Pain and.. pain?

A quick update for you all, it's getting late and i have an early shift tomorrow so no time to waste. I'm away from the weekend, I'm going hiking up north for the weekend and I leave tomorrow straight after work so I needed to get this up now, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to update until Monday.

Thanks for all the reviews and please keep on reviewing! This story is drawing to an end, I'm aiming at around 50 chapters in total. But now I need to get some sleep! Hope you'll like this one!



CHAPTER 41




We managed to get back to our room without anyone seeing us and went straight to bed. I kept staring at Chris’ new hair until he rolled me over firmly and hugged me from behind. “Stop staring and sleep.”He murmured and I smiled before closing my eyes.



Rose came to wake us up in the morning and smiled until she spied in on Chris’ hair. “Christopher Neil Robson, what have I told you about dyeing your hair?” She asked strictly and I tensed in Chris’ arms. I had never seen Rose so strict, not even on my first day when there had been cake all over her kitchen or when Chris and I had been fighting. It was frightening. Chris pulled me closer and said.

“Jason said my hair looked moldy. Blame him.”

“I doubt Jason bought the dye for you, Christopher. And he was right, I’m beginning to think that your hair wasn’t the only thing moldy.” Rose said and stared at us firmly for a moment before letting out a small sigh and asking. “Why now, Christopher, of all days, when we have guests coming? “

“That’s exactly why now. I wanted to look nice for Tristan.” Chris said and Rose’s lips turned into a minuscule smile even though she was clearly trying to hold on to her strict appearance.

“So you think Tristan will like pink hair?”

“Who wouldn’t?!” Chris asked and stretched behind me. Rose sighed again and shook her head slightly.

“Alright then, up. Jason, you need to take a shower and Chris, please change the sheets in your bed before breakfast. Jason, how are you feeling dear?” She asked and I started to get up reluctantly.

“A lot better already.” I assured her but she came closer to touch my forehead carefully. All I got for an answer was a soft ‘humpf’ when Rose withdrew her hand.

“Start moving you two, I already let you sleep in, Tristan and Diana will be here in an hour.” She said and I got on my feet.

“Diana is coming too?”

“Yes, and Detective Thompson said he might stop by as well to speak with you.” Rose said from the door and I frowned. Cody was coming here to talk with me? Did that mean that they had found dad?

“How do you know that detective by the way?” Chris asked from behind and pulled me into a.. I think you could call it a snuggle, before letting me go.

“He’s a friend of Kevin’s. He raided the club.” I said quietly and went to get my towel. Unlike Chris, I actually hung it up to dry on top of my wardrobe door after every use.

“Who’s Kevin then?” Chris asked while starting to strip down his bed. Rose was right about the sheets needing a change, I had been sweating in them in my fever and they were a bit icky.

“He.. He was a bouncer at the club.” I mumbled and Chris stilled for a moment before turning to look at me with a frown.

“And that cop is a friend of his?”

“Kevin’s nice! He helped me a lot and he helped Tristan. He didn’t do anything wrong!” I said fiercely and Chris shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah, nothing wrong. Except pimp out a bunch of kids.” Chris muttered under his breath and I shoved him hard on the back.

“Shut up! You don’t know him!” I yelled and ran out of the room before Chris, who had banged his head against the wall when he fell, could catch me.

I locked myself in the bathroom and slumped down on the toilet seat before burying my face in my towel when tears forced through. I felt bad for shoving Chris and hurting him but most of all, I was scared at the anger that had flared up so easily. I was behaving as unpredictably as dad; something that had scared me the most about the man and I now I was like him. I flinched when there was a knock on the door and Chris asked quietly.

“Jason?”

I stood up and started undressing myself without answering him. Chris knocked again when I stepped into the shower and turned the water on. I took my time showering before stepping out and drying myself slowly. I didn’t feel like facing Chris: I knew I had to apologize to him and I was afraid he wouldn't accept my apology. I didn’t want to argue with him when for once I felt like I had a true friend.




