Chapter 6:

Its the start of Thanksgiving break and everyone was so excited to be out of school for the next few days. Any kid who had a part-time job got the whole break off to enjoy it with their families. Kenny had asked his work if he could work the whole break other than that Sunday before school started, so he would have time to rest. He is definitely putting in some over time plus he is also getting holiday pay.

Kenny planned on bringing Sasha with him to see how she does on the job. She was now pretty much trained but Kenny tested her daily to make sure she doesn't forget her commands. She has learn not to bark at other people or sounds she has seen or heard before, but she will growl at a stranger or sounds she doesn't know. At home Sasha is a very loving family dog but only to Kenny, Kevin and Karen. She never liked their parents and she will give them a warning bark of they got to close to her pack.

Karen moved into the garage with her brother because she just couldn't take the alcohol and drugs any longer. So Kevin and Kenny put up some walls in the upper half of the garage to make a private room just for her. They painted it a salmon color with yellow, blue and white flowers also some butterflies. It took the brothers a few hours to get her bed and dresser up there. Once everything was done and in place she thanked them a lot. Now she gets to be close to her guardian angel (she found out it was Kenny when she turned ten) and the lovely animals.

Since his sister moved in Kenny too had to put up a wall around his bed. The bed its self was pushed off to a corner of the main floor. A curtain was set up on the front facing wall so he could get in and out with out having a door. He also had bought a few heaters now that it was getting cold out. One was for his sister's room, one for the extra space up there, one for the bathroom and one for the main floor. He didn't have one in his room because he had a big Korean blanket to keep him warm. The animal would either sleep with Karen in her room or on the main floor in their pet beds.

Kyle has been having some good days and some bad days, but it seem more like bad since a few days before the break started. It was because people (mainly Cartman) found out that Kyle has been seeing a Therapist twice a month and told the whole school. Some kids felt bad for him while others made fun of him and called him psycho. Cartman would leave nasty notes in his locker, in Cartman's mind they were notes of advice. Kyle has been spending more time at home after that. Ike has to convince his mom to let him bring Kyle's car over for a while. Ike would stay in his brother's room while Kyle cuddled with his cat. That would cheer the Red Head up some.

Stan along with Wendy and Bebe confronted Cartman about what he did. Being the ass that he is just laughed it off. Wendy and Bebe tried to reason with the hard ass to see what he did was wrong and how would he like it if someone did it to him. Cartman retorted with a 'I'm not some sneaky stupid Jew so it would never happen to me'. At that point Stan took it upon himself to beat the shit out of the Fat-ass. He broke Cartman's nose and sprained his wrist. Jimbo and Ned saw the fight going on and broke them apart. They told the girls to go home then told call the boys parents about what happened. Stan got a good talking to and got grounded for a couple of days. Ms. Cartman got tired of her son's behavior that she sent him back to anger management therpay (once a week), he is also on some medications to mellow him out (his mom hides it in his food).

Stan, Butters and Kyle (with some convincing to come out) went to Kenny's. It was about one in the afternoon, they gave the Blonde a few hours of sleep from his long night at work. The two Blondes and Brunette sat on the couch while Kyle sat off to the side with Talula on his lap. Sasha was off somewhere chewing on her milk bone Karen picked out.

"So you guys excited about the Thanksgiving break?" Kenny asked as he set up his Xbox.

"Yeah. Tomorrow my family is flying to Hawaii to visit family." Butters said with a big smile on his face. He hasn't been to Hawaii in years, he missed the islands.

"Uh, Shelly is coming back. She is totally going to weal on me and its not going to be pretty." Stan said with a loud sigh.

"Oh boy. I sure hope she doesn't mess you up too badly." Butters rubbed Stan's back. He smiled at his nervous friend. Butters looked over to Kyle who was quietly playing with his cat. "W-What about you Kyle?"

Kyle didn't look up from his cat as he shrugged his shoulders. The boys on the couch looked at each other. They were getting worried since Kyle hasn't talked to anyone other than his younger brother and that was only to answer someone. Ike doesn't mind it too much, to him he was just glad his brother wasn't shutting him out fully. Others were a little miffed about it. Token had enough of this and stopped talking to Kyle all together. Clyde took the back seat to this, he just wanted to see what would happen but he also wasn't going get involved either.

Kenny got up from the couch, getting Kyle's attention to get him to follow him outside. They walked a little ways from the garage then stopped. Kenny took a deep breath as he gathered his thoughts then turned around to face the Red Head. Kyle had his down some and to the side, avoiding any eye contact. He too has done this since Cartman's little stunt.

"Kyle, dude, you shouldn't let what the stupid fuck did get to you. Yeah you're going to therapy so what. He went before and is going back now. He has gone to jail, got struck by light by God himself, showed everyone he is a gay prick, had Ceaser come and train him, has an alien prob in his ass and a whole bunch of other shit." Kenny lend over a bit to take a peek at the others face. " If anyone one should be embarrassed it him and it sure as hell shouldn't be you." The Blonde stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep warm. He should of grabbed his orange parka, it was freezing out.

