Lack of Faith

by Stan Lee *

Althernate Universe "Family Matters"

JD was making a supreme effort not to irritate his brother.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult because everything he did tonight seemed to irritate Vin. In fact, everything any of them did, or said, or even the way they looked at him seemed to be setting Vin off and JD was getting heartily sick of it.

He was pretty sure that Buck and Chris realized that Vin was in a funk. There had been plenty of raised eyebrows and surprised looks shot across the table at his brother. But Vin was in too much of a mood to notice how his snappy, sarcastic and just plain rude remarks were being received. One thing was certain, Chris and Buck were not going to put up with Vin's sulky bad temper much longer.

After dinner, while they were clearing the dishes off the table, JD decided to confront the problem head-on. It wasn't his style to let a bad mood fester and maybe he could warn Vin to smarten up and watch his step.

He elbowed his brother sharply in the ribs. "What the hell's up with you tonight?" he whispered fiercely.

"Mind your own fucking business," Vin growled back at him.

"Well stop biting my head off every five seconds then," JD hissed. Fine. Screw Vin. If that was his attitude, he deserved to get his ass kicked when Chris and Buck finally got pissed enough at him.

They began to wash up, an angry silence between them.

"Boys, don't make plans for Sunday afternoon," Buck called over to them. "The guys are coming over for a cook out. It's supposed to be a warm weekend."

"Okay, Buck," JD answered. Vin remained silent.

"Vin?" Buck said.

"I heard you, I'm not deaf," Vin muttered.

Buck frowned and shook his head. "Vin, get over here," he ordered and JD winced. Buck at least had finally had enough of Vin's sullen mood and the shit was about to hit the fan. And now that it was actually happening, JD felt bad for Vin. Even though he was being a prick.

Vin threw down the dishcloth and walked over to the kitchen table.

"What's wrong?" Buck asked.

"Nothing," Vin said, surly.

"Well something has sure put you in a bad mood," Chris said, glancing up from the newspaper he'd been reading. "You've been like a bear with a sore head since we got home."

"So what?" Vin challenged, and JD held his breath. He glanced over at Chris and Buck who were both glaring at Vin.

"So, just because you're in a bad mood doesn't mean the rest of us have to suffer," Chris lectured. "You've been obnoxious all evening. So either tell us what's bothering you, or take yourself out of the way until you're in a fit state to join your family."

Vin glared back at his guardians. "Fine," he huffed, then turned on his heel and began to stalk off.

"Vin get back here. I haven't finished yet," Chris snapped out.

Vin did a half turn in the door. "Make up your mind," he muttered, and even he must have seen the way Chris's mouth tightened as he struggled to keep his temper in check.

"Boy, you are skating on some very thin ice tonight," Chris warned.

JD silently begged. Giving Chris lip was never a very good idea. Vin jammed his hands in his pockets and just stood there, glaring at his guardian.

"Buck asked you to be available Sunday afternoon, and I want you here at least part of the day on Saturday to help out around here. Clear?"

"Crystal," Vin snapped. "But I don't know why the fuck we bother with weekends if all we ever get to do is what you two want," he countered.

"Vin you are so far past it, boy," Buck thundered, slamming his hand onto the table and JD cringed. Pushing Chris' temper was one thing, making Buck angry was a whole other ballgame and not something either boy made a habit of. Chris had a much shorter fuse but he gave ample warning when they pushed him too close to his limit and they had plenty of opportunity to back down before he really lost his temper. Buck, on the other hand, was a real slow burn, but when he lost it, he lost it big time and with little forewarning, his punishments stricter, more consistent and a whole lot more creative than anything Chris ever handed down. JD prayed that Vin had sense enough to suck it up and get out of there while he was still in one piece.

Buck glared hard, and Vin eventually dropped his defiant scowl and scuffed his foot on the carpet, and Buck, teetering between rage and resignation, fell on the safe side of the fence. He sighed heavily and said, "Okay. If you're not going to tell us what's bothering you and your mood isn't going to improve, best go on up to your room."

Vin hung in the doorway for a moment, just long enough for JD to think that maybe he was going to tell them what bug was up his ass this evening. But in the end he just frowned, shook his head and walked out of the room.

Chris and Buck exchanged a bewildered look. "JD, what's up with him?" Buck asked.

JD shrugged. "I don't know, guys," he said honestly. "He was fine this morning." He didn't know, but he sure as hell was going to find out.

*******

Vin was lying on his bed cursing himself for being such a fool. He was supposed to be playing it cool, but instead he had already alerted his guardians to the fact that something was bothering him, he'd pissed Chris off and had even gotten under Buck's skin. He was lucky that all they had done was to banish him to his room.

He jumped when he heard a loud hammering on his door. Damn, JD. He wanted to be by himself and the kid just wouldn't take a hint.

"Go away," he growled, but next minute the door opened and JD marched in.

"I told you to get lost," Vin muttered.

"Tough shit," JD flung back at him. "Give it up, Vin. What's eating you?"

Vin watched as his brother sat on the spare bed opposite him, folding his arms resolutely, and the determined look that Vin had seen dozens of times before settled in on his face. Vin knew better than to try to wait him out. JD wanted an answer and he wasn't going to leave until he got one. Sighing dramatically, Vin turned on his side and propped up on his elbow.

"You know Christy Parker said she'd come to the Spring Dance with me?"

JD snorted. "Course I do. You haven't talked about anything else in days," he jeered.

"Well, now she says she isn't allowed to come. Not with me anyway," he said, and saw the determined look on his brother's face soften immediately.

"Aww, that sucks, man," JD commiserated. "How come?"

Vin glanced over and weighed up how much he wanted to reveal to the kid. He licked his lips and sat up, leaning over so that his head was close to the younger boy's. "Listen, JD. If I tell you, you have to swear you won't tell Chris or Buck."

JD frowned. Neither of them was in the habit of hiding too many things from their guardians, not when Buck and Chris made it so easy to confide in them. But eventually JD shrugged and agreed, as Vin knew he would. "Okay. I promise."

Vin hesitated for a moment, not sure he wanted JD to hear this. But in the end he needed somebody to unburden himself to. "Her folks won't let her go with me because they don't approve of Chris and Buck," he said, and actually felt something of the weight he had been carrying all day lift off him.

JD looked momentarily confused, then his face cleared as the implications became obvious. "Oh! Because they're boyfriends?" he asked. Vin nodded. "But that's fucked up," JD said, his voice rising in anger. "That's so not fair. What does that have to do with you? What…"

"Shhh," Vin admonished, glancing nervously towards the closed door. "I don't want them to hear."

"That's just not fucking fair," JD continued, his voice a harsh whisper now.

"I know that, JD," Vin muttered, "but that's the way it is. They say that Chris and Buck are immoral. That we live in a sinful house," he shook his head sadly and saw anger flare and simmer in JD's eyes. He hoped he'd done the right thing telling the younger boy. JD could be a little hot-headed sometimes.

"You gonna tell 'em?" JD asked cautiously.

"Fuck no!" Vin exploded. "Christ, can you image how hurt they'd be, how badly they'd feel for me?" he shuddered slightly at the thought. "No way am I telling them that I can't get a date to the school dance because of them. No way," he said firmly.

JD pondered the problem for a moment. "Why don't you just tell them Christy dumped you? It's kinda the truth," he suggested.

Vin scrubbed a hand through his hair. "I thought about that. But you know how they get. They'd be all sympathetic and broken-hearted for me and I'd feel like a shit for playing on their emotions. No, I'm not gonna tell them anything, just pretend everything's fine and go to the dance alone."

JD looked a little dubious. "Isn't that sort of like lying to them?" he asked.

Vin sighed. "I know, JD. But it's the lesser of two evils."

"Okay. If you think that's the best plan, I do too. I swear I won't tell them anything," JD said, so fervently that Vin had to smile.

He stood up. "I'd better go downstairs and apologize."

"Yeah. You were pretty much an asshole," JD said, grinning up at him. "You're lucky Buck was in a good mood otherwise you'd have gotten your ass kicked big time." Vin winced a little. It wasn't like it was the first time he'd exchanged harsh words with Buck and Chris, although he didn't have quite the knack JD did for pushing their buttons. But he didn't like arguing with them and he hated to let anything lay unresolved between them for too long.

"Hey, can I do my homework in your room?" JD wheedled, "I wanna watch Family Guy."

"JD," Vin chided, "you know they don't like you watching TV while you do your homework."

JD grinned up at him. "That's why I'm asking you," he said brightly.

