Okay, first up – sorry for the long wait! I only just got internet access today : ( Plus I had a camping thing and then I had to get on a plane a couple of days later so I haven't had any writing time at all! I am now in the awesome and amazing state of Queensland in the awesome and amazing Australia about thirty seconds from the beach so I should be able to start updating more regularly again.
Anyway, excuses, excuses!
Read. Enjoy. Review?
Chapter Nine – Fights and punishment
Morgan stared into space, her pen aimlessly hovering over the essay she was supposed to be writing in English. So far, she had two words.
"'Morgan Brody'? Interesting concept on Shakespeare's use of language in the opening scene of Macbeth."
Morgan looked up at Russell, her teacher, sheepishly. "Sorry, sir. I just..."
He bent down next to her desk. "I know that you're worried about Greg. But from what I heard he's doing great. He'll be back on Monday."
"I know but..."
"I know. You have an extension on the paper, Morgan, but I expect it on my desk on Monday, okay? Try and get on with your work."
Morgan smiled. "I'll try."
Halfway through the lesson, Russell stopped everyone. "Okay, guys. Everyone outside, right now." He pointed to the grassy bank outside of the classroom. With much confusion, the class obeyed. "Right, I know that most of you are worried about Sanders, and I know that there is no way that I'm going to be able to get you to concentrate on an essay. So I have this ball-" he held up a tennis ball – "When it gets thrown to you, you gotta name a character from Macbeth, got it?"
Mia Dickerson caught the ball. "Macbeth."
She threw it to her friend, Sam Flack, who was well known for not answering questions unless she had no other choice. The girl scowled and stuck her tongue out at Mia, before saying, "Lady Macbeth."
Archie caught the ball next, thanking god that it actually landed in his hands. "Macduff?"
Russell nodded and Archie threw the ball to McGee. "Uh...Banquo's son?"
DB shrugged. "Close enough." McGee chucked the ball clumsily towards Abby, but it was caught by a creepy kid called Shane Casey. He was the type of boy that bullied other kids, and creeped out the bullies.
"Duncan." He flung the ball at Morgan, snapping her out of her daydream.
"Um...Lady Macduff?"
"Hey, does anyone know if Greg's car got damaged? His mom had a sweet ride."
Morgan's fingers gripped the ball as Russell snapped at Casey. "Shane, I don't need to tell to that that was callous and uncalled for. Your classmate was in a car crash, he's in hospital."
"D'you reckon he'll be on crutches? Cause I'd love to kick them out from-"
"Shut the hell up!" Morgan snapped at Casey.
He smirked. "What? Can't stand the thought of your precious Greggy being even more hurt?"
"Casey..." Russell warned.
"Shut up!" Morgan cried.
"You love him!" Casey jeered. "And I bet you smother him when he gets back! I bet that he's already sick of you, you clingy little bitch!"
Morgan screeched in anger and lobbed the ball as hard as she could.
"Morgan!" Russell called as blood began spurting from the boy's nose.
With a glint of excitement and anger in his eye Casey lunged at Morgan.
"Casey!" Russell roared as the boys fists connected with Morgan's stomach. She wheezed, and smashed her fist into his face. He staggered backwards, before flying back towards her. This time, however, Morgan was prepared. She flew at him, scratching at his face. He screamed, and pushed her off of him. She fell onto a nearby picnic table, and to her mild embarrassment everyone noticed how small she was as her legs hung in midair, nowhere near the floor.
"Alright, both of you, that's enough!" Russell shouted angrily.
"You asshole!" Morgan shouted, wiping her eyes. "You bastard!"
Casey lunged at her once more and picked her clean up off of the table. He wasn't the strongest, but Morgan's petite stature made it easy. He threw her to the floor, and she cried out in pain.
"CASEY!" Russell roared, running over and dragging him off of the small girl. Morgan yelled and threw her fist into Shane's stomach
"Morgan! Stop!" Russell shouted. Archie snapped into action, wrapping his arms around Morgan's waist and yanking her away.
