OK folks - I think this is a chapter a lot of you have been waiting for...hope you enjoy. Would love to know what you think and thanks for the reviews and such as always!

Brandon saw the house she went into. There was clearly a party going on. He sat deliberating. What was she doing there? Whose house was it even? Michelle did have some friends but not many he thought she was in much contact with. She didn't socialise with many people at school, not closely, and he knew she used to wash dishes at a bar last year but wasn't sure where it was or whether she was still in touch with friends from there. What if she was in trouble? She didn't have the cleanest past and she was low - really low. He couldn't let her put herself in danger - especially if she was carrying their baby.

He took a deep breath and headed over to the house.

The inside was raucous. The whole house was filled. There was a couple of kids he knew from school but not many, and nobody he had ever talked to. A kid he thought was called Ryan and a friend or two of his. The rooms were filled with smoke, of various odours. This wasn't a college party and it wasn't a school party. Most of the people there were older. He got so far in without anybody noticing. There was no sign of Michelle. He looked down at his clothes and felt incredibly out of place.

"You wandered into the wrong party?" one guy slurred. "Hey Bobby, pour this guy a glass, his hand is empty." before he knew it a beer was shove into his hand. He was still upset but also wracked with nerves and he couldn't resist trying to ease them.

"I'm looking for Michelle Porter?" he replied.

The two guys exchanged a glance. "Not a clue, bro. Sorry." they shrugged off as he continued to sip on the beer. And move his way round. At least now he was slightly less obvious.

He made it through to another room where another small group of guys were. He rubbed the palm of his free hand with his fingers and tried to put all of the screaming thoughts and fears to the back of it, somewhere behind the beer. He would find Michelle then he would panic about the baby.

"Excuse me..." he asked as the men stopped their conversation. They all looked at him slightly surprised. "Excuse me?" one mimicked as the others laughed. "You're not from this part of town are you.." another commented.

"I'm looking for Michelle, Michelle Porter." the men exchanged a glance. Two of them at least shared a knowing smile.

"Brendon, right?"

"Brandon..."

"Of course. Sorry. We've heard a lot about you." the guy put his arm around him. "Hey, fancy a shot? I dunno if Michelle's here but we'll go look..." he signalled his head to one if the friends as another poured another drink.

"Really, I'm fine...I'm driving."

"I'm sure Michelle will get you home, don't worry about it." before he knew it they had practically forced the drink down his throat. It was strong and putrid and it burned his throat. It was strangely pleasing though, the other men all took there's with a laugh as he spluttered.

"You can't drive back now anyway - may as well have another."

"Really I..." Brandon tried to protest "I'm really just here to speak to Michelle."

"we're trying to find her for you. You look like you've had a rough night though buddy - one more and it'll be easier."

"Really I'm..."

"Hey, Brandon right?" a voice came up behind him. It was a voice that Evan would know but Brandon had never heard.

"Michelle is upstairs sorting herself out. She seemed in a pretty bad way."

"Yeah, we...we had a fight."

"I'm a cousin of hers. She's like a little sister to me. I really wanna help you guys work stuff out."

"I didn't know she had..."

"Look she said she's sorting her makeup - you know girls. She said you're right that you need to talk, just give her ten minutes and have a drink."

"I'll just wait."

Carl put his hand on his shoulder. "Dude, really. If it's the kind of conversation I think it may be you're best to have some liquid courage. These boys will look after you. Guys, just give him something light." he winked taking another aside. "I'll send her down as fast as I can hurry her."

He pulled the second friend's ear close to his mouth. "I wanna know what he knows. Can't get a decent word out of Michelle. She's in pieces."

"Are you not going to send her down?"

"You kidding? Get him drunk, get it out of him and get him out. If possible I don't want him remembering. No drugs though. His Mom's a cop and we can't have them sniffing around."

The guy he was with nodded.

