Thanks to everyone who read. As always, reviews are appreciated.


"Stop. Look at me, please."

It was an order not a request, however Alex had phrased it, and it was about the last thing that Jamie wanted to do, but he'd already gotten himself into enough trouble for one day. And all the nap he'd taken had done was made him more tired, if that was even possible. He lifted his eyes.

Whatever Alex read in Jamie's expression made his lips tighten. "When did you last eat? Breakfast?"

Jamie shrugged and returned his gaze to the concrete. It wasn't an answer, and Alex was probably going to yell at him again, but the real answer wasn't going to do him any favors either. Yesterday's lunch at school hadn't had much worth saving—nothing that had lasted past dinner—and he'd used up all the expired packs of crackers at the station last weekend.

Alex sighed. "Not breakfast either, then. Come with me."

Jamie's head jerked up. "What?"

"I'm not sure what's open today, but there's bound to be something. Let's go find some lunch."

That…. Jamie blinked. He wasn't sure what that was. Well, not supposed to happen, definitely. Alex didn't like him on good days; he sure as hell didn't offer to get him food.

"Come on," Alex repeated, taking a step backwards. One foot stepped off the curb but rather than looking annoyed as his foot landed in water, he went white and a look of pure pain crossed his face as he stumbled backwards.

"Alex!"

Jamie had enough presence of mind to grab Alex's arm before he could fall, but rather than stabilizing all of the color drained from his face and he lurched forwards this time, one hand clapping across his mouth. It was the universal sign for about-to-throw-up, and Jamie moved out of the way as best he could without letting go because he wasn't too sure that Alex was going to be able to stay upright on his own. He really did not look good.

"Shit," Alex said quietly as he finally straightened again, one hand scrubbing at his mouth.

"Alex?" Jamie asked cautiously, releasing his arm and stepping back. "What's wrong?" It had been more dry heaves than anything else, but Jamie knew full well that those weren't pleasant, and he wasn't sure that he'd ever heard Alex swear before. "Oh." Common sense finally caught up with him as he recognized that they were standing in freezing cold rain. Apparently he was already so wet that he wasn't even noticing it anymore. "Your back?"

"My back I'm used to." He sighed. "I could really do without the migraine, though."

Jamie winced in sympathy. Migraines weren't one of his usual problems, those was allergies and asthma, thanks, and even if they'd told him that he'd outgrow the latter it hadn't happened yet, but he'd had a few and they pretty much sucked. "You don't need to eat, you need to sleep." Not that Alex wouldn't already know that.

"And you need to be somewhere that isn't a bus stop," Alex returned. "As of now you haven't told me where that is."

Sure he had. It just happened to be nowhere. Even if it wasn't useful, it was still true. "I'll be fine. Really," Jamie said. He might not like talking about the situation, but it wasn't like it was anything new. "I can take care of myself. I'm used to it."

"You're sixteen, and I am not leaving you here. End of discussion."

He tilted his head, and Jamie wasn't sure what he thought of the calculating expression in his eyes. Well, he thought that Alex made him nervous, but that was nothing new either.

"Straight answer," Alex said. "Is anyone expecting you anywhere this afternoon?"

Jamie shook his head despite himself.

"All right. Come on." He stepped back, more carefully this time. "You need food, and I need sleep, and I know of one place where both of those things can happen."

Jamie hesitated.

"Now, Jamie."

Jamie wanted to refuse, but it wasn't like there were a lot of other options. Not beyond starting the hike back to Kenny's, anyway. Assuming that Alex would even allow it, which Jamie kind of suspected that he wouldn't, and it would be a cold day in Hell before Jamie told Alex about him—or why he didn't want to go back there—never mind ask Alex to take him down into that neighborhood. He climbed in on the passenger side when Alex indicated and waited for Alex to get in as well.

The heater came on as soon as Alex turned the car on, and Jamie started to shiver belatedly. Apparently it had been colder out than he'd realized. "It'll warm up in a minute," Alex said.

Jamie nodded.

"Where have you been sleeping if not your foster parent's place?"

"Kenny's mostly." And apparently so much for not talking about that. He shrugged. "He's a friend. Usually."

"Is he going to miss you?"

Jamie shook his head and pressed himself closer to the window, and thankfully Alex didn't push. "Where are we going?" he asked after a minute. It was probably something that he should have asked before getting in, but it wasn't like it would have changed anything.

"Home. Mine."

That was enough to make Jamie jerk his head around, eyes going wide. It was weird enough for Alex to offer food, never mind—

"It's that or you think of a safe place for me to drop you off," Alex said, cutting him off before Jamie could object. "This is not a day for you to be wandering around outside."

Jamie wanted to argue, but if he had a better option he'd already be there. He shook his head again, curling back against the window.