Chapter 21 Picture Day

It's been hours since Lucy and Nathan left. They promised to find the ones responsible for all of this. They will do everything in their power to catch them and put them away for life.

After sobbing in Kendall's arms for what seemed like hours, Carlos finally fell asleep. James was eventually the one to take the small boy from his arms and lay him in his own bed. They weren't sure if he actually slept in his bed now, but the pillows underneath it didn't look comfortable at all.

Everyone felt completely drained of energy, but they didn't feel like they would be able to sleep. So they settled on watching some television and just watching the clock tick away. They didn't really talk that evening, but they didn't have to. They knew they were all thinking about the same thing. Those two people, a man and a woman, who abused Carlos in the most brutal ways. The most disturbing thing was the fact that a woman had been involved.

But maybe insanity and sickness didn't choose genders. They all wondered why anyone would do something like this. And the worst part; they were still out there somewhere! Did Carlos realize the same thing? Was that why he wasn't talking? The things these two did… they just couldn't imagine it. And not only did they do such bad things, they recorded all of it on video. Had Lucy and Nathan seen the tapes?

The small family didn't want to see the tapes. But they couldn't help but think what was on them. Knowing what had happened to Carlos, it might help them figure out how to help him. Though honestly, if that meant they had to watch the tapes, they'd rather figure out their own way.

When it was dark outside, no one needed to say anything. Everyone just walked up the stairs like zombies. They were all in their own minds. As they dressed in night clothing, they all went to their own rooms and lay wide awake as more thoughts processed through them. Would Carlos keep the small progress he already made? Or would he go back to the way he was before? Hiding from them.

One by one everyone finally drift off in a difficult sleep. All but Logan. He tosses and turns, but everytime he closes his eyes he sees the faces of the man and woman. He wonders if the others are experiencing the same thing.

He sighs and finally lays on his back with eyes wide open as he stares at the ceiling. He decides enough is enough and sits up, ready to get up again. But the moment he is about to throw his covers off, he notices a figure standing in his doorway. He squints his eyes, but can't make out who it is in the darkness. He reaches out to his nightstand and flips on the lamp standing beside him. He blinks as his eyes adjust to the sudden light. He focuses on the doorway again and his eyes widen.

"Carlos?" He quietly asks as he watches the small form of his friend standing in front of him. His hands are grasping the doorframe and his eyes seem afraid, hesitant. "Carlos, what's wrong?" Logan asks and he notices how Carlos moves a little on his feet. It seems he wants to say something, but he stops himself.

"Can't sleep, huh?" Logan asks. Carlos doesn't respond, but he looks at the ground shyly. Logan smiles softly. "Yeah, me neither. You know what helps me to fall asleep when I'm thinking too much?" Carlos looks up at him, a little curious. Logan smiles a little wider an throws his legs over the edge of his bed. He gets up and Carlos backs up a little when he steps closer.

But when Logan veers of towards his bookcase, Carlos curiously pokes his head inside the room.

"I like to read a book sometimes." Logan says as he looks back at his friend. "But I know you don't like to read, unless the book has pictures. So my books probably won't help you sleep." He chuckles slightly as he imagines Carlos scrunching up his face in light disgust at the thought of books without pictures. He often teased Logan with this, being so boring.

He gets down on his knees and reaches a hand under the bottom shelf. He reaches further until he touches something. He smiles and grabs the item, pulling it towards him. An old box comes into view and Logan sits back on his knees. He blows on the top, making dust fly all over the floor. He laughs a little.

"Wow, I should clean under this bookcase, I guess." A faint smile of amusement has appeared on Carlos' face. But his eyes sparkle with curiosity as he looks at the box in front of his smart friend. Logan smiles at him. He puts his hands on the lid of the box and pulls it off. Carlos stretches his neck out even further to look what's inside the box, but still hasn't set foot over the threshold.

Logan has to keep from laughing out loud. Carlos is stretched so much; he could topple over if he didn't have such a vice-grip on the doorframe. He always was the curious one.

Instead, he shakes his head in amusement and picks up something from the box. An old picture album is in his hands.

"I uh… I made this a while ago." Logan says as he eyes the album and gently caresses the worn cover. "It's filled with pictures of the four of us. It has every picture I have of us since we met. I know it's not really a book, but there's a story behind every picture." He explains, now looking back up at Carlos. His friend looks hesitant again as he stares at him.

Logan stands up and walks towards his bed. He suddenly feels chilly and decides to get comfortable underneath the covers again. He slips under them, but props up a pillow behind his back and slightly sits up. He places the book in his lap and then eyes Carlos.

"Well, are you coming or not?" He asks. That catches Carlos off guard a little. He blinks and looks behind him.

Logan grabs his covers and throws them open, moving his body over to the right. He holds the covers opened up in his arms and nods at Carlos.

"Come on, it's not fun all by myself." He says and throws his friend another smile. He watches as Carlos hesitantly moves forward. But then he quickly moves back again when he hears a strange sound. "Hey, it's okay. That was James, knocking one his Cuda products to the ground." Carlos frowns a little. "Yeah, don't ask. He holds them in his sleep for some reason. Not sure why. Now come on, get over here."

Carlos hesitantly moves forward again with Logan coaxing him until he ends up beside the bed.

Logan sounds so confident. But his heart is pounding so hard, he's afraid Carlos might hear it. Last time Carlos ended up in his bed, he wasn't even aware of it. It had been he first time he talked again. But this… He didn't even know where he found the courage to do this, the boldness to ask Carlos to get in bed with him. He certainly didn't expect him to actually do it. But here he is, eyes still seeking approval. But Logan keeps his cool and makes sure his friend knows it's okay.

