Chapter Two

Small Hands and Feet

DivineAngel

_________Present Date_________

Mmmm, she thought to herself. Her long sigh admitting as if she had something delicious tucked away. Though she didn't know why, she had suddenly gotten the strongest urge for a vanilla cake with a thick cream frosting, she had. Sounds delicious she thought to herself, her large mocha eyes opening softly as she felt him move. The thin strains of her deep raven hair coming into focus in the blue warmth around her, feeling the figure again shift in her arms. Her smooth hand moving it's grip lightly, running over the deep strong scar of the outlaw as he started gaining consciousness again.

Cake, he thought, his eyes slowly opening as he drifted from his memories quickly before becoming alert and then relaxing. Feeling the warm smooth sweetness roll over him, he knew where he was instantly. His dark eyes glancing towards the front of the glass, peering out at the slightly warped image of the cockpit to the Outlaw Star. His unruly red hair moving gently before stopping over his eyes as he grinned looking at the sheet of metal that had been politely leaned against the bottom half of the navigational tube, his mind chuckling lightly catching the eleven year old patch of dirty blonde hair slouching in the seat of the cockpit sleeping.

"Do you feel alright now Gene?" the soft voice immerged from behind him. The sweet smooth arms of her around him as she squeezed him gently, rubbing her head ever so lightly into his back with care.

"Yeah, I think you did it Mel." he heard himself think back to her, the warm smile spreading over his face as he felt her love radiating towards him from behind.

"I didn't do anything Gene." she giggled lightly, her small finger flicking him gently, listening to the small laugh that immerged from his mind.

"Are we broadcasting?" he chuckled, the dark eyes watching the blonde hair sit up in the cock pit glancing around before turning around to face them, awakening to the sounds of their voices.

"Ooops." he heard her giggle as he grinned, feeling her humor as he watched the dark black gloves of his partner now rubbing their face in exhaustion.

"Your lucky this thing doesn't pick up all my thoughts." he teased lightly feeling her small playful pinch as he laughed. Her smooth skin shifting it's weight behind him gently as she accessed part of the computer.

"Your such a scumbag." the dark eyes shot at the frowning blue eyes now glaring at him from outside the glass as its voice radioed in. "Now get out of there! We have to fix the ship!" they ordered, the light growling just reaching into the calm blue of her controls, making the outlaw grin that much wider. The agitation of the younger blonde that much more as the outlaw grinned before he jumped out of the chair and stomped past the tube scowling.



"Whatcha yelling for Jimmy?" the light hair purred watching the patch of blonde hair stomp into the small kitchen. Her bright eyes watching him groan a sigh as he sunk into the bench next to her. Her bright eyes looking from him, back down at the bandage she was rapping around her upper arm. The sweet taste of her own blood sliding over her tongue as she licked it out of her fur, glancing back up at him as he started muttering something.

"That sleezball is just in there playing with Melfina." the blue eyes spit bitterly leaning onto the table exhausted. "Wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't as hurt as he let on." he growled before looking up at her, watching her only smile at him.

"Your being paranoid." she squeaked lightly, tring to suppress her light laughter as he moved to sit on top of the table in front of her, handing her more disinfectant.

"Huh." he spit, his agitated tone mocking her comment, before lightening slightly as she nudged him snickering. "We'll see how paranoid I am when we loose our last two engines." the blue eyes muttered sourly watching her press the light cotton to her wound. Letting the potent alcohol seep in as she read the small label to the gel she would soon apply, ignoring the sting.

It really was an accident they had run into the McDougal Brothers, and without Suzuka there it was just the four of us, he thought now watching her drop the cotton. I should have done more, his mind growled bitterly, distinctly remembering dragging Melfina back to the ship under Gene's orders. Only he and Aisha stayed to fight, but it was an unfair fight even with Aisha on our side, he frowned.

"Hello you two." they both looked up watching the smiling raven hair of the bioandroid walk into the kitchen. Picking up her soft pink apron as she sat down. "How are you?" she looked slightly concerned.

"Good." the bright eyes squeaked snickering as she watched the bioandroid sit down. "And how are you..*two*..Melfina?" she smiled watching the brilliant mocha eyes glance away lightly as the sweet smile spread over the smooth skin.

"Fine...now." she almost whisphered, watching the bright eyes just snicker, smiling at her. Her mocha eyes sighing heavily as her mouth opened for an excuse before they looked up at the opening door.

"What!" the outlaw shot suddenly annoyed, his dark eyes snapping directly at the blonde hair. "All that nagging and your sitting here! I thought you said we lost two engines!" he shot watching the blue eyes glare at him lightly growling.

"I did! Ron shot us good Gene. I am surprised Gilliam didn't kick you out of that tub." The blonde hair grinned at him annoyed as it pushed past into the dark hall. The scarred face watching slightly un-entertained before fallowing. How exhausting was this going to be. First the McDougals, now Gilliam.

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"Jim?' he grinned down at the blonde hair inside the engine. Watching the dirty eyes look up at him from where they were working. "Did you eat my gram crackers?" He watched the blue eyes groan at him lightly, they couldn't afford gram crackers.

"Gene when are we landing?" His dark eye sighed lightly, thinking about that.

"The sooner we fix the engines, the sooner we land." He did a soft shrug, glaring down at the wires he was connecting slowly, but only because they had to be connected that way. "Where do you think your going?" He frowned slightly, watching the blonde hair start squirming back out of the large electronic.

"Ahh it's 11:30. I am sick of this and besides." The blonde hair grinned. "I am done. It's fixed."

"It's not running is it." His dark eyes gave an exhausted slump as they slyly spit their sentence.

"Those aren't connected are they?" The blue eyes grinned at him watching him make a face. "Gene come on." The blue eyes frowned at him slightly, watching him continue to connect the wires and ignore him. Blue eyes studying the nicked up outlaw, but nothing was too severe. The ship and Aisha were probably the worse off out of all of them.

He glanced up snapping the blonde hair a hard frown. It hadn't left when he told him to. It had hid Mel, moved her out of danger but stayed. "Your lucky Mel isn't hurt." He frowned down at the wires, blue eyes just shifting their weight. They felt guilty.

"How can you expect me to just go when they blasting missiles Gene!" The blonde hair shoved him suddenly, watching the dark eyes look up at him.

"I expect you to back me up." He frowned watching the blonde hair frown back at him.

"Well how far do you want me to back up?! Cause the ship was two miles away!" The blue eyes frowned at him. That wasn't backing up, that was staying clear. Gene wouldn't let him fight.

"And next time it could be two feet away!" the unruly hair gave him a look shoving the connected wires back into the wall. "The point is Jim." The dark eyes gave him an annoyed look, watching the blue eyes stand up straight and look at him. "You go to the ship when I tell you or your going to get blasted."

"Errr" He growled lightly at the unruly color that spoke matter o' factly. As if he couldn't dodge a bullet. "I am still here aren't I? I shot him didn't I!?" The dark eyes turned around to his pleas. Commented points of strength, but they were pleas to be allowed in. "Ahh!" the blonde hair yelled at him as he pulled it forwards. His scarred hands snapping at the greased shirt, pulling it up. "Ahh Gene get off me!" The blue eyes kicked hard as he hung on before letting go of the light skin and holding onto just the shirt. Watching the blonde hair pull back fast, taking it off for him as it backed up. Blue eyes heaving at him upset.

"That glass could have stabbed right threw. Your lucky it only cut you" The dark eyes frowned at him, tossing the shirt back at him. Blue eyes glaring at his face as they caught it, pulling it back on over the bandages covering his back where the shards of glass had flow into him during the explosion. "Come on....It's no big deal." The unruly color grinned suddenly, nudging the light shoulder as the blonde hair look away, disgusted. "I am going to bed." He grinned, chuckling his statement lightly as he started for the hall again. Leaving the engines, tools and blonde hair behind him until his deep. "Sleep here if you want then." Chuckled back, listening to the blonde hair start fallowing, walking along side of him silently before heading for his room.

Stupid Gene had a point this time, as much as he hated it. It had stung bad when Mel cleaned his cuts out because he couldn't reach them himself. He had also thought about how the glass could have stabbed him, but they hadn't. He wasn't stabbed, it was no different from Gene not being shot when he could have been. "Jim?" He glanced up at the soft raven hair leaning into the small metal walled room and bunk that was his on the ship. Her mocha eyes just offering him a smile. She had come to ask him if he wanted any more anesthetic but had caught him just standing still in the middle of his room. Looking ahead lightly, from where he had stopped walking and stated thinking hard.

"I am ok." He flashed her a small smile. She had been next to hysterical when the glass hit him, because by then the blood had soaked well into his shirt. He had pulled her two miles to the ship before stopping to swear at how stupid he was, and how stupid Gene was, and how stupid the McDougals were. "Aren't you sleeping with Aisha?" He gave her a small smile as she moved some of the stuff on his bed to the floor.

"I was going to." She smiled lightly, she usually shared a room on the ship with Aisha because she was lonely. Then again he slept alone on the ship and shared a room with Gene on Sentinel. "But I was lonely." she smiled warmly at him, watching him fiddle with some of the gears she had taken off his bed. A mumbled, yeah? coming back to her as he sat it down. Blue eyes sighing heavily as they sank back into his bunk. That was relaxing, his back hurt slightly. Mocha eyes smiling warmly at him as she watched him pull the blanket around lying down before throwing his cargos at the floor.

"Good night." He mumbled lightly at her, hearing her move or do something. "Tell Aisha I said good night and shut the door." He sighed lightly feeling sleep run over him as the warm soft sheets ate at his body. Stupid Gene had been right. Out of all the times he was wrong. Right tonight, when he wanted to prove he could fight but had the stupid bandages to back Gene up. "Mel?" He frowned slighlty mumbling her name. She was still there? "What are you doing? What's wrong?" He pushed himself up lighlty looking at her.

Soft mocha eyes just watching him mumble to her half asleep. "I am lonely Jim, can I...stay..wi-"

"Lonely?" He frowned more sinking back into his pillow. "So's Aisha. Mel." He yawned. "Go sleep with....Aisha." His blue eyes were relaxing as sleep and dream washed over him to the smooth change in the pattern of his breathing. Soft mocha eyes just quietly watching from where she had silenlty sat on the end of the small bunk. Watching the blonde hair she had just some hours ago brought with her into her navigational tube. Trying hard to heal some of his bigger wounds while he dipped in and out of conciousness...but now it seemed....it seemed he couldn't remember that. She smiled lightly as she listened to the soft breathing, slowly pulling herself into the small bed more and lying down softly. Studying the light sleeping face before smiling sweeter. She was lonely by herself....Jim would be nice company, and he seemed lonely too, though, trying to hide it.

__*~*~*~INTO THE PAST~*~*~*__

It was blurry but it was the ceiling, the same white, almost white ceiling as always. He blinked, his unruly red hair letting out a small moan as he looked at the clock. Ten. "Huh, knowing that weasel he's been up since the sun." he chuckled lightly, dark eyes glancing at the half of his bed not occupied.

His unruly red hair fell into his eyes as he sat up. The smooth crisp sheets running off his strong scarred shoulders and abs as he looked towards the bedroom door. The open bedroom door, he grinned he knew he was right.

"Don't tell me you have been down here watching TV since the crack of dawn." he chuckled under his red hair. His still sleepy scarred form making it's way lazily down the stairs as he watched the small patch of four-year-old blonde hair just look up from the couch. The blue eyes running over him lightly before turning back to the TV "What are you...ahh geez come on Jim. I am not going to have to watch those blasted talking animals again am I?" he groaned. Dark eyes rolling as he pushed the blonde hair over, sinking into the couch.

"I like em, dare fun." the blue eyes ignored him watching the screen, scarred face blankly staring at the dumb colors.

"THere fun?" he smirked letting out another groan as he emphasized the TH sound, the one giving Jim the most trouble. "Yeah. Fun like banging your head into the wall." he growled lightly, dark eyes glaring at the dumb animals, the *familiar* dumb animals.

The blue eyes frowned at him. "Dat's not fun?" it spit puzzled, watching the red hair grin immediately as it shrugged. The dark eyes running over the remote held tightly by the light hand of the blonde hair still in its pj's. Well as close as they came to them, a small T-shirt and boxers.

"Yeah whatever." he muttered, the orange animal now consuming the screen as it took on a...what the hell is that a pretzel? His mind groaned, blasted PBS. "Did you have breakfast?"

The blonde hair nodded ignoring him as it watched "Pizza." The dark eyes rolled, yeah I should have guessed, what else does he eat. He sighed watching the blonde hair move lightly as the cushion it sat on filled with his heavy weight disappearing. Unruly red hair standing up as he ran a scarred hand over the back of his neck, lazily massaging his muscles "Well I am going to eat." he sighed. His dark eyes now leaving the annoying screen as he started for the kitchen.

It was a mess, as always, but not messy enough yet, his mind grinned. The counter could still be seen and so could the bottom of the sink, they had at least another day to go. "Hey did you have to eat all the pizza!" he shot, his voice groaning into the other room as the cold empty pizza box lid dropped shut again. His dark eyes looking up, peering into their half opened cabinet as he now let the box drop into the garbage. Guess I'll just have something to drink...his mind trailed lightly. The cool handle of the refrigerator running under his scarred palm as he pulled it open, revealing their half a gallon of milk, few eggs, some cabbage, hot dogs, beef jerky and tomatoes. "AHhh" his face frowned as his dark eyes ran over the small empty shelf where the remaining three bottles of his beer should have been. "Alright this is the last time." he let the door slam slightly. A small glass clink fallowing him as the door shut and he turned back around towards the blonde hair. "Alright Jim. Where is my beer?" he shot firmly, leaning into the doorway of the kitchen. The hard woodwork running under his scarred shoulder as his dark eyes watched the small amount of blonde hair visible from behind the couch sink down immediately "Where is it?" he spit firmly, his dark eyes glaring into the back of the couch, listening to the quick whine over the TV, yeah right, he's definitely not guilty, his head mumbled watching the blonde hair and light face stand up on the couch shaking its head no. "You don't know where it is?" he cocked an eyebrow watching the blonde hair continue to shake no "You didn't touch it Jim?" he frowned slightly watching the small teeth grit, the blue eyes watching him worried. "Cause there are only two people living here. You and me." he stated dully, his scarred form pushing off the doorway, watching the blue eyes blink as he moved to the back of the couch. "And I know I didn't touch it, so that means that..." he trailed lightly watching the lightface whine at him again.

"Ahhhhaaa I didn't." the voice shot at him, the blue eyes watching the dark ones just look at him dully.

"You know Jim. Your not very convincing." the red hair whispered, watching the blue eyes think for a moment before frowning up at him worried, he was caught. "If you don't tell me where it is right now Jim. You're getting time out until I find it and drink it. You know it has to stay in the refrigerator." he frowned watching the blonde hair shake no before smacking him lightly. The small hand irritated with him as it groaned. "You're not going to tell me?" he frowned watching the blue eyes think as they looked down annoyed.

"No Gene, you don't get to have it." the lightface shot firmly, the blue eyes looking back up at the scarred face patiently waiting.

"Fine. Then you get time out." He spit matter o' factly, his scarred hand grabbing the small light arm and pulling it off the couch to the profuse whining.

"Noooo, I don't wanna...I don't want you da dwink dat." the arm whined pulling back as it walked behind him.

"Sit." he frowned lightly watching the blue eyes whine up at him before sitting down in front of the living room wall behind the couch, facing the dull paint. "You just sit there and look at the wall." he frowned annoyed, knowing Jim he probably went for it the minute he got up, blast. He frowned harder, it was spoiled alright, and it would be a while until he got to buy more, financially supporting them both was sucking him dry.

"Ahhaaaa." the blonde whined, the small light hands smacking into the wall in front of him. Tiny palms pressing into the rough cold paint as the calm dark eyes watched him from where he stood so high above.

"Yeah right." the red head spit letting out a light smile before hiding it. "Now I am going to look in that space behind the stairs where you hide everything." he grinned lightly, his dark eyes heading up the stairs calmly. He could just picture the warm beer, in the small space where everything Jim took ended up before he stopped walking. His dark eyes turning around looking back at the blonde hair from where he was half way up the stairs. The blue eyes just watching him calmly from where it sat Indian style in front of the wall.

They can't be behind the stairs or he would have said something, he frowned lightly puzzled. "Then I am going to go look in the bedroom." the blue eyes were motionless, watching him as though they were bored, yet interested and absorbing every bit of information the adolescent red hair divulged as he reacted to the current situation.

The dark eyes watching the blue frown as he started back down the stairs. The blonde hair shifting it's weight lightly as it watching the scarred chest and loose gray pants head back in his direction, passing by into the kitchen.

Yeah there in here, his mind grinned lightly, listening to the immediate groan to the sound of the small hands and feet getting up and following him in. "Ahhh." he scowled lightly, his scarred hand shutting the open freezer. "Will you stop opening this!" he shot baffled watching the lightface just frown at him concerned he was going to find what he had tried so hard to hide. The dark eyes glaring at him for a moment, there was no logical explanation for why every time he went into the kitchen he felt he had to open the freezer and leave it that way. "...and get back in THe corner, your in time out." he ordered firmly watching the light face just whine as he opened the fridge.

"Ahhhh, Gene I don't want you da dwink dat." the small hands tugged at his pants as he peered in. His dark eyes running back over the milk, beef jerky and cabbage before shoving the blonde hair back lightly from where it was squeezing into the fridge from the side, his scarred hand pulling the bottom vegetable draw open and pulling out a brown bottle. "Ahhhrrr!" the blonde hair growled at him annoyed, watching the dark eyes just look up dully as he stood up shutting the fridge. "GENE!" he shot watching the scarred red hair just walk by him to the sink, popping the small cap open and taking a sip.

"Alright no more corner since you were nice enough to leave it in the fridge." he muttered dully. Dark eyes looking down at the cold brown bottle now fogging on the outside as the bitter liquid slide over his tongue before he swallowed. His scarred hand raising the bottle to his lips again, letting the crisp bitter sweet taste flow in calmly before jumping. "Hey!" he shot, his dark eyes snapping down to the blonde hair now attaching itself to his leg as he drank. "What did I say about biting me!" he shot watching the blonde hair back up as he reached for him, the frowning blue eyes snapping at him.

"I don't want you da dwink it!" it shot annoyed frowning at him, watching the scarred face give him a look.

"Yeah well, we can't always get what we want." he muttered lazily, his scarred form now shifting it's weight to lean into the sink with his back. "And don't you bit me anymore Jim. I mean it, no more biting or I am gonna swat you one next time." he chuckled lightly, the cold bottle running back onto his lips as he drank.

"What's dat?" his dark eyes looked over casually, the cool liquid swooshing in his mouth now as he lowered the bottle. "What's dat mean Gene? Can I eat dat?" the blue eyes frowned lightly puzzled, watching the red hair just look at him amused, swallowing lightly.

"You don't know what that is?" he grinned lightly watching the blonde hair shake no before frowning as he took another drink motioning with his hand from him to come over. "You mean...(swallowing)...to tell me." he grinned crouching in front of the sink as the blonde hair walked over to him, patiently listening in front of him. "That no one ever told you they were goin' to swat you before?" he grinned lightly, his unruly red hair ruffling slightly as he shook his head. How ironic he never heard *that* expression before.

"No." the blonde hair shook no. "Do you have one? What is dat Gene?" the blue eyes muttered running over the scarred hands. Gene didn't seem to have anything so great. "What is dat?" he demanded frowning now as the scarred face only grinned shaking its head lightly as it stood up.

"Nothing, you don't want it." he grinned, the cool liquid running back into his mouth before he jumped again. Dark eyes snapping down to the blonde hair now stepping back quickly from where it had just bit him again.

"Tell me what...what dat is Gene! I wanna know dat." the blue eyes frowned watching the red hair growl at him annoyed.

"What did I say about biting me." the red hair growled his words out slow glaring down at the blonde hair just watching him, almost smiling lightly.

"Dats not nice...you should share!" the dark eyes grinned immediately. Fine.

"Fine come here, I'll give you one cause you bit me again." he grinned watching the blonde hair walk over as he crouched down. His scarred hand grabbing the light left elbow pulling it at an angle. Watching the small body move slightly to the side as he pulled it before swatting him.

"Ah!" the blue eyes snapped at him immediately from where they had been watching his hands to see what it was he would give him. His blonde hair stepping back quickly, both hands behind his back. Palms opened along the back of his boxers as a small bearer frowning at the chuckling red hair.

"That's what it is. Next time I tell you don't want something...maybe I'll just be right." he chuckled winking at the frowning lightface sink to a confused hurt expression.

"Dat wasn't...AhhhaaaaGene! I didn't like dat!" he frowned upset watching the red hair laugh silently as it held the beer in his mouth. "Stop dat!" he shot, his eyes watching the red hair swallow quickly before inhaling. "Shut up!"

"Alright." the red hair chuckled quickly motioning with his hand form Jim to come as he swallowed. "Come here, I am not laughing at you, come here." he grinned watching the blonde hair step back shaking its head no.

"No! I dident like dat. I don't like dat!" the blue eyes frowned watching him grin harder, suppressing his small laugh.

"Come on Jim I am not going to swat you, I wouldn't have in the first place if you didn't get all mad about it." He chuckled lightly watching the blue eyes frown quickly.

"Dat..you lied! You hit me!" the blue eyes frowned hurt. Now standing still as the scarred hand reached up sitting the cool bottle of beer onto the counter.

"THat..say TH. at." the dark eyes corrected.

"NO!" he yelled watching the unruly red hair stand up and sigh heavily looking down at the confused, hurt and mad blonde hair.

"Come on, I didn't hit you I swatted you. That's different." he shrugged lightly leaning back on to the counter watching the blue eyes think quickly before shaking its head no.

"Notah Gene. Why did you do dat, you know I wouldn't like, that I don't like...dat" he trailed lightly frowning watching the dark eyes flash a light lopsided grin at him.

"Alright alright. Now look. When someone hit's you it's because they...they suck Jim. They want to make themselves feel better by hurting someone and it's wrong. If someone swats you it's because your doing something you know you shouldn't....like biting me." he grinned lightly watching the blue eyes think, darting lightly as it thought, overloaded with all of this.

"Yeah but...I don't want, don't like you dwinking beer. It smells funny and dudant taste good. And I don't want to....don't want you da do dat anymore. Dat ding where you do, where you... swat me, cause I don't like dat."

He grinned, dark eyes looking down to the mumbling blonde hair trudging the small space to his leg before hugging it. The soft yellow strands running over his fingers as he ran his hand into the blonde hair listening to him. "You don't want me to do THat anymore?" he grinned lightly, amused by how incredibly simple yet direct Jim managed to word everything. His grin widening as the blonde hair nodded quickly. "Yeah ok, but only if you don't bite me anymore." he grinned pulling the light weight up and letting it sit on his hip, leaning back into his arm as he grabbed his beer with his other free hand starting back for the living room.

"I wouldent if you don't dwink beer. I don't like it. Dat makes you dumb." he frowned watching the red hair grin as it drank before swallowing quickly.

"Yeah well when your older you'll like it to." he grinned lightly letting his full hip lean onto the arm of the couch. The small legs pulling off to stand on the soft blue cushion as he set him down.

"No I wouldent." he shook his head no, walking across the cushion to the second as the red hair sat down.

"Yes you will." he muttered lazily sinking into the couch, his dark eyes falling back to the annoying TV, before looking around for the remote quickly.

"Notuh." the blue eyes watched him sit up. His dark eyes looking around for something as he sat his beer on the small coffee table.

"Yeahhuh." the red hair muttered back leaning over the side of the couch slightly and scanning the floor.

"Notuh Gene." he sat down. The soft fabric of the couch running under his bear legs as he crossed his arms watching the unruly red hair pull back up from where it had been leaning off the couch looking under it.

"Yeahuh-ahhhh we had this conversation yesterday for an hour Jim. You really want to do that again?" he frowned watching the blonde hair shrug. The blue eyes watching the red hair sink back into the couch picking up its beer, he was obviously giving up on his search. "Yeah well we'll wait till you get older and see what you say then." he grinned lightly watching the credits roll up the screen, thank god that was off. The blue eyes just watching him from where they sat before smiling as he looked over. "Are you going to sit way over there?" he grinned watching the blonde hair stand up walking over the cushion between them quickly before sinking onto his side. "Not on me *near me*." he frowned lightly watching the light weight sink onto part of his side and legs, leaning into him. "Give me that." he snapped grinning, his free-scarred hand snapping the remote from the small laughing light hands that just watched the channels flick to the frustrated scarred finger. The blonde hair laughing at him as it moved, pushing onto his lap more to lean into his chest. "What channel is it that tells us what time it is, I don't want to get up." he mumbled lightly

"Won hundwed and twelve." the blonde hair muttered lightly watching the channels quickly start flicking in the opposite direction.

"Really one twelve? Your not just giving me a random number are you?" the blonde hair shook no. "No? Not like yesterday when I asked you where the soup spoon was and you sent me all over the house?" he grinned watching the light face laugh remembering how long Gene had actually took his directions seriously because they sounded good. Looking in the most absurd places before attacking him and wrestling him into the bedroom sheets. "Think that's funny huh?" the red hair chuckled, watching the blonde hair laugh as the channels stopped at one twelve. "Was it that funny when I smashed you under the big pillow?" The deep voice chuckled, scarred hand ruffling the small laughing face and blonde hair into the side of the couch slightly before letting it lean back into him, looking at the TV.

"Dat's eleven tweny..tweny four AM?" the blue eyes looked up at him watching him nod.

"Yeah late isn't it." he mumbled lightly watching the channel switch to air their weather now.

"No you got up late." the blue eyes turned back to the screen grinning to the small no you got up early.

"What do you want for lunch?" the blue eyes blinked, listening to the scarred chest hum lightly behind him each time the deep voice spoke before shrugging. "Pizza?" The dark eyes grinned watching the blonde hair nod immediately. "Well then lets go, go upstairs and get dressed we have to go to the market." he mumbled lightly, his scarred elbow nudging the light weight. Watching the light hands appear against his chest pushing itself off him as it turned around looking at him.

"To da market?" the blue eyes repeated watching the red hair nod.

"Yeah THe market. Say that." the scarred face ordered lightly watching the small mouth open as the blue eyes watched his mouth.

"Da market." it repeated, glancing from the scarred mouth to the dark eyes and realizing he got it wrong by the now patient look staring back at him.

"Put your tongue under your teeth Jim. And say THhhe." he grinned lightly watching the small tongue move slowly as it spoke, watching him intently.

"Dthhdttthe market?" the blue eyes grinned watching the dark eyes flash a lopsided smile shrugging lightly as it pushed him off more. Watching the blonde hair stand up in front of him. Blue eyes watching his unruly red hair nod to the stairs.

"Close enough, go get dressed, we're leaving in fifteen minutes. What time will that be smart guy" the red hair grinned watching the blue eyes think.

"AHhh...weven forty four." the blue eyes smiled watching the unruly hair shake it's head lightly amused. Stupid kids so damn smart his head chuckled watching the blonde hair now walk for the stairs, the small light hand reaching up for the railing before starting up one step at a time. It's amazing he works numbers faster then me sometimes; he shrugged leaning back into the couch. Maybe if that sticks with him, he can help out when he gets older. He grinned lightly turning back to the TV, the weather girl looked hot this mourning.

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"Dis, can I have it?"

"Have what?" he muttered back, listening to the small phrase simply repeated differently offering no more information other then it was big gum. Big gum? "No gum." His dark eyes rolled listening to the immediate reassurance he'll keep it in his mouth as he struggled with the stupid metal shopping basket. His scarred hands working the small handles out from where they had gotten wedged into the side of another.

"Why can't I have it?" the blue eyes whined lightly watching the red hair finally look up, freeing the basket and starting into the small space between the automatic doors. Dark eyes running over the large gum machine filled with small golf ball sized color balls. The light hands and blonde hair peering into it from where it stood now white shirt and loose blue jean overalls over a small pair of work boots.

"Because gum costs money and that's something we don't have a lot of. Lets go." the light hand grabbed the basket as he passed by, leaving the gum behind asit sighed. It seemed everything was no because there wasn't enough money.

"If we have more money couldn't I get it?" the blue eyes looked up watching the unruly red hair nod as it walked. The dark eyes running over the large isles and massive shelves "When will we have more?"

The dark eyes glanced down annoyed, lightening slightly as the blue looked up at him. It wasn't trying to be annoying, it just happened to be ever so frustrating to be reminded over and over you were flat broke or barely making it all the time. "How should I know." he frowned, his scarred figure turning into a small aisle of fruit "But when we have more I promise you'll be the first to know." he chuckled lightly now. Like how dumb, who else would be first. His scarred hand picking up a tiny bag of bananas and dropping them into the basket, grinning as the small hand punched him lightly, approving. "Hey you, go grab some of that green stuff you want." he grinned watching the blue eyes look over to the long aisle of everything green.

