Children of the Dark

Liam had just finished getting dressed and lumped his bedding in a pile and sat down on top of the mound. He was looking down at the tiny pill that Will had given to him the night before. He had pretended to take it, but in the end had never even put it in his mouth. He didn't care if his hand hurt, it didn't matter, what mattered was that his dad would live, he would do anything if his dad would just survive.

"Good, you're up." Kyle said as he stepped into Liam's makeshift bedroom as the boy sat there in a pile of sheets and blankets holding something in his hand. "What's that?"

"A pill that my uncle wanted me to take last night."

"What kind of pill?"

"I don't know. Some kind of pain or sleeping pill."

"So he thought you took it, but you didn't?"

"Yep."

"Rebel."

"Yep."

"How's the hand?"

"Throbbing." He said as Kyle sat down next to him. "Angela Nelson."

"What?"

"Her name is Angela Nelson. The woman who shot my father."

"You got into her room last night?"

"Yes. But her file wasn't in there. I found it at the nurses station."

"Wow, you tiny ninja. How'd you manage all that without getting caught? You didn't get caught did you?"

"No I didn't get caught. The cop outside Angela's room was talking to his girlfriend on the phone and wasn't paying attention. I had to wait down the hall forever until he got distracted. I'm glad she doesn't like to go to sleep alone or I might have been there all night. But I got in there and the file wasn't anywhere. But I did stand there and get a good look at her. It was dark, but I just wanted my energy, my presence to be there in that room with her. I wanted her to know that I knew who she was and what she did."

"I get it. Did she wake up? Did she see you?"

"I don't think so and if she did she would have thought she was dreaming. Thankfully, chatterbox was still on the phone so I snuck back out and had to loop all the way around, and push a patients call button to get the nurse away from the desk. Hospitals are spread pretty thin in the middle of the night, so I had the desk to myself. Her chart was right on top. She's expected to make a full recovery." Liam said dryly.

"Damn. I had no idea of your skill level. Is that why you wanted to stay here last night?"

"One of them." Liam said tucking the pill into his jeans pocket.

"They probably have cameras," Kyle said.

"Probably. But then they'd have to explain why I was able to wander all over the hospital in the middle of the night unaccompanied; getting past a CPD officer, hospital security and medical staff. I could always claim I was sleep walking." Liam said. He did feel bad about disobeying Will's explicit instructions to stay in the room; he hadn't wanted to betray the trust his uncle had placed in him, but right now, it was more important to him to find out who had hurt his father.

"Yeah, I'm sure that will work." Kyle said sarcastically concerning the sleep walking excuse. "Hey, I reached out to someone who has some connections that has connections etc." Liam looked at his friend expectantly. "A few months back there was a case where two boys were shot and killed at a house where they were playing video games. No evidence that these kids were doing anything else other than just being kids. There was one boy who survived and was carried out by your father. He was the first one in and caught the case."

"Okay," Liam said licking his lips. "There was an old buddy of my dad's that stopped by one night and when they thought I was asleep they talked about some stuff and my dad said something about this case. He just said two boys were shot in the head and he didn't know how many more times he could deal with kids—that kids were the worst. And then something about intel that was supposed to be really accurate but then they got quiet and I couldn't hear anymore."

"Yeah, they got this intel, whatever it was and Jay followed it to a guy named Marcus West. He was a drug user, maybe a low level dealer, I'm not sure. Apparently he claimed he was innocent, but then don't they all? Anyway, Marcus ended up in county lockup and was killed while he was in there. Even hardened criminals have a soft spot for kids. The media said the case was closed. That's the only recent case where your dad's name has come up."

Liam sat there and thought about his father's name on the tongues of known criminals and it made him shiver. How well was his father known in a world that held nothing but hate and vengeance? How often would it come back to haunt them? Would there even be another chance?

