"Atwood, Trey Atwood." There is an edge of exasperation in Sandy's voice as he explains the situation to the third social worker he's been transferred to. A drip of coffee spills on his shirt and he huffs and begins to scrub it out in annoyance. Sandy had drawn the blinds in Ryan's room earlier to keep out the bright light and let the boy sleep and now he's lost all sense of time.

"One or two T's." Sandy is pretty sure he is going to hurt someone. Ryan's cold evolved into vicious bacterial pneumonia after spending weeks sleeping in a draftee warehouse or on the street. The kid is only semi-conscious half the time and these are the people that created this situation.

"I'll send the files over." The woman says with more than a little discomfort. Sandy had shamelessly used Barry's name to get Trey's file. He wasn't a huge advocate of judging children based on a few pieces of official looking paper but he can't stop staring at the burns, can't stop wondering why the boy ran away or why at, thirteen, before having a license, he stole a car. Sandy doesn't know the whole story and he hates that. A moan ekes out from the body beside him.

"Ryan?" Ryan whimpers again this time rolling his head towards Sandy, his eyes still closed. Sandy rests a hand on Ryan's cheek dismayed at the heat it's radiating. Ryan sighs at the cool touch and Sandy can't help built smile slightly.

"It's ok buddy." Sandy's not sure if it's the drugs or his reassurances that cause Ryan to calm back down but either way the hold the child has on Sandy's heart is beginning to tighten.

xxx

Trey's still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he doesn't have to sleep on the floor of a warehouse when Kirsten starts to drive up the the coast the mansions increasing in size. It's then that Trey gets nervous cause maybe some middle class folk who go above and beyond in their job is believable but there's no way in hell that these rich people are legit. The mansion is huge and Trey tries not to gasp as he follows Kirsten in to the foyer.

"Are you hungry, thirsty?" Kirsten asks after a moment.

"No m'am." Trey replies after a moment. He's not gonna fuck this up for his brother. On the off chance these rich people don't have some ulterior motive and really want to help Ryan out then he doesn't really care what happens to him. Kirsten nods uncomfortably.

"I'll show you your room." His room? Trey follows Kirsten to a brightly painted guest bedroom. A huge king-sized bed lies in the middle of the room and Trey almost salivates with anticipation. Ryan had been pretty sick off the bat and Trey had stayed up most nights trying to make sure that he was safe and their few meagre possessions weren't getting jacked. It's been so long since he's had a good sleep.

"I put some of Sandy's things in here for you. The pyjamas might be a little long but we can get new ones tomorrow." Kirsten fiddles with her wedding rings and Trey wonders if he's making her nervous. He makes people a lot more nervous now that his face is burned and he hit a growth spurt.

"You can check my bag if you want." Trey offers. He doesn't want her to think he's trouble when she's centrally Ryan's medical decisions. Kirsten's eyes fly open and she blushes at the bluntness of the question.

"No, no of course not that's..that's ok." Kirsten stammers and Trey's not sure but he's pretty sure he just made the situation works. He's not good at this stuff most people don't bother talking to him especially people like her.

"Feel free to use the shower, make yourself at home."

"Yes m'am" Trey responds realizing just then how gross her probably looks not to mention smells. The shower's a good one that doesn't spit and actually has constant decent water pressure. His burned skin is no sensitive to take the bullets of water raining down but he manages to get clean anyways gritting his teeth the few times his skin flares up.

"Get your ass up you peice of shit. Think you can talk back to me."

