A/N: TW: child abuse

Three of the boys relaxed the next day and also prepared themselves for the summer. Alice was grumpy about letting them stay the extra week even though they were supposed to be gone. Most of the apartment residents were gone, including Ramona and her brothers.

Barry was going to leave after the swim competition, saying that he was being picked up by somebody. Alice really wanted them all out, but Julien was able to convince her to let them stay. Maurice, Mort, and Fred were gone for the summer though. That meant he was bugging everyone nonstop, and they couldn't do anything unless they wanted Alice to kick them out.

The morning of the competition was filled with anxiety for the tallest member of the team. Skipper, Rico, and Private tried their best to make it seem less daunting. This worked somewhat, but Kowalski was a bundle of nerves. Not only for swim, but for what would happen not too long after.

The coach pulled Kowalski aside, looking a bit worried.

"What's up, coach?" Kowalski asked.

"You have to take off your shirt." Coach Merrick said.

Kowalski jumped, startled. "B-but why? It was fine for the last two competitions, why now?"

"Someone complained to higher ups and they think the shirt is helping you." Merrick explained. "I personally do not believe a word of it, but I have no choice. You can speak to the coordinator for the events." She pointed to an official looking person who was talking to the judges.

Kowalski scowled and made his way over there.

"Hello, may I help you?" One of the judges said when he spotted the skinny swimmer.

"I'd like to know why I'm not allowed to wear this." He pointed to his swim shirt. "It doesn't give me an advantage or a disadvantage. I want to know why."

The coordinator sighed. "Look, kid, we're not outside." He indicated the covered arena. "It won't hurt you to take it off."

"My question was not ans-"

They were cut off by the announcer.

"Both teams to the starting line. We will begin with the girls portion first."

Kowalski sighed. He went to the bench and watched as the swimmers got ready.

"What's up?" Skipper whispered.

"They won't let me wear my shirt." Kowalski muttered.

"I don't understand, why is it a big deal?"

Kowalski didn't answer.

He watched as Waller, another teammate, and the opposing team hit the water. He then became lost in his thoughts; he didn't realize that he missed the final lap.

"Don't worry; Barry's getting it on video." Private said, realizing that Kowalski had zoned out.

Kowalski nodded and rejoined his team, still wearing his shirt.

"Nice one." DeRege said, winking at Waller. "But I'll do better."

She rolled her eyes and looked at Kowalski. "You're next. Five minute break." She said.

"I have to wear my shirt." He said. "They won't let me."

DeRege groaned. "That's stupid!" He said. "Your shirt is probably helping you go faster, that's why I told them about it."

"You what?!" Kowalski yelped.

"Forget him." Waller said. She dragged Kowalski to official's box.

"My name's Harper Waller, I want to know why my teammate can't wear a shirt." She demanded.

"As we told his coach, it's causing the other team to be upset. Now, you can either take it off or stay on the bench." The coordinator said.

"But he's our best swimmer!" Harper said. "If you take him out, we have to put Smith in and he's just eaten a big lunch."

"Put in DeRege, then." The man said carelessly

"He's already swimming in the next lane. The third option is Benson and he's already been in other competitions. The other teams have had a chance to see what he can do." Kowalski said. "I have to be in this one."

"Then take the shirt off. You just spent your break arguing with us." The man pointed to the clock, showing one minute left.

"Come on." Harper said. She dragged him back to the team. "You okay, Taro?" He didn't answer. "Kowalski, what's on your mind?"

Kowalski shook his head and headed for the starting block. He stretched his body and waited.

"Kowalski Taro, take off your shirt." The announcer said.

"Thank you for being subtle!" Skipper shouted.

"Sit down!"

"You sit down!" The fifteen year old countered.

Kowalski wasn't listening.

Insanity…that's what it was…

They wouldn't let him swim unless…unless he…

Furiously, he ripped off the shirt and cast it aside, ignoring the gasps and murmurs. He stood at the start, waiting for the signal. He was solely concentrated on his goal and an eerie silence fell upon his ears.

