Heh, while writing this chapter I totally changed my future plans for this story. Everything that happens in this chapter and everything after it probably would have never happened had I not gotten a flash of inspiration while lying in bed last night...It is extremely different then it was going to be...but I hope you enjoy it anyway. ^_^

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! In 5 hours and 50 minutes, it will be 2004 at my house!

Okay...I have done it again...I was bad...Bad Chelsea! *slaps wrist* I can't believe I did it...but I posted another story...This one if for Dawson's Creek, but I still did it. Bad Chelsea! You have no time for another! You already have a billion to work on! And this is the first time I've worked on any of my fics (minus the one I started, Bad Chelsea!). I've been bad...but so distracted! There's just something about mixing in the songs by 3 Doors Down and the Second Season of Dawson's Creek that evokes inspiration for Pacey Angst! By the way, if you want to be the SWEETEST people in the world, could you please read it? It's called "Loser' and it's pretty angsty too. I only got two reviews and you don't' know what that does to a girl's self esteem...I'm feeling unloved. Not to mention one was from Liz (whom I love to death for her constant support!) and she reviews all my stuff. For that I am grateful. The other one was Rachel, who also reads my MD stuff. Thanks Rach! But yeah. I'm feeling unloved and unworthy. *pouts* So yeah...

Nebula- Lol, yeah. I think 'Poor Charlie' has entered the vocabulary of several people lately. I'm glad you liked the reference to Adam trying to play hurt in D2. Hm, shame shame. You shouldn't do that. Lol. I hope I get inspiration for 'One Way Ticket' soon too...o.O...this is my punishment for trying to tackle multiple stories at the same time. Lol...a dangerous task...

Allie- Don't worry, for ONCE it isn't a conspiracy! Or was that a rhetorical question...? o.O...eh, if it was, disregard what I said. ^_^ Lol...

Banksiesbabe99- Heh, yeah. Charlie is kinda thick...but it's only half his fault. It's kinda partially mine too. ^_^ But we can blame it on him. ^_^ Don't worry, George's time is drawing near...and yet the fic is far from done. I feel that I may never finish this. ^_^ Yep, them Montana peeps are bordering on thick and blind in this story. ^_^ But they shall redeem themselves. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Rachel- Lol. You're so sweet. Wow, I left you speechless? Nope, no one has said that yet. ^_^ Congrats on a new phrase! Wow, you really like it? ^_^ How cool! *hugs* You're just so nice! Thank you! By the way, thank you so much for reviewing my Dawson's Creek story! It meant a lot to me!

KShyne99- Lol, yeah...just a tad redundant. But that's okay. ^_^ I don't mind. I'm glad you liked the Doctor and Charlie interaction. Hehehe, yeah. I think you might be bordering on obsession, but that's okay. It'll happen eventually. Pretty soon, actually. I think. Maybe. Lol...o.O...Thanks so much! ^_~

Adriana- Meep! *hides under the couch* So so sorry! I had written out several of the chapters and I got that one and this one mixed up while replying! He IS in this one I PROMISE! And he will have a slightly larger part than before. Sorry sorry sorry! Eek! Sorry for getting your hopes up. o.O I didn't mean too...lol...honest mistake...*cringes and curls up into a little ball* DON'T HURT ME! *blinks* You know, it's very difficult to curl up while under a couch so I think I'll come out now...*crawls out from under couch and screams when Adriana viscously attacks with pillows* AH! *hides under pillows*...*in a voice muffled by the pillows* Sugar? Sugar is good...Yes, George will be busted...soon and very soon...the time is drawing near...I can feel it now...the power of the ring...DUN DUN DUN! Oopsies, wrong movie. O.O...Sorry about that...Hehehe, I just saw 'Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' the night before Christmas Eve and yeah...it was really good...Heh, sorry. ^_^ I think I'm okay again. But yeah...George's time will come...very very soon...and we will all LAUGH AT HIM MWAHAHAHA! ...o.O...yeah...anway...Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too!

Missa- I'm glad you like my story! *grins* Thanks for reviewing!

Chroni- How fun! I'm glad you got the trilogy. I bought it this past summer and waited for the mail every day until it came in. It was then I realized the disadvantage to ordering off the internet. They like to make you wait forever. Well, happy painting and enjoy MD2!

