Callen swung the door open and stood just inside, ready to face off against Donald if required. His body language and positioning meant there was no way Donald could interpret that he had been invited in to his room.

'I'm not ill.'

'Well I'm very glad to see that. And I'm glad you trust me enough to open the door.'

'I don't trust you. You've seen that I'm Ok so now you can go away.'

'Callen, I trust you and so does Elizabeth. We've got pancakes on the go with chocolate sauce and hot cocoa. There's always a sweet treat on the last Friday of every month.'

Callen looked puzzled for a second. He hadn't realised it was Friday. That meant there was a risk he could be here over the weekend. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

'C'mon, have pancakes. There's syrup and jelly if you're not a chocolate lover. Or fruit for a healthier option? You do realise Frankie will be up here again if you don't come down soon and I guarantee he won't be so polite to keep talking to you through a closed door.'

'You threatening me with a six year old?'

Donald caught Callen's eye and thought he detected a slight softening. The voice was no longer quite as rude and sarcastic so it was a possibility.

'Yes,' he smiled. 'C'mon. Reckon you've got less than a minute before he comes up.'

'Ok.' Callen reluctantly agreed. He walked to the door where Donald was waiting for him, gesturing for him to walk ahead. Callen shook his head slowly. There was no way he was walking downstairs ahead of any foster parent.

'Oh, wasn't thinking,' Donald murmured with the shake of his head and began to lead the way downstairs.

The kitchen was full and heaving with activity in a marked contrast to the relative calmness of the previous evening's dinner. William was making a mess in the high chair and enjoying every second of it. Frankie seemed to be scooping the remains of William's breakfast in to his own mouth and as a result, chocolate was also smeared across his face. He moved his head away and laughed whenever Kat or Abigail or whichever twin it was tried to clean his face. David was helping the other twin cook the pancakes as Elizabeth made school lunches. Eddie was darting in between everyone to start setting the table. Callen hesitated, taking in the scene.

'Callen, sit down.' Elizabeth said, glancing over her shoulder and flashing a quick smile.

'Yes Callen, sit down,' Eddie repeated, with no hint of humour in his eyes.

'I'm not hungry,' he lied, just as his stomach growled.

'Liar!' Eddie stared accusingly.

'Eddie!' Donald said sternly. 'No wonder he says he's not to be hungry if he's gotta put up with you and your attitude.'

'Sorry,' Eddie mumbled.

'That's better. Callen, help Eddie set the table. I need to finish getting ready for work.'

Callen was unclear if the apology was actually meant for him and figured it wasn't. He watched Donald walk back upstairs before switching his attention back to Eddie. The tall youth chucked a plastic table cloth at him, ordering him to cover the table. Callen did as requested, smoothing out the edges and quickly snatching his fingers away when Eddie deliberately tried to dump a pile of cutlery on top of them.

'Watch it,'

'I was,' Eddie murmured. 'Shame I missed stabbing your fingers.'

'Fuckwit.' Callen whispered back so only Eddie could hear.

Eddie turned away from the table and grabbed some plates from the cupboard, his height easily allowed him to reach the higher shelves.

'Here.'

He handed Callen the plates without waiting for him to be ready and there was an almighty crash as all bar the one plate Callen managed to catch, smashed on the hard kitchen floor.

'Boys!' Elizabeth exclaimed, her face a mixture of annoyance, frustration and anger.

'You idiot! Why did you drop them?' Eddie asked Callen, his voice rising in temper.

'Because you never actually gave them to me. Dickhead.' Callen matched Eddie's tone.

'Ok, ok, that's enough. Look it's fine. Just go to the living room while I get this cleared up. David, grab the dustpan and brush for me.' Elizabeth looked flustered, shooing the two teenagers out of the kitchen area.

'That was plain clumsy of you Callen.' Eddie continued as they walked in to the living room. 'Got no motor skills? Bet you get picked last for sports teams Hell, bet you don't get picked at all.'

'You're a fucking idiot. That was all your fault.'

'Oh dear.' Eddie whispered, nudging in to Callen as they moved to the centre of the living room. 'Think you need to learn some more words. Bet you don't even go to school you're that stupid. Trailer trash.'

'Go to hell.' Callen sat down heavily on the sofa. He did not want to talk to Eddie.

