Thanks for the response to the last 2 chapters - I was super nervous about them as I know this is hard for Evan fans (I'm his biggest!).

A few things came up in reviews and PMs and again, if some are thinking it others might so I will mention it here publicly as well.

Re. Brandon - remember the poor bloke hasn't seen what we have and he is drawn to try and help the broken. He's very loyal and if you think about what he has seen she hasn't actually done anything wrong (well apart from having him under the thumb but I know a lot of less horrible people who are guilty of that...). This episode will be a tough one for him.

Re. Michelle getting busted - A lot of people wanting Michelle caught out and it will happen over this episode (which will probably all be posted over the next week) but I'm not rushing it - there are too many juicy interactions to come on the way. Michelle actually has a pretty rough episode too as her activities start to tear her apart. She'll get sloppy - I promise - but all in good time.

During the pot episode people wanted Jesus to get in trouble with Stef (and that is still to come) but I've thrown some more trouble in for him too to bring a Jesus/Stef interaction forward for you. He will be main focus these two chapters.

Finally - I love hearing all of your theories, suggestions and hopes. The story is pretty tightly formed now so I may not be able to do them any more (even if sometimes they are better than what I have) but if I can I will still try and work in elements from them - especially if they are interaction based.

Anyway, that's enough from me. I love the comments and the reviews so do keep them up and thanks for sticking this out with me!

Sunday evening had rolled around and an eerie silence thundered through the house. The older twins had barely left their respective rooms and Mariana and Callie had taken Jude to the cinema as a celebratory trip after the play - also as a welcome distraction.

"Hey - can you check my math?" Kasey poked her head around Lena's bedroom door. She was folding laundry and looking rather surprised.

"Your math?"

"Well, the test is next week. I figured I best do something now I have no life."

Lena sat back and patted the space on the bed next to her.

"Looks good to me. Your drawing at the sides are becoming better too." she teased nudging Kasey in the side lightly.

"You seem better today. The clouds clearing a bit?" Lena asked after studying her dazed face.

"A little." Kasey shrugged. "So you think I'll be fine?"

Lena sighed. She could see Kasey was avoiding the issue. She had never voluntarily come to her for math and every time Evan had been vaguely mentioned in the last couple days conversation had diverted. She decided against pushing it any further and simply pushed back some of Kasey's hair. "You'll do fine honey." she whispered hoping Kasey would pick up on the dual meaning.

Callie poked her head around Brandon's door after they had returned from their movie. He hadn't noticed her arrival as he tapped away at his keyboard. She watched him angrily thump a selection in frustration after hitting what she imagined was a wrong note.

"Not sure that's a better version." she joked heaving herself onto his bed as he swung round.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there..." he mumbled.

"Barely seen you out of here the last couple days. Dare I ask if you've spoken to Michelle yet ?"

"What does anyone care if I have? Do you want to know if it's too soon to have a family rendition of Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead?" he grumbled back.

"Wow. Well I'm trying to be supportive but OK, feel free to cut us all out if you prefer to stew."

Callie replied calmly moving off the bed as Brandon shook his head apologetically.

"I'm sorry - that was uncalled for. I'm just...so frustrated with everything."

"You can be mad at everyone as much as you want you know, it's not going to change the fact that you're also concerned that Jesus and Kasey's accusations aren't unfounded."

He twitched his head to the side in discomfort. He had been on the defensive but it was mainly because he really couldn't decide whether he held Michelle accountable or not. How could he know? He couldn't believe she would but he wasn't completely stupid. He knew her reputation - at the same time though he didn't want to fall into the group of people who judged her by her past. He had tried to avoid making his decision by avoiding her.

"Callie, you saw the situation. You were the one who said he had her pinned up against the wall."

"Yes. That is what I saw. No getting around it."

"So if that is the case everyone is vilifying her for something she hasn't done! Something she was the victim in."

Callie sighed.

"Maybe so - and if so, that is bad. But there were only two people in the room Brandon - and only one who was fully conscious. She's the only one who can answer your questions. No one can tell you how you should feel, but you do need to figure out what it is and lashing out at everyone else won't help."

He sighed. She wasn't telling him anything he didn't already know but something about it coming from someone else was important to his thought process.

"What do you think I should do?" he asked earnestly. "Evan kissed my girlfriend. He betrayed my sister - I can't just be expected to not get angry about that?" he said much more calmly but still frustrated.