Chris was sitting on his bed with his head down when I walked into the room with just a towel around me and I went to get dressed without a word. I put on the PJs Kevin had given me, a fresh t-shirt and the nice hoodie Ron had bought me before walking to Chris. I sat down on the bed next to him carefully and stared at the floor while murmuring.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Yeah you did. But it’s okay. I’m sorry too, Jason. I shouldn’t have said... You’re right, I don’t know that Kevin guy but I just can’t stand people hurting you.” Chris muttered back and looked at me carefully. I looked back and we just stared at each other for a while before I leaned closer to him. Chris pulled me into the hug I wanted and I buried my face against his neck.

We just hugged for a while and then Chris whispered into my ear. “Do you think that next time you get angry with me you could aim at something else than my head? I know I’m a dink but I don’t think I need more brain damage.”

I tried not to laugh but a chuckle escaped my lips anyway. “You are a dink. But I like you anyway.” I whispered back and breathed in the smell that was uniquely Chris.

Chris let go of me and nodded towards the bed. “Get in, I’ll go get us breakfast.”

“I’ll come with you, I’m not tired.” I said and tried to stand up but Chris held me back.

“The conditions of Tristan’s visit was that you promise to eat and stay in bed. So get in. I’m getting breakfast.” He reminded me firmly and I thought that he would have a lot more authority if he didn’t have pink hair.

I pouted but crawled on the bed anyway, sitting by the wall. “There, I’m in bed, happy?” I mumbled and Chris mussed up my hair.

“Yep. Stay put, I’m getting breakfast now.” He said and got on his feet smoothly.



We had just finished having breakfast when I heard the doorbell ring. I jumped up excitingly and yelled. “Tristan!” Chris rolled his eyes and got up too. I was out of the door before he could say anything and ran along the corridor before bouncing down the stairs with two at a time.

Tristan and Diana were standing in the hall with Rose, taking off their jackets and I smiled. Tristan saw me and dropped his jacket on the spot before running to me.

“Jason!” He flung his arms around me in a hug and I grinned while hugging him back. “I missed you.” Tristan mumbled and I pressed my nose against his hair.

“I missed you too.”

“Jason, you were supposed to stay in bed.” Rose scolded me slightly and Chris piped in from the stairs behind me.

“I think he really is feeling better Rose, he basically bounced out of the room when he heard the doorbell.”

Tristan looked up at the new voice and peeked from under my arm to see Chris. He stared for a while before looking up at me and asking in a whisper. “Why is his hair pink?”

“Because he’s a dink.” I smiled and got a poke in the ribs from Chris who had come down the stairs by now.

“I’m not. Hi, Tristan, I’m Chris.” He said and offered his hand to Tristan who just stared at him shyly for a moment before shaking hands with him. I could understand Tristan’s shyness, he had been at the Cave as well and he knew how vicious other kids could be. He hadn’t exactly had friends at the Cave, except for me and Kevin.

“H-Hi.” He mumbled quietly and Chris grinned.

“Boys, why don’t you go to the living room, yes you too Jason. I supposed you can stay up for a while.”

“Can we go upstairs?” I asked pleadingly and Rose smiled.

“Of course dear. Show Tristan your room.” She said and I smiled at her before pulling Tristan towards the upper floor by his hand. Chris hung back and I threw him a questioning glance.

“I thought I’d give you two some privacy.” He shrugged awkwardly and Tristan looked at him.

“You can come too if you want.” He said and I smiled at the him. Chris grinned too and nodded before coming up the stairs.

In our room, I let go of Tristan’s hand when he looked around. I went to sit on Chris’ bed and the pink haired boy sat on the chair by his desk. Tristan turned to look at us and smiled before coming to sit on the bed with me. He saw Gilbert and smiled.

