Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 10:14:15 +0100 (BST)
From: Jezebel <eh_oh_po@yahoo.com>
Subject: In Another Life 9

Title: In Another Life.
Author: Jezebel the Temptress
Feedback: eh_oh_po@yahoo.com

Disclaimers: This story is fiction and it is not intended to imply anything
about the true sexuality of the celebrities mentioned or any personal
knowledge about their private lives.  If you are underage for your area, if
it is illegal for you to view such material or if you are opposed to two men
in a loving situation then this story is not for you either.


***

*Part 9*

Kyle couldn't believe his brother's enthusiasm at seeing the new house,
it was as if all of the horrors of the past weeks were forgotten when he
saw that there was a garden and a pool for him to play in.  People spoke
of the resilience of youth and he had seen Jon display that with the
dozens of men that came in and out of their mother's life but he had not
seen him bounce back so quickly before.  There was a part of him that
wondered if he ought to be grateful but a larger part warned that this
might not be the end of Jonathan's problems.

Kevin opened up the house and showed Jon around, finishing the tour in
his son's new bedroom so that he could have a nap.

"But Daddy, I'm not tired." Jon argued as he tried to fight the issue.  The
yawn that he tried to hide told Kevin otherwise.  "Only babies take naps."

"Just rest then." Kevin answered.  "I'll wake you up in time for lunch."

"Can we get McDonalds?" Jon asked tiredly.

"Maybe." Kevin answered, ruffling his son's hair as he stood up to leave.

Kyle, who had followed them on the tour of the house without saying
more than a few words, trailed behind Kevin as he walked into the family
room.  Kyle had barely sat down when Kevin turned to him.

"So, do you want to tell me why my son dislikes Brian so much?"

Kyle sighed, he had hoped that he would not have to do this.  Alex had
been right, he should have told Kevin before now but at least the truth
was coming out.  He recounted the story of his visit to the record signing
and how Brian had had him and Jon removed and blacklisted from future
events.

"You should have told me." Kevin said after Kyle had finished telling the
story.  "I wouldn't have agreed to Brian coming along today if I had
known."

"Given what has happened over the last few weeks I didn't think that Jon
would react so badly.  I wasn't even sure that he would remember." Kyle
replied.  "And the last thing that I wanted to do was cause anymore
issues between you and Brian than my return has already done.  I heard
that you had argued at the hospital."

"Don't worry about Brian and I, we'll be having a talk very soon." Kevin
said, his tone saying that the 'talk' did not bode well for Brian.

Kyle looked away as he heard the anger in Kevin's voice.

Kevin sighed.

"I want you to know that you can trust me, Kyle." Kevin said gently, all
traces of anger gone from his voice.  "I know that things haven't been
great for you in the past but we're going to have to work together if we
want to make this work."

"I know." Kyle replied.  "It's just..." he paused, searching for the words
that he wanted to say.  "For so long it was just me and Jon, I mean Mom
was around but she was hardly ever there and when she was she was
usually drunk or stoned.  I'm not used to having to worry about anyone
but us..."

"Well, it's something that we'll both have to work on." Kevin said
diplomatically.

Kyle nodded.

"I thought that I would take Jon out this afternoon, take him to the park or
something." Kevin said standing.  "It's been a tough couple of days and I
really think that you should rest up a bit.  You've only been out of
hospital a few days and you're supposed to be recuperating."

"I'm fine." Kyle said as he stood, wavering slightly as he got up.  "It's just
a few broken ribs and they're almost healed."

"I don't need to tell you that you were in a coma." Kevin said.  "I
promised the doctors that you would rest."

"Okay." Kyle said, knowing when he was defeated.  Maybe Kevin taking
Jon out that afternoon would be a good thing too.  It would give them a
chance to get to know each other without him being around.  "Give me a
call when lunch is ready?" He asked as he headed towards his room.

Kevin didn't answer, he was already trying to work out what he was
supposed to make for lunch and where he could take a six year old for
the afternoon.

