sarahofearth: Lol. Thanks a lot for your review. Yeah, I think Mariana and Beck are going to get closer. Hee hee. Poor Travis though. He's going to be in some trouble before things look up for him. Please keep reviewing. I love hearing from you. CharlieLOVER: I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I hope chapter six lives up to expectations! warrior of the shadow: Totally agree with you. Beck does need a sense of humour. Hmm, maybe Travis will start rubbing off on him? Yeah, Billy is bound to follow! Amy: Sorry, I took so long to update, but here ya go! LilPKLoser: I won't stop if you keep reviewing. Heh heh!

Here you go, chapter six. I hope you like it!

Chapter Six – Travis' Past Revealed

"I love you guys!" Travis cried, hugging mid-air and sending his beer splattering on the floor.

"He is drunk?" I asked, raising my eyebrow suspiciously. Beck nodded.

"Not only is he drunk, he is drunk and hyper. He's almost impossible."

I laughed and sipped my own drink, leaning towards Beck, I smiled my most seducing smile.

"Are you drunk?"

Beck only smiled at me and gulped down his beer, shaking his head.

"It takes more than a handful of beers to get me drunk, unlike Jungle boy here."

Travis dived over the couch giggling.

"Santa Claus doesn't give any breaks!" He yelled folding into fits of laughter. He fell onto Beck's shoulder.

"What is he talking about?"

"I think he's mocking me."

Travis then leaped to his feet and tried to moonwalk. He tripped and fell onto his ass on the floor, gasping for breath as he laughed once again. I found myself laughing too. Travis looked so young and cute and happy. I glanced at Beck and noticed him watching Travis almost warily. My tummy did a little backflip as I concluded that Beck, this big, tough man, felt a brotherly protection over Travis. His eyes were full of friendship and concern as he watched the younger man test his own reflex with an empty beer bottle. It was just so ironic that just a few weeks ago this same man was chasing Travis all over the jungle and now here he was looking out for him.

"Come on. It's time for you to go to bed. You've had enough to drink."

Travis shook his head and his face scowled.

"No." He said simply, like the way a five year old would refuse. Beck sighed loudly and stood up, hands on hips.

"Bed Travis. You're drunk."

"You're no fun. Lighten up, man." He stood up wobbling slightly. Beck went to take his wrist, but he whipped it away stepping backward to balance himself.

"I'm not finished drinking." Moaned Travis and finished the rest of his beer.

"Yes, you are. Now, bed." Ordered Beck, stepping closer. Travis stumbled forward, but he was steadied by his friend. Beck placed his hand on Travis' neck and on his lower back to keep his balance, but at his very touch the relaxed atmosphere was suddenly shredded and replaced by a sudden chill.

He was going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow and it was his own entire fault. He tipped forward and I grabbed him. Then, when he straightened I placed my hand on his neck. As soon as I touched his neck his whole skin seemed to shudder. His eyes widened instantly and his breathing quickened. I was so shocked didn't even remove my hand. Travis simply froze and I stole a quick glance at Mariana, completely confused and mystified.

As soon as he touched my neck, my brain went into overdrive. Childhood memories I'd tried so hard to suppress, surfaced and my past pain enveloped me mercilessly. My father used to grab me by the scruff of the neck and drag me along the ground. It had happened every time he had been drinking, which was a lot. He would come home furious at something or other and just take out all his anger and rage on me. I could feel tears splashing down onto my cheeks as I remembered each and every incident of abuse and torture. Every muscle in my body was tense and then suddenly I lost it. It was a mixture of alcohol and bad memories and my gradual emotional breakdown, but all my pain radiated through me, turning into blazing white fury and as Beck was standing beside me, just like a dog with rabies, my eyes locked on him and he became my target.

I pulled my hand away like I had been burned when I saw the first tear fall from Travis' eyes. I didn't even have a second to collect my thoughts before Travis whipped round to face me and barrelled straight into me. I wasn't expecting the sudden, unexplainable attack and I fell to the floor on my back. Travis was on top of me, throwing his fists back and punching my face repeatedly. I tried to grab his hands, but he was too fast and I was still in utter shock.

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" He screamed over and over. I grabbed round his torso and threw him off of me, skidding along the floor. Then in a millisecond I straddled him and had his wrists pinned above his head.

"Travis! Stop it!" I yelled as he struggled to get free. What the hell happened to make him lose it? Why was he so spooked when I touched his neck?

"Nooo! You're not going to hurt me anymore. No! You're not my dad! I hate you! I hate you!"

Oh God. He thought I was Billy? It suddenly clicked. Billy must have grabbed him by the neck before…. I felt sick. This man had abused his own son. Billy was always violent and short-tempered, but towards his own son? No wonder Travis had left school and ran away as soon as he could.

"Travis! It's Beck. Shh. It's me, it's Beck." I tried to quieten him down, but the tears still fell from his eyes and he was still kicking his legs and he still tried to wrestle with his arms.

"Let me go!" He sobbed suddenly. "Let me go."

His pleads were like a cold blade in my gut. What Travis must have went through. I felt hatred so powerful towards Billy. At once Travis fell limp in my grasp and his struggles stopped. I waited a couple of moments before I got off him. He just lay on the floor, a broken corpse. It was devastating to witness and I heard Mariana sniffing on the couch she was paralysed on.

I helped him to his feet and practically carried him into a bedroom. I waited until he fell asleep, whispering soothing words into his ear and tucking the sheets around him. I didn't know what else to do, but it did seem to calm him. He lay on his side, hands resting beside his head. I watched his chest rise steadily – I was worried in case he took a panic attack. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully. I got to my feet, ruffled his hair gently and left him dreaming. As soon as I closed the door to his room, Mariana rushed up to me.

"How is he? What happened?" Her eyes were glazed with fresh tears.

"He's fine now." I reassured her pulling her back to the sofa.

"What happened to make him want to fight you like that?"

I sighed and dropped into a seat. I told her what I thought Billy did to Travis when he was younger and how he was capable of doing it. I told her everything I had worked out from little emotional outbursts Travis had let escape. I realised just how awful his childhood must have been.

"Bastard." Mariana whispered furiously.

"Exactly what I thought."

She leaned towards me, resting her head on my shoulder.

"All those horrible memories." She sobbed into my arm. I immediately wrapped it around her, startled by her openness of emotion. She must care deeply for Travis, I thought. They had been friends and after everything they went through, obviously a bond had been built. I held her close, relishing in the comfort I was finding through her touch. I looked down at her and my heart pounded faster. I stared at her and for the first time andI realised I had never met anyone like her. She was so caring and gentle, yet fierce and strong.

"Don't cry Mariana. He'll get through this." I kissed the top of her head and she looked up at me with those big, brown eyes.

"I want to be there for him. I want to help him, Beck." Her eyes darted into each of my eyes. I could feel her warm breath on my cheek.

"So do I. So do I." I whispered. I blinked back my own tears and then shut my eyes touching her lips with mine. They were so soft and her bottom lip trembled with emotion. I kissed it softly and then suddenly I was kissing her cheeks and nose and closed eyes. I moved back down her features to her lips once more and she kissed me back, softly at first and then a wave of powerful need for affection and comfort swept both of us away and I was lost kissing her. Kissing her and never stopping till the last tear fell from her eye and she rested against my chest, asleep and lost to the nightmares of Travis' past.