"Look," Kyle said showing Liam the information on his phone. "Marcus West arrested for the murder of two young boys was killed—blah, blah—it says he left behind a wife, Angela Nelson and son Bobby."

"If they were married how come her last name is different?" Liam asked.

Kyle shrugged. "I don't know. But we know that she was married to a man your dad arrested and ended up dead."

"But he didn't kill him."

"No, not directly. But he was somewhat responsible."

"Because he did his job! He followed the clues and arrested the man that was accountable." Liam stated, anger seeping into his voice.

"Hey, I'm on your side, Jay's side. I'm just saying we found a connection."

"Sorry," Liam said quietly.

"It's okay. Oh, and there was something about ten thousand dollars of drug money missing. That just happened like a day or so ago. Coincidence? Maybe. But somehow I think not. But how is Jay tangled up in that? He's a good cop."

"Maybe he was investigating that and got pulled in somehow. Remember that he didn't come home last night, well the night before," Liam amended.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, like I said, that happens, especially when he goes undercover, but he always tells Ellie, my sitter. Or if he can't somebody from the team does. But in the morning when I asked about him, she just said she was sure he was fine, that he must have gotten called in on something big. Her face was different, like she was trying to hide her concern. And she said she was sure and must have, not that he did."

"Call her," Kyle suggested. "See what she can tell you."

"She's in Seattle with her sister. I don't want to freak her out. If she finds out what happened, she might come back and that might make things more complicated."

"So where was he all night? With this Angela woman? If so why? Did they know each other?"

Liam stared at the floor as his mind tried to put pieces of a puzzle together that made no sense. "What if this Marcus West wasn't guilty. What if my dad felt he killed an innocent man?"

"But the media said he was guilty."

"Of course they did. Talk about a PR nightmare. I'm sure the CPD said what it needed to. What if the blame went much higher up the chain if they got the wrong guy? Who or what was the initial intel? What if my dad tried to go to Angela and help her?"

"How would she know who he was—unless he told her? But why would he do that? And we don't know that Marcus West wasn't the guy. I think Jay was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe she was stealing the money and he caught her and she shot him?"

"That's a huge coincidence." Liam said.

"Agreed. Do you know what they say about coincidences?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah. They take a lot of planning."

"Fuck," Kyle said knowing the trail that they had just tiptoed down had merit, but chances of them confirming any of it were pretty slim. "Any update on your dad?"

"Uncle Will said he made it through surgery. They'll be moving him from recovery to ICU soon. But I can't see him in either place. We'll see how he does today. He'll either stabilize or—not.

"Last night as I lay here waiting for my opportunity to find her file, I remembered a story my mom used to tell me before I went to bed. I don't remember all of it, but it was the basic medieval story. There was a fair maiden who fell in love with a brave knight and together they had a little prince."

"And they lived happily ever after?" Kyle guessed.

"No. The fair maiden abandoned them, the brave knight is fighting for his life and the little prince is mourning for them both."

"Not much of a fairy tale."

"It's exactly as they were meant to be. Real. Like Grimm wrote them. It was Disney that made them all pretty and unrealistic. Not like life at all. Real life is darkness and shadows, not full of colorful rainbows and talking animals. It's not made of forests that never get dark, of people that only want the best for you and where everything works out in the end. It's empty, and painful, and full of loss.".

"I feel like you're a different kid." Kyle said slightly taken aback by what his young friend had just said.

"That's because I am. People can only go through so much before the broken parts can't be repaired. How my dad gets up every day and pretends that he hasn't been smashed into a million pieces is beyond me. Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"This," Liam said holding up his bandaged hand, "was on purpose. I knew the glass was there, I wasn't sure if it would break or not, but was actually happy when it did."

"You see this?" Kyle asked showing Liam a scar on his own hand. "This was on purpose too. Different delivery system but intentional all the same." Liam looked at him, at first with surprise but then with understanding. "When there's so much agony here and here," Kyle said pointing to his head and heart, "the pain has to go somewhere. Bad things happen to good people."