Vin shook his head, exasperated, but the puppy dog look in his brother's eyes shattered his defenses as it always did. "Okay," he conceded reluctantly. "But if they catch you, you're on your own and it's your ass."

He left his brother and went downstairs. The front door was open and he could hear Chris and Buck talking quietly from the porch. Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he pushed through the screen doors to join them. Buck was sitting in the rocker and he leaned over and dropped a kiss onto the man's cheek, placing a matching kiss on Chris' cheek before sitting on the top step next to his guardian.

"I'm sorry, guys. You're right. I was in a really shitty mood," he confessed.

Chris gave him a sardonic smile. "Hey, kid. We're not exactly paragons ourselves. I've been known to display a touch of bad temper around here from time to time." He paused to throw a black look at Buck when the man snorted in amusement. "We weren't riding you, Vin," he continued. "We just wanted to know if there was a problem we could help with."

Vin shook his head. "Nah. Thanks but it's sorted. JD helped me out."

Buck laughed out loud. "You must be desperate taking advice from that one," he joked. "Everything he knows he learned from that TV he's watching right now in your room…"

"Even though he's supposed to be doing his homework," Chris cut in.

Vin felt a slight blush rise. "He's doing his homework, guys," he protested. "Just getting a little stimulation while he does it." He glanced up into Chris' eyes. "You pissed at me for letting him?" he asked.

"I don't mind him watching for a half hour or so as long as his grades don't suffer," Chris said.

"But if they do, you're both in trouble," Buck warned. "You decide if it's worth it to you."

Vin shrugged. He knew JD played him, knew he was a push-over for the kid. He was really going to have to get a lot tougher. He found more than enough trouble for himself without catching it for JD as well. On the other hand, JD could sleep through class and his grades never showed it, so this was a pretty safe bet.

"So, you gonna be around on the weekend?" Buck asked.

Vin ducked his head and blushed. "Yep, I'll be here. Don't want to miss the gang."

"Good," Chris said, hoisting himself off the step and patting Vin on the back. "Rain's coming over. Said to tell you she's looking forward to it." He walked past Buck, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder briefly before disappearing into the house. After a moment, Vin also rose.

"You're sure everything is alright?" Buck asked quietly. "You know you can tell us anything that's bothering you?" Vin saw absolute trust and faith and support in Buck's sympathetic look and felt a twist deep down in his gut and he knew he was doing the right thing. He would never intentionally hurt this man. Never.

"I know, Buck. Honest. It'll be fine," he said, hoping he sounded sincere.

Buck continued the appraising look, and shrugged. "Okay, son. I won't push. Now, go tell that brother of yours to get his butt back into his own room and finish his homework if he knows what's good for him."

Vin smiled. That was a message he'd be more than happy to deliver.                             

*******

"God, Buck…" Chris groaned and huffed out a breath, arching his back and thrusting his hips. One hand gripped tightly to the bedpost, the other was tangled in Buck's thick hair and he was doing his damnedest not to push his lover down hard onto his cock. Buck was teasing the hell out of him, alternating between deep throated, powerful sucking that drove him half mad with desire, and gentle licking strokes that sent his senses spinning out of control. What this man did to him! He had never realized that there were so many ways to experience pleasure, that every part of his body was an erogenous zone, at least in the capable hands of Buck Wilmington. But then, Buck had more practice than most... He thrust up again into the hot mouth and Buck's laughter tickled along his cock and the tiny vibrations danced over him and sent him crashing over the edge, spilling endlessly down his lover's throat, head swimming, heart pounding, every muscle spasming at the sudden release of tension.

He floated slowly back down, aware first of Buck's mouth still sucking gently on his softening cock, of the man's big hands cradling his hips, of the pleasant throb deep in his ass where Buck had made love to him slowly and sensually earlier in the morning when they had first woken up. He released a deeply satisfied sigh and smiled when Buck finally raised his head.

"Feel better?" Buck grinned, crawling up the bed to lie beside him.

"Mmmm," was all Chris could manage by way of reply. He snuggled closer to Buck, tucking himself into his lover's arms.

How he loved Saturday morning. Getting to stay in bed past 6 a.m., having the time to really make love to his partner, instead of the quick fuck in the shower that was usually all they had the time or energy for during the week. Just being able to hold each other like this was a luxury. He yawned and stretched, and felt Buck's body shift slightly to stay in contact. He sniffed, smelling frying bacon and coffee and his stomach growled in appreciation. The boys always got up first and made them breakfast on Saturday morning. It was one of the continuing mysteries of the teenage years that the same two boys who had to be practically dragged out of bed from Monday to Friday were up with the sun on the weekend.

Buck planted a gentle kiss on the nape of his neck and murmured, "Guess we should get up and make a start on the day. Got a lot to do."

"Reckon so," Chris agreed, although he didn't make a move, except to burrow down deeper under the covers. Buck slapped him gently on the ass before rolling off the bed and hunting around on the floor for his jeans and a sweatshirt.

"Want me to handle groceries?" Buck asked.

"Yeah. Great," Chris replied, finally deciding that his hunger was greater than his need for more sleep, and struggling into a sitting position. "Take JD?"

Buck quirked an eyebrow. "What have I done to deserve that kind of punishment?" he asked, only half in jest.

Chris grinned as he too rolled out of bed, twitched up the covers, and began to pull on his jeans. "It's either that or he stays here with me and helps me clean up this pig sty. And you know how that ended last time."

Buck nodded, smiling ruefully at the memory. Sometimes JD had the unerring knack for doing exactly the opposite of what Chris wanted. The last time they'd split the chores and Chris had ended up alone with JD, the kid had decided to experiment. Buck had come home to find the den covered in dust from an exploded vacuum bag, Chris standing in the middle of the room totally flustered, red-faced with frustration, and JD exiled to his room under threat of a hundred dire punishments.

"I'll take him," Buck concluded. "Less chance of him getting into trouble with me."

Chris snorted, but he didn't argue. The two men exchanged grins when they heard a loud banging on the door and JD's voice shouting, "Okay you two. Stop that. Breakfast is ready."

Buck winked at his partner and opened the door suddenly, yanking his surprised son into the room and tipping him face down across the bed. He delivered a slap to the boy's backside.

"That's for being a cocky brat," he said.

JD laughed and struggled to get up, but Buck held him down easily.

"Chris," the kid spluttered. "You gonna just stand there and let him beat on me?"

Chris grinned down at him, reaching to ruffle a hand through his dark hair. "Sorry, kid. You're on your own."

Buck gave him a final swat before letting go and JD climbed to his feet and stood, hands on hips, a mock-glare on his face. "Right. That's it. I'm reporting you both to child services. That's abuse you know."

Buck laughed. "You think that's abuse, wait until you hear what we have planned for you today."

"What?" JD asked suspiciously.

"You're going grocery shopping with Buck. We need a few things if the guys are all coming tomorrow."

"Aww shit, Chris," JD whined. "I hate groceries. Why can't Vin go?"

"Because Vin has got his own chores to do."

JD opened his mouth and Chris wagged a finger at him. "Complain about it again and you'll be shopping and helping Vin." JD's mouth shut with a firm snap.

"Come on," Buck cajoled. "It isn't all that bad. I'll let you pick out dessert."

"Whoopdeedo," JD said sarcastically.

Buck slipped an arm around his son's shoulders. "There is an alternative," he offered.

"Yeah?" JD said, brightening.

"Vin can come with me and you can stay here and clean house with Chris," Buck said.

JD looked at Chris and shuddered. "Now that be abuse," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face.

Chris glared at his youngest son. "Keep that up, boy and I'll get Buck here to tan yer ass for real."

JD laughed in delight. "That old man? Him and what army?" and ducking to avoid the swipe Buck aimed at his head, he ran out of the room.

"You're gonna have your hands full with that one," Chris said, shaking his head.

"Yeah. You owe me big time, Larabee," Buck smiled, slipping an arm around his lover's waist and leading the way towards the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen. Leaning in he whispered directly into Chris' ear, "I'll take my reward later. We'll send the boys out to return the video from last night. Then you're all mine."

Chris felt a shiver run down his spine. Yeah. He really loved Saturdays.

*******

Damn it! Buck thought. This day had been going so well and now it was just about to turn to shit.

Shopping with JD had been surprisingly painless, nothing more serious than the boy's occasional whining which Buck had long ago learned to tune out. When the kid had realized that bitching wasn't going to get him anywhere, he had settled down quickly enough and had chatted amiably and unceasingly through the whole trip. Buck had been a little relieved when they'd gotten back home and Chris had ordered JD up to clean his bedroom, needing a few minutes respite from the barrage of noise that was his youngest son.

