A.N: Has anyone figured it out yet? Love to hear from ya, especially you Tony. It would be nice to have a males perspective on the slash theme. I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable haha. Hope you like this there's probably five or so chapters left and then it's done. Nellie.

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Chapter 19

The Douglas family was in shambles. Halloween was canceled in the entire city area as there was too much risk of another child being taken if they weren't properly supervised. If someone as old as Rocky could go missing who knew what age range the kidnapper was going for, so it was best that no one left at all. For the worst part, the Douglas family had come home on that night to find that their home had been vandalized with eggs and toilet paper from- probably- local teens who were outraged by their loss of candy and freedom to prank.

Colt and Tum tum spent the morning cleaning it off. It was not fun. Robbie came along some time in the afternoon and helped the two brothers with their cleaning. There was little conversation going on between the two, even though Colt had a million questions to ask him. For starters, why the name Marissa Balsam seemed so familiar to them. Why he took such an interest in helping their family? Colt was aware of what guilt was, and heck, he even felt it once or twice. But he had his limits of apology and acceptance. So why was Robbie still hanging around? It's not like he told Rocky to leave that night. Could he have been the cause of it? It was hard to say, but Colt wouldn't let it go until he got some answers.

But oh how he hated playing detective, this part of being a ninja was more Rocky's area. He always thought out the plans while he and Tum saw that they played out. But with no, Rocky he had to think. The second they got him he would tell him how much he appreciates him. And he'd mean it.

It wasn't the last thing they had done either. When word got out to the press that Rocky had made some kind of contact with his family, the calls just kept coming in. Jokers thinking it's funny to impersonate Rocky. But this was put to a stop, not abruptly at first, soon the Douglas family, thanks to Sam, had a phone tap put on their machine. So if anyone even thought of doing anything childish, the police would catch their asses in the act.

Sam and Jessica were told about the call that Rocky had made the moment they walked into the door. They would have called, but it was better to keep the phone lines open for just incase their brother tried calling again. Through out the rest of the month the calls came in right into the next one then stopped as soon as they had started.

The month ended and soon November came. It was worse than October as Thanksgiving rolled around, and all they could do was pray for Rocky. There were no sweet feelings, no foot ball, no talk of how much they planned to eat before dessert was done. The Douglas family didn't even really cook! Just waited by the phone for the next chilling call of their son wishing for help. There was no bird no browns to be seen- their mother thought it right to at least put up something brown or orange, fall colors. Tum Tum didn't bat a lash at the loss of food. He wanted his brother that was the only thing he wanted to fill up on. Rocky's sweet, kind happy presence. It sounds corny, but it was true. For the longest time he had been at Rocky's side because Colt treated him like a little kid. Less than himself. But Rocky never belittled him.

Forensics was no help. The only thing strange they found in the car was more hair from the young girl that was taken. A larger wad of hair than Rocky had given them at the hospital, so it was hard to say if there were any other type of hair mixed with it. Their were a few blond strands that they assumed came from Rocky. Commissioner Wayne was still on the idea that Rocky had taken the girl and run had it not been for a threat from Jessica about Rocky's character. Her son would NEVER harm anyone unless it were truly necessary. And somehow she didn't think a little girl was much of a threat to her son. Especially a girl.

Sam joined forensics in back, to see if he could help them stay on track and not miss a beat with their job. It wasn't his area of expertise but he knew how to pay close enough attention to detail. Finally, something came up. Something strange. In the mix of the young girls hair there was a sample of another type of hair. Solid black, where as Noelie's was a little brownish. Sam told them to run a test but it came up negative. There was no name to match the sample at least not one their computer had. They would have to keep track of the hair a bit longer. Call in specialist to determine even a close enough match to the sample.

But this one hair could be just what they need to find out where their son and possibly the little girl have been taken.

When told Robbie thought that the sample might belong to the person Rocky met at the club, until he found out that it was black. Colt thought there was a chance it could have been a blonde wig. Sam thought he may be right. With that knowledge he went back to the station. Leaving the boys alone to talk.

"So... Robbie... what really happened that night? When Rocky left, and I mean the truth."

"What do you mean?" He walked over to the window, looking out into the street. The warm air from his nose fogging up against the glass as the cold December air pressed against it on the opposite side. "Already told your father and the police what happened."

Colt nodded. "Yeah, but now you're gonna tell me... I know that whenever I think I'm gonna be in some deep shit for telling the truth I dance around it to make myself look a little less guilty. How 'bout you?"

