"How is she?" John asked when Michael entered the room.

"Sleeping, thank God." Michael said, sinking into a nearby chair.

"So what's been on your mind, little brother?"

"Well, Marcie's been really upset lately."
"They're probably working her to death at the Love House. Didn't you say she had heat exhaustion? Man, Mom will freak when she finds out that they've been making those kids slave in this heat. Doesn't seem worth it, just for extra school credit." John said.

"Yeah, but I think there's more to it than that." Michael said.

"What? Something more serious?"

Michael's anger returned and he knew that John could sense it too. He looked at his brother thoughtfully.

"John, do you know Nick Messina?"
"The name sounds familiar. I've heard Shannon talk about him a few times. Why?"
"Well, if you find him, I want you to rearrange his face!" Michael yelled; his anger suddenly flaring.

"Okay, calm down, brother. What happened?"

"He's... He's been tormenting Marcie about her weight at the Love House. I guess he said some pretty hurtful things, and it's really affected her self-esteem. Jen and Riley said that Marcie hasn't eaten much in the last two days. She was pretty malnourished when they got her to the hospital. John, I think that's why she passed out."

"Two days? Michael, she could have-."

"Died, I know." Michael said.

"I'll get right on it." John said. "I'll call Bo and have an APB put out on this guy. He sounds like a real loser and shouldn't be too hard to track down." He opened his refrigerator and pulled out a brown bag, which he handed to Michael.

Michael peered into the bag. "What's this?"

"It's lunch I bought for Evangeline and myself. We were gonna go on a picnic at the park."
Michael shook his head. "Oh hey... No John. I can't take this. You guys deserve a romantic afternoon."
John pushed the bag toward his brother. "I insist. Marcie needs this more than we do. Give her a kiss for me, okay?"
Touched by John's generosity, Michael hugged him. "Thanks, Man. I owe you, big time."

"No problem. And I'm gonna find this Nick Messina. Make sure he never hurts Marcie again."

Michael was silent.

"Is there something else that's bothering you?"

"Yeah, actually there is." Michael said. He buried his hands in his face. "God, I'm such a moron."

"What is it?"
"Well, when Marcie and I got here, I was trying to let her know that she was loved, so I started kissing her."
John smiled. "Marcie knows you love her, man. I can see it in her face."

"Thanks. Things started getting a little passionate and all of a sudden she freaked out."
"Wait, what do you mean, freaked out?"

"She started screaming for me to stop, and then we got into this huge fight. She kept saying that she was overweight, and no matter how many times I told her she was beautiful, she lashed out. It broke my heart, John. What is this guy Messina's problem?"

John looked at Michael as though deep in thought.

"What, John?"
"I was just thinking. Remember when the kids in school used to make fun of the kids in Special Ed?"
"Of course I remember. I was one of them." Michael said. "God I hated myself back then. Good thing you managed to put me in my place."

"Well, I'm gonna find this guy Nick and make sure he never hurts Marcie or anyone ever again. You can count on it."

"Thanks John." Michael picked up the brown bag, and went to the door. "Thanks for the food, and please tell Evangeline that it means a lot to me."