"Bad things happen to all people—we just don't know or care about them as much." Liam said as Will and Kelly walked into the room.

"Hey guys," Will said, exhaustion etched in his face. "You're dressed and ready to go. Good. Kelly is going to take the two of you to your apartment Liam so you can get cleaned up and some fresh clothes. Pack an extra set in your backpack too. Then he'll take you to breakfast and then Firehouse 51where you and Kyle will spend the day. While you are a guest there I expect you to follow all the rules and listen to the adults. Tonight someone will either bring you to the hospital or I will pick you up. We'll have dinner and then go to my apartment for the night. If there are any changes in your dad's condition or he wakes up, then we will get you to the hospital ASAP. Sound good?"

"Sure," Liam agreed. "I think my backpack is in Adam's car though."

"He brought it to me last night before he left." Will said swinging it around and setting it on the floor. "I hope you have your keys otherwise I have to go home and get mine."

"They're inside my bag."

"Good. Leave the sheets and stuff and let's go. You can call me or text me at any time. I may not be able to answer immediately but I will respond. I promise. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Listen to Kelly." Will instructed.

"I will."

"I'll see you later."

"Okay," Liam replied as they began to walk away.

"Liam. I love you," Will called out.

"Love you too." Liam replied, but he didn't look back when he replied.

Liam gave Kelly his address and directed him to his apartment as best as he could. He unlocked the outer door but once he stood at their front door he hesitated. He didn't want to go in. His father wasn't there and he had no idea if Jay would ever step foot in the apartment again. It was full of his things, it was full of their memories. It was them, and the possibility of there no longer being a "them" was too much to bear. He raised his hand, but it was shaking too much to fit the key into the lock so Kelly took it and gave it to Kyle as he pulled Liam off to the side.

"I just want my dad," Liam whispered as tears formed in his eyes.

"I know you do bud. I hate that you are going through this. And I am so sorry that you are. If you want I can go get some things for you and bring them out here." Kelly suggested.

Liam swallowed and looked over at his door that Kyle had unlocked and opened. "No. I can do it," he said as he wiped his eyes. "I have to be brave."

"You already are, whether or not you go in there," Kelly told him.

Liam nodded but walked towards the door. As he crossed the threshold he felt as if he couldn't breathe. His entire existence had become twisted into something unknown. A thorny ache descended all over his body as words echoed in his head. His uncles words came flying at him about losing blood and surgery, Adam's words about going to the hospital and they didn't know who had shot Jay. What were the last words his father had said to him? When were they even said? Liam fell to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably bringing both Kyle and Kelly over to him. Kelly got down and sat next to Liam and held him while Kyle shut the door and sat down nearby.

"I want my dad, I just want my dad," Liam cried out inconsolably.

"I know you do," Kelly answered holding Liam and rocking him back and forth. "I know you do."

Kyle knew there was nothing he could do or say that would help. He could still hear the empty words that were said to him from years ago. He didn't hold it against those that spoke them, they were trying to help him, give him encouragement. But sometimes silence is the gift that is needed. Kelly had it under control, as much as it could be, Kyle could add nothing that would give Liam any more solace.

After several minutes Liam quieted. For a moment Kelly thought the boy might have fallen asleep, and Kyle, knowing he hadn't had much sleep was certain that he had. But Liam stirred and wiped his face with his sleeve. "Is it okay if I take a shower—I just need to." He needed to wash everything away, hoping that perhaps all the events of the past days would just swirl away like the soap and water down the drain.

"Of course," Kelly said. "Take your time."

Liam nodded and trudged off towards the bathroom. While he was in the shower, Kelly and Kyle cleaned up the apartment a bit, though it had been pretty tidy when they got there. Liam didn't take long and reappeared with damp hair and puffy eyes. He had put on new jeans and a blue and black flannel shirt.

"I like your shirt," Kyle said.

