A rhythm returns to his life. Callen's quite but he's always been quite so the adults don't notice. But the kids at school sense the coldness behind the smile and step aside when he goes past. No one asks about David.

The cops track him down and speak to his foster parents. The body in the trunk was an undercover cop sentenced to death by the mob. The cops are grateful so they don't push the point over a stolen car. They leave after a verbal warning. Callen doesn't give a shit.

The school counsellor tries to engage Callen in conversation. She's a nice lady so he spins a tale, smiles then escapes. She gives him a piece of paper to write his thoughts and emotions. He hands the page back with circles drawn in the corners but the rest is blank.

She talks about jobs and life after school. Callen wanted to be a fireman but he's having dreams of cars bursting into flames and hydraulic spreaders slicing thru flesh. He doesn't tell the counsellor but nods in the right places.

David wanted them to be cops. But Callen's got a record so he probably won't make the basic qualifications. His future is left broken in a car because David was the one who kept G focused on his school grades.

He stuffs some pamphlets about recruiting for the Police and Fire Bridge into his backpack. He also has information on fire rescue and rural fire fighters. The counsellor still thinks that he can be someone. She doesn't see the hurt behind the mask.

It's my fault.

The three words echo through his brain. Callen wants revenge, wants to be a hero to provide he's better than scum and it wasn't his fault. But Callen's used to wanting things he can't have. Revenge against the mob would be a death sentence and who else can he blame.

After school Callen sits in the hospital chapel. It's a good place to hide. He's learns the regulars. There's a girl, her mums a cop and her uncle was shot in a domestic. The family waits for him to wake from the coma. She shares her food and they walk the halls together. It gives him something to do.

…

"I'm sorry," says Callen. It's been three days and it's the first time Callen has managed to speak to David one on one. David's sister has been providing updates and the prognosis isn't good.

David glances at the doorway then turns away. "Why are you here?"

Callen shrugs. He doesn't know what to say so he walks in and takes seat. "How are you?"

"How do you think? A smashed ankle, a broken leg, damaged hips, cracked ribs and a concussion. They are going to send me home in a few days."

Silence falls as the words in Callen's head won't come out his mouth.

"The police asked who you were so I told them. I didn't mean to rat you out."

Callen shrugs, "the cops have already been around, no problem." Callen doesn't care about trouble, he cares about his friend. But he now wishes he had trusted his instincts to stay away.

"Mum had a fit when she found out the car was stolen. Did you hear there was a cop in the car? Mum said we could have been dead, that we could have been shot by the mobsters."

The talk is stilted. David remembers crying and begging, not the behaviour of a teenager with a fragile male ego. It grates on his nerves that his sister, the traitor, considers Callen a hero.

"I've got something for you." Callen pulls out 5 pages crammed full of writing from his backpack and hands it across.

David glances at the papers, "What the hell."

"It's Mr Lin's English assignment, I completed it in detention." There is a bright red A is circled in the corner with a few spelling corrections scattered down the page. It's not perfect. Callen glances at the paper with all the words he couldn't say. All the words to explain what happened to David and why. He hopes the words say sorry for the mess he got them into.

"What are you a moron? Stuff like that will get you killed. Cops are already coming around to our house and I've got family to think about." David shoves the pages back at Callen.

Slowly they begin to talk past Callen's blame and David's bitterness. They discussed school and David's family. It's all about today and yesterday and nothing about tomorrow. Callen is glad when it's time to escape.

In the corridor Callen pulls out the creased pages from where he stuffed them into his backpack. The assignment took hours. Mr Lin had called it an outpouring of truth, a leftover concept from an Asian refugee. He rips the pages in half and dumps them in a passing rubbish bin.

Callen jabs at the lift button feeling the tingle in his eyes. He won't visit again. Deep in heart he knows that this is goodbye, it's time to move on. Emotional shit is for losers and he tells himself to toughen up. When the lift arrives he gets in and pushes his way to the back to hide. Naturally the lift goes the wrong way.

"Are you OK?"

It's the girl from the chapel, he can't remember her name. "I'm fine thanks," he says with enough tone to cut the conversation dead.

She turns away and gets out at the next floor. Callen regrets his rudeness. He remembers the food and the shared conversations in the chapel. She had been nothing but kind and doesn't deserve his shit.

He has nothing to give her in payment and now he's missed his chance to say thanks. The lift starts down, stopping at each floor to collect new people. The lift once again stops at David's floor. So Callen gets off, walks towards the rubbish bin and pulls out the assignment. As well as spelling mistakes it's now got food stains on it. He tries to clean it with his sleeve. The pages don't look pretty but the words are still there.

…..

"Honey, that boy's here to see you."

Callen retreats to the hallway and waits.

"I wanted to say sorry, for before yeah know, for brushing you off." Callen looks at the ground.

Sure OK," she says.

He glances into the room, "How's your uncle?"

It's her turn to shrug and lean against the wall. "Mum's arