Snow

Authors' Notes;
We want to thank DarkStar for allowing us the semi use of the name of one of his characters. See if you can figure out just who that might be.

It had been one of the worst snow storms in years, but now just four days later, the city was pretty much back to itself.  The visitors were all checked into their hotel for the night and as ready as they could be for the next day.  Neal was restless, though, and finally went to his dads' room.  Tom Richards and Dr. Leo Turnman were both stretched out on their king size bed, watching Mythbusters.

Neal knocked softly then entered the room, when Tom said to com in.  "Dad, Daddy Doc, what are we going to do with that place that was closed down?  I just can't seem to shake the feeling that we should check it out, while we are here.  Mitch, Travis and Brian think we should too."

Tom sat up and faced Neal, "Funny you should bring that up, because I've been thinking the same thing.  Maybe we should take a run over there tonight, and check it out before us going to Juvy, tomorrow morning."

So in ten minutes time, Neal and Brian were in the van with Tom, headed across town to the I. O. Sooker House.

"Jeez, the place is a real dump.  I can't believe they had kids living there!" Neal exclaimed as they pulled up in front of the house.

Brian got out of the van to get a better look.  He was looking at the snow that had drifted in mounds, around the house.  There were footprints, small footprints.  They came and went from the left side of the house.  Neal and their dad, Tom, joined him.  Very quietly, Brian said, "I think there is a kid staying inside.  Look at these footprints, Dad."

Tom nodded, "Knowing the history of this place, you two had better check it out, and I'm calling for backup, just in case."

Tom returned to the van to use his satellite phone.  Brian and Neal carefully followed the footprints to a hard packed snowdrift that gave access to an unlocked window on the side of the house.  They raised the window and Brian climbed in.  "Let me go in alone, and you wait here, Neal, so if he tries to escape, you can grab him."

Brian looked around, once he was inside.  Everything was shabby; the furniture was old and worn and nothing matched.  Brian slowly and cautiously checked out the rooms downstairs; no one was there.  He climbed the stairs carefully, holding onto the banister, since the carpet was loose and a real hazard, somebody could trip and really get hurt.  As he reached the top of the stairs, he heard a slight noise and he knew he wasn't alone.

The first three bedrooms he looked into were empty, but in the fourth, there was a bed with a pile of worn blankets heaped on it.  Brian soon figured out that these were the worn tattered blankets from all the other bedrooms.  Then he heard the sound again. It was coming from the pile of blankets.  There was someone under all those rags.

"Hi.  I'm Brian.  Who are you?"

The pile of blankets burst to life and a kid about ten years old jumped up and pulled out a knife.  "This is my place.  Get lost!"

Brian didn't even flinch; he just stood where he was.  "I'm not going to take your stuff.  I thought you might need some help."

"Yeah, sure.  Could you get me a family?  Some people that would actually love me?  And while you're at it, enough money so I didn't have to be cold all the time?  That's the help I need and ain't nobody got that kind of help."

Brian relaxed, "You can put the blade down; we both know you won't use it.  Besides, believe it or not, I really can help.  The money and being warm are real easy; finding a family might be a little harder, I suppose, and being loved means you got to let them love you.  The knife doesn't help all that much on that score."

The boy threw the knife across the room and sat back down on the bed.  "I can't even fool another kid.  I am so worthless."

Brian crossed the room and sat on the bed next to the boy.  "I know how you feel."  The boy tensed, but Brian continued, "I got sent to a place called Juvy a couple years ago.  Nobody would help me; all they wanted was to take.  Then this older kid came there, and he didn't let the bullies get away with stuff.  He was really great.  Then he had a birthday and was sent to the older boy section, and they almost killed him.  Worthless me saved him and helped him escape, then he got me rescued and now we are going to go back there and rescue the kids who are still there, tomorrow."

"I don't want to go there.  I heard some real bad stuff about that place.  Big Daddy used to threaten us with that.  I been gone from him almost a year, now.  Been hard gettin' by, but he was gettin' pretty scary.  I heard he kilt Barry and I was goin'na be next, so I split.  I hope John is okay."

* * *

Tom waited, not all that patiently, out front until a police cruiser pulled up.  An officer with Sargent stripes got out and walked up to Tom.  "Hi, you the one who called?  We have a special watch set for this place.  Some very bad things have happened here."

