AN: Thanks for the reviews! They were positive, for the most part, so I've decided to continue. I hope I'll get better as time goes on - It takes me awhile to feel characters out.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, or Thirteen.

Summary: Classic how Danny met Rusty story. Seventeen-year-old Rusty hates being tossed around in the foster system… Until he lands with the Oceans. They're nice enough people (if a bit strict) and their wayward son occasionally stops by for a visit. But when Mr. and Mrs. Ocean start to express an interest in his future, how can he tell them that he wants to be a thief? Eventual Danny/Rusty.

So, let's try another chapter, shall we? This one will be a little further along - half way through Rusty's senior year. You might notice that he, and Danny, have changed a bit in that time. Hope you like it.

"MR. RYAN!"

Mrs. Bryant had a high-pitched voice, so the shout carried across the hallway, even though it was flooded with students preparing for their next class. They had frozen at the sound, books poised half-way to lockers, couples completely still in each other's arms, and conversations forgotten. Only one person seemed unaffected by the oncoming disaster and that was the person the vice principal was making a bee-line for - Rusty Ryan, who was leaning against his ex-girlfriend's locker just to piss her off and had a Tootsie Pop poking out of the corner of his mouth. The suckers were a perfect way for him to keep his mouth shut and stay out of trouble (something Danny had stressed on his last visit). He didn't think they'd be much help now.

"You, Mr. Ryan, are suspended!" Mrs. Bryant screeched when she was upon him, pointing an accusing finger. "You're lucky you're not expelled! Hacking into school files, selling illegal merchandise, and now stealing your teacher's car? This has got to stop!"

Rusty threw the rest of his sucker away - he couldn't fully enjoy it with her yapping at him - and put on his best disinterestedly curious face. Yes, he was aware it was an oxymoron.

"That's too bad," he commented, shifting around in his backpack for his physics book. "Mr. Buford was starting his astrophysics lab tomorrow. I was looking forward to it."

The problem with pinning Rusty with anything was his outstanding grades and attitude towards his teachers and peers. The lowest letter he'd gotten this year was a B in AP Literature, mainly caused by his lack of time to read the assigned books (not his inability to), and he hadn't so much as talked back to a teacher since he'd been enrolled. His fellow seniors - football players, drug dealers, scholars, drama queens and kings, and thieves like him - were all in good standing with him as he was with them. Low profile was the best way to play it, Danny had told him. It was a valuable asset to have friends everywhere, for when situations like the current one occurred. Even if some of those friends were dumb enough to let slip a few of his schemes. Beggars can't be choosers, right?

"That may be so, but I'm not falling for your golden child act," Mrs. Bryant said, though her gaze had softened. "You have a problem, Rusty. And I'm sure it's not really your fault. Micheal Ocean isn't known for being the kindest of people and I can understand why you're rebelling. Danny did it, too, when he was here. Bless the poor boy…"

This was the first time Rusty had heard anything from the faculty about Danny. Time to play his trump card.

"I'd really, really appeciate it if you could just give me dentetion for the month. The rest of the year, if that's what it takes," Rusty wanted to cringe at the pleading tone, but this was his character. He couldn't mess it up now. "Being home for that long might drive me crazy."

Translating to: Please don't leave me alone with my mean, abusive foster parent. He might actually kill me this time. Or, at least, that was what he wanted her to hear. In reality, Micheal hadn't touched him. He'd come close, but those anger management classes had apparently done the trick.

"Rusty…" the vice principal sighed, and he knew he had her. "Just this once. If something major happens again, I'll be forced to expell you. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," he muttered, fiddling with a candy wrapper in his pocket as the class bell rang. "It won't happen again."

Several hours later found Rusty walking home from school, exhausted from the act he'd had to pull after his teachers had found out that he was the one behind everything. Contrite wasn't exactly his forte. He was never sorry for things he said or did. There was a story behind that, but he wasn't about to dwell on it at the moment. All he wanted was to get the argument over with the Oceans, lock himself in his and Danny's room, and sleep until dawn. Or until Danny showed up, whichever came first.

"Bad day?"

And Danny always came first.

"Mrs. Bryant found out everything," Rusty explained with a shrug, taking out a new Tootsie Pop from the depths of his jacket. He wanted to be able to finish at least one today. "Threatened suspension, but eventually gave up after I pulled the abused child façade on her. She apparently has had trouble with Micheal before."

A leading statement, if there ever was one. Danny had talked about his experiences with his father about as much as Rusty had talked about the incident that put his parents in jail. Not at all. The older of the duo remained silent for a few moments. They weren't tense, but not quite comfortable. Finally, and with some measure of knowing it would happen, Rusty saw Danny crack that easy grin that he used when he was trying to forget something. If Danny wanted that, then so be it. There were things Rusty would rather forget, too.

"She falls for that bit every time."

I'm sorry, but neither of us are ready for this conversation.

They spent the rest of the walk home discussing how the old man working the register at the corner store (who had been there since Danny was born) creeped them out whenever they went shopping alone. The man was almost ninety, he shouldn't be looking at anyone in an 'appreciative' manner, especially not young boys. Rusty was about to make a joke pertaining to how the man's wife must feel, whom they'd both met, when Brenda's voice cut him off. They hadn't been paying attention to how close they'd come to the house. And Mrs. Ocean did not look happy.

"No wonder he has detention," she muttered angrily, glaring at her son. "You've been putting ideas into his head."

Danny didn't deny it and stepped back to let Rusty handle the situation. You need to learn how to deal with these things. Rusty took a deep breath and sent him a cool glance. I know that.

"He hasn't been putting ideas in my head," Rusty said as honestly as he could when it was a lie. Which was pretty honest, considering he was a wonderful liar. "I met him on my first night here. He's had several chances to teach me to steal or kidnap me into his world, but he hasn't. In fact, he's the only reason I haven't quit school and run away."

Half of that was true, which made it a lot more convincing. Danny looked subtly impressed. Did you already have this speech planned out? The corners of Rusty's lips twitched. Just a little.

"I apologize," Brenda said evenly, forcing a smile. "Danny hasn't been to visit us since he left. I guess I'm still a little angry that he never told his own mother what his profession was until the last minute and then snuck out in the middle of the night."

There was a reason for that.

I have no doubt.

"I'll see you later, Danny," Rusty said, brushing past Brenda to enter the house.

Danny looked at his mother. She looked at him. An uspoken agreement seemed to pass through the air between them. If you do anything to hurt him, I'll kill you.

"Goodbye, son," Brenda spoke unsteadily, plainly startled by the vehemence in his eyes.

"I'll be back," he responded with determination, turning towards the street. "You won't be able to keep him, you know."

Brenda bristled, irrationally angry.

"Neither will you."

"I know," Danny sounded almost sad. "But at least he's not afraid of me."

He walked away and Brenda was left speechless. Leaning against the wall next to the ajar front door, Rusty couldn't decide if he wanted to smile or cry.

AN: (sigh) I'm not even satisfied with this chapter. Do you think it was all right? Ah, at least it was fun to write. It's not like I'm a professional writer, or anything…