Tum tum watched the exchange of words going on. He was worried that Colt would get out of hand. But he knew what his brother was saying was true. He tended to dance around the truth to keep his self out of trouble as well.

Robbie scoffed, a bit of laughter behind it. "Even if I did hold something back, what makes you think I'd tell you?" He turned his head, looking at Colt with cold blue eyes, sharpened in anger.

"Because I'm asking nicely. Don't make me force it out."

"Yeah, I'm scared."

Colt walked up into the boys personal space. "Maybe you should be."

"Colt, don't push it." Tum said.

"Why not... this guys obviously lying about something and I'm not gonna-..."

"FINE!" Robbie shoved Colt from his person. "You wanna know why Rocky ran out that night, the truth. It's because of ME!"

"I knew it..."

"You don't know a damned thing..."

"I know enough to pin you for getting my brother abducted!"

"I didn't plan that!"

"What'd you do Robbie! Steal his girl friend, Rocky can't stand that- or maybe you got him in trouble some how. Things were fine with my brother up until you came into the picture So what was it?"

Taking a step back from the advanced boy, Robbie sighed, his words just above a whisper. "He ran out... because I kissed him."

Both Tum tum and Colt's eyes nearly fell from their heads. They couldn't- Robbie was- never mind Robbie, what if Rocky was-... GAY?

"No wonder he ran out, you forced yourself on him, you fucking pervert!" Colt shouted, his anger boiling.

"No! I didn't!" Robbie retorts, shouting just as loud.

"I want you OUT!"

Robbie growled. He didn't have to take this. Not from Colt or his other brother- the little one. He was leaving. "Fine, I'll leave... but you'll be sorry."

"Just go! You fucking fag!" His feet steadied, Colt held his ground watching as the boy made a quick retreat from the front door, slamming it behind him. Colt could have spit at the boy, but he left it alone. The nerve of that guy. Now it all made sense. The incessant hanging around, the pointless concern. That fucking freak was in love with his brother! It made Colt's skin crawl and he couldn't blame Rocky for running out. But now thanks to that fucking sick-o his brother is missing and who knew if they were going to get him back.

Tum Tum was just as shocked as anyone. Robbie had seemed like such a nice guy, but gay? That was just... unbelievable! "Colt I-..."

"Save it." He hissed going upstairs.

"Well, isn't this just dandy." the young boy crossed his arms with a frown.

Rocky held his head for what felt like an hour as he calmed down from a raging head ache. Those flashes just then... what did they mean? And why did he see them when he was inside his own mind letting Rocky lead the way. No, he couldn't call him that. That is his name, given to him by his grandfather. His ego better either find another name or go away. He growled. He could sense the boys hand trying to comfort him by rubbing his back. It wasn't working.

He wanted to wash up. He wanted to use the bathroom which, unfortunately, had become the floor while he was chained to the bed. It was embarrassing but he had no choice. It was either turn toward the floor or wet the bed and he was not about to lay in his own urine. Shaking off the headache that was dying down, Rocky dropped one leg off the bed onto the floor. He then slid off the other leg. Standing, shakily, he walked over to the toilet and emptied his bladder. He then moved over to the sink, reaching a hand back over by the toilet flushing it before turning on the water. Washing up, he took his the water then up his arms, then down his chest.

Rocky watched as the dirt and grime cried dirty tears down his body. Thankful for the time to be cleaned and by his own hands, the ninja took the time to scrub thoroughly. It startled him a bit to find that, when he reached his hair, it was long. His eyes widened as he brought his hand through it, combing his fingers shakily through hair that was long enough to make- a braid! Licking his lips to calm down, he looked past his reflection to his alter that lay on the bed as though he were some kind of pajama wearing God.

Cocky Rocky raised a brow at the attention, but then went back to cleaning out his finger nails.

I get it now... Rocky. He shook his head. My alter, isn't really an alter. He can't be. That only happens to people who have been through an extreme trauma. He's really just a hallucination of my mind. I'm losing it because of my fears of being alone and isolated like I've felt all my life. I'm looking at my future self if I don't get out of here. But how? I've run out of ideas... do I have to get Maria to trust me, so that when she lets her guard down I can get out... No, she wouldn't go for that twice.

But then what about my abilities? What about what I've seen myself do? Was that all in my head too? Are the lights not really on? Did, I not really speak to the little girl? I'm so confused... He looked at his alter again through the mirror.

