The Alley

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The Alley
by Marie

***

Author's Notes: (05/10/01) - This is another one of my stories from my senior year in high school (1999)... I went through it and just generally edited it, but a lot of it remained the same. I was going to change "that scene" (you'll know when you read it) but then decided against doing so, 'cause there *was* a reason why I wrote it like that, I'm sure. *lol* ^_~ Anyway this story is kinda a sequel to my original fic "Secrets" and I recommend you read that first to orientate yourselves to the characters. This fic contains a non-consensual situation and overall bad language. Discretion is advised. Thanks!! ^_^

Dedication: This and "Secrets" are dedicated to my friend Amy (aka "Zoi no miko"), because if it wasn't for her my "Reid and Donald" fics would never have seen the light of day again. *grumbles, then winks* :D

***

Late Spring

It was sheer chance that it happened. Everyone knows that you don't roam the streets of the city alone at night; but obviously something, perhaps something urgent, had driven Donald out of his safe little town home that evening.

They caught him at the junction of the alleyway, which opened up onto a dreary and dark side street that shaped it's self in an 'L' and ended in a wall. It was in a more run down and industrial part of town, a good hike away from the school. And especially at night it appeared that all that inhabited that street and the surrounding area were vacant buildings, boarded and left to rot. All and all the location was fairly secluded… and "perfect".

Donald didn't know much about the dangers of walking down those streets alone and unarmed at night... even Reid's friend Mike wasn't completely aware of the danger. Most people didn't know about that back alley at all. Nobody else used it any longer, and so back when they where young enough to be in high school, Travis and his friends had turned it into an awesome little hang out. And when it was used by them now it was more often then not used for... other purposes. Sometimes just for hanging out and drinking, sometimes for drug dealing, sometimes for both. And on the very rare occasion more violent... more *fatal* games were played there.

When it came down to it, no one knew how many unfortunates had been led back there, only to leave the next morning… down the river to be washed out to sea, or to wash up on the beach somewhere and be discovered and declared another unidentifiable murder. Some deserved their treatment for one reason or another, most probably for double crossing Travis. Yet others didn't... he knew that there must have been innocents involved from time to time. He didn't care. I wasn't any of his business, it was Travis'. He was a participant sometimes, but most of the time he was just a watcher. And he was just a watcher because to get involved would be insane.

Travis, in all honest truth, scared Reid. He couldn't help it. All of *his* friends were just kids, really. They had their fun and went their merry little ways. But Travis... Travis couldn't seem to see that. Everything was so serious to him-- deadly serious.

And anyway, sometimes Travis' victims didn't die... in fact he had yet to witness a murder actually take place. When him and his high school aged friends were about, more often then not people received "warnings".

Once and a while... when they didn't have someone to give out warnings to, sometimes the guys would "capture" some poor homeless person or an ugly passerby to kick around a bit before letting them go, shaky and just a tad worst for wear. It only ended up mattering what the overtones of the night were when it happened… and Reid could tell but the lewd behavior and the violence about that this was going to be one of those nights-- long before Donald ever walked by.

***

They sacked the boy at around three in the morning. It was after all of the more conservative guys-- like Mike for example-- were long gone home, and still others had left or had been driven home purely and simply because they had been too drunk to be about any longer. Reid had accompanied the few mostly sober ones that were left that night to the mouth of the alley, laughing and talking with them. He thought the fun was done for the night, that he would be heading home himself. He hadn't actually expected any of them to try to pick anyone up. But they did, mostly out of the off chance that someone had been walking by *just* then...

Talk about extremely bad timing.

Some of the others had already began to break up and head home in various directions when Reid saw Travis and a select core of four of his older friends surround someone at the mouth of the alley. Reid remembered vividly how the boy had looked up from the couple dollar bills he had clenched in his right hand to blink owlishly at the assailants that now confronted him, a surprised look on his face.

He recognized the boy instantly. It was Donald, the quiet, rather cute looking boy that was in both his math and English classes with him. Donald... that boy... on occasion he had wanted to...

