Title: The Guardian
Chapter 34 – Small Warning Signs

"I uh…" Jamie gently stammers as his mind races to give an appropriate answer. I can't just come home…home? home!

At the end of school and do nothing. Nothing? Homework isn't nothing! I can't…it's not fair to Danny! But…his mind swirls around and around as he tries to process his decision. Plus if you break your curfew you'll be in big trouble! They offered an allowance…it wasn't that much. It was enough. What about unpleasant memories? Don't those count for something?

"I can see you're conflicted and I hate to pressure you like this. I would like for you to stay but I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with anything. Your schedule can remain the same if you want. You can let me know tomorrow if that works better."

"I need the money," Jamie mentions somewhat mechanically before he gives his head a small shake and then looks away in haste, his mind berating him for his lame comment. "But um…well even coming in here makes me nervous."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Let me know tomorrow okay?"

"Okay I'll um…I'll just take care of the popcorn of that's okay. George he uh…okay," Jamie stammers nervously as Burt looks at him in wonder. "Tomorrow's fine."

"Okay," Burt replies as he slowly stands up, Jamie following suit. Jamie gives his boss a nod before he numbly leaves the room, his mind more focused on trying to forget the fact that he had so casually undressed before Kevin and trying to erase Kevin's hungry smile; instead of talking to his boss about wanting an amended working schedule.

"What happened?" Danny asks in haste as he walks up to Jamie.

"I have to clean out the machine," Jamie whispers as he just walks past and continues on toward the cashiers stand and check in counter. Danny watches with a puzzled look on his face before he hurries after his brother, his mind wondering what happened in the discussion with his boss.

"Jamie…" Danny tries in a low tone as he tries to steer Jamie aside by grabbing his arm.

"I have to do this," Jamie replies stonily as he jerks his arm free.

"What is going on?"

"I have to get this to George!" Jamie snaps as Danny's brow furrows and he lips slightly purse in wonder. "I have to get this to George."

"Who on earth is George?" Danny wonders out loud as Jamie looks up with a narrowed gaze. "What happened in there?"

"Nothing," Jamie's icy reply is left to linger as he grabs the plastic bag full of day old popcorn and heads for the back door, Danny watching in genuine surprise. Danny mutely follows Jamie toward the back and then watches as Jamie pushes his way into the back alley and around the corner – disappearing from view. He props the door open with the brick and goes in search of his brother. But when he rounds the corner he stops and just…stares. What on earth? That's George? A homeless man? When did this happen?

Jamie heads toward George with a small frown and upset stomach. But seeing the older man look up with a kind expression instantly sets his mind at ease – somewhat.

"Hello Jamie," he greets with a warm tone as Jamie nears and then stops a few feet short; George's head cocking to one side in wonder.

He's not the enemy, Jamie's mind reminds him in haste. "Sorry I uh…here. There's an extra hot dog in there as well."

"Ah Jamie bless your heart," George looks up with a kind smile. "You're a dear boy. How are things?"

"They are um…" Jamie stammers as his eyes start to water and he looks away in haste; Danny hurrying to his side.

"Is he okay?" George looks up at Danny as Danny's arm rests protectively across Jamie's slightly shuddering shoulders.

"He will be. I'm Danny, I'm Jamie's brother. Who are you?" Danny asks directly, trying to keep the biting in his tone at bay.

"I'm George," the older man extends his hand for Danny to take. Danny at first hesitates but then takes it and gives it a firm shake. "Your brother is a very kind young man. In the past year no one else has even looked at me as if I'm a human being…as if I don't matter. Jamie's always treated me…well like I matter at least to him and that's more than I've had in a very long time."

By the end of George's heartfelt statement, Danny's throat had formed a knot and he found it hard to swallow back his emotion.

"I wanted you to have this before I go."

"Thank you. My arthritis was acting up today and it was hard to get up and get moving so this will be my dinner feast," George looks back up with a smile, Jamie quickly wiping his eyes. "Aww sorry there young man, I didn't mean to depress you and all. I manage."

"Why don't you go to a shelter?" Danny inquires as Jamie stands beside him in quiet misery. "What do you do in winter?"

