*****

Jack woke slowly and was unwilling to open his eyes, not yet. He pulled his covers up to his chin and melted in the comforting warmth. He secretly smiled, remembering the night before with Mitch. He wondered how he got here; the last thing he remembered was sitting outside with Mitch.

Jack heard a noise. It was too quiet to know what it was, but he suddenly realised that he wasn�t alone. The more he tried to concentrate on any sound in the room the more he realised that there were a lot of people in the room, more than he could account for. He slowly opened his eyes.

After getting used to the sudden stream of light his eyes focused on a figure seated to the left of the bed.

�Dad?� he whispered. He held eye contact for a while until he could no longer bear to look at his father�s cold and solemn eyes.

�Morning Jackie.� Jack spun his head to the right - the direction of the voice.

�Mum?� Jack�s face lit up as he sprung up in the bed and pulled his mum in to a hug. �What are you doing here?�

�I came to see you, sweetie.�

�How are you doing?� Jack asked releasing her.

�I�m fine. Anyway, I�m not important, you are.� She looked at Jack�s bruised body. �Look at you! Why didn�t you call me sooner?� His mum looked at his dad, �Joseph, you better ring Timmy and tell him we can�t make his football match. We must stay with Jack.�

Jack stared up at Andie who was standing at the end of the bed. She looked away, obviously in pain.

�Of course dear,� Mr. McPhee answered tonelessly. Pacey moved towards Andie and put his arms around her. He knew as well as Jack what effect Mrs. McPhee�s condition had on her.

�Pacey! How are you doing?� Mrs. McPhee asked cheerfully.

�Good, thanks, Mrs. McPhee,� he answered politely.

�Excuse me,� Jack said as he climbed out of bed and walked slowly to the door on wobbly legs.

From outside he could still hear his mother talking.

�Is Jack eating? He looks very slim. He�s never been a fussy eater - that�s Tim.�

Jack sighed as he walked down the hall and entered the bathroom. He splashed some cold water on his face before sliding down the wall in to a crouching position. His head fell in to his hands.

The door opened slowly and someone entered. Jack didn�t look up.

�Jack? Are you okay?� Joey asked.

�Who rang him?� Jack asked, ignoring the first question.

�Andie, she was worried about you, she still is, we all are.�

�Did you see it? Did you see the way he looked at me? I make him sick,� Jack sobbed.

�Jack, you don�t.�

�I do! I have a homophobic father and a crazy mother, who talks about Tim as if he is still alive! And�and dad lets her. He lets her believe that everything is fine. It�s not fine, it hasn�t been since Tim died!�

�Jack, we are here for you. We all love you. Your sexuality doesn�t make the slightest bit of difference to us, it never will. Your dad is the crazy one if he can�t see past it. And your mum�At least she is happy. That must count for something?�

�I guess. I�m�I�m just scared.�

�About what?� Joey was now crouched down next to Jack.

�Andie. I�m scared that all this will push her back over the edge. It would be all my fault.�

�Don�t be so hard on yourself. It�s no wonder you�re not getting better. You won�t if you keep worrying so much. Just for once in your life, could you please put yourself first? Forget everyone else and concentrate on Jack.�

�I can�t do that.�

�Why?�

�If I do that�I �I will run the risk of turning in to him�in to my dad. I can�t do that. I don�t want to end up like him.�

�Jack, that would never happen to you.�

�How can you be so sure?� Jack asked.

�Because, Jack McPhee, you have the biggest heart out of everyone I know. But more importantly, you use it. You aren�t afraid to love.� Joey pause �Mitch is very lucky to have you. I wish it was still me.� She pulled him in to a hug.

�I still love you, Joey. I probably always will. There are days that I wish we were still together too. I would be a lot easier than all this.�

�I know, but you�re too good for me.�

The door opened interrupting the conversation.

�There you are. Is everything okay?� Andie asked. Mitch was close behind her.

�Everything�s fine,� Joey answered. They both stood up.