"Everyone is mad at Evan. What happens with that will not be for you to figure out, or any of us apart from Kasey for that matter. All you need to decide is what happens with Michelle. The rest you'll just have to play by ear based on what Kasey does."

"I know." he pushed himself round on his chair. "Still think I'll wait till school to see her though - I just don't want to face her yet." He turned to Callie as she climbed off his bed.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you...thanks for this." he mumbled. She nodded and patted his back as she left.

Jesus rocked on his feet pushing himself against the counter. "So no one has talked to him?"

"Jesus, leave it." Stef sighed for what felt like the hundredth time as Jesus followed her as she moved around the kitchen.

"That's it. We've just cut him off after one stupid kiss. Not even letting him give an explanation?"

"Jesus. This is between Kasey and Evan. No-one else. Now please, can we change the subject."

"No! Don't pretend that you can't do anything. You just don't want to." he shot back thumping the table as Stef gawped sternly.

"OK, you need to cool it or you're going to find yourself in hot water, young man. That's no way to speak to anyone, let alone your mother."

Jesus huffed in frustration. "Nobody has even checked where he is - if he's safe. How can you go so quickly from taking him in to throwing him out?"

"Have you forgotten what happened on Friday?" Stef fired back finally losing her cool.

"He got a bit drunk and that bitch took advantage."

Stef closed her eyes to try and maintain composure. She didn't entirely disagree with Jesus but was trying her hardest not to pick sides. She had seen the way Michelle was around Evan. She had warned him so many times and didn't believe for a second that she was innocent in this situation - she was sure that Brandon would see sense, he had to, but also knew that pushing it may well push him towards her. Evan had been stupid though. He had too frequently got careless - especially when he was drunk and she couldn't think of any other explanation as to how all of the empty cans of beer had ended up in the recycling. He made his bed when he made that decision to drown his nerves and having been married to a man who relied on drink too much. Even if Evan was young and nowhere near the levels of dependence Mike had been she would fully support Kasey if she didn't want to live with that as his crutch.

She looked back to Jesus.

"That's it. Enough. I mean it this time - one more word and you can spend the rest of the night cooling down in your room. Tensions are high Jesus, I don't need any more kids at eachother's throats. You need to put your feelings aside and let your siblings have time to process theirs.

He shook his head and stormed out. This was getting nowhere.

He picked up his cell and toyed with calling Evan. He had tried talking to Kasey but she found a way of changing the subject every time and it was too painful to push it and see her so sad. He was angry with Evan but he couldn't shake the feeling that this had more to do with Michelle. It was too much of a coincidence that she was the one in there with him. He finally pressed the call button and it rang through. He tried again and it once again rang to machine. He called one more time before he finally answered.

"Jesus, what is it?" Evan responded, flustered.

"I want to talk man, this just...I can't take this."

"Jesus, I can't talk to you. Your family would go mad. I need to sort some things out."

Jesus shook his leg violently. "What things? You know this isn't right. Why aren't you standing up for yourself? I'm going to tell them about the pot. If they knew that..."

"Jesus! Its got nothing to do with that. Your Moms don't need any more to deal with - not to mention Kasey! Please. Look, I appreciate your support but there's stuff I need to..."

"What? I can help you. Please! Everything has gone to hell since you left!"

"Jesus!" Stef yelled harshly as she caught him red handed and knew instantly who he was talking to.

"Give me the phone, now!"

"Jesus, just go. It'll be fine, I promise."

Stef started to approach him, her eyes blazing as he reluctantly pulled the phone down hearing Evan had hung up. He handed it to her roughly.

"This is bullshit." he mumbled to himself.

Stef exhaled again. She didn't have the energy to yell at him for his language. The last few days had sapped everything out of her. She stared at his sorrowful face. He looked so lonely that even if she did have the energy she couldn't be mad at him.

"Jesus. Please. I'm begging you, just let them process this. I know you miss him but this is not for you to..."

"Will you all just stop acting like he is just some guy down the road? He's part of our family now! He...you have no idea the things he's..." Jesus stuttered. He was about to tell her about the weed but he just couldn't bring himself to. Evan had told him not to, he didn't want to face that - Kasey would be so mad at him and he didn't want to lose her too. "He's a brother to me." Stef took a seat next to him on his bed letting his outburst slide again.

"There was always the possibility that Kasey and Evan would split up. You must have known that." she sighed rubbing his leg to stop its violent vibration. It broke her heart to see the impact it was having on him.