And now he had made good on his promise to maneuver the kids out of the house so that he and Chris could spend a little time together. He was just about to pack them off to take the video back when all three of them heard Chris' bellow coming from upstairs.

"JD. Get up here. Now!"

Buck winced, knowing from the tone of his voice that Chris was angry, guessing that he had decided to pick up the on-going battle he was having with JD about the state of the kid's bedroom.

"Aww shit," JD groaned.

Buck hesitated for a minute, then sighed. "Go see what he wants."

JD cut him a clear look of entreaty, obviously knowing all too well what Chris was pissed about. "Buck, do I have to?" he pleaded.

Buck quirked an eyebrow. "Move it, JD," he ordered sternly and watched as his son reluctantly dragged himself upstairs.

"They're gonna argue again," Vin said quietly and Buck knew he was right. JD's room was a continuous point of contention between those two that neither of them seemed able to give ground on. He turned to Vin, noting the troubled look on the kid's face.

"Wait for JD in the car. I'll go and referee."

Vin hesitated for a moment and Buck knew it was hard for him to walk away. His instinct was always to protect JD, to run interference on anything that might be ugly or painful.

"It'll be fine, Vin." Buck reassured softly. "Let me do my job." The boy managed a small smile and with a final worried glance upstairs he turned and walked out of the house.

Buck walked into JD's bedroom in time to hear the boy saying, "I tell you I did clean up. Honest, Chris, it's ten time better than it was."

"JD this is NOT clean," Chris growled. "Look at this mess! Piles of books and papers everywhere, I can hardly see your desk under all this crap, CDs all over the floor…"

"It isn't a mess," JD interrupted, "it's my system…"

"It's a damned disgrace," Chris snapped, "and I want it cleaned up properly."

JD flinched a little in the face of Chris' anger, but he stood his ground firmly. "It's my room and I like it just fine the way it is," he said hotly.

Chris took a step closer to his son. "Don't get mouthy with me, JD," he warned, and the harsh tone was a clear indication to those who knew him that his temper was about to break loose.

A look of frustration flared in JD's eyes and he opened his mouth to speak and Buck could see that his son was about to dig his heels in and that this was heading for a major blow-out.

"JD," he said sharply, and the boy's mouth snapped shut. "Go on and catch up with Vin. Do what I asked you to do, okay?" For a moment the boy looked as though he was going to continue to argue but thankfully he subsided and muttered, "Yes, sir."

Out of the corner of his eye Buck saw Chris flash him a disgusted look. "This conversation isn't over though, son," Buck continued and almost laughed at the matching frowns that furrowed Chris and JD's brows. "We're gonna talk some more when you get back. Now, go on. Vin's waiting."

As Buck suspected, Chris rounded on him as soon as the boy was out of earshot.

"You let him get away with way too much around here, Buck," Chris snapped.

Buck shook his head, wondering if his plans for a playful afternoon were about to be ruined. He stepped in close to his partner and slipped his arms around Chris' waist, holding tight when the man stiffened and tried to pull away.

"You're not being fair, Chris," he said gently, watching as Chris' head reared and his eyes flashed. But the man was too innately honest to flinch from the truth and after a moment's pause to consider, his body relaxed and he allowed himself to be gathered closer, nuzzling his face into Buck's chest.

"We have to be smarter about picking our battles," Buck murmured into his lover's ear. "JD's right. This is his space and this is the way he likes it. And it's not like it's actually dirty, the room itself is clean, he just has an awful lot of crap in it."

Chris nodded against his chest. "I don't know why it drives me so crazy," he said, finally raising his head. "I don't think he ever throws anything away. The kid's a total pack rat."

Buck laughed. "They both are, really. Just Vin's a bit neater about it. I think as long as JD helps keep the rest of the house picked up, we have to back off hassling him about his room."

Chris fetched up a deep sigh. "Okay. You're right. I'll try not to get on his case so much about it." Buck smiled and leaned in to brush a small kiss on his lover's lips. "But I still expect him to try to keep this damned mess under control. His room or not," Chris said firmly.

Buck laughed. "I'll talk to him about it later. Now, we gonna waste this beautiful afternoon talking 'bout the kids, or are we gonna have a little fun together?"

A slow grin spread across Chris' face. "I think I could manage a roll in the hay," he flirted.

"Literally or figuratively?" Buck asked.

"Definitely literally," Chris laughed. "We have time before they get back?"

Buck grabbed his lover's hand and began to lead him out of the room. "You bet. Vin is under strict instructions not to come home before 3. C'mon darlin'."

They spent a beautiful hour in the barn; the warm air heavy with the smell of grass and leather; the tickle of hay against Buck's back; the horses nickering softly in their stalls. Chris was so much more abandoned when the boys were safely out of the house; domineering, intensely passionate, sweat dripping down his body as he pounded deeply into Buck's ass, loud groans of completion from both of them, then drifting lazily together, drowsy with release and filled with love.

Chris insisted that they pull on their jeans before walking back up to the house wrapped around each other, sweat-slicked skin pressed warmly together, and the fragrance of sex clinging to them both. They made love again in the shower, slower this time, sweeter, mouths locked together, hearts and bodies joined. Then Buck wandered into the kitchen to make them a strong pot of coffee so that they didn't give in to the temptation to crawl into bed and stay there for the rest of the afternoon.

Chris took his coffee cup down to the corral, sipping occasionally while he repacked a loose fence post, and Buck sat on the porch and watched his lover at work, enjoying the peace.

Three o'clock struck and minutes later Vin's car pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of the house. Vin came over to sit on the top step and they both watched as JD climbed out of the car and walked slowly to the corral to stand beside Chris. His hands were jammed into his jacket pocket and he hung his head as he kicked idly at a stone on the ground.

"What's up?" Buck asked.

"He's apologizing," Vin replied.

Buck glanced at his son. "What did you say to him?" he smiled, knowing that Vin would have had stern words to say to his brother.

Vin ducked his head. "I let him whine for a little bit about how hard done by he is. Then I reminded him that he wouldn't have a room to mess up, wouldn't have CDs to throw all over the floor, wouldn't have anything if it weren't for you and Chris."

Buck swallowed on a sudden surge of emotion when he saw Chris and JD walk back up towards the house, both looking a lot happier than when they'd last been together.

"JD's gonna give his room another go," Chris announced when they reached the porch steps.

"Good for you, son," Buck said, smiling warmly as JD grinned and walked past him into the house.

"I'll go give him a hand," Vin said, standing up.

Chris swung himself up onto the porch. "Try to persuade him to get rid of some of the junk," he said. "It'll be much easier to keep the room neat if there isn't so much crap in it."

Buck saw a frown cross Vin's face. "None of it's junk, Chris," Vin said. "It's all stuff you and Buck have given him. He'd never throw any of that away. Neither of us would."

Vin went into the house and Buck looked at Chris, comprehension dawning. Chris sat down heavily on the top step, paling a little. "I've fucked up again," he said.

Buck shook his head. "How the hell did we miss something like that?" he wondered out loud.

"All this time I've been ragging on them, telling them their stuff is crap," Chris murmured. "God I keep forgetting that they had nothing when they came to us. That everything we buy is such a big deal for them."

Buck cursed silently for the many ways in which the damage that had been done to the kids through several years of childhood neglect continued to manifest itself. He'd become too complacent, thinking he'd come to terms with it all; with Vin's serious, too-adult behavior, his chronic over-protectiveness towards JD, his distrust of strangers; with JD's habitual dependence on the older boy, his unexpected fits of paralyzing shyness; with both boys' occasional, seemingly baseless, anxiety attacks.

In the early days he and Chris had been totally freaked at some of the ways the boys acted out. He still shuddered at the memory of the first time Vin had disappeared, missing for two days, then strolling back into the house as though it were the most natural thing in the world for a nine year old to be out in the world by himself. And JD was equally messed up, although he at least stuck closer to home. There had been days on end when he refused to speak to anybody except to whisper into Vin's ear, when he froze in panicked terror at even the most casual physical contact. With the help of a family therapist, he and Chris had eventually learned how to handle those things. And today, after years of counseling and stability, they thought that they understood their boys.

But it was still possible to be blind-sided by the depth of the wounds they carried around.

Buck shook himself and stood up. Wallowing in self-recrimination was useless. The boys needed practical handling. Chris rose to his feet and they exchanged a look that didn't need to be explained. They climbed the stairs and Buck was heartened to hear JD's easy chatter and his even easier laugh drifting down the hallway. He pushed open the bedroom door and smiled at the disarray. The room was twice as messy as it had been this morning. JD glanced up at him and scrambled to his feet quickly from the midst of a sea of papers and books.

