Hey guys, thanks again for those who took the time to review and send PMs. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this. Please let me know if you do.

Enjoy!

Broken Families

Two and a half weeks passed and things had pretty much settled down. Most of Jonathan's bruising had faded, his ribs were still a little tender but were healing and most importantly, he only had another couple more weeks before he could get the cast on his left arm removed.

He had returned to work only after two days, wanting to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, mainly for Shawn benefit. The teenager didn't talk much about it but Jon knew the break in had affected him. For the past two weeks, he hadn't wanted to go out after school and instead insisted on staying in to help Jon, which just ended up driving them both crazy until last Friday night when Jon practically pushed him out the door along with Cory and Topanga, even giving them enough money to fund the a good night out.

"Hey…"

The voice behind him startled him out of his thoughts and he spun around from the blackboard to see Eli at the doorway to his classroom.

"I brought lunch…" Eli grinned at him and held up two brown bags. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you…"

"Nah, don't worry about it." Jon turned back to the board, to finish the sentence he had been writing. "I guess I was just too deep in thought…"

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"Nothing important."

"Jon, come on, how long have we've been friends? I know when there is something on your mind."

Jon sighed and moved to sit on the edge of the desk so he was facing his friend, who sat on a desk in the front row.

"Do you think Shawn is doing okay?"

Eli frowned a little. "Well, I guess he's been a little quieter since the break in but he'll bounce back…It was a shock for everyone."

"Yeah…I'm just worried about him…"

"Have you tried talking to him about it?"

"A few times…Do you know, he still thinks it's his fault?"

"The police ruled out Keiner, right?" Eli questioned.

"Yeah, when they interviewed Shawn about the break in, they had asked if he had any idea who would do this and he mentioned Harley." Jonathan didn't need for the police to investigate to know it wasn't the ex-student. "He's not even in town anymore."

"So, why is Shawn blaming himself?"

"That's what I can't figure out…Has he said anything to you?"

"No not since the night it happened when we were all at the Matthews'." Eli replied. "But it's not been that long since it's happened, it's going to take time for you both get past…I mean, you're still recovering so that's like a reminder."

"Yeah…I guess having to live where it happened isn't help either."

"Is that why you're looking at new places to live?"

"How do you know about that?" Jon asked, looking at him surprise.

"I went over to your apartment this morning to get some breakfast…Your phone rang and a realtor left a message."

"I knew you stole my food." He rolled his eyes.

"Jon…"

"I'm just looking into it, okay?" Jon shrugged. "Even before all this I was thinking that it might be better for us to be in a bigger place…"

"This is a big step." Eli told him and paused for a couple to second to make sure he picked the right words. "You know how much I think of Shawn and it's been great for the both of you, him staying with you…"

"But?" Jon predicted.

"But you're not his Dad, Jon…You have no legal rights." Eli reminded him. "What happens when his parents come back and you've gone and got yourself this house?"

"I've thought about all that…I know I cannot replace his Dad and I don't want but I do care about him." Jon replied. "I want Shawn to know he's always got a place to stay no matter what in the future...Even when and if he's back with his parents… I want him to have a place to go where he can be safe…"

"You don't think the apartment is safe?" Eli questioned.

"Well, it doesn't feel as safe as it did a few weeks ago…" Jon admitted. "I don't know, I just feel like now is a good time to move on."

Eli nodded a little. "Okay, whatever you want, man…You know I've always got your back."

Jon smiled. "Yeah, thanks…"

Eli watched as Jon returned to what he had been writing on the blackboard. He made a mental note to keep a closer on Shawn for the next couple of days and was hoping he was right when he said the teenager just needed some time to get over the shock. Jon was the one he was really concerned about though. He had noticed his friend seemed lost in thought more often and seemed on edge a lot of the time. Maybe moving out of the apartment might the best thing, especially if Jon didn't feel safe enough to relax there.

"So, are the police any closer to catching who did it?"

"Nah and I doubt they ever will…They didn't leave much evidence behind and they didn't take anything…They're still considering the option that someone I know is behind this."

"And you still think that it just some random guys?"

"Well, why would anyone I know want to break into my place? It's not like I have a lot of valuable stuff or make a lot of money?" Jon looked back at him. "And it didn't seem like it was something planned…"

"Why do you think that?" Eli frowned a little.

"Just the way they acted… It was like they didn't know what they were doing." Jon explained. "There was something that Shawn when you went back to your apartment to call 911…he was feeling guilty about not being home and I told him I was glad he wasn't because he could have been hurt too and he said that they could have killed me….I can't help but think…"

"Thinking what?" Eli prompted when Jon trailed off.

"If you guys hadn't of turned up when you did then I don't know if they would have stopped…" He ran a hand down his face. "The second they saw me, they started throwing punches and I didn't stand a chance at fighting back once I was on the floor…"

"They wanted to hurt you…And that's why the police thinks this is personal." He guessed.

"Yeah but again, there is no one that I've upset or anything…" Jon argued. "No, the only thing I can think of that make sense is they were inexperience and panicked when they realized someone was home…Turned to violence when they thought they might get caught."

"I guess…" Although Eli couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this.

"Listen; don't say anything about this to Shawn…" Jon asked him. "I don't want him worrying anymore then he already is…"

"Course I won't…" Eli agreed easily. "But what about you?"

"Me?"

"Have you thought about talking to someone?"

