Essential Circuitry

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Camp Rock or the Jonas Brothers. Camp Rock belongs to Disney and the Jonas Brothers belong to themselves.

Characters: Shane, Nate and Jason

Words: 2, 335

Author's Notes: managed to churn this out tonight. Enter a myriad of scenes and some conflict resolution. :)

()~~~~~()~~~~~()~~~~~()

"Nate? Nate?"

Shane pushed open the cabin door, frowning when all that met him was darkness. Glancing back at Jason with a confused expression, he walked inside and strode over to Nate's bed. Even as he approached, he could hear the sound of soft breathing, a sure sign that his young friend was already asleep.

"He didn't come to watch the other acts?" Jason asked incredulously. "That's a little rude."

"Maybe he's sick or something?" Shane suggested with a shrug. "He said he was going to come so he obviously changed his mind last minute. I guess something happened."

"I hope he's okay," Jason said, a look of worry starting to spread across his features.

"Don't worry," Shane replied, clapping his friend's shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sure he's fine. And we can just ask him in the morning anyway."

"Good point. Well, in that case, night Shane!"

Shane called back a similar farewell as he watched Jason bound off to the bathroom to change. Choosing to change into his own pajamas simply where he was, Shane shot one last look at Nate before clambering into his bed. Something about this wasn't sitting right with him. What that was he didn't know, but he didn't like it.

()~~~~~()~~~~~()~~~~~()

Nate breathed a tiny sigh of relief when he heard Shane walk back to his bed. While probably not something to be proud of, Nate was quite skilled when it came to fake sleeping. He'd done it plenty of times growing up when he and his mother had been sharing hotel rooms and he'd wanted to know what was going on and she wouldn't tell him. Pretending to sleep and then eavesdropping had become a strategy he constantly relied on.

While he would openly admit that he wanted Shane's comfort severely half an hour ago – heck, he'd've even have take Jason's random speeches about birds – now, he was resolved otherwise. He didn't want Shane to find out what was happening to him, to discover how weak he really was, to give the older boy another reason to abandon him.

Because Kyle and Dylan had planted the right seed.

Nate already couldn't comprehend why Shane and Jason would want to be friends with him after he'd been so cold to them, and the provided explanation of Shane being ordered to fit that hole rather nicely. And if Shane really was only being his friend by force, would he even care that Nate was being bullied?

He doubted it.

A couple of tears escaped his eyes before he was able to stop them. Forcing back further tears, Nate screwed his eyes up tighter and tugged his blanket closer. He'd sleep this off and tomorrow he could pretend that everything was okay again.

()~~~~~()~~~~~()~~~~~()

"Hey Uncle Brown!"

The Englishman pulled up when he heard his name being called. Turning around, he found himself face-to-face with his nephew. Smiling, Brown slung an arm over Shane's shoulders and pulled him in for a side-hug.

"How you going mate?"

Shane gave him a half-smile. "I'm doing fine." He sighed and then chewed his lip anxiously, something that made Brown frown in concern. "Can we…can we talk in your cabin?"

"Of course," Brown said, leading his nephew into his office and letting the door shut behind them. Sitting himself in his chair, Shane dropped into the one on the opposite side of the desk. "Now, what's going on?"

"It's not me," Shane groaned, seeing the pointed look he was receiving. "I haven't done anything stupid, I'm not wanting to be excused from anything, and I'm not the one that put red food colouring in the pancake batter." A knowing look had him back-tracking. "Okay, so maybe I did do that-"

"I thought as much and I-"

"-but it's about Nate."

Brown stopped mid-sentence, eyebrows knitting together. He leant forward in his chair, fingers interlacing. "What about him?"

"I don't know," Shane admitted, picking at the wooden table-top. "But something's not right. Every time he starts to open up to Jason and me, he suddenly goes really quiet again. Like, right now. He's barely even speaking to us. He doesn't say a word."

"I've noticed," Brown agreed. "I see him in class. Sure, he sings quietly but now he won't even sing at all. If I didn't know better I'd say he'd had his voice stolen. I can't get so much as a peep out of him."

"And he's not better in any of his other classes!" Shane pressed. "Last time he was like this, I think he was upset because he lost his cell phone."