***

Kyle woke later that day feeling more refreshed than he had in a while.
The ache in his ribs had dulled and he felt better than he had in days.
He hoped that this was a sign that he was truly on the road to recovery.

There was a loud crash in the lounge room and Kyle headed out to see
what it was.  He was surprised to see his little brother standing next to a
broken vase.

"I didn't do it." Jon said in a panicked tone.  "It fell on its own."

"It's okay." Kyle said, trying to quell the sense of panic that he could see
rising in his brother.

Kevin came in a moment later to find the two of them next to shards of a
glass vase his Mom had bought for him.

"What is going on in here?" Kevin yelled as he entered and saw his
young son surrounded by glass.

Kyle winced and reached out for Jon but not before his brother was
already scooping up the shards of glass in his unprotected hands.

"I'll clean it all up.  I'll buy you a new one.  I didn't mean it." Jon said, all
as he tried to hide the glass.  "Please, don't send me away...I'll be good."

Kevin felt his heart breaking as he saw the utter terror on the boy's face.
He didn't want to begin to hear what horrors Jon had already seen in his
young life.

"It's okay." Kevin said as he waded in and took the glass from Jon's
hands.  He scooped his son up and carried him clear of the glass.  "I
didn't shout because I was angry, I was worried that you might have hurt
yourself."

"I'm sorry." Jon said softly.  "I didn't mean to break anything."

"I shouldn't have left it lying around." Kevin countered.  "So you see, it
isn't your fault.  It's mine."

"Really?" Jon asked.

"Yep." Kevin replied with a slight smile.  "But you don't have to worry
because even if you did do something wrong there isn't anything you
could do that would make me love you less."

Jonathan didn't speak, he just cuddled closer to his father as if he didn't
want to believe that.

"I'm not going to send you away ever." Kevin said.  "You and Kyle can
stay here as long as you like."

"You mean like forever?" Jon asked.  "Even after I'm growed up?"

"Forever and always." Kevin promised.  "Now, how about I put you safely
in the other room and Kyle and I see about tidying this mess up?"

"Okay." Jon said as he realised he was being carried to the kitchen
where a plate of cookies sat on the table.  He would be good, he
wouldn't take any and maybe Daddy would let him have one later.

He was still sitting, staring at the cookies when Kevin found him a few
minutes later having cleared up the glass.

"Didn't you want any cookies?" Kevin asked.  "Kyle said that chocolate
chip were your favourite."

"I wasn't sure if I was allowed." Jon answered softly.  "Kyle says never to
take stuff without asking.  That's stealing."

"It's okay if you want something to eat." Kevin replied.  "And if you get
hungry then you just have to ask and either Kyle or I will get it for you.
Did you want some milk to go with your cookies?" He asked.

Jonny looked at him with wide eyed awe and nodded.  Jon knew that this
must be another test.  You ate when food was placed in front of you, he
knew better than to ask because sometimes there wasn't any food in the
house so it didn't matter if you were hungry or not, you didn't get fed.
Maybe that was only with his Mom though, he knew that his Dad was a
bazillionaire, he could probably afford to have three cooked meals a day
with dessert.

"Can Kyle have cookies too?" Jonny asked.  He knew that his older
brother didn't always take food for himself, especially when there was
only a limited amount and Jon wanted to do what he could to share with
his big brother.

"Kyle, do you want some milk and cookies if we're having some?" Kevin
called into the next room.  Kyle joined them in the kitchen a moment later
and smiled.

"I'd love some cookies." He said.  "Yum! Chocolate chip.  My favourite."
He said, taking one from the plate and encouraging his younger brother
to do the same.

"I thought that you said they were Jon's favourite." Kevin said, with a
raised eyebrow.

"Aren't they everyone's favourite?" Kyle returned.