�Why, Andie? Why did you ring them? I�m okay, they didn�t need to know.�

�I was scared.�

�I told you that I didn�t want him to know.�

�Yeah, the same as I told you that I didn�t want him to know that night I locked myself in the bathroom. The night I thought I saw Tim. Remember?�

�That was totally different. I couldn�t help you. Do you really think I wanted to ring him? I would have done anything not to, but you needed his help. I couldn�t help you, there was nothing I could do.�

�How is it different? He is your father as well. Whether you like it or not, you sometimes need help too, his help.�

�What can he do to help? Nothing. I don�t need him - I haven�t needed him for years. I don�t need any help, I�m over the worst.�

�Sure, Jack, what ever you want to believe. You�re not superman, you�re only human. Everyone needs help sometimes.�

�Not his help.�

Mitch was finally beginning to see the depth of Jack and his father�s problems. The room went silent.

�Come on, you should get back to bed,� Mitch said helping Jack out of the bathroom and back in to the bedroom.

All eyes were on Jack as he climbed back in to bed.

�Why don�t we all go down stairs and let Jack get some rest?� Grams suggested seeing the look of unease on Jack�s face.

�Yeah, sure.� Mitch took the lead.

�I�m staying here,� Mrs. McPhee said.

�Very well,� Grams said, ushering everyone out of the room, leaving mother and son alone. The room was silent.

�Sweetie, are you eating properly?�

�Yes, Mom. I�m fine, you don�t have to worry.�

�That�s not what Andie said.�

�She spoke to you? Not Dad?�

�No, I listened in on the other phone when I visited your dad. He doesn�t tell me anything, not since Tim left, he blames me.�

�What did she say?� Jack asked.

�She said that you were in trouble and he had to come.�

�That�s it?�

�No, she told him that you had a boyfriend.� She read his mind �He needs time to get used to it, darling. Then things will be fine. All he needs is time.�

�Did she say who?�

�No. I hoped it was Pacey, he is such a lovely boy, but I am guessing it�s that Mitch guy. Am I right?�

�Yeah.� Jack half smiled �How did you know?�

�I�m your mother, it�s my job to know.� She paused �He was talking to your dad this morning and your dad didn�t come away very happy, so I sort of guessed. But it is obvious by the way he looks at you and talks about you, he really likes you.� she smiled.

There was a short moment of silence.

�Mum?�

�Yes, sweetie?�

�How and when did you find out�you know�about me being gay?�

�Timmy told me,� she answered. Jack sighed. �Before he died.�

Jack looked up in shock.

�Sometimes, I just like to pretend that he is still around, still alive. He came to me about two weeks before the crash and told me.�

�Well, how did he know?�

�You know what Tim was like. He knew everything before everybody else. He came to me and told me. He thought I should be prepared to talk to your dad, whenever you were ready to tell us. You were dating Kate then, so I guessed that there wasn�t much of a hurry.� she paused �He really loved you, Jack. He always wanted to protect you. You were so precious to him. When you were born, he was so excited. He used to say that he couldn�t wait until you were older so he could teach you to play catch and football. When you learnt to walk he would go anywhere you went, following closely behind, just incase you fell, like a safety net. When your first word was �Tim�, he was so chuffed, he told everyone.� She smiled at the memory. �Wherever he is now, he is keeping an eye on you. You will always have him with you, just like when you started to walk, when you stumble and fall he will be there to pick you back up. He�ll be your support.�

She looked at Jack closely �I see him in you. I don�t know how your dad doesn�t. I know Andie does. He is right there inside you. He�s your strength. You�re Andie�s wall, Jack, and Tim is yours. He loves you. We all do. We always will.� Tears ran down Jack�s face as his mum pulled him in to a hug. �Now, you must get better, for Andie�and Mitch.�

*****

In the kitchen, everyone else gathered around the table.

�So, let me get this straight. My son was beaten up and left for dead by Dawson, your son,� he said to Mitch �because you and Jack are�seeing each other?� Mr. McPhee said shaking his head in clear disgust.

�That�s the basics,� Mitch answered.

�And Jack has refused to press charges?�

�That�s right. But you can overwrite that decision and make sure that Dawson is punished. All that you have to do is sign some forms,� Doug answered.

