A/N: A special thanks to my Guest reviewer/reviwers. It's nice to see I still have some people reading this story although it has taken quite the turn from the original storyline I planned. Any and all comments are greatly appreciated. Hope you like the new chapter!
"I have a feeling you are aware that you by law are too young to drink." The red head froze, the hand holding his glass hoovering mid-air before he put it down with a thud. He was cornered, he knew that running wouldn't be an option. Not when it was Chris and King. Anybody else Dylan might had at least tried to outrun, but Chris and King were as fast as him and right now his disappearing skills were a bit rusty.
"Sean hasn't been able to bother you."
"No, but then again he never was a bother." That got Dylan to turn around for the first time. Angry brown eyes locking with King's. "It was always your choice Dylan. It's you we aren't comfortable having Donnie around, not Sean."
"Since it still is my choice, Sean and Donnie's friendship are on hiatus."
"They are hurting Dylan."
"So was I. I was the same age you know, even slightly younger."
"We know that, but it's not an excuse. I would be the first to admit that mistakes were made if I thought you'd actually listen."
"I've heard enough."
"Not nearly." Taking a look around the half full bar area King decided it was time to move their discussion elsewhere. "You have two choices Dylan; either I arrest you for underage drinking or you come with us for a chat. The choice is yours."
"I don't need any favours."
"It isn't one." Dylan narrowed his eyes as he heard Chris mutter: "Damn right it isn't." under his breath.
"Some choice that is."
"It's the only one you get."
"Fine. I'll come with you."
"Good choice." Chris waisted no time grabbing Dylan's upper arm and leading him out to the car, his grip never wavering.
-Principals and Mentors-
"Sit." Chris pushed him kind of roughly into a chair in the middle of the office space, causing Dylan to glare at him. "As far as I'm concerned you can't be trusted to sit there on your own, but King thinks it might refresh your memory of what usually happened when we were called in.
"I remember. It's hard not to." Dylan muttered as the chair he sat in indeed brought back a lot of memories.
"I'm only going to warn you once Dylan: attitude will get you nowhere and we'll know if you are lying so just don't."
"If I remember correctly Chris had a real good way of handling attitude" Dylan snorted bitterly. Chris met his eyes steadily, honestly not sure what the teenager was hinting about. It had to be something Dylan had overreacted to though, because yeah, Chris had been harsh, but he had never been outright mean. "Anyways, what do you want to talk about? I hate to disappoint you, but somebody is bound to soon start missing me."
"You and your brother."
"Why?"
"Because Sherlock, Sean is hurting."
"It will pass."
"Do you really think that's fair to Sean?! You let him and his best friend get together again simply to tear them apart after one day."
"It was hardly my choice."
"Oh it was."
"Did I really have a choice?!" Dylan asked, the honesty shining through making King wonder once more what had gone down all those years ago that could have the teenager react to their presence this way. Dylan had always been the black dot in their past, the one teenager they felt they could have reached but for some reason hadn't been able to. Dylan Connor or Black Eye as Chris had dubbed him wasn't spoken about, he wasn't even mentioned in the passing in their squad room.
"Dylan." Dylan flinched, not used to hearing his own name come out of King's mouth. "It all comes down to the past. Why don't we work through it and get it settled once and for all?! Ignoring it won't make anybody happy."
"Will you let me go then?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"How did you get involved?"
"The first thing they did was to separate us. I was sent to a group home while Sean was placed with a family. We don't have any living family except a godfather whom CPS wouldn't let take custody of us. He tried, but they refused and about a month into it he got transferred across the country. I tried everything to at least get me and Sean back together under one roof, but nobody would listen. Then Ryker introduced me to Miles who promised he would get me and Sean together if I did him some favours."
"Breaking and entering. Vandalism."
"Contrary to what you think I didn't want to do it LaSalle, but it was the only way. Sean doesn't know and if it's up to me he'll never be the wiser. We did damage and I'm not proud of it, but we all did what we had to do at the time."
"Not Miles." Chris pointed out.
"Not Miles, no," Dylan confirmed.
"Why didn't you tell us this back then?" Dylan kept his gaze stubbornly at the door, not wanting to answer that particular question. "You ended up with Sean in the end, how did that happen?" More silence. Dylan's phone suddenly started ringing and the teen swore silently before answering it.
"Speaker." Chris ordered. Dylan glared, but did as he was told.
"Dyl?"
"I'm here Evan."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes sir."
"Where are you?" A big sigh.
"At NCIS."
"In trouble?" Evans voice was still as calm.
"No sir."
"Good. You do know I need more than that though, Buddy."
"It's a really long story Evan."
"I can drive there if you want?" Shooting Chris and King a look he was met with twin nods.
"Okay."
"I'll be there in 30"
-Principals and Mentors-
"Sean?" What are you doing here?!"
