A/N: I am so, so sorry for not updating in like 4 months. I was going to update over my spring break but I kept putting it off until I forgot all about it. But I'm back now, so here is an update.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

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Charlie woke the next morning in his bed, surrounded by his own things. He came home from the hospital the day before but was so exhausted that he slept most of the day.

He sat up in his bed and surveyed his room. Charlie was only in the hospital for a few days but his room still seemed foreign to him since he stayed in the dorms most of the time. Even though he hadn't been there in a while, everything was still where he had left it when he left.

He glanced over to his nightstand and saw that it was 10:32 am.

'Wow, I'm never up this early.' Charlie thought to himself

"What's this?" He asked himself aloud noticing a small, folded piece of paper near the alarm clock.

Charlie picked it up and carefully unfolded the paper. He realized that it was a note that read:

Charlie,

I have to go into work for a few hours. I'll be home around noon. There is some soup in the cabinet in case you get hungry. I'll pick up your medicine on my way home.

Love,

Mom

He smiled before he felt his stomach rumble. The thought of food made him realize that he didn't have dinner the night before.

Charlie grabbed his crutches and stood up off the bed. He was still light headed from the concussion, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He slowly navigated down the stairs and into the kitchen where he found himself in front of an open cabinet.

He pulled out a can of Chicken Noodle Soup along with a bowl and started preparing his meal. What would take a normal person thirty seconds to do took Charlie five minutes because of the unsteadiness caused by the crutches.

Once his meal was done he hobbled his way into the living room. He sat his bowl of soup down on the table before casting the crutches aside and collapsing on the couch. He turned on the TV and slowly started sucking down his soup.

Charlie sat there watching cartoons for the better part of an hour, long after he had finished his soup. Soon the cartoons went off and were replaced by infomercials. Charlie sighed, realizing he had nothing else to do but lay in bed all day.

'At least if I was in the dorms I would have Adam to talk to.' He thought to himself

Then he remembered the events of the previous day and how Adam was forced to go home with his father. Charlie glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It read 11:35. He figured Adam would be up so he decided to call his friend.

He reached over to a table beside the couch and picked up the phone. He quickly dialed Adam's number and waited impatiently as the phone rang. Charlie was beginning to think that nobody was going to answer when Mrs. Banks picked up the phone.

"Hello…" she said groggily.

"Hi, Mrs. Banks, can I speak with Adam?" Charlie asked not taking notice of the lack of character in her voice.

"I'm sorry, Charlie, but he is still asleep. He had sort of a…rough night." She replied trying to think of a way to cover up the events of the previous night.

"Oh okay, I understand. Can you have Adam call me when he wakes up?" He asked not wanting to press the subject.

"Sure, oh and Charlie, is your mom there?" Mrs. Banks questioned.

"No, she had to go into work for a while." Charlie answered.

"Okay, have her call me when she gets in." She stated.

"I will." He assured her.

With that, they exchanged their goodbyes and Charlie put the phone back on the hook. Despite the lie, he knew exactly what Mrs. Banks meant by 'rough night.' Charlie started getting worried as he recalled all of the things that Adam had told him that his dad had done to him over the years. Before he could get too deep into thought, he heard the door open in the kitchen. Charlie glanced up to the clock again. This time it read 11:55. He figured it was his mom coming in so he grabbed his crutches and headed towards the kitchen.

When he got there he was shocked to discover that it wasn't his mom coming in, but his step dad, Tom. Charlie tried to move but couldn't. Shock, rage and fear all flooded over him at one. He was angry with mom for lying to him about his step dad not being there and he was afraid because of previous encounters he had with his stepfather. There was a moment of silence before Tom looked up and saw Charlie standing in the doorway.

"What the hell happened to you?" Tom asked taking notice of his crippled stepson.

"I got injured in a hockey game." Charlie said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Ah, so what are you doing here?" Tom questioned completely disregarding Charlie's physical state.

