Chapter Three
Getting Settled

At the farmhouse Jeff got off the cycle and sighed as Matty sat in his sidecar waiting for him. Squaring his shoulders Jeff walked around and began helping Matty out making sure he didn't fall and hurt himself. Parking his cycle Sean watched as Jeff seemed to settle some heavy load then speak to Matt softly. As the older brother nodded and smiled, Sean observed the soft smile on Jeff's face before he turned to get into the storage compartment on Mark's cycle taking out a leather bag. Then coming back to Matt he led him carefully to a shaded tree where he set him down and arranged a small lap desk on his legs and set out some coloring books and crayons.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder Sean turned to see his brother watching the other set of siblings as well. "Matt has some… mental problems," Dave said answering the unspoken question. "I don't know what happened, but whatever it was occurred before they were changed. We've sorta gotten the idea their father did it, but no one is for sure. Jeff won't talk about it and if you ask Matt he goes into this screaming fit that just puts Jeff over the edge. Sometimes he's almost normal, but other times he's almost like a small child usually after, around or during something that upset him a lot. He doesn't take stress well or change for that matter so Jeff is very careful to stick to the daily routine that he has planned out for them."

As the two watched Shannon wandered over and sat down next to Matt, making the older brother smile sweetly. Shane meanwhile went over and pulled Jeff away whispering in his ear. Sean's eyes remained on Matt while Dave's wandered away with the other two brothers until Sean spoke forcing him to turn back to the seated pair. "That is really bizarre," Sean muttered and Dave looked at him cocking his head to one side. "Whattya mean?"

Sean frowned studying Matt further before answering. "Well, when I first met Matt there in the bar I could feel a grownup, but now it's as if a completely different person has taken over. His mind, his thoughts, even his aura has changed. IF this were simply the results of some kind of… whatever… that wouldn't be the case. He'd remain the same and when he acted like a kid you'd be able to feel the adult trapped in the kid." Dave, who had always left the mental judgements up to his brother, nodded. "Ok, so what do you think this is?" All Sean could do though was shrug. "If I didn't know better I would say that there are two people in his head."

Dave frowned at that and turned his head to see Shane and Jeff standing out near the edge of the forgotten field near the old farmhouse. Shane was watching Jeff's face wondering what it was going to take to get his brother to open up to him. When they were kids he had never been this quiet, in fact he and Shannon both had been regular chatterboxes. Shannon still was given the chance, but it seemed as if his partner in chat had changed drastically. Seemingly gone was the carefree brat that tormented all of them with temper tantrums and pranks. In his place was this mature quiet adult that seemed willing to take the whole world onto himself.

"It can't be easy having all the responsibility for Matt's care," Shane tried, but wanted to growl with frustration when Jeff just shrugged. "They all try and help. It's just that Matty don't feel safe with anyone but me. Ain't nothin' that can be done 'bout it. I always been responsible for takin care of Matty and I always will. Ain't no sense in cryin' over it. Shit that'd just upset him and make my day worse."

"Well Shannon and I are here to help now. So you don't have to do it alone." Shane insisted, but Jeff just sighed. "Shane I know what you're tryin to do and I 'preciate it, but I'm telling you it ain't gonna work. When he wants me he wants me and ain't God or no one gonna be able to calm him 'cept me. I figure that somebody gave me this responsibility for a reason. If'n I had been where I was suppose to be… Just don't worry bout it. Help when he'll let ya and jus' stay outta the way when he won't."

"It ain't your fault Jeff," Shane growled, upset that even after all these years their father was able to manipulate Jeff into taking the blame for what he had done to Matty. "Drop it Shane," Jeff warned, but Shane pushed on. "No Jeff! HE is responsible for what he did to Matty, NOT YOU! Dad did this and DAD is the one that should be shouldering the blame, but is he? Fuck no!"

Angry Jeff's features transformed quickly and before Shane could react Jeff had him pinned to the ground hissing in his face. "I FUCKING SAID DROP IT! WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT IT FOR ANY REASON! YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH IT YOU KNOW WHERE THE ROAD IS!" The scene had grabbed the attention of the others including Matty whom started rocking back and forth while whimpering. Marcus cursed Tommy's absence and Glenn stepped forward to intervene before Shane got hurt with Dave having the same thought. However, before anyone could reach them Jeff swung his arm slashing his claws into the dirt next to Shane's head then vanished into thin air.

"I fuckin hate it when he does that," Dave cursed as he reached Glenn at Shane's side. Glenn pulled the shaking younger vampire into his arms trying to calm him. "We have found that it is best if we don't push your brother on some things. He has a lot on his shoulders and most of us prefer our heads where they should be instead of in our hands." Shane nodded sniffling but it took him quite awhile before he could speak past the lump of fear in his throat. "He gets that from dad. He has a terrible temper too." Wisely Glenn just nodded still rocking the young vamp as he again grew silent.

As Dave had headed for Shane, Sean went to Shannon's side to help with Matty. There was something about those deep brown eyes that he found irresistible. Kneeling down next to the brothers Sean put a hand on Shannon's shoulders and the baby of the four brothers nodded quickly standing to move out of the way happy for help. He loved his brothers, but was unused to having to comfort them, as it was usually him that needed the tender treatment.

"Matty," Sean called softly, but when he got no reaction from the younger man he took a deep breath and tried to reach him on a deeper level. "Matty baby," he spoke again softly but this time calling to deeper levels of the young man's subconscious. When the brown eyes filled with tears lifted and looked at him, Sean knew that his heart and soul were lost. "No more fightin' daddy please?"

Tenderly Sean smiled and opened his arms happy when Matt flew into them. Pulling him in securely Sean sat cross-legged and pulled Matty into his lap talking softly to him while occasionally kissing his temple. "You're safe baby," he whispered feeling the shudder run though Matt's body at the words. "Don' let daddy hurt me an' the babies no more please?" Not sure how to respond Sean just nodded and was relieved when Matt relaxed seemingly happy with that response.

Marcus surveyed the scene shaking his head hoping that this wasn't a doomed sign of things to come then looked around to make sure that the blondes were ok. When he saw Adam standing off to one side alone he frowned and walked over to the young blonde. "Where is your brother?" He asked raising an eyebrow when Adam blushed. "He went after Jeff." Adam finally answered and Marcus sighed.

"That wasn't a good idea. Only Tommy can handle Jeff when he is angry." Marcus stated then raised an eyebrow when Adam just shook his head. "No, it'll be ok. Jay Jay is good at that stuff." Marcus grunted and turned looking at Matty and was amazed to see him in Dave's brother's lap. "I hope for your sake you're right. Otherwise we're gonna have problems."

Read Chapter Four The Secret Unveiled