Kevin smiled and stole one of the cookies for himself.  He didn't normally
indulge in junk food but he supposed that this once would not hurt,
especially when he was teaching Jon that it was okay to eat what was
there without asking and to ask if he wanted anything.  There was a lot
that the younger boy needed to learn about normal families and he
hoped that they would be able to make him feel at home soon.  Today's
accident had just been the first of many hurdles that they would face, but
Kevin knew that as long as Kyle was there with him that he would be
able to get through them.  Who knew, maybe they would eventually be a
proper family.

***

Kyle put his brother to bed later that night and made Jon say his prayers.
It reminded him of nights back at their old apartment when he had
always told his brother to pray for what he wanted but also thank the lord
for what they had.  Kyle knew that Kevin was religious and that he would
prefer his son bought up in the church so he had always made sure Jon
said his prayers before bed.  It surprised him that night when Jon prayed
and thanked God for sending his Daddy back to him like he had asked.
It was never something he had heard his brother pray for before.

Kyle looked around the new room which housed all of the furniture and
toys that Kevin had bought for Jon in the last few days and realised that
this was the kind of thing that they had to be thankful for.  It was so much
different from the room they had shared at the apartment.

Thoughts of that place scared Kyle because he knew that he would have
to go back and sort out their things eventually but he didn't want to be
there alone.  The police must have finished doing tests there after the
murder and despite it being the last place on earth he wanted to go there
were things they needed.  Amongst others his brother's favourite toy,
which he knew Jon would be missing.

Maybe if Kyle asked Alex to drive him it would be easier for them both.
Kevin could stay and look after Jonny then too.  At least that way he
would not be alone when he went back there.

Kyle watched his brother fidget in his sleep and smoothed his hair back
with his good hand, waiting for Jon to still again before he left.

He would look into going tomorrow, knowing that Jon would sleep better
with his favourite stuffed toy in bed with him, Jon always slept better with
Mr. Snuggles to look out for him.

***

Kyle woke early the next morning and was surprised to hear noises
outside his room.  Kyle new that Kevin was an early riser but usually he
was not the sort of person to crash and bang his way around the kitchen.
Worried that Jon had woken up and was attempting to make his own
breakfast pushed Kyle into the Kitchen where he was surprised to find
AJ busy sorting through the fridge to find something.

"Morning." AJ said, far too chipper for the early morning.  "I don't think
that Kevin has any eggs, but I can make pancakes or something.  I think
there is probably some mix around here."

"Cereal will be fine." Kyle said as he reached for the box of Cap'n
Crunch on the counter.  "What are you doing here this early?" He asked,
not wanting to sound accusatory but wondering why AJ was there.
Kevin had asked for some time alone to spend with his son so it
surprised him that one of the Boys was already over.

"You forgot didn't you?" AJ asked.  "I'm not surprised really given what
has been going on."  Kyle looked at him blankly as he poured his bowl of
cereal and added milk.  "You've got a doctor's appointment this
morning." AJ said.

"I have?" Kyle asked.  He couldn't remember that, but then again Kevin
had dealt with his discharge from hospital and getting all of his
prescriptions filled.

"Afraid so.  I already told Kevin that I would take you so that he could
look after Jonny." Alex replied.  "You've got an hour to get ready before
we have to leave, but I thought I would come over early so that we could
get breakfast."

"And you wanted to meet Jon." Kyle guessed.

"And I wanted to meet Jon." AJ conceded with a smile.  Kyle returned it.
"What can I say?  You all keep talking about him and I had to meet the
little boy that obviously holds a special place in your hearts."

"He's probably just about ready to get up anyway." Kyle said.

"I'm surprised that he hasn't sneaked down to watch cartoons already."
Alex said.  "I remember that was my favourite thing to do when I was a
kid, and my Mom would make me a huge bowl of cereal to eat while I
watched them."

"Jon stays in his room until I go to get him." Kyle said as he put his
spoon back into his cereal bowl.  He had lost his appetite because of
where the thoughts took him.

"Why?" AJ asked.