Mr. Brass, 'love-him-or-hate-him' games teacher and member of the senior staff department jogged out. He looked at Russell straight away.
"I saw exactly what happened. You three, DB, my office now."
"Three?" Morgan frowned, wiping blood off of her face.
"Mr. Johnson too."
"But he didn't do anything." Morgan protested, instantly feeling guilty about getting her friend in trouble.
Brass rolled his eyes. "I know that." Archie shuffled uncomfortably.
Russell nodded. "Okay, everyone inside, read the next couple of scenes for me."
Ryan watched as the five left and as soon as the teachers were out of sight he whipped out his phone.
Compose Message:
To: Nick S, Warrick B, Sara S, Tali D, Greggo WhoIsAwesome
Morgan just had a fight with Shane Casey.
Half a minute later, his phone beeped.
New message: Sara S
WHAT?
New message: Warrick B
Our Morgan? And that creepy Casey kid? :s
New message: Nick S
Say what?
New message: Tali D
Did she kick his butt?
New message: Greggo WhoIsAwesome
Awesome! Wait, is she ok?
Ryan tapped out a quick response.
Compose Message:
To: Nick S, Warrick B, Sara S, Tali D, Greggo WhoIsAwesome
She kicked his ass, got a little beat up in progress. Archie had to drag her off him. They're in Brass office with Casey now. Details at recess.
CSIVCSIVCSIV
Jess Angell slid into her daily seat at the popular's table, apple in hand, gossip on the tip of her tongue.
"Did you guys hear about that Greg kid?"
"The one in the car crash?" Calleigh nodded. "Poor kid. He's a bit of a nerd, but he's cute. And funny.
MJ and Catherine arrived, sitting down opposite. "You talkin' bout Greg Sanders?" MJ asked, a frown on her face.
Everyone nodded, and MJ sighed. "Nick was really cut up about it when he got home. He didn't show it, but I could tell. Apparently Greg should be back by Monday, though. I hope so. He's bee round to dinner a couple of times, he's really nice. A little odd, but really funny. Rosa calls him 'Nick's funny young amigo.'"
Catherine couldn't help but feel extremely relieved, though she hardly spoke to Greg so she couldn't see why.
"Cath?"
Catherine's head snapped up and she found MJ's eyes. "What? Sorry, I was daydreaming."
"I can tell." MJ sounded amused.
"Isn't he in your home room, Cath?" Jess asked taking a bite out of her apple.
"Who, Greg?" Catherine nodded. "Yeah, he is."
"I heard that he was a bit of an attention seeker." Natalia shrugged.
"No way." Catherine defended. "He's the type of kid that gets attention without necessarily trying to. He's a laugh."
Ziva arrived at the table with Aiden Burn, a sophomore and Kate Todd, a junior. "Are you talking about Greg Sanders?"
"Yeah." Catherine nodded.
"He's strange." Ziva smiled "But he's cute. I picked Tali up from the hospital yesterday. Apparently he was joking in his sick bed."
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Sounds like him."
Kate looked at her best friend. "Is he the one that was at your house with Sara and Tali when I was over?"
"The one with hair like a porcupine." Ziva nodded with a slightly proud smile on her face.
"Guys, I have something to say." Kate cleared her throat. She looked at Ziva who nodded. "I broke up with Tony."
"What?" Catherine gasped.
"No!" MJ frowned.
"Why?" Calleigh asked sympathetically.
"But you were going great." Jess frowned.
Kate shrugged. "I guess I like him more as a friend than a boyfriend."
"You're still friends?" Catherine asked ludicrously.
Kate smiled. "Yeah. Honestly, he just asked me out for the seventeenth time and so I finally said yes. It's not like we were together, we just went on two dates."
Jess pouted. "I thought that you were so cute together!"
Kate shrugged.
"Hey gorgeous!" Don called bouncing up, wrapping his arms around Jess from behind. He frowned when he saw her expression. "What's up, babe?"
"Kate and Tony broke up."
"Ah, great, Kate's single? OW!" Don rubbed the elbow impression off of both sides of his chest and looked at Catherine and Jess. "I was joking! Besides, I already knew."