�So, I sign a few forms and some teenager will be punished. What evidence do you have?�

�Well, we have Jack�s condition, and a statement from him.�

�If he didn�t want to press charges, why did he give a statement?�

�He doesn�t know that he has. I recorded him telling us what happened,� Andie sighed feeling guilty.

�And Dawson admitted it too, infront of Pacey, Mitch and I,� Joey explained.

�So, will you sign?� Pacey asked.

There was silence.

�No,� Mr. McPhee answered bluntly.

�Why?!� Mitch shouted in disbelief.

�Because I don�t think Dawson acted unreasonably! If I were him and my dad was taking advantage of my friend, who was clearly confused about his sexuality, I would probably act the same!�

�Dad! He�s your son. Don�t you want to see the person who did this punished? The person who drove him to suicide, the one who tried to kill the only son you have left, the only brother I have, don�t you want to see him punished?�

�Suicide?�

�Jack cut his wrists. He tried to end his life,� Grams explained.

�I�m sorry. I can�t sign those. Jack knew what he was getting himself in to!� Mr McPhee said coldly.

�I doubt you would be acting this way if it was Tim, instead of Jack,� Jen snapped. �Andie, I�m sorry, but it�s true.� She turned back to Mr. McPhee. �Why are you so cold towards Jack? What has he ever done?� Jen yelled.

�Well, Tim would have more sense than to run off with a man old enough to be his father. Tim could and would have defended himself. Tim was normal!�

�How dare you?! Jack is your son,� Mitch yelled.

�And the one you want me to sign papers to punish is yours! Why don�t you go and mess around with him?!�

�Dad! Stop it!�

�I�m sorry, I won�t sign.�

�What about Mrs McPhee? Couldn�t she sign them?� Pacey asked.

�I don�t think they allow signatures from the mentally unstable,� Mr. McPhee half laughed.

�He�s right,� Doug replied. �There�s nothing I can do. I�m sorry.�

�Mr. McPhee, please! If you had only seen him, how bad he was. How much pain he was in�is in. If you could just forget that he is gay and that he is seeing Mitch for five minutes. You would realise that your son is so kind, caring and loving and you would know instantaneously that he didn�t deserve this. You would also realise how lucky you are�we all are to know him. You would see that Dawson should be punished for his actions,� Grams said. �Jack is like a grandson to me, he is as close to me as my real family and that is probably why I can�t understand how you can treat him and look at him the way you do.�

�I�m sorry, I�ve made up my mind. Dawson shouldn�t be punished.� With that he stood from the table and left the room.

�There has to be something that he can do? There must be! Why does Jack have to be so kind and forgiving?� Jen cried.

�I�m sorry, Jen. There�s nothing I can do. I need either Jack�s or his dad�s signature on these forms. I�m sorry,� Doug apologised.

�What was that?� Joey asked

�What was what?� Jen asked.

Everyone listened closely. Suddenly everyone heard it.

�It sounds like shouting,� Pacey pointed out.

�Dad! He went upstairs. It�s dad!� Andie yelled as she dashed for the stairs. Everyone followed her.

As they got to the landing the voices became clearer. They dashed in to the bedroom.

Jack was wrapped in his mum�s arms on the bed. He wasn�t upset, she wasn�t comforting him. He was angry and she was stopping him from either lashing out or running out of the room. His dad was standing over them, shouting. His face was red and his eyes were full of rage.

�How could you, Jack?� Mr. McPhee was yelling. �How could you do that that to Dawson? You must have known that it would upset him. You�re the one who�s to blame.� Jack looked straight at him, his face expressionless. �Congratulations, Jack, you�ve managed to break up another family, well done. And this time you�ve dragged all your friends in to it. You�ve made Dawson look like the bad guy and you the victim. We both know it�s the other way around! How did I get stuck with a son like you?! And this!� Mr. McPhee grabbed Jack�s wrist. �Why, Jack? You couldn�t live with yourself? Couldn�t stand what you did, the amount of sins you committed?� He squeezed Jack�s wrist making Jack cry out in pain. �You�re a wimp, Jack. You can�t even face up to situations you get yourself in to!� Jack�s face was streaming with tears of pain.

�Get off of him! You�re hurting him,� Jen screamed �Leave him alone!�

�You can keep out of it!� He yelled at Jen.