No....

Trying to appear nonchalant, he started to walk back to the mouth of the alley to quietly rejoin Travis and his friends.

Travis had begun his routine quickly. "Well, well, well," he had smirked, coming forwards towards the boy. Instantly Donald started, then attempted to stuff the meager bills in his hand into his pocket. He wasn't quite fast enough because Travis had darted forward and grabbed his wrist before he could do so.

"Hey!" Donald had protested, trying to get the larger and quite a bit meatier guy to return his clenched fist to him. Travis only pried open the boy's fingers and took the money away from them, causing Donald to gasp. "Give that back!"

Reid shifted about uncomfortably, glancing over at Travis. He wished he could have said something… "Let 'em go…" but stopped himself quickly. If he protested he had a feeling that Travis would just hurt the kid on purpose... just because that was something Travis would do. He remembered quite vividly another night not so long ago when Travis had locked him in a room for a night... "just because" and his cheeks warmed at the thought.

He shook his head, gnawing at his lip nervously. As it stood now… he found himself suddenly praying that Travis would only tease the kid a bit and then that would be all.

If only...

He looked back up, back at where Travis was partially circling the kid, then looked at Donald. He had seen Donald many *many* times before in school, but he seemed so much more different now, here in the dark. He was so much more.... vulnerable... and there was something about him in general, those wide eyes and the way his hands clasped together nervously...

Donald had spoken to him often in school, spoke to him with concern, and caring in his voice, much to Reid's utter irritation. He seemed set in getting Reid involved in school, something that Reid detested for the most part. "... are you coming to math Reid? Would you like help on your essay Reid?"

And his response was usually something along the lines of "No", "shut *up*", and "leave me alone."

True, Donald *was* irritating and naive, but by no means did he deserve to be knocked around by Travis and his friends...

Bringing desperate eyes back up onto the situation at hand, he watched Travis move.

"Ohhh," Travis was pouting at the boy, mocking him as he had finished explaining to him why exactly he had to release him and return his money to him. "Let me get this straight..." Travis mimicked. "Your sister is sick with a nasty cold, so you thought you'd be a nice older brother and fetch her some cough syrup from the convenience store." he paused, then suddenly grabbed Donald's wrist again, twisting his arm. With the other hand he waved Donald's money in the air. "Ain't that sweet guys?"

The rest of the guys around Travis laughed uproariously, more at the confused look on Donald's face then at Travis' tone of voice.

Donald's forehead wrinkled, not understanding him at all. "But it's the truth!" he protested, pulling against Travis' grip on his hand to no avail. The men only laughed louder, and Reid watched Travis very deliberately pocket the money. That only caused the boy's confusion to grow. "Please!" he continued, "Let me go… I have to take care of her…."

'The poor bastard...' Reid thought, feeling suddenly very sorry for the struggling boy. He was telling the truth, and that was the sad part. After all, Reid hadn't spent a year in the same math class as him to not learn how to read him like an open book….

The raucous laughter from the men was only amplified. In that short string of words Donald had only sealed his fate….

Travis' strong arms slid around the boy's neck and upper body, restraining him. "You, my pretty little boy," he pronounced, sick grin forming on his face. "Are not going anywhere." He laughed, a harsh and disgusting sound, and began to bodily haul the boy off in the direction of the alley. "We're gonna have FUUU~N tonight!!"

***

It wasn't hard to carry the terrified form back there, kicking and screaming granted. Feeling slightly sick at some of the raucous comments coming from the guys Reid followed them to the very back of the alley. He certainly hoped they weren't going to do what they were threatening to do... because that was absolutely...

It looked like they were. Reid watched as Travis made a very deliberate grope at the boy, causing him to half double over in shock. 'Oh no...'

"NOOOO!" The boy cried out suddenly, his green eyes full of terror as he attempted to break away from the many hands that were now tearing at him, at his clothes….