"Broccoli?"

"Yeah now get going." he grinned watching the blonde hand drop the basket as it started for the other aisle. Dark eyes turning back to the basket before moving. Heading over towards the cereal-one of the things they always had in stock.

Probably should get something healthier, his mind frowned looking down at the familiar box of cocoa puffs and Oreo O's before shrugging and dropping it into the basket. A little sugar never killed anyone, he grinned. Dark eyes scanning around behind him. Now where was Jim and the stupid broccoli? he frowned.

"Hey. Just what do you think your doing?" the blonde hair jumped slightly, listening to the familiar irritated tone. Blue eyes turning around quickly to the frowning red hair staring down at him.

"I wanted to see what was in dare." He muttered his hand letting go of the small-vented gate he had unscrewed. Ignoring the small clank of metal it admitted as it leaned back into the small square hole now revealing the pipes in the wall.

"What was in THere?" the red hair repeated frowning, his scarred hand snatching the light one. "What do you want to do fall in?" he frowned, glancing down to the blonde hair that quickly shook no. "Don't wonder off Jim, you want to get lost?" he growled lightly. Wouldn't that just be a day at the beach.

"I am not gonna get lost Gene. I know how da read." the blue eyes frowned now yanking it's hand from the scarred grip and holding onto the small side of the basket again.

"You of all people should know why you *don't* wonder off." he spit, feeling the light warmth suddenly disappear from inside his hand. His dark eyes snapping down at the blonde hair, watching the blue eyes listen before looking away hurt as it continued silently walking. Ahhh, his head growled as he looked back up. His dark eyes pulling the blonde hair into the next aisle, all they really needed was some fruit and cereal, peanut butter and jelly and....cake.

If I didn't feel so damn guilty this would be more fun, his mind growled as he looked at the boxes. Running over prices and ingredients, which one had more and which one they could afford more of. Blonde hair silently standing where he sat the basket down for minutes until he groaned. Sighing heavily as he looked back at it, watching the saddened blue eyes look up at him. "Alright I am not mad." he spit letting the red and yellow box drop from his gaze to look at the blonde hair standing next to their almost full basket, the blue eyes slowly looking down ignoring him. "I mean it, I am not mad." he reassured again this time with a lighter tone. Letting his face read he wasn't, but the blue eyes only looked at him.

"How much longer...how much more do you need Gene?" the light face sighed walking over to the baggy blue jeans of the red hair reading cake mix.

"Why? What's the big deal? You go some big date I don't know about?" he chuckled setting the box back on the shelf, feeling the blonde hair shake no as it leaned into his leg. "What kind of cake do you want?" he grinned looking down watching the light white shirt under the overalls shrug.

"Chocolate. No.straawberry...da pink one." the blue eyes looked up lightly, watching the dark eyes cock an eyebrow at him grinning. "Dis one." the hand pulled the box off the shelf.

He shook his head, pink box and pink cake. "Why in the world do you like that color Jim?" he chuckled lightly watching the blonde hair drop the box into the basket lazily before looking up. "Don't you like blue or green?" he grinned, his dark eyes turning back to the boxes to grab the red and yellow one he had been eyeing the whole time. It looked good.

"How much longer does dis going da be Gene?" the light weight leaned back into him, ignoring his question. His dark eyes reading the ingredients. All crap but they sounded like they'd taste good. Scarred hand suddenly flicking boxes into the basket resting on the ground.

"Alright alright." He sighed, his free hand grabbing the metal handles to the small basket and loose overalls in the other. "Not a lot longer, sound good?" he grinned, pulling his head to the side slightly to look at the light face watching him from under the blonde hair now resting on his shoulder that shook no frowning.

"No! I want to go now." the blonde hair spit watching the dark eyes just sigh heavily as it walked.

"Well too bad, it's not like your doing any work so just relax." he growled. It was him carrying everything wasn't it? What did he have to complain about now? The blonde hair just groaned at him turning its head to the other side looking away. Hanging onto the loose gray shirt of the red hair before moving to grab around the back of the stronger neck as it walked. "Do you want some more soda? We're almost out." he muttered, scarred hand moving a liter into the basket to the irritated groaning..

"No! Dis is taking to looong!" he frowned. The small whining hands now smacking him lightly as he stopped walking. The small amount of weight in his arms making it that much more difficult to think, never mind carry everything.

"Hey you want to have a time out right here Jim? I am this close." he frowned, his hard voice hiding his grin as the whining stopped immediately. The blonde hair shaking no as it stopped moving hanging on tightly.

His scarred face chuckling as he walked back to the main aisle connecting everything. That got him, grinning dark eyes running around for a clock. "Hey if your good you can get one thing of whatever you want sound good?" he grinned feeling the head shake no before he had finished. The light face listening before pulling back to look at him, sitting it's weight into his arms as it made a face. "For real." he grinned watching the blue eyes glare at him doubtfully before pushing to get down. "You know already?" he frowned lightly as he grinned, watching the blonde hair start off as it hit the ground. "You only get one thing and that's it!" he called after it. Warning lightly as he watched the blonde hair head directly three isles down. Where the hell is he going? His head chuckled.

"Can I have dis?" Pizza, who would have guessed his head grinned watching the small DiGiorno pizza appear before being shoved at him.

"I said one thing didn't I?" he grinned watching the blonde hair pull it back from where he was reaching to put it in the basket. "You want to hold it?" he chuckled watching the frowning light face nod pushing back into his leg. The small hands reaching up to his stomach as a sign to be picked up as the red hair shifted the heavy metal basket. Gripping him under the arms and pulling him back up pizza and all. I should have got up earlier, his mind frowned lightly. His dark eyes glancing over at the clock as he stepped in line. It was already 12:40.

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"Hey you want to carry something else in please?" he frowned annoyed, his scarred baggy pants and gray shirt practically tripping over the blonde hair that had just stopped in the doorway carrying only the pizza. "Some help you are Jim." his unruly red hair scowled as he shook his head. Working back around the blonde hair to the garage after dumping the two bags of groceries onto the kitchen table.

"Can I eat...dis now?" the tired blue eyes turned around in the doorway watching the red hair pull the remaining four bags from the car. The dark eyes flicked up annoyed.

"No." the red hair spit firmly watching the light face whine at him. "Your tired, and your taking a nap first." he ordered raising the plastic bags to his sides as he squeezed past the whining blue eyes pulling the bags in over his head and starting for the kitchen again.

"No I am nooot. You said dat I could...that I could eat it when I...when we got ho..I wanna eat it now Geeeene" The red hair ignored the whining pizza climbing onto the table where he was busy turning bags upside down and letting things spill out.

"I changed my mind." He muttered casually, moving the cocoa puffs and Oreo O's into the cabinet before shoving the empty plastic bags into the garbage.

"Ahh." the blonde hair growled kicking the groceries lightly as he glared at the red hair.

"Stop." the dark eyes spit, pulling more stuff from the table for the cabinets.

"Whyyouwannaaaahhh...you said, you saaaaid..." he whined

"I know what I said. Now I am saying no! Just look at you, will you stop whining? You're going to drive me nuts! Your taking a nap because your tired and your cranky and I don't have to deal with that Jim. You just going to sleep it off." the dark eyes ordered firmly watching the face sink frustrated. To exhausted to do more then surrender as it whined knocking some stuff off the table quickly before the dark eyes could snap at him from where it was putting stuff into the cabinets. "Yeah that's it, off the table now." the scarred hand grabbed the light arm, yanking it down quickly. "Upstairs." he ordered watching the blonde hair shove him annoyed as it groaned at him. "And give me the pizza." he ordered, his scarred hand snapping at it.

"No! It's mine!" the tired blue eyes flicked up him as he missed the ready made just heat pizza. Fully visible as it was rapped only in an air sucked plastic case. "And I wanna eat dat!"

"You can eat it after you sleep." the dark eyes sighed heavily, his scarred hands grabbing the back connecting strap to the small overalls. Hanging onto him as the light weight whined and fought. The pizza slipping from its grasp. "Stop." he barked lightly watching the light face stop momentarily to look at him from where it had been focusing on where the pizza was going. Watching the scarred hand sit it onto the table. The red top of pepperoni and mushrooms running back into view as the scarred arms pulled him up, the familiar shoulder running along the side of his cheek.

"I don't want you da eaaat it. Why can't I eat dat noooww." the light forehead pushed into his shoulder smacking him as he walked. Small frustrated voice whining at him exhausted.

"I promise I'll put it in the oven right now. *Your* going to lie down. You don't have to sleep just lay there and if your still awake when the pizzas done you don't have to nap today." he looked down listening to the long Ahhhhhhhaaaa whining at him. Of course it didn't really matter that this was over pizza, it could have been about anything.

Out of anytime we could have went, we go shopping at 12:40-1. What the hell was I thinking! His mind groaned before grinning slightly. Remembering all the times he had rearranged things just so they would be home and Jim could just fall asleep on the couch rather then having to get all worked up about it. "I am not going to eat it." he chuckled lightly, his scarred elbow nudging in the bedroom door to the small legs kicking his sides annoyed.

"Yes you will!"

"No I won't, you really think I would eat the one thing I let you get?" he grinned watching the blue eyes look down at the bed before standing on it. Looking back up at the grinning scarred face. "You get to have the whole thing, I don't get any." he chuckled watching the exhausted light face sit down, still frowning with utter frustration.

"I waaaana eat it Geeene." the blue eyes sighed tugging at the blankets exasperateed before looking up at the red hair moving them.

"You're going to eat it. Didn't I just say I am going to heat it up so you can eat it? You want it all cold and gross?" he watched the light face relax slightly as he made a goofy face at it. The light hands pulling the laces to their boots and kicking them off.

"I want you da call me when dats done." the blue eyes watched the red hair nod grinning. "Wright when dats done Gene. Don't eat any of dat." He frowned watching the red hair continue nodding as it shifted above him. Pulling the blankets from under his legs and throwing them over his face quickly.

"Get under there." the deep voice grinned watching the light hands shoot for the top of the blanket immediately. "I don't want to look at your annoying face anymore, shut up and sleep." he chuckled watching the light face immerge from under the blankets smiling before laughing at the goofy expression he shot at him.

"Gene, wright when the pizzas done I get some wright? Your gonna call me den?" The blue eyes frowned, worried watching the red hair only nod. Scarred elbows pushing up from where it had been leaning on the bed ruffling his hair.

"First thing. Now sleep, we have to go back out later." He muttered, his scarred hand running up onto his forehead massaging it lazily.

"Where are we going?" the blue eyes watched the darker ones come back into view as the strong hand dropped thinking.

"First you eat pizza, then you take a bath, we go see Judith Miller and then we have to move some boxes for money. How's that sound?" he muttered, his dark eyes almost envying the soft sheets. Llaying in bed sounded much more fun then work, errands and doctors appointments.

"How come I...how come I am going da see Mrs. Miller da day?" the blue eyes frowned lightly watching the unruly red hair shrug.

"Routine?" he flashed a lopsided grin..

"Routine? Does dat mean when I see her today, I see her in..." the blue eyes looked down slightly thinking "tree weeks from now?"

"AHh." the dark eyes growled lightly. "Say THhaat Jim. It's not that hard, I say it all the time don't I?"

"Well I don't drink beer all da time." the blue eyes shot back watching the scarred face cock an eyebrow at him. How long was it? Eight, no...Yeah eight months? Some eight months, he grinned watching the blue eyes talk. What, a month of silence, then a few words, my name cause of that blasted cake, his mind chucked. Four months of basics, two just getting some idea of who he was and now we've finally reached the point where he's going to be a pain in my ass. He grinned "What so funny?" the blue eyes frowned watching the red hair laugh suddenly. Blue eyes skeptically watching him stand up chuckling.

"Nothing." he grinned watching the suspicious expression. "Get some sleep ok? I am going to go put the pizza in." he grinned lightly watching the blonde hair nod, abandoning the suspicious expression as his focus switched back to the pizza immediately. The blue closing exhausted as he let the bedroom door swing lightly behind him but not click. He didn't actually plan on putting the pizza in for another half an hour. The kid would sleep for at least forty minutes if it was quiet.

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"Is it that good Jim?" he grinned, his deep voice chuckling as he watched the blue eyes inhale the small piece it held, sitting on the kitchen table. The blonde hair nodded picking up another piece. "Maybe we should buy that kind instead of ordering in then huh?" he grinned watching the microwave beep. The cool surface of the handle running under his hand as he pulled it open, pulling out his warm mug of coffee.

"No, I like da pizza coming da da door. It's faster Gene." the blue eyes nodded watching the scarred shoulders drink the coffee. "Can I have a dwink?"

He shrugged again, letting his unruly red hair run into his eyes as he got off the counter and took a step to the fridge. "What do you want?" he stated dully, his scarred hands pushing the fruit they just got into the vegetable draw, that will take up space his mind grinned. His dark eyes running over the two bottles of beer still in the side of the fridge where they belonged.

"Soda."

He grabbed the lime green liter of Sprite pulling it out. His dark eyes grinning as the blonde hair ran back into view watching him intently as it chewed. His scarred hand pulling a small cups from the cabinet, watching the cool clear liquid poor in before drinking some. It was flat.

"Don't tell me your going to eat the whole thing now?" he grinned lightly watching the blonde hair sit the pizza down to take the cup from him. The blue eyes looking up as it drank watching him before nodding. "All of it Jim?" he frowned lightly, he had already eaten half, guess it's plausible he can eat it all his mind grumbled.

"Yes." the small voice exhaled before breathing heavily from where it had sucked down the soda. "I am eating it all now, so I don't loose any of dat." the blue eyes picked the pizza back up, biting more as the dark eyes just watched thinking about his answer.

"You still think I am going to eat it?" he muttered dully watching him chew. The blonde hair shaking no "Then where is it going to go Jim?" he grinned "It can't get up and walk off." he grinned watching the blue eyes eat before shrugging lightly.

"I dunno, but dis way I am know for sure." the white t-shirt shrugged before drinking again watching the red hair frown slightly.

"Save some for dinner for crying out loud. You don't get any more pizza for a week buddy." he stated matter o'factly. It wasn't that he couldn't have it or he didn't want to give it to him. It was simply that they couldn't afford it.

"A week?' the blue eyes frowned concerned watching the dark eyes just close shrugging.

"It's not my call, you eat to much money." he stated matter o' factly watching the still mouth think, the blue eyes looking down at what was left at the pizza thoughtfully. He only had five pieces left. "What do you want to do? If you still want to eat it all now go ahead." the scarred shoulders shrugged again before watching the blonde hair shake no.

"No, I want da...I wanna save dis. Then I can eat one every day and..on...and on two..on four days I will only eat a half. Then I get anoder one? In a week Gene?" the dark eyes blinked adding up in his head.

"Fine then do that." he shrugged watching the blonde hair shove the plate away, before continuing to eat what he had in his hand. The dark eyes looking at the clock 1:50, "Alright let's go upstairs." he pushed off the counter he was leaning on, his scarred shoulders taking the one step to the counter where the overalls sat eating. Pulling the top of the light arms forward and lowering them till the blonde hair stood starting for the doorway eating. The blue eyes turning around as the red hair didn't follow. Watching the dark eyes finish the cup of Sprite before sighing and started towards the doorway, pushing the overalls forward slightly watching the small amount of pizza laugh. "We have forty minutes, then we have to go." he stated matter o' factly watching the small hand reach for the railing before he snapped at the light wrist. Stopping the pizza sauce from running onto the hard wood.

"Where are we going? Someplace fun?" the blue eyes ignored it, continuing to eat, his words slurring lightly as he bit more off chewing.

"Not really, but we're going anyway, and besides I already told you." he muttered, his dark eyes glancing down to the blonde hair as he reached the top of the stairs. Leaving the slower walk behind and pushing the bathroom door in, revealing the still cute old-fashioned appliances and gray shower curtain. "You had a bath last night right Jim?" the cool knob to the bathtub running under his scarred hand as he pushed it up. Watching the loud hum of the water start pouring into the tub. The blonde hair eating as it leaned in the doorway nodding to the dark eyes that looked over thinking. "Want another one?" he flashed a lopsided grin watching the blonde hair nod starting in quickly, letting the sauce and grease run off as his hand ran under the water. "Good." he grinned standing up watching the rest of the pizza disappear into the small mouth quickly as the second hand ran into the water, rinsing off. "What do you want to wear, that?" he plugged the drain watching the light hand grab the bottle of bubbles, screwing off the cap.

"Dis?" the blue eyes glanced at him watching him nod, it was clean. The blonde hair ignoring the scarred hands unsnapping the front of its overalls as they watched the light purple bubble soap slide into the tub. The running water quickly turning the smooth sweet formula into bright white bubbles along the surface as his small hands shoved the scarred ones now pulling the small white t-shirt over his head away. Blue eyes reaching back into the water and bubbles ignoring the red hair moving around behind him "I am going to get some towels Jim, get in and stop goofing off." he ordered lightly heading for the door. The blue eyes behind him ignoring him as it leaned into the tub playing in the water. Wearing only the baggy overalls now sliding loosely around the light waist moving its arms in the suds. "Now!" he called back listening to the happy, mmkay, as he opened the small closet grabbing two towels. Think I'll take one to, we have some forty minutes. Twenty for each wasn't that bad, he shrugged walking back into the bedroom and pulling out another shirt for himself and adding it to the towels in his arms before picking up his castor. "You only get twenty minutes." he spit matter o' factly watching the blue eyes look up from where they were playing in the bubbles inside the tub.

"But I thought you said dat we had forty minutes Gene?" Jim frowned lightly confused watching the dark eyes sit the towels down on the counter.

"I did, but you only get twenty because after I am going to take a shower." the blue eyes frowned lightly annoyed but didn't say anything, quickly turning back to the bubbles and running water. "Hey you want to hear something funny?" he grinned watching the blue eyes ignore him.

"Is it a story?" the suds sloshed onto the floor slightly.

"No."

"Is it about...a frog?" the blue eyes looked up watching a baffled look run over the scarred face.

"No." the dark eyes frowned lightly confused watching the small shoulders shrug shaking their head no.

"No I don't care den." the blonde hair leaned back kicking the water lightly.

"What? Just because it's not a story with a frog you don't even want to hear it?" he frowned watching the head nod. That was it? "Alright what if there is...a frog in it...somewhere." he grinned. How would he work a frog in would be the tricky part.

"Maybe." he frowned, watching Jim continue to play un-entertained.

"Fine." he sighed, his scarred hand running over his face exhausted before glancing at the clock. Yeah all of that took a total of three minutes, that's great. "Hey." he spit watching more suds run onto the floor, the blonde hair looking up momentarily at his harsh tone. "How much bubble stuff didn't you put in there." he frowned lightly.

"A dablespoon."

"A tablespoon! You're only supposed to put in a teaspoon Jim. Next time you don't get to put it in." he frowned watching the blue eyes frown back concerned.

"But we don't have any deespoons...and I don't know what dat looks like." the voice whined back justifying the tablespoon.

"Too bad. Next time I put in the bubbles or you don't get any at all." he frowned lightly watching the water splash onto the floor quickly as the frowning blue color slapped the water annoyed. "Hey." he barked frowning "You want to get out now?" the blonde hair only growled shaking its head no as he looked down at the water. His blue eyes glancing up as the red hair moved towards the small cabinet sighing heavily. Messing around with some of the small jars before pulling out some shaving crème. His dark eyes grinning as he watched the smiling blonde hair reflect from behind him in the shiny mirror of the medicine cabinet. Stupid bubbles.

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"Gene?"

His scarred face frowned. What in the hell did he want now? "What?" he growled lightly. His dark eyes practically ignoring the small voice calling in from outside the bathroom door. Unruly red hair trying to relax under the hot wash cloth. Did I *not* just finish refilling this stupid tub! His mind growled. "What?!" he shot annoyed his scarred hand ripping the warm washcloth off his face annoyed, snapping at the back of the closed white door from over the warm water and white bubbles.

"What are you doing? I'm bored."

"Ahhh" he scowled lightly his dark eyes closing again as he leaned back into the warm enamel side of the tub. The warm cotton running back over his face. "Guess Jim." he groaned lightly listening to the small growl on the other side of the door. "Go away." he frowned.

"No. Dare is nothing da do by myself." the light voice was frowning outside the door annoyed.

"Go away." The blue eyes frowned more listening to the irritated deep voice answer. His light hand grabbing the small knob to the bathroom door and walking in.

"Gene?" the deep voice growled lightly, hidden under the wet white washcloth and soft bubbles of the tub.

"Jim." the scarred hand appeared pulling the washcloth off as it sat up, scarred chest immerging from under the soft sparkling white. "Find something to do. I didn't bug you while you took a bath now get out." he frowned watching the concerned blue eyes just listen.

"Ahh I don't wanna be all by myself out dare." the blue frowned at him, watching the scarred face shoot him a dull expression.

"Too bad. Out." the deep voice ordered leaning back into the tub again. The dark eyes snapping at the blonde hair as it didn't move. His scarred hand still holding the washcloth.

"But you were in here when I took a bath!" the blue frowned arguing.

"How old are you?" the deep voice sighed heavily watching the frowning blue eyes lighten slightly.

"Four."

"That's why. Now out." he snapped heavily watching the blue eyes whine again as he pointed at the door. The warm washcloth running back over his face "I am only going to be in here for ten minutes it's not the end of the world Jim. Improvise." he growled listening to the blonde hair kick at the side of the tub annoyed before stomping out. His scarred face grinning under the warm white cloth as the bathroom door slammed too.

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Alright so that was eighteen minutes, his dark eyes looked up at the bathroom clock. Watching the periwinkle minute hand disappear as his black t-shirt ran over his head. His scarred arms pulling it on quickly and letting it fall onto his baggy deep blue jeans again before looking down. What am I missing? his face frowned, his dark eyes looking around. Ahh, my castor, he glanced at the floor and sink. "Whaaat?" he groaned lightly, his scarred hand running over his face as he listened to the tub water running down the drain. I know I brought it in here blast it, his mind mumbled as he opened the bathroom door. Where in the....Ahhhh. he growled, eyes searching the floor before looking up "Alright Jim." he frowned watching the blonde hair look up from where it had been sitting outside the bathroom door.

"Dat wasn't ten minutes Gene." The blue eyes frowned up at him annoyed.

"Oh yeah?" his dark eyebrows rose. "Is that why you took my castor?" The blue eyes relaxed suddenly looking at him.

"Notah." The blonde hair shook no.

"Go get it now. We have to leave and I am not leaving without it." He frowned, sighing annoyed as he started back for the bedroom. "Now Jim!" He called back lightly pushing into the bedroom door.

"I don't have it." The blonde hair walked in behind him, watching the dark eyes look up from where they were looking through the closet.

"Jim I am not playing around." He frowned watching the light face shoot him a disgusted expression. It couldn't hide it was mad.

"You made me stay all by myself when you know I dident like dat. And you wouldent...you wouldent..you said ten minutes but you where in dare for eighteen Gene!" Yeah, he was mad.

"Hey. I worked all yesterday, and you have been snappy all day. I don't think eighteen minutes is too much to ask Jim." he frowned watching the blonde hair only shake no at him.

"I don't care how many da minutes, but I dident want to be.I dident like it when you wouldent let me stay!" the blue eyes yelled at him, watching the scarred face sigh heavily before looking annoyed.

"Jim look.." He glanced at the clock "Don't start." His tone hardened "We don't have time for this now. Hide things later, I didn't schedule in time for you to be mad at me so just drop it." His scarred form pushed past the blonde hair to pick up the car keys on the dresser. "Now you want me to not come in the bathroom when you take a bath anymore?"

The blonde hair shook no. "I don't *care* Gene." the blue eyes frowned at him baffled.

"Well fine, but when I am taking a bath you stay out. Just occupy yourself with something else for crying out loud now go get my gun blast it." he frowned, his firm tone sinking the strong blue eyes to a concerned confused expression.

"But I don't understand dat!" the blonde hair spit annoyed. Light hands punching the strong deep baggy blue jeans before the scarred hand snapped at him.

"When people get older they want privacy. When you get older I am not going to bug you when you're in the tub, that's just how it is. Now we don't have time for this. Mrs. Miller is going to yell at me if we don't show up Jim." he spit, his dark eyes glancing down at the blonde hair he yanked along with him. The blue eyes watching the ground intently as it moved along to the greater speed. "Now get my castor now. Where is it?" he frowned looking down at the blonde hair as he stopped, the blue eyes looking up upset. "Come on I am not mad I just don't want to be late." he softened his tone before growling watching the upset expression disappear to become mad again.

"No! You say your sorry or I am not telling!"

"You want time out till bed?" he threatened, watching the light face nod. The strong frowning blue eyes watching the scarred face growl at his stubborn answer. Scarred hand dropping his arm as he walked quickly to the door behind the stairs. Opening it to look into the small space in the back. Empty, he growled lightly shooting the blonde hair an annoyed expression as he shoved past starting down the stairs. "Get down here. I am serious we're leaving when I find it!" he called back up the stairs, red hair disappearing into the kitchen before moving to check the downstairs closet.

Where the hell did he put it? He sighed heavily, dark eyes glancing back up at the small overalls standing in the middle of the stairs. "Where?" he spit frowning, but the blonde hair only shook no. "You didn't put it behind the stairs, in any of the closets." the red hair turned around running over the possibilities as he looked "Under the couch, in the kitchen...not in the bedroom...I was in the bathroom. So where into the world did you...." he trailed lightly sighing. Stupid kid so damn smart his head muttered looking back up at the frowning blue eyes. If I don't outsmart him now it's going to look really bad, his mind growled before his face relaxed. "Don't tell me you threw it down the old vent." he sighed heavily watching the blue eyes just look back at him. Watching his red hair turn around starting for the one closet towards the side of the kitchen that served no purpose. The unruly red hair opening the door before picking up the small flashlight inside, dark eyes crouching down as he shined it into the back watching the light reflect of the strong metal of his gun. He sighed, "Alright get over here." he motioned with his hand lightly, still looking into the dark space of the closet, blonde hair stomping over from where it had silently come down the stairs.

"I hate you." the blue eyes frowned annoyed watching the grinning dark eyes glance up at him, he had hidden it good.

"Not now. We're going to be late because of this." he spit firmly, she's probably going to think we didn't have enough money to drive there blast it, his mind grumbled. "Get it now." he barked suddenly, watching the blonde hair jump. Blue eyes looking up at him quickly before shaking its head no. "Now." he repeated, his dark eyes frowning watching the blue eyes look back into the dark space in the closet before shaking its head no taking a step back.

"I don't wanna." The light voice mumbled softly, the concerned blue glancing back up at the scarred face just growling lightly.

"Look you threw it down there now you have to get it. That's how it works so just get it over with so we can go." The scarred hand motioned for the closet as he sighed out his words. Growling as the blonde hair only shook no quickly stepping back again.

"AHhhaaaahaGene!" The younger voice yelled immediately as the scarred hand snapped at the back of his overalls. The back straps pushing him forward as his light hands ran onto the strong wood of the thin closet doorway pushing back. Fighting back, but it was so strong, Gene was so strong pushing him closer to the black deep back of the closet. "AHHHHH!" the scarred hand dropped his shirt and straps.

"Hey." the deep voice muttered, his hand releasing the small cloth to the terrified scream. Watching the blonde hair bolt from the entrance of the closet to the side of his leg. The small hands tearing at his pants as it hung on.

"I DON'T LIKE IT! Don't like da CLOSET!" the blue eyes screamed at him, the light voice shaking. Horrified by the memories, the awful things closets meant.

"Alright I am sorry." the scarred hands were pulling him off. Watching the light hands whine alarmed as they were pried off the jeans. His red hair quickly crouching down as the grasp disappeared, watching the blue eyes flick up at him alarmed. "You don't like the closet?" he muttered lightly the wide blue eyes shaking no immediately. "Why? You know monsters aren't real?" he grinned lightly watching the small face continue to shake no.

"No! I hate it! Hate it! I don't wanna go in daaaaat." the blue eyes cringed pushing into his chest before looking behind towards the closet. Alarmed by the open door.

"Alright you don't have to go in. I didn't know you hated it ok?" the scarred face grinned lightly, bending to the side to get a look at the light face watching the deep blackness that might grab him, and pull him back to everything. "I am gonna squeeze in there and get it, you wait her alright?" he moved forward.

"NO!" his dark eyes snapped down at the blonde hair now squeezing his arm.

"Come on I am not leaving without it so I have to get it." he frowned lightly prying the small hands off. Watching the blue eyes dart to the closet horrified as he moved into it. Scarred hand reaching under the deep slant of the wall to the now dull shine of the weapon. Letting his scarred fingers tracing over the base lightly as he pulled it forward, struggling to drag it with his fingertips before grabbing it and pulling it back out.

