Protection Program • Run or die

chapter 8

Andrew had been awake all night and Erick had told him to go and have a shower, while he began to tidy up the mess they had made doing their experiments. Ana was soon coming out of his room and into the kitchen and saw the mess. She frowned wondering what the hell Erick had been up to during the night.

Erick smiled at her, knowing what she was thinking, "Andrew was awake all night," he answered his unasked question.

"What? But, he went to bed before I did." she queried, wondering what had happened as she went and started to make breakfast for the three of them.

"I believe that he is troubled by his nightmares. Not only that, but I don't believe that he has had much sleep since he came to stay with us. I often hear him moving around upstairs for hours before settling," he then told her, explaining what he knew.

"So what did the two of you get up to all night then?" she asked him, as he took on what Erick had told him.

"Experiments, I've shown him a few. I don't think he has had the chance to go to secondary school or to be more accurate, he didn't go to a secondary school that teaches the typical national curriculum judging from the incredibly lack of basic knowledge. Can you believe he doesn't know what ammonium sulfide is? That's like the basic chemical used to make a crude stink bomb." Ana blinked owlishly at the sudden off topic tangent.

"First of all, I don't think making a stink bomb is part of the national school curriculum either and secondly, are you saying that he doesn't have any secondary education at all?"

"He definitely went to Primary school and his skills and efficiency in lab work seems on par with a secondary school education, although he seems to have developed a strange habit of waving his pen around when he's concentrating," Erick explained frowning as he recalled the strange swishing and flicking motions Andrew was doing periodically during the night.

Ana turned to him and frowned, "So, they sent him to a crap school then?"

Erick nodded his head, "He is social, but afraid, he doesn't want to go out, even though we have given him permission to do so, within reason of course, he is being hunted by a serial killer who wants to silence his only witness after all. However, he does not attempt to leave to do what young teenagers would normally like to do these days. He remains inside all the time. He's also rather pale considering the amount of sun that we have had over the last two months. I suspect he's been kept confined at least during the summer months and partially starved considering the signs of malnutrition. Possibly even recovering from a major injury or illness recently."

"Abuse, plain and simple," Ana said with a pained sigh.

Andrew walked down the stairs, nice and dry, except for his hair which he was still towelling as he walked into the kitchen. He had gotten used to having breakfast now over the four days of living with Ana and Erick. He looked at them both and greeted them, "Good morning Ana," he smiled as he took a seat.

Ana looked at him carefully and she silently agreed with Erick that he was pale and not just from lack of being outside in the sun, "Okay, breakfast and then we shall do something," Ana announced as he carried on making them all breakfast adding a few extra slices of bacon for good measure.

It wasn't long before they had eaten and Andrew had been shooed out of the kitchen so Erick and Ana, mainly Ana could clean up and think of something that they could do. Andrew went and sat down on the floor as Snoop went over to him and ruffled his fur, the dog gave a small bark and Andrew laughed. Andrew began to play with him, throwing the ball up for him to catch though being mindful of not throwing it at anything.

Erick was watching them and smirked as he came up with something that they could do to get Andrew out of the house for a bit. He turned to Ana and said, "What if we take Snoop for a walk?" he suggested to her.

Ana smiled as he washed the last dish and set it on the draining board, "You know, that would be a good idea, I think it will be a good way to get everyone out the house and let the poor dog have a little exercise," she nodded, liking how Erick's means of manipulation being put into a more positive use..

Erick smiled at her and then walked into the living room, Andrew caught the ball from Snoop and then stopped looking up to the man that was standing so close, "I think we should all take Snoop for a walk, he has been locked in the flat a lot of the time and it I bet that he would love to go out for a little while," he announced as he then saw Snoop run around as though he was chasing her own tail.

Andrew looked at the dog and then to Erick, "I don't know if that's a good idea going out altogether. I guess it would be fair for Snoop so if you and Ana don't mind taking him. I can stay here with Mrs Hudson.."

Ana came up behind Erick and said, "No if we take Snoop out then we should all go out."

Andrew fidgeted in his seat, his discomfort quite clear, "What about…?" he trailed off.

"It will be fine Andrew," Erick told him, "You can't remain inside all the time, you need to go out occasionally.

Andrew stood there for a moment before he finally said, "Alright, I suppose it would be nice to be able to get outside for a bit," he smiled visibly trying to steady his nerves. .

"Good," Ana said as she already had the lead that went over Snoop and snapped the end onto the collar that they had gotten during their shopping trip.

They were soon out of the flat and down the road walking through Regent's Park. Andrew had the lead and they walked towards an open part of the park. Snuggles tugged against him hard eager to run around. Andrew let him off the lead and the happy canine charged ahead as soon as he threw the ball. Andrew ran ahead to join the hyperactive dog while Erick and Ana kept a close eye on him.

They watched him and saw that the teen finally relax and having fun just like any other teenager playing with their dog in the Park. Ana glanced over to his partner and he slipped his hand into Erick's, "You know, it was a really good idea, a brilliant one actually." she whispered proudly.

Erick smirked giving the hand a squeeze, "He needed to come out, to remind him of what life was like and that he would be fine. I know it might not be the best to bring him out with a killer on the loose looking for him, but then whoever decided to put him with us could hardly call themselves a beacon of rationality." he reasoned as the smirk bloomed into a malicious grin as Ana burst into a fit of giggles.

Ana nodded in agreement and after recovering from his laughing fit he watched Andrew throw the ball hard towards where they were and Snoop chase after it. He laughed as Snoop got the ball and instead of returning to Andrew he went and ran off around him.

"Snoop!" Andrew called out as he gave chase.

Almost two hours had passed by the time they headed back Andrew was tired and pale, more so that when they had gone out. Ana threw him a worried look as Erick took the lead so Ana could go to tend to him.

"Andrew," he whispered as he got the teens attention, weary eyes looked up at him and Ana steadied him as he swayed a little.

"What…" Andrew said as his eyes began unfocused.

Ana looked at Erick and said, "Erick, I think we should get him home, he doesn't look well, I think the lack of sleep has caught up with him."

Erick nodded as he watched Ana catch the teen as he finally gave up staying upright. Erick went over and took him into his arms, "Let's go Ana, you take Snoop."

They walked through the park and back to the flat. Erick lay Andrew on the sofa and let Ana check him over. He stood there before he finally asked, "Is he alright?"

Ana turned to him and nodded, "Yeah, exhausted, he's just asleep now. I'm going to keep an eye on him, but I have a feeling he won't be waking up for a while," she smiled reassuringly, allowing years of experience of pulling several all-nighters with Erick and tending to the mad detective during his crash days show on his face.

Erick nodded and went and grabbed a light blanket and covered Andrew up, quickly taking off the teens trainers and glasses. It would be uncomfortable to sleep like that.

Ana sighed as he made some tea and settled down to watch over Andrew, just in case he had a nightmare. Erick would take over for him at some point during the night having dealt with Ana's own PTSD episodes. Ana made them dinner and reluctantly woke Andrew in order for him to eat. The teen just fell asleep again as soon as he had finished his soup..

Erick then took over while Ana went to bed, he had a small afternoon nap at Ana's insistence to make sure he would be able to stay awake and watch over Andrew. Erick didn't mind as he read one of the many books that Bayer Street had. Andrew had a couple of nightmares, but both Ana and Erick was able to sooth them away and let him sleep. Sleep that he really needed as well, Snoop never left his side, even when Ana had made him some dinner.