#jesse kramer

Nightfall had come quicker than expected. The tender blanket of night had swallowed the town. Kace found himself staring at the ceiling, his veins swollen in his neck, pulsing hearing his father ramble aimlessly downstairs. He did his best to shove the noise away but his ears kept finding each thump in the night.

The teen kicked off the covers and sulked out. “What is it this time?” he grumbled, dragging himself through the door. He stumbled downstairs, and peered over seeing his dad staring at the bulletin board. “Dad?”

“You’re gonna play rugby” he muttered

“What?”

“Baseball. You don’t wanna play football so you’re playing rugby”

“But dad… my asthma you don’t even let me use my inhaler in public”

“I said you’re playing rugby and that’s final. You don’t wanna play football. Fine. So this is your other option” he answered, crossing his arms. “And you wanna tell me about that Stine kid? That whole blue flash and the car? And you were gone like nothing”

Kace’s feet sank into the floor, pressing his toes into ground. “Dad, that kid is the one who I sent to the hospital. And his family does that slapstick Vegas magic. When we were in the second grade his dad came and taught the class card tricks. Im pretty sure he taught his kids. Jamie probably used a different variant of those smoke prop things magicians use to vanish off stage or something”

“Don’t give me that bullshit Kace. I know what I saw. And what I saw was impossible”

“You sure because that’s a magicians whole deal…They’re great at tricking people and make the impossible look real”

Kace’s father looked over at his son, his expression darkening by the second. “Don’t start that with me”

“Start what?! Keeping you rational? You sound insane. Just drop it”

“I know what I saw Kace” his father snapped back, eyes practically lunging at his son.

“Do you? Last time you “knew what you saw” mom ended up in the hospital”

The silence weighed down between both of them. The darkness in his fathers eyes deepening into pools of tar.

“You don’t fucking speak to me that way. I loved your mother. You hear me!?” He spat, pointing to his chest.

“Yeah and look where that got her”

A thickness sponged through the air, swallowing them, tensing their jugulars as they glared at one another. Neither one of them spoke, challenging the other to speak first.

Kace relented.

“What are you doing?” The boy asked, looking toward the board.

“Visualizing” his father pointed toward the board, “That family…There’s something wrong with that family”

“Pretty sure they’re not the family that’s got something wrong with them” Kace muttered, digging his arms in further to his chest.

His dad let out a sigh, “One more…Give me lip one more time. You got something to say then say it like a man, instead out muttering it like a sissy. I don’t ever hit you? Do I? I could be a lot worse. So be thankful.”

The teen rolled his eyes, finally meeting his dads eyes, “You killed her. You knew she was sick. And you knew she was going to leave you. But got to the point where she physically couldn’t. And you kept her here and let her die in that hospital” he huffed before continuing, “And you wanna love your sad glory days through me? All because you got taken out early because you got hurt? One bad break in the leg huh? Well I’m done with that. I-I hate football, do you have any idea how many people I’ve hurt!? I-I almost killed someone! You lied to the coach about me being asthmatic. Everytime I play I have to pray to god I don’t get a damn attack on the field.” he let out another shaky breath, “you ever think of that? Or too concerned about me bringing home a trophy”

Before he could even look up, he felt the sharp splitting sting strike across his face, a ring of fire spreading through the surface of his cheek. His eyes swung wide open at the hand impact from his side. His right hand came up to it, cradling it trying to numb the lingering flames.

Kace’s vision sharpened in ugly fragments: the bulletin board behind his dad, the crooked pushpins, the messy web of notes. The hallway light buzzing faintly overhead. The outline of a man who looked like he didn’t recognize what he’d just done.

Kace swallowed hard. His throat burned more than he expected.

“…You hit me,” he said quietly in disbelief.

His father’s jaw tightened. His hand slowly lowered, fingers flexing like they didn’t know what to do next.

“You—” he started, then stopped. Restarted. “You don’t speak to me like that.”

But the words didn’t have weight behind them now. They sounded rehearsed. Hollow in a way that made the air feel colder.

Kace let out a shaky breath through his nose, still holding his cheek. The sting was still fresh, still spreading heat across his face, but something else hurt worse…something deeper that didn’t fade as fast.

“That’s your answer?” Kace’s voice cracked slightly, but he didn’t look away. “That’s it?”

His father’s eyes flickered, just for a second, down to Kace’s hand on his face.

Something shifted there. A flicker of recognition. Or maybe regret. It was hard to tell which one lasted longer.

“I didn’t—” he began, then stopped again, like the sentence couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.

Kace laughed once, sharp and empty. “You did…..You fucking did…”

His father’s eyes dropped again, not to Kace’s face this time, but to the space between them.

“I didn’t mean—” he started again.

And stopped.

Kace shook his head once, “Don’t,” he said. “Just don’t…”

“You’re mother wouldn’t have let you talk to me like that” he bellowed, lowering his head, his chin nearly at his chest.

“…You’re insane….you’re actually insane”

Finally, Kace dropped his hand from his face despite the flaming sting and took a small step back, “I’m done,” he said simply, backing away toward the door.

“Where are you going”

“Out”

…

The door slammed hard enough to rattle the frame.

Kace didn’t stop walking.

The cold night air hit his burning cheek instantly, but it did nothing to cool it down. His lungs pulled in sharp breaths as he stormed down the driveway, sneakers scraping against cracked pavement. Behind him, he could still hear the muffled sound of his father shouting something through the house.

He didn’t listen.

His ears rang too loudly too.

“He hit me…he actually hit me”

Kace shoved both hands into his hoodie pockets and kept moving, faster now, shoulders tight around his ears. The neighborhood sat quiet under the dim orange glow of streetlights. Sprinklers clicked somewhere in the distance. A dog barked once, then silence swallowed everything again.

His cheek still throbbed.