The blonde hair backed up immediately, watching him turn around. The red hair casually sliding the heavy weapon onto the strap that ran onto his belt before looking up. Watching the blue eyes relax slightly realizing he was still the same person. That he hadn't transformed in the short time the darkness had consumed his top half. "Don't hide anymore stuff there if you don't want me opening the door ok?" the scarred face grinned lightly watching the blonde hair study the closed door from where he stood before stepping forward. Watching the scarred face grin as it started over to him, feeling the light hands grab his shirt and neck quickly as he picked him up. Damn blasted closets, his mind growled a he opened the garage door. And to think we have so many of them here, yet I never paid enough attention to notice how much he hated them. "Why don't you like the closet? Are you claustrophobic or something?' He muttered lightly, letting the light weight slide down his arms into the front seat of the car. The blonde hair pulling the seat buckle forward as he let him go before looking up shaking his head no.

"Dat's when you don't like small spots?" the blue eyes frowned lightly, listening to the click of its buckle as the red hair walked around the front of the car nodding.

"Yeah, that's when you don't like small spots." the deep voice grinned lightly getting into the car. "That why you don't like em?" his deep voice muttered, glancing at the blonde hair as he ran the key into the car, the blue eyes only looked back. "No?" he raised his eyebrows, "It wouldn't have anything to do with..." he trailed lightly. The soft jean of the overalls running over his scarred hand as he let it nudge the side of the small thigh, watching the light face whine immediately, pulling its legs to its chest quickly.

"Ahhh I just don't like em!" the blue eyes spit, looking down at the knees of their overalls. The car humming as the red hair turned the key, he hit the nail on the head.

"Well why didn't you tell me you hated them so much?" the dark eyes muttered turning around in his seat lightly as they backed out. "I wouldn't have tried to make you go in if I knew you didn't like them." the sun poured into the top of the car as they pulled out, his dark eyes turning back around and glancing lightly at the upset blonde hair that sat silently looking up at him. "You gonna answer that?" he finally flashed a small lop sided grin as the small pause became longer. His dark eyes glancing down at the blonde hair that just shook no before glancing up at his touch. The yellow strains shaking lightly as the scarred hand roughed the small shoulder flashing a stronger grin before turning back to the road. "It's fine Jim. You know you don't have to answer anything you don't want to." the deep voice muttered letting his scarred hand pull back to the steering wheel as he switched on the blinker, it would only be about a twenty minute ride.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Are you sure this is the second week Jim? I could have sworn this was the third." his dark eyes blinked watching the blonde hair nod that yes this was the second week of their visit and not the third. The light skin now inside the clinic, they weren't that late after all. "You know that we run on three week intervals right? We see her once every three weeks counting each time as one until hitting three and starting back at one again?" he raised his dark eyebrows watching the blue eyes look up at him nodding yes as the blonde hair stood up, light face even height with him onto of the soft light green examining table.

"I know dat." the face nodded, watching the red hair shrug as the scarred hands finished unsnapping the tops of his overalls. His light hands reaching back down, running over the cushion top of the table as he sat down untying his right boot as the scarred hand worked at his left.

"So you're sure this is the second?" the scarred face frowned now before looking up as the blonde hair sighed heavily. the blue eyes stopping to look up with a dull expression. "Alright I'll take your word for it." he grinned watching the yellow strands shake as the blonde shook its head continuing to untie its light brown work boot before kicking it off.

"You want me da tell Mrs. Miller dat was my fault we were late?" He slid his overalls off, letting the red hair take them as the red hair shook no.

"No, we weren't that late. It doesn't matter." the black t-shirt shrugged letting the soft jean slide out of his grasp onto the small light green cushion of the chair to the corner of the small room. Occupied only by the small table the blonde sat on, a counter top running the length of the small seven foot back wall; the rest of the space was filled with three filing cabinets, two boxes stacked on top of each others and cabinets lining the walls above and parallel to the countertop. To say the least it was a little cramped, but who could afford better.

"How old is she?" the blue eyes frowned lightly watching the red hair shoot him a look.

"How should I know?" the scarred face almost grinned baffled. "And don't you go asking her." he muttered firmer. Mrs. Miller was old but not *that* old, maybe 52.

"Why? Shouldn't I ask if you don't know?" the blonde hair shifted it's weight lightly, now wearing the light white t-shirt and boxers.

"No. It's rude to ask a woman how old she is. It's always better to just stay they look young, no matter how ancient they seem." he chuckled lightly watching the blonde hair make a face before turning towards the open door as she walked in. She didn't look ancient to him, maybe old but not ancient. She had short gray hair that reached the length of her face while parted in the middle but stroked backwards. Her skin was old but her face wore the lines of laughter around her eyes and fit her as she smiled. It was easy to see she had a lot of her life and despite her age still held a cheery and comforting disposition. That must be why Jim liked her, his mind grinned lightly. He would have thought Jim would have wanted a guy doctor. Who would have thought he would have pitched a fit and settled with her instead, his mind frowned. It might have been easier for him, considering Mrs. Miller had a pleasant way of being direct with her directions, but it was probably just because whoever hurt him before was a guy, and didn't they always tell kids to go to a women when lost? His mind frowned more, what an insult.

"I haven't seen you in three weeks!" she smiled watching the blonde hair smile back immediately as she walked in. Sending a wave to him as he grinned at her. Was she going to comment on how big he had gotten? His mind chuckled remembering how last time seemed like it was going to *be* the last time she ever tried that one. Considering the only response she got was a frowning confused expression that told her it wasn't possible for him to grow fast enough for her to see a difference. All before he demanded she measure again so she could fix her goof, he chuckled lightly. "And what did you have for breakfast this mourning?" she smiled lightly, letting her soft weathered hands run over the small glands on either side of the light neck. Ahh no here it comes, his mind groaned lightly, listening to the blonde hair reply Pizza. "Pizza?" she frowned lightly humored watching him nod. Her timed green eyes shooting a dull humored expression to the unruly red hair which flashed her a lop sided grin.

I should have told him to say cereal or something, his mind grinned. Before figuring he just should have made sure he ate something better *this* mourning instead. His dark eyes lightly humored as they watched her green eyes study the blue ones she shown the light into before checking the smaller ears and mouth.

"Can I ask you.if.is it woude for someone to ask how old a woman is?" the blue eyes glanced up at her. Watching her humored older green eyes look up at him from where the small round stethoscope ran under his shirt, listening to his heart.

"Well." she sighed, pulling the small pieces from her ears as she let the small circle drop off his chest. "That depends on how well you know the woman." she smiled warmly watching the blue eyes think about her answer. Shifting its weight with her so she could look at his back.

"Would it be rude for me to ask you?" she smiled, the smooth young skin of the smaller spine running under her fingers as she traced downward. Examining how straight it was growing.

"Do you want to ask me?" the blue eyes glanced back at her before nodding watching her smile. "Why?" she watched him turn around to face her again as he opened his mouth.

"I want to know da difference. Cause I know Gene is bigger den me, but your bigger den Gene. So what number is dat makes you different den him." he watched her light white eyebrows rise as he explained.

"You mean what makes me look so much older?" she smiled lightly watching him nod. Ahh come on Jim, the red head's mind groaned lightly. His dark eyes closing, could he be any more direct that she was old. "You think I look a lot older then Gene?" she smiled watching him frown lightly as he nodded, almost adding a, well of course, through his expression. "Let me see your teeth." she watched him imitate her expression. Her lips moving downward to reveal her teeth as she gently grasped the sides of his face. Her green eyes studying them before sighing, they looked healthy. "Well I am 53, and that is much much older then Gene.

"More den twenty years older."

"That's right." she nodded lightly raising her eyebrows at his quick response before glancing at the unruly red hair that shook its head lightly as he didn't fail to miss and point that out either. "Off." she muttered lightly, her weathered hand gripping the side of his light arm as he climbed off the table easily before looking up at her. His blonde hair moving in front of the open doorway as she guided him before crouching down "Now you see that nurse right there next to that door." The unruly red hair watched her point out lightly, the blonde hair nodding. "I want you to go over there to her and she's going to help you out with some stuff ok?" she smiled lightly letting the young nurse drop from her view to look back at him. His blue eyes frowning as he listened to her directions. Turning back to the unruly red hair questioning, watching him shoot a lop sided grin.

"Go ahead." he shrugged lightly watching them turn to glance back at the gray hair before walking out. Her old green eyes watching his legs and the way he stepped carefully.

"He is looking better every time I see him." she sighed heavily standing up, her green eyes turning to the unruly red hair now leaning into the small green cushion of the table.

"Is that a compliment?' he grinned lightly watching her smile humored as she started back to the cabinets.

"I don't know Starwind. Should I be complimenting you?" she smiled "Pizza for breakfast?" she chuckled lightly watching his dark eyes look down as he let out of small sigh of a laugh.

"Yeah well. He's inseparable from it. I slept through breakfast so he ate what he wanted." he shrugged lightly watching her smile again. He couldn't help but chuckle, it was so ridiculous.

"Are you still unsure of what you want to do with him? I have a family coming in this weekend who would take him." her face became more serious now. "There a good foster family, they would adopt him if they took him Gene. You wouldn't have to worry about him being moved around." She studied the unruly red hair now, the dark eyes glancing back down immediately as she mentioned the family. Two months ago, four months ago, since the first visit he had let her know to keep her eye out. "What?" his dark eyes glanced back up.

"I just don't know if that's such a good idea now. I mean, I have been with him for eight months and he's just now getting to the point were he's being a pain in the butt." he muttered lightly. His dark eyes watching her just listen to him, leaning lightly into the counter top. "Don't you think it might be more of a step back to move him again? It would be so new and he would be...alone." he frowned slightly watching her listen before her green eyes looked down thinking.

"No one said you had to." she stated matter o' factly as she look up. The light wrinkles around her eyes and mouth breathing her words out calm and comforting.

"I know." he muttered quickly, his dark eyes glancing for the door.

"Why don't you wait for another three weeks and make a final decision." she smiled lightly watching him glance back at her. "No one is pressing you for an answer, you know I would give my consent if custody became an issue." she nodded lightly watching his face relax, a small smile running over his mouth. "He's more then just physically healthy now Gene. Mental health is what is really important here." she stated firmly her green eyes now too glancing at the door to make sure the blonde hair was still busy out of sight, and he was. "Anyway." she sighed watching the dark eyes flash a grin at her. "How are you? Tired? Anxious? How has life been treating you in the past three weeks?" she watched him shrug.

"That's a long time to answer for." his dark eyes grinned slyly. "Works been hard sometimes. Sometimes harder with Jim because I have to watch him at the same time but he's good. He's so smart with numbers, it's something else." she watched him frown lightly as he spoke. "I don't know where he gets it." the black t-shirt shrugged quickly almost baffled as the dark eyes watched her make a face, she didn't know.

"Maybe it's a talent." she shrugged lightly. "Does he like math?"

"You see what I mean?" he frowned again. "He's four, shouldn't he be blowing spit bubbles or something? I don't remember leaning math till I was older." she laughed.

"I don't know about spit bubbles, but as for till he's older your one the right track. But I don't want to run any IQ tests on him if that's what your suggesting. You really don't want any unnecessary light running onto the fact that you two just ran into each other and started living together with no real effort put into finding his parents or past. At least not until he is old enough to have a significant understanding. Or, at least one that a jury would consider significant." He frowned.

"I am pretty sure he's got that already." he muttered, but she was right, the jury would never buy it with him so young. It was better to wait with anything, then again it really doesn't matter, his mind mumbled. If he was smart so what, having a test wouldn't make him any smarter, and if he wasn't that was fine too. "Guess it really doesn't matter." he muttered watching her glance up at him from her file. He had been standing there silent for several seconds and she had started reading.

"Being more direct, your feeling alright...right?" she smiled warmly at him watching him nod. "No bullet holes? Cuts?" he laughed lightly.

"No none of that." he grinned chuckling as he watched her mouth a teasing thank god at him. "Hey. Have fun?" he grinned lightly watching the blonde hair walk back in, the frowning blue eyes ignoring his comment. "No fun huh?" he chuckled lightly, his scarred hand dipping down to the blonde hair that pressed into his leg immediately. Obviously upset and embarrassed by something as it leaned into him before becoming slightly interested in what she had.

"What's dat?" The small voice muttered watching her raising her eyebrows in response to his question as she continued reading.

"Jim is this the third three week I have seen you?" she frowned lightly letting her finger run over the papers inside the file she had.

"Notah da second." she glanced up at him. A blue eye watching her from where the rest of his face was hidden in the baggy jeans of the red hair. She watched him shake his head no lightly before looking back down at the paper, then up at the red hair.

"I thought it was the third too, but he seems pretty sure it's the second. So I am going to take his word on it." the unruly hair shrugged. It was Jim who saw her so he probably knew.

"I am sure it's the third." she muttered lightly a small perplexed frown running over her face as the blonde hair shook no immediately.

"Da second." he repeated, moving from the baggy scarred jeans to where she held the file, watching her sigh heavily before turning a page.

"No...no it's the third." she looked down at the blue eyes watching her. "It's the third three week Jim." She repeated watching the blue eyes give her a look. Her weathered face nodding back to the green table. "Get up there, I have to run some cultures on you." she stated matter o' factly, watching him move back to the table as she reached up to the cabinet. Cool thin handle running under her palm as she opened it, pulling out the long thin swabs and tongue depressor. She smiled as she turned around catching him already back on the table patiently watching her. "Alright open your mouth." She stated lightly, shifting the small wooden stick and swab in her hand. Letting the thin light wood press his tongue down as she hung onto his chin before letting the swab run in to the back of his throat. The soft cotton tip rubbing against the back lightly before he gagged, light features scrunching and coughing. The microscopic cells of his throat already on the swab as she pulled it back watching him gag before looking back at her. His blue eyes watching her move the thin wood and cotton to the countertop and place it into a small container.

He chuckled lazily watching them as he lounged in the small chair. His hands behind his head watching the blonde hair cough lightly. Lying back for her as she gently slid the small needle into his thigh. Watching his blue eyes blink lightly as it slid in, strong enough to handle the pain with no problem. His dark eyes lazily watching before closing as he sighed, listening to the sweet gray hair work at the counter top before disappearing as she crouched down to move things around in the lower cabinet. Her violet blouse covered by the white overcoat disappearing behind the small table the blonde sat on. Shifting its weight to lean over the side watching her.

"What is dat your doing?" the dark eyes heard his question. A light grin running over his face as he watched the small hand reach towards the countertop to steady its balance and lean out farther. His scarred face yawning lightly closing his dark eyes, listening to her light voice mutter something before Jim asked another question.

"..sit still up there. I don't want you to fall alright Jim." she stated matter o' factly, her hands pulling the small blue container from where several others had been piled on top of it. Unsnapping the small latch and opening the lid to make sure she had the right one.

"Ahhh noooo." his dark eyes opened to the sudden light whining. The blonde hair still leaning over the side looking down before sitting back quickly. The light gray hair suddenly appearing again. Sitting the small blue container onto the counter. He frowned, what was the problem here? "No, no no nooo." the blue eyes were whining alright, he blinked watching her. Her weathered doctored gloved hands snapping the small thin silver rod together before his dark eyes switched. Looking at the light face that turned around on the table whining at him. "Aaa Geeene." the blue eyes frowned concerned. The light hand reaching for him opening an closing quickly. Watching the scarred face sigh as it stood up, trudging over to the table. The light hands immediately grabbing his black t-shirt standing up. Aaaa this again, his head groaned. The third week that's right, why didn't I remember. His head frowned as he dropped the small tool she was working with from his gaze, looking back to the blonde hair pushing him backwards with it's palms.

"Alright alright." he muttered lightly, taking a step back to the frustrated shoving. The light hands immediately rapping around the back of his neck. Hanging on as the stronger black t-shirt instinctively picked him up. Watching her over the constant protests.

"No I don't like dat, I don't. I don't like dat Geeeene." the light forehead was drilling into his chest. Smaller body of the white t-shirt pressing forward, motioning for him to move back as the scarred figure only stepped forward pushing the hips off lightly. "Ahaaaa." the light face whined suddenly. Feeling the soft smooth cushion run back under his feet as the scarred hands pushed him off so he could stand. "Aaaaa noooo I don't like it." the dark eyes sighed heavily watching the concerned blue dart up at him. Silently pleading for him to say something or for them to leave.

"It's alright Jim come on." he soothed , watching the blonde hair quickly shake no to his answer. Her doctor coated figure moving behind the small blonde from the other side of the thin table.

"No, no no noooooo!" the blue eyes cried again, pulling away from her soft hands as she rapped the light blanket around his waist, the scarred hands helping her. Gently pulling the light hand fighting her away. Watching the blue eyes finally close understanding it was overpowered but protesting just the same. "I dooon't like daaat. Dooont' like itahha." the light face whined hard now dipping to a soft cry. Groaning as it became more upset. Pushing back into the scarred chest as the red head quickly let his arms rap around the top half of his smaller lighter body. Making sure to keep one up to hold his arms gently while letting the other one slide along the light hips holding the soft cloth firmly in place as the light skin pushed forwards trying to get off the table. "Ahhhhhaaaahaaha." The cry finally came in soft tears. His dark eyes blinking slowly as he let out a small sigh silently forcing himself to stay and make him. The soft fabric of the small white cotton shirt running under his scarred hand as he rubbed the small back listening to the muttered I don't like it's squeeze between the hiccupped breathing. Until he glanced down at the worn gray hair cooing to the small blonde.

"Shhh I know you don't, I know." She spoke gently as he watched her gingerly reach under the light cloth. The small body pushing forward suddenly, pulling upward as the small pair of boxers appeared around its ankles. The scarred arms bouncing its weight lightly. Picking the small form up to let the small legs straddle his hips under the cloth as it cried. The light face silencing to a gag suddenly as the older feminine hands worked, running under the light cloth with the small tool.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Alright it's alright...alright?" he muttered lightly, his deep voice running into the small light ear of the blonde hair that lay hiccupping on his shoulder. The wet embarrassed blue eyes hidden into the black t-shirt as they sniffled every few seconds. Feeling only the scarred hand gently patting his back as the red hair stood shifting from side to side lightly. "It's all over now Jim. Done. You understand that? You did good ok? Really did a good job." he muttered lightly. The blonde hair ignoring everything he said, clutching his black shirt tightly. The light forehead pressing into the scarred chest as he felt himself moving, the red hair stepping forward..

She had left the room several minutes ago, after that, and a few injections. It was over, they were done. Nothing but the unruly red hair waiting for him to calm down. The ball of guilt twisting in his stomach that he had just helped to force him. When he knew how upset it made him and how much he hated it. The first time it took over an hour because he keep throwing up before dipping into a light state of shock. Now at least he acts healthier and just cries his mind frowned growling lightly.

"Come on sit down." he murmured softly, pressing the small hips forward. Letting the light skin stand back onto the green cushion. Only the top of the blonde head looking up at him as it hid it's face, slowly sitting down. His scarred hand reaching back quickly, snapping the overalls off the green chair before turning back to the hidden light skin. "Here come on. We can go now you want to go?" the loose t-shirt and boxers nodded slowly. Lightly hiccupping as the small hands ran under the blonde hair wiping the small face before laying back onto the table exhausted. Blue eyes hidden under the small hands covering them in order to hide. "Hey." the red hair was blurry, but still there. The scarred hands lightly tugging at his wrists pulling his hands back from his eyes. Watching the moist blue color look up at him through a saddened expression before quickly snapping away. The scarred hands now working the bottom of his overalls onto his ankles before pausing to put on his shoes.

The dark eyes watching the light face hide from him, repeatedly wiping the blue eyes with fast frustrated wipes. "Come on." he murmured again. Light wrists running under his scarred hands as he pulled the body up, watching it stand on the green cushion. Teetering slightly as he pulled the loose overalls up to his shoulders. Snapping one buckle at a time before looking at the light face that stayed down away from him. "I'm sorry." he whisphered softly, his scarred hand tugging lightly at the side of the loose overalls, watching the blue eyes look up at him before cringing.

"Ahhhha." the small face cried, watching the dark eyes look down before offering a small smile. The scarred hand lightly punching the side of his face before running an arm under his knees and picking him up to leave. "Ahh no no." he stopped walking, letting the blonde hair slide to the floor to the light hands request. Blonde hair shaking no.

"You don't want to go?" the blonde hair shook no moving into his leg. "Yes you do." he frowned watching the light arms rap around his thigh shaking no. "..........There is nothing to be embarrassed about alright?" he reassured, watching the light face turn into his jeans immediately, hiding from him. "We've heard someone crying in here before haven't we?" he nudged the light shoulder gently, small arms only squeezeing tighter. "So it's no different if this time it was you." he stated matter o' factly, prying the light hands from his jeans and hanging onto the light wrists as they started back for him. His stronger figure quickly crouching down. "Now look. We're going to leave, and if we have to walk through a lobby of complete strangers, who cares? We're never going to see them again, and they don't know what happened in here." he grinned reassuring the light face that looked down quickly, hiding. "So I am walking out, and you can either follow me or stay here. You have to face up to this Jim. Stand up straight and take it like a man alright?" he nudged him lightly again watching the small stressed four year old's chest beat quickly. The wide blue eyes darting up alarmed as he stood up. Reaching for the familiar jeans that quickly moved heading out the door.

Come on kid follow me, his dark eyes looked straight ahead. He couldn't look back. That would bust everything he just told him so he kept walking. His unruly red hair half way through the lobby before stumbing. The light arms suddenly behind him attaching itself to the back of his leg. The light face pressing into his jeans to hide, pieces of blonde hair visible as he looked down, grabbing the light arm and guiding it around to the front of him. Feeling the light skin pull to say behind him but unwilling to fight now, temporarily slow and jumpy.

His dark eyes staying ahead as he walked. Holding the light hand of the blonde hair coming along with him before pushing the glass door open to the cooler air and concrete steps that led into the parking lot. His scarred hand pulling the light one back wards slightly. Watching the blonde hair step back a few times, putting space in-between them to his pulling. His unruly red hair letting the light hand drop as he crouched down in front of it, looking a the overloaded stressed face that immediately hid from him. It was just so much for him to handle, even if now that they seemed to be doing things different, trying to help. It was the same places below his waist, too much like what used to happen.

His dark eyes blinked slowly watching him stand there breathing before looping his finger into the small strap of the loose overalls and tugging forward softy. Watching the light skin look up slightly. Darting down to the small step it offered forward before bolting at him, the small arms rapping around his neck tightly. His scarred arms gripping the white t- shirt and overalls as he stood back up heading for the car.

"I got some news for you." he muttered lightly, glancing at the blonde hair on his shoulder squeezing him. "Mrs. Miller says you can't drink all the soda you've been having, and from now on you have to have more milk." he stated matter o 'factly waiting for the response he didn't like milk but none came. "She also says you have to go to bed earlier. Which means now your going to bed at nine, and you have to sit into the backseat of the car because apparently the front seat airbags...will break your neck." he grinned, didn't she have anything positive for him?

"Ah no, I don't want to sit in the back." the blonde hair finally responded, barely whispering to him from his strong shoulder.

"What? You don't want to?" he muttered as his scarred hand reached into his pocket. Shifting the weight on his hip, watching the light face quickly move to hide back into his shirt. The blonde hair nodding quickly. "I know, but that's not my call buddy, so now you have to sit in the back." he spoke his words out matter o' factly, listening to the loud click flow through the car as he turned the key. The doors unlocking as he took a step to the side opening the back door. The light skin on his shoulder tensing up immediately. "Come on Jim, you have to ride in the back." he stated firmly watching the light arms leg go, crawling into the back seat before he shut the door.

The blue eyes looked around at the long empty seat before glancing at the front door opening and the unruly color getting in. The dark eyes turning around and flashing a lop sided grin at him. "Buckle up." the scarred face nodded lightly, rough hand running back onto the key as the smooth hum ran through the car starting it. Glancing into the small mirror to the blonde hair in the back seat. The light face hidden against the small knees hugged tightly to it's chest. The light face pressing it's forehead into the top of them firmly, so lonely. Ahhh his head growled backing the car out lightly. Turning easily around the corner before reaching the main road. "Hey Jim." he called back lightly, his dark eyes glancing back at the blonde hair that hand't moved. "Hey, look up buddy." he muttered lightly, watching the light face immerge slowly before looking up at him. Breathing shakily before wiping the small tears off its face quickly. "Ahhh" he growled, his scarred arm reaching back between the seats, feeling the small hands grab it immediately, hanging on tightly. "Alright? I am still here. Just...in the front seat." he flashed a lop sided grin into the mirror, watching the light hands slide onto his wrist, sitting forward in his seat to hand on tightly.

Yeah great, what's worse. Having him suffer alive, or busting his neck in an instant happy? His mind growled, watching the blonde hair loosen it's seatbelt quickly in order to move to the very edge of the seat, gaining more arm as it did. "Don't you worry about it alright? We're going to be home in twenty minutes." he glanced back, the closed blue eyes resting into his arm from where they hung on. Almost as though they would fall asleep.

__*~*~*~INTO THE PRESENT~*~*~*__

"Hey Jim"

"No shh, don't say his name. Do you want to wake him up?"

"What? He's not asleep he's playing with us."

"Shhh, no he's asleep."

"He is not, who would talk like that asleep?" the voice frowned

"Maybe he's having a nightmare." The eyes looked back down at the blonde hair and tight light face. Frowning heavily as it breathed through it's open mouth.

"What did you say Mel? A nightmare? Why do you say that?"

"Because he sounded upset...he kept saying-stop-and-no-a lot."

"No?"

"Shh your going to wake him up." he heard her clearly this time. His blue eyes opening slightly to the sound of their voices. The frowning mocha eyes looking up at the light Ctarl Ctarl hair that kept squeaking. "Quiet Aisha." the raven hair reprimanded, watching the bright eyes roll before looking back down at him, watching him open his eyes.

"See I told you he was playing." she squeaked smiling watching him blink quickly before frowning.

"What are you both doing in my bed!" he shot, the warm color flooding into his cheeks. I was talking out loud? Ahh god who knows what I said!? His mind growled, the images, the memories of his past still fresh in his mind from his dream, and they could have heard all of it.

"Where you having a nightmare Jim?" he looked up at her smooth raven hair immediately as she spoke. Her mocha eyes looking back at him concerned from where she lay propped on her elbow next to him. The Ctarl Ctarl on the other side, sitting on the bed rather then in it like the bioandroid.

"Yeah the only reason I came in was cause I heard you and wanted to yell at you for waking me up. But *Melfina* kept insisting you were dreaming." the bright eyes snapped at the raven hair, watching the mocha eyes frown before looking down at his growling.

"AHhh OUT! Both of you out! WHY are you in my room! It's none of your business WHAT I was dreaming!" the light hair backed out of his way immediately. Watching his white t-shirt and boxers bolt from under the covers stomping up. "Sleep somewhere else! This is my bed! My room! You can't come in unless I say!" he let his pillow slam onto the side of the bed as he jumped off stomping towards the door. The brilliant mocha eyes and light hair watching him yell in silence. Confused by how mad and yet embarrassed he seemed to be.

"But Jim? I thought that if you-'

"-Leave me alone Aisha! I want to be by myself!" she frowned at his snap, his blonde hair disappearing out of the bedroom as she snarled lightly, the raven hair to her left sitting up slowly.

Stupid Aisha...and Melfina. Why where they?...How?...Why do they think they can just come into my room and spy on me!? Didn't they stop to think that why I might be dreaming was personal! His blue eyes frowned darting lightly as the hard metal of the bathroom door pushed in. "Go away Gilliam!" he spit, his blue eyes snapping at the pink bot that had suddenly appeared in the doorway. Quickly vanishing as he slammed the metal door again, locking them out. All of them.

I look like crap, his mind murmured his light face, tired. Pained blue eyes and messy blonde hair staring back at him from the small mirror over the sink. The cool metal sucking the heat from the palms of his hands as he leaned onto it looking at himself. It was a horrible dream. It was...it is...is my life, his head frowned bitterly. Even now I can remember all that crap I hate. He frowned, his blue eyes shooting down to the sink, he didn't want to see himself, didn't want to see eyes looking back at him, studying him. Even if they were his own.

But why am I remembering it now?

Suddenly things were so messy, his face frowning harder as his stomach continued to rock, standing still wasn't helping to make him feel any better. "Ahh" he moaned lightly, sighing as he looked down, "Ahh I am gonna puke". His throat tightened, knowing it was coming.

"Jim you nut get out of the bathroom! Aisha wants to take a shower!" the metal banged suddenly, his grip tightening as he blinked forcing his throat to remain closed. "NOW!" she screeched, her light voice snapping at the deep annoyed tone of the unruly red head yelling at her to shut up from what sounded like the kitchen. "Don't you tell me to shut up!" the squeaking was fading. Her white t-shirt and loose flood level pink pants stomping to the kitchen to declare the worth of the Ctarl Ctarl Empire.

Ahh shut up, shut up, shut up! he closed his eyes. At least listening to them took his mind off his stomach. The cool metal of the sink slowly disappearing as he let go. Shifting his weight entirely back onto his legs before looking up and frowning. The blue eyes looking back at him, bitterly mocking him for having everything so much easier as it lived in the mirror. Leaving him to fight outside in the world.