"He lost it?"

"Yeah, he dropped it in the woods somewhere," Shane stated dismissively, "But this time…this time I don't know. Ever since the Camp Fire Jam, he's really shut himself away. I keep asking him what's wrong and he always tells me it's nothing. I…what should I do?"

Brown suddenly found himself staring into two pleading, deep amber eyes. He shifted back in his chair, folding his arms in thought. "Just keep watching him," he eventually said. "If you see something that doesn't seem right or he starts doing something else which is strange, come tell me immediately. And keep trying to talk to him. If he sees that you care, he'll eventually open up. Just be his friend Shane, that's what he needs. It's all anyone needs. You keep doing that, he'll come round."

Shane mulled everything over in his head before giving a firm nod, flashing his uncle a grin. "Thanks Uncle Brown. Nice talking to you."

The hint of teasing in his voice had Brown scowling but the teen simply laughed, dashing out of the cabin before some sort of punishment could be imposed upon him. He'd just passed the mess hall when he felt something slam into him, both him and the thing that'd hit him tumbling to the ground. Moaning in pain, Shane pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Shane!"

Staring down, he found himself staring at Jason, the other fifteen-year-old still flat on his back, limbs tangled as he stared up at his cabin mate owlishly. "Jason?" he asked, rubbing his neck. "Dude, that really hurt. What were you doing?"

"Nate!"

"What?" Shane asked, completely bewildered, especially since aforementioned boy was nowhere in sight.

"Nate!" Jason repeated breathlessly, flying to his feet in a stumbling motion. "You've got to come Shane! Come on!" he urged, grabbing Shane's arm and starting to run.

"Jason!" Shane called, trying to pull his friend up but failing. "Just what is going on?"

"It's Nate," Jason called back.

Shane wanted to hit his friend over the back of the head. Yes, he knew this was about Nate. But Jason didn't seem inclined to elaborate and Shane decided that the faster he let Jason take him where he wanted, the faster he would find out what he wanted to know. Even as he thought this, Jason was yanking him to a stop, Shane stumbling and nearly falling over because of the force he was pulled up with.

"Jason! What the he…"

Shane trailed off when he saw what was in front of him. On one of the deserted docks, Nate was being circled by two boys, much like vultures circled a carcass. The thirteen-year-old was clearly afraid, constantly trying to take steps back only to be forced forward again when one of the boys would suddenly shift toward him. His fear filled eyes flickered up to see Shane and Jason watching him, and Shane could only feel his stomach drop when he saw the resignation in Nate's eyes, his posture suddenly slumping, all fight gone.

"Oh my god," Shane whispered, hastily jumping down the path.

"What?" Jason called, hurrying after him.

"Nate thinks we're just watching!"

His feet crashing through the sticks that littered the ground caught Kyle and Dylan's attention and the two bullies' attention flew up the hill. They exchanged slightly panicked looks upon seeing Shane Gray. Everyone knew who Shane's uncle was, and they all knew to treat Shane like royalty; to do otherwise would be pure foolishness. Still, Kyle gave Dylan a nod, deciding they would be able to take Shane easily. After all, the kid was all ego.

"Well looky who turned up," Kyle sneered, giving Nate a hard-slap on the back.

The resultant wince made Shane explode. He grabbed Nate, hauled his friend behind him and glared at the two older teens. "What makes you think you can just come in here and pick on my friend? That's so not on."

"Like Nate's your friend," Dylan scoffed. "Everyone knows Brown made you be his friend."

"You really think anyone's stupid enough to believe that?" Shane demanded angrily.

"Oh, did you hear that Nate?" Kyle mocked. "Shane thinks you're stupid."

"No I don-…" Shane trailed off, turning to face his friend, who was currently staring at the ground, realising the implication of Kyle's words. "Nate," he whispered. "You don't…you don't really believe that…do you?"

Nate glanced up at him once through his curls before shying away, cheeks burning with shame.

"Oh, poor Shane. Your more pathetic than we-"

"Shut up!" Shane growled, head snapping round to glare fiercely at the bullies. "I don't know where you got the idea that it's okay to speak to me like that. I'm Shane Gray. You don't get to speak to me like that. Ever."

