A/N: So sorry for the late update, work has been crazy, and burnout is very exhausting.

All errors are my own and reviews are very greatly appreciated. I plan to post this to AO3 hopefully sometime soon as well.

Jeff uncharacteristically growled a very foul word which if his mother was here instead of in Kansas, he could guarantee she'd paddle his backside so hard that even he wouldn't be capable of sitting for at least a week. Apologizing aloud, Jeff asked Lucy to forgive his slip of the tongue, knowing his late wife would just as soon as rip his tongue out before he ever said it again.

He'd just watched his son exit the office, pale as ever. Jeff was understandably upset that Alan wasn't getting better. It hadn't even been three weeks, still though. Alan had to carry on with his life at some point and he just wanted to see Alan do exactly that. Jeff had been talking with Alan and his brothers, discussing Alan's future. Jeff had been doing a lot of thinking and only just recently began reconsidering keeping Alan on the mainland for school. Before Alan's abduction and subsequent attempt on his life, Jeff had been certain that Alan was safest at Wharton despite the multiple empty threats received on a regular basis. Now though, Jeff wasn't sure that keeping Alan on the mainland was the best decision.

Sure, Alan was getting a better education than his other brothers had - they'd all received an education in a public-school setting. But was it worth Alan's safety? Brains and Jeff had talked at length a few nights ago, each having a scotch in Jeff's study. Brains was of the mindset that Alan was safe, this was an isolated incident. Those people that issued the threats on the daily were blowhards, and in a rare moment of frank honesty, Brains had said that all they were doing was talking out of their asses. It had surprised Jeff to hear Brains use slang, he was an incredibly smart man that rarely if ever utilized common words. Brains was like a walking dictionary and often substituted foul or unsavory words for something with more tact.

But Jeff still wasn't sure. He wanted his son to finish his education, still get the experience of life away from the island. But he feared that Alan would get abducted again, especially if word got out that Alan had been abducted already. Jeff had set his lawyers on the scent for all mentions in the media of his boy being snatched up. He didn't want anyone to get any ideas to mimic or copycat. It'd been against his better judgement when Alan had been in the hospital and a reporter from Streamline Media inquired if she could interview Alan for the major break in the case of their exposé Hunter on The Hill. Jeff had initially said no, he hadn't wanted to subject his child to the ruthlessness of media vultures. But the reporter showed up at the hospital, dressed incognito. How she knew it was Jeff's son was curious and unnerved the already rattled father.

The reporter had met with Jeff, using the office of Alan's attending for a private meeting. The reporter had insisted that she meant no harm, she wanted to bring to light that there had been a survivor of The Hunter. She wasn't going to ask that Alan's identity be revealed. She knew that Jeff was as fierce as a dragon when it concerns his children. Alan's anonymity would be paramount, the story being second to Alan's safety. The reporter understood, had children a few years younger than Alan and recognized that Jeff wasn't being evasive. He was protecting his child, as he should. So, she asked for Alan's inclusion in her story under the strict regulation that his identity be undisclosed.

Standing, Jeff walked over to his liquor cabinet. He ordinarily didn't drink when a rescue was in operation, but John had told him that he wasn't in his right mind and needed to recuse from the mission until their medic ie Virgil deemed him recovered from the event. Jeff tried to argue, but John stopped him in his tracks.

"Dad, you're not okay. You're just as traumatized as Alan is by this whole event. You were there in the aftermath of his abduction and saw the destruction of the campsite. You heard his screams of help, and you were powerless to stop it. Just please, recuse yourself. Give it time before you jump back into the middle of the minefield. I know it's been three weeks, but not everyone can bounce back from this. You've already faced losing Alan before; every time is harder than the last. But this is way worse."

Jeff had scoffed at the idea that he was also dealing with the trauma, and he'd thought he'd dealt with it. Then it occurred to him that he'd simply been ignoring it. If he could see his son and know he was close by, Jeff thought himself recovered. But having his second eldest point it out that he was far from okay…that just hit him like a sucker punch.

~.~.~.~.~

Tin-Tin had finally coaxed Alan to unlock his bedroom door and let her in. She managed to get Alan to sit with his back against the wall by the door. They both sat, Tin-Tin facing Alan and attempting to calm Alan's panic. She sat on the floor, legs crisscrossed and faced Alan who also sat with his legs folded much like Tin-Tin. She forced Alan to hold hands with her and she kept a constant squeeze on his fingers, reminding her friend she was there with him. It was just the two of them and Alan felt his focus slipping, Tin-Tin got his attention back.

