Hunter handed Ben his house key, the skeleton head hanging from it knocking his hand.

He hesitated; the sadness in Ben’s eyes almost his undoing.

He drew his hand away and turned towards the door.

Michael’s voice stopped him in his tracks; his eyes narrowing as he watched him pull out bundle of notes from his wallet; the bare pain exuding from his eyes caused a flicker of panic but he grabbed it and then took that final step.

He walked down the street, his future uncertain. He had just made one of the hardest decisions of his short life.

He walked through the streets, carrying his duffle-bag, filled with treasured possessions; a photo of his fathers, carefully removed from its frame; a book Ben has given him; a copy of the first edition of RAGE. A small laugh escaped him when he realized they were connected with his fathers, not himself.

A car slowed; his step faltered, but he bent his head and kept walking.

He had promised them he wouldn’t hitch. He’d turned his back on their love, but somehow he knew that wouldn’t stop them loving him. With that thought he continued to trudge through the darkness.

The streets were virtually deserted as he walked; no clear destination in mind, still torn between wanting to turn and run back to the safety of his home and the need to get as far away as possible.

Someone bumped against him. He stopped, glaring at them then realized he was in front of the Greyhound Bus Station and made a decision. He walked inside and was soon lost in the milling crowds, finally making his way to the ticket counter, and when asked where he wanted to go, he said the first place that came into his head. Florida.

He handed over the fare, knowing his birthday money wasn’t going to last long, the thought of having to find a job daunting. He made his way to the bus, climbing on and finding a seat near the back. He snuggled his duffle bag to him as the engine started; the doors closed and the bus moved off into the night. He slept fitfully, cries from babies, arguing voices, music from ipods, waking him continuously throughout the night.

He must have finally dozed off waking with a start when the bus stopped. Clear blue skies and bright sunshine greeted him.

He wandered through the streets, feeling out of place in his jeans and hoodie, as the sun blazed down. He tried to think what he knew about Florida, the only memory was a distant one from his childhood. Disneyworld. His stomach rumbled, demanding food. He forfeited a few of his remaining dollars on a hamburger, wolfing it down hungrily before continuing on his rambling walk going nowhere but looking for something. He just wished he knew what. A bus, destination Disneyworld, passed him and he made a decision, and he ran after it, jumping on just before its doors closed.

Finding somewhere to wash was his first task he decided when he alighted from the bus. He walked aimlessly; eyes continuously scanning his surroundings until he found a restroom. It was empty and he quickly stripped off his t-shirt and hoodie, replacing them with clean ones, splashing cool water over his face and hair trying to make himself halfway presentable. Not feeling confident but without any other options, he made his way to the hiring office, tentatively opening the door.

The woman behind the desk looked him up and down as he mumbled about needing a job, anything would do.

He tried not to sound desperate but something must have come through in his voice as she smiled at him and handed him form after form to fill in. He hesitated when filling in the part for his home address, thoughts of Ben and Michael coming into his mind. He pushed them away concentrating on what was in front of him.

The woman took the completed forms from him, punched something into her computer and he couldn’t believe it when she said, that yes, there was a job available, starting tomorrow if he was interested and that accommodation was provided.

When he walked out the office and followed her written instructions to where there was a room waiting for him he felt himself relax for the first time since leaving home. Was that only yesterday! He found the accommodation building, then his allocated room, opening the door. It was small, light and airy, and had all he really needed for the moment, a bed.

He threw his bag onto the floor and headed for the shower. The warm water washing away more than two days grime, then climbed into bed, sleep taking over the moment his head hit the pillow.

The sun shining through the thin curtains woke him early. He climbed out of bed and stood at the window, the warmth of the sun feeling glorious on his body. He watched people below going about their daily lives, wondering what was in store for him, but before he ventured out into this new world he knew there was one thing he had to do. He dressed quickly and headed out the door, asking directions from the first person he encountered. He walked into a large room, handed over a couple of dollars and sat in front of the computer.

He wanted to say so much but kept it brief; hoping the words he typed would be enough to reassure his fathers that he was ok. His thoughts stayed on them, wondering what they were doing, were they missing him. He knew they would both be hurting in their own ways and was glad they had each other to turn to. He missed them already, more than he would allow himself to admit, the hurt and pain in their eyes as he walked out the door would stay with him for a long time and he felt guilty for that.