"Yeah, I'm Tom Richards, and I called.  My sons now own this place, and we stopped to check it out. There were fresh, kid sized footprints leading in and out of there, and they think there may be a kid inside. They went in to check."

"I'm Sgt, Harry Talbert.  Let's go see what your boys have found."

Around the side of the house, they found Neal with his head in the window.  "Dad, Brian is talking to somebody in there, but I can't make out the words."

"Okay, Son, I have the key here, so let's go in the front door and see who Brian has found."  Sgt. Talbert and Neal followed Tom back to the front and he unlocked the door.

Upstairs in the bedroom, the sound of the door opening freaked out the boy and he franticly looked around for a place to hide.  Brian put his hand on the boy's shoulder.  "It's okay that would be my Dad and brother.  They are cool.  You are safe now."

Neal was the first one in the room.  "Hey Bro, who's this?"  Neal stopped just inside the door when he saw how scared the kid was.  He waved his hand behind his back and hoped the adults would get the message and stay back, out of sight.

"Hey Neal," Brian waved, then turned to the boy, "See, I told you it was just him.  You only have to be afraid of him if he has BenGay." Brian laughed, thinking of the 'hot seat' he got not long after he had arrived at Haven.

Neal grinned, "Darn, I knew I forgot to bring something.  I guess you are safe then."

The boy considered these two and decided to trust them, after all he didn't really have anything to lose.  "I'm Doug Therman.  I've been on the streets for three years.  My 'mother' tossed me out, saying I was big enough to sell my...  Well, anyway..."  He trailed off and tears flowed.

Neal came over and sat on the other side of the boy.  "It's okay, Dude.  You are safe now, it's over."

Doug shook his head, "When you find out what I am, you will hate me and turn me over to the cops."

Neal cringed thinking about who was standing in the hall.  "Ah, Doug, don't worry, we know already.  We got brothers that have been where you are, and Brian and I both spent time in Juvy.  The thing to remember is that we are the 'Good Guys' and we are standing with you now and we won't let bad stuff happen to you anymore, if you stand with us."

"Yeah, sure.  I know the score, guys, we're just little kids and the adults are going to do whatever they want with us."

Tom took that as his cue and stepped into the doorway.  "Hi, boys.  Who is your new friend?"

"Look Doug, our Dad.  Dad, Doug... Doug, Dad.  Kewl." Neal grinned.

Tom stepped forward and offered his hand, "Hello Doug, I'm Tom Richards, Neal and Brian's Dad."

Doug reached out and shook hands, fully expecting the man to pull him away from his sons.  He didn't.

"I wish we were back home, because we could help you directly, I'm friends with the head of Social Services there."

"Yeah, Aunt Linda is really Kewl." Brian said.

"Can't she help us anyway?" Neal asked.

Sgt. Talbert then entered the room, "I've called Sandy Schmidt and left her a voice mail.  She can help us for sure."

Poor Doug saw his worst fears coming true when the Cop with Sergeant stripes on his coat entered the room.  "Shit, you called the cops?!?  I thought you might actually help me."

Harry knelt in front of the boy, "Not all Cops are bad, Son.  I'm a good one and, believe it or not, I am here to protect you, not hurt you."

"Sure," Doug said, without the slightest belief.

It wasn't long before they heard a commotion downstairs and then the sound of an elephant coming up the stairs.  A 'woman', about the size and shape of Broadzilla, came huffing down the hall.  "I'm Delores Higgins-Bottoms, CPS.  I've come for the brats.  Come on you three, I don't have all night."

"Jeez!  We ain't goin' nowhere with you.  That would be kidnapping, wouldn't it Dad." Neal said, with a big emphasis on the Dad.

"Indeed." Tom replied.

Sgt. Talbert cut in, "Where is Sandy?"

"She was out of the office, so I took her call.  Now, come along you two." Broadzilla II commanded.

"No way!   She isn't real bright, is she, DAD?" Brian asked.

"Sargent, you called saying there was an abandoned child.  I am here to collect that child."

Sgt. Talbert ignored her; he had his cell out and was dialing, "Hello, This is Sgt. Talbert."

