And Life Goes On

"Okay, what did you do?" Cam asked suspiciously. They'd left Tori arguing with Dustin, and were currently heading into the shopping district.

Shane shrugged as though he had no idea what Cam was talking about. "What'd ya mean, dude?"

Cam folded his arms. "Why is Hunter glaring any time you or Dustin pass him, and why does Blake look like he's been run over by a truck?"

He winced slightly. "We uh, sorta got drunk last night."

The eyebrow raised. "You got drunk." he repeated.

"We got a free bottle of wine at the restaurant because they lost our reservation. Dustin warned us not to drink too much, but Blake and I didn't really listen to him." he admitted. "Blake drank a lot more than I did; I guess 'cause he thought it would help him relax. Hunter came over this morning and made him go straight to work. He won't let him take any aspirin, either."

"Punishment by consequence." Cam murmured, nodding. He eyed him. "And Dustin was being the responsible one in all this? Where was Tori?"

"Dustin's had wine before." he confessed. "Tori tried it and said she didn't like it."

"I see."

"You aren't going to tell Sensei, are you?"

Cam snorted. "I'm not a tattletale, Shane. Dad finds out, it's not from me."

Shane looked relieved. "Thanks, man."

Cam sighed, looking as though he'd rather be spending time doing anything but this. "So what exactly are you going to do with this computer?"

Shane shrugged again, blinking innocently. "Can we get one of those really neat ones with the see-through side that plays games?"

Cam twitched. "Those are custom built, and extremely pricey." he began, obviously trying to be patient and failing.

Shane laughed. "Chill out, dude. I'm not that computer illiterate. I just need a system that can handle a few accounting programs like Turbo Tax and MsMoney. Games are good for when I need to let my brain cool down, but basic Windows games are fine."

Cam nodded, eyeing him warily. "Basic, then." His eyes abruptly snapped behind Shane, body tensing.

Shane turned swiftly and saw his dad approaching. Chills ran down his spine, and he settled into a relaxed position that wasn't threatening, but could shift to a defensive stance quickly. "Dad." he said coolly. He took in the black eye and bruises. "What happened to you?"

His father's gaze flickered to Cam. "So how many boyfriends do you have?"

Shane bristled. "Just one." he growled. "Cam's a *friend*."

"Really."

He tried to reign in his temper. "What do you want?"

"I thought you'd like to know that your mother's in jail."

"What?!" A thought occurred to him, and his eyes narrowed. "What'd you do to her?"

His father look amused. "Actually, we were both arrested for disturbing the peace. They let me out after a night, but they're holding her longer for the charges of assault."

He blinked. "Assault?"

His father touched the darkened skin along his right eye. "She defended you against something I said."

He stared incredulously. "Defended me? She sided with you!"

A harsh laugh. "Are you kidding? The only reason she wanted you out of the house was to talk to me without having to worry about you. She's been preaching about how you're still our son."

His mind whirled. She'd been protecting him all along? She really did still care? Had he just not wanted to see it, or give her the chance to explain?

"Shane..." His father paused, finally meeting his eyes. "Your mother misses you. Just admit you have a problem and we can pretend this whole thing never happened. You'll never have to see that boy again."

Shane stared at him. "Thanks for telling me about Mom." he said abruptly. "I've gotta go. I'm meeting my boyfriend for lunch." He turned and walked away.

"That took a lot of courage." Cam said quietly as he followed. "You should be proud."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I almost said yes."

"You wouldn't be human if you didn't."

He didn't mention the discreet pat on his shoulder, but it wasn't unappreciated.

****

Sensei was waiting as they all trooped down the stairs into Ops for an afternoon of training. "Greetings, Rangers." he announced, calm as always. "Hunter and Cam, you will take the training room down the hall for sparring practice. The rest of you will be taking a ten mile jog around the academy grounds."

"What?!" Shane yelped.

"Sensei, that's not fair!" Tori protested.

Dustin groaned. "Why do they get off easy?"

"Will everyone *please* keep it down?" Blake whined.

Sensei fixed them all with a stare. "Hunter and Cam will be sparring, as they did not conduct themselves in behavior unbecoming of a Ninja last night." He began to pace, stopping more protests with a look. "I am aware that Tori did not partake of this activity, however nor did she stop it. I applaud your restraint Dustin, yet you should not have allowed your teammates into this situation in the first place. Shane, I am disappointed in your lack of judgment. As for you Blake..." He paused, looking at the Thunder Ninja for a moment. "In light of your situation, I shall lessen your punishment if Hunter so chooses."

The hope that had lit in Blake's eyes died instantly with a sigh.

Hunter shrugged. "I'd have made him do fifteen. You're the Sensei."

Sensei nodded. "As you wish. I will be monitoring all of you, should anyone decide to rest for an extended period of time. You are dismissed."

The four teens exchanged pained glances and began to trudge back up the stairs.

"I will be most involved in monitoring, Cam, so I am afraid you and Hunter will have to judge your own match." Sensei commented casually. He turned to look at them, and almost seemed to wink. "Please try to keep the noise down."

"Yes, sir." Hunter said quickly, trying to hide a grin as he dragged Cam down the hall.

Cam's complaint was still loud enough to be heard. "I did *not* need to hear innuendos from my father."

Sensei chuckled. "A shame he never spent more time around his mother." he mused to himself as he flipped up to the computer.