I'm glad everyone is still enjoying this story. Last chapter seems to have gone over well. Hope the same will apply to this chapter. Some questions will be answered in this one, others will have to wait a while.

Thanks to Sue for all her help on the school research. I'm sure I've given her a few headaches. And despite her help I still get my facts mixed up once I start typing away.

Well, on with the story.

Chapter 23

As Crane watched Brian leave his room he felt more confused than ever. A trip to the barn, unpleasant as it would be, was something he had more or less expected. It was the consequence for very serious things. And although he'd never known what it really entailed until he'd had to make that trip last Thanksgiving, he felt comfort in the knowledge that he at least knew what to expect from it. Now, he had no idea what to expect. "So I guess…I mean…" he swallowed. It seems the time was there and since the barn wasn't going to be the venue for this…, "Do you want me over the bed then? Or…the desk?"

"No, I don't."

"I don't understand…"

Adam almost smiled, "That's not how this goes, Crane. You know how punishments in this family are handled, aside from the few times one of you endangers their lives and we end up in the barn. You know how mom and dad did it most of the times and although you haven't been on the receiving with us, I'm sure you've realized how Brian and I do it."

"Yeah, but…" Although he knew, Crane still didn't understand. With all his intelligence he simply couldn't wrap his mind around it. "I was barely 10 the last time Dad..you know…."

"Spanked you," Adam finished Crane's sentence and the boy blushed.

"Yeah."

"I spanked Daniel this month. He's 14."

"Still…" Crane shook his head as if trying to wake himself up, "Adam, I'm 18!"

"Wouldn't have made a difference to dad. I can tell you that. And it won't to me."

"You can't know that!" Crane couldn't help protest. He could hear his voice rise in pitch.

"I can, kiddo," Adam sighed, "Brian had to remind me of that today, not that I could forget. Dad made sure of that. I was a senior in high school."

"No way!" Momentarily, his own fate was forgotten and Crane was simply astounded. "That's impossible."

"Kid, I wouldn't lie. You know me. I don't lie to you boys. Do you remember the stunt with the stolen Redskins costume? That turned up scalped and tied to a makeshift totem pole at the football field of our school right before the big match?"

Crane nodded, "Everyone knows that. Still the best prank in Bret Harte history, mostly because to this day no one knows who did it. That's the way to pull a prank."

"Some people know."

Realization dawned on Crane and his jaw dropped, "You were involved?"

"Yeah, I was one of the four guys that broke into the school and took it. And we got caught. Coach tried to persuade the principal to keep us in school. If all four of us were expelled, or worse, we'd lose the championship. But the principal felt he had to set an example. He couldn't let us get away with it just because we were good football players. So coach got our folks involved and they came to an agreement. Dad took me home and settled it with me, just like the others did."

"Wow, you're a school hero. And no one knows."

"I wasn't a hero. I was a dumb kid who broke the law to pull a prank. We let a whole lot of people down and somewhere in the process we'd told a lie or two as well."

Crane groaned, "I get it, Adam, pretty much the same thing I did when you look at it."

"Exactly. So Brian reminded me of the way dad dealt with me for that. I was grounded for a very long time for the theft and I got a spanking for the lie and risking my future."

"A spanking," Crane repeated the word as if it were a curse. "You mean…really.."

"Yeah, okay, for dad serious offenses meant a trip to the barn, and so I thought I'd be bending over for the belt. But although we did go to the barn, more for privacy, he didn't do what I expected him to do. I ended up over his knee."

"So you're going to…"

"Yes, you're getting a spanking, Crane. A pants down, over the knee spanking. And the lying means it's going to end with the hairbrush on your bare butt."

Adam braced himself and he was right to do so. Crane scrambled off the bed and took a few steps away. "You can't do that!"

It was interesting to see that the teen didn't move towards the door. He'd simply put a bit of distance between him and Adam, but clearly he had no intention of running. Brian hadn't thought he would and Adam was pleased to see his brother had been right. "Not that I'll change my mind, but what makes you think I can't?"

"Cause…I'm 18!"

"And I was 17. Age has no part in this, Crane. No part whatsoever. Your behavior is all that matters."

"But…."