"Thanks," Liam sniffed. "My dad has one like it too. He said they were buy one get one half off and joked that mine was half the size so it should be half off. He said we could both wear them for our Christmas card," Liam chuckled despite himself. "Except we don't do a Christmas card. But he said we should this year because we had the perfect wardrobe now. That we could start a tradition." Liam did his best to choke back another sob, but it had escaped and he broke down again.

"I'm sorry," he said after a minute.

"Don't be sorry. Don't ever be sorry," Kyle said, "for loving someone, for mourning their pain, for fearing the worst, for caring so much you think you will never be the same again." Liam nodded. "Let's grab another set of clothes."

"Okay," Liam said rummaging through his drawers and grabbing random clothing.

"Hey you have the Lego Hancock building. Cool. I have this fire truck that I still have to put together, but I kinda got grounded from my Lego's for a bit after I left them all over the living room."

"Yeah, and I stepped on them in bare feet." Kelly added.

"Should I bring some clothes for my dad, just in case he wakes up?" Liam asked walking towards Jay's room as Kyle shoved Liam's clothes into the boys backpack.

"Um, he'll probably have to stay in that horrible hospital gown where your butt shows," Kelly said trying to keep it light. "But we can definitely come back and get him some clothes when he needs them.

Liam walked over to Jay's closet and opened it and found Jay's twin shirt hanging there. "I'll bring this,when he's ready."

"Great idea," Kelly said.

Liam left the shirt and headed over to the bed. The sheets had been pulled up hastily the other morning when Jay had left. Ellie never slept in his bed even though he had told her she could when he was late. Liam sat down and then laid down and inhaled his father's scent from the pillow. He looked over and saw the picture of Jay, Will and him from Halloween. The three Halstead's smiling. His entire family in one small rectangle.

"We have a picture of you in your costume with Kelly, my dad and your dad hanging in the firehouse," Kyle said when he saw where Liam was looking. "You made a great fireman."

"Where were you Halloween night?" Liam asked. "You weren't at the firehouse."

"I was at a classmates party. I dressed as a cop," he laughed. "You were a fireman, I was cop. Ironic."

"Yeah." Liam said as he picked up the picture and traced his father's face. "My dad told me a child could be happy even if their parent is miserable but that a parent couldn't be happy if their child was miserable. Right now he's making me miserable. Is that irony?"

Kelly just stood and gave a tight smile as he reached out for Liam. "Let's get some breakfast. Do you think you can eat something?"

"Not really." Liam replied.

"Well, let's go try anyway."

Liam managed two bites of oatmeal and one of a banana. The banana made him think of Mae, the homeless woman who sat in the Loop and Mae made him think of his dad. His heart felt heavy, like it was just sitting there useless. What would he do if his dad died? Sure, he would probably live with Will, but how would that work out? Will was a good guy, but he was a doctor and it seemed like he was always at the hospital and would either of them be able to come back from their devastating loss? Would they grow closer or would they distance themselves, hiding in the midst of their own pain and memories?

Liam looked over at Kelly who was eating some kind of quiche type thing and drinking coffee looking back at Liam with a weird look on his face. Kelly had been thinking back to the time when he had helped Jay go after the arsonist and it nearly got the man killed. Voight had benched the detective because he was simply too close to the case since his father had been one of the victims. He wanted the guy to go down as badly as Jay did, but neither of them was thinking clearly and it almost cost Halstead his life. How would have Kelly ever managed to carry that burden? So now as he looked across the table at the man's son and felt the fear and terror the boy was going through now, and felt he owed him anything and everything he could.

"So what is OFI?" Liam asked.

"Office of Fire Investigations. I look into what caused the fires."

"So you're like a fire detective?"

"Yes I am."

"Do you like it?"

"I do. I like solving issues, helping people if I can."

Liam grew silent. "Like my dad."

