FICTION: Lost and Found (Part 11b)
Title: Lost and Found (Part 11b)
Authors: PerfectlyLexy & DreamtoCreate
Pairing: Scott Barringer/Peter Scarbrow
Rating/Warning etc: Eventually NC-17.
Summary: Despite knowing better, and Scott’s denial, Peter and Scott realize they have feelings for one another that transcend that of student and teacher. Perhaps the lost truly can be found.
Continued from Lost and Found (Part 11a)
"You're just going to let her go?" Scott's voice cracked on the last word as he stalked in a tightly controlled pace in front of Peter. He hadn't taken the news of Shelby's telling-and-still-leaving well. "But she told you! She backed it up!"
"It's cutting the wire too closely, Scott! The investigation will get started, but it wasn't in time enough to stop her from going home," Peter explained calmly, as he leaned against his desk and watched Scott vent his frustrations out on the carpet.
"But why? If there's even a question of it, shouldn't those idiots *keep* her from going home to it?"
"You would think so, yes," Peter answered honestly. "However, if that were the case, no matter what accusations were made against parents, then children would be taken away...even from those who might be innocent but are being accused of abuse of some kind."
"That's bullshit," Scott snarled, fingers clenching and unclenching.
"If you were a parent, Scott, and honestly hadn't done anything to your children, but were being accused of it anyway. Would _you_ want to be punished for it and have your children removed from your care?" Peter asked. Scott would not get it, he was fighting understanding the situation with everything he had and while Peter appreciated the boys loyalty, he wished he'd be willing to listen.
"That's not the point!" Peter was right: Scott wasn't about to even try to get it. He saw it in a very simple black and white marred by his own experience and friendship...yes, that was what it was...with Shelby.
Peter pushed off of his desk even as he answered and stepped toward the still pacing boy. "No, Scott, that _is_ the point! Don't you see? If I had my way, I'd keep her here, but I don't! I have no say in where she goes because I have no power here any more than you do!"
Scott paced in silence for several moments before finally coming to a stand-still in front of the Counselor. "And if they find out it's true? They'll bring her back, right?" Assuming she didn't run straight off the bat.
He sighed. "I've asked them to give her mother that option. That we'd even take her on tuition free as guardians and a foster home if they would. But, it's possible they will send her...and her sister...to another foster home."
"Oh, that's fucking beautiful," Scott said, hands coming up in a gesture of utter disbelief and futile frustration.
"I know, Scott. Believe me, I know. If I could have made it any different, I would have. But, right now all you can do is wait. I promise I'm not sitting idly by and just letting things happen," he replied, reaching up to tentatively lay his hand on Scott's shoulder to squeeze lightly.
He let out a breath, shoulders slumping slightly. "I know. Hell, I'm the one who told her to trust you guys. I don't exactly hand out that sort of recommendation often. You should feel honored."
Peter's lips twitched slightly at that, showing honest amusement. "Heaven forbid Scott Barringer trust anyone," he quipped. At the look the boy gave him, he grew more serious, leaning in to meet his eyes steadily. "I _do_ feel honored, Scott. Believe me, I know what it took for you to give that trust...and I swear to you, I will do everything I can never to break that trust."
Scott stared back, too close for either of their comforts. "Thanks," he said finally.
"You're welcome. Now, get out of here and go join your group...I think we're due at a going away for Shelby, aren't we?" he asked softly.
"Yeah," he agreed softly. "I suppose we are."
"I'll see you in a few. I want to uhm...finish some stuff up here." Peter smiled wanly at Scott, fighting the sudden urge to pull him to him and comfort him; to skim his lips over his cheek...He hurriedly stepped back and put the desk between them as quickly as he could.
The teen gazed at Peter for several moments, debating whether or not to say
something about the hasty retreat he'd just beaten. He opened his mouth, but said nothing more than, "Okay," before he turned to leave, beating his own retreat rather than open that particular can of worms right now.
As Scott left, Peter slowly sat down in his chair. When Scott was gone, he finally glanced up at the door and wondered just what the hell he was going to do. He wasn't sure he had the fortitude he'd need in order to stay here with Scott on a daily basis and keep things on a professional level. Because it seemed like with each day that went by he was caring for Scott more and more in ways that he never should.