"I don't plan that far in advance Danny," George answers with a small shrug. "And shelters…well they are good but there's a lot of guys out there worse off than me."

Danny's jaw softly drops as Jamie kneels down to pick something up and give it to George. George's hand rests on his arm and forces him to remain in a kneeling position a few seconds longer.

"Never lose your heart," George whispers as Jamie's eyes slightly widen. "No matter what."

"Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine until you see me next time…right here waiting for my daily gourmet meal," George gently chuckles, his voice trying to hide a lingering tickle in his throat. "You best be getting back for your shift Jamie. Working is also important. Don't end up like me."

"I'll see you later okay," Jamie tells George as his slightly cooled hand rests atop George's and gives the older man's age withered limb a friendly squeeze before he stands back up.

"You come back again Danny," George nods as Danny offers a tense smile as well as he holds onto his hand for a few seconds.

"I will," Danny nods as he smiles at George; the two of them turning to leave. They head back toward the door in silence, Jamie pulling away from Danny as soon as they enter and then rushing up to his boss, leaving Danny to take care of closing the back door.

"I want to stay!" Jamie blurts out to his boss, not caring about the other conversation he was having with the night janitor. Burt looks at Jamie as Danny once again hurries in his brother's direction.

"Jamie?"

"I want to continue working here," Jamie repeats with a determined expression.

"Are you sure? Could just be emotion talking," Burt replies with a small frown as he looks over at Danny who can only offer a helpless shrug. "Take the night an…"

"No! I want to stay! I have to…I want to stay," Jamie stammers as Burt nods in compliance.

"Okay I'll see you Wednesday for your regular shift."

"Okay," Jamie nods once more as Burt heads back to continue his original discussion with the other part time employee; Danny looking at him with a serious frown. "What?"

"Don't you think you should tell him you can only work four hours on Wednesday?" Danny reminds Jamie as Jamie looks at him with a scowl. "Hey I didn't make those rules."

"Yeah but you sure like enforcing them!" Jamie snaps as Danny's head shakes in exasperation and he gently takes Jamie aside, away from a few curious glances.

"Is this because of that guy George…wh…why didn't you ever tell me about him? I know things have been changing as of late but we used to tell each other everything."

"You have Linda now," Jamie answers stonily as Danny's expression droops.

"And I've made you feel that you can't talk to me anymore?"

"No…yes…no I just…" Jamie's voice trails off as he looks away. "I feel sorry for him. I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Jamie turns back to Danny with a small frown. "I guess I want to stay here because of him."

"And that's very noble and you've always had a big heart and he obviously appreciates that but he doesn't know what happened and you said you have some tough memories of this place. Look kid I'm sorry I made you feel that way. Linda is amazing and I love her but you are my brother and that comes first okay? Family is always first."

"I don't want to let anyone down," Jamie softly laments as Danny nods in acknowledgement. "I'll tell my boss when I come in on Wednesday that I can only work a few hours."

"You should tell him now so he can get used to covering the rest of the shift. Trust me my boss would be pissed if I just showed up at work and told him I couldn't work the whole thing that night when he could have planned in advance. You cover the front."

"I don't want an allowance," Jamie whines with a huff. "Only little kids get an allowance."

"So the term is lame. Kinda nice that they offered you that choice. I didn't get that."

"You have a car and no curfew. You can do whatever you want."

"No I can't."

"Oh so you can't do drugs in the house! You don't do drugs anyways. So what's changed?" Jamie grumbles as Danny's face can't help but crack into a soft smile. "Maybe they don't trust me," Jamie exhales heavily.

"Okay being here is just messing with your head so let's go tell your boss and then we'll go home."

Jamie doesn't put up much of a fuss as he pulls away from Danny with a complaint nod and heads toward his boss's office. However, when they get there, they realize they are too late and he's had to step out for a few hours. "I'll leave him a me…"

"Call him tomorrow," Danny instructs as Jamie looks up and purses his lips. "What?"