Every few seconds his jaw clenched on instinct, like his body still expected another hit.

He hated that.

He hated that his hands were shaking.

Kace dragged a hand through his hair and sucked in a breath that caught halfway down his chest. Bad idea. The cold air scraped his lungs raw. A wheeze threatened itself into existence.

“Great,” he muttered bitterly.

He slowed near the curb, pressing the heel of his palm against the center of his chest. Not now. Please not now.

His inhaler sat upstairs on his dresser.

Because his father hated seeing it.

Because “athletes don’t need crutches.”

Because every attack apparently meant weakness.

Kace laughed under his breath again, except this time it sounded dangerously close to breaking.

His vision blurred for half a second before he blinked it away aggressively.

Don’t cry.

Don’t you dare cry over him.

His phone buzzed violently in his pocket.

DAD.

Kace stared at the screen until it stopped.

Then another buzz.

He declined it.

He felt the tears bubble to the surface of his eyelids, droplets slowly starting to seep out. “No,No,No” he huffed, brushing away the streams.

Kace swallowed hard and looked up at the empty road ahead of him. His mind went back to the car accident and Jamie. He hugged himself trying to find some sort of comfort, exhaling trying to steady himself.

He kept walking, trying his best to ease himself. His finger fell to Jamie’s contact and pressed the call button. He bit his lip tightly already regretting it, his thoughts already starting to turn sour, till a voice came through. “Hello? Kace”

“Hey”

“What’s up?” Jamie asked, the sincerity in his voice easing him.

“C-can you just stay on the line for a sec…I-I don’t really wanna be alone right now” he sniffled through.

“Where are you?” He titled his head from the other end.

“Out around in the neighborhood somewhere” he responded trying his best to sound steady.

“Why? Are you okay?”

“No n-not really” he wiped another tear away.

“Can you tell me where you are exactly?”

He looked around, “u-uh 272 C-Cherry Lane”

“Okay…are you alone?”

“Y-Yeah nobody’s around a-and nobody’s in these I don’t think home”

“Okay” he nodded though Kace couldn’t see it.

He appeared in a bright blue flash, causing Kace to jump backward a bit startled at his sudden appearance.

“Woah don’t look so scared”

“S-Still new to that” he gestured toward Jamie.

“So what’s wrong?” He stepped forward, noticing the streams on the teens cheeks, and also seeing the redness of one.

“Family trouble” he shrugged, trying his best to remain calm. “Don’t wanna bore you with the details”

“You have anything to eat?”

“What?” he looked over.

“Whenever I feel sad, a pb&j always helps” he nervously smiled, motioning for Kace to come closer.

He did.

Jamie extended his hand, “Trust me”

“O-okay” he nodded, taking Jamie’s hand.

Both of them vanished in a flash, the area shifting to a neat marble topped kitchen.

Kace stood frozen for a second after the blue flash faded, his stomach twisting from the sudden displacement. His knees still felt weak from adrenaline.

Jamie let go of his hand slowly. “You okay?”

“Y-Yeah,” Kace lied automatically.

Jamie gave him a look but he didn’t push it.

Instead, he walked to the fridge and opened it. “Good news,” he announced. “We have grape jelly.”

Kace blinked once. “…That’s the good news?”

“The bad news is my brother used almost all the peanut butter and left exactly enough to be annoying.”

Kace let out a small snort through his nose.

Jamie pointed at him immediately. “There it is. That’s progress.”

“Right…”

Jamie grabbed the bread bag and hopped up onto the counter effortlessly, sitting cross-legged while making the sandwiches.

Kace leaned against the island quietly, watching him.

Jamie glanced up briefly. “…You wanna talk about it?”

Kace stared at the marble counter. “Not really.”

“Okay.” he sighed, twisting the sleeve of his shirt.

Jamie smiled handing over a sandwich to Kace, “Enjoy”

“Thanks” he nodded shyly, taking a soft bite from it.

The two froze once they heard a slight creak of the floor board from the stairs. “What the hell” a voice came out from a dark silhouette. The pair of green-eyes lighting up as they came into the light. The skin of caramel breaking from the darkness. “Jamie? And who the hell is this?”

“Hey dad” he smiled nervously revealing all his canines.

“Mr. Stine” he lowered his head in a slight bow, “Sir I’m so sorry to disturb you and your family”

Slap blinked, trying to focus his vision, his eyes landing on the boy, studying him, “you’re the kid who put my son in the hospital”

Kace nodded sadly, unable to meet Slaps eyes, “Yes Sir. And I cannot express how sorry I am. I-I’m so truly sorry sir. I-I’ll just see myself out”

“Wait” Slap spoke out bluntly, “You’re not going anywhere at this hour. It’s not safe. So you’re going to sleep in the guest room tonight and we’ll talk in the morning. Clear?”

“Yes sir. Thank you sir”

Jamie cleared his throat nervously. “He just needed somewhere to stay tonight.”

“I figured that part out,” Slap answered dryly.

Kace immediately lowered his head further. “Sir, really, I can leave if this is weird or uncomfortable or—”

“You apologizing every twelve seconds is getting exhausting,” Slap interrupted bluntly, rubbing his inner eyes tiredly.

Slap sighed, rubbing a hand over his face before motioning toward the hallway. “Guest room’s upstairs, hallway down there. Second door on the left.”

“Yes sir,” Kace nodded quickly.

Slap started turning away before stopping mid-step.

“…Kid.”

Kace froze.

Slap looked over his shoulder slightly. “Your cheek.”

Kace instinctively touched the red mark again.Slap’s expression hardened, “You wanna tell me what happened?”

Kace swallowed hard. “I got into an argument with my dad.”

“That explains the expression,” Slap answered. “Doesn’t explain the handprint.”

Kace’s throat tightened instantly. “He just…” Kace stared at the floor. “He got mad.”

