Chorins96- Lol, yes. It works every time. Ooh...Third Season was a doozy...o.O I would watch it, but I can't find my tapes. I just got the Second on DVD so I watched those. I have everything after the second episode of the Third on videotapes, but they disappeared...lol...I need to find them. Quick. Lol...*giggles at the soap names that could be alternate titles to this fic* All My Duckies? Days Of Our Captain? Heehee...that's funny...^_^ Don't worry. You may all finally get what you've been waiting for...And yes, I will update One Way Ticket...eventually...I just can't decide exactly what I'm going to do with it. o.O Yet...Candy, huh? It's worth a try...

Chroni- *pats head* It'll be okay.

Banksiesbabe99- Lol, for ONCE I'm not going to make you wait very long for something! Shocking, yes I know. I'm actually going to fulfill your demands promptly, instead of drawing it out. Forever. Yes, I know I am capable of cruel-ness. ^_^ But my mean-streak is ended...for now. ^_^ Aw, you're so nice! *hugs* By the way, Happy 2004 to you too!

Nebula- Lol...new phrase? Yes, Charlie has a tendency to be stupid. But that's okay! He'll crack. *eyes widen*Um...wow...you're good at this guessing thing...o.O How did you do that?! *clears throat* Pretend you didn't read that...Yeah, I gave him a brain for a few minutes. I thought he deserved it, no matter how short a time it lasts. And of course, more confrontation, more plots that haven't even been hinted at...I have many things bouncing around my brain...I will eventually get to the end of the story. But I'm going for the long haul. I'm bringing in plots I didn't originally plan for, etc, etc. Thank you for your patience. ^_^

Missa- Yes! Happy for Charlie! ^_^

Adriana- Lol. Whew...*sigh of relief* That's good to know. *grins* ^_^ Oops...o.O...*goes and reviews both chapters* Sorry about that. I gave you a nice (hopefully reasonable) explanation in the reviews...lol...eep...*eyes water* Don't hate me! I'm very sorry. Lol...I'm glad you like Krystle. ^_^ And I'm glad you are happy about Jesse being there. Lol...have fun eating cake! ^_~

Katie- Yeah it is...*sigh* Lol. *grins* Yay! Thanks for being so supportive of me! ^_^ I can always count on you! ^_^ Lol.

BlueKnight- *squeals excitedly* YAY!!!!!! CHR- uh...BLUEKNIGHT!!! ^_^ See? *points to head* I remembered not to say your name! *grins* I'm so happy you reviewed! *does happy dance* Whoo-hoo! *smiles* Thanks so much! *hugs*...*BK can't breathe*...Oops. *lets go*...*pets Charlie's head while reading the review*...*BK looks at Chelsea and Charlie funny*...*continues petting Charlie's head*...So you like the serious side of my story? *smiles real REAL big* Now I feel special! *Charlie tries to crawl away* NO! Come back! *Charlie nods and crawls back to Chelsea* Don't worry little Charlie, I'll protect you. Now where was I...oh yes! Your review. ^_^ Yeah, I make the chapters kind of short so I can update fairly regularly. But wow, if that's your only complaint. *grins* That's pretty cool! Lol, I'll try to finish. ^_^ Yes, I want to start the web writing club thingie. I'm looking forward to it! I haven't had time to come up with anything, but we can continue brainstorming next time we're on at the same time. ^_~

Rachel- Aw, you're so sweet! ^_^ I'm relieved you are enjoying the story. ^_~

Allie- Lol...you're silly. ^_^ At least ONE of those things will happen. ^_^ I agree about the Jesse thing. He was such a huge part in the first and then he kind of faded out of many people's memories. It's very sad. Thank you, I had a great holiday. I don't ever wanna go back to school...Oh, you poor thing. Eight days? That's horrible...