The silence was disturbed by the crack of the barrel gun and he jumped in. He was in complete silence, hearing only the frantic beating of his heart and small intakes of breath.

He flew through the water; the rushing noise was nothing more than wind to him. He hadn't even registered that he'd finished.

He lifted himself out of the water, not even caring that he'd just broken a state record. The cheers sounded like a garbled radio transmission.

He didn't even remember when he'd put on his shirt, but he heard a pounding noise like a drumbeat followed by shallow breathing. He was running and he hadn't even known. He was running far from the gasps and mutters he knew were back there for they had seen.

They'd seen his secret. The thing he'd been so careful to hide from everyone including his best friends. They had never known, now everyone does. Of course the record would be revealed on television and so would he.

It had attracted everyone's eyes and he knew he'd be questioned. But now…now he had to get away from it. He knew nothing else but to run.

They had seen it…it was like a light in the way that it attracted attention…but it wasn't light. It was darkness...

It was scars.

They'd seen his scars. No one but his brother knew, for they had been through it together.

And now everyone knew…

Everyone knew he had scars…

Everyone would ask questions.

He knew he'd have to face them sooner or later.

And for once…

Kowalski the genius was at a loss for words.

He heard footsteps behind him as he came to a stop. He panted, not knowing where exactly he was. Looking back, he spotted Rico, Skipper, Private, and Rocky panting. Barry and Kenny stood behind them, silent, but also out of breath.

"Coach Merrick is trying to keep things quiet." Private said

Kowalski nodded.

They stood in silence until a car pulled up next to them. Barry smiled.

Kowalski stared at the driver for a minute before realizing who it was. The girl had dark brown eyes and black hair that was dyed green at the ends.

"Jackie, what are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to pick up Barry when he texted me saying that you were in trouble and you needed help." She said. "Don't worry, I was at a stoplight when I checked my phone." She added to Skipper's look.

Kowalski bowed his head. He inhaled deeply and lifted his shirt up. Jackie saw the scars on his back.

"Hey, Rocky, can you drive Barry and Kenny back to the apartments?" Kowalski asked.

"Sure." Rocky left with Barry and Kenny. Barry wanted to protest, but Kenny shook his head and said he'd explain later.

Skipper explained to Rico and Private that Jackie is his brother Brian's girlfriend and that she was also in the same organization.

"Those aren't the only scars, are they?" Jackie asked once The Penguins were in the car. Kowalski sat in the front seat while the other three were in the back.

The tallest didn't answer.

"Would you like to explain what happened during Spring Break?"

Kowalski bit his lip. Rico and Private looked at Skipper, confused, but the leader mouthed 'later' and the other two nodded.

"Because I really do know the feeling." Jackie said.

He looked at her with confusion.

"I wasn't lying when I said I know how you feel." Jackie said. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. "I may not show physical scars, but I have emotional and mental ones. What about you?"

"It hurts…"

"You're among friends. You can tell me anything. Whatever you've experienced, I might have too. Physical abuse and verbal abuse. I experienced about half and half before I was five."

"I-"

"I also found it hard to trust. I didn't start trusting people until I was sixteen, and that was after I almost died."

"Is that why Brian seems so attached to you?" Kowalski asked.

Jackie nodded. "He doesn't want to let go. He's the first friend I made. No one wants to sit with the girl who has a haunted look in her eyes. I did school projects alone and was forced into a group during PE exercises. Even then, the others would ignore me or order me around. I felt lost, like you. "