"Tony." Kate and Ziva said at the same time.
"Yup." He smiled.
Eddie Willows strode up to the table and kissed Catherine.
"Hello to you too." Calleigh said dryly. For reasons unknown to Catherine, a lot of the other girls hated Eddie.
"Hello Calleigh." Eddie replied. He turned back to Catherine. "I'm sorry, Cath, I gotta cancel our date tonight."
Catherine folded her arm and pursed her lips. "Why?"
"I got something on."
Seeing the look on his friend's face, Don stood up. "What something, Eddie?"
Eddie glanced at Don. "None of your business."
"But I think it would be Cath's."
The girls at the table held their breath.
Eddie sighed and looked at Catherine who looked at him expectantly. "I gotta family dinner."
"Why couldn't you just tell me?" Catherine asked in frustration.
"Because I thought you'd think I was making up excuses."
"Now I think that."
"Catherine, don't be like that."
"Like what Eddie?"
Eddie sighed and shook his head. "See you later."
"Where're you going?" Catherine asked sadly. "You only just got here."
"I'm just going to see Rick."
Cath sighed, and Don looked at her sadly. He made to walk over to Eddie but Jess put a hand on his arm. "Later." She murmured.
Don shook his head as he looked at Eddie's retreating back, but he didn't say what he was thinking for fear of upsetting Catherine.
Ziva had no such qualms. "Ass pit."
"Asshole." The others chimed.
CSIVCSIVCSIV
"Hey Greg."
"Hey Morgan. Wait, shouldn't you be at school?" Greg frowned, hastily stuffing his phone under the covers.
"I've been suspended."
"For fighting with Shane Casey?" Greg asked.
Morgan nodded and slumped into the chair next to the bed. "Yeah. He deserved it."
"I'll bet." Greg looked impressed. "What'd he say?"
"That he hoped you'd come back on crutches so he could knock them out from underneath you." Morgan purposefully left out the true catalyst.
Greg frowned. "Normally that wouldn't make you punch someone."
"I threw a ball in his face. He threw the first punch." Morgan corrected.
"Oh, I see." Greg frowned again.
"How are you doing?" Morgan asked.
"I'm good." Greg grinned. "Still on those painkillers."
"Jeez, how much pain are you in?" Morgan frowned, and the smile slid off of Greg's face.
"Not much." He muttered, looking away.
"Greg." He looked at his friend. "Liar."
Greg shrugged and winced slightly. "It only hurts when I move. And not very much."
"Now that you're on the drugs." Morgan sighed. She dropped her face into her hands.
"Mo," Greg started, a pained look on his face.
"Why do you call me that, Greg? No one calls me 'Mo'."
He grinned. "'Cause it suits you." At the look on her face he clarified. "It's cute, quirky and small."
Morgan thwacked Greg's blanket. "I'm not small."
"You're smaller than Ryan. You're tiny."
"Well, I like it. Mo, I mean. Not being small."
"Good." Greg grinned. "Because I'd call you Mo if you liked it or not."
Morgan rolled her eyes.
"So why'd they punish you if Casey started it?" Greg asked with interest.
She sighed. "Because I attacked Casey first. I threw the ball. Russell said it wouldn't have been so bad if I'd stopped after they dragged Casey off me."
Greg winced. "Ouch. I bet he's in the next room."
Morgan laughed slightly. "I dunno. He has a pretty good black eye."
"Remind me never to offend you." Greg laughed.
"I got suspended for the rest of the week. I can go back Monday, like you. Casey got two weeks."
Greg shook his head. "Asshole. Did he hurt you?"
"A little." Morgan shrugged. "I'm not going to lie, but I'm fine now. Just a little bruised."
"Sure, sure." Greg rolled his eyes.
"I'm fine." Morgan frowned. "They didn't give me painkillers."
"Touché."
"So are you gonna keep me company all day?" Greg said with a slight smile.
"I have nothing else to do." Morgan admitted. "You're my last resort."