A good half hour passed and Brandon's new companions had succeeded in their mission. He had stayed resilient at first but they empathised with his confusion of how to read Michelle's recent behaviour and the drinks flowed freer the more he was coaxed into. The liquor they chose was slow working, giving Brandon a false sense of sobriety. Carl returned as the force of it began to hit.

"How's he doing."

"Dude, he couldn't be more clueless." Carl nodded and headed over.

"Hey bud, I'm sorry, I just don't think she's coming down. Reckon you can sort this tomorrow?"

Brandon's expression dropped.

"Are you frickin' kidding me?" his face flared with anger. "What has she just strung..." he wavered, his head becoming light as his aggression grew. The room spun slightly as he tried to focus on Carl.

He thought he heard him instruct someone to call him a cab and get him home but all he could see were about 3 Carls walking away.

One of his new friends steadied his shoulder.

"OK bud, we'll get you a car."

Brandon sat down on a nearby chair, falling into it. His head ached with hurt and confusion. She had probably never intended to come down. What was she playing at? They needed to talk about this. He wasn't taking no for an answer. He jumped off the chair and headed up the stairs. He didn't know who or what he was looking for but he heard a vague shout of "Hey Brandon! Come back!" followed by some taunting laughter.

He made his way through the swirling people and up to the only closed door room he could find. He swung it open and fell back in horror as he saw Michelle being kissed be a topless Carl.

He stumbled back into the arms of one of the men as the door slammed and he heard a vague cry of her shouting "Brandon! Wait!" before an argument ensued behing the floating door. He pushed back one of the guys as another held him up, his rage taking over. How could he have been so dumb? Everyone knew but him. Everyone!

He pushed one of the men again as they pushed him back. He didn't process much else but he heard his name and a yell and his arm was hauled up onto someone's shoulder. He felt himself being dragged down the stairs and out, faster and faster with shouts behind him. He had no clue what was going on. He tried to say something but only tearful babbling came out as he felt his keys come out of his pocket and felt himself hauled into the passenger seat of his car.

Callie had joined Kasey downstairs.

"Couldn't find your algebra book." she said.

"I know, I had it - I did just want an excuse to come up and talk without Moms giving me an earful. My head is spinning with all of this math!"

Callie smiled but couldn't hide the fatigue from her exchanges with her brothers.

"So, I hear you and Brandon had a fight..." Kasey raised an inquisitive brow.

"A small one - but we sorted it."

"Same broken record he's been playing for the last week?" she replied snidely.

Callie sighed. "You need to cut him some slack Kase - he's just trying to stand by his girlfriend and she makes it hard enough for him to do so."

"I know, I know. I've been thinking about trying to make peace actually. Ever since I had that talk with Mom yesterday."

"Well it'd probably mean a lot to him if you did." Callie smiled.

"But no ending up fighting!" Stef shouted through as both girls turned.

"Are you eavesdropping?" Kasey shouted across slightly shocked.

"Are you still pretending Callie has your algebra book?" Stef taunted back as Kasey rolled her eyes.

She made her way up the stairs shortly after and knocked quietly on Brandon's closed door. With no reply she knocked again and pushed it open quietly confused at the silence.

The light was off and she looked at the strangely small lump in the bed.

She tiptoed over and pulled back the covers heaving a sigh as she saw he had been replaced with that stupid bear.

She shook her head lightly and covered it back up, propping it with another cushion to make it slightly more convincing. Brandon never had been very good at sneaking around.

"Brandon's getting an early night." she lied as she came back down.

"He OK?" Stef asked slightly concerned.

"He was fine, think he just wants the day to be over quicker." she responded as Stef nodded in agreement. She hoped now for her own sake that he wasn't in any proper trouble.

"Where are you taking me?" Brandon slurred, his head rocking as he took a bottle forced into his hand.

"Drink that dude, it'll help tomorrow. Trust me. May not help protect you from your Moms though."

Evan fumbled with the controls of Brandon's car while trying to keep an eye on him. He dabbed his own split lip with the back of his hand.

"OK - you're nearly home."

