someone screwed up here... was it me?(Shan, PG-13)

Thomas walked in the stands, watching as Bree was running around the track. well, running wasn't exactly the right word for it, usually. speeding would have been closer, really... except she seemed to be going slower than usual, almost a jog for her pace... almost a normal run at everyone elses... Thomas called from the stands. "Bree! You ok?" Thomas got up ,and started to go down the bleachers, heading for the track.

Bree ignored him, keeping up her pace. She bit her lip, speeding up a little. The champion cross country runner of California was on her final lap anyway. She didn't let anything distract her. Not even Thomas. She was three thirds around. He was near the end. She speed up, ducking her head down. She was red and sweaty and her breathing was quick. She took longer strides, really finishing her lap on a high note. She overshot the end and skidded to a halt. She shook her head as she poured water from her bottle onto her face. Leaning against a stand, she beckoned Thomas over.

When she beckoned, Thomas walked over, wanting to see how she was. when he reached her, he hugged her to him. "How you doing?" Thomastipped her head up, delaying the answer with a kiss.

Bree tore herself apart from him. She shook her head, breathing quickly. "Before you ask what's wrong. I don't honestly know," she told him. She was in a bad mood. She'd not been well lately and this was familiar. She couldn't put her finger on it. Her first run in a few days and she had a million things in her head. She looked at Thomas and kissed his cheek.

Thomas kept a short distance from her, seeing as she seemed to want some. he was hurt a little, but he figured after waht she went through, he could handle it. Thomas waited patiently. "So what happened? and is there anything I can do to help?"

Bree sat on the stand and brought her messenger bag around. She pulled out a letter and showed him. "You could come with me to visit my father," she said, tapping the prison logo. "They told me this morning the man has cancer of the pancreas."

"No problem," thomas said, and quickly whistled for Draco. afterwards, he turned to Bree. "not telling you not to, but can I ask why you want to visit him?"

Bree sighed. "The man may have basically killed my mother and removed every shred of dignity she had. But compared to Henry... He was better than her. He never once hurt me or raped me. He didn't scar me. The man thought I was his own child, you see. He paid for my education, encouraged a healthy lifestyle and my running career wouldn't exist if not for him. The man personally walked me to school everyday when I was little. He shrouded me from the monsters."

Bree couldn't help but smile a little when she remembered all he had tried to make it up to the girl he thought to be his daughter. "And even though he isn't my real father... I still love the man. He raised me. Him and my mother before... Yeah."

Thomas nodded in understanding. He understood and respected her viewpoint. "Well then," Thomas began as Draco landed. "we best not waste any time." Thomas mounted Draco, and held a hand for her.

Bree shook her head. "Thomas? There's something else. I can't put my finger on it quite yet... I'm not very well lately," she told him and sighed. She took his hand and climbed upon Draco.

Thomas kept Draco from flying just yet. "really? what do you think it might be?" Thomas gently took Bree's hand, gently rubbing the back of her hand with her thumb. "Just remember, no matter what happens, I'll be here for you. I'll take care of you, ok?"

Bree frowned. "You know better than to assume around me, Thomas Ellis," she scolded.

Thomas frowned. "good point, sorry." Draco took off, seeming to take off lower than normal. it was a while, but they eventually reached five hundred feet... 1000 feet... Thomas wrapped an arm around Bree, helping her keep balance. "Which way is the prison?"

"He was transfered to New York recently," Bree told him. She scowled at clouds as they drifted by. She sighed. She felt uncomfortable and uneasy.

Draco banked, understanding her words, whre they needed to go. Thomas held Bree in his arms, concerned for her health. she said she wasn't feeling wll, and Thomas didn't know what it was. truth be told, he was a little worried.

Bree watched the birds fly by and wished she could zap them. She was honestly in a bad mood. They neared New York.

Thomas had Draco land near the prison, but in a park. so as not to attract attention. dismounting, Thomas held a hand to help Bree down. "They'll let me in with you, right?"

