OK - I am afraid the next couple chapters will be rough for Evan but I promise it will allow for some heartfelt exchanges and things will be at least part tied-up (for this storyline) over this "episode" and the beginning of the next. Don't expect any comeuppance for Michelle coming any time soon - this is actually to facilitate more family interactions (that's the curse of a full ensemble story!) but I can at least tell you that a lot will be clearer as to why she is the way she is in the next "episode" and why she is doing what she is. I hope people are still enjoying regardless of the pace - I know it's a lot more mysterious and angsty than Nerd. The next episode has a big resolve for one of the other characters and we will all rejoice - hopefully that will tide you over. With these things in mind, if anyone has any constructive comments I'd love to hear them! And thank you all as always for reviews/PMs! You're all fab!

Just to publicly confirm thebestdeceptions12's question - I update every day as I appreciate this is a long story and want to keep it flowing. There is a small chance I may not be able to update this weekend but I will make sure I don't leave any cliffhangers. Anyway - on with the fallout.

Evan flopped down onto his bed rolling his discarded hoodie out from underneath him and dropping it onto the floor. He clapped his hands over his face and replayed the conversation he had had with Jesus over and over in his mind. It had been such an unsettling reminder of his miserable high school days. He thought about how much better his life had become since he met Kasey. He was already long on his road before then but she somehow completed it. A constant reminder of why it was worth all the struggle. He thought about how much he respected Jesus for being a bolder character than he had been, even with his added difficulties. Jesus had had a harder life than Evan and yet here he was, trying so hard to avoid the easy option of spiralling out of control. He knew how hard it must have been to hand those drugs over, and to tell him about them in the first place - something that would be completely compromised had it not had the perfect build up. He knew what it was to be a teenager - the testosterone flying. Such a delicate state, so easily flipped based on one line, one badly phrased response. Evan felt vaguely proud that he had managed to defuse it and he was so relieved that he had.

He slowly drifted as his mind buzzed driving into a light sleep. He then was suddenly awoken by loud footsteps and small commotion apparently coming from movement upstairs. His immediate thought was to grab his hoodie realising if anyone was coming down he still needed to get rid of those drugs. He picked it up and panicked as he noticed something he hadn't noticed before. A hole. Snapping to attention he sprang up and whipped it towards him splitting the hole with his fingers. He knew he had a few tiny tears here and there but he had never noticed it get that big. Then his heart dropped.

Kasey came down the stairs with a small knock.

"Honey, Mom wants us all upstairs. She seemed really rattled...no clue what's happened."

Evan was speechless. He had a good idea.

"I...I..." he gulped and coughed slightly throwing her a smile to try and disguse his fear. "I drifted off...I'll be up in a few minutes." He said as calmly as he could. He nodded with a sweet smile and departed again. He couldn't believe it. Dreading the inevitable he dug his hand deep into the pocket and searched desperately.

"Please...please...please..." he begged to the empty room shaking the hoodie and rolling off the bed looking all around the floor. He scoured every pocket on his person and even in another hoodie completely in denial. He then collapsed onto the side of his bed in a kneel. He had let Jesus down after all. How could he have been so careless?!

Right after Stef had found the bag she collapsed against the door. "You have got to be kidding me." She mumbled to herself taking a deep breath. She always knew this could be a reality one day - she encountered drugs every day in her job. Often just stupid kids experimenting. This logic didn't pacify the anger flowing through her however. Not her own kids - they were too smart for that. She had to get to the bottom of this. Find the culprit and hang them out to dry before it escalated.

She shoved the bag angrily in her pocket and stormed out to find Lena. She was in the middle of explaining a math problem to a half-focussed Kasey.

She looked up and smiled. "Come to check on me huh, Mom? Don't worry - I'm actually making some progress today." Stef completely ignored the comment and looked a smiling Lena dead in the eye. Lena's expression dropped as Kasey looked up from the page.

"Mom?" She asked concerned.

"Stef what's wrong?" Lena said sitting back.

"I uh...can I have a word?" She flicked her head to the other room. Lena immediately got up.

"Kasey, can you get your siblings and Evan please. I want to speak to you all in the living room."

She nervously got up and obliged, sensing this was no time to argue.

Lena rushed over with a look of pure fear. As she got closer she realised Stef was angry rather than distraught and she relaxed her pose having previously been fearing some news of a phone call or accident.

Stef simply raised the bag from her pocket and Lena took a deep breath.

"Where did you find that?"

Stef shook her head slightly. "Under the mat by the back door. Anyone could have dropped it."

Lena wiped her hand across her face.

"Well I think we can hopefully at least rule out Jude...and I would be flattened with shock if it belonged to Callie or Kasey. I guess that leaves Mariana, Jesus or Brandon but..." Stef commented.

"Brandon?" Lena asked slightly shocked.

"Well...I wouldn't rule out outside influences..." She remarked, clearly referring to Michelle.

Lena cocked her head slightly at the comment. "He's smarter than that..."

"Well I'm not ruling out any of them. I'm going to ask them."

"OK - but you know Stef...there's another person who you seem to be taking out of the equation already." Stef turned slightly seeing the kids arrive. Lena looked at her, arms folded still. "Someone who has a bit more experience with these things than the others."

"I can't believe that, Lena." Stef said turning to her. "He wouldn't...not after we took him in. Brought him here with our kids."