"Hmm?" Adam waited. He knew what was coming. Both Brian and he had predicted it. Brian had told him to brace himself for it. Not to take it personal and Adam had vowed he wouldn't, yet when Crane uttered the words, they cut through him like a knife.

"You're not dad!" It was sheer panic that caused Crane to say those hurtful words.

It was good that Adam had expected this. So although it hurt, he hid the pain and simply nodded, "I'm not dad. That's true. I hope I can be half the man he was, but I know I'm not him."

"See!" Crane wasn't even sure why he was being this adamant about it.

"Absolutely," Adam continued calmly, "I'm not dad, but you see, when it comes to you and your brothers, I am in dad's shoes. I am your parent. I've cared for you boys when you were ill. I stayed up nights with crying babies. I spoke with teachers about grades and detentions. I took you boys to the dentist and the doctor. I am proud as any father when you boys do all those amazing things you do. I was proud as dad would have been when you gave your valedictorian speech. And when you got that scholarship….God, I thought I'd burst with pride. I worried every single night when you were away. Worried that you weren't feeding yourself. Worried that something would happen and you wouldn't call me. Worried that you were lonely. Finding out you smoked that joint kept me awake every single night since. I trusted you not to do it again, but couldn't stop the worry. And now you did something else that will keep me awake for months, scared to death for you….do you know why, Crane?"

Crane shook his head, not so much because he didn't know where Adam was going with this, but because the entire speech was making him dizzy. He wanted to remain upset that Adam planned to spank him, but he couldn't deny Adam had done all those things, just like a parent would. He couldn't deny that Adam indeed was every bit of a parent to him. And he knew Adam had told him he'd worry after Thanksgiving, but he hadn't truly gotten the intensity of it.

"Because it's what parents do. For the past six years you have been so much more than my brother, kiddo. I've been your parent. I won't say I'm dad, but I am your parent. And that comes with certain things you have no say in. It means I get disappointed when you let me and yourself down. It means I get to be mad when you do things you shouldn't. Scared when you're in danger. And it means I get to be proud of you for all you are and love you so much I can never put it into words. As angry and disappointed as I was today, it will never change that fact. For once I don't care if it sounds corny: I love you, kid, and that means you're stuck with me."

Crane had lowered his gaze, unwilling to look Adam in the eye, but slowly raised his eyes now, "I…" he wasn't sure how to say it. "I don't mind being stuck. I didn't think you..you'd…or maybe I just wondered…"

"Stop wondering," Adam knew what Crane was going to say. Again, Brian and he had been right: their younger brother wasn't sure of his place in their lives. "We've gone over this at Thanksgiving and we'll go over it as much as needed." He reached out and took hold of Crane's chin, "So are we clear about what I can and cannot do?"

Crane painfully swallowed, "Yes, sir. I shouldn't have said that. I'm really sorry," And he meant it. He had refused to see Adam as anything but his big brother, but if he was honest, he'd always known and felt the man was much more than that. Of course, it didn't make it any easier to accept what was coming. "I'm just…" He blinked against more tears that were threatening to spill. He couldn't finish.

"You're embarrassed. You're apprehensive. Anxious. And just a little scared."

"Not of you!"

"I know, kiddo. I know you're not scared of me. You weren't even scared when I was steaming mad earlier today. But you're scared of what's going to happen."

"It's stupid…I'm not that same 10 year old anymore."

"No, you're not. But the punishment will reflect that and you'll find the result quite…painful." It was a promise if ever there was one. Crane took it seriously. He vividly remembered his last spanking from dad. "As to embarrassment…well, it's not my intention to embarrass you."

"I can't help feeling that way, though," Crane admitted softly.

"I can't say I'm sure why dad did it this way…" Adam pulled his free hand through his hair, "I mean, I never got to ask him. But I do know I do it because it feels a whole lot better than standing behind one of you guys and snapping that belt against a bent over backside. That's far too distant and formal. And there's nothing formal about this for us. This is personal. Between you and me, not you and some institution like school."

"You don't have to justify yourself," Crane wasn't sure he wanted this much discussion about it, but more importantly, he wouldn't have expected it from dad, so why should Adam do it? Still, it was interesting to hear the words, there was a sense of comfort in them. "You're right, you're the parent."

