Chapter 4

It wasn't until ten the next morning when Ralph stumbled home. He had been up half the night drinking and playing poker. He had lost five hundred dollars and he was furious. He was still drunk, but he was able to function. Ralph stumbled into the trailer and he didn't even bother to check and see if Shawn was still there. Ralph didn't care about him, he was just an annoyance and another way for him to make money. Ralph had lost all of his money that Chris had given him so he could spend the night with Shawn. Ralph knew that Chris liked them young and innocent so he could corrupt them. Ralph didn't care what happened to Shawn as long as his money kept coming in. Ralph headed into his bedroom and he got the shock of his life when he walked in and saw Shawn there on his bed. He was lying down on his stomach with his knees tucked under him and his ass up in the air. Ralph instantly smiled as he knew that Chris had left this for him. Ralph headed over to the bed and he removed his clothes as he started to think about how long he had been waiting to do this. Chris had obviously gotten Shawn drunk and now Ralph was finally able to get his hands on Shawn.

Ralph got onto his bed and he could see the dry cum on Shawn's inner thighs. Ralph grabbed Shawn's ass cheeks and he spread them to see the dry cum on Shawn's hole. Ralph was already hard as he had been waiting for his chance to do this for months now. Ralph didn't even bother to be gentle he was excited and still pissed about losing his money so he just shoved himself all the way inside as hard and as fast as he could. This brought instant pain and Shawn, who had been passed out the whole time, to wake up screaming. Shawn's mind was cloudy from the alcohol and the ecstasy, so it took him a moment to get his surroundings as he felt the pain inside him increase. It was then that he realised his uncle was fucking him.

"Stop what are you doing?" Shawn said with anger and fear.

Shawn began to fight and try to squirm away from his uncle. His uncle just punched him across the back of the head as he growled out.

"Stop moving and just take it. Don't act like this is your first time. I bet you let Chris fuck you all night. Now shut up and just enjoy it."

"Stop it let me go. It hurts." Shawn said as he continued to fight trying his best to ignore the pain that was spreading through his body.

Ralph just punched Shawn hard across the face and continued with his pounding and made sure it was hard and deep. Shawn continued to cry out and fight against his uncle. Ralph just punched him and then placed his right hand on the back of Shawn's neck in a hard grip. It forced Shawn's face down into the pillow shutting him up and making it hard for him to breathe. Shawn continued to struggle, but it only caused him more pain. Ralph made his thrusts harder and deeper he wanted Shawn to be able to remember this for months to come. Ralph didn't want this to end, but he knew he would be able to get Shawn like this again. Ralph wasn't as stupid as people thought he was. He knew that Chris had a plan for Shawn and Ralph didn't care as long as he was still able to get his money from Shawn. Ralph continue for another agonizing fifteen minutes before he cam hard and deep inside Shawn. Shawn was fighting back the tears as his face was smothered into the pillow. He had slowly stopped fighting because he couldn't breathe enough to be able to keep up the fight. His whole body hurt and Shawn was having a very hard time keeping the tears at bay. Ralph pulled out, but he wasn't done with Shawn. He kept his grip on the back of Shawn's neck and pulled him up slamming him face first into the wall. Shawn hit the wall hard and he instantly felt blood going down his face. Ralph began his assault against Shawn's body. He punched Shawn everywhere he could and when Shawn couldn't stand up and longer he kicked him and stomped on his ribs and face. Shawn felt the blackness creeping up on him and he wasn't sure what would happen if he passed out, but he didn't get the chance to fight it, because with one last stomp across his face Shawn's world went black.