"I'm doing it guys, honest."

"He's just refining his system," Vin put in, dryly. "I think it needs a little work."

Chris stepped into the room and Buck had to once more swallow down hard when he saw a momentary panic flare in JD's eyes. "It'll get done, Chris. I promise," JD said softly.

Chris cleared his throat. "Look, why don't you do the best you can for now. Make a couple of neat piles. Next weekend we'll drive out to Wal-Mart, get you both a bunch of storage boxes so you can get better organized. You can pack 'em up in one of the empty stalls in the barn. How's that sound?"

JD looked immensely relieved. "I don't have to junk anything?" he asked tentatively.

"No," Chris said firmly. "This is your room, and it's your stuff. Let's figure out a way we can both live with that."

JD grinned, lighting up his whole face, and Buck marveled all over again at how quickly the mood in this house could change from dark to light.

*******

Sunday dawned cool and cloudless with a promise of sunshine later in the day. Buck had left Chris asleep in bed and was enjoying a quiet cup of coffee on the porch, feet propped up on the railing, hunkering down in his sweatshirt to ward off the damp chill of the early morning air. The boys hadn't yet stirred, had probably stayed up too late last night watching TV in Vin's room. Buck took another sip of hot coffee, loving the burn and the way warmth spread through him with every swallow. He'd have to raise the others soon, he mused. They still had a lot to do around the house before this afternoon's cook-out.

Yesterday, after they had agreed on how to handle JD's bedroom, Chris had helped the boys stack most of the mess against the wall, then suggested that they forget about chores and take the horses out for a ride through the woods. The rest of the day had been pretty much a write off after that.

Chris and JD had stuck closely together all afternoon, riding side-by-side, the constant hum of their conversation buzzing pleasantly in Buck's ears. When they stopped to water the horses and soak up the last of the sun, the two of them disappeared off on a walk together and Buck exchanged a grin with Vin when he heard Chris' loud laugh ringing through the trees.

Buck was pulled out of his reverie when the door opened and Vin stepped onto the porch with the coffee pot in his hand and reached out to refill Buck's cup. "Thanks, son. Any sign of the others?"

"Nah. You want I should wake JD up?"

Buck shook his head. "Let's let 'em both sleep a little longer. If you don't mind getting stuck helping me get the place ready."

Vin grinned at him. "Fine with me. They'll have to handle clean-up, and that's always the worst part."

Buck laughed and rose to his feet. "I hear ya. Okay, let's get going. I think Ez said he was coming over early."

They worked quickly and efficiently together, noticing how things slowed down and became more complicated when Chris and JD finally woke up and joined them. But by the time Ezra rolled up in his Jag, Josiah arriving right behind him, they were more or less ready for the rest of the extended family.

JD jumped off the porch when Ezra pulled into the driveway, a grin spreading across his face. He greeted Ezra with a wave, and laughingly allowed himself to be swept up into Josiah's bear-hug. When Josiah released him, JD turned back to the man he felt a deep affection for.

"Ez, can I borrow the Jag when I get my license?" JD asked, running a hand lovingly over the machine.

"Ez-RA, MAY I borrow the Jag when I get my license," Ezra corrected, lifting the boy's hand off the paintwork of his beloved car.

JD rolled his eyes. "Ezra, may I borrow the Jag when I get my license," he parroted.

"No," Ezra said blithely.

"Aww, man," JD groused. "That's what you always say."

Ezra shook his head. "Then why do you keep asking the same question?" he wondered aloud. Teenage logic defied him.

Buck laughed out loud. "He's hoping to wear you down. Believe me, you hear that for months on end and you'll do anything he asks."

JD snorted at that. "Doesn't work with you," he muttered.

"I'm immune," Buck called over.

"Well how 'bout a ride then?" JD tried.

Ezra looked the boy up and down. "Turn around," he instructed. JD looked mystified but he complied. "Hands," Ezra ordered. This time JD looked affronted, but he held out his hands for inspection.

Ezra sighed theatrically. "I suppose you pass muster. But no pawing the seats. They are custom Italian leather."

JD finally looked totally put out. "Maybe you'd like me to use a drop cloth?" he said sarcastically.

Ezra smiled. "Why, that's a splendid idea, Mr. Dunne," he said. "I'll wait here while you fetch one."

JD's mouth fell open in surprise and Chris stepped off the porch and nudged him in the ribs. "He's kidding, JD," he said. He quirked an eyebrow at his colleague. "When you've finished winding up the 14 year old, Ez…"

Ezra smiled, slightly abashed. "Come on then. Let's take her for a spin. And before you ask the answer is 'no' you may not drive her."

"Jeez, Ez," JD grumbled, "Vin always lets me drive his car." He climbed in, unaware of the glares his guardians turned on his older brother. As the Jag took off smoothly down the driveway, Chris put his hands on his hips, a position everybody recognized as his "about to deliver a dressing down" stance.

"Vin Tanner, did I just hear what I think I heard?" he demanded.

Vin ducked his head. "Depends what you thought you heard," he said, stalling.

Buck stepped up to his son's other side and glared down at him. "He JD said you let him drive. But that couldn't be true could it? Because you know JD's not allowed to drive without Chris or me in the car."

Vin risked a glance up, but quickly dropped his eyes when he saw how mad Chris and Buck looked. "It's only on the back roads, guys…" he began, knowing before he'd even started the sentence that his guardians wouldn't consider that a good enough excuse for ignoring their orders.

Sure enough, Chris cut in, "That's still driving, isn't it? That's still a 14 year old boy behind the wheel of a dangerous piece of machinery."

"Yes sir," Vin muttered, wishing like hell that JD knew when to keep his big mouth shut.

Chris held out his hand. "Give up your car keys, Vin," he ordered.

"Aww Chris," Vin groused, although he dug into his pocket and pulled them out, handing them over quickly enough.

"You're on foot until further notice," Chris said. "We'll see if you feel any differently about disobeying us when you've had to walk everywhere for a few weeks. " He pocketed the keys and turned away to walk back into the house.

Vin sat back down morosely at the picnic table, and Buck slid into a seat beside Josiah, who reached out to pat Vin's hand sympathetically. "You know they're right, son," he said. "A car is not a plaything."

"Not you too, Josiah," Vin groaned. "I already get it from two fathers. Isn't that enough?"

Buck glared across the table at his son. "You'd better count yourself lucky that we're in a good mood, boy," Buck said. "You got off easy and you know it."

"Yes, Buck," Vin reluctantly agreed. It was true actually. They could have been a whole lot harsher with him. But then they hadn't had to put up with JD's endless whining to be allowed to drive. He'd like to have seen them resist in the face of that assault.

Another car pulled into the gravel driveway. Nathan and Rain. Vin smiled when the two got out of the car and he rose to kiss Rain when she came over to greet them. He liked Rain. A lot. She was easy to talk to and she always listened. She gave him an appraising look. "Why the long face, Vin?" she asked. Which was another reason Vin liked her. She was really dialed in.

"Just got busted," he said.

"Again?" she laughed.

Vin shrugged. "That's the trouble when your parents work in law enforcement. They expect you to behave like an angel, and they always know when you've done something wrong. It's a curse."

"We expect you to do what we tell you," Chris corrected sternly, coming out of the house with a plate piled high with uncooked steaks. "That shouldn't be such a challenge should it?"

"No sir," Vin replied with a longsuffering sigh.

Chris leaned over and kissed Rain on the cheek, throwing her a wink before turning back to his son. "Scoot on into the kitchen and start bringing some of the food and fixings out."

Vin rose obediently.

"I'll come help," Rain said. "We can catch up." She linked her arm through Vin's and the two of them walked into the house, heads bent close together.

Nathan grabbed up a beer from the cooler and sat down at the picnic table. "What's he been up to this time?" he asked.

Buck shook his head, exasperated. "He let JD drive his car."

Nathan grinned. "Ouch. That must be worth a few weeks of solitary confinement."

"He's a good kid, guys," Josiah said. "They both are. You could be having a whole lot more trouble out of them, given their ages. The kids down at the shelter…" he shook his head. "It'd break your heart."

"We know they're good kids, Josiah," Chris said, flipping open the barbecue. "Just want to make sure they stay that way."

At that moment the Jag pulled back into the driveway and Ezra and JD climbed out. JD was chatting away happily, and Ezra had a slightly dazed expression on his face.

"JD," Chris called over, "Why don't you let Ezra get himself a drink."

