Sa'ren Part I

Disclaimer:

This chapter contains a small love scene that is needed for the character development of the two principle boys in the story. It is a scene that some might not wish to read as it covers two boys beginning to explore their sexuality together in a loving manner. It is not written to provoke an erotic response, but instead to show the healing deep inside that is taking place in both concerned characters.

If this is not the type of scene you wish to read, then once you get to when the children involved are entering the bathroom in the early hours of the morning, jump to the last section of all.

Thank you.

---

The boys were quietly talking while they enjoyed their food; mainly about Joel's emotional bonding that he was doing with others, as with Xain and Telez. After they had finished, Kevin poked Joel in his ribs lightly.

"Jo'?" Kevin managed to ask around a mouthful of garlic bread.

Joel looked up with a questioning smile and a giggle, "Yeah?"

"You given them those special things, yet?" Kevin asked, grinning at his friend.

With his eyes opening wider, Joel gasped, "Ooops! Nope! Where are they now?"

Tyler popped in with a carrier bag. "Here, big bro. And I've told Sean to haul his chubby butt in here!"

"I heard that, pain!" Sean growled through his giggles as he rushed into the room and started tickling his youngest brother.

Joel giggled as Tyler squirmed about on the floor, laughing helplessly.

Cory quickly consumed the last of his own garlic bread before the new arrivals saw him with it. He then allowed himself to laugh at Tyler's predicament, while slowly eating his pizza.

"UNCLE!" Tyler giggled eventually.

Sean sniggered as he lifted up his prey and plopped him on his shoulders. "So, what's up?"

Joel smiled at him, then poked his face into the bag Tyler had handed to him. "Ah, here," he murmured as he pulled out an small oddly shaped yet beautifully wrapped present and handed it to Sean. "For you; for being my big brother!" he said proudly. "I made it myself."

Sean got a huge smile on his face as he took the wrapped gift and opened it. It was a little bear. "Oh my God; this is AWESOME, little brother! Thank you; I love it!"

Joel's eyes brightened. "Really? I did good?" At Sean's nod, Joel jumped up to hug him, and then pointed at the bear. "It has your eyes and your hair colour for his fur, and your Vulcan robe... he's a little Teddy for Cory's Teddybear!" he finished happily.

"You made a perfect gift; I'll treasure it forever," Sean replied as he kissed Joel's nose.

Joel returned the kiss, then looked into Sean's eyes. He grew hesitant, and looked at Cory as if asking permission. Cory guessed and simply nodded, still happily chewing on his slice of pizza. "Sean? Cor said I can give pet names to my brothers. Can I give you one?"

"Of course, Lil'elf; you can call me anything you want," Sean replied.

Joel glanced at Cory again before turning his watery eyes on his brother's face, "You're Cory's Teddybear. I don't have no teddies... can I call you Big Ted? Will you be my Teddy too?"

"I would be honoured," Sean replied seriously as he gave Joel another cuddle.

After cuddling with his 'Ted' for a few more minutes, Joel happily led Sean over and sat him next to Cory. Tyler was still giggling from Sean's shoulders. He then rushed to the bag and pulled out another gift, just as oddly shaped, and offered it to Cory.

Cory put his plate down and gently took the brightly wrapped gift and opened it. It was another stuffed toy, but not a bear. It was a young lion, with the beginnings of a golden blond mane, and bright blue eyes.

"'Cos you're the brave one," Joel whispered softly, his eyes showing his hope that his beloved brother would like it. "You're strong and brave and the leader. Just as Big Ted's your Teddy, you are his Lion."

Cory held out his free hand for Joel to join him in a cuddle. "Thank you, Lil'elf; the only person ever to give me something nicer is Sean. I love it, little brother."

Joel pushed himself in between both brothers and snuggled, his eyes running freely with tears yet a massive smile of accomplishment was on his face.

Tyler coughed quietly, and handed something down to Sean.

"Lil'elf, I have something for you too," Sean whispered as he kissed the back of Joel's head. Joel swivelled around and saw the item that Sean had in his hands. Sean continued, "It was made by some nice lady on the moon for you a few days ago, and I was given it to give to you."

Joel reached and took the stuffed toy Sehlat into his hands. He stared at it in wonder for a long moment, then tears began to run down his pale cheeks afresh. "I... I've always wanted a... a toy," he blubbered out softly. "Is this for me? Really?" He looked back into the warm loving eyes of his big brother.

"Yes. Really," Sean nodded.

Cory pulled Joel in backwards against himself tightly as the Vulcan rubbed the soft fur of the Sehlat against his cheek. "A... a toy. For me..."

---

Teri poked her head around the door to the quiet sitting room where the five boys were relaxing, and nearly backed out due to the comfort expressed in all their faces. Joel and Kevin were finding out how well Sean could act as a pillow, while Tyler was doing the same with Cory. Both teens were resting with their heads propped up on I-Cheya's belly, for the large Vulcan bear was lying on his side, snoring.

Cory saw her and asked, "Anything happening, Mom?"

She nodded, "Allen is about to go home. I thought Kev might want to say good night."

Kevin looked up quickly, a hint of sadness in his face. "Yeah... okay, Aunt Teri." He turned to Joel and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "See you tomorrow, Jo', I'll..."

"Kev," Teri chuckled, "I meant for you to say good night to your brother and Poppa!"

"Wh...what?" the boy spluttered.

Cory giggled, "You're staying the night, doofus! Like Lil'elf will let you go, anyway!"

Kevin started to act like a fish; his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. "But... I've never stayed here without Kenny before..."

Joel snuggled into Kevin's back, "You said you were soul linked, right? And you and your bro mind talk? I don't think you're alone, Kev."

Kevin thought about that for a moment, then asked, "I don't have much of my stuff with me. I've got my Vulcan clothes ready for tomorrow, but nothing much else here."

Sean sniggered, "You and Joel are the same size, right?"

"Oh, yeeeaaah!" the brown haired boy giggled.

Joel nodded happily, "And I got loads of PJs for you to pick from!"

Kevin grinned, "I sleep like Kenny, now, Jo'. Naked."

Joel tilted his head slightly. He nodded slowly, "I've always slept that way, but Pop said I could try PJs at least once; if I don't like them, at least I've tried. That's okay, isn't it? If I'm in them and you're not?"

Kevin nodded happily. "But... ummm, could I have a pair anyway? I think they'd be more comfortable to relax in 'til we go to bed."

Grinning, Joel bounced up off Sean's belly, making his big brother's breath whoosh out, then he grabbed Kevin's hand. "Levi sent me two pairs. The bag's in the bathroom! Come on!" They ran out, giggling.

"How's your pizza settling now, teddybear?" Cory giggled as Sean rubbed his belly.

"Buuuuurrrrpppppppp!" Sean replied. "It's better now!"

Teri rolled her eyes and left the room, "Teenagers!"

Five minutes later and Joel ran back in with Kevin. They stood there, grinning and modelling their PJs for the three still lying next to I-Cheya.

"Superman!" Tyler giggled. "Kewl! You picked it, Joel?"

"Uh huh! I picked all my stuff; Kev, Jimmy and Davey helped, but I had to pick them myself!" he bubbled proudly.

"Nice choices! And Kyle'll love the Power Ranger one you have on, bro; he loves them!"

"Power Rangers?" Kyle asked excitedly as he popped in next to Joel. "Where... who... oh! KEWL!! I wanna pair!"

Joel tilted his head, then grinned. He pulled off his PJs quickly and handed them to Kyle. "Here," he bubbled, standing in his skin completely unconcerned, "Present for you, little brother! They're a bit big, but I've seen Levi shrink stuff with his powers," he said, his face alight with joy at being able to make his little brother happy.

Kyle hesitated, and his face became unreadable as he looked between Joel and their big brothers on the floor.

"Please?" Joel half begged, hurt now appearing in his eyes. "I... I've never had stuff to give to others before, and I kinda like it. I have lot of PJs, loads. Please?"

Kyle grinned, his mind finally made up. "Thanks bro; I'll wear them whenever we all sleep together! I was thinking, would you like a pair of 'Transformers' PJs? That's what I was gonna wear tonight; I was checking to see if they were clean before I asked you."

"I... yeah, I'd love them if they're from you; but, what are 'Transformers'?" Joel asked, his face tilted cutely to one side. The grin on his face, however, spoke volumes. Kyle had accepted his gift, and he was suddenly so very, very happy.

"We'll have to dig out the movie - it's AWESOME!" Kyle replied, ignoring the muffled groans from Cory and Sean.

Joel grinned and nodded happily as Kyle produced a pair of PJs for Joel to take. He took them and put them on and found that they stretched and stretched until they were the right size; which meant baggy. Joel liked them baggy. He then looked down at the picture. "He looks cool; a robot?"

"Optimus Prime!" Kyle giggled as he stripped off his clothes and quickly replaced them with the Power Rangers PJs. Joel giggled, for at first the slight eight year old seemed lost in the PJs that he'd worn, and they were baggy on HIM. Then he watched in wonder as Kyle shrank them down to fit him snugly. "There! Once you've gone over to say good night to your Poppa Allen, we can watch the movie!"

"Wanna come with us? We're riding I-Cheya over," Kevin asked, grinning.

"Hey! He's our head rest!" Cory protested playfully, before I-Cheya moved suddenly and started lightly swatting at the two teens lying next to him playfully.

Joel giggled, then asked, "You gonna watch it with us, Blondie? Big Ted? Ty?"

"Sure!" all three agreed, not wanting to disrupt the personal time with Joel.

"We watching movies? Can we watch Gremlins after??" Timmy asked as he poked his head around the door.

"Sure, Munchkin!" Cory giggled; figuring Joel might as well get that one out of the way too.

"Gremlins 1, 2, 3 or 4, Timmy?" Joel asked curiously.

"There are TWO MORE?!" Timmy asked in glee.

"I'll look for them tomorrow, Timmy!" Kyle giggled.

Also giggling, Levi poked his head around the door, "You should try asking the Tardis first, Daddy! Here; Gremlins 3 and 4, and the live action Transformers 1, 2 and 3. Gotta go. Me and a friend have an adventure planned, but I'll be back for the movies!" Then he vanished.

"YIPPEE!" yelled Kyle and Timmy in unison.

Sean, Cory and Tyler rolled their eyes - however, the new films had piqued their curiosity.

"This place is nuts," Joel murmured happily.

Cory shook his head, "Okay, Kyle-Bear and Munchkin. Transformers 1 then Gremlins 3. We can't watch them all in one sitting."

"Sure we can, I can stop time, and..." Kyle began with glee, but Tyler got up and came over to him.

After a massive kiss to bring his Socius back to Earth, he said, "No, we won't. We can enjoy the new stuff a bit at a time with ALL our brothers. Transformers 1 and Gremlins 3, cutie, or you're sleeping with those funny flying lizards in that Universe Dylan mentioned earlier."

Kyle giggled, "Okay, okay! Come on, Lil'elf, Kev! Let's go see the others then get Tommy to make some popcorn!"

---

Two minutes later, and I-Cheya was making his way towards Main CIC with the three small PJ clad boys riding on his back. Blackie was running along beside him along with Aphrodite and Mercury.

They reached the Rec Room and entered to see Justy and Dean playing with their new son, and the Double Js playing with their newly discovered little brother. Riti and Victoria were helping, and the rest of the Dragon Division were mixed in thoroughly with the members of Clan Short.

"I see you're staying the night, little one," Allen smiled as he picked up Kevin from I-Cheya's back.

Kevin nodded. "Yeah. I came over to say good night, Poppa!" he grinned and proceeded to hug his dad.

Joel climbed down from I-Cheya's furry back and watched as his two Cat Guards moved over to play with some of the little kids.

"Joel, I don't think you've met Sammy, have you?" Kyle asked as he remained on the Sehlat's back.

Joel shook his head, "Nope. Who's he, and is he friendly?"

Kyle pointed towards an eleven year old who was standing at the far side of the room. "That's him, and I think you should meet him. He's able to sense feelings real well, and I think you're startling him."

"Why?" Joel asked curiously as he watched the brown haired boy across the way look about himself with concern as if searching for something or someone.

"Your fear, big bro. He can sense it, and he's worried. You'll like Sammy, he is just like you; loves cuddles. Go on, bro," Kyle encouraged with a smile.

"Okay, if you're sure," Joel said uncertainly, and with Blackie at his feet, he walked towards the boy who was now closely watching him.

---

:Sammy's Point Of View:

Where the hell was it coming from?

I could feel it, but for some reason I couldn't figure out exactly where it was coming from, and Vic said I should be able to.

This was weird but I knew I had to find whoever was so frightened and try to help if I could.

Then I suddenly noticed a little Vulcan boy walking towards me, and Kyle was there behind him... sitting on one of those teddy bear animals that are wandering around here.

It was him!

Suddenly I just knew; all the fear, terror and... and... a lot more was coming from this kid.

I felt Dot come up from the shadows and stand beside me, looking just as intently at the boy in question as he made his way over to me.

The wolf coming with the boy may have had something to do with it, but then I sensed that she too felt the boy's fear and was ready to attack whatever was causing it.

I didn't blame her, and it was only trying real hard that kept my hand away from the gun at my side.

All I wanted was to make the fear disappear from him.

I watched as the boy stopped a few feet away and smiled at me real nervous like before turning back and looking at my little brother.

Damn, gotta stop thinking like that, I barely know Kyle here.

I could feel the fear coming off him like waves pounding the beach and I had to fight everything in me that said to just rush over and take him in my arms.

His teddy bear seemed to make some noises telling him it was alright and my... no... Kyle nodded at him, causing him to turn back around, and in almost a whisper he said "Greetings... Sammy?" before raising his hand in the Vulcan Salute.

I could see that hand shake with his fear and gently sent out my mind to feel him and try and reassure him as I replied softly, "Hello, you must be Joel and yeah, I'm Sammy."

I also raised my hand and did what I remembered seeing others do.

"Live Long and Prosper, Joel Short, son of Teri, and brother to us all."

As I finished I could feel him even more, and it was a thousand times worse than what I had been picking up already.

I had to use everything Viccy and Jace had taught me to hold back the pain that was locked inside this child in front of me, and at the same time I felt my heart break that he was feeling any of it.

How he was even standing, much less not be completely crazy from it, is something I will probably never know; but as I gasped for breath I tried to send reassurance to him.

He tilted his head to the side and suddenly the fear and terror were joined by an overwhelming blast of shame, sadness, regret and loss as he whispered brokenly, with tears streaming down his face, "Please... don't look in my head... I... Kyle and Ty have, but... I don't want people to know I'm... I... please don't look..."

My head was shaking before he stopped speaking as I cried, "No, no, I wouldn't do that, Joel. Please believe me, I'd never go into someone's head unless they asked or I had to. I just feel people and I was trying to show you that you didn't have anything to be afraid of. I can feel your feelings but not what is causing them. I only know I want to make it better and show you, ya don't have nothing to be afraid of no more."

I knew tears were falling down my own face now, and Dot was up on her feet issuing a low growl from deep within her.

