It had taken some work, but Raiden thought he was pretty close to getting into his dad’s email. Considering his position, there were some extra levels of security to get through. Not knowing where Daxton was was one thing, but his parents avoiding the entire situation was another. Hacking into his dad’s email was a level Raiden never thought he would go to but desperate times called for desperate measures . With his laptop in one hand, Raiden knocked on River’s door, “River, it’s me,” he said.
River was lying on his bed with his sketch pad propped up on his knee’s drawing when he heard the door. “Come in.” He told Raiden putting down his pencils to look over at his brother.
Raiden sat down at River’s desk straight away and opened his laptop. “So, I’ve nearly gotten into dad’s emails,” he told his brother casually.
River did a double take as his eyes went wide looking over at him. “Are you crazy, what if he catches you.” River hissed before jumping up from the bed, his sketch pad flying across the room as River ran to his door and closed it quickly.
“I’ve got some programs in place, it’s fine,” Raiden said to him, waving his hand dismissively. “I’m not crazy. I want to find Dax.”
River let out a sigh from where his arms where sprawled out on the door before slowly peeling himself off it and walking over to Raiden. “Stealing his proper mail didnt work so i guess this is our last resort.” He responded peering over his brothers shoulder to look at the laptop.
“If I get in trouble, I get in trouble,” Raiden replied. “If we don’t try we’ll never know.”
“I know.” River said half dramatically as he ran a hand through his messy long hair
Raiden did some typing, feeling nervous about doing this because it was not really the right thing to do.
“How long before you will crack it?” River asked watching the screen seriously.
“I was close before, so not long,” Raiden said, frowning at the screen for a moment. Before he knew it, their dad’s email inbox was before him and he turned to River. “There we go.”
River looked through the inbox. “Wow he is really boring, coupons for cosco?” He said pulling a face.
“That’s dad,” Raiden rolled his eyes before scrolling through.
“Maybe we should subscribe him to some fun stuff.” River said a little cheekily.
“Maybe another time,” Raiden chuckled at the idea.
“Its not like we dont have his email.’ River pointed out. “Anything, maybe type in Daxton’s name in the search bar.”
Raiden did as such and a few emails popped up. He could feel his heart rate starting to pick up, nervous about what they would find.
River stared at the computer when the results came up before he spotted one that had a current date and something about progress and meetings. “What is that.” River pointed
Raiden clicked on the one River pointed at. He really hoped Daxton wasn’t too far away.
All Raiden saw was the word rehab and his eyes went wide. “Rehab….” He almost shouted in shock
Raiden froze for what felt like minutes. He looked to his brother in the same shock.
“Why is he in a rehab center?” River asked confused. “What did he do to make Mum and Dad put him in a rehab center.”
“It must be bad,” Raiden murmured as he looked through more emails.
“Do you see anything?” River asked
Raiden shook his head before clicking on another one.
River just sighed as he watched
Raiden looked at the email before noticing that it had an address. “Here,” he told his brother. It didn’t say what the rehab centre was for though.
River took his phone out and snapped a photo. “Malibu, near grandma and grandpa.” He replied sighing. So an hours drive from them. “He has to be in there for something, dont they normally do a program, there has to be another email outline his treatment.”
“We need to go and see him,” Raiden told him, going through more boring emails to find something useful.
“We can do that, what if we did it now or should we wait till tomorrow?” River asked before spotting something. “Wait, it says program….anger management.” River frowned
“Now, before dad and mum catch us,” Raiden replied before also frowning. That didn’t sound like dax.
River pocket his phone. “Quick lets go now before Dad finds out what we have done. Your drive.” He said running to grab his coat and put it on.
Raiden nodded and quickly went to get his keys.
River followed him keeping a look out for his parents.
Raiden got his keys and quickly headed to out to his car, trying to not make too much noise.
River quickly followed and got into Raiden’s car letting out a breath he didnt now he was holding. “How long do you think it will be before Dad finds out?”
