‘thoughts’

Warnings: Language, violence, character death. >.< SORRY!

It had been a week since he'd escaped from Mayor Welling's mansion, yet Jared didn't feel any more at ease for all his progress away from that hellhole. He knew he was near the border between New York and Pennsylvania since he'd been checking how the mile markers were periodically in his flight. He rested sporadically, but his fear had been the driving force to his flight that it was usually only for short amounts of time. But he knew he'd need a break soon or he was going to collapse.

His 'break' came in the form of a rundown truck stop that he found just on the border between the two states. He knew that he shouldn't risk coming out of the woods where he could be caught, but the idea of a hot shower and some warm food made the decision for him. So he trudged out of the woods and across the gravel parking lot to the back of the truck stop. He crept in and glanced around before heading towards the trucker's lounge and the showers he knew were there. When he'd run away from home way back, he'd gotten to know truck stops very well. 'Almost too well,' he thought with a grimace as he glanced around. The memories of sucking off many a trucker as he hitchhiked to NYC flashed before his eyes, but he shook them off and headed into the shower area.

He made sure the coast was clear and stripped down before stepping into a shower stall. He stopped though and went looking through some of the bags that had been left there. He smirked in triumph when he found shampoo and some shower gel, then grabbed some paper towels and went into the stall again. He turned on the hot water and sighed in relief as it pelted onto him, warming him up. With it being November, the days and nights had been getting colder and the scrappy clothes he’d stolen hadn’t been cutting it. Being in the forest had protected him some, but not by much. But now he felt better as he cleaned off the grime that had built up on him over the past week and a half. When he had finished after the fourth or fifth time, he stepped out and wiped off with more paper towels. He searched the bags again and found some large boxers that were clean and then a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt that were huge on him, but they were warm. He pulled the hood up over his head and stuffed his old clothes into the bag before pulling on his worn out shoes.

He went out the back and around to the front and went inside to the restaurant. He slid into a booth and smiled charmingly at the elderly waitress as she came over with a menu. “Cup of coffee, hon?” she asked as she smiled back and Jared shook his head.

“Some milk?” he replied instead as he flashed a dimpled smile at her hopefully. She nodded and left to get his milk and he opened up the menu. It was at that time just between lunch and breakfast, so he decided to get some breakfast since it had been days since he’d had anything substantial. He glanced around after deciding to get the full breakfast and noted a group of truckers sitting and chatting in a booth in the far corner. His eyes slid to a tall man dressed in a black leather long coat who was sitting by himself in a booth across the room. What caught Jared’s eye though was the hawk that was sitting patiently next to the man, taking the little scraps of meat that were offered from the steady fingers. It didn’t look like the owner was against the hawk and Jared could tell that it was indeed well trained. He had just never seen such an amazing creature so close. When his gaze slid back to the stranger’s face which was partially hidden under a dark tattered Stetson, he saw a well kept beard along a chiseled chin and lips that then curved with a soft smile. He couldn’t see any more of that face, but the whole aura of the guy and his hawk had him intrigued.

He instantly looked away when the hawk chirped and looked over at him, but he could feel the man’s gaze on him, pondering and thoughtful and oh so intense. He felt goose bumps along his body and shivered, but he couldn’t tell if it was a good shiver or a bad one. He looked up when the milk was put before him and smiled before giving his order. He nodded as she confirmed his order and then took a long gulp of his milk, almost emptying it. He licked his lips and picked at the table top, frowning in thought. He knew that he had to cross over into Pennsylvania before he could get anything going to save George and the others from the mayor, but he honestly wasn’t sure he could do it. He was just a kid and that asshole had a lot of power. He would have to get people who weren’t already turned to the mayor’s side by money. He just had to figure out who to trust.

Blinking as his food was put before him, he smiled winningly at the waitress as she refilled his glass. He was thankful that he’d grabbed the cash he’d found at the last gas station he’d hit two days before. At least he could get something decent to eat. He dug into his food after nodding at her in reassurance that he was happy with things and groaned as the food hit his growling stomach. God, fried eggs and crispy bacon had never tasted so good!

He was just finishing up with his food when he heard the door open with a clang and looked over. Almost instantly, his heart stilled as he saw the badges of New York City police on black leather jackets. He felt fear wash over him as he saw Lt. Carlson walking in with four other cops and quickly turned away and shrunk down a bit as they walked in and looked around.

“Can I help you, gentlemen?” the waitress asked kindly, though Jared could hear the worry and alarm in her voice. Cops more than likely rarely came out this far, much less NYC cops. He peeked over to watch them as his stomach roiled over the newly ingested food.

