Broken Toys

Chapter 45

"I told you he'd be pouting."

Casey refused to look up, but he couldn't stop himself from smiling. He was so glad to hear Billy's voice; being stuck here was making him crazy. "I'm not pouting."

"Let's see," Zeke insisted, placing a gentle hand under Casey's chin and tilting his head up for a kiss. "Nope," he announced when the kiss ended. "Definitely not a pout."

"See?" Casey said, making a face at Billy and leaning over to accept a kiss from him as well.

"You ready to get out of here or has the dean decided that you need to scrub the floors with a toothbrush or something?"

"No," Casey laughed, "but don't say it too loud or that's what I'll be doing tomorrow."

Billy looked around the dingy storage room. It certainly looked better than it had earlier that morning. The floor had been swept, the shelves dusted and the various office supplies straightened and organized. Casey was busy scribbling numbers on a yellow tablet secured to a bright pink clipboard he'd found. Billy couldn't resist: "Nice clipboard."

Casey rolled his eyes and went back to scribbling. "If you two comedians are looking for something to do, you could always go count something."

"What, and undermine the dean's effort to teach you discipline and self control?" Zeke leaned against the nearest shelf and gave Casey a look that made him shiver. He took a step closer, reaching out to touch Casey's arm. "You know how bad you can be, Case."

"You only hope, Zeke." Casey grinned back, continuing his work as he talked. "So did you both enjoy your freedom? Going off and leaving me here to slave away."

"Yup," Billy said unrepentantly. "Had a great time. Too bad you're stuck on campus for another two weeks."

"Don't remind me," Casey groaned. "How many more storage rooms can there be in this place?"

"Don't worry. If you run out, there's always more furniture and silver to polish."

"You sure you don't want to trade, Zeke? It'd give you a break from all that laundry."

"And all that quality time with Hank." Zeke reminded him gently.

"So where'd you go?" Casey changed the subject quickly. Just because Hank had agreed not to bother Casey didn't mean that things were better.

"Stopped at the mall to get supplies. Brought you a cinnamon bun."

"And that magazine you wanted," Billy added.

"So..." Zeke drawled. "You done yet?"

"Almost, yeah. Sheesh. Find something to keep yourselves busy and let me work." Looking up a minute later, Casey laughed. They had certainly taken his suggestion; Billy had Zeke in a lip lock and the two of them were making dramatic sounds and gestures, moaning and petting each other. Casey noted the count for the last item on the inventory then whipped the pencil at them.

"Let's get out of here."

*****

"There you are. Look what I found." Snuffy followed Casey into the room waving the plain video, keeping his hand over the handwritten label. "Picked this out to amuse the jailbird."

Casey made a face and dropped down onto his bed. He was restless and not really in the mood for the usual Saturday night pizza and movie. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but what he really wanted to do was go to the house. He'd had a lot of time to think about the place and how he'd like to fix it up. He thought he might find some space somewhere, maybe in the barn, and convert it into a darkroom eventually.

He'd been trying not to think too much about photography since the dean took the darkroom keys. He'd almost chickened out of his plan to leave campus and get the copies of the house key made knowing that it would cost him his access to the darkroom, but in the end he'd known that settling things with Billy was more important.

And it had been worth it. The three of them were together again and although he had to admit that the tension wasn't completely gone. Hank was even making an effort to be civil. It was pretty clear that things weren't going to ever be like they had been before the fight, but at least they could all stand to be in the same room again.

Casey felt bad for Snuffy, Ric and Yogurt for being caught in the middle of this whole mess. He'd offered Ric and Yogurt use of the house for the weekend knowing that they wouldn't have many opportunities to spend time together before Ric graduated. He was very glad that they had accepted the offer.

He sighed and closed his eyes, willing away that tiny spike of jealousy that they were there and he wasn't. A gentle caress whispered across the back of his hand and he opened his eyes, giving Billy a smile.

"How's the leg?" Billy asked quietly, looking over at Zeke who was showing Snuffy something in a book he'd bought.

"It's ok. I'm just tired."

"You need food, Case. I bet you skipped lunch to get the storage room finished." Zeke handed Snuffy the book and reached down to grab Casey's arm and pulled him up. "Come on. Pizza, burgers or Chinese?" He grinned. "Or should I surprise you?"