Trey shuts his eyes against the memory as his hand trails across his skin. He's suddenly exhausted when he reaches out and grabs an over-priced fluffy towel that feels like pure heaven as he wraps it around himself. The lawyer and his wife had been nicer than he expected and they seemed to really care about Ryan going so far as to not leave the boy alone at the hospital. Anyone who cared about Ryan was good enough for Trey. With a yawn Trey crawls into bed trying not to sigh at the mix of clean sheets, expensive mattresses and fluffy pillows. He's asleep before he can even appreciate how good it feels.

x

"He'll need lots of rest of course he'll need to finish his antibiotics but aside from that Ryan should be just fine." Sandy nods in relief looking up at at Kirsten who gives him a determindly optimistic smile. He knows his wife, has known her well for years. He knows that her agreement to take in Ryan is based more on guilt and a sense of duty than anything. He knows he probably shouldn't use it to his advantage, pretending that he thinks she's just as excitement and hopeful about Ryan being a new member of the family but this is a kid's life. A kid's that, god help him, he is starting to love and if playing dirty is what will keep Ryan save then he has no problem with it.

"Ryan will be staying with us now. We'll make sure he gets what he needs." The words feel so right falling off of Sandy's lips that he can't help but smile a little.

"And his brother?"

"He'll be staying with us too. Can't split up family right?" It's Kirsten who says it with a little more conviction than Sandy had expected her eyes level with his daring Sandy to argue, to say they should take one and not the other. The doctor looks at Sandy who nods after a moment's hesitation. Trey may not have light pouring out of his eyes like Ryan does but his light is in there, trapped under more lays of hurt and neglect. They might be able to save them both.

x

When Trey heard that the Cohen's were taking Ryan in he was almost over the moon with happiness. He's no idiot he knows that his brother deserves better than empty warehouses and eating out of garbage cans and he knows that he can offer Ryan next to nothing. It still stings that he has to let him go. He's trying to figure out how he can leave the only thing he has in the entire world when Kirsten tentatively tells him to stay.

"You don't have to do that." Trey replies softly because he knows that they are doing this because they feel bad and he doesn't need their help anyways. He hates pity.

"I know we don't. Trey we'd like you to stay. Ryan would like you to stay." And if Ryan wants him there who is Trey to say no.

x

It might be the meds but Ryan is pretty sure he's been dreaming for the past few days. He's in a hot, painful haze but whenever the fog seems to lift Sandy or Kirsten always seems to be there with Seth or Trey not to far behind them. They don't yell at him for running away and being a fuck-up or laugh at him when he gets loopy and his speech starts to slur. They just keep giving him these looks like they're really worried about how he feels and like they care that he is pain. Ryan tries not to get used to it because he's not sure how long it's going to last but he can't help but get used to waking up to find a constant reminder that he is not alone. Usually he hates hospitals but he'd take any disease if it made him feel this loved.

"Ryan we'd like you to stay with us. Trey as well." Kirsten fidgets with her wedding rings as she explains the situation and Ryan can't help but wonder if she's nervous because she's unsure because really why else would she be looking frightened and uncertain. Ryan can see how she'd feel obligated, Sandy too, but more than anything he hates pity, taking charity. He's swallowed his pride so many times that occasionally he thinks he might choke on it.

"Trey and I'll be alright." Ryan mutters in weak opposition. "Most of the care homes aren't so bad if they keep us together." If Sandy could keep Ryan with his brother he doesn't give a crap if they're back at McClellan or back at the warehouse. Sandy looks at Ryan sympathetically and sits on the side of the hospital bed. Ryan tries not to flinch when a hand gently encircles his ankle.

"Kid you're not hearing what we're saying. We want you boys to stay with us." Sandy's voice and his face is so genuine that Ryan can hardly formulate a response.

"Trey too?" Ryan asks weakly.

"Trey too." Sandy says affermatively catching Kirsten's eye. Ryan knows this won't last long he'll do something wrong or Trey will get mad and they'll end up bak at square one again. Ryan likes Sandy though, thinks Seth is cool as well and as nervous as Kirsten makes him whenever he makes her smile he feels like he's the worst best person a few weeks with them could be a good break in the shit-show that is his and Trey's life. He can't justify saying no. Not when Trey will have a bed and three meals a day and not have to worry about Ryan all the time.

"Ok." Ryan says with a little nodd. "If you're sure."

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