Making Peace

Shane looked up slowly. The figure standing just inside the door seemed bemused, if a little perplexed. "You just can't catch a break, can you?"

He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. "Porter. What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you." His answer was casual, but Shane could see the discomfort in his eyes, the slight pause before he came forward to offer him a hand up.

He ignored the hand. "What's up?" he asked, not caring how flat his voice was, or how rude he appeared as he dusted himself off without bothering to properly greet his brother.

Porter's eyes narrowed slightly, the discomfort and nervousness shifting to annoyance. "We need to talk." His tone was just as short as Shane's now. "When will you be available?"

"Kelly?"

She didn't even bother to look up from her paperwork, waving a hand vaguely at the door. "Go."

"Thanks." He looked back at Porter, steeling himself for the conversation he knew was coming. "Come on."

"Is she always this lenient?" Porter wanted to know as they headed out, sounding surprised.

Shane's response was pure sincerety. "Kelly? She's the greatest boss in the whole world."

"Yeah, yeah. Keep sucking up." drifted out after them.

They walked in silence. Shane was reminded of the last time his brother had come to visit and winced. It had seemed like they were finally starting to build a decent relationship when Porter left. Looked like that was all down the tubes now...

Then again, that visit had started out badlow, too. He found himself quickly glancing around for Kelzaks. That was the last think he needed right now, which meant Lothor was itching for the chance.

"Where are we?"

Shane looked up, startled out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh. I go to these woods when I need some space."

"No one else comes here?"

He smiled wryly. "Tori only likes the beach or the waterfall in the woods where Ops is. Blake, Hunter, and Cam don't really do trees, and Dustin doesn't like this place because it's where I met Skyla."

Porter looked at him oddly. "Who's Skyla?"

"An alien I met once. She was some kind of species that changes form when they sort of die, but not exactly. Long story short, she powered up my Morpher and I made a new enemy. Dustin's never liked it here because it's where I connected with her."

"I see." He clearly didn't.

Shane just looked away, staring deeper into the woods. He refused to be the one to start this. He'd already let his big mouth ruin his relationship with his father. When this one went down hill, it would be all on Porter.

He nearly jumped a foot in the air when Porter hugged him. "Um...Porter?"

His brother just gave him a gentle squeeze. "Mom told me everything. She figured you and Dad wouldn't."

Shane swallowed involuntarily. "Oh."

"Where are you staying?"

"Kelly found an apartment for us."

"So you work at Storm Chargers now?"

"She made me her accountaint when she found out I'm good at math. I don't know what I would have done without her." he admitted.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

He pulled away, staring at him. "You mean you're okay with this?"

Porter sighed. "Not entirely. But it's not as if you haven't already proven you'll do what you want reguardless of what I say. Besides, I figure you've got enough on your mind to be worrying how I feel about your preferences." He eyed Shane's wrist meaningfully before continuing. "And to be perfectly honest, I'd rather learn to deal with it than have you stop talking to me again."

Shane had the grace to look embarrassed. "I guess I just sort of assumed you'd turn on me, too."

"Nobody's turned on you." Porter said sharply.

Shane stared at him incredulously.

He sighed again, looking at the ground before meeting Shane's eyes. "Mom supports you. She and Dad have been having problems because he won't. It's...pretty bad."

Shane's heart clenched. "How bad?" he forced himself to ask.

"There's been talk of divorce."

His knees went weak and he found himself sitting on the ground. "What have I done?" he whispered.

"It's not your fault, Shane."

He glared up at him. "How is it not! They never had any problems before I told Dad I'm dating Dustin!"

Porter crouched down in front of him. "What house were you living in? They've always had fights."

"Never bad enough that they'd want to get divorced!"

"I said they mentioned it; I didn't say they were."

"Doesn't mean they won't." Shane muttered, staring at the ground.

Porter sighed. "Shane, are you happy? With Dustin?"

He was silent for a moment. "When it's just us? No Lothor, no family crisis... Yeah. He's...there's just something about him. He can always make me smile."

Porter chuckled slightly. "Apparently. You're smiling right now."

Shane blushed.

Porter smiled at him. "Then just be happy with Dustin. The one thing we've all always wanted was for you to be happy. Maybe we don't always show it in the best way, but if Dustin can make you smile, then that's enough." He wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "And if nothing else, at least it's someone that I know. That way if Dustin hurts you, I know where he lives."

Shane laughed in spite of himself.

Porter clapped him on the back. "Now, how about some lunch?"

"Sounds good to me!"

As Porter started off, Shane paused, watching his brother's retreating back. His eyes narrowed, darkening in determination. "Enough." he said softly, voice hard.

His father was smiling when he opened the door. "Welcome home, Shane." he greeted warmly, stepping aside to let him in.

He moved stiffly, pushing his way into the living room. "I'll keep this short. I will not now, nor will I ever stop loving Dustin. Whether you want to accept that or not isn't going to change it. It's no one's fault that it happened. There's just something about Dustin that makes me love him. I always have."

His father started to say something, but he cut him off. "I'm not going to let your problems with it keep me from talking to Mom or Porter. I'm not going to let you affect my life anymore than you already have. You kept pushing me to grow up and be a man. Well, now I am. I'm taking charge of my life and making my own decisions. This is what you helped make me into. Learn to live with it. I have."

With that, he turned around and stormed out of the house.