Disclaimers: Read the Prologue…

Fire – Just quickly to Animefan44: I have no clue… Sorry…

Chapter 14

As the tournament progressed, the number of teams participating decreased and eventually team 13 found themselves in the final round. They weren't surprised. They had had already discussed why they seemed to be the only group with bit-beasts, and had come to the conclusion that Boris knew they would win. It eased most of their doubts.

As he peered through a small window, Spencer couldn't help but notice the empty seats in the crowd and frowned darkly when he noticed Boris' smirking self talking to a guard. He was worried. A new set of rumors were quickly being passed around the Abbey.

"There are a good few boys missing." Spencer hummed in agreement, and moved to give Tala a proper look. The red head had to stand on the tips of his toes to see out the small window. Spencer sighed and sat down on a hard bench, absently watching Bryan's battle against Ian.

It was being said that Boris' experiments had taken a turn for the worst. For the students that lost anyway. A kid from the southern wing claimed he'd seen body bags being carried out of the Abbey. Others said they'd seen guards digging in the cemetery out the back of the building. There were more outrageous ones that Spencer simply wanted to laugh at, but ignored in favor of finding the truth. After all… It could be one of them that was going to be the next test subject.

Spencer really couldn't see the point in wasting finances on creating more serums. The one they'd been given seemed to be working fine and the only incident that had been because of it was with a boy who was allergic to something in the serum. So what was Boris working on?

They all looked up nonchalantly when Jamie bustled in with a small clatter, carrying a tray of food. It wasn't anything special and nothing like they used to have when they were younger, when Rhys was around and cooking for them: toast, burnt steak and a horrible looking pasta mix.

"You all didn't get to have breakfast this morning." Jamie said upon placing the tray on a table. "I'll be back in a moment, there's one more tray." True to his word, he was back a minute or two later.

They ate their meal slowly, savoring what they could. Ian wasn't game enough to try the pasta, and had ended up swapping it for half of Spencer's steak, much to the team's and Jamie's amusement.

"So, what's happening today?" Tala asked after none too gently throwing his fork and knife down.

Jamie took a moment to answer, tapping his chin with a thoughtful expression on his face as he read the clip board's contents again.

"Your match is at ten o'clock. You're versing team number 53." Jamie stared down at them, "You're the favourites to win, and I'm sure some of the other boys have picked up on your bit beasts; some of the other doctors have been badgering me about them."

"Is there a chance the team we're battling knows about them?"

"Yes, though it's small." Jamie's eyes returned to the clipboard, "The other doctors don't really talk to their kids."

Spencer noticed the distaste in the doctor's voice with a smirk. Before it disappeared with Bryan's question, "What's with the missing students?"

Jamie sighed his eyes flickering over to Ian, before hesitantly saying, "Boris is experimenting again." Their eyes dropped to the table, the room having fallen silent. "Only on the losers. So if you all keep winning and tying your matches you should be safe."

They nodded, still silent. Spencer shared a look of concern with Jamie, willing his eyes to stay away from Bryan. Of course, he failed miserably, and didn't miss the sad smile the doctor directed at him.

o0o0o

Boris couldn't keep the smirk from his face as he strolled to his rooms after the battle, his hands deep in his pockets. He knew he was being slightly vain, but… He truly was a genius. His prediction of team 13: The newly named Demolition Boys, being the national team was on the dot.

They'd performed brilliantly, completely dominating their opponents. Even shy little Bryan had near destroyed his opponent's blade. Boris believed it was because of his nerves rather than their orders that had made him perform like he did; Bryan had a problem with battling in front of huge crowds.

None the less, Boris' smirk broadened. He'd have to train them all out of their bad habits. This meant Bryan out of his shyness, Ian and Tala out of their eternal bickering, and Spencer of his protectiveness. He frowned, Bryan and Spencer… He still hadn't done anything about them.

He sat down with a thud, his knees hurting more than they used too as he rubbed them carefully and turned on his laptop. He was nearing 50, so it was no surprise for him.

Boris was quick to type up the boys' battles, mainly focusing on their weakest and strongest points. Greenaway was doing well with them. They'd be unstoppable by the following year's beyblade tournament if they continued with their steady progress.

A tentative assistant stuck his head threw the door, "Mr. Boris, sir?"

"What?" He snapped.

"Team 13 are in trouble, the guards say they were smart mouthing them."

"I'll be there in a moment."

o0o0o

"Keep still. You big baby." Spencer couldn't help but chuckle and tried to cease his squirming. But the coolness of the pad Bryan was using to clean his cuts wasn't helping him get any warmer. They were quickly quiet again as their doctor's rant started to grow louder.

"I swear! You all should know better! Especially you Spencer!" Jamie had been ranting for a good few minutes non-stop. He seemed to have forgotten that the guard had started the fight by grabbing Bryan by the collar of his shirt. Spencer couldn't help that he'd been ordered to look after the younger boy and the fact that the guard was utterly asking for what he'd given him.