Katie- Lol, yes. Loving Charlie can make a little difference. Oh, I'm writing an angsty Pacey story if you wanna read it, it's called "Loser." I figured hey, you're a fellow Pacey fan! Why not add in a shameless plug? ^_^ And I'm glad you enjoyed the cookie. *grins*

Sloane Miette- Lol...wasn't good enough, eh? That's a real shame. ^_^ Heh, I'm writing two that contain child abuse, am obsessed with Dave Pelzer's books (an author who writes about his own life as an abused child...very sad), and am reading any Charlie angst I can get my paws on. ^_^ Lol, then I guess I could kind of be considered one too. ^_^ Hehe, yeah. Charlie needs to work on the lying bit. Yes, Alyssa and Halley will at least be mentioned within the next few chapters. Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

DodgerMcClure.aka.Drama-Queen- Yes, he does deserve it. *Charlie nods, looking dreadfully pitiful* Aw...now I feel bad...*sniffles* Poor Charlie...*Charlie nods* Aw...*pats his head lovingly* Now, now, just go sit in your little corner. Things will get better...maybe...eventually...Erm, anyway...Thanks for reviewing! ^_~

Disclaimer- I don't own Mighty Ducks. Don't sue.

-Chapter 28-

Charlie was standing outside of Royal Orchard Academy.

To enter...or not to enter...

Not...to...enter...

Charlie suddenly did an about face and began walking in the other direction. Not today...he couldn't take it today...

~~~*~~~

Charlie observed his surroundings as he walked through the dingy neighborhood. He was getting closer...

There!

He finally arrived at the home of Jesse and Terry Hall. He knew they were both at school, where he should be, but Charlie could think of nowhere else to go.

He sat up against the house, staring out into the street. He watched cars as they passed and ignored the rumbling of his stomach. Food was so over- rated...

~~~*~~~

"Charlie?"

Charlie blinked as the voice pulled him from his restless sleep. He then saw in front of him the face of Jesse and Mrs. Hall.

He blinked again. "Hey."

"What are you doin' here?!" Jesse asked before his mother had the chance.

"Looong story." Charlie said, stretching slightly. How could he have fallen asleep? It had been midday out in the open...

"We have time." Mrs. Hall said, crossing her arms. "How long have you been here?" she asked worriedly.

"Awhile. I needed to see Jesse, but he was at school." Charlie said simply.

"And that's where YOU should have been too! Does your father know you're here?" she asked sternly.

Charlie shook his head vigorously. And if he had anything to do with it, it would STAY that way...

"Come on in; we have to call your father." The woman said, motioning inside.

Charlie's eyes flew open. He began shaking his head choppily. "No, no...You don't have to do that." Charlie said nervously, unable to keep the hint of desperation out of his voice.

"Of COURSE I don't have to. But I think he should know that his son skipped school." She said.

"Umm...I think he'd rather hear it from me when I get home. But I really need to talk to Jesse." Charlie pleaded.

Mrs. Hall gave in to Charlie's hopeful gaze. "Fine, fine." She said, walking into the house.

Jesse and Charlie walked into Jesse's room and closed the door. It was then that Jesse noticed the sling on Charlie's arm and a few bruises and cuts that had NOT been there before...

"Dude, what happened?" Jesse asked wit shock. The boy looked battered pretty badly.

"That's actually what I came here to talk to you about..." Charlie said nervously, looking at his shoes.

"Well spill." Jesse said, plopping down on his bed and offering Charlie a seat next to him.

Charlie nodded nervously and sat down. He felt extremely uncomfortable and was trying to decide if this was such a great idea after all.

"Ummm...I was kind of wondering of I could maybe stay here for a night or two." Charlie said, his eyes grave and serious. He needed to stay in a safe place until he could possibly defend himself against his father. Going back now would leave him weak and vulnerable.

"Why? You think he'd be mad or somethin'?" Jesse asked, referring to the cuts and bruises. Jesse assumed Charlie had gotten into a fight or something.

"Something like that. I just need a place to stay for a night or two." He said. "But it's really important that he doesn't know I'm here." Charlie added as an afterthought.

"Why's that?" Jesse asked, pulling a half-eaten bag of day-old popcorn off the floor and onto his lap.

Charlie hesitated. "Just...because. Look, it's really important. I need you to promise me." Charlie pleaded, looking into Jesse's eyes.

Jesse let out a sigh. "Dang, Conway. I don't think I'll ever understand you. But aight. I won't tell. But on ONE condition." Jesse said warningly.