"Yeah. Your dad is a great detective and that's because he wants to help people. He's going to be fine." Kelly assured.

"Why does everyone say that? They say it but they don't know. You can't know, not for real."

"You're right we can't. But I guess it's like if we feel positive then maybe good things will happen. Let's head to the firehouse. I think Kyle is picking out some sandwiches for lunch, since the meatless offerings are often slim at 51."

"Okay. Thanks for picking me up and everything."

"No problem. If I get off early enough I'll come by and see you later. I'm trying to think of something fun to do for the weekend."

"It doesn't matter what you think of, it won't be fun for me, it just can't be. Not right now, maybe not ever."

"I know it feels that way right now," Kelly began.

"Because if my dad dies, life will never be the same. Time doesn't heal all wounds. I already know that. I lost my mom when I was five and then she came back and left an even bigger hole the second time. I don't have the strength to try and fill up another empty space left by a parent."

"Let's hope you don't have to. Nobody can replace a parent. But family is more than just blood." Kelly said looking over at Kyle who carefully choosing their lunch.

"Yeah. I know, the team is great, but they have their own lives."

"Sure they do, but I know they would make you a part of them. They have in the past haven't they?"

Liam shrugged. "Sometimes."

"Well Kyle is getting older, and the older he gets, the older he thinks I am. I could use someone for fresh adventures."

"You don't have to promise me anything."

"Your dad is going to need some recuperation time and that means you will have to be kept busy. I, for one, need someone to help keep me busy. Kyle needs someone to keep him busy. I'm picking you. We'll figure it out together; you, me, Kyle, Matt, Voight, the rest of the team and the firehouse."

"Okay, does this look good to you?" Kyle asked walking over as he showed Liam a sandwich and cut up apples. "No meat, to be found, and a really good vegan sauce. I've had it before."

"Sounds good," Liam said as Kyle reached for Kelly's debit card.

"There they are," Matt said as Kelly and the boys walked into the firehouse.

"Hey stranger," Cruz told Kelly. "We miss you around here."

"I miss you guys too."

"I hear you're doing great things," Herrmann said.

"Trying to. Hey call me if you need anything. I'll be around. Liam, call me if you need to or text. I might not be able to answer right away, but I will. Okay?"

"Okay," he nodded.

"I brought your Lego firetruck that still hasn't been put together. I thought you two could work on it this morning," Matt said showing the boys the box on the table.

"Cool," Liam said, though he looked less than enthusiastic.

"My dad and Kelly got this for my last birthday."

"Yeah, we had to go in together on it, it cost more than our rent." Matt said.

"Ha, ha." Kyle faked a laugh.

"You think he's kidding?" Kelly said. "I'll see you guys later," he said as he put his hand on Kyle's head and then stepped over to Liam and squatted down in front of him. "Later buddy, hang in there." He then put his hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye.

The boys worked on the Lego's for a while and then watched TV with Mouch. Then a call came in taking the whole population except for them and the secretary.

Kyle was busy texting a girl from his class while Liam went to the bathroom. Several minutes later Kyle realized that he hadn't noticed Liam come out. He went in and saw the entire bathroom was empty. He then looked all around the house but came up empty. With crews gone the bay doors were down so he opened the man door and saw Liam outside next to the memorial for Otis. He was grateful he hadn't lost the kid, but could see the pain in the kid even from the distance.

"I met him once—I think," Liam said as he stared the memorial. "He seemed really nice."

"He was," Kyle confirmed.

"I'm sorry you lost him."

"Thanks."

"I needed to get out of there. I need to walk or I'm going to lose my mind."

"Okay. How about I get our lunch, we can take a walk and find a spot to eat?"

"Sure."

"Stay right here," Kyle said. "If you disappear, I'll be in huge trouble."

