Very short end, but it's not the real end. See the bottom of the page for more details.

Disclaimer: Same as alwasy. I own nothing.

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It was a scant hour later when Caleb pulled out of the police station, absolutely amazed at Reid for getting off scott-free, sporting off some bullshit about his mother being called to Florida because her mother was sick with cancer and that she wasn't supposed to be gone so long, but it looked as if his grandmother would only last a few more days.

He had played the part of a grieving bad boy trying to keep on a brave face absolutely beautifully. He had started out with a fuck-off attitude, but then, after the questions started, Reid voice had gone gruff and decidedly more self-defensive, but with a catch in his voice. There was even a moment when he had looked down, blinking rapidly, and the officer, social worker and Caleb had gotten a glimpse of tears, before the bad-boy persona had returned.

He had given the social worker a number to call that was supposed to connect with his mother and then he had been sent away, the social worker convinced that Reid was just a boy trying to appear all tough, but was really a kind and caring child underneath. He was also convinced that Reid's mother had done the right thing in leaving him home to keep up with his studies and shielding him from the heartache of seeing a most-beloved grandmamma pass away.

Caleb shook his head as he glanced over at Reid who was laughing triumphantly in the wind. The kid couldn't lie to save his life, but he could act.

"So, what now?" Caleb asked.

Reid shrugged. "You can just drop me off at home, I suppose," he said.

Caleb frowned at that, but obediently began to head towards the Garwin Estate. He watched Reid out of the corner of his eye before speaking up.

"Are you going to be alright there alone?" he asked.

Reid laughed at him. "Gonna miss me, Danvers?" he goaded.

"No," said Caleb. "Just want to make sure you won't be scared of the dark when it's just you at your house."

"Fuck off," said Reid cheerfully. "Besides, I've got a nightlight. How about you, Danvers. Sleep with the light on?"

"Not all of us are scared of monsters under the bed."

"So yours are in the closet then? Keeping the skeletons company?"

"Something like that," said Caleb vaguely. He pulled into the drive of the Garwin Estate and then turned off the car underneath the terrace leading to the front door. "You've got twenty minutes," he said.

"Twenty minutes for what?" asked Reid.

"To get your stuff and then come back. You're going to stay at my house."

Reid blinked, obviously surprised. Caleb was a little surprised as well. He had toyed with the idea on the way over, but upon looking at the large house, and then back at Reid, he had made a split second decision. He just hoped he wasn't going to regret it.

"I'm staying at your house," Reid repeated.

"Yes. You. My house. Is this a hard concept to understand?"

Reid laughed. "A hard concept? Danvers, you're like Mr. Do Good. You're more uptight than, well, than anyone I've ever met. I don't do good and I sure as hell don't do uptight. You're just asking for bloodshed."

"Maybe," said Caleb. "But if there is bloodshed, it's all going to be from you." He held his breath, hoping he said the right thing to convince Reid to get his stuff. If this tactic didn't work, than he would threaten to tell the social workers, but he was hoping it wouldn't come to that. If it did, than he was sure that Reid would never speak to him again.

Reid raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge, Danvers?"

Caleb released the breath. "More of a stating of a fact."

"Danvers, I could take you any day."

"Well it had better not be now because you only have seventeen minutes to grab your stuff."

Reid grinned, and hopped out of the car, not bothering to open the door. "You're on," he said. "You do realize you'll probably live to regret this decision?" He didn't let Caleb answer, but disappeared behind the front door.

Caleb sat back and sighed. "Most likely," he agreed.

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The End for now, but because of this amazing set-up I have, I will be doing a few follow-up stories in which I develop the relationship b/t Reid and Caleb in a purely plutonic, brotherly way. Like a short series. Excited?