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Shawn felt himself coming out of the darkness slowly. The first thing that came back to him was the pain it was extreme and Shawn didn't know if he would be able to handle this without the hospital. Shawn had dealt with his uncle's abuse for the last couple of months. He had been able to handle it, but this went to a whole new level and Shawn knew he wouldn't be able to handle this. Shawn opened his eyes and saw that he was still on the bedroom floor. Shawn heard his uncle snoring and he looked up and saw that his uncle was on the bed passed out. Shawn tried to roll over onto his back, but it wasn't easy to do. Shawn felt something warm and sticky between his back inner thighs and he carefully moved his right hand down to his back thighs and felt what was so warm and sticky. Shawn moved his hand away so he could see it and sure enough there was blood and still cum on his hand. Shawn knew he hadn't bleed from his uncle and Shawn knew that meant that his uncle had raped him again when he was unconscious. Shawn felt his stomach flip at the realization of this situation and he quickly got up off the floor ignoring the pain that was filling his body as he ran into the bathroom. He got there just as he threw up his dinner last night into the toilet. Once he was done throwing up Shawn sank down onto the floor and curled into a ball. His whole body hurt and he didn't know what to do. He knew he needed a shower, a hot shower that would burn everything away. Shawn was fighting with the memories of not only his uncle raping him, but the fact that Shawn had had sex last night with Chris. Shawn knew he wasn't gay, but he could clearly remember telling Chris to fuck him and even begging for it to happen. Shawn couldn't even imagine seeing Chris again and facing him after it happened. He didn't know what Chris would think and part of him was bothered by it. Shawn had liked Chris he seemed nice and cool. He didn't judge him or treat him like a kid. Chris was just there and listened to him. Shawn didn't remember everything that happened, but he did remember Chris and him having sex. It hurt almost as much as what his uncle did to him. Shawn knew that he had told Chris he wanted it, he could clearly remember telling him to do it, so Shawn knew it wasn't the same thing, but it still hurt to know that he wasn't a virgin anymore. That he had lost it to some strange man drunk and high one night. It helped to know that he wouldn't see Chris again, but still he was hoping he could have had a friendship with him.

Shawn didn't know what to do, but he knew he had to have a shower and get his uncle off from him. Get the blood and cum off from him. Shawn got up and turned the water on as hot as it would go. They had just gotten hot water back and it still wasn't anywhere near as hot as Shawn would have liked, but it was better than cold water and even better than nothing. Shawn got in and he instantly could see the water turning a dark shade of pink from the blood on his body. The hot water stung his face and Shawn figured he must have gotten cut somewhere along the way. Shawn just stood there under the water and tried to get his thoughts in order. He knew he couldn't stay here anymore. The problem was it was in the middle of winter and January was the worst month for weather. Shawn knew he couldn't live on the streets, but he didn't have any money that he could use to get an apartment. He knew he could go to the Matthews' and tell them what happened. He knew he could stay there, but he would just be a burden on them and they would never understand or accept him. They would just judge him and try to change him. Shawn didn't need any more of that in his life. Shawn had to figure out someplace to crash tonight and then tomorrow he could go about trying to find a place to live. He knew he could take Eddie up on his offer. Shawn didn't want to commit any crimes, but he also knew he couldn't stay here or live on the streets. At least he would be able to get money and get his own place. Shawn didn't want to steal, but at the same time he couldn't do this anymore. He knew he wouldn't be able to stay here not after what happened. Shawn knew he wouldn't have any choice, but to take Eddie up on his offer. Shawn decided he was desperate enough to go into business with Eddie. He knew he couldn't trust him, but at the same time Eddie had never done anything to hurt him so he figured he would be safer around Eddie than around his uncle.