"I don't see it as justification, more…explanation and reassurance. I want you to realize that it's not about embarrassing or humiliating you. Far, far from it."

"I get it…I really do, Adam."

"Good….so, let's get this over with." Adam finally let go of Crane's face and sat back down on Crane's bed. He pulled the hairbrush out of his pocket and placed it on the quilt. He could see Crane's nerves were building. "I need to know you understand exactly why you're getting this spanking, kiddo."

"Isn't that clear?" Crane sighed, "You and Brian just lectured me about it for an hour." In reality it hadn't been even close that, but Adam had to admit it felt like they'd been in there that long.

"No need for an attitude, Crane."

"Sorry, I'm not trying to have one. I just…I want it over with. As much as I can." He knew it would be far from over, but at least this part would be.

"I know, so would I. I don't like this any more than you do." Adam felt the same churning in his stomach he'd felt when he'd been in Crane's position as a boy. It was just as horrible dishing this out than getting it. The pain was different, yet just as bad. "But I need to know you understand. So why, Crane, why is this happening?"

"Because I pretty much lied to you when I deceived you. I broke promises, deceived and disobeyed you." He lowered his head, hesitating before he continued.

"And?"

Crane sighed deeply, "Because I risked my future when I broke the law. I hurt you and Brian, could have hurt John and the school…" he closed his eyes, still not really convinced that hurting himself was just as bad, but now realizing it was what mattered most to Adam, "and myself."

"It's that lack of self-preservation in you that scares me the most, kid. The dishonesty…well, it will take some time before I'll fully trust you again, but I can handle that."

"It's what hurt Brian the most," Crane felt his throat constrict thinking back to seeing the hurt on Brian's face.

"Yes, it is. And it might take him quite a while to get past that. You'll get the chance to prove yourself trustworthy again, I promise that. But you doing things that are potentially harmful to yourself is what really scares me to death. As long as you don't show you care about your own well-being, I have to show you that at least WE care."

"I care….I do, Adam." Crane was almost desperate to convince his brother of that.

"Then start showing me and maybe we don't have to do this again."

"So…you're really gonna do this. That way." Crane didn't even make it into a question.

"You bet I am, kid," Adam said grimly. "So get those jeans down, please."

Despite the word please, Crane knew it wasn't a request. He slowly moved his hands to start opening his jeans. It was more difficult than one would expect. He actually fumbled trying to unbutton. But he managed. Button after button popped open and finally he managed to push them down over his hips. Then he decided he'd feel better and less silly if they were off completely and so he took them off and threw them on Daniel's bed. If it surprised Adam, the man didn't show it. He simply waited for Crane to take the next step and when that didn't happen right away Adam softly patted his knee.

Crane swallowed hard. For some reason this had been a lot easier back when he was ten. He couldn't even remember putting himself over dad's knee. Not that dad had been the yank and spank type. The man had always taken the time to talk to you, but things had been more natural back then. Usually he'd already been standing very close to dad and dad helped him take his jeans or shorts off before taking his hand and before Crane knew it he'd be over his father's knee. Adam clearly wanted him to take responsibility for his actions by actively going over his lap. Crane wasn't sure he could do it. He stared at Adam's knees for the longest time trying to will himself to do it.

Crane misinterpreted Adam's intentions. The man simply hadn't wanted to belittle his younger brother by pulling him over. However, when he looked at Crane, it was clear he had trouble doing it and so Adam carefully extended his hand.

Immediately, Crane shook his hand, "No, I can do it…" And with those words he took a deep breath and almost threw himself over Adam's legs. The sharp intake of breath came from the oldest of the two. "Sorry…I just…."

"This was the easier way, I get it." And Adam did. His knees would survive. Looking down at the tall young man over his knee he couldn't help wonder how Dad had managed. He could feel by the tension in Crane, that his brother found it just as awkward. After the rash way in which he'd thrown himself across Adam's knees, the boy was practically kneeling on the floor, holding himself up with his hands on the floor. His body was on Adam's knees, not his legs. "You're going to have to move a little, Crane. I'll help.." He wrapped an arm around Crane's skinny torso and pulled him close to his body, forcing the hands off the floor to hold onto the quilt over his bed in the process. "Rest your head on the bed, it's easier. You might want to hold on to your pillow." As Crane dutifully reached for his pillow, even though he didn't think he needed to hold on to anything, Adam used Crane's forward motion to push him up a little, effectively forcing the knees off the floor too. Suddenly, Crane realized that although he was more comfortable, he truly was over Adam's lap now, in a very vulnerable position. That realization made him bury his head in the pillow.