Charlie raised his eyebrows in confusion. "What condition might that be?"

"That you tell me exactly what happened to you and EXACTLY why you need to stay here." Jesse said simply.

Charlie hesitated, looking sideways at his shoes again. Was it worth it?

Charlie bit his lip and let out a sigh. He might as well. This may be his chance to get away from his father until he was healthy enough to start defending himself.

"Deal. But not tonight. I will tell you, but not tonight." Charlie said.

Jesse sensed that something was indeed very wrong so he accepted this condition.

"Aight, then. I'll go ask my mom." Jesse said, walking out of the room.

Charlie watched from Jesse's bed, praying that Jesse's mom would have mercy and let him stay.

~~~*~~~

Jesse walked up to his mother nervously. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Would his mother let Charlie stay?

"Ma? I have a question..." Jesse said, walking up to his mother. She was cooking dinner, her apron tied around her waist and a bandanna on her forehead.

"What is it, sweetie?" she asked, stirring a pot of soup.

"Could Charlie umm...stay with us for a few days?" Jesse asked almost timidly, afraid of what his mother would say.

She turned to her son with a shocked, confused expression on her face. "And why would he need to do that? He's got a home to live in. A nice one, from what I've heard. Did he say why?" she asked skeptically, turning back to her cooking. It wasn't that she didn't like the boy. She adored him and thought of him as another son. But why he would need to stay with them was beyond her comprehension at the moment.

Jesse hesitated for a moment. "Um, you see...he hasn't exactly said yet. But he seems kind of panicky and I know he wouldn't ask if he didn't need to. He promised to tell me later though. It was one of my conditions. But I've just got a bad feeling. He's in bad shape, too. Did you see that nasty cut on his forehead?" Jesse said, voicing his thoughts.

Mrs. Hall was silent for a minute, processing what her fifteen-year-old son was saying. She had noticed the battered state her son's friend had been in when he had been just sitting outside her house. It seemed her son had noticed the bruises as well. Mrs. Hall wasn't sure how they got there, but if they had anything to do with Charlie wanting to stay at her house, she would oblige.

"I guess...but do try to figure out what's botherin' him. I'm worried." She said, giving her son a slight nod before returning to her task.

Jesse nodded and walked back into his room. "She said it's okay. But you are gonna tell me, right?"

Charlie let out a sigh, staring off into space. "Yeah, just not now...I must mentally prepare myself." Charlie said, only half-jokingly.

After that, Charlie grabbed the popcorn bag and began eating, again wondering if this was such a great idea after all...

~~~*~~~

It had been a few days and Charlie had gone to school like normal. He had dropped by the doctor's office and got his cast, as well as his shoulder fixed. His cast stopped in the middle of his arm and it was bothering him. Charlie could tell Jesse was dieing to know, but Charlie couldn't bring himself to say it. What would Jesse think of him? He had, after all, pretty much let it happen.

Charlie buried his face in his hands. What was he going to do?

~~~*~~~

"Yes, I would like to report a missing child." George Conway said to the lady at the desk in the police station.

She nodded and typed something in before sending him to a room.

George walked calmly down the hall and into the room. The nerve of that little brat...

"Hello, sir. A missing child, you say?" the man said, motioning for Mr. Conway to sit down.

George nodded and sat down. "He's been missing for a few days now." George said.

"Any idea where he might be?" the man asked George.

"No idea. We just moved here so I don't know where he would go."

"Okay. What's your name and his name?" the officer asked.

"My name is George Conway and my son's name is Charlie. He's fourteen years old and has brown hair, blue eyes. He is almost six feet tall now, too. He goes to Royal Orchard Academy and he's a Freshman." George said, answering the questions he figured they would have asked anyway.

The officer nodded. "Alright. Do you have any picture we could post around town?" the officer asked.

George nodded and pulled out a picture of Charlie in his hockey gear as well as one in regular clothes. "Here are two I have with me. I hope you can find him soon. I'm getting worried." George said, perfectly imitating the manner of a concerned parent.

"I'm sure you are." The officer said apoplectically with a nod. "I'm sure we'll find your son."

"Thank you for your time, officer." George said with a 'thankful' nod.

With that, George Conway stood up and left the police station. Wherever the boy was, he had better get home soon if he knew what was good for him...

As he opened the door to his car, he slammed the door shut and punched the seat. That stupid brat had better not have said anything...where could he be?!