"Hey, breathe. With me. Close your eyes. Inhale, hold for five seconds and exhale. Again. Stay with me. Find a focal point, something you feel comfortable focusing on." Tin-Tin just murmured softly before realizing she had something with her that she focused on a lot. "Focus on my pendant. It works for me."

Alan followed Tin-Tin's instructions and after a few minutes he began to feel the racing of his heart slow minutely. He first opened one eye then the other and looked across at Tin-Tin's pendant she wore. He felt like a creep for a moment staring at his female friend's chest, but Tin-Tin seemed to pick up on Alan's thoughts.

"I told you to focus on my pendant. There's nothing wrong here." Tin-Tin insisted gently. She squeezed Alan's fingers reassuringly before she opened her eyes and gazed back at Alan. "Slow, deep breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth."

Alan gulped as he felt the far too familiar burn behind his eyes. Blinking rapidly, Alan tried to chase the feeling away.

"Focus…breathe. Inhale…exhale." Tin-Tin coached again.

It took several minutes more until Alan felt the panic bursting for a way out settle. It took long enough and soon Alan could release Tin-Tin's hands without feeling like he was going to plummet into a dark abyss.

~.~.~.~.~

Fermat stayed in the lounge, lost in his own thoughts. He was glad Alan was back, but he was worried. Alan wasn't acting like his usual self. Not that Fermat blamed him. He could only imagine how he'd behave after being kidnapped; he'd wager it'd not be much different than Alan's behavior. Checking his watch, Fermat realized that Tin-Tin had been gone from the room for just shy of eight minutes. She'd gone down the hall that led to Alan's room. Figuring he might as well go find her, Fermat stood up, pocketing his glasses case, and making his way down the same hall.

Fermat hadn't gone far down the hall when he was able to make out Tin-Tin's voice, soft and gentle. Coaching. "Focus on my pendant. It works for me."

Fermat paused, hearing an unfamiliar gasp and he peeped through the barely open door, Alan was visible. His back was against the wall, sitting with crisscrossed legs. Carefully allowing his gaze to linger, Fermat observed Alan and Tin-Tin sitting, facing each other. They were holding hands, though not the typical boy likes girl hand holding. Both Tin-Tin and Alan's arms were slack, relaxed. Tin-Tin was holding Alan's fingers, meanwhile Alan grasped onto her hands like a lifeline.

"Slow, deep breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth." Tin-Tin said, keeping her tone of voice gentle, like she was talking to an injured animal. The girl seemed to sense Fermat's presence after she finished coaching Alan down from his panic. "Fermat, you can come in."

The bespectacled boy jumped at having been caught unawares and addressed, but he tentatively pushed open the door. Alan scooted over so as not to block the door with his knee and Tin-Tin did the same. Once all three teenagers were in the room, Fermat closed the door, reaching down and flicking the lock so they couldn't be disturbed.

Fermat knew about Alan's kidnapping, maybe not when it was actively occurring. But he knew the details. Fermat was slightly frustrated with his father for not telling him, but he also understood his father's reasons. He only found out the truth when he'd gone off in search of Tin-Tin and found her sobbing on the lanai, laying on the daybed they kept out there.

"T-Tin? Is everything o-okay?" Fermat walked out onto the lanai, wringing his hands. He couldn't figure out why the house had gone quiet, the air noticeably morose. He had passed the office and could hear each of Alan's brothers communicating with raised voices behind the closed door.

"No." Tin-Tin cried, voice breaking as a fresh round of tears started streaming down her face.

"What's wrong?" Fermat was scared, he didn't ordinarily see Tin-Tin like this, and it unsettled him, so much so that he hadn't noticed his always present stutter was oddly absent.

"It's not true…It can't be true." Tin-Tin whispered to herself. Fermat was shaken by his rarely petrified friend's whispered admission.

"What's not true." Fermat questioned as he walked over to crouch in front of Tin-Tin's knees, taking in her tearful gaze, red and swollen eyes.