"What? Like a therapist?" Jon shook his head. "No, there no need…I'm fine or I will be once I get this cast off my arm and I get back to normal…"

"Well, just think about it, okay?" Eli suggested. "And you know I'm always here if you need someone to talk to…"

"I do know and I don't think I've said it yet but thanks for everything you've done the last couple of weeks…"

"Hey, don't mention it…It's what friends do…" Eli claimed and reached for the brown bags. "Now, lunch?"

Jon took the bag that was held out to him but then paused and looked up at him. "You took this food from my apartment, didn't you?"

"It's the thought that counts, right?" Eli just grinned at him, pulling out a sandwich as Jon sighed and shook his head.

"Hey, Shawn…" Cory greeted, seeing his friend leaning against the lockers just outside of Turner's classroom door. "There you are…I thought you were meeting me for lunch…"

Shawn looked up and moved away from the door, worried that the two men inside might hear them if he didn't. "Yeah, I was just coming now…"

"Did you talk to Turner?"

"What?"

"You said you need to speak to him about something before lunch…" Cory explained, frowning. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, sure…Jon was just busy…I'll talk to him later." He claimed walking down the corridor, leaving Cory to follow him. "Come on, let's get some lunch…"

Shawn spent the rest of the lunch break and math's class that followed thinking about what he overheard Jon and Eli talking about. He couldn't believe that Jon was considering moving because him…So, that he could have somewhere safe and stable to go.

He realized things hadn't been perfect sailing living with his teacher; Jon didn't always handle things right but he was trying to do his best and Shawn knew he didn't always show his appreciation for that.

He couldn't help but think of his own family. His mother left without saying goodbye and his father followed her without a second thought about him. Then there was rest of his family at the trailer park. None of them stepped forward and offered Shawn a place to stay. Not when his parents first left and not when he miserable at the Matthews.

He thought about the run in he had with Eddie a few weeks back and how he threatened to turn him into the police to protect Cory. He began to wonder whether that had anything to do with the break in. Eddie was angry with him and he had a history of robbery. It was all beginning to make sense… Jon had said himself that there was no one that he had upset enough to who would want revenge but what if the police were right and it was personal, except it was Shawn they were trying to get back at.

By the time the bell rang at the end of class, Shawn was feeling a mixture of anger and guilt. If Eddie was involved then he knew that it was likely other members of his family were too or at least knew about it. He wasn't about them to get away with it, especially after everything Jon had done for him.

"Hey, Cory!" He called out when he spot his friend and ran down the corridor, pushing other students out the way. "Cory…"

"Hey…" Cory turned to look at him when he finished stuffing a text book into his bag. "What's up?"

"I need a favor…" Shawn said, a little out of breath. "I told Jon that I was going to your house for dinner tonight…"

Cory nodded a little. "Okay, cool…I'll let my Mom know…"

"No, Cor I'm not really coming for dinner."

"Then why did you tell Turner you were?"

"Just cover me, okay?"

"Shawn." Cory reached out and stopped him walking away. "What's going on?"

"There is just somewhere I need to be." Shawn told him, pulling out of his grip. "It's no big deal…"

"But…"

"I'll see you later…"

Cory watched him stride off back down the corridor and sighed before heading to his last class of the day.

XxXxX

"Hey, Shawnie…" His Uncle Mike greeted him with a wide smile when he stepped into the repair shop.

"Uncle Mike, where's Eddie?" He had searched the places his half-brother hung around at the trail park but he was nowhere to be found.

"Eddie?" Mike put the car parts he had been working on down to give his nephew his full attention. "What do you need with Eddie?"

"I need to talk to him…"

"Shawnie, I heard about what happened between you two the last time…"

"Yeah and that why I need to talk to him…" Shawn claimed. "If he thinks he can come after my friends to get back at me…"

"Shawn…"

"I'll go to the police, Uncle Mike…I swear to god, I will." Shawn threatened.

"The police?" Mike repeated, confused. "What has he done?"

"The apartment I'm staying at got broken into…" Shawn told him. "Break-ins and stolen goods are what Eddie does, right?"

"But Shawn, you're family." Mike stated. "We look after our own…"

"Family?" Shawn laughed a little. "Where was my family when I was homeless?"

"Shawnie, you Dad said you're really happy living with the Professor…" Mike replied, remembering the time he met Jon himself. "And I like him…He's a funny guy."

"Yeah, he is…and he took me in when I had no one." Shawn added. "He didn't deserve what happened to him, Uncle Mike…I know how this trailer park works, I know not much goes on without you knowing about it either so if you know anything…"

"I've heard nothing about a robbery." Mike claimed. "But what was taken? I'll ask around for you…"

"They didn't take anything…"

Mike frowned. "What kinda robbery is it if nothing is taken?"

"Jon was home and they beat him up, Uncle Mike." Shawn told him, running a hand through his hair. "They broke his arm and gave him a concussion…That's why I can't let them get away with this."

Mike reached out and put a comforting hand on his nephew's shoulder. "I'll ask around for you, Shawn but I really think you're wrong about Eddie being involved."

"Thanks, Uncle Mike…" Shawn replied a little dejected.

He actually believed him when he said he didn't know anything about the break in. He had always been close with his Uncle Mike and could always tell when he was lying or up to something. He had been hoping he would get some proof that Eddie was behind this so they could all move on but what if his Uncle Mike was right and he wasn't involved?

Was there really someone else out there targeting Jon or him?

TBC

Dun, dun, daaa….Okay, so any guesses about what's going on? Please let me know what you think!