And then it happened. He broke away for a bare second, darting in Reid's general direction, then stopped, mouth hanging open. For the first time in about ten minutes Donald actually saw him. His eyes widened even more, and Reid could see the open fear mixed with the recognition on his face. It lasted only a tiny moment in time, before the hands reached him and roughly pulled him to the center of his circle of torment. Donald's eyes still remained soundlessly fixed on Reid until a grab at his light brown hair distracted him back to his present dilemma….

Shaken, Reid slowly took a step backwards. And another and another, until he had pressed himself right back against the back wall of the alley. He looked on, not really seeing. There was a message in those eyes when they saw him. He wasn't too sure what exactly what that message was, but it seemed almost as if Donald was expecting someone like him to appear now that he was scared out of his mind. And another message was in them as well.... and that one about how he was expecting so much more....

Why don't you help me...?

"W - what am I doing here?" he asked himself softly, slumping farther against the worn, blacken bricks. 'I'm not a…' he looked up. He wanted, or rather his body seemed to want, that struggling, squirming bit of humanity, and just as much as any of his friends. Perhaps a bit more, he realized, feeling his stomach turn. But it wasn't his to take….

He snorted, confused. 'Why do I care anyhow?' he asked himself. Perhaps… perhaps it was because the boy cared. Yes… that was it. After all he had been the one that trekked after him around the school...

Or maybe it was the basic fact that, yes, he was a male. 'Fuck... this is the same place that Mike...'

Mike! He hand promised Mike that he would never hurt Donald again. He had *promised*. But he wasn't the one hurting him now... was he?

But by his inaction he was allowing him to *be* hurt....

He winced, teeth clenching and hands balling into fists. Travis had finally managed to bring the sobbing and now mostly exposed boy to his hands and knees, and then stomach, straddling his thin and shaking form. Reid could help but to watch as he deftly yanked off his belt, bringing his own pants down to around his knees. He flinched involuntarily as Donald cried out in shear unadulterated fear as Travis' already aroused and erect penis brushed against his lower back… which only caused Travis to laugh out loud in sick joy. He was joined by his concourses of hellish voices all around him as he gripped his hardened organ and used it as a projectile to force it in to the boy… the cry of pain that welled up from Donald's violently trembling form caused equal cries and screams of delight from the surrounding men....

Reid closed his eyes and brought the back of his fist across them, moaning softly under his breath. Not being able to see didn't help any… he could still hear the voices, the noises of Travis satisfying himself and the moans and pleads for a turn from the others…

The fuckers.

And he was no better then them. The sounds…

They were doing absolutely nothing to quell the churning in his abdomen *and* his stomach. He felt both aroused and like he was going to be violently ill all at the same time. He couldn't...

"No!" The once gentle voice broke through the haze that was quickly enveloping his mind. Reid's eyes reopened. It had sounded, just for an instant, like the voice of an angel condemned to hell. But it wasn't. It was Donald… and true to the boy the voice had come from, it was still incredibly and painfully open and honest as it plead for it's release. "It hurts!" it cried out against the weight pressed against it. "Stop it! Please…!" A sharp breath. "Please… somebody help me…"

Help me.

Someone... help me... he was somebody wasn't he? Reid's eyes clouded suddenly, and instead of the scene before him he saw distasteful memories of his own that he didn't want. It seemed like everything he had ever done wrong in his life before was coming against him now… commanding him to react; to help this kid. And Travis… Travis merely swat at Donald's crumpled form, howling with mad laughter at his humbled pained requests….

All the lust he had felt only moments ago now brimmed and turned to rage in side of him. Seething, Reid darted forwards. It took surprisingly little effort to knock his drunken friends out of the way, to shove Travis off the form. Shouting obscenities, he yanked the man to his feet, jamming him against the nearest wall, hitting him again and again….