"Comfortable?" Adam asked and Crane nodded into his pillow. "Words please."

Lifting his head the boy quipped trying to calm his nerves, "As comfortable as I possibly can be, Adam…I'm over your lap of all places."

Adam couldn't help a little chuckle, but tried to hide it. "I'm sorry, I know there's not much comfort in this position. Well…" Adam patted Crane's behind once, "Ready?"

"Yes, sir," Crane buried his head in the pillow as he tried not to think about how silly that question was. In the barn at Thanksgiving, Adam had explained why he did it and it made sense, but that didn't mean it didn't sound like a rhetorical question. He also tried not to think about the pain that was coming. Not that he thought it would hurt as much as his tanning for the joint had, but he knew this wasn't going to be a walk in the park either. Suddenly, his train of thought was interrupted by a sharp swat to his backside. He couldn't help the small gasp, muffled by the pillow. Funny how memory works. You remember that something hurt, but you forget the pain itself and its intensity.

It quickly came back to him as Adam peppered his behind with sharp, stinging swats. At first they were just individual explosions of sting that didn't even linger until the next swat, but very quickly, that small fire didn't die out before the next fell and the fire started to become quite uncomfortable. Crane kept his face hidden though and tried to cope with it in a mature manner, hoping to show his brother he was accepting his punishment. But it was becoming more and more difficult and he knew he was already flinching with every swat.

None of the flinches or gasps escaped Adam's attention and it took a lot out of him not to stop. But he knew it would get a lot worse before it got better. "I love you far too much to allow you to risk your entire future without so much as talking it through with me, kid. Brian might be right that there could be times I'd support you, but I'll certainly won't if you don't let me in." The swats didn't stop while Adam spoke. In fact, to Crane they felt harder and sharper than before.

"I'm sorry…" The plaintiff tone in his own voice took Crane by surprise. He didn't know he could sound like his younger brothers, but he did.

It hurt Adam to hear that young voice, so close to breaking, but he simply continued, "I know you are, but I'm not sure you won't do it exactly the same way again and that's what scares me."

"I won't!" A sharp swat followed that desperate promise.

"No more promises, kiddo," Adam knew it wasn't what Crane wanted to hear, but it was important to him, "Show me. Show us. When something you feel strongly about happens, get your facts straight. Ask questions, do your research. Talk to those involved. Talk to us." Every 'suggestion' was accompanied by another hard swat to a behind that was already on fire. The words were definitely being driven home.

The pillow underneath Crane's face was already getting wet with his tears, but he wasn't crying out yet. He couldn't deny the truth in Adam's words. If only he'd talked to John. He would have probably argued with the man, trying to make him take a stand, but he would have left the decision with John. He wouldn't have broken in, that's for sure. And by not doing all that he'd hurt so many people. He knew Adam was right. And despite his attempts to let the pillow absorb every sound, he couldn't avoid them getting increasingly louder and more noticeable.

For a while Adam stopped talking and just focused on creating a fire Crane feared would burn right through him. As Adam's hand got hot and sore he knew the behind pointing up at him was feeling the same way. And if his own hand wasn't a good indicator, the fact that Crane started to squirm was. It was clear to the man that the adolescent was trying hard not to, but was losing the battle with his own will. His breath was hitching, his toes were curling and stretching, his hands had fistfuls of pillow and the knuckles were white from the strength of holding on. And the low moans and hisses had slowly turned into more higher pitched sounds and he knew his brother was crying.

Finally the barrage of swats stopped and Adam moved his left arm to gently rub Crane's heaving back. "I'll not have it, kiddo, I'll not stand by and let you risk your entire future. I simply can't and won't do it. Not just because it's my job to prevent that from happening. I just love you too much to stand by and watch you do it."