"With our Mom you never could tell what state she would be in, or who
would be with her.  Jonny and I shared the bedroom to our apartment so
Julia slept on the couch.  I didn't want Jonny to go out and find some
random guy that had stayed over, or worse to see Julia passed out
through drink or drugs." Kyle said.  "There are some things that a kid
shouldn't have to see anyone go through, especially not their Mom."

"I'm sorry." AJ said, he could see that talking about this obviously hurt
Kyle.  It shocked him that Kyle could speak about things so candidly.  "It
won't be like that again."

"I know." Kyle said.  "But I have a feeling that the lessons of his early life
will be less easy to get over."

"You want me to give you a hand getting him up?" Alex asked, not so
subtly changing the subject.  "Maybe we can catch some cartoons
before we go."

"Sure." Kyle said, grateful for the distraction Alex had given him.  "I'm not
sure that I'll be able to carry Jon downstairs with only one good arm."

Alex followed Kyle out of the room and upstairs to the room that Kevin
had set aside for Jon.  When AJ caught sight of the young boy who was
playing quietly on the bed he could see instantaneously that this was
Kevin's son.  There could be no doubt that the raven-haired green-eyed
child belonged to anyone else.  There was a troubled expression in
Jonathan's eyes though and AJ hoped that they would be able to erase
that in time.

"Hey kiddo." Kyle said as he sat next to his kid brother on the bed.  "You
know who this is?"

"AJ." Jonny said certainly.  "He works with my Daddy."

"That's right." AJ said, leaning down so that he would be less
intimidating.  "But, you know what, all of my friends call me Alex.  You
think you can call me Alex?"

"Does that mean I'm your friend?" Jon asked seriously.

AJ smiled.

"I guess it does."

"And Kyle?" Jonny asked.  "Can he call you Alex too?"

"Kyle is definitely my friend." AJ said with a small smile which he
directed at Kyle.  Kyle blushed slightly at the attention and pulled Jon up
onto his lap to use him as a barrier.  He didn't know why but there was
something in Alex's tone that made him feel unsteady.

"You want some breakfast?" Kyle asked Jon as he bounced him on his
knee and tickled him gently.

Jonny nodded while trying to fend off his attacker.  Kyle could see the
smile on Jon's face and it reflected on his own.  AJ witnessed the love
shared between the two brothers and felt a pang of jealousy that it was
something that he would never have.  No matter how close the band got
they would never be as close as a real family.  Alex wished more than
anything that he could be a part of the moment that the two boys were
obviously sharing.  It appeared that for all the trauma in Jon's young life
there was still some hope because he had a strong older brother to care
for him.  AJ never had that.

"Breakfast." Kyle said, sensing that Alex was deep in thought.  "And then
we'll have to wake Daddy before we...go shopping."

Alex frowned until he realised that Kyle didn't want to mention hospitals
around Jon.  There was probably a story in there but he didn't think that
he was going to get it with Jon in the room. He made a note to ask later
and then led the Maddox brothers down to the Kitchen where breakfast
was waiting.

***

It turned out that they had not had to wake Kevin after all.  Once Jon had
his cereal and his cartoons it was difficult to keep him from making the
amount of noise that a regular boisterous six year old would make.
Kevin was soon awake and gave Kyle a chance to prepare for his
hospital appointment.  It took only a few minutes for Kyle to dress and
then he was in the car with Alex.

"So, are you ready to go...shopping?" AJ asked as he put on his seat
belt and checked the mirror.

Kyle frowned for a moment and then realised that he had told Jon they
were going shopping.

"Jon doesn't like hospitals." Kyle said.  AJ didn't ask anything more and
Kyle felt that he needed to elaborate, if only to fill the silence.  "You know
that my Mom didn't exactly have the best taste in men when she was
using - well, one of the guys was expressive with his fists.  He beat Mom
up so badly that she ended up in hospital for three days.  While she was
there Andy was left looking after Jon and myself.  I was only sixteen and
I had school.  Jonny was left at home with Andy for two of the days
and..." Kyle trailed off.

