11

Hi thank you for your reviews on the last couple of chapters. The boys are in all kinds of trouble, The night before Grandma is due too!

Scott had got them there in minutes and pulled up to the curbside before flipping out of the driver's seat and slamming the door. Virgil hurried to keep pace with him debating quickly how best to rein Scott in. This was not going to go well. "Scott remember that conversation we had in the car?" About not going in hardcore, their only young and have been through a lot!

Scott just grunted but slowed his pace to a brisk walk rather than the march he had been on. They reached the grandstand approaching from behind where they wouldn't be seen. They could hear raised voices. Scott put a hand out to motion to Virgil to stop. They paused by some bushes and could just see through a gap. The shadow of the night concealing them from view. Gordon was stood up facing a much taller figure who had his face disguised under a hood. They could see Gordon looked angry over the guys shoulder in. Alan was pushed behind him protectively. "Look he said he didn't want any, stop pestering him! I brought some what more do you want?" Gordon's anger was clear in his tone without his voice being raised. The guy changed tactics and appeared to offer something else. Scott had seen enough he shrugged off Virgil's grip and stormed over. Alan shrunk away at the sight of his face, Gordon remained unfazed - not taking his eye off the current threat.

"Hey you heard him, back off!" spat Scott as he turned the hooded guy around. He tried to run from Scott but his grip remained firm as he hauled him back from his brother. Virgil grabbed Gordon and Alan in case they decided to split just like their friends had who were currently running in all directions from the park. The guy Scott had hold of tried to punch him before locking arms with Scott, wrestling. Scott feeling all his frustration and own anger of the last few weeks bubbling to the surface lashed out and landed a punch of his own square on the guys jaw. He reeled from the impact but Scott set on him again. He could hear Virgil shouting at him to leave it but he couldn't stop not even when the dealer produced a knife, the sliver blade reflecting white as it glinted in the low street light. There was a short pause before he launched at Scott with an angry yell. Scott dodged the thrust to his midriff before grabbing the arm with the knife and kicking in the guy's knee from behind so he folded onto the floor. Virgil desperately wanted to help but he knew the likelihood of them both getting stabbed would be higher in the confusion. Scott was on top pressing the man into the dirt, smacking the dealer's wrist against the floor several times hard but he still had a grip like steel. Somehow, he managed to roll Scott on his back and for a terrifying moment the tables were reversed and Scott was staring at the knifepoint heading for his chest. Gordon freed himself from Virgil and sprinted across to where they were furiously fighting in the dust. Virgil yelled after Gordon, still clinging to Alan. Meanwhile Scott strained with all his might against the impending knife (grunting as he did so with the effort) but one of his hands slipped and got slashed, he yelled in pain it giving him that last push of adrenaline to bring his legs up to push his assailant off of him but not before Gordon grabbed the dealer and with more strength then Scott thought he was capable of dragged the much larger man off of Scott by his hoodie and twisted the guys wrist, making him yell in pain and drop the knife from his now limp forearm which he cradled close to his chest. "Shit, I think you broke it you bastard!"

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! DROP THE WEAPON AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR HEAD BEFORE I SHOOT!"

The guy immediately dropped to his knees and put his one good arm up in surrender sensing defeat before the local sheriff and an officer grabbed him. He cried out when they grabbed his arms to arrest him, Gordon had obviously done some damage. The dealer spat at Scott on the floor as they took him away. Scott shakily pulled himself up before his brothers rushed over, he managed to get into a sitting position cradling his hand. Virgil grabbed his handkerchief and pressed it to the wound hard. The blood pooled through. Alan was white with shock; this was their fault! Gordon looked guilty and concerned.

The police chief came over. She in her late forties, her long black dreads tied in a ponytail over her shoulder, her hair just starting to grey at the roots, fading into her brown complexion. She had a stern face but warm brown eyes. She was well known in this tight knit community. "Are you hurt?" She looked at Scott.

"The knife slashed my hand while I was trying to protect myself, I won't bleed out but it hurts like a -."

"Better call for an ambulance just in case." – she started to radio.

