Left Behind

Chapter 2: Brother

Blake Taylor leaned against the side wall of the Kansas City Train Station. Half hidden in the shadows of the building, he could easily go unnoticed by passing people. Even with the warmer weather, he still wore his faded jeans and zipped hooded sweatshirt, while others, were wearing their t-shirts and shorts. He was fifteen and living on the streets. He wasn't alone though. He had friends in the same position as him. They were all placed in the same Child Protection Services, years ago for different reasons, his more tragic than the others. All of them had bad experiences with their foster homes so they all banded together and decided they wanted out of the system. So the four of them did just that. The lived off stealing and sneaking into bars to hustle for cash. It kept them alive for now, but he and his gang were running low. This led Blake to the station. The beginning of spring got people out of their houses and onto the streets, into the malls, and apparently the train station.

He grinned to himself underneath his cap. Crowds of people were stalled in line ups, just waiting to get their wallets picked up. He surveyed the crowd as the rush of people condensed onto the platform. A loud whistle sounded, alerting them of the oncoming train. As he merged into the crowd, a small figure out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. A few people bumped into his back muttering at the stalled teenager but Blake paid them no mind. Flashes of his past life shot through his mind as he gazed, frozen, at the small boy. Sitting not ten feet away on a bench the boy sat, a teddy under one arm, the other wrapped around is middle, eyes searching and staring at passing figures. The little boys gaze landed on the teens face, tears streaking down. Blake stared back and made a decision. He was hoping the right one. And so he took a step forward. At his movement the boy's gaze scampered away, his hold on the stuffed animal getting tighter.

Swallowing deeply, Blake sat beside the kid and turned to him. The boy stared ahead, trying to ignore the stranger.

"Hey." He said softly. The boy shifted away slightly. Blake took in the unusual attire that the boy was wearing. He chuckled.

"Love the pants, kid." Still not so much as a glance. Blake sighed.

"My names Blake." Hoping to get a response of him. The kid turned and Blake's heart beat faster. So much like his brother. And there he realized why he was drawn to the small boy.

"Yous a stranger." The soft voice murmured. "Not supposed to talk to strangers."

Blake smiled. "Not so much, I told you my name. We aren't strangers anymore then, are we?"

The boy shook his head, seeming to agree with his logic.

"You have a name?"

"Dean." The boy whispered, still unsure of him.

Blake glanced around. "Where are your parents, Dean?"

"The train eated them up!" The look on the boys face told him he was terrified. Not surprisingly if you thought your parents were eaten by a huge machine. Blake frowned. The boy was here alone? For how long? Shit, he thought, and rolled his eyes. What had he gotten into himself now?

"How long have you been sitting here?"

Dean shrugged his shoulders, and started to relax in Blake's presence as he scooted closer, feeling no threat from the youth.

"Been forever." Dean clutched his animal closer, a shiver wracking his small body. Blake rubbed his forehead and jerked his head to the right when his ears picked up a low whistle.

He saw Charlie, his best friend, signal him over. He noticed that the crowd had dispersed when the last train left and so did his possible earnings for the day.

He stood and after a check on Dean, he sauntered over to his friend, across the platform.

"Dude, what the hell?" that was preceded by a slug to the arm.

Blake scowled."What?"

"You done chatting it up with the toddler?"

Blake rolled his eyes. "I think he's lost."

Charlie had a puzzled look on his face. "Lost how? Like how I was abandoned lost, or he's been misplaced, lost?"

Blake sighed. "He could be just like us, Charlie." He turned his face from looking at the boy, to face his friend. "Alone."

"He's not our problem man." Charlie pleaded. They did not need to get involved with the law anytime soon. But Charlie could see the war going on in his friends face. Young kids were always a sore spot for him. But hell, they weren't a shelter.

"So what? We're going to leave him here?" Blake stated incredulously.

"He could just be lost, Blake, and his parents are probably looking for him." Charlie felt Blake tense.

"Looks just like him, Charlie." Blake whispered. Charlie nodded sympathetically. He was the only one who knew of Blake's past.

"Like, Jeremy?"

"Yeah."

Charlie looked at his friend. He sighed loudly. Auhhhhh!

"Fine!"

Blake's head jerked at him. "Fine, what?"

"We can take him home."

Blake chuckled. "He's not a dog."