“His name is Gilbert. Do you like him?” I asked and Tristan nodded. I picked up the bunny and gave it him. Tristan brushed the soft surface with his fingers and fiddled with the ears for a moment before handing Gilbert back to me.

We sat in silence again and I leaned against the wall a bit tiredly. Shivers ran down my back but I acted like it was nothing. If Chris knew I was feeling feverish again, he would chain me to the bed and tell Rose. Tristan fiddled with his shirt for a moment before glancing at me. I grinned and opened my arms for him. Chris decided he didn’t want to miss on the cuddling and slid himself on the bed behind me so that he was hugging me and I was hugging Tristan. I smiled and rested my back against Chris’ chest while pressing my cheek against Tristan’s shoulder.

“I wish we could stay like this forever.” I mumbled and Tristan turned a little so he could hug me back.

“I don’t want to go back to the Nash’s.” He mumbled into my shirt and I felt tears in my eyes.

“I don’t want you to go either.” I murmured into his hair and felt Chris tighten his hold on me.



We lounged around until Rose came to get us downstairs for lunch. She smiled when she saw us piled up on the bed when we got up, came to feel my forehead.

“You feel a bit warm again.”

“Mmh, I’m okay. Please Rose, I..”

“You can stay up if you feel like it, Jason. But if this fever doesn’t go down soon, we need to take you to see a doctor.” Rose said and I nodded carefully. I didn’t want to go see a doctor.

We went downstairs and I tensed when I saw Cody in the kitchen talking with Ron. “Hello Jason, how are you doing?” He asked and I felt Tristan hide behind me.

“Okay, I guess.” I mumbled and tried to smile. Cody smiled back and looked at Tristan.

“Tristan, nice to see you again.” He said and Tristan hid his face against my side, hugging me tightly. I wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. Chris ruffled Tristan’s hair and went past us. We sat down to eat and the atmosphere was just awkward. Cody talked with Rose and Diana but me, Chris and Tristan just sat in silence and focused on our plates.


After lunch we headed back upstairs but Cody asked me to stay in the kitchen. Both Tristan and Chris gave me worried looks and I tried to assure them with a smile. They disappeared upstairs and I sat back down with Cody and Diana.

“How are you really doing, Jason? Rose said that you have been sick for a few days and you seem quiet.” Cody asked and I kept my eyes on the surface of the table.

“I’m fine.” I muttered and fiddled with the sleeves of my hoodie, shivers running down my back. Cody smiled and glanced at Diana before looking at me again.

“I have some news about your father.” He said then and I looked up sharply.

“T-They f-found him?”

“No, not yet. But he used his credit card in Miami a few days ago, made a big withdrawal from his account. Do you have any idea as to why he would have gone to Miami? Do you have family there maybe? Old family friends?” Cody asked and I looked down again.

What family? What family friends? There wasn’t any. It had always been just me and dad after mom had died.

“N-No.”

“Are you sure? Jason, this is important.” Cody prodded and thankfully Diana cut in.

“Jason doesn’t have family in Miami or anywhere else, as far as our investigations show. I can’t see the point of pestering him about the matter.”

“I’m not pestering. We need to find his father.”

“So you can charge him for drugs?” I muttered a question and hunched my shoulders.

“Yes, and also to make sure that he won’t hurt you again, Jason. You want him behind bars, don’t you?” Cody asked and I let my head drop a little more.

“I don’t care. I don’t care where he is. If he’s in Miami then good riddance.” I mumbled and felt soothed by the thought of dad being so far away. If he was there, he couldn’t be here. If he was in Miami, I knew it wasn’t him who had sent me the note at least. Thinking about the note was a mistake. My stomach clenched and I felt sick.

“How can you not care, Jason? He hurt you.” Cody asked and I tried to gulp down the bile rising in my throat.

“He’s gone. He’s not here to hurt me anymore.” I mumbled and pushed my chair away from the table.

“Jason, are you feeling alright, dear?” Diana asked and I shook my head.