"Alan's been kidnapped." Tin-Tin tearfully admitted, dropping her head down into her upturned hands and sobbing woefully. Fermat made a poor attempt at comfort; he wasn't normally one for affectionate gestures. Fermat's gaze wandered, out across the beach and the expanse of jungle. It felt like someone had just sucked all the air out of the world.

"What?" Fermat asked, stumbling back and landing on his rear end. His blue glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, so his green eyes gazed out over top of the frames. He was stunned by what Tin-Tin said and he didn't want to believe it. "What did y-you just say?"

Kidnapped, taken, abducted

Fermat couldn't catch his breath, and when Tin-Tin repeated that Alan had been kidnapped, it took all of Fermat's control not to freak out. His eyes widened and he lurched to his feet, running from the lanai. Alan would be proud; Fermat ran quickly away. Alan was always playfully teasing him about his severe aversion to running. He stumbled and grappled onto one of the breadfruit trees that Kyrano was cultivating near the back of the villa. Wrapping his arms around the trunk, Fermat burst into tears. He took a note from Alan's book and hid his tears, not wanting anyone to see him losing face.

"No…please no." Fermat begged as he sank to his knees. Turning his gaze skywards, Fermat tearfully begged anyone that would listen. "You've already taken my mom, please don't take my best friend too!"

"Fermat, are you okay?" It was Alan that asked. His best friend looked like he'd seen a ghost, his normally floofy blonde hair was hanging in his face, almost limply, Alan's face was looking gaunt.

"Are y-you?" Fermat asked as he crouched in front of Alan.

Alan didn't say anything. He looked down where Tin-Tin was still holding one of his hands. The island girl tightened her grip visibly on Alan's hand and he returned the gesture, fully appreciative of his friends for trying to help him even if they didn't fully comprehend what all happened. He couldn't talk about it, didn't want to think of it ever again. Would rather put it out of his mind for the rest of his natural life.

Alan visibly flinched when a pair of arms encircled his shoulders, but he settled when he caught the scent of Fermat's bodywash. It was a familiar smell, one that wasn't overly fragrant. Smelling faintly like citrus. Looking back over his shoulder, Alan released Tin-Tin's hand to reach up and return the hug to his best friend. It surprised Alan that Fermat willingly hugged him, his friend wasn't ordinarily one for affectionate gestures. Alan however was used to physical contact, having four older brothers that were always ruffling hair, hugging, or giving noogies.

"I'm glad you're okay." Fermat whispered in Alan's ear.

Alan tightened his hold on his friend, not objecting when he felt Tin-Tin join in, making it a group hug.

~.~.~.~.~

Jeff knocked back a shot of vodka, shaking his head as he accepted the burn in his throat. He was sitting at his desk, the picture of Alan he had provided to police front and center on the screen of his phone. The bottle of vodka sat almost innocently where Jeff normally kept a mug of coffee. Reaching over, Jeff fumbled for the bottle, grasping the neck, and lifting it. He had lost count of how many he'd had.

He blamed himself. All this happened to Alan because Jeff wanted to spend time with his boy. Had figured him safe if he was with Jeff. The patriarch scoffed at the thought, maybe Alan would have been safer at the lake house, with his friend. It went against Jeff's parental instincts; he didn't know the other boy's parents. Opening the drawer to his left, Jeff pulled out a copy of the police report. He read through it and felt his heart clench in his chest. He wished he could forget. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough alcohol in the world to make him permanently forget.

"You all believe that my son has fallen victim to a…a serial killer?" Jeff was furious, the twist of his stomach nearly made Jeff sick. When the feeling passed, the angered father looked across at the officer and demanded an explanation. "Explain. Right. Now."

"We don't believe…we know it to be true." The female officer said as she knelt in front of Jeff.

"What makes you so sure?"

The female officer broke eye contact, looking away as she swallowed uneasily. Her behavior unsettled Jeff.

"Your son was abducted in broad daylight, he was alone, he fits the criteria…he was left vulnerable." The officer met Jeff's gaze once more. "The Hunter doesn't just go for anyone. He's always abducted people that make his games worthwhile. What you've told us about Alan being a determined young man that is quick on his feet and a clever strategist, that hits all the marks The Hunter looks for in his prey. He looks for a challenge. Alan is the challenge he's been looking for."

Jeff had felt a familiar pang in his chest, like his heart had simply ceased beating.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but Alan likely won't survive this. Nobody ever has before. The Hunter never plays with his prey for long before he snuffs out the candle."