"You threatening us Gray?" Dylan demanded, stepping forward.

"You beat he is! And so am I!" Everyone turned to see Jason standing there, eyes narrowed and more serious than Shane or Nate had ever seen him.

"Oh, it's the bird freak," Kyle said, pretending to be afraid. "Oh save me, what will I do now?"

Shane took a determined step forward and even Nate's eyes were snapping in fury, his head raising in response as the desire to defend his friends started to override his fear.

"Don't talk about my friends like that," Shane ordered, flipping his hair out of his eyes. "I'm not going to let you get away with this."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, really. This is my camp. I can do what I want. And I want you out of here. And all it's gonna take is one talk to my uncle." Shane folded his arms triumphantly. "You're never coming back here."

Dylan bristled at Shane's condescending attitude and suddenly flew towards the singer. Shane started at being attacked so physically. He went to duck away when someone else latched a hand around Dylan's upper arm, grabbing tightly and then hauling the sixteen-year-old off balance and into the lake. Everyone glanced around in stunned silence.

"What?" Jason asked, confused by their awe-struck stares, Kyle included. "I have brothers and sisters."

No one knew what to say to that and were, thankfully, relieved of the task of thinking up a response as another voice suddenly joined the fray. "I saw all of that and I have to say," Brown's voice commanded everyone's attention. "That is one of the nicest throws I've ever seen." Jason, Shane and Nate grinned at each other shyly. "But now," the Englishman continued, "all five of you better get in my office. I think there's a lot of explaining to be done."

()~~~~~()~~~~~()~~~~~()

A good hour later their stories were finished being told. Nate hadn't really wanted to say anything, but Shane's urging had eventually coaxed him into talking and, once he'd started, everything came flooding out. Everything from the stolen phone, to being pushed over, to the verbal abuse; nothing stayed hidden.

Shane and Jason had glanced at each in horror, guilt flooding them. How had they missed all the signs Nate had been showing? But they both knew the answer. They hadn't not noticed them, they just hadn't pushed the issue hard enough to get a truthful answer. And now, the damage had already been done. Nate had already shred his self-esteem and his love of the stage had been promptly chased away.

Once Kyle's and Dylan's parents had been called, they had been sent to the storage cupboards. They were to tidy the shelves until their parents arrived – even if that took days, according to Shane, who was taking full advantage of his position as Camp Director's nephew. The two boys had also been required to pay a set amount towards a new cell phone for Nate.

"Nate," Shane asked once Kyle and Dylan were gone. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Nate shrugged minutely, making himself as small as possible. "I don't know."

"Did you not want Shane and Jason to laugh at you?" Brown asked knowingly, leaning down to Nate's height and taking the boy's shoulders in his hands. "Did you think they were going to make fun of you because you were being bullied?"

Nate nodded and then shook his head.

"Were you afraid they were going to stop being your friend if they found out?" Brown tried instead.

Nate bit his lip before nodding softly. Brown removed his arms and looked at his nephew and Jason.

"Well boys?" he prodded. "Are you going to stop being Nate's friend?"

"Of course not!" Jason exclaimed, looking highly offending. Glaring at Brown, he wrapped his arms around Nate. "Nate's my friend. I'm never going to stop being his friend."

Nate blushed at the words, all the while doing his best to squirm away from Jason. He was finally able to break free, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly but Shane could see the underlying apprehension that riddled his frame.

"Your mom doesn't hug you much, does she?" Shane suddenly asked.

Nate glanced at him in surprise, head tilting in confusion. "Why would she?"

"Why wouldn't she?" Jason gasped, eyes widening.

"I don't…What's the big deal?" Nate asked, utterly bewildered.

"Oh Nate," Shane sighed, reaching out for his friend and pulling him into his arms. Looking down, he saw the suspicion and now, twinge of fear, the filled his friend's eyes. "This is okay Nate. This is what family does. And you're my family; you and Jason. We're family."

()~~~~~()~~~~~()~~~~~()

A/N: I would write more, but I'm dead tired, it's getting late and I have to up early for work tomorrow. XD But I really enjoyed writing this chapter regardless and hope it didn't seem too sudden for you.

DG777