“I’m not thinking about that,” Raiden replied as he quickly got in and started the car.
River nodded and hoped they got to see Dax
“How much trouble do you think we’ll be in?” Raiden sighed.
“A lot especially given how bad Dad’s temper can be. Its clear where Dax got those anger issues from.” River replied
“Well if they won’t tell us anything then I guess I’ll just have to take the blame.” Raiden said with a sigh.
“We both take the blame.” River told him
Raiden didn’t want River getting into more trouble than he needed to. “I’m the one who got into his emails.”
“I am accompanying you right now so I am still going to get into trouble.” River pointed out
“Fine,” Raiden knew not to argue with River.
—–
River looked around the place they were standing in and felt a little cold. It was nice and luxurious, views of the ocean but it also gave him the creeps. “What number did they say again?”
“30,” Raiden replied as he looked around. “Do you think he wants to see us?”
“I dont know.” River replied following Raiden
Raiden didn’t know what he would do if Dax didn’t want to see him. Pushing those thoughts aside, he walked through the corridor to find the number they were looking for. Eventually he did, and he was quiet for a moment.
River stopped beside Raiden and noticed his face. “What are you thinking?” He asked him
“I have no idea,” Raiden replied honestly before knocking on the door.
River nodded at that and waited.
Daxton had been reading when he heard the door. Frowning he got up from his bed and walked opening the door. What he hadnt been expecting was to see his baby brothers on the other side and his jaw fell open in shock.
“Hi,” Raiden eventually said as he stared at his brother a little hesitantly.
River waved enthusiastically before looking Daxton over. He was wearing a white sweater with trackies. He looked like a shadow of his former self because his long hair was a wild mess. His eyes also looked black which made River wonder how much he had slept.
Daxton couldnt get his head around the fact they were here. “I….I…..come in…” He frowned was all he could muster
Raiden gave Dax a little smile at that. At least he wasn’t yelling at them to go away. Moving inside, he looked around his room.
“How did you……” He trailed off looking at them curiously.
“Managed to get into dad’s email,” Raiden shrugged.
Daxton groaned at that pinching the bridge of his nose. “You are going to get into so much trouble.”
“I’m very well aware of that,” Raiden replied as he sat on the bed. “But they won’t tell us anything so this is what it has come to.”
“I am not surprised they wont tell you.” Daxton replied walking over to sit on his bed as River mood to sit on one of the chairs
“Still doesn’t make it fair,” Raiden said as he looked over at Daxton.
“They dont know what fair is right now. They havent even come to visit me.” He shrugged.
River looked surprised and could see that it was hurting Daxton as he had looked away
Raiden wanted to ask what happened but he was a little hesitant. “I don’t think they want to,” he said quietly.
Daxton said nothing and looked down at his lap as River gave Raiden a look at that.
Raiden ignored the look River gave him. They were here to get answers as to what the hell was going on, and he wasn’t sure if they were going to be able to see Daxton again. “…what happened?” he eventually asked after what felt like minutes of silence.
Daxton closed his eyes and squeezed his hands together. He knew they would ask but going into details was too much. “I did something nonredeemable and this was the end result.”
Raiden couldn’t imagine what would result in Daxton essentially being sent away and ignored. “I get you don’t want to talk about it, we just want to help,” he told him.
“There is nothing you can help me with.” He told them sadly. “Mum and Dad will most likely disown me, ive been suspended from work until Dad see’s fit as to reinstate me which will probably be never and i no longer have a girlfriend.”
River winced at the entire thing, Daxton really had hit rock bottom.
Raiden didn’t know if what their parents had done was an overreaction, however it all sounded very serious. “Dax…” he trailed off, not sure as to what to say.
“What.” Daxton replied looking over at him
“I feel helpless,” Raiden said quietly.
Daxton shrugged at that.
Raiden looked down at the ground in response.
“We can come and visit to cheer you up.” River told him and Dax gave a small smile at that.