Evan pulled in a little short of the Fosters' drive and pulled his phone out. His finger lingered over Kasey's name but he scrolled up to find Callie's just in case. Kasey had dealt with enough grief over the last few days - she didn't need any more so close to her exam.

"Evan? Its like 12 o'clock. What are you doing calling anyway?" Callie had been hesitant to answer the call in case he had been drunk and pleading. She had rushed into the bathroom, luckily still awake to see it flashing.

"I'm sorry Callie - look I have Brandon and he's in a bad way - we're outside. You need to get him in the house - preferably without your Moms seeing him in this state."

Callie scurried downstairs worried. She had encouraged Brandon to sneak out and now here he was coming home drunk. Without saying much else she quietly slipped out the door and made her way to Brandon's car.

Evan came out to meet her as soon as she approached. He ran round and pulled a semi-conscious Brandon out.

"Oh my God - how much did he drink? Where were you?" she asked pulling his arm onto her shoulder with some help .

"No idea - I had just arrived but I saw him having some trouble with some guys."

Callie looked at him in horror

"Where were you? A bar? Wait, what happened to your lip?"

Evan ran his tongue over it with the reminder. "It's nothing, I just got in the way of one of the guy's fists when I pulled him off Brandon. And it was a party. I'm not entirely sure but I think he may have seen Michelle with another guy."

Callie looked even more confused. "Wait, wait, wait - you were at a party with Michelle? What were...?"

"It's not how it sounds Callie - I was looking for someone. Look it really doesn't matter."

"It does matter if I take him in and Stef or Lena catch us - they're going to want some answers."

"Well I'm not in the club anymore Callie. Just tell them it was my fault or something. That he was chasing me like Jesus was." he said with a slight sorrow in his voice.

This sparked up a light bulb in Callie's brain. Evan's willingness to take the blame...Jesus.

"Evan, is there something more that you haven't told me...?" she probed. "Something from before?"

Evan stuttered slightly as they reached the door but then completely avoided giving an answer.

"You'll have to make it from here. If you get caught, tell Stef and Lena I'm sorry."

He shuffled a mumbling Brandon over to Callie as she tried to support him while opening the door.

"I can walk." he slurred. "You don't have to do this."

"Yeah, well you won't be able to when Stef is finished with you."

Callie guided him in already too late as Stef was already down from the prolonged light outside.

"Oh Brandon." she acknowledged immediately before running over to help Callie support him.

"Mom...I'm sorry...Michelle she..." he mumbled through more tears as Stef pushed his fringe back.

"OK, OK, we'll talk about it later." they walked him over to the kitchen table.

"Get him some water and put some coffee on. If he goes to bed like this he'll not be able to get up for school."

Callie looked at her slightly surprised.

"You're making him go to school?"

Stef's raised an eyebrow.

"Of course you are. Remind me never to get this drunk in this house."

"Uhuh. Now, give me some answers young lady - where were you?"

"Hey don't look at me, I was upstairs! I just picked him up from the car."

Stef's eyes flared in horror.

"No, no - he wasn't driving. He was dropped off."

"By who?"

Callie stuttered slightly.

"Callie?" Stef asked sternly as Callie sighed.

"Evan. He was at the party. He saw Brandon was getting into some kind of fight or something and dragged him out. Got a split lip doing it too."

Stef's expression dropped. "Why is that boy is always nearby when my kids are in trouble?"

Callie shrugged. "To be honest I think you owe him. Plus he wanted me to pretend it was his fault. I have no idea where this party was but Evan thinks he may have seen Michelle with another guy."

"I could strangle that girl." Stef shook her head. "And Evan sometimes if he thinks he can just sacrifice himself to cover for my children. Look, you take care of him please till I get back..." Stef grabbed something out if her coat pocket and something from one of the wicker baskets and headed to the door.

"Which way did Evan head?"

"South...wait? You're going after him?"

"Yes - Superman doesn't get to just fly around saving people and leave without answering questions in my house." she stormed out the door as Callie smiled.

"I have a feeling your hangover is going to last more than a couple days." she whispered to Brandon.