"Nothing," Jamie retorts sourly as he pushes past Danny and heads for the entrance to the bowling alley, his mind wondering how pleased his boss would be that he'd have to cut his hours and force his employer to look for someone else to fill only a few hours of work. "What if he fires me?" Jamie wonders as they sit on the bus heading for home.

"He's not going to fire you for being honest, especially after what happened. It'll make him look like a jerk."

"Fine."

"How was school?" Danny asks, trying to change the subject to something that will hopefully offer Jamie's mind something else to think about than his current plight. It doesn't work. Instead Jamie's mind now races with the thought that his scholarship picture was put on the web and that it was now visible to all. Remember Jamie…we can never let any picture of us be put on the web under any circumstances…if he were to see…if his friends were to see and tell him…he'd come after us…he'd find us…he'd kill us.

"Jamie?" Danny asks after a few minutes of silence.

"I don't want to talk anymore," he replies with a slight snap and turns his gaze out the window, Danny's brows arching in wonder. I'll check at school tomorrow and if it's there I'll get Lucas to pull. I can fix this…I can…before it's too late.

Danny studies Jamie's tight jaw and frowns but chalks it up to the fact that Jamie was just agitated because of going back to the bowling alley and after a few hours of relaxing and a good night's sleep he'd be fine. They reach the Reagan home and enter, Frank home early and welcoming them both. However, Jamie merely gives him a nod, pulls away and heads down the hallway, disappearing into his bedroom and closing the door – sealing himself inside.

"How'd it go?" Frank dares to inquire.

"I uh…" Danny pauses as Frank's head cocks to the right in wonder. "He wants to stay but he sounded unsure. I think he's doing it only for George and…"

"Who's George?"

"There's this homeless Veteran in the back alley that he befriended and…ah damn the kid's got a big heart but he freaked out when he went into his boss's office and the guy tried to close the door. I guess it brought back memories."

"What happened in the office Danny?"

"Jamie had ruined his shirt in our apartment fire and had to change in front of Kevin and I guess it brought back bad memories. So he wanted to quit but then he goes out and talks to George and feels guilty about leaving and tells his boss he wants to stay but he didn't tell him how he'd have to cut back hours and now..." Danny's voice pauses in his verbal tirade. "He'll call his boss tomorrow and tell him."

"He just needs the night to rest and he'll be okay by tomorrow."

"Yeah I hope so," Danny agrees as he follows Frank into his office. "Is Kevin dead?" Danny asks point blank as Frank leans back in his chair and looks at him squarely.

"Why do you ask?"

"That's a yes," Danny counters as Frank's eyebrows arch in amusement.

"What did you hear?"

"Nothing but I figured it's been a few days and that creep would want to make Jamie pay as much as possible and…"

"And no call from a low life lawyer so you assumed the worst."

"Am I right?"

"You are. Kevin is dead," Frank simply states. "I was going to wait to tell Jamie if he asked but I wasn't purposely trying to hide the truth."

"What happened?"

"He got a taste of his own medicine before he was beaten to death."

"Wh…oh…yuck. Beaten?"

"Apparently criminals have standards," Frank adds as Danny's jaw sets.

"I'm not sorry the bastard is dead. I'm sorry I didn't get to help. Did uh…Henry have something to do with it? You know maybe tell one of the guys what kind of guy Kevin really is and what he likes to do?"

"You'll have to ask him that."

"Good luck to me right? He'll never tell," Danny half smirks.

"Any good poker player knows when to hold…and when to fold. Jamie is safe and Kevin will never hurt him or anyone else ever again."

"That's a relief. What about the others?"

"Detective Rogers," Frank refers to the trusted officer that helped them bring down Sonny but was injured in the process, "found two…they each took their lives in unfortunate ways not long after. The other he's still trying to track down."

"What? Oh damn."

"I too wish we had known this earlier but sometimes these kinds of things will haunt you due to circumstances beyond your control. Rogers will find the third one, I have faith."

"I hope he's still alive," Danny exhales heavily. "So…any tough cases today that you can talk about?" He asks, delighting in talking about police work with the city's top cop but not wanting to think about Jamie's ordeal any longer. It did amaze him that he had access to the man at the top but it was something he never bragged about.

"One. Sit down and I'll tell you about it."