Sloane Miette- I'm sorry it was lacking in meat. ^_^ I just need a few transition chapters before I introduce the next part. Yeah, I cry every time I read them...it's just so sad...*sniff* Anyway. I'm glad you liked the chapter! ^_~

Christy S- I'm glad you like the story! Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Liz- Hey Liz! *huggles* Eek, yeah. It had to have hurt...Poor Charlie. *pats his head lovingly* I'm glad you liked the Jesse interaction. I'm glad you like it, and enjoy the Cowboy game.

Short chapter...busy girl...very sorry...

Disclaimer- I do not own the Mighty Ducks.

-Chapter 29-

Charlie couldn't take it anymore. That was it. He HAD to tell Jesse.

He looked over at the digital clock to see that it was 1:00 a.m.

The boy had soon given up on his homework and had been staring up at the ceiling with the hope of getting to sleep. It hadn't worked.

His mind had been plagued with the fact that he had yet to fulfill his end of the bargain. He just wasn't sure how exactly to tell Jesse something like this. Jesse had been his best friend before moving away. He couldn't very well LIE to him. Jesse would be able to tell anyway. In fact, Charlie figured Jesse would be the only Duck who could tell when Charlie was lying about something.

"Jesse." Charlie whispered into the dark.

No response.

"Jesse." He whispered a little bit louder.

Jesse mumbled something incoherent before rolling over.

Charlie let out a sigh. Of COURSE he had to be difficult. Charlie FINALLY gains the courage to tell him and it had to be one o'clock in the morning...

Letting out another sigh, he leaned over across the space in between their beds and shook Jesse slightly. "Jess..."

"Jesse!" Charlie said louder as he gave Jesse another shake.

"AH!" Jesse nearly yelled as he whipped around to face Charlie.

"Shhh!" Charlie scolded. "Quiet!"

Jesse blinked, unable to see two inches in front of his face. "Charlie?"

"Yeah, it's me." Charlie replied, retracting his arm again.

Jesse flipped on the light and rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing up at," he looked at the clock. "one o'clock in the morning on a Saturday?"

"I was gonna tell you why I needed to stay here." Charlie said softly. "And you can turn the light back off. It's too bright." He said, blinking his eyes from the sudden change.

Jesse nodded and turned it back off. Charlie turned on the book light so they could see each other without being blinded.

"Couldn't you have waited until mornin'?" Jesse asked sleepily with a yawn.

"Oh, but I did." Charlie said jokingly, knowing that the lightness of their conversation would drop drastically the second he told.

"Very funny Conway. Well since you've gone and woken me up, go ahead and tell me." Jesse said, curling back up in his covers as he waited for the news.

Charlie let out a sigh. "Alright..." he said, taking a breath to calm his nerves. "Man, this is hard." He said to himself. Jesse was waiting patiently with curious eyes.

He let out a light laugh. "I don't really know where to start. I've been thinking about it all night and I don't have a clue where to start." He said, rubbing his face with his hands. "I guess I'll start with why I need to stay with you. If my dad found out I had skipped that day, he would be mad." Charlie said simply, unsure of how to break something like that to his friend.

Jesse blinked. "That's the only reason?" he asked in confusion. "What's so bad about that?"

"You see, him being mad isn't a good thing." Charlie said, trying to think of a way to explain it. "You remember when I moved to Minneapolis? Why we had to move?" he asked, hoping he wouldn't have to outright say it.

"Yeah. You're dad was beatin' up on your mom, right?" Jesse asked, hesitant to mention Charlie's mother.

Charlie nodded. "Let's just say my dad has run out of punching bags with my mom gone." He said quietly, hoping they didn't wake anyone else up. He could hardly believe he was actually telling someone...

It took a moment for that statement to process in Jesse's brain. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened...

"You don't mean...HE did that?" Jesse asked with horror.

"Shh! Quiet Jess! You don't have to tell the whole world." Charlie snapped and Jesse shut up.

"Sorry, I guess it's just a little bit shocking. Have you told the police or anything?" Jesse asked.

"No, you're the first person I've told. But you have GOT to promise me that you won't tell anyone." Charlie said warningly.