“I doubt we’ll be allowed to,” Raiden mumbled.
“We can try if not we will write, cant stop us writing.” River pointed out which made Daxton chuckle.
“We’ll try our best,” Raiden promised.
“I appricate the gestures guys.” Daxton told them both. They had no idea how much it ment to them with the two of them just being here for him. “I cant believe you broke rules you scallywags.”
Ava was in the kitchen placing the flowers she had picked on there walk in the vase when she noticed Lee walking into the kitchen.
Raiden crossed his arms. “If we have to break rules, we’d do it for you,” he replied.
It didn’t take Lee long to figure out why he had gotten an alert about a login to his email that he hasn’t authorised. The boys not being home only made him jump to conclusions which he was fairly sure were accurate. Walking into the kitchen, Lee was silent but it was obvious he was fuming in frustration and anger because of what the boys had done.
Daxton just smiled at that. ‘I love you two.” He told them
Ava frowned stopping what she was doing and turning to look at him. “What’s wrong?” She asked with concern. They had just had a long calm walk in the woods and now he was wound up.
Raiden couldn’t help but return a little smile. “You’re a dork.”
“The boys have gone to see him,” Lee told her, not even wanting to say Dax’s name and he knew Ava would know what he meant straight away. “Got into my emails.”
Daxton leaned over and brought Raiden into a headlock giving him a nudgy.
Ava watched Lee for a moment. “How do you know it was them that got into your email or whether they have gone…..” She trailed off looking away.
Raiden made a unimpressed noise when Daxton pulled him into a headlock but he didn’t complain.
“I just know,” Lee replied, letting out the breath he had been holding in.
River just laughed at them as Daxton stopped before nudging his shoulder with a smile.
“Lee, that is a huge assumption. You might want to get evidence before you accuse your two children of anything.” Ava told him seriously.
Raiden nudged him back, knowing that this moment with him was going to be short lived.
Lee shook his head. He had a gut feeling because he had tried to do the same thing once upon a time. “I’ll ring the centre and ask if they’ve had any visitors,” he told her before grabbing his phone to do to exactly that.
“So what has been going on with you two?” Daxton asked running his hand through his blonde hair.
“Did the alert not tell you the ip address and location of the log in?” Ava asked watching him before sighing. She knew what Lee was saying was true, it was a matter of time before they pulled this stunt and Ava wasnt the least surprised. They had said there sons up for it and given Lee’s history one of them was bound to remember the story and jump to the same conclusion.
“Walking on eggshells around mum and dad, basically,” Raiden replied.
“They covered up that bit,” Lee told her before attending to the phone call. once it was confirmed, he hung up and gripped all but threw his phone down onto the kitchen bench. “They’re there right now,” he gritted out.
River nodded at that. Daxton sighed. “I am sorry.” He ment it to looking remorseful.
Ava jumped at the way he throw his phone on the bench. “Let them have the moment and deal with them when they get home. Are you surprised given you did the same thing once?”
“You don’t need to apologise to us,” Raiden shook his head.
“No I’m not but that doesn’t mean I can’t be pissed off with them,” Lee told her with bitterness in his tone.
“I do, I really do. You have no idea what i have done or for the issues i have caused.” Daxton told them trying not to tear up.
Ava watched him. “Does some of this bitterness have to do with the fact they succeeded and you didnt?” She asked knowing she was treading a fine line.
“You can’t change that now,” Raiden pointed out as he wrapped an arm around him.
Lee stared at Ava for that comment. “Don’t go there,” he said to her. “Just don’t.”
River moved to tackle hug him as Daxton laughed bringing them both in for a hug.
Ava knew she had touched a nerve. She held her hands up in a cease fire. “Then come up with a punishment but dont be surprised if they really fight you on this and go to where i just went.”
Raiden leant into the hug, not wanting to leave Daxton here.
Lee shook his head, pacing around the kitchen. “It has nothing to do with what happened with Nate. They crossed a line.”