Crane tried to get his crying under control, which wasn't easy. He nodded into the pillow, not trusting his voice just yet. The spanking had definitely been worse than he'd remembered. Much, much worse. At least, he told himself, he hadn't begged or yelled out. He hadn't fought Adam. He'd taken it, like the man he prided himself in being.

"So…although I would rather never do this again, if you take unnecessary, unfounded, unauthorized or unconsulted risks again I'll make this spanking feel like a walk in the park. Clear?"

Crane was smart enough to know now was not the time to point out that unconsulted wasn't a real word. "Yes, sir!" And it definitely was! He vowed never to be this stupid again. A small part of him was surprised how comforting the threat actually sounded. For a fleeting moment he wondered why he wasn't upset with Adam. The man had just given him the soundest spanking he'd ever had. He should be mad. Or at least resentful for being treated this way at his age. But he wasn't. It was clear Adam had done it out of love and in a way the knowledge that no matter what happened, Adam would be there to catch him, made him feel more safe and secure than he'd felt in years.

Adam sighed in relief, but then he wrapped his arm around Crane again, knowing his next course of action was likely to meet some resistance.

As soon as Crane felt Adam's fingers hooking around the waistband of his underwear he let out a groan, "Oh God no…." they weren't done yet. He'd known, of course, but he'd been so relieved to have this part over with that he'd temporarily forgotten. Now he knew he still had more coming to him and a sob got caught in his throat. He didn't fight Adam, but that didn't mean he didn't dread what was about to happen.

"I'm sorry, kiddo, but you broke your word. You deceived me and Brian. You lied to me." And with that Crane's underwear was pushed down far enough in the back to uncover a red-hot backside. Adam swallowed hard. For one moment he thought of letting Crane off the hook for the last part. The skin looked sore and hot to the touch already. He was sure the boy would find it difficult to sit still through dinner. But he knew he couldn't. He'd told Crane what was going to happen and he had to show him that he was a man of his word. Also, the dishonesty definitely needed to be addressed. "I told you it would be bare for the dishonesty, kiddo."

Crane nodded, "I know…I just…" he swallowed hard, "I know."

"I want you to know that we almost decided to give you twice your age for the two broken promises." In fact, much to Adam's surprise it had been Brian who suggested it.

Crane gasped in horror. "Please, Adam, don't…" He hated that he was begging, but he couldn't help it. The thought of enduring that much on top of what he'd already received was too much.

"I'm not. We both feel that is excessive." It wasn't a lie, it just had taken Brian a few minutes longer than Adam to come to that conclusion. Adam picked up the hairbrush as he spoke and felt Crane relax despite everything. The wood felt cold against Adam's hot hand, but he knew that wood would heat up quickly enough. "So we'll stick to your age."

"That's…that's gonna be bad enough," Crane's tearful voice sounded so much like Ford that Adam had to fight his own emotions.

"I'm sure it will be." And Adam knew it would be. He tapped the brush against the red skin and then quickly snapped it down causing Crane to let out an anguished yelp. It pierced Adam's heart. "You can make it, buddy."

As the brush snapped against the defenseless behind both McFaddens were in their own world of hurt. At first Adam could avoid hitting the same spot twice, knowing how much worse that was, but soon he ran out of new area and he was forced to land one on top of a previous one.

Much to his own disgust Crane cried out in pain and his hand involuntarily flew back in an attempt to avoid further onslaught. Adam easily caught it without missing a beat. He'd had it happen too many times now not to expect it. Not wanting to his Crane's hands or fingers with all the rists of that, he simply grabbed Crane's hand and held it to Crane's side, giving it a little squeeze as he still managed to keep the boy's body in place. With the way Crane was jerking to each additional splat of the brush, and the involuntary twists of his hip as his body tried to avoid the brush, it was important to keep him as steady as possible. Adam had no intention of hitting the side of his hips, the thighs or anywhere else except those glowing globes. Not that Crane appreciated that effort, Adam was sure. The pain of the brush was different than the hand spanking his brother had received. Although that had been very painful, the pain from the brush was on a deeper level. And it lasted longer. To Crane it felt like he would never sit again.