"I will, I swear." Liam promised as he looked back at the memorial. If his father died his name would go on a wall with a lot of others who had been lost in the line of duty. Jay had taken him there a couple of times and he went to a ceremony once when a woman from the unit had her name unveiled. It was a hard day and he couldn't begin to imagine if the name revealed ever read Jay Halstead. Yes, we all still die, but not now and not like this.

"There's nothing over here," Kyle said as they continued their trek, having walked for fifteen minutes.

"The L. I just want to sit under the tracks," Liam said finding a clean spot to sit free of trash and used needles.

Kyle was ready to ask why but decided he would know soon enough. "Let's eat," Kyle said holding out the bag and pulling their food and drinks from it. "Cheers to our fathers and their altruistic jobs." Kyle said clinking his can of sparkling flavored water to Liam's. "We could start a club, you and me. The bastard sons."

Liam laughed. "Small club."

"Bigger than you think, but we'll keep it exclusive."

"I want her dead," Liam said after he swallowed."

"Who?"

"Angela Nelson. I don't know why she shot my dad, but I don't really care. I know he wouldn't have hurt her so she didn't need to try and kill him. Now, all I can think of is that I want her dead. I guess my mother's genes do run through my body."

"What does that mean?"

"Her family is the mafia in Dublin Ireland. They are responsible for a lot of violence and crime and if I could call one of them right now I would."

"But you can't right?" Kyle asked, concern in his voice.

"No. They don't know I exist."

"Oh." Kyle replied, unsure what to say. "I didn't even know my mother was murdered until four years after her death." He volleyed, hoping it would help Liam feel less awkward.

Liam snorted, "I didn't even know my mother's real name. In fact she never even told me, neither did my dad—I had to eavesdrop in order to learn it. Sorry about your mom though."

"Yeah, adults never can seem to tell the truth, not all of it anyway. So her family is like the mob in Dublin? What is the story there?" Kyle asked.

Liam went on to explain everything he knew. "I probably shouldn't have told you." He said when he finished. "My dad said that I should probably keep it to myself. He made it sound like an order."

"I won't tell." Kyle promised.

"We googled the family, because he knew I would so he figured it'd be better if we did it together. We talked about it a lot. He didn't want me to be confused. But how can I not be. Her whole life with us was a lie."

"What's her real name?"

"Emma James. My middle name is James, but she said I was named after my dad."

"My middle name is James too. We really do need to have a club." Kyle exclaimed.

"I have a secret too," Kyle began. "I'll tell you so that you know your secret is safe. But if you tell, I'll deny it." Liam nodded. "You wanted to know who my contact was, who I got the information about Marcus West?" Liam nodded again. "I have a connection—he owes me."

"Who is it?" Liam asked.

"He's a drug kingpin and he's in prison."

"How does he owe you?"

"That, I can't tell you. Maybe one day, but not today."

"Fair enough." Liam said as he chewed his food. "Are you safe?"

"Yes. We have a deal."

Liam looked leaned over as he heard the train coming. "This is why I wanted to come here. I need to do something."

"Not climb up on the tracks right?"

"No. Just wait," Liam said as the train raced their way, several feet over their head. As it got closer Liam threw his head back and screamed. He screamed and screamed again, his cries were completely drown out by the passing train. Kyle looked at this young friend and followed suit, yelling all of his fears and frustrations away.

"Great idea," Kyle said after the train had departed. "I feel better, how about you?"

"A little, I guess."

"I get you wanting revenge. I hated a toddler." Kyle admitted.

"What?"

"My dad suffered a serious head injury in a fire when he went back for a baby. He protected her but some debris fell on him, knocked his helmet off. It was bad. Surgery, recovery, then his personality was weird for a while. He would get angry so fast. I was afraid of him. Nothing ever happened, but it was kind of scary. So I was mad at the baby that made him go back. If he hadn't saved her, he would have never been able to live with himself, but going back nearly killed him. They make these choices and we have to suffer their consequences."

"Yes we do. I can tell when my dad has a bad case or has to deal with one where a kid is involved. He either gets angry, despondent or clingy."

