Big Brother's Protection: An Appeal for Help

[x-wolfcub.livejournal.com]

Still stunned from his sister's e-mail, Nick goes to the first person he can think of for help.



Nicholas Gleason was even more disheveled than usual. His hair was tangled in knots as he continuous ran his hand through it, pacing back and forth in front of the literature classroom at the mansion. His face only broke away from the floor to look at his watch. Silently, he kept wishing to himself that the class would let out early, but as the students began to rush out of the door, a lump suddenly appeared in his throat. This wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.


He only had to wait a few more minutes before Kurt appeared - and stopped suddenly, looking him over in concern. "Nick? What is wrong?"


Nick scratched the back of his head anxiously for several seconds before a nervous smile spread across his lips. "It's Natalie." It was all he could muster after the shock of receiving an e-mail from his sister only a few hours earlier. "Could we talk in the classroom for a bit?"


"Of course." He pushed the door back open, ushering Nick inside. "You have heard from Natalie? Or of her?"


Taking his place at the back of the classroom, Nick anxiously forced his hands into his pockets. "You're never going to believe this, but... uh..." He had to chuckle slightly, the mere idea of what he was about to say was ridiculous to him. "She actually just sent me an e-mail."


"...I see." He studied the boy's face for a moment, then, "And what did she say?"


The boy swallowed hard. He had found a calming presence around his adopted father, but today his mind had way too many ideas floating around to have anything calm him down. "She claims that she wants out."


"And do you believe her?" He hated to ask the question, but Natalie wouldn't be the first to be used in a trap.


"Do I really have a choice?" Nick's eyes opened wide as he heard the same question that had been floating through his head. "With my parents gone, I have to protect her. Even if it is a trap, don't I have to at least try." His breath escaped him like a balloon as he fell back against the wall again. "She told me that she saw Risman for what he truly was, and that she needs help to get away from him. She's afraid that if she just asks, he'll hurt her." They were words more to reassure himself than to convince professor Sefton.


"I would not like to bet on her being wrong", was the quiet answer. "All right, Nick. Tell me where she is, and I will do all I can to get her out."


Nick was almost overwhelmed with emotions as he stepped forward, his eyes still closed and taking in a breath of relief. She said that Risman has them holed up in an old steel mill just outside of Pittsburgh. She told me that after 10 PM, Risman leaves her in her own private room at the far southwest corner of the building." He still couldn't believe everything that was going on, but he was happy that Professor Sefton was the person he had come to first. "Thank you for doing this. I can never repay you...." The boy swallowed another large lump in his throat. "...Dad..."


"You will never need to." He stepped over and gave the boy a quick hug. "E-mail her back. See if she can get me a photograph of the inside of that room - things would be very much easier if she can."


The boy quickly returned the hug. Before stepping back. "I'll get on it." As he rushed towards the door, he paused for a second to look back at the professor. Of all the bad things that had happened in his life, his adopted father was one of the few good things he could always count on.


Kurt smiled at him reassuringly. "It will be all right, son. We will have her safely out before you know it."