Continued in Lost and Found (Part 12a)
Authors: PerfectlyLexy & DreamtoCreate
Pairing: Scott Barringer/Peter Scarbrow
Rating/Warning etc: Eventually NC-17.
Summary: Despite knowing better, and Scott’s denial, Peter and Scott realize they have feelings for one another that transcend that of student and teacher. Perhaps the lost truly can be found.
Continued from Lost and Found (Part 11a)
"You're just going to let her go?" Scott's voice cracked on the last word as he stalked in a tightly controlled pace in front of Peter. He hadn't taken the news of Shelby's telling-and-still-leaving well. "But she told you! She backed it up!"
"It's cutting the wire too closely, Scott! The investigation will get started, but it wasn't in time enough to stop her from going home," Peter explained calmly, as he leaned against his desk and watched Scott vent his frustrations out on the carpet.
"But why? If there's even a question of it, shouldn't those idiots *keep* her from going home to it?"
"You would think so, yes," Peter answered honestly. "However, if that were the case, no matter what accusations were made against parents, then children would be taken away...even from those who might be innocent but are being accused of abuse of some kind."
"That's bullshit," Scott snarled, fingers clenching and unclenching.
"If you were a parent, Scott, and honestly hadn't done anything to your children, but were being accused of it anyway. Would _you_ want to be punished for it and have your children removed from your care?" Peter asked. Scott would not get it, he was fighting understanding the situation with everything he had and while Peter appreciated the boys loyalty, he wished he'd be willing to listen.
"That's not the point!" Peter was right: Scott wasn't about to even try to get it. He saw it in a very simple black and white marred by his own experience and friendship...yes, that was what it was...with Shelby.
Peter pushed off of his desk even as he answered and stepped toward the still pacing boy. "No, Scott, that _is_ the point! Don't you see? If I had my way, I'd keep her here, but I don't! I have no say in where she goes because I have no power here any more than you do!"
Scott paced in silence for several moments before finally coming to a stand-still in front of the Counselor. "And if they find out it's true? They'll bring her back, right?" Assuming she didn't run straight off the bat.
He sighed. "I've asked them to give her mother that option. That we'd even take her on tuition free as guardians and a foster home if they would. But, it's possible they will send her...and her sister...to another foster home."
"Oh, that's fucking beautiful," Scott said, hands coming up in a gesture of utter disbelief and futile frustration.
"I know, Scott. Believe me, I know. If I could have made it any different, I would have. But, right now all you can do is wait. I promise I'm not sitting idly by and just letting things happen," he replied, reaching up to tentatively lay his hand on Scott's shoulder to squeeze lightly.
He let out a breath, shoulders slumping slightly. "I know. Hell, I'm the one who told her to trust you guys. I don't exactly hand out that sort of recommendation often. You should feel honored."
Peter's lips twitched slightly at that, showing honest amusement. "Heaven forbid Scott Barringer trust anyone," he quipped. At the look the boy gave him, he grew more serious, leaning in to meet his eyes steadily. "I _do_ feel honored, Scott. Believe me, I know what it took for you to give that trust...and I swear to you, I will do everything I can never to break that trust."
Scott stared back, too close for either of their comforts. "Thanks," he said finally.
"You're welcome. Now, get out of here and go join your group...I think we're due at a going away for Shelby, aren't we?" he asked softly.
"Yeah," he agreed softly. "I suppose we are."
"I'll see you in a few. I want to uhm...finish some stuff up here." Peter smiled wanly at Scott, fighting the sudden urge to pull him to him and comfort him; to skim his lips over his cheek...He hurriedly stepped back and put the desk between them as quickly as he could.
The teen gazed at Peter for several moments, debating whether or not to say
something about the hasty retreat he'd just beaten. He opened his mouth, but said nothing more than, "Okay," before he turned to leave, beating his own retreat rather than open that particular can of worms right now.
As Scott left, Peter slowly sat down in his chair. When Scott was gone, he finally glanced up at the door and wondered just what the hell he was going to do. He wasn't sure he had the fortitude he'd need in order to stay here with Scott on a daily basis and keep things on a professional level. Because it seemed like with each day that went by he was caring for Scott more and more in ways that he never should.
Continued in Lost and Found (Part 12a)