He sighed, turning off the computer; heading to the building he had to report at, with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. He could do this, make a new life for himself, not ever be a burden to anyone else again, take responsibility for himself and his actions. He repeated these words to himself as he listened; watched and learnt and by the time he dropped into bed that night he was exhausted, but it was a good exhaustion. His last thought before he dropped off to sleep was that he thought his fathers would be proud of him today.

Days became weeks. He worked, ate and slept. When he had days off he explored his new home, always alone. Friendships had been made but he knew they wouldn’t be long lasting ones, he would still not allow himself to get close to anyone. Evenings were spent in his room, watching the small TV. The life suited him, different from everything he had ever known but becoming familiar as time passed.

He glanced at the clock, nearly ten pm. He flicked channels, nothing catching his interest. He was about to turn it off when the word Babylon caught his ears.

He flicked back but had missed what it was. He began searching through channel after channel and his blood froze when he finally saw images of Babylon, fire blazing, sirens wailing, people screaming. He had no idea what the fuck was happening his only thought was were Ben and Michael alright. He grabbed his cell, punching in the all familiar numbers, holding his breath for the sound of either of their voices. The phone rang and rang. He hung up and tried again and again until he threw the phone on the bed in anger. Where the fuck were they!

He sat there; his thoughts jumbled. He knew they didn’t spend much time at Babylon but the fact this was some sort of benefit from what the announcer had stated; it was more than likely they would have been there. The idea that either of them may be hurt, or even worse, sent chills through his body. He tried their number again, getting the same result. Tears stung his eyes and brushed them away in anger, racking his brain for what to do next. Suddenly he had an idea, and called directory assistance; getting a number. He dialed it quickly.

He hung up, a cold feeling enveloping him. He had to get home! He began quickly stuffing his meager possessions into his duffle bag. The damn tears came back when he picked up the photo of Ben and Michael he had gotten reframed which sat next to his bed. He glanced at his watch, knowing there was nothing he could do at this time of night. He had money saved but knew he would need his last pay check to cover the flight.

Climbing on the bed, he wrapped his arms around his knees; and waited for morning to come.

The plane engines roared before shutting off. He undid his lap belt, grabbing his duffle bag from the luggage rack and began the slow exodus from the plane. The coldness hit him as he walked out the terminal. Small snow flurries washed over him as he headed to the highway. He knew he shouldn’t hitch but knew of no other way to get to the hospital quickly. He stood, thumb out, shivering with cold until a truck stopped. He climbed in, giving the driver a wary smile. He didn’t look like other truckers he had ridden with and he relaxed.

Traffic was slow and he buried the urge to open the window and scream at them to ‘get the fuck out the way’ as they crept along the highway.

"You ok kid?"

He turned to the trucker, taken aback by the question. No one had ever cared before, apart from his fathers, if he was ok.

"My father is in the hospital, I just need to see him." He surprised himself voicing those words.

"That’s too bad. We’ll be there soon."

"Thanks."

He stared back out the window, lost in his own dark thoughts and jumped when the trucker spoke.

"Here you are kid. Hope your Dad is ok!"

He jumped out the truck.

"Thanks." He gave him a small smile as he slammed the door.

He hurried to the hospital, the heat when he entered warming him instantly. Finally finding the main desk he shuffled from foot to foot waiting for some help.

The nurse’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. He knew he looked bedraggled and half expected to be told to go.

"Can I help you?"

"Yeah. I want to see my father…Michael Novotny-Bruckner."

She turned to the computer.

"Room 612"

He ran down the corridor.

He hesitated when he reached the door, his hand on the handle as he tried to peer through the small window. He could see Debbie and caught sight of Ben leaning over a bed, saying something. He had a smile on his face and that filled him with hope but even still he couldn’t turn the handle. What if they didn’t want him back, what if they had moved on, gotten used it to just being the two of them again, what if they told him to go, he’d blown his chance. His mind filled with what ifs and maybes.

He felt the handle turn in his hand and the door flew open. Ben was standing there, a startled look in his eyes as they met his.

"Don’t look so surprised." He had no idea why he said that, the words came from no where.

He held his breath, watching Ben regain his composure, his own eyes flicking past him to the bed. He could see Michael, his face swollen and bruised but the grin he recognized so well on his face.

He concentrated as Ben spoke.

"It’s alright Hunter; Michael’s going to be fine."

He let himself breath again.