Chapter 4.

Rocky tottered along the streets of L.A. looking for something to do or someone to play with. He was bored just walking around in the cool night air, that didn't match the hot morning. It wasn't hard slipping past the media who have camped outside of the Douglas home since Rocky had gotten home today. Pathetic losers. Couldn't they just leave his charge alone? Hasn't he been through enough without having to re-live it for the public just so they can be reminded of how sick human beings really are? He didn't think so. Speaking of which, Sin not Rocky was getting good and sick of using his charges sappy little ninja name and decided to go back to his own. Which is why he gifted his childhood buddy with that little dream- if he even bothered to take the hint that Rocky was a borrowed name so that sweet Sam wouldn't go even more insane due to the fact that he has an alternate personality.

Chuckling, he had to shake his head and laugh. Stupid. Couldn't he see that I was just trying to help him, but he's always thinking of others- why does he think that he was there for so long?! Probably doesn't even know how long he and I have been friends, doesn't even care as long as he doesn't have to face the truth...

Looking up he stops walking. Cocking his head, a smile stretches across his face as he reads the neon sign before him. Sweeeeet!!! Dancing, drinks and fun!! He couldn't have approached the door faster. Just as he moved toward the door, a large man stopped him dead in his tracks. Straightening up, he turns his nose into air while tugging his crumpled shirt down. "Problem, chubs?"

Narrowing his already, mousey, small eyes at the young boy, he grins. "Where do you think you're going, little man."

"Iiiii think I'm going dancing, but you're kind of in my way."

Laughing, the man tapped a clipboard. "Look boy, you got i.d.? Can't get in here if you're underaged."

"I'm 20."

"Hahaha. You gotta be 21 to get in here."

"...Really? Well that's a shame, guy like me could really bring in some business- not to mention how much your paycheck will come up because of it."

"Oh really."

"Yes, really!" Crossing his arms, he smirks. "Iiiii am like royality. Everything I touch turns to gold, why just the other day-..."

"Move it along, little man, if you're underage you don't get in."

"But that's not fair!"

With a shrug he says. "Those are the rules."

"Hmph." Stepping aside for a man that just flashed his i.d. another person that showed off a stamp. Pout as deep as the Grand Canyon, he suddenly has an idea. "Tell you what chubs, if I can guess your name and something personal about you you'll let me in. If I can't you'll, unfortunately, never see this gorgeous face again."

The man had to laugh at that. "You really wanna get in here, huh."

"Yeeeeeesssssss." He whined like a child; knees bending and straightening like a child about to have a hissy fit.

"Alright. Try."

"Great. And don't lie if I get it right either." Looking into the mans eyes for the first time, he can feel only his brain waves, like pudding dropped in thick mud were suddenly being dropped over him. Flashes of the man, childhood, teen years, adulthood all coming into focus before his eyes. "...When you were a boy you were much thinner." He said, voice as serious as a doctor telling the family someone they love has just died. "You started gaining that weight when your first wife left you Bruce." Sin felt a tear forming in his own eyes feeling the pain that suddenly poured through Bruces heart. Pulling back he struggled to catch his breath, feeling dizzy and numb. It's never easy going into other peoples minds. Just picking up conversation of everyday thought, that's nothing. But having to share waves with someone is a nightmare.

Bruce was quiet for a while, missing all the people that were just going by without showing i.d. or such. Cocking his head, he wondered if he should just slip in as well. He wanted to have some fun before he had to go back home and let the crybaby take over again.

"Yoo hoo! Brucie! You in there?" Slapping a hand on the mans shoulder, he shook him a bit wondering if he hurt him on the pull out. "You in there?"

"I haven't thought about Leanne since 2000... She was so beautiful- she's got three kids now with her new husband..."

"Touching." He said, bored as all hell with this.

"Go on in, short man. But uh, watch yourself okay."

"What for?"

Scoffing with humor in his voice. "Cute guy like you might make a lot of unwanted friends."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"You do that." As Sin walked in the man called out to him. "And don't worry, if anyone gives you trouble, old Bruce will help you out. You got that."

Waving a hand to him, he blew a kiss. "Thanks." Finally inside, Sin made his way to the dance floor and just let himself have at it. Arms flailing, head going, bringing out dances that shouldn't even be allowed to do anymore as this is the 21 century, but what would Sin know? He's been shackled for ages inside that twit Rocky once the boy somehow managed to unknowingly build a cage around him. But in his own little world, as he often is, he was having a blast!

Three men watch him from the distance, not exactly digging his dance style but loving the package that it's coming from. One a brunet, short cut and slightly taller than the other two lowered his sunglasses to get a better look at the spektical before them. "Ooooh, what is he doing?"

"I'm not sure." Says a blond male, drink in his hand. "I think he's having a heart attack."

His friends laugh at that. The third man, dark hair, pushes from the counter to walk over to the odd new kid. "Let's go make a friend. Or at least clue him in to what year this is."

The three men walk over to Sin. The dark haired males hand came up, ready to tape the younger boy on the shoulder until he turned around. Smiling, he slipped his hand into his pocket. "Uuuhhh," he started in a stammer.

