A/N: First of all; I'm sorry and I'm grateful. Sorry for my lack of updates, but really grateful for the comments! I've started University recently and on top of that I've been pretty sick so the energy level has been lower than low. I'm feeling better though and full of inspiration, so hopefully that will last.
"I never meant to hurt you" Chris stated with such certainty that Dylan almost believed him for a moment. Almost.
"What about all the other times then?!"
"You mean the times you were moody and tried to make our lives as hard as possible? Or the times you tried to run or deceive us? Or maybe you are referring to the time you betrayed us?" Chris challenged. Dylan ducked his head at that.
"I didn't think I had a choice."
"I've heard that statement too much lately." King groaned at the same time as Chris said:
"That's no excuse you can just throw around when you feel like it. Sooner or later you are going to have to own up to your mistakes Dylan."
"Like you are so good at doing?!"
"I told you I never meant anything by it."
"Figures that the great Christopher Lasalle can lecture about apologies but not make one himself."
"Fine! I'm sorry if I made you feel bad, it wasn't my intention."
"Dylan." Evan prompted when the teen didn't open his mouth to accept the apology.
"Not accepted."
"Dylan Christopher Joshua Connor. He apologized." Dylan wanted to say something mouthy about Chris doing it to look good, but previous moments of less self-control had taught him just what Evan would do and say if he dared.
"Okay." Dylan got out in a voice that was barely a whisper.
"Okay?! You've got to be kidding me kid! First you all but demand an apology and when you do all you can say is okay?!"
"Christopher, calm down or go outside." The last thing King wanted was more harsh words uttered in a heated moment. Chris looked ready to protest, but much like Dylan he reigned in his temper a bit.
"I think we are all tired here, maybe it would be better to continue this once we've all had a good night's sleep." Evan proposed.
"Maybe you are right. And Dylan, I too apologize if something I've said made you think I hate you or think that I thought the position you were put in only was because of your own choices. I don't and it didn't. You were dealt a bad hand and I for one am happy that you found Evan and Nancy to help you through your last teenage years."
"Thanks." Dylan looked at him shyly for a moment, a tiny half smile-half grimace on his face, before running a tired hand over his face. "I wouldn't mind some sleep."
"It's settled then. Could you come in tomorrow again?"
"Of course, I have the day off actually so whenever you want to."
"Afternoon okay?"
"Yeah, three o'clock?"
"Perfect. See you guys tomorrow."
"See…" Evan's reply was cut of by his phone ringing. "Honey?"
"I'm sure he's okay. When did you last see him?"
"We'll be home soon, call his friends for the time being though, okay?"
"Logan didn't know?!"
"We'll come as soon as we can, try not to panic. Love you. Bye."
"What's going on?" Dylan asked as soon as Evan ended the call.
"Sean's missing. He left without telling Nancy."
"He's probably at a friend's place."
"He's not at Logan's. He and his parents made it home just moments ago."
"Donnie's?"
"Donnie is still staying at my house." King cut in. "If you feel better though, we can always drive by the Williams's house and have a look in case he went there first. He might not know that Donnie still is staying with me. Nathan is at my place as well so I can give him a call and check if Sean has shown up."
"I'd be grateful"
"Hopefully he is simply sleeping over at a friend's house."
"Let's hope"
-Principals and mentors-
"Morning Donnie" Donnie stopped in his tracks staring at his oldest brother surprised.
"Chris?!"
"We got done pretty late last night, King thought it would be best if I slept here for the night." Chris answered Donnie's unvoiced question.
"Okay." Trying to appear normal the blonde teen sat himself down at the breakfast table and started preparing a sandwich.
"Are you angry with me?" Chris asked several minutes later when Donnie hadn't made any attempts to have a conversation.
"No!" Donnie answered startled out of his thoughts. "I was just thinking."
"Are you sure that's all?"
"Morning." Nate greeted the trio, effectively saving Donnie from having to answer.
"Morning buddy."
"Morning Nate."
"Morning." Donnie mumbled.
"Aah, so it's not me you are sore at but your brother." Chris decided.
"We had a small run-in." Nate admitted. "I handled it though."
"The right way?"
"The right way King."
"We'll discuss that later, for now though there is something we should talk about: Donnie, Sean has been missing since last night"
"I know, Logan called me last night. Told me not to worry though, so I guess he is at a friend's house. He probably needed some space from his brother." Donnie gave Nate a look that spoke volumes.
"Don't you even think about it! That's not the solution and you know it! If you are mad at me you talk it out with me, running is never the answer."
"I didn't say that!"
"You indicated it."
"I indicated that big brothers can be royal pains sometimes."
"That's enough! Both of you calm down or go stand in separate corners." When both boys quieted, King continued: "Have you heard anything from Sean, Donnie?"
"He hasn't called or texted me since we spoke the other day. I knew he was mad at Dylan, but I had no idea he was going to do something that drastic." Donnie answered honestly. "That reminds me, Logan asked to come over later, we might be able to come up with some ideas of where Sean might be if we put our heads together."
"That sounds like a good idea."
"I'm going to head to the office" Chris stated after downing the rest of his coffee in one go. "Somebody might have seen him."
"I'll call Evan in a minute, but I don't think they have heard anything more."
"They heard from him last night?" Nate questioned. "Why is he considered missing then?"
"Because he only texted Nancy that he is safe and at a friend's house, not where he is or when he is coming home. And he knows better than to take off, my intuition is telling me it isn't simple forgetfulness at play here."
"Do you need help locating him?"
"I'm sure Evan and Nancy would appreciate it. Donnie, if you hear from Sean try to get him to go home. Everybody is worried sick. If nothing else, ask him where he is, okay?"
