Part Four

Twelve-year-old Steven loved his big brother with ever fiber of his being. He worshipped him and it hurt him inside to see his father hit him. His young mind couldn't understand why his father was like that. Why his father didn't love Jimmy the way Jimmy loved Stevie.

"Jimmy?" Stevie reached up and tugged on Jimmy's hand. His gaze stayed on Jimmy's face and he was pleased when the bigger boy looked down at him fondly.

"Yeah, Squirt."

"Howcome Daddy hit you? Howcome he hits all the time?" Jimmy smiled tolerantly down at his little brother, the brother he would protect with his very life if need be.

"I don't know, Stevie. He gets angry sometimes I guess." Jimmy didn't know how to answer that question. He couldn't explain to his younger sibling that his father was a very bad man who liked to hit people, liked to control them with fear and intimidation.

Jimmy had wanted to leave last year but his protective instincts wouldn't allow him to leave Stevie with that bastard so he stayed. Stayed and suffered. For one more year and they Jimmy would be graduated and he could go and find a place to life and hopefully take Stevie with him.

"You ready for school, kiddo."

"Uh huh. We gonna paint today." Stevie bounced up and down in excitement. "I gonna paint you a picture, 'kay Jimmy."

"I'd like that Squirt. I'd like that a lot." Together they headed back down stairs where Jimmy could hear their father getting his keys.

Jimmy was dropped off first. He gave Stevie a hug and nodded good-bye to his father then turned and headed inside the red brick building that was his sanctuary away from home.

~*~*~*~

The morning went quickly with algebra first then, biology. After that he had a study period in the library and he used it to prepared for the history test. He'd only been there a few minutes when someone came and sat across the table from him.

"You're Sandburg, right?"

Blair peered through his hair up into the blue eyes of Jimmy Parker, star quarterback for the school football team. He nodded, suddenly wary.

"You're in my history class and I was kinda wondering if you could help me. I gotta pass this test or… well I just gotta pass it." Blair stared in surprise. He'd never been asked for help before especially not by the most popular guy on campus.

"Sure, I can help. What do you need to know?"

With a shy smile, Jimmy sat at the table beside Blair. He opened his text and soon the two were engrossed in the history of the Civil War. For the remainder of the hour and part of the lunch break the two boys studied for the test.

"We should get something to eat." Blair said finally, not really wanting to leave the safety of the library until he had to go to class. At least here he was safe from the bullies and other kids who teased him mercilessly for his intelligence, the fact that he wore glasses, had long hair, had a whore for a mother, and so the list went. He stared down at his books but looked up quickly at the thank you he got from the older student.

"Yeah, I guess. Thanks for your help." Jimmy watched him briefly until Blair had to duck his face again, to hide the ugly bruise. The one that almost matched the faint mark on the older boy's face. "Hey, Sandburg… what happened to your face?"

The question was asked softly, almost knowingly. For a moment Blair was unsure how to answer but his tongue spoke for him.

"My mom's boyfriend."

"Bastard." Jimmy stated emphatically. His whole demeanor screamed aggression but for some reason this didn't frighten Blair. Normally any form of aggression caused a severe panic attack but in this case he only felt a kinship. There was a note of hatred mingled with an understanding that Blair had never heard before.

"You too?" he asked with a touch of awe.

"Father." Jimmy confirmed.

"Why do you think they do it?" Blair whispered the question. The words almost broke his control. He fought back the threat of tears. He never thought that anyone would understand but here sat a boy who not only understood, but also lived his own horror story. A kindred spirit even.

Jimmy stared at the younger student across from him. He had never told anyone about what his father did and yet within moments of meeting this kid, he'd spilled his darkest secret. Yet that wasn't what struck him most. It was the fact that this kid, a few years younger and not much older than Stevie, was going through the same thing.

"Let's go get some lunch." Jimmy stood suddenly and gathered his binder and textbook. Blair followed suit. The cafeteria was still full of other teens eating, talking and generally making too much noise. The line up was short though and they hurried though easily. Jimmy pulled out the twenty his father had given him for lunch and bought the two of them sandwiches and milk. They then made their way outside to sit under one of the trees that lined the soccer field.

They ate in relative silence until the food was gone.

"How long?" Jimmy asked suddenly. Blair didn't pretend not to know what he was asking. He shrugged.

"'Bout six months now. He's not the first."

"No, just the worst, right?" Jimmy reached out to lightly touch the dark bruise, and then fingered his own mark. He watched as tears filled his companion's eyes.

"Your Dad did this?" Blair asked, his hand gently tracing the imprint on Jimmy's face. "I can't see why your own father would want to hurt his son. I mean Mike's not related or anything but Naomi doesn't do anything to stop it."

"Does she know?"

"Yeah, but she's on drugs half the time. I guess if he keeps her in drugs he can keep hitting me and she won't interfere."

Jimmy started to say more but the bell signaling the end of lunch interrupted him. There was a moment of awkward silence when Jimmy really wanted to say something but knew it would have to wait until after their history exam.

~*~*~*~

It was two days before Jimmy saw Blair again. There was something compelling about the younger student, something that demanded his protection just like Stevie. Jimmy wanted to make sure that Blair was going to be okay during the summer break. Maybe they could even get together sometimes. He kinda doubted that though since his father had made it clear that Jimmy was to work with him at the office, learning the ropes so he could take over someday.

Blair was sitting on a bench by the front doors reading a thick book with really small print. He was grinning around a split lip but his eyes sparkled with some sort of humor.

"What's so funny?" Jimmy asked, unprepared for the startled jump from Blair. "God, Blair, I am sorry. I didn't mean to startle you like that."

"It's okay. I was just reading this journal. I found it in the library and it is pretty funny. Some explorer who lived with different tribes in South America. He's just talking about his exploits. Funny." Blair grinned up at Jimmy. "I didn't think I would see you again after the test."

"I wanted to thank you again. I aced it. Got my 'A' on the report card for sure. Plus, I didn't want to go away for the summer without making sure you'd be okay."

Blair's eyes sank to the ground, his head turning away to hide from Jimmy's. He did it quickly, perhaps in hoped of hiding the flicker of fear that darted across his expressive face. "I'll be fine," he told Jimmy, though he didn't sound too sure of that.

"I was hoping maybe we could get together maybe. You know, hang out… whatever." Jimmy's own shyness caused him to miss the look of surprised delight that transposed itself onto Blair's face. He stared at Jimmy unsure that the older boy really meant what he said.

"You want to hang out with me?" Blair asked softly. He hadn't made friends here. Not that they had lived here long, coming in at the beginning of the second semester was bad enough but having skipped grades again just made people want to stay away.

Jimmy's gaze rose to lock with Blair's. "Yeah, I would." A look passed between they, hovered for a moment before a sense of rightness enveloped them both.

The two boys smiled and looked forward to spending a pleasant summer together.

~*~*~*~