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Chapter 6: The Next Step

SNAP!

Sky jerked his head up from his book and looked around. He had thought he had heard a branch break over in the front garden. Putting his book down, Sky strode over to the bushes and peered over.

"Hmm, that's weird," Sky said to himself, picking up a torn piece of yellow cloth that was caught on a branch. Sky craned his head around once more, scanning the area, but saw nothing. Shrugging, he stuffed the piece of cloth in his pocket and walked back over to his book. He sighed as he looked at his watch. It had been long enough so he picked up his book and went back to the front door. Just before closing the door he took one last suspicious look around the front lawn and then disappeared inside his house. "Must have been a squirrel or something."

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In Sky's backyard:

Jack counted to ten after he heard the front door shut before peering his head over the top of the gate. They had been hiding silently for over an hour in the bushes as Sky had been reading and it was probably one of the longest hours of their lives, especially after what they had just seen. Jack, who had been attempting to silently shuffle into a more comfortable position after his hand and one of his feet had fallen asleep, had accidentally snapped a twig. Without a word, Jack had had to phase himself and Z through the house and into the backyard before Sky spotted them. It was a moment he did not ever want to repeat.

"Is he gone?" Z whispered from behind Jack.

"Yeah," Jack whispered back, "I think he went back inside."

"Alright, let's get out of here," Z replied, dragging Jack to the front. They cautiously peered around the corner but saw no sign of Sky. Quickly, they crawled across his lawn until they were out of sight of his windows and then made a mad sprint back down the street, all the way to where the car was parked.

Suddenly, Z turned to Jack, her face dark with anger. "Are you happy now? Hmm, Jack? Do you feel better about yourself now that you know that Sky has had just as an unhappy child hood as you and me? Well?"

"Z, I didn't mean it like…"

"Like what Jack? This is what you wanted! You wanted the dirt on Sky Tate and now you have it. Ugh! I told you this was none of our business but you didn't listen to me!"

"I know! I know! I'm sorry!" Jack replied, pleadingly. More than anything he wished he had listened.

"Ugh! I can't believe I let you talk me into coming here!" Z just shook her head as sat down on the curb, now glaring at the ground. She was too angry to look at her friend. Jack sighed guiltily as he plopped down beside her. She was right, as usual, and he had no excuses this time.

"I can't believe that was Sky's mom," Jack said sadly.

"I know," Z replied, her tone changing from anger to sadness as she looked to Jack with softened eyes. He returned her gaze and then put his arm around her shoulders, giving her a squeeze. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Now I get why he doesn't go home for the holidays," Jack said.

"I wouldn't want to either with a family like that," Z scoffed. "Why would he want to visit her all time like that? He's just punishing himself."

"Who knows? May it's some twisted sense of duty or something. You know how anal he is about all that honor and crap that they pump into our heads at the academy."

"Maybe," Z replied softly. "What are we going to do Jack?" Z asked. Jack was usually the "man with the plan" but today, as she looked into his eyes, she could tell he was out of answers.

"I don't know. I mean, we can't really do anything. You remember what it was like on the streets, there were some people you just… couldn't help."

"We could try, you know… find people to help her help herself."

"I'm sure Sky's tried that before. Besides, people have to want to change and by the looks of things, she didn't seem very willing to listen. Anyways, we can't interfere because then Sky would know we followed him."

"And stole a car."

"Yeah, that too," Jack sighed. "You know? This was all so much easier when I just thought of Sky as this big blue, obnoxious jerk with a stick up his ass."

"Oh, he still is. We just have a better understanding of why he's such a hard ass."

Z and Jack chuckled for a moment and then went silent again.

"He's going to be pissed if he ever finds out about this," Z said, breaking the silence.

"Hell ya," Jack said, standing up. "Which is why we're never going to tell him about this."

"Obviously," Z replied, standing up as well. "So… maybe we should return the car now before we give Sky the pleasure of watching us get thrown back in jail?"

"Oh, he'd definitely enjoy that," Jack said with a grin. "Come on." Jack climbed into the front seat and Z followed suit.

"You know? Maybe I should take the bus. This way we don't both get arrested for your lame brain plan."

"Ha ha!" Jack replied sarcastically. "Sorry! But no! If I go down, I'm taking you with me."

"You wish," Z said, sticking her tongue out at Jack. "What are we going to do when we see Sky?"

"Just act natural I guess. I mean, nothing's changed right? He's still the anal, by the book, jerk we know and love. Right?"

"Right!" Z replied with purposeful nod. "You know? I wasn't kidding about me taking the bus."

"Z!"

