Chapter Four

After class the next day the three brothers were throwing a Nerf football around the boys chamber. Tez had quickly explained his plan to Jacob about not letting anyone know that they spoke some English and Jacob quickly agreed. Jacob was starting to learn Spanish from them.

They were having fun playing with the football. Jacob spiral was getting really good and Jimmy was actually getting better at catching it.

"Can we go outside?" Jimmy asked already tired of being underground for so long. Tez repeated the question to Jacob who shrugged.

"I don't go above very often." He replied, "I can ask Uncle Devin tomorrow."

Tez told Jimmy what he said and Jimmy smiled.

Jacob watched as the other boys walked suddenly getting scared. He didn't want to let his brothers to know what everyone thought of him. He was sure they would start feeling the same.

Tez threw the ball to Sean who quickly side stepped it, not allowing it to touch him.

"I'm not touching it." Sean said looking at the ball with disgust.

Tez looked at him and went over and picked up the ball.

"Freak." Sean said pointing to Jacob.

"Freak?" Tez repeating giving him a questioning look. He didn't know the word.

"Jacob is a Freak. Don't touch him. He's defective. Haven't you seen his Father. He's a Freak, too. He kills people with his bare hands without any reason." Sean said. Jacob looked down, he knew that he was about to lose his brothers.

"Jacob no Freak." Tez said walking up to Sean. He looked the boy in the eye challenging him to say it again. Sean looked at him and smirked. He wasn't scared of this boy.

"Jacob is a Freak." Sean said laughing into Tez's face. Tez stepped closer eye to eye with Sean not saying anything.

"Get out of my face you yellow face dog." Sean shouted and pushed Tez. Tez fell back about two steps and then pushed Sean back. Sean fell on his butt and Michael stepped up to defend his friend. Michael reeled back and threw a fist at Tez's face. Tez saw it coming and dunked, bringing his fist up he punched Michael in the stomach. Michael doubled over holding his stomach.

"No more Freak." Tez demanded and walked over to Jimmy and Jacob. Sean and Michael ran out of the chamber as soon as Tez turned his back on them. Jimmy gave his big brother a hug. His brother was so awesome.

"Good?" Tez asked looking at Jacob. Jacob shook his head and looked down. Grabbing Jacob's chin Tez forced him to look at him and waited.

"They will be worse now." Jacob said, "They will treat me worse."

"Hermanos." Jimmy said looking at him and smiling. Jacob looked at him and finally nodded. He had two brothers. That was all he needed. He could handle those boys.

"We together." Tez said putting his hand out palm down.

"Hermanos." Jimmy said laying his hand on top and looked Jacob.

"Hermanos." Jacob said agreeing laying his hand on top of theirs.

Tez started the war chant with Jimmy joining in.

"Uno, dos, tres...hermanos." They chanted and threw their hands in the air.

Laughing Jimmy grabbed the football and the game that was disrupted earlier started again.

Devin walked in awhile later after hearing from Sean and Michael that the new boy hit them. He watched as the two boys and Jacob ran around playing catch. The smile on Jacob's face was priceless. Devin couldn't remember the last time his nephew smiled like that. He didn't want to break them up but he couldn't allow Tez to hurt other children.

"Hello boys." He called waking further into the chamber. The boys stopped and stared at him. Walking over they waiting for him to talk.

"Jacob, could you tell me why Sean and Michael just came to me saying that Tez hit them?"

"He was defending me." Jacob said looking down guilt ran through him like a runaway locomotive. If he had just stood up for himself Tez wouldn't be in trouble

"What did they say?" Devin asked.

"I don't wanna say." Jacob said looking up at him. Shame burned his face.

"You know hitting isn't allowed here."

"They started it first. Sean pushed him and then Micheal tried to hit him." Jacob said angrily. Devin stared down at his young nephew surprised how quickly Jacob defended Tez. He realized a bond had already formed between them. This bond scared him for when it broke Jacob will break too. There was nothing he could do about it.

"Okay, no punishment this time, but there will be no more fighting. Understand?" Devin said finally.

Jacob quickly nodded.

Devin smiled and left the chamber. He liked Tez. He didn't know what happened between all of them but he would bet that Tez stood up for Jacob. Jacob needed that another boy his age to be his friend. To be his brother.

Vincent stayed away for a week. The two boys finally drew him back. He didn't want to believe Devin but her smell had been on them. His heart hurt. It felt twisted and torn.

Where was their bond? Why hadn't she contacted him? Where was she?

His pain hurt his bones and he felt tired. He came back not really sure why. He knew he had to. He had to continue to survive.

He came back but stayed hidden in his chamber. He decided to quit teaching his class. He didn't think he could be around the two boys. He didn't know their names. He didn't want to. She should have been here taking care of Jacob not out there.

Jacob couldn't believe how fast time was passing. Three weeks had already passed since his brothers had come. They were always together. Jacob was learning Spanish quickly and had quit talking to everyone else.

They had snuck up to the park a few days ago and played catch in the sunshine. It was great. Jacob wished he lived above he liked the sunshine and the fresh air. He could feel the excitement in the air, the electricity, and he wanted to be part of it. Tez promised to teach him baseball one day.