Greg's face saddened. "Oh..."
She rolled her eyes again. "And my mom told me that I have to start sharing my chocolates."
Greg's eyes widened as Morgan reached into her bag and drew out a massive box of luxury chocolates.
"Love you Morgan." He smiled innocently.
"Sure, sure..." she muttered with a slight smile gracing her lips, trying to crush the butterflies in her stomach. She passed him the box. "Take as many as you want." She popped one into her own mouth.
"Mmmm..." Greg murmured. "These are amazing."
"I know right?" Morgan grinned, taking another. She studied it for a moment. "I'm going on a date."
"What?" Greg cried, forcefully reminding himself to look happy for her. "Who?"
"David Hodges." She said matter-of-factly, subtly looking over to see his reaction.
"Why him?" Greg cried involuntarily. "He's the most annoying little OCD prick I've ever met in my life!"
"Ryan has OCD." Morgan said slightly sadly.
"But Ryan isn't an asshole."
"I should go."
Greg's face fell. "What? Morgan, I'm sorry! Please stay!"
"I'll leave you the chocolate." Morgan stood up, but Greg grabbed her hand.
"Please, Mo?" he looked up at her imploringly. "Please?"
She sighed and headed for the door.
"I'm sorry, Mo!" Greg cried. "I'll be nice to Hodges, please?"
She smiled and returned to the seat by the bed. "Okay."
"Thanks." He grinned sheepishly. "I get bored."
"So I'm just entertainment to you?" Morgan asked in mock offense.
"No." Greg said quickly.
"I'm not going on a date with Hodges."
"What?" Greg frowned. "You tricked me?"
"Hey, I didn't want to. It was Archie's idea." Morgan held up her hands. "He paid me five bucks, I'm sorry."
Greg looked utterly miserable. "You just wanted to see me beg."
Morgan suddenly felt very guilty. "No, Greg..."
"Then what?" Greg snapped, then glanced down at the covers. "Sorry..."
Morgan was shocked. "It was just a joke, Greg. I'm sorry. I just wondered if you'd ask me to come back."
Greg sighed and they sat in silence for a minute. "I was scared."
"What?"
"I was really scared." Greg admitted. "I thought I was going to die. The car came straight for us, I...I screamed. My mom tried to swerve out of the way but it was too late. Then it really hurt. I remember being really tired, but so scared that if I closed my eyes that I'd die."
Morgan wiped at her eyes. "I was scared to. You're my best friend. I thought you were gonna die."
Greg smiled half heartedly. "Thanks for coming, Morgan. I'm really grateful. Honest."
"You've gone all serious again." Morgan remarked.
"I mean it." Greg nodded earnestly.
Morgan dropped her eyes, her stomach churning slightly. "Thanks for surviving."
"You are most welcome." Greg grinned.
"Oh, I forgot! I come baring gossip."
"Really? Do tell."
Morgan grinned and leant in. "Well..."
CSIVCSIVCSIV
"Hi Greg." Nick called as he walked into the room. "Oh, hey Morgan. Good job on Casey, by the way. Half his face is a massive bruise."
"Thanks." She grinned.
"You two look happy." Nick remarked.
They glanced at each other.
"What do you mean?" Greg asked.
"I think you know." Nick said with a cheeky grin.
"About as happy as you and Kristy Hopkins?" Morgan asked innocently.
"Oh, ha ha." Nick rolled his eyes. He paused. "I asked her out the other day."
"You what?" Greg cried, his eyes bulging. "Why am I only hearing about this now?"
"Because she's moving away next week. We talked about it at the cinema." Nick shrugged.
"Aw, Nick, I'm sorry." Morgan lamented.
He shrugged. "It's not like she's been murdered or died or anything."
"Yeah I guess." Greg pouted. "But she was pretty."
"And totally into Nick." Morgan reminded him.
Nick just shrugged again. "She's not the only hot girl in the school."
Warrick popped his head round the door with Ryan and Archie.
"Hey guys!" Greg called happily. "You miss me?"
