Chapter two

math tutor

"So the answer is?" Peter asked drawing on the is as he stood up.

"Um..." Claire said biting her lower lip as she glared at the paper, she looked up at Peter again just as he was coming back over to her, "x equals 4?"

"Yes," Peter said with a smile as he sat down again and squeezed her shoulder, "That's great Claire, do you think you could pass that test if you could take it again?" Peter asked wondering if there really was a way he could work it so Claire could retake the stupid math test.

"I think I could at least get a B if not an A, but do you think there is anyway I could retake it? If I could retake it, maybe I wouldn't have to sit out a game that way." Claire said hopeful sparkle entering her eyes.

"Well maybe you should talk to your dad about it, I bet he could get you a retake," Peter said with a smile.

I think I will," Claire said with a smile of her own.

"I think you've got it now though, at least for this quarter, I'm willing to help you with anything else you need, anytime kiddo," Peter said as Claire closed her math book.

"Thanks Uncle Peter, I'm sure I'll take you up on that more then once throughout the year," Claire said with a smile.

"You've got it Claire, you just needed some one on one time," Peter said really enjoying the time he was having with niece.

"Yeah I got it and it only took," Claire said looking at her watch, "Four hours-four hours! Oh dang its six thirty, I got to go."

"You know what I'm off in fifteen minutes, why don't you just wait and I'll take you home," Peter said as she started to stuff her books back into her back pack.

"Um...okay, I just have to be home in time for dinner," Claire said as she stood up.

"No problem," Peter said with a smile as he went back to work.

Twenty five minutes later Peter and Claire were walking through Claire's door. "Dad, Heidi I'm home!" Claire called out.

"You're cutting it kind of close aren't you?" Nathan said as he walked into the hallway, he was surprised to see his younger brother standing there with his daughter, "Hey Pete, what are you doing here?"

"I thought I would bring Claire home since it was starting to get dark," Peter said with a smile handing the back pack the he had slung over his shoulder to his niece.

"Oh thanks, so Claire did you get some help with that math?" Nathan asked looking from his brother to his daughter.

"Yeah, I think I get it now, at least this quarter," Claire said with a smile as she looked at her uncle, "Do you think you could help me get a retake?"

Nathan nodded, "I'll see what I can do sweetie," he turned to Peter, "Thanks for bringing her home Pete."

"No problem, I should get home," Peter said as he headed for the door.

"Uncle Peter, do you want stay for dinner?" Claire asked with a smile.

"No thanks Claire bear, I need to try to get some sleep," Peter said rubbing Claire's shoulder.

"Its seven fifteen Pete, its a little early for bed, beside you've got eat, why don't you stay?" Nathan said taking at better look at Peter and seeing that he really did look tired.

"No, I'll grab something when I get home," Peter said as he headed once again for the door.

"Peter if you can't stay take this with you," Heidi appeared in the hallway, holding a bag in her hand, "Its my sister's special chicken."

Peter sighed and nodded, "Okay, thanks Heidi."

"Anytime," Heidi said with a smile.

"Pete-are you sure you're okay?" Nathan asked putting his hand on his brother's shoulder.

Peter shrugged off his brother's hand and looked from Claire to Heidi to Nathan, "I'm fine, really just tired."

"Uncle Peter-," Claire started, she was getting a little worried about him.

"I'm fine Claire, I'll talk to you guys tomorrow," and with that Peter walked out the door.

"Dad?" Claire asked later that night as Nathan came out of her brother, Monty's room.

Nathan closed the door quietly behind him before answering her, "Yeah Claire bear?"

"I'm worried about Uncle Peter, he seemed really tired like he's not getting enough sleep," Claire said, she wasn't sure if she should tell him about her uncle's dreams, she didn't know that much about them since he didn't seem like he really wanted to talk about them with her but she knew he was having them.

"I know Claire, he looked extremely tired, I wish I knew why," Nathan said rubbing the back of his next, Claire could see that he really was worried about her Uncle, Nathan looked up at Claire and saw that she was biting her lip, "Claire-do you know something I don't?"

"No-yes-no, well yes and no," Claire said trying to figure out how to say it.

"What do you mean yes and no?" Nathan asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"When I first saw him this afternoon, he had fallen asleep in a chair, dad, he told me he's been having a lot of dreams lately," Claire said breaking into the story of the day.

"What kind of dreams?" Nathan said, wondering if Peter had shared the story of the dreams with his daughter.

"He didn't tell me, as soon as I asked him he changed the subject to math," Claire said making a face at the word math.

"You know I think I might pay Peter a visit at work tomorrow, so we can have another chat," Nathan said, he saw Claire smile knowing that was what she wanted.

"Thanks dad, I would feel better if you did, I know he'll listen to you and if he won't talk to me, maybe he'll talk to you," Claire said as she began walking to her room.

"Lets hope he'll talk to me," Nathan said.

Claire smiled, "Good night daddy."

"Good night Claire bear," Nathan said with a smile. Though as soon as Claire closed her door the smile was gone, Nathan was worried about his brother. They had talked about certain dreams before and he was hoping that they weren't the same ones.