"No, he's probably better trained than one."

They were silent.

"This could get messy, Blake."

"Don't care. His parents aren't here, he's alone. I just can't walk away. Not now." A determined look was on Blake's face.

Charlie suddenly clapped his hands together. "Well then, I guess we could find some kind of use for him. Hate to think what Trevor and Desi are going to say."

"Don't really give a damn." Blake murmured.

"Ah, shit." Blake was suddenly gone from Charlie's side and was briskly walking back towards Dean. The crowd started to pick up in intensity as the five o'clock train, the last of the night, was nearing.

During his talk with Charlie, Blake kept an eye on boy across the platform and noticed an older man sit beside Dean who instantly cowarded away. Blake had scowled when this happened. His protective instincts were getting to him already and he visibly tensed. Only when the man kept sliding over closer to Dean did Blake take action.

"Hey." He shouted and stood in front of the man.

"What you want, kid?"

"Just making sure you stay away from my brother, yeah?" The sentence created a pang in his heart.

The old man grumbled and slide back to the opposite side of the bench. Blake still glared after the man until a tug on his shirt moved his attention. Dean had his hand grasped around the sleeve of his shirt so Blake crouched down to his level.

"Yeah?"

"Where are my mommy and daddy?"

How could he tell this kid that they may not come back for him? That they left him here?

"I don't know Dean."

Dean's bottom lip trembled. "I want my mommy."

Even though he had a soft spot for the kid, Blake did not want him to burst into tears. So he said to Dean calmly, "Dean, they might not be coming back." In the adoption centers, you hear many stories; unfortunately those of which have the parents dump their kids off.

"Did I do something bad?"

"A kid like you? Not possible." Blake said, trying to get the kid to smile. He received a shy grin. It was a start.

"Who that?" Blake turned and spotted Charlie over his shoulder.

"This is my best friend, Charlie. Charlie, this is Dean."

Charlie sat in the empty spot beside Dean and held out his hand. "Hey kid."

After a few seconds of silence, Dean responded, "Hey."

"Shy little thing, isn't he?" He gesture to the boy.

Blake defended Dean. "So? He had a traumatic day don't you think?"

Charlie shoved his hands in the air," Okay, okay. Jeez." He smiled good naturedly though.

"What going to happen to me?" Dean shot his big, green eyes over meet Blake's. Blake in turn, exchanged a look with Charlie. Charlie's look clearly stated, your call.

"You're going to stay with us alright?"

Dean was again silent, and seemed to be considering his offer.

"Come on, let's get something to eat." Blake stood and held out his hand.

Dean tentatively took Blake's hand, putting his trust into this unknown teenager and Blake's heart soared.

The train ride to St. Louis was the worst two hours of John and Mary's life. They were getting off in St. Louis and taking a train back to Kansas City. During the trip, neither one had said a word, both lost in their thoughts. Mary would occasionally let out a sob and John just pulled his arm around her tighter, his own emotions threatening to spill out, but needing to be strong for his wife.

"How did this happen." Mary whispered.

John kissed the top of her head, while stroking her hair, "All I know is that I should have been holding Dean, or putting the bags in the train before and then come back for you guys."

Mary sniffed. "If only I wasn't so huge right now, I could've held him, I could have..." John shushed Mary as she started to get worked up. They were both putting blame on themselves.

Mary suddenly let out a gasp. "Matthew."

"Huh?"

Mary sat up straighter and gestured to his pocket. "Matthew was to pick up the car, about now, right? He could be at the train station!"

John instantly fumbled for his phone and dialled, cursing when the voicemail was heard.

Mary slumped back down in defeat, to once again gaze out the window. John stared ahead, hands shaking. Another chance of finding his son. Gone.

The whistle on the train sounded as they reached the St. Louis station and John helped Mary to stand. There was mayhem again as the train emptied out. John grasped his wife's hand tightly, afraid that if he let go, he may lose her as well. What he got was nearly being dragged out of the trains door.

"Mar, slow down."

"No, John we have to get on the next train back to Kansas City."

John pulled her gently back. "And we will. It doesn't leave for another twenty minutes."

"That's too long." Mary's eyes were swollen, her hair mussed up. He lifted her head to meet his eyes.

"We'll find him."

Reviews are love! Give me your thoughts!