Chapter Eleven

Disclaimer: I don't own Higher Ground characters. I do own Kristin, Lynn, Steven and Robert Maddox, I own Ashley, Adam Holbrook and Brandon Carson. I own Jason McGarmie and all other non-Higher Ground related characters.

If you would like to use them please contact me at Kbrfield@cs.com, IM me at Kbrfield or just give simple credit to "Kristyn", "ACROX2001" or Kbrfield@cs.com. Thank you.

Do you think adding Brandon was a good idea? Or does it just complicate the story? If you don't like it review and I'll think about tkaing him out...this story IS for you, after all, although I LOVE writing it!

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Brandon slept in the den until Sophie could get a bed in her apartment. "So what's the info about him?" Peter asked Sophie while Brandon slept. "Peter, he's not one of the kids, you don't have to beg for information!" Sophie said sharply. "Whoa, what's wrong with you?" "I'm sorry, Peter. I'm a little stressed on the whole situation with Kristin and now him-what was that look for?" She demanded seeing Peter's face kind of scrunch up at the name 'Kristin'. "Well, her dad is *kind of* coming tomorrow and she is *kind of* frantic." Peter said. "What do you mean her dad is *kind of* coming?" "What do you think it means?" "How?" "I kind of suggested it. I mean, maybe it will get her to tell, or...I don't know. We have to update him and I wanted to talk to him and he was only off tomorrow. I won't let him take her anywhere." "Peter, you know you can't stop him. If he wants to take her out to lunch you have to ket him. What'd she do?" "She ran but I caught up with her. She was hysterical." "Well, I thought you knew what was going on. Your conclusion was he's abusing her." "Yeah but I think there's something else. Her teacher touched her hand and she went crazy. Remember when she mentioned Steven?" "What do you think?" "Maybe he's abusing her, to. But if he doesn't come we won't be anywhere. If he does, maybe we'll get somewhere, maybe we won't. It's worth a try." "Peter..." "Can we just drop the subject? I mean all's we've talked about is Kristin for 3 days. I mean, we need to talk and all, but not 24-7. Let's talk about Shorty over there." He said, motioning to the blonde little boy, lightly snoring on the couch. He always calls his 6-year-old nephew Chris Shorty. "Well, he's 4. He has a brother, Damon whose 12. He's with my sister and her kids. He's in kindegarten, he's a pretty smart little kid. I guess maybe I can arrange a bus...this isn't a good arrangement." She said and shook her head. "Maybe we can work something out. Your apartment is closer to the town where the school is and that'd be better than requesting a bus to come to the woods." "Yeah I guess. Hopefully her parents will wisen up." "Yeah. Why do they want to give them up temporarily anyway?" "They just wanted a vacation. God my brother is such an idiot. He has always been like this. I was scared when Damon was born and then when they had Brandon I gave up on the idea of them ever abondoning them. When he was a kid, if he didn't like something or it was boring he would give it up right away. My mom was scared, to. Her first thing she said to them when they told her they were pregnant was 'if you give up that kid I'll kill you, Mark!' SHe wasn't playing." Sophie said and sighed. "I've only seen him twice before this. And we live so close, his parents were never home. They were always at parties, so...the last time I saw him was hwen he was 3. He had green eyes then and his hair was light brown. I guess it changed, but I'm thinking his parents dyed it to make him look like Damon. He looked like our mother, and after that threat..." "Well, I think we'd better go to bed. He'll be okay. We've got a loonngg day ahead of us."

They went to bed, but Peter wouldn't help but wonder what was going to happen tomorrow. What Soph said was right-he couldn't just stop her dad from taking her out if he wanted to, even if he set a time limit he had a feeling something was going to go wrong...



***THe next day-12:00 PM***

"You nervous?" Peter asked Kristin, who was sitting on the step next to him. She grunted. She was still mad at him. "Listen, I wanted to take it back, but I have to update it and whatever is bothering you is not going to get better with him away and you worrying." She grunted again. "Kristin..." She tensed up as she saw the car that was driving up. "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME STEVEN WAS COMING!" She cried, wanting to run that moment. "I-I- didn't know!" He said, remembering how she had yelled for him to stop doing whatever he was doing in her dream. It was terrifying. Steven stepped out first. He was strong-built, around 6'2 and 180 pounds. He had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. His hair was spiky and he was wearing jeans and a Carolina Basketball T-Shirt. Her dad then stepped out. He didn't appear to be drunk, but who knew? He had light brown hair and green eyes. He didn't look half-bad, but he was a monster in Kristin's opinion. She walked over there timidly. "Hey, dad, Steven." She said softly. "Come give your old dad a hug." He said. Peter walked over there, also. She hugged him but winced slightly as his hands wrapped around her bruises. Steven hugged her and rubbed her back a little. "Don't do that." She said softly but Peter could hear her. "Well, why don't we come to my office?" Peter asked after some introductions were done. Sophie jogged up with Brandon in tow. "Oh, Steven, this is Sophie, and this is her nephew, Brandon." "Hi-hi!" Brandon said, flopping his hand upside down. "Hi, Steven, nice to meet you." Sophie said, remembering Peter and her conversation earlier. "Hi, Sophie, hi Brandon." "Would it be okay with everyone if maybe Brandon sat in the corner while we talked? I don't want him wondering off. I bought him some coloring books and crayons, so he should be quiet." "Okay." Everyone answered. "Yay!" Brandon cheered. "Remember, Brandon, you've got to be quiet." "I know."

Everyone was seeted. Her dad and Steven were sitting where students usually sit. Sophie and Peter were by each other and Kristin was sitting on the other side of Peter. Brandon was next to Steven. "Well, you know about some of the trouble, right, Mr. Maddox?" Peter asked. "Yes." He said coldly, sending a look that sent chills down kristin's back to her. "Well, she has been in 2 fights. One with a Tracker, a 14-year-old, and one with a girl from her own group, a 16-year-old, Shelby. She also seems to have bruises and a lot of nightmares." "Where are you getting at?" He demanded angrily. "I was just wondering if you knew anything about them?" "How the he-" Brandon looked up with a smirk on his face. "You were about to say a bad word!" He howled. "Sorry, kiddie," He said and shook his head. Damn kids-Kristin was just like that, except he had the legal right to reach out and slap her one good one. "I was just wondering, if you could have possibly done it, or maybe a friend or sibling or someone?" "No. Probably from fights. Have you seen the brats record?" "Yes..." "Thank you." "What about the nightmares?" "I had a night mare, it was about a girl being hi-" Brandon said but was cut off by Sophie. "Brandon, if you don't be quiet..." "Okay, okay!" He muttered. She wasn'tkidding when she said he's one smart kid. Peter told himself. "I don't know about her nightmares, I don't sleep with the kid. In fact, my room is farthest from her by choice. She plays her little music all night. 'People all around you got to-" "HEY!" She cried.



"Well, we aren't getting anywhere. What else do you teaches need?" "Well... We just needed to give you an update." "Can I take my kid out? To lunch or something?" He asked. Kristin's eyes widened. "Umm...it's up to Kristin.If you do, please have her back by 8:30. It's not a school night but when kids go out with their parents we need to have a time limit." "Whatever. You wanna come?" He asked. "S-S-Sure..." She muttered, knowing there was no way out.







What's going to happen?