The moment he actually climbs into bed with him, he nearly jumps for joy. He throws the covers over them both. But that's when he notices how Carlos fumbles with the straps of the black hockey helmet perched on his head. And the way he still keeps his distance.

"Come here." He didn't know how he did it. He was never much of a hugger or one to display affection. That was Carlos. But something about this situation made him realize he had to step up and get over it. Carlos needed the affection, he needed to know he didn't have to be afraid of them. For some reason, Kendall had already shown him that. But Logan hadn't. Which was why he feels the need to pull the boy close to him.

Carlos stiffens at first, but Logan smiles at him and gently holds his left arm around him.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. Just relax." Logan tells him. Carlos looks at him with childlike eyes, unsure. But a final nod from his smart friend has him relaxing at last. He wiggles down a little and settles his head on Logan's chest, his hand following quickly. He snuggles close to Logan, who needs to calm down his own heart and keep in his ever growing smile.

"Alright, comfortable enough?" He asks, his voice shaking slightly. Carlos just stares at him with a hint of a smile. Logan nods and takes a deep breath before opening up his album with shaking hands.

As he opens his mouth to quietly tell the stories behind the ridiculous pictures of the four hockey friends from Minnesota, someone else stands in the hallway, listening with a smile of his own. As Logan starts to use other voices to animate the stories further, Kendall has to put a hand in front of his mouth to keep from laughing. The slight giggles heard after this seem so surreal. But the tears slowly rolling down his cheeks are very real as he shuffles back to his own room.

The following morning Logan wakes up feeling more rested than he has in a while. He stretches and smiles. He looks to his left, but his smile falters immediately when he realizes he's alone. Did he just dream all of it?

"He already went downstairs for breakfast." Kendall's voice suddenly announces from the doorway. Logan looks up with a frown. "You looked so peaceful, we didn't want to wake you." Kendall is leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "That was a really good idea, showing him those pictures. Wish I thought of it. Nice voices by the way." He says with a grin as Logan blushes and smiles. "Come on, it's almost time for lunch." He teases and laughs as Logan throws a pillow his way.

Logan shakes his head at the retreating form of his friend and gets up slowly. He smiles again when he sees the still opened up picture album on the ground. Then, a sudden idea enters his mind. He feels exited as he puts the album away, before he heads down the stairs.

It was so strange. They had expected Carlos to be worse today. They thought that after what happened the day before that he would revert back to the way he was when they first brought him in.

But the family sits in awe as he happily eats with them. He doesn't talk, but his eyes have gained a small sparkle.

Meanwhile somewhere in an unknown location…

"Come on, Johnny…" She whines at her husband. "Let's just go back for the tapes."

Her husband keeps his binoculars steady as he peers out of their window.

"Johnny, are you even listening to me? I want the tapes!"

"Will you shut up? I'm busy." The brown haired man growls at her, before turning his attention to the binoculars again. The blond haired woman sighs and lets the top half of her body fall on the bed.

"I don't get why we have to be stuck in this place. You promised we would have fun. But this isn't fun, Johnny. It's boring." She whines as she crosses her arms and pouts.

The man sighs. "For god's sake, Molly. Don't you think I want to have fun? But we can't right now. The cops are looking for us. So we gotta lay low."

She huffs. "I want him back. I want my teddy bear." She says, smiling slightly as she hugs herself and closes her eyes. "He was a good hugger. He was so warm and amazing in bed." She giggles as she remembers some moments.

"Damn it, Molly!" The man growls as he glares at the young woman.

"Well, he was. You have to admit that." She says as her eyebrows furrow in thought. "He sure got quiet though. I used to love to hear him sing to the little ones. Too bad he stopped. Why do you think he stopped?" Her eyebrows are scrunched up in frustration as she looks at the man for answers.

He sighs in annoyance and rolls his eyes.

She pouts again and looks back at the ceiling. "I really miss him." She suddenly sits up and her eyes light up with excitement. "I have the perfect idea!" She clasps her hands together and smiles widely. "We should totally go see him! He'll be so happy to see us again. My cuddly teddy bear." She squeals and happily bobs up and down on the bed.

"Molly, shut the hell up!" the man suddenly shouts, making Molly stop moving. She looks at him with frightened eyes. He puts the binoculars down and walks over to her menacingly. "We can't go see him. He betrayed us, remember?"

Her eyes become wide and hurt like a kicked puppy. She quickly shakes her head. "No, he wouldn't do that. He would never do that. We should just go and see him. He'll tell you. And then we can take him home again." She smiles again, but he sighs and closes his eyes. She gets off the bed and walks over to him. She puts her arms around his waist.

"You're too good for this world." He softly says, grabbing her hand and gently kissing it. She giggles and snuggles into his back. He smiles and looks out the window. "Don't worry. We will get him back, eventually."

A/N Yep, a new chapter is here Happy Elevate day!

I love the new album. My personal favorites are Invisible, Cover Girl and No Idea (Carlos' voice just makes me gasp every time I hear his verse… Did not he could sound even better than he did. Touch of Nick Carter in there or is that just me?)

Oh and couldn't help but smirk a little at how the guys will be doing a Livestream tomorrow and not a Ustream. I know, it's horrible, but I'm guessing they have learned a very big lesson. Not that ever figured out how to properly use Ustream anyway. But that last session… wow.

Anyway, back to the story :P I hope you like it. I'm guessing you get the last part, right? ;) If anyone has any questions, let me know

Thanks for all the reviews, guys. I especially loved the requests for a little Cargan bromance. Hope it was to your liking ;) Now just need some inspiration for some Jarlos bromance as well. But it'll come to me, don't worry!

Thanks again for all the support, fellow Rushers, I feel Elevated :D

Love, Baxxie