Kyle slowly look up at Kenny but averted his eyes as soon as he made eye contact. He reached out to grab the other's black long sleeve. The Blonde looked down at the hand then looked back up at the boy to try and catch his eye with no luck. After a few minutes they made eye contact. There Kenny saw hurt, fear and disgust that made him mad.

"Ky-" Kenny was cut off by Kyle speaking finially.

"Stop." Tears started to fall down his face. This pulled at Kenny's heart strings. "Please stop, I know all what you're going to say. My parents and my Therapist say it all the time. I'm so tired of hearing i-" Kyle stopped and tensed up when Kenny wrapped his arms around him. Kyle's breathing also picked up.

He tried to get out of the hold but Kenny held on tight. In Kenny's mind what he was going was making it worse but he knew in all seriousness this is what Kyle need, to have someone to just hold him. Tears came down harder causing him to make sobbing noises. Kenny rubbed little circles on to Kyle's back when he heard this. He gave a little kiss to the side of Kyle's head. Kyle placed his hand on Kenny's chest, clinching the fabric of the shirt.

"Shhh." Kenny soothed in his best feminine voice he could muster, which wasn't too hard since his voice was a little feminine. "Its okay, you're okay. Nothing is going to happen to you. Just relax."

Kenny repeated the words a few times til Kyle's body relax. Kyle tried to stop his crying with some luck. Stan walked out carrying both Ks jackets when he noticed they left inside. He hurried over when he heard Kyle crying. He looked at Kenny silently asking if he had told him anything. Kenny just shook his head 'no'. A sigh left the Brunette's mouth as he threw the Blonde's jacket over his shoulders. Stan was hoping that Kyle spilled the beans.

Kenny pulled away from Kyle but before fully moving away gave him a kiss to his forehead. He put on his jacket on properly. Stan held open the Ginger's, helping him slip it up the boys arms. While Stan was doing that Kenny was telling him what happened through Morse code on his back (a useful thing they all decided to learn when they were kids so they could talk to each other and not have someone know what they were saying). Stan have a nod once the messaged was done.

"Hey Stan, can you take him home. I'm sure he will want some rest." Kenny asked as he headed back to the garage.

The Brunette looked at Kyle who was swiping his eyes and nose. He frowned at how his best friend looked. His nose, cheeks (that was mostly stain with tear marks) and eyes that were puffy and watery. He also looked so worn out, mentally and physically. Stan reached his hand out slowly, not to sure if it would be a good idea to touch his emotionally unstable friend. He threw his worries out the door and went ahead to touch Kyle's shoulder. The boy tensed up immediately but never the less allowed the touch. Stan gave it a light squeeze then led him back to his house since his parents went out to get his sister from the bus stop in Denver.

When they boys arrived at Stan's, the said boy took Kyle up stairs to the bathroom. Stan figured that a nice warm bath would help relax Kyle's tense muscles and clear up his face of those tear stains. He started the bath as it filled up he grabbed a towel from the hall closet. He set it down on the counter then turned to leave the room. He wanted to give Kyle some privacy while he bathed. Kyle quickly wrapped his arms around Stan from behind. Stan tensed up at the sudden action but relax rather fast. Kyle buried his face into the other's back. Kyle tighten his grip on his friend.

"Kyle?" Stan place a hand on Kyle's arm. To Stan this was so new to him. Kyle never fully hugged him since the summer when they were asleep.

"Stan...I'm sorry."

Stan made a confused face. What did Kyle have to be sorry about, if it delt with all that he has been going through then he shouldn't. Shit happen and will take time to get through. Look what happened to Stan, he went through a hard time where everyone and everything looked and sounded like shit. He managed to get through it, though he did loose all his friends at one point. Stan hopes that doesn't happen to Kyle.

"What are you sorry for?"

"All of this. I know I'm making you and Kenny worry and want to help me out but this is something that I need to do and go through on my own." Kyle turns Stan around placing his head on his shoulder.

"I know you want to do this own your own but that wont stop me or others from wanting to help you. I love you Kyle, you are my closet and most dearest friend." Stan slowly wrapped his arms around Kyle. To his surprise Kyle didn't tense up. A small smile played on his face.

"I love you too, Stan. But I do need to sort things out on my own and until then I don't want any help. I just want you to be here when I do need you. Supporting me and talking to me is good, thats all I want you to do for now." Kyle pulled back a little to look Stan in the eye.

"Yeah, I can do that." Stan looked over to check the water level since they were talking for a while. He was getting pretty high. He quickly let got of his friend to turn the water off. "Shit, that was a close one. I'll go and let you have your bath alone." Stan made his way to the door.

"Wait!" Stan turned around to see a big blush forming on Kyle's face. "Can you, can you please stay? Y-You don't have to if you don't want to." Kyle looked away blushing every more than before. He wanted Stan to stay there just to keep him company because he didn't want to be left alone after his mini break down.