"I tried to call the police." Kowalski blurted out. "One of those times was when I thought we were kidnapped because our mom wasn't there. He made up a story about how she died and he just wanted to get away from the sadness, but it was a lie. We were five and three, when I told them that he had closed me in the freezer and Kenny was barely strong enough to open it. That man told the police that I had been exploring and probably accidentally pushed it. The second time, he hit Kenny and broke his arm. I called the police to report abuse. We were eight and five, they still didn't believe us. The fourth time, Kenny called. I couldn't breathe because I'd been strangled and kicked in the ribs. The police just yelled at us to stop calling them. My dad was able to cover it up as us being rowdy and upset that our mom was dead. Kenny tried to tell teachers about the bruises, but the cover up story was that we were clumsy and rowdy boys. He always was able to cover it up by using my mother. He said that without the nurturing and care of Mom, he lost control. He also said I'm a chronic liar and roped Kenny into it. The worst thing happened when I was twelve and my brother was nine…I-" Kowalski hesitated. "I don't know how to explain it."

"When I was four, I was placed in bad foster home with a drunken foster father and three teenage boys." Jackie said. "I had lost contact with my social worker and my files had been essentially lost. I was no one."

"What happened?"

"He allowed his older two sons to do what they wanted to me…the youngest boy was nice to me and managed to help me escape…he didn't want to hurt me, but was forced to one time while the others watched. The middle boy killed himself about a month before I ran away. I was five when the abuse became worse. The youngest boy waited until his father and brother were passed out cold before he stole some money and food. He packed my bag for me and told me to run as far as I could and never look back. He told me he'd cover my tracks, but I only had a day until I could possibly be caught so I had to travel by night. I stayed invisible and out of sight. My physical injuries healed for the most part. I winced a lot because I was running with broken ribs. I was able to last a year on a minimal amount of food and water and barely any human contact. I don't know why, but my brain was telling me to keep going. One day, I just collapsed in a dirty alley. I had severely irritated my body. My ribs ached and I had been throwing up constantly for three days. I was starving, thirsty, hurt, and scared. Elizabeth, now my adoptive mom, heard me crying. How she heard me above all the city noise, I'll never know…but she took me in and I was too weak to fight back. Steven and Elizabeth took me to the doctors and they took care of me. I didn't tell them why I was haunted or why I acted defensive. I tried not to get myself kicked out of this house. I met Brian when I entered high school. He became my first friend, and introduced me to Rocky, Skipper, and the rest of their family. A year later, I tried to take my life because of all the pent up emotions inside me. I couldn't handle it and I lost all control."

"But you were saved, right?"

"Somehow, my plan had not succeeded. I ended up in the hospital and finally realized that I could trust these two to take care of me. And I could definitely trust Brian. So I tuned myself out to the whispers and stares. I started talking to my foster siblings and I got adopted. Barry and I became closer and he wanted me to be his sister. So, I eventually gained a family, an awesome friend/boyfriend, and a goal in life. I want to make a difference for foster kids so that no one will ever have to be in my position again."

"All of that and you're working for a top secret organization?"

"Yep. I found out when I rescued one of their newer agents from a bad part of town. She was impressed and recommended me to her boss. And that's how I got to be an agent."

"Wow. That's quite a story."

"What happened when you were twelve?" Jackie asked.

Skipper, Rico, and Private were rapt with attention. Kowalski drew a shaky breath.

"It was very cold and rainy outside…and he got upset with me and…he made me stand outside in the rain…I didn't have clothes on…and he made Kenny watch my pain…every time Kenny tried to look away, he'd receive a slap on the head. I was more concerned for my brother. Both of us saw the pain in each others eyes. W-when I was allowed in…He held my arms to my sides and…H-he made K-… he m-…He made Kenny kick me…"

"I get it." Jackie said. She had spotted Private's greenish face in the rearview mirror. Rico and Skipper were pale.

Tears went down Kowalski's face. "He told Kenny that I was weak and stupid…and that night…he let me get dressed, but I was kicked out of the house. It was still raining."

"What?" Skipper said in shock. "Right after that?"

Kowalski nodded and continued.