"No seriously Maggie its ok thank you!" Scott looked horrified at the thought. Maggie was the local sheriff and had been a very good friend of their mothers, she knew all the boys and had watched them grow up. She was still cut up over her friends' sudden death and pitied the boys, especially when Scott called to say their dad had then gone missing too, it was tragic. She had the first aid kit in her hand as she bent down and asked to look at Scott's injury. Reluctantly he let her take his hand. "Now why don't you boys tell me what happened?" She gently turned his palm upward and prized the handkerchief off (Scott winced and hissed, flinching at the removal of the cloth) "Sorry" she grimaced apologetically. She continued to assess and treat the injury.

"One of you better start talking" She demanded as she looked up at them briefly. She knew it was unlikely Scott was here at the beginning, he was the responsible one. He usually got into trouble protecting the younger ones, she knew from experience and his parents stories of their children's antics.

Gordon braved it. "Alan and I had come to meet some friends, we were minding our own business when that guy came over and started hassling us, asking us if we wanted some happy pills. We said no but he was really pressuring us so I gave in and brought some just to get rid of him." Maggie stiffened mid sterile stripping Scott's wound. Gordon pretended not to notice and continued. "Anyway it didn't work and he really started badgering Alan after identifying he was the youngest so I stood up for him and told the guy to back off but he wasn't listening and kept intimidating him to try and force him to buy."

"Then I saw what was happening and confronted the guy and well he brought a knife to a fist fight." Scott surmised. Maggie had finished gently bandaging his hand. She offered hers to lift him up by his good one. He stood up a little shaky but held it together brushing the dirt off of him as he rose with his good hand.

The other officer was hanging back surveying the empty bottles on the table.

"Right Gordon you give me those drugs please, did he say what they were?"

"No" mumbled Gordon as she placed them in an evidence bag.

"Please tell me you two weren't drinking?"

They wouldn't make eye contact with her. She sighed.

"Boys I don't know what we are going to do here, this is a mess. I know things are tough for you right now but you've got to stay out of trouble. Your parents would be so worried."

They all looked dejected at this. Maggie felt for them, she really did and she knew Scott would be berating himself already for his brother's behaviours. It certainly wouldn't happen again on his watch. He was just like his father. Maggie felt guilty for not checking on Jeff herself, she had been overwhelmed with her own grief for Lucy and swamped at work lately. She made a note to check in on the boys more regularly until Jeff returned, she owed it to Lucy to see that they were safe.

"Ok, seeing as you two admitted your behaviour and it's a first time offense - under exceptional circumstances I can issue a on the spot fine of $500 each or 40 hours community service, it stays on your record for twelve months and provided you pay up now and don't re-offend in those twelve months." Alan gulped. Gordon was worried about the impact it might have on his career but it was better than the alternative. He nodded.

"They will pay the fee's ASAP won't you boys." Scott spoke for them. It was not a question but a statement. Again, they both nodded their agreement.

"Now Gordon buying the drugs was a stupid thing to do but I know you meant well, luckily for you your still classed as a minor in regards to drug use so you should be protected and void of possession charges, but there may still be some element of community service. You need to be more careful if these had been a higher class you would have still been looking at prosecution thankfully this is low grade stuff." He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Scott, I'm afraid yours Is a bit more difficult you may get charged with assault."-

"But!"

"Hear me out. He's likely to file for assault but you should be able to claim defense of both your underage brothers and yourself but you'll need a damn good lawyer but luckily for you your dad knows one. I suggest you look him up."

"Now I need you all to come down the station to give statements, then I suggest you go to the hospital to get your injury treated and then the medical records can be used in evidence." Alan eyed the police car nervously.

"Don't worry you haven't won yourself a ride this time, follow us in your car and I'll meet you there ok?"

"Ok."

They trudged back to Scott's car; Scott was just about to get in the driver's seat when he heard a distinct cough from behind. He rolled his eyes and not even looking over his shoulder tossed Virgil his keys.

"Thank you." Virgil caught them in one swift motion. Both Gordon and Alan quickly slipped into the back seats, they wanted to be as far away from Scott as possible. They couldn't escape his glare in the rear-view mirror though. They shrank into the seats just like when they were children. They could tell how pissed he was by the fact that he was completely silent. Not good. It was going to be a tense drive to the station, Virgil glanced at them all before putting the radio on his favourite classical station and starting the engine. Oh boy! He thought to himself How was he going to stop the oncoming onslaught?