CharlieLOVER – Thank you very much. I'm really glad you like this story. I appreciate all your reviews. Sarahofearth – Lol. Thanks for the official chapter title! You are like the best reviewer ever! Let me know what you think of the next chapter! Hee hee. Amy – I loved the whole Beck and Travis relationship in the movie and I really wanted to make them like brotherly close. Thanks for your review. warrior of the shadow – Yeah, Beck is so gonna' kick ass! Ha ha!

Thank you for taking the time to read and review my fanfic. My computer had a lot of problems and I know I took like –forever- to update, but here it is…..finally!

Chapter Seven – The Morning After

"Billy, they got away." The man sighed and looked up into the dark, glowering eyes of his boss. "I'm sorry." He offered quietly, running a hand shakily through his hair. "Mr Beck – he, uh, Billy, he took both of us by surprise and…"

"Silence!" Billy yelled angrily, pushing up his sleeves of his crumpled beige jumper. "I ordered you to bring back my kid. Do you see him here? Do you!" He spat. He grabbed the man's shirt, hauling him towards him. His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. He spoke right beside the man's ear, his breath chilling his bones.

"Now, your physical condition leaving this house will rest on your answer to my question." He paused slightly, letting the trapped man sweat in his grasp. "Did you find out where they went?"

"Yes." The man tried to maintain his cool, maintain his low,collected tone, but it cracked with his response. He licked his dry lips and tried in vain to stop the tremble of his hands. "Brazil."

After a few tense moments, Billy released him and the breath the man had subconsciously been holding, blew passed his lips.

"Pack a bag." Billy poured a glass of red, Spanish wine. "We're leaving for Brazil tonight."

"But, sir…" The man began, stepping closer. He was cut off abruptly by a sharp, stinging backhand.

"Just do it." And with that Billy slithered out of the room, his wine swirling in the crystal glass. His lips were pressed into a thin line and a frown scarred his features. Travis would be back home where he belonged and Billy was not afraid to take any risk in doing so.

My eyes opened slowly and I turned my head to the right, blinking rapidly to clear the sleepy haze. I knew my hair would be sticking up in all directions, my t-shirt was wrinkled and stretched around the neck. I yawned and as my vision sharpened I noticed Beck sitting beside the bed. His concerned face morphed into a warm smile. I groaned and turned my face back into the pillow. My head was absolutely killing me and the events of last night were flooding my brain, drowning it in memories I really didn't even want to believe.

I remembered being an ass and dancing about everywhere, remembered spilling about five bottles of beer and holy shit! Oh crap, oh crap! I remembered attacking Beck. I cursed silently in my head in every language I knew – which only happened to be two, and automatically tightened my hands into fists. Please let it have been some bad, bad nightmare. I looked at Beck again and his smile told me it was all real. All of it.

I could feel my face burning in humiliation. What the hell was I thinking! I had to get out of the house and fast. I needed out. Away from these smothering memories, away from Beck's smile, just away. Oh God, what would Marianna think now! Beck was going to be all weird and who could blame him? I'm screwed. Everything is screwed.

I jumped to my feet, my elbows cracking loudly as I jumped from lying on my front. I tried to turn around on the bed and leap for the door, but I got tangled in the sheets and fell back down. I kicked frantically to get free, noticing my chest was tightening. Oh man, I needed fresh air. I needed out of here! I couldn't breath. I was panicking and the pain in my head had multiplied. There was a pressure behind my eyes and my ears squeaked.

"Travis! Travis! Calm down!" Beck pushed his hands down on the sheets on each side of my body, pinning me to the bed. I couldn't look at him. I just needed to get away from him.

"Breathe. Come on Travis. In and out." He kept repeating that same sentence getting gradually quieter. I stopped struggling and focused on my breathing. After a while the pain in my chest eased and I could feel the air inside me again. I felt Beck's hand on my cheek.

"You ok?"

I nodded, averting his gaze. I was so frustrated. Couldn't he see I just wanted away from him. I was already humiliated. I was trying not to embarrass him anymore. I never noticed how interesting my hands were. Oh, look there was that scar I got when I feel off my bike trying to attempt a 360 degree jump. Stupid. Hey, look how short my finger nails are, I've bitten them down to the quick. Hey! Get off me!

Beck held my chin between his thumb and index finger.

"Look at me."

I glared at him. Leave me alone.

"What?" I demanded moodily. Yes, I'm fine. Yes, I lost it last night and no, no Beck I really do not want to talk about it.

"So, you went a little crazy last night, huh?" I looked away, but he tilted my chin back up to look at his face. I tried to pull my head back, but he had a firm, but gentle grasp.

"It didn't take a genius to work out that it was when I touched your neck."

"Look, I have a thing about people touching my neck, ok? I was drunk. I'm sorry." I said dismissively.

"Nuh uh, Travis. You're not getting off that easy. I know it has to do with your father."

My whole body flinched. I cringed, what a baby. Beck dropped his hand to my shoulder.

"I know you don't want to talk about it, but I really think you should."

I clenched my jaw and looked at my hands again.

"Travis, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm stuck with you now." He squeezed my shoulder and smiled to show he was just messing with me. I just looked blankly at him.

"We're stuck together and that means we need to work on this communication thing. If something's bothering you, I need you to talk to me. I'll help."

I stared at him for a while. Were Beck and I actually getting along? Were we actually laying the foundations of a friendship? I suddenly was enveloped in a complete state of loneliness. My father was trying to hunt me down like some animal, my mom was dead, I had no family. I only had Beck now. The only 'family' I had was a complete stranger who was hired not even a month ago to track me down and drag me home. I could feel the tears bubbling behind my eyes. I was a grown man, why the hell couldn't I stop those damn tears? I swiped at my face violently and swallowed, suppressing the emotion.

I saw that look, that look that meantTravis was shutting me out again. He was building up that wall rapidly, locking out any emotion. The wall didn't go up fast enough as one stray tear slid down his check. He looked up at me with sad eyes and a trembling lip.

"I'm such an idiot." He muttered. The next thing I know, I have Travis in a bruising hug. I rested my head on his shoulder and tightened my hold around him. We stayed like that for a long minute. For all my life nothing had affected me. I was invincible. I was indestructible. I was Beck. Now, I was hugging this kid who had somehow managed to worm his way in, disabling the shields I had constructed all my life and release this softer, sensitive man. I knew deep down I cared for him. I couldn't explain why, but I had acquired a protective streak and I realised I was Travis' only hope. He needed me now and for once I was going to be the only one in his life who wouldn't abandon him. I wasn't going to let his past haunt him alone. We were family now and family stuck together.

"Beck. I need to breathe now." I released him at once, my face full of worry. He looked at me expressionless for a moment and then suddenly he collapsed in laughter. I watched him in a daze, but then a smile spread across my face. Travis understood how surreal the situation was and how I had just openly hugged him. Hell, that made me giggle like a little school girl. I laughed softly as Travis fell onto his back, gasping for air.

"Beck…" He tried to speak through his fits of giggles. I shook my head, submitting to the laughter.

After a while, we stopped and only the odd grunt killed the silence. Travis sat hugging his knees on the bed, smiling ridiculously. I ruffled his hair and shook my head again.

"Beck, man." I raised one eyebrow. "Thanks." He looked at me in the eye. He wasn't quite ready to talk about Billy, but that was ok, because now we understood each other. Travis trusted the fact that I would be there to listen to him and I trusted him to know when he was ready to talk. Iopened my mouthto gotease him about his hair, when Marianna burst through the door, gasping for breath and her eyes wide with anxiety.

"Beck…" She panted frantically. "Billy…He's just arrived….In town.. God, Travis."