A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating sooner! I sort of lost track of how this story would go, and dwelled on it for a few days. Then a lot of other stuff has happened since then that has prolonged me from working on this story (I went to a Drake concert! He is sooooo hot!). But I'm here! And thanks to AlisonLydon for telling me it's 'Megan'! Thanks! And thanks to my wonderful reviewers:
Vaughnrocks, .?.?.?.?.?.?., jhhhhjfjk89, Arwen, bloody brandy, AlisonLydon, Kelli, Ace, Nova-chan, Haylie, Gingerrogersforever, A Twisted Smile, Elayna Fournier, IloveJesseMcCartney55, and Ids Chick!

Disclaimer: nope, drake & josh still aren't mine. They belong to nickelodeon.

Suspicions – chapter three

Drake's happiness quickly vanished as he sat beside Walter at the small dinner table. What if Josh didn't believe him? Was the thought that plagued the teens mind.

'Why would he believe me? Josh loves his dad, more than anything in the world. I could never get him to believe me.'

"Drake? What's wrong?" Audrey asked when she saw him staring at his plate. Drake glanced up at her, and let a small smile cross his face.

"Nothing, mom, just thinking about tomorrow's tests," Drake said, and went back to eating his fried rice.

"Have you been studying?" A stern expression falling over her face, as she passed Megan the cornbread.

"Er...kinda…"

"Drake Parker! Get upstairs now, and start studying!" Drake rolled his eyes, but did not disobey. He got up from the table and slowly trudged up the stairs.

Of course, when he got to his room he didn't study. Drake study? The idea was laughable! Instead he sat on his bed, and just sat there thinking. He jumped when he heard his bedroom door being thrown open.

In walked Josh Nichols, soaked to the bone, with a scowl on his round face. His curly hair was matted to his forehead, and his clothes were baggier than they should've been.

"Go for a swim?" Drake asked, clearly amused. If anything, this just angered Josh more.

"As if! That new weatherman said it'd be sunny all day, well guess he was wrong," Josh spat. Taking off his soaked jacket, he grabbed a few clothes and stomped out of the room to the bathroom.

Chuckling, Drake grabbed his guitar and started to come up with a tune. It wasn't long before there was a knock at his door, and he quickly placed the guitar down.

"Drake, can I come in?" Drake froze at the sound of the voice.

"Uh...s-sure," Drake cursed himself for stuttering.

'Stay calm, nothings going to happen. Josh is home. Megan is home. Mom is home. You're safe.'

Walter opened the door, and walked in. He looked no different than he had earlier that day, except his expression was slightly different.

"Why are you here? I'll scream if-" Walter held his hand up for silence.

"No, Drake. I'm here to talk. Just talk," Walter sat down on Drake's couch, Drake doing the same.

Walter noticed the distrust hidden in those brown eyes, and knew he was the one to put that suspicion there.

"I want to say, that I'm very sorry for-"

"Dad?" Walter sighed when he heard Josh's voice from the doorway.

"Josh, can Drake and I have a moment? Please?" Josh frowned at his father, but nodded and left.

"As I was saying, I'm very sorry for letting my anger get the best of me. I should never have let things go so far. I want you to know that I will try and stop drinking, because I don't want my son afraid of me. I've been a horrible father, can you forgive me?"

Drake Parker was speechless. He stared at the man before him for a minute, not knowing whether to believe him or say 'Nice try'. But the more he stared into the mans eyes, he began to notice the sincerity in what he had just said. Drake turned away from Walter, and stared at the floor, tears filling his eyes.

"I can't." Came Drake's weak response. Standing up, rage flashed through Walter's eyes.

"Fine! I'm sorry, I asked for forgiveness, when there's obviously nothing to forgive. I will not be wasting your time again!" And at that, Walter left, making sure he slammed the door loudly enough to make Drake flinch.

Drake stayed on the couch for a long time, wondering why he had said what he said. Why couldn't he just forgive Walter, and get past it?

"So what were you and dad talking about?" Josh's voice broke through Drake's thoughts.

"Nothing, Josh. Just...stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"I just said nothing! So back off!" Josh was surprised at his brother's reaction, but didn't let it go.