"He told me to get out and that he didn't want to see me in the morning. I tried to take Kenny with me, but my brother was held back. I left, but had nowhere to go. My friend, Izzy, had moved to Virginia when I was eight. And Nat's foster home couldn't take any more kids so…I used a park bench. I missed Christmas with Kenny for the first time. I barely got to see him because I was in middle school. I went to school in the same three outfits for the whole year. I wasn't allowed back until the beginning of the next school year. Kenny managed not to get hit, but he was definitely scared. By then, I had gotten word from Izzy about Central Park. Nat, Kenny, and I spent the year devising a plan on how to get ourselves to New York. We managed to convince HIM to let us go to New York. By then, we were on our own. I rented the bike for free as long as I advertised it. I got my laptop from Skipper and Barry had given Kenny one. I was able to buy and pay for the phones and I still am. I tried to think only of Kenny, but it didn't work. It stopped working months ago. Now I have a plan to get out of here. It's going to involve everyone we are trying to trust."

"Is it going to hurt you two?" Skipper asked in a hushed tone.

"I'll try to protect Kenny." Kowalski said.

"Will it hurt you?" Jackie said.

"It might." Kowalski admitted.

"Be careful." Private said weakly. He felt a bit ill.

"I'll try." The sixteen year old said.

"Trust?" Rico said.

"Yes." Kowalski sounded more confident this time.

A few days found Kenny and Kowalski about to board a plane.

"Be careful, soldier." Skipper said. "I'll be waiting to hear from either of you."

The brothers nodded.

"Please be careful." Private said.

"It'll be okay." Kowalski said.

The others wished the boys luck and waved.

On the plane, Kenny huddled next to his brother.

"Give me a week or less." Kowalski whispered.

Kenny looked up at Kowalski.

"At the most, a week."

Kenny nodded silently.

As they expected, no one was waiting as they landed.

They lugged their things for five blocks, taking breaks between. They entered to a silent house.

"Must be out." Kowalski said. "Don't unpack, it'll make him angrier."

"And that's what we want?"

"If you want it to take less than a week."

"Okay."

"Don't let go." Kowalski said, hugging his brother.

"I'll be with you, big bro, we need each other."

Kowalski entered his bedroom and threw his things on the bed. Kenny did the same in his own room.

Kenny went to the kitchen to discover that the fridge and cupboards were empty.

"We're out of food." He said loudly.

"What?!" Kowalski yelped. "I'll get more."

Kenny watched as Kowalski grabbed money and ran out the door. He knew his brother would only get food that the two of them would eat.

He let Skipper and Private know that everything was calm so far. Both boys confirmed that they got the message right away.

Kenny went around the house, trying to find everything that could be used as a weapon. He tried to memorize where everything was. While looking in the closet, a bunch of things toppled over on him.

"Ouch!" He saw a box with a piece of paper sticking out. The box had the label 'to burn immediately' but it was obvious that this had been forgotten.

Curious, he opened the box.

Several papers, which looked like they'd once been the same thing, were torn and crumpled along with a photograph. He took out the torn picture and put it together. The woman in the photo smiled at him. He smiled back, wondering who she was. She looked a lot like him and Kowalski. She held a boy in her arms who looked no older than two.

"Mom?" He whispered. The photo could neither confirm nor deny this. As he thought about the word, images of Sapphire Sorenson and Candace Davis appeared in his head. But this woman, she had to be his mom, she looked too familiar. He noticed a large belly bump under the toddler's legs. The toddler looked too much like Kowalski to be uncertain.

"Mom, Kowalski, and me…" Kenny breathed. He brushed his hand over the smiling faces. Kowalski looked truly happy, something he had never seen from his older brother.

"Kenny?"

He hadn't realized how long he was staring at the picture when Kowalski's voice interrupted him.

"I finished putting the groceries away." Kowalski said, spotting his brother kneeling in the hall closet.

Kenny showed his brother the photo.

Kowalski's jaw dropped. "That's Maria…"

"How did you know?"