“We’re looking for an escaped delinquent, ma’am, and have reason to believe he’s traveled out this way in order to avoid the authorities. We believe he is linked to several murders of other delinquents that had been serving time with him in the honorable Mayor Welling’s home. Have you seen a teenage boy about six feet with dark curly hair and green eyes?” the lead man answered as he tipped his hat back to gaze at the waitress with cold blue eyes underneath an icy smile.

Jared could hear the woman hesitate and watched her glance a bit towards where he was. He could see her hesitance and good heartedness, but cops were cops. Why would they lie? ‘She wouldn’t know how corrupt they are and I’m just a kid,’ he thought in growing fear and looked back at his nearly empty plate. Biting his lip, he made up his mind and grabbed his bag slowly as he tensed up and glanced over slowly. He saw that the truckers were silent as they watched the confrontation in curiosity and noted that the lone guy was no longer where he had been and had a feeling he was on his own. His gaze slid towards where he needed to escape and knew that he’d be able to escape if he could use the element of surprise as best he could. Steeling himself, he gripped the table and used it to push off just as the waitress was about to answer. He ran as he quickly as he could towards the door, avoiding arms that tried to grab him as shouts and yells shot out, ordering him to stop.

Ignoring them, he grunted as he rammed into one of the guards and knocked the guy off balance before skidding around the corner to the doors. He rammed into them and nearly tripped as they gave way easily to his momentum and had managed to get out and a couple feet away before his arm was grabbed and he was yanked back. He cried out in surprise and struggled to keep his balance and yank free, but he was quickly pinned with both his arms behind his back. He snarled as he fought to break loose of the grip, then glared as his hood was pulled off, revealing his face. He squinted as the noon sun blinded him for a minute before it was blocked with the sneering face of the lead cop.

“Well well well...if it isn’t the escaped brat. Did you have a good breakfast, brat? It’ll be your last one for a long time,” was drawled as a strong rough hand gripped his chin and forced him to look up into icy blue eyes. “Shoulda kept to the woods...” was purred out as the cop looked into his eyes. His jaw was squeezed painfully and he grimaced a bit, but didn’t react any other way. They had a staring contest for a minute before the cop smirked and chuckled evilly, chilling Jared through his core. “Carlson, take this shit to the car. Time to take him back to his...keeper,” he ordered and laughed as Jared growled and struggled again.

“I ain’t goin’ back to that murderin’ asshole!” Jared shouted as he was pushed along towards one of the squad cars that were parked outside of the restaurant. He struggled and fought, twisting and kicking to get free as he dug his heels in as well.

Suddenly, the sound of a shotgun cocking shot through the air, seeming to stop all sound as they looked over in surprise to where the sound had come from. Jared squinted and blinked as he saw the stranger with the hawk standing in front of the cars, shotgun pointed at them as he glared. “Let the boy go, Kane.”

The first cop scowled, and then realization dawned on his face before he sneered. “Morgan...back in town I see. You’ll regret that,” he stated darkly before reaching over and grabbing Jared by the hair and yanking him over. “This kid’s going back to the mayor of New York City,” he growled as he jerked Jared a bit, causing the boy to grab at his hands and sink to the ground.

“Your ‘illustrious’ mayor ain’t touchin’ that boy anymore,” the man called Morgan said as he retook his aim. He shifted then as Carlson moved, then his face softened. “Steve....” he murmured fondly as a smile slid out briefly.

Carlson also smiled a bit sadly. “Commissioner Morgan...been a long time old friend,” he said quietly as he relaxed a bit, though both sides stayed wary.

“Hey Morgan...catch!” Kane suddenly shifted and reached over, shoving Carlson right at Morgan as he yanked Jared to the side. Carlson stumbled right into Morgan as the shotgun went off and Morgan caught Steve as he fell into the older man’s arms, knocking his hat off.

“Steve...” Morgan whispered in dismay as he held his dead friend, and then glared at Kane as he laughed and tried to get Jared to move. “Kane! You’re dead!” he snarled out as he brought out a dagger and threw it, forcing the cop to dodge with a curse and let go of Jared. Jared scrambled away as a fight started between Morgan and the remaining officers.

Jared didn’t look back as he ran and looked up as a hawk shrieked above him before glancing over when he heard shouts and curses. The sounds were suddenly drowned out by the growl of a motorcycle as it started up and grew closer to him. He panicked and tried running faster, but a hand on his collar dragged him onto the back of a black Harley Davidson before it roared off. He ducked down as gun shots were heard, but they stopped and he looked back to see the hawk dive bombing and scattering the cops before swooping off to join them as they went speeding down the road. He wrapped his arms tightly around Morgan’s waist and wondered just what the hell had happened.

Looking up, he gazed at the grim profile of the much older man and found his stomach fluttering, though he couldn’t tell if it was dread, nerves...or desire. ‘I am in so much trouble,’ he thought as he rested his cheek against the warm leathered back cautiously. He just couldn’t figure out if that was good or bad.

TBC