Daxton kissed the both of them on the head.
Ava watched him pace and said nothing to the Nate comment because she knew that was bull. “I agree they crossed a line but it was coming. There close, they always have been, its why people nickname them the three musketeers. You have seen in the passed the lengths they each go to for each other, this shouldnt be a shock to you.”
“I don’t want to go back home,” Raiden sighed.
“I don’t care,” Lee told her. “What I care about is them not respecting our decision to keep them from finding out.”
Daxton sighed at that. “Lets not think about that, lets just enjoy the time we have for now. How about when i get out we go on a camping trip, three of us.” River perked up at that with a grin. “I am in.”
Ava nodded leaning against the counter. “Agreed, so we find a suitable punishment for them breaking the rules and effectively the law.”
“And when are you getting out?” Raiden asked him, hoping it was soon.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Lee muttered.
“I dont know.” Daxton told him truthfully.
“Well better figure something out before they get home.” Ava told Lee.
“They can’t keep you in here forever…” Raiden said quietly.
Lee ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He did not want to be dealing with this.
“Its just until my program is up and they deem me good enough to leave.” Daxton told them.
Ava watched the frustration on Lee’s face. “We cant ground them but we can dish out a good punishment since they both live at home.”
“Why wouldn’t you be good enough to leave?” Raiden frowned.
“Well no going out for Raiden, I don’t care if he has a date but I know he’s the one who did the hacking,” Lee decided.
“I have a lot of things I need to work through. Plus Mum and Dad wont sign off on it until they think I am deemed better.” Daxton sighed
Ava moved to get some water from the tap as she picked up a cup. “They need more then a punishment of that. Is there anything at work you can throw them into? Some punishment that is rather low? Something in science labs, something at the hospital or anything.”
“That sucks,” Raiden huffed.
“Paperwork?” Lee suggested. “I have files I need to be copied for the archives. Piles of it.”
“It really does.” Daxton said
“That works, then maybe i will put them on stable duty to clean out all the horses stalls. You could also get them on wash duty at the science labs.” Ava smirked.
Raiden ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t want to go home without you.”
“Not a bad idea,” Lee agreed with Ava, smirking a little
“Unfortunately that is exactly what you will have to do. Its not like I live at home anymore anyway.” He pointed out.
Ava walked up wrapping her arms around Lee and gave him a gentle kiss
Raiden waved his hand dismissively at that. “It still sucks.”
Lee wrapped his arms around her waist and leant into the kiss, pulling her close.
“That it does little brother, that it does.” Daxton replied
Ava gave him a small smile into the kiss
Raiden looked to River, knowing he felt the same.
Lee then buried his face against her neck.
“Lets just enjoy this time.” Daxton told them
Ava stroked the back of his hair giving his temple a kiss.
“So what do you do in your spare time?” Raiden asked as he looked around the room.
Lee didn’t know how to control all the emotions he was feeling and he just held onto her.
“I go to different activities they have. Did a pottery class this morning. There is also gym, pool, grounds to walk.” Daxton told them. “Mum and Dad would be paying a fortune for this place its not cheap.”
“This is bringing up pass memories isnt it.” Ava asked him
“Well at least they sent you somewhere nice,” Raiden said. It meant that they did care to some degree.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Lee murmured.
“Its really nice.” Daxton nodded.
“I am always here if you need to.” Ava told him
“Just don’t stay here too long,” Raiden told him.
“I know,” Lee said as he pulled back to look at her.
—–
They had finally arrived home after being with Daxton for a few hours. River gripped his seatbelt. They had gotten dinner knowing there was no way they would be eating tonight. “Im scared.” River told Raiden looking at him.
Raiden didn’t know how they were going to get away with this. He knew that they were screwed but he didn’t know how badly. It wasn’t going to end well regardless. “We just have to own our decision.”
River nodded before unbuckling and slowly getting out of the car with a gulp.
Ava had been sitting on the couch with the television on. “I think there home.” She replied pointing to the door.