He glanced at the clock 8:40...What the hell is Gene doing up at 8:40? he frowned lightly again. His mind suddenly declaring how pissed he was going to be later if Gene was in his room too. I am locking my door from now on. He looked back down at the sink before scanning over the bathroom. He didn't know why he had gone there but his hand was somehow turning on the water, watching the loud humm start as the it poured into the tub. His hand moving towards the small button that would switch it to a shower before stopping, hesitating, and plugging it. Yeah but knowing Aisha I'll get like five minutes, his mind frowned lightly. But it wasn't like she could just bust in, even Aisha wasn't that distasteful he grinned lightly. Maybe he would just stay in there all day and piss them all off, he chuckled. His blue eyes running into the cabinet under the sink he opened, quickly picking up the small bottle of bubble bath that was now kept next to the first aid stuff. Ever since Gene had walked in on Aisha taking a bath it was sort of mandatory. In case there was ever an emergency, there wouldn't be any problems busting in on someone. His grin widened, only Gene would be stupid enough to walk in on a Ctarl Ctarl taking a bath. It's a good thing I didn't have to pay for all the stuff she ripped up.

Listening to them argue was...hysterical. He grinned unable to understand what they were saying, only listening to the humming tones of their voice through the deep walls of the ship. The smooth violet cream pouring into the running water, sharing sparkling white bubbles with the cool metal tub before he shut it off. Letting everything drop off him before getting in, things felt better warm anyway. Everything felt calmer and closer, he grinned listening to Gene finally stomp from the kitchen. He's a sore loser his mind chuckled before easing slightly, it was too early to be awake and his blue eyes closed. Watching the sparkling white bubbles disappear.

__*~*~*~INTO THE PAST~*~*~*__

"No I don't like dat!" he frowned watching the red hair shoot him a look.

"What did she say?" the red hair stated flatly watching him frown frustrated. "She said less soda, and more milk."

"But I don't like milk!" he watched the scarred arm moving the soda bottle back into the fridge before shutting it, with the open freezer.

"I know you don't like milk." he frowned. His scarred hand tipping the gallon lightly, watching the clear glass cup fill half way with the smooth creamy solution.

"I am not dwinkign dat Gene." he frowned, the tone behind him stubborn and stuck up. "I don't care what she said dat. I don't like milk I want da dwink soodaaa." it was whining now, punching the side of his leg lightly until he looked down.

"You want to drink soda?" the dark eyes repeated dully. Watching the blonde hair nod, the upset blue color looking up at him. "You have milk in cereal sometimes....Why is it different then?"

"Cause!"

He sighed heavily listening to the small snap that came along with the quick punch of the smaller hand. "Cause why!?" he frowned lightly, grabbing the light weight around the waist and hoisting it up to the counter top with him. Watching the blue eyes frown immediately looking at the milk disgusted. "Why don't you like it?" he stated firmer watching the blonde hair just shake no.

"I don't like it. Dooon't want da dwink dat." The blonde hair pushed back into his chest whining as it looked at the milk. It was fine, what was the real problem? "I don't like dat white Gene. I don't like dat it's white like dat and wet." the blue eyes looked up, watching him frown lightly before looking back down at the milk upset.

"You don't like that it's white?" he repeated watching the blonde hair shake no shoving the cup farther away, but continuing to eye it as thought it would get him. "You want to touch it? You want me to put some of it on your hand so you can see it's just milk Jim? It's not bad, it tastes good." he reassured lightly watching the small light hands bolt for the countertop pushing back from where he held him in his arms as he suggested touching it. The blonde hair shaking no to the thought of the runny white liquid on him.

"No no no.. I don't want dat on me!" the blonde hair pushed into him. The small legs now pressing into the cabinets, trying to force it's way further from the cup as he frowned. Letting the light weight sink back to the floor. Almost dropping it annoyed.

"Well you don't get any soda so you have to drink milk." he stated firmly watching the light hands press into the cabinet groaning as it whined. The small palms shoving frustrated at the counter top before looking up at him. "I mean that Jim. You don't get anything to drink but milk."

"Aaaaaabut I doon't waaant daaaat." the light forehead leaned into the cabinet now. Blue eyes opening to the floor as they groaned, they were thirsty.

"Yeah well when your thirsty enough you'll drink it." he frowned lightly before moving towards the fridge as he got a new idea. The cool handle running under his scarred palm as he pulled it open. Blonde hair quickly moving over to him as he pulled out the half a bottle of soda standing up.

"What Gene?" the light hands grabbed his jeans. Hanging on as he moved towards the sink unscrewing the cap. "Ahh what's dat your doing!?" the light hands hit him suddenly mad.

"You want me to pour this down the drain?" the dark eyes looked down annoyed watching him shake his head no quickly. "No?" the blonde hair shook no watching the bottle. "No!?" the blue eyes snapped at him annoyed.

"NO!" it shot disgusted watching his scarred face grin lightly.

"Then drink that *right now*." he ordered. His unruly red hair motioning towards the half a cup of milk on the counter. Blue eyes looking at it before snapping back at him.

"No! I don't *wanna* dwink dat!" the light face growled at him. Gritting it's teeth as the light hands tugged down on his jeans annoyed.

"Fine..." The scarred shoulders shrugged "....Don't." lightly tipping the bottle.

"Ahhh stop! Stop dat Gene!" the bottle leveled slightly. His dark eyes looking down at the quick frustrated tugging from the side of his jeans. The concerned blue eyes watching the light green liquid inside the Sprite bottle swirl lightly from one end of the other. A small amount gone from where the scarred hand had just poured it down the drain. "Don't pour dat down da drain!"

"Drink the milk." he frowned watching the stressed blue eyes dart back at the cup before back up at him. Squeezing the small amount of his jeans tightly watching the dark eyes pause before tipping the bottle quickly.

"Ahhh! Stop!"

"Better hurry Jim it's pouring out." the deep voice muttered. His dark eyes watching the light liquid run into the sink as he held the bottle vertical. Glancing at the blonde hair over the small thumping noises the air bubbles made running through the bottle as it emptied. The light face growling at him as it let go of his jeans quickly pulling the cup off the counter. "It's almost gone Jim." he threatened lightly watching the blue eyes dart as they stared at the milk before quickly bringing it to his lips gulping it down.

He leveled the bottle quickly watching the blue eyes drink the milk. Grimacing as it swallowed before pulling the cup away whining lightly as it gagged. His scarred hand quickly taking the glass from the small hand watching it stagger back into the cabinets hiccupping upset before leaning forward and throwing the milk back up.

Ahh that's just great. His head groaned. His dark eyes slamming the soda bottle onto the counter before reaching down towards the blonde hair watching it breath quickly through the small pause it's stomach provided. His scarred hands yanking it quickly up to the sink. Watching the light hands grip either side before puking into the sink more, choking and gagging as his stomach continually tried with nothing more to offer. "Ahhh." the blonde hair cried suddenly, breathing in shallow gasps as it stared down at the sink. His scarred face frowning dully as the small legs kicked him slightly annoyed.

"You didn't like the milk?" he teased lightly hopeing to lighten the situation. Listening to the immediate moan and hiccup.

"No! I..I didn't like dat milk! and I...and I told you dat before!" the blonde hair yelled into the sink, it was mad. Blue eyes watching the scarred hand turn on the kitchen faucet rinsing away the white colored mess. "I told you before dat I..dat I dident waaant da dwwink daat." he was crying lightly now.

"Yes I know, I heard you." he grumbled handing the small hand a napkin. Shifting the light weight back slightly, off the counter and into his arms.

"Well why dident you listen den! I don't like it's white in my mouth makes me sick Geeene." the light voice hiccupped nudging him with irritation as he spit he didn't like it and he told him before. The upset blue eyes looking down as the scarred arms lowered him back towards the floor. The scarred face flying back into view as he looked up. "Dis dadent taste good." His dark eyes grinned lightly watching the blue eyes move their tongue grimacing.

"That's cause you just threw up. You don't feel good?" he watched the blonde hair nod looking down at the messy floor before becoming more upset and fidgeting slightly. "Jim I want you to go lie on the couch ok?" he pulled the light arm further from the mess watching it groan looking at it.

"I dident mean da do dat." The blue eyes snapped at him concerned as he nudged him towards the other room. "I dident mean da." the blonde hair shook no upset watching his unruly hair nod.

"I know. It's alright, I am not mad." He flashed a small grin watching the concerned blue eyes drop his face to look back down. "Go lie down now alright?...Jim....Go now and lie down." he directed lightly watching the blonde hair nod as it started for the living room. Whining lightly as it left upset it had made a mess.

He grabbed some paper towel quickly. At least the kid didn't have anything to eat first his mind growled before glancing up at the small amount of milk still in the cup. Great. That's just great. She tells me to have him drink milk. I make him drink milk and he pukes it up. He frowned, his eyes glancing back at the soda bottle now 1/3 full. Why doesn't he like milk?...his mind murmured staring into the cup.....because it's wet...and white?

"Hey?" he muttered lightly. His dark eyes dipping down from behind the couch. Watching the blue eyes look up from where they lay still heavily concerned. "Guess what?" he grinned lightly watching the stressed features only look at him. "I have to run down the street for a minute and I want you to stay here."

"What street?" the blonde hair sat up quickly. Blue eyes darting around as it reached for him.

"The one right outside. What one am I always yelling at you not to go near Jim?" he grinned lightly watching the small hand point towards the window as the other grabbed his shirt. "That's right, that's the street. I have to go down a little bit and get something and then I am coming back." he leaned off the couch, standing back up. The light hand dropping his shirt as they nervously watched him from the couch.

"Your? Your going someplace, down da steet?" the blue eyes watched him walk over to his yellow cloak picking it up as he headed towards the door. "Notah! I don't want...I am sorry I dident mean da drow up it was an acidadent." the light hands grabbed his pants quickly from where they had slid off the side of the couch and rushed after him. The blue eyes looking up concerned watching him snap his cape into place.

"This isn't because you threw up. I told you I am not mad. I just have to get one thing and come back." he stated lightly. His blue glove working part of his cape together before looking down at the blue eyes. "It's for you. Don't you want me to bring you a surprise?" He pulled the light hands off his jeans watching the blonde hair shake no.

"No I don't want one. I don't want da be here alone. I want you...To..stay wiThhh me." he cocked an eyebrow at the light skin. The blue eyes watching him hard to see if he would stay now.

"That was good." he grinned "But I am still going."

"No Ahhhhh." he frowned, the light hands snapping from his grasp running around his leg tightly. "It was an acidadent!" the light face yelled at him pushing into his jeans. His scarred hands tugging the light overalls backwards by the straps. Watching the light face emerge as the arms clung to him.

"What did I say? I said I was not mad about that Jim." he raised his voice lightly pulling the arms off as the light face whined at him concerned. "You know what I want you to do?" he pulled the small straps off grabbing the light weight around the chest and pulling it up lazily.

"No. I don't know dat." the blue eyes shot frowning slightly as they pushed into his strong scarred chest to see behind them as he walked. Whining lightly as the unruly red hair stopped at the couch pushing him off.

"I want you to lie down on the couch and count all the way to one hundred." the blue eyes frowned up at him confused as he shoved him off. "Come on Jim. You want to act like a man. Ok? Now keep it together." he frowned lightly watching the blonde hair lean into the back of the couch alarmed that he was leaving. Scared that he would be there by himself alone. "Who lives here?" he shot firmly. "Who lives in this building?"

"You." the blue eyes whisphered, cringing at him upset.

"And who else?"

"And me!" the blonde hair shot back shoving the scarred hand off its shoulder annoyed he wasn't listening and was leaving anyway.

"That's right. So if I go, only you will be here am I right?" he cocked an eyebrow at the blonde hair that quickly nodded. "So that means what?"

"I don't wanna be here all alone. If you go I am here all alone here Geeene." the blue eyes whined suddenly stepping off the back of the couch grabbing his yellow cloak.

"Hey." he shot firmly sending the light face a hard frown. His scarred hands snapping at the light wrists. "It also means that your safe because no one bad is here right? If only you and me are here, and I leave. Only you and on one bad is here...right?." he pushed the light hands back watching the blue eyes think, relaxing lightly. "So how high are you going to count?" he grinned lightly at the concerned face that watched him.

"Why do I have da do dat!? Da count?" the blue eyes frowned suddenly irritated. His scarred hands pushing them back to the smaller sides as the blonde hair ignored it, focusing only on his scarred face.

"Because it's a magic trick." he grinned slyly watching the blue eyes frown suddenly skeptical.

"Magic?"

"That's right. When you hit one hundred I will be back...but you can't skip any numbers or that's cheating. If you cheat it won't work." he grinned lightly watching the blue eyes listen intently, thinking this over. "So as soon as I shut the door behind me you start at one alright?" he grinned, reassuring the skeptical face. Magic was fake.

"At won hundred you'll be back?" His unruly red hair nodded watching the blue eyes look down before slowly sitting back onto the couch.

"Remember to start at one right when I shut the door alright? And don't get off the couch, ok?" he shot back. The cool handle of the front door running under his hand as he opened it. "What don't you do while I am not here Jim?" he shot back firmly watching the blue eyes think from where they were watching him from the couch heavily concerned.

"Answer da phone and touch da stove." the light voice whisphered slightly watching his unruly red hair nod sending him a small wave as it stepped out shutting the door. He blinked, there wasn't a sound. His blue eyes looking up at the big open space of nothing in the halls of the warehouse. "No won bad is wid me if I am here all by myself." he frowned looking down quickly. The soft blue apalstry of the couch sliding under him as he slide off quickly sinking into the small space between the couch and coffee table. "Won......two........"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Will this be all?" the man looked up watching the dark eyes and unruly red hair nod handing him a couple of Wong before taking the small plastic bag now holding the yellow box off the counter away from the cash register. His scarred hand pushing the glass door to the small market open to the sound of a small bell before hitting the street again. The long yellow of his cape swirling behind him lightly as he walked, it would only take him about five minutes to get back. And it only took about five minutes to do that...fifteen minutes...hope he counts slow enough, his mind grinned.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He let his key slide into the cool cheap knob of the warehouse front. Pushing the door in before letting it shut behind him. His dark eyes running into the living room before frowning lightly at the empty couch. "You didn't have any big parties without me while I was gone did you?" he grinned suddenly. Watching the blue eyes look up from where they had sank into the space by the coffee table, the blonde hair shaking no quickly before frowning.

"Won hundred and seventy two Gene." it spit annoyed watching the scarred shoulders shrug dropping his cape back onto the chair.

"Its a long street." the dark eyes grinned slyly watching the loose overalls and white shirt stand up, heading over to him. "What to see what I got?" he grinned lightly watching the blue eyes glace over the bag as they came over before ignoring it and leaning into him. "Come on...come see what I have." he chucked lightly. The light weight disappearing off his legs as he started for the kitchen, the footsteps following close behind.

"Dis going da be more a da fake magic Gene?" he grinned listening to the annoyed tone behind him. The blonde hair irritated that it didn't work when he reached one hundred, and instead he was seventy two seconds late.

"Alrigh alright, so the one hundred thing was a bust. Would you have rather spent you time staring at the ceiling?" he grinned down at the frowning blue eyes glaring at his face. Ignoring his scarred hands pulling a small glass cup from the counter and opening the yellow box.

"Dat doesn't...dat doesn't mean you...dat you lie Gene!" the blue eyes frowned watching the scarred face frown lightly turning back to the counter before pushing past him to the fridge. "Why!? I don't want dat!" The blonde hair backed up immediately watching the milk appear as the dark eyes glanced at his outburst taking it back to the counter top with him.

"Sit down and stop yelling." the deep voice spit slightly annoyed. Growling lightly as the blonde hair shoved next to him looking up to see what he was doing. "Now. Sit down." He shot the blue eyes a look, ordering him to go sit.

"Ahh I wanna seeeeee." He heard the blonde hair snap at him stomping to the small table before getting into a chair. The small spoon in his scarred hand leveling the chocolate dust out of the small yellow container before dropping it into the small cup of milk. Watching the dark swirls of color invade the white creamy flow. He grinned as he heard the small chair near him scuff against the floor to the small irritated kick. The blonde hair annoyed it couldn't see.

"Alright try this." he grinned lightly watching the irritated blue eyes relax as they caught the unfamiliar drink in his hand.

"What dat?" the blue eyes looked up momentarily before back at the table as his scarred hand set it in front of him.

"It's a surprise. Just tell me if you like it...and if you don't feel free to puke all over the floor." he chuckled lightly watching the light face frown slightly upset by his comment as it looked into the cup before picking it up.

"Dis tastes good?" the blue eyes mumbled their question over the glass cup slowly raising to the small mouth.

He shrugged. "I like it." he flashed a reassuring grin watching the blue eyes look down at the cup as it started to drink. Calmly sucking in the chocolate milk. "So do you like it or not?" he chuckled watching the light face continue to drink. Lowering the cup at his comment and breathing quickly before nodding. "Good. Guess what it is?" he grinned watching the blue eyes look back down at the cup before back up at him.

"Candy." He grinned shaking his head no watching the blue eyes frown. "Dis tastes like..tastes like candy!" it shot more annoyed watching the unruly red hair just grin at him.

"It tastes like chocolate. Candy could be anything Jim. That is the other kinda milk." he watched the blue eyes snap up at him as he mentioned the milk. Quickly darting behind him towards the counter where the gallon sat. "There are two kinds. White milk and chocolate milk."

"Dis da chocolate milk?" the blue eyes frowned lightly looking back into the cup before back up at the unruly red hair, watching it nod. "Well den how come you always buy da...how come you always buy da yucky white milk Gene?"

"Well I..." he trailed lightly watching the blue eyes frown annoyed he had been buying the gross milk for so long, and just now decided to show him the other kind. "Because this kind is more expensive, but you can drink this all you want and only one half a cup of soda a day...ok?" he watched the blue eyes look down at the chocolate milk before back at the soda bottle on the counter.

"Well...put da uda milk away Gene." he frowned before raising the cup back up and drinking the cool chocolate.

The dark eyes grinned chuckling as they looked back at the counter "You don't want to look at it?" he chuckled lightly watching the blue eyes make a face shaking it's head no as he got up picking the milk off the container and putting it back in the fridge. His dark eyes grinning lightly as he ran over the details of being able to go see Iris tonight. His mind grinning as he thought about seeing her last time, so sweet. He could still remember her words, but he frowned slightly remembering her advice. Sure it was great seeing her, and she always had something helpful to add with Jim, but this time. Yeah this time was way out of left field, his mind grumbled lightly, watching the blonde hair drink as he thought.

~*~ "Ahh Gene what do you do waltz in here just to use a girl?" She was smiling, her soft now slightly damp blonde hair teasing him as she let the loose bed sheet lay over her. "Can't you stay we've only been inside for two hours?" He watched her wrinkle her nose lightly, letting her finger trace over her lips, he wanted to stay.

"Hey come on. You know I want to stay." He leaned back over to her, watching her navy eyes blink lightly looking up at him as he sat on the side of the now slightly damp bed. "I have to go outside Iris, I can't leave Jim out there for so long." He watched her teasingly seductive face fall at his seriousness suddenly.

"Ahh Gene that's not fair!" She spit sitting up quickly, her hand holding the crisp white sheet over what would be her revealed light skin. "You told him to stay! He doesn't listen?" She squeaked irritated, watching him pull on his pants. His dark eyes looking up at her as if considering before grabbing his shirt.

"Yeah he listens." He muttered lightly watching her pouting bottom lip and sweet skin disappear as he let his black t-shirt slide over his head. Her annoyed but soft face coming back into view as he ran his arms though the small holes.

"Well if he's gonna stay what, why do you have to go now?! It's only been two hooours!" She whined, her small thin hand snapping her bra over from the end of the bed.

"He's four Iris, I can't leave him out for two hours. He doesn't listen all the time, not for all two hours." He made a face, running his belt around his waist as she snapped the back of her bra, letting the sheet slide back to the bed.

"Well you know Gene, I read in a woman's magazine you have to discipline children so they'll listen to you. Do you do that huh?" She shot him a testing look, watching his dark eyes squint.

"How the hell should I know."

"Well have you tried giving him a small smack when he doesn't listen?"

"What!?" His dark eyes snapped up at her, watching her stand there lazily turning her shirt right side out. Now small soft blue bra and panties.

"Yup that's what it says." She replied matter o' factly ignoring his baffled glare as she shook out her shirt. Watching small bits of candy fall out of it. "Where you eating candy before this Gene?" Her navy eyes snapped up at him.

"It actually says I should hit him Iris?" He made a face watching her sigh as though this were boring.

"Ah Gene I still think your giving me an excuse." She snapped at him watching him frown as he stood up.

"I swatted him once because he didn't know what that term meant but he got all bent-out-of-shape...I think it upset him." He frowned lightly watching her lean into his chest, practically ignoring his statement. "Iris?"

"Gene it says you have to discipline your kids so-"

"-But he's not my-"

"-If!" She raised her voice cutting him off. "If he's living with you we'll just say he's yours ok? If you don't show him discipline he's going to get older and think your...umm...he won't listen and take lots of drugs and stuff ok?" She watching him give her a skeptical frown before shaking his head no lightly. Running his hand onto her butt as she hugged him. "It's not hard, just when he doesn't listen."

"I don't know." She heard his heavy sigh as she nuzzled her head into his soft t-shirt. "Maybe that's not such a good idea Iris. Considering what he's been through." He heard her grunt lightly as he looked down. Her thin hand pushing his wrist off her lightly as she stood up to face him.

"Naa, just turn him around and wack his bottom one." She watched him frown though her heavy sigh. "Gene come on? If you don't teach him he'll wonder off. Didn't you ever think a that huh? Has he ever done that huh Gene?" She watched him frown harder.

"Yeah, so what? That doesn't mean I should...that I should smack him." He growled lightly watching her shrug.

"Did you dad hit you?" She made a small face at him as she giggled. Stepping back to pick up her small skirt.

"Only once in a while Iris. It's not like he beat me."

"Yeah, I was spanked when I was younger." He grinned watching her hop lightly as she pulled her skirt up. Shrugging lightly, the more he thought about it. The more kids he actually new who were spanked. "You don't want him to start taking drugs and lying and stuff when he gets older Gene. When he doesn't behave just pull him over your knee, a little spanking isn't going to kill him. Or only work through his boxers, your not supposed to hit him that hard, just a little on his bottom." She watched him growl as he listened to her. His strong form opening her bedroom curtains as she talked. Thin feminine hands running onto his chest from behind as he looked out. Watching the blonde hair sit in the grass. The small light hands playing with a grasshopper. "Jimmy looks bored." He grinned listening to her giggle behind him.

"But he stayed in the yard." His grin widened, the kid listened. Two hours was a long time for him to be in such a small spot. I think I am just going to stick with giving him time out." He flashed her a small grin as he looked down at her watching her shrug. That was good to0, not as enforcing but still effective while he was young.

"If that works do it. I don't want you boxing his ears Gene." She giggled opening the window as she smiled. "Hey Jimmy!" They watched the blue eyes look up at them. "Come on in sweetie!" She smiled watching him get up, the red hair behind her starting for the kitchen. "Maybe if you two had separate rooms Gene we could spend more time at your place and we wouldn't have to leave him outside." She watched him grin looking back at her. Eyeing her swinging hips before glancing at her face as he listened, that didn't sound like such a bad idea. ~*~

In fact it was an idea that had been driving him nuts since she mentioned it. Ok so some hard labor was involved in cleaning out another room but it would be worth it. Forcing Jim to stay there thought would be another feat all together. His dark face frowned, he kinda liked having the kid in with him, having someone was better then being alone.

"Hey what would you say to having your own room Jim?" he cocked an eyebrow turning around to the blonde hair patiently drinking the chocolate milk. Then again once again substituting Jim for Iris everyone in a while would be...so sweet. "Sound good?" he grinned.

"Where?"

"I don't know...how about in that room I have filled with junk for storage?" he shrugged lightly "If I move that stuff upstairs into the attic, that would be a small bedroom." He blinked watching the blonde hair just listen drinking. "Do you have any opinion on this at all?" he gave the blue eyes a dull look, his face sinking further as the small shoulders only shrugged. "Well then I am going to do it." he grinned slyly walking back over to the table. "As soon as your done with your milk."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He looked down into the dusty cardboard box. Brushing strains of his blonde hair from his face in order to see. Cool tools. "Gene can I have dis?"

"Ahh have what?" he groaned looking up at the blonde hair holding an old wrench. "You want that?" he made a face, turning back to the large cardboard moving box he was dragging from the small room.

"Yes. Can I have it den?" he heard the voice continue behind him. His face tightening as he pulled, What the hell was in this blasted box? "Gene?"

"AHh yes." he sighed heavily glancing back. The light face immediately smiling before looking back into the box.

"Can I have dis too?" He groaned, pulling again.

"Is it from the same box?" The blonde hair nodded behind him. "Jim is it?" he repeated, pulling at the heavy cardboard. Unable to see the dusty small box and overalls nodding from behind him.

"Yes." the voice was smiling behind him and he grinned.

"Tell you what." He sighed heavily turning around, eyeing the loose overalls sitting in the dust trails the boxes he had been pulling out for the last three hours made. "You can have everything in that box unless I say otherwise later." he grinned lightly, it was probably nothing more then old tools.

"Dat for real?" the light face looked skeptical watching him grin. His unruly hair nodding listening the excited dank you before the light hands started digging through it. "Dis stuff is neat."

He grinned listening to the smile behind him. "Yeah, well it will be a whole lot neater if you can learn to use them. Then you'll see me smiling too." he grinned listening to the small laugh before he ordered the blonde to move the box and get out of the dirt. "Jim I am serious you want me to trip over you!? Get...You want that box right?" he sighed heavily again watching the blonde hair nod as his scarred hands re-gripped the box he was going to drag out the doorway. "Alright then get the box and get in the bedroom while I do this." he frowned lightly. Running his hands back over the smooth yet rough cardboard as he turned around. Listening to the smaller box drag into the hall.

God damn, when I get this blasted thing into the hall far enough I am going to tear....ahh what the hell is in this stupid thing! His mind growled as he pulled, listening to the deep skidding noise arise from the small particles of dirt scratching into the floor as the cardboard was drug over it. I should have had them clear all this crap out when I bought the place, his head frowned harder. His scarred hands relaxing as he leaned into the rough brown surface breathing heavily. The thing must have weighed some 500 pounds, what the hell was it? A refrigerator? He chuckled lightly leaning into the box before glancing up at the surrounding hall. His dark eyes moving slightly to look into the bedroom. "Hey!" He snapped, his hard expression snapping at the blonde hair that quickly stepped away from the castor at his hard tone. "You weren't thinking about touching that now were you?" he cocked an eyebrow at the blonde hair watching it shake no quickly. "Good." he grinned lightly sighing heavily as he let his hands run back onto the sides of the box. "Cause you know how we went to see Iris a few days ago?" he grinned lightly getting ready to pull "When we were talking Jim she said I should swat your bottom once each time you don't listen." He glanced at the blonde hair, blue eyes frowning at him . "She said she read it in a magazine for women." He chuckled lightly. "What do you think about that?" he grinned slyly, holding down his laughter as the blue eyes only frowned.

"I don't think dats a very good idea Gene." the blonde hair looked back at the castor frowning lightly. The unruly red hair and deeper laughing turning back to the heavy box.

"Yeah I thought you'd say that." he chuckled before pulling, the blue eyes studying the gun.

What was it that was so neat about this castor? Of course it looked cool. It was so shiny, and heavy, and had all those neat markings in it. Plus Gene always had it...*always* had it. It was his favorite toy so there must have been something really cool about it. Why won't he let me touch this? His blue eyes frowned lightly watching his face reflect lightly in it. His blonde hair twisting lightly in the small shiny beads of red, it felt cool.

"Jim! I am serious Damnt!" he jumped lightly. Snapping at the unruly red hair yelling at him from the hall. The scarred hands dropping the box as though they might come in. "Blast it this is the last time I am going to say anything. Now listen up. Do. Not. Touch. It." he spit firmly, his dark eyes glaring at the inquisitive blonde hair. It wanted so bad to know what was so special about the gun. How come Gene could play with it and he couldn't.

Stupid kid, his brain muttered. This was it, basically the last box. After the two small ones to the back left corner the room would be empty. Then with a little sweeping and...well they didn't really have an extra furniture, but there had to be *something*...somewhere. God this box is heavy...his head groaned. Shifting his weight to push instead of pull as he neared the stairs. Maybe I'll just...shove it down...he grinned, shoving harder as he got closer.