All thoughts of rape gone; it took all four of the rest of Travis' men to haul Reid off of him. Even then, he still lashed out at them all in his blind fury. It took a minute of them holding him somewhat still in the same place for Reid's eyes to clear of the red that clouded his vision. He went limp in their arms, glaring and breathing heavily.

Travis glared, a look of disgust twisting his already ugly feature's as he came forwards. "What the HELL do you think you're doing?!" he demanded to know. His fist racked against Reid's jaw *hard*. "Well?!" he hissed.

Donald cried out.

Donald…

Had cried out? For him?! He was a nobody, he was… Reid could see the boy now that his face had been snapped in that direction, huddled in the corner of the alley, arms wrapped futilely around his slender legs, but still obviously feeling his rescuer's pain in those cursed eyes. 'Why...?'

He was slow to recover, slow to look away from him, for he saw it now; the thing that Donald obviously saw. He had saved the boy in vain, and he was going to die. Now he was just as much as a victim as him…except maybe he would die slightly better then him tonight. Travis was probably much too mad to rape him before he took a knife to his throat…

"You know, he has a point Travis."

Surprising relief came. One of the other four men, a man whom Reid had never seen before that night, who looked about his thirties and had long greasy black hair, released his grip on Reid's right arm to step forwards. "He has a point Travis," he commented quietly, taking a cautious step towards the man. "We really shouldn't…"

Yes! Reid saw his chance. Wrenching himself free of the rest of the arms that held him, he stumbled away in the general direction of Donald. He stood defensively above the boy. "No, no!" he cried out sarcastically. "Go right ahead!" His lip pulled up in disgust, and he focused his gaze on all the rest of Travis' friends, though careful not to look at Travis himself. He shot his voice in their direction, motioning to the cowering boy behind him. "If one of you feels right about continuing to hurt this kid, go right ahead." He glowered, feeling the frothing anger rising in his chest once again. "But you'll have to kill me first." He ended his last statement in a warning hiss, his eyes narrowed and fists clenched. After all he always won a fight... if he wasn't outnumbered. There were four of them now against him and his unexpected ally, so hopefully....

Dead silence met his threat. Yeah, they could try to out number him and take him out… but he was hoping that they wouldn't find it worth it… he drew in a quick nervous breath from between his teeth.

And then out of the corner of his eyes he saw the other man who had helped flash him an approving look. At the same time the whole entire group of Travis' friends backed down, most of them grumbling and turning away. He had said the right words. Either that or they just weren't worth it.

Turning, throwing their last regards over their shoulders, like as if nothing had happened, they began to leave. Reid even caught a few comments about how he was probably messed up presently on something, and how he'd get over it, and so on. Reid raised an eyebrow.

Travis was the last to leave. For a moment Reid was very afraid hatred burning in his eyes, but Travis quickly covered his displeasure up with a sour smile. "Later," was all he half snarled before he left the alley behind the three other men.

Slowly Reid relaxed, his eyes focused on the man who had helped him. Equally, the man looked at him.

The man spoke first. "My name's Casey Jones," he offered to Reid. He came forward, scarred and roughened hand outstretched. "I," he drew in a steadying breath. "I didn't mean to be here with your friends tonight, but I've been tracking Travis for awhile now…"

Reid took his hand. "Tracking Travis…." he repeated.

The man nodded. "I've been hired part time to help a police detective to hunt him down. I happen to know a heck of a lot more about the under ground of this city than she does, and she's been working here for years." He chuckled. "For example..."

Reid cut him off. "Hey, you're a police officer?! Then why the hell didn't you help out before now?" he demanded to know.

The man shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I only work for the police temporarily. No one ever said I was a cop. I have no obligation." he began to walk away, then seemed to hesitate, stopping. He turned his head slightly. "… I saw the look on your face, boy," he said over his shoulder. He turned back around all the way, a gentle look on his unusually craggy and worn features as he inspected Donald's now shivering form in the corner. "I knew you where going to react. I was just waiting for it to happen so that I could help you. As you probably figured out, I couldn't fight them all myself." He glanced back up at Reid. "And I have enough evidence now to convict him of something." Sticking his hand in a very deep trench coat pocket he carefully drew out a baggie full of a while power... a pound of crack, obviously bought earlier that evening. He then replaced it and nodded towards Donald's rather pathetic form. "It was unfortunate that this had to happen as well. You will take care of him?" he questioned, returning his gaze to Reid. "Or do we need to call the real police and have them clean up the mess?"