"I asked Rico to show me a picture of his mom and Talia and his dad emailed him a picture of Maria, Stella, and Talia hanging out together."

"It's Mom. I know it is."

"Since you mentioned her, I've been researching…I didn't want to get your hopes up if I was wrong, but…"

"There's more stuff in here."

Kowalski took the papers and put the box back, fixing everything up again.

They heard a car pull up.

"Get in the kitchen now." Kowalski hissed as he left the room.

Kenny bolted to the kitchen as the door crashed open.

"BOYS!"

Kenny solemnly approached his father. Ralph Taro looked terrible and smelled even worse.

"Where's your pathetic excuse for a brother?"

Kenny shrugged.

"LOOK AT ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU!"

"I'm right here." Kowalski said, sparing Kenny.

"You're pathetic and slow." Ralph growled. "But since you bought food, I'll go easy on you today. You bought food, right?"

"I did."

"Shut up." He shoved them as he went to his room.

The boys sighed inwardly, nothing had happened yet.

Two days passed without reportable incident. He merely insulted them and made them do chores.

Kowalski had kept a stash of food under his bed which the boys started on after Ralph went to bed.

It was the third night they had been there when Kowalski decided to look at the papers. Ralph had passed out on the couch and Kenny was in bed.

Kowalski tried not to breathe too loudly. He wanted Kenny to stay out of it as long as possible so he would be safer. He knew the drunk man wouldn't wake up, but Kenny was a lighter sleeper.

He had his flashlight on the papers. Trying to figure out the relations until something clicked. He gasped out loud, and then looked around to make sure he didn't disturb anyone. He carefully exited his room and entered the master bedroom. He proceeded slowly, not wanting to give away his position.

He found the key to a bedside table and opened the top drawer. He winced at the sight of the weapon, trying not to think about what might have happened if Kenny had accidentally gotten his hands on it. He opened the compartment and dumped the bullets out. He put the gun back and removed all the bullets in sight. He heard a grunting noise and froze.

This was more dangerous than pulling a prank on Julien. He really wished he was back in Central Park where the only danger of that mission was being caught by Mort and subjected to infinite questions.

He snuck into the closet and hid the bullets in an old jacket that was never used. He hurried out of the room and to Kenny's. He stood at the doorway and looked fondly at his little brother.

Kenny was woken up the next day by Kowalski.

"Wha-?"

"Today." He said.

Kenny's eyes snapped open and he shot up. "But-"

"He's been keeping secrets from us and I'm going to mention Maria. The moment you hear me yell, call Private and Skipper. Skipper's dad is already in town visiting a friend; we have a plan so just go with it."

"O-okay…But what if something happens?"

"Seven-four." Kowalski said.

"But that's been changed."

"I know. Let Skipper know, then Seven-four."

"How long?"

"Until you can't anymore."

Kowalski kissed the top of Kenny's head and left the room, leaving the communicator watch in his brother's lap. Kenny was shaking when he heard angry voices.

The voices got progressively louder until something broke.

Kenny gasped and pulled out his phone.

"Hello?" Private's voice came out.

"I heard shouting and I think a glass broke."

"Hold on, I'll get my dad."

He heard Private call someone when there was a loud thumping noise.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"

Kenny pushed the buttons on the watch. "S-Skipper?"

"IT WAS NONE OF YOUR STINKIN' BUSINESS!"

"SHE WAS MY MOTHER! YOU KEPT HER FROM US!"

"Kenny?" Skipper's face popped up.

"WHERE'S YOUR IDIOT BROTHER? KENNY!"

"Rocky!" Skipper yelled. "Tell dad it's happening now!"

"KENNY! WHAT WAS THAT?"

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Kenny gripped the watch and the phone as loud footsteps stomped closer to his room.

"Kenny, what's going on?" Candace's voice came from the phone.

"H-help…"

"Help's on the way. My dad arrived in Wisconsin last night." Skipper said. "I'm going to press record, go see where Kowalski is."