Out of everything they had, this was the only thing Gene never let him touch. Why is that? He never said why? He squinted lightly, his blue eye focusing into the long narrow black hole of the barrel. Gene put the bullets in...."Dis end." he whisphered lightly. His light hand pulling at the back of the strong maroon castor. Watching it click open, the short narrow gold bullet laying lazily in the case. That wasn't very interesting, but it made a cool sound opening. It wasn't hard to close either. He frowned lightly shoving the base of the gun back, listening to the cool snap as it closed.

"Jim! Your not near my a castor are you?!" he heard his voice echo lightly as he yelled from around the heavy box. Listening to the light no answer back as he re-gripped the box, pulling.

So the bullets came out the barrel? He squinted looking back into the black hole. The heavy weight of the gun running into his hands and arm as he picked it up. The smooth dusty black hole running along his fingers as he slid a few in. What was it that made them come out? Was there a spring? Did something shove them? "I know dat explodes." he whisphered lightly. It definitely made a loud noise when it went off so something must be exploding. Or maybe they did that just for show, but that would probably be a waste of time and effort.

"Hey what are you doing!?" he chuckled lightly, the blonde four year old was being awfully quiet. "Jim?" he laughed lightly, listening to his voice echo as he yelled around the box.

"Nothing!" His blue eyes looked up towards the door. Listening to the unruly red hair yell from the hall, but he sounded as thought it were laughing. "Ahh!" he screamed lightly, his blue eyes blinking quickly as the small red beads on either side of the castor lit up, the familiar hum running through the room.

It happened really fast, by accident. The red beads lit up. The sharp red light flashing out, humming around the maroon weight as it vibrated slightly. The long dark barrel staring into his blue eyes as he looked down at it. A small light growing in it. "It is an explosion!" he shot watching the yellow lightly zap together before the loud blast.

He froze. His scarred hands jumping at the sound before squeezing the sides of the box as he recognized the familiar sound from his castor. His ears listening, straining, there wasn't a sound. "Jim!" his scarred shoulder ran over the wood work of the bedroom. "BLAST!" he shot, his heart was slamming, pounding in his chest as his dark eyes ran over the room. The beam of light streaming in through the hole in their wall. Heavy maroon castor now almost resting on the light shoulder of the white t- shirt. The gun barrel smoking lightly from where it had just fired. Missing the blonde hair by inches, firing over the shoulder. "BLAST!!" he screamed again, his scarred form rushing forward. Did it miss? Did the god damn thing miss?! His head screamed, the dazed blue eyes looking over at him slowly from where they had been staring at the hole it the wall. "Are you alright!? Did it hit you!?" he shot, his scarred hands squeezing the light shoulders, shaking them, before ripping at the shirt. Feeling the smaller shoulder and neck. "Hey! Did it hit you!? Are you?...Are you?...God damnt are you hurt?!!" his deep voice was slurring lightly running lower as his mind raced. Jim seemed fine, not a scratch on him. The smooth young skin running under his hands as he ran it over the younger shoulder. The blonde hair bending to the side lightly as he felt the side of its neck. Blue eyes blinking hard before lightly reaching up and covering their right ear, dropping the castor. "Your not hurt?" His dark eyes blinked, paniced. "Your ear? That hurts? It was loud huh. A loud noise?" Slowly his sly scarred features dropped. The stressed panicked expression draining to a small grin. His dark eyes watching the blonde hair nod lightly as it continued to move slow, wide eyed. No he wasn't hurt, it didn't even touch him, didn't even scratch him. It had fired in his hands, aiming at him, over his right shoulder right next to his ear. "Ahh" he sighed heavily, his scarred body leaning forward slightly as he smiled. Watching the shocked now panicked light face just stare at him as he laughed. The soft blonde strains running into his hands as he ruffled the blonde hair. "It missed you!" he grinned, laughing lightly. "It..it missed you." his voice dropped slightly, becoming more serious. "It *just* missed you." His dark eyes squinted suddenly, the harsh irritated tones running back into his voice as he stared at the blue eyes blinking heavily. Waking up from the shock of the loud noise and the sudden chill of fear that he had blasted a hole into the wall. "God damnt! Didn't I tell you to not touch it!" The unruly red hair was pissed. The sudden fear, panic and relief now wearing off. Leaving only the hard concern which quickly became anger becuase the kid could have killed himself. "You almost blew your head off!" He shot, his firm dark eyes beating into the blue ones that quickly retaliated. The light hands grabbing his shirt suddenly afraid.

"Dat..dat.." the light face studdered.

"That! Could have blown off you head!" The unruly red hair stood up, his scarred hand yanking the light arm forward with him. "How many times did I tell you to not touch my castor?" The dark eyes snapped down at the scared expression. Watching the light face frown saddened through the small open mouth gapping at him. "How many times!?" he snapped furious.

"I dident know dat. You never let me touch.. I dident know dat I could!...Dat! Dat! I could-"

"-That it could blow a hole into the wall!?" the dark eyes squinted "A hole we can't afford!? A bullet that costed 400 Wong! A bullet that almost!.." he trailed lightly, his head growling as the facts ran thought his head. How close it actually ran by him, how much it was going to cost to get that fixed, or to fix it themselves. Iris's words trickling through his head. "That almost took off your head!" he shot his scarred hand pulling the loose overall straps over the light arms. The blonde hair motionless and a nerved by his fast angered movements pulling the small arms to the light chest tight and afraid. Blue eyes snapping up at the unruly red hair alarmed as he grabbed his shoulder tightly, the dark eyes growling at him. "When I tell you not to do something Jim." the scarred face was furious, snarling at him. "You better damn well not do it or you are going to find yourself in a* lot* of trouble." All of his panic, all of his fear was now anger. Directed solely at the blonde hair that could have been stupid enough to not listen and kill itself when he told him several times. "I told you four times! Maybe five!" he shot. The light hand gently grabbing the side of his jeans as it was yanked forward. Unruly red hair sitting onto the side of the bed, dark eyes glaring at him. "How many times should I have to tell you!?" he shot frowning "How many Times!?"

"But Gene I...Ahhh I dideenntt.." the light hand gripped his pants harder.

"How MANY TIMES!?" The dark eyes snapped annoyed, shoving the smaller hand off.

"ONE!"

"One time?" His dark eye cocked a bitter eyebrow at the light hair. Watching the blue eyes nod as they stayed fixed on him, silently apologizing. "You have known all this time it should be one time? And you shouldn't be touching any guns or blowing holes into the building?" he snapped bitterly watching the light face nod shaking lightly.

"Ahh! Ahhaaahahaa." the light face screamed before whining as the scarred hand grabbed the back of his small shirt yanking him into the side of the scarred leg. Blonde hair and light hands pushing into his thigh hugging it as his loose overalls slide around his ankles to the scarred hand pushing them down. His firm grip snapping at the light wrist, hanging onto it to keep the light skin from going anywhere. "Ahhhhhaaahaaaa! Uhhhhaaa!" the small free light hand pushed into his thigh, shoving to get away as he swatted the back of the small pair of boxers. His scarred hand hitting him hard enough so he would feel it. Hard enough so he would remember, but not hard enough for it to really hurt. Watching the crying light skin push it's hips forward trying to bend away room his hand.

There, five, his mind whisphered lightly. His scarred hand dropping the light wrist he held firmly as he stopped. He told him four, maybe five times, so he got it. Five times.

"No no I am sorryyyy Geeeene! I am soooorryyy!" the light hand pulled back as he let go quickly rapping around his thigh hugging it. "Ahhhhhaaa ahh I am sorrrry bout daaaat." the light forehead pressed into the top of his leg sobbing hysterical as he blinked. One hand palm open behind its boxers as it hung on. He hadn't hit him that hard...-Don't-, his brain snapped at him as he went to rub the small shoulder. To tell him it was ok. The kid could have shot his head off, if you don't tell him good this time...his mind whisphered lightly. His dark eyes tightening, firming back up from where they had dropped to a soft expression. "AHhhhhh I am wheely WHEEElY SOOORRRY! Peas Geeene I am sorrry bout daaaaaat." His dark eyes blinked firmly watching the light skin sob, squeezing him until he grabbed it. His scarred hand snapping at the light twist, pulling it back. Forcing the blonde hair off him.

"I am sorry to! But you still didn't listen!" he frowned at the blue eyes that shot up at him as their jeans disappeared. His free scarred hand yanking the loose overalls from around the smaller ankles before pulling them forward as he stood up. "You get time out!" he snapped, his dark eyes ignoring the one hand pulling into his jeans. The light face trying to push into the heavy dark denim to hide. It was sorry. "Sit!" he snapped, yanking the blonde hair into the hall. Pulling the light arm around the doorway quickly to the wall.

"Noooo it hurts Geeene. I don't want to-"

"You don't want to sit down!?" he snapped at the wet blue eyes that looked up whining at him.

"Yeaaah, I don't want to, I don't waaaant da sit, don't want da sit cause you...cause you-"

"I don't want to hear it Jim." he snapped firmly dropping the light wrist. "You knew better, and I told you better, but you did it anyway. Now if it hurts to sit that's your fault." he frowned watching the blonde hair cry up at him. The small light palms pressing into the wall as he stood.

"AHhhhhh I am sooooory! Sorry sorry." the blue eyes cried. The scarred hand pushing the back of his knees in, forcing him to sit facing the wall. "Ahhhhhaaaa" The unruly red hair watching him cry as he sat down. The small light face leaning into the wall to hide as it sobbed.

"You just sit there until I tell you to move." he frowned, his tone softening as he watched the light hands push into the wall weakly. The small white shirt and boxers shaking lightly as they sobbed. Blue eyes hidden under the blonde hair that leaned into the wall.

Just walk away and make him sit there, his brain ordered. His unruly red hair running over his eyes lightly as he started back towards the small room. There where two more boxes that still needed to be moved. His scarred hands quickly pulling one up, feeling the rough weight fall into his arms over the young voice crying in the hall. His dark eyes frowning as he started back towards the doorway, heading toward the attic stairs. The box was getting heavier as he neared the top. The intense rough weight sliding down in his arms lightly, but he ignored it. Focusing his mind on where he would sit it, trying to ignore the twinge of guilt in his stomach and incredible urge to ease the suffering in the hall, but his face didn't repeat it. His dark eyes firm and set, his body movements strong and sure. Not the slightest indication he felt guilty he had hit him, but knew he had to show him someway to listen. He hadn't listened before, his mind growled lightly. I told him four maybe five times to get away from the gun and he even said he wasn't touching it. His dark eyes frowned harder, ignoring the blonde hair he passed again. Now carrying the second box towards the attic. That stupid woman magazine better be right, his head scowled sitting the box down and starting back down the stairs. Yet knowing Iris the thing probably had absolutely nothing to do with parenting. "Huh" he chuckled bitterly out loud. For all I know it was an article against hitting your kids...he stopped walking. His scarred hand quickly running through his unruly red hair as he shook his head lightly. What did he just think?...what...Jim isn't mine. He told himself, his dark eyes glancing up from the floor where he had stopped outside the attic doorway. No one ever gave him to me, or said that I could have him...he's not my kid, his head whisphered. But it didn't feel that way. His stomach didn't feel that way, his brain had said he was. Was he? He lived there didn't he? They.... "Go ahead your out of time out." he heard himself mutter lightly. His dark eyes blinking himself back to reality as he watched the blonde hair move slightly. The light hands gripping the side of the doorway they sat next to, leaning into the wall as they stood up crying. Hiding its face towards the wall before covering it's eyes with it's hands. The small loose white t-shirt and boxers walking into the bedroom slowly as it sobbed.

His scarred figure moving down the hall, looking in to watch. Blonde hair climbing onto the bed crying before pulling the blankets up quickly, covering himself entirely. He's ashamed, his head whisphered. His scarred features softening, he feels guilty and I...his head trailed lightly as he frowned. The poor kid was embarrassed, hurt Gene was mad at him, and confused he had hit him when he said he wouldn't. "You know I didn't hit you I swatted you." He heard himself state suddenly before his dark eyes blinked. He hand't consciously told himself to say anything. The sheets didn't response, the small ruffle in them continuing to cry as he walked over. His scarred hand gently grasping the top and pulling it down slowly. Watching the light face quickly turn into the mattress to hide from him as it lay curled on its side. "Jim..." he trailed lightly watching the kid shake as it tried to cry silently, hiccupping excessively. "...guess what?" he whisphered lightly, his scarred face letting out a small grin. "I don't hate you k?" he whisphered gently, watching the light face breath deeply though its mouth as he spoke. Listening intently. "I know your sorry and it's ok. I had to swat you though, cause you didn't listen when it was dangerous, but it's ok anyway alright?" he spoke soft crouching down to the side of the bed. Letting his scarred shoulders lean onto it, evening with the light face hiding from him. A small reddened blue eye glancing up quickly before snapping back down at the sheets. Jumping lightly as he laid a hand on the small shoulder. His scarred rougher skin rubbing it as though it were hurt, letting him know it was ok. "Come on your making me feel bad." he flashed a lop sided grin, watching a small light hand snap for his wrist at his comment. Hanging on tightly. Blonde hair sliding forward as his scarred hand pulled him closer to edge of the bed. Flashing the small light skin a grin as it looked up at him hiccupping.

"Gene I am...sorry bout dat." the small voice whisphered shakily. Hiccupping deeply as it looked up. The light hands rubbing the tears off it's cheeks as they tensed back up. Still quietly upset even as the scarred hand rubbed his back reassuringly. The unruly red hair just thankful he still had his head.

"I know you are. I am sorry too." he flashed another lopsided grin.

This was his peace offering. His apology. And the kid took it before it was spoken.

__*~*~*~INTO THE PRESENT~*~*~*__

"Jim damnt open this door!" He growled, dark eyes cringing at the bathroom door as he heard the water move from inside.

What? his brain slurred lightly, he had fallen asleep. AHh I am freezing, his head moaned, quickly pulling the drain to the tub. The water had cooled dramatically as he slept. What the hell does he want now, his brain growled lightly as his blue eyes snapped at the door annoyed. Listening to the outlaw bang on it as he sat up. AH! His head screamed but his face only cringed silently to the sharp sting from his back. How...how long did I sleep? even inside his head he stammered quickly standing up with a towel and grabbing some clothes. His light face cringing as he ripped on his boxers. The hard morphine wearing off, reveling the sharp sting of his cuts as he trudged towards the bathroom door.

"What do you want G-" the outlaw shoved him lightly snapping in towards the medicine cabinet. "Hey what the hell happened to you!" he heard himself snap. His blue eyes immediately running over the trickle of blood pouring from the outlaw's scarred fingers. Scarred hand tightly clasped over the wound in the strong lower side. Free scarred hand smearing blood into the medicine cabinet lightly as he dug for something.

"Ahh don't touch it blast it!" the dark eyes snapped feeling the lighter hands moving his shirt examining the wound. "I was trying to fix the blasted...the blasted engine...thing...in the back of the ship and I pulled off this piece of metal coating." He shot his deep voice alarmed lightly, he couldn't find it. They had to have one left.

"What? Gene they have a place to put those! You have to snap them to the bottom of the carboratores!" the blonde hair shot up pushing his scarred hand off the wound. Watching the outlaw silently flinch as he pushed a small washcloth to it.

"I was under the carborator! The blasted thing slid off and stabbed me!" He shot down, his deep voice sighing heavily with relief. "This has got to be the last needle we have." he frowned lightly shaking the small syringe annoyed. The contents of the medicine cabinet now jumbled and spilled, smeared slightly with blood. "I searched everywhere before checking here." He sighed, dark eyes closing lightly. Listening to the remaining medicines spill and move as his younger partner dug through them now.

"Well are you just going to stand here and bleed! Lets go!" his dark eyes shot down to the blonde hair pushing him off the sink. The light hands guiding him through the door. Briefly letting go of the scarred hips to pull on his red t-shirt which he grabbed as they left the bathroom. Scarred hands opening the strong steel door to his room. "Come on lie down Gene." he muttered watching the unruly hair move.

"Ahh damnt." the outlaw scowled bitterly sinking into his mattress in the small sleeping bunk built into the wall of his small room. "Blasted carboratores." he growled, dark eyes snapping up to the blonde hair moving up next to him studying his cut.

"Geez Gene this is pretty deep." the blue eyes muttered leaning into his side. "You have a piece of that metal in you." the light face looked up shooting him an almost concerned expression.

"What?! You think I knew that?" he spit baffled watching the light hand dump the stuff it had pulled from the medicine cabinet onto the sheets next to them. "Wish they built more room into these things." he strained a light chuckle, watching the blonde hair struggle to stay on his side with out sitting on him. Cramped into the small space as the blue eyes focused.

"You know I am going to have to pull this out." the blue eyes looked back up, grimacing slightly watching him frown.

"What do you want a metal? Just pull it out then." the dark eyes frowned, gripping the bed lightly at the smaller fingers gently slide onto the thin strip of metal stabbing into him before yanking it out quickly. The blonde hair throwing it out into the room as the scarred skin growled. Easing his pain with frustration.

"When I am done bandaging this...your not going to leave it up to endurance are you?" the blue eyes sounded like they were frowning as they spoke, and he grinned.

"Maybe."

"Did you ever think about how you kinda leave it up to infection?" the blonde hair smirked lightly watching the scarred skin jump as he drizzled the alcohol into its wound. Just in case Gene did leave it up to endurance.

"You want to try and not drown my organs." the dark eyes snapped at him annoyed, but the light face only ignored him. The blue eyes working intently cleaning his skin in order to stitch it up. The bottom of his red shirt, bed sheets, and hands coated with the outlaw's blood as he worked. "Besides, my ways more interesting." He grinned through the pain, dark eyes lazily glaring at the ceiling, feeling the small gentle stings and burns as Jim patched him up. "Are you going to stitch that at all?" he glanced down lightly feeling the small pause.

"Maybe." the blonde hair was teasing him.

"Then let me help...you..." his voice started straining as he sat up. The sharp sting flying wildly threw him as his skin pushed into the gaping spot in his side.

"Lie down now!" The blonde hair snapped annoyed. The blue eyes ordering him harshly, watching the outlaw lie down. "Don't move either." he spit firmly, looking back down at the bloody hole. His fingers moving the small needle to the side ready to sew.

He frowned lightly feeling the stinging pull and prick, pull and prick, but it was slow and gentle. All the movements trying not to strain his skin.

"You were under the carborator?" His dark eyes frowned listening to the skeptical tone.

"Yes I was under it." he sighed back heavily before frowning, he meant that to be a bitter snap.

"Let me rephrase that Gene." the light voice chuckled. "*Why* were you under the carborator?" The blonde hair was almost laughing at him now.

"Ahhh not everyone has such little arms they can just slide right into it Jim. Some people actually have to work through the manufacture vents." he spit slyly, cocking an eyebrow to the ceiling before feeling the quick annoyed jab of the needle. His dark eyes glancing down to see the blue glaring at him. Giving him a dull expression from where they had just purposely pricked him. "Alright I was under it because I couldn't reach in to the center wires. I took off the vent and slide it into the thing like you said and it slide back out and stabbed me." He frowned watching the light face think before looking back down, working back on his wound. Satisfied with a straight answer. His unruly red hair resting lazily over his eyes as he focused on it. Watching parts of the ceiling blurr, his hair coming back into focus before shifting again and letting the ceiling take over. The needle suddenly inserting into his side pumping him with morphine as the stitching was tightened. His scarred hand reaching down to his side to the small whisphered Hold this. The soft slightly wet bandage running over his fingers as he stared at the ceiling. The blonde hair moving around below him, pulling tape apart and fixing more bandaged, before he glanced down. The light hand taping the bandage to his skin slowly and steadily, but it felt weird. His dark eyes squinted down at his wound watching the light hands shake as they fixed it. He felt their unsteady shaky movements as they suddenly brushed his hand off the bandage, taping what was left down unsteadily.

"Hey Jim?" the blonde hair didn't look up. The shaky light hands wiping blood off his side and stomach from where it had smeared. "Why are your...Are you crying?" he muttered, his dark eyes focusing in on what little of the face he could see. Watching the blonde hair shake no immediately turning to look away as the light hand ran up to his face wiping it.

"No I..."the light face turned to him suddenly, the small piercing red color growing around the watering blue eyes. "I just need a...need a little morphine." the light hand shook picking up the small bottle of morphine and looking at it, breathing ruffly. His scarred chest sitting up immediately, ignoring the hard sting and long burn admitting from his side.

"You need more morphine?" he muttered back, his dark eyes fixed on the blonde hair that now looked away from him again, immediately nodding before sniffling. His scarred face leaning around to the harsh red cuts still bandaged on the smaller lighter back.

"Yes...That's what I need alright!" the blonde hair snapped at him suddenly. The light hand searching around the bed before pausing. "You...There aren't anymore needles?" the blue eyes looked up, making eye contact as he remembered the outlaw stating it thought it had found the last one. His dark eyes blinking watching the smaller pair fill with water before the light hand rubbed it out quickly, shaking.

"What! You used the last needle on me when you needed more!?" He snapped, his dark eyes suddenly frowning. Watching the blonde hair ruffle as the loose red shirt shook its head unevenly looking down before choking a small sob.

"AHH." the voice choked "Well can you...Look for another one!" The light voice was staring to sound panicked. Blue eyes snapping back up as the scarred hand ripped the bottle of morphine from his hand. There was no way to administer this or any other kind of painkiller without a needle.

"Ahhh this is so like you Jim." he snapped bitterly, his scarred hands pulling the shaking shoulders inward more. "Next time you use the needle on yourself and not on me!" he frowned bitterly pushing the blonde hair into the bed lightly as he got up.

"What?! That looked like it hurt Gene!" the blonde hair shot, wiping the tears that ran onto it's cheeks quickly. "Don't tell me it didn't cause I *know* it did!" he frowned back watching the outlaw climb out quickly, the dark eyes snapping at his last comment.

"Lie down." the deep voice ordered watching him get up before surrendering to his command. His strong scarred figure bolting from his room.

Come one there has got to be another one! his mind shot. His hands quickly digging thought the medicine cabinet again. Smacking everything not glass and valuable out towards the sink and floor. Blast it! How could I have found the last one! The last one! his mind shot again as his scarred hands moved, pushing through the shelves before pausing. There weren't any there...and....they weren't anywhere else he had checked. Checked everywhere else. "AHhh Blast it!" he shot, his scarred hands slamming the sides of the cabinet before shoving out of the bathroom.

The familiar smaller shirts running into his view as he snapped the small metal dresser draw out in his partner's room. His scarred hand quickly pushing things around feeling for anything he would have stashed before pausing and growling at the medically useless tools and computer parts.

"Didn't find any?" the blue eyes knew immediately watching his scarred face reappear grabbing the bottle of morphine again. As if that would help. His dark eyes running over it as he heard the small groan, Jim was fighting it. The pain was going to have to get bad for it to really show. Ahhh! His head growled glaring at the bottle. How was it he could have it in his hand "And not be able to use it!" He heard himself growling out loud. His stronger figure crawling back into his bunk to the side of the light skin that lay silently shaking. His scarred hand snapping at the used needle, carefully lowering it's long thin silver point into the bottle of alcohol and letting it sit.

"I already used that on you." the blue eyes cringed at him, watching him glance over.

"Yeah well, now we're going to use it one you." he growled bitterly pulling it out. Watching the blonde hair sigh shakily as he rubbed the cotton ball into its hip before injecting the smooth sweet morphine into him. "If you hair turns red I'll get you a good hooker to make up for it." he chuckled lightly. Sending the blonde hair a sly grin, listening to the small laugh choke at him. His scarred shoulders sighing heavily. Sinking into the mattress as he leaned into the side. Dark eyes looking up at the ceiling next to his partner. "How good do you feel when that's working?"

"Like nothings wrong." he heard the blonde hair mutter an answer, still lying with its hands over its face.

"Like nothings wrong?" he glanced over, watching the blonde hair nod before turning back to the ceiling. "Then why did you blow up on the girls this mourning?" he glanced back at the light face, watching what he could see of it frown. "Mel said you got real mad at her and Aisha." he stated matter o' factly.

"When I woke up they were both in my room, over me." the blonde hair growled lightly. "Sorta pissed me off." His dark eyes chuckled.

"Really." he grinned slyly "I sorta thought you invited them, since you went to sleep with Mel last night." he chuckled listening to the small growl telling him to drop it. "I went looking for her and found out you had her." he chuckled.

"Huh." the blonde hair spit bitterly "More like her with me. I told her to leave but she didn't. She said she was lonely sleeping alone." The light arms disappeared, blue eyes looking up at the ceiling thinking.

"And you believe her?"

"That's just it I don't. I know she's not lonely, she has Aisha, and then you. So why...it just doesn't make any sense to me why should would refuse to leave." He felt the scarred shoulder shrug lightly next to him, not contributing any information. "Oh yeah like I am supposed to believe your baffled by this." He smirked, feeling the outlaw chuckle lightly, as the shoulder nudged him playfully.

"Women." the outlaw chuckled, watching the light face grin. "You wake up and...they're showering you with their presence...lounging all over you bed and you blow up and stomp out." he chuckled harder listening to the small laugh. It just sounded so...retarded put that way.

"It wasn't like that." he grinned listening to the outlaw laugh.

"HahahaSure it wasn't. I think Aisha even mentioned something about you trying to beat her with a pillow." He chuckled lightly feeling the light elbow nudge him now.

"I didn't, I took a swing at part of the bed. They shouldn't have just been in my room without asking me first, so I'd thought that would be more persuasive. I just didn't like them watchimg me like that." He grinned under his unruly red hair, listening to his partner talk next to him before calming. What did he mean by that?

"What do mean?" he grinned lightly, glancing at the blonde hair.

"I was dreaming Gene and it was kinda personal. They didn't belong spying on me." the light face frowned suddenly annoyed before glancing up at him as he didn't respond.

The scarred face just grinning before sighing and leaning into the mattress more. Both of them looking up as they thought. "Man I am wasted."

"Carborator take a lot out of you?" he smirked watching the sly scarred face grin. "You know I hear it can be real exhausting for people who have to work through the manufacture vents." he chuckled lightly watching the outlaw's dark eyes shoot him a humored expression.

"You've heard that huh?" the unruly red hair chuckled lightly watching the blonde hair nod, teasing him. "Yeah well....you really don't feel all those cuts you got on your back with that stuff?" the dark eyes were suddenly serious watching the blue think.

"With the drugs I don't feel them at all." the light shoulders shrugged. Blue eyes closing, equally exhausted and ready to sleep. The scarred shoulders lazily lounging next to him exhaling deeply.

"Well that's good." The dark eyes suddenly grinned. "Cause I think you have to fix the carborator."

__*~*~*~INTO THE PAST~*~*~*__

Gene what were you doing under the carborator?...you kinda leave it up to infection. His dark eyes frowned lightly as he dreamt. Everything replaying in his mind lightly as he remembered it happening, Jim sounded so...so smart and yet sounded just like...just like.. he frowned slightly hard.

"Ahh god Gene you can't possibly fit under there so just drop it." the blonde hair smirked. Standing firmer and taller at seven. Watching the unruly red hair reappear from where it was trying to squeeze into the small dirty vent in the garage.

"Blast it, do you know how much those screws cost!?" the dark eyes shot him a irritated expression watching the light face only grin harder.

"Yes...I am the one who bought them." the blue eyes laughed lightly watching him growl.

"Yeah well how about you squeeze under there and pulling them out?" it was his turn to grin now. His sly features looking up at the blonde hair that only shook its head no still smiling lightly before glancing at the window towards the street.

"I am going to go outside alright?" He heard the heavy wrench clatter lightly onto the table next to him as the loose blue jeans and green shirt put it down starting for the garage door.

"Yeah fine." he growled lightly. His dark eyes squinting at the damn screws inches from his fingers. "Just stay by the building. No matter where any other kids go got it." His dark eyes snapped at the blonde hair firmly. Just catching it walk out the door nodding. Great. He couldn't fix the damn engine without these screws and he couldn't get them...so I guess I'll have to buy more. His scarred face frowned as he stood up, lazily strolling towards the kitchen. Mine as well shoot two birds with one stone. He grinned lightly picking up the small scribbled list of what they needed before heading towards the front door. His scarred hand instinctively picking up his caster and cape as he went. Listening to the heavy door slam lightly behind him, his dark eyes lazily glancing around. "Hey you." he shot lightly watching the blonde hair glance towards the sound of his voice from where it was with the other kids. Blue eyes watching his unruly red hair nod lightly down the street as they started over.

"Where are we going?" the blue eyes looked up watching him as they walked. It was late, maybe 4:40.

"We have to go get more screws so we can fix the engine." he stated matter o' factly.

"AHh you couldn't get them out!" the blonde hair sounded annoyed. Blue eyes turning back to the street as he walked, lazily letting their hands rest behind their head.

"Hey I didn't see you willing to try." he chuckled lightly, but he wouldn't have made him. It was a small dark spot. "What were you doing when I came out?" he grinned lightly, glancing down at the blonde hair lazily walking next to him.

"Playing."