"No way! Charlie, this is serious! You have to tell someone." Jesse said, shocked that Charlie wasn't doing anything about it.

"I did. You." Charlie said. When Jesse gave him a warning look Charlie sighed. "Look, it isn't that big of a deal. I just needed somewhere to stay until my arm got better and I was in better shape. I can handle it." The boy protested.

"Yeah, and that's why you have a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder, and a colorful array of bruises? Did he break your arm, too?" Jesse said, his frustration rising.

"NO! I...fell down the stairs." When Jesse gave him a disbelieving look Charlie let out a sigh. "Fine...we were arguing and he might have...knocked me down the stairs."

Jesse sighed and shook his head. "Why are you still defending him, Charlie? Look, we have to tell someone about this! The police, SOMEBODY!" Jesse said desperately.

"No! I told you because I thought I could trust you. You cannot, under ANY circumstance, tell anybody!" Charlie said firmly, staring straight at Jesse. He let out a sigh and rubbed his face with his hands. "Look, really Jess. Please." Charlie said, this time pleadingly. He looked Jesse again. "Please, you can't tell."

Jesse let out a sigh himself. This was emotionally draining. Why did Charlie have to be so stubborn?

"Why not?" Jesse asked, curious to hear Charlie's reasoning.

"Because that will only make things worse. You don't know him like I do. I can handle it. Now I know he isn't playing around so I can be ready. I can take this, Jesse. I really can. It's just better to leave it under wraps." Charlie said, practically pleading with his friend.

"But Charlie-" Jesse started.

"Not buts, Jesse. You can't tell. Please...don't tell." Charlie said pitifully, begging Jesse with his eyes.

Jesse let out a reluctant sigh and turned back to Charlie. "Fine. I promise. I won't tell."

~~~*~~~

George stormed up to the old house in the middle of the day and pounded on the door.

The door was answered by Agatha. Her expression soured. "What do you want?" she asked with a glare.

He stormed in, knocking her out of the way. He saw April, Alyssa, and Karen all sitting in the living room as well.

"Where is he?!" George demanded in a booming voice as Agatha quietly closed the door.

"Where is who?" Karen asked curtly.

"Charlie! You're probably hiding him somewhere. Or at least know where he is. Where else would he go? He doesn't know anybody in this stupid city and even HE'S not stupid enough to try and make it on his own! So tell me now before I have to get even more angry." George said threateningly.

The maids exchanged looks before turning their gazes back to him. "What are you talking about? You lost Charlie?!" Alyssa exclaimed.

"I did not LOSE him, he ran away. Where he went, I don't know. But that's why you are going to tell me where he is. Now." Mr. Conway said curtly.

"Do we look like friggin' psychics to you, sir?" April said, silently glad that Charlie had gotten out of the madhouse. But she couldn't help but wonder where he actually was.

"I know he had to have told you. You don't need to be psychics to tell me were my freaking son is. Now tell me before I have to tell the police." He said darkly.

"Look, Mr. Conway, we don't know where your son is, okay? We. Don't. Know. And even if we DID, we would NOT tell YOU!" Agatha barked at him.

George stared them down. "This isn't the end of this, you hear? Either you find my son and tell me, or you won't be hearing the end of this." He threatened as he turned and left.

~~~*~~~

It had been a few days and the groups of maids had thoroughly discussed the 'Charlie-topic.'

"Where do you think he went?" Alyssa asked, her face masked with worry.

"I don't kn-" April started when there was a knock on the door. She stood up to answer it and was faced with two police officers.

"May I help you?" she asked with confusion when the police officer brought out a few pairs of handcuffs.

The rest of the women got up and walked to the door to see what was going on.

"Are these them?" the younger police officer asked his partner. The elder police officer looked at the picture and nodded.

"Yep, these are them."

"Excuse me, but what is going on?" Agatha demanded.

"You are all under arrest for the kidnapping of Charlie Conway."