Okay, here's chapter three. Thak for all the wonderful reviews! Lot's of angst in this one. And we finally get to see things from Todd's POV!!!!! Yay!
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Bruder Nicht Mehr- Separating A Family
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Lance sighed quietly as he watched Pietro walk back and forth across the room, cursing angrily. The white-haired boy had been pacing and swearing for the past ten minutes, saying words that Lance had never imagined he knew, let alone heard him say. Lance knew how he felt. He wanted nothing more than to scream in anger and bring the building tumbling down around them. This was worse than he could have possibly imagined.
They were going to be put in temporary foster homes while the court and Social Services decided whether or not they could live on their own. They would have to appear at the hearing and the judge would make a decision based on evidence about their capability to live on their own. The worst thing about the foster homes was that they were separate. They were being split up. And if the court decided they were not capable, the homes would be permenent.
Lance looked down over at Todd, who was sitting a few seats away from him. Ever since the woman, Ms. Brown, had told them about the foster homes, Todd had seemed to go into shock. He hadn't moved, spoken, nothing. Just sat there and stared. He appeared to be the most affected, while Fred was the least. Freddy had just been quiet for a moment, then asked if there was anywhere he could get a snack. Lance had been appalled at his lack of caring.
He moved over to the seat next to Todd and put an arm around the younger boy's slim shoulders. Todd didn't move. Lance was starting to get worried. "Todd?" Silence. "Todd." He repeated, shaking his friend slightly. Todd slowly looked up.
Lance was taken aback at the lifelessness in Todd's eyes. The boy was completely out of it. Todd turned his face away again and Lance sighed. He gradually notice the lack of cursing and looked towards Pietro, who was now sitting slouched over in one of the chairs.
The speed demon blew his bangs out of his eyes and glanced over at Lance. "How could they do this to us? How could they know?" Something ignitied in him at the last question and he sprang to his feet, shouting, "Who did this? Who told them?"
"Pietro! Sit down!" Lance hissed, motioning for him to keep it down. Pietro shoulder's slumped and he sat down again. "I'm sorry. I...it's just...I..." Lance nodded. "I know, man. I know."
The door to the adjoining room opened and Ms. Brown came out, along with three others. "Boys, it's time to go. This is Mr. Cast, Mrs. Williams, and Ms. Wing. We will each be taking you to your foster homes. Mr. Alvers, come with me.' Lance stood and began to follow the woman as she walked only to halt immediately at the sound of his name.
He spun around to see Todd now standing and staring at him fearfully. "Lance..." he whispered again, his soft voice sounding tortured and full of panic. Lance bit his lip and started to go to his friend when he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. It was Ms. Brown. "Mr. Alvers." She started to pull him along with her. Pietro was being held back in a simaler manner. Fred was nowhere to be seen. Lance saw once of the social workers grab hold of Todd's arm and try to pull him in the opposite direction.
As soon as the man's hand made contact with his arm, it was as if someone had touched a bare wire inside of Todd. He let out a gutteral sound of terror and pulled away from the man, falling to his knees and bending over, clutching his head and shaking. "No, no...no, no, no...Lance...Pietro...no." he choked out, starting to hyperventilate. Lance could only watch, torn apart inside, as the social worker pulled him away. Away from his friends, his brothers.
Away from the only true family he'd ever known.
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That evening...
Todd sat quietly on the bed of the room they'd given him. He'd been in here ever since that social worker guy, Mr. Cast, had brought him to the house. The foster parents, Mr. And Mrs. Willis, had seemed nice enough, but Todd knew from experience that was just for show. Once the social workers were gone and you began to trust them, that's when the real horror began. Todd had seen it. Been through it. Of course, they probably wouldn't do anything until after the trial. Safer for them that way. Todd shuddered. He didn't want to go through that again. But he ahd no choice.
He had felt so betrayed when he'd pleaded for Lance and Lance hadn't helped him. Knowing that he was once again alone with his horrors had felt like being stabbed through the heart. He'd thought that they were brothers. He'd thought they cared. Know he knew. He knew the truth.
And it was a more lonely truth than he'd ever imagined.
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Sorry for the lack of Pietro in this particular chapter. There will be lots of him in the next. I probably won't be doing very much (if any) Freddy, so sorry to anyone who cares. This is going to focus on Lance, Pietro, and Todd. (Poor Todd. :( ) And there will be plenty more angst and emotional trauma. Review! (And thanks for all the positive reviews so far!)