"Oh so your finally going to give up and use that word now huh?" he chuckled lightly listening to the small growl before glancing back down at the small punch. The blue eyes quickly switching to the road watching the cars go buy. "What is it?" he frowned slightly.

"Someone has got a really really good motor...Do you hear that?" the blonde hair looked up grinning. "Man what I wouldn't do to get my hands on one of those." the blue eyes grinned looking straight ahead again, ignoring the deep chuckling from the red hair.

"What you wouldn't do huh?" he chuckled, the blonde hair nodding. "What would you do with it? You couldn't drive it if you had a car to put it in?" The loose forest green t-shirt shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. Anyway I'll be able to drive when I hit nine." he shot the unruly red hair a humored look.

"Ten."

"Nine." the red hair growled lightly, causing a small laugh from the blonde hair.

"Well who's going to teach you?" he smirked, glancing down to the confident light face.

"Shut up." it grinned at him, the unruly red hair looking straight ahead again. He knew he would teach him, and even if he didn't the kid would probably learn with out him. Though that might total whatever car he got his hands on. "Hey did you at least pick up the list of things we need from the..." the blue eyes trailed lightly watching the sly grin wave the small piece of paper at him. "Good." he grinned looking straight ahead.

"Glad you pleased." the red hair laughed. His scarred hand pushing the thin glass door to the familiar shop open and stepping it, the blonde hair following. "Go get the screws alright." he stated matter o 'factly, glancing at the blonde hair as it lazily started strolling towards the third aisle. Not a sound of acknowledgement, just movement. He grinned slyly started for the cereal, they were out of cocoa puffs.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Gene don't get that." the blonde hair snapped at him annoyed. Taking the small expensive box of foreign food from the scarred hand. "We can't afford it."

"How would you know that?" The unruly red hair shot him a look, picking up a liter of 7up.

"Duh." the blonde hair stated dully walked by. Starting back for the front of the store and leaving him in the isle.

"That's all your going to say?" he grinned suddenly. "Is that even *in* the dictionary Jim?" he laughed starting towards the cash register, sitting the rest of their stuff down. "That's it." he grinned slyly at the familiar yet silent dull man sitting behind the counter. The dull stare slowly starting to ring stuff up.

"How long is this going to take?" the blue eyes frowned annoyed, watching the slow movement. Dark eyes glanced down at him before givgin him a humored grunt. "I am going outside." His scarred shoulders shrugged turning back to the slow even beeping as the food and supplies were rung up over the glass door shutting.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hey Jim?" His dark eyes glanced around, carrying two plastic bags filled with screws, cereal, soda, cake mix, a couple pieces of fruit, broccoli, beef jerky and random frostings. Where did he go? his mind mumbled lazily looking up the street lightly. It was getting darker, the cars still whizzing by, people still walking around occupying themselves-before he heard the familiar short irritated yell. "Hey pal can I leave these bags with you for a second?" His unruly red hair leaned back into the store watching the dull man shrug as he tossed the bags in. His scarred figure taking a strong step towards the entrance of the tight alley peering in.

Yeah I knew he wasn't playing before, his mind frowned. The same boy the blonde hair had been preoccupied with when he first stepped out was now with him in the alley. "Great." He muttered lightly watching them fight. "Hey Jim we have to go see Iris in forty minutes!" he called to him lazily watching the blonde hair quickly get up from where it had fallen to the strong punch. It didn't answer but he knew it heard him. Jim's loose green shirt quickly snapping at the darker skin of the other seven year old punching it good before stumbling lightly as he was hit again.

His dark eyes frowned dully watching them fight harder. The light skin slamming the brown hair of the boy good with its fist repeatedly from where it had it pinned down. The brown hair kicking the blonde in the stomach hard before jumping on top. "Hey where do you think your going?" His deep sly voice snapped at the foreign gray shirt running past him into the alley, stopping the second kid from running in. "Who are you brunettes brother?" he cocked an eyebrow hanging on tightly as the freckled kid tried to pull in and join the fight. "That's there fight buddy, don't you know the rules?" he chuckled lightly. No one was allowed to step in and help when two people were at it, that's just how it was. You let them finish by themselves.

"Hey get off me!" His dark eyes snapped up to the blonde hair as it suddenly yelled. The small grunts of strength and irritation they had been making before getting louder. As two young pre-teens suddenly ripped the blonde hair off the brown hair he was busy punching, easily beating.

"Hey!" He snapped, his scarred face frowning. Shoving the gray t-shirt into the brick wall roughly. Letting the kid know it better not move as he felt the adrenaline slowly move through his body.

"AHhh!" the blonde hair slammed the one in the face before kicking the other good, but it was an unfair fight now. The bleeding brown hair behind threw its arm around his neck getting a free tight grip of the forest green shirt. The light hands snapping back at him, yanking his hair before using its body as leverage to kick the freckled face coming at him.

"Where did you learn to kick like that banana split." The freckled twelve year old stumbled to the ground, leaving the other pre- teen laughing down at him before his green eyes and black hair snapped at the struggling blonde hair. This kid was going to be easy to take down now.

"Ahh! Help me Geene!" His scarred hand snapped hearing his name echo through the alley. The blonde hair suddenly calling him for as he threw his castor into the side. He didn't need to get arrested for threatening any little kids. His scarred form rushing forward, watching the familiar light hands push against the brown hair now holding them to the ground as the black hair of the pre-teen beat him, jamming a bottle down his throat.

Blonde hair choking as he ripped the strong twelve year old off him. The small dark skin jumping at the strength of the red hair grabbing him from behind. Quickly kicking the loose jeans of the blonde hair that lay gagging on the ground. Smiling as the blond hair let out a yell of pain before cringing deeply, pulling its legs together.

"Hey!" His dark eyes snapped at the green eyes as he slammed them into the wall. The kid in his grasp just breathing heavily, bleeding from its lip and nose. He looked back down at the blonde hair. Blue eyes jammed shut groaning with pain as it lay there grabbing its crotch. "Oh so you like to fight dirty?" His annoyed sly face suddenly snapped at the black hair of the twelve year old he held against the rough brick. The others must have run off. "Don't you know your not supposed to fight dirty?" He snapped bitterly tearing the small glass bottle from the kids hand growling . Yanking the kid around, holding it in front of him. "You want me to shove this bottle down you throat! Huh!?" he felt the smaller body jump as he shook it. "You better think hard next time kid. When you do something like that you have to ask yourself...Am I ready to go to jail?" He felt the smaller body fighting him alarmed by the strong firm voice breathing into its ear. "Cause if you want to put bottles, in places...where bottles aren't supposed to go. You could kill somebody." He closed his dark eyes pulling away from the black hair as he growled, damn kid. "Jim you want to hit him at all?" he growled suddenly feeling the darker skin fight him again, but the blonde hair only shook no quickly. "That wouldn't be unfair now right?" he growled lightly as he chuckled, pressing into the small bloody face. "You call your buddies to help and he calls his. You want to move the rules that means now you have to deal with me." he shook the bloody face harder before shoving it forward. Watching the wide green stare at him alarmed as it stumbled back before tearing for the end of the alley. His furious dark eyes watching it run, stupid damn kid.

"AHhhaa." He looked down as the blonde hair that suddenly sighed heavily, now breathing freely in pain.

"Were you keeping that all for show?" he cocked an eyebrow watching the blonde hair nod quickly as he crouched down looking at him. The cut running along the side of the light face, bloody nose, bloody mouth. Arms scrapped and roughed up along with the clothes as the light features cringed. "Jim your sitting in glass." he growled lightly watching the blue eyes open looking up as they breathed heavily. The light arm running into his grasp as he pulled it up, watching the loose jeans groan cringing and bending over as they stood up. Teetering slightly as they held the crotch of their pants, spitting blood. The unruly red hair walking around in front of him crouching down before yanking the light arm over his shoulder and standing up. Listening to the grunts of pain as the light weight sank onto his back. "Boy Judith is going to have my head." he chuckled lightly letting his second scarred arm run under the light weight so it could sit on him. The small legs lazily dangling off him as the hand to the light arm he held gripped back.

"Do we....still have.." the light voice strained before silencing as his scarred shoulders pushed back into the store to pick up their bags. The dull man behind the counter cocking an eyebrow at the bleeding blonde hair before offering the familiar customers a couple of napkins.

"Thanks." He chuckled lightly taking them before handing them to the blonde hair and starting back out.

"Do we still have to go see Iris?" His dark eyes frowned as he started up the street.

"Do you mean go see her or do you have to stay with her tonight?" He cocked an eyebrow chuckling

"Both." His dark eyes frowned listening to the strained pained voice, the light forehead moving to press into his back as they walked.

"You know I have to go to work tonight. I don't want you coming back to the construction sight with me cause it's dangerous so your staying with her." He shot firmly listening to the deep irritated, but pained groan, whine at his answer. "No one told you to start fighting blast it." he frowned harder. "What was the deal with that kid Jim?" He felt the blonde hair shake no, silently hanging onto his back. "How many times did he kick you?" he frowned lightly.

"All the times?"

The blonde hair felt him growl, the loud hum running into its ear as it pressed into the strong back. "No just *those* times." the red hair scowled lightly.

"Three." the light hand grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, looking up briefly to see how much farther there was to go. There wasn't that much more. He frowned silently walking, watching the front of their building. Iris probably wouldn't care, but Judith would. I can just see her face now...his mind growled lightly. He was the one that was going to get blamed for this.

"Gene?"

"What." He growled, before sighing. The frustration in his head leaking into his voice. He wasn't mad at the kid.

"Are we dirt bags?" He frowned immediately.

"Did someone call you that?" he growled heading up the small concrete steps to their door. Listening to the small grunt and ssss of pain as he shifted the weight on his back pulling the keys out of his pocket.

"No." the key slide into the door to the strained answer. "Someone called *us* that." it unlocked.

"Well." he sighed. "Maybe I am a dirt bag, but not you." he flashed the blue eyes hanging onto him a lop sided grin as he shut the door, locking it and starting for the kitchen.

"How come you and not me?" the voice wasn't skeptical, it didn't understand. Were they dirt bags? They were definitely poor and their past didn't really claim much titled. If they were both dirt bags what did they mean when they said he didn't look like Gene so he must be a bastard kid? Or was he not one if only Gene was a dirt bag?

"I don't know. Don't you think I look a little more dirt...baggish...then you?" he chuckled lightly, bending his knees to let the loose jeans hanging onto him stand up into the kitchen chair.

"Baggish isn't a word Gene." the blue eyes frowned. Was that a yes?

He sighed heavily turning around to look at the cringing blonde hair. "Did you think he was a dirt bag?" his dark eyes silently studied the cut on the lgiht forehead, it was a scratch with a lot of blood, nothing to worry about.

"Yes." the blue eyes spit bitterly, mad just thinking about the brown hair.

"See. Now you don't know if he really is or not. You just think he is...Did you call him one?" he cocked an eyebrow at the blonde hair opening a kitchen draw and pulling out a tissue.

"Yes." the tone was still irritated.

"So if you don't know if he is one, but you called him one anyway...What does it matter what he calls you?" the blue eyes frowned slightly thinking. Blinking quickly as the scarred hand wiped some of the blood from his face before using the tissue to squeeze his smaller nose. "Hold this, and sit down." he ordered lightly. His free scarred hand helping the cringing face to lower in the chair. A light hand still holding the crease of it's pants while the other took the tissue. "Sometimes you just have to let what they call you go." The blonde hair groaned as it sat down. "Alright now look up and don't stop squeezing your nose alright?" he flashed the pained light face a grin, watching the blue eyes fight the shine growing in them.

"Ahh how come I have to go to Iris's." the blue eyes frowned suddenly whining. His dark eyes only frowned walking amount the chair lightly. Scarred hands picking up the bottom of the forest green shirt and puling it up over the blonde hair. The light hands switching with the tissue as it came off. "I won't be...I will do everything you say Gene."

"It's alright I know you will." he hushed lightly hearing the voice start to become stressed and strained. His dark eyes running over the scraps and bruises on his back, looking for glass.

"AHh you not going to put that stuff on that stings are you?...." He felt the light skin pull forward some trying to move away from him. "Are you Gene!?" He stood up watching the blue eyes connect with his face immediately. Crying lightly as they watched him frown.

"Does that kid live near here?" he growled lightly heading towards the sink. Ripping off a sheet of paper towel and wetting it lightly.

"You can't touch him Gene he's mine!" the blue eyes were mad even through the tears. Weakly snapping at the scarred face as it turned around.

"You plan on doing this again!?" the dark eyes shot a baffled look.

The blonde hair nodded watching him "Only if he starts it though."

"So you started it this time?" The blue eyes darted slightly, Gene was starting to sound mad.

"No."

"Is that right?" the unruly red hair grinned suddenly pushing his elbow slightly. Turing the light arm to look at the small cuts before looking at his chest closer.

"Yeah, but he called me a bunch a stuff Gene! He said you were a loser and that we were poor and I was a bastard and.." the light face growled at him. Blue eyes watching the darker ones flick up as they visibly saw the small muscles tensing again to the fresh memories.

"What happened to your chest here?" he muttered lightly, ignoring everything the blonde hair had just said. "That's a nasty bruise Jim." He frowned looking at the dark purple spot over the bottom of the light ribs.

"He hit me with a...with a two by four." the blue eyes frowned. Cringing as they looked down at it before quickly back up as the scarred hand pushed at his chin to keep his nose upward.

"With a two by four?!" He shot baffled, dark eyes looking back down at the bruise before watching the light skin flinch as he pushed it. The small hand snapping at him with the blue eyes.

"What are you doing!? Dat hurts when you touch it!" the blue eyes shot, but the voice didn't support the strength they heard in their head growling the words instead of whining them.

"What?" the dark eyes chuckled suddenly. "Do not tell me you just said dat Jim." he laughed watching the blue eyes dart slightly.

"Shut up!" it shot at him, shoving his hand back annoyed. Unruly red hair laughing lightly as he stood up straighter, he had.

"Alright." he chuckled lightly motioning with his hand for the blonde hair to stand up. "Come on, get up." he chuckled lightly, watching the blonde hair shake no.

"Notah Gene, it really hurts." the blue eyes cringed looking up at him, watching the dark eyes frown.

"Well does your chest hurt?" the dark eyes studied him, watching him nod. "Then get up so I can look at your ribs." he ordered motioning for him to get off the chair again. The blonde hair shaking no hard before pulling the tissue off its nose and looking down at the blood. "Look at me." The blue eyes looked back up at the dark eyes watching his face, wiping away the blood that had smeared on him with the wet paper towel before taking the tissue. He wasn't bleeding anymore.

"AHhhhoww I said it huuuurts!" the blonde hair cried lightly as the strong scarred arm pulled him off the chair. His dark eyes ignoring the light hand grabbing at it's pants as the blonde hair staggered lightly. Straightening up as he pushed its shoulders back gently, looking at the bruised chest. "Are you going to push on me?" the blue eyes cringed panicked, feeling the scarred hand slide to the middle of their back steadying him as the dark eyes studied his lower ribs where the board had hit him. "AHhhhGeeeeeene!" the light hands shot at his chest crying. Pushing him back as he pressed hard into the bruise. His scarred fingers pushing to feel the ribs inside. Rubbing them to make sure they weren't fractured as the blonde hair finally started breaking down.

"Just be happy you didn't break it." He frowned, the light hand punching his chest irritated as the other rubbed the tears off his face quickly as he cried out loud. "Seven and you have your first fight. In an alley!" He frowned grabbing the light weight around the knees and standing up. The small light hand steadying itself against his shoulder as the other held it's pants.

"Ahhhhowww." the light skin cried as he started up the stairs. "I doon't want to stay with Iris Geeene." the light hand pushed into his shoulder whining. "Pleeease let me stay with." the light skin inhaled deeply "..Yooooou." it cried cringing and flinching heavily as the red hair stood it up on the bed before moving towards the dresser ignoring him.

"Your clothes are a mess so you have to change Jim, and you need to pack so you have stuff." he watched the blonde hair only cry. Growling louder as he indirectly spit it was going to Iris's no matter what.

"Why do I have to gooooo! I said I would ahhhhhaa." The dark eyes of the unruly red hair frowned watching the blonde hair cringe. Slowly sitting down on the bed ignoring him before laying down.

"Alright calm down." he soothed lightly looking down at the blonde hair as he moved over it, standing at the side of the bed. "You want me to come right to Iris's when I finish?" the blonde hair moaned lightly as it cried before nodding quickly. "You know I won't be done till about five in the mourning." he stated matter o' factly watching the blonde hair nod as it cried quieter now.

"But I don't think she likes meee noooow." His scarred eyes grinned as the tiny light hands undid the small pair of dirty jeans resting on the sheets.

"Yes she does." he flashed the light face a lop sided grin. Watching the blue eyes shake no as he look up pulling the jeans off.

"No she doesn't. She only comes...comes to see you Gene. She doesn't care that I am here aannyymooore." the blue eyes frowned at him annoyed. Watching the unruly red hair move his legs to make sure they weren't hurt before starting back toward the dresser sighing heavily.

"That's because she's my friend. She comes to see me but you get to be an added bonus." He flashed a lop sided grin to the sniffling blonde hair slowly sitting up as he pulled a small t-shirt and pair of jeans out of the dresser for him.

"What does she want that for." the blue eyes spit bitterly, looking down as the familiar scarred form came back to him.

"She wants it cause I want it." the orange shirt pulled over his blonde hair. His light hands letting go of his boxers to move through the soft cotton sleeve holes before looking up. "She can't have me with out you cause your always with me right?" he flashed a lop sided grin watching the blue eyes think. "So having you says I am definitely on my way right?" the blue eyes frowned.

"That means she only wants me to get you." The dark eyes squinted slightly watching the light face scowl as it cringed.

"Yeah well." he sighed heavily pushing the light shoulders back towards the bed to lay down as the small teeth grit hard.

"I DON'T WANT to BE a bonus Gene!" The blonde hair yelled at him annoyed as the scarred hands moved the cleaner jeans around his ankles.

"Well you won't be one forever." he muttered lightly looking up at the frowning blue eyes that only sniffled before a light hand wiped the tears off it. "One day I am going to be the bonus for you woman." he grinned "How's that sound?"

"Sounds like crap. I don't want a woman." the blue eyes frowned heavily watching the red hair laugh.

"Fine." He grinned standing back up. "What if you get a dog? Then maybe I can be the bonus for the dog huh?" he laughed watching the light face cry as he pulled him up.

"Owww." the blue eyes looked down as they staggered lightly. A light hand grabbing the scarred arm for balance. Unruly red hair pulling the loose jeans up around his boxers to his waist. "Do I have to see Mrs. Miller tomorrow?" the blue eyes whined.

"Well we could cancel but she would want to know why?" the dark eyes stated matter o' factly as the small hands did up their pants. "And if we do your going to be the one to call and tell her." His dark eyes sat firm on the blue eyes watching them whine immediately.

"Ahhh why do I have to caaall Gene? Why can't you do thaaaat?" The blue eyes watched the darker eyes calmly look at him.

"Because you have to take responsibility for what you did. You wanted to fight now if you don't want to go tomorrow then you will be the one to explain why, however it is you want to explain it...I shouldn't have to." His scarred shoulders shrugged lightly as he talked. Lazily strolling back to the dresser and pulling out extra stuff for the blonde hair standing on the bed. His scarred hand stuffing it into the small book bag before turning around, sighing heavily as he looked at the blue eyes. "What are you going to do?" he asked calmly watching them only cringe lightly as they stood there silently. "Because if you cancel you should call today." He stated matter o' factly heading back to the blonde hair. Letting his scarred arm snake around the back of the small knees picking him up.

"She's going to be mad if I cancel." the blue eyes whined watching the scarred face. The dark eyes calm and focused next to his stressed and pained expression.

"Well she's going to want a good answer for it." His scarred figure pushed into the bathroom picking the small toothbrush up and tossing it into the bag before starting back down the stairs.

"What could I say?...Geeeene." The light arms hugged him around the neck upset. Feeling the scarred shoulders just shrug.

"I have absolutely no idea. You could tell her you got into a fight but.." he trailed lightly chuckling. Knowing Judith she probably would have drove over to see them then. "Here get down." he stated dropping the small book bag into the side of the car as he let the blonde hair sink into the passenger side of the front seat before walking around to the drivers end.

"Do we have to go now?" the blue eyes looked up at him as he got in and slid the key into the familiar hole.

"Yes." he growled lightly. His scarred form looking behind him as he started backing the car out.

"Can I take a bath first?" His dark eyes looked over at the dirty blonde hair as they backed out into the street. "I feel dirty Gene."

"No you can't we don't have time....but you hair smells like that alley." His scarred face frowned listening to the small sighed whine of stressed exhaustion. "Hey come on." The blue eyes looked up as he nudged the side of his arm. "Stop getting so stressed out alright?" The dark eyes shot him a look watching the blonde hair shake lightly as he rubbed his shoulder quickly before moving his hand back to the wheel. "If you fight you act tougher after alright? Take it like a man and just..." the dark eyes trailed lightly looking out the window at the small traffic jam, but even as indirect as he was the blonde hair picked it up. He had failed, somehow after the fight, failed something. "Ahh would you believe this." the scarred face growled before opening the window and yelling. "Hey! You want to try and move you blasted truck!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Gene!" She was hysterical from probably the minute she opened her door. Quickly throwing her arms around the unruly red hair and hugging him.

"Hey Iris sorry we're late." He grinned down immediately. Her soft blonde hair smelled so good, she always smelled good when he was around. "There was this blasted traffic jam that took some twenty minutes for them to clear." He growled lightly, annoyed just thinking about it but she only giggled, smiling at him before looking down at the blonde hair and sending a small wave. "Hey you don't mind if I come back at five...in the mourning do you?" he flashed a sly grin at her smooth face.

"Gene you know I never mind when you stop in." she smiled at him, watching him grin as they came in.

"I don't have a lot of time alright?" he cocked an eyebrow at her small flattering dress. His sly features grinning as he stated his lack of time. His apology for having to leave now, and probably still be late. "Alright so I'll see you at five?" His dark eyes looked down at the blue eyes watching him as he let go of the small hand. The light face only nodding looking away from him. Ignoring the unruly red hair hugging the smooth blonde behind him before rushing out the door.

"So Jim." He looked up at her. "What happened to your face sweetie?" she smiled lightly taking his small book bag.

"I got into a fight." She stopped walking, her small green dress turning back around to look at him from where she was heading towards the small guest room.

"A fight?" she looked baffled. "With who?" but the blonde hair only shook no watching her frown slightly. "Are you tired or hungry?" Her face lightened slightly but still looked lightly concerned as he nodded. "Yeah? You want a sandwich or something?" She watched his blonde hair nod as she took his hand pulling him forward lightly to pick up his slow walking.

"Iris can I..." Her soft navy eyes looked down at him as his voice trailed. "Can I take a bath or can I.."

"You want to take a bath?" she repeated watching him nod. "Alright, I thought you hair smelled kinda funny." she giggled lightly pulling him towards her small bathroom. His blue eyes watching her reach in plugging the tub before starting the water. "What do you want to eat?" she sighed lightly smiling at him, watching him think for a moment before looking up.

"Well can I...do you have..." he trailed lightly watching her smile. "Peanut butter and jelly?" She giggled immediately watching him frown slightly before relaxing as she smiled.

"Course I do." she laughed. "How hungry are you? A lot or a little?" She shifted her weight lightly watching him step forward as she helped pull his shirt off as he slowly raised his arms cringing.

"Doesn't matter." She ignored his light muttered answer. Her navy eyes running over the small scratches and bruises on the top of him.

"Boy you really did get into a fight huh?" She looked up watching him pull back lightly frowning at her. "Did you win?"

"NO." He watched her frown lightly at his fast snap. "They cheated."

"Huh no way?" she made a face watching him nod. "Yuck." she frowned, cheaters. "All the time creeps like that come down to the bar and oh Jim I hate it." she made a face watching him smile lightly. His blue eyes watching her hand reach up to his hair and pull a small piece of dirt out of it. "Where you guys rolling around like animals or something?" she made a face.

"It was...we were in an alley." he shrugged lightly watching her light expression frown.

"Ewww." she giggled suddenly scrunching her nose. Watching him smile before helping his light hands undo the snap to the top of his jeans, guiding them down lightly. "Ok, you want me to help you get in?" she smiled lightly nodding towards the high walls of her tub. Lightly grabbing under his arms, careful to watch his bruises as he nodded. His light face cringing slightly as she let him go, standing him in the clear water of the tub. "Alright." she smiled "You take off your shorts and get in while I go make your sandwich alright?" she smiled lightly watching him nod. "When the water gets high enough just shut it off k?" she giggled lightly as she started for the doorway, letting the strong wood shut half way behind her before starting for the kitchen.

Poor thing, her mind muttered lightly as she pulled out the small jar of peanut butter before grabbing the jelly. Gene should know better then to let him fight in...in some alley. Her face frowned lightly as she watched the smooth jelly smear onto the bread. Moving her hips lightly as she hummed. That's right...Gene was coming back at five. She smiled, Gene you animal her mind giggled, she couldn't wait for him to come back.

"How come Gene's coming back at five? Shouldn't he just come back later tomorrow mourning or something?" She watched his blue eyes look up at her from the tub as she walked back in to the sink. Her smooth hand picking up the small tube of lipstick on the side before leaning into the mirror. "Don't know?" she watched the small pink tube trace around her lips as he didn't answer. She glanced at him, blue eyes just calmly watching her from where they sat in the sparkling white bubbles covering the surface of the water. He shrugged lightly watching her give a light sigh, Gene was so unpredictable. Her small green dress heading across the room digging through her shampoo for the one that smelled the least like...anything feminine. "Ok." she turned around flashing him a light smile. "You gotta pick between ahhh." she glanced down at the two bottles "Lilac and vanilla." She watched him giver her a weird look.

"Doesn't matter." She shrugged dumping the purple lilac bottle, at least white was closer to a unisex color. She watched his blonde hair disappear under the bubbles before resurfacing quickly and exhaling as the water ran over his face, his blonde hair now wet. "Iris?"

She heard him mumble her name lightly as she opened the shampoo kneeling next to the tub. "Hmm?" The light white cream poured slowly onto her hand. It smelled good.

"Do you think Gene's a dirt bag?"

"What?" She watched the blue eyes look at her as she leaned around to his face giving him an off expression. "What's a dirt bag?" she scrunched her nose confused. It could have been anything.

"I dunno." the blonde hair only looked down lightly before up quickly as she pulled his head back. His light hands snapping to the sides of the tub quickly for balance as she almost pulled some of his hair out.

"Well I don't know what one is either?" She watched his head move lightly. The top of half of his body teetering slightly as she rubbed the sweet vanilla in.

"What if someone calls you a dirt bag and it's supposed to be an, what do...an insult." She watched him move his head back lightly looking at her upside down before watching her frown and move his head forward again.

"I guess it means the same things as a scumbag or a loser or something like that. I don't know Jim, people in the bar don't use young polite words like that." She grunted irritably thinking about the pigs in the bar again. "Anyway, why do you want to know huh?" She watched his shoulders shrug lightly as the suds ran over her hands and through his hair.

"I wanted to know what it meant." She shrugged lightly behind him before rising her hands in the water, watching him turn to look at her. "If Gene is a dirt bag am I too?" He frowned lightly watching her perplexed expression look around the room as she sighed before scrunching her nose.

"That's crazy Jim. Where do you get questions like this? I don't know what a dirt bag is so I don't know how to answer ya know? Maybe Gene could be a dirt bag for different reasons." she shrugged "He's an animal as it is, maybe since he so..." she trailed lightly before smiling. "Why? You want to be a dirt bag or something?" He frowned at her...she hadn't answered anything. "No?" She smiled, giggling lightly. "You want peanut butter and jelly then?" she giggled watching his expression ease but he didn't nod. Blue eyes just looking at her. "What's wrong hun? Why are you pouting?" She giggled again watching him turn back around frowning before disappearing back under the water.

The clear trails trickling off his head pulling the suds with it as he quickly came back up. Her small tight dressing filling a cup in the sink so she could rinse it once with fresh water. The cooler liquid running over his head quickly as she dumped it on, both of them listening to the smooth soft sounds of the water running off the ends of his blonde strains into the tub. "K." she smiled "I left your sandwich on the kitchen table, you want to dip it in something?" She scrunched her nose lightly watching his blue eyes dart back down lightly before shaking his head no.

"Iris.." he looked back up at her watching her stand there looking at him dully, but he looked concerned.

"If this is more about the dirt bag stuff Jimmy I don't know." She squeaked her hands sliding onto her hips lightly watching the small light face just frown at her. "You want me to help you out or something?" she frowned baffled watching him nod.

"I got hurt when I...we were fighting." He frowned. Irritated tones running back into his voice before he stopped watching her giggle.

