Louie hugged the tops of his knees and took a deep breath. Huey was already on the edge of turning into the Duke and he rarely ever went full-Duke on him or Dewey but when he did, it was never pretty. Continuing to lie wasn't going to get him anywhere, that was certain. He rubbed his sore chest from where Huey had grabbed him and shoved him into the wall.

Besides, at this point his brothers were going to be roped into whatever happened next. Gus would make sure of it.

"I'm sorta… part of a gang." He paused and looked at his brother. But instead of looking surprised or angry, he looked amused.

"A gang? Seriously, Lou?"

Louie lifted his head. "I'm not lying this time."

"Sure, sure, it's just a little hard to believe that a kid with the name Llewellyn was able to get into a gang." Huey smirked.

"Cut the jokes, okay?" He shoved him before curling back into a ball.

"Fine, you were saying? Little Lou got initiated into a gang."

Ugh, what a jerk. I'm trying to bare my soul here… and preferably before we all die. Louie forced himself to ignore him and focus on the matter at hand. "Soon after being incarcerated everyone there knew who I was and, more importantly, who I was related to. Everyone always hates the rich kid. Most of them were pent up thugs so it made it impossible to talk my way out of fights. I spent the first week black and blue, dodging their glances in both the cafeteria and courtyard." He lowered his chin onto his knees. Sometimes when he closed his eyes he could see the fists and feel the bruises. He wasn't sure his right hip would ever be the same after one of them dislocated it.

Huey set a hand on his shoulder. "I had no idea. You looked fine when we came to see you."

Louie heaved a sigh and met eyes with him. "I was there nearly three weeks before you guys were allowed to visit."

"But Uncle Scrooge-"

"Uncle Scrooge had clearance to see me, yes. But I refused to meet with him. The nurse agreed with me and was able to write up an excuse both times he tried to come."

Huey went silent and his hand dropped back down to his side.

"It got to the point where I was on everyone's hit list. Everyone except for one… Gus Goose." The look on Huey's face was priceless but Louie didn't linger there. "Yeah, Gus is related to us… far removed but still. Being related to him didn't really matter, he just wouldn't come after me himself. After several failed attempts, I was finally able to convince him that'd be of use in the Quacker Gang. Afterall, I could talk most anyone into or out of anything, as long as I had time to talk before someone busted my lip. Gus gave me a trial week and I gained him more power in that prison full of kids than any other gang leader. After that, he agreed to take me on as his second in command, under one condition…" He could feel the tension in his brother's limbs and they weren't even touching. He could just sense the unease growing in him.

"And what was that?"

Here it comes. He scrubbed the sides of his face, nearly pulling the feathers out. "Gus wanted me to use my talents to scheme Uncle Scrooge out of $30,000 and give him half the share when he got out of prison. Gus wanted more than that but I talked him down. I was going to get out years before he was so I thought he'd either somehow prolong his sentence and get stuck there for several more years or that he'd forget and move on." He kept his arm as a barrier between himself and his brother. Huey can't know that I was seriously planning to get the cash. That'll destroy him and any small sense of trust he has in me.

"When does his sentence end?"

Louie coughed and covered his face so he wouldn't have to see the look in Huey's eyes. "Two weeks ago. He got out two weeks ago."

Huey stood up. "So, the RV… after the bank… that's when you found out he was coming after you?"

Louie hid his face in his arms and nodded. He pulled the slashed picture of the three of them out of his hoodie pocket and handed it to him.

It was silent for several seconds that felt like hours. He heard Huey sigh but kept his head down. He could see Huey's feet through the space between his arms. One foot lifted and nudged his leg. Then again. And again.

Finally Louie lifted his head. "I get it. I screwed up. Louie, your cockamamie schemes only ever hurt the ones that you love." He quoted his mom from the dozens of times she had recited that line. "I'm not deaf. I'm not dumb. I'm just… just stuck okay?" He opened his eyes to meet Huey's, expecting to see the very same disapproving eyes Uncle D always gave him. Huey was good at those, whether by genetics or conditioning, they were the same. But this time Huey didn't have that look in his eyes. There was a bit of disappointment, sure, but more resolve than anything.

"What? Why aren't you saying anything? You always have something snarky to say. Get it out while I'm ready for it."

Still nothing. Huey just sighed and crossed his arms. "You done?"

"N-no?" Louie stared up at him, waiting, holding his breath. Okay, where is it? Where's that lecture? He's not out of them. I'm pretty sure he comes up with them in his sleep. It's an unconscious, living part of him.

"I tell you what, Lou Lou, we're going to stop doing… whatever this is." He gestured to all of him. "Because sitting here and doing nothing isn't going to fix it. Do you know where Gus is right now?"

Ooookaaaay, I guess this is a nice change of pace. Louie shrugged. "He's here somewhere. He woke me up in the RV and threatened you two if I didn't have the cash in an hour. That hour is almost up. Uncle G won't lend me the money and calling Uncle Scrooge is pointless. He wouldn't pay off a gang leader like that."

Huey shook his head. "We're not relying on anyone else to fix this."

Louie's heart sank. So, there it is. What's he going to do? Trade me to learn from my own mistakes? What does he think Gus is? He's willing to kill for it.

"Come on, let's get the Dew-miester and split before your hour is up." Huey offered him a hand.

"Do you have a plan?" Louie hesitated as he grabbed ahold of his hand and let him help him to his feet.

"Nerp! But we're going to figure it out. Together. Starting with burning a little rubber." Huey swung the RV keys on his finger and smiled at him.

This is too calm a Huey for the depth of the situation. Ugh, it's kind of nerve-wracking. "How are you not freaking out right now? We're going to be hunted down if I don't get that money." Louie followed him inside. "He's coming for you and Dewey first."

"What did I say?" Huey murmured under his breath so only Louie would hear it.

He sighed. "Together."

Huey gave him a nod. "With our help, I know you'll find an angle. It's an adventure, Lou. We were born for times like this."

Strangely enough, Louie felt the constant state of panic he had been in relaxing at the idea of it. As much as he hated adventure and loved treasure, above everything else, adventure always meant one thing… he wouldn't have to do it alone. Together. He watched as Huey hugged Dewey's legs and dragged him away from the bowl of grapes. It didn't matter what chaos they were about to go through. I'm safe.