I knew if whoever had caused those feelings in Joel was anywhere near right then the cat would be tearing that person into shreds.

I so wanted to hug him and let him know somehow that everything was going to be okay, but I was also afraid that doing that might just freak him out even more; but it was taken out of my hands when I heard a voice deep within me say, Boy - Samuel-Boy safe. Samuel-Boy good. Hug Samuel-Boy

I watched as the wolf pup nudged Joel's legs to get him moving and realized that it had been him who had spoken. Joel came the last few feet to me and slowly raised his hand to my cheek.

It was like a electrical charge as his fingers made contact with my face, and I watched as he shook slightly before smiling, then he began to fall slowly to the ground.

I quickly wrapped my arms around him and followed him down to the ground, hugging him to me and holding on tightly as he whispered, "S...sorry."

As I held him to my chest he went on, "It's the first time I've met someone new without Cor, Sean or Kev with me. Sorry for acting like a baby..."

"Nah," I answered him softly, "Joel, you're not acting like a baby. You're just scared is all and that's okay. We've all been there too, though I don't think as bad as you. I guess I was kinda lucky cause I could sense stuff about people and it made it easier for me to meet new ones. It was still scary though, so you take all the time you need and I won't push ya or nothing, 'kay?"

"'Kay," he replied softly before sighing a bit before lifting his face to look up at me and tell me, "I like you. You... you're nice and safe... you feel... your Fire is warm." As he said that, a smile that lit the room, at least for me, appeared on his face. He gently kissed my cheek before turning serious again. "I can't stop feeling the fear though. It's always there. I'm sorry if it hurts you, really I am, but I can't help it... I've always been scared."

My heart felt like it was going to break as he said that, but then I watched as his face screwed up tightly and with a horrified whisper he said, "SHE is always there, and HE is... I feel and see them alla time... I can't get away from 'em. I can't forget. Ever. Even the p...pain... I feel it like it's happening now..."

I took a deep breath and hoped what I was gonna do didn't scare the crap outta him, but this was going to stop; at least for now, I hoped.

Letting my power out like Jace and Viccy had taught me, I felt my eyes blaze brightly as I poured out all the warmth, caring and protection I could, and focused it on the trembling form in my arms. I let it wash over him and engulf him like a blanket as I said, "You're not hurting me Joel, I'm just sad that you are. I hate seeing anyone hurt or be scared and no one is ever going to hurt you again, if I have anything to say about it. You're Vulcan, Joel; FEEL what I'm saying, FEEL what will happen should anyone hurt you again. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you're okay now, and I bet Cory and Sean will too."

Dot gently butted her head into the boy, purring forcefully and telling him much the same thing in her own way. He tickled my panther's ears with one hand, and he seemed to begin to relax.

Suddenly, with a sharp intake of breath, he looked up and deep into my eyes: I watched as that beautiful smile of his came back to his face. The light from my now brightly glowing eyes flickered across his features, gently bathing him in their azure glow.

I could feel him listening to me and reaching out, joining with me, and I let him take the lead as he 'felt' into me and of me - of what I was trying to show him.

"You're like Cory!" he suddenly exclaimed with a giggled. "You're just like Cory," he said again.

Then a weird thing happened. His eyes changed and it was if another person was there inside him.

What the hell?

I started to pull in my defences when just as suddenly an overwhelming feeling of peace came over me and I just knew somehow that whatever was going on wasn't bad and that Joel wasn't being hurt none or gonna be either.

His mouth opened and a voice clearly not his own began to speak, "Gentle Heart are you, Human child. A father's soul is in you. A patriarch's soul."

Then Joel gave himself a shake and looked back up at me with a confused look on his face before saying in a mumble, "Did I do something again? It keeps happening and I dunno why."

To say I was stunned was like an understatement, but his cheeks turning a dark, dusky green told me that he was embarrassed by this.

I knew later I was going to have to go to Jace and tell him about this.

Someone taking control of someone's mind, nice someone or not, was something he needed to know about and the sooner the better.

Not to mention that while what the voice had said was nice, it had also left me confused too.

"Yeah little guy, something happened, but it looks like you're okay and everything is alright, so don't worry about it. I'll talk to a real good friend who knows about this sort of thing later on and see if maybe he can help, okay?"

I didn't want to say much more as I didn't want anything else to trouble this sweet little guy; not any more. Never, if I could help it.

Joel cocked his head at one side, looking at me closely, before saying, "Jace? You're gonna ask Jace, aren't you. He's like you too, all blue and Firey and strong. He's harder than you, though. He has a dagger in his heart and head, to fight people who hurt others. I was in his head this morning and he left doors in his mind open. I saw. He's good, though. Just a bit hard. Guess he had to learn it, yeah? Not like you, though. I feel... I feel an edge in you, but... it's not like Jace's. You are a weapon sheathed, and a soft hand; a Warm place. He's Warm and cuddly too, but his blade is in hand. He has blood in his heart. You just have it on your hand."

I'd never heard someone described like that before but somehow it fit Jace perfectly. Me too, if I had to be honest about it.

"Yeah little guy, I'm gonna ask Jace. I think if anyone can help, it'll probably be him. He, Nathan and Viccy know a lot more than I do about all this mind stuff and we don't want you hurt no more. Maybe he can help you put some shields up to keep whoever or whatever it is out and if you've already melded with him then it'll be easier for you. I don't wanna try anything, cause I'm still too new at all this stuff to be totally cool with it and somehow I don't think you need me stomping around in your head like a clutz," I said as I gently stroked his back in reassurance.

"Okay" Joel giggled then surprised me by giving me a kiss on the lips.

"I think..." he started to say, then stopped and looked nervous for a moment, and I could sense he felt like I might reject whatever it was he was going to say or that maybe he'd gone too far with that kiss.

I smiled down at him and gently returned the quick kiss saying softly, "It's alright."

I felt something for him, something that I couldn't quite place and wondered just maybe if...

My thoughts were interrupted by him saying "Sammy..." before stopping again to take a deep breath to continue. I could tell this was taking a lot out of him to get out.

"I'd... would you be my brother too? I'd like another brother... if you want to that is?"

Then he dropped his gaze down at his hands which were holding onto mine, and in a whisper I could barely hear he almost pleaded, "Please?"

And again, "Please say yes..."

I looked down at him and thought, 'No, not that, but like Peter and the Trinity.'

I just wanted to protect him and hold him; kinda like dad does with me all the time.

I never wanted to let go.

I somehow knew that this was something very special for him to ask of me and letting everything I was feeling right then go out to him I answered, "Yes Joel, there's nothing I'd like more than to be one of your brothers, thank you for asking me. Somehow I don't think you ask too many people that, so I know how special it is. Thank you, it means a lot to me that you want to be my brother."

I could see the un-shed tears in his eyes as he looked up at me. He cried "Oh thank you, thank you," before launching himself on me and hugging me tightly around the neck, crying with joy.

I did what Dad did, and just kissed the top of his head softly over and over again as I let my hand gently run up and down his back. The intense joy coming from him was almost overwhelming in its strength, and again I had to wonder; just what had this little thing been through in his short life where someone caring about him would cause this type of reaction?

Suddenly there was a strange noise of 'Huff, huff... huffff!' from the teddy bear looking thing from earlier as it came over to us and Joel looked up at it and, blinking through his tears, said to it, "Okay, I will."

Then he turned back to me looking me in eyes again as he said, "This is I-Cheya and he wants to be your friend too."

Dot was watching all of this intently as I looked at the bear but before I could say anything I heard a voice in my head saying Yes. Sammy-Boy nice to my Boy. Sammy-Boy my Boy now as it blinked and began to sniff me all over.

I-Cheya gently pushed Joel out of my arms causing him to land softly on the floor, then pawed Dot and the wolf cub over to him. Joel started to giggle and said "I... I think he wants to bath you," just as I-Cheya managed somehow to take my clothes off.

"Oh great, now I have four, no five who want to do that," I just managed to say as tongues began to lick me all over, making me giggle like mad.

Dot just snorted and I heard an amused reply, *You never clean well enough*

I gasped out "I...am...not...dirty!" but it was hard to talk while being tickled so much.

Grooming. Bonding. You clean outside. We now clean soul of pain I heard inside me from what I realized was both the bear cub and the wolf pup.

Then they placed their mouths near my face and gently breathed out on me. It was warm and it caused a powerful heat to flow into my body. I gasped in surprise and then wonder as I felt it, all gentle and soothing, go through me.

Joel moved over and kissed me on the forehead as I lay there feeling these wonderful feelings passing through me.

It was then that I felt something deep within me. Deep in my heart I felt like something had clicked there. I knew somehow that something or someone joined, or maybe linked with me; in a way that was like and yet not like what I did with my dad and brothers. As I looked into my new brother's eyes I knew just who it was, and that it was just as powerful a joining as those I already had. Joel stammered "I...I.." before sighing and simply saying "Brother."

He didn't have to say anything else, though. With this new link, even without my powers, I could feel everything that he wasn't saying as he looked at me with those soulful blue eyes. Everything he was feeling was washing over me. It was like my powers were using the link he had made in new way. I pulled him down and cuddled him on my chest as I lay there.

Love, trust, warmth, joy, peace. All those and more came from the little angel now in my arms, even if he couldn't say it.

I once again sent out everything I felt to him, letting him know with more than the words everything that I felt for the trust he had just placed in me; for his trust and his love, and just how much they meant to me. I softly kissed his cheek, and I then said that which he could not.

"I love you too, little one."

---

Normal Perspective:

After Joel and Sammy had had one last hug and cuddle, they parted with a promise to talk again tomorrow. I-Cheya grabbed Joel and led him back to Kyle, and Blackie followed, after giving Dot a wolf-kiss in parting.

Sammy watched for a moment longer, then became aware of a shadow behind him. He turned quickly and saw the Doctor standing there, smiling at him.

"Well done, Heart of Gold. Well done," the Doctor giggled.

"For what, Doc?" Sammy asked with a small smile. "I only did what I always do; love my brothers."

The Doctor nodded, "So I have found out. I just had to witness it for myself. I did sense something, however. Uncertainty just before he asked you to be his brother. Do you mind telling me what that was? I believe I know, and I believe I can explain, but I would like to know in your words nonetheless."

Sammy thought for a moment, then gave a small, rueful smile. "I thought that he might have asked me to be his boyfriend or something," Sammy whispered so that only the small Time Lord could hear.

The Doctor nodded again, "Thought so. It's only natural that you would think that. You love him, don't you?"

"Of course, he's my brother... now," Sammy added with a happy giggle.

"No, I mean really love him. It runs deep, I can see it."

Sammy looked uncertain, "But..."

"It is a brother's love, yes; but if you were to feed it, it would grow. You are not the first to feel this around Joel. Many here do, but few understand what they are feeling. Only one has acted upon it, and he is the one that stole Joel's heart as well. Kevin Thompson?"

Sammy thought, then, "Oh, the twin of Kenny and brother of Xain and Jake?"

"Yup."

"Lucky for them both," Sammy smiled. He then asked curiously, "Why do I love him that quickly, though? I've only just met him."

"He is the Shaper. He twists time. And also, above all, he is filled with Love. What did you sense the moment you touched him? The need for and desire to share love?"

Sammy nodded mutely.

"He loved you instantly upon touching you. Your own power and heart of love responded instantly. You could not help it, yet you did help it. You chose to reply to his unconditional trust and love with love of your own. Know that it was not against your will. He is so free with his love and trust once you win it that your response was automatic - and natural."

The Doctor paused then. "But in you I sense something else," he murmured curiously. "May I touch you and attempt a scan? I cannot see much that lies ahead right now, for the Veil of Shadow still lies before us, but... may I?"

Sammy nodded, still unable to find his voice.

The Doctor laid his hand on the boy's cheek and remained still for a moment. He then opened his eyes and smiled, "Thought so; you find him physically attractive as well. Well, you might be surprised, Samuel Reynolds, at who will find you. There is one for you, for your heart. I cannot see his face, but logic dictates that one as loving as you will not be without the other half of his soul for much longer. I must go now. Take care of Joel; oh, and that link you felt? It was the Bonding of the Children. In your case you feel it both ways, but it is designed to let Joel feel safe. Only 4 others have the bond so far. There may be more, but there is rarely more than 10. Be honoured. You are one of the few he trusts that much. Good bye for now, Samuel."

The Doctor Folded away, leaving Sammy with more questions than he had answers...

---

Sammy just stood there for several moments after the Doctor left before slowly reaching down and removing his communicator. He opened it brought it to his mouth, "Reynolds to Commander Evans."

"Commander Evans here," came the reply.

"Jace, I need to see you right away about something that has come up."

"Okay, I'm in the Kitchen talking to John and Dan. I'll be right there," Jason replied.

A minute later, Jason walked up to Sammy and asked, "What's wrong, Cariad?"

Sammy spoke quietly, "You know about this mind stuff a lot more than I do, and I don't want to freak anyone out, but Joel was just with me. He said something has been invading his mind and taking over lately. I didn't sense anything bad or anything from whatever it was when it happened but it was different and... Jace it seemed... older. It made Joel talk only it wasn't Joel, if you know what I mean."

Jason's eyes narrowed. "Another personality? An older one, but not bad? Not evil?"

Sammy shook his head, "No, not evil."

Jason looked over at Joel for a moment, then lowered his voice, "Joel had a Vulcan Mind-fit early this morning. He has suffered severe trauma in the... wait, do you know anything about Joel? About where he came from? Has anyone told you yet?"

"No but I felt..." Sammy stopped as a shudder ran through him violently. He continued, sounding sick, "Whatever it was... it was bad Jace, real bad." Tears began threatening to spill from Sammy's eyes, "I had never felt anything like that before."

"Do you want to know it all? I can tell you if you want, but you are right. He has gone through what few others have," Jason asked softly.

"I do want to know, he's my brother now; but is it something I should know before he tells me?" Sammy asked hesitantly.

Jason's eyes went unfocused for a second. "Kyle says that you can know. You are one of the few he's asked to be his brother directly, and you've become one of his emotional anchors. He won't mind. Kyle knows that."

Sammy sucked in a deep breath, "Okay, tell me."

"Not here, Cariad. Come, into one of the private rooms," Jason said softly as he led Sammy from the Rec Room.

Once in one of the Meeting Rooms, Jason sat on the nearest comfy chair with Sammy pulled up and held close. He began to rapidly send all that they knew about Joel, his past, the Universe he was stuck in, and all his pain. Jason then held Sammy closely as the boy wept hard; wept for his new brother.

When Sammy finally managed to pull back his tears, he whispered, "How? He's so... so... how did he survive it Jace?" Sammy started crying again, "He's so full of love, he loves so much. How?"

Jason could sense the pain and grief from Sammy and knew that Sammy couldn't understand how a boy that had been through so much could still love and trust the way Joel did. Jason wasn't sure he understood it either, but he did understand the wonder that he felt in Sammy; the wonder at how Joel would ask him to be his brother, to ask him something that precious.