"Whatever sweetie." she smiled pulling a towel from the built in shelves behind her and opening it. It wasn't like she hadn't helped him before. Her navy eyes watching him unplug the water before she draped it into the tub letting it hang above the water lightly closing her eyes as she giggled. Blue eyes frowning as he quickly stood up behind it, taking it from her. Frowning harder as she only continued to smile warmly at him. "Is Gene really coming back at five?" she smiled suddenly excited watching his light face nod before looking down. His light wet hands snapping at her for balance suddenly. Feeling her smooth touch run under his arms puling him back out to the small soft mat in front to the tub. "Hey." he looked up at her, hearing her voice coo at him softly. "You look good kid." She whisphered, smiling as she ruffled his wet hair. "Getting so big...and tough." she shoved his shoulder lightly watching him offer her a light smile as he took a step back cringing. "I am gonna go get your book bag alright? Then we'll eat?" She watched him smile now as she got up heading back out the door. Blue eyes watching her go before leaning into the wall lightly, it smelled good in there; like vanilla.

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"So when you done eating that you want to go to bed or something?" He glanced up at her watching her lean on the table as she spoke, dully watching him. "You look tired Jim and there really isn't anything for you to do here." She shrugged lightly before frowning. "Don't get any ideas about taking anything apart either." she frowned at him watching him smile suddenly, her own face brightening as he smiled for the first time since he had been there.

"Yeah I'll go to bed after. You got something to do Iris?" He took another bite of his sandwich watching her blink as she straightened up.

"Maybe I do." she smiled lightly at him watching him eat, he figured it out. "You don't mind going to bed this early do you sweetie? I mean you don't have to if you don't really wanna Jim." She leaned back onto the table, but he knew she was hoping he would just go to sleep.

"No I am tired." She smiled watching him chew before glancing at the clock. It wasn't like he was going to bed real early it was only 6:00.

"Alright your gonna be in the guest bedroom...as always." she sighed lightly watching him.

"What about Gene?" He watched her think lightly.

"He's getting here at five so I guess, I'll figure something out." She smiled suddenly watching him give her a weird look. What kinda tone was that? "Done?" She smiled at him watching him nod. He could have eaten more, but that would have been rude. He watched her tight green dress take his plate getting up and heading towards the sink before he looked down. Stupid chairs, maybe sleeping wouldn't be so bad after all, if wasn't like his body didn't hurt. He glanced up at her watching her give him a weird look as he slowly got out of the chair before heading towards the guest bedroom. Listening to her fallow him "Hey Jim?"

"What?" he muttered continuing to walk. Switching on the light to the small room as he went in. Lighting up the queen sized bed and wood dresser squeezed into the room.

"Did anyone ever tell you, your a weird kid?" She was scrunching her nose watching him walk over to the bed climbing on. Blue eyes frowning at her saddened as he got on. "I mean your so confusing. Why don't you have any...any G.I.Joe's or something like that?" She frowned at him watching him just lay there before looking away. "Huh? Don't tell me Gene's weird habits are wearing off on you." She giggled suddenly. "Don't you wanna run around or something? I won't tell him if you do?" She snickered suddenly before frowning as he sniffled. "What?" She muttered quickly walking over to the side of the bed and looking down. Watching his wet blue eyes snap her an irritated hateful expression. "What?" she repeated blinking, she had never seen him cry when he wasn't bleeding. "Well I...Jim I didn't mean anything by it." She shrugged suddenly watching him grit his teeth at her irritably.

"Just go away and leave me alone Iris. When Gene gets here at five *you* can talk to *him*." He shoved at her rolling onto his side to look away from her, slowly curling into a ball.

"What? Hey come on I am sorry." He heard her voice smile, shaking his head quickly as he felt her touch it. Her hand pulling back at his irritated light groan before the small sniffle. Navy eyes watching his orange shirt and boxers lay there annoyed with her but...not. "Come on Jim." She smiled leaning her weight onto the bed behind him with her hands "I don't have anything real important to do lets go eat some ice cream k?." he heard her small giggled from behind him as she moved onto the bed more. Her young smooth hand ruffling his shoulder lightly before offering a quick sweet pat to the back of his boxers.

"Arr." His blue eyes growled at her quickly getting up and turning around. Wide eyes glaring hard at her, watching her blink at his quick movement before making a face. "No! Please don't touch me ok!?" He watched her blink more as he yelled at her quickly wiping the tears off his face with one hand while steadying himself with the other.

"Hey ok." she raised her hands up as though he had a gun. "Since when did you get so touchy kido." His blue eyes frowned before exhaling heavily, blinking. "I am not going to touch you Jim your such a nut." He watched her blonde hair bounce lightly as she shook her head giggling lightly at him.

"Don't *Laugh* at me Iris." His voice was irritated, shooting her a mad look while his eyes just welled up with tears. "I don't want to be here, please go away." Her light face slowly sank to a frown at his insult before becoming slightly concerned as he continued to glare at her. It wasn't a hard glare, he was almost begging her to leave.

"Why? It's my place how come I have to leave? What are you so upset about?" She frowned suddenly. Her light squeaky voice becoming irritated and confused. Watching him push back farther, whining slightly as she reached for his arm. "What am I going to do bite you?" she made a face watching him blink before breathing heavily for a moment. "Come on...just...come back over." She smiled lightly leaving her hand reaching for him. Blue eyes never darting from her face before moving slightly. Watching her open the bed with her other hand offering him the warm space of sheets and darkness. "Come on silly lay down I am not going to eat you." She giggled lightly, but it was so slight. Her smooth feminine tones remaining calm and soft as she coaxed him back over. Watching his blue eyes cautiously watch her as they laid down before pulling the blanket up fast. "You know what you need kido?" She cooed smiling at him, watching him sniffle before suppressing the light tension growing in his face. The pink growing around his eyes. "You need to relax ok? Just let everything go." she slowly let her hand run onto his shoulder before roughing it gently. "It's alright, how come your so tense huh? What are you trying to do give yourself a heart attach before you get a chance to run around and tease death like that animal Gene?" She watched his eyes listen to her more intently as she mentioned the unruly hair. "Don't you worry about him. I know he seems like he's living in the clouds sometimes, but that's more fun isn't it?" she smiled "Want to know what that animal always wants from me?" She watched him sniffle frowning at her, her smooth hand pushing into his shoulder lightly. Watching him slowly start shifting his weight to his side before continuing to his stomach. The small tense muscles running under her hands as she started massaging them. Moving around his shoulders and up the back of his neck lightly, working her hands into the tight sore body. His blonde hair moving lightly as she rubbed before pushing the blankets down some and quickly shoving the pillow over. "Feel good?" She smiled watching him nod immediately. "Anyone ever give you a back massage before?" She whisphered watching his closed blue eyes only shake no.

"Iris?" He listened to her small hum asking him what as her hands worked into his shoulders. It felt so good, so incredibly good, especially now after the fight. "Somebody said I was a dirt bag and a...a bunch a other stuff." She glanced lightly at his face as he started explaining how he got into the fight. "I think maybe I was doing ok cause I was getting him good...but he cheated and there were three of them suddenly so..." He pushed to get up, blue eyes snapping at her immediately alarmed as she moved the blankets lower pulling the back of his shirt up.

"Hey relax." she smiled watching him cautiously eye her before sinking back into the soft white sheet as she started massaging around the small cuts and bruises.

"So I lost and Gene had to-"

"Gene intercepted?" He nodded moving his arms up slightly as she let his shirt sit on his neck so she could reach the rest of his back.

"Yeah and after he said I had to...said I had to be tougher. Guess I did something wrong." Her eyes frowned lightly listening to him. "Gene didn't think I did such a hot job." His face frowned. Sad irritated tones running back into his voice as she listened to the small expression of a hot job. It sounded so sweet running from a light voice in comparison to the low class bums who spit it at the bar, and even from Gene which was most likely where he had heard it.

"That can't be right." He heard her sigh her answer heavily as her face frowned. "Gene wouldn't think that...I mean look at you." She watched him open his eyes looking up at her. Her light eyebrows raising as she motioned at his body with her hand. "You could have been in a war! Course he thinks you did a good job!" she giggled watching him look back down at the bed silently.

"You don't know that." the blue eyes frowned.

"Yahuh I do Jim." He look up at her hard tone watching her frown at him. "Gene would never say bad things about you and he's never ever going to start." She giggled suddenly watching him flash a light smile. "You shouldn't be so concerned about what he thinks anyway. If you want to fight Jim you got to do it for yourself and make sure you kick some ass ok?" She giggled harder, his small smile getting stronger as he watched her. "You did fine and you'll do better." Shee smiled rubbing his shoulder quickly watching him look up at her. "After all this was what...your first one? Everyone looses their first Jim, I bet Gene lost his first." She smiled pushing his shirt back down before sighing. "Is this what you've been so upset about the entire time?" he didn't answer, indirectly admitting to it. "Hey you want any pudding?" She smiled watching him look up immediately, he loved her pudding. "Or ahhh...do you want it for breakfast tomorrow? So you don't have to get up?" She giggled suddenly watching him smile at her nodding lightly as she ruffled his hair before leaning down and rubbing into the side of his face with hers. Watching him move to lie back on his side punching her shoulder lightly with his fist, the male equivalent of a hug. She made a face watched him laugh lightly at her expression before relaxing and letting her thin arms hug him. "Now, you get some sleep ok?" she ruffled his wet hair again as she smiled before getting up. Her tight green dress switching off the light before shutting the door. Listening to him roll back over as she started for the kitchen to move the pudding from the freezer to the refrigerator so it could unthaw

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"Ahh" she moaned heavily, a small exhausted extremely pleased smile running over her face as she looked up at his fiery unruly red hair. The scarred face grinning down at her as it rested watching her light thin hands run over her face and into her damp hair before giggling lightly.

"Iris." he chucked lightly glancing around. His dark eyes running over the sheets of her bed before dipping towards the floor and picking up some of his clothes.

"Ahh where are you going Gene?" She was giggling lightly running her smooth hands back around his waste tempting him again, watching him only shoot her a hard sly grin.

"You know where. If we make any more noise we're going to have a lot of explaining to do." he chuckled lightly watching her frown. Her bottom lip sticking at him as she slumped back into the sheets watching him. Unruly red hair now pulling a t-shirt on over the boxers he had just finished pulling up.

"It's not fair I have to share you Gene." she giggled lightly watching him grin as he turned around.

"That's funny. I am sure he's thinking the same thing." he grinned motioning for her to come. "Come on get up...make me breakfast." He chuckled watching her quickly snap a humored look at him from where she was getting up. His scarred hand slowly opening her bedroom door peering out before moving into the kitchen and shutting it behind him. His long satisfied sigh the only noise as he opened the fridge. Drinking the cool sweet milk out of the carton before tugging on the freezer, dark eyes running over frozen items before putting the milk back and pulling out a small thin Popsicle, starting down the hall. "Jim?" He watched the smooth light of the hallway run onto the bed and small figure of blonde hair sleeping as he opened the bedroom door. His scarred face grinning as he walked over looking down at the closed blue eyes that let out the soft breathing. "Hey buddy want something to eat?" he chuckled lightly watching the small face frown as he started roughing the small shoulder up. The blonde hair moving loosely around the pillow as his stronger motion pushed the top of the light body before the blue eyes opened, looking up at him sleepily before smiling lightly. "Hey you hungry?" he grinned.

"What time is it?" The blue eyes sat up slowly looking around before back at the unruly red hair shrugging.

"Time for food. I am starved how bout you?" He chuckled lightly watching the small hand shove the blankets off standing up at the edge of the bed before glancing at the Popsicle. Leaning onto the back of the scarred gray t-shirt as it turned around. The scarred hands running over the back of his boxers shifting him onto his back as the light hand pulled the Popsicle from his mouth. "Hey?" he swallowed before glancing back watching the blue eyes suck on the bright purple sugar ignoring him. "It's a good thing she's got more." The dark eyes grinned, teasing the light weight on his back as he started back into the hall. Grinning as her soft blue robe and feminine blonde hair smiled at him busying herself making toast.

"Jim do you want some pudding or what?" she giggled lightly watching the blonde hair get down pulling out a kitchen chair. The unruly red hair slouching into one watching her.

"Yeah can I have some now?" The blue eyes shot at the fridge pulling it open.

"You want to eat it with your ice cream?" She made a face glancing at him as the toast popped. The purple Popsicle resting in his mouth as he nodded, hands digging through the fridge. "K" She shrugged, the small silver knife in her hand sliding through the creamed butter before crunching onto the toast. Her navy eyes glancing down at the blonde hair suddenly shoving her hips from the counter. Opening the silverware draw and pulling out a spoon before ripping the ice cream from his mouth gagging lightly as the heat rushed back in.

"Ahh no Jim you not going to eat that pudding now are you?" His scarred elbow supporting his head leaned further onto the table as the blue eyes grinned continuing to stir the smooth strawberry pudding. The large spoon mixing it into swirls before quickly spooning some up to the light giggling of the feminine blonde hair behind them.

The blue eyes smiling at the scarred face making a disgusted expressing before swallowing. "What's the matter? Don't like Iris's cooking?" The blonde hair laughed lightly watching the dark eyes squint immediately.

"What?" She turned around watching the blonde hair shift in his chair to look at her.

"Gene thinks your puddings gross." He laughed watching her navy eyes snap at the unruly red hair before turning around.

"He's just tryna act too tough to eat anything pink." She spit at him through her smile. Watching his scarred face grin slyly at her as he took the toast. "Real men like that color cause they don't care what anyone else thinks." She giggled lightly at him watching his dark eyes tease her to say more. The scarred hands resting lightly on either side of the chair, daring her to make him get up and get her, but she only laughed. The silent grinning blue eyes cramming more into his mouth watching them.

"Iris can I take..(swallowing)..take some of this home with me?" the soft navy eyes shifted to look at him, watching him eat before making at face.

"Well yeah you could but...I don't have anymore." she whined lightly watching him frown now spooning more into his face. "You guys think I am some kinda all you can eat buffet? Maybe you should just learn to make it." She smiled watching the blue eyes stop eating to think.

"No." His dark eyes watched them both look at him. "No stoves Iris." He muttered matter o' factly rolling the toast up and biting half off.

"What?!" the blue eyes snapped at him. "Gene I can do it, I am seven!" The blonde hair frowned at him, watching his dull dark eyes glance up lazily. "Yes I can." he spit, the red hair frowning more as the kid practically red his mind.

"No, I don't want you using it, you know it gets funny sometimes." the red hair leaned back in his chair lazily watching the blonde hair. Their oven was known for working when it wanted, not working at all, or practically exploding when you activated it. "Besides." he sighed heavily "We don't have the money to fix it or get another, so no." He sated firmer, his dark eyes backing up his last command. The blonde hair just sighed heavily at him as it frowned lightly before eating again.

"Well you two can always come and see me at work. I'll bring some there if you want." She smiled giggling lightly as the unruly red hair shot her goofy expression. Her small wooden kitchen chair scuffing against the thin linoleum as she pulled it out sitting down.

"What are you going to bring it in?" She shrugged watching the blue eyes eat and question her at the same time.

"A plastic container or something, doesn't matter." His dark eyes watched her bite her toast, watching the small mixture of butter and hunny run together where her lips had moved it slightly before glancing up at him.

"We got to go." He sighed heavily grinning at her. Watching her only look back down at her toast, she knew it. It was 10:30, at least I had him for five and a half hours, her mind grinned. Navy eyes looking back up at him with her smile.

"Your better off leaving anyway." She giggled lightly watching him grin. Her small pink tongue tracing over her lips smoothly. Pulling the small crumbs and sweet hunny back into her mouth with it as he laughed.

"Why?" She glanced at the blonde hair frowning slightly, why was it better they leave now?

"Cause you have your appointment this mourning, and we aren't moving in so get your bag." The scarred hand motioned to the hall as the blue eyes frowned. Now that their was pudding and Gene was there, Iris's was suddenly a lot more fun.

"Yeah but we have a-"

"No we're going now so we're not late." The dark eyes glanced at the clock lazily.

"You can take your pudding with you Jim." She smiled watching his blue eyes look at her from where they were listening to the red hair. "You want to bring it?"

"Yeah can I?" He grinned at her watching her nod. Her soft blonde hair standing up with the small bowl of sweet pink cream, heading towards the counter top as his blonde hair disappeared down the hall.

"Is that expensive to make?" She glanced at the unruly red hair. The scarred sly face lazily watching her. She shook her head no as she crouched down opening the bottom cabinets. the familiar thin plastic disposable Tupperware running under her fingers as she pulled it up. Listening to the light sound as she placed it on the counter before picking up the small bowl of pudding and started spooning it in. "Hey." He watched her hand jump lightly as he was suddenly behind her. His gentle scarred hand running over hers as the other ran onto the back of her robe, lightly rubbing her butt to her sudden giggle at his strong grin.

"Gene." His dark eyes glanced up, watching the small book bag drop to the floor next to the baggy blue jeans and lime green shirt glaring at him.

"What?" he backed up lightly watching her shake her head giggling lightly. "Am I interfering with the pudding?" He chuckled watching the blonde hair start at the counter. The blue eyes looking up watching her with it before taking the container. Watching the unruly red hair pick up his book bag as he started for the door. "Let's go." The scarred face grinned nodding towards the small porch outside the now open door. His dark eyes grinning at her soft light face waving him goodbye as the blonde hair walked under his arm out the door. "Later Iris." He grinned letting the door shut behind him to the small bye from the kitchen before following the blonde hair down the steps to the car.

"What were you doing?" The blue eyes suddenly shot him a look, his dark eyebrowls raising, humored.

"What?"

"Why were ...(His scarred hand pulled open the drivers door getting in as the blonde hair climbed in next to him.....Gene why were you touching her......butt." His dark eyes glanced up at the blonde hair holding the pudding. the blue eyes looking slightly unsure about his question and word choice before frowning as the unruly red hair broke down laughing. "Stop laughing Gene!"

"What!?" His dark eyes closed leaning onto the steering wheel slightly. It was his face, so absolutely hysterical, and now frowning frustrated with him. "I was not." he chuckled lightly.

"Gene, I saw you." The blue eyes stated matter o' factly shooting him a dull look like duh as he started the car gently stepping on the gas.

"What?" The dark eyes glanced at him still chuckling.

"That's rude." His blonde hair slid into his eyes lightly as the car slowed at the red light, the dark eyes glancing at him.

"Rude?"

"Yes, you shouldn't do that." The blue eyes frowned at him baffled. "Did you ask her first?" He frowned again as the red hair laughed.

"Listen Jim..(laughing)..there is something you got to understand here." the dark eyes chuckled turning back to the steering wheel as the light changed. The smooth hum of the car picking up before moving forward. "When you get older, you can touch girls...butts." He let out another small chuckled as he took a right How funny did this sound out loud? "And they like it too...you just have to make sure they give permission first." He glanced at the blonde hair, blue eyes frowning lightly listening. "Or else their going to slap you."

"What?" the blonde hair shot baffled watching the scarred face grin again. "So that means you asked her right? Or did she slap you when I wasn't there?"

"No she didn't slap me." the red hair frowned. "You have to...women will give you a sign that's it's ok, then you know it is." His scarred shoulders shrugged matter o' factly as he took a left.

"What kinda sign do they give?"

He shrugged "A written one. They keep it in their pockets on one side it says touch my butt and on the other it says now."

"Shut up!" His dark eyes squinted heavily as he laughed moving slightly as the small fist punched him annoyed. "You have been pulling my leg the whole time Gene!" the blue eye shot annoyed, that was funnier.

"No." He chuckled heavily, slowly forcing his laughs to ease. "It's just a sign they give with body language or...or something like that." he trailed lightly. Dark eyes glancing out the window as they passed the small weapons shop reading sale before easing onto the gas more. The blonde hair shooting him a dull look with a skeptical grunt. "Fine." He grinned, dark eyes watching the road and car in front before glancing over. "How do you feel?"

The lime green shrugged. "Better." it stated matter o' factly.

"Better?" he chuckled lightly. "What do you plan on telling Judith?" His dark eyes frowned watching the car in the next lane quickly run the stop light backing a few up.

"I dunno, what do you think I should tell her?" He glanced over at the scarred face watching it frown heavier. The scarred hand rolling down the window quickly.

"I don't know. You going to tell her you got into a fight?" The unruly red hair leaned out the window yelling to move the cars. He sighed, Gene was exhausting like that, his blue eyes watching the people yell outside to the other cars quickly jamming up. "Hey! You think we don't have places to go! Move your blasted car buddy!"

"Gene don't" he muttered lightly, the unruly red hair pulling back in.

"Damnt." The dark eyes frowned before glancing over lightly. "You going to say it was a fight?" The blue eyes didn't answer. Just continued thinking lightly as they looked at him, slightly concerned.

"She's going to be mad at me." The blue eyes frowned upset.

"Not she's not." He flashed a light grin. "Technically it's not her place to do anything to make sure your growing." He chuckled suddenly, that sounded dumb. "Don't worry yourself about it." He shrugged lightly, grinning as the guy got out of the car in front of them and started yelling at the big florist truck that just got backed up too. "Idiots." He chuckled lightly, the truck and frustration draining from his sight as he turned back to the blonde hair silently looking down, thinking. "What's on your mind?" He let his grin run into his voice as he leaned onto the steering wheel watching the light face.

"Maybe if I can keep...all my clothes on she won't really notice." the blue eyes mumbled lightly. Running over his jeans and seat of the car as he looked down.

His dark eyes shrugged. "No she really wouldn't notice, but she will when you take your shirt off."

"Then she'll know?" The blue eyes looked up concerned watching the red hair nod.

"Yeah she'll know all right." He sighed heavily "Don't worry yourself about it, she's not going to be mad." He grinned reassuringly. "Just tell her it was a fluke, even if it wasn't she hasn't seen you in some four months so she won't know."

"Maybe I can keep my shirt on."

He shrugged lightly. "You know what kinda situation this is Jim?" he sighed heavily watching the blue eyes look up.

"A...a...no win?...situation?"

He grinned immediately. "That's exactly what this is." he chuckled lightly. "Cause even if you could keep your shirt on, which she will probably want you to take off. She is going to notice the cut on your face there, the scuffs and stuff on your arms, and the fact that your walking funny." He shrugged again matter o' factly letting the facts run out as the blue eyes grew more concerned before groaning lightly.

"I am not walking funny!" They shot back concerned. Watching the scarred face just cock an eyebrow as he let out another worried groan. Even he knew he was. "She's gonna notice all that stuff?"

"Don't worry yourself about it." He grinned lightly, his scarred hand gripping the steering wheel tightly as the cars started loosening up.

"Gene is.." His dark eyes glanced over as he trailed.

"Is what?" The car started moving again. His unruly red hair running lightly into his eyes as he pressed onto the gas, it was about time those damn cares moved.

"Can we cancel...please, lets just go home."

He growled "I told you if we were canceling-Which you never said we were. We had to do it yesterday, so we can't now."

"Please?" The concerned blue look was starting to leak into the small voice. "At least until I get some better, I don't want her to notice I walk funny."

"Ahh" he sighed heavily, groaning as he glanced at the concerned baggy jeans and lime green shirt on the front seat. "Come on it doesn't matter whether you go today or two days from now, so you have to go...today..." he trailed lightly glancing at the blonde hair shaking no. "You never said to cancel Jim." he stated matter o' factly.

"Aww come on Gene! You know! You know what will...what will happen if I goooo!" His dark eyes frowned immediately at the first break of a whine.

"Yeah I know." he growled lightly. His dark eyes glaring into the back of the car in front of them. "It's not big deal Jim, no one.."

"It is too! It's a *big* deal to *me* Geeeene!" The light hand punched his arm suddenly upset "I don't want her to find out why! I don't want...they're going to make me lay down and-"

"Hey come on!" He snapped shooting an irritated look at the frowning light face which just sank back into it's seat. "So what!? You don't want her to cause your a little sore and you walk kinda funny?"

"NO! Cause I don't want to...cause I Hate...."

"Yeah yeah Jim I know. You hate taking off all your pants." he growled lightly watching the light hand grab the side of the door quickly as he took a hard frustrated right. The blonde hair silencing, thinking hard as it sat still.

"Maybe she won't notice." The blue eyes looked up at him as if asking him to somehow rig it so she wouldn't notice, but the dark eyes only looked away. The hard scarred face focusing on the road. "I don't feel good pull over." The light hand reached for the latch to the door as the red hair glanced at him.

"We don't have time for that now Jim. Your not sick your just getting yourself upset so cool it." He snapped irritated, frowning as the light hand shoved him.

"Gene I am going to puke! Pull over!" The blonde hair slide forward in its seat slightly as the unruly red hair slammed the breaks swinging the car to the side irritated. Dark eyes watching the lime green shirt stumble out of the car before throwing up. Cool metal latch to the car door running under his scarred hand as he pulled it getting out. Watching the back of the lime color and blonde hair come into focus as he walked around the car. The light face now resting still bent over slightly from where it had puked.

"So much for the pudding huh?" he chuckled lightly. Blue eyes flicking up at him upset, silently asking to cancel. "We're late." He frowned watching the blue eyes only stand up leaning into the side of the car breathing. "Hey maybe if you...switch to a guy doc.."

"No." the blonde hair snapped at him pulling the car door open and getting back in. His dark eyes frowning heavily as he stomped back around the car ruffly getting in.

"Fine."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Mr. Starwind your late." The nurse was mad already, glaring at him as he frowned.

"I know I know. We got stuck in traffic I am sorry."

"Your expected to be here *On* time *Every* time." She scowled at him watching him only sigh heavily looking up before glancing at the blonde hair watching him from the lobby. "This was very irresponsible on your part Mr. Starwind, our commission..."

"Alright lady I know! We got stuck in traffic and then the kid got sick and threw up!" He shot her a baffled expression watching her scowl. Her graying forty year old hair scowling at him as she turned quickly leaving. Deciding to no longer waste anymore time with him.

"Sorry." He glanced down at the blonde hair looking up at him as he walked around the small desk to the few chairs on the flat white wall. His dark eyes glancing around the empty lobby before mumbling a small yeah right. "Was she real mad Gene?"

He frowned "No she wasn't real mad." he growled annoyed before sighing. He wasn't mad at the kid, but it sounded like it. He glanced over at the blonde hair silently looking down. "Your going in, in a few minutes alright?" The blonde hair nodded. ".....and I am not going with you." The blonde hair started nodding before frowning. Blue eyes snapping up immediately confused.

"What?" they shot baffled.

"You heard me. You go by yourself." His dark eyes leaned into the chair firmly looking ahead before the panicked blue eyes shot into his face. The loose jeans snapping out of their chair in front of the unruly red hair. "Hey." he frowned, the light hands grabbing his shirt lightly tugging him forward.

"Gene what? I am sorry we were late ok. I didn't mean to get...I didn't mean to throw up and I...." He brushed the hands off watching the light face continue to stare at him alarmed, breathing heavily.

"Jim you just go do this, your old enough and you understand plenty." His scarred face and voice was firm but relaxed. This is how it was, he was going to go by himself. He had gone with him for three years, now he could do it by himself. "Your old enough to do this by yourself and your just...just going to have to go in there and face it like a man." The blue eyes looked overloaded listening to him. Quickly sinking into a sea of hard stress as the light chest picked up. "Alright?" The blonde hair shook no immediately.

"Gene I don't..." the light face trailed suddenly. Blue eyes darting around at the empty lobby to make sure no one could hear them. What could he say? To Gene? How could he explain that it...that even if it was Judith it didn't make *that* much difference. Some but...not enough. "Don't. I want to cancel." The blue eyes were firm suddenly. The upset stress blending away to a calm focused expression zeroing in on the unruly red hair.

"You can't, it's too late for that now." He stated matter o' factly, the light chest picking up immediately but the face didn't falter.

"Gene I...can't do this...now. I don't feel good." The blue eyes were slowly easing away, the stress bleeding back in. "Please if you.."

"Mr. Hawking?" He snapped up at the nurse immediately. Her thin young figure looking over from where she stood, waiting for him to come. His blonde hair jumping at the foreign sound of his name before darting back at the unruly red hair. The scarred face just calmly looking at him before nodding towards her.

No...no no no no...He felt his chest picking up again, the stress swarming through him, I'll be all alone...I hate being all...alone. "Gene *come* with me." he growled suddenly watching the dark eyes only sigh, glancing down at the light hands motioning for him to come as he stood up. Watching the light grasp snap at him, sliding down to his pants as he got taller but still hanging on tightly. "Gene?" He frowned lightly. Looking ahead over the small mumble below him as he pushed the lime shirt in front of him as he took a step towards the nurse before shoving it forward. Blue eyes turning back around immediately, he wasn't coming. "Gene I don't.." the blue eyes glanced back at the nurse before back at the unruly red hair, stepping back towards him lightly. "I don't wanna go by myself." They looked up whispering to the unruly red hair that simply sighed before shaking his head no.

