AN: Thanks again for the lovely reviews, and anyone who's just reading (but secretely I would love you to review too).

I was skimming the Brendan Brady fan thread on Digital Spy the other day and spotted them discussing my (unless someone has written something with a very similar storyline) fic. They said that it scarred them, and was far too dark. Whoops. So, I apologise to anyone I have scarred, but assume, if you're still reading 27 chapters into the third story that you don't mind being scarred. I really hope you're still enjoying it (though obviously enjoy is the wrong word - being moved, maybe?), please keep reviewing, it will make me remember to post the end (which is written... oooo...)

x


Ste could have kicked himself for being so stupid. Run first, check motives later, obviously.

He spun around, pushing Paddy firmly behind him.

"So, what did you do, Steven, to help young Padraig here run around the Irish wilderness in the middle of the night?" Brady's voice was dripping with irony. This was not a question he expected an answer to, but there was another quality in there too. Ste remembered Brendan using a similar tone when he spoke about Noah.

"Nothing," Ste said.

"Nothing?" Brady repeated, sneering, "interesting. Paddy, what did you say about Brendan?"

"Nothing," said Paddy.

"Nothing, too? Interesting. It seems I keep imagining things."

Shit, if he moved them now, before Brendan got there, they might not get another chance. Brendan might never find them.

"Look," said Ste, "you don't have to do this."

"Huh," Brady replied.

"We could just go. You and me. If you leave Paddy somewhere safe, no one'll even follow us."

"You think so, Steven?" Brady prompted.

"Yeah," said Ste, "what we did, last night, that could happen every night, right? But, if you don't let Paddy go home, Brendan'll never let that happen. We'll always be looking over our shoulders for him."

Brady laughed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Just you and me," Ste continued, putting his hand on Brady's arm, "Just like last night."

Brady's laugh became a hiss. Then suddenly he punched Ste. Then again, and again. "I am not queer!" he shouted. Paddy jumped at him, shouting at him to stop, to never touch Ste again, but Brady just pushed him out of the way. Ste had landed on the floor. The knife was close, but he didn't want Brady to notice it yet.

"What?" Brady sneered at him, "you think I'm your wee boyfriend now?" he spat the word out like it was poison in his mouth, "you disgust me!"

The choice of words wasn't lost on Ste, and treacherous tears leapt to his eyes.

"Padraig," Brady announced, calming down a bit, "go downstairs. I don't need to wait for the morning to show ye how the world treats queers."

Ste dove for the knife. Brady grabbed his hair, trying to drag him away from it, but he got his fingers around the handle.

He slashed at the hand that held him. It barely made an impact but it took Brady by surprise. He yelped and sprang back, giving Ste enough space to grab Paddy's hand and run down the stairs. It was later than he thought, he realised. A soft light was beginning to brighten the sky outside the window, which was turning grey instead of black. They got to the door before Brady hit the top step, but it was locked. Ste tugged at the bolts, but he didn't want to let go of the knife or Paddy. He got one of the two bolts free, but then Brady was on them, pushing Paddy aside.

Ste shoved the knife at him again. It made a small cut on the older man's face this time, but didn't do much more than make Brady angrier. Ste dodged under his arm and just managed to get the table in between them. Paddy was beside him again a moment later.

"Get behind me," Ste called to the boy.

"No!" insisted Paddy, "I'm not gonna let him hurt you again."

Brady tried to grab at them over the table. They both flinched back.

"Stay back!" Ste shouted, "I'm not afraid to use this!"

"You may as well use the razor, Steven," the old man sneered, looking crazed. "You're not getting out of here alive. Stop fighting and I might make it quick."

Suddenly Paddy wasn't beside Ste anymore. He'd thrown himself at the old man.

"You're not gonna hurt him!" shouted Paddy, kicking and hitting. Brady back handed him, sending the boy flying.

"Look what you've done to my Grandson, you disgusting little queer!" Brady shouted at Ste, but Ste was already checking Paddy was moving. He did, and Ste breathed a sigh of relief. But, with his attention on Paddy, he was an easy target for Brady, who grabbed him by the arm and tried to grab the knife. Ste grasped it, struggling to keep hold and to keep it out of Brady's reach.

It fell from their hands, and Ste managed to kick it away. Brady tried to throw him out of the way, but he held firm to the old man, trying to keep him away from the knife. It was chaos. Brady was shouting, Ste was shouting back. Kicks and punches were thrown on both sides, but no one seemed to be winning. Soon they broke apart just to be able to breathe.

Then suddenly the door was open. Paddy was holding it, beaming in delight, and Brendan was glaring at his father.

Ste ran to pick up the knife. He didn't really doubt Brendan's ability to win this, but he didn't want to give Brady any advantages.

"Steven," Brendan breathed, and Ste liked to think that his anger was forgotten for a moment as he found Ste relatively unharmed. Ste grinned back at him. "And you," he growled at Paddy, "are in are in a lot of trouble, Padraig Brady. I told ye not to come back here."

Paddy's grin shrank. Brendan glared back at his father.

"Steven, will you take Padraig out to the car please?"

Ste nodded, and walked straight to the door.

"What's he going to do?" Paddy asked, not doing as instructed.

"Come on," Ste said, "we've gotta go."

Paddy looked for a moment like he was going to argue. Ste worried he might refuse. Ste himself definitely didn't want to see what happened next. He was scared of Brendan when he got like this. Not because he thought Brendan would hurt him, but because this was a part of him he didn't need to see. And neither did Paddy.

"Come on," he repeated, and took Paddy's hand, leading him outside.

Brendan shut the door firmly behind them.