"Is Chris or King here?"
"No, why?"
"I need a place to stay for a few days"
"I'm stuck here until Friday, Mom and Dad's flight got cancelled once more."
"I would have gone to Logan's but that's the first place they would look."
"You don't think they would look for you here?"
"I'm technically not allowed here so I hope not."
"But why Seanie? I though things were going good?"
"That's what I thought as well, but they are moving to Florida and according to CPS rules they can't take us with them."
"What?! Are you sure?"
"I am. I heard Nancy and Evan talk about it a week ago and then again a few days ago. Yesterday they talked about it again. Everything is settled, the move is happening in two weeks."
"I'm so sorry Sean." Donnie noticed for the first time the rain pouring down and his best friend's soaked clothes. "Come on in, you'll catch your death out there."
"I'm fine."
"No, you are soaked. Chris and King didn't say when they'll be back, but jump into mine and Nate's shower, I'll get you some dry clothes."
"Donnie, you can't tell them I'm here."
"I know."
"Maybe I could hide in your house instead, especially since your parents are gone."
"You could, but Nate took my key…aww shit, Nate! I've totally forgotten about him."
"Donnie?" Donnie pushed Sean into the hall closet moments before Nate appeared at the bottom of the staircase. "What's going on? Who was at the door?"
"Nobody, it must have been some kids joking around."
"I thought I heard voices."
"You must be hearing things Nate."
"If you are sure…" Nate said suspiciously. "You should head to bed soon, it's getting late."
"You aren't my boss." Donnie dared say, still a bit mad at Nate for ordering him around earlier.
"Would you like to repeat that?!"
"They didn't tell me to go to bed."
"No, because they knew I would make sure you went to bed at a reasonable time. If you want to challenge me, you are free to do so, but not without consequences."
"I'll go to bed." Donnie said.
"Good night buddy."
"Night." Nate gave him a last look Donnie wasn't quite sure how to interpret before making his way back upstairs. Once Nate was out of sight Donnie opened the door to the hall closet.
"Sorry. Nate was coming. Come on, let's get you into a hot shower." Donnie realized as he helped Sean to his feet that the other boy was breathing extremely heavy for somebody who had been sitting for a while. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live. Where are you going to hide me?"
"Under my bed, I think. Tony has bunk beds in his room so you could always move there tomorrow night but there is a risk Chris or King will open the door and find you."
"I don't want to risk that…your room is fine." Donnie followed Sean into the bathroom he and Nate shared, grabbing his phone from the charger as he passed by his room. It was bound to start ringing soon and then he'd need Sean's help to keep calm.
"I think I got it from here Donnie." Sean said humouredly.
"Not that I don't believe you but Nate will notice if the shower is running but I'm in my room, I'll just sit by the door with my back towards you and you do have the shower curtain to use."
"True. You don't happen to have a towel I could lend by any chance, do you?"
"Since it's you, yes I do." Donnie grabbed a towel from the rack and threw it in Sean's direction.
"Thanks." Once Sean was done showering Donnie led him to his room where he picked out some dry clothes for Sean to wear. Then he collected all the pillows from his bed and the comforter and placed them under his bed.
"There are some extra blankets in the hall closet, scoot on under the bed and I'll bring you some. Donnie returned barely a minute later to find Sean already fast asleep. Listening to his wheezing intakes of air, Donnie tucked the two extra blankets over his best friend. Feeling his phone vibrate in his back-pocket Donnie answered it:
"Hello"
"Donnie, it's Logan. Is Sean at your place?"
"Depends on who is asking."
"Me. Nancy called me a moment ago to ask if Sean was here. What's going on?"
"I think Sean should be the one to tell you."
"Hand him the phone would you?"
"He's asleep."
"Do any grown ups know?
"No. King and Chris aren't home yet."
"I take it Sean wants to keep it that way?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then, would you mind if I came over tomorrow after school?"
"No, it's fine."
"Thanks. Oh, and you should probably text Nancy with Sean's phone, she sounded really worried."
"I'll do that. See you tomorrow" Donnie careful to not wake Sean rummaged through Sean's backpack, happy that Sean had been careful enough to bring his inhaler with him and his phone. Sean's phone was locked per usual, but Donnie knew his password and made short work of unlocking it. Rummaging through the contacts he found Nancy's number and quickly wrote: 'I'm safe, don't worry'. Donnie figured that it at least would still Nancy's worry for the night. Rethinking it he quickly added: 'sleeping at a friend's house tonight'. He had met Nancy a lot during the years and knew that despite everything going on she really cared for Sean. If they really were moving it wouldn't have been an easy decision. Listening to Sean's heavy breathing Donnie wondered if he should wake him to make sure he had used his inhaler, but decided against it. He wouldn't go to sleep either way, not with Sean to worry about.
-Principal's and mentors-