Yay! I'm back!

Chapter 12: Heading Home

Skipper and I returned to the girls' living room. I was still a bit upset, but my talk with Skipper, surprisingly, made me feel a little better.

Marlene looked at me, seeming concerned. "Are you okay, Private?"

I nodded. "A little bit, Marlene."

She smiled. "Good to hear."

I turned to my brother. "So, um, what do we do, now?"

Skipper sighed then put on his back pack, which was lying on the floor next to mine. "Guess there's nothing left to do, except head back home."

"But our parents are... You know..."

He stared at his feet. "I know. But what else can we do?"

Marlene came over and pecked him on his unharmed cheek. "You can stay here for a while."

Rookie called from the kitchen "When you realize he wasn't using protection, someone becomes a teen mom!"

Marlene turned to the kitchen, looking rather annoyed. "Oh, shut up, Rookie!" She returned her attention to Skipper. "Anyway, you're welcome to stay here."

"Thank you, dollface," Skipper said, "But my place is gonna need someone living in it. Besides," he looked at me sadly, "someone's gotta be the father to the boy. And, Marlene, I'm determined to be that somebody."

"That's really sweet of you." She pulled us into a group hug. "If you guys ever need anything, you know where to find me."

"And me, too." We stopped hugging and looked at Rookie, who had exited the kitchen. "If you boys are leaving, you're gonna need some food. Now, who likes pancakes?"

We said goodbye to the girls and walked out of their house. We walked back to our house in silence, for a little while, then I broke the silence. "Skippa? Do you think we'll be able to support each other?"

He didn't take his eyes off the path ahead. "Each other? Private, you're not old enough to work."

"Surely I could do something."

He smiled a little. "I appreciate that, Young Private, but I'm the older sibling. It's my job to look after you. It's not the other way around."

"But Skippa-"

"What did I just say?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. I changed the subject, but not to something much better. "Brotha? Remember when you slapped me a few days ago?"

He didn't answer right away. "Do I have to?"

"I just wanted to know why you did that. It's been bothering me a good bit."

Skipper looked guilty, which was something I wasn't quite used to. "I'm sorry, Private."

I nodded. "I know, Skippa. I just want to know why you did that."

"That's what I'm sorry for. I don't know why I did that!"

"How can you not know?"

"I just don't!" There was an awkward pause, then my brother spoke sadly. "I did a report on child abuse in ninth grade."

"I remember that," I told him. "So?"

"So during my research for my report, I learned a few things."

"Such as?" I asked, feeling a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.

"The effects of abuse. Fear, anger, depression, nightmares; Those are just a few signs."

I shivered, remembering my nightmare from last night. "I had a nightmare last night."

He nodded. "I know. I may not know what it was about, but I do know it was caused by abuse. Private, I promise that I'll never let anyone hurt you, again."

We felt a hand on each of our shoulders. "Speakin' of nightmares," a voice said from behind us, "the one I'm about to give you is quite X-treme."

This can only mean one thing... I have finished this chapter with *dramatic pause* a CLIFFHANGER! Please review!