Kenny put on the watch so Skipper could record it. He ran out to see Kowalski vainly trying to pull Ralph away.

"Leave him alone!" Kenny yelled, trying to whack the older man away.

A strong hand closed around his throat and pushed him against the wall. The other hand was doing the same to Kowalski.

Kowalski turned blue as he tried to pull the hand off of Kenny.

Kenny managed to bite the hand and was released. He kicked the man and fled to his room.

"Private?" He said.

"What just happened?" Private asked. "My dad's contacting people right now and Skipper's got his dad on the situation-what was that?"

Kowalski cried out in pain. They heard sirens wailing.

"YOU TOLD?! YOU IDIOT!"

Kenny ran to the doorway to see Kowalski being pounded.

"Stop!"

Ralph turned to see the phone in Kenny's hand. "YOU-"

Kenny gasped.

Ralph pushed Kenny to the ground and wrestled the phone from him.

"NO!"

"Kowalski? Ke-"

The phone was thrown against the wall and Private's voice was gone.

Kenny was lifted by his shirt and he stared in terror as a fist went back, ready to strike. The hit never came.

Kowalski was bloody and broken, but he jumped up and caused Kenny to be released.

The front doors burst open as Kowalski's body was thrown across the hall. The teen slid to the floor, motionless.

Thumps were heard as Kowalski kept being hit while he was down. Kenny ran to hide as footsteps invaded the house.

"FREEZE!"

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! THESE FREAKS-"

"QUIET!"

The yells subsided as Ralph was forced from the house.

"Someone get this kid medical attention!"

"Kid, are you okay?"

Kowalski either did not want to or could not speak.

"Aw man. The boss wants him in New York, is he breathing?"

"Barely."

Two men entered Kenny's room. "There's the second kid." He said, seeing the top of Kenny's head.

"Hey, come on out, it's okay now."

Kenny shook, staying where he was.

"Kid, we got to do our job so get out or we force you out."

The second man shook his head. "He's scared."

"Excuse me, gentlemen." A third voice said. It sounded familiar.

"Who are you? This is a crime scene and we're-"

"Sorry officer, but I think I can get him out. He's shy and nervous. He'll trust me. I'm George Sorenson, he and his brother stayed at my house for Thanksgiving. The older brother is the roommate of my youngest son."

"We can't just-"

"Ten minutes." The second officer said. "Then we need to clear out."

"I'll take that, thank you sir."

George sat on Kenny's bed.

"You met my father at Thanksgiving, right?"

Kenny looked up.

"I think you did." George continued. "There were six of us kids running around, driving our parents up the wall. When he went to war, it was me, my older brother, and my younger sister left in the house with our mother. Not a day went by where we didn't think of him. None of us knew what he went through, so us kids thought it would go back to normal."

Kenny moved from the floor to the bed.

"But it didn't. Our father turned to drinking and he was very hard on us. Our mom tried to help him, but he pushed us away. We didn't realize until a while later that he had PTSD. What he had experienced had haunted him. Our mom attended a lecture about how to help trauma survivors. She also heard from a friend in AA how to help our dad. She was going to lessen his intake of alcohol, but it didn't go as she planned."

"What happened?" Kenny asked hoarsely.

George had put an arm around him.

"Trent, Roxanne, and I were playing 'war' and one of us, I honestly can't remember who, made a very realistic shooting noise. He freaked out and lashed out on us. Please understand that my father was never one to lay a harmful hand on his children. Trent and I ducked, but Roxanne got hit."

"Then what?"

"He had a heart attack."

"Seriously?"

"Roxanne and I were still shocked, but Trent called an ambulance and then Mom. When she came home, she threw out all of the alcohol. Even the wine we had kept for dinner parties. She wanted it all gone. When our dad came home, he apologized profusely. He said that seeing his daughter's hurt expression made him want to get help. So he did. He went to meetings with other trauma survivors and we all pitched in to help. Roxanne forgave him, but she was still concerned. When our mother passed away, Roxanne decided to stay at the house and take care of our father."