"Oh hi, Bobby.  Is Arty there?"

"I'm fine.  You have a good Christmas?"

"He did?  Wow.  He got a bike too!  So there is a Santa."

"Good, now, can I talk to..."

"Oh Carl.  Harry Talbert."

"Merry Christmas to you too.  I need the Judge."

"Judge Randell. This is Harry Talbert.  I have a situation here... with CPS."

"No, not Sandy, A Delores Bigger-Bottom, or something."

"Higgins-Bottom." the Broadzilla II corrected huffily.

"Arrest?  Sure, which one?"

"Well, I never..."

Sgt. Talbert glared at her, covered the microphone on the cell, "I guess that explains things.  Maybe you should every now and then.  It couldn't hurt your disposition."

Tom, Neal and Brian busted up laughing.

Harry closed his phone and walked over to Doug.  "Doug Therman, you are under arrest for breaking and entering, burglary..."

Doug made an attempt to run, but discovered to his horror that he was tangled in the blankets and he ended up falling against the Sergeant's legs.

"...resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer.  You have the right to remain silent, anything you say..." Harry finished the Miranda Rights, took out his hand cuffs and put them on the crying boy.

"Sorry lady, but the kid is now in police custody, until he goes before the Judge."  Sgt. Talbert informed the irate prune faced case worker.

"Well we'll see about that," she snorted, as she turned to Doug, "You'll be sorry, you little twirp, once I get a hold of you."

Tom who had called someone on his phone asked, "Mrs. Higgins-Bottom, why would you threaten this young boy?"

"You better watch it buster or I'll have you arrested for interfering with Child Protective Services.  You better have a good lawyer and lots of money."

Neal and Brian were nearly rolling on the floor laughing at that.  They received a glare that only served to increase their laughing.

"Oh I do, on both counts."  Tom put his ear to the phone, "Get all that, 'Philip'?  Good."

Mrs. Higgins-Bottom left in a huff and unfortunately did not trip on the loose carpet on her way out.

When they heard her car leave, Sgt. Talbert gently turned Doug around and released the handcuffs.

"I... I'm not arrested?" Doug stammered.

"Oh, sure you are, but it is to protect you from that hideous creature.  We'll just let the Judge decide if the charges will stick."  Harry ruffled the boys dirty hair as he pulled him into a hug.

"Well Sargent, where do we go from here?" Tom asked.

"We wait for the Judge.  He said he was on his way."

About that time they heard a vehicle pull up and it then sounded like a stampede of wild Wildebeests thundering up the stairs.  Six boys came rushing into the room.  "Uncle Harry!" they all exclaimed.

"Well hello there.  You all sure look a lot better.  I think your dad is feeding you too much." Harry responded to the now happy boys.

"I do not feed them too much; I pay Ebby to do that." Carl Throughgood said as he entered the room.

The boys all chorused, "Daaaaaaad!"

Then another man entered and approached Tom, "I'm Artemus Randell."

Tom shook his hand, "I'm Tom Richards, nice to meet you."

Arty paled, "THE Tom Richards, Haven Enterprises and The Phoenix Foundation?  That Tom Richards?"

Neal who was trying to follow everything said, "Yup, that's my Dad.  But The Phoenix foundation is mine and Brian's, oh, and Mitch and Travis' too."

"So who actually owns this, now?" Arty asked.

"Neal is the Chairman of the Board and I'm the CEO.  If you require an adult, I'm your man; if you need a question answered then Neal would be the guy to ask," Tom explained.

"So let's get this figured out.  If I had a court reporter here we could solve this much better."

Tom felt his phone in his hand vibrate, "I can have an exact transcription emailed to you withing ten minutes, if that would do.  Or a mp3 recording of the proceedings or both." Tom said responding to 'Philip's' signal.

"That should do it.  Okay, This is a special session of Family court, Judge Artemus Randell, presiding.  Sargent Talbert, please bring the accused before me."

Harry walked over to Doug, "Don't worry, Little Guy.  The judge is cool."

" Ah...can Brian come with me?  Please?"

Brian took Doug's hand and said, "Sure, I'll come with you.  We told you that we won't let anything bad happen."

Judge Randell said to Brian, "You don't seem to have a whole lot of trust in the Justice System."