"Despondent huh?"

"Spelling word last week," Liam admitted.

"When I was your age, I texted my dad I was going to be fine, then turned my phone off and spent the night wandering around the city." Kyle said.

"What? No way," Liam gasped.

"Yep. In the morning I texted a picture from the DuSable bridge and he found me. I was in a lot of trouble but it was worth it. He and nearly everyone from 51 had been in a factory fire, they almost died.

"The picture," Liam said.

"Yeah, that stupid picture," Kyle said speaking of the photo taken by a photo journalist as Chief Boden had held him back as he tried to rush into the burning building that held his father and so many others, including Kelly, captive. "I just wanted him to know what it was like to not know an outcome, to worry, to freak out."

"I bet he did."

"Yeah. He had the whole firehouse out looking for me plus Voight and Antonio, maybe even your dad, I don't know."

"I went down to the Loop by myself. I was mad at my dad. I thought he wanted to get rid of me, let my uncle raise me. I had overheard some things that I didn't understand. So I wanted him to worry, to come find me, to show me that he still wanted me."

"And he found you."

"Yeah, he did. Then I told him I didn't think he was my real father. He showed me the DNA papers that said I was."

"You never doubted that he was your father did you?"

"No. I just wanted to hear him say it. Same as finding me. I needed him to do it."

"Reassurance."

"Yeah. When my mom left again, I needed to know that I was his and he was mine. But now, now—"

"Now he has a vengeance seeking son."

"Am I wrong to feel that way?"

"No, not really. I would. We don't know what happened, but if your dad pursued the wrong man it was a mistake, but her shooting him when she wasn't in danger, was vindictive, and wrong."

"It was revenge, the very same thing I want."

"Maybe. But she'll pay for it. It's attempted murder of a police officer. No matter what she tries to say or do, the bottom line is she shot a cop, a cop who is a single father and was only doing his job. If he got the wrong guy, that's bad, but it wasn't international and he didn't kill Marcus West."

"No, but the system did. The system he is a part of. But she had no right—no right to do it. To take him away from me."

"She'll pay for it. I promise you that she will."

"How? How is that going to happen Kyle?"

"She's Voight's number one enemy. Hell, she's the enemy of the Intelligence Unit and the entire CPD. But most of all she's your enemy and that makes her my enemy."

"Your drug kingpin, prison friend."

"Whatever we need to do." Kyle said, unsure what he exactly meant by it. But he knew that he needed to say something, allow Liam the feeling that some kind of reparation would take place.

"But she's a mother. The article said she had a son. We'd be no better than her if we did anything permanent."

"She'll go to jail for a long time. Either way she'll be dead to him."

"I thought you were a pacifist?" Liam asked.

"Another spelling word?" Liam just shrugged. "I am to those I believe deserve it. We'll see how the wheels of justice turn and go from there."

Liam sighed and looked into the distance. "I called him a fucking hypocrite a couple of months ago."

"Damn." Kyle replied. "I called my dad an asshole once. Who knew a TV remote could cause so much sting."

Liam laughed. "I think I was just trying out some new words, trying to be older, plus I think I just wanted to make him mad. But, I just had to go to my room. Plus some other stuff the next day."

"Lucky. My dad is pretty much a pacifist too, but certain things wind him up. When I was six my mom had just died, so my dad was pretty stressed and he caught me playing with matches."

"In the house?"

"No, outside. I knew it was wrong and I have no idea why I did it. But he beat the holy hell out of me for it."

"Yikes," Liam said.

"That makes it sound worse than it was. But I remember not understanding what the big deal was. I mean I knew I wasn't supposed to do it, but didn't get the ramifications of the act. For him to fly off the handle like that, it has to be pretty big. That and my name calling are the only times he's lost it. You were lucky."

"I think its because he's afraid if he starts that he won't be able to stop."