The silence afterward stretched long and heavy. When Slap spoke again, his voice had lost some of its edge. “…Your dad hit you?”

Kace gave the smallest nod. For a second, Slap didn’t move at all. Then he exhaled slowly through his nose. “Alright,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

He walked fully into the kitchen now, opening the freezer. Ice clinked around in the dispenser before he wrapped some cubes in a dish towel and held it out.

“Put that on your face before it swells.”

Kace stared at it, “Go on,” Slap said softer this time.

Kace carefully took the towel. “...Thank you.”

“Jamie mentioned you having asthma?” Slap asked.

Kace looked startled by the question. “Uh…yeah.”

“You have your inhaler?”

His stomach dropped instantly.

“…No sir. I don’t”

Slap closed his eyes briefly like he was already annoyed on Kace’s behalf. “Okay,” he tapped the island…”Just try and keep steady for now”

“Yes sir” he nodded quickly.

“Now off to bed, both of you. We are gonna back to this in the morning” Slap pointed toward the two of them, then to the upstairs hallway.

“”Yes sir”

Jamie smiled and quickly skipped toward his dad, pulling him into a hug, “Night dad, love you”

Slap smiled, still careful of his son’s head, lightly brushing Jamie’s side, “Night son and love ya too”

Kace watched the sight, a faint smile tracing across his lips, as he readjusted the ice.

Jamie pulled away, still smiling, his arm motioning for Kace to follow. “Come on I’ll show ya the guest room”

“Thank you Jamie and again thank you Mr. Stine”

“Just try and get some sleep okay?”

“Yes sir”

…

Slap returned to his room after the boys had gone off to bed. Anne was upright, hands in her lap looking toward her husband. “What was the noise?”

He flopped onto bed, exhausted, pulling him closer to his chest, “Our oldest son” he murmured against her shoulder, “And that boy who cracked his head open”

“What” she raised a brow, turning over to him. “How did he even get here”

“Jamie probably brought him. The kid’s got a rough relationship with his old man” he sighed, gently rubbing his thumb against her shoulder. “Hit em ‘cross the face”

Anne softened her eyes, saddening at the thought.

“He’s not a bad kid, surprisingly. He kept calling me sir and apologized multiple times” he continued.

“He sounds like a respectful boy” she answered softly, taking his hand in hers.

“Yeah he is, caught me off guard for a second” he nudged her, holding her closer to him.

He pressed a kiss to her temple, “I love you”

“I love you too”

…

Morning eventually came, the sun greeted Kace through the crack in the window curtains, a bright orange sliver on his eye.

For a moment he forgot where he was till he noticed the sound of voices downstairs. He quickly made the bed and left no trace of his presence. His cheek still fully throbbed but the tightness in his chest eased so he took it as some form of a win. He quietly opened the door, greeted by the scent of warmth and milkbutter and sounds of sizzling.

He gently made his way downstairs, all eyes fell on him. Jamie, Slap, Anne, CJ, and William. CJ was first to point at him, “What’s he doing here” she frowned

“I-I uh—“ he started

“He’s here eating breakfast with us. So on your best behavior all of you” Anne softly interrupted, setting another plate down, one full of sausages and eggs.

Anne motioned for Kace to join her kids at the table, he obeyed and took a seat across from Jamie and his siblings. “Morning Kace” William whispered, lightly nodding toward him.

“Morning”

Jamie smiled, “Morning, these two are my brother and sister, CJ and William” he pointed to the two of them.

“Nice to officially meet you”

“Yeah, got a great first impression of you when you split my brother’s skull open,” CJ added, as she took a bite from her eggs.

Kace curled inward a bit, lowering his head.

“Relax, I’m messing with you” she took another bite, raising her brow at him.

“…oh”

Jamie immediately kicked her lightly under the table.

“CJ.”

“What? It was funny,” she said, completely unbothered.

William leaned over slightly, whispering to Kace, “She’s worse when she likes people.”

“I heard that,” CJ replied without looking up.

Kace let out a small, awkward breath that was almost a laugh but didn’t quite make it.

Anne set a plate down in front of him anyway, like the conversation hadn’t shifted anything important.

“Eat,” she said gently.

Kace hesitated. Then nodded. “Yes ma’am. Thank you ma’am”

“You’re welcome”

Kace kept his posture tight at first. Every small sound made him glance up instinctively.

Slap finally spoke from the head of the table.

“So,” he said, voice steady. “We’re going to talk about the situation properly after breakfast.”

Kace straightened instantly.

“Yes sir.”

The light taps of forks continued as the family ate, Kace leaving nothing on his plate, even almost reaching for seconds but stopped himself, till he caught Anne’s kind eye and helped himself.

After they all finished eating, they all fell to a soft silence, Slaps eyes landing on him.

“Sir I-I just want to apologize for intru—“

Slap raised his hand, “Stop, just for bit”

“…okay”

“So you got hit last night by your dad”

Kace tensed, “It wasn’t that bad compared to—“

“That wasn’t my question. Did he hit you? Yes or no?”

“Yes sir”

Slap leaned closer, letting out a low hum, “Okay” he grabbed a piece of paper, from the counter and pen, writing something down. “This is my phone number and the one below it is my wife’s. If you ever need anything you call either of us and we’ll bring you here”

He stared that the paper, the edges crumbling in his thumbs, “T-Thank you sir”

“And ya don’t need to keep callin’ me sir” he reassured, his posture relaxing.

“Okay” Kace nodded, he stood him from his seat and walked over toward the two of them, pressing his hands together, as he lowered his head. “I was wanted to thank you for your kindness, and I am truly sorry for hurting your son. I—I froze and I…I’m so ashamed of how I just stood there and did nothing, after I—I slammed him into the floor. I—I don’t deserve how you welcomed me into your home, fed me, and are trying to help me…y-you should hate me” his voice broke as his body shook.

