Chapter Seven - September 22nd

As Patrick watched his young charge on the phone he thought about what was going to happen to him. Patrick didn't have the foggiest idea of when he would be released. And it's not like Patrick would be around forever. He stroked his chin thoughtfully as he contemplated the future, however, his deep thought was interrupted by the children nattering over the phone. He glared at Peter, he couldn't very well glare at his daughter from this many miles away.

"Your dad he had got permission for you to visit. When will that be? Tomorrow? Oh, so that's why it's tomorrow. I wish I could - wait. I have an idea. You understand already? That's good. I'll give you something in return. I would prefer it if it was green. Thanks. I'll give you back to your dad now." He looked at Patrick and gave him the phone.

"Thanks Pete," he said, he then put his ear to the phone "Hello again Holly, what were you talking about with Peter?"
"Can't tell you, it's a secret!"
"Oh I'm sorry about that Holly, did you like him?"
"Of course I liked him, but do you think we should tell him?"
He hushed his voice "Tell him what?"
"You don't know? I suppose you wouldn't. Don't worry about it."
"Hmm... fine. I'll say goodbye now. I have to get back to my 'Duty'"
"Bye dad. Love you."
He smiled peacefully and replied "Love you too Holly."

He put his phone back into his pocket and smiled to himself again. He noticed Peter grinning craftily, he eyed Peter warily. This only cause Peter's grin to increase further. He slowly moved closer until he was right in front of Patrick.
"You said you would tell me why you were chosen." His grinned almost consumed the rest of his face.
"I am afraid that I cannot tell you without my superiors consent." Patrick parried confidently, realising the mess he had gotten himself into.
"What? It's not like he'll know you told me."
Patrick though about what to say desperately, while keeping up his confident façade. He decided to play his trump card early"Why should I even have to tell you? Don't you know already?"
Peter blushed, he was speechless, for the first time in his life, speechless.
"You're still too young to fence with me, lad. Practice a bit and we'll try again."

He walked off, holding back the relief he felt until he had exited the room. Upon closing the door he sighed deeply, praying that Peter couldn't hear him. Time to report, he thought.

He reached the room and stepped inside quietly, he closed the door as quietly as possible and locked it. He went and sat down. David walked in and sat down opposite to him.
"Hey Dave, what did you want to talk about?"
"I told you, call me Colonel Reynolds." He spoke in a mocking tone. "We're here to talk about the project. How is Peter?"
"He's doing quite well. He's quite funny, he's managed to inherit your sense of humour. You should be proud."
"I'm not a very good father am I?" he was gloomy this time "How are things going with your daughter?"
"They're very good thanks to you. Thank you so much for convincing him to let her come."
"Come on Pat, how could I let her miss her dad's birthday? I'm not going to, I am coming with you. No matter what you say."
"I want you to, but the next day, you're taking my place with Pete. That sound good to you?"
He mock-saluted him "I'll try my hardest, sir"

Chapter Six - Convenient Connection

Peter laughed. It was really fun to annoy Patrick. Easy too, as if he wanted to be annoyed. He contemplated the man for a moment. He decided he was not who he appeared to be, but this time he had to use his perceptive skills to understand that. Not his 'ability'. Just who was this man anyway? Patrick smiled. An irrational thought crossed his mind, I swear I'm the psychic here.

Patrick looked at him thoughtfully, his eyes sparkled mischievously. His lip quivered as if he was going to break out laughing. He patted Peter on the head and looked into his eyes, twinkling like the emeralds they were.
However, the usual gruff, accented Patrick returned, with a new mysterious glory as he said "Did I ever tell you why they chose me for this job?"
"No, will you tell me now?"
"I will, after this."
"After what?" At that moment his phone rang. His smiled flashed again, as if winking at him. As the seconds went by Peter's curiosity grew tenfold. There had never been anything he hadn't know instinctively, but now an immense barricade stood in front of him. It was taunting him.

"Hey, how're you?" he started "Good, thank you. What have you been up to in school lately? Tests? Oh God, I hated them so much, at least it's only you suffering them. Sorry, sorry, couldn't resist. Oh so you heard? Yeah, I managed to get permission for you to visit me. It's because they said I can't leave this guy alone. What? You want to talk to him? Fine... leave me out." He held out the phone to Peter "Here you go, my daughter wants to speak to you."