As soon as they got home, Jamie hurried to his room, his heart racing that his chest was actually starting to ache as soon as he entered his room and shut the door. Find the damn picture! Was the only task occupying his brain as he fishes through a few books and loose papers. "Where!" Jamie hisses as he finally finds the manila envelope and then pulls out the picture. His eyes widen in horror as he gazes upon his smiling face; his heart sinking further as his eyes drop to the list of names…left to right….alphabetical order….'Jamie Smith'. Sure the last name wasn't the same as their real family last name but his face…it's on the web….the PUBLIC FREAKING WEB! His mind yells as he tries to erase the image from his mind as he was slung over Danny's shoulder, looking up as he made eye contact with their father; a few seconds later the gun rising and a shot being fired.

Jamie's frame jerks in place as his eyes snap open and he looks back down at the picture. What if he saw…how would he see…do I tell Danny? You have to tell him! I'll get it removed tomorrow. He has the right to know! Maybe no harm will be done? TELL YOUR BROTHER!

Jamie quickly pulls his phone and then calls up Lucas's number. Should I bother him now? He can't do anything about it at home. Then he'll ask why and…tell him tomorrow…it can wait one more day. Next time pay attention! IT COULD MEAN YOUR LIFE!

Jamie slumps down onto the floor beside his bed, looking at his English textbook and telling himself he needs to get his homework done. But as he allows his mind to travel back in time, contemplating evil deeds of the past, his knees pull to his chest and hangs his head.

"Well that's what yo…." Frank pauses as he looks at Danny. Did I nearly say…your grandfather? Danny's not my son…he just…reminds me of Joe. "Henry would have done also."

"Sounds like I have a similar style to Henry."

"That's not always a good thing," Frank replies in haste as Danny looks at him in wonder, his eyes begging for a bit more of an explanation. "When he was a cop, pop got the job done just sometimes…"

"Sometimes your partner needs to look the other way while you kick the guy's….ass," Danny retorts as Frank's lips purse. "Or…not."

"Just learn the right way at the very start."

"I'll try," is all Danny can offer; knowing deep inside his less than stellar upbringing would always factor into how he approached things and would rather force an answer, by force if necessary, than waste time waiting for something that might never happen. Danny asks Frank a few more questions until Erin finally arrives home and Jamie reemerges from his bedroom; wanting to help with dinner instead of continuing to sulk in silence.

XXXXXXXX

The next day, Danny barely has time to bring the car to a halt before Jamie says bye in haste and hurries toward the school yard entrance; Danny watching in wonder. Since he had to work after school, Danny was able to give Jamie a ride but Jamie would be on his own for taking the bus afterward; something Jamie didn't object to. "Maybe he needs to study for a test," Danny mutters as he heads toward the college parking lot.

"Hey man…what the….when did you get this?" Danny asks as he walks up to Demarcus who was standing beside a new vehicle, a small, silver SUV. "Who'd you kill?"

"Ha ha," Demarcus deadpans as Danny peers into the interior. "Well?"

"Very nice. When'd you get it?"

"Last night. My old man helped me. Now we can do some serious off roading."

"You…off roading?" Danny snickers as Jackie walks up to them. "You don't even camp."

"I camp."

"Camp? Maybe outside Macy's on black Friday," Jackie adds as Danny laughs; Linda heading in their direction with another friend.

"And the back seats fold down."

"You are just hitting all the high notes," Danny slaps his friend on the back, Demarcus's dark eyes slightly narrowing.

"So you're gonna ask Kesha to go off roading and then get it on in the back of a small SUV?" Jackie looks at Demarcus with a small smirk as his dark skin slightly flushes.

"What, no one's on my side?"

"Well I like the idea about the seats folding back," Danny wags his brows at Linda who offers his arm a small slap. "What? At the uh…ballgame…you know tailgate…party?" Danny concludes weakly as Jackie laughs and Linda looks at him with an unamused expression before she too laughs. "Fine partner, I think I'm on your side."

"Finally!"