“Hey look at me” Slap stepped closer to Kace, kneeling down at him. “Thank you for apologizing Kace. That takes a lot of courage and humility. And if I’m honest I don’t think when I was younger I’d be able to do what you just did right there. So thank you Kace”

Anne stepped closer to the boy, “Kace,” she said, “look at me for a second.”

It took him a moment. His eyes were glossy, and kids heavy. Slowly, he lifted his gaze.

“What happened between you and our son? That was an accident. Completely out of your control. It happened and what matters is that you’re both okay”

“I still hurt him,” he whispered.

“And you said sorry,” Anne replied immediately. “More than once. With honesty. You have no idea how much that matters to us.”

His breathing hitched again.

Jamie stepped in closer too, leaning slightly into his line of sight.

“Hey,” Jamie said quietly. “I’m fine. Seriously. I’m right here.”

Slap stood up slowly, giving Kace space again.

“I don’t want to hear you talk like you don’t deserve basic decency in my house again. Understood?”

Kace swallowed hard. His hands were shaking slightly at his sides.

“Yes sir… I mean— yes.”

Slap exhaled through his nose, “Good”

Before he could set a reassuring hand on the teens shoulder, thundering slams against the front door.

“Samuel” Anne whispered, grabbing her husband by the arm.

He pressed a soft kiss to her head, “I’ll be right back okay”

“Dad” his three babies uttered at the same time, pulling close to one another.

“It’s okay, stay with your mom” he made his way to the door, cracking it open, his eyes landing on a disheveled man, frantic hazel hair, hand on cane, sunken red veined eyes, with hazel irises at the center. “Can I help you?” he raised his slit brow.

“Names Vick Burns, I think ya got my kid in there Mr?…” he pointed past Slap into his home, trying to see past him. Slap stepped him in front of line of sight, “Stine. Samuel Stine and think you got the wrong house pal” he sighed shutting the door, before it thumped against something harm.

It was his foot

“I have a tracker on his phone…I don’t think I do. Samuel Stine.”

“Get the fuck off my property” he leaned in closer, inches away from Vick’s.

“No. And I know about your son. Blue eyed fellow. There’s something wrong with you and your family. Especially with that boy of yours” he nodded toward the inside

That did it.

He grabbed Burns by the chest, lifting him by the collar, “You don’t fucking speak about my family. Do you understand me?” His eyes narrowed on Burns.

“Samuel” Anne came from behind him, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Let him go…It’s not worth it”

He frowned, glaring at the man, before finally setting him down on the porch.

Burns gasped for breath, huffing through dry chuckles, “Guess your wife’s the sensible one” he smirked before his left side, swarmed in flamed waves, spilt flying from his mouth as his cheek recoiled.

“FUCK LADY” he grabbed his side.

She lunged toward him, grabbed him by the jaw and forced him to look at him, “Listen to me, you sorry sack of shit. You do not come near me, my husband, or my children again. And if you ever threaten my son again. I’m going to make your life a living hell and finish off your other leg. Is that clear?”

“Yes ma’am” he coughed, feeling the ache in his cheek.

“Good” she spat, before throwing him off their porch “And stay off our property”

She dusted herself off, before leaving, gently pulling Slaps hand. “God I love you” he grinned, squeezing her hand softly.

“I know,” she chuckled, before tenderly kissing him.

“Damn mom, you smacked him real good” CJ grinned wide, from ear to ear, raising her fork.

“Language, but I did, didn’t I?” She laughed leaning into Slaps hold.

“Yeah you really did” Slap smirked, resting his chin atop of her hand. “Doubt he’d ever be back”

…

A long while passed, before another, this time softer knock met the Stines store. Slap answered it and met the soft mismatched eyes of Charlie. “Oh hey kid” he smiled, stepping aside to let his nephew enter. “Thanks Uncle Slap”

He hugged his Aunt Anne, before his eyes landed on Kace. His expression immediately darkened, “Why is he here” he pointed toward Kace

Jamie straightened immediately. “Charlie—”

“No,” Charlie cut in, not taking his eyes off Kace. “Don’t ‘Charlie’ me. He literally put you in the hospital James and said nothing”

Kace quickly stood up, his body stiffening and setting to stone. “I-I should go”

Jamie looked over, setting his utensils aside, “No, you can stay”

“He put you in the hospital. Did we all just forget that!?” Charlie raised his both brows, extending his hands upward and let the flop down again.

Before Jamie could cut back in, his dad stood and looked over at Charlie, “Hey,” he waved him over, “why don’t we have a chat outside”

“Uncle Slap—“

“Think now would be a good time” he gestured, twisting his hand toward the door. Charlie’s shoulders slacked, and surrendered following his Uncle out.

The patio door clicked softly shut behind them.

Charlie stood for a second instead of sitting, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

Slap sat first. The old wood creaked beneath him.

“You gonna stand or sit down?” he asked plainly.

Charlie exhaled sharply through his nose.

“…You always do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act chill when something insane is happening.”

Slap shrugged once.

“Keeps my blood pressure lower.”

Charlie groaned under his breath but eventually sat beside him on the porch step, elbows resting against his knees.

Charlie rubbed a hand over his face.

“I just don’t get it,” he admitted finally. “Jamie could’ve died.”

Slap nodded once.

“Yeah. He could’ve.”

“And now he’s inside eating breakfast like everything’s fine. Why would you let him in? Just forgive him like nothing”

Slap leaned forward, bawling his two hands together into a fist resting his chin on it. “I never said I forgave him.” he admitted looking over at his nephew, “but, I don’t hate the kid. I’m not going to let energy I don’t have anymore go to someone who doesn’t deserve that level of hate Charlie”

The teen looked over at his uncle, said nothing, letting him continue.