"No sir, I don't; not after almost two years in Juvy, for nothing."

Arty looked at Tom for clarification.  "Well, Your Honour, It seems that CPS was simply putting boys they had no other place for, in there, right along with the ones who were sentenced to be there, by the courts."  Tom explained.

"Makes me glad I never sentenced anyone there," Arty said, looking back and forth from one boy to another.  "So you bought it to close it down.  You are the Phoenix Foundation that will be taking the bulk of these boys back to Pennsylvania." Arty said.

"Yes.  You sure seem well informed." Tom observed.

"I should be.  I'm the judge that signed all the paperwork."

He turned back to the boys and Sgt. Talbert, "So what are the charges, Sarge?"

Harry said in a clear voice, "Breaking and entering, burglary, resisting arrest and assault of a police officer."

"But that is all bogus!" Neal shouted.

Tom reacted before the Judge, "Neal, sit and be quiet."

"Jeeeeez!"

Arty smiled, "Be careful young man, or you may be found in contempt of Dad."  Turning back to Doug, "Let's deal with these charges one at a time.  Did you break and enter?"

Doug looked around for help, Brian whispered in his ear.  Doug then replied to the judge, "Oh, well, no and yes."

Judge Randell took that in stride, "Did you break in?"

"No sir, the window was unlocked."

"Okay, did you enter without permission?"

"Yes, but nobody lives here anymore."

"Have you taken anything?"

"Just the blankets that I brought in here from the other rooms, to keep warm."

"Did you resist arrest?"

"Huh?"

"Did you try to get away from Sgt. Talbert?"

"Yes sir, but I was still kind of wrapped up in the blankets and fell against him."

"Ah, the assault.  Here is my finding pending any appeals.  Breaking and entering is reduced to unlawful entry and you are found guilty, Burglary charge is dismissed, resisting arrest guilty, assault on an officer dismissed.  Sgt. Talbert, any comments?"

"I agree completely with your findings, your honor."

The six boys that came with the Judge cheered.  Doug began to cry, he thought he was going to be sent to Juvy for sure now.

Arty approached Doug and knelt down to be on his eye level.  "Doug, I sentence you to three good meals a day, school five days a week, one hour of chores each day and play at least two hours every week day and all day Saturday, for the next ninety days.  You will remain in my custody until further notice."

Doug wasn't sure he had heard that right but didn't have time to ask questions, as the six boys all came and hugged him.

Bobby said, "You're coming home with us.  We don't start back to school til next week.  What grade you in?"

Chris put his arm around Doug, "Don't worry, Little Guy, it's all going to be fine.  I've only been home for a few days but these guys are great and we'll all look out for you."

Carl approached Tom, "You should be very proud of that boy."  He nodded towards Brian.

"I am proud of them both.  It's hard to believe that I was a childless bachelor this time last year and now I have seven sons and the best partner in the world."  Tom smiled.

"I might have to argue that." Carl said nodding to Arty who was busy talking to Doug, Brian, Neal, Bobby and Chris.

Sgt. Talbert said his goodbyes and left. 

Bobby took Neal and Brian on a tour of the place.  It did him good to see it as just a building without Broadzilla there to harass and torture him.  Neal and Brian knew by the state of the place that Bobby and the others had spent time in Hell and now were in a good home like they were.  They made sure they had exchanged email and phone numbers.  They insisted that if Doug needed anything, to let them know and they would see to it.

Bobby wisely said, "He needs friends and love."

Brian smiled, "He has that with us and it looks like you guys can supply it too."

"Yeah, we'll make sure he stays safe.  Dad and Papa Arty will make sure."

Neal grinned, "You guys got two dads too.  That is Kewl"

"You do too?"

"Yeah, that is our Dad in there then Daddy Doc is back at the hotel with our other brothers."

"We try to not tell people so no one can cause problems."

"Yeah, it's none of their business."

"Maybe we can get together, all of us, sometime."

"We got lots of room and if you like horses we got some and a really cool cave to camp in." Neal was already planning for the Thoroughgood clan to come visit them at Haven.

All too soon, it was time for Tom, Neal and Brian to return to the hotel and for Arty, Carl and their boys to head out for their home.

Everyone loaded into their vans after goodbyes and hugs.