The officer had gone to a box on her desk and removed one of several files, opening each one and showing Jeff the pictures of the victims after their bodies had been recovered. There was a mix of men and women, eyes forever closed, skin ashen and waxy. They all lay with the same stainless-steel background, clearly the autopsy table and illuminated by the ungodly bright light.

For every picture showed, the officer named the cause of their passing.

"Stabbed, shot, choked, throat cut, flogging." The officer set each photo down reverently as if she had personally known each of the victims. "None of them deserved it, not a single damn one of them. They were all pleasant people, had a vitality for life that was unmatched by even the sun. The Hunter selected them because it's a dog-eat-dog world and if anyone can entertain him…it's these people. The strongest, smartest, most clever, and cunning. It doesn't matter their age. He clearly saw something in your son that spoke to him, and he wasn't going to pass up the thrill of the hunt."

Jeff's own eyes were swimming with tears as he heard what this officer said, and he felt the sickness that roiled build in the pit of his stomach. But he remained, swallowing the nausea back.

"You know I lost my fiancé to this guy? He's why I joined the force. So, I could pin The Hunter's ass to the wall. Get answers from him, why…why he chose my man. He'd never done a single thing to anyone, never could harm a fly and he died because he didn't believe in violence. He was a pacifist." She looked Jeff dead in the eye as she spoke. "Every single person in this town has lost someone to The Hunter. In these last nine years he's killed so many people, everyone knew a victim…maybe not directly but they all have been affected by this bastard. That's how I know your son has been selected by him. He doesn't need a reason, just so long as he gets his jollies from another person's terror."

Jeff was startled by the appearance of a hot liquid leaving a scorching trail down his cheek. Looking at the vodka bottle, it was nearly empty. Jeff didn't bother to screw the lid on, he picked it up and with assuredness and power, chucked the bottle against the far wall, not even slightly satisfied when the bottle shattered.

A police officer had been exiting the bathroom when Jeff muscled past, knowing that if he didn't reach a receptacle soon, there'd be a mess to clean up. The officer had glared at Jeff in disdain until the father doubled over the toilet bowl, then he'd been left alone to his misery.

'Not his boy, please god, not his baby.'

Jeff came up for air, gulping as his stomach gurgled in dissatisfaction. He needed his baby found, hopefully safe, hopefully alive. But what the officer had said…it didn't instill him with confidence.

Standing, Jeff went to the sink and looked mournfully at his reflection.

'Not his baby.'

Jeff gazed brokenly back at his reflection in the small police station bathroom. He was splashing cold water in his face, trying to shock his system. The coffee had been a bad idea, never mind that most police station coffee was often described as sludge, combine that with a fretful stomach and you had a recipe for disaster.

Jeff lay his aching head upon folded arms. He knew drinking that much alcohol had been a mistake, he'd be lucky if he could function halfway decently the following day.

"We believe your son has been found." The officer said, though the way it was declared was what made Jeff's heart clench. "Alive."

Jeff had been cradling another cup of police station sludge, needing to do something with his hands even if he didn't bother drinking it. He gaped back at the officer, the same one that told him that Alan likely wouldn't survive. She was smiling, but it was a sad smile. Like she was happy to bestow the news upon Jeff but wished she had gotten the same in regard to her fiancé.

"Come on, he's being transported via ambulance to Med. You can ride with me in the cruiser, and we should get there at the same time."

Jeff almost dropped the cup of coffee, but the officer plucked the paper cup from his hands.

"What did you say?" Jeff was at a loss for words.

"Alan has been found; a boy that matches the description of your son was found almost a half hour away from where he'd gone missing. He's injured, visibly having been held captive. He's asked for you."

Jeff would never forget that moment he was led to the cruiser. He felt like every person on the sidewalks and driving by on the street was watching him. He'd never felt quite like an amoeba under a microscope than he had then.

"Are you certain this is my boy?" Jeff asked, unsure why he was even questioning it. He hadn't heard mentions of any other ongoing abductions while at the precinct.

"Blonde hair, blue eyes, thin and a scar on his left eyebrow?"

Jeff hadn't voiced a response, simply nodding dumbly. He barely noticed when the Officer turned on her siren and lights, making a beeline through town until they reached the medical center. Jeff and the officer had walked with purpose in their stride. A nurse at the front desk guided Jeff back, not even questioning who he was or why he was there. She already had been made aware that the father of The Hunter's latest victim was coming in to be reunited with his child.