After a good hour in the shower the hot water had gone cold so Shawn had to get out. Shawn wrapped a towel around himself and went over to the mirror. Shawn didn't want to do it, but he knew he had to. Shawn rubbed his hand against the mirror and he couldn't believe how bad he looked. His face was all black and blue. He had a cut on the side of his head again almost right where it was the last time. His right eye was swollen shut and Shawn figured he would need to ice it, but he knew that wouldn't happen here so it probably wouldn't happen. Shawn then looked down at his torso and saw that he was just black and blue. Shawn was no doctor but he could tell that he had some bruised ribs, if not a broken one. Shawn looked like he got hit by a truck and he knew he should be getting checked out for any internal problems, but that wasn't simple. That would bring questions and the police and he would have to try and figure out a lie, because if he didn't he would just end up in the system in some foster home. That was one thing Shawn didn't want more than anything in this world. He would rather risk living here than in some foster home. Shawn would just suffer through it like he had in the past. He was in a lot of pain so he just opened the medicine cabinet and took out some Motrin. He took two of them before he opened the door and poked his head out. He could hear his uncle still snoring so Shawn left the bathroom and quickly got dressed. Shawn looked out the window and saw that there was a blizzard out there. Shawn knew he was going to be frozen within minutes, but he wasn't going to be staying here any longer than he had to. Shawn grabbed all of his things including the school camera before he grabbed his jacket and headed out of the trailer. Shawn didn't even have a winter jacket just his normal leather jacket so the cold hit him instantly and it burned his face. Shawn didn't know where he was gonna go, but he knew he wasn't going to be staying in the trailer park. Shawn headed out of the park and started to walk down the street. He got about ten blocks before he saw a pick-up truck sitting at someone's house. He saw Eddie sitting in the passenger seat. Shawn figured that Eddie knew the person who lived there. What surprised Shawn was the fact that Eddie got out of the truck and headed over to Shawn. Shawn noticed that Eddie had a nice thick and warm winter jacket so the cold didn't even hit him. Shawn had been shivering and he was sure his lips were already turning blue. His hands were freezing because he didn't have gloves and there were holes in his pockets of his jacket so the cold still hit him no matter where his hands were. For an instant Shawn thought he saw concern and anger in Eddie's eyes before it was gone.

"What the hell are you doing out in this?" Eddie asked trying to sound calm, but he wasn't pulling it off quite well.

"Walking." Shawn said as his teeth chattered.

"I need to talk to you. Get in the truck." Eddie said as he turned and went back over to the truck not even bothering to let Shawn reply.

Shawn figured he would at least be warmer for a few minutes so he followed Eddie without protest and got into the back of the truck. He noticed that the heat was cranked up and Shawn figured it was for him and not for Eddie.

"I want in." Shawn said before Eddie spoke.

"You still working at the factory?" Eddie asked as he looked at Shawn through the rear-view mirror.

"Ya, supposed to be there tonight, but I'm gonna have to call in sick I think. What do I have to do?"

"You unload the trucks right?"

"Ya every night. I'm the new guy so I'm the last to leave. The place was closed last night for its regular inspection, but it's closed again in two days."

"Why?"

"No one knows this. Everyone was told it was for another inspection, but it's not. I overheard the boss talking to someone in his office. The security cameras have been messing up. They are installing a new set in three days. The other ones won't be working in two days so they are closing it down so no one is there while they work on repairing the cameras. In two days the whole place is gonna be full, because of the trucks not being there the next morning to load up. All of those electronics will be there. Roughly half a mil of them will be there. Everything from small radios to high quality TV's and computers. Expensive things."

"So we would have a window to get things out. How is it stored? Is it still code access?"

"Ya, but everyone has the same code and because of the cameras not working the security isn't working right so it doesn't log when the doors are locked or unlocked. I work in two days and I'll be the last one there. I can use my code to open the storage spaces and you can do whatever to get everything out. It'll be two days before they even know something is missing and they won't know who did it."

"We can work with that. We got some guys who can drive a big rig we can load it up and take the haul away. It'll be good money. I want to make this clear though if you want in then you are in. You can't flip flop back and forth within the crew when you just need money. If you do this then you are in the crew which means you hang with us and party with us. You keep your mouth shut and don't turn on us and you get the same respect. You respect the crew and the crew will respect you."

"I'm in. I'll respect them as long as they respect me."

"They will. It helps that I'm your brother so this stunt will get you the buy in. Not everyone gets the same cut though. You are the new guy which means you take the small piece of the pie. A haul this big you are looking at anywhere between eight to ten large. It would be enough for your first and last month deposit on a place and some rent saved up."

"If I can find someone who will rent to a fifteen year old." Shawn said in a dead tone.