"It's okay." Alex said, realising that this might not be something that he
wanted to tell.  Kyle was entitled to his secrets.

"I came home from school the second day to find an empty house," Kyle
said, his voice monotone as he tried to retell the story without emotion.
"at least I thought it was empty.  Andy had gone out and locked Jon in a
cupboard.  I only found him after I heard him whimpering."

"God." The word slipped out of AJ's mouth as he realised.

"Jon has been scared of anyone going to hospital since then, because
he thinks that we're going to abandon him.  I dread to think how much
worse it is now that he knows his Mom died in a hospital."

"I'm sorry." AJ said.  "I shouldn't have said anything..."  He felt guilty for
having dredged up so many bad memories, he knew that the two boys
had it tough the last few years and the last thing that he wanted to do
was add to that.

"No, it's okay." Kyle told him.  "Maybe it is time that  I got used to having
someone to share this stuff with.  It's been just Jonny and I for a long
time now."

"I'm always here if you need to talk." AJ replied, knowing that it was not
a lot but that it was all that he could offer.  "I meant what I said to Jonny
back there.  You and he are both my friends and if you ever need
anything, either of you, all you have to do is ask."

"Thanks." Kyle said, turning away to look out of the window and
effectively ending the conversation.

AJ could see the pained expression on Kyle's face but he didn't want to
cause any further pain by asking what was wrong.  He had put the offer
on the table and Kyle knew that he was there if Kyle ever wanted to talk.
The best thing to do was silently support the other man and let him come
to him if Kyle wanted to.  All Alex could do was be supportive and wait.

***

The hospital was as cold and clinical as Kyle remembered it being.  The
only highlight was that he was not there alone.  Alex sat at his side in the
outpatients clinic and tried to keep up a steady stream of conversation to
keep Kyle's mind off his looming appointment.   Kyle thought at first that
the talking was for his benefit but he wondered after a while if it was also
possible that Alex was nervous too.

"Are you sure that you're okay with being here?" Kyle asked.  "I don't
want you to have to worry about getting spotted."

"It's okay." AJ replied.  "I want to be here.  Besides, I don't think that
most of the people that are here would recognise me anyway."

It was true, Kyle supposed, after all there were not a lot of teenage girls
around.  A few of the nurses had nudged each other or made comments
about AJ's presence but none of them would approach him because to
do so would be unprofessional.  Kyle was glad of that because the last
thing that he wanted was to draw anymore unwanted attention.

Kyle was glad when he was finally called through to see the doctor.  He
was surprised when Alex stood with him.

"You're coming in with me?" Kyle asked.

"If that is okay." Alex said, hesitating when he realised that he might not
be welcome to such an intimate moment.  "I don't want to be left with the
nurses over there."

Kyle smiled and shook his head.

"You'd better come with me then." He said, as if talking to Jonny rather
than AJ.  "But you had better hold my hand if I have to get a shot, you're
not the only one that is scared of nurses."

Alex laughed and followed Kyle into the examining room.  He didn't want
to say that he hoped Kyle was getting a shot if it meant he got to hold his
hand.  There were some things that he did not want to share with Kyle
just yet.

***

Kyle was glad to be able to move his hand once again.  There was some
stiffness and he knew that he had to complete a course of physical
therapy but his hand was out of the bandages and Kyle was glad of that.
He flexed the sore muscles in his hands, as if showing off the new
movement, and felt the tautness of tendons and sinew that had not been
used in too long.  He still couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"I don't know what you are smiling about." AJ said as they headed back
towards his car.  "The doctor wasn't pleased with you."

Kyle shrugged.  The doctor had said that he needed to rest up more or
else his ribs would not heal properly but he didn't care.  The rest of his
bruises were almost gone and now with his arm back in use there was
little physically to remind him of the attack.  For the first time in over a
month Kyle felt as if he could get his life back in order and start to put
behind him the horrors of what had occurred.