That would explain why he hasn't told me about what happened. Because there is nothing to tell. He's only an image of my future self. A... sort of way to make me embrace who I am, and what I can do. And help me get out by the power within myself! He smiled with pride. He had figured it all out.

"And you couldn't be more wrong." His alter thought. He had been listening in the entire time.

I can't let him figure out that I know, or he'll disappear. And... even though he's not real... right now, he's all I've got keeping me from killing myself. He actually couldn't even believe he had thought such a thing, but as he peed his mind couldn't help but remember the kid that had drowned himself. He couldn't take it either and that was his way out of all of this. It made Rocky sick knowing that people had suffered because of him. Knowing that Maria was playing with them, testing there endurance assuming his would be the same.

There's no time to think like this... I have to plan my escape this time for good... It's gonna be a bit harder with an extra person, but I'm gonna do it. He assured his self. Rocky's face scrunched when he felt his stomach suck in. He was hungry and hadn't eaten or had anything to drink in who knows how long. It was a wonder he was still alive. Turning around, he walked over to the bed lifting the tray into his hands as he went. Placing it on the bed, he smiled down at the soup. It had gotten cold, but he could live with that. Right now, he just wanted to eat.

Lifting the bowl, he drank the soup down in good health. Opening his mouth whenever the vegetables came along with the broth. Dropping the flat bowl onto the tray, he reached for the drink taking it down in big gulps, pushing any droplet that drizzled down his chin back into his mouth. Once done, he slammed the glass down onto the tray looking it over for more food but found none. So, he picked the flower from the small glass vase.

"What are you doing?" Rocky asked.

Sam gave him a skeptical look. "What does it look like I'm doing, I'm going to eat this flower."

"You're disgusting, drink water if you're still hungry." He straightened from his relaxed sitting position.

Sam thought it over. The rose did smell kind of... funny. Dropping it to the floor, he shivered. He had forgotten he gave his self a bath and was still dripping wet. Looking for something to dry himself with, he settled on the tiny blanket. Snapping it up from the bed, he began to run it over his arms, legs, chest and midsection.

Smiling, Rocky crawled over to the boy when he sat down and grabbed his hair into his hands. "Cool, now we really will look like twins." He said like an innocent child who made a new friend. First one in their whole life. "I'll braid it for you, like mine."

"Please don't touch me." He asked, brushing his alters hands away.

Crossing his arms, Cocky Rocky pouted. "Well, aren't we a ball of sunshine." Moving back to his original spot on the bed, he spread his self out and sighed. "Here I thought we were friends."

"Friends? What would make you think something like that?"

"The fact that we're brothers, one in the same."

"No... no we're not. Me and Colt and Tum are brothers, you're just... a figment of my imagination from being in the dark so long without real sleep. Passing out is hardly the same."

"Is that what you think? I'm just some made up mind game?" When Sam went to stand, Rocky pulled him back down. "Don't ignore me... I heard what you were thinking over there."

"Than why ask me about what I think if you already know?"

Rocky glared daggers at his 'better half'. "Fuck you."

"You only say that because what I was thinking was the truth... Well, I don't need you anymore, I have what it takes to get out of here. And like you said the door is already open so I'm leaving."

"Fine..."

"Fine."

"But you're wrong you know... I do know your little secret. What made me come out... and you know what, just because you're being such a good sport giving your true 'bitchy' nature, I find myself in a sharing mood as well."

This caught Sam's attention. Was Rocky really going to share what happened to him?

"You bet your ass Sammy... so pull up some mattress and shut up, because I'm about to take you on a wild trip down memory lane."

Sam climbed onto the bed, laying his self down flat on his back. Rocky smirked impishly. Climbing on top of his alter in a straddle position.

"Alright. Close your eyes... this is just like therapy- only without the bull shit feel good about yourself pep talk." He lay himself down so that he covered his twin with his own body. Sam felt his mind churn as it slipped back into one entire thought wave instead of two. Rocky had vanished from the room, and all he was left with was his self and the low hum of the florescent lights. His mind cloudy, senses tingling, Rocky never heard anyone enter his room.

Low, animalistic, breathing coming from the persons mouth. The stranger to his room didn't entire it entirely, just hung out by the door watching him lay there. As his mind slipped into a fully relaxed state. The flashes beat down on him like thundering rain. And he was already drowning in it.