Jason answered thickly, tears in his own voice, "Joel is... Joel is special, little bro. He is so special. He has more courage than a lion, yet no strength of his own; not any more. He used it all to survive. Kevin Thompson is now his strength, and those he has bonded with are his protection."

Sammy and Jason sat still for a few more moments before Sammy asked, "And you were saying about a fit this morning?"

Jason nodded, "When a Vulcan mind receives an emotional trauma, it will cordon off those 'hurts' and lobotomise them from the rest of the brain. Joel had witnessed murders of gay and religious people, Sam, and then buried the memories when he was hidden as a human. When he became Vulcan again, those memories were adapted as a wound in his mind. It's still there, and it was triggered at breakfast. We nearly lost him. Kyle and the rest of us helped Xain get him back, and then we blocked that area of his head... but he has another personality in that wounded area, an evil one. All the worst he has been through, and... something more. We can't understand it, but we can't get rid of it either. It needs a fully trained Vulcan Kolinahr adept or Master to heal him. My Poppa Spock is trained more than Master level, and he's gonna be here Thursday. But as for this new personality you met; that wasn't the evil one. I don't know what that is. I didn't see anything else in his head, and I would... I... oh, my!"

Jason stopped and Sammy looked at him quickly, "What?"

Jason said slowly, "I can't be sure, but if there IS a real person in there with him, and I can't 'read' it, but it can be 'sensed' with empathy... he might be carrying a Katra!"

Sammy looked puzzled, "What's a Katra?"

"Well," Jason answered, "I don't know if you're gonna believe it, but Vulcans can place their living souls into either another person, usually another Vulcan, or they can give them to the Hall of Memories on Vulcan. If they do that, though, the Katra is no longer living. Vulcans only do this when close to death, so that their knowledge can be used by future generations. Once the Katra has passed from the Vulcan into the living person holding it, it is then taken to the Hall on Vulcan. Then, and only then, does the living part leave to go where souls go. The Katra is then just a memory. If Joel is carrying a Katra, then a living soul not his own is inside him; with him."

"Jesus! you mean there's a ghost haunting him or something? Hasn't the poor kid been through enough?" the brown haired boy asked in complete shock. His face, however, held no disbelief; he trusted what Jason had said, it was only that he could not understand it.

"No, not really; not if it's a Katra, SamSam," Jason smiled. "I don't know if you ever heard about what happened to Poppa Spock in 1996; when he died? It was major news that he had died on a training mission but no one knew how or why. Then a month later, he comes back after the then Admiral Kirk goes AWOL and appears on Vulcan with him. It happened with Pop. He put his Katra into Uncle Bones, Dr. McCoy. Then when they found Pop's body and saw that it had regenerated due to some weird thing, the Kolinahr Masters of Mount Seleya put his Katra back in. If Joel is carrying a Katra, then it would have to be a Vulcan. I don't know of any bad Vulcans; do you?"

Sammy thought about that for a moment or two. His face was a picture as he tried to make sense of something so 'alien'. "Wow. I didn't hear about Spock, cause I was like only three years old back then, but that's almost unbelievable, Jace! You're right, though, that I haven't heard of a bad Vulcan, and like I said, it didn't feel bad or mean. Nothing like that, just I could sense it wasn't Joel but something else. Other than the weird stuff it said to me, kinda nice stuff but still weird and I don't understand it; but Joel was embarrassed by it and said it had been happening to him a lot lately. I don't want to see him hurt any more, Jace, I really don't and it's bothering him, bro."

Jason nodded seriously, "One, I didn't hear about Spock either at the time as I was only little too, but I love Vulcan stuff, so it came up. And he's my pop. Go figure," he added with a small grin. Then, "I agree about Joel. I can't sense anything at the moment, but if it is a Katra, neither I nor you would sense it, unless it 'came to the front' and did something. You got the impression it was good, so that's okay by me. We'll just have to help him as much as he needs, until Pop gets here Thursday. He can deal with a Katra, and Pop's mind is better to carry one if Joel is holding one."

"But Jace, you, Viccy and Nath are like experts on all this mind stuff and Joel said you'd linked and been in each others' minds. Can't you go back in find out what it is? Or maybe you can put up shields or something for him. I mean if it's really a Vulcan soul in there I suppose you wouldn't want to get rid of it but isn't there something you can do so it doesn't bother him so much? I think it's kinda freaking him out, ya know? I mean if I had someone's ghost in my head I'd be freaked. If anyone can do something until Spock gets here then I think it would be you guys."

Jason giggled, "I've been in his head, but I'm not linked to him. That's just you, Cory, Sean, Xain and Tel. I can't keep a Katra out, Sammy. It's a soul, not a mind. It's also Vulcan, and their powers are not like ours. We can't Meld, they can. We cannot put our souls into another, they can. I wouldn't know where to start. However, let's try something."

Jason led Sammy back into the Rec Room and found a chair to sit on with Sammy cuddled into his side. He closed his eyes and formed a bridge with Sammy, gently asking for permission to link up.

'Always, Jace,' was Sammy's happy reply to that request.

Jason sent silently, 'We have been given a name by the Guardian, SamSam. Ka'Inri, Mind Walkers. Come on; let's 'Walk' in Joel's and see if there is something there, and see if it'll answer.'

Sammy looked startled for a moment at the name. 'But...'

'Don't worry. It just means we're us, Sammy. You are you, and I am me. The name is 'cos we Walk with our Minds. That's all,' Jason smiled.

'I remember when we joined before, Jace ,and it was like I've done with the Trinity only more. I know you won't hurt me; I am more worried about Joel and going into his mind. He didn't want that. He said only you and a couple of others had. He's ashamed of what happened to him and didn't want me to know. The name is cool though.'

'Don't worry, Cariad. I did not show you what he is ashamed of. I know it, and he has nothing TO be ashamed of, but it's a... a sex thing, I think is the best way to say it... and he's no longer as strong as you. Then, he's also ashamed 'cos he thinks he's not a real boy any more. I didn't tell you, and I don't think you really want to know. Your choice though, but that will be for after if you do. Jason sighed, We won't see his memories now, anyhow. He's awake and would feel us doing that. We're going into one of the deep levels,'and with that, his and Sammy's eyes started glowing.

'We'll be his strength and protection for now, Jace, until he can be for himself again,' Sammy sent back lovingly.

They reached out and found Joel's mind and entered easily. They moved deeper quickly so that Joel would not feel them, and Jason sent out, Is there someone here?'

'Yes. What is it you wish, child of Spock?' came a quiet answer; and it was not Sammy.

'Ah, so I was right. And so was Sammy; you feel good. Who are you?' Jason asked.

'For now, I am not to be known. You will act different if you know, and until I tell the child myself, I cannot risk further hurt to him.'

Jason smiled to himself as he felt Sammy's power reaching out and sensing. Seeming satisfied by the love this 'person' was feeling for Joel, yet also puzzled by the cryptic reply it gave, Sammy pulled back, and Jason picked up his stray thought "Way beyond my pay grade!" within the link they had going.

'I can respect your desire to not harm Joel, but I am commanded by the Patriarch of House Surak to defend all within Clan Short of Vulcan,' Jason stated formally. 'Neither I nor Sammy will say anything to Joel about your presence until he comes to us regarding you. But - I need to know more.'

Silence.

Then a response came, 'Blood of my blood. Flesh of my flesh.'

As clear as the presence of this 'person' was, whomever it was suddenly vanished from their senses.

Jason pulled back slowly and took Sammy out and back to their own minds. Opening his eyes, Jason led Sammy back into the quiet room they had been in. "Well," he asked his younger friend, "do you think there could be a problem here?"

Sammy looked about ready to give a flippant response, but then he paused. Slowly, and with care, he answered, "I don't think so. Jason, as strange as this may sound, I think whoever that Katra is loves and cares about Joel even more than we do. Part of me wishes we'd chased it down and tried to make it answer, but another part, the bigger part, thinks we should leave well enough alone for right now and just keep a watch on Joel in case I'm wrong. You felt what I did from it, didn't you? I mean there is something there... something that... I think... is looking out for Joel. I don't think it would hurt him, at least on purpose. Jace, it loves him. I wish Viccy had been there with what she can do. Her powers are so much more than mine and he's been hurt so much, I don't wanna be wrong about this and see him hurt more."

Jason nodded, "I agree with your assessment. Whoever it is, loves Joel. I am content to watch." He paused, "I do know one thing, though."

"Oh?" Sammy asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Whomever that is? It's family to Joel. I'm guessing a parent. Has to be, for Vulcans don't use "Blood of my blood" unless they speak of their children," Jason finished slowly.

"Wow, his mom or dad? That means they're dead though," Sammy murmured sadly, his eyes moving to look at Joel with concern. "Thanks, Jace, for coming and finding this out. It makes me feel a lot better about things," he added as Jace looked at him.

Jason nodded, "Any time, little bro." He paused before continuing, "It's going to be hard for him, yes. But that is only one Katra. No one I know of can hold more than one. His other parent might still be alive... I hope. Please, God; I hope," he finished with a whisper.

"Me too," Sammy replied as tears came to his eyes, "Me too."

---

Meanwhile:

I-Cheya huffed at Joel for a moment or two, then the boy looked over to where he could see two boys standing just inside the doorway; twins, it seemed. They were both looking at him and he could see they were both concerned.

I-Cheya nosed him over towards them.

"Hi," he said shyly to them once he got close enough.

One of them gave him the Vulcan salute, saying, "Greetings, Joel Short. I am Vincent Winters, son of Clan Short of Vulcan."

Joel raised an eyebrow. "You're the son of the whole Clan?" he asked, then looked at the other boy. "Your brother too?"

Vincent smiled and nodded.

Joel grinned and returned the salute. Then he stopped all motion and sniffed slowly. "Something smells... different."

He looked at the twin on Vincent's left and cocked his head to one side. "You're not human," he stated in wonder. "You... you don't smell Klingon or Vulcan, and I don't know many Star Trek races that look that human... you're a Chameloid, aren't you?"

"This is Lehman, and you're right; he's a Chameloid," Vincent giggled slightly before leaning in closer to Lehman, "Vulcans have a really good sense of smell. He just smells your natural pheromones and stuff."

"Oh," Lehman said without inflection, then he looked back at Joel and smiled slightly, "I was sure I bathed well today," he said, trying for some levity.

Joel's eyes widened slightly. "I'm sorry... that came out wrong... I'm sorry..." he murmured and started to back away slightly.

Lehman reached out a hand slowly to him, his palm up. "You don't have to be sorry, Joel. I understand; we've been told you came from a very different place."

Joel reached out and hesitantly took Lehman's offered hand. He stopped looking so nervous and smiled. He then offered his other hand to Vincent, who took it calmly.

Joel giggled slightly as he relaxed, but that was changed when he felt a slight click in his heart. The click of something connecting.

"What was that?" Vincent asked quickly as he removed his hand from Joel's. "What just happened?"

Joel looked at him in wonder. "I... I just... that was a link, I think..."

"Link?" Vincent repeated, "Like a Bond-Link?"

"Kinda," Joel nodded.

Vincent looked at Joel seriously. "I'm already married to T'Lani; can you remove it? Now?"

Joel backed away slightly, his lips trembling. "It's not a marriage link, Vincent; honest. I don't know how I did it and I don't know how to get rid of it... Xain and Telez called it the Bonding of the Children..." He started crying softly then, "I didn't m...mean it, Vincent... It's just that I... I must trust you or something... I'm... I do it to feel safe when my big brothers ain't here... please don't hurt me..." he finished in a near whisper.

Vincent's eyes popped wide open at Joel's reaction. "I won't hurt you, Joel," he whispered gently, opening his arms to offer a hug. "I was just afraid you'd done a type of marriage link or something. I've never felt the Telan t'Kanlar before."

Joel moved forward and melted into Vincent's hug, wrapping his thin arms around the nine year old tightly. "You know of it?"

"Yeah," Vincent murmured as he gave and enjoyed the hug. "T'Lani mentioned it, and I was taught about all the Links in my Vulcan lessons. I have just never felt it before. I'm sorry I scared you."

"S'okay," Joel mumbled as he laid his head on the boy's shoulder and closed his eyes trustingly. "I'm always scared anyways; that's not your fault."

Lehman reached over and rubbed Joel's back, which caused the two way hug to become a three way one. Lehman started giggling. "Another Vincent - can the Universe survive two hugging boys like you in the same place?"

"I like hugs too!" Levi giggled as he appeared and made it a four way hug.

Lehman rolled his eyes, but then they all looked up in shock as a Voice came suddenly to their minds:

//Powers of Destiny, Fate and Love: be thou one//

"What was that?" Lehman asked nervously.

Vincent answered, "The Guardian of Forever; I'll explain after, Lehman."

"Okay," Lehman agreed slowly.

Joel looked at Levi, "What did Forever mean?"

"Don't really know what He means there," Levi said cautiously.

Vincent, however, began to guess. The Doctor had told him that he would be going on a mission with Levi and one other: and he now believed that Joel was the 'other' that the Doctor had been referring too.

---

Joel was once again standing by I-Cheya and looking around for Kevin. He finally saw him deep in a conversation with his twin brother. They both kept shooting quick glances at him and Kevin kept blushing and shaking his head, a grin on his face.

Joel walked over to see what was going on. Kenny giggled as he saw him approaching and pulled him into a large hug, "You look after my brother, okay?" he murmured with a happy smile.

"I...I'll try," Joel promised quietly as the hug broke. Kevin grabbed him and they resumed their preferred positions; their arms around the other's waist and fingers tucked into the top of the other's pyjama bottoms.

"Good night, Kenny," Kevin smiled as he pulled his brother over and gave him another kiss.

"Good night, Kev, good night, Joel. Try and get some sleep," he giggled as he walked off, winking at Kevin.

"What did he mean?" Joel asked curiously.

Kevin blushed then grinned, "He's teasing, Joel. Don't worry. Come on. You have to say good night to Poppa then we can go watch those films."

Five minutes later and Allen, Rory and Kenny left the Compound, while Joel and Kevin had once again gotten on I-Cheya's back with Kyle pulled up before Joel, and they moved from the Rec Room. Levi was also with them this time, and rode on Kevin's shoulders, once he had shrunk himself down to a four year old size. Aphrodite and Mercury were once again running alongside them, and Blackie was speeding away in front.

It was not long before I-Cheya plodded in through the door of Teri's house and moved quickly to the room where they had left Cory and the others, only to find all the Short kids gathering. Those with partners and kids had them there as well, and those kids with kids, the same. Each and every one of them were wearing PJs of one type or another. Tommy was already half way through bringing in large amounts of popcorn of various flavours, and everyone was finding places to curl up for the double film-fest.

Kevin and Kyle started giggling. "Pyjama Party?" Kyle giggled.