"We're past the halfway mark, kiddo, almost there now." Of course, almost there still meant far too many to go in Crane's opinion, but he tightly squeezed Adam's hand with each remaining swat. He remembered dad holding his hand like that when he was in this position and the touch of Adam's hand was so similar to dad's that it completely broke the dam and he found himself sobbing. He was crying out with each additional splat. Still, his hand gripped Adam's as tightly as he could, drawing strength from his brother.

"No more lies, Crane."

"No more…."

"No more broken promises."

"Noooo…"

"And no more deceit…" on the word deceit the last one fell and Adam immediately dropped the brush on the bed, restoring Crane's underwear to its normal position while the boy cried his heart out. It broke Adam's heart to know that he'd been the one to cause that heartache and pain. Since Crane was still holding on to his hand they both stayed the way they were. His right hand free now, Adam used that hand to rub Crane's back in small and slow circles waiting for the sobs to subside into soft crying. He didn't speak.

Finally, Crane's hold on Adam's hand weakened and after another moment he released his hand to rub his face with it. Adam continued to rub his back. After a while Crane shifted his body and slipped off Adam's lap, but stayed on his knees, his head on Adam's knee and Adam couldn't help stroking his hair. "You'll be okay, kiddo. You'll be okay…"

Crane still couldn't stop crying, "You'll never trust me again."

"Oh buddy…." Adam lifted Crane up a little and awkward as it was he pulled him towards him and held him close, "of course I will. I love you, remember? Nothing you can do can change that. I'll always love you and I'll always forgive you. Trusting you again may take a little while, but it will be back. That I promise."

"Kay….I hope so…"

"Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Those words nearly caused another crying fit, but Crane was calming down enough not to, "No."

"And I won't. So trust me." Adam felt the nod against his chest and kissed the boy's hair. "You might be more comfortable lying down."

"Will you stay?"

Such a difference between all them as boys, Adam mused. Some you had to force to accept a hug, much as they wanted it, others would ask you to stay and comfort them. Okay, Crane didn't ask for the latter, but Adam had learned a lot that month. He helped Crane to a standing position and Crane stretched out. "Of course I'll stay. I'll stay as long as you want me to." And he meant every word. As Crane settled on his stomach Adam sat back down on the bed and went back to rubbing the 18-year-old's back.

"Brian won't forgive me."

Adam had to laugh a little, mostly because he'd never heard that kind of whiny tone from Crane before, not even as a kid, "Of course he will. Don't be silly." As he rubbed Crane's back he felt how Crane's breathing slowly returned to normal, the occasional sniffle the only thing betraying that the boy was still tearful. "He's picking up the boys…"

Crane's head suddenly snapped up, showing a tear streaked face with red, puffy eyes, still glistening with tears, but now also filled with surprise, "It's late…I thought…they're not home right?!"

"Shhh…." Adam reassured Crane, "They stayed in town after school, wouldn't tell us what for, so I assume it has something to do with Christmas presents. Brian's picking them up and they'll be here for supper…." Crane settled back down, putting his head on the pillow again. He couldn't voice the immense relief no one had heard this. "which should be soon. I hate to do this to you so soon after this, but you know Daniel will be up to put his stuff away and see you. You might want to get up, wash up and be downstairs. It'll be awkward enough without him seeing you on your bed…like this…" He didn't have to point out the fact that Crane was dressed in only a shirt and his underwear, which didn't even completely cover all the red skin.

Crane sighed, "I feel like I could sleep for hours."

"I could keep them all downstairs and not tell them you're home…."

At that moment Crane's stomach rumbled and he gave Adam a tearful grin, "I guess my stomach decided." He hadn't had a single bite to eat since breakfast that morning, and that had only been a sandwich on the way to his exam after sneaking out of June's dorm. Had that really been only that morning? He shifted a little to lie on his side so he could look at Adam. "Adam?"

"Yes?"

All of a sudden Crane wished he hadn't turned. On his stomach he could have avoided those eyes and reading the truth in them. He closed his own eyes, "Do you think Brian will listen to my apology?"

"I think apologizing is a very good idea. And you know he'll forgive you. I'm not saying it will repair things, but it will be a very good first step."