The sun was high that day, and there was a dry heat laying over the city like an electric blanket. Not a cloud in the sky. Days like this left the side walks bare for anyone willing to walk them as the majority of the city decided on a hot day like this, an air conditioned car was the best way to go.

Jessica checked her watch, sighing in a frenzied voice.

A young Sam looked up at his mother wondering what could have been the matter with her. "Mom?"

"Oh honey, looks like we're not gonna get to go clothes shopping today."

Sam groaned. "Aaaaww mooooommmm. Jeffrey got to get his new clothes for school, I need some too."

"Sweetie I know, but today I have a few other things to do and right now looking around a store for school clothes will take up too much time." She was already turning around, her sons hand in hers bringing the boy along with her.

"But mom," he frowned. "I'm eight years old. I can do the shopping myself. I know what kind of clothes I like, so I can pick them out while you do the rest of your errands." He shrugged. "I'll be fine, really."

Jessica laughed. "I know you think that, but eight really is too young to be in a store all by yourself. So, we'll go on the weekend, it's just one day in your old clothes honey."

"Nooo!" He pulled his hand away. "Mom please... I'm old enough to do it myself... pleeeease?" Sam batted his long lashes, pouting his lips. He looked so innocent. Which he was.

Jessica had never known her son to be irresponsible, especially for eight. Jeffrey was only seven and he was a handful enough. Maybe if the store clerk- they were already wasting enough time just standing around. Jessica really had to go. The store being right up the street and her own destination not far from there, she was beginning to weigh her options. Leave her son alone, or watch him cry on his first day of school because he thought he wasn't being treated fairly enough.

"Alright, I'll be right down the street."

Sam smiled brightly at his mother, gripping her hand to swing. "Thanks mom. I won't let you down. I know just what I'm looking for too. Maybe something with ninja turtles on it."

Jessica laughed. "Not too many ninja turtles, get something nice for picture days and such." She and Sam had had enough with the ninja turtles already. Samuel and Jeffrey everyday telling her or their father to pop in the video- which wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that the two boys shanghaied them into watching it with them every time. The two parents could quote the movie backwards and forwards. It was enough already.

"Sure thing, mom." She was glad to see him smile. He rarely had a bad day, except of course for that time he came home from the park crying that some child was told not to play with him. It broke his heart, but he quickly bounced back.

A bell jingles upon entering the store. The Douglas's noticed two things. One, the place was not that crowded- in fact, it was almost empty if you didn't count the woman at the register and the customer paying for a tank top and a pair of pants. Jessica walked right up to the counter. When the clerk turned her attention on her, the two spoke briefly about Sam staying there to pick out clothes while she went to another shop down the street.

"It's no problem, you're not the first to request this and I have two kids of my own so I know what it's like to be mommy on a string." The two woman laughed.

There she was! The woman with the red pants and black hair. Why did she look so familiar? Where had he seen her before?

"Aren't you a cute little boy," she said to Sam who was standing beside his mother like a perfect gentleman, hands behind his back and back straight.

"Thank you ma'am."

"What's your name cutie, I bet you have a million little girls after you in school." She pinched his cheek.

"Naah," Sam blushed, shying away from her hand though not noticeable enough for the woman to be offended. He just didn't like to be touched that much. "But, my name is Samuel Douglas, ma'am."

"What a lovely name. I have a nephew about your age, he's staying with me for a while and I thought I'd get him something to wear while he's out here visiting."

"Wear?" He looked over the pair of wind breaker pants and tank top. "Is he not from here?"

"Oh, where he's from it's snowing right now. He only brought winter clothes so I thought I'd get him something nice to wear." Their conversation was light hearted and nice.

Eventually Jessica let go of his hand. "I'm off sweetie, Diane's gonna watch you. I'll be back in twenty minutes okay?"

"Yes mother." Sam walked off amongst the clothes and things to look for his favorite style of clothing. The woman in the red pants walked out the door after his mother.

Sam walked the stores for five minutes looking for something to wear. The sales clerk walked around as well, putting up the new shipment of clothing that came in so she kept disappearing in back for a bit then reappearing with hangers and clothes in hand to put up.

"I'm going to try this on now Miss Diane, I'll be in the third dressing room."

"Alright dear." She smiled warmly dashing back to the back of the store to get more clothes.

The bell over the door rang catching Sam's attention. He was glad someone else had entered the store. It was too quiet in there alone and... he couldn't put his finger on it but something just felt wrong. Shaking it off, he slid his pants down. Foot steps approached the dressing area, his breath hitched.