Reid glared, but shook his head when Donald moaned with embarrassment behind him. "No," he snapped.

The man named Casey shrugged. "Suit yourself." Chuckling, he disappeared out of the mouth of the alleyway, leaving Reid to fume alone behind him for a long moment before turning reluctantly back to his problem at hand.

***

The boy merely stared up at him from behind the bruised kneecaps, red rimmed eyes wide and frightened. Forcing himself to smile awkwardly, Reid came forward.

"Donald…" he began, crouching down in front of him. He held out a hand.

Donald shrunk away, retreating further against the grimy wall of the back alley. His wide eyes blinked at him, then a crease formed in between them, making him look confused. Hurt. And his breathing sped up....

Fear. Reid sighed softly. "Come on Donald. Don't be scared…" he hesitated, feeling even more awkward then before. "I'm not going to hurt you," he tried to reassure.

'Damn.' He cursed mentally. 'Come on kid… please?' he glanced down at his own outstretched hand, noting that it was shaking ever so slightly.

Donald didn't seem to notice. "Reid..." he began softly, using that one syllable name in such a way that the owner thought his heart would break. "I…" he stopped, the utter disbelief on his face very real.

Reid had to turn away from him. Grasping his knees with his trembling hands he stood solidly.

"Get your things," he ordered gruffly over his shoulder. "I'll walk you home."

He drew in a deep breath from between his teeth as he waited, then another. Reaching into his coat pocket, he took out a cigarette from his pack and a lighter, lighting it, and drawing a very rapid deep breath from it. He closed his eyes slightly as he exhaled slowly.

The slight sounds of the boy scrambling around and redonning his cloths sounded behind him, but Reid didn't turn back. He forced himself not to. He only knew that Donald was finished when a slight presence could be felt at his side, and a tentative hand touched his jacket sleeve.

"I'm done," it reported, quivering voice barely above a whisper.

Reid shrugged off the hand, his traitorous feelings turning around inside him. He clenched his jaw and pushed them away brutally. Stop….

He began to walk towards the mouth of the alley, then stopped abruptly. He did have one last thing to do before the boy could be taken home….

***

"Reid where are we going?" Donald asked from where he was trotting along behind the taller boy. His voice held a tad of mistrust and the subsequent fear that went with it.

Reid had to turn around and give him a reassuring look, which was about the last thing he wanted to do. "You said you where going to the convenience store didn't you?" he asked him.

Donald stopped walking for a moment, then jogged to keep up with Reid's long strides. "Yes, but that man…" he began breathlessly when he had reached him.

Reid removed his cigarette and flicked it before grinning and motioned him to silence. "I'm going to lend you a few bucks. Don't worry about it." He was very deliberate in making sure his voice held the warning that there was no room for argument.

Silence from the shadow behind him. In fact, so deep and complete was the silence, that after a few steps he had to turn around to see if the boy was even following him any more.

He was... but he was... Reid stopped walking abruptly.

Crying out Donald bumped into him. He quickly shied away, wiping at the obtrusive tears that were wending their ways down his face.

Reid merely looked at him. "Okay, what's wrong now?" he sighed.

Donald sniffled, then peered up at him in accusation. "You Reid. There's something wrong with you. You've never done anything nice to me before at all! Why are you being kind to me?" Suddenly his face contorted with the memories that had so recently been planted there. He backed up against the nearest building wall, head buried in his hands. "I… I thought you were going to…." he choked, his tiny voice ending in a heart felt sob. He slumped further against the wall, trembling violently. "... Reid... why didn't you Reid...?" His voice was barely a whisper.