JD stopped in his tracks. By now he'd heard all the variations and knew what was really being said, regardless of how subtly.

"Oh," he said, crestfallen. "I'm really sorry Ezra. I was talking too much again, wasn't I?"

Ezra glanced over at the young boy, who was chewing nervously on his bottom lip and he didn't need to bring his expert poker playing skills to bear in order to read the boy's 'tell'. JD had spent the first six years of his life being told to shut up and get out of sight, and he was still occasionally supremely sensitive to those memories. With strangers he could be painfully shy and tongue-tied, uncomfortable until he was certain of their motives and intentions. But when you earned his trust and respect, he was such a friendly and out-going boy, chatting easily about everything and anything.

It was odd, Ezra mused, because JD accepted the most blunt admonishments from Vin, who frequently told him to "can it" when he talked too much. But sometimes, especially in front of the people he loved, the boy became anxious over even the most moderate rebuke. Chewing on his lip was a sure sign that he had taken Chris' surprisingly diplomatic and gentle reproach to heart. Ezra couldn't bear to see the light in the boy's responsive eyes dim on his account.

"No, JD. You did not talk too much," Ezra said firmly. "The owner of a Jag cannot know too much about the merits of this fine piece of machinery. Now you and I are going to get ourselves a drink, then we are going to find a nice shady spot and you are going to tell me more about this marvelous vehicle."

"Are you sure?" JD asked, dubiously, glancing over at Chris to measure his reaction.

"Positive, Mr. Dunne. Now, run along and get yourself a Coke."

JD smiled, and the bright happy look on his face was reward enough for Ezra.

"Thanks, Ez," Chris said, when JD had bounced up the steps and into the house. "You didn't have to."

"On the contrary," Ezra said. "That boy is a veritable fount of information. He'll save me a small fortune in tune-up fees one day."

When JD came back out of the house he had a small frown on his face. "Chris, you can't blame Vin for letting me drive. It isn't fair. He kept saying no but I nagged him until he caved. It's my fault, not his."

Chris shook his head. "You shouldn't have driven. You know that, and you'll share in his punishment. But he's older, he's responsible for you when Buck and I are not around and he made a bad decision."

"But if you'd heard how much I whined you'd understand why he did it," JD said truthfully.

The men sitting around the picnic table ducked their heads to hide their grins. Vin walked out of the house carrying an armful of plates, with Rain following behind, her hands also full. "JD, I already told you it's cool," Vin scolded.

"But I don't want them to punish you for something I did," JD pleaded.

"I already explained, squirt. It isn't for what you did, it's for what I did. I should know better by now than to give in to your whining. Now quit arguing and give me a hand with this stuff."

JD looked as if he might continue, but Vin glared at him, hands on hips, scarily reminiscent of Chris, and JD subsided. "'Kay," he murmured.

Ezra cleared his throat. "What do you think I should do with these?" he asked, pulling two tickets out of his jacket pocket and handing one each to Vin and JD.

JD glanced at the ticket and whooped out loud. "The auto show. You're gonna take us to the auto show, Ez?"

Ezra smiled at Chris and Buck. "Am I?" he asked, eyebrows climbing.

JD turned pleading eyes on his guardians. "Please, guys," he begged. "I'll behave like an angel 'till then. Please?"

Chris and Buck exchanged a look and laughed at what they saw in the other's eyes. "All right," Chris said, shaking his head at their soft-heartedness. "But I expect immaculate behavior from you both, otherwise all bets are off. Understand?"

"Jeez, thanks guys," JD said, and he dragged Vin into the house, talking a mile a minute about what they would see at the show.

Rain sat at the table and shook her head. "They really are wonderful boys," she said. "You've done the most remarkable job with them."

"Nah," Buck said, smiling softly. "They were sweethearts when we got them."

*******

Dinner was noisy and raucous, the food tasting so much better in the clean outdoor air, the fresh smells of Spring all around, the sun warm on their faces. The adults lingered over coffee while Vin and JD threw a football to each other and by the time they had all pitched in to clear away the dishes, it was beginning to cool off.

"Boys, come take a walk with me," Rain suggested. She liked to have a private talk with the boys whenever she could, offer a female perspective that they might not otherwise get.

"Think I'll tag along if nobody minds," Josiah said and all four of them set off towards the small creek that ran through the property.

"So," Rain said, "The guys tell us you're escorting a very special young lady to the Spring Dance next weekend."

Vin exchanged a look with JD and ducked his head. "Nah. That fell apart," he said quietly.

"Oh, that's too bad. Why?" Rain asked, concerned.

"Because her dad is an asshole," JD growled.

"JD," Vin said sharply, and the boy looked down, abashed.

"Well he is," he muttered under his breath.

"Vin?" Josiah asked

Vin shrugged. "Her father doesn't approve of me," he said.

"No! Vin that's…" Rain began, but Josiah put out a hand and touched her arm and she subsided.

"Doesn't approve of you, or somebody else?" he prompted gently.

Vin glanced up but he didn't answer the question.

"Her dad doesn't approve of Chris and Buck," JD blurted. "He says they're immoral. He is an asshole isn't he Josiah?"

Josiah frowned at the boy. "JD, do you think Chris and Buck would want you speaking like that?" Josiah asked sternly.

JD hung his head. "No sir. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't. Sorry."

Josiah smiled kindly. "It isn't up to us to judge others, son," he said more gently.

JD looked up, a frown on his usually sunny face. "But that's what Mr. Parker is doing, Josiah," he said reasonably. "He's judging Chris and Buck without even knowing them. And anyway, whatever he thinks about them it isn't Vin's fault."

Josiah couldn't argue that point. "What do Chris and Buck have to say about it?" he asked instead.

Vin's head reared. "I haven't told them and I'm not going to," he said firmly.

"But, Vin, they'll find out sooner or later," Rain said.

"How?" Vin asked. "I'm not going to say anything, neither is JD. There's no reason they have to know."

"Don't you think it's the kind of thing they'd want to know?" Josiah asked.

"No," Vin said vehemently. "They'll be hurt and I don't want to hurt them. JD and I have talked it over and we're not going to tell them. Please guys, don't say anything," he pleaded.

Rain and Josiah exchanged a glance. "JD, you agree?"

JD nodded fervently. "I kinda always agree with Vin," he said honestly.

"Okay, boys," Josiah said slowly. "Rain and I won't tell your parents. But I honestly think they'd rather hear this from you than have you lie to them about it. I want you to reconsider the decision you've made."

Vin nodded gravely. "We will, Josiah," he said. "But we won't change our minds. I don't mean to sound rude, but we've talked about this a lot. Buck and Chris would feel bad about it because of me, and I don't want that."

"What about how you feel?" Rain asked gently.

Vin ducked his head and glanced sidelong at JD. "I think he's being an asshole," he muttered. "Sorry."

*******

Josiah knocked at the door of the tidy looking house, wondering briefly what kind of people Mr. and Mrs. Parker would turn out to be. He had encountered his fair share of racists, bigots and the plain misguided and he knew they came in all shapes and sizes.

He and Rain had offered to have a talk with Mr. and Mrs. Parker, see if they couldn't be persuaded to change their minds and let Vin date their daughter. Vin had looked dubious, but he had thanked them and agreed that it couldn't hurt.

Josiah was already feeling badly about this. He had had to gently suggest to Rain that if these people were typically intolerant and narrow-minded, that having a woman of color plead Vin's case might not be the best strategy. Rain had smiled softly, but the smile hadn't reached her eyes. She had shrugged and offered to wait for him in a nearby coffee shop. It hadn't sat well with Josiah, but he didn't want to jeopardize what little chance he had to persuade the Parkers to let their daughter accompany Vin to the dance. So he'd swallowed his principles and was grateful that Rain had accepted his arguments and hadn't made this any harder than it already was.

Mr. Parker opened the door and Josiah introduced himself as a friend of Vin's family and was shown into the neat living room. Before long he was sitting with a cup of tea in his hand, fighting what he knew almost immediately was going to be a losing battle.

"You have to understand, Mr. Sanchez," Mr. Parker said, "My wife and I believe that the life Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Larabee lead is immoral. I know it isn't fashionable these days to hold that opinion, but what they choose to do is absolutely contrary to our belief system and our religious convictions."

"They're good men, Mr. Parker," Josiah said earnestly.

"That isn't in question," Mrs. Parker said softly. "But I'm afraid even good men can lead corrupt lives."

Josiah knew it was time to change his approach. "Mrs. Parker, whatever you think about the parents, surely you see that the children are blameless. Vin is a respectful, well-mannered boy. You won't find a finer young man."