Crane swallowed and nodded, "I will. I want to do whatever I can to earn his trust back. And yours."

"I have full faith in your ability to do that," Adam patted Crane's hip and got up, "I'll let you wash up and get changed. Supper should be ready soon. After supper you can talk to Brian. Okay?"

One more sniff and then Crane pushed himself up, avoiding the sitting position by immediately standing up, but despite his caution he still couldn't help the wince, "Okay."

Adam pulled him into a hug once more. "Never forget I love you, kiddo."

Not trusting his voice, Crane simply nodded and Adam released him.

"See you downstairs."

While Adam made his way downstairs, Brian and the younger boys were on their way home from town.

"So you got all your shopping done," Brian grinned at the four boys who were looking distinctively secretive.

"Uh huh," Daniel climbed in the truck, followed by his brothers.

"So did you happen to see Mr. Johnson?" Mr. Johnson owned the hardware store and so Brian was shamelessly prying for information on their Christmas presents.

"Hmm can't remember seeing him," Evan said seriously, "can you, Daniel? Maybe….it's all a little blurry."

"We've been to so many places, Brian, we really can't remember who we saw," Daniel was glad they'd warned Guthrie to stay quiet, knowing Brian would try to find out where they'd been. Even as an older teen Brian had been known to look for the Christmas presents in every hiding spot he could think of. "Miss Betsy said to say hi to you, though." He couldn't completely hide the grin. Miss Betsy was a hairdresser on main who had a soft spot for Brian and showed it. Problem was she was in her late 40s, but no one had the guts to remind her of that. Of course, they had actually been to the salon, but only to go out back to the small building in the back yard that her youngest son was using as a workshop. A 'studio' he called it. Daniel chuckled when Brian turned a little pale.

"Oh please don't tell me you said I'd be in town," the man groaned.

"Nuh uh," Ford shook his head, "But she asked if you were gonna be in town Friday…she felt like dancing."

"Oookay…so how was school?" Not that she wasn't a good looking lady, but Brian was looking for girls around his own age, not ones who could have been his mother. Changing the subject was the best thing. He missed the wink the boys exchanged.

"We set everything up for the Christmas breakfast!" Guthrie finally knew he was on safe ground and so was the first to jump in this time.

"He gets to be the donkey in the pageant too," Evan laughed.

"I do not!"

"Do too," Evan hadn't finished the second word when Guthrie's elbow jabbed in him the stomach. "Hey…" and he pushed back.

"Ain't funny, Ev," Guthrie complained. "Briannnnn, tell him to stop…."

Brian shook his head, "You started it, buddy."

"See?" Evan stuck his tongue out at Guthrie only to feel Brian's hand slap his thigh next. It wasn't a hard swat by all means, but it got the message across, "Ow!"

"He may have started it, but I'm finishing it," The 22-year-old said firmly. "We're not going to be bickering all the way home and I'm not pulling over to dish out discipline. And Guthrie…keep your own tongue in your mouth…"

Guthrie snapped his mouth shut. How did Brian know he was just about to stick his tongue out at Evan? Maybe Brian could read minds. He studied Brian's face. That must be it. But then they shouldn't even think about the presents or he'd….oh no, now he'd thought of it already. There was nothing in Brian's face that gave away he'd heard the thoughts, but Brian was good at keeping a straight face. Guthrie couldn't be sure what Brian had heard and what not.

"I'm going nowhere…somebody help me…somebody help me yeahhhh…" Daniel started singing, in the high pitch the song required unlike most of the seniors at school who couldn't reach those high notes. Immediately Evan joined in, followed by Ford and Guthrie and Brian let out a sigh in relief. He didn't like the song much, but as long as that was all they were singing he was fine with it. Anything was better than the bickering. So the man actually hummed along all the way home to the ranch. It wasn't until they pulled up in front of the house that he realized he hadn't even told the boys Crane was home. But maybe that was a good thing. Crane was bound to be hurting and needing some privacy and time to recuperate.

As soon as Brian had turned off the engine the boys jumped out of the truck and tumbled into the house, except for Daniel. The boy was lingering at the truck and Brian grinned, knowing the teenager was waiting for him to go inside so he could safely get some purchases inside. He tried to get a peek, but Daniel just waited and so Brian sauntered inside. He had to hold back a chuckle when he heard Daniel scurrying into the barn. So that was the hiding place!

