The sun was barely peeking through the clouds but he had to get her out before Lewis came back. He lifted Lisa on to his hip, bundling their bags in his other hand. It was almost embarrassing how little they had, he'd seen Lisa's friends that had more than the pair of them combined, deciding he'd have to rectify that, once he'd fixed this though, one problem at a time and all that. He began the long walk to the friendly nurse that cared for Lisa as if she was her own every Friday after school.
As the driveway peeked into sight, he checked his watch and winced It was 5 'o'clock but he couldn't think of anything else as his knuckles rapped against the cedar door. As a sleep clad lady opened the door, he allowed his heart to fill with hope for a moment. "I'm so sorry, Please" he begged, only gaining a confused twitch of eyebrows in return. "please" he asked again this time looking towards his sister, asleep in his arms. As if she was only seeing her now she quickly beckoned him in, closing the door softly behind them.
"Put her on the couch love, I'll get you a drink" the sound of her gentle voice calming him instantly. As he settled Lisa on the lightly worn sofa he looked up to see the motherly woman enter with a nod of the head telling him to follow her to the kitchen, 'probably wants an explanation' his brain supplied sluggishly.
He followed immediately, eager to rest (his body ached with every movement), and knowing he owed the lady he had begun to think of more as a mother (and a friend) an explanation.
As he sat across from her a steaming cup in his hands, warming him the way only a hot cocoa could "Little marshmallows?" he suddenly found himself ashamed of what he'd almost let happen, not wanting to be chastised from the softly-spoken lady sat before him. " Lisa's favourite" She replied with a tiny smile that faded as she looked back up to him, worry carved into every feature. She said nothing, waiting for him to explain in his own time. Instead, he asked "know any cheap places on the market by chance?" hoping that maybe he'd get off lightly.
Her soft eyes filled with partial realisation as he spoke to the table ashamed of what he was about to admit but needing to tell someone, anyone. "I tried to be a good brother you know, thought that I could protect her. But I fucked up, I..I... I messed up, I needed to get her out. Didn't know where to go… so I figured... Maybe" his voice trailed off, refusing to look up, as if it would all become true the moment he did.
He was met only with silence, the panic inside him grew, breaths began to rush through him.
"I have some money… It was gonna be her college funds but….and once I've found somewhere safe we can... Please. I'll get you anything… just, please? She doesn't deserve any of this"
he rushed out as tears began to prickle at his eyes, far more tired in that moment than he'd ever imagined possible, he rushed to wipe them away before feeling soft arms around him, for a moment he panicked more, breaths increasing, eyes going wide, not understanding what was happening, before he forced himself to relax, to return the hug. Confusion filled him as he felt his shoulder grow damp.
Soft footsteps were their only warning as Lisa padded into the room, eyes wide at the scene. "I'm sorry" was spoken so softly he wasn't entirely sure that it was said at all.
As she pulled away, they both turned to face Lisa. At seeing her brother's tears her own grew anew, only now she was angry "What did you do to my brother?!" it was almost comical in her tiny voice but as the tears filled her voice their hearts broke.

"I'll just go grab some tissues" with a soft hand on his shoulder, giving him time to speak alone with Lisa without fear of their old-man.
He knelt on the floor and pulled Lisa close "Lenny? She asked still confused as to why her brother was crying. "It's gonna' be okay Lise. You're gonna be okay, I'm gonna ask Mrs Allen if you can stay for a couple of nights while I sort it all out okay?" She was still confused though. She never had any doubt that Lenny would sort it out, he always did, he was awesome like that, but he was still crying.
"I know" she said with such conviction only a kid could have "but why are you crying Lenny?" she asked, beginning to worry about her big brother. " I'm sorry Lise. He almost hurt you, I'm sorry I didn't get you out sooner. I'm so sorry" Her confusion only grew.
"S'not your fault Lenny, he's just a big meanie. Do you think Mrs Allen'll let me have some cocoa too?" Her sudden change of subject made him chuckle
"of course you can, with those little mini marshmallows right?" the older lady said as she walked through the doorway, dabbing at her reddened eyes with a soggy bit of tissue, sending a smile to the little girl and setting a box of tissues on the table in reach for the siblings.