Casey shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

"I vote for surprise," Snuffy chimed in. "As long as it's not snails or something similarly disgusting. What about you, Billy?"

"Whatever." Billy's attention was focused on Casey's desktop. "These are good." He picked up one of the photos that had been scattered across the surface and held it up for Zeke and Snuffy to see. It was a black and white image of the farmhouse attic with the late afternoon sun slanting across the rocking chair. A large steamer trunk rested on end in the background.

"Making plans for the house?" Zeke looked back towards Casey who hobbled over to join the others gathered around the desk. Zeke slid an arm around Casey's chest and pulled him close. "Why don't I go get some food and we can brainstorm. You can put Billy and I to work next weekend. It'll give us something to do while you're stuck here."

"You sure about that?" Casey teased, raising one eyebrow.

"I'd be careful how you answer that," Snuffy cautioned.

"Nothing to worry about," Billy replied, leaning close to Casey. "We know where he lives." He looked over at Zeke. "We'd better go get the food. He's looking a bit faint."

Casey just laughed and shook his head, watching them retreat before turning back to Snuffy and the photos.

*****

"This was a great idea," Snuffy declared, snagging another piece of fried chicken. "My mother calls this picnic weather."

"The things we have to do to get Batboy out of his cave." Billy grinned at Casey and reached past him to snag the container of macaroni and cheese. Casey faked stabbing Billy's arm with a plastic spork. "See," Billy said, "Poor socialization skills and latent hostile tendencies."

"Did you let him loose in the library again?" Casey asked Zeke. "He's gonna hurt himself using all those big words."

"Yeah?" Billy asked, leaning close and whispering something in Casey's ear. The others couldn't hear what was said but from the way Casey blushed they could guess at the content.

Casey looked up from under lowered lashes, the picture of innocence as he slowly licked the last bit of mashed potatoes from his spork. Billy shivered a little and gave Zeke a gesture of surrender, dropping back onto the blanket with a groan. Casey didn't need words to play Billy's game.

Snuffy shook his head and reached for a biscuit and a packet of honey. "You people are dangerous."

"Not that we mind, Snuffy, but you don't have to spend your weekends with us. You could go out... you know, like on a date."

"And miss all this? Surely you jest."

Zeke shook his head. "You've got it bad."

"Tell me again why I'm stuck at an all boys school?" Snuffy groaned dramatically and drew pictures with honey on his biscuit.

"We've got company," Casey said quietly, looking up. Hank stood a short distance away, watching them uncertainly. Without consulting the others, Casey called out an invitation to join them. "Mashed potatoes?" he offered the container up to Hank who looked awkward and unsure of his welcome.

"Yeah, come join us. Snuffy's threatening to make us watch more bad movies after we eat." Billy moved closer to Casey and waited for Hank to sit down then handed over a plate and the bucket of chicken. "Extra crispy or original?"

"You kidding?" Hank smiled a little. "Crispy of course." He fished a chicken leg out of the bucket and then accepted the potatoes from Casey. He added a serving of mac and cheese and a biscuit but declined the offer of honey.

"I'll take that," Zeke said, reaching past Casey to pick up the small packet of honey. "For later," he whispered into Casey's ear. Casey gave Zeke an angelic smile and sank his teeth into a piece of chicken.

*****

"What's this?" Dr Carson asked, accepting the small brown bag from Casey. She opened it and peeked in. "Candy?"

"Made with mashed potatoes. I know, it's weird but good. They're supposed to be Easter eggs, but we made them round instead of oval and used semi-sweet chocolate instead of bitter." Casey made a face.

Dr. Carson picked a small candy out of the bag and offered it back to Casey who politely declined. "I already had some," he admitted with a smile.

"Oh, this is good, Casey. Did you make them by yourself?" Carson took another nibble of the peanut butter flavored sweet.

"Zeke and I did. Billy and Snuffy helped for a while but they got bored and left." Casey shrugged. "Zeke figured it would give us something to do Sunday afternoon since it rained all day. Dean Parker was really nice about letting us use the kitchen."

"So he's not upset with you anymore?"

