A/N: So, here's the last part of the little drabble before a larger story. That may take a bit of time to get up because of school and what not, and because I want to get the next bit of my Code series up before this.
Thank you to all of my reviewers!
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
---------------------------------------------------------------
"So, he really is staying over than," said Pogue.
It was the day after the two Ipswich's got back from California, the day after Caleb had tried to tell them the first time.
"Yeah," said Caleb. He was at the stove, cooking dinner. Reid was, as usual, out. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays he was out until dinnertime with various friends and on Saturday mornings he was gone as well.
"What brought this on?" Pogue asked. "You weren't that lonely, were you?"
"Heck no," said Caleb. "He came barging in one night at one o clock with a policeman."
"He got arrested?" asked Tyler. "He said he wouldn't get full scale arrested without me."
Caleb and Pogue shot the usually quiet Ipswich a look. Tyler shrugged.
"Nothing big, of course," he said. "Just, you know, graffiti or something."
Caleb and Pogue shook their heads and Caleb continued, not feeling bad about spilling Reid's story because there were no secrets in the Ipswich four.
"Anyway, so I immediately thought that Reid had gotten caught using or had done some serious damage to someone."
"And he hadn't?" asked Pogue.
"No. It turns out his mother had been gone for a while. The 'while' as in enough time for a neighbor to call the cops for neglect."
"Neglect?" asked Pogue. "Reid?"
"Yeah," said Caleb ruefully. "And apparently this wasn't the first time either. So the police made him find a place for the night and then told him to show up at the station in the morning for questioning."
"And he came here?" asked Tyler, raising his eyebrows.
"Just to throw the policeman off. He was actually planning on going over to another friend's house, Joe Greer from school, but he knew that the officer wouldn't leave him there as it isn't exactly parental supervised. But Joe couldn't come pick him up, so he ended up staying here for the night. I grilled him on what was going on, and found out that his mom's been gone for four months."
Pogue gaped; Tyler blinked.
"Four months?" asked Pogue.
Caleb nodded. "From what I've been able to find out, his mom just leaves whenever she feels like it and doesn't give any warning, or a contact number or anything. Reid managed to throw the social workers off when he went into the station, but he's done it before so I guess he has experience in that matter."
"And you took him in," said Pogue.
Caleb shrugged. "I didn't want to leave him alone in the house. He's been there all by himself for too long I think."
"It would explain some of the less endearing qualities about him," said Pogue.
Tyler shrugged. "I figured it was something like that, but I never knew that she was gone for so long. The way Reid talked about it made it seem like she was just never there during the day, going to clubs and meetings and what not."
"Yeah, I think he let us all think that," said Caleb.
"I think you did the right thing," said Pogue. "If you ever get sick of him, let me know and he can stay with me for a bit."
"I don't know," said Tyler. "I think it might be best if he stays here. Maybe he'll learn some self-control and responsibility."
"There is no way I'm going to be responsible for bringing him up," said Caleb. "I'm not his parental unit."
"You don't have to be his dad or anything," said Tyler. "Just, you know, the responsible older brother."
"Except that Reid and I don't get along," said Caleb.
Pogue shrugged. "I don't get along with my sister," he said. "It doesn't mean that I don't look out for her; and her for me. I think Ty has a point."
Caleb frowned but didn't say anything. It was the silence that let them hear the sound of a very loud, rattling, spluttering engine pull up into the drive.
"What the-?"
Caleb let the sauce simmer and looked out the window. A very old, very beat-up Corvette was in the drive, and when the engine finally shut off, Reid Garwin emerged grinning widely.
"Heck no," said Caleb, walking to the front door and pulling it open. He crossed his arms and stared at Reid. "What is that?" he demanded of the white-blond.
"It's my car," said Reid. "Isn't she great?" He leaned against the side, looking up at the Trio on the porch.
"That is nothing more than a scrap of metal on wheels. What on earth possessed you to buy it?"
Reid looked extremely offended. "It's a '67 Vette. She's a classic."
"She's a dump," said Caleb. Pogue and Tyler came to stand beside him.
"All she needs is a little work and a little paint," said Reid, defending his car's honor, stroking her peeling rust lovingly.
"You know," said Caleb to Pogue in a whisper. "I may take you up on that offer to have Reid stay at your place."
"Oh no," said Pogue. "I'm going to agree with Tyler on this one. He needs a good example, and I think you're the best one for the job."
"Remind me to kill you slowly after I deal with this," Caleb hissed to him.
He walked towards the garbage heap, hearing Pogue's stifled laughter.
"I don't envy you one bit Caleb."
Caleb merely shook his head, wondering what was the best way to convince Reid that the car was not worth this.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, this was kinda short, and once I get the bigger story up, I'm just gonna tag this onto the end of 'Unexpected Visitor' because I'm not real happy about the length. Thanks to Red Rogue for suggesting it.