And another Chapter as promised. Enjoy.

NOTE: This first little piece may be a bit confusing if you haven't seen The Covenant, (and even if you have in places) but its supposed to be that way. Don't worry, all mysteries will be solved in the end.

Chapter 4

He lay awake in the king sized bed, with eyes adjusted to the glow of moon light, and thoughts straying farther than he liked. Sarah had told him to get some sleep, with Pogue agreeing, and tomorrow wasn't going to be an easy day. But his mind wouldn't rest with the ties he left back home. Each day he felt farther from the ones he missed (even if he wouldn't admit it about some of them), and days were getting longer and much more difficult. Warren would have done anything to be back in his room at home, with his clothes all over the floor, and his rock posters strung out on the walls. Then there was Layla.

He seriously didn't know what would happen with that. With not knowing when he would ever make it home, and knowing that people needed him here so much that he couldn't just leave them, life just wasn't going to be simple. But he really wanted to talk with Layla. Even just to see her would be enough. And in the end, he owed her an explanation.

It wasn't fair. He finally gets the nerve after so long to make a move, and then everything gets screwed up and he's stuck playing hero. To make matters worse (though he didn't want to admit this either), he missed his mom and his home. Around here he had to dress nice everyday, with no waking up and watching Saturday morning cartoons in his boxers with a bowl of Cap'N Crunch. He had to stay in control of himself at all times, and never once slip up. It also didn't help when everyone kept asking what was wrong.

A swift knock on the door broke his thoughts as someone entered. "Figured you wouldn't be asleep man. Well, at least Sarah did. I've been forced against my will to come all the way up here to give you these." said Reid as he barged in without waiting for an answer. In his hands he held two pills and half a glass of water. Reid smirked at the scowl Warren gave at the sight of pills. "Don't worry Chicken, there just sleeping pills."

"So why make you bring'em?" asked Warren as he swallowed down both pills without anymore complaint. Anything to get himself to fall asleep and stop thinking.

"Everyone else is in bed." he answered with a shrug. "Which is exactly where I'm headed. Sleep tight baby boy!" and with that he exited the room. Warren had to laugh to himself. Reid could be a jerk sometimes, but seriously, 'baby boy'? Tyler was the youngest out of all of them, but they had their reasons for giving him that name...

It was a day later and Layla was filled with nerves. Sure she had talked and met with Warren's mother before, but she had never brought up the pain filled subject of family issues to Mrs. Peace. If there was one thing that probably ran through Warren's family, it was surely privacy. These people knew how to keep secrets from even themselves. Thankfully though, she was able to drag Will up the steps to the Peace residence without too much protest. Sort of.

Warren lived in a regular neighborhood a few blocks over from the Strongholds. No run down villages or crappy bars. It was actually even more upscale than Will's house. Apparently the Peace's had some money and the only reason Warren had a job was because his mother demanded he learn responsibility. Not something most people would guess about Warren. It then occurred to Layla that there was another one of his secrets. As far as the group knew, Mrs. Peace did not have a job, or any type of income that would let them live the way they did. And Barron was in jail. These little unknown facts were beginning to take a toll.

When Layla and Will strode up to the front door and began to raise their hands to knock, they never expected the door to just swing open. There stood Lily Peace, her face pensive, yet looked expectant. She held open the door to her lavish home, and ushered them right in without even a 'hello'

"Took you kids long enough. Come on, I have lemonade in the kitchen." With that she walked off towards the kitchen expecting the two friends to follow. Layla and Will shared equal shrugs of confusion, but followed anyways. Will for the lemonade, and Layla for whatever information she could get. The kitchen was a bright shade of yellow, and completely opposite of Warren. Where Warren liked things dark and angry looking, his mother liked it bright and happy.

"I suppose Warren didn't tell you much did he?" the older woman asked as she poured them all full glasses.

"Nothing at all really. Just that it had something to do with family." replied Layla while Will began to dig into offered homemade cookies.

"Sounds like my son, leaving out everything actually important. If you ask me you deserve to know. Have you been trying to figure it all out like I expected?" Layla and Will just nodded.

"Well, I cant tell you much, but I'm happy you finally came. For a while I was afraid you wouldn't. I think he needs some help, but wont ask for it. And I think you guys will be the right help."

Will finally decided to get into the conversation as well. "What exactly is going on Mrs. Peace?"

"Warren should be the one to tell you most of it. Did you know how much he likes to protect people? I know he pretends that he doesn't, but have you ever seen it in his eyes. That look of how it wouldn't ever be possible to let someone down? Well, I think that it might kill him, and I want you guys to go make sure it wont."

"What exactly are we talking about here?" questioned Will as he finished his drink and Layla shushed him.

"I'm talking about you going and making sure my baby boy is safe. I trust the people he's with, but they don't know him as well as you do. They don't know how to not only keep him safe, but also make sure he's still taking care of himself. Not with how well he closes into himself. Plus, if your there, they may be able to finish up quicker and come home sooner."

"Why us?" Layla finally asked, "Why not you?"

"I get the feeling that Warren will open up more if your there." said Mrs. Peace giving Layla a tender look that Will missed. He also missed the slight blush that crept up Layla's face.

"So what are they doing exactly? I know you said that you want Warren to tell us, but can't you tell us a little about what we're about to get into?" asked Will this time.

Mrs. Peace smiled sadly and gave the most surprising answer that neither kid expected. "He's on a rescue mission. His brother was kidnapped, and Warren went to save him."

Next chapter coming soon. Please review.