"Come on, Lil'elf," Cory called, opening his arms for the little Vulcan. He was settled on the floor next to Sean with his back to the sofa. His kids were piled up behind him, and his brothers were all around with their boyfriends. Kevin and Joel ran over, and Joel was pulled to sit in front of Cory, with his older brother's legs holding him securely. Sean pulled Kevin into the same position with himself, then Kyle and Tyler came and sat on Joel and Kevin's laps respectively. "Adam, hit play, bro," Cory giggled.

Kyle blinked and the lights dimmed; and the Transformers movie started...

---

"That was AWESOME!" Kyle and Joel echoed as the credits started to roll. The others couldn't help but agree.

Timmy started bouncing on the sofa behind his 'rents, "Gremlins, Gremlins, Gremlins!"

"Okay, okay," Sean giggled. "Bryce has just changed the disc, so it'll be ready to start soon, Fireball!"

After a quick dash by a lot of the boys running to the bathroom, they all settled back in for the next 'unseen and unknown of' movie...

---

Joel had fallen asleep long before the end of Gremlins 3, and his quiet breathing into Cory's neck as he was curled up in his big brother's arms nearly put Cory himself to sleep. Kyle had long since moved to snuggle with Tyler and his children, so Joel had all of Cory's lap to himself. His sleep was deep and contented. Cory nodded to Sean and they both got up, whispering their own 'good-nights' to the rest. Their kids would be spending the night with Teri, along with the rest of the Short family. Cory and Sean, however, were not. They were going home, Joel carried in Cory's arms.

Only not just these three. Kevin came trotting along beside them, and the six G-Cats and two Animal Guardians were circled around them as they walked.

"We'll make sure the house is secure, Cory, then go to our apartment. Brandar said that his people will be on watch tonight, and after talking to them, we trust them," Bast started.

Cory shook his head, "No need, bro. We have loads of space in our place. There's a few rooms without owners, so you guys can grab one, or one each if you'd like. You're our guards, and for as long as you want, they are yours."

Hermes asked, "What about Joel? Will it be near his room?"

"You can pick any," Sean confirmed, "so yes, it can be."

"Works for me," Artemus smiled.

Mont nodded, "Okay, that'll be great. Hey, Bear! You staying with us too?"

The Sehlat turned his head as he was plodding along and nodded with a huff. Blackie also added his agreement.

"Nesting time," Kevin giggled.

"Of course!" Hermes and Mercury chorused.

Soon they were in the house, and the G-Cats spent five minutes checking every room and the windows and doors while Cory carried Joel upstairs to bed. Sean and Kevin followed behind about ten minutes later, carrying hot cocoa.

"Which room's Joel's?" Kevin asked curiously.

Sean pointed to the door just past his own bedroom, "Kyle said he put Joel's stuff there."

"Thanks," Kevin bubbled and trotted up to the door. He was about to open it when Cory poked his head out of his own room.

"You're not sleeping with us?" he asked the smaller boy.

Kevin turned and looked at the two teenagers with open confusion, and a good deal of blushing. "Umm... it's your wedding night, Cor..."

Cory giggled, "Sean and I took care of that last night; we kinda figured we might have a cuddle monster convention tonight."

Kevin started to blush even more, but did make his way back towards them. "Well, if you're sure," he murmured hesitantly, his cheeks burning.

They led him into the room, and he looked around in wonder, "Oh, wow, this is a real nice room!"

Sean grinned. "It's our place where we can be ourselves, Kev. The others don't come here unless they're with us, and even our kids would only come in here when we're here. This is our special place."

Cory nodded as he pulled Kevin in to hug him. "Only those special to us come here with us, little bro; and you and Joel are very special."

Kevin smiled up at his Patriarch, then looked around slowly. Joel was sleeping in the middle of the king-size bed, looking especially small on it. Kevin smiled fondly, then looked towards one area of the room. Engine schematics, models of cars and ships and starships, all with the engines showing, were on shelves or on the wall. A desk was set up with a PC and a tonne of games around it. "This your stuff, Cory?"

"Yeah," Cory murmured.

"Figures," Kevin giggled. "No wonder you're an Engineer for the Enterprise."

Sean laughed, and Kevin turned to where he was sitting on the other side of the bed. That side of the room had aeroplane models, shuttlecraft drawings and another desk and PC set up, but fewer games. Instead, flight simulation software was scattered around the desk. "Yeah, that's why I'm the pilot!" Sean giggled at the dumbstruck eleven year old.

"What's those things?" came Joel's sleepy voice.

They looked at him and smiled, then followed the direction of his eyes to a special area of the room.

"Those are our keepsakes, Joel," Sean explained. "If we're given something that means a lot to us from people we love, then they go there."

Cory moved to the shelves with Kevin, and was soon joined by Sean carrying Joel. Cory pointed, "That's the game that only I and Mikey play, and this is the Tigger he gave me."

"That's the cookie cutter that Tommy gave me; it's all I'm allowed to do when cooking with him, so only I get to use that when making chocolate chip cookies," Sean whispered, his eyes moist as he pointed to one of the myriad of items on the shelves.

"One sec," Cory commented. "Hey Silicon Brain; do I have any messages?"

The screen on the computer on his side of the room lit up, and a voice came from the speakers. "You blonds are all the same; if you'd think to look at the screen, you'd see that you've already read what came in today."

"Bite me, Transistor Breath!" Cory giggled.

"I'll leave that for your hubby; us higher lifeforms have standards," the computer replied as the screen went blank.

Joel looked between the PC and Cory while Kevin giggled. "Who programmed that?"

Sean giggled, "Guess."

Joel faced the teen who was carrying him, then kissed his cheek. "You're silly!"

Cory giggled, then went to the door where he picked up two items. "Here, Sean; put this where you want it," he said lovingly as he handed Sean the 'Sean-bear' Joel had made for him. Cory put the 'Cory-Lion' up next to the Tigger.

"Well, it's not going anywhere but there too, love," Sean smiled as he placed his bear on Tigger's other side.

Joel's eyes started leaking happy tears again, "They mean that much to you?"

"They're from our favourite little elf, so yes, they do mean that much to us," Sean replied.

"Tigger only holds stuff from really special brothers," Cory added.

Joel had nothing to say to that so he just smiled tearfully at them both. He then glanced back at the special items; then started reading something. Something Cory and Sean instantly recognised.

"I sit here, Dream and wonder,
I look into your eyes and fade away.
You tempt me, you lure me,
Your innocence will let me dream today.
Your eyes, they look in beauty,
They send the sense of lovingness.
And they forbid me to look away.
Those eyes, they make me slowly drift away.
Today, is the day,
I'll never turn my back and walk away.
I'll tell you, I love you,
I'll take my chance, in a twist of faith today.
If only, you'll be mine,
I'll be with you, until the end of time."

(© Slash)

As he had been reading, his voice started becoming choral, and Sean, who was looking into the eyes of the boy he was carrying, could have sworn that someone 'else' was also in Joel's eyes... reading it as well.

His shocked look towards Cory and Kevin made them look at Joel's eyes also, and they saw that 'someone' as well.

As Joel read the last line, however, something happened that drove all three to their knees, and Joel found himself now standing at Sean's side; shivering like a leaf in the wind.

"That's beautiful," he whispered finally.

"Thanks lil bro." Sean replied. "I wrote that for Cory while he was recovering in the home."

Joel nodded with a smile, and then noticed he was standing while the other three where kneeling. "What... why you on the floor?" he asked curiously.

Kevin shook his head, "I dunno. Joel... I... you were reading that then I felt all tingly and fell down."

Cory sent a brief thought to both Kevin and Sean, 'Say nothing about what we saw to him. He nearly freaked about that evil persona in his head; who knows what he'd do if there's another.'

'Shouldn't we tell Kyle or someone?' Sean sent back.

Cory paused, then subtly shook his head, Can't be bad, otherwise he'd have picked up on it. Let's wait 'til the morning.'

"Come on, Jo'," Kevin murmured as he stood and pulled the boy tightly against himself. "It's getting late, and we have a big day tomorrow. Let's get some sleep."

"'Kay," he agreed with a grin. He hopped back onto the bed and was handed his cup of coco. He watched absently as they other three stripped down and climbed in with their own mugs. "I feel odd being dressed when you ain't," he giggled in between sips of his drink.

"We'll put our pyjamas back on if you want us to, lil' bro," Cory replied with a smile.

Joel shook his head happily. "No, s'okay, Blondie. Poppa said I could try sleepin' with stuff on to see if I'd like it. I've always slept like you are, but... I dunno. Being in some sleep clothes makes me feel... like I'm not a slave any more. I might not like it, though, so... if I get warm and sweaty, can I take them off again?"

"Sure," Cory answered with a gentle smile.

The door cracked open slightly then, and Mont's face poked in, "We've found a room a few doors down. One of us will be awake at any given time and just outside that door in the hall if you need anything."

"Yeah," came Hermes' voice from down the hall way, "Bear is taking the first watch; he insisted... Hey! No tail thumps, you great Teddy!"

'Huff, huff, huff,' came the Sehlat's laughter.

Mont rolled his eyes, then grinned, "Night, guys. Sleep well."

"Night," they all chorused as the door was closed.

Once their drinks had been finished, they settled down under bedding. Sean had Joel pressed against his chest, while the Vulcan and Kevin were chest to chest. Cory then spooned in behind Kevin.

Joel looked deep into his best friend's eyes from an inch or so away, then lightly kissed him. "Good night, Kev," he whispered.

"Night, T'hy'la," came Kevin's sleepy response.

Joel grinned, then sighed. He increased his hug by way of a response, then closed his eyes. 'I wish I could say it,' he thought as he began to relax. This would be his first night literally sleeping with others. He hoped he could.

A quiet murmuring made him open his eyes again, and he looked into Cory's face. His brother was praying, and asking for God to protect everyone that he cared about. Due to having his arms wrapped around Kevin, the backs of his hands were pressed into Cory's belly. Sadness and loss, and fear and guilt and... Joel shuddered. Pain like his own, yet unlike.

And it was getting worse...

---

//The Unchangeable Comes, and Naught can Unmake It;
Yet Change Must Be, or All shall Be Undone.
The Power of Destiny must Arise...
For this is the Hour of the Shaper...//

---

"Cory! What's wrong?" Joel cried out, for the emotions were now spinning in turmoil within the blond teenager.

Sean started up from behind the Vulcan and reached for Cory's hand. "Cor? COR! What's happening?"

"Feel... I feel..." wept the teen, his voice losing strength.

Kevin was in tears, for his empathy was crying out with Cory's pain, yet he could do nothing to help. Joel was in nearly the same state.

Sean shook Cory's shoulder, but the only reaction he got was an unfocused smile as Cory's eyes began to glaze over.

---

Kyle woke with a start and looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be sleeping soundly, even the other Mikyvis; although Kyle knew different on that score. He then stretched out his mind and searched for what had woken him.

He found it. His quick call to his family brought them all to full wakefulness, then they vanished from the mass nest in Teri's house.

On the roof of CIC, the Doctor, Jay, the N-Gens and Mikey were sitting and holding hands. Kyle and the rest appeared and went straight up to them.

"What's going on?" Tyler asked nervously. A palpable sense of foreboding was pressing in around them.

Jason looked up with tears in his shining blue-powered eyes, "I'm being pushed back, Ty. I... Cory's no longer sharing a room in my head, and I can't stop him slipping."

"WHAT??" Kyle half shouted. "Mikey! Do something!" he ordered as he stretched out his power to take up Jason's burden... and found he could not make the connection.

The Doctor sighed, "You can't, he can't."

"What? What do you mean?" Levi asked in a panic. "We're gonna lose Uncle Cory??"

"Yes," whispered Mikey.

Dead silence.

"Why?" Tyler cried out suddenly.

Mikey sighed. "The Book of Life... a page I was not allowed to see. It's... Cory is going to be lost to us tonight. He's falling into a coma, and nothing we can do will pull him out."

"I... No! I won't accept that! I'll go and see St Peter if I have to... I..." Kyle started to rant, tears streaming down his face.

Mikey looked up and gestured, porting the small boy into his lap. "I've already asked, begged and screamed, Kyle-bear. This... I..." he stopped as sobs took him.

The Doctor started to whisper, "Some things are Fixed, some things are in Flux... That is how I see the Universes; every waking second I can see What Is, What Was, What Could Be, and What Must Not. It is the Burden of the Time Lords." He looked at the others, "Those events that are Fixed are Destiny. Like I said, Destiny cannot be altered, except by an Act of Faith. And most Destiny points have two choices. This one - this is one of the few that has none. It's an immutable point - There is no option; there is no recourse. Cory is lost."

"But..." Levi stuttered, "but Uncle Mikey, you... you said that your kiss would last 'til our Lil'elf comes! Joel's the Shaper! Can't he do something??"

Mikey, his face streaked with tears, shrugged, "Only he can... if he is ready... and I don't know. I really don't."

"Joel must become the Shaper in fact, not just in promise. 'Til now, he has only changed Destiny, but with this form of Fixed Event, a change won't work. Never before has an Immutable Point been altered," the Doctor whispered, half to himself. "Joel must Shape a new Destiny... he must... but can he? Will he manage it?"

Bryce slammed his hand down on the roof of CIC, "Doc, the Guardian said that Cory's name would live forever..."

"Yes," the ginger Time Lord nodded, "in Memory only, if this Path is not changed."

Again, dead silence filled the air, and this time, it stayed unbroken as they all turned towards Cory and Sean's house and watched.

Minutes ticked by, until:

//This is the Day, the Hour, the Moment... The Heart of the Nexus lies in the Balance; The Shaper's love must awaken - the Power of Destiny must Stand//

Time began to spin around Cory's house - What Is started to become What Could Be... and the Doctor hoped that it would change What Must Not...

---

'Child,' came a voice that only Joel could hear.

Joel was about to look around, but then realised - the voice came from within his own mind!

'Wha... who are you? he thought back.

'There is no time for questions. You know what to do. You KNOW... 'Share your pain with me'...'

His eyes widening, Joel ripped off his pyjama top, gently pushed Kevin to one side and threw himself upon Cory's now near motionless form. The sudden act shoved Sean to one side in the same motion. In full contact with his beloved brother, Joel's eyes now bore down into Cory's fast fading ones. "I. Will. Not. Lose. YOU!" he spat out in fear and... and... That Fire was there, and it thrummed down his spine and made him shake like a tree in a storm.

Around them, Time rang with a shimmering echo unlike any other.

Destiny had not been changed, this time.

It had been erased.

Eternity shuddered as a completely new Destiny started to be written...

Joel reached out and pulled Kevin and Sean in until all four boys were in contact one with the other, then... he Shared Cory's pain - again using the ability without knowing how, he shared it equally between all four of them.

"I will not lose you! I cannot lose you! You're my brother FOREVER!" he cried. "Share your pain! Share it!" he yelled.

Cory's eyes popped open wide - clear and focused... and he began to spill out everything.

Everything.

---

//... the Hour of the Shaper... the Broken Son heals the Heart... the Door opens for Sa'ren's return...//

---

"Oh God! It's happening! He's doing it!" the Doctor cried out excitedly, jumping up and down on the roof top. Very soon, they all saw what he saw; Time beginning to spin rapidly around Cory's house. Kyle shared that vision with the N-Gen's on the roof with them. "He IS the Shaper!" the Doctor yelled out.