“I used to be someone who lived in hate. And it got me nowhere. I felt nothing but anger inside. It was pointless and was killing me from the inside. When I finally let it go, as corny as it sounds, I became someone who I’m happy to be and see in the mirror each day” he smiled to himself, carefully pulling his nephew to his side. “And it’d hurt me to see you fall down that same path. Because you’re got a good head on your shoulders kid and a good heart. Don’t let an accident taint it” he patted Charlie’s shoulder, noticing the tension easing.

“I just…every time I see him. I think of Jamie…on the ground…bleeding” he murmured shirking into himself.

“Yeah, for awhile there, me too. Then the kid showed up in my house, and all I saw was a scared kid, with too many sorry’s in his throat and a mark on his face”

Charlie looked up, his face contorting into a face of confusion, “mark?”

“His dad struck him,” he sighed, looking down at the porch steps.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah, prick showed up here too, your aunt sent his ass out” Slap chuckled as he continued to pat Charlie’s side.

“Really? Wish I saw that. And they call us psychos”

Charlie stared at the porch for a long second.

Then quietly huffed out lowering his head, “…That’s messed up.”

Slap bumped his shoulder lightly.

“Seein’ the bigger picture now?”

Charlie sighed.

“…I still don’t like what happened.”

“You don’t gotta.”

“But Jamie almost—” his voice caught for a second. “I just…”

Slap looked over at him.

Charlie shrugged hard, like he hated being vulnerable.

“He’s family, and my best friend,” he muttered. “I got scared.”

Something softened in Slap’s face.

“Kid,” he said quietly, wrapping an arm around Charlie’s shoulder for a second. “That just means you love him. And I get what ya mean. Your dad and I back in our day had our moments like this”

Charlie let out a dry laugh, easing into his uncle’s embrace, “Oh yeah I’ve heard stories”

“Yeah the biased ones. Your dad always leaves out the parts where he falls on his ass and messes up” he nudged back, before easing back down. “Now, how ‘bout we get back in there hm? And if ya want, include him in whatever you four were planning to do today…it’ll help get his mind off things”

Charlie’s groaned slightly but there was no real annoyance behind it, “Alright alright…only cuz you asked”

“Wow I’m truly honored” he smirked, pressing his hand to his chest jokingly bowing his head.

“Yeah yeah”

…

Charlie entered the home once more, this time the visible anger, dulled and relaxed. His frame less rigid and a slight smile on his face that only grew as Anne hugged him and gifted him a homemade cookie.

“Kace” Charlie looked over, eyes locking with his.

“Yes? And before you start I-I know you don’t like me. And I don’t blame you and I’m sorry for the other day and for—“

Charlie raised his hands lowering the tips, “Easy, I just wanted to say we’re fine. I don’t forgive you for what ya did…But I’m not going to hold it against you. Clear?”

“Crystal” he nodded quickly, folding his arms tightly behind him.

Jamie clapped loudly one, the familiar grin back in his face, “Now! Come on we got stuff to do at the…uhh club house? Nah…We really need a better name for our hang out spot. And that reminds me I need to install an update for Dox.”

Charlie raised his hand slightly, “can we please get him an actual voice, the way he speaks outta no where with that distorted voice copy of you freaks me out”

“Yeah I second that” CJ raised her hand and lifted William’s hand as well, “Not cuz it freaks me out but cuz I don’t wanna hear more of you that I already have to”

“HEY” Jamie looked over with a frown, “Yall actually suck”

Charlie pointed at Kace, “and you’re accompanying us Burns. So I can keep an eye on you” he raised a brow, smirking to himself.

“…yeah…Okay…”

…

Eventually the five of them made their way over, greeted by Dox’s automated greeting, which caused Kace to jump slightly from its abruptness.

“See even the new guy freaked out J” CJ motioned over to Kace snickering

“Yeah, yeah I’ll fix it just to shut yall up” he grumbled opening the control box.

Kace looked over at something hidden in the corner, covered in a large white tarp, which what looked like to be some sort of laced peaking out from the corner.

“What’s that?” he pointed, tilting his head slightly.

“NOTHING” they all blurted out in union, each voice’s pitch squealing at the G.

“Right…” he lowered his shoulders, disappointed but didn’t wanna pry.

“Let’s just say…I’m putting my blood sweat and tears into that thing” Jamie shrugged nervously, keeping his eyes on the control box.

“That special huh?”

“You have no idea” William added, handing Kace a strawberry and kiwi juice box.

Jamie finally slammed the control box shut with a satisfied clap.

“Okay, fixed. Dox will now only mildly insult you and ya know probably judge our mortal existence.”

“Progress,” William muttered.

Dox immediately responded from a nearby speaker.

“Correction: I have always judged your existence.”

CJ pointed at it. “Least we got an existence Dox.”

“And yet you spend it trying to flirt with someone who doesn’t like you back” the machine responded, even somewhat laughed at CJ.

“DICK” she snapped back, “Let me live my delusion damn”

“Dox behave” Jamie said, from the corner as he adjusted the tarp.

“…Understood,” Dox answered. “I will continue judging silently.” before fading into the background.

“Charlie, you text Jesse and J.J if we’re still on for Monday” William asked, looking from over their mini couch.

“Jesse?” Kace looked over, “Like Jesse Kramer from debate?”

“Exactomundo” CJ snapped her fingers toward him. “She’s our cousin and so’s J.J”

“Oh I didn’t know that” Kace said quietly, swaying from side to side.

“Heart rate is elevated” Dox blurted.

“What?” Kace looked around, trying to see if any sensors could detect him.

“Pretty sure Dox said you’re heart rates elevated” CJ added with a smirk. “More specifically when Jesse was mentioned”

“Yeah, I was just caught off guard since I didn’t know any of you knew Jesse”

“Heart rate elevated”

“She always beats me in debate” Kace said with a shrug.

“She gets that from Uncle Jig” Charlie added raising his own juice box toward Kace.