He shook his head in denial. "No. They were never meant to." he stormed off his bed as Stef collapsed down into it, arms across her forehead. Part of her wanted to find Evan and bring him back. Make them come to some kind of conclusion either way. She couldn't stand this endless tension and the impact it was having but Kasey was finally calming. Stef worried that it was strangely calm but she was coming to terms with it at least to some degree. She was making small jokes, still sensitive but out from the crying phase. Stef wasn't sure if she wanted Evan back though - she missed him and she hated the fall-out but she was so angry. So furious and protective. She also didn't know how it would be in the house and knew Brandon would take a lot longer to forgive, Kasey a lot longer to heal. The only thing she knew for sure was that time in this case should be a healer, as long as there was enough support to help the kids through.

Jesus paced the kitchen furiously. What had Evan meant? He had "some stuff to sort". Did he have an explanation? Kasey deserved an explanation. They all did. How could he leave them now and not even try to make things right? What if Jesus needed him again? He finally had someone he felt he could trust unconditionally with anything. Someone who understood him. Someone always there for him. On the flipside, why couldn't he be there for Evan? What if this was his time to step up for him. To repay the favour. He needed to find him. Stef could find him but Stef was determined not to get involved. He looked blankly across the room thinking. He saw Stef's phone. He shouldn't have phoned Evan, he should have tracked him, seen where he was and talked to him in person. But...Stef's phone could do that too. Jesus looked at the clock. It was 8. He looked back at the phone on the kitchen counter again. He would be in so much trouble...if he was caught. She never used her phone in the house...it was hours before curfew...his heart thumped. Evan had got in a lot of trouble for him before...

"I'm going for a drive." he shouted through the house, grabbing the phone and the car keys without taking a second thought. It was decided.

Jesus set the GPS to follow to Evan's location. It was a part of town he didn't know but he knew it wasn't a good one. He knew Evan had friends all over, it was probably one of their houses. If he was finding Evan he would be safe - it wasn't as bad an area as where he had found Ana.

If he felt unsafe he could drive straight back. Evan was stationary, that was one thing. The arrow pulled closer and closer. He was now on the same street. He looked around to find somewhere to park. The only building at Evan's location was a bar. Maybe he was drowning his sorrows? That sounded like Evan - but he wasn't drunk on the phone. Jesus took a deep breath. He wasn't scared, he could fight if he needed to and he could run really fast. Besides, if he got hurt at least his Moms would probably hurt him less; he chuckled to himself trying to suppress his nerves by trivialising what he was doing. He turned the engine off and took a deep breath before leaving the car and heading towards the door. The bar was called "Broncos" and the doorway was decorated with smoking men who all glared at him as he passed. He walked confidently knowing that showing weakness would attract attention. He nodded to them as he passed, one nodded back still fixed gaze.

He entered into the bar. It was large and filled with people, mainly men but a few women, heavily made up. Curses and laughter filled the air. He looked around, hesitant to produce the phone so publically. If it got stolen Stef would murder him. He tried to blend in looking as inconspicuous as possible but it was hard being dressed much younger than most of the patrons. He desperately scoured the bar before he gasped as he was grabbed from behind and pulled into a booth.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Evan spat, his voice laced with fear. "Do you have any idea how dangerous this part of town is? Not to mention how dangerous your house will be for you if your Moms find out!"

"Well you wouldn't speak to me on the phone..." he whined in response.

Evan rubbed his forehead in desperation. "You have to go home. Now."

"You said we needed to stick together and stop trying to do things on our own."

"-and what do you think running after me is doing? Jesus, look - I'm trying to find out things about someone. It's dangerous enough for me to be here, I will not put you in any danger."

"This has got something to do with Michelle doesn't it?"

Evan looked around guiltily. "I..I...don't be ridiculous."

"Don't lie to me Evan! Almost every time we've been in trouble she's been there."

"That could be coincidence..."

"But it isn't!" as their voices got more heated more people in the room around then turned.

"OK, I'm taking you home. Now."

Evan pulled him up and moved to head towards the door before a terrifying sound froze them in spot.

"Nobody move! Police!"

Chapter 40 Preview: Jesus faces his Moms' wrath. Kasey makes a tough decision and tries to help Jesus understand her feelings.

"Picked him up at Broncos..."

Stef's eyes flared angrily as she grabbed Jesus' arm. He kept his gaze fixed to the floor.

"Broncos? As in the bar Broncos? Get in here!" She whispered harshly pulling him in next to her. He delved his hands into his pockets.