As the months went by, Kevin was learning what it meant to be loved and cared for, given attention and being taught the goods and bads of the world. Donald cared for him as if he were his own son, even telling people he was at times. Kevin had never been happier and never felt more safe. He actually finally understood what that word meant. He was able to communicate much easier now since Donald and Paul taught him out to read and write and he was also able to make differentiating sounds that indicated what he wanted. It had been very hard for him to get his throat to cooperate but after much practice, he could finally get out basic noises like 'uh huh' 'uh uh' 'hmm' 'mmm' 'mmm hmm' and so forth. These basic noises, though taken for granted by most everyone else, meant the world to Kevin. Being able to communicate, finally, was the best thing he'd been taught. Donald told him that with a lot of diligence and practice, they might be able to get Kevin's voice back.

Kevin was excited about that the most. Being able to voice his opinions with an actual 'yes' or 'no' was something he hadn't been able to do since he had been taken. Eight years, he'd been silent and now he'd finally get the chance to maybe get his voice back. He wondered what it sounded like...

***************

Kevin ate his breakfast at the table as Donald looked over some files on the other side of table. Kevin pushed his food away and Donald looked up as he rubbed his stomach a little.

"You alright?"

"Mmm hmm..." Kevin said, although he didn't look alright.

Don put the paper down and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Tell the truth. You look like you're in a lot of pain."

Kevin didn't say anything, just sucked up the pain that was radiating through him. He'd endured things harsher than whatever was happening and so if he just kept it to himself, he wouldn't have to worry Donald. He just smiled at Donald but his guardian made a face at him.

"I know you're hiding something from me. It's sad that whatever happened to you makes it so that you don't even squeak... or whatever you do when you're in pain. He did a lot of bad things to you, didn't he?"

Kevin nodded, not wanting to talk about it. The only downside with living with Donald was that since he was a cop, he had a habit of trying to interrogate Kevin. Kevin understood he just wanted to help and get to the root of everything, the whys and whats of it all, but all it did was make Kevin have flashbacks and cause problems. He had actually eased up a lot. They were at a good crossroads where Donald would still try to pick Kevin's brain but knew when to stop now. This was one of those times.

"I won't hound you but if you're in pain, you don't have to hide it. Since you can't just come out and say 'ow, I'm in pain', I need to know, alright? You don't have to suffer in silence anymore."

Kevin nodded as the pain subsided.

Donald looked at the clock and cursed.

"Shit, I'll be late for work. Are you going to go out today?"

Kevin shrugged and grabbed his paper beside him.

I might walk in the park. he wrote.

"Just be careful out there. There's been an influx in robberies around the area. I won't keep you inside but just be cautious. I don't need anything happening to you again."

Kevin frowned at that. Like it was my fault the first time... he said in his head. He just nodded and Donald smiled, touching his head.

"I'll be back at my normal time, hopefully. We might be able to go see a movie, if you want?"

"Uh huh!" Kevin said brightly.

Don smiled as he looked at Kevin for a second. He looked at the poor boy's gravid stomach and tried to hold back a grimace. It wasn't even about the fact that there were children in there, it just looked really painful with three living people inside of him. He didn't understand how women did it in general, but a kid? He shook his head and put his hand on Kevin's stomach.

"Be careful with these guys, alright? You should be pretty close to being due and I have no idea how to get them out. If you need to go to the hospital, you text me right away, okay?" Kevin gave the OK signal as Donald watched him for a moment. He felt something odd settle in the back of his mind. He didn't know what it was but he found himself hugging Kevin tightly.

Kevin hugged Don back, confused. Don was an affectionate man whatever, but he did show his love in other ways, mostly by rustling his hair. This was different and Kevin didn't understand. Don pulled away and touched his face.

"I don't know why I did that... It's like... I have this weird feeling in the back of my head. You know how you just know something it about to happen?" Kevin nodded. "That's the feeling I'm getting... either way. I'll be back."

Kevin nodded as Don left.

*******************

The pain shot through him again but Kevin ignored it as he walked down the street towards the park later that day. Don had let him use a larger sweatshirt to hide his stomach as best as he could. He still got dirty stares but he didn't mess with the people and that's all they really seemed to care about. As he walked along, a police care suddenly came by, it's siren wailing. Kevin was used to that so he didn't take much of that into account.

Then another police car came by.

Then another.

And another.

Everyone else seemed pretty suspicious too and began to follow the police cars to see what was going on. Kevin followed suit, trying to stay back but see what was happening. He couldn't really keep up with everyone and happened to pass by a restaurant that had its door open and the news blaring. Kevin slipped in and watched the TV as a newswoman stood outside of a building.

"It looks like the terrorists were able to get inside of the building and set off a bomb. Police officers and emergency aids are rushing in to help get everyone out and- OH MY GOD IT'S COLLAPSING!" she screamed as the tall building's foundation seemed to crumble and it collapsed on itself.

Kevin watched with wide eyes as the building tumbled in on itself and ash and debris flew out like someone had shot it from a cannon. Kevin felt something vibrate against him and he pulled out his phone from his pocket. It was Donald. He tapped the answer button and grunted.

"Kevin, is that you?"

It was not Donald.

Kevin grunted again.

"It's Paul... I... Oh shit... I just... Kevin, I don't know how to tell you-"

Kevin didn't hear him because he left the phone on the table of the restaurant and headed in the direction of the building he had seen.

*********************

Once he finally got to the building, there were barricades and lots of people around but he pushed through them to get to the ambulances. He knew... he knew that's where he should go. He made his way there and looked about, trying to find someone who knew him. He turned around an ambulance when someone backed into him and he fell on the ground. He felt a horrid pain in him and he actually did squeak, the surprise overtaking him. The EMT just looked at him in disgust as he and other EMT walked with a stretcher to their ambulance. Kevin shakily got up –with no one's help- and paced himself to look around. He finally saw Paul's face, smudged with dirt and sweat and also saw him running his hands through his hair, his hands a different color than the rest of him. He looked stressed... he looked... distraught.

Panic, along with another sharp pain, overtook Kevin and he walked a little faster to Paul when he saw him. He stopped dead in his tracks as he stared at the stretcher. Donald was on it, but he wasn't moving. He was dead, a foot long pipe lodged in his throat where it must have blown off in the explosion. Another pain gripped Kevin in his chest as he put his hand over his heart, grabbing it.

Donald, the man who saved him, who loved and cared for him, the only father he knew... he was gone...

Kevin felt a rush of air from deep within his lungs escape and he didn't realize he was screaming until he fell to his knees, holding his head and staring at the ground. His body could only make that noise of its free will. It could only scream. His screams caught the attention of some of the EMTs and Paul looked over in confusion when he realized who was screaming.

"Kevin?" he said, standing up.

Kevin looked up as his name as he tried to stop screaming and saw Paul getting up and heading towards him.

Run. his broken mind told him.

In the midst of the first horrific tragedy he had ever encountered, his mind went into default and he ran away, running with all his might and power. He didn't care about children, he didn't care about Paul, he didn't care about himself. All he wanted to do was get away from the horrors and realization that his world had come crashing down once more. Donald was gone and no one could protect him anymore. He had to get away from the people... he had to disappear.

+++++++++++++++++++++

A/N: this kid just can't catch a break... and it doesn't stop there jsyk...