Sean and Michael left them alone now. Sometimes Tez would try to get them to play with them but they always said no.

Devin watched from afar and worried. Jacob was no longer interacting with any tunnel residents. Devin was amazed at the speed that he learned Spanish but worried when Jacob quit talking English. He worried of the day that would bring Catherine to them and the day that she left with the two boys leaving behind Jacob.

Vincent worried him also. Vincent had been back for two weeks but wasn't interacting with anyone either. He ate his meals with Devin but never said anything and then disappear into his chamber again. Devin wasn't happy when Vincent quit teaching his class. He hoped that when she did come back maybe Vincent's relationship with his son would change.

Devin had to move Tez and Jimmy to the back of the chamber during class when he noticed that they were becoming a distraction for Jacob. He kept hoping that they would want to learn English but they always ignored him. Even after weeks of seeing Jacob smiling it was always amazing to see him so happy with his brothers.

Other people in the tunnels noticed and many asked questions but Devin told no one of Catherine. He didn't want to get anyone's hopes up about her survival. She may not even come into the tunnels she may just send for them.

Devin was surprised one day after class when he found Vincent sitting in his chamber staring at their Father's chess board. It was an unfinished game that they had started long ago.

"Hello Vincent. It's good to see you." Devin said siting in his chair across from his brother.

"Has she contacted you yet?" Vincent said looking up from their game. Devin was stunned by his haggard appearance. His eyes were a dull blue, pain laced through them. He had lost weight, his long hair hung limply across his face.

"No word." Devin answered softly. Vincent nodded and looked back at the chess board. They both stared at it for a couple minutes both lost in their thoughts.

"Jacob knows." Devin said. Vincent looked up at that.

"He knows that Catherine is alive. The three of them are always together now."

"Why did you allow this to happen?" Vincent asked becoming angry. His son would be hurt when she came for her boys and left without him.

"He smiles and laughs now. I couldn't take that away from him even if it is only for a short time."

"He's happy." Vincent said stunned. Its been a couple years since he's seen his son truly happy.

He was there the day that Sean called his son a freak just like him. He watched as his son fought back against the older boy's words. That day his son changed and so did he. They didn't talk after that. Maybe he hoped by staying away from him, Jacob would grow up normal and not like him. Maybe Jacob would be happier.

"Yes, they go swimming a lot. Always together."

"How's his classes going?" Vincent asked.

"Not too good but I haven't the heart to tell him to quit playing so much. He's got a chance for a real childhood and I want him to have it. He can catch up when they leave." Devin said.

"Oh." Vincent said not saying anything against Devin's decision. He didn't have the right.

"Devin I'm ravenous when are we going to eat?" Diane said walking into the chamber. Seeing Vincent she gave him a little smile.

"Oh.. I didn't mean to interrupt. It's good to see you Vincent. I'll let you two talk." she said quickly and then turned around and walked back out.

Vincent stared after her a bit of jealously running through him. Devin had everything that Vincent dreamed of. A wonderful wife...children He could have had that with Catherine but she betrayed him.

"Vincent do you plan to meet the boys?" Devin said interrupting him from his thoughts. Devin hoped Vincent would try to get to know them.

"No." Vincent said anger in his voice, "I do not want to meet her children. It's been seven years and not a single word. I don't want to see her or talk about her. If I had my way Jacob would not be allowed anywhere near them." Vincent said slamming his fist down on the chess board scattering pieces all over the floor. Standing up he sulked out of the chamber leaving Devin sitting there shocked.

Devin's head fell into his hands. His head was spinning in circles. How could this be fixed? The only person that could fix this has been dead for seven years and now was alive and missing.

He had to talk to Tez. He had to try to communicate with the boy and find out where she has been the last seven years and where she was now. Making his decision he stood up and went to lunch, he knew Diane would be waiting for him.

A hour later Devin led Tez into his chamber. Jacob and Jimmy were left at their chamber looking at books. Jimmy had become upset when Devin told him to stay there. None of them had been separated since they had come here.

"Please sit there." Devin said pointing to a chair. Tez sat down and stared at him.

"Tez, I was wondering could you tell me where you were before you came here?" Devin asked after sitting down across from him.

Tez stared at him and shrugged his shoulders.

"Are you from Mexico?"

Again Tez shrugged his shoulders.

"Did your Mother find you in Mexico?"

No answer.

"Tez where is your Mother? It's been three weeks. Is she coming back?"

No answer.

"Tez is your Mother coming back?" Devin repeated becoming frustrated.

No answer.

"She's not coming back back is she? She left you here." Devin said realization starting to set in. A deep sense of disappointment laid on him like a thick blanket.

Tez pointed to the door and stared at him.

"Yes, go on." Devin said defeated. Tez ran for the door but stopped at the entrance.

"Mama come back." Tez said his voice strong and his back straight. He walked out of the chamber.

Devin sat there not sure what to do. Everything was a mess and it couldn't be fixed until she came back.

Where are you Catherine?

TBC...please review