“Yeah she’s really smart” he continued, awkwardly fidgeting with his sleeve.

“Got the text and she said they’ll be here” Charlie cut in raising, his thumb as he continued to sip.

“So um…what else are you guys working on? Maybe I could…help” he scooted toward Jamie and his work bench eyeing some interesting blueprints.

“Well I have been trying to make modifications to our Z-B’s”

“What’s a Z-B?” He raised a brow, clearly confused.

“Z-Bikes. Aka Z-Axis suspension Bikes” Jamie answered with a bit too much glee in his eyes as he pressed a bottom revealing the vehicles.

“Woah…you build these?”

“Yeah”

Kace crouched slightly, eyes tracing the suspension line. “You made a closed-loop system. Really cool. You’ve got sensors feeding into an actuator array that’s correcting displacement along the Z-axis before it fully propagates. So you’re basically canceling vertical inertia before it transfers to the rider.” he looked over at Jamie, giving him a respected nod.

Charlie looked over curiously, head tilted just slightly, “Alright we got another Jamie”

Jamie nodded slowly, still thinking of Kace’s works, absorbing them. “So I was actually thinking of tuning the frequency response. Think that would help?”

Kace hesitated, then gave a small shrug. “Yeah. Basically. You want your damping curve to stay critically damped Otherwise the rider feels oscillation instead of suppression.”

Jamie snapped his fingers. “Okay yeah, you’re officially helping me with this. Get your butt over here”

Kace quickly stumbled over, tripping on one of the loose wires from into the trap, yanking one from his resting point. A harsh scream of steam bursted from the wire, before the bangs of iron filled the room for only a moment till the screams died in the air after the iron rod met its halt.

Kace didn’t realize where the sound had come from, only that it lasted for no longer than 2 seconds. The sounds of voices muffled as he tried to regain focus, but couldn’t understand the gawking faces that met his eyes. Then the pointing and what appeared to be shouting. Then the blasted ringing.

He followed their fingers down. Then there it was. The iron rod, right at rest, right through his leg. The metal beam holding the crimson back in his veins and pain no where to be felt. The meaty calf, plunged inward like it were eating itself, knowing at any ounce of flesh it could pull inward to its center.

“Oh my god, oh my god” Jamie gritted his teeth, “He’s got a frickin rod in his leg”

“We can see that Jamie! Jesus…HOW ARE YOU NOT SCREAMING” CJ panicked still pointing to Kace’s leg.

“He’s in shock and he probably can’t feel anything because of adrenaline or something” William breathed out, pulling his siblings and cousin in closer. “What do we do”

“I have no clue” Charlie whispered, “Hey Kace you with us?”

“…”

“Yeah he’s in shock” Charlie confirmed, “Alright we get him to uncle Jig or Grandpa Gordon. They’re both doctors right? They can figure this out”

“Wouldn’t a hospital be better?” William suggested still staring at the rod.

“And what do we tell them Will!? Our experiment went haywire and got him impaled!?” CJ looked over wide eyed , still trying to calm herself.

“She’s right. We can’t blow our “Good Samaritan” cover. Jamie get us there now”

Dox crackled overhead.

“Medical recommendation: severe puncture trauma. Object should remain in place to reduce blood loss.”

Jamie nodded though he wasn’t entirely present, the group vanishing in a quick flash.

…

J.J sat cross legged reading his thriller novel, mid page flip before a group of his cousins, plus a new body joined his company.

“HEY” he quickly sat up, shoving himself to his feet. “Why are yo—Aaannnddd that’s a pole in his leg”

Charlie nodded, looking around the room, “Where’s uncle Jig?”

“Downstairs…uh…do you need like…some water or something?” J.J raised his book stiffly as he shut it.

“Hey J.J do you…what the…”

“Heyyyyy Jesssss” Jamie smiled, his cheeks straining with no light in his eyes while trying to hold Kace straight, “We kinda need uncle Jig”

“Uh Daaaddddd” she called from the room, stepping further out the door, “Can you come up here for a minute”

Kace swayed. Jamie caught him before he hit the floor.

“Kace! Hey, hey, hey stay with me.”

“I think…” Kace swallowed hard, blinking unevenly. “I think I’m gonna—”

“Do NOT pass out,” CJ blurted.

“Kinda hard not to” he responded his head lowering.

“I—I can’t really feel it,” he admitted quietly, staring down at the iron rod speared through his calf. His voice sounded oddly detached, like it belonged to someone else.

Jesse’s face visibly paled, “Oh my god,” she whispered. “That’s…that’s really in there.”

“Helpful observation, Jess,” J.J muttered, already abandoning the book completely.

She shot him a look before turning her attention back to Kace. Footsteps thundered from downstairs.

“What happened?” a voice called.

Then heavier steps followed.

“What’s with all the yelling?”

Jig appeared through the hallway and stopped dead at the sight.

The silence afterward was immediate.

“…Why,” he asked slowly, eyes moving from Jamie to Kace to the rod in his leg, “is there a teenager impaled in my house?”

“It was an accident,” Jamie blurted immediately. “He tripped and then the tarp and then the steam thing and—”

“You,” Jig interrupted gently, kneeling in front of Kace instead. “Can you hear me?”

“Y-yes sir”

Jig nodded before carefully examining the leg without touching the rod.

“No one remove it,” he said immediately.

“Wasn’t planning on it,” Charlie muttered, arms still folded

“Good, that rod is probably the only thing slowing the bleeding.”

Jesse slowly crouched near Kace too.

“Hey,” she said carefully. “You still with us?”

Kace’s mismatched focus landed on her for a second.

“…Debate girl,” he muttered weakly.

Jig raised his brow, looking toward his oldest, “You know this boy?”

“Yeah he’s in my debate class. His names Kace”

Jig let out a hushed, hm, before pointing toward the couch.