"He's okay now?"

"He's trying. It's very hard for him to not seek comfort in drinking. She got him hooked on chocolate instead. So whenever he's feeling depressed or thinking about drinking, he says so and Roxanne hands him a chocolate bar. Then he tried faking it so he could get more candy."

A faint smile appeared on Kenny's face.

"But the point is that he asked for help and he tried his best to be a great father. Now he's a grandpa and he couldn't be happier to have all this family. He also told me that you are welcome to visit when he's in town. And I say you're welcome to stay at our house for as long as you want. Now, I spot two people who want us to get out of here. Are you two with Wisconsin police?"

"No, we're with NYPD." One of the men said.

"Can I take my backpack?" Kenny asked.

"If you'll let me look through it really quick, then I'll determine if it needs to be kept here for evidence."

Kenny nodded.

The man rifled through the backpack, pulling out a pile of papers in the process.

"Kowalski found that." Kenny said.

The man looked at the papers. "It looks official. Sorry, kiddo, but the backpack has to stay. Was that your phone?" He pointed at the broken electronic pile.

"Yes."

"Sorry about that, kid."

The other man came back in. "We received word that his brother's been admitted to a hospital in Manhattan. We need to talk to both of the boys when we get back to New York."

"Alright, can I get him to New York?" George asked.

"Yes, but I'll have an officer go with you. Safety protocols." He added at Kenny's confused looks.

"Makes sense, alright Kenny."

Kenny followed George. He caught a glimpse of blood on the wall as a group of investigators moved around the spot that Kowalski was found.

Kowalski…

Echoes of voices rang around him. Lights popped as he still heard shouts. He thought he must have broken his spine from the impact with the doorframe. He knew he was bloody, but he didn't know how Kenny was.

Then the shouting stopped.

He saw a shadow over him.

Kenny?

A gentle touch, but it wasn't Kenny.

The voice sounded as if it was talking from across an underwater football field. Darkness crept around his vision. He couldn't hear them anymore.

His last thought before he passed out was that Kenny was safe now. He had been trying to fight it, but the pain had grown too much. He let go.

He gave in to the darkness as it consumed him.

Light.

There was light in the distance.

That was the first thing Kowalski registered. The second was that he didn't feel his injuries anymore. He looked down at his hands; they were clean and had a strange glow to them. His clothes were practically radiating cleanliness.

He felt warmth as he approached the light. Squinting, he could make out a shape. Suddenly, his surroundings lit up. He was in Central Park. It looked a lot cleaner and less noisy.

The shape became human-like and clearer looking as it approached. He reached for his glasses, but they were not on his face. Did he have contacts? He was thinking about that, but hadn't gotten around to it.

"Kowalski?"

He blinked. The shape was a human female. But not just any person, it was his mother.

"Mom?" He was surprised how clear his voice sounded after everything.

She smiled and invited him to a bench. He sat next to her.

They were silent for a while; he could feel her eyes on him. He stared into his lap. His mind was reeling with images and thoughts. Everything replayed in his mind with increased intensity.

He flashed back to the feeling of sweat and blood on his face. He had been hit in the face before he had a chance to dodge. Every hit, he thought of how Kenny was safe. He just hoped that Kenny was with Skipper now. He sighed.

"I have no more purpose…I'm done."

A/N: Be gentle, I am a sensitive soul…

Julien: I got two mention of the royal me and both sentences were shared with Alice?! I AM OUTRAGED!

Skipper: Really? Of all things, Julien, you complain about sharing a sentence? I bet you didn't even read the chapter…

Julien: I bet YOU didn't read the chapter!

Skipper: I was in it.

Julien: Really?

Private: Can we move on, already?

Julien: Is Kowalski dead? I am not sure, it kind of looks like it.

Skipper: Oh great, you made Private cry…