Jeff picked up his head, using the heels of his hands to wipe at his eyes. He hadn't been able to stop crying, thinking over it all. All he wanted in that moment was to go to his son and hold him close. Remember the better times, even the time he learned of Alan's birth.

"This is Jeff". The then thirty-eight-year-old father and entrepreneur said as he answered his phone having gotten a phone call from his executive assistant. "What? Oh my god!"

Jeff had left his office in a jumble of briefcases, suit jacket, keys and making sure he had his wallet. The drive to the hospital had been barely a half hour across town, but it felt like a lifetime. When he finally made it to the doors, he paused. How had they not known that Lucy was pregnant? He and Lucy had been intimate on multiple occasions these last few months, even having been intimate just last week and he never once thought Lucy was pregnant. Her belly remained flat, and he would know, he always touched his wife, caressing her skin and kissing her, even more so when they made love.

Just last week, she'd been almost insatiable, tiring Jeff out so much that he longed for a break. He'd gotten it after calling off sick while the kids were at school and seeing to his wife's needs. He'd taken the boys to school, intention to return home and check on Lucy, she'd been complaining of back pain after one of their more active…escapades.

When his wife snapped at him, insisting he not touch her at all, he backed off. Clearly his wife's sexual appetite been satisfactorily slaked. He'd gone on to work. He'd had to work Friday and Saturday as well which were his normal days off to make up for his sick days. Though when questioned by his executive assistant about if he was feeling better, admittedly he'd answered truthfully. Yes. The last time he and his wife had been like a couple rabbits had been just before Lucy got pregnant with Scott. They'd been young then and never one to turn down the opportunity and a chance to roll in the hay so to speak. All other times had just been a quick happening or make-up after an argument.

He stopped at the front desk, greeted the nurse in charge and given directions to get to the nursery. When he got there, John and Scott both were stood in front of the glass, their noses pressed onto the window as they gazed at the tightly bundled newborn in the pediatric medical crib. A blue cotton cap adorned the tiny babe's head, and he was swaddled in a white and blue striped receiving blanket. Jeff joined his sons, gazing in at the tiny miracle.

Lucy had always wanted one more child, had been devastated to learn from her doctor that it'd be bad for her health if she got pregnant again. Apparently, they were destined to welcome a fifth life into their tiny little perfectly imperfect world.

"Would you like to hold him?" A nurse asked, observing how his name tag matched that of his tag on his crib. Jeff entered the nursery, marveling at how light the baby was but how heavy the responsibility in adding one last child to their household.

"What's his name?" Jeff questioned; eyes as big as the moon as he gazed down into the face of his newly born son.

"Alan." The nurse said with a smile as she guided Jeff over to sit in a rocking chair. Jeff couldn't help but to smile. He had his mercury astronauts. All five of them.

"Hi Alan. Hi. I'm your daddy." Jeff was over the moon. The newborn in his arms sleepily opened his eyes, sticking his tongue out and yawning wide, melting Jeff's heart in the process with a tiny little squeak.

Jeff stopped himself from going to Alan. He didn't want his son to see him so intoxicated. He'd never seen Jeff like that before. Sure, he knew his dad drank alcohol, but not to the point that he could smell it on him. Jeff felt like he smelled of a distillery now. No, he needed to stay away and sober up some.

"He's just through there." A nurse said as she led Jeff and the police officer from the front desk to the emergency department, right as Jeff breached the door, he spotted his baby. His leg was heavily wrapped in bandages, and it was bent at the knee. Alan wasn't looking at him, he clearly was looking for someone though. Jeff spoke before he could get his voice under control. The last time Jeff ever heard his voice crack like it had, he'd spoken to Lucy for the first time in homeroom their freshman year of high school.

"Alan?" Jeff questioned, the speed at which he walked increasing ever so slightly.

"Dad, are you okay?" Alan's voice broke through the haze of memories. "I heard a crash."