“Jamie, Charlie, Johnathan, and William, help me get him sitting down. Carefully. Rod stays exactly where it is.”

Kace shifted awkwardly.

“I can walk—”

“No,” six voices answered at once.

He blinked.

“…Okay.”

Jamie carefully hooked an arm around Kace’s waist while Charlie moved to the other side, J.J grabbed his other arm, while William did his best to make sure nothing disturbed the rod.

“On three,” Jig instructed. “Slow.”

Kace hissed quietly as weight shifted to the uninjured leg.

One.

Two.

Three.

The movement made the room tilt violently. His stomach lurched.

“Nope”

“Kace?” Jesse stepped forward.

His knees buckled. Jamie thankfully caught him first before the beam could scrap.

“Woah! Hey, hey, hey!”

The teen sagged against him, breathing unevenly.

“I think…” Kace swallowed hard. “…I’m gonna pass out now.”

“Don’t,” Jamie said immediately, voice pitching higher. “Please don’t.”

“Trying not to, sorry for bleeding over your couch”

“Kace, the couch is replaceable, your leg is not. Do not apologize. Now I believe he does need a hospital”

“No” the teen cut off, “I—I know about your family and I know they’ll ask questions I—I don’t want to be the reason you all end up in the gutter” he sighed, pressing his lips tightly as another wave of magma oozed from his calf. “A-and they’ll call my dad I know they will…I—I just no hospital please. I trust you sir”

Jig looked down at the boy, lowering his head slightly, “very well”

“James, bring us downstairs, this is going to be a very long process”

Jamie silently obeyed, all of them flashing downstairs, in Jigs workshop. Jig carefully, moved the boy on top of the table, setting the leg at an angle. He swiftly disinfected his side, before injecting some serum into him.

“Huh?” Kace blinked not fully registering the pinch, only that his eyes felt heavier.

“Rest well Kace” Jig looked over watching the teen drift off into the welcoming realm of slumber. “Now William, typically this would be a very different process however since you’re here. I am going to need you to phase the rod out of his leg. To ensure there is minimal removal damage and James once it is out. I’m going to need you to remove everyone and allow me to work. Understood”

The brothers responded yes in unison as they stepped closer to the unconscious Kace.

“Alright,” he said calmly. “William. Slow and steady.”

William swallowed.

He placed trembling fingers carefully around the iron rod.

Nothing happened for half a second.

Then the metal shimmered.

Its edges blurred strangely, like reality itself stopped agreeing with where it belonged.

Jamie leaned closer instinctively.

Kace didn’t stir.

“Easy,” Jig warned quietly.

William exhaled shakily and focused harder.

The rod began shifting.

Not moving.

Phasing.

Passing through flesh inch by inch without resistance.

Jig worked simultaneously, hands impossibly quick, stabilizing the exposed tissue as the metal left space behind.

“There,” Jig murmured. “Good. Keep going.”

William nodded tightly. Sweat had started collecting at his hairline. Jamie looked between Kace’s face and the rod every two seconds.

“C’mon,” he whispered under his breath. “You gotta be okay.”

The final inch slipped free. William stumbled back immediately afterward, staring at the bloodied metal in his hands like he hated it.

“…Done,” he whispered.

Jig moved instantly.

“James.”

Blue light flashed, leaving Jig and the teen. “Now, let’s repair that leg”

…

The kids remained upstairs. Jamie nervously pacing back and forth, J.J pretending to read his book, Charlie staring off into space, William tapping his foot, and CJ and Jesse trying to keep themselves distracted with empty conversations.

“He’s gonna be fine Jamie” Charlie sighed looking over toward his cousin.

“It didn’t look like it”

Jess stepped closer, offering a gentle hand, “My dads not gonna let anything happen to him. Trust me”

J.J. agreed stepping closer to the group, “Yeah, dad won’t let him die Jamie”

Jamie paced a tight line between the couch and the counter, stopping every few seconds like he’d forgotten how walking worked. His hands kept flexing open and shut at his sides.

“I should’ve checked the wires,” he muttered. “I literally adjusted that section yesterday. I knew it was loose.”

Charlie didn’t look up from where he sat. “Jamie.”

“What?”

“You’re not helping him by punishing yourself.”

Jamie stopped anyway, jaw tight, eyes flicking toward the floor like he could see through it to where Kace had been taken. “Right…it just…it sucks”

“Yeah…I know” Charlie murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.

…

Eventually the heavy footsteps returned, heavy and thumping along the wood flood. The sound caught all their ears, all heads turned toward the door, where Jigs figure came from the doorway. His arms held the curled body of Kace, whose leg was steadily wrapped and braced with much care.

“Is he—“ Jamie started his voice faltering.

“He’s going to be just fine” Jig reassured, gently setting the boy down on the spare bed. “Though…there was quite the nerve damage. I did the best I could, however I don’t believe he’ll be about to partake in any sports for a long time…or if he will be able to walk like he used to” he said, as he backed away from Kace giving the lad space. “Come let’s give him some space”

Charlie straightened so fast the couch creaked beneath him. “What do you mean walk like he used to?”

Jig rubbed a tired hand over his face. The exhaustion sat deep in his shoulders now.

“The rod damaged muscle and nerves,” he explained carefully. “I repaired what I could. But some things…” his voice softened, “…some things don’t heal perfectly.”

Jamie looked over at Kace. “No…no uncle Jig y—you gotta fix him h—he…”

“James…I salvaged what I could. I swear to you I did…But I’m sorry there’s nothing more I can do”

Jamie laughed once under his breath, except it sounded miserable.

“First his dad hits him,” he said quietly. “Then he gets impaled because of my stupid workshop and now he-”

“James.”

The firmness in Jig’s voice cut through him immediately. Jamie looked up sadly tears already peaking through.