~~~*~~~

Mr. Hall watched as Jesse and Terry flipped through the TV channels in boredom while Charlie stared at his open Chemistry book unenthusiastically. Jesse and Terry's little sister Krystle was playing with her doll about two feet away, bugging Charlie as best she could.

Mr. Hall then walked into the kitchen to talk with his wife. "Jackie? Has Jesse figured out what's wrong with Charlie yet?" he asked. Mrs. Hall had explained the situation as Jesse and Terry begged for him to stay. The man had no choice but to agree. He couldn't very well turn down his son's friend.

"Not yet, Irv. Not yet. I'm really beginning to get worried about him. He refuses to tell his father where he is. I don't understand why, though. I've never met the man, but he can't be that bad." Jackie Hall said to her husband.

"Have any of those injuries gotten any better? What's the story on them?" Irv Hall asked, leaning on the counter.

Mrs. Hall let out a sigh. "Not yet. He hasn't explained them yet either. Not that I mind his company, I just wish he would tell us what's wrong soon. He may just be having a difficult time. Jesse told me that his mother died about a month ago. Can you believe that sweet Casey Conway was killed on her way home a month ago, and we never heard?" Jackie Hall asked her husband, her eyes watering slightly.

Irv pulled her into a hug. "No one knew where we were. I still can't believe that happened to them. I didn't even know Charlie had a father until you said something. As a matter of fact, I didn't know the boy lived here until I came home to four kids instead of three."

Mrs. Hall nodded and sighed again, returning to her cooking. "I just hope he tells us soon. I'm interested to know what possessed him to leave home without telling where he was. I would be terribly worried if Jesse, Krystle, or Terry did something like that."

In the living room, Charlie was still struggling to get motivated on his Chemistry homework.

"How can they expect me to read this? Are they crazy? I don't understand this..." Charlie said, talking to himself.

Krystle picked up her doll and sat by Charlie, a big smile on her face. She had just turned six years old a month before.

"Hi Charlie." She said with a cute little smile on her face. "Whacha doin'?"

"Homework." He said, letting out a frustrated sigh as he stared at all the words on the page...none of which made any sense at the moment.

"Leave'm alone, Krys." Jesse barked at his younger sister.

Krystle stuck out her tongue at Jesse and then turned back to Charlie, the smile back on her face.

"That's cool." She said, reciting what she had heard her big brothers say time and time again. "Wanna play dollies with me?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.

"Um, I can't. Homework." He said, pointing to the book.

She pouted. "But Charlie...that's not fair. No one EVER plays with me." She said, her eyes filling up with tears.

"Oh PUT a SOCK in it, Krystle!" Terry said, throwing a pillow at her. Krystle glared at her brothers with glassy eyes.

"See? They're mean to me." She said with a sniffle, her lowing lip trembling slightly.

Charlie let out a sigh. "I just can't right now, Krystle. If I don't do this homework, I will fail Chemistry. If I fail Chemistry, well...let's just say we don't wanna go there right now." He said, patting the small girl on the head gently.

She sniffed pitifully again, a big tear rolling down her chocolate-colored cheek. "B-but...you-you're the only nice one here. Momma and Da-daddy are t- too busy and J-Jesse and Terry are m-m-mean!" she said, her voice cracking as she looked at Charlie with big brown eyes.

Charlie let out a sigh and propped his elbows on the carpet and laid his chin in his hands. "Maybe I can play with you later. But I really need to work on this homework now, okay?" he said, smiling at her and ruffling her hair slightly.

She sniffed again and gave him a small smile. She then nodded giddily before running off to her room.

Charlie smiled and shook his head. Now back to Chemistry...

About an hour later they finished dinner and Jesse brought out the trundle bed for Charlie again, helping Charlie set it up. Once they had finished, Jesse got in his own bed and turned off the lights.

Climbing under the covers, Charlie turned on a small book-light and pulled his Chemistry book out again.

Jesse blinked at the sudden light. "What's your problem, Conway? It's a Friday night and you're doin' your HOMEWORK?" Jesse asked incredulously.

Charlie shrugged. "Might as well. It's not like there's much else to do at the moment." he joked, referring to the fact that they were both in their beds at 9:00 on a Friday night.

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." Jesse said with a laugh. "Night Charlie..."

"Night Jess..." Charlie said as he tried to read the words on the page. Nope, still wasn't working...