"I know." Kyle replied.  "But you try to rest up when you have a six year
old at home to look after."

"That's Kevin's job." Alex replied.  "All you should be worrying about right
now is getting well, and I intend to tell Kevin just that."

"I remember a time when you wouldn't even question what Kevin told
you, let alone tell him off." Kyle said with a small smile.

"Things change." AJ replied.

Kyle felt that AJ was talking more about the fact that he had grown up,
that they both had, it sounded almost as if AJ was promising something
else but Kyle was not ready to believe in that.  Kyle was not ready to
believe that anyone was willing to fight in his corner, let alone take on his
battles for him.

"If I promise to take it easier, will you promise not to tell Kevin off?" Kyle
asked.  "He needs my help with Jon and Jon needs me around but I will
try to rest up a bit more and let Kevin work on his relationship with
Jonny."

"Good." AJ said.  "Otherwise I'll insist that you come to mine to recover."

"You'd let me stay with you?" Kyle asked in astonishment.  He knew that
Alex tolerated him but he didn't think that the other man would be willing
to invite him into his home, even if it was only for a few weeks.

"Kyle, I told you that you're my friend and that means being there for
you.  If you need a place to stay, or money, or even if you just need
someone to talk to I'll be there." Alex replied.

"Thanks." Kyle said, feeling choked up.

Alex watched him and realised just how much Kyle must have done
without in the last few years.  Not only had he been without the material
possessions that most teenagers had growing up but he had also lacked
the emotional support that most took for granted.  AJ had it bad when he
was growing up but thanks to his Mom he had never felt that there was
no one there for him, or that he had no one to turn to.  Alex vowed that
he would be there for Kyle and that now he had come back to them Kyle
would never be alone again.

***

Kevin was glad when he heard the buzzer of the gate opening.  He did
not want to admit to himself that he could not cope alone with his son,
but after only a morning alone with Jon he was beginning to see why
parenting was a full time job.  Jon had worn him out that morning and
Kevin wondered how he would cope when he had to be on tour.  Kevin
was relieved when he heard Alex open the door and he and Kyle re-
enter the house.  He had missed Kyle's easy way of being with his
brother and the support that he lent in dealing with Jon.

"How did it go?" Kevin asked as he walked into the family room and saw
them.  He smiled when he saw that Kyle's arm was no longer in plaster
and his fingers were unbandaged.

"The doctor said everything was fine." Kyle said as he wiggled his
fingers.  "He gave me some more painkillers for my ribs and said I
should rest up a bit but other than that he said I would be find."

"That's great news." Kevin said, trying not to show how relieved he was
that Kyle would be able to help out with Jonathan now that he was back
on his feet.  Kevin truly loved his son but he didn't think that he would be
able to adapt overnight to being a father and Kyle was a great help in
that department.

"How about you?" Kyle asked.  "How did you get on with Jon this
morning?"

"It went okay." Kevin said with a gentle sigh.  "But I'll be glad when he
grows out of running around so much."

Kyle laughed softly.

"He hasn't had this much space to play in before.  Everything is new and
exciting for him, we didn't have a garden or anything at the apartment
block.  I'm sure that he'll settle soon."

"I hope so." Kevin said.

Kyle decided that he'd had enough conversation for that day and headed
out in to the garden to find his brother.  He had missed Jon while he had
been away and now that he was out of plaster and visibly better he
wanted to make certain that Jon knew he was going to be okay and that
things were going to get better too.  Jon smiled as he saw Kyle and
kicked the ball that he had been playing with over to his brother.  Kyle
smiled back and kicked it back to him.  Jon didn't feel a need for words
and Kyle found that refreshing.  Sometimes you just wanted to be with
someone without speaking, letting actions speak for you.

The two brothers played together in their new home while Kevin and AJ
watched on from the safety of the kitchen.