"I know someone who can hook you up with a place no problem. I'll get in contact with him, but it's gonna take roughly two weeks before we can see a profit from the goods. We have to sell them off fast, but it will still take two weeks at most to get your cut. You got a bag with you so you're not going back to Ralph's I take it."

"I can't ever go back there Eddie." Shawn said with nothing, but pain in his voice as he fought the tears back.

"Then you don't go back. I was hoping he wouldn't do anything like that to you." Eddie said with anger.

"Like what?"

"Remember how I told you I left after he broke my jaw?"

"Ya"

"He broke my jaw, because I wouldn't suck him off. He thought if my jaw was broken I wouldn't have a say. Only I grabbed a knife off the kitchen counter and stabbed him in the arm with it then took off. I never went back. Got a place with the guy I'm living with right now and never looked back. I can see it in your eyes that he tried something with you. Those bruises are a result of it."

"I don't want to talk about it. I just don't ever want to go back."

"And you don't have to the crew will take care of you little brother. We're criminals but we take care of our own. Where are you staying now?"

"I don't know yet."

"Well you can crash at my place until you get your own. Once you get your money you can move into your new place. I'll speak to my guy and make sure you have something. I live with my buddy though so you'll be on the couch. You can't stay tonight though because no one will be there. We're heading out of town for the night. Isn't there some place you can crash for the night? What about your little friend with the curly hair." Eddie suggested.

"No I can't go there. We haven't really be on the best of terms recently. He's been on my case about school. We don't hang out anymore and I'm hardly at school. I can't go to his place. Plus his folks will just hound me with questions that I'm not going to answer."

"You two used to be really close. You shouldn't just give that up."

"Why do you care? I threaten to call the cops on you how do I know you won't call the cops on me?"

"Because you are sitting in this truck. You threatened to call the cops when I threatened someone who you consider to be family. You were protecting family the best way you knew how. I can't hold that against you even though it pissed me off at the time. I haven't been much of a brother to you and I'm not about to turn into this loving brother, but I can teach you how to survive out here. And I can keep you away from Uncle Ralph and his sick hands. I got no hard feelings little brother. Is there some other place besides the street that you can sleep tonight?"

"I don't know maybe. I have a teacher that I crashed at his place the first time Uncle Ralph beat me up like this. I might be able to crash at his place."

"Will he call the cops?"

"Not if I tell him not to. He didn't the last time. I can make sure he doesn't."

"Where does he live?"

"Down on Eighth Ave."

"So not far from downtown. We can drop you off so you don't get pneumonia. Where is your winter jacket?"

"I don't have one."

Eddie just shook his head. He knew his uncle was not one to help someone out. He was more interested in money and getting drunk. Eddie knew Shawn wouldn't last living with him. Eddie was surprised that Shawn had lasted this long though. Eddie knew he would have to correct a few things. Before Eddie could say anything else the driver's door opened and a guy got into the seat. Shawn noticed that the guy was a little older than Eddie and he didn't seem happy to see Shawn in the truck.

"Who the fuck is he?" The man growled out.

"Relax he's my little brother. Be nice he just gave us an in on a huge score I'm talking half a mil huge." Eddie said.

The man turned around in his seat to look at Shawn. The injuries on Shawn's face didn't go unnoticed.

"How did you pull that off?" The man asked Shawn.

"I work at the place." Shawn answered calmly.

"He's square I can vouch for him." Eddie said.

"Fine by me. I'm Dave. Who are you?"

"Shawn."

"Well Shawn welcome to the family. That still doesn't answer what he's doing in my truck though." Dave said as he turned back around and looked over at Eddie.

"We are giving him a lift to a place on Eighth where he's crashing at until we get back tomorrow. Then he's crashing on our couch for a couple of weeks till he gets sorted in his own place."

"As long as it's only a couple of weeks fine."

"It will be. I know a guy that can get him set with his own place. He just needs to crash until we get the payout."

"Alright, where on Eighth?" Dave asked Shawn looking into the rear-view mirror.