Bree nodded. "Oh they will. Especially if you have a criminal record. Then they give you these shiny bracelets and new clothes. Brilliant, huh?" she said, joking with him. She took his hand and started walking.

Thomas laughed at her joke. Taking her hand, he walked to the prison, swinging their arms a little as they walked. eventually, they reached the gate.

Bree got them inside and when they were escorted to the room her father was in at a table looking rather sad and lonely... not to mention grey and older, she smiled like a little girl. She walked over casually and looked around. "Nice day," she commented.

"I wouldn't know yet. We don't get fresh air for another two hours," said the man across the table. He looked up at her. "Bree?"

Bree smiled softly at her father. She reached across the table and put her hand over his. "Hello, Daddy," she smiled softly.

The man smiled back and swallowed. "You look just like your mother... Just beautiful..." said the man.

Bree nodded, tears welling up. She breathed shakily and gestured Thomas over. "Daddy, this is Thomas. My boyfriend..." she said and introduced him.

The man straightened up when he saw the young man walk over. He held a hand out for him to shake. "The name is Dicken Morris. You best be taking care of my daughter. Breezey needs it. After what happened with my brother."

"Dad, did they tell you everything? What Henry did to me?" Bree asked. When her father shook his head, Bree took a breath. "Dad, Uncle Henry raped me. He raped me, cut me, abused me in anyway he could. It all started when I won California Country Championships. I came in first place, by the way. Olympics next, I'm hoping."

Thomas shook his hand. "Pleasure meeting you. and I would die for her, sir." Thomas stood silently as she recounted a brief summary of her time with Henry, not including the eventual killing of her uncle.

When she got to where she made it sound like she was trying for the Olympics soon, Thomas gave a small smile, putting a hand on her shoulder, tears welling, made of hope, sadness, and love intermingled.

Bree scoffed. "Toughen up, man! Or should I call you mouse?" she said and raised an eyebrow. She lightly punched Thomas' arm.

Her father was shaking with rage. "Henry... did... what?"

"And his stepson killed him when he found out," Bree said. "He got one year of juvie before... I don't know."

"My God..." Her father said and covered his eyes. His shoulders shook and Bree guessed he was crying.

"It wasn't your fault, Dad," Bree told him. She put a hand on his shoulder. "In fact, if it wasn't for you, I would be far more shaken than I am these days. I bounced back. Just like Daddy does."

Dicken took a breath. "In my will... I gave everything to you. Our house, our money, everything. Just... Just keep yourself safe, Breanna. And you, Boy. Keep my little Breeze safe or... Well, I won't know... But keep her safe. Guard her like she was a treasure."

Visiting time was up and Bree stood. She gave her father a hug and a kiss goodbye. She sniffled a little as she hugged him and whispered, "Goodbye, Daddy. I love you."

She took Thomas by the hand and only looked back at her father as the doors closed behind them and they were escorted back outside. She didn't speak. She didn't look at Thomas. She kept her eyes ahead of her as they climbed back onto the dragon.

Thomas mocked pain when he got punched, almost faking a laugh, then figured it was probably better not to here. especially as angry as her dad was over hearing what his brother did. When he commented on how he'd best keep Bree safe, Thomas put a hand on his shoulder. "Sir, I swear to you now that if only one of us could survive an incident, it would be her." When the time came to leave, Thomas noticed that she was keeping to herself, as though in thought, so he didn't bug her or anything. instead, he just took her to the park, and had Draco take them back to Camp.

When they landed, Thomas made his first actual interaction with Bree other than to keep his arm around her to prevent her from falling. he reached forward, and gently took her hand. He didn't know what to say, so he remained silent.

Bree got down and started to walk off toward the track again. She sighed and sat in the stands. She fingered her collar bone and leaned back.

Thomas dismounted, and walked over to Bree, and sat next to her, apart by about a foot. he didn't speak for the longest time, then opened his mouth, probably sticking his foot in it. "What can I do to help?"