"Your going to do it by yourself." He stated firmly, watching the blonde hair shake no immediately. The small ounce of red creeping around the wide blue eyes filling them with a salty wet shine as they blinked quickly trying to calm down. "Go. Go do this like a man alright?" He shoved the light shirt suddenly, the blonde skin stumbling back awkwardly. Unprepared for the strong strength shoving him off alone. "Ahhh" he growled, dark eyes snapping up at the ceiling as he groaned out his sigh. The small weight suddenly hugging his leg, shaking lightly even at seven. "Ahh you have got to be kidding me." He frowned feeling the small light chest that hung on silently cry. "No. Jim? No." He pulled the light elbows back, watching the blonde hair look down quickly as he crouched down.

"Come with me please Geeene. Don't make me goo aloone, it, it...it reminds me of when-it scares me cause that guy used to make me-"

"Alright." The dark eyes frowned shaking the light shoulders firmly as the hands held onto his shirt. "I am going to walk half way, and then you go in...by yourself." He stated firmly watching the light face shake no, choking back it's tears silently as they trickled down off the smaller chin.

"Alone!" The crying blue eyes watched him only frown.

"No, I said by yourself."

"That's alone Gene!" The blonde hair pulled him forward, tugging at his shirt as he growled. His dark eyes glancing back at the young nurse frowning behind them. Her youthful eyes pitying the small crying child trying to attach to him. Yeah, his mind spit bitterly, she probably loves ever kid that walks in here, and all the duckies and bunnies too.

"Can we have a minute?" He watched her nod immediately moving back to the small desk, at least she wasn't bad looking. "Hey come on." He rubbed the side of the small arm reassuringly. Watching the light face continue to look down hiccupping as it silently cried. Covering its face with one hand while hanging onto his scarred gray shirt with the other. "Jim stop crying ok? Be a man aright? Men don't cry buddy." He shook the light shoulders slightly watching the light face silence, trying to hold it in, trying to be a man. "Ok?.....Ok?" he flashed a reassuring grin to the blue eyes that glanced up quickly before disappearing back under the hand and blonde hair. "Now I'll cut a new deal with you ok?" He grinned, his scarred hand rubbing over the soft cotton of the lime green shirt as he rubbed the small back slightly.

"How bout I...bout I.." the blue eyes looked up wiping off tears "I cut you a deal Gene you...I'll be your slave for a...a...day."

"No how about-"

"A week!" the other light hand grabbed his shirt as he moved.

"No." He grinned chuckling lightly at the light face as he sat back in the chair leaning his top weight onto his elbows he rested on his knees. "I'll walk there with you, and sit right outside the door, but you still have to go in by yourself, or alone however you want to put it." The dark eyes were firm, this was what was happening.

"Whyyy?" The blue eyes cringed baffled. "How cooome?" The tears ran again.

"Because your old enough now. Your smart and your seven. Smart enough to know no one in there is going to hurt you. If I stay by your side all the time." He flashed a grin. "We'll have to spend more money on food and more time on sleep cause you wear me out." he chuckled, the light face easing slightly at the joke but the stress didn't vanish. "You go in, and you come out. You don't *need* me for that." He grinned lightly watching the saddened blue eyes watch him, listening, they had surrendered.

"This is...what you...want?" The blue eyes frowned sniffling, watching the red hair nod.

"Yes. This is what I want, and you can do this. You can do it all by yourself." The blue eyes looked down as he shot a small playful punch into his shoulder. "I know you don't like it but you can't always have what you want. Life is going to screw you over...a lot." He chuckled again. "You got to start small so you can handle the big stuff alright? One pair of pants at a time?" he grinned watching the blue eyes look back up at him inhaling shakily, but not longer crying. His mind grinned, this hadn't gone as bad as he thought it would. The kid had to go, one of these days he would have to start taking the stress by himself. If it was when he was seven or when he was ten he had to. Maybe if we had more money or...more time I could wait for ten, his mind frowned. But they didn't, jobs were getting harder, longer, and less pay was coming in. It's not like I can just keep dumping him on Iris, his mind frowned before grinning. Remembering how she had spit she would never baby-sit but now willingly took Jim when he had long jobs. He'll get over it, his mind grinned before frowning again. Having to go see Fred after this wasn't going to help any but, he would cope. His dark eyes blinked as the light hands let go of his shirt slowly, taking a step back before wiping its face again. "Alright?" He grinned. "Think you can do this?" The blonde hair nodded shakily. "Good. I mean.." he chuckled lightly "Aren't you embarrassed having me with you for this stuff all the time?" He laughed slightly as the blonde hair shook no, frowning baffled. Why should he care? Gene had always been there before. "Yeah well." the red hair sighed heavily "You will one day."

"Right out side the door." The blue eyes frowned before making a move to where the nurse had reappeared, quickly continuing as Gene started following. Unruly red hair flashing him a lopsided grin as it sank into a similar chair outside the familiar room. Blue eyes disappearing from sight as they looked up at the same sweet gray hair welcoming him in before shutting the door. He sighed heavily looking up at the ceiling, he'd cope.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Where are you going?" Dark eyes glanced over at the blonde hair. It was the first thing, the first thing he had said in twenty minutes. He had gone in the room complete silent and come out stresses and embarrassed, which was ironic. I stay he can care less, I stay out he's suddenly embarrassed his mind grinned. But the kid had been silent, the whole way out, to the car, and now for the last fifteen minutes. Stupid brat watching the road signs his mind chuckled, he knew they were going in the wrong direction the minute I took that left. "Gene why are we going left?" His scarred face grinned.

"Cause I have to go.." he sighed heavily. "I have to go see Fred."

"What!?" The blonde hair sat up quickly from where it had been lazily leaning into the car door watching the traffic.

"Glad to see you can talk." He chuckled before glancing at the disgusted blue eyes that kicked him.

"Why!? Why are we going to see him!?" They demanded irritated, he only growled.

"Because he *asked* me to come." He replied dully, his dark eyes watching the busy road.

"So you just go! Why do I have to go!?"

"I didn't *want* to leave you *alone*." He chuckled slyly looking over before realizing he shouldn't have teased. The light face looked hurt by the way he had thrown the sincere words back in its face, especially now in relation to Fred. "I was kidding." He groaned lightly switching on the blinker.

"When did he call." The blonde hair slumped back into the door saddened, looking out the window.

"Early this mourning." The busy red car in front of them drained from his view as he glanced at the blonde hair. The light face just staring down dully, he hated Fred. "Come on. I would have left you with Iris but she was working. You can't stay in the bar Jim." The car slowly took a right, easing towards the side of the road as the blue eyes glanced towards the familiar building listening to the click of the unruly red hair unbuckling. "It will be fine, we have to go becuase-"

"He helps pay the bills." the light face muttered dully, repeating the red hairs excuse for why they went. The absent blue eyes stepping onto the curb dully. Watching the familiar red hair and yellow cape come around the car before heading towards the door, the small figure behind him following as though sedated.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Gene I am so happy I could make an appointment with you so fast." The sleazy red silk shirt of the purple haired, overly happy even heighten face, smiled into the lazy dark eyes. Listening to the annoyed groan as his smooth red arms rapped around the yellow cape hugging it.

"You think you where happy? Boy I was thrilled Fred." The deep voice spit annoyed, dully staring ahead as his scarred hand shoved the excited brown eyes away. "Now." His unruly red hair sighed heavily taking a step back, bumping into the blonde hair and blue eyes that stood half watching half hiding behind him. "What kinda job is this?"

"Well it's very interesting you asked me that Gene. You see it's falls under the category of a rather...dirty job." The red shirt grinned.

"What? What kinda dirty job?" He cocked a sly eyebrow at the purple hair that shrugged.

"The only reason I am working this location is because my father is some 800,0000 billion miles away. I normally won't take the slightest interest in what happens here on Sentinel 3, it really is so dead here Gene." The man frowned slightly "But because of the great distance, my dad wants someone running things closer to our normal turf on Heighfong, so I am patching things up here on Sentinel. The man hired to estimate our industry has suggested we run into narcotics."

"Drugs?" The red shirt stopped momentarily as the unruly red hair made a face. "I am not selling anything." The dark eyes frowned firmly.

"No Gene. I don't want you to sell anything." The man laughed eyeing the outlaw before glancing at the blonde hair that quickly disappeared behind the yellow coat. "I just need someone who knows the...back streets of this town to bring me some reliable people *to* sell them."

"What kinda market are you aiming for Fred? You know people around here have drugs." His scarred shoulders shrugged, what kinda business estimate was that?

"I know I know Gene. But if we move them into the streets more, our market will advertise to younger ages." The dark eyes snapped at him.

"How young?"

"Does it matter?. I don't even know." The slinky red shirt shrugged.

"Ahh you want to sell drugs to kids Fred?" The glared snapped at him annoyed.

"Well I didn't think you would be so touchy Gene, it's not like I would be selling them to anyone you know." The red shirt frowned slightly watching the blue eyes continue to stay visible as they watched the unruly red hair.

"Well maybe I am. Not to kids. I'll get you men Fred, but you can't sell them to kids. They'll kill themselves blast it!" His dark eyes squinted at the red shirt lazily eyeing him now.

"Oh please, what independant child has that kinda money?" The purple hair laughed, no kid could possible afford enough to accomplish such a feat all at once.

His dark eyes only grinned, squinting at the red shirt before glancing down at the frowning blue eyes watching them. "You want me to take the job?" The blue eyes blinked, immediately caught off guard. Since when did Gene ask *him* anything about work? His dark eyes watched the blue blink baffled "Come on Jim. You have some experience with this stuff. You think the kids around here could use drugs?" He cocked an eyebrow at the blonde hair slowly trying to move behind his yellow cape to escape the look of the red shirt. His dark eyes grinned looking back up. "I don't think I can do this one Fred."

"But you need the money...Gene." The red shirt grinned this time. "Am I wrong?" His dark eyes squinted. "There's no dirt on your hands Gene, you not selling them."

"Yeah but I might meet some of them along the way. Or bump into these kids. You think I want my good friend here bringing home a dirty girl?" The red shirt made a face before sending a sharp glare at the blonde hair that only looked down unsteadily. "Get someone else, we'll find another way to make money." His voice was firm and hard as he offered a small nod to the purple hair before turning to leave.

"Gene?" His dark eyes turned back around watching the purple hair move to the set of parallel couches in the small room and sit down. Unruly red hair running into his eyes slightly as he walked over and lazily slouched into the other one. The blonde hair sitting down next to him, still slightly out of it.

"Fred it's nothing personal, I just have a problem selling narcotics to minors." He shrugged watching the sleazy hand wave at him in understandment as the purple hair nodded.

"I would have to lower my price if I raised my age." the dark eyes listened. "I won't sell to anyone younger then ten...deal?" He frowned.

The red hair slunped to a baffled expression. "Well when I said the word kid, what age were you thinking of Fred?! Ten is too young!"

"AHh fine fine, fifteen." The dark eyes only growled, this was getting worse and worse, but I guess they can take them if they want to.

"Fred." He sighed heavily. "Look sorry I wasted your time, but I think I am just going to pull out." He frowned slightly watching the red shirt shoot him a baffled expression.

"What Gene?! Do you expect me to believe that you too are just going to eat nothing!? I know you two don't have any money." The red shirt shot baffled yet disgusted.

"Yeah well maybe *I* don't, but he get's a check." The blonde hair looked over at the dark eyes talking to the red shirt, what check? There was no check.

"What check?" The purple hair was irritated.

"What you think I get the clothes he wears for free?" the dark eyes frowned "It's not like we can share sizes Fred. Everything he needs I don't have to pay for. Just get someone else." He spoke standing up, blonde hair sliding off the couch next to him ready to go.

"Gene come on." the red shirt stood up quickly in front of the couch before sighing. "Fine, I had a feeling you wouldn't buy into it. There's a small transport job you can do if you want that." The dark eyes didn't answer, but the scarred face approved. "It's in the(heavy sigh) manila envelop on my desk." The purple hair stuck out its bottom lip sitting back down disappointed. Watching the unruly red hair start over before glancing at the blue eyes watching him go. "So." The blue eyes looked at him immediately watching the sleazy hand beckon for him to come. The tensed expression running over his face as his legs answered the command moving him over. "Jim you really don't mind if I sell some stuff to all your friends do you? How about you and Gene stay here hmm? Tell him you want to stay, I'll pay you both. You can buy lots of things with that money. Lots that you two don't have." The purple hair smiled at the blonde color. The small light hands gripping his sleazy wrists trying to force them away as the small teeth clenched. Breathing heavily thought the concerned blue eyes that let out a small whisphered no as a hand ran behind the small thin back steading it. While the wrist the small hand was clamped around aimed a little lower...

"Hey Fred can't you cut me more of a deal and give me a little more then 450 Wong? I do a good job blast it." His dark eyes frowned glaring into the boring manila envelop of mediocre paper, after spending a few minutes to read all the documents. His yellow cloak moving lightly behind him as he turned around. "Did you hear me Fred?" His dark eyes glanced up before frowning, the disgusted look running over his face as he started across the room. "Say it now and loud Jim!" He yelled watching the purple hair look up.

"NOOO!" The blonde hair suddenly screamed, the scarred hand yanking it back by the arm.

"Gene we were only talking! Maybe if.."

"Blast it I am not stupid Fred!" The dark eyes were furious. "Were you really just going to SIT there and MOLEST HIM IN FRONT OF ME!?"

The red shirt frowned. "I hardly touched him."

"I'll see *you* later." His dark eyes sneered bitterly, glaring at the purple hair that only sighed as he turned around. Yanking the light arm with him out of the small room, hall, and back to the street. "Get in the car." He ordered letting the arm go as he started stomping to the drivers side. Blonde hair silently getting in and shutting the door softly before buckling up. Moving lightly as the car shifted to the weight of the red hair getting in and slamming the door, before roughly shoving it back open and slamming it shut harder. "Aaaa." his scarred hands ran over his face as he sighed heavily, leaning into the steering wheel. His strong fingers massaging his temples before glancing over at the blonde hair that focused on sitting completely still as it shook lightly. "Did he?" the blue eyes looked over slowly. Hiding lightly in his blonde hair as the small head tried to stay down. His dark eyes watching the light face visibly jump as he let the soft strains of yellow color ran onto his fingers. His scarred hand pushing the blonde hair back from the light face so it couldn't hide. Smiling as he did it, he wanted the kid to see he wasn't mad at him. "I am not mad at you." He grinned now watching the small face lick it's lips slowly staring at him. "Did he touch you at all?" He frowned, he couldn't help it, the whole thing made him so pissed. He grinned as he whisphered his "What?" back to the small inaudible mumble the blonde hair had let out. The small mouth licking it's lips again.

"A little."

His dark eyes frowned hard. "A little? A little or a lot which one?" He demanded suddenly, watching the blue eyes become more concerned with his tone. Blue eyes watching him put the key into the car. "Which?" he spit as it suddenly hummed to life, moving forward quickly as his frustration leaked onto the gas petal. His mind telling him to calm down as he closed his dark eyes letting his face relax. "It's alright which one was it?"

"Ahh I AM SOORRRYYY!" His dark eyes snapped at the blonde hair that suddenly let out the fast loud shaky scream.

"WHAT?!" he shot baffled, watching the light face jump at his tone. The car whizzing down the back roads. They were less crowded, hardly any traffic. It was lunch time anyway. "What the hell are you sorry for?" His eyes frowned, snapping at the blonde hair that only slide into the side of the car as he took a hard left. It wouldn't take them more then five minutes to get home. "I said WHY are YOU SORRY?!" He shot letting the car swing a right.

"CAUSE! I AM!...SORRY!" The blue eyes shut tight feeling the car move. It was fast and sporadic, I don't want to throw up, his head whisphered. His small mouth shutting tightly, he *wasn't* going to.

"I can't believe this." he growled, dark eyes running onto the familiar front of their building as he took the next right. "Why the *hell* are you sorry? And you *better* start answering me?!" His dark eyes frowned as he shot a hard look at the shut blue eyes hanging onto the door. His foot easing the car before stepping onto the brakes. Slamming the car to a stop in front of their warehouse. The smooth cool metal of the door latch running under his hand as he pulled it, shoving out and slamming it behind him. Dark eyes closing as he sighed, he was over reacting, Jim *isn't* the problem, his mind spit harshly at himself. He shouldn't have to feel any of my frustration.

"Ahh." He watched the blue eyes jump, yelling lightly as he ripping the passenger side open. The small lime green shirt moving back quickly as he reached in yanking the small arm out. "AHh Geeene!" The blue eyes cringed panicked as the blonde hair appeared stumbling out of the car to the strong force pulling it.

The small arm yanking from his grasp, backing up to the car alarmed as the panicked blue eyes studied him. The light face focusing on standing strong watching the dark eyes.

The scarred hands slamming over the reckless eyes massaging them again as the strong form sighed before looking back down. "Jim I am not mad at you. I am mad. Fred pisses me off when he does...stuff like this, and you. It makes me made when...when it happens *to* you alright? It's not your fault." he growled reaching for the light arm again, watching the blonde hair suddenly bolt to block him, ready to be hit. "What?" He shot a baffled expression, watching the light concerned face breathe hard as it braced itself. "I said this isn't your fault so why would you get swatted for it?" His face fell, baffled. It wasn't like the kid asked for it, or provoked it. He was being held against his will and hated it.

"Your lying! Gene I said I was sorry!-Don't!" The small hands snapped to block the seat of its pants as he reached for him. His dark eyes glancing around, they were on the side of the street blast it.

"Come on lets just. Go in alright?.........." The closed blue eyes opened slowly looking up at his outstretched hand. His dark eyes looking at the door as he walked towards it, small shaky hand and tight grasp holding his hand below him.. "I can't believe you." He chuckled lightly glancing down at the overloaded blue eyes. "I have swatted you what? Twice? And still you think I am going to do it huh? Don't you know your getting to old for me to swat?" He chuckled lightly opening the door. Watching the blonde hair walk in awkwardly before quickly turning around watching him cautiously, fists ready to fight. "I am not going to swat you. When the *hell* do I hit you huh?" The baffled expression ran back over his face. "Did you light any fires?" The blue eyes just frowned listening. "Did you?!" The blonde hair shook no fast and quick. "Did you blow anything up? The blonde shook no. "Then I am not going to." He grinned lightly watching the light face cave to him as he walked over crouching down. "You didn't do anything wrong." He ruffled the blonde hair slowly watching the blue eyes just look at him dully, silently welling with tears. "Did you say no?" The blonde hair nodded slowly, the small motion sending the warm clear salty drops onto the light cheeks that didn't make a sound. "See? You did a good job. None of this is your fault Jim. Don't you worry yourself about it alright?" The small chest was shaking as it cried silently. His scarred arms pulling the light weight in to his chest hugging it. Light arms raping around his neck before letting out the long suddenly loud strained cry.

"Ahhhhaaaa!" The light face pressed into his neck crying. The small lose shirt wincing as the unruly red hair stood up bouncing the light weight to let the small legs, that suddenly refused to spread, straddle his hips.

"Hey?" He frowned whispering to the small face crying into his neck. The small heart slamming into his strong scarred skin. "You hurt?" His dark eyes frowned feeling the light face nuzzle in deeper to the dark tones of his shirt, hiding and wincing. "Jim?" It was plausible, wasn't it? His mind frowned, after the fight, then this mourning, Fred...His dark eyes frowned, light face pulling out of his neck slightly breathing hard.

"Ahh Gene! He didn't listen to a woooord that I saaaid! I said no firrrst but heeeAHH. I think I am going to be sick Geeeneaahhhhh." The small body sobbed feeling the strong scarred hand rub his back gently. Unruly red hair slowly shifting its weight from side to side as it stood, looking straight ahead.

"Yeah, if it wasn't for the pudding this would have been a bad day huh?" he forced a light grin, even though the blonde hair couldn't see it. The small face sobbing into his arm as he headed towards the kitchen. Pausing lightly to the sound of a car outside before dismissing it and continuing.

"He didn't stoop when I saaaid! Didn't Ahh we have...have..." the blue eyes looked up as his scarred body dipped down letting it sit on the counter. "We, Geeene go and get the pudding out of the caaaar." The light hands ran over the small face quickly. Hastily wiping his tears away as the unruly red hair nodded, messing with his pants. "It's going to go baaaad Geeene! AhMove I am going to go get iiiittt!" The small legs kicked him leaning into the cabinet crying. "Ahhhhh mooove!" His dark eyes looked up at the small face hiccupping before gagging lightly and letting out another loud stressed groaning cry. His strong fingers finished with the tiny button as they pulled the small zipper to the loose pair of jeans down. Watching them loosen around the light skin before picking it back up.

"Yeah I am gonna go get it. It's alright...alright?" He roughed the small lime shirt reassuringly as it clung to him.

"Ahh stooop put me dooown. I am nooot little anymooore...Pleease Geene!" The light forehead pressed into his shoulder gripping him tight before the small hand punched his back. The blow weakened by the sobs, but he didn't want the pudding to spoil. Not when something that tasty hardly ever came along.

"In one minute ok. Your gonna answer me first?" A little or a lot which one?" His dark eyes sighed heavily listening to the small groaned whine that answered him. Little as in soft, lot as in it was hurting. "Little or a lot, or No ONE is getting it and the pudding is going to STAY OUT THERE AND ROT!" His dark eyes frowned harder, the kids actions were already running down hill in the stress from younger years.

"NO I AM gonna get it and you can't...you caaan't!" Another small cry hit him as he shook his unruly red hair no. No one was getting that pudding blast it. "A Lot!" The light face screamed at him, small hand punching him with its answer. His scarred arms still holding the upset skin as his hand loosened the small jeans running around the small waste. Pushing them slightly to fall around the light ankles. "Ahhh what are you doing!? Geet offf meee!" The face cried feeling the cooler air, slamming the scarred chest again. The small hands pushing to get away while hanging on tight, unwilling to move.

"You want to eat some pudding as soon as we get it?" He muttered lightly, his dark eyes looking over the small body hanging onto him to find the small rim of the blue boxers. His scarred hand gently moving toward it before jumping. Dark eyes snapping at the back door as it clicked unlocked. "Blast it Iris!" He snapped watching her jump as she came in. Her baffled face ready to explain she had been knocking for several minutes before deciding to use her key when she stopped. Soft feminine eyes running over the crying light face that quickly hid from her on sight. The blonde hair pushing into the scarred chest, light hands tugging the loose gray shirt around the sides of its face to hide.

"Huh? Gene what happened?" She frowned sitting her small purse and bag down rushing over. "What happened Jimmy did you skin your knee or something kido?" She frowned looking at the small lime green shirt and boxers. The dark loose jeans around the light ankles as the scarred arms held onto him. Her smooth blonde hair running along the lines of her face as she leaned from either side to get a look at him as he hid. "Gene what?-"

"-Look Iris, just calm down he got a little hurt alright." He frowned glancing down at the blonde hair that finally stopped shaking no. Resting sideways swearing at him while using the loose shirt to hide the rest of its face. His scarred hand reaching up, covering the one small ear that wasn't pressing against his chest. Watching her lean forward as he took a step to her mumbling as the light hands shoved his hand off immediately.

"NoooDon't talk about me! You don't tell her! That's not yours to teeell Geeene!" The light hands pinched him hard as he frowned, ignoring the irritated screams.

"What?" Her face spit at him baffled. "Are you crazy?" She frowned watching him squint at her annoyed. Shifting the light weight that continued to cry up slightly.

"Just do it Iris." He groaned taking a few steps to the kitchen table. Letting the light blonde hair feel the wood under its feet before watching it stand up. The blue eyes looking down, letting out a stressed groan to the jeans around their ankles, quickly reaching down to grab them. Missing as the scarred hand yanked him forward suddenly.

"Cut it out Gene! I want to go upstairs! I don't want to be heeere! The scarred arm looping around his waist picking him up. Light hands moving to grip the top of his shoulder as it looked down crying at him. "Geeene put me dooownah, cut it out okaaaay?!" The small hands pushed on his shoulder to move him lower. His now red and wet face ashamed to look at the heavily concerned feminine eyes watching him. Moving along side the darker ones that let the blonde hair hang sideways in his arms.

"Come on Jim just cool it. In one second we're going to go get the pudding out of the car alright?! Shut up Blast IT!" His dark eyes frowned, quickly letting his strong scarred hand loop into the front rim of the small boxers.

"GEENE! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!??" The blue eyes snapped down feeling the scared hand move. "AHHHHaaa!" He screamed, crying, kicking slightly as the scarred hand pulled the loose cotton rim down to his knees. Dark unruly hair yelling something at Iris as he felt her smooth hands quickly grab his ankles holding them still as he screamed. The unruly red hair ignoring the threats and cries of the light hands that were both strong and weak. Fighting and pushing one moment yet shaking weak the next. His dark scarred eyes running over the young light, now bruised and swollen private skin before moving slightly. Letting her feminine hair bush against his face as her eyes ran over the smaller body of the screaming blonde hair before glancing back up at the scarred face, offering him a reassuring expression. That was it. All he needed, Iris didn't look worried, and women always knew. "STOP! GEEEENE! Let me go! GO TO HEEELLLL Let ME GOOO NOOO!" His dark eyes snapped at the light sobbing face growling at them. Her soft hands quickly dropping the light ankles as the scarred strength pulled the light boxers and jeans back up to the cries and the word *No*. His strong arms letting the light furious weight slide back into his chest. The loose dark jeans stumbling onto the kitchen table next to them. Furious blue eyes glaring at him over the hysterically embarrassed light face that was bruised, swollen, scared and upset, but ok.

"Ok! Ok!" the scarred hands were pushing the light weight onto the top of the table again, watching it stand up. Blue eyes darting around before staggering at the unruly red hair. The scarred face pulling back fast as the light fist slammed into his eye. "Blast it!" The dark face growled, scarred hands snapping at the light wrists trying to kill him. "RELAX DAMNT! Shut the hell up!"

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT TO MEEE!! Why did youAHHH I hate! I HATE GEEENE you know!" the light arms fought him. Feeling the one scarred hand clasp his wrists together as the other picked him up to stop the sudden impacts kicking him. The strong force suddenly hugging him tight as he desperately tried to bite and punch the rough familiar skin. Scarred face pressing into his blonde hair. Her soft eyes watching them. The light arms and legs fighting, growling as the deep voice mumbled into the smaller neck, restraining the furious movements.

"Alright. I am sorry. I am sorry Jim come on." The light arms surrendered, sobbing in the scarred arms they wanted so bad to be lost in. He wanted to forget, it was just too much. Without Gene who was there? he couldn't fight him. When he said sorry, Gene was sorry. "Jim come on. Listen. Stop." The scarred hand released the small wrists watching them claw back to his shirt. Rapping around his neck. The small legs hanging loosely as they hung on before kicking him dirty. His scarred face cringing hard to a small choke before feeling the light skin hug him. Pissed but exhausted to the point where it would give up. The cotton lime shirt working up and down to the scarred hand rubbing his back. Unruly red shifting from side to side, shhhing the blonde hair before glancing at the gentle feminine eyes hugging him from behind before silently sneaking out the door. "Think you scared Iris away." He let out a small chuckle, the light arms only squeezing tighter as one of his hands pulled away to lock the door before starting up the stairs shhing the blonde hair. "It's ok. Calm down." He let his deep voice hum lightly as he pushed in the bedroom door. His scarred figure pausing lightly wedging his shoes off with either foot as he stood before letting his scarred hands worked apart the smaller laces clinging to him. Pulling the shoes of the blonde hair off and opening the bed. "Just relax. Jim it's fine now." He ordered lightly watching the blue eyes open, moving around their settings. "See? We're home." He flashed a lopsided smile "I am exhausted, lets go to sleep." He chuckled letting the light weight slide onto the bed. Dark eyes glancing at the blonde hair immediately as it silenced for the first time. The light skin and exhausted streamed blue eyes just looking at him. His scarred hands paused, the soft sheets still in his hand as he stopped. It felt weird all of a sudden, as if right now he was....being judged, and not lightly either. This decision was going to mean something.

His dark eyes swallowed watching the blue eyes slowly blink before letting out a small sniffle. The small loose lime shirt wincing as it took a small calm step over to the edge of the bed. Watching the red hair stand up and look him. The wet tearing blue eyes watching his every move, before easing slightly. The small light hand slowly reaching up before sending a soft playful punch into the scarred arm. "Not...a dirt bag." The light face smiled slightly before letting it grow. Even thought the pain and the tears, the grin stood up at the unruly red hair. The blinking dark eyes that sighed suddenly, as though he passed where he thought he might have failed. His strong dark eyes ruffling the blonde hair before watching it step back.

Sighing heavily as he sunk into the bed, it felt good, soft and calm. The sniffling blonde hair curling into his side immediately, relaxed and exhausted as the scarred hands pulled their blankets up before laying back completely. His strong shaky sigh admitting suddenly, Jim didn't hate him, somehow...even after that...he still passed.

Hey thanks for reading. Whadya think? Please review for me, it only takes a sec and keep reading, you don't want to miss the good good parts J