Time continued to twist... and suddenly all of them able to sense time got a mild headache behind their eyes...

"Ouch!" Levi muttered, and reached for the Doctor, only to see him rubbing his own eyes as well. "Ah, well... Uncle Mikey?"

"Sure thing, kids," Mikey giggled in mad relief, "we can't expect the Doctor to heal himself, now can we?" He reached out, and all the High Racers were wrapped up in his wings; shielding them from the disorientating effects of Destiny being Made anew...

---

Cory told of his fears. Cory told of his guilt. Cory told of his pain, his loss, his frustrations... it poured out; all the events from losing his memories to the hell of Saturday just gone, to watching other hurting kids and being unable to do anything... He spoke, and cried and wailed, and the other three cried with him.

He spoke until his mouth went dry and all the words were used.

Then he held them against himself, and silently wept more.

Joel, again without knowing how he knew to do it, let Cory's emotions fold back into the blond teenager... only now, the pain was without poison. The boil had been lanced, the wound cleansed, the infection eradicated.

'His pain will make him more than he was,' that new voice spoke again as it receded back into some unknown place in Joel's mind; the voice that only he could hear. 'He shall be better for it; a Patriarch unlike any that has graced the Sands of my World. We shall speak again when you are ready, child.'

Joel was confused, yet the voice did not seem bad. In fact, she had helped... 'She? It's a woman's voice!' he thought to himself, utterly amazed yet nervous. He had a female, a woman, in his mind?

"Thank you," Cory wept into Joel's hair as he pulled the boy in tight.

Joel felt two more faces come close and get snuggled against his cheeks; Sean and Kevin were weeping also, yet his own eyes were now dry with the shock of finding yet another aspect of himself that concerned him. Trying to get his mind off of it, he raised his head and kissed all three of them before looking at Sean who was gazing lovingly and thankfully at him. "You have pain too. D... do you want to Share? It'll help..." Joel whispered, a ghost of a smile on his face.

Sean thought for an instant; while worried about overloading Joel, in his heart he knew their newest brother would not have offered if he did not think he could do it. "I think I'd like that, Lil'elf. Just as long as you don't have to push yourself to do it."

Joel shrugged lightly as Kevin and Sean placed their arms about him more fully. Cory also increased his grip. "Pain's something I'm used to, Big Ted," Joel whispered. "Pain and loss and f...fear. I know them. Who better to help?" he finished with a nervous grin.

He started to draw out the emotions from deep within Sean's heart, and started Sharing them between the four of them equally. "All men hide a secret pain," he said, quoting lines from memory, "Share your pain with us, and gain strength from the Sharing..."

As each emotion that was hurting Sean came into focus between them, Sean would tell of his fears; losing Cory, nearly losing him again, nearly losing their brothers, seeing and saving abused children, remembering everyone else's history for his role as Clan Historian... all of it started pouring out.

As before, as with Cory, the more Sean talked, the less poison seemed to remain. He talked until the words ran out; then and only then did Joel stop the Sharing.

As they cried together yet again, Sean and Cory felt their core, their centre, lighten. Love for their newest brother poured out and slammed into Joel's senses, stilling his tears, and also Kevin's. Joel blinked down into Cory's face.

"Thank you," Cory whispered again.

"For you and Sean, anything... same for you, Kev," the Vulcan replied, turning to face his best friend. Kevin, his face inches from Joel's, simply kissed him and nodded.

"You can if you want; Share my emotions, I mean. But I don't want to speak of them just yet. I think Sharing the emotions will help alone, though," Kevin stated quietly.

Joel smiled and nodded. Again, he used his almost mythic-like Vulcan abilities to draw out everything Kevin had in his heart and poured the emotions between all four of them again.

Heat and Fire, loss, pain, hunger, loneliness, joy, happiness, brotherhood, family... so much like, yet unlike, Sean's, and the same for Cory's, yet the base was the same. Behind it all, an image of a green Crest. What helped and united these three boys, Joel found, was the family that had been collected. No matter how different each child or person in the Clan were compared to each other, they were all one.

After five minutes of experiencing Kevin's heart, Joel stopped the Sharing.

Cory hugged the two boys against his chest as tight as he could, and Sean wrapped all three of them in his arms as best he was able. Cory whispered, a bit sadly, Joel thought, "I feel bad, Joel. You know us better than we know you, now. I wish..." Cory trailed off, worry in his face.

"Wish what, Cor?" Joel asked curiously.

Hesitantly, not wishing to bring up bad memories from the small boy, Cory continued, "I wish we could share what you feel that way... but we'd need another Vulcan..."

Joel looked shocked. "You want to feel what I feel?? You... you don't... you can't mean that, Cory!"

"You're my brother; I want to help you like you helped me," Cory and Sean whispered together, then glanced with a knowing smile at each other.

Joel trembled. "I... I think... I could try pushing my emotions out. It would only be reversing what I did with you," he whispered with tears in his eyes, "but... you're not gonna like it... but if you say so, I will. But... I can't tell you everything; not yet. If you want to Share my feelings, you can... but you really won't like it, and I don't wanna hurt you... I l... I... oh, Cory, are you sure? All of you?"

All the boys nodded, letting Joel feel their sincerity in wanting to help him.

Joel closed his eyes and concentrated. He lightly pulled on their feelings, testing and checking on what he was doing.

Seconds after Joel closed his eyes, Cory felt like a dam had burst. When he had felt Sean's fears, it had been hard but manageable; same for Kevin, and he was sure they felt the same about his.

It was no wonder their fears did not hurt Joel, only upset him.

What slammed into Cory's heart first and foremost was Fear. Fear unlike anything he had ever come across. Pain came in behind, all the worse as it was remembered and unforgotten and unforgettable. Then loneliness like that Kevin once felt, then guilt as he himself was feeling over Saturday. It was intense, and frightening.

What came after, or seemed to to Cory, was love. Boundless and growing. Trust, hope and joy came then, and the purity of them made Cory burst into tears; they shone all the brighter as the Fear and Loneliness was still there. In the Dark Loneliness of Joel's Soul, these pure emotions shone.

Images started appearing before Cory's eyes; a man who was the focus for Pain and Fear, a woman who was the focus for a blinding Terror and Guilt that nearly caused him to wet himself, a cell of a room that was the focus for the Loneliness. Then more faces, those of himself, his brothers and mother; and the Love, Hope, Joy and Trust wrapped themselves around all the faces. The Love wrapped itself around three of them most of all, though. Around himself, Sean and Kevin; and Kevin, the Love almost eclipsed him.

"Oh Joel," Sean whispered, his voice shaking in terror, "you feel this? All the time?"

Joel nodded, then added, "You're getting a quarter each... but yeah, all the time."

Sean's eyes grew wider.

Kevin just kept his face buried in Joel's neck and sobbed loudly, shaking due to Joel's fear. Cory heard him whisper, "You're scared of me??"

Joel sniffed and nodded. "Can't help it. I trust you three and Mama most, but... I'm sorry, but I'm still scared... scared of you," he finished softly, and the fear they all felt started growing worse and he drew back slightly from Cory's chest.

Cory pulled him back, "Just remember we love you no matter what, little brother. One day soon our Love is going to beat that fear; I swear I will not stop protecting you until the day I die."

The Fear they were all feeling was suddenly drowned out by a burst of Love from the trembling Vulcan, then Joel grinned. They all felt their emotions and feelings being pulled upon at the same time. Joel merged them and shared equally with them all what each of them were feeling at the same time.

Kevin blushed and looked at Cory, Cory giggled and looked at Joel, Joel smiled as he glanced at Sean, and Sean just lay there gob-smacked. "Cory! Stop thinking those things!" he whined, shifting himself about, due to a rising problem.

"Sorry, I can't help it!" Cory giggled. "I can't believe how much you love me, is all!" he finished with a kiss to his husband's lips.

Joel was now looking at Kevin with his eyes sparkling, "I... Kev, I..." he stuttered, then closed his eyes.

Cory broke his kiss to glance at the Vulcan as he started shaking.

Joel sighed and rolled off Cory to land on his friend and simply hugged him. Kevin whispered, "Love you, Jo'."

Joel and Kevin soon found themselves pulled back in and snuggled between the two teens, and for the next half hour not a word was spoken. They just glanced back and forth between each other. Something wonderful had taken place, and they were now closer than ever... as brothers and friends, and for the teens, something more. Maybe for the younger two as well, but only Time would tell there.

Kevin and Cory had fallen asleep, and Sean was about to join them when Joel shifted slightly and shook his brother's shoulder.

"Wazzup?" Sean grinned, opening his heavy eyes to attempt to focus on Joel's cute face.

With seriousness, Joel whispered, "I'm beginnin' ta itch 'gain, Sean. Can you help me put that cream on? It's not as bad as before... but I can't get to sleep."

Sean smiled and yawned. "Come on, Cory put it in the bathroom," he whispered as he got out of bed gently. Joel shuffled over towards him, but instead of letting the PJ clad boy walk, Sean picked him up and carried him.

Joel's curious look was answered with a kiss. "I like carrying my Lil'elf, so sue me," Sean giggled.

Joel smiled.

After quickly stripping, Joel asked, "My back first; that's really itching."

"Okay," Sean smiled as he started applying the cream, handing the tube to Joel so that he could start on his chest. It had not taken long the previous times to do this, but both boys were sleepy, and this was relaxing for both of them. Joel eventually stopped helping with the cream and just let his brother massage his itching skin soothingly.

"Okay, Elf. It's time. How do you want to do this?" Sean asked as Joel turned to face him.

Taking a deep breath, Joel trembled out through his growing nervousness, "Just do it quickly, Ted; but don't... please don't roll back... you know..."

"Your foreskin? Don't worry, I won't," Sean murmured quietly.

He did as Joel asked, yet, surprisingly for Joel, he kept his eyes locked with him. Joel felt less fear due to this, for the eye contact made him feel that Sean was confirming this was help only, and not sex at all. His mother and Cory had done it quickly, but Sean added a new level to his comfort; to his peace. He stopped trembling altogether.

"Done," Sean smiled, looking quickly to check. "Okay, sit down and you do one leg, I'll do the other."

"'Kay... and thanks," Joel whispered with a ghost of a smile.

Once complete, Joel stood and hugged his brother for all he was worth. "I love you too, Joel," Sean smiled as he returned the hug.

Joel grinned up at him, then took his hand and started back out of the en-suite bathroom.

"No PJs?" Sean asked as they entered the bedroom.

Joel shook his head, "They're comfy to wear to relax in, but the bottoms were getting all bunched up, and it tried creeping up my butt. Didn't like that much."

Sean giggled as he lifted the boy up, gave him a loving cuddle, and laid him back down next to Kevin. He snuggled in behind Joel and kissed the back of the boy's head. "Good night, Elf," he whispered.

Joel whispered back softly, sleep already beginning to claim him, "Night night, teddy..."

---

Very Early Wednesday Morning:

Cory woke with a start at the cold wet nose that was touching his butt cheeks, sniffing.

"Blackie!" he hissed, trying not to laugh. "Don't wake Joel, or I'll drown you!"

Was fun. I no resist. Sorry, Cory-Boy came a response that Cory was sure held laughter in it.

Black Feet crawled back out of the bottom of the bed and padded from the room. Weirdly, the door closed behind him, yet... Cory shrugged and increased his grip on the still sleeping Kevin, and started to doze back off. 'It's too early for this,' he thought with a grin.

'You still awake?' Cory heard in his mind.

He kissed the back of Kevin's head and answered, 'Yes. Anything wrong?'

'Um; not sure,' Kevin answered. 'Might be something wrong; I'm worried about something 'cos I think Joel's going to freak.'

'What's wrong, little bro?' Cory asked again, a serious note in his mental voice this time.

He suddenly felt Kevin's embarrassment welling up as the boy answered, 'I got a stiffy and it's pressed into Joel's lower belly... he freaks about sex stuff, Cor! I can't make it go down and I've been awake for ages... even tried thinking about Viccy naked... not helping!'

Cory knew this could be serious, but still had to hold in his giggles. 'You need to go to the bathroom, bro? Could be your body just telling you it's time, you know?'

Kevin shook his head slightly so as to not nudge Joel's peacefully sleeping face that was tucked under his own. 'Don't need to. I'm comfy and sleepy, but it just won't go down... and, well... I, ummm...

'Go on, Kev. I won't be mad no matter what,' Cory prompted with a smile.

'Wouldn't matter if mine goes down. I've been... oh god! Umm... I've had my hands around Joel's lower back for ages, and someone ELSE is, ummm.... well, like me...'

Cory could feel the heat from Kevin's red face as he tried to not laugh, 'Ah... Sean; well... that's Sean all right! Oh, Kev; don't worry. If anything happens, we'll help Joel. Maybe this is meant to happen this way to help him heal.'

Kevin thought about that for a moment before nodding slowly. 'Do you know why Joel's scared of sex? And what was that about Pon Farr yesterday? I missed it looking after my Jo'.'

Cory sighed. 'Don't know about the fear, Kev, but I'll tell you the problem with Pon Farr; but you might get a bit freaked yourself. You could be involved here, and Xain and Jake told us why you are nervous about sex as well.'

Kevin sighed. 'Oh... they must have had reason... Yeah, I am. I don't wanna be a slut like Jake was, and I'm scared that doing sex stuff will get me hooked and I'll become a whore.' He paused, then mentally muttered with shyness, 'Never even played with myself, either.'

Cory nuzzled Kevin's neck, 'I know. Don't worry, Kev; we're here for you both. Now, do you want to hear about the Pon Farr issue?'

Kevin nodded, and so Cory informed him of all they had been told yesterday.

Once he had finished telling Kevin, Cory started gently rubbing his hand around Kevin's belly to calm him.

'If I don't mate with Joel, he'll die?! Cory! What if I can't?? I don't think I can... I won't lose Jo'! But...' Kevin panicked.

'Shhh, and listen, lil' bro,' Cory soothed silently. 'If you can't, then Sean and I have already promised the Guardian that we'd help.'

Kevin turned his head as much as possible to look at Cory's face. 'What? You'd mate with him?? But you're married... and he's MINE!.... but... oh, Cory; that'll kill me. If you mate with him, then I...' Tears began to trickle from Kevin's eyes.

Cory nodded sadly, 'I know, bro. I talked to Grandfather Sarek about it just after you guys went shopping. A Vulcan in Pon Farr is like an animal. It's only because of thousands of years of tradition that Pon Farr is seen as a part of the Bonding ceremonies. It's not. If a Vulcan is far from home when Pon Farr hits him, he'll mate with anyone. He would prefer to be with his Bonded, but if not... it won't matter to them. It's not a commitment; not really. It's seen as that now, but in reality it happens a lot with space flight. Many Vulcans have been caught away from the Sands of their home and from their mates when it happened. Many have had to mate with other males even if they are straight. It's out of their control, Kev. It will be out of Joel's as well. If he is Bonded to you by then, then you will both be drawn together, but if you can't get to each other for some reason, you'll both mate with the closest person that you trust completely. If you're not Bonded, then Joel will likely try going after you, but if not, then he goes for the closest person he trusts most. That's either me or Sean, in either case.'