On the way home, Arty had Carl stopped at the local mega store and he took Doug in and they returned to the van about twenty minutes later with several bags crammed full of things that any young boy might need.  The others complained about having to sit in the van and how bored they had been.  It was actually a pretty good act if they hadn't had chocolate milkshake mustaches.

Carl handed Arty and Doug their shakes and a large salted pretzel then started the engine and they were off for home.  Just in time too, as snow flurries fell, off and on, during the trip home.

When they got home, Arty asked Chris to show Doug the bathroom and get him a towel for his shower.  He then took the bags of clothes to the laundry room, pulled off all the tags, and started a load of laundry.  When alone, Doug took off his old clothes and emptied his pockets of his few treasures.  He hid them under the sink, his time with Big Daddy had taught him that you couldn't trust anybody.

When he had scrubbed himself thoroughly, rinsed several times and shampooed his hair till it squeaked when he pulled on it, he finally felt clean.  He turned off the water and started drying himself.  There was a knock on the door.  Doug was startled and certainly not used to someone knocking.  He wrapped the towel around himself and opened the door.  Arty was there holding a neat pile of clean clothes. 

Doug dressed in the new clothes and retrieved his treasure.  When he left the bathroom, Chris was waiting for him.  "Come on, Duggie, you can share my room.  I got bunk beds.  You want top or bottom?"

They entered a room just next to the bathroom.  Doug looked around.  There were the bunk beds a dresser, desk and bookshelf.  There was a real fancy lap top computer on the desk and it had CHRIS engraved on the top.  He noticed that the bottom bunk had been slept in.  "I'll take the top bed if that's okay."

"That's great.  I'm not using these two drawers in the dresser so you can put the rest of your stuff in there.  Let's go downstairs and see if they have any snacks."  Chris offered.

"Really?  I haven't eaten at all today."

"Come on Duggie, let's go and fix a peanut butter sandwich.  You like jelly, banana or Miracle Whip?"

"Ah some lettuce would be good."

Two sandwiches and half a bag of chips a peach smoothie later, Doug finally slowed down.  After a satisfying burp, he said, "Today would be about perfect if I had a nice hot slice of rhubarb pie."

The doorbell rang and they were the first to reach the door.  There was a kid on the porch carrying a bright red duffel bag.  "I have a delivery for Doug Therman, oh, there you are.  These are for you, careful the top one is hot.  Merry Christmas. Sorry I'm a little late, but The Big Guy said you weren't here yet, I was a little worried that you weren't going to make it.  Should have known the Big Guy wouldn't be wrong."

Doug accepted the two packages and the boy picked up the now empty bag and skipped off the porch and was gone. Chris shook his head, "That was weird."

Doug carried the packages into the kitchen and set them on the table.  "I wonder what would be delivered hot."  He tore open the package as the others watched.  "Oh my God! A hot rhubarb pie!"

They all had a slice of the delicious hot pie.  Then Doug opened the other package, it was a fancy computer just like the one Chris had only it had Doug on the cover.  And so Doug started his new life.

Author's Notes:
Well there is another year's story.  There are some real inside jokes in this one but hopefully they don't detract from the story.  I hope Mrs. Bigger-Bottom doesn't cause them any problems but I somehow feel she may return.  We almost forgot to have it snow in the story.  That could be a problem in the summer...  
Doug was mentioned in another story but not by name.  Can you figure out where he was mentioned?  Do you know who the delivery boy was?  
Well I'll send this off to Radio Rancher now so he can add a few more words about, 1200 would be good.
Let us know what you are thinking.
                        Str8mayb

Co-Author's Notes: 
I really enjoyed doing another chapter in this ongoing story. I noticed a few familiar faces in this one. I sure hope things work out for Doug and all the rest of the boys.  I am pretty sure that they will, but I am betting that we haven't seen the last of that bottom person.  Let's hope she gets just what she deserves.  I think she will be in over her big fat head if she tries anything with Arty. 
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Editor's Notes: Ahhh if anyone can tell me what happened here I would be very grateful. This is a wonderfully circular chapter and I am waiting to see where it goes? I would say great job guys but I am still trying to figure it out :) Okay I finally figured out who Doug is at least I think I did ;)

TSL