Bringing Home Danny (16 page)

TJ was pleased when Danny's rancor died down and he sat speechless. He picked up the remote, turned on the television, and sat back on the couch as if to say that was the end of the discussion. Danny sank down further into the couch and stared at the TV, not really watching it. He soon felt oddly comfortable, and wondered if this was what it felt like to have a brother.
After an argument, did you just sit back as if nothing happened?
 

*****

Mitch eventually got a hold of Danny's ex-girlfriend's parents. The Allen's confirmed that Danny was with them for close to a year. They liked the boy, and were worried about him. When he had first moved in he was drinking too much and a little unruly. But, he had stopped when he was told it was a stipulation of his staying there. Other than that, he was a fairly easy houseguest. Their daughter, who was two years older, seemed to be good for him. It was disheartening when Danny left with no forwarding address.
 

“
What do you know about his parents?” Mitch asked Mr. Allen.
 

“
Not much. He hardly mentioned them the whole time he was with us. They never even called to check up on him.”
 

“
Do you have any idea where they're living?”
 

“
No. His parents divorced when he was young, and his mother moved around a lot. I don't think he's seen his father in years.”
 

“
Is there any family that you know of who would be interested in the boy?”
 

“
I doubt it. When he turned sixteen nobody from his family called or came to see him. I never saw his parents the whole time he was with us. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I'd rather he not contact my daughter. She was heartbroken when he left, and she is only now starting to accept that he's gone.”
 

“
I understand. I appreciate your time.”
 

“
Of course. Tell Daniel we wish him well.”
 

After they said their goodbyes, Mitch contacted social services in both Florida and New York, and quickly found out that no one was too willing to invest their time in the welfare of an older teen. A caseworker had explained that Danny was at a 'funny' age. Not quite old enough to be given adult rights, but too old to be forced into state custody. Unless he was involved in illegal activities, or being abused, there were few services that would take him in against his will. He was in a type of limbo until he turned eighteen. If Danny wanted to stay with them, and they were willing to take him in, social services wouldn't interfere. They suggested that Mitch contact the police if he was interested in finding out if he was wanted. They weren't too encouraging either, suggesting that investigating the whereabouts of a sixteen-year-old runaway across state lines would not be high on anyone's priority list. That wasn't good enough for Mitch who was disgusted by a social welfare system that would let a child like Danny fend for himself.

He hired a private investigator to make sure there was no grieving parent or concerned relative trying to find the kid. If nothing else, it would ease his conscience. Mitch had no tolerance for people who decided to have children without honoring the commitment to raise them. He could not understand why anyone would turn a back on a boy like Danny. Mitch quickly grew to appreciate why Antonio and TJ were so protective of him.

Despite all his teenage moodiness and attitude, he was proving to be a likable young man. He was even enjoyable to be around when he wasn't being defensive. He had a quick sense of humor, and a shy smile that could sneak up and brighten the darkest of moods. When Danny was hurt he tried to hide his pain and fear behind a hard facade. But his tough act covered a vulnerability that could tug at the heartstrings of even...well, even Mitch.

Unfortunately, it was up to Mitch to be the real tough guy. Otherwise, Antonio and TJ would let their sentimentality get the best of them. It wasn't what any of them needed. Danny required someone to take charge, and to tell him how it was going to be whether he liked it or not. Someone was going to have to stand firm and be the voice of reason. No matter how much his partners wanted to keep the boy, they had to do what was best for him, and Mitch was not convinced it was living in the city with three older men.

Mitch's first priority was to the two men he was already committed to. The longer Danny stayed, the harder it was going to be on all of them when he left.

Danny was thinking a lot lately along the same vein. He was starting to feel comfortable here.
Too comfortable
, and Mitch seemed hell-bent on trying to find someone else to be responsible for him. He knew it was only a matter of time before he had to leave. Even so, he hadn't regretted coming. TJ came through with his promise of buying him a whole new wardrobe. He even drove him around until he found a part-time job. He never had to pay for meals or a roof over his head, so he was able to save up money for the first time in his life.      Danny also feared he was letting his guard down. He was beginning to think of this place as his home; that he had family.

Eventually, he was going to be disappointed, and he wouldn't be able to bear being let down if he got too close. So, Danny started pulling away. He relied on public transportation instead of accepting lifts from TJ.  He also avoided dinners at home, and began to take on more hours at work.

*****

Missing spending time together, TJ insisted on driving Danny to work. “What do you want for dinner tonight?” he asked, hoping to entice Danny to stay home for a change.

“
I'm going out with some friends from work.”
 

“
Yeah, where?”
 

“
Jack's.”
 

“
What time?”
 

“
5:30. Why?”
 

“
Maybe I'll meet you there.”
 

“
All due respect, TJ, I don't need a babysitter.”
 

“
All due respect, Danny, Jack's is a bar, and if you want to go there, I'll be coming with you.”
 

“
Jack's is a restaurant.”
 

“
With a bar, and you'll be going during happy hour.”
 

“
So?”
 

“
So, you're not going alone.”
 

“
I won't be alone, I'm going with friends.”
 

“
Friends who are over twenty-one, and who I am sure will be drinking.”
 

“
They're not
all
over twenty-one.”
 

“
They are all
older
than you, and you are not going without me.”
 

“
Fine, then I won't go.”
 

“
Fine, what do you want for dinner?”
 

