A/N: Contains strong language and hate crimes.

Mark stepped out of the pool, taking a towel and draping it around his neck. The football team was out on the field practicing and Mark wanted to be out of the locker room before the team decided to hit the showers.

He made his way over to his locker, taking off his swim cap and dropping it to his side. This was only his first week back after the steroid situation and it felt good to get back in the pool. It was relaxing, helped to clear his mind. He opened his locker and pulled out his clothes, feeling a hand on his waist from behind. Mark spun around.

"What are you doing here?" Mark asked. "Aren't they going to miss you out on the field?"

"I'm still 'recovering'," Nick said. "I need breaks to stay in top shape." He smiled as Mark rested his back against the lockers. "They're essential."

"I see," Mark said. "So what are you doing in here?"

"It's two thirty," he said. "You swim for an hour and a half after lunch, I figured you'd be here."

"Yeah, dripping wet." Mark laughed. "How appealing."

"I'm not complaining," Nick smiled. He paused. "I'm gonna take a few more laps and then head back to the cottage, grab a shower there."

"Yeah, I've gotta check out what's going on over at the lit review Then I gotta head out to get some food... it's my night to make dinner."

"Nothing disgusting, please." Nick said.

Mark laughed, shaking his head "Right," he said. "I'll try to remember that."

"I better got," Nick said, kissing him quickly. "Later."

"See ya later," Mark smiled as Nick headed back out to the field. He turned back to his locker, beginning to dress, rubbing the towel over his hair. He shut it loudly, spinning the lock and heading towards the door.

"Well look who we have here, Sean" Ethan said, standing in the doorway. "Queer Solomon. What do you say, faggot?"

"Get out of my way, Ethan." Mark said.

Ethan laughed. "Coach isn't here to help you this time."

"Look I... I don't want any trouble, guys."

"We're gonna show you what we really think about you faggots." Ethan said as Sean caught Mark off guard, pinning his arms behind his back, holding them there as Ethan slugged him. Mark doubled over, air expelling completely from his lungs and Ethan hit him again. Mark fell to the floor and Sean moved around towards the door.

"Ethan" Sean said as Ethan kicked Mark, continued kicking him. "Ethan, man, come on. Come on! That's enough, let's get out of here!"

Ethan gave Mark one last hard kick, looking down at him with an evil smirk before heading out of the locker room with Sean, leaving Mark lying on the ground.

>>>>>>

"OK, I'm giving him five more minutes and then I'm going for pizza," Shannon said, nibbling on some crackers. "He should be here by now."

Marcie walked downstairs. "Mark's still not here?" she said . "This really isn't like him at all."

"Tell me about it, I'm starving," Shannon complained. "Where is he?"

"Mark?" Nick asked, coming down from the shower.

"Yeah, he's still not back yet," Shannon said as the doorbell rang. Marcie went over to answer it as the others piled into the room.

"Oh, President Davidson," Marcie said. "We were supposed to have a meeting today? Mark's still not back yet..."

"This isn't a scheduled meeting," Viki said. "It's about Mark."

"What about Mark?" Shannon asked.

"There was an incident at the school. Mark was... beaten pretty badly. He was taken to the hospital."

"Is he alright?" Nick said.

"I can bring some of you down there with me."

"I can drive the other half," Jen said urgently " We should go. Let's go, we have to go."

>>>>>>

They weren't allowing anyone in to see Mark. He lie in intensive care, bloodied and bruised, covered in wires and tubing. Not even Michael could manage to get the Love Crew in to see him. They were told to go home for the evening. It was late that night just as the nurses were switching shifts when the doors opened.

Quietly and sneaky, Nick made his way over to Mark. It was hard to look at him, unsure if Mark could even hear him. He looked horrible, He had a severe concussion, cracked ribs and numerous other injuries.

"I don't know if you can hear me" Nick said softly, trying not to draw attention to himself, knowing that he only had a limited amount of time before the nurse came back. "I don't know who did this to you, Mark but I'm going to find out. I know exactly where to start. I'm at the line here and it's time to make a decision. I'm gonna find out who did this to you. I swear."

TBC in Next Installment, Pushing Aside The Demons