Disclaimer: I don't own Dalton or Glee

As soon as the ninth period bell rings, the Windsors run to Dwight's Impala and pile in. It's finally Friday, and Reed is allowed to return home. Well, to Windsor, because Reed can't stand the idea of going to the lonely old mansion in the countryside, with no one who really cared around him.

His mom had come to visit Reed yesterday – and Shane's first impressions were not good.

While Reed had been in the hospital for four days, after being beaten up by a bunch of homophobic assholes, his mom had been in NYC, reviewing some pieces for a magazine. She hadn't been able to get out until then, and even then, it was perfunctory and rehearsed. Shane could see that she cared about her son, maybe more so than most of the private-school parents he had seen over the years. But Hilde seemed awkward around her son. She had stood talking to Reed about "what's most important", not feeling the ice-eyed glare Shane was giving her from across the room. He was sincere, however, when Hilde had thanked him for staying with her son during the time that she could not be there.

Not couldn't be there. Wouldn't come.

When she had left, Shane had looked over at Reed, who refused to meet his eyes. In his expression, masked behind a smile, he saw anger and loneliness.

Shane liked living in a dorm. Your roommates became family, more family than your actual family. Indeed, he had several close friends back at Walcott, almost all of them with parents who nearly always forgot they existed. And the Windsors out here were one huge dysfunctional family that got along simply because they had each other. But when parents came by, it was a harsh wake-up call.

It was a mistake later, he realized, when he asked what his mom thought about his singing. Reed had bit his lip and looked down into his lap. "She thinks it's ok. Just not what she had in mind for my future."

"You mean she doesn't think you could have future with it?"

"I think I could. But…I've got to run the empire, you know. I like painting and stuff, so that's good. I'm thinking of trying photography too." Reed had rambled on, in a half-assed hopeful tone, and Shane had listened, but half of his mind was elsewhere, thinking about this.

Later, he cornered Kurt during one of the infamous Windsor invasions and asked him. Kurt had stiffened and a stormy look came over his face.

"He's in the frame of thinking that she's just trying to help him. He knows he doesn't like it, but he refuses to acknowledge it. First time I met her…" Kurt shakes his head angrily. "Awful. It was during the Winter Fest, when Reed had a duet with me, remember?"

Of course Shane remembered. It was the day he had met Reed – and first time he had heard him sing.

"His mom came to visit, before you showed up. She hadn't come to hear him. She didn't even know Reed was a Warbler, because Reed was afraid that if she knew, well…she'd make him stop. She puts that whole empire on his shoulders, and I think it's breaking him slowly."

Shane feels like he wants to punch something. It must've shown on his face, because Kurt squeezes his shoulder and says, "Breathe Shane. We're all doing our best to prove her wrong."

But Shane keeps thinking, how dare she? To him, Reed is a candle, and his mother is the snuff.


Another boy had also come to see Reed the day before. Shane immediately recognized him as Clark Sawyer, the lead singer of that boy band, Beat Quartet. He was even more amazed to find out that Clark was Reed's stepbrother.

Though the two had had limited contact with each other, they talk animatedly. Reed demands to know how Clark has been, saying that, "Tabloids only catch stuff that's either stupid or scandalous." Shane had always thought of the members of that band to be upstart prisses, but Clark is outgoing and caring. He seemed to care a lot about Reed.

Later the nurses demand that Reed nap, and when he's asleep, Clark turns to Shane and asks, "Do you like him?"

It was a pointed question and totally unexpected. Shane had gaped for a minute and swallowed, but then he had looked Clark in the eye and said, "Yes, I do. A lot."

"I thought so. That's good. You seem like a nice guy." Clark looks at the face of his sleeping stepbrother and sighs. "Plus, he needs someone like that in his life."

"What do you mean?"

Clark looks at his feet, seemingly debating with himself whether he should let Shane be privy to this information. He relents.

"Reed's family is ignorant. His mom's kind of a bitch in her own way –she's nice and all, but she doesn't seem to care about what Reed wants to do with his life. He wants to be an artist and a singer and all she wants is to dump that fashion kingdom on his shoulders. His dad – my stepdad – doesn't seem to care much either. The first time I ever really spoke to Reed was when I called him to tell him that his dad couldn't make it to Parent's Night. Apparently he'd ditched that kind of thing lots of times before, but he'd promised that he'd make it to this one. Reed sounded destroyed. It was even worse when he'd told me he's used to it." Clark snorted. "Heck, I've met him only twice before, and I know more about him than his own parents."

Shane's insides turn to thunderclouds. He's so mad he can't even think about how to respond. Instead, he comes up with, "You do know a lot about him for someone who doesn't see him very often."

Clark chuckled. "I've always wanted a brother. I was thrilled to find out I had one when my mom remarried. But I've got a busy life. I call him whenever I can, and I told him during that first call that I considered him family." He smiles. "Not a lot of people get him." He looks Shane straight in the eye again. "You go to Dalton too?"

"No. I study in Denver. But I come out here on the holidays. And I flew out whenever I heard about this."

Clark seems to approve. "Good. I'm going to trust you with him. You have to take care of him, or you'll answer to me. Understand?"

Shane nods, smiling. "I understand completely." He's a little surprised, at the bond that the two share when they've only talked a few times before. He pauses, before adding, "I always thought that actors and people like you were spoiled and stuff. But you're a really nice guy. And you seem like a great brother."

Clark grins. "Good. I want to be a great brother."

He has to leave later – his manager is demanding some kind of photo shoot. But he promises to give Reed a call whenever he's free. And he gives Shane one last look.

Take care of him.


The Windsors screech to a halt in front of Westerville Memorial. Inside, they can see Reed and Shane talking to the doctor. Shane's carrying his duffel bag. Reed still has a bandage on his head, and he's using a pair of crutches, but he still looks in high spirits.

"C'mon." Dwight mutters. "Why can't Reed just ask him out? It'd be so much easier without all this flirting."

David elbows him. "Aww, be nice Dwight. It's just like Kurt and Blaine."

"Exactly!" Ethan says, and Evan continues:

"Both like each other – "

"Both trying to hide it – "

"Both failing miserably – "

"Both too blind to see the shameless flirting the other is giving– "

"It's adorable!"

"Shut up guys, they're coming out." Blaine chides.

They stop at DQ on the way home and pick up 3 cartons of ice cream, plus a custom milkshake for each boy. When they reach Dalton, it's late evening. But it's a Friday, and Chaz – being surprisingly relenting - announces a movie night in Blaine's room.


AN: Okay, the ice cream thing is going to stop here.

On a happy high today! Got made a yearbook editor for next year. And I only have to study tonight :)

I always thought that Clark would be kind of spoiled, but when CP gave us the phone conversation between him and Reed, I knew I had to throw him in there. Clark, you sweetheart you 3

If I can finish one, I'm going to try and upload a Christmas one-shot. It's disturbing that my brain contains this much Rane.

Hey that rhymed! :D