"Wash up!" Adam called out as the boys came in. "Supper's ready, so wash up and sit down."

Guthrie had other things on his mind, though, "But I gotta tell you something, Adam."

"All that can wait until you've washed your hands," He sent the boy to the sink with a pat to his bottom. Once there, Guthrie pushed Ford aside to get to the water.

"Are you that hungry, Guth?" Ford laughed.

"No, but we gotta tell Adam…..don't you wanna tell Adam?"

"Tell him what?" Evan asked suspiciously.

"Bout the project and the concert and the breakfast."

"Oh I thought you meant about the donkey."

"You're not funny, Evan!" Guthrie splashed some water on his brother, who was expecting it and ducked causing it to splash Adam instead.

"ooohhhh," Adam pretended to look upset, "Now you've done it. You're in for it…"

Guthrie started to giggle and ran away, but he was no match for Adam's tall legs. If the chairs weren't in the way he'd have crawled under the table just to make the chase more fun, but now Adam caught him and lifted him in his arms, tickling him all the way to the table. "Stopppp ittt…..stop it…" Guthrie was giggling like mad though.

"Not until you say I'm the best, bester, bestest big brother in the whole wide world…" Adam tickled.

"I can't chooooose….." Guthrie would never choose one brother over the other, "You're the best, bester, bestest…biggest brother in the whole wide world…"

"I'll take it," Adam laughed as he released the 8-year-old. "And you're the greatest youngest brother."

"In the whole wide world, Adam?"

"In the whole wide world."

It bought Adam a big hug before the boy sat down in his seat. Brian had to laugh. He could tell Adam was exhausted, emotionally, from dealing with their oldest younger brother, and this was clearly helping him relax a little. He was glad for anything that would help him. Brian knew that there was a big part of him that had been relieved when Adam had said he'd hand out the spanking. Another part had felt rotten and guilty for leaving his brother to deal with what they both knew was a horrible job for any parent.

Watching the boys settling in their own spots at the table and Daniel coming in and washing his hands without having to be told, Brian sat down in his regular seat. He couldn't help glancing at the empty spot at the table. He figured Crane was upstairs, asleep, but just as he thought to himself he'd bring the boy a plate up later, he heard footsteps on the stairs. In their excitement to tell Adam everything that had happened at school, the boys made so much noise that they, themselves, missed it, but Brian had been looking out for it.

"Evening," Crane tried to sound normal, but Brian and Adam noticed the subdued tone and the slightly hoarse voice, not to mention the puffy eyes.

As the two oldest McFaddens acknowledged Crane the others fell into a stunned silence that lasted all of 5 seconds before they all erupted in loud excitement.

"Crane! You're home!" Guthrie was the first to jump into Crane's arms, wrapping his legs around Crane's torso, completely missing the wince as his shoes touched Crane's butt.

"Yes, I am, buddy," Crane hugged Guthrie. "I missed you guys!"

"I thought you weren't coming home till Friday," Evan was so happy it was contagious. Even Adam and Brian couldn't help smiling.

"I was, but plans changed, Ev."

"How come you're home early?" Daniel wasn't sure what to make of it all, but despite his excitement over seeing his favorite brother, he couldn't help noticing all those tell-tale signs that there was something wrong with Crane.

"You didn't say anything!" Ford accused Brian before Crane could answer Daniel. "You knew he was home…you knew, right?"

"Yes, I knew, Ford," Brian admitted. "With all the bickering you boys did, I was glad you started singing so I wasn't going to interrupt that just to tell you.

"I don't care! It's okay…" Ford cheered, "Now you can come see my exhibition! It's been selected for the regional science fair, but now you can see it right here!"

"And mine too!" Guthrie was still hanging on to Crane, "It's not going to that big thing, so this was the only chance to see it…."

"And you'll get to see Daniel's Christmas Show!" It took Evan a lot of will power not to jump and cheer like Ford, but his voice showed the same excitement. "Well, mine too, I suppose, but I'm not performing. Daniel is! And you'll get to see it. You'll get to see everything."