The Next Morning

Danny and Dupe were sat in the kitchen. Mrs Elliott walked in bags under her eyes. Alice's were red rimmed. Her face drawn. They were all sat by the breakfast table planning. Daniel in his swing with his dummy.

"Right here's what we'll do." Danny started. "Dupe will go here and head east." he pointed the right.

"I'll be here and will head west." he said pointing to the left. "And we'll meet here." he pointed to the middle of the map.

"Alice you'll have Daniel and Mrs Elliott can you go to Lexi and make sure she doesn't suspect anything."

Mrs Elliott nodded seriously.

Someone walked in the front door and dropped a bag.

"Anyone miss me?" the voice asked.

Everyone looked and saw Evan stood with a huge grin.

"Don't all rush to greet me!" he said playfully.

Dupe where's the mostly likely places he could go?" Danny asked.

"To a kid who doesn't know the place? Anywhere. That's assuming he's still on our land."

"What's up?" Evan asked all business.

"Ethan's gone, disappeared around 4pm yesterday."

"And we're sat here talking. We should be out there looking!" he said passionately.

"Because we can't go off half cocked!" Dupe said seriously.

"There's rough terrain out there. Not to mention dangerous animals!" Evan said heatedly.

"We know me and Dupe are co-ordinating the search." Danny said.

"Like I said IF he's still on our land!" Dupe said dryly. "It's easy to get lost or dis-orientated."

Danny mewled. "I've got him." Alice said.

"O congratulations by the way. On your baby." Evan told them.

"Thanks." they both said sadly.

"Ok when do we start?" Evan asked.

"I'll grab you a radio, you head North. We are meeting here at 3pm." Dupe told him pointing to a spot on the map. "We'll regroup and change tactics if need be. I've phoned a few men to scout the far points of our land although he won't be there I'm sure!"

(X)

A few hours had passed. No one had found a trace of anything. Yet. Danny looked through the bush double checked everything. He saw a flash of light blue. He looked again. Definitely light blue in that bush. He walked over and pulled at it. It was a jagged piece of t-shirt covered in dust and…Oh God is that blood? Danny started breathing heavily the words you'll be sorry raced through his head. He covered his mouth with his hand and considered the implications. He walked a little farther and found a little square of jagged jeans. They were thick with blood. Covered in dust, like maybe he'd been dragged and then tore….

I told you you'd be sorry Danny. You sorry yet? Ethan's voice echoed in his head.

"Alice you there?" he asked voice shaking.

No reply. Good. He didn't want her hearing this.

"Dupe I found clothes. Covered in blood!" he said softly. "They're all ragged."

"What about other stuff. Blood on the ground, bones?" Dupe asked.

"No just clothes."

"Ok!" Dupe said. "Tell me where you are and I'll make my way over.

(X)

Alice was sat at home. She heard Danny come over the radio asking if she was there. She stayed quiet. If something was wrong he'd never say it if he knew she was listening. Then came the words she dreaded hearing Danny had found blood spattered torn clothes. O god her son is dead isn't he. Mauled last night by a hungry lion. Or he had been trampled by an elephant then found by a hungry animal. Tears filled her eyes. Her poor baby boy. He'd been all alone in the wilderness. Ethan son why have you done this to us? She couldn't talk over the lump in her throat so she sat and listened as Danny found more clothing. She drew in a deep shaky breath. More and more tears fell. She felt like a sword had made a slice in her chest and now she bled. The wound grew wider as the seconds passed. Her son was gone!

Missy came up behind her. Saw her shoulders shaking.

"Hey Alice you ok?"

She turned and shook her head. Swallowed thickly.

"Ethan?" she asked. Voice wobbling with emotion.

Alice bit her lip and nodded.

"Oh Alice!" Missy said as her own tears spilled. Both woman hugged each other and cried.

(X)

Evan had turned off his radio off. The 10 minute updates were doing his head in. he worked best in silence. He stood up straight and took a big lungful of air. Then smelled faintly, what was that? He inhaled again. Smoke! And he wasn't far from…he began walking. Look out point came into view. He saw a figure relaxed on the veranda. Looking contemplative.

"Ethan!" Evan shouted.

"O Ev. How was your holiday. Pull up a chair man!"

"Was ok I suppose! I hear it all kicked off down here though."

Ethan nodded.

"You mind if I ask why?" Evan sat down.

"I slept with Lexi. It wasn't planned or anything and I do love her. Danny found out."

Evan winced.

"He totally insulted me then belittled my feelings. Acted like she was some tawdry one nightstand. Not that I planned on doing it again. Well not for a while anyway. It was the way he went on. He had NO right! And it wasn't like I forced her either. It was completely mutual every step of the way!"

"And your doing this why?" Evan asked motioning around.

"I warned him he'd be sorry!" Ethan said simply.

"He thinks your ok!" Evan said.

"Not for long. Turn your radio on!"

He did and they sat in silence. Then Danny's panicked voice declared he's found covered in blood.

Ethan sat back. Put his hands behind his head and out his feet up.

"You planted clothes?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Coz I wanna hurt him!" Ethan said nastily.

"This is going to far Ethan!"

"No it hasn't! HE went too far!"

"I'm telling them!" Evan said.

Ethan snatched the radio away and flung it. It tumbled over the barrier and landed with a thud where the receiver promptly snapped.

"You idiot Ethan! What happens if we get in trouble out here!"

"Then I won't be lying anymore will I?" he said smugly.

"Get your stuff Eth. We're going home."

"I'm not, I like it here. It's quiet."

"Fine" Evan said. It didn't occur to Ethan that Evan had gave up far too quickly.