Mr. Parker cleared his throat. "Mr. Sanchez. We know Vin and we like him. And we're very sorry that he is being hurt in all this. But there can be no misunderstanding. We do not approve of his family situation, we do not approve of the moral climate in which he is being raised. We do not want our daughter getting involved now only to be hurt by it later. I'm sorry. There it is and we will not be changing our minds."

There really was nothing left to say after that. Josiah stood up, thanked them for their time, and left.

Rain looked up hopefully when he walked into the coffee shop, but his expression must have told her everything she needed to know because she sighed deeply when he sat opposite her and said, "No luck?"

Josiah shook his head. "They're not bigots, they're not 'assholes' as JD so colorfully put it. They're just people with convictions. Different than yours and mine, to be sure, but just as firmly held. Nope, Vin will not be escorting Ms. Parker to the dance, I'm afraid."

Rain looked down at her coffee cup. "Will you tell Buck and Chris?" she asked.

"That's a tough one," he mused. "I think they should know. But I don't think it should come from me, not if the boys don't want to tell them. I guess I won't lie to them, but I won't volunteer anything either. It's a real shame. Especially for Vin."

Rain nodded her agreement. "It's a hard thing to have to deal with. But I'm afraid it won't be the only time he runs up against this kind of thing. I feel very sad for the boys. It's an ugly side of life that I wish they didn't have to see."

*******

Vin pulled up outside the school and parked, although he didn't immediately get out of the car. This was going to work out fine, he thought. It wasn't exactly the way he'd planned the evening, but the end result would be the same and he'd get to spend time with Christy Parker. Maybe not an official 'date', not meeting her parents and getting the dreaded pre-date interrogation, not driving her to the dance himself, not even going into the auditorium together for everybody to see. But at least he'd be with her, and really that was all that mattered.

Buck and Chris had been so damned kind to him, had really gone out of their way to make this a good night for him. They had insisted on buying him a new suit and tie, they had plied him with advice, Buck had even bought a corsage that he could give to Christy. He felt like a complete shit.

Just before he'd left the house Chris had taken him aside. "Here," Chris said, handing Vin his car keys back. "You can hardly expect to walk Christy to the dance."

Vin smiled wanly and pocketed his keys. "Thanks, Chris."

"And you're sure you have enough money? You need a little extra maybe?" Buck asked.

"You already gave me plenty," Vin said, feeling increasingly awful.

"Well, have a great time," Chris said. "Don't keep her out too late."

"Call us if you need anything," Buck chimed in. "You have your phone?"

Vin nodded. "See you guys later, then."

JD accompanied him to his car and he threw the corsage onto the front seat. "Won't be needing that anytime soon," he said bitterly.

"But Vin, she'll be there," JD pointed out. "You can still ask her to dance with you, you can still talk to her. It can still be a sort of date, just without all the extras."

A slow smile spread across his face. "Yeah. Yeah, it can. Thanks, man." Sometimes his brother was a goof, but sometimes he was a really smart kid.

Vin cut the engine and straightened his tie. He was just reaching for the corsage when a car pulled up in front of him and Mr. Parker climbed out. Damn it! He wasn't just giving Christy a ride to the school, he was obviously planning on going into the auditorium with her and wasn't it just his fucking shitty luck, Vin thought, that Christy's dad was a volunteer chaperone tonight. Which meant he wouldn't get within a mile of her.

Christy climbed out of the car and Vin sucked in a breath. She looked so beautiful; long hair swinging down her back, pretty dress and high heeled shoes making her look older than her 16 years. She paused for a moment, then a smile spread across her face and she raised her arm and waved. Vin glanced across the car park to see Robert Lacey walking towards Christy. He stopped, offered her a small package, and Vin's stomach clenched when he saw that it was a corsage and he watched, heartbroken, as Christy eagerly pulled it onto her wrist. Lacey held out his hand, and Mr. Parker shook it heartily, then all three of them turned and walked into the school together.

Vin sat absolutely still, stunned, senses reeling. Robert Lacey was a year older than him, blond haired, blue-eyed, all-American. He was smart and funny and popular, he was the star of the track team, he had money and status. And his parents were not two guys who fucked each other and didn't give a rat's ass who knew it.

Vin crushed the corsage in his hand and threw it out of the window, then turned the key and his car roared into life. He couldn't stay here, couldn't walk into that hall and watch Christy with Robert and pretend that it didn't bother him. He'd drive around for a few hours then go home. And Buck and Chris wouldn't be any the wiser.

*******

"Did he say anything to you, JD?" Chris asked, and JD tried his hardest not to fidget because that would only betray them both.

"No, Chris." Keep it short and simple, that way he'd be less liable to get caught out in a lie. Chris was giving him the third degree over Vin, who had scarcely spoken to any of them since returning home early last night. Only JD knew that he hadn't actually made it to the dance, that he had spotted Christy with that asshole Robert Lacey who thought he was God's gift, and had spent most of the evening in a crummy coffee shop by himself. He felt really bad for Vin, but his brother's morose behavior wasn't making it any easier to maintain the invention that they had so carefully constructed.

Vin was out with Buck, who had dragged him to the grocery store, although JD was convinced that his guardians had concocted that excuse to get him out of the house so that Chris could grill JD. Well, maybe they had years of cross-examining perps, but he was a teenager and he wasn't likely to crack under Chris' interrogation.

"It just doesn't make sense," Chris muttered, more to himself than to JD. "And you're sure he didn't say anything?"

"Nope," JD said, face schooled to what he hoped was a wholly innocent expression. Chris stared hard, but he just sighed and shook his head.

A moment later they both looked up when they heard a car pulling up to the house. It was way too soon for Buck and Vin to be coming back.

"JD, go see who it is," Chris instructed.

JD walked out of the house, in time to see Christy Parker climbing out of her car.

Aww shit, he thought, hoping he could get rid of her before Chris came out. He'd have to keep his cutting remarks until next time they met. She wasn't going to get away with jerking his brother around, but he sure didn't have the time right now to give her a piece of his mind.

"Hi, JD," she said. "Is Vin around?"

"Nope. He's out. Don't know when he'll be back. Why don't you call later?" he said, all but hustling her back towards her vehicle.

"Hello, Christy," he heard from behind him, and groaned quietly. Goddamn his crappy luck. "JD, don't keep her standing in the driveway," Chris said. " Come on up to the house, Christy."

JD turned and followed the girl as she stepped up onto the porch. They walked into the house and JD leaned up against the kitchen counter while Chris invited the young girl to take a seat. "Do you want a soda or anything?" he asked.

"No thank you, Mr. Larabee," Christy said. "I can't stay. I really just wanted to make sure that Vin was alright."

Chris frowned a little and JD wished that he was a hundred miles away from here.

"He's just fine," Chris said, hesitantly. He glanced up and JD tried to keep a neutral expression, but he could see that Chris' mind was cranking over. "Any reason he wouldn't be?"

JD prayed that Christy was smart enough to see the parental trap his guardian was setting, but the girl was too innocent. "Well when he didn't show up at the dance last night…"

"He wasn't there?" Chris said, in a tone that had JD groaning.

"No. And I just wanted to check up on him."

"Well, that's very kind of you, Christy. But I assure you he's just fine."

Christy rose to leave. "I'm glad. I hoped he would understand why we couldn't go together. Will you ask him to give me a call when he comes home?"

"You can bet on it," Chris said sweetly. "Let me walk you out to your car."

"Bye, JD," she said as she turned to leave, and JD waved half-heartedly.

Chris glared and pointed at him. "You. Do not move," he ordered, and JD knew he was in for it. Fuck! Why wasn't Vin here to take care of this? What the hell was he going to tell Chris that wouldn't get Vin into any more trouble than he was already in? He heard the car pull away from the house, and Chris walked in a minute later, a thunderous look on his face. He walked over to JD and stood in front of him, in the hands-on-hips pose that JD had come to dread.

"Explain," Chris demanded tersely.

"Chris, I can't…" he began.

"Don't even try to tell me that you don't know what's going on here, JD," Chris warned.

"But I promised Vin I wouldn't say anything," JD pleaded.

"That promise does NOT apply to me. You will tell me right now what is going on or I will really lose my temper."

JD glanced at his guardian, saw just how serious he was and swallowed hard. "Vin didn't go to the dance last night," he prevaricated.

"I know that much, JD," Chris said, his voice tight. "I want the rest."

"Christy couldn't go with him," he stalled.

"JD!" Chris snapped, a clear warning in his voice.

JD winced, looked into his guardian's stormy eyes and tried to say the words, 'Mr. Parker won't let Vin date Christy because he thinks you and Buck are immoral.'