"What's wrong with you? For these last few days you've been acting weird, so 'fess up," Josh demanded, sitting beside Drake on the couch. Sighing, Drake got up from the couch and went to his bed.

"No, I'm not going to 'fess up' because there is nothing to 'fess up', so will you please just leave it alone?" Josh heard the faint desperation in his brother's voice, and knew something was wrong.

"Drake, you'd tell me if something's going on, wouldn't you?" Josh saw his brother look away when he asked this. "Drake? You would, right?"

"Of course, Josh. But like I said, nothing's going on, I'm just tired. I think I'm going to get to sleep early tonight, I don't want to fall asleep at school tomorrow," Drake threw the covers over himself and went to sleep fairly fast.

Josh didn't know what was going on, but he was going to get to the bottom of it. Nothing ever affected his brother, so whatever was happening wasn't good. Jumping into bed also, Josh slowly fell into an uneasy sleep.

As soon as Drake heard his brother's snores, he sat up in bed and put his jacket on. It was well past midnight, and Drake knew no one would be awake at this hour, so he slid into his shoes and tiptoed down the hall and then down the stairs.

Grabbing his mother's keys from the kitchen, he suddenly stopped when he heard a sound in the garage. It sounded like a car starting up. Running to the garage, Drake slowly opened the back door when he heard the car pull out of the driveway. Getting into his mother's car, he started pulling out as soon as he saw Walter's car stop at the four-way crossing. He was determined to know where Walter went at night, and this was his only chance at finding out.

As he made his was to the four-way crossing, he saw Walter's car turn right at the next crossing. Picking up speed, Drake also turned right. He silently prayed that he'd be able to find his way back home before Walter, because nothing around him looked familiar.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Walter stopped in front of Brigadoon Pub, and walked inside. Also parking, Drake got out and started for the entrance when a hand on his shoulder stopped him from moving.

Drake turned around, expecting a cop or someone like that. So he was quite shocked when he saw a gang instead, made up often guys looking like they could beat the crap out of you and get away with it. Drake started backing up, hoping to get inside the pub, but the hand on his shoulder jerked him forward. Two of the ten stepped behind him, and the leader let go of Drake's shoulder, and grabbed a fistful of Drake's hair.

"What'cha doin' out here, pretty boy?" The last part was spat out.

"I-I was just leaving-"

"Not on my watch. Got any money?" Drake didn't have a chance to respond when suddenly the two behind him began searching him for money or anything worth something. They grabbed his wallet and pulled out two twenties, and handed it over to their leader.

"I say we give him a night he won't soon forget, Marcus," A muscular guy from the back said with a smirk, while clenching his fists.

"Marcus, can I call you Marcus? I didn't come to cause any trouble, if you let me go I promise I'll never come here again," Drake pleaded,

"No, you can not call me Marcus. It's Mr. DeOved to you, filth," And in the blink of an eye, Drake was doubled over clutching his stomach.

"Don't like that, pretty boy? Well, it's more than you're worth! He's all yours, guys," And at that each of the ten gang members kicked and punched Drake, until he was on the ground pleading.

After they all had their turn, the leader, Marcus, came up to Drake again, and gave the teen a swift kick in the side. Drake closed his eyes expecting more, but when he opened them again the gang was gone. The only traces of them being there at all was the wallet laying on the ground, and Drake hurting from head to toe.

Gathering up all his strength, he slowly got back in his mother's car and started the engine. He thanked God that he had remembered the way home. As soon as he got in the house, he slowly limped up the stairs to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror as he had done just hours ago. Those hours seemed like an eternity ago now.

He had blood covering his face and arms, and he knew at least two ribs were either very badly bruised or possibly broken. His legs hurt horribly, and he knew there had to be tons of bruises hidden beneath his pant legs.

Drake wondered how he would explain the black eye and split lip to his parents in the morning, without saying that he had went driving at midnight and ran into a gang. He knew Walter would automatically know that he had followed him to the bar if he said that.

Taking a quick shower to wash away the blood, Drake put on pajamas and climbed into bed. Just as he was falling asleep, he heard Walter pull into the garage. Lying on his back, Drake fell asleep to his brother's snores, trying to ignore the pain.