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9:15 PM

Location: New Tech City Park

Sky shivered as he dumped a bottle of water over his head while walking through the park. He had changed back into his workout clothes and after parking his bike back in the garage and now, as usual, he wanted to give the illusion that he had actually been working out. Knowing what a dedicated cadet he was, no one every questioned where he had been. All they had to do was see the "sweat soaked" work out clothes and his dishelved appearance and they would put two and two together. If they asked, he would simply confirm their suspicions, but no one ever did.

At first Sky had been worried about being caught, especially with Bridge as a room mate. He never realized how much people trusted him. Not that he felt he was giving them any reason not to. He was just as dedicated and loyal as any cadet at the base, more so than most. Some people might even say obsessively so. This was just personal, that's all. Still, it always amazed him that no one had ever caught on. He didn't want them to of course; he was just surprised considering who they were.

As Sky walked through the deserted park, he spotted a few empty bottles of beer lying on the grass. Rage suddenly seized him and he grabbed one of the bottles and threw it as far and as hard as he could, letting out an inaudible yell as it left his hands. He watched as it shattered in the far distance and sighed. It felt good to be making a mess that he didn't have to clean up.

Why? Why did she have to torture him like that? Why did he have to be the parent? She was his mother. She was supposed to look after him, not the other way around. Now, of course, he was an adult and didn't need looking after, but all those years after his father died he had felt like he had lost two parents instead of one. She was supposed to protect him and look after him, but he had always had to take up that role with her, tucking her in after she passed out on the couch, cleaning the kitchen after she had another fit, doing the grocery shopping because he knew if he didn't they wouldn't have anything to eat the next morning. It wasn't fair but they were the cards he had been dealt.

When he came back after being at the academy for a while, he had attempted to help her get some help. He had tried social workers, people from the A.A., but she wouldn't listen. She just refused to admit that she needed help, and refused to accept the help that was offered to her, so they had no choice but to give up. All Sky could do now was try to help her get by with the day by day stuff and hope that maybe, one day, she would trust him enough to let him help her.

He had once considered telling Bridge and Syd about his mother but eventually decided against it. As good as friend as they were, they just wouldn't understand, and burdening them with the knowledge that he hadn't had a similar lifestyle would make things any different, except maybe by making things more awkward between them. Like at the bar for example, telling them would have only made them feel guilty about drinking in front of him and he didn't want that. He didn't like drinking and what it did to people and that was his opinion, but it wasn't his place to burden his friends with his crosses.

Jack and Z were a different story. Unlike Bridge and Syd, they knew how hard life could be for some people. What had always separated them though was their choice of what to do about. Like Z, Sky had considered running away, and in a way he did when he left home to join SPD, but he had never lowered himself to thievery. His dad has always taught him to respect the laws of society and Sky had taken it to heart. In his mind, people who had to hurt other people to help themselves weren't trying hard enough. There was always a third option. He had seen too many family run shops, friends of his, go bankrupt from people stealing from them, because the thieves had thought it wasn't hurting anyone. It was why he had had so little respect for them, so little mercy.

Mind you, after working with Jack and Z for a few months, Sky had learned there was more to them than meets the eye and had even come to respect them, at least on the battle field. He still didn't like them, more precisely, he still didn't like Jack (Z was okay) but most of the time they got along well enough or knew enough to avoid each other. Still, he just didn't feel close enough to them to show them that part of himself. Not yet, and maybe not ever. They didn't need to know, no one did.

Sky sighed as reached the edge of the park. Another clean escape. He jogged across the street and the rest of the way back across the academy grounds, all the way up to the side entrance doors. When he got inside he headed straight for the showers, only stopping in his room briefly to grab a change of clothes. After he showered he headed down to the common room to grab a snack before heading off to bed. Syd sitting on one of the magazines reading a magazine that had her face on it.

"How was your night?" she asked casually, not really paying attention if he actually answered.

"Fine," he replied, grabbing his food and heading for the door. Suddenly he stopped at the doorway and turned to his face his long time friend, contemplating whether he should take his answer back and answer her truthfully for once. "Hey Syd?"

"Yeah Sky," she replied, not looking up from the magazine.

Sky paused and then shook his head. "Never mind."

"K. Goodnight Sky."

"Goodnight Syd." And with that Sky turned and vanished out the doors.

To be continued...

So there is the next chap! I hope I've more fully explained Sky's situation to all of you as there were some concerns about why Sky was so accepting of his mom's current state. I also hope Istill have your interest with this story as it is far from over.

Thanks for all the lovely reviews so far! They have been very encouraging and very helpful! Feed back is always appreciated! Don't worry! More story to come soon, so stay tooned!