Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Disney, I own nothing.
A/N: I am dividing this chapter into two parts, the first is Adam's time at his house and the second is Charlie's time at his house. Thanks to ladyship, koko, kel, banks'-gurl, and my ever faithful Sarah for their reviews. I really appreciate them. Oh, I don't know if Mrs. Banks was ever given an official name or not, so I'm just calling her Laura, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
The car ride home was silent and tense for the Banks family. Adam knew exactly what would happen as soon as they got home. His father would start yelling about how he screwed up his life and his mother would try to stop it but would most likely fail.
Adam was yanked from his thoughts as the car came to a sudden stop. He looked out his window and realized they were sitting in their driveway. Adam opened the car door and slowly stepped out of the car. His rips were throbbing from sitting in an up-right position for so long and he knew he wouldn't be able to make it into the house on his own. Adam looked up to his parents for help but found that his dad was already in the house. Luckily, his mother knew he would need help for a few days so she waited and helped him into the house.
As soon as Adam walked into the house he saw his father at the refrigerator, most likely getting a beer.
"Go to your room and don't come out until your mother and I discuss this." Philip Banks yelled while opening up a bottle of Budweiser.
Adam let out a sigh of relief. His father may have yelled at him to go to his room, but at least he wouldn't have to listen to a scolding.
His mother helped him up the stairs and into his bed.
"Don't worry about your father. He'll get over it eventually." Laura Banks said tucking her son into the bed.
"I just don't understand why he gets like this! I mean I'm the one hurt and in pain, not him." Adam protested.
"I know…I know. Just try to rest now, hun. I'll bring you up some dinner later on and I'll go pick up your pain medicine in the morning." Laura said kissing Adam on the forehead.
"Okay mom." Adam yawned before closing his eyes to sleep.
Adam woke a few hours later to a darkened room. The only light was coming from underneath the doorframe from the hallway. He squinted his eyes to make out the time that was illuminating from the digital clock on his desk. It was two twenty-three in the morning. Adam wondered why his mother let him sleep through dinner.
Suddenly he felt a pain in his stomach and realized he hadn't had a decent dinner in days. He figured that his mother had leftovers in the refrigerator. Adam slowly got up and made his way down to the kitchen.
He opened the door to the refrigerator only to be greeted by empty shelves. There was nothing in the refrigerator besides the normal things like milk and beer. This made Adam worry a little. He knew he heard his mom say she was going to bring him dinner, which meant she had to cook something. Suddenly his stomach started rumbling again and he decided that he would just have a bowl of cereal instead.
Adam walked to the cabinet and pulled out a box of Apple Jacks. He opened the cupboard in search for a bowl.
'Just my luck…' Adam thought to himself after seeing the bowls were all on the top shelf.
He arched himself up slowly to reach the bowls. Just as he was getting close the pain in his ribs became too much and he brought his arms down to cradle his midsection. As he did one of his arms hit a flower vase that was sitting on the counter. The vase fell to the floor and shattered into a thousand little pieces.
"Shit" Adam muttered. He stood there looking at the broken vase, wondering what to do until he heard a door open. He was hoping it was his mother, but it seemed the only luck he was having was bad luck.
"What the hell happened in here?" Philip Banks asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"Sorry dad. I was trying to get something to eat and I knocked the vase over. I'll pick it up." Adam said reaching for the broom and dustpan.
"I thought I told you to stay in your room." Mr. Banks scolded.
"I know and I'm sorry but I haven't eaten in days and I needed something to eat." Adam said trying to plead with his father.
"You're going to be sorry. First you joined that team of low lives. Then you went and got yourself injured for pulling a stupid stunt at the Goodwill games. And when you finally had a chance to make up for it, you rejoined the Ducks after being put on Varsity. I'm tired of you undermining my authority." Philip said stepping closer to Adam.
"What are you doing dad?" Adam asked smelling beer on his father's breath.
Philip didn't answer. He just brought his fist up and swung it at his son. He hit Adam across the jaw, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Get up!" Philip yelled
Adam didn't move. He lied there holding his jaw, waiting for the pain to subside. Soon the pain in his jaw was replaced by the pain in his ribs. His father kicked him hard in the midsection when he refused to get up.
Instead of waiting on his son to get up, Philip picked him up by the collar of his shirt only to shove him backwards into the refrigerator.
By now Adam was coughing up blood. His father had hit him before but never went this far. Adam was silently praying for the punishment to stop. He soon heard another door open and a scream from his mother.
He looked up from his position on the floor to see his mother screaming at his father. He saw his father lift his hand up as if he was going to hit her but something stopped him and he stormed out of the house. Adam's mother immediately ran over to his side.
"Oh Adam are you okay?" she asked wiping the blood off his chin.
Adam was in too much pain to speak; he only moaned.
"Come on, honey. Let's get you back to bed." she said helping him up.
She led him upstairs and put him back into his bed. His shirt was covered with blood but he didn't care. He just wanted to go to sleep to escape the pain.
"Adam, I'm going to stay here with you all night. Nothing is going to happen." He heard his mother say before he drifted off…