Landing with a soft thump on the lawn, he stood up and looked back at the window. Two story jump and not a bone broken. Merton turned away and started towards Tommy's house.

            He was running by the woods when he heard a sound that made him stop dead in his tracks.

A howl.

A howl so full of pain, sadness, and hurt, that Merton's breath would of caught in his throat, if he needed to breathe. As it was, he stopped and listened to the howl as it faded. He then tore off into the woods as another started up. He tracked the howls to a moonlit clearing and stood behind a tree.

The last howl tapered off and Tommy fell to his knees, a whimper on his lips. Tommy quietly sobbed in his hands. Merton felt his heart go out to the werewolf.

"Merton, I miss you so much." he heard Tommy whisper sadly.

Merton eyes widen slightly, he knew Tommy would morn him, but seeing it made it more solid. The next thing Tommy said made his jaw drop.

"I love you."

 No way. No freakin' way! Tommy Dawkins didn't love him Tommy Dawkins had not just admitted that he loved him. Merton watched Tommy play with the charm he had given him for his birthday. It was a protection charm in the shape of a wolf's head. Tommy wore it on a leather strap around his neck.

            Tommy sighed softly and began to leave. "I don't know if you can hear me or not Merton, for all I know you're here somehow, and can hear me, but I meant what I said. I do love you and I don't think I'll ever be able to stop." Tommy said to the woods and then left.

Son of a… Damnit… He had said that he loved him. Well, this complicated things nicely. About then, Merton noticed that his left hand, make that his left arm; hurt. A lot. Merton looked and it finally registered why his arm hurt so much He had punched his way through a tree. From the shoulder down, his arm was buried in the tree. In fact, he had punched so hard, that his fist had gone though the other side. Merton yanked his fist out with a grunt and looked at the damage, both to him and the tree.

The tree was fine, just had a hole in it, his arm and hand was scratched and bleeding a little. Merton plucked out the few slivers that were in him and the wounds healed instantly. "Super strength and healing." he thought, and grinned. "Cool." he said and set off after Tommy.

Tommy walked into his house and sat down in the kitchen. His mom noticed the mopey look on his face. "It'll be okay." she said, wiping the counter.

"When?" Tommy asked tiredly.

"Not now, but soon." she replied.

"I miss him."

"I know sweetie, I know. Give it time, eventually it won't hurt as much." she said, running a hand though Tommy's hair.

Tommy gave a brief smile. "How do you always know what to say and make it better?"

"I'm a mom, comes with the territory."

Tommy laughed softly at that and went upstairs.

            Merton sat perched in the tree outside Tommy's room. He leaned against the bark and faded into the shadows. He watched Tommy get ready for bed and click off the light.  The moonlight filtered into Tommy's room and to Merton, he seemed to glow. Merton quickly opened the window and came inside. Merton sat on the edge of Tommy's bed and watched him sleep. Tommy lay on his side, the sheets twisted around his body. Merton brushed Tommy's sweaty hair off his forehead. Poor wolf boy was having a nightmare.

"Merton! No, don't leave!" he cried out sadly.

"Shh… It's all right, I'm here." Merton whispered. He gently held the jock and rocked back and forth.

            He was setting Tommy back into bed, when Tommy's eyes fluttered open.

"Merton? Is that you?" he asked, hopefully, grabbing Merton's wrist.

"Would you believe me if I said yes?"

Tommy's mouth dropped open in shock. Merton reached over and gently closed it for him.

"Close your mouth, you're gonna attract flies."

Tommy's eyes almost fell out of his head.