“Can I go?”

“In a minute, Jason. I need you to write down the names of your dad’s friends. All of them.” Cody said and I felt tears burn in the back of my eyes. I felt sick and gulped again.

“D-Diana, p-please?” I begged and stood up shakily. I was going to throw up.

“Jason, sit down, please. This won’t take long if you just do what I ask you to.” Cody said impatiently and I froze for a moment before making a run for it.

“Jason!” Cody yelled after me and I could hear him getting onto his feet.

Bathroom. I needed to get to the bathroom and lock the door. I ran to the closest bathroom downstairs and threw a hand over my mouth when I saw that it was locked. Damn girls always took so long in the bathroom! I continued to run and headed upstairs, Cody behind me.

“Jason, stop!” He yelled and I passed a startled looking Rose in the hallway on my way to the stairs.

“What’s going on?” She asked and almost got run over by Cody who was chasing me. I knew it was only a matter of seconds before I wouldn’t be able to hold down the bile anymore and pushed forward. Nick was just coming out of the bathroom when I reached the door and looked at me startled when I lounged past him into the room. I locked the door before collapsing in front of the toilet seat and emptying my stomach.

There was banging on the door and Cody asked in a loud voice. “Jason? Jason, open this door, now.”

I shuddered and felt cold sweat run down my back before throwing up again. There was more knocking and then Rose asked. “Jason, dear? Are you alright? Open this door, please?”

She didn’t sound angry, just worried, and I flushed the toilet. I didn’t want her to know that I had been sick. She would force me to go to a doctor and take Tristan back to the Nash’s. I got on my feet shakily, rinsed my mouth under the tab and dried the sweat off my forehead onto the sleeve of my hoodie before taking a deep breath and turning towards the door.

I opened the door slowly and looked down to avoid seeing Cody. “Jason dear, are you alright?” Rose asked gently and I nodded quietly. I could feel their eyes on me and mumbled.

“I don’t know dad’s friends.”

Cody sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. “You must know some of them, Jason.”

“I don’t know any n-names.” I mumbled and withdrew into myself. Rose set a hand on my shoulder and said.

“Why don’t you go back to bed, dear, you look tired.” She said and I fled the scene feeling relief.

“I still need those names.” Cody pointed out and I sped up.

“I’ll ask Jason to write them down later and let you know, detective. Right now he is not fit to be interrogated.” Rose said strictly and I couldn’t hear Cody’s mumbled answer. I went to our room and found Chris and Tristan sitting on the floor playing cards and laughing. They looked up when I walked in and Chris raised an eyebrow.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” I mumbled and pulled his blanket off the bed, wrapping it tightly around myself before sitting down on the floor next to Tristan. Tristan leaned into me for a moment to give me a hug before concentrating on the game again.

“You look sick.” Chris commented and played his turn before reaching out to touch me. I pulled away from his touch and snuggled deeper into the blanket. Chris frowned but didn’t say anything. I had a feeling he would make me tell him what was wrong later, when Tristan had left.



Tristan didn’t leave until six o’clock and we hugged long in the hall. I was feeling tired and couldn’t stop the tears from coming. I didn’t sob, the tears just ran down my cheeks silently and I buried my face in Tristan’s hair so the others wouldn’t know I was crying.

“Jason, we need to get going.” Diana said gently, she was supposed to take Tristan back to the Nash’s. Tristan let his arms fall away from my sides but I didn’t let go.

“Jason dear.” Rose said and I breathed in Tristan’s scent deeply before letting go of him.

“I’ll miss you.” I whispered before turning on the spot and sprinting back upstairs. Chris was sitting on his bed when I came in and I got on his bed, snuggling against his side feeling lonely. Chris pulled me into a hug and wrapped his blanket around me before saying.

“I like Tristan.”

I smiled tiredly and closed my eyes before pressing my ear against Chris’ chest, falling asleep in the soft sound of his heart thumping in his chest.