"How is he really?" Kevin asked when Kyle was out of earshot.  Alex
wondered for a moment if he should confide in Kevin.  He had promised
Kyle that he would not say anything but he wondered now where his
loyalties should lie.  AJ really wanted Kyle to be able to trust him but on
the other hand he had been friends with Kevin for longer and he knew
that Kyle needed to realise that he was no longer alone.

"Kyle's doctor said that he needs to rest or else he might have to be
readmitted." Alex said.  "His ribs are not healing on their own because
he refuses to rest."

"I knew that I shouldn't have let him spend so much time with Jon."
Kevin said, suddenly feeling guilty for forcing Kyle to do so much.  He
should be able to care for Jon but because of his lack of skills as a father
he was putting Kyle's health at risk.

"I told Kyle that he needs to take it easy and that he should let you
spend some time with Jonny.  I also let him know that if it gets too tough
here that he can stay at mine." AJ said.  "To be honest I think he just
needs to settle in here and relax a bit.  It's been a hectic few weeks for
all of us."

Kevin nodded.  It had been the toughest few weeks of his life.  Perhaps
the only thing that had been as stressful was his non-marriage to Julia
and that had been the cause of these problems.  He watched the two
brothers as they played a mini game of soccer, smiling as Kyle missed
the ball and it landed on the terrace.  Jon ran down to fetch it but tripped
over his shoe laces on his way down and landed on his knees.  After a
few moments he sat back on his haunches and looked over at Kyle,
tears brimming in his eyes.

"Hey, it's okay..." Kyle said, already on his way to his brother.  "I'll kiss it
better." He said as he picked Jon up and made the younger boy laugh
by trying to kiss his knees.

Alex watched the pair of them and saw that it was going to be harder
than they thought to make Kyle rest.  He was used to looking after his
brother and it was going to take a lot more effort to make him realise that
he didn't need to deal with Jonny alone.

"Did you hurt yourself?" Kevin asked as he made his way outside, taking
Jon from Kyle and sitting the boy on his shoulders.  "How about we take
you inside and get you cleaned up while Kyle has a nap."

"Kyle doesn't need a nap." Jon rejoined.  "He's grown up."

"Everyone has to take a nap sometimes." Kevin said in a fatherly tone.
"Even me.  Kyle had a pretty busy morning and I think that he should get
some rest."

Kyle looked to AJ who tried to look innocent but it was not going to work.
Alex followed Kyle into his room and then shut the door behind him.

"You told him?" Kyle asked rhetorically as Alex watched him throw
himself down on the sofa.  "I told you that I could deal with it."

"You're part of this family now, and you have to realise that we don't
keep secrets.  We might hide certain things from the outside world but
we don't hide them from each other." AJ replied.  "I don't want you to get
sick because you feel like you have to look after Jonny by yourself."

"I don't want Kevin to feel too pressured to suddenly be a great Dad.  It
isn't something that will just come overnight." Kyle said as he picked at
the arm of the chair.  "I just thought that if I helped out a bit..."

"That Kevin wouldn't throw you out?" AJ asked knowingly.  He could see
that Kyle had been walking on eggshells since he moved in and that he
clearly thought that he was on borrowed time.  Kyle looked away guiltily
and he could see that his assumptions were right.  "I've got news for
you.  Kevin is not going to throw you out.  I doubt that he would even let
you walk out without a fight."

"We don't want to be any trouble." Kyle said softly.

"You're not." AJ replied.  "Now, I want you to try and get some rest.  I've
got a few things to do tomorrow but I'll be over the day after to see how
you are doing, I expect you to put your feet up until then and let
someone else worry about Jon."

"Okay." Kyle agreed.  It might be good to get a little extra relaxation time,
he had been feeling a little drowsy thanks to the pain killers that he had
been taking.

AJ smiled and then turned to leave.  He hoped that Kyle would work
things out, meanwhile he was going to see if he could buy them a few
more days off before they hit the studio.  Kyle needed to recover and
Kevin needed to bond with his son.  AJ hoped that the record company
would be sympathetic.


***

TBC