"Yes, after twenty four hours outside of your presence I am just about ready to top myself." Archie said dryly.
"I knew it!" Greg cried. "How about you, Ryan?"
"You weren't at school today? I didn't notice."
Greg held his good right arm to his forehead and closed his eyes. "Wolfe, you wound me! I feel faint!"
"How you doing?" Warrick chuckled.
"I'm good. I have a problem though. I will soon be fending off psychopaths in training – my ankle is badly sprained – I need crutches."
"Don't worry." Archie grinned. "I'm sure that Morgan will keep them away from you, especially any sexy female psychos."
"Oh, I don't mind sexy female psychos." Greg grinned an impish grin. "Like Ziva."
Tali gasped in mock horror and flung a cushion off a nearby chair at Greg. It hit him on the nose.
"OW!" Greg cried, but he hastily changed his song when he looked at the concerned faces. "I'm okay, I'm okay. Mr. Melodramatic, remember?"
Morgan and Tali rolled their eyes. "Wimp."
Greg looked around the room. "Is Sara coming?"
"She had to go home straight after school. She didn't want to but her dad was waiting for her and she said she couldn't argue. She told me to tell you that she's really sorry, and she'll see you soon. Her parents are worried about the trial." Tali explained.
"Okay, I get it." Greg looked sad but understanding. "I hope she's okay."
CSIVCSIVCSIV
Sara nervously led her father into the house. She tried to race to her bedroom, but her father called her back down.
"Sara?"
She closed her eyes and turned.
"Yes Daddy?"
"You told the police that Tyler was drunk."
Sara was terrified by the apparent calm on her father's face and she knew. She knew that he wasn't drunk at all, and that scared her. "H-he...The police would have tested him anyway, breathalysed him or something...and I told them that he didn't mean it..."
"Get downstairs."
She obeyed.
"Give me your bag."
She obeyed.
"Take off your jacket and jumper and give them to me."
She hesitated.
"Sara..."
She obeyed.
Her father dropped the garments and bag into the sink full of cold, soapy dishwater.
"Daddy..." she whispered.
"What?" his voice was icy.
"Nothing." She whispered.
"Get down to the basement."
She obeyed.
Sara looked around the basement, shivering without her jacket and jumper. All she wore over her underwear was a vest, thin school shirt and her tights and skirt.
She hated the cold.
Her father thundered down the stairs. She backed away when she saw the whip in his hand.
"Daddy, no..."
"Stop calling me Daddy, Sara, you're not a baby." Her father glared. "Take off the shirt, skirt and tights. I don't want them getting dirty."
She obeyed.
"You do not betray this family, you hear me? You cannot betray your family. You little bitch... You tell anyone anything even slightly negative about this family again, and I will kill you before the police even get a chance to move. Whatever happens, Sara, I will find you and I will kill you."
Sara stifled a sob. "Dad...please...I tried to make it better."
She couldn't help but scream as the whip lashed against her back. Ten lashes later, her dad whispered in her ear.
"You still want to be friends with that Sanders kid?"
"Dad, he didn't do anything."
The whip came down on her back three more times.
"Dad..."
He continued with the whip until Sara could feel the blood dripping down her back. She sobbed violently.
"Get to your room." He growled angrily.
She obeyed.
He pointed roughly to her bed and she clambered in, stumbling over the wet bag and clothes that she guessed her mother had put there, shaking and crying. Her father stood over her and hit her a few time under the covers for good luck.
After he finished, James Sidle left his daughter's bedroom. He snapped off the light switch and used the hard end of the whip to knock the switch clean off the wall, trapping Sara in the dark. As he locked the door from the outside, he hissed at Sara through the crack in the door.
"Don't tell anyone."
She obeyed.
Poor, poor Sara! :'( I hate her dad at the moment, what about you? I watched a couple of anti child abuse videos and was so sad about it that it is going to feature more heavily in this story than originally planned. Don't worry, she will be saved! Eventually. But I do love angst.
Sorry for the long wait, I truly am. Please tell me if the chapter was worth it - I really hope it was.