"I could ask you the same question. Mom said you were out of town for a while." Charlie snapped back finding his confidence.

"I was on a business trip, but it ended early so I came home." Tom replied

"So that's what they call sleeping with other women now a days?" Charlie mumbled just loud enough for Tom to hear.

"That's none of your damn business, boy." Tom snorted stepping closer to his stepson.

"I believe it is my business. You don't do anything but abuse me and use my mom and I'm…" Was all Charlie was able to get out before he felt Tom's fist make contact with his face, causing Charlie to lose his balance on the crutches as he fell to the floor.

Charlie felt immense pain course through his body as his ankle hit the floor. Tears started running down his face as he sat up to cradle his ankle.

"Look at you! Sobbing like a baby! I ought a…" Tom started yelling but was cut off by a scream.

"What in the hell is going on?" Casey Conway yelled surveying the kitchen from the door.

"Oh…um…Charlie…he fell and I was helping him up." Tom lied yanking Charlie up by the arm.

"Oh don't give me that bull, Tom. I heard you yelling at him and I'm pretty sure I saw you hit him through the kitchen window. I want you out, Tom." Casey snapped back.

"Come on Casey, we can work this out." Tom pleaded

"No, I tried to work this out with you before. But now I see you are never going to change. Get out of my house, now!" Casey screamed

Tom saw that he wasn't going to win this argument and let go of Charlie's arm, causing him to fall to the floor again. Charlie winced as his ankle came into contact with the floor. Tom started advancing towards Casey as she grabbed her purse and pulled out a can of pepper spray.

"Don't make me use this." She threatened

"Fine, but this isn't over." Tom snorted back as he bolted out the door.

Casey looked to make sure he was gone before she ran back to Charlie.

"Charlie, are you alright?" She asked wiping away a stray tear from his face.

"Yeah, just give me a few minutes." He replied trying to calm his staggered breathing.

"I'm so sorry, honey. I should have believed you when you first said something was wrong. It's just…" Casey started before she was cut off by her son.

"It's okay, mom. All that matters is that he's gone now." Charlie said trying to force a smile.

A moment passed before Casey began talking again.

"Come on; let's get you off the floor." She said putting his arm around her shoulder.

After some careful navigation, she had managed to get Charlie back on his crutches and helped him to the couch in the living room. Now that he was in the proper light she saw a large bruise forming around his eye.

"Looks like you're going to have a black eye later on." She said walking back to the kitchen to retrieve a bag of ice. Once in the living room, she helped Charlie put his feet on the couch to lay back then she gave him the bag of ice.

"Here, this should help keep the swelling down." She said.

"Thanks, oh Mrs. Banks wants you to call her." He stated

"Really, when did she call?" Casey asked her son.

"I called over there earlier but Adam was still asleep and she asked that you call her when you got home." Charlie explained.

"Okay, I'll go call her. Keep that ice on your eye." She called back walking into the kitchen as she dialed the Banks' number.

The phone rang for a few seconds before Mrs. Banks picked it up.

"Hello…" Mrs. Banks said

"Hey, Laura, Charlie told me you called. What did you need?" Casey asked

"Um…there isn't a delicate way to put this so I'm just going to come right out and say it. After we came home from the hospital last night, Phil got drunk and went after Adam. It was pretty bad and I'm worried it might happen again. Is there any possible chance that Adam could stay over at your place for a few days?" Laura Banks explained

"Of course he can. Is Adam alright though?" Casey asked with concern.

"Yeah, I think so. He just woke up a few minutes ago." Laura said.

"Okay, should I come get him now?" Casey questioned.

"Yes, please the sooner the better." Laura stated.

"Alright, I'll be there in a few minutes." Casey said hanging up and walking back into the living room.

"Be where, mom?" Charlie asked from his position on the couch.

"Something happened between Adam and his father. He's going to be staying here for a few days so I'm going to go pick him up." Casey explained.

"I knew it…" Charlie muttered as he watched his mom walk out the door.