(X)

Evan collected the rope from the supplies shed behind look out point then climbed up the side wall. He landed on soundless feet a bit behind Ethan who had his back to him standing humming. He crept and grabbed both of his hands. Tackled him to the ground. They wrestled.

"Get off me!" Ethan yelled.

Evan bound his wrists behind his back tightly. "Now you will come willingly or I drag you back! Take your pick! Wait here and I'll retrieve the radio."

Evan went down and Ethan pulled at the knots that bound him. Evan appeared twiddling with the receiver.

"I'll get you back for this Evan. Mark my words!"

Evan grinned. "Bring it on!"

"Danny…Dupe." Evan said into the radio.

All he got was crackles, static and interference.

"You Ethan are a pain in the neck!"

"Thank you for the compliment!" Ethan said.

"C'mon we're meeting up at 3!"

"NO!" Ethan said petulantly. Evan yanked the rope. They started walking Ethan struggling the whole way.

(X)

Dupe and Danny were waiting for Evan at the meeting place. He was late.

"Do you think Evan is ok?" Danny asked.

"O yeah don't worry about Evan he's been traipsing all over here since he was 7 years old!"

"Stop fighting me and walk!" A male voice yelled.

"Go to hell!" replied a belligerent voice.

"You leave me no choice then." came the first voice.

They head a sharp intake of breath. "What you doing? I swear Evan you will die for this!"

Evan came into the clearing carrying an enraged Ethan on his shoulder. Ethan wiggled slid down his back took a few steps back then ran and rugby tackled Evan. Evan had turned so Ethan ended up hitting him in the chest. Both lads went sprawling.

"You went too far there!" Ethan yelled. He was irate, foaming. Beyond angry. "I'll have you when I'm loose, I'll settle for this till I am though!" head butted Evan right in the face. Connected with his nose, it exploded. Danny dragged Ethan off Evan.

Evan jumped up and Ethan smirked.

"You think what you just did is funny?" Evan asked angrily.

"Untie me and I'll show you how funny I really think it is!"

Dupe grabbed Evan and Danny tightened his hold around Ethan's arms.

"And you get off me too!" he yelled struggling against Danny's hold.

Dupe was speaking on the radio.

"Alice, Alice come in." Dupe said.

"Alice here." came a broken voice. "You found him haven't you?"

"Yes." Dupe answered.

"And I'm trussed up like a frigging turkey!" Ethan yelled. "Alice tell these freaks to untie ME!"

"Ethan?" Alice said. "Your ok?"

"Yeah."

"Oh thank god. Get him straight home ok!"

"Sure thing!" Dupe said.

"And keep him away from me!" Evan warned.

"You deserved it!" Ethan said.

"And you act like your 5 years old!" Evan yelled.

"Coming from the 3 year old yelling like a maniac!" Ethan retorted and grinned at his livid expression.

"Quiet both of you!" Danny said.

"No one here worth talking to anyway especially you!" Ethan told Danny.

Ethan walked away.

"Um Ethan home is that way." Dupe said pointing in the opposite direction

"I know that!" he said defiantly. "Just wanted to make sure you did!"

(X)

Ethan walked home still tied up. He walked apart from the 3 of them. Who did they think they were leaving him like this huh? Danny Dupe and Evan walked together. Well they could stay that way too. Evan was gonna get it for tying him up and hoisting him on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The house came into view. He stalked passed them and saw Alice stood on the porch waiting. She saw him, ran towards him and hugged him tightly. She then smothered his face in kisses. He felt a streak of guilt when he realised she looked like she'd been crying.

"Alice!" he complained.

"What are you trying to do to me?" she asked touching his face. Then looked at him. "Why are you tied up?"

"Coz he has a funny sense of humour." he cocked his head in Evans direction.

"Don't push me Ethan I'm warning you!" Evan said coldly.

"Come and do it. I'll beat you with both hands tied behind my back." He smiled cockily and twiddled his hands for emphasis.

Evan went to walk towards him.

"Ev cool it!" Dupe said. "Get out of here!"

"O and I so wanted to prove it too!" Ethan said in the same cocky tone.

"Turn around son and I'll untie you." Alice said.

He turned and Alice undid the expertly tied knots.

He rubbed his wrists as he walked inside beside Alice. "I was so worried!"

"I'm sorry Alice, it didn't occur to me that you would worry. I didn't want you to worry. I was fine."

"Where'd you stay?" she asked as she made Daniel a bottle.

"Look out point." he said softly. "How's Lex?" he asked.

"She's ok. She's adamant that she has a wisp of hair on her head!"

He smiled. "Really?"

"We know it's a bit early but we didn't wanna burst her bubble. I spoke to her on the phone."

Ethan's face turned sad. "You miss her don't you?" Alice said

"I know I only saw her yesterday but yeah I do."

"Go shower I'll take you."

"But Danny…"

"We talked he had a change of heart. Then we realised you were gone. He was just worried about his daughter. And you too. That's why he kicked off. Imagine if it was your daughter how would you be?" she left him then with his thoughts. He walked into his room and grabbed some clean clothes. Black jeans and white shirt. His you'll be sorry note still sat on his bed. He walked over, picked it up and looked at it. How childish and infantile had he been? No wonder Danny kicked off about him and Lexi. He obviously wasn't grown up enough to handle his problems like an adult, he ran away, hit things, lost his temper. He took his clothes in the shower and planned what he was going to say to Danny. The first thing was a very big apology!

A/N this isn't the end of this nope. is it 2 late 4 danny and ethan. could b! not long till the end now! 5 chapters woop woop. this story has seemed to go on 4eva :) x