'Thick as shit trailer trash.' Eddie murmured with a smile and lilt to his tone. 'Don't you start crying now.' Eddie raised his voice and walked a few paces so he could see in to the kitchen again. 'Did anyone else hear a strange noise last night? Like crying?'

'I thought it was you telling Frankie to stop talking in his sleep,' Kat said, now in charge of the cooking while David helped Elizabeth pick up the broken plates from the floor.

'T'wasn't me, Kat,' Frankie said, his mouth stuffed with a pancake to save them being ruined.

'I thought it was a scream.' Abigail piped up. 'But I thought I dreamt it.'

Callen was beginning to grow increasingly uncomfortable. His bad dream had clearly led him to call or cry out in his sleep, waking himself up and most of the house. He shifted position slightly. They all had to know it was him.

'Sounds like it was nothing.' Elizabeth looked up from the floor. 'Probably just the neighbour's cat calling out again. You know the number of times I think I hear William cry and it's just old Smokey.'

'No,' Eddie persisted with a sly glance at Callen. 'I think it was a loud cry or a scream. Probably a cry. What do you think Callen?'

Callen stared at Eddie, knowing if he didn't reply quickly they would all have their confirmation it was him.

'I...'

'Was it you?' Eddie lowered his voice and turning his back on the kitchen he walked towards Callen, stopping when he was standing only a few paces in front of him. 'Were you crying and screaming like a baby?'

Callen stood up and stared at Eddie, a cold and calculating hardness to his eyes. He had done nothing to warrant this behaviour and he was certainly not going to put up with it anymore. Callen's feet were shoulder width apart, his right foot slightly back and to one side, the instinctive positioning meant he could lay the first punch which would probably be needed as he most definitely at a height disadvantage. He spoke in an equally low voice that sounded twice as threatening as Eddie's.

'I had a nightmare and you want to know why? Because of me protecting kids in my last foster house.'

'Don't talk shit. You couldn't protect a paper bag, you're like some dwarf teenage retard.'

'Stop being a dick Edward. You're not tough or smart. You're just a bully with no clue how to keep Frankie or anyone safe.'

'You emergency placements are totally screwed up. You're here because you're a trouble maker and welfare can't decide what to do with you. Just like Adam. I'm protecting my family from scum like you.'

'Protecting how? By bullying me?' Callen took a step forward and readjusted his stance, jabbing a finger in Eddie's shoulder. 'Two nights ago my foster dad tried to get in to bed with a seven year old. She was already scared so I stayed awake to watch out for him. I kept hitting him with a baseball bat so hard it broke. She escaped and y'know what? I get arrested and then dumped in some strange home with pricks like you. I don't even know where the fuck I am and what are you doing? Threatening me with your stupid little words. Fuckwit.'

Callen's voice had risen throughout his outburst and by now the kitchen was silent. Elizabeth gestured the girls to take Frankie and William away from the area and to warn Donald that the boys were verbally circling each other, both getting ready to pounce.

'I'm warning you...

'About what? You're pathetic Edward. Even Frankie could take you down.'

Those words spurned Eddie in to action. Frankie was the one person he had to protect and Callen's words insulted him to such a degree that he could not comprehend. In a flash he balled his fist and punched Callen in the face, causing the smaller boy to stumble backwards. Somehow Callen managed to keep his balance and seeing Eddie pause to gloat, Callen literally charged and knocked him off his feet. Eddie fell to the floor and Callen jumped on top of him, pinning him to the ground. He raised his arm, ready to reign down a series of blows when Donald came up behind him and hauled him off.

'Edward.' Donald shouted, keeping a tight grip on Callen's arms. 'Go upstairs and get cleaned up. Now.'

'He started it.' Eddie protested, glaring at Callen. 'You wait. I'm gonna tell your social worker what you've done. And the school. And the police. You're psycho!'

'So what?' Callen could feel blood trickling down his face. 'I'm not going to your crappy school. And I'm not scared of your stupid threats.'

'Callen!' Donald now turned his attention to him. 'Sit down and shut up. Edward, get upstairs to the bathroom. I won't tell you again. Either of you!'

Both boys reluctantly did as they were told. In the kitchen Abigail straightened the table and passed a crying Frankie to Elizabeth. Kat had taken William outside and away from the fight and David was standing still, shocked at the scene that had unfolded so soon after the chaos Adam had brought to their lives. Elizabeth gestured to Donald signalling him to follow Eddie upstairs.