The small group lingers in the parking lot a bit longer, not really giving Demarcus much confidence in his lame off roading abilities but all of them liking the idea of a summer tail gate party and thinking that was something they could all embrace and enjoy doing; either at the beach, which was free or a real one outside Yankee Stadium. The plan was set. First, however, they had to graduate and then buy tickets to the game – whichever one they could all afford on the same day.

Danny heads toward the building, talking to Demarcus and Jackie about what it would be like to be NYPD candidates in the police academy and Linda starting her first year of nursing school.

Jamie races toward his locker, stopping short when he sees Anna waiting for him but Lucas nowhere in sight.

"Are you late for something?" She innocently inquires.

"Is Lucas here yet?" Jamie asks somewhat out of breath.

"I haven't seen him. What's going on?"

"Uh he uh…has something of mine that I need…for a class. I'll text him," Jamie replies as he gives her a somewhat sheepish smile and then pauses and looks up in defeat. "Sorry I should have said good morning first."

"I don't mind just rushing right into the day," she playfully retorts as his face warms. "How was work last night?"

Immediately his stomach flip flops and his heart sinks. Of course she didn't know; he had become a master of hiding his pain to anyone on the outside. He looked normal…acted somewhat normal and came across as every other seventeen year old. But I'm not normal…I'll never be normal again…never! "It was good," Jamie lies in haste as he looks back down at his phone. But it's not until Anna's hand rests on his that he looks up in wonder.

"Everything okay at home?"

Another innocent question but one that one again sets his heart madly thumping.

"Yes. I just need to find Lucas. I'm sorry. I'm just a bit distracted and trying to focus."

"Okay. I'll see you at lunch."

"Anna…"

"Hey I get it," she stops and looks at him with a friendly glance. "If my friend had something that was part of project that was due and they were missing I'd be freaking out also. I know how seriously you and Lucas take things. I'll see you at lunch."

"Okay."

Jamie watches her go and then looks back down at his phone and starts to frantically text his friend. 'Where are you?'

He keeps his phone in his open palm as he nervously paces in front of his locker, hoping and praying that Lucas was already on his way into the building. That hope would be dashed immediately.

'Hey I'm sick. Ate something bad last night. Sorry won't be in. Email me what I miss today. See you tomorrow.'

Jamie's lips utter a small growl as he shoves his phone into his pocket and then pulls his locker open and glares at the

picture of the scholarship winners. Okay one more day…food poisoning isn't that bad…he'll be okay tomorrow. With that Jamie grabs his books and hurries to class, hoping he can keep it together long enough to make it through until the final bell. But when he spies Carl in the distance watching him with a narrowed gaze he wonders if his plan would crumble and he'd really get into trouble.

For the most part, Jamie escapes the day without any physical altercation, priding himself on walking right past Carl and not even glancing in his direction when he hurled a few unsavory comments in the anxious teens direction. He's just a bully and it's not worth the fight! You're not Danny…just keep walking. Get on the bus, get home….do your homework and pray that Lucas is in tomorrow.

Jamie slumps down on the back bench of the bus and stares out the window in misery. Before he could just go to whatever divvy apartment they were living in and not worry about anyone else around him. But you wanted a family, his brain correctly reminds him. A single person isn't a family. Family's care about each other and do things to please the others and make them happy and work together….but all he could think of was Frank getting angry with him if he broke a curfew. Would he hit me? No…no he would never…what then? Grounded. For how long? And in what ways? And on it went, his mind racing in so many directions that by the time he's exiting the bus, his temples are pounding and he just wants to go to sleep. Until morning. That plan also wouldn't come to fruition.

"Wow you are quiet tonight," Ralph comments, prompting Danny to look up in wonder. "What's going on?"

"Final exams," Danny offers in truth. "We got the schedule today and I just…I'll have to talk to Rick about amending my schedule and then…damn then I start the academy full time in the fall and Frank Reagan showed me a mock schedule and…the workload during the day is tough but they also expect about three to four hours of homework almost every night and the nights they don't I might just want to sleep."

"Welcome to real life," Ralph slaps Danny on the back. "Well I have some news of my own."

"Another kid on the way?"

