Liberty's Boys

Written by: J. LaRae

Disclaimer: I don't own QAF, the characters, the actors, or the behind-the-screen people. I have no contact with any of these people either. I am not promoting QAF or Showtime; I'm just a fan with nothing better to do until season 4 comes out on DVD.

Claimer: I did make up the Character of Charlie, she's mine. Don't take.

Warnings: Slash, slash, slash-ity slash, slash. Can't handle, then wtf you doing here!

Chapter One: Harder to Breathe

How dare you say that my behavior is unacceptable?

So condescending unnecessarily critical

I have the tendency of getting very physical

So watch your step cause if I do you'll need a miracle

You drain me dry and make me wonder why I'm even here

This double vision I was seeing is finally clear

You want to stay but you know very well I want you gone

Not fit to fucking tread this ground I'm walking on

When it gets cold outside and you've got nobody to love

You'll understand what I mean when I say there's no way we're gonna give up

And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams

Is there anyone out there' cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe?

Is there anyone out there 'cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe?

What you are doing is screwing things up inside my head

You should know better you never listen to what I said

Clutching your pillow and writhing in a naked sweat

Hoping somebody someday will do you like I did

When it gets cold outside and you've got nobody to love

You'll understand what I mean when I say there's no way we're gonna give up

And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams

Is there anyone out there' cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe?

Is there anyone out there 'cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe?

Does it kill?

Does it burn?

Is it painful to learn?

That it's me that has all the control

Does it thrill?

Does it sting?

When you feel what I bring

And you wish you had me to hold

Maroon5 "Harder to Breathe"

The rain had been pouring for over an hour, and I hadn't moved. I hadn't planed on it either, until a cop came up to me and asked- no, he forced me- to get off of his street.

I clutched my soaking green jacket around my thin body, and stood up slowly. It was then that I noticed that I was soaked clear to the bone, and I began to shake.

It was almost winter. I knew I would have to find some kind of shelter before long. Or… get a fuck every night. I hadn't really planned on prostituting myself, but if that's what it takes to get money around here, I'll have to.

I looked at the sky, I knew it had to be nearly Three A.M. or I was off. It was always hard to tell the time in the winter.

Looking around, I tried to find someplace semi-dry, that the owner wouldn't call the cops about, or I wouldn't get mugged. Trust me; alleys aren't a good place this time of night. I turned another corner and came to a street that looked well lit and very festive for the time of night it was. I had never seen a place so open at such an early hour. Well, it wasn't busy, but there were some people, most of them drunk, that were coming in and out of businesses or apartments. Suddenly, I spotted a building with a marquee like thing around the edges and a bench that I could spend an hour or so sleeping on. I was really tired, and freezing cold.

Lying down, I quickly drifted off to sleep. Actually, it was more like slipping into a coma. I didn't wake up for a while after.

"Who do you think she is? What is she doing here? She is alive, right!"

"Michael, shut-up! Do you want to wake her up?"

"Yes, she has no right being here ON OUR BENCH!"

"Shut-up and carry her inside."

I heard a low growl, and felt myself being lifted. I didn't have the strength to open my eyes, let alone hold myself up in whomever's arm I was in. So, my head flopped back and I really didn't care.

"Bring her back here. She'll need to dry off. Kiki, can you get a towel please?" A woman screeched.

I felt myself being placed down on the ground, and then someone wiped my face. I felt warmth for the first time in a long time. I shivered because I knew that I wouldn't feel that for a long time. Slowly, I tried to open my eyes. A man with black hair was gently patting my face and hair. The lights were bright so I shut my eyes again. When a cool hand was pressed against my forehead, I shook.

"Ma, she's really hot." The man said.

"Hmm…" another hand was placed on my forehead. I winced at the touch.

"Michael, we need to get her to the hospital. She's in bad shape." The woman sounded concerned.

"I'll call Brian to come get us."

"That boy… well, make sure he gets here fast."

A few minutes later, Michael came back. "He's on his way. Honestly mother, I don't know why you bother to help these kids… Brian doesn't get it either."

"I do it because no one else will, Michael. These kids are left to die on the streets, and I can't let that happen."

Michael didn't respond, or if he did, I must have drifted off, because the next thing I remember is being lifted into the air and laid down on someone's lap.

"Who's this?" another man asked. He had a slight lisp.

"We don't know." Michael said.

"Another charity case." A man said from the front.

"Brian, you're forgetting who else was 'a charity case'." The man whose lap I had my head in said.

"Brian, just get us to the hospital." The woman who found me said.

Once again, I must have blacked out, because I don't remember anything until I woke up again. This time, I could open my eyes. I didn't want to because the room was bright white. Everything was white. I hate white. I was also in a pair of pajamas, that I have no clue to whom they belonged. I checked myself over, looking at one hand that had an I.V. stuck to it, to wires that were connected to my chest and a tube that went up my nose. I began to panic, seeing as I didn't have anyone with me, and I didn't know who brought me here. I wanted to go back to the street and just get on with my death. It's not like anyone would notice.

"Hey! You're up!" a blonde stuck his head in and smiled at me.