Jeff held his breath as he observed his youngest child peep in through the partially opened door. Alan hadn't looked well, face pale and gaunt. Not from a lack of eating, though Onaha had been very talented at convincing Alan to eat a little more regularly when Alan just wanted to lay in his room, away from everyone on the island. It was clear Alan hadn't been sleeping well if at all, Jeff knew about the return of both Alan's nightmares and night terrors. On multiple occasions he'd been to awaken Alan from nightmares, catching his son before he rolled out of bed and onto the floor. Several times, Alan would be asleep; didn't matter the time of day and he or one of the other members of the household would drop everything and run to Alan when he began screaming, a voice so filled with terror that it made Jeff want to cry.

"I'm okay, thank you for your concern." Jeff said, trying to straighten up where he sat when Alan entered the room and came to stand by him. "What is it son?"

Alan didn't say anything at first. Choosing instead to visibly vacillate between saying something and not. He didn't flinch when his dad looped an arm around his waist and held him close. Instead of saying anything, Alan turned in his dad's arms and hugged him tightly. Jeff couldn't help but to return the hug, tightening it so much that even the strongest man in the world wouldn't be able to separate them.

They stayed locked in a hug for several long minutes. Only when they broke apart, did Jeff look questioningly up at Alan, one arm still lightly looped around Alan's waist.

"What was that for?" Jeff asked, happy to have gotten a hug from his son. He loved getting hugs from his kids, it always made his world a little brighter.

"Do I need a reason?" Alan asked, eyes downcast as if he'd just been rebuffed.

"No, just curious what I did to get a hug. You don't usually hand those out freely." Jeff joked, knowing his son usually hugged someone when he was wanting something.

"You just looked like you needed one." Alan replied.

It made Jeff smile, and he looked back up at Alan. "May I get another hug?"

Alan grinned shyly as he bent down to hug his father, reveling in the strong comfort that usually exuded him. A lot of other people usually found his dad intimidating, yet he was anything but. To Alan he was the embodiment of strength.

"Thank you." Alan whispered in his father's ear, smiling as he buried his face in his father's neck.

"For what?" Jeff asked, needing to know why Alan was thanking him.

"For trying…to get to me." Alan murmured, the conversation being solely between father and youngest son.

"I'm your father Alan, it's what I'm supposed to do. I'm just sorry you got hurt in the process. If I'd only been faster, or insisted you come with me." Jeff said, sorrow evident in his tone.

"Don't do that dad." Alan went quiet for a moment before he continued. "I think it was better that I was by myself. I'm afraid that he'd have killed you to get to me if you'd interfered. And I wouldn't have fought to get away if I'd known you were gone."

There was a resounding hush at Alan's admission, that he'd have just given up if his father had perished.

~.~.~.~.~

Scott groaned to himself when he felt the eerie gaze settling over him. He lifted his head from his pillow, where he'd been resting until something woke him up. Opening his eyes, he looked around the room and didn't immediately see what had woken him up, but it was dark. He did another look around then he noticed his bedroom door was ajar. He never left his door open when he went to sleep. Call it a desire for privacy or what have you, but Scott preferred his bedroom door being closed when he turned in for the night.

Then he saw it. That little wisp of a shadow, the blonde hair reflecting the moonlight just slightly. Now he knew who it was. Alan.

Sitting up in bed, Scott readjusted his duvet to cover himself, usually sleeping bare of anything because humid island nights. It was habit, even if he was wearing sleep shorts tonight. He watched for Alan to peer around the doorframe again and when he did, Scott beckoned him in.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Scott asked, voice soft as he questioned why his baby brother was awake at 'oh god' o'clock in the morning. "I can see you hiding over there kiddo."

Alan finally poked his head into the room.

"Sorry to wake you up." Alan muttered, staying close to the door.

"It's okay." Scott said in reply while yawning.

Once Scott quit yawning, sat up straighter and looked at his little brother.

"So, what's the matter kiddo? What are you doing up?" Scott questioned as he scooted over and patted the bed next to him. Alan ran right over and hopped onto the bed next to Scott.

"I couldn't sleep." Alan admitted, shyly looking around.

"Nightmares keeping you awake?" Scott inquired, knowing Alan had gone back to previously extinct childhood habits.

Alan didn't reply, ducking his head being answer enough to Scott's question. Scott sat for a moment, sizing his little brother up for a moment before he acted like it was the world's biggest chore for him to come to a decision.

"Okay, you can stay with me. But just for tonight." Scott was glad for the dark, it allowed him to hide the teasing smirk from his brother. And he noticed that Alan willingly came into a dark room after straying from those these last few weeks.