Reid stared at his rather pathetic form mutely. In all honesty he had no idea how to answer him. He *wanted* to… but he refused to let himself... how could he assure the boy, this child that everything was okay?

He tread forwards carefully. "Get up." He ordered gruffly.

He was shaking violently when he did so, his arms folded about himself in a half fetal position. Trauma...

In one fluid motion he pulled the boy to him. Not roughly... but gently, and firmly enough to prevent the boy from worming free. He felt the boy breath hitch as he stiffened against him, which Reid promptly ignored. Suddenly Donald ceased to resist, clinging at him as he buried his head into the folds of Reid's jacket. He sobbed, though abet muffled by Reid's jacket, and Reid endured, feeling a slight blush creep up onto his cheeks. "I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered softly, patting him gently on the back while waiting for reality to set back in for the boy….

It didn't take too terribly long. Pulling away, now looking ashamed, Donald sniffed one last time. He drew in a shaky breath. "I'm sorry," he apologized in an agonized whisper.

Reid shrugged. "Forget it."

Donald looked up at him, then rubbed wearily at an eye with a fist. "Are you mad now?" he mumbled.

Reid stared at him. "Why would I be mad?"

Donald looked away, seeming willing to look anywhere else *but* at Reid's face. "Well it's just, um…"

Reid sighed, then reached out, turning Donald's face towards his… forcing him to meet his eye. "Look Donald, I'll tell you something…" he hesitated, then lost his nerve. "Later. Okay? But I'm not mad. Understand?"

He nodded soundlessly, his weary eyes trusting.

Reid turned back away from the boy, sighing mentally to himself. 'Damn.' He cleared his throat. "Good. Now is your sister still sick or not?"

***

"Donny," The tiny form piped at her brother, grasping one of his fingers with her small hand. "I thought you weren't going to come back for me," she told him between coughs, smiling up at him to show the gap where she was missing her two front teeth. Reid couldn't help but to smile to himself from where he stood inconspicuously against her bedroom door frame. Despite the fact that her face was flushed with fever, she was still the sweetest looking six year old….

Donald shook his head at the girl. "Of course I would of come back!" he reassured at her, running his hands through her blond locks of hair. "Who else would take care of you then?" He giggled with the girl at the apparent silliness of that comment, and for a moment he didn't look so wearied any longer. The look of laughter faded from his face as the girl erupted into a bout of coughing that left her breathless. Concerned, Donald pressed a hand against her forehead before reaching up to a basin on her dresser and drawing a wet cloth to press it against her forehead.

She opened her eyes again, looking right at Reid where he stood against the door frame. "Who's that?" she asked.

Reid started. Donald looked up at him, hesitating a moment before turning back to his sister, smile carefully in place. "... Just a guy your brother knows from school."

"Ah." Her little eyes closed again.

Slowly Reid pulled himself away from the room's doorway and trudged in the general direction of the kitchen… thinking… and not liking it one bit.

"Of course it was a silly question," he whispered to himself, pulling out a kitchen table chair. He sunk into it, his heart hurting him once again, along with his head, and not for the first time that evening. "We almost took him away from you tonight, that's all." He buried his chin in his hands, eyes inspecting this house that the boy he had once upon a time so loved to tease and push around lived. He had never felt so incredibly badly about the small sin of ridiculing a person in all of his short life....

It was a humble home, this one, hardly nothing compared to his large apartment that he lived in, but no one ever used. It spoke of the life that the single parent family led, as Donald had explained to him on the way back from the all-night drug store. He told him that his dad had died in a fatal car accident when he was only 9, and left his wife alone with her one child and pregnant. They had survived though, lived through it. After his sister had been born, his mom found the "perfect" job to cope with having two children that demanded from her everything. She had received a job as a late night waitress, a simple job really, but it was in a well enough paying, expensive restaurant/bar in the uptown part of the City. She worked almost every weeknight since then, as far as Donald could remember. From 9 at night until 5 in the morning. She would stay up until her children awoke to go to school and left them off with a kiss, before sacking out for the day. Then at night at around 5 she would totter back out of bed to spend the rest of the evening preparing diner and a bit of house cleaning before she left Donald alone with his little sister.