"Wh-Who are you?" I looked at him with a slight tremor in my voice.

"Oh, sorry," He walked in and sat down next to my bed, "I'm Justin. I'm one of the guys who brought you in." He was the one with the slight lisp. I knew I had heard the voice before.

"Justin…" another man stuck his head in the doorway. I think it was Michael if I recall correctly. "Hey you're up! Ma, the kid's up."

A plump woman with a horrendous red wig walked in. She sported loads of rainbows and Pflag buttons. She looked a little eccentric.

"Hey honey, how are you feeling? I'm Debbie, this is Michael and Justin."

"Hi." I coughed, god, it hurt so bad to talk and cough.

"Don't strain yourself honey. You've got a lot going on."

"What's wrong with me? Do you know a doctor I can ask?"

"We know." Michael said, "You have a touch of bronchitis, and you were so tired you slipped into a mini-coma. The doctors said it was best to put you on an induced coma so you could heal a little faster."

"What's today?"

"Today's Thursday. You've been in here since Monday."

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, I was tired again. I just want to go back to the streets, to a place I know, and a place where I know the people.

I guess I woke up again a few hours later, I was feeling a lot more rested than I had been earlier. Someone else was sitting by my bed. I looked over at him. He was beautiful, medium length brown hair, a great body, fancy clothes.

"Who are you?" my unused voice croaked out.

"Brian. And you?"

"Charlotte. Most people call me Charlie though." I sniffed.

"So, Charlie, where are you staying?"

I looked at him, and looked at the wall. "Some corner… I think it's 8th and State."

"Get any good business out there?"

"I don't do that kind of 'business', the only business I do is looking for my next scrap of food and a newspaper to cover up with for the next night." I glared at him.

"Okay. Don't get hostile." He looked at me for a long time. I continued to look right back. "How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

"Why are you on the streets?"

My head snapped around and glared at him. "It's none of your goddamned business." God, I was being hostile.

Luckily before Brian could say anything else, Debbie and Michael walked in. "Hi honey, how are you feeling."

I gave a semi-smile and said, "A little better. I'm not so tired."

"Cranky as hell though." Brian added.

"Brian, I think anyone who isn't use to you when they just wake up would be a little pissy." Michael said.

"Aww, gee thanks, Darling. I love you, too." Brian stood and kissed Michael on top of the head.

"Brian."

Brian walked out of the room.

"Well, sweetie, we have some good news for you." Debbie said, "You're being released tomorrow. They want to do one more check to make sure you're doing better. How about that?"

"Yeah, that's great." I gave a small smile. I then looked down at my bed and began to play with the string on the sheet.

"It is isn't it?" Debbie laughed, "Well, I'm gonna go get some lunch. Do you want anything sweetie?"

I shook my head no.

"Okay. Michael, come down whenever you are ready to eat."

"Sure, Ma."

As soon as Debbie left, I looked up at Michael.

"I'll pay you back as soon as possible. I don't know how as of now, but I swear I will pay you back."

"We'll figure that out later. First… answer a couple questions for me."

"Um, okay."

"What's your name and where are you staying?"

"My name is Charlotte, I go by Charlie and I'm not staying anywhere."

"Okay, we've all decided, we can't let you go back to the streets. So we're going to put you up with one of us, until things get better for you, or you decide to move on."

"Who is all of you?"

"The whole gang, some of whom you haven't met yet. There's me, my mother, Brian and Justin, Ted, Emmett, Lindsey and Melanie, and Uncle Vic, Ben and Hunter."

"Wow, that a lot of people."

"Yeah, it is… and they all have big hearts. Even Brian, even though he doesn't like to think so."

"Yeah, he's hot and all, but I don't really like his personality."

"Are you… straight?"

"Um… yeah. I mean, I know you're not, but… I really don't care."

"How did you know I was?" He looked down at his clothes and his outfit.

"Well, number one: your mother was wearing an "I'm proud of my gay son" shirt and two: you had this look in your eye when you were looking at Brian. Are you and he going out?"

"Nosey?" he laughed, "no, he and I aren't going out. He's just been my best friend since I was in high school. I'm married to a guy named Ben."

"I heard my name?" A very handsome man stuck his head through the door. "Hi, you must be Charlotte. I'm Ben."

"Oh my god. Michael, you lucky duck."

"I take that you meant that as a good thing?" Ben laughed.

"Yeah," I blushed, "So, where am I staying if I'm not allowed to go back to the street?"

"Well, we haven't decided yet, but it will either be with my mom or Emmett. They both have an extra room. We would have you stay with Lins and Mel, but they have two little ones and you need rest." Ben said to me. I smiled.

"You really don't have to do this." I said, looking down.

"We know… but, we want to. I believe in fate, and you landed on one of our doorsteps. We have to do something."

I looked down. How am I supposed to react to that?

A/N: so, that was the first chapter. How do you like it? Should I eliminate any straight characters, make Charlie gay? Or should she stay straight? I think I want her to stay straight, but I don't want any het. Romance in this story… it's all about the fluff; that and her friendship with Hunter. But, I don't want to ruin the story. ;)

K, See ya'll in the next chapter! J.L.