"Really? I mean I get why my dad lost it with the matches, he saw what fire can do, what fire does."

"And my dad knows what society can do, what society does. One night I was setting off firecrackers with a friend and he heard them and came running out with his gun. Once he saw it wasn't anything terrible he put it away, but the look in his eyes, the tremor in his voice. When he got me home he grabbed me. I was kinda being a jerk but he grabbed me and his eyes were wild, like he wasn't in there anymore. I never did find out why it pushed his buttons so much."

"It could have been PTSD. He was in the war right?"

"Yeah, but he's around guns and gunfire all the time. He's a sniper. He's been shot—even before this. But this was different."

"Because it was you. Because you were involved. Just think if he lost you. Which I think you have an idea of because you took off and went to the Loop by yourself. You wanted to strengthen the bond or remind him of it. But I doubt he needed it. My dad sees a lot of bad stuff, and kids as victims, but your dad—damn your dad has seen even more."

"I wonder how many people has he killed and how heavy that is." Liam pondered.

"Something my dad doesn't have to worry about."

"No." Liam said standing up as another train headed their way. He looked over at Kyle who nodded and the two began to scream as the train clattered overhead.

They both sat back down and put the remnants of their lunch back in the bag. Liam's sleeve rode up a bit revealing several numbers hastily written on his forearm. "What's that?" Kyle asked of the faded numbers.

Liam twisted up his face as he tried to remember. It definitely wasn't his hand writing and he didn't recognize the number. Then he recalled Mandy rushing over to him when he was outside the school. He had been so zoned out he had almost forgot the entire interaction. She had come up to him, already crying, she was talking but Liam didn't absorb any of what she had said. He vaguely remembered her saying something about her phone number and to call her when he could with an update. Liam brought Kyle up to speed concerning what he had recollected. "I think she wrote it on my arm when Adam picked me up yesterday. That was just yesterday? It feels like forever."

"Who's Mandy?"

"Mandy Peppercorn. She is a counselor at my after school program and watches me sometimes at my house. She's a senior at Depaul. She also has a huge crush on my dad."

"How do you know?"

"Because she always volunteers to wait with me when he's late. And she gets all red and kinda shaky when he shows up. Plus I heard another counselor ask her if she was going to wait for the hot dad again. Her answer was yes and that she never minded waiting for Jay Halstead."

"Well that does take some of the guess work out of it then."

"Then they went on about how she wasn't that much younger than him and maybe she'd have a chance and I threw-up in my mouth a little."

Kyle laughed. "I bet you did. You should text her."

"And tell her what?"

"That he made it through surgery. That he is still alive."

Liam sighed and pulled his phone out. "I got a message from some number I don't recognize."

"What's it say?"

"Where are you?" Liam said holding the phone up.

"Shit. That's my dad's number," Kyle said pulling his own phone out. "We've been gone for two hours. I got the same message. He must have gotten your number from Voight last night. Text Mandy while I tell my dad we're on our way back."

Both boy's typed their messages and began to walk back to the firehouse. "We shared a lot of secrets with each other," Kyle said.

"Don't worry. I know the value of a secret as well as I know the value of a lie. I will lie in order to keep a secret."

"I know you will. Me too." Kyle said.

"I was raised by two champions, who seem to thrive on them." Liam said. His parents kept secrets and entrusted them with lies. Lies and secrets, secrets and lies, born of necessity or of desire or both.

"We're children of the dark," Kyle said.

"Children of the dark?" Liam questioned.

"Yeah, we are kept in the dark by our parents, and we both have a dark side that we shared with each other, where it will stay safe."

A big thank you for the reviews! Wish I could reply to the guests as well, but know that I appreciate all the kind words.

Soundtrack: Force of Habit byCharlie Cunningham

Pain of Salvation by Kellermench

Willow Tree March by Th Paper Kites

The Last of of the Mohicans metal version

The Children of the Dark by Mono Inc