A light blushed dusted Stan's cheeks. He was fine being close and acting gay with the Ks but it embarrassed him to be in a closed room with his best friend while they were naked. Doing stuff like that is fine when you are younger and it didn't matter but now that they were older and the body has gone through changes made it very awkward. Stan could deal with it if it was for Kyle's sake.

"Yeah. Sure dude."

Stan turned away from Kyle so he could strip down with some privacy and hop in the tub. Once Stan heard the sound of water moving around he turned back. He walked up to the tub and sat on the floor with his back to Kyle. He made sure not to make eye contact with the water when he was walking towards the tub.

When Kyle was done with his bath, dried and redressed, the two went into Stan's room. Kyle crawled up on the bed, laying down on his side facing Stan. The Brunette took off his jacket and beanie putting them on his desk. He walked over to where Kyle was, copying the boys action. Kyle moved over closer once Stan was settled. Legs from the knees down touching and their foreheads touching as well. Stan took the chance lacing their fingers together.

Kyle had a little smile and Stan did too. It was like good 'ol times before Kyle's trip to California happened. The times where they would just lay there looking up at the ceiling or the sky (whether it was day or night), for hours not talking. The times they had random, scary, fun or almost adventures with the whole gang. The times they had fights but always made up at the end. The times they snuck into each others room just so they could talk all night. Stan wanted all that back, guess it true you don't realize what you have til its gone.

Stan watched as Kyle fell asleep, the poor kid needed it after how bad he was crying. Stan just studied his sleeping friend's face. The redness and puffiness was now gone which was good. Kyle looked a little paler than normal, hell right now Kenny was darker than the boy in front of him. Kyle had a few light freckles just on his cheeks. His face has thinned out no more baby fat. His nose wasn't as big as his mom's, it was on the smaller side like his dad's. He had thin lips but not too thin to it look like he has just a line. He also had slightly arched dark red medium eye brows. Over all Kyle was a very handsome young man.

The sound of the door from down stairs opened and closed after a minuter or so, his parents and sister must be home. Stan looked out his window to see that it was dark out. They had been laying there for a few hours. A pair of foot stepps came up the stairs, one went past his door while the other stopped in front of his. The door opened up and the person took a couple of soft steps in. It had to be his mom since bother his dad and sister stomped in.

"Stan, sweetie we're back." His mom said. "Have you had dinner yet?"

Stan brushed some of Kyle's hair out of his eyes when it fell. "No...I lost track of time.

Sharon stepped closer to bed to see what had been doing. She saw the sleeping figure of Kyle. "Oh! Kyle is here. How is he doing?"

Stan turned his head to look at his mom with a blank face. "I don't fucking know mom. He was happy up until what that Fat-ass did. At Kenny's today he had a break down." Stan looked back at his friend to see if he was still asleep. "I don't know what to do mom, I hate seeing him like this."

Sharon took a seat on the bed, she ran her fingers through the short part of her son's hair. "I know but Stan unless he asks you for help there is nothing you can do. I know it hurts not being able to help someone close to you. All you can do is just be there for him."

"Thats what he said. I hate doing that. I hate not knowing whats wrong."Stan whined.

"I know sweetie, but I'm sure if it was something serious Shelia or Garold would of us." She now rubbed his back.

"But what if it is and they don't want anyone to know? Something serious did happedn or else he wouldn't be acting like this." Stan drew his brows together in thought.

"I don't know honey." She brushed her finger over Kyle's cheek. He was like one of her own. "I'll see if I can figure anything out tomorrow. For now I'll go make you a sandwich and chips." She got off the bed then left the room.

'Why would they hide something? If so how could they? Ike also isn't saying anything and he normally tells if something is wrong with his brother, so why not now?' Stan closed his eye tight, clenching his teeth and balling his fists. "God damn it Kyle, just what happened to you?"

After minutes later Sharon brought up the sandwich, she left it on the desk for when he is ready to eat it. Before she exited the room she gave her soon a kiss on the side of the head and told him she loved him. Stan slowly got off his bed and made his way over to the desk. There sat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some of those roasted veggie tortilla chips. He picked up the plate and brought it over to the bed. Kyle started to stir, slowly waking up.

"Stan?" Kyle slurred a bit still not fully awake. He blinked a few times trying to get ride of the sleep as he sat up. "What time is it?"

"Nine." Stan popped a chip in his mouth. Veggie chips were his favorite. He turned into a polo-vegetarian when he was twelve. People thought that he was weird for doing it but he just didn't care. It was his life not theirs. "Hungry?"

Kyle nodded as he picked up the sandwich, taking a small bite. He made a disgusted face. He hated peanut better and he thought Stan was weird for liking it but he never the less took a few more bites before passing it off to the Brunette. They ate together in silence until all the food was gone, which wasn't much. Stan got up putting the plate back on the desk. Instead of going back to the bed he took a seat on the desk chair.

"You feeling any better?" Stan asked as he swiveled back and forth in his chair.

Kyle just shrugged, averting his gaze from his friend. "Better than before. Thanks."

"Thats what best friends are for."