"No thank goodness," Ralph smirks. "I was accepted to the heavy duty mechanics part time program. It'll take a bit longer because it's part time but at least I can work here every night and still have some money and then my other job during the days I'm not in school. I'd like to work on the big trucks you know? Figured if I don't now I might never."

"Ah man that's great," Danny smiles as he pats Ralph on the back before the two of them get back to work. Danny thinks about what might change in the fall and knows that as much as he likes working here maybe he could get a few extra shifts at the gun range which would actually be helpful for his police career. However, the money at the warehouse was better as one shift was equal to about three at the range but of course taught him nothing important that would help with his schooling. But I need money. Frank didn't offer me any kind of monetary compensation and I don't want to ask but…but a small loan might…no…no loan's. We're not here for that. I'll just work extra shifts this summer and save up as much as I can and then I can cut back my hours here.

With that thought firmly cemented in his mind, Danny goes about the rest of his shift until break, when he pulls away and heads outside, wanting to call Jamie in the process.

"Did you call your boss?"

"I uh…I got busy with homework," Jamie's sheepish tone resounds in his ear.

"You have to call him otherwise you'll go to your shift tomorrow and he'll be screwed looking for a replacement and you'll be screwed if you're late!" Danny lightly snaps and then frowns as he rubs his face. "Sorry kid just things are just a bit stressed here."

"I'll call him right now."

"Okay."

Danny shoves his phone into his jacket and then heads toward the staff lunch room to have his dinner and continue the rest of his shift, his mind hoping Jamie would call his boss and get everything about his work straightened out.

XXXXXXXX

"Morning Jamie," Henry greets Jamie early the next morning as Jamie looks up with a tense smile. "I see you conquered the washing machine last night."

"Was odd not looking for the quarter's slot," Jamie lightly retorts as Henry offers him a small chuckle.

"You okay about going back to work? Would have been no shame in quitting," Henry remarks as Jamie pauses in his breakfast making actions and looks up at Henry with a soft gaze. "Danny told us about George. I know you have a big heart kid but putting yourself in further mental distress for a stranger shouldn't be a factor," Henry tries to reason.

"I want to help him. Doesn't seem like anyone else cares."

Henry looks at Jamie and can only offer a tender look of affection at the young man with a heart as big as the world. Most of his life he had been told by his brother and learned by painful life experience to stay away from strangers; that you can't be kind to a stranger without them wanting something in return. Then along comes the Reagan's and suddenly Jamie starts to wonder about trust…was it possible to open up to someone and not have to give up something in return. The Reagan's showed him it could be done but then maybe it's possible with more. He tried with Kevin and paid a very heavy emotional price. During his wanting to believe Kevin, he befriended this man George. Kevin burned his trust; George somehow had earned it and now was keeping it. How could he tell Jamie to stop trusting strangers again…to not trust his own gut instinct in an effort to protect the young man, for whom he had such affection, from further harm. He couldn't. Henry knows this.

"Just be careful," Henry adds in a kind tone, putting Jamie's agitated frame somewhat at ease.

"What happened to Kevin?" Jamie wonders innocently.

"Kevin…" Henry's voice trails off as his mind thinks back to that Saturday night when he stole out under the cover of darkness, heading for the prison lock up facility.

'What the hell do you want?' An angry voice had demanded Henry as Henry walked up to the single occupant cell.

'Just want to talk.'

'Talk. Yeah right. Why the hell would I want to talk to you? Unless…'

'I can't get you out early.'

'Then piss off I'm busy.'

'You can jack off later,' Henry snapped his tone stern and full of business, making the hardened felon look up with a small sneer. 'We need to talk.'

After the discussion was over Henry headed back out into the night, justifying in his mind that what he did was for the good of his family – all his family and he'd be damned if he just stood by and watched…or worse let it happen when there was something he could do. And there was something he could do. And he did. And it worked. And he was satisfied.

"Kevin…died in jail."

"What? How?" Jamie asks in haste.

"He pissed off the wrong people," Henry replies matter of factly.

"What did he…"

"You don't want to know the details. I know you think you do, but trust me you don't. He's gone and that's all you need to worry about; he'll never hurt anyone ever again. Now is that coffee ready?"