"I thought you weren't ruling anyone out?"

Stef sighed. "That was his past..." she said knowing that Lena was right but stubbornly wanting to ignore the facts.

"Stef...I know you are close to Evan...but we have to consider everything here...and that wouldn't be..."

"I know...and I know you're right..." she whispered cutting her off. "But he couldn't betray our trust like that...surely...?" Her eyes pleaded.

"Well there's only one way to find out." Lena said noting Kasey's arrival signifying the attendance of them all.

"And I will." Stef said striding over.

The kids mostly looked scared and confused, especially Jesus who feared the worst. His fears were about to be confirmed.

"Where's Evan?" She asked abrasively looking at Kasey.

"He'll be up in a minute, he had been asleep." She responded.

"What's going on Mom? What's this about?" Brandon asked his arms folded, slightly skeptical of the impromptu meeting.

"Well I'm hoping one of you can tell us. Anyone want to tell me what this is?" She held up the bag as the kids all realised the reality of the situation. Some more relieved than others.

Kasey furrowed her brow. "It's a bag of weed Mom..." She said slightly agitated.

"It's not the time for jokes Kasey." Kasey immediately got defensive, shocked at the accusations when to her the answer seemed so obvious.

"Mom, you're not seriously suggesting that belongs to one of us? That's crazy!"

"Well it's sure as heck not mine and unless Lena's been hiding a damn good secret for ten years I don't think it's hers!" Stef shot back as a knee-jerk reaction.

"OK..." Lena added not allowing Kasey time to respond. "Point is we need to know how it ended up in our house. Someone here must know." Lena added calmly but sternly.

Kasey laughed in disbelief. "What makes you think it's someone here? Let's face it there's only one new person been spending time here as a mysterious bag of pot suddenly shows up. How do you know it wasn't on Michelle's plans for one of her midnight parties?" Stef rubbed her fingers on her temples and Lena closed her eyes anticipating the reaction to Kasey's tactless comment. On perfect cue, Brandon immediately sat forward and squared up to Kasey.

"So you're automatically jumping to that conclusion? Will you just drop this vendetta Kasey - it's getting old. Michelle stole your boyfriend once - boo hoo! Get over it and stop trying to drag her through the mud. It's not as if she's been the only person suddenly in this house either. There's another - and a lot more permanent of a fixture! Let's face it it's no secret he's a stoner!"

Kasey's mouth was hovering open just waiting for her chance to fire back.

"Like 4 years ago Brandon - when he was in high school! How could you even suggest that? At least everyone in this family knows Evan - all we know about Michelle is that she's a bitch with a bully for a dad and good taste in puppy dogs!"

"OK- enough!" Stef yelled out putting her hands out between her eldest twins to try and defuse them

"This is getting us nowhere! I don't want to hear accusations - I want to hear the truth. Now I'm not expecting anyone to come forward publicly but no-one is leaving this house until we know where this came from. If no-one comes forward we'll go round each of you till we find out and trust me - it'll be a lot worse when we do find you." There were a few audible protests all silenced by Stef raising her palm once again. Jesus absorbed the scene around him. He had barely heard a word of Brandon and Kasey's argument, his head swirling. He had caused all this - that one stupid decision. He thought it was all going to be OK - that Evan would sort it. How did this go so wrong? He had done the right thing. That would have to count for something - but he would have to admit he took it in the first place. It couldn't be worse than when he got in trouble for covering selling the pills - lying then got them all in a lot more trouble than they ever could have imagined. He was about to open his mouth to admit it all, pay for his weakness before Evan emerged from the basement.

"Well it's nice for you to join us!" Stef said scathingly.

"Evan. Stef found some marijuana by the back door. We want to know who it belongs to and how big this is." Lena filled him in before any unedited commentary could do so first. Evan's head dipped.

"Stef..." As soon as he opened his mouth her heart dropped. It was written all over his face.

"Can I talk to you?" He said gravely. Jesus twitched. He was going to tell them everything. He took a deep breath to brace himself. Was it better coming from Evan or from him?

"Please tell me you're joking." She whispered harshly, closing her eyes to avoid having to look at him. Kasey turned to him as well, her eyes wide and confused. Brandon had the grace to retreat down into the sofa - he didn't want to have been right about Evan even if he had risen to Kasey's fight.

"I know where the weed is from." He said as Jesus closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, taking a moment before intending to finish Evan's sentence. It was a moment too long however, as Evan beat him to it.

"It's mine."

Evan! Argh! I get frustrated and I'm the one who writes it. Let me know what you're thinking? He being stupid? Brave? Just being Evan? He needs to learn from Jesus and Mariana's mistakes? Can I just have Michelle storm in and admit everything? (NB: I am afraid I can't do this as it would somewhat take the Black Widow out of Black Widow...)

Chapter 24 Preview: Kasey feels betrayed, Stef fumes and Evan reflects

He briefly regretted taking the blame but then thought about his youth and how his Dad had reacted to the first time he found him with pot. It had cut off all lines of communication. His Dad had been so angry he stopped even his small attempts at trying to defend him - causing Evan to harbour more resentment. He couldn't do that to Jesus. The pain of the memory overshadowed any judgement that would tell him that Lena and Stef would be understanding. That he could explain it to them and it would be fine. He was too blinded by his own memory and the fear of putting Jesus through that disappointment.