'David,' Elizabeth had walked in to the living room and turned back towards David. 'Go get me a clean cloth and the herbal cream from the bathroom. Callen let me have a look at your eye.'

Callen dabbed his finger to the side of his left eye. It came away sticky and he looked at the blood on his fingers. He already knew he was bleeding but he'd had worse. He closed his eyes briefly. Cut eye, black eye. Whatever. It would leave a mark that his social worker would see and that would be it. There would be no second chance. Game over.

'It's nothing. I'm fine.'

'No you're not fine.' Elizabeth corrected. 'But you will be once I patch you up.'

'She's got this magic cream.' Frankie sniffled. 'It makes bruises go away.'

'It really does.' Kat piped up. She looked alert and on edge. Callen would have bet a lot of money she'd witnessed these kinds of scenes many times before. 'Y'see when Adam was here, he attacked Eddie because Eddie stopped him from hitting Frankie. Y'know Eddie really didn't mean it.'

'It's all my fault.' Callen was usually loathe to admit anything but he was to blame. He just couldn't stay silent and calm, he had to let his mouth run away with him and allow his temper to get out of control. Again.

'No Callen it's not.' Elizabeth said. 'Kat, you're really not helping, love. Eddie was out of order and you know he was deliberately provoking Callen until he got the reaction he wanted.'

Callen was really not sure Elizabeth's words were working for either him or Kat, but they both managed to look contrite.

'Donald will drive y'all to school this morning. He's a late start in the office today.' Turning to Callen, she continued. 'He's a realtor and has a local viewing. And your welfare manager is due here at eleven, so we need to get you sorted out. Clean that eye up, get you washed and some clean clothes.'

'I had a bath last night and these are clean clothes.' Callen protested. It seemed like a lot of effort for nothing.

'Callen I do talk with my husband. You slept in those clothes and looked like you were running a fever last night.'

'Then they'll know something happened.' He said sullenly. If he suddenly looked all sparkly clean with different clothes it would only arouse suspicion.

'Something did happen and that wasn't your fault. And you can't help but have bad dreams with what you've been through. You're a very brave young man and saved a young girl from a terrible experience. And probably very confused about life at the moment.'

'Life sucks.'

'Oh Callen. If I thought you'd appreciate it I would give you a great big hug. Your life doesn't suck. You and Frankie have bonded. Although it's difficult not to bond with him. The only reason we're here like this now is because Eddie was taunting you. He had a tough time with Adam and was on the receiving end of a lot of nastiness. He doesn't understand how to process his emotions and is reacting in a way that mimics how he's been treated in the past. You have the same kind of reasoning in your behaviour which is why you were ready to fight back.'

'They're gonna send me away so why bother pretending everything's fine.'

'Hope they lock you up and throw away the key.' Eddie had come back down the stairs and was being ushered out the door by Donald. He had caught Callen's last words and saw the opportunity to have one final dig.

'Don't forget to keep your pocket knife safe. Don't want you cutting your own finger off now.'

'Knife?' Donald looked questioningly between the two boys. 'Eddie get in that car. You and I are going to have a long talk this evening.'

'You idiot Callen, I'm gonna get you for this.'

Callen stared at Eddie. He didn't care about his threats. They were empty and he would be long gone by the time Eddie returned from school. Donald shook his head and pushed Eddie towards the door, continually telling him off.

'Callen!' Elizabeth said. 'None of this is helping anyone. You've set Frankie off again now. Just sit back in that chair and stay quiet. Let me clean you up.'

He looked at Frankie who had started crying and felt a pang of guilt. 'I'm fine. I can do it.'

'No you can't. Now still and quiet. And stop poking your eye.'

Callen finally obeyed. He had reluctantly become the centre of attention as everyone watched Elizabeth clean the blood from the side of his face and dab cream around his left eye socket. He had no idea what this magic herbal cream was but if it was as good as the others said, maybe he might have that final chance after all. It also sounded like Elizabeth and Donald were not going to report his fight with Eddie and that meant it would be down to Mr Chivers as to what would happen to him next. Callen looked at the carriage clock that sat over the fireplace. He had just over two and a half hours to wait.