"On the corner of Eighth and Vine."

Dave put the truck in drive and headed down the street. Shawn didn't talk he just sat there and listened to Dave and Eddie talk about the heist and what they would need to get setup within the next two days as that was their only window where Shawn couldn't be made as the inside man. It was only a twenty minute drive and once there Dave stopped and Shawn looked up to see that Mr. Turner had his lights on so Shawn was thankful for that. In that moment Shawn realised that he didn't even know what time it was. Shawn looked at the clock radio in the truck and saw that it was just after four and Shawn couldn't help, but wonder how long he was unconscious for.

"Thanks for the ride." Shawn said to Dave.

"No problem. Will you be here tomorrow?" Dave asked.

"I don't know. I should be at school."

"Here take my cell number down. Let me know where you are and I can pick you up." Eddie said.

"Ok"

Shawn looked through his bag till he found a piece of paper and a pen. Eddie told him his cell phone number and Shawn took it down. Shawn then grabbed his bag and got out of the truck and into the blazing cold of the blizzard. The heat from the truck had helped to take some of the cold out of Shawn's bones, but it didn't fix it completely, so being out in the cold was only making him shiver all over again. Shawn headed over to the door and opened it. He turned to look outside and saw that the truck was still there and it didn't leave until he was inside. Shawn headed upstairs to where Mr. Turner's apartment was. Shawn didn't know how this was going to go over, but he figured that he had a better shot at it with Mr. Turner than with the Matthews and it was better here than out in the cold. Shawn got to Mr. Turner's door and he took a shaky breath to calm his nerves and the uncontrollable shivering in his body from the cold and the pain. Shawn raised a shaky hand and he knocked on the door before he lost his edge. After a moment the door opened and Shawn could feel the warmth from the heat of the room hitting him from out in the hallway. He could also clearly see the shock and concern on Mr. Turner's face as his eyes landed on Shawn.

"Hey" Shawn said slightly unsure of himself and the way that Mr. Turner was looking at him.

"Shawn, what the hell?" Mr. Turner asked finally finding his voice.

"I don't want to talk about it." Shawn said calmly.

"You don't want to talk about it? Get inside." Mr. Turner said calmly, but Shawn could tell he wasn't happy about any of this.

Shawn walked inside carefully as his ribs were really starting to hurt and the pain was taking a toll on him. Once inside Mr. Turner closed and locked the front door before he turned to Shawn.

"Sit down Shawn." Mr. Turner said after a moment where no one spoke. Mr. Turner took that moment to calm himself down and remind himself that he was dealing with a fifteen year old and not an adult.

Shawn sat down, but it wasn't because he was told to, it was because he was so exhausted mentally and emotionally he didn't think he could stand anymore. Shawn sat down on the one end of the couch and Mr. Turner sat down on the other cushion. He wanted to be close enough to look at Shawn's injuries, but not too close to bother Shawn.

"Let me look at you." Mr. Turner said calmly as he brought his right hand up to look at Shawn's face. The swollen eye bothered him and Mr. Turner wasn't sure if Shawn should be in the hospital right now or not.

"I'm fine." Shawn said as his teeth continued to chatter and his body shiver.

"You are not fine. I should take you to the hospital and get checked out properly Shawn."

"I'm not going and you can't make me." Shawn said with a slight panic to his voice.

"Shawn, you are seriously hurt. I can only see your face and I know the rest of you must be this hurt. You could have something broken or worse bleeding internally. We really should go and get you checked out." Mr. Turner said calmly trying to get the panic that Shawn felt under control.

"You can't make me go. You can't make me do anything. It's my choice. I don't want to be forced anymore. I didn't want it and I won't be forced anymore." Shawn said as the tears he had been holding back started to come forth once again. Now that he was in a place he knew he would be safe in, around someone who he knew wouldn't hurt him. Shawn found that he couldn't hold back anymore.

Shawn sniffed to try and stop the tears, but he couldn't fight them all back. A few escaped and that sent alarm bells ringing in Mr. Turner's head.