�Don�t talk to her like that!� Jack hissed.

�So that�s how to get anything out of you. By talking back to your freaky friends and perverted boyfriend!�

�Shut up! Keep them out of it! They haven�t done anything! None of them are freaks or perverted! Just leave them alone!� Jack yelled.

�Do you know why I am here?� Mr. McPhee asked Jack. �They brought me here to sign a form. A form that would overwrite your decision not to press charges! They recorded what you told them for a statement!�

�What?� Jack whispered looking along his line of friends and family. He couldn�t believe it.

�I refused. I am not having Dawson punished for something you provoked him to do. You know you�re in the wrong, that�s why you did this.� He squeezed Jack�s wrist again, receiving the same reaction as before. �You wanted to leave Dawson in trouble. That�s also why you didn�t press charges, you know he hasn�t done anything wrong!� He dropped Jack�s wrist. �You know, I didn�t think it was possible for you to disappoint me anymore than in the past, but, well done, you�ve managed! I never had these kinds of problems with Tim. We sort of got the short straw with you, didn�t we?!�

�That�s it, Dad, I can�t listen to this anymore!� Andie screamed. �Stop it! Jack has done nothing wrong! I love him, you may not, but we all do! We did not get the short straw with Jack. I would never trade Jack for Tim, ever. I love Tim and I miss him like nothing on earth, but I am blessed with Jack. I have a warm loving, sensitive brother, who, I know, would do anything for me. And when I really miss Tim, all I have to do is look at Jack and there he is. If you can�t see Tim in everything Jack does than you must be blind!� Andie took breath. �Tim was the perfect child, we both accepted that. Jack and I realised from a young age that he would always be your favourite and that he would never put a foot wrong. That�s why you loved him. You always insisted on comparing Jack and Tim - Jack could never live up to his standards because Tim was perfect. Well, Jack�s perfect too. I wouldn�t have him any other way. Jack has also never done anything wrong, but you keep punishing him anyway! But I won�t have it anymore. It�s not fair!�

�Andie, leave it, it�s okay,� Jack begged.

�No, Jack. It�s not okay. How can you just take that from him? You don�t deserve it!�

�Andie, I think you have said enough,� Mr. McPhee said coldly.

�No, the only person that we have heard enough from is you! So, if you aren�t going to sign the forms, you can leave!�

�I�m not going to sign them!�

�Goodbye then!�

�Fine! Andrea, come on, we�re leaving.�

�No! You are,� Mrs. McPhee answered. �You go, my son needs me.�

�How will you get back to the centre?�

�I�ll take her.� Pacey stepped forward.

�Thank you Pacey,� Mrs. McPhee smiled.

�Fine! Goodbye!� Mr. McPhee said as he stormed out of the house.

�Jack, I�m so sorry,� Jen whispered. Jack said nothing, just cuddled closer in to his mum�s arms.

�Don�t worry, honey. I�m here. Forget everything your dad said. He doesn�t know what he�s talking about. I�m here,� Mrs. McPhee whispered.

�Why did he say all that stuff?� Andie asked her mum.

�I honestly don�t know, dear� she held her son close �But none of it was true, none of it.�

�Jack, are you okay?� Mitch asked.

Jack didn�t answer.

�Sweetie?� Mrs. McPhee looked down worriedly at her son curled up in her arms. He was shaking. �Are you cold sweetie?� Mrs. McPhee tried to stay calm. She tried to hide the worry in her voice, but everyone heard it.

Jen pulled a blanket off of the bed and gave it to Mrs. McPhee to wrap around Jack.

�Jack, are you okay?� There was no answer. �It�s okay, everyone that cares most about you are here. Don�t pay any attention to what your dad said. He didn�t mean it. He was wrong. You haven�t done anything wrong. You must remember that.� Mitch sighed and looked at Mrs. McPhee. �We have spent the last week trying to convince Jack that he wasn�t to blame for everything that has happened. But now��

�He really takes to heart what his dad says to him. What he thinks matters to Jack, no matter how much he denies it.� Jen finished for Mitch.

�He will be okay, won�t he?� Joey asked.

�I hope so.