Lee had been trying to keep himself calm, his arm around Ava as he sat with her on the couch. He was torn between yelling and ignoring them entirely.
Raiden figured it was better if he went inside first, as terrifying as the whole thing was. He opened the door, stepping inside quietly.
River followed Raiden ducking behind him trying to hide which he knew was useless. Ava just watched them both walk into the house and waited to see what Lee would do
“Come here,” Lee called out to the boys without even looking away from the tv.
Raiden glanced to River and winced.
River bit his lip. He really was hoping his father never found out.
Raiden sighed and walked over, wanting to get it over and done with.
River hung his head as he walked over
Lee looked at both the boys as they stood before him. It was very clear as to how angry he was but he stayed silent for a moment. “I am beyond disappointed in the both of you,” Lee first said to them, trying not to raise his voice. “I expected better of you.”
River said nothing and continued to look at his feet
“How dare you go behind our back,” Lee basically snapped out to them. He hated raising his voice at his kids but this was the scenario that warranted it. “I get that you want answers, but doing what you did is unacceptable.”
River wanted to snap back at him about how they hadnt told them where Daxton was and they had no choice. He knew however that would just anger his father more so he didnt say anything
Raiden looked between his parents, wanting to speak up but also not wanting to anger them any more. “He’s our brother,” he eventually said, “and we care about him. We just wanted to see him. “
“You see him on our terms, not on yours,” Lee said harshly to him.
River winced at that looking up with a look of sorrow on his face. “We miss him.” He said brokenly. Ava had to look away feeling her heart break a little at that statement. In there anger and punishment of Daxton had they pushed there other kids to far.
“I’ve been where you’ve been, okay?” Lee said to them both, trying to not let what they had said get to him. “You just need to trust us with what we’re doing, and its none of your business.”
“Then you would know how this feels so why hurts us the same way you were hurt.” River questioned him as Ava winced slightly.
“I’m trying to protect you,” Lee replied as he got up. “Because getting involved is only going to make it worse.”
“How is this going to make it worse?” River asked not understanding.
Raiden could see the anger in their dad’s expression and he had never really seen it before. It startled him as to how much this had affected him. Lee only glared at his sons. “Don’t question me,” he said to them both. “Getting involved will only hurt you, and make this harder.”
“We are already hurt, wont really make a difference.” River mumbled looking away from his Dad
“It’s not as easy as you think it is to fix all of this,” Lee said to them.
Raiden wanted to say some bitter comment but he didn’t want to get into more trouble than they already were. “We’re sorry,” he said softly, looking to his mum. “I know it was stupid.”
Lee shook his head. “I don’t care. You’re still being punished.”
Ava just nodded at them. River was annoyed if his father understood what they were going through then why was he being like this.
“What type of punishment?” Raiden asked a little hesitantly.
Lee raised an eyebrow at him. “You’ll see. Though I’m sure you’ll be looking forward to all the paperwork I need filing.”
River frowned at that. “Am I even allowed at Shield given I dont work there?” He asked as Ava suddenly realised that he didnt and that might be a complication.
“I’ll bring it home here for you if its a problem,” Lee shrugged dismissively. They weren’t important files, just things that needed to be organised.
“But I’m not an employee I shouldn’t be looking at any files.” River counted back.
“Don’t leave it all for me to do,” Raiden muttered to River. The last thing he wanted was to do it all on his own.
“So you’re saying I can’t trust you?” Lee gave River a look. “It won’t be a problem.”
“I never said that or implied out. River shot back at his father before looking away. He would do it for Raiden and Daxton.
“Then you do what I say and you don’t question me,” Lee replied shortly.
River said nothing and looked away
“I’d rather not see or speak to either of you right now,” Lee said as he headed off into the kitchen.
River said nothing and turned to head off to his bedroom
Lee didn’t want anything to do with either of his sons right now and so he thought it was better that he didn’t engage with them any more.