Tainted Love

"I'm scaring you..." said Monte.

"Because you hurt yourself...I...I need my little brother..." Lennon said, trying not to cry.

Sammy soon came into the room. "Okay Len, I'm gonna walk you through how to clean these up."

Lennon nodded, slowly letting go of Monte. "Kay..."

Sammy handed Lennon a cold, damp washcloth. "Hold that over the cuts, it'll stop the blood flow."

Lennon took the cloth, gently pressing it to Monte's arm.

Monte shivered softly. "Cold...."

Lennon frowned, hugging Monte with his free arm.

"You coulda warned me..." Monte pouted.

"Sorry..." Lennon sighed. "I...didn't think it would bother you much..." He said quietly.

"It doesn't.....except for this," said Monte.

Lennon frowned, gently touching Monte's cheek where he'd been hit. "Mama...?" Lennon said as he slowly looked at her. "You should check on dad..."

Sammy nodded. "Can you handle getting those wrapped up?"

Lennon nodded. "I think dad's pretty upset...he told us to get out..." He said quietly. "He's never told us to get out of his office before..."

"I'll go talk to him," said Sammy

"He um..." Lennon went to say, then changed his mind. "Nevermind, he'll probably tell you..."

Sammy nodded, "You worry about Monte okay."

"I already was." Lennon said, looking back down at the cloth he had pressed to Monte's arm.

Sammy nodded, heading down to check on Adam.

"It...doesn't hurt...does it?" Lennon asked Monte quietly once Sammy had left the room, referring to where he'd been hit.

"Only a little," said Monte. "Been hit harder before."

"Right..." Lennon said, frowning. "You know he didn't mean it...don't you?"

Monte nodded slowly. "I deserved it..."

"No you didn't..." Lennon sighed. "You were angry over other things and just kinda...snapped..."

"I just....I felt like he wasn't listening...like he didn't care," said Monte. "Like the Marsby's don't listen, like Bradley's parents....." Monte paused and mumbled. "Like you...."