A\N: Alright, so this chapter may not be my best work and I do apolgizie. I found writing a dead letter storyline harder than I had anticipated even though I brainstormed and did research. I attempted to wrap up the dead letter storyline in this chapter while writing about something I was more comfortable with. This chapter got re-written five times between yesterday and today and I just couldn't come up with the right storyline for the dead letter, Even watching SSD didn't;t help. I am a little disappointed in myself but also proud that I was able to get something written . As always I do like constrictive criticism.

Disclamier: I don't own SSD or any of the characters. i just own Ellie and the O'Toole children.

Warnings: None

Spoilers: None


Chapter 31

When Shane, Rita and Ellie got back to the DLO Ellie slowly explained to Oliver and Norman why finding the letters had made her upset. Shane started a search for Olivia on her computer, but Ellie wasn't sure whether she wanted Shane to be able to find Oliva, if she did, she wouldn't know what to say to her old friend.

"So," Shane finished loading up her search and walked up to Oliver's desk, "If Olivia is in Sweden do you think the Section Leader will let us all go to Sweden? It is the mission of the DLO to deliver every letter personally," Shane's reminded him.

"Unfortunately, Shane I think Sweden would be a little out of the way," He informed his wife. He wished he could tell her about what he was planning for her Christmas present, but he knew not everything was in place yet.

"Yeah but it would be fun," Shane smiled, just then her cell phone rang. As she looked at the caller ID, she knew it wouldn't be good news. She stepped into the hallway to take the call.

Meanwhile Ellie walked over to Shane's computer and saw an option to add more search criteria, "Do you think Shane would mind if I changed this a little? I know what Ellie's mother's maiden name was. It was so hard to pronounce and so unusual it sticks out."

"I am sure she would be fine with any assistance you can provide," Oliver responded.

Ellie added some more search criteria and then went back to sorting out letters into different piles.

"Oliver," Shane walked back into the DLO, "The boy's school just called, Lucas and Matthew were involved in a fight. Lucas is alright, apparently, he was sticking up for Matthew, Matthew's alright. The school want 's us to come down to talk to the junior school headmaster about the incident and Lucas' punishment."

Oliver placed his pen down slowly and looked up at his wife. He was not sure what to think about what he had just been told. He was not impressed his sons had been involved in a fight but happy that Lucas stood up for his brother. Standing up he got his and Shane's coats off the coat rack, "Then I guess we better go to the school."

Shane and Oliver arrived at the Denver Hill Academy nor really knowing what to expect. They were instructed by a secretary they needed to wait for the headmaster to finish talking to other parents. When they asked where Lucas and Matthew were, they were told they were currently in their respective classes but would be brought into the meeting with the headmaster.

The headmaster of the Junior school Mr. Jones walked out of his office with another set of parents watched them leave, he then turned to Oliver and Shane, "Mr. and Mrs. O'Toole, thank you for coming down to speak to me," He led them into his office, "Judy can you play go and get Matthew and Lucas O'Toole for me?" He asked one of the secretaries at the front desk.

"Of course." The secretary nodded her head and then left.

Mr. Jones closed the door to his office and sat down behind his desk, "Please sit down," He motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk, "Now I want to ensure you we take bullying very seriously here. The boys who hurt Matthew have been punished and teachers will be talked to as well. Unfortunately, I do have to punish Lucas as well, he started hitting one of the boys that was hitting Matthew. I understand he was just trying to protect his brother, but our rules have to apply to everyone."

"We understand," Shane said, even though she wasn't quite sure she did understand. They had never been told of any bullying problems between Matthew and other boys before and had she and Oliver known they would have talked to both Lucas and Matthew about bullying. "Is this the only incident of bullying between Matthew and these other boys?"

"I believe so, from what I've gather from his teacher it seems like some of the boys in his class are better at playing ball hockey. When the boys didn't let him play. They said he played 'like a girl' he started to cry which made some of the boys laugh. That's when Lucas came and started hitting and punching the boys. It was quickly broken up by the teachers, but the other boys have bruises on their faces."

The door open and Matthew and Lucas were escorted in by the secretary who then closed the door as she left. "Matthew, Lucas, come over here," Mr. Jones motioned as he stood up, "I was just talking to your parents, why don't you come and join us," He pulled up two chairs beside Oliver and Shane's. "Why don't you both tell us about what happened at afternoon recess. You first Matthew."

"I like playing ball hockey," Matthew began, "But sometimes I don't score or pass right. I usually play with Lucas, but Lucas wasn't playing. Christopher said I played like a girl. That's a mean thing to say. I was going to tell him to stop but Lucas came and started hitting him."

"Alright, thank you Matthew, "Mr. Jones nodded, "Lucas, please explain why you hit your peer."

"He was hurting Matthew!" Lucas exclaimed, "Matthew was crying! He's a big bully anyway. He deserved that black eye."

"Lucas," Oliver spoke slowly trying very carefully to choose the right words, "You know violence is neve the answer. You could have told a teacher what you'd seen or gone over just to comfort your brother. You giving anyone a black eye is not something I want to smiling about. This is a serious incident. Do you understand? Whatever punishment Mr. Jones gives you; your mother and I will also be punishing you; and talking to you about other options instead of fighting"

"Yes," Lucas nodded his head. He'd accepted already he'd be punished for what he did. He still wasn't sure why though. He was trying to help his brother.

"Lucas," Mr. Jones looked at the five-year-old, "Fighting at school is very serious. I don't want this to become a pattern. Tomorrow you will join your peers in a morning empathy class taught our school social worker. With this I hope you'll learn that there are other ways to stand up for your brother."

"Yes Sir," Lucas replied.

When Shane and Oliver arrived back at the DLO they saw Rita and Norman leaving the office, "Your computer search came up with the same of Ellie's old friend," Rita told Shane as she smiled, "She lives in Sweden so Ellie is going to video conference her, she was nervous so Norman and I said we'd step out. We were going to go to Ramon's Bistro. Want to come?"

"Sure," Shane smiled, "I think a break would be nice."

TBC


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Up Next: It's Christmas! Both Oliver and Shane have a surprise, what could they be?