This house is not a [h o m e} [Mat}

[Braxton Reid]

Braxton thrashed, reaching his hand out to something, the pulling it back.

"No.. No.." He murmured, the sheets twisted around his thin frame. "Stop.."

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his dark eyes. How he ended up in Mathews bed again, he would never know. He seemed to be sleeping more in Mathews bed than in his own. He kept getting scared, he supposed. He untangled himself from the sheets, then pushed Sara off of his legs.

"Good girl." He whispered, patting her head as she layed back down. He crept out of the bed, trying not to wake Mat. Fragments of his nightmare still haunted him, scared him beyong repair. And he was pretty well broken.

He walked to his bed, dropping to his knees beside it and resting his head on the soft mattress. "Just make it go away.."

[Mathew Antonio Valentine]

Mathew looked around, trying to pin point the location of the voices. "Brax?.." he called softly, waiting to be able to see in the darkness. Sara whined, pulling on his hsirt, leading him to Brax. She nuzzled the fallen boy, much like a mother would her cubs, gently licking his face. Matt stumbled to his feet, rushing over to Braxton as Sara had, wrapping his arms around the boy's htin frame. "Shhh, it's okay.. Relax, it's okay now... He won't ever hurt you again.." his voice was soft, trying to comfort Brax the best way he could. He gently smoothed out the boy's hair with his hand, smiling as Sara continued to try and comfort him as well.

[Braxton Reid]

Braxton shook his head, pulling himself into Mathews lap as he continued to cry, afraid he would try and get hurt again. He wrapped his arms around Mathews neck, his sobs shaking his body. He just wanted Mathew to hold him, to keep him close. He had leaned on him the whole time since that wretched night. He slept with him, feeling much safer being squished between him and Sara. Braxton kissed Mathews lips as tears streamed down his face. He wanted Mat to love him and protect him. He wanted to be with Mat constantly because he felt safer around him.

And ever since that night, he vowed not to get mad at Mathew.