But he couldn't do it.

He couldn't bear to see the hurt that knowledge would cause, then the guilt Chris would feel because his life choices had caused problems for Vin. So he clamped his lips together and shook his head.

He saw a look of incredulity flare on Chris' face. "Are you refusing to tell me?" Chris spluttered.

"I can't, Chris," JD said, as firmly as he could. "It isn't fair for you to ask me to rat out my brother."

"Isn't fair?" Chris growled, and JD ducked his head, knowing an explosion wasn't far off. "Go to your room, JD," Chris ordered. "When Vin comes back I'll get to the bottom of this. Then I'll come and deal with you. Go!"

JD fled upstairs. Damn it. He hated it when Chris was mad at him. And double damn, because Vin was going to catch it when he got home and there was no way to warn him. He flung himself down on his bed, and waited for the axe to fall.

A half hour later the car pulled up and Buck and Vin climbed out. Chris was waiting on the porch, and both of them recognized the position he was standing in.

"One of us is in the shit," Buck muttered and Vin felt a sudden jolt of panic.

"What's up?" Buck asked, mounting the steps. Chris ignored him and focused all his attention on Vin.

"That's what I want to know," he said. "Vin, where were you last night?"

Vin didn't bother with a lie, Chris obviously knew he hadn't been to the dance. He was aware of Buck turning to look at him, a puzzled frown on his face.

"Vin?" Buck asked. "You weren't at the dance?"

Vin dropped his eyes to the ground. "No, Buck."

Buck waited, but when nothing more was forthcoming he asked. "So, where'd you go?"

"Just out," Vin said.

"But you told us you were at the dance." Buck said, obviously confused.

"Well we've just had a visit from his friend, Christy who told me he wasn't there," Chris said, his voice harsh. Vin's head reared. "Explain yourself," Chris ordered.

"What did Christy say?" Vin asked, anxiously.

"Damn it, Vin," Chris growled. "I'm not interested in her explanation, nor in JD's. I want to hear it from you."

Vin opened his mouth to speak, looking between Chris' fierce expression and Buck's perplexed one. And he just couldn't bring himself to tell them. He could not watch them trying to mask their outrage, see their struggle to maintain composure while they hurt so much for him. So, like JD, he closed his mouth with a firm snap and watched as surprise and anger warred on his guardians' faces.

"Vin I am giving you one final chance to answer my question. Where were you last night?"

Vin shook his head, "Just out," he said.

"Right. Upstairs," Chris said and Vin slid past the two confused men and climbed the stairs to his bedroom.

Christ, but they were furious with him. How in God's name was he going to explain this one, he thought. He crossed to the window and looked out, wondering what they would do to him, wondering how JD was holding up. He had no sooner thought of the kid's name than the door to his room opened and JD sauntered in.

"JD," Vin hissed. "You shouldn't be here."

"Relax," JD said, casually. "They won't be up for a while. Chris has to tell Buck what's going on, Buck has to decide if he's pissed too, and whether or not he's gonna try to calm Chris down, then they have to figure out what to do with us."

Vin crossed the room to stand in front of his brother. "JD, this is important. What did Christy say? Did she say anything about why she wouldn't go out with me?"

JD chewed on his bottom lip and scrunched up his face, trying to remember. "Nah," he finally said. "She just said something about being sorry 'cos you two couldn't go together."

Vin sighed in relief. "Listen, there's no reason we have to both be in the shit with them. When they come upstairs I want you to tell Buck and Chris that you had no idea what was happening…"

"Duh!" JD interrupted. "Chris has already figured out that I know something. That's why he sent me to solitary confinement, genius."

"Damn it," Vin snapped. "Then tell them you knew I was ditching the dance but you don't know why."

"No," JD said stubbornly. "I helped you decide what to do and I agreed with the plan. We're in it together."

"Ah shit, JD," Vin breathed, but he knew there was no changing the kid's mind. "Alright. Thanks. Now you know what their strategy is gonna be, don't you?"

"Course," JD snorted. "First divide and conquer, then good cop bad cop. I watch Law and Order too you know."

Vin smiled briefly. "Chris will probably come and see you first…"

"And you'll get Buck, ouch!" JD sympathized and Vin couldn't help wincing. Despite what everybody else thought, it wasn't Chris who was the disciplinarian at home. Whether he got enough of riding herd at work, or whether he was just a little more chilled out about parenting, it was actually Buck who more often than not made them toe the line or got to the bottom of whatever problems had arisen. And both boys knew that it was much harder to pull the wool over his eyes, and particularly difficult to tell an outright lie, in the face of Buck's stern, no-nonsense approach.

"And you remember the story we agreed to?" Vin pressed.

"I'm not a complete fucking idiot…" JD began.

"JD Dunne." They both jumped when Buck's voice thundered up the stairs.

"Busted," JD whispered, smiling weakly at his brother. He rose and met Buck in the doorway.

"Young man didn't Chris tell you to go to your room and stay put until we came up to talk to you?" Buck growled.

"Yessir," JD agreed.

"Do you really want to add disobedience to the score you have to settle, not to mention that gutter talk I just heard?" Buck asked.

"Not really, Buck." JD sighed.

"Then scram," Buck yelled. "Chris will be in to talk to you in a minute."

JD left the room and Buck turned his attention to his oldest son. "Right. I want to know why you didn't go to the dance last night, where you were, and why you lied to us," he said, in a tone that brooked no argument. "Start talking, Vin," he ordered.

*******

"Vin, I'm sorry that Christy wouldn't go to the dance with you. That must have been hard. But I can't understand why you thought you had to lie to us, or why you thought you needed to get JD to lie too."

Buck cast another confused look Chris's way, and Vin cringed inside.

"Vin?" Buck continued. "Did we do something to make you think we'd be hard on you about this girl? I know I like to tease you sometimes, but I wouldn't have, not about this."

The earnestness in Buck's eyes tore at him. And this was exactly why he hadn't told them in the first place that Christy couldn't go with him. Their sympathy, their guilt, their genuine heartbreak for him was just so damned painful. God knows what they would do if they actually knew the reason she had refused to accompany him.

Vin wanted to curl up and die.

Even in the face of Buck's grilling he had maintained his story, which was mostly true anyway: at the last minute Christy had dumped him for somebody else, he couldn't face going to the dance alone, he'd spent the evening in a coffee shop. He couldn't think of any defense for fabricating a story, but clutched at the excuse that Buck unwittingly provided, that he was too upset and embarrassed to tell them the truth.

Buck had pressed him hard but whenever he felt close to breaking, he just thought about having to say those ugly words to this man, who meant everything to him, and he felt a cold resolve wash through him. Let them believe that he was a liar, that he had subverted his brother, that he disregarded them and played them for fools, all of which they had accused him of. It was better than the alternative.

He had tried his best to minimize JD's level of involvement, and thought he had successfully drawn most of his guardian's fire on himself. So now he just had to stand here and listen to how much he had let them down, see that disappointed, confused look in their eyes that turned his stomach, and wait to hear how they would punish him.

"Do you have anything else you want to tell us?" Chris asked, offering him one last chance to come clean.

"No sir," he said resolutely, dropping his eyes.

"JD?" Chris asked.

JD glanced sidelong at him and Vin sucked in a breath, hoping like hell that JD would keep quiet.

"No sir," his brother said, and Vin let out the breath noisily.

"Well then, you really leave us no option," Chris said firmly. "You're both on restriction for a month. Absolutely no privileges. That includes the auto show. Vin, you'll reimburse Ezra for the tickets…"

"Please guys," Vin cut in desperately, knowing how much this meant to his brother and feeling like a complete shit for getting the boy into this mess. "It wasn't JD's fault. I told you I talked him into lying for me. Please let him go to the show."

Before Chris had a chance to respond JD snapped, "I don't want to go, Vin. You didn't make me do anything. I lied all by myself."

Buck cut off any further argument. "Neither of you is going anywhere," he said adamantly. "I don't know what the hell got into you, Vin. First you're letting JD drive and then you're conspiring with him? You're supposed to look out for him, damn it!"

Buck was winding up again, and Vin groaned inside. Only cops used words like "conspiring" when teenagers were involved and no laws were broken. But still, when Buck said it, Vin felt like a criminal. "How dare you put your brother in that position, asking him to cover for you. Wasn't it enough that you told us a pack of lies yourself without dragging him into it?"

Vin cringed. This fucking sucked.