"Is everything alright in there Samuel?" Diane called.

"Yes, everything is fine."

"I just have on more box of clothes then I'll be back at register."

"Okay."

The foot steps headed away and he let out his breath. Thank Goodness. He hated being seen even in his boxers by anyone. It was too strange. The foot steps came back but this time he almost laughed. His mother made sure he was looked after.

"Miss Diane I'm fi-..." He gasped when the curtain to the shop ripped away and the woman in the red pants stood before him. Eyes wide, he covered his self from her peering eyes. It did no good as she stepped inside closing the curtain.

Sam trembled to his very soul. His words stammered. "Th- this ones taken."

"Yes it is." Knocking the boy back against the wall, the woman wasted no time in jerking his boxers violently down his legs.

"No! What are you doing he-...!" He mouth was covered by her hand, which forced his head back against the mirror in the tiny dressing room. Tears filled the boys eyes when her nails dug into his flesh as his boxers were peeled away.

"Be quiet and this won't have to hurt."

She need not say anything like that, Sam had already shut his self down. He closed out the world as his body froze in terror of the situation. The touch of the woman's hands, the burning in the back of his throat as she tongued him far to deeply for anyone to want. She ground herself into him, her hips straddled around his bare body. He didn't even feel when his shirt was removed. She moaned. Tossing her head back as she laughed. With too much force she shoved her fingers into his mouth no sooner after he had been freed from the kiss.

Her nails pinched at his tongue almost cutting it as she wet those two digits. But the worst part of all was when she slid from him, lifting his legs over her shoulders, finding his entrance and shoving her fingers into his body so hard he snapped out of his trance and began to scream.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

He didn't ever plan to stop. But the woman continued to ram her fingers into him as though he had all day. Where were they, his mother. Diane? Anyone? Why wasn't anyone stopping this? Why him? Why...? He had always been a good kid. Always. But he knew why. It was punishment, because of who he was, and what he could do. Once done with him, the woman drew her fingers from him, licking them with a smile.

His legs dropped lifelessly and painfully to the floor. He felt nothing. The woman with the red pants leaned over by his face, her fingers going into his mouth. "I can't help but wonder." She said to herself. "What would I taste like." Laughing, she stood up, yanking her pants back around her waist, then she walked out of the dressing room like nothing had ever happened.

Sam lay there for some time. Eventually the clerk found him, she picked him up in horror asking what had happened. "I'm sorry I couldn't check on you sooner, someone locked the door to the store and I had to come around the front. Are you ok? What happened?"

Sam explained very quietly. "It was heat stroke, I fainted." Looking at woman, tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry."

She smiled and wiped his tears. "Nothing to be embarrassed about, let's get you cleaned up and I'll get you a snow cone. Okay?"

Nodding, Sam took the offered hand up, then brushed off his new pants that he didn't remember putting on yet. Smiling, he then followed the woman from the dressing room a smile on his face. He really likes snow cones.

………………….

"So there you have it." Came a voice a lot like his own but a bit tighter. "You were raped and thanks to e, you didn't remember a bit of it, you got to go off and live in your perfect little existence while I lived the memory everyday…." He frowned. "But I beat that tyrant in my life, I just hope you can do the same now that you know."

Sam's eyes were wide open. The memory as fresh as if it had happened only yesterday or an hour ago.

"It all makes sense now…. Being what I am… Doing what I can do. What happened to me in that dressing room was my punishment. What's been happening my whole life was punishment for that. Equivalent exchange…" Sam's eyes watered, though not for himself, but for the realization that everything that happened to him he deserved. "I could have told someone about that… I could have said to my mother 'hey, some woman raped me' but I chose to forget about it. I chose to store it up in my thoughts and hope that they crushed them. But it only made me weak, it only made me split into two people… one that could handle things and myself."

Rocky looked Sam over with a bit of worry. Yet, a smile played on the corner of his lips. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Sammy cracked up and locked his self inside their mind. Then he could come out and have some fun.

"Everything happening to me now, I also deserve… I should have told my parents I've been having headaches, they could have been there for me. I should have told the teacher about the weird phone calls but instead… instead I got myself in deeper… I deserve it all…"

Someone banged into the door on their way out. Rocky looked up but saw no one. Looking back down at his better half, he closed his eyes and disappeared.

"Punishment for my sin… My sin… My sin… Myself…"