Kevin's eyes were wide. 'Umm, Cor; he also trusts your Mom!'

Cory's face paled for a moment, but then he sighed in relief. 'No, bro; last night, remember? I saw images of all of us. He loves the three of us most. It won't be Mom. Thank GOD!'

Kevin lay there and regarded Cory for a long couple of minutes. 'You or Sean would really do that for Joel? Commit adultery?'

Cory shook his head, 'Adultery is betraying your partner. Sean and I talked. In this case, it's biology, and neither of us could stand there and let Joel die like that. You have an issue that could prevent you from helping. Neither of us do, and we are both willing to stand in your place if needed. I hope it won't, but if it does come to it...'

Kevin nodded, tears in his eyes once again. 'You are like Kenny. You're great brothers for Jo', like Kenny is for me. I love you, Cory; and I hope I can be the one to help Jo'. I'd feel I'd miss something special if you had to, 'cos I was scared.'

'I understand, and both Sean and I hope you will too, little dude. I... well, I'll tell you. I've never been with anyone except Sean, and same for him. Our first time was... funny, yet very very special. I wouldn't want to take Joel's first time from you if I could help it. Only to save his life. Only for that,' Cory finished with an Oath.

Kevin turned back to snuggle in closer with Joel again. 'I just hope...' he began then trailed off in frustration.

'I know, little bro, I know,' Cory kissed his head then cuddled in more behind him.

It was about then that Joel started to wake up. He felt warm and secure with his Big Ted snuggled in behind, and with his face buried into the pillow, and with his Kevin's cheek against his exposed one, he let out a happy sigh.

"Morning, Jo'," Kevin mumbled into his ear.

"Good... good morning," came the happy reply from the peaceful little Vulcan.

Joel stretched his feet out a bit, pushing away the sleepy feeling in his legs, and sighed happily again. He furrowed his brow, however, and slowly lifted his head to be able to look into the dancing, Fire filled eyes of Kevin. "Kev," he murmured, "Why are you... poking... your hands are behind my back, Kev!" Panic started to fill his face. "Oh, God! Sean's poking me too! Kev, you have to stop; you'll get hurt! Please stop!"

"Nobody will get hurt for having a stiffy in my room, Lil'elf; I swear it," Cory replied as he put an arm around Joel.

Joel looked past Kevin's face and into Cory's, his lower lip trembling. "But... but she said it was filthy and evil and bad and filthy little fuckers who went about with hard-ons get whipped good and..."

"...and she was wrong." Cory interrupted, sincerity pouring from his eyes.

Joel could feel that Cory believed this, and he felt the same from Kevin who was now looking sorrowfully at him. Kevin murmured quietly, "Cor's right. It's normal, Jo', everyone gets stiffies. It's a problem if you don't get them."

Joel stared at him for a long moment; then started sobbing loudly, and thus waking Sean with a start.

"What's going on, Elf?" Sean whispered, but Joel continued to cry unabated. Sean looked over at his husband with a raised eyebrow.

"You and Kev are stiff; you're poking him. We told him it's normal, but... Oh, Kev; you didn't know, bro, but Joel can't get stiffies at the moment," Cory explained, kissing the back of the brown haired boy's head. He reached out again and rubbed Joel's shoulder, "Lil'elf, you will get better, I promise. There's nothing wrong with you because you can't get one yet. You're still healing inside."

"But... I've not had one for a week, Cor! And I don't want one! They bring pain... she'll touch me again and make me stiff and whip me and bur..." Joel sealed his lips quickly and started shaking his head 'no' over and over.

"Look me in the eyes, Lil'elf," Cory asked softly.

Joel kept his lips tightly sealed. His hands were now in between himself and Kevin and he was holding himself as if he was in severe pain... and due to his particular memory, this was actually the case. Tears were pouring from his memory filled and hurting eyes, yet he still obeyed his brother and looked into Cory's sky blue eyes.

"I think you are feeling something that happened to you back there;" Cory stated firmly yet lovingly, "if you are feeling pain right now, it is not real, it's something that happened in the past. It can not happen here; if a person like that was to even try to get close to you, I would turn them into a pile of smoking dust. You ARE safe, and you WILL NOT ever feel pain like that again. I'll give my own life to prevent you ever going through what you went through before, ever again."

"So would I," Sean added, just as firmly.

Kevin croaked out, "Me too..."

Joel trembled and shut his eyes. He was afraid; he was ashamed, yet that shame was needless and unmerited. He wanted to tell them, he wanted to explain. He needed them to understand, but... he couldn't bring himself to start... he needed to, but couldn't... he simply lay there as fear thrilled up his spine and made him shake the bed with his trembling.

'Guys?' came Kyle's voice in the minds of the three tenderly comforting the crying waif, 'It's time. Levi is with me and Ty, and he says that his Friend is ordering you to do what you would hate doing. You must order Joel to tell you. You must. It's time.'

'Are you sure? Kevin sent out, heat in his mental voice. 'I won't do something that won't help my Jo'!'

Levi responded, 'Yes, Uncle Kev. For you to help him heal you have to know. He needs to tell you for himself. He's ashamed, and he shouldn't be.'

Sean sighed, then ordered quietly as he gently stroked Joel's curly hair, "Joel, tell us what happened."

Part relief and part terror filled Joel's face, yet he nodded and haltingly began to spill out his pain...

---

:Flashback:

He was on his bed, and he was just starting to explore his ten year old body. Even though he was small and frightfully skinny, he still found himself interesting. Things he had read on the internet and in some forbidden books the library had failed to destroy filled his mind.

'I... I wonder what it's like,' he mused silently. With a small grin on his pixie face, he set to work.

'DAMN!... This is niiice!'

As he was finding himself, he lost track of the world around him. He failed to hear the footfalls outside in the hallway. He did not hear the door open.

He did, however, hear the scream of shock from his Mistress, Mrs. Williams, "You filthy little bastard! You degenerate fuck!"

Joel was now holding himself in total shock, all thoughts of the good feelings suddenly forgotten in his panic as she rushed back out of the room.

Seconds later, she returned with Mr. Williams' belt in her hands, and she proceeded to beat him mercilessly. His screams filled the house as each blow seemed to connect with every part of his exposed body as he curled himself into a ball on the bed.

"If you ever do this again, I'll kill you! You hear me??" she screamed in rage.

She continued to beat and whip Joel until his screams died away as he lost conciousness. She left the room, then. It was not entertaining to get no cries.

When Joel came to, he felt as if he was dead. He knew that he was bleeding badly, and felt weak, but he dared not do anything. If she returned he would end up getting hurt worse. He simply cried... and vowed never to touch himself there again.

It was not the end, however. Every morning since that day, he woke to find her standing over him. If he had an erection, which happened more and more often as he grew older, she would beat him senseless. He even trained himself to wake before she came in, but that was useless. Upon realising that he was waking up earlier, she would at various times in the day force him to strip. She would force him to have an erection through seeming gentle touches, but once he had reacted, he would be beaten again.

It was a wonder Joel survived, or remained sane. It was then that the dreams began, a demon of fear, as Joel came to think of it. All the nights since these events started had been long, and plagued with dread... until Mikey came...

:End Flashback:

---

Kevin pulled Joel closer as he trailed off. "You won't ever get punished for that here, Joel. Never ever!" he cried before kissing Joel tenderly.

"He's right," Sean whispered. "Sex isn't bad. We have a few rules, but it's all good stuff. 'No' means 'no', 'Maybe' is 'No', and Yes is okay. Also, you mustn't pressure someone to play around. If they want to, they will say so the first time. And that's it."

Kevin was watching the emotions play over Joel's face at this and added in a considering tone, "When Jake and Xain had questions and worries, they spoke to Poppa to see if it was okay for them to have private time. Would it help if... if you spoke to Poppa? Or to Aunt Teri?"

Sean looked at Cory with wide eyes, "That'll be a first; I wonder what Mom will think having one of her sons ask if he can play with himself!"

Cory smiled at his lover, "Kev's right, though. It might be the only way."

"Why bother?" came Joel's sick sounding voice as he closed his eyes sorrowfully again. "I... it's useless. I..."

"Why?" Kevin asked, his open and honest face confused.

Cory glanced at Sean. They had both caught the word that Joel had cut off earlier; the word 'burn'. They both had seen his swollen and sore dick when they first showered him. They were both working out what might have happened.

Joel answered Kevin with his voice thick with tears; this time they were tears of a profound loss and pain...

---

:Flashback:

A Week before Mikey Came...

Joel was scrubbing the floor of the kitchen as instructed. His threadbare clothing rubbed painfully over his bumps and bruises, but thankfully he had suffered no new beatings for a week, so he was feeling slightly better. Mrs Williams was in the living room watching the television, and Joel was grateful for it. His master was in work, as normal.

The clock in the hall chimed ten in the morning when things went south fast. She came into the kitchen and looked with disgust at the small boy. "Come here," she ordered.

He stood and meekly approached to stand before her. Inside he trembled, for he guessed what was coming. He was wrong, however. This time was to be the last, but the worst.

She grabbed him by his hair and pulled him into the hallway. She threw him violently into the banisters of the stairs, making stars appear before his eyes. As he shook his head clear of them he found that his arms had been tied so that he was stretched up on tiptoes. His mistress went back into the kitchen and came back with the clothes iron, a thin steel bar and a lighter. She plugged the iron into the hall's electric wall socket.

Joel had no idea what was now about to happen, but the evil in his mistresses eyes made him afraid. She ripped off his clothing to leave him naked against the banisters, and began the all to familiar actions that would make Joel's boyhood react. He started shaking and sobbing, for this time when the beatings came he could not curl up to defend himself. If only it was to be that kind...

"I'm leaving. I won't see you again, you little bastard, but I'll make sure you never forget me."

He looked into the eyes of the devil before him. That was how he failed to see what she was doing...

His screams ripped from his throat far louder than they had ever done, for she had retracted his foreskin and pressed the scalding hot iron into the exposed head of his boyhood. She continued, taking perverse pleasure from the boy's agonizing cries. Then, once the iron bored her, she took that thin bar and forced it down Joel's dick leaving a good inch of it sticking out past the head of his penis.

Then she took the lighter...

At first nothing, then... flesh seared, nerves flared, and thankfully Joel passed out after a few seconds from the pain...

... when he awoke, he was still groaning in pain and agony. He had been untied and left as he had fallen on the floor. He looked down at the completely burned and ruined flesh that was still exposed. In pain beyond thought, he rolled the foreskin back up to cover it, crawled up the stairs to his cell of a room... and fainted again.

:End Flashback:

---

"... Doc fixed it..." Joel finished through his sobs of pain remembered, and Kevin was sobbing just as hard as he cuddled with Joel between the older teens, "I c...can pee without pain now, but... I can't feel it any more... even if you're right and she was wrong... I can't feel anything... it's all ruined there..."

To say Cory and Sean were pissed off would be a gross understatement.

Cory sent his opinion to Sean telepathically in terms which would make JJ blush in shame. Before Sean had a chance to respond, Kyle interrupted. 'We get the hint! You've got half of the sailors in the world taking notes on new phrases; stop cussing and start cuddling!'

Tightening the hug around the two sobbing boys, both Cory and Sean started murmuring words of comfort to them both. Once Joel and Kevin had calmed down enough so that only small hiccups of grief were heard, Levi sent to Cory and Sean, 'I healed him on Monday, but my Friend told me to numb everything. He wasn't ready to deal then. I'm going to release him now, but you must show him he's healed. He won't look himself; he hasn't done so since that very first time.'

'Crap,' Cory muttered to Sean down their bond-link, 'He's going to freak out.'

'I have an idea, bro,' Sean answered, 'and I think it'll work.'

Cory nodded, and so Sean said softly, "Lil'elf, we need to tell you something. You know your scars, and that Kyle and the others healed you?"

"Yeah?" came the meek response from the scared little boy.

"They healed everything, Lil'elf. Your dick too, bro. It's all normal again."

Joel twisted around slightly to look into Sean's eyes, "H...how do you know?"

Sean tapped the side of his head, "Kyle and Levi just said. Levi healed you, and he says you're all normal down there but that he had to keep you numb until now. The Guardian has just said you are ready to get everything back working again."

Joel's eyes opened wide, and he pulled back slightly to look down between himself and Kevin. "But..."

Kevin looked down too, then back up at Sean. He was asking for confirmation with his eyes, and the slow nod from the auburn haired teen answered him.

"You need to see it, Joel," Cory said quietly. "You won't believe until you do. It's not wrong to touch it, it's not wrong to get hard, and it's not wrong to get good feelings from it."

Kevin was listening intently to this as well, for the aspect of getting 'good feelings' was, in part, addressing his own fears of sex.

Joel looked down at himself again, and slowly reached out with a trembling hand. He jerked his hand back and started shaking more, "I can't," he whispered. "No, no... I can't."

'Bros,' Kyle sent to the two teens, 'you have to show him. He trusts you, and if you do it he'll know that it's healed, and he'll know that touching himself is a good thing. He believes everything you two say and do'

Cory nodded slowly and Sean wrapped his arms tightly around Joel's chest. Joel reached up and gripped Sean's arms with his hands seeking comfort, yet still looking down at himself... and there was a mix of fear and hope in his eyes, now.

"Do you want me to show you, Lil'elf?" Cory asked then, beginning to reach out slowly with his hand.

Joel glanced quickly at him, and after a moment's thought, nodded slowly.

Cory was about to do so when Kevin's hand reached out and stopped him. The small boy turned his head and smiled peacefully at Cory. He had decided something, and the courage Cory could now see in his eyes was something new; something drawn out from Kevin's contact with Joel. Kevin turned back and lightly kissed Joel. "I'll show you, T'hy'la," he whispered as the kiss broke.

The kiss did more than just lighten Joel's face slightly. It had distracted him as Kevin took hold lightly of Joel's penis and slowly pulled back the foreskin. Joel gasped as feeling and sensation came flooding into his mind, and he looked down quickly. He could feel it, and he was getting hard... and it felt real good... and due to both Sean and Cory touching or hugging him, he felt safe!

Cory looked as well and started giggling softly, "Oh, wow! Now that..."

"...is green!" Sean completed with a snigger. He had his face next to Joel's, and he looked down over Joel's shoulder in wonder.

"Wow," Joel murmured, a shy smile on his cute face.

Kevin said nothing. He just ogled; and kept his hold on Joel, to Cory's obvious, gentle amusement.

"You're beautiful," Kevin murmured in wonder, looking up into Joel's eyes as they lay there smiling at each other, "all of you!"

Joel blushed and mumbled under his breath, "So're you, Kev."

Joel's pulse was racing. He sensed Fire coming from Kevin, as well as support and protection and yet more Fire from his brothers. This was okay!