"You're both grounded for a month," Buck snapped, "and what's more if either of you steps out of line just once I'm gonna add time, and I'm gonna keep adding time until you both show me you know how to behave. Now, I'm sure you have plenty of homework to keep you occupied for the next couple of hours. Sit at that kitchen table and get on with it, and I don't want a word out of either of you unless you are spoken to."

Yeah, this fucking sucked, Vin thought, but at least he'd protected Chris and Buck.

*******

He cornered Christy at school Monday morning, even though that jerk Robert Lacey was hovering over her. Looked like she had a new steady, Vin thought bitterly. A nice, straight steady with nice, straight parents.

"Christy, I need to talk to you for a minute," he said, insinuating himself between her and Robert. He wasn't in the mood to be nice to the guy who, on a technicality, had gotten the girl he liked so much.

She looked past him to Robert, but he held her eyes, waiting.

"Excuse me for a minute, Bobby," she murmured, and Vin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. So it was 'Bobby' already? "What do you want, Vin?" she frowned at him after they had moved a few steps away.

"I just--I didn't tell my folks why you couldn't go to the dance with me. There are plenty of people who don't like Chris and Buck because of what they are. I'm not gonna point out some more to them. So if you see them around, please don't say anything."

She frowned harder, her pale brows drawing together, and damn it, she looked so sweet... "Vin," she urged, "my folks don't dislike them. They're not like that. It's just-- just..."

"They don't dislike 'em, they just think they're immoral?" he couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

Her shoulders slumped a little. "I'm sorry. My parents shouldn't have made you pay."

"Yeah, well, that's exactly how I feel about Chris and Buck. They shouldn't have to pay because your folks think the way they do. So just, don't tell them, if they grill you about it. Okay?"

She gently bit her lip, and nodded. "Okay."

"Do you think Chris and Buck are immoral?" he suddenly blurted, wondering why this was so important to him.

Christy's eyes flashed. "I am not my parents," she said hotly. "I don't believe everything they do."

"Then why…"

"Tell me, Vin," she cut him off. "Would you date somebody who disapproved of Chris and Buck?"

"No," Vin said flatly, with absolute conviction. "It would hurt them and I wouldn't do that, not after everything they've done for me and JD."

"That's exactly how I feel," Christy said softly. "You and me dating would hurt my parents. I don't agree with all their beliefs, but I have to respect them, in the same way you respect your folks."

Vin shook his head, feeling a desperate stab of regret, but realizing that he couldn't hold on to something that would never work out. "That's fair enough," he finally sighed.

She looked Robert's way. "I should go," she said, and ducked her head. "I'm sorry."

He watched her walk away. Damn, he really, really liked this girl. But he knew he couldn't ever have her.

*******

"Vin, JD, get down here."

Vin lifted his head from his textbook and sighed. Now what? He opened his bedroom door and shrugged at the quizzical look JD threw at him as he exited his own bedroom. As far as he was concerned, he'd behaved like a damned angel these past two days. No way he could have drawn Chris or Buck's wrath.

They walked downstairs and Vin was surprised to see Rain and Josiah in the kitchen. He hadn't heard a car pull up, although he'd actually been pretty wrapped up in his book for the last hour so maybe that wasn't such a surprise.

Rain stood up and gave him an appraising look and he brushed a kiss against her cheek and briefly hugged Josiah.

"We'll be in the barn," Chris said, and he and Buck walked out.

Josiah sat down at the kitchen table and waved the boys into chairs. "We heard you two have found yourself a whole heap of trouble," he said, his rich, low voice a soothing rumble.

"Yep," Vin said ruefully. "They are pissed as hell at us... er, sorry, Rain. They're really mad at us," he amended, ducking his head.

Rain smiled. "That's why we're here. Boys, we want your permission to tell Chris and Buck the whole story…"

"No!" Vin blurted, cutting her off. "Absolutely not."

"But Vin, they don't have all the facts. You two are being punished just for trying to keep something ugly and hurtful from them," Rain protested.

"No," Vin said, stubbornly. "They get punished too, Rain. And you can bet they'll punish themselves if they find out them being together messed up something for me. Stuff like this--" he swiped at his hair and shared a look with JD. "Stuff like this has happened before, all right? We've been targeted before because of our parents and it's hard on them, really hard. And us, this is just grounding. We can take this. It's no big deal. A couple of weeks without the TV..."

"Or music, or the computer or video games or movies or comics or your car, or seeing our friends, or the auto show," JD added dryly.

"You want to tell them?" Vin challenged.

"You know I don't," JD defended hotly. "But this isn't exactly a walk in the fucking park, er, sorry Rain," he added, a blush flooding his pale cheeks.

"Look, boys," Josiah tried. "I know you didn't want to tell them before, but it was different then. Now they're upset with you, they think you've let them down. It's disappointing for them and that's hard on them too. And they have no reason to be disappointed in you because you were trying to do a wonderful thing for them."

"You promised, Josiah," Vin said coldly. "You promised you wouldn't tell them."

"And I'll keep that promise, son," Josiah said quietly. "Neither Rain nor I want to betray a confidence, we just want to make sure you two know what you're doing."

Vin glanced at JD. The auto show was coming up in two days time. If they came clean now, he'd still be able to go. He hadn't meant to drag his brother into this, and he couldn't make this decision alone.

"JD?" he asked.

JD looked at him, then shook his head. "I don't want to tell them, Vin," he murmured. "The auto show will be back next year. Maybe Ez will take us then? And I don't care about the rest of it. I don't like that Buck and Chris are mad with us, that they think we've let them down, but anything else would suck."

"Vin. You agree?" Josiah asked.

Vin smiled a little. "I pretty much always agree with JD," he joked weakly.

"Oh, boys," Rain sighed.

At that moment, Chris and Buck walked back into the house, noisily announcing their arrival. "Everything okay?" Chris asked, looking curiously from the kids to the adults.

Vin threw a pleading look at Josiah and Rain.

"Everything's fine, Chris," Josiah said slowly, and Vin blew out a noisy breath, smiling in relief.

"Good. Okay you two," he said, addressing the boys. "Chores. Scoot." Vin and JD stood up and both of them kissed Rain and gave Josiah a hug, whispering their thanks to both. Vin paused on his way out, and turned back to quickly embrace his startled guardians before following his brother out of the house.

"They are just the most wonderful boys. You should be so proud of them," Rain said fiercely.

Chris and Buck exchanged a quizzical glance. "They've hit a bit of a bump in angelic perfection right at the moment," Buck said dryly, "but we're always proud of them."

"Well, I hope you remember to tell them that. Every day," Rain declared.

Josiah and Rain stopped by the barn on their way out to say goodbye to the boys, who seemed to be enjoying themselves despite the fact that this was supposed to be punishment.

When they left, Buck walked into the barn and grabbed a pitchfork and began to help the boys muck out.

"Rain tells me I should be proud of you," he said, and the two boys stiffened and stopped what they were doing, both anxiously anticipating what he would say next. "Any particular reason?" he pressed, and the kids relaxed visibly and carried on working.

Vin shrugged. "She's just kind hearted, that's all," he said.

Buck nodded. "What makes me think I never really got to the truth of what's going on with you two?" he asked, noting the way they both raised startled eyes to him. "Would it be worth me having another one-on-one talk with each of you?"

"I don't think so, sir. You wouldn't hear anything different," Vin said, so obviously choosing his words with care that Buck almost laughed out loud.

"So, you're happy to have this punishment stand?" he continued.

"Yes sir," Vin and JD chorused.

Buck shrugged. "Fine. But if you want to change your mind, you know where to find me. Now, finish up here then come back up to the house. Chris and I have made up a long, long list of things for you two to do over the next few days."

"Man, how is it that every time we screw up there are suddenly hundreds of things that need doing around here?" JD whined.

Buck laughed. "Funny how that works, isn't it?"

"Is that a complaint I just heard, JD?" Chris asked, suddenly appearing in the doorway.

"No sir," JD said, with conviction. "Just an observation."

"Because if I thought I was getting any attitude from you…"

"Attitude? From me?" JD protested innocently. "You must be confusing me with somebody else, Chris."

"Maybe so," Chris drawled. "In any case, I'd be happy to add a few extra days to your sentence if any of the reasons you're being punished are unclear."

"No sir," JD hurried out. "I am 100% in the picture."

Chris grinned. "Good. Because a few of the chores on that long, long list have been chosen especially for you. Hurry it along now, boys, before we think of other things that might need doing."

Vin caught the wink that Chris threw at Buck as they sauntered back out of the barn. Man, those two had an evil streak a mile wide, he scowled.

The next twenty-five days were going to feel like forever.

The End