"Yes sir"
-Principals and Mentors-
"Sean" Donnie whispered coming into his room late afternoon, Logan right behind him. It had been a way too long day at school for Donnie's liking, especially since Sean hadn't looked much better this morning than he had last night. The only thing keeping Donnie from cutting school had been how suspicious it would have looked.
"Under your bed." Sean rolled out from under Donnie's bed with a slight grimace. "Man, it's getting more and more uncomfortable under there."
"I bet, there are other hiding spots too though, like my closet. You might be more comfortable in there."
"Thanks, but I think I'd rather stay out in the open for now."
"What happened Sean? And why didn't you tell me?!"
"Nanc and Ev are moving to Florida, they can't take us with them."
"Oh, buddy."
"I don't want your pity Logan, and the reason I didn't tell you Logi-bear is that I didn't want to put you in the position where you would have to lie to Dylan."
"He's worried sick. Everybody is pretty sure you have taken off." Sean ducked his head. "I'm not trying to scold you Sean, I'm just pointing things out."
"I guessed they would be worried, but I don't want me and Dylan to get separated again."
"Running away isn't the answer"
"It is for me."
"Sean…"
"Come on guys, don't fight. And Sean you still look pale, are you sure you are feeling alright?"
"I'm fine. Are your parents still coming home tonight?"
"Yes, but it will be late so I'm spending the night here."
"Okay then, I'll sneak off early tomorrow morning and try to find something more permanent."
"You can stay at our house. I'll sneak you in while Mom and Dad are out."
"I don't want you to have to lie to your parents."
"After all the lies lately I don't think one more will matter."
"I'm lost." Logan announced.
"I got into trouble with your Dad as you know. Me and an acquaintance were responsible for the cheating ring everybody whispered about." Dylan whistled surprised.
"I had no idea that was you. Pretty genius if you ask me."
"Your Dad didn't think so."
"Probably not, no."
"Sean, seriously. You can even climb through my window if you'd like, but please. I can't let you go on your own."
"Only until I find somewhere more permanent to settle down."
"When you do, you let me know, okay?!" Logan requested. "And text Dylan before he does something stupid. He thinks you ran away because you were upset with him."
"He didn't make the situation better."
"But he didn't cause it either."
"Fine. I'll text him."
-Principals and mentors-
"Dinner, Sean." Donnie held out a plate of leftovers he had managed to sneak upstairs. You can eat in the bathroom while I shower if you like, it might be a bit more comfortable."
"It's just a simple cold." Sean protested. "You don't have to worry so much."
"You are my best friend, I have to worry about you."
"Okay, I'll eat in there, but I don't want to get soaked."
"I'll try my best." Donnie promised with a smile.
"Donnie?!" Sean quickly scrambled under the bed, plate off food disappearing with him. King gave him a curious look. "What are you doing?"
"I was just about to take a shower."
"I thought we could talk for a few minutes."
"Oh, okay."
"How are you feeling?"
"I don't know?"
"Nervous about facing your parents?"
"A little bit." Donnie admitted quietly. "They won't be happy."
"They will get over it soon enough and you all will move on."
"I guess."
"You know, if you ever want to spend the night here, it's totally okay to ask. You don't have to wait for a special occasion."
"Thanks, I'd like that."
"I'd like it as well. I'm going to miss having you under the same roof. I got spoiled during the last few days."
"Not that spoiled, after all I did get into quite a bit of trouble."
"Which gave us a chance to talk."
"Sometimes it feels like all I do is cause you trouble."
"It may feel that way Buddy, but it isn't. With me and Chris unusually busy the past month we haven't had much free time to spend with you. That's our fault and that's one of the reasons I'd like you to sleep over every once in a while, without making it a big deal. Just the two of us catching up."
"What about Chris?"
"He might be allowed to join us a few times, but I'd like to spend some one on one time with you too." King tickled Donnie lightly, causing the first smile of the day to appear on his face. "I love you buddy. Good night" King drew him close to his side and dropped a kiss to the unruly hair before leaving Donnie with his thoughts.
"Are you okay?" Sean whispered hesitantly from under the bed.
"I guess." Donnie blushed a little, he had already forgotten that Sean was under there. "Did you get hurt when you scrambled under there?"
"Nah, I'm fine." Sean stuck his head up from under the bed to look at Donnie. "That was a pretty heavy talk."
"I've had loads worse, especially when I first came to stay with King. And talks with Chris are always hard."
"Why?"
"Because when you hurt him and he shows it, you've really hurt him. It doesn't happen easily, but once it has happened he won't let it slide with any old apology."
"I think Evan's a lot like King while Chris and Dylan are quite alike." Sean surprised them both by saying.
"You are going to miss them, aren't you?"
"I…I already do."
"Have you checked your phone today?"
"No, I turned it off so it can't be traced. I'm kind of surprised they haven't traced it here yet."
"Patton is out of town and the whole system is going through some kind of update so it's basically down for the reminder of the week. I heard King and Chris talk about it yesterday."
"Good, then I should be able to use it for a while undetected."
"I guess so." Donnie answered hesitantly.
"You should probably go shower before King starts wondering what's keeping you."
"Yeah, you are right."
"Hey Donnie"
"Yeah?" Donnie paused his hand on the doorknob.
"Thankyou. I know the position I put you in and I'm sorry."
"It's fine Sean, you would do the same for me."
"I would, in a heartbeat." He then grimaced. "That might be hard to do though for a while."
"Yeah…" Donnie opened the door and walked out into the hallway, the reality of Sean's plan slowly catching up with him.
A/N: Hope you liked it! What are you most excited for int the upcoming chapters? Dylan, Sean or Donnie stuff?