"I am not leaving him!" Seth snapped sat on the bed where Rhys was sleeping. Sasha was laid beside the toddler stroking his hair Seth had finally gotten a hold of her a couple hours after Rhys had woken up.

"Seth, you have to" She murmured eyes pleading with him, the final meeting with the lawyers was today and Seth, Dean and Colton were required to go. "I'll be here with him the entire time" Sasha could see the stubbornness settle onto his face as he focused on his little boy. He was in a set of footed pyjamas with pirate treasure maps on it, the nurses had opted for this instead of the normal gown that left the toddler feeling cold.

"But he's sick and he needs me"

"Seth man I know you don't want to but brotha we have to go to this meeting" Dean reasoned gripping Seth's shoulder, roles reversed he wouldn't want to leave Colton but he had to. For the sake of both boys, he had to.

"I swear if anything happens you..."

"I'll call I swear" Sasha promised. When she had arrived, he had all but crumbled in her arms. The stress of the trial and Rhys being sick for so long had gotten to him. Muttering and cursing under his breath he climbed further up the bed kissing Rhys's forehead and Sasha's lips. His gaze lingered a little longer on Rhys before he followed Dean and Colton out the door.

"It's okay Uncle Seth" Colton said quietly reaching up to hold his Uncle's hand. Dean smirked at Seth who looked down at his little nephew green eyes shining back up at him. The kid who had to testify about how horrible his life was in front of the people responsible was reassuring him.

"Thanks Colt" He smiled ruffling his already messy blonde hair. When he grinned up at him Seth could see just a little bit of Rhys in his face. Part of him loved the connection but then he remembered their only connect was Haley. Kayla had arranged the meeting in Davenport so Seth could be as close to Rhys as possible. They drove over to the office building where their lawyer Todd was waiting in the conference room.

"Hey boys" He grinned from his spot at the table. Colton grinned and climbed up into the chair spinning it around while Dean and Seth dropped beside him. They each went over what they were going to say and helped Colton figure out what he needed to do. The shifting in his seat and the way his little teeth sunk into his bottom lip didn't go unnoticed to Dean. He knew Colton was scared but hopefully the surprise he had planned for the day of the trial would make his fears disappear. Colton had gotten bored halfway through and took his hot wheels' cars and drove them around the room.

"With your three testimonies and all the picture evidence which I've requested to be shown when Colton is on the stand so he can't see them. I have no doubt we're putting these bastards away for a long time" Todd murmured while Seth and Dean nodded.

"Good I hope someone turns them into backpacks in lock up" Dean grumbled making Seth laugh.

"Well I can't say this in court but me fucking to" Todd grinned "Alright I know you've got a sick boy on your hands so we'll wrap this up. Give Rhys a hug for me"

Back at the hospital Rhys was awake but fussy looking for Seth. Sasha rubbed his back and kissed his head as he laid against her chest crying. He still had an IV in his arm and the tape made him uncomfortable but he was too little to tell them that. "Dadda" He whined and he refused to go with Holly or Bob.

Seth walked off the elevator alone as Dean and Colton had gone back to the hotel with Renee. Seth could hear Rhys grumbling from the hallway and for some reason it made him grin. "Hey sourpuss" He laughed entering the room, Rhys scrambled from Sasha's arms making Seth move quickly to the bed to stop him from pulling his IV. "Hey hey relax, I'm here baby" He murmured pulling the IV stand closer so he could lift the toddler into his arms.

"Hey beautiful" He grinned leaning over to kiss Sasha who winked back at him. "Hey stud, how's the meeting?" Seth shrugged moving Rhys further up on his hip "Same old how was our boy?"

"Cranky" Holly and Sasha said at the same time making them both burst out laughing. "But his temperature is normal and Stark said his inflammation is almost completely gone. He thinks Rhys can go to Vegas for the trial" Seth sagged with relief at that, he'd feel much better with him as close as possible.

"Hey guys time for medicine" The nurse smiled gently pressing the syringe to Rhys's lips. He whined and pushed back before Seth held his little head still. "Take your medicine champ"

Rhys grumbled but swallowed turning his face into Seth's neck. Sighing happily at being back in his daddies' arms. Seth rocked him gently making Holly smile over at him.

Back at the hotel Colton was curled into Renee's arms eyes glued to the television screen but his little mind racing 300 miles a minute. What if the judge didn't think Haley and Jay had hurt him? Would he end up living with them again? His little lip trembled and his chest shook as he tried to contain his sobs. Big boys didn't cry no matter how scared they were. Between preparing for the trial, Rhys being sick and his nightmares Colton was barely holding it together.

Renee felt the shake and then the wetness against her shirt before she realised Colton was crying. "Baby? Colton baby what's wrong?" He dug closer into her chest holding as tight as he can. Dean was coming out from the shower noticed the panic on Renee's face and climbed up onto the bed with them.

"What's the matter?" He rasped kissing Colton's head and frowning when he whimpered into Renee's shoulder. They both held on tight while Colton sobbed quietly in Renee's arms. Soothing hands ran up and down his back while both whispered quietly that they loved him. Eventually the tears stopped and Colton pulled back looking ashamed.

"I'm okay" He muttered and tried to pull free. Dean shook his head wrapping his arms tight around him. "Don't lie bud it's okay to not be okay sometimes" Renee felt Colton fidget in her arms almost like he was uncomfortable with Dean's words. "I'm not a baby" Colton huffed trying to mask his emotions.

"No one said you were" Renee said sternly and Colton mumbled an apology. "I know you're scared baby and that's okay"

"Big boys don't cry and they don't get scared" Colton looked up at Dean who frowned and shook his head. "I get scared and cry so does Uncle Roman and Uncle Seth"

"But daddy…"

"No but's Colton Dean you tell us how you feel okay? We're always here and you can tell us anything baby" Renee said kissing his cheek. Colton wrapped his arms around her neck pressing his face into her chest and mumbling "love you"

"Now what's goin on big man" Dean laid beside Renee with Colton laid against her chest. His green eyes shifted around the room as his lip tucked between his teeth. Renee kissed his head and whispered, "It's okay"

"I'm scared" He gulped all he could think about was having to go back. No more warm hugs and big soft blankets. No more "I love you" and eating when you were hungry. Just being yelled at and hit. "I don't want to go back I…I love you and I don't want t go with them. What if they don't believe me and I says the wrong with daddy! I know I'm a bad boy but I can be good I promise. I don't wanna leave Rhysee he's my baby and I just I" A loud sob escaped and Colton dug as deep as he could into Renee's arms.

"You aren't going back this trial is just to make your mom and Jay pay for how they treated you and Rhys" Renee said stroking Colton's hair. She could practically feel the anger radiating off Dean again, he hated it when Colton called himself a bad boy.

"You're staying with me and mommy bud, and you aren't a bad boy. Your good buddy, far more good then most" Dean rasped and pulled Colton into his arms this time. "We'll always keep you safe" Dean knew all too well that even just 4 years of being told you were no good would take a life time to repair.

Green eyes flashed to meet his as Colton laid his forehead against Dean's and he could hear the wheels spinning. "Promise?"

"Promise"