The same routine, day in and day out. Reid shook his head, wincing at the headache it provoked. It must be nice, he thought, to have even one parent that cared....

"Reid?" the familiar voice came at him, breaking him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Donald coming towards him, a slight smile on his face. "She's asleep now... you okay?"

Reid looked at him. "I'm fine, why?"

Donald shrugged, still smiling. "'Cause you make a heck of a lot more noise in math, that's all." he told him brightly, walking into the kitchen. He opened a cupboard and hefted out a cup. "Cocoa?" he offered.

Reid shook his head, forehead wrinkling suddenly. An opportunity to use the kid had just presented it's self in his mind. After all he had just saved his butt, and now he was sitting in his house. A good chance to ask him for help, since he was failing high school anyway…

"Actually…" Reid paused for a moment, thinking about the best way for him to phrase his request. "You're good in Math aren't you?"

Donald nodded, returning the cup to the cupboard. He shut the wooden door with a slight thump, taking a tentative step towards Reid. "Yeah…?" he returned quizzically.

A sheepish grin. Reid ran a hand across his forehead in slight frustration, then grinned up at the boy. "I'm kinda failing the course right now," he said. "You wouldn't by any chance be able to give me a hand?" he asked. "Like tutor me or something?"

Donald nodded, eyes wide. "Of course!" he returned. He paused for a moment, considering. "I mean you'd probably be doing well if you didn't sit there in class and…" Donald peered at his feet for a second, then wisely shut-up.

"I know, I know." Reid didn't even try to contradict the boy. Getting up from his chair swiftly, he stood. "I'd better be heading home," he told Donald abruptly.

"Oh." Looking almost disappointed, Donald cautiously followed him to the front door of his house. He silently watched as he put his shoes back on.

"Reid?"

"Yes Donald?" Sighing Reid completed pulling his shoe on and glanced back up at the boy.

Donald studied his feet. "I, um…." he began.

"Don't say it," Reid warned, getting the distinct impression that the boy was going to bring up the evening again. He didn't think he could deal with the remembrance. Not now, not when he felt so incredibly guilty….

Startled Donald looked back up at him. "But…" he stopped. "You won't tell anyone about what happened tonight will you?" his green eyes practically begged Reid to understand.

Reid rolled his own eyes, but had to smile reassuringly at the boy. "Of course not," he told him. Carefully he opened the door, preparing to leave. Suddenly he turned back, grasping the boy's arm with considerable force. "You're going to be okay, Donald?" He asked him, peering into his suddenly fearful face.

For a moment the boy hesitated and Reid thought he was going to say no. Then he smiled, nodding quickly. "Yes! Of course!!" He grinned, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. It didn't even come close...

Reid released his arm and frowned. He really wanted to go... but he couldn't just let it drop for some reason. "You're lying." He re-shut the door, stepping back into the house.

The fake smile faded rapidly; the weary look returning. "I..." Donald hesitated for a moment before worming his arm back from Reid's grasp and clenching it unconsciously. "I will be okay Reid, I promise."

Reid raised an eyebrow slightly before nodding once and reaching for the door. "See you at school then."

A nod. Donald tilted his head quizzically to the side as Reid exited the house. "I-- wait, Reid!" he called after him suddenly.

Reid slowed down, but didn't stop.

Donald turned his questioning look at his retreating form. I... would you... "What where you going to tell me before?" he asked finally.

Reid froze mid-stride. Slowly he turned back to the boy.

'You don't want to know....'

"I…" Reid faltered. "Never mind," he said finally. He smiled, a small little smile. "It isn't important." He turned to go again, making his way down the rest of the sidewalk. "Later kid."

***

End

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