“This,” Jig said carefully, “was an accident.”

“But if I checked the wiring—”

“If ifs fixed things,” Jig interrupted gently, “life would be much easier, now wouldn’t it. However, that’s not how life works.”

Jig motioned for them to follow him out, still resting an easy hand on Jamie. They all followed.

…

Later, Kace stirred, his eyes cracking open slightly, feeling a sharp sting through his calf, it split at the seams and pulse with each swallow.

“You’re awake” a soft voice crept through the roof. He moved his neck toward it, seeing Jesse resting on a grey beanbag, her eyes on him filled with lingering worry.

“W-where am I?”

“The guest room. My dad patched up your leg…So that’s good”

Kace looked over at his leg, seeing the secure bandaging along his leg and the brace that rested along it. “Oh”

Jesse shifted a little in the beanbag when she saw him fully wake.

“Easy,” she said softly. “Don’t try moving too fast. You’re probably gonna feel…a lot.”

Kace swallowed and before trying to move. As if on cue, a violent ache unfurled through his calf, sharp, deep, throbbing in a way that made his stomach tighten. He sucked in a shaky breath through his teeth.

“…Ow.”

“Yeah,” Jesse winced sympathetically. “Dad said once the adrenaline wore off, it was gonna suck.”

Kace let his head fall back against the pillow for a second, pinching his eyes shut.

“…How bad is it?”

Jesse hesitated, biting her lip nervously. His stomach dropped.

“How bad is it?” he repeated quieter this time.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the beanbag.

“My dad fixed a lot,” she said carefully. “Like…a lot. You’re okay.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Jesse looked away for half a second.

“Kace…”

His chest tightened.

“Jesse.”

She exhaled slowly.

“There was nerve damage.”

Kace just stared at the blanket draped over his leg.

“…Oh.”

“My dad said he repaired everything he could,” she added quickly. “And he’s really good. Like…really, really good.”

“But?”

Her silence answered for her. He swallowed hard, the ache in his leg suddenly felt bigger somehow.

“…Football,” he murmured quietly to himself.

Jesse frowned slightly.

“What?”

He laughed once under his breath, except there wasn’t anything funny in it.

“My dad’s gonna lose his mind.”

Jesse’s expression softened immediately.

“Oh…”

“I’m not sad over the fact I can’t play anymore. I hate sports. My dad just made me play to ‘relive his glory days’ was a real treat to do. I wanted to be on the debate team and the S.T.E.M club but no. The Burns boys are athletes”

“That’s stupid” Charlie added, his contribution catching the two of them off guard as he leaned against the doorway. “You shouldn’t have to be his outlet to relive the past”

“Tell that to him” Kace sighed lowering his head back down into the pillow.

“Kace, I’m glad to see you’re conscious” Jig added, also stepping into the room with the rest of the kids following behind him.

“Kace in so sorry” Jamie cut in, stepping infront of the group, his frame drawing closer toward Kace.

“For what?”

“For impaling you…if I had just—“

“It’s okay Jamie”

“No it’s—“

“It’s okay. Really. Look, let’s call it even okay? I cracked your head open and got you hospitalized and I got stabbed in the leg and got nerve damage.” Kace responded with a humorless laugh, carefully scooting up before wincing away.

“But—“

“Can we just…start over? I-I swear I’m not this football jock everyone thinks I am…let’s just…start over” Kace looked up, and over at the group. “Please” he extended his hand.

“…….yeah…” he agreed, taking his hand and giving a firm shake. “Let’s start over”

Charlie followed in unison, also stepping toward Kace taking him by the hand as well. “Yeah…Let’s have a clean slate. I think that’d be best for all of us”

Kace let out a watery smile, thankfully at Charlie’s ease, seeing the other kids follow in suit.

Jig gently adjusted the brace. “You’ll need to stay off it completely for a while. No putting weight on it.”

Kace’s stomach sank.

“…How long?”

Jig hesitated, thinking of an estimation.

“A few months at minimum. And that’s being generous”

“Months?!”

“Yes, that is correct”

Much to his surprise, Kace felt nothing, no grief, but rather relief. No more sports, no more late hour games, and no more lectures. The brief exhale of release, was short lived at the thought of his father creeping back in.

“My dads gonna be pissed”

“Screw your dad” Charlie raised his hand slightly, as he tucked his loose white strand away.

“You don’t understand,” he said quietly. “He’ll be furious.”

“That sounds like a him problem,” CJ cut in.

Jig folded his arms, expression thoughtful.

“Kace,” he said gently, “I need to ask you something important.”

Kace looked up, “Yes, sir?”

“When you think about going home right now…” Jig paused carefully. “Do you feel safe?”

The teen looked at him for a long while but nothing came to his throat, but a weak I that died in his vocal cords.

“Very well. You’re not going back there and will remain elsewhere until a suitable family member is able to take you in.

“No, sir I-i can’t. I don’t mean to intrude or inconvenience any of you”

Jig rested a careful hand on the bed frame.

“You are not a burden,” he said firmly. “And I’d rather inconvenience myself for a while than knowingly send a hurt child back into a bad situation. Understood?”

“I…” his voice cracked. “I don’t really know what to say.”

“You could start with yes,” Jamie offered hopefully.

CJ raised a finger. “Or thank you.”

William sighed. “Or both.”

Charlie grinned, slightly William, “Yeah I’d say go with both”

Kace laughed weakly again, immediately regretting it as pain shot through his leg.

“Ow…and okay…yes I understand and thank you sir.”

“Good…now do you have anyone I can get in contact with who would take you in? If not you may remain here with us.”

Kace thought, clicking his two teeth as each idea passed, “My my mom was an only child…so I guess my aunt from my dads side, she lives like an hour away”

“Very well, I’ll get into contact with her tomorrow, for the remainder of today you rest. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir”

“Good”

…