"Just about," Jamie replies, taking the hint to drop the subject; reasoning that Henry was doing this for his good and maybe he didn't need the rest of the details as he was still having trouble erasing Kevin completely from his thoughts. Danny finally stumbles into the room to get his breakfast and soon the conversation turns to school related topics; Henry having it no other way.

On the way to school Danny tells Jamie about his new dilemma and reminds him that he's not the only one that would have to make a few changes and that he might have to rearrange his schedule for the summer which would mean less time for fun but would help out monetarily in the long run.

"I can change my schedule to daytime also," Jamie pipes up as they near the high school yard. "I mean we can't really impose on all the Reagan's summer plans right?"

"That's right. We still should make our own and…" Danny pauses as he notices Carl watching them. "Is that clown still giving you trouble?"

"Not really," Jamie looks over and then back at Danny with a shrug. "He said a few things the other day but I just ignore him. So what are we going to do about summer holidays?"

"Let's worry about exams first and then goofing off later."

"Okay."

Jamie waves bye to Danny and then hurries into the school yard, briefly glancing over at Carl who tosses a small object in his direction. But he doesn't care. He was on a mission to find Lucas and get that picture removed.

"Hey Lucas!" Jamie rushes up to Lucas when he finally finds him by the entrance way to the library.

"Hey Anna said you were looking for me in a big panic yesterday."

"S-she did?" Jamie asks with some embarrassment.

"Yeah. Everything okay?"

"Remember that picture of us on scholarship day?"

"You didn't get yours?" Lucas asks as he pushes his dark glasses a bit further up the bridge of his nose.

"No no I did but I need you to take it down off the web!' Jamie blurts out in haste, not realizing that the damage had already been done and was in the process of summoning the devil.

"What? Why? Trust me it was a good picture," Lucas insists.

"You said you put it on the public web right?"

"Yes but…"

"Please Lucas just…I need…maybe you can take me out?"

"What's going on?"

"I just can't have that picture on the web. It can't be seen," Jamie pleads in desperation.

"How about just our school's website?"

"Can you just take me out?"

"Are you in trouble?"

"I just need it taken down."

"It's only been up a day or two."

"Please?"

Lucas looks at his friend and frowns before slowly nodding. "I know you'd do it for me."

"I would you know that."

"Okay, let's get to the lab. I can get into our net from there and just remove it."

"Thank you. I owe you one," Jamie comments as he walks beside his friend down the somewhat quiet corridor until they enter the even quieter computer lab. Jamie slightly hovers over Lucas's shoulder, watching in rapt fascination as he enters the password that brings up the school's public website.

Jamie's heart rate starts to gain momentum as he tries to erase his father's snarling face. At least it wasn't up for very long. I'm sure no one's seen it!

His reasoning would prove false.

XXXXXXXX

~Somewhere in Cleveland~

It had been his routine for the past decade, every night he'd upload both images into the facial age progression program to see what they'd look like now and then he'd send out his net bots in search of any images that even came close to the ones that belonged to either Daniel or Jamison.

For the past 3,652 days or thereabouts his search had come up dry. Nothing. A failure. But that luck was about to change. Today. Today he'd get lucky. Today he'd be able to finally fulfill his devious promise to an evil friend.

He looks away as he finishes his coffee, tossing the leftover bits into the nearest trash bin and waves to the last coworker before silence engulfs him. Silence that is broken a few seconds later by a very distinct "beep"

"What the…hell…" the low male voice hisses as he looks at the three fateful words on his computer screen: '1 result found.'

"Oh my…god…" he whispers as he reaches for the phone and dials a number on the western seaboard of the United States. "I think...I found them."

A/N: Ah you knew it was coming right? Or at least the start of their father finally finding them. But before that had build up a few other things. I hope you liked a few school things for our boys and another cameo from George. But Jamie is making some hasty decisions. Will the person his boss called show up? are some more growing pains coming? And yes Kevin is gone. But no one's sorry right? And had to get some sweet and angsty broments in there for our boys and hope you liked a mix of a bit of everything in here. Please do review before you go and thanks so much!