His brow furrowed. He could not touch himself yet; he was still too nervous, but... maybe...

Kevin was close, and due to the situation, now in the same state as Joel. It was just as easy for Joel to reach as it was for Kevin to touch him. He stretched out his hand and, with a brief hesitation, took a hold of Kevin's 'soldier' with the lightest of grips.

The brown haired boy giggled, and looked into Joel's eyes. They both started giggling, as did the older teens. Kevin started to subtly move the hand that was grasping Joel's excitement causing the Vulcan to shudder and shift about in Sean's embrace. In turn, he reflectively squeezed his own hand, bringing a small, quiet 'Mmmmm' from Kevin.

"Okay, dudes," Sean sniggered, "do you two want to stay here and play, or have a shower? And for either option, do you want privacy?"

"Don't leave!" Joel begged quickly, nervousness rising in his voice, "I'd... I... please stay..." Regardless of nerves, though, his hand remained in place.

Kevin grinned at Sean, his own hand still moving very slowly, "Umm, a shower might be... fun. Kenny and Rory think they are, and baths, so..."

"But you'll stay?" Joel asked quickly, locking eyes with Cory. "I... I'm... sc...scared..."

Cory nodded seriously, as did Sean who rubbed his cheek against Joel's. "Sure," Cory smiled. "Come on, let's shower."

---

Joel was led, by hand, into the shower by Kevin, with Cory and Sean following. The teens were both grinning at each other as they closed the en-suite door and walked into the shower after the two smaller boys. Joel stood there nervously, yet a shy, cute smile was trying to claim his face. Kevin was busy playing with the temperature of the shower spray and yelping as the cold water splashed over his back. However, while Joel was nervous, and while his lips were quirked in that cute, shy little smile, Cory could see plainly that the Vulcan's eyes were fixated on Kevin's wiggling butt.

"Nice scenery in here, don't you agree, love?" Sean giggled to Cory, attempting a very poor British accent.

"Aye, that there be. I kin see the wee laddie here agrees wit' ye, Lover," Cory giggled back, in a broad Scottish one.

Joel's eye darted to theirs and he blushed bright emerald at being caught scoping out Kevin's cute derrière. "Ummm, ahhh...." he mumbled as he fought with his burning face.

Kevin glanced over his shoulders, wiggled his behind at them all and giggled. "Ignore them, Jo'. They're just jealous that they ain't as cute as we are!"

"That's a matter of who you are!" Sean giggled as he groped Cory's butt gently, making his husband wiggle slightly and playfully fend off his touches.

"Hey now! No trying to give them lessons!" Cory giggled back at him.

Kevin turned around and pulled Joel over into a loose hug and grinned at Cory, "But you've had sooo much practice! We wanna learn from the masters!"

Joel's glowing cheeks started glowing brighter, but his own cute smile started growing into a grin as well. Was this 'teasing'? Should he try it too?

"Y...yeah... ummm... any tips would be gratefully accepted..." he mumbled just loud enough to be heard before giggling nervously.

"I'm sure two smart, cute little angels like you can come up with things we haven't thought of yet!" Cory replied, his smile at Joel telling him the tease was accepted.

Joel allowed his grin to become a full, sunny smile. Vividly, those first few 'sexy' websites he had only once visited in that 'other place' came to memory. He tilted his head comically and replied, "I... theoretically, I would likely give you a run for your money, Blondie... I am Vulcan and therefore far more bendable than you."

"Kev, I think you are about to go where no man has gone before; you're a pretty lucky guy!" Sean giggled.

Kevin blushed deeply, but it was Joel's laugh that made them all blink at him curiously.

"'Space, the Final Frontier,'" he started in a good imitation of Kirk's voice: an exact imitation, to tell the truth, "'These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. It's five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.'"

'Duuun dun..dun dun dun dun.....' Levi's voice giggled in all of their heads.

"I think you confused them more than I did, Levi," Joel giggled at the looks that passed between the other three.

Kevin nodded, "That tune sounds ancient!"

"Late 1960s, Kev," Joel explained with a smile.

"I'm confused... and how did you do such a good imitation of Uncle Jim?" Cory asked with a grin.

Joel's jaw dropped open. "Uncle Jim? You call him 'uncle' like you do Captain Spock??"

"Yeah, he threatened to tickle us if we didn't!" Sean replied. "We only call him Captain if we're on duty on-board the ship."

Joel was on seventh heaven. "He's... he's my hero..." he whispered, finally answering Cory's question. "I... I always wondered what it would be like to... for him to have beamed in and saved me and... naa, that's silly..." he trailed off, blushing in embarrassment.

"Go on; and what, elf?" Sean asked gently.

Joel blushed more and hung his head. "I wished he or Spock or Doctor McCoy or one of the others was my dad..." he whispered, a note of longing in his voice.

"Who knows... you're smart enough to be the son of any of them!" Cory replied with a loving smile.

"Yeah," Kevin added, kissing Joel's cheek, "you're half human, and you sounded like Uncle Jim; you could be his son!"

Joel raised his head and locked eyes with Kevin first, then Cory. "That would be so... nice..." he murmured, his eyes going far away.

Sean smiled and moved over with Cory and together they moved the two loosely hugging boys under the warm spray of water.

Joel grinned up at them as they both picked up soap and shampoo. "Nuh huh! You showered me last time! It's my turn to do you two first!" he giggled, feeling emboldened enough to try this 'order'.

"Deal!" Sean and Cory giggled in reply. They handed over the soap and shampoo.

Joel glanced at Kevin and shared the items between himself and his best friend. He then looked up into Cory's beautiful eyes. "You first, Blondie," he whispered, letting the Fire inside be seen in his smile and within his own shining, beautiful eyes.

Sean stepped to one side to allow the smaller two access, but Joel reached and placed some body wash soap in Sean's hands. "You help to, Big Ted; then Blondie can help us clean you."

"Anything you want, my Elf," Sean whispered back lovingly.

Cory giggled as Joel and Kevin struggled. They were going to tip-toes to reach his hair to add the shampoo. He made it easier for them, and knelt down. Joel and Kevin kissed a cheek each by way of thanks before setting to work, with Sean busy lathering up his husband's back.

Cory closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift mentally under the gentle ministrations from the three around him. His heart filled to bursting with love for each of them, and the smile on his face never wavered. They were completing the healing started the night before, and the pain and grief inside, while just as hurtful, was not bringing his soul lower, but was giving him new strength. New determination. He rested one hand on Joel's hip and squeezed slightly, while doing the same for Kevin. He received another pair of cheek-kisses for that.

Sean was silently giggling as he watched Joel move from Cory's hair to face and neck. 'I wish I had a camera, love. He's so cute with his tongue sticking out that way!' he sent to Cory.

Cory cracked an eye open and saw that Sean was right; Joel was concentrating so hard on being gentle while showing his blond brother that he 'felt Fire for him' that his tongue was sticking out of the corner of his mouth.

Kevin smiled as he noticed... then he copied Joel, making both older teens laugh softly and joyfully. Joel's curious expression found answer in Kevin's copying, and they both dissolved with giggles as well.

"Stand and rinse," Kevin mock-ordered once the two boys had done Cory's arms.

"Sir, yes Sir!" Cory giggled as he did as told. Once the soap and shampoo had been cleared away, he moved back to them; this time he remained standing as they worked on his chest.

Joel reached Cory's outie belly button, and looked at Sean. "Ted, you like Cor's outie; do you wanna wash it?"

Sean smiled, and giggled happily, "You wash it first, then when he goes to rinse, I'll give it a 'polish'; deal?"

Cory rolled his eyes, but smiled joyfully as Joel crowed out "Deal!" and started to half wash half tickle his belly button. Laughing at his Vulcan brother's antics, Cory looked back into Sean's eyes.

Sean took this as an excellent chance to grab a nice kiss.

Both smaller boys got to their knees to wash Cory's legs, while Sean took care of Cory's lower back and butt. Joel came to the expected point where Kevin just backed away slightly and rested a hand on Joel's back to help comfort him.

The Vulcan had reached Cory's privates and was looking up at both Cory and Sean with question and worry.

"Only as much as you're comfortable with, Lil'elf," Cory said in a near whisper.

Joel nodded and took in a deep breath. He then deliberately looked at Cory's semi-excited member... and noticed the sparse hairs around it. "Wow," he breathed, and, forgetting his nervousness, he ran a feather light finger through Cory's few pubic hairs. "Soft," he murmured. Looking back up with a sad expression, he asked, "When will I get them?"

Sean smiled down at him, and laid a hand on Joel's shoulder, "When your body is ready. No one is the same, elf; we're all different."

"Yes," Cory nodded seriously, "I'm older than Sean, and he has more than me. Look," he added, as Sean stepped from behind his lover. Joel saw that Sean had far more there than Cory did. Cory continued, "It would be a boring world or universe if everything and everyone was the same, Lil'elf."

Joel accepted this, and returned his attention to those hairs; it involved a lot of shampoo, for some reason best known to Sean. He had handed Joel a large handful of the stuff while he and Cory shared a giggle. Joel supposed they were remembering something, but if Ted wanted him to use a head full of hair's worth of this strawberry smelling stuff on Cory's nether regions, then use it he would.

Once each hair had been thoroughly washed to perfection, as guided by Sean and a giggling Kevin, Joel then screwed up his courage to wash something he had never willingly touched for the past 3 years; and this was more difficult do to it not even being his own. He paused, though, when he noticed that Cory was cut.

"Why'd they do this?" he trembled fearfully as he ran a finger of the pale small scar tissue that circled Cory's glands. "You Jewish?" he asked looking up at his brother.

"No. It's just custom here in the US," Cory answered. "Most kids hate it, though, but it's a part of me now, and Sean don't mind. I don't mind about his either."

Sean added quickly, reading the fear showing in Joel's eyes, "We were babies when it was done, Joel. We can't remember it. It's okay, really."

Joel nodded mutely as he looked back at Cory's dick sadly. Kevin sighed himself, "Same for me and Ken. I really wish I still had my skin there. I... ah well..."

Joel gave him a half smile and whispered bravely, "I think it looks nice anyway Kev..." Then looking back up at Cory he added, "Yours too."

Cory smiled and ran a finger lightly over Joel's left ear.

Joel turned back as if to start washing what he was touching properly when he did something surprising. He leaned forwards and kissed the scar on Cory's dick before applying the body wash to it.

His eyes then widened and he started trembling violently. "Sorry! I... why'd I...? I'm sorry!" he cried as he pulled back quickly from them. The three of them grabbed him fast, and Cory pulled him up and into his arms, settling him on his own hip.

"Joel, look at me," Cory ordered softly.

Joel did.

"When you and Kev were talking to Allen last night, JJ was talking to me and Sean. He told us about what happened when you saw Adam's scars. What did you do then?"

Joel sniffed, but his trembling started to stop. "I... I kissed some of them..."

"Why?" Cory asked leadingly.

"'Cos... 'cos he's my 'big' little brother and he'd been hurt like me and I wanted to say I... that I... I wanted to say the scars didn't change the Fire inside I feel for him, and that I would have taken those scars as my own if I could have..." Joel rushed out quickly, then, "but your dickie... It was wrong, I shouldn't have kissed it! You're married and..."

"Elf," Cory laid a finger on Joel's lips to silence him, "you saw my scar, and you kissed it to say you loved me anyway and that it didn't change how you feel for me and that you would take it as your own if you could."

Joel's eyes widened as his own words came back to calm him.

"You kissed it like a child would kiss a cut on an arm, Joel," Sean whispered, running his fingers through Joel's hair. "You wanted to 'take a hurt away', because to you, you'd remember such a pain, wouldn't you?"

Joel trembled a bit and nodded.

"You just made me happy, Joel," Cory completed. "You kissed something you wouldn't have even looked at last night, and you did so because in the past it got 'hurt' and you loved me and wanted to take my pain away. Right?"

Joel's mind swam. He went back over that kiss and thought hard, his Vulcan mind working wonders to supply the information.

"R...Right," he whispered, wonder in his face. "I wasn't... I wasn't trying to do sex with you, I... I just... you're right!"

Kevin moved closer and kissed Joel's foot, which was all he could reach from his knees. "Come on, Jo'. Cory's dick is waiting for you to finish wash number 1!"

Cory smiled and placed Joel back to his feet, and the boy quickly dropped to his knees to complete that wash. Cory looked at Kevin and asked, "Number 1?"

"Yeah. I have to do wash 2, then Sean has to make REALLY sure and do wash 3... right?"

"Timmy taught you that in the showers he's dragged you into?" Sean giggled.

Kevin nodded, "Uh huh! Me and my bros do that all the time now when we shower each other!"

Cory shook his head laughing, "The Magic of Timmy spreads... just when you thought it was safe to enter the shower!"

"Finished," Joel smiled back up and his blond brother. "Was... did I do good?"

Cory giggled, "I'd say 10 out of 10, Lil'elf."

Joel beamed with pride, then shuffled to one side to watch Kevin apply 'Wash 2'. 'Wash 3' soon followed from Sean, then and only then was Cory allowed to rinse. While he was doing so, Sean had been corralled to his knees and his long auburn hair was in the middle of a serious case of shampooing.

Everything proceeded quicker for Sean than for Cory, but that was only due to Joel not having to stop and be comforted as he had been with his eldest brother. He even kissed Sean the same way when he saw Sean's scar; "Jus' so you're even," he giggled, but the Fire in his eyes told Sean clearly that Joel loved and respected him as much as Cory, and that, if he could, the little Vulcan would have taken that scar onto himself as well.

Joel and Kevin faced each other as Sean was rinsing off, trying to decide who would be first to get a wash. It was then that they were joined by another small presence; Levi.

"Hi!" he giggled as the shower soaked his hair, making it seem darker.

"Good morning, Levi. You want to shower too?" Cory giggled.

Levi grinned, "Naw, I'm here to give Uncle Kev a present, if he wants it."

"Oh?" Kevin asked, smiling gently.

Levi nodded seriously. "You said you wished you weren't cut. I can undo it, Uncle Kev. I can fix it for you, if you want me to."

Kevin's jaw dropped open. He stared first at Levi, then at the others, then down at himself. "A foreskin?" he mumbled, touching his dick in wonder. He glanced at Joel, "What do you think?"

Joel bit his lower lip and looked down at Kevin, then compared his friend to himself. With honesty in his face, he smiled up at Kevin, "It's your choice. Do you want to? I l... I like you as you are, but that's only 'cos you like you as you are."

Kevin pondered that while looking aimlessly around. Eventually he focused on the waiting Levi.

"I can do it any time, Uncle Kev," Levi smiled back at him. "You don't have to choose now. But if I do it and you don't like it, I won't cut you again. I don't harm others. If you then want to go back, you'll have to do it the human way."

Kevin smiled, "I like me anyway, Levi. I only wish I'd not been cut. It won't make my life better to get it back. It'll only be me getting a want. I don't need it, just want it." He paused again, organising his thoughts, and searching his desires. "Yes. Yes please, Levi. I want to be like Joel; just 'cos I want to. I'm happy already. This is something I just want," he asked, peace in his eyes.