"Ok Shawn it's ok calm down. I'm not forcing you to do anything." Mr. Turner said calmly as he held his hands out to show he wasn't going to hurt Shawn.

"I didn't want it. Oh God." Shawn put his head in his hands as the tears just poured out.

He wasn't able to stop them now that his mind had registered him being safe. He didn't even notice that Mr. Turner had taken Shawn in his arms and held him as he cried his heart and soul out. Mr. Turner did the only thing he could do and he just told Shawn that he was safe and that everything would be ok, even though Mr. Turner knew that wasn't going to be true. Shawn never said it, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what he was saying. Shawn had been raped, these injuries came from him being raped by someone, by some man. Mr. Turner didn't know any specifics as Shawn was in no state to tell him anything or even admit to it. Mr. Turner couldn't help, but wonder why he wasn't at home telling his uncle or even at the Matthews. Shawn came here to him for a reason and he was hoping that reason wasn't because he felt like he couldn't go home to tell his own uncle. After twenty minutes Shawn was finally able to get control over himself and he pulled away. He carefully wiped the tears off from his face, the hiss of pain didn't go unnoticed by Mr. Turner.

"Sorry I shouldn't have come here. I'm gonna go." Shawn said as he got up to leave, but Mr. Turner speaking stopped him.

"You aren't leaving here Shawn, especially alone. Just take a moment to breathe and let's talk about this."

"There's no point. You're just going to try and convince me to go to the hospital and I won't. So there's no point. I shouldn't have come."

"Shawn, listen to me for a minute. I get that you don't want to be in the hospital. I would imagine being in a place where they have to run tests on you is the last place you want to be. You need those tests though, you need to get checked out to make sure you are okay. The man who hurt you could have passed something on to you, a disease and it could make you really sick or even kill you. There could be evidence that the police can use to arrest and charge this man."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I was jumped. You can't get a disease from being beat up. I'm not calling the police and I'm not going to the hospital." Shawn said on edge.

"Ok just take a breath Shawn, just calm down for a minute." Mr. Turner said calmly. He could tell he was losing Shawn and he didn't want Shawn to run away. He couldn't be out in this weather and he was too injured to be out in the streets.

Shawn got up and Mr. Turner knew it was like speaking to a caged animal. Shawn wanted to run and Mr. Turner needed him to calm down so he could keep him there.

"I'm not going to the hospital. Nothing happened. It's not a big deal. I just need a place to crash for the night. I don't need the police. I won't talk to them." Shawn said as he paced around.

"Shawn, look at me please." Mr. Turner said calmly.

Shawn stopped pacing and looked at Mr. Turner.

"I can't make you go to the hospital and I can't make you talk to the police. It's your choice and I can't make you do something you don't want to do. So why don't you sit down and I will get you some ice for your eye and we can just talk. You can crash here tonight you know you are always welcome to stay here I told you that. Just come sit down and we can just relax and talk."

Shawn gave a shaky nod before he went and sat back down on the couch. Mr. Turner got up and went over to his freezer and grabbed an ice pack. He went back over to the couch and handed it to Shawn as he spoke.

"You need to try and get that swelling down on your eye. I know you're in pain, but does anything feel broken or is there anywhere that there is too much pain?"

"No, I don't think so. Nothing feels broken."

"Did you take anything for the pain?"

"Ya I took two Motrin."

"Where is your winter coat?"

"I'm wearing it." Shawn said as the exhaustion was creeping up in his voice. Shawn also figured the headache he had was partly because of the hangover he no doubt had.

"That's not a winter jacket Shawn, that's a spring, fall jacket. You're going to get sick being out in this weather in just that jacket." Mr. Turner said calmly.

"It's fine I'm used to wearing it. If it gets too cold I'll just buy one. Should probably buy some gloves though."

"You don't have gloves?"

"No, never got any."

"I have a few pair around here. You can use one of mine. You need gloves Shawn, your fingers will fall off being out in this weather without gloves."

"It's getting pretty cold out ya."

"You got your bag with you. Are you going somewhere?" Mr. Turner asked calmly.

"Moving in with my brother tomorrow. Just needed a place to crash tonight."

"Why aren't you at your Uncle's anymore?" Mr. Turner asked causally.

"It's not working out. Eddie said I could crash at his place."

"Is that safe?"

"He's my brother, why wouldn't it be safe?"

"Well you had that altercation with the video camera. I just didn't know if there were any hard feelings is all."

"No there isn't any hard feelings. He told me he understood why I did it."

"Isn't he a criminal though? I'm not judging I just want to make sure you are safe being there."

"I'm safe there, he's got a job and I still work at the factory."

"Where does he live?"

"I don't know. He's going to pick me up tomorrow. Probably downtown somewhere."

"You know you can stay here. I have that spare room it can have your name all over it. You wouldn't have to worry about work you could just go to school and be fifteen."

"Thanks, but I'm fine with my brother."

"Ok well if you are gonna be downtown that's not far from here. Maybe some nights we can do dinner and just hang out."

"Ya sure."

"Did your brother drop you off here tonight?"

"Ya he's gonna pick me up tomorrow from school."

"Shawn you shouldn't be going to school tomorrow. Not in your state."

"I missed today, we were gonna learn how to develop photos. I know it's stupid and silly, but I really wanted to learn how. I wanted to see how my pictures turned out. Mr. Williams will probably show me tomorrow."

"Ok, well let's see how you feel in the morning. There's no point in you going if you are too sore and in pain to. It won't be enjoyable then. And it's not stupid or silly to be looking forward to something. Do you like photography?"

"Ya, I don't know maybe. I've never done it before."

"I saw the picture you drew. It was amazing Shawn."

"It wasn't anything special I just drew the first thing I saw." Shawn said in a dismissive tone.

"Shawn that was more than nothing. It looked professionally done. I had no idea you could draw like that. Eli even said it was amazing. That's true talent Shawn. You should embrace that and not be doubting yourself or your skills. It was amazing, even George said it was and you know he wouldn't say something like that if he didn't believe it."

"He really liked it?" Shawn asked slightly surprised by that.

"He said it was true talent, something you can't teach anyone. He was very impressed, we all were. Shawn you should keep doing it. It's something real and true. I'm looking forward to seeing what your photos look like too, because if they are anything like you're drawing then they are going to be amazing."

"I don't know. I just took pictures around the trailer park they probably won't turn out that great." Shawn said with a shrug.

"You won't know until you develop them. I think they will turn out nice though. Are you hungry at all?"

"No. I'm tired though. Would it be okay if I just go lay down?"

"Ya go for it. You can shower if you want to try and warm up first. There's towels and everything you need there."

"Ya ok I might do that first. It got really cold out this week."

"Ya it did. January always does though. It'll start to get warmer next month and soon it will be so hot everyone will be complaining."

"Usually works that way eh? I think I am going to shower and then get some sleep. Thanks for letting me crash here tonight."

"Hey no problem. I told you anytime you need a warm bed it's here for you. If you need me just come and get me. In the morning we can see how you feel about going to school."

"Ya ok."

Shawn got up and put the ice pack back in the freezer before he grabbed his bag and headed for the bathroom. Shawn knew that Jonathan wasn't happy about him not going to the hospital or calling the police, but Shawn wasn't about to do that. He would have just lied and said he was jumped. He wasn't about to go someplace and get poked and prod at after what had happened to him. He just wanted to forget it and that was his plan. He was no longer living with his uncle he was going to crash at Eddie's place and then get his own place. It would work out for Shawn once he had his own place. He knew he would have to keep up with the rent and bills, but at least it was his own place where he was safe. Shawn headed into the bathroom to take a hot shower before he could go and get some sleep.

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Eddie and Dave drove three hours to get to their buddy's bar. They had wanted to get out of town and hang out with an old buddy of theirs and this would also give them the time to talk about the heist without being overheard by someone in their own town. When they arrived at the bar they went over to Mitch and said hello. He was the owner of the bar so they would be getting drinks for free tonight plus a place to crash later before they headed back out for home. After they said hello they both grabbed a beer before they headed over to the V.I.P. section to sit and talk in private. Mitch made sure the door was closed so they wouldn't be disturbed or overheard.

"How have you guys been?" Mitch asked once the door was closed.

"Not too bad. You?" Eddie asked.

"Business is great as usual. It's good to have you both up here to party with me tonight. It gets boring after a while." Mitch said with a smile.

"Ya I bet it does. Being around all these drunk and beautiful women." Dave joked.

"It gets tiring after a while. But the view is still great." Mitch joked back.

"You still got that big rig?" Eddie asked.

"Ya why?"

"I need to rent it out." Eddie answered.

"You got a job coming up?" Mitch asked as he got serious.

"Big one. We get a few trucks we are looking at easily half a mil plus depending how much we can fit in a truck."

"Where the hell are you getting that?" Mitch asked with serious interest.

"My kid brother works at a factory down on the docks. He has the perfect window for us in two days. We can clear the whole place out if we have the space in one hit. We just need the trucks and we can load up and go."

"Two days eh? How does he have this window?" Mitch asked.

"The cameras will be down so no one can work there. All day and night the place will be empty without security. Everyone has the same access code so no one will know it was him and link it back to any of us. He wants in the crew and this is his buy in. It's full of high end electronics just waiting to be taken."

"The kid seemed solid to me. He was beat up all to hell. He needs out of the place he's at and this is his way." Dave said.

"I got some buddies that have trucks they could lend them to you for a fee of course. You got enough drivers for five trucks?" Mitch asked.

"We got the drivers. What kind of fee are we talking here?" Eddie asked.

"A grand a pop for the night. Same goes for me. I don't want my hands dirty, but it cost money to rent trucks and use them. What do you say?"

"Get them and they will get their money as long as they are willing to wait the week for it." Eddie said.

"They'll wait if I tell them you are good for it." Mitch said.

"Then get them and we will pick them up in two days." Dave said.

"Done deal. Always a pleasure doing business with you both. This kid brother of yours how old is he?" Mitch asked.

"Fifteen." Eddie answered.

"And he was beat up by your old man or someone?" Mitch asked.

"Our uncle Ralph. He got it pretty bad." Eddie said.

"The same that broke your jaw?" Dave asked.

"Yup. Our dad took off after his mom and just left him at our uncle's doorstep and he hasn't come back since. Our uncle is making him work in the factory just like he did me only my kid brother is getting ten bucks a day to do it. He needs out of that place and I am going to make sure he gets there."

"Why? You've never even mentioned him before. Why do you care now?" Mitch asked calmly.

"Just cause I never mentioned him before don't mean I don't care about him. He's still my kid brother. I was in his life when he was younger before our dad kicked me out. I was the one that took care of him when our dad was too drunk to even stand. I stole from people to make sure he had food to eat. I wasn't the best brother and I haven't been in the last few years, but he's still my kid brother. I'm not gonna leave him in someplace where he is getting the shit kicked out of him all the time. Tomorrow I'll go and find Chris and speak to him about getting my brother a place to live. He's done it before with teenagers he can do it for Shawn. Until then he's crashing at our place."

"He was pretty beat up. He looked like shit and that's only what we could see. He didn't even have a winter jacket or nothing. Just this spring leather coat that was ripped up. It was kinda hard to say no to the kid to crashing at our place." Dave said.

"Children being abused is never a good feeling. At least he can get his own place where he will be safe. Chris will make it happen it's what he does. It sounds to me that you are in need of some fun Eddie. Let's party and then tomorrow we can sort out the details of everything." Mitch said with a smile.

"Sounds good to me."

The three of them spent the night drinking and dancing with different girls. Come tomorrow they would sort everything out and then head back to town. Eddie would speak with Chris and then pick up his brother so they could get everything set for the heist in two days. For tonight they were both able to fall asleep knowing that Shawn was safe.