“
I don't care.”
 

“
Go ahead and be a baby, it won't change anything. You know perfectly well I'm responsible for you. No way am I allowing you to go out to a pub and drink.”
 

“
I didn't say I was going to drink.”
 

“
I'm not letting you go unsupervised.”
 

“
I'm not going with a chaperone!”
 

“
I thought we already agreed you weren't going.”
 

“
I'm not!”
 

“
Good! When do you want me to pick you up?”
 

“
I'll take the train,” Danny said, before stomping out of the car and slamming the door.
 

*****

“
Where's Danny? I thought he was having dinner with us tonight,” Antonio asked, as he was setting plates around the table.
 

“
He's not back yet?” TJ questioned.
 

“
We haven't seen him.”
 

“
I know where he is. I'll bring him back.”
 

TJ was fuming; he had just about had it with that bratty kid. Something had crawled up his ass, and he was pushing TJ's last nerve. Mitch had told him that Danny was going to be his responsibility, and he wanted to prove to Mitch that he was not going to be too much to handle. Lately, Danny was doing everything he could to prove otherwise.

TJ wanted to be wrong about his suspicions, but was soon disappointed when he found Danny right where he thought he'd be - sitting at a table in Jack's Bar and Grill. He was surrounded by a half dozen co-workers, leaning back causally with a beer in his hand. TJ interrupted the conversation at the table by walking over to Danny and snatching the glass of beer out of his hand.

 
“
Get up!”
 

At TJ's order, the color drained from Danny's face and he stared frozen in disbelief. TJ set the glass down, hoisted Danny out of his seat, and pulled him a few steps away from the table, then landed a resounding SWAT to his rebellious bottom.

 
“
What the fuck?!” Danny yelped.
 

TJ yanked him further away from the view of the people at his table, and swatted him harder. Danny could hear a few muffled laughs coming from the surrounding area.

A girl from the bar asked, “Who is that?” with obvious interest.

Danny tugged at his arm trying to wrench free from TJ's tight grip. “What the fuck?! Let go!”

“
You, young man, do
not
have permission to be here, and you’re coming home with me!”
 

“
Keep your God damn hands off me! I'm not going anywhere with you!”
 

TJ cornered Danny against the wall. In an ominously quiet voice he said, “You can either say goodbye to your friends with the remaining dignity you have left, or I will pull down your pants, and spank you right here. Then I will pick you up and carry you out.”

TJ waited for Danny to make his choice when a co-worker of his came around the corner, and found the two of them staring at each other in cold silence. Mistaking TJ as a jealous boyfriend, he suggested the two of them come to the table to share a drink from the pitcher he had ordered.

“
Danny is not old enough to drink, and won't be for another
five
years,” TJ said, loud enough for the benefit of everyone at the table.
 

“
Oh, right. Sorry.” His co-worker responded awkwardly, not sure who he should be apologizing to.
 

“
I'm leaving,” muttered Danny, “tell everyone I'll see them at work.”
 

“
Sure, kid,” was the last thing he heard as he was ushered out the door.
 

Spitting with anger, Danny was able to wrench free from TJ as they got closer to the car.

“
How could you do that to me in front of my friends?!”
 

“
They're not your friends, they're your co-workers. Now get your ass in the car!”
 

“
You just don't want me to have friends, and I'm not going anywhere with you, so FUCK OFF!”
 

Danny caught the rage that flashed in TJ's eyes, and took off. TJ met the challenge at full throttle, squelching Danny's attempt at a hasty get away. He promptly tackled the boy and dragged him back to the car. Blocking any escape, TJ jerked the passenger door open and threw himself to the seat, bringing Danny down across his lap. It was a snug fit, making it impossible for Danny to wedge himself free. Despite the difficult angle, TJ managed to smack his bottom a hardy two dozen times before manhandling him back into the seat, buckling him up, and shutting him in.

He quickly got into the driver's seat, and locked the doors before a stunned Danny had time to react. They drove home in silence. Danny's face was burning redder than his backside. He was too mortified to speak or even look at TJ. He stared out the side window not really taking in the view, and trying not to humiliate himself further by crying out in frustration. TJ's satisfaction was short lived. He was furious at Danny for being so stubborn, reckless, and ungrateful. Now he was concerned the kid would hate him. All his efforts to get Mitch to let Danny stay would be for nothing. He was sure Danny would want to leave the first chance he had.

 “
Get out of the car,” TJ ordered when Danny continued to sit stubbornly in the car once they arrived home. Danny got out when he saw TJ coming around to his side of the car. He slammed the door shut and ran into the house. TJ followed close behind him making sure he didn't take a detour out of the house.
 

“
Oh, good, you're back. Dinner's ready in the dining room,” Antonio called from the kitchen.
 

“
I'm not hungry!” Danny yelled, stomping up the stairs.
 

Antonio's eyes followed Danny up before turning on TJ. “What was that all about?”

“
Hurt ego.”
 

During dinner TJ explained to Mitch and Antonio how he had found Danny at Jack's Bar and Grill drinking a beer, and how he explicitly told him he was not allowed to drink or go to Jack's without him.

“
TJ, Danny is an emotionally fragile teenager with a delicate ego, which is saying something because most adolescents are that way to begin with. Although we are glad you brought him home, you shouldn't have spanked him in front of the people he works with,” Antonio chided.