"Hey - Dummy!" Evan heard yelled behind him. He swung around and jumped back a step or two.

"Stef - I mean Mrs F?" he stuttered in shock with slight fear. She was approaching him at quite a pace.

"Why are you..."

"Come here!" she said gently, pulling his chin roughly towards her and producing an anti-sceptic wipe.

"You really don't have to...ah!"

He winced as it stung coolly on his lip.

"Yes I do. What happened? And I want the truth." she stared at him sternly but with unmistakable gratitude.

Evan took a deep breath. It was a painful reminder of what he was worried he had lost.

"I don't know much, I'd just turned up - I heard a skuffle and I saw Brandon at the centre. He was flailing between these guys with this of angry, babbling thing going on and they were ragging on him sorta pushing him between them as he tried to fight back. I pulled one off, another punched me and I pulled him out and ran. I don't think they got as far as hurting him - I don't know if they were going to."

"And why were you at a party with Michelle?"

"I wasn't - I mean, I didn't even know she was there. I just assumed she was because Brandon kept going on about it in the car. Just odd words though. Think I may have heard her - there was some shouting going on the other side of the door. Assuming she was with..." he paused short of saying Carl's name. "with the guy Brandon saw her with."

Stef looked him up and down with a sigh. "Well thank you for doing that. You have no idea how grateful I am."

"Grateful enough to stop trying to mother my lip?" he said muffled as she once again tried to clean up the new emergence of blood.

Stef smacked him lightly on the chest.

"You've still not answered my question though - what were you doing at that party?"

Evan shrugged. "Seeing a man about a dog." He replied to try and joke away the question.

"Evan..."

"Look I was just going to talk to someone, that's all."

Stef looked at him sternly. ""Like you were when Jesus followed you to that bar?" He debated telling her his suspicions but he still had no evidence for anything. Evan really needed to speak to Brandon properly before getting Stef involved. The night had been traumatic enough for him to be complicating everything else.

Evan shrugged. "What do you want from me Mrs F? You don't have to keep worrying about me now."

She shook her head. "You clearly don't know me very well." she squinted.

"Have you got somewhere to stay - I mean obviously not that I'm offering, I just need to know you've got somewhere safe to go. I don't want to find you down at the station again."

Evan nodded. "Friend of mine knows a guy at Last Stop Motel. Been hangin' there till I get something permanent sorted."

"OK - well here, take this for a cab or the bill or something - don't complain just take it." She added as he tried to flap it away. She forced it into his hand and he put it in a pocket with a sigh.

"Just don't spend it on drink - got it?" She warned.

Evan looked down to the floor. "I haven't drunk for a little while." He said quietly.

Stef's shoulders dropped. He clearly had never risked drinking again since what happened. She was saddened that his humble efforts were going un-rewarded. He was trying so hard.

"Hey listen - I am grateful, and relieved - but no more of this putting yourself in danger to swoop in to save my kids, yes? As much as I value and appreciate it - it's not your responsibility. I don't want all of you getting hurt."

Evan breathed out a small laugh. "You clearly don't know me very well either." He responded under his breath, slightly worried how audacious it may sound. "Goodnight Mrs F. And don't be too tough on Brandon. He had a rough night."

Stef nodded. "Well he's gonna be having a rough morning too by the looks of things." She nervously patted Evan on the arm, slightly reluctant but clearly wanting to hug him.

"You take care. And thank you."

He gave his token salute and wandered away. Stef sighed deeply. She really did miss having him as part of their family.

Chapter 45 Preview: Stef nurses a broken Brandon and Callie tricks Jesus into an important confession. How will Stef and Lena react?

"He told me enough. What were you thinking?"

Jesus gulped down and began to fidget his hands up and down his legs.

"Look I never wanted him to take the blame. He insisted. He said that if Moms knew the pot was mine that..."

Callie's eyes flared open this time. She had assumed that something like that had happened - hence how she chose her angle of attack to get Jesus to confess - but hearing it said was another thing entirely.