"I guess not. I'm still confined to campus and I have to do chores everyday after class, though. And I'm not allowed to use the darkroom for another week." He shrugged. "I already made up all the work I missed when I was stuck in the infirmary."

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine. Cold's gone and the leg is back to the usual aches and pains. The doctor kind of had a fit." Casey grinned. "I think he'll be as happy as I am when this cast is off."

"Will that be before graduation?"

"Should be. I just overstressed it by walking to town and back but being stuck in bed for three days helped. No swelling or anything." Casey stuck his leg out for emphasis. The bits of cast that weren't covered by the walking boot were covered in designs.

Carson let Casey sit for a minute, watching as he idly picked through the colorfully-wrapped candies in the dish she kept on the table near his preferred chair. She was learning that his choice of candy was another indicator of his mood; mint or butterscotch when upset or anxious, cinnamons when frustrated or impatient, citrus when he was happy. He didn't seem to like cherry or grape but he usually took them for Billy and Zeke.

Cinnamon fireball. Carson smiled a little and leaned forward.

"How's Hank?"

Casey shrugged and made a face, shifting the fireball around in his mouth. His face reddened a little and he waved a hand in front of his mouth. "Wow, this is the kind that can melt your fillings."

"Too hot?"

"No, it's good." Casey tucked the fireball into his cheek so he could talk. His eyes slid off towards something over Carson's shoulder but he forced them back to meet her gaze. "Hank's ok. Things are better." He shrugged. "We're not going to be best friends but at least he's not beating me up. That's progress."

"And you're ok with that?"

"I guess."

"What's Billy think of all this?"

Casey looked away. "You'll have to ask him." He looked back and grinned. "Offer him one of these." He lifted a fireball out of the dish. "Should be fun to watch."

Carson laughed and shook her head. "I'll leave that to you, Casey. A little mild payback?"

"He's still kinda uptight," Casey admitted.

Carson smiled back but she could tell from the way Casey shifted in his seat that he didn't really want to talk about Billy anymore. It was clear that things were better between the two boys, but they hadn't been able to take that final step yet. She watched Casey as he looked around, taking note of the subtle changes around him. She wouldn't push today, it could wait.

"So how's Zeke? He happy to be able to get off campus again?"

"I thought he was going to kiss his car. He really missed driving; it helps him clear his head." Casey lowered his voice a little and leaned closer. "He really hates that he couldn't drive us here today. I guess the dean thinks we'll go joyriding or something."

"Would you?"

Casey shrugged again then looked her directly in the eyes before replying honestly. "It's not like we'd plan to disobey, but... Sometimes we just need to get away after... You know." He gestured indicating her and the room, then admitted candidly. "And I really want to go the house."

"Any particular reason?"

"I don't know..." Casey frowned, considering the question. "I think... maybe because I'm finally looking forward to something and I don't want to wait." His eyes focused on the framed photograph of a beach at sunrise over her desk but he seemed to be looking beyond it for the answers he needed. "I never really had anything to look forward to. Nothing real anyway. It was all just... survive until graduation, get away from home, don't get killed by aliens." His voice trailed off a minute and then he added, in almost a whisper. "Desperation dreams." He ran fingers absently over the scars on his wrist.

His eyes shifted, pinning Carson with their intensity. "I have to learn how to keep what's important. Learn how to fight if that's what it takes."

"How will you do that, Casey?"

"I still remember what it felt like, the alien parasites burrowing into my skin. My control being taken away. I have to teach myself to use that."

"Use what?"

"Anger. Hate. Betrayal."

"Is that what you really want?" Carson watched as sweet, gentle Casey hardened. For a long, sickening moment she feared that she had failed him but then he wavered, surrendering with a self-mocking laugh.

"I just want to protect what's mine. Protect who and what I love."

"You can't protect love with anger and hate, Casey."

"Then love can't be protected?"

"I didn't say that." Carson leaned over and touched Casey's wrist, closing her fingers over the scars. "Love isn't fragile, Casey. Neither are you. You don't need anger and hate. I want you to think about that." She leaned back and smiled. "Consider it homework."

"But will it be on the final?" he asked with a laugh.

"Definitely. Now get out of here and tell Billy to wait a minute before coming in. Candy has less calories if no one sees you eating it."

Casey smiled and walked away, making a show of closing the office door behind him.

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