Joel watched as a smiling Levi moved in between them both and took Kevin's boyhood into a gentle, glowing hand.

"There," he giggled as he let go a few seconds later, "All done, Uncle Kev! It's now as if you'd never been cut. Careful, though; it'll be more sensitive than before 'til you're used to it."

Then he vanished, leaving Joel and Kevin to stare in wonder at the new look Kevin was sporting. Joel reached out and rolled it back for Kevin, making the brown haired boy shake with the feelings.

"You two could be twins!" Cory laughed.

He was right; apart from Joel being even thinner than Kevin, and having pointy ears and eyebrows and an outie bellybutton, they were now next to identical. They looked up at the blond and blushed.

Sean's eyes widened, "Wow! Yep, identical!"

Joel looked back down, and noticed that he and Kevin had risen to the occasion; and were still matching.

"So... you washing me, or me you, Kev?" he asked, trying to fight down his nerves. He had a feeling about where this would now lead, and he was scared and excited and fearful all in one.

Kevin sensed Joel's mixed emotions through his own empathic abilities, and gave the boy a full hug for a moment. It was then that Joel sensed Kevin's own doubts and fears. While different from his own, they were still real and just as troubling to Kevin as his own were to himself.

Cory broke the heaviness of the moment by giggling at them. They both looked at him and raised an eyebrow, which caused more giggles.

"What's funny, bro?" Sean asked as he came alongside his partner.

Cory could only point towards the two smaller boy's stomachs.

Joel and Kevin looked down and failed to see anything at first. Cory then moved over and slowly separated the two touching bellies to show Joel's outie bellybutton was fitted perfectly with Kevin's innie.

"You're made for each other," he whispered to them before kissing their foreheads. Then, "I think you should wash each other at the same time. How does that sound?"

Joel whispered nervously, "Yeah; that sound's nice..." while still looking at his and Kevin's joined bellybuttons.

Kevin reached and lifted Joel's chin, and saw some fear and doubt in his Vulcan friend's eyes.

Joel saw worry and nervousness in Kevin's; he could sense it come back though their contact. "You nervous too?" he whispered.

Kevin nodded, "I wanted to in bed, but now; I dunno, Jo'."

Cory and Sean came close and wrapped them both in a hug. "Listen," Sean said softly, "you guys can just wash and not do anything yet if you're nervous."

Joel looked up at his auburn haired brother, "But... what if we feel we want to later and you're not there? I... I'm scared... even now, but... you're helping... I don't think I can without you being n...near..."

Cory smiled, "Oh, Lil'elf. Just wash Kevin, and Kevin; you wash Joel. If something happens, it happens; but don't force it, okay? Your first time doing this should be when you're comfortable."

Joel looked quickly into Kevin's eyes. "That why you're scared too?"

Kevin nodded shyly. "I've never done anything either, Jo'; and you've done more than me and would have if that bitch hadn't..." his voice broke in emotion and he stopped talking to regain his control over his anger. He then whispered, "Cor's right. Let's just have fun with a wash, and see what happens. But only if you want to, Jo'."

Joel nodded slowly, his face near unreadable. "Same; only if you want to, too."

Cory and Sean moved away enough to let the little boys move under the shower to re-soak themselves before starting to shampoo each other's hair in unison. Cory moved to wash Joel's back, leaving Sean do the same for Kevin.

There was total silence in the shower this time. Kevin's eyes were half closed blissfully due to Joel's light, caring touches as he was being washed. Joel was feeling totally peaceful at the contact from Kevin.

Cory and Sean felt a particular weight on them to not say anything, and just keep a supportive contact to both boys. Something profound was about to happen. Something that each child on earth discovers with that wondering joy, yet for these two boys it was a joy either long denied or self-denied. The teens knew without knowing how they knew that their silence was mandatory. This was all for Kevin and Joel. They were privileged to watch only. To watch, and to love them both.

Joel spent a great deal of time with Kevin's nipples. He found them fascinating.

Joel's bellybutton received the same from an equally fascinated Kevin.

The inescapable sense of peace and wonder flowed through the room, and Cory began to realise that it was due to the two empathic boys unconsciously projecting what was in their hearts.

'Are you feeling this?' he whispered to Sean down the deepest levels of their bond-link.

Sean just nodded.

This moment seemed too sacred for even that much of a reply.

The two boys had stopped their movements at each other's lower stomachs and were just giving each other questioning glances. There was an almost imperceptible nod given by each before they made contact with each other's privates, and at first, to wash them only.

Joel shuddered. The experience was unique and calming, and he saw the same reactions and blissed out expression in Kevin's eyes. Gone was the knowledge of Cory's hands touching his back. What remained was a feeling of protection and assurance from his blond brother, but that was only registered at the deepest levels of his strange Vulcan psyche.

Again they paused. Without a word uttered, the movements of their hands stopped being that of cleaning and became something else: something as old as the human race. They began to bring deliberate pleasure to the other; slowly and with great care and respect - and love. Joel let out a low keening moan, which was echoed by a long, drawn out "Mmmmm" from his brown haired friend.

Cory placed his hands just under Joel's armpits, just in case was about to happen made Joel's knees buckle. Sean copied for Kevin as well.

Neither of them noticed. Joel had never felt this before, and it was not just the physical sensations that sent his thoughts spinning away; the Fire and emotion from Kevin was enough all on it's own to accomplish that. His gaze did not break from Kevin's, and the questions, and their answers, seemed to pass silently between them as they continued to gently manipulate the other. Joel whimpered and leaned forward to brush his lips against Kevin's mouth. The kiss returned was as tender and light as the one he bestowed.

The emotions passing between both were not all Fire and wonder, however. Joel's emotions had a fairly large dose of fear mixed in, but the cure for that fear came from the protection and approval he was gaining from the close proximity and physical contact to Sean and Cory. In Kevin's case it was worry. Joel sensed this in his friend, and so automatically passed on from his brothers the protection they were giving him.

Their hands began to move at a faster pace, and with their foreheads touching, both boys were leaning more and more into the other. They each used their left arm to circled the other's back and began to let the older teens support more and more of their weight. Again and again, feather light kisses were traded between them; the Fire and caring passed back and forth as well. This was heaven; pure, absolute heaven.

Nothing had prepared either boy for what was to happen next, though.

Time became meaningless to them both as the feelings built and exploded between them in unison. Amplified by the Vulcan ability to share emotions that Joel was no longer in control off and by the growing yet distracted empathic powers of Kevin, what was flooding their trembling bodies was flung out all around them, impacting Cory and Sean. It was only due to the unfocused nature of the emotion-burst, and due to the greater sexual experience of the two teens, that stopped Cory and Sean from experiencing an orgasm as well. It was a close call, though and it did make them gasp and widen their eyes. They managed to keep their focus by holding the now shuddering and noisy pair of boys and keeping them from falling to the floor.

Once the orgasm each experienced ran its course through their bodies, they were lowered slowly down by the older boys. Kneeling, they leaned against each other and panted to regain their equilibrium.

With his head rested on Joel's shoulder, Kevin simply stared forwards at everything and nothing in particular; it had been... special. Unbelievable and special. Far more so than if he had given into curiosity and done this alone. Sharing it with the boy he had fallen in love with was something beyond words.

Kenny had tried explaining what he had felt at his first time just after Rory had left for Vulcan, since he and Kevin never kept a lot from each other. Granted, details had not been given, and Kevin had never asked; he loved his brother and respected his privacy. But Kenny was hurting at that time so Kevin was the shoulder to cry on and the ear to listen as Kenny's soul unburdened itself. He could not grasp everything that Kenny had told him, though... not until now.

He was even more nervous about sex now, though, as the buzz that permeated his body was intoxicating. He wanted that feeling again, and the old worry that he would become a slut seemed to be coming to pass. He sighed heavily, and gripped the frail seeming Vulcan tighter to himself for comfort.

Joel was crying silently into Kevin's shoulder, and all that rolled through his mind was an incoherent 'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!' He could not believe what had just happened, nor that he felt so safe about it. Everything for the past three years had trained him to be mortally afraid of intimacy, yet it had been so right, so wonderful. He could feel his heart yammering in his chest, far faster than was normal even for a Vulcan, yet his emotions, until now so unstable, were calm - settled and at peace. The tears that fell slowly and gently were that of wonder, gratitude and that powerful Fire for the three boys who were with him. Even more so for the small, skinny brown eyed wonder who had cared for him so much; enough to begin freeing him of a demon of fear that had lived within his heart for so long.

They both became aware of Cory and Sean at the same time, for the older teens had a massive cuddle going with them both sandwiched in between.

"Th...thank you, oh thank you," Joel whispered to Kevin as they both raised their heads from the other's shoulder. Joel's eyes danced with those emotions he still could not name; but Kevin could.

Kevin kissed him, then whispered, "I love you too, T'hy'la."

Joel sniffed back his happy tears and pulled back enough to relax onto Cory's lap, for the two teens had now sat themselves cross legged behind the smaller boys. Kevin did the same and was made comfortable on Sean's lap. They kept contact with their feet, though, and this was made easier as Cory shuffled closer to Sean until their knees were touching. Joel laid his head back on Cory's right shoulder, his cheek against his brothers. "Thank you, Blondie, Ted," he said as his eyes half closed.

Cory nuzzled Joel's head. "Any time, little brother. That is what brothers are for."

"What time is it?" Kevin asked, a small quirky smile on his face as his toes tickled the soles of Joel's feet.

Sean giggled. "Just turned six," he answered as he glanced at the bathroom clock outside the shower area. He cuddled the boy on his lap tighter, "You want to go back to bed now, you two?"

Joel shrugged lazily, and equally quirky grin on his face. He then smiled more and asked, "You and Cor gonna do what we did?"

Sean smiled, "Maybe, but why'd you ask?"

"'Cos he's poking me," Joel sighed as he smiled again, closing his eyes. There was no fear in him about that, now. None. Had he beaten it?

Cory giggled, "Yeah. You and Kev sent what you were feeling into both of us."

Kevin started to blush, but did giggle as he wiggled in Sean's lap. "You want us to hold you two up?" he asked teasingly.

Cory kissed Joel's cheek. "That's up to you. You didn't mind us being with you, so it won't matter to me if you're here. Sean?"

"Same," Sean agreed as he increased his hold on Kevin.

Joel flicked his eyes to the side to look at Cory's face, "You... you want us here?"

"If you two want to watch, then it's okay by me. If it would make you uncomfortable, then no - then I'd want you two somewhere where you'd feel better."

Joel gazed at Kevin thoughtfully. "If... you keep saying it's okay to do what we did, and I kinda agree right now... if I... if you two do it too, then it would only help later if those feelings come back," he whispered, half to himself.

Kevin nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah. I'm nervous about other things, and that would help. I'll just cuddle behind Sean, though. You need some privacy."

Sean giggled, "That's up to you two, guys. We don't mind."

Cory got up and sent a challenging look at Sean that made Kevin start to snigger.

"Come on, Jo'... let's make sure their back's are 'clean'!"

Joel giggled cutely as he snuggled in behind Cory as both older teens moved closer together, kneeling in front of each other. Joel wrapped his arms around his blond brother's belly, about where Cory's outie bellybutton was. Kevin did the same for Sean, and after a moment's hesitation on both parts, they moved their heads to each of the older boy's left side and watched quietly.

Joel kept looking between what Cory's hands were doing and Sean's face, measuring the reactions.

Peace. Joy. That Fire. There was no nervousness between them. 'I wanna be like that too, soon,' he thought silently, hopefully.

'You will soon,' Cory sent to him before he moved his face and kissed Sean seriously.

Kevin felt what both were feeling, and it washed into his nervous soul with a beauty that made him bite his lip to stop from crying. He closed his eyes and just held the side of his face against Sean's ribs, basking in the love he sensed from them both. It was truly beyond words.

Joel felt a build up of emotions in Cory, and equated it with his brother's approaching orgasm. He reached out and laid a single finger on Sean's chest and felt the same.

He closed his eyes, and so did Kevin; both of them pulling back until they were pressed against each older boy's back. They felt the emotions build in the room and between them all and let their souls ride the waves of them.

They both felt something hitting their hands, and then the emotions started to level out again.

"Wow," Joel muttered as both teens sank down to sit together and cuddle. Kevin moved over to the small Vulcan and they sat facing the older boys, yet they were both examining what was now on the backs of their hands and wrists.

Both teens watched as the two small boys started investigating this new 'substance' curiously, and both teens had gentle, loving smiles on their faces...

---

Once they had all dried, the four boys went back into the bedroom. Joel and Kevin sat down on the edge of the bed as they felt Cory and Sean stop behind them. Joel looked up at his brothers with a questioning expression on his face.

Both teens knelt down before the two little boys. Cory spoke first, "Do either of you have any questions?"

They both shook their heads, small contented smiles playing over their faces.

Sean continued, "If you do, at any time, you know you can ask, right?"

They both nodded.

"We're proud of you both," Cory said, "and we're here for you always. This will probably make Kev blush, but Joel; if you really feel you need us around to 'protect' you when you want to discover more with Kevin, you just have to ask."

Kevin did blush, but said, "I needed you too, Cor. Thank you."

Joel asked then, a little concern showing in his voice, "Was it okay to... to taste your... umm...?"

Sean smiled, "If it wasn't, we would have stopped you."

"You're both our little brothers. Little brothers are curious, and that's okay. You didn't do anything that made us uncomfortable, you were just checking out something new and fascinating," Cory finished.

Kevin nodded happily. "Yeah. Kenny told me 'bout it, but I've only seen pictures before of sperm. He can make it, but I can't yet; I'm like you, Jo'."

"We'll get there, Kevvy," Joel replied with a small smile.

Kevin looked up into the teens' faces and finished "Uh... thanks, guys; you made me feel that everything was okay, in there."

Joel slipped from the bed and into Cory's arms. "Thanks," he whispered as he kissed his brother, then reached and kissed Sean as well.

"Come on, let's get another hour of sleep," Sean whispered back.

Joel and Kevin quickly crawled to the middle of the bed and wrapped themselves into each other's arms, while the teens snuggled around the two smaller kids in the same position as they had slept in during the night. It was then that they all heard Kyle whisper in their minds, 'You all need a lot more sleep, so the Doc says he's halting time in a weird Time Lordish way. Just get as much sleep as you need, bros, and we'll get you up in time.'

None of them replied. They just smiled. Cory and Sean closed their eyes and went back to sleep; but Kevin and Joel continued to lie there. Surrounded by loving arms, and in a tight hug, the two boys began to talk in whispers...

---

To Be Continued...

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Darryl's Notes:

This was a very powerful chapter. I shed a huge number of tears while I was reading it. I do hope that Kevin and Joel can continue to explore each other's bodies without being petrified, even if it came from entirely different circumstances, they both needed some outside help so they can cope.

I can hardly wait to see what will happen next.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher