Isaac could see Zac’s control on the bike was stressed, could see the wheels were skidding in the mud, and half of the time was threatening to slide onto its side which would throw Zac off. Isaac didn’t understand why Zac would want to go out practising his riding skills in the rain, or for that fact at all today. Since nine that morning Zac had looked like he’d collapse from exhaustion, but somehow, all that preteen energy kept him going, kept the fun side of Zac running – kept the determined side of Zac running.

Just as Isaac had predicted would happen, Zac lost his control of the bike, the bike toppled a little at first, Zac panicked, tried to hit the brakes but the wet mud refused to let him, and so the bike skidded. Zac quickly tried to use his foot to brake himself, he threw his foot down into the mud, the bike toppled right over into a puddle, and Zac was caught under it..

Isaac hurried over, a little shocked, "Zac, are you okay?" he asked worriedly, he squatted down to Zac’s level and touched Zac’s shoulder.

Zac raised himself out of the water a little wearily, and looked through the filthy visor of his helmet, splashes of muddy water were on the bridge of his nose, above his eyes, and on his upper cheeks. Zac’s brown eyes spoke pain, "Agh, it hurts!"

Isaac pulled the heavy bike off of his little brothers legs quickly, and noticed Zac’s left foot was twisted a little awkwardly, "oh geez…Zac…I think you’ve twisted your ankle…"

Zac moved his leg and whined in agony.

Isaac wasn’t sure what to do for the boy, he pulled Zac’s arms and wrapped them around his neck and hauled him up.

"Agghhhh!!! It hurts to even move!" Zac almost screamed.

"Well, this is what you get for riding in the rain," Isaac commented, he pulled his arm under Zac’s knees to lift him and began heading up the wet field, slipping slightly in the muddy patches. "Perfect," he mumbled under his breath. "Geez, Zac, what the hell have you been eating lately? Iron? You must weigh close to two hundred pounds!" Isaac exaggerated, actually, Zac weighed under a hundred, but right now he seemed a lot heavier than he looked.

Zac was close to tears from the pain, he couldn’t remember feeling so much pain, and thought his ankle was hurt, his dignity was hurting more due to the fact that Isaac was having to carry him to the house. God, he felt like a five year old, why hadn’t he listened to his mom and just stayed inside and watched Ren & Stimpy?

‘Cos I am an idiot, Zac thought at himself furiously.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Taylor and Lauren entered the Hanson house, and Taylor headed to the kitchen to let his mother know he was back, "Mom, I’m back—"

"Tay, I need you to stay here and look after the kids, I have to get up to the hospital…" Diana sighed instantly the moment Taylor entered the kitchen.

"Why, what's wrong?" Taylor asked.

"Zac had an accident on that damn dirt bike of his, was riding in the rain and skidded on a wet patch of field," Diana sighed.

"Is he alright?" Taylor gasped.

"Yeah, just hurt his ankle a little, that’s all, Ike took him up to the hospital and your dad and I have to go up there right now, your dad is already in the van, but I had to wait until you come home until I could go…you need to watch Jessie, Avie, Mackie and Zoe," Diana headed into the hall, seeing Lauren standing there, clutching a folder to her chest, she smiled, "Lauren, hello, dear."

Lauren looked at Taylor.

"We might have delay the tutoring," Taylor admitted, "my little brother’s had a riding accident…I have to baby-sit so my mom can go to the hospital."

"Oh…" Lauren looked down to the ground, almost feeling as if she had to leave.

"It might not be too long, you can stick around if you like…" Taylor said, he bent down as Mackenzie padded into the hall with bare feet, Mackenzie looked at Diana, watching as she pulled her coat on.

"Where are you going, mommy?" Mackenzie asked.

"Out for a little while, Taylor and Lauren will be here, you’ll be okay."

Diana opened the door, "Okay, Tay, keep things in line until I get back, I don’t know how long we’re going to be."

"Okay, mom," Taylor nodded, and watch as his mother left.

Jessica soon appeared, "who just went out?"

"Mom," Taylor said, he took off his jacket and hung it up, "she had to go to the hospital…"

"Because of Zac," Jessica nodded, she leaned against the doorframe as Avery appeared near her back, "Ike had to carry Zac home," Avery said, "He was crying."

"He was not," Jessica rolled her eyes, "But he was kinda moaning a lot, his ankle was sooooo swollen," Jessica explained.

"Really?" Taylor asked.

"Yeah," Jessica nodded earnestly.

"Okay," Taylor realised he should get to work in making sure these kids got done whatever they were supposed to be doing, "Jessica, you have to clean your room, don’t you?" Taylor asked.

"Um…no," Jessica tried to look innocent.

"That’s weird," Taylor put his hand on his practically non-existent hips, "because I seem to remember mom telling you earlier to clean it up because you can’t even see the floor for Barbie Dolls and Beanie Babies," He stated.

Jessica made a face, "But I hate cleaning," she said, "Its boring!"

"Go do it," Taylor ordered.

Jessica pouted.

"Go on," Taylor said.

Jessica sighed and led Avery down the hall to their room.

Taylor looked down to Mackenzie, "Okay, do you wanna watch a video?" he asked.

"Um…"
"Sure ya do," Taylor took Mackenzie’s hand and led him into the living room, Lauren followed them in. Taylor sat Mackenzie down in front of the TV and stuck in the Lion King. "You be good and watch that, because me and Lauren have a lot of studying to do. You gonna be good?"

"No," Mackenzie grinned.

"Yes you are," Taylor smirked and tickled the boy, squatting down over him, Mackenzie was sprawled out on the floor, screaming in glee to the tickles.

Lauren watched with interest, she found it hard to believe that Taylor, as arrogant as he had been lately, had this sweet playful side with his brother, there he was, his damp blonde hair hanging in his eyes as he leaned over his little brother, his laugh soft, his eyes glittering. He seemed vaguely human for just a moment.

"Okay," Taylor said, he stopped tickling Mackenzie, "Are you gonna be good?"

"Hmmm, maybe," Mackenzie responded and giggled.

"Close enough," Taylor chuckled, he rubbed Mackenzie’s blonde hair, and he stood up, he turned to Lauren, who was standing near the door looking at him, he blushed a little, he’d forgotten she was there, "Um…okay, if you want to get your books out, I’ll be there in a moment," Taylor said, "I just gotta make sure Jessica is cleaning up her room," he added, and with that he headed out of the living room and into Jessica and Avery’s bedroom. Jessica was kneeling on the floor trying to shove all her toys under the bed – which was a bunk, Avery was sitting on the top bunk playing with a music box.

"Um…that’s not cleaning up, that’s cheating," Taylor grabbed Jessica by the shoulders and hauled her to her feet, "Clean up properly, you got a closet, use it," he said. "Just put things away tidy," he added.

Jessica sighed.

"Avery, give her a hand," Taylor ordered.

Avery made a face, "Cleaning up sucks."
"Yeah, I know it does," Taylor said, "but you gotta do it anyway," he said, then left the room, he headed for the school room to grab some of his own books, and he headed back to the living room. Lauren was sitting on the couch sorting through various books, for a moment, sitting there in a white woollen sweater to beat the cold from the rainy day, she looked almost like an angle, her blonde hair hanging soaking wet, framing her face, "Um…do you need a towel for your hair or anything?" he asked.

"No, I’m fine," Lauren assured, "Listen, I don’t wanna be rude, but can we just get on with this, me and my friend are supposed to be practising tonight…"

"Okay, well, excuse me for being hospitable," he muttered.

"Hey, you wanna talk about hospitality how about yesterday, huh?" she demanded.

"Look, just drop it," he rolled his eyes, he slumped down on the couch beside her, "and please listen to me this time when I speak."