He took the phone and placed it to his ear "Hello..?"
"Heya! You're Peter right? Peter Brooks?"
He giggled and uttered his trademark introductory line "Yes, I'm happy you memorised my name already. We can be best of friends now. May I inquire as to your name?"
He could tell she was smiling "Holly..." His heart pounded "Holly Baker"

Chapter Five - Detention

"Do you understand what you've done wrong Peter?"
"Absolutely nothing, you're the one the one that's wrong," his cold glare struck her harder than a blow, he continued "I wasn't bullying her. You know that. You just want it to be me. I stay on my own. I don't talk to anyone. You know that."

The teacher was dumbstruck, she opened her mouth, only to shut it again. The boy observed her icily. Judging she had nothing left to say, he left.

Outside the classroom, three boys lay in wait. As Peter exited the room, they pounced.
"I was sure you was gonna get it this time." The leader whined
"I... would advise your silence. Do you wish for me to enlighten your friends as to your bedtime misadventures?"
They stared at him blankly. Peter leant over and whispered in the leader's ear. He went bright red.
His most intelligent friend backed him up. He was brimming with confidence "There's no way, that our boss, has something as, um... convenient as that to scare him off. Right boss?"
The leader blushed.

Peter rose from his sleep. He checked the time. Too early, he thought. He quickly returned to his slumber.

Peter headed for his private corner in the class. On his way he met the hostile looks from almost everyone in the class. It was his fault, he knew that, he was too scary in their eyes. That was only because of his. Though he acknowledged that it was his fault, he couldn't help but feel hurt by it, so he stayed in his corner during any free time he had.

As he reached it he noticed something amiss. He took a step in and looked precisely 52 degrees to the right. A small girl sat there. The new girl in his class. Transferred in only yesterday.

He crouched and spoke in a low voice "What are you doing here?"
"They weren't being nice to me. But they weren't being nice to you either. So I hid here. I not know this was your spot. Sowwy"
"It's fine Holly." She wasn't listening, she was looking into his eyes. "Don't look at my eyes, please. You won't be happy if you do."
"But I like them. So pwetty. Remind me of mommy's eyes. My mommy's eyes are dark and pwetty like yours." She smiled, the first smile Peter had ever received.
"You can stay for today. I might make you leave. But you can stay until I do."

He smiled in his sleep and turned over. His smile was soon distorted.

"I'm afraid, Mrs. Brooks, that your son is to be expelled. He bullied one Holly Williams and refused to comply with our teaching staff." the headmaster explained.

...

As Peter left the school the only people that paid him any recognition were the trio who hated him most. They merely taunted him and stuck their tongues out at him. The other was Holly, she had been shouting at her mother(the one who had lodged the complaint). As he neared the school gate Holly ran and embraced him, crying. He smiled and told her to go back to her mother.

As soon as he reached home he wept.

Chapter Four - Melting Eyes

This would be the second session they would have together. Patrick carried his and Brooks' meals. Better than the food he usually got. He knocked on the door and the boy inside yelped in surprise. Usually Brooks' got his food through a flap in the door.
"I'm coming in." Patrick called as he opened the door. He walked into the room and laid the food upon the table. Patrick then turned to regard Peter. The sight confused him.

Tears glistened in Peter's eyes as he said "Thank you for coming back. No-one else has ever come back." Patrick almost cried when the boy said that. It was the first time he'd seen emotions reach his eyes.
Patrick looked at the boys features quickly. He had dark grey eyes and long, dirty blond hair. He had a light build but it seemed sturdy. Patrick himself had green eyes and cropped blond hair. But his build was completely different, he was incredibly muscular.
"How old are you Peter?" He felt like a primary school teacher. He placed some mashed potatoes into his mouth.
"...um ... I was eight when I first came here... that was in... 2012?" It almost sound like a question how he said it.
"You'd be eleven now. Depending on when your birthday is. I really though you were older. You certainly look it."
"Being alone does that to you." He spoke grimly, a dark look had re-entered his face.
Patrick looked around for a way out, he found none.

He confronted it head on "Don't worry kid, you have me now. Think of me as a really funny and cool uncle." he waited for a moment "I'm sorry Peter, but whatever you're imagining isn't as cool or as funny as me, try harder." Peter giggled in delight.

...

"How's the Psychic?" Reynolds inquired
"He's... strange. One minute he's more mature than I am, the next he's playing with Power Ranger toys. It's quite worrying. Especially to think that he's probably smarter than me." Patrick confessed
"You'll get used to it."
"How can you know that, sir?"
"I don't, but I've always wanted to try my hand at this comforting business. Did it work?"

I'm probably going to lengthen this a bit... I did it in a rush.