"I mean… I want to hit most of them most of the time! But this is going too far! I wouldn't be surprised if you have broken his nose!"

During the fight Tala and Ian had been held back by Jamie, who had wound an arm around their waists, while the guard and Spencer (who wasn't looking too good either, with his swollen cheek and split lip) threw fist after fist at each other.

"It wasn't our fault." Ian said with a glare as Jamie paused to breathe.

"I know. But do you think Boris is going to care?" He quickly glanced over Spencer's face, taking a moment to inspect his lip before his hands moved to press against the purple areas around the fourteen year old's bared chest. He sighed, "I don't think you've broken anything." He said finally, motioning for him to put his shirt back on. Spencer did so instantly.

Tala had been mostly silent since they'd entered the doctor's room, and was sitting on the bed with his legs crossed. "That guard better be fired. We didn't cheat, we wouldn't! How can he say we did?"

As his last word left his lips, the door opened to reveal a smiling Boris. They stood in a straight line their facial expressions blank.

"Well, well, well boys. I must commend you. You've managed to break Mr. Curros' jaw." Spencer withheld his wince, that would have been when Bryan had tripped the man and he'd collided with the stone wall. His punches couldn't do that much damage. Or at least he didn't think so.

Boris' gaze swept over them and Spencer heard Tala shift, "He accused us of cheating, sir." The Abbey's director eyebrow rose, "We… He accused us of cheating and grabbed Bryan. None of us were going to stand for it, but…" Spencer caught his gaze momentarily, "Spencer was the one that actually fought with him. The doctor held us back."

"I can see that, Tala." Spencer forced himself to remain still as Boris leant down to examine his lip and cheek. He hummed idly before moving away. "You boys will take the rest of the day off. I am not going to take your prize for winning the tournament away," He paused, turning to leer down on them, his hands clasped behind his back, "Tomorrow you will wake an hour earlier, I expect you all to complete double your usual training regime."

Spencer could feel his insides sink. There was no way they were going to be able to do that. Boris had to know that. They barely managed the regime they had now.

He could tell Tala was on the verge of complaining, struggling to keep his mouth shut and keeping his opinion to himself. Spencer began to pray that he would. He didn't think he was up to doing much more training, especially with their punishment, in fact he wasn't feeling too well as he was right then and there and he'd only been standing for a few minutes!

Boris left with a smirk and a quiet laugh, "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon boys, congratulations."

o0o0o

"It would be best if you stayed in here with me today Spencer. You can barely stand up, let alone walk to your rooms."

Spencer could do little else but nod as Bryan led him to the bed. His brain was pounding against the insides of his skull, and his lip had gone numb. He was thankful Tala and Ian had left before they'd gotten into their rants properly.

"You should have let him be, idiot."

Spencer could not reply as he practically collapsed on the bed.

Bryan continued with a glare, "I can look after myself. You should worry about your own well being, not mine all the time." All Spencer wanted to do was sleep, or at least tell Bryan to shut up. He really couldn't take much more noise. But he hummed anyway, regretting it instantly. "I mean it!"

He winced slightly, and was glad when Bryan seemed to notice his condition. Spencer watched as Bryan's expression softened before he stood up and hesitantly threw the extra blanket over Spencer. Spencer had the inkling that Bryan was nervous with Jamie in the room. Much to the blonde's amusement, the doctor was watching them with barely concealed interest, most of his face hidden behind his blue clipboard.

Bryan quickly pecked his cheek, "Sleep, you big lug. I'll be back tomorrow morning." He threw a nervous glance at Jamie, and left, shutting the door quietly.

All was silent for a moment, and Spencer sighed, his eyes falling closed tiredly.

"Uh ah, don't you dare fall asleep. I'm not going to have you getting a concussion." Spencer groaned quietly. His head really hurt.

It was silent for a few moments.

"You aren't going to take my advice are you?"

Spencer ignored the doctor, having realized that speaking made his head's pounding near unbearable. He was quick to snap his head up (regrettably so) as Jamie poked him in the ribs, on one of his bruises.

"Spencer, don't go to sleep."

He wouldn't… He tried not to.

"Spencer!" After a particularly hard poke Spencer was awake again, his eyes straining to stay open, "Talk to me. It'll keep you awake."

"Whatever."

Jamie sighed, "That's a start. But moving on to some important news, I'm sure I'll be able to get you a day off in a week or two. Would you come with me to the police station?"

Spencer blinked stupidly, "What?" He wasn't in the condition to be thinking at all.

"Police Spencer. Remember, I went to them?" Jamie really did want him awake, the blonde realized grudgingly. He sat up, careful not to knock his head around too badly, before Jamie told him all about the meeting.

Fire: Holy hell, it feels like I haven't updated this in ages! And would you look at that? I haven't! Sorry for that, but between my homework and assignments and my Harry Potter craze, nothing Spencer/Bryan-ny has come to mind…

Anyway… Hope you enjoyed this chapter (no matter how shortish it is) and please review…