"You gonna oggle me all night or do you wanna dance?"

"Sure!" Chirps the brunet.

Sin grins at him, sliding his arms around the mans shoulders. Lining their crotches, he leads them in a dance called the 'Cobra'. All three men were left speechless, not sure whether the kid was some kind of weirdo, or if he just danced alone like a tool to lure people over- but whichever it was, the end result was a sight to see. His body moved so well, almost like he were in the middle of sex, cheek landing on his partners shoulder as if he needed to take a grip because the feeling was becoming too strong. Looking over his partners shoulder, he gestures with his finger for the short blond to come over and dance with them as well. Unsure, he hands his drink to the dark haired male, then comes up behind Sin so the three of them could heat the floor up.

Rocky began to moan in his sleep, back arching from the bed. His eyes scrunch, as if he were going through a dream and struggling to get out; the noise was so loud it alerted Jessica and the rest of the family to his room.

"Stop it please!" He yelled in broken words. Head shaking in protest, he rolls over, ready to scream again. "I don't! I don't want this!" Still asleep, Rocky gathered the sheet and scrambled from the bed into the corner of the room.

"Rocky!" Tum tum called out to his brother, ready to run to his side.

"Jessica," Sam said, touching his wifes elbow.

Snapping out of her daze, she crossed the room to her son. "Rocky, Rocky!"

"Get away from me!" He kicked her in the stomach, landing it perfectly, knocking his mother into the bed.

Sam rushed to his wifes side, ready to knock some sense into his son when he noticed that the boys eyes weren't even open. He's having a nightmare.

"Rocky," Tum tum tried again. He crouched down, scooting over to his brother, careful not to yell at him. He knew it was bad to wake up sleepwalkers, especially when they're having a nightmare. Watching t.v. isn't as bad as people say.

Colt remained at the door, staring at the whole scene in complete confusion and fear. He doesn't like seeing this first hand. When Paula snapped, she had been away from the family at the time, he only saw the start of it when she began to stare into space but this... this is just freaky! At least Tum was handling it.

"Jessica are you ok?" Their father asked their mother.

The dark haired woman was still caughing, out of breath from the kick but she wasn't as hurt as she might be if her son had done that consciously. But the thing that hurt her more is watching her son in this much pain. Especially because this seems like a memory, a memory of a...

"I'm sORRY!" He shouted the end as if he had suddenly been struck on the head. Curled in the corner, sheet still over him, he began to undress!

Panicking that his brother was about to do a strip tease right before their eyes, Tum tum grabbed him from behind and shook him gently. "Rocky... Rocky it's us. Wake up." His brother is sobbing now, still trying to remove his sweat clothes. "Rocky, it's Tum... Can you hear me?" He kept his voice quiet and calm.

His brothers breathing went back to normal, his movement fully stopped. "...I want her to go."

"She's not here, Rocky. Maria is dead."

Shaking his head, he looks over his shoulder at his mother. "Her. I want her to go." He whispered something as he turned his gaze back to the wall.

"Now listen here-..." Sam began, but Jessica stopped him.

Standing, she walks out of the room, looking back once at her troubled son. Sam was at wits end with this. Rocky had just gotten back and he hasn't yet accepted that he's safe. He's home and safe and no one will get him. Why doesn't he seem to want to grasp that!

Rubbing his brothers back, Tum asked. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine!" Lowering his voice, he repeats it. "I'm fine. Please, just forget what you saw, I wanna go back to sleep."

"But Rocky-..."

"Leave!"

Not sure what else to do, they backed out of the room being sure to leave the door open for him as he would want. Returning to their own rooms, Sam wasn't surprised to find that his wife is crying in their bed. Walking over to her, he wraps his arms around her receiving the same.

"Honey, it'll be ok."

"He hates me Sam... Our son, my Rocky, hates me." Sniffling, she shakes her head. "How can... I go on knowing this... How can I live knowing that he blames me for what happened to him."

"He doesn't blame you Jess' that's insane... he's probably just upset that..." Sam doesn't know. He doesn't know what to make of his son's condition. Nothing seems to be right to him. "Maybe, what he needs is to see Mori. He always knows what to do with the kids."

"But I should know Sam... He's our son, he always listened to me... I can't lose him, Sam. I can't."

If she didn't want Mori to talk to him, than what? "...We could send him to a shrink- one that works with trauma, you know, we could get in on a session and see what the problem is."

Shaking her head, she knows that won't work. "Sam, Rocky would never got for that and you know it. He thinks that those people make problems worse and I think he's right." Letting him go so she can look into his eyes, she says. "I'm afraid for him though, if he doesn't get help... What will become of him."

"I know."

"We'll try Dad, and if that doesn't work than... maybe a shrink would be best."

Caressing her grown-out hair, he hugs her close. "Everything is gonna work out. It's only been one day, things take time."

Nodding, she wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm gonna go clean up."

"I'll get it." Standing, he heads for the bathroom.

I think that I'm really the one who's afraid of the therapy. Afraid that what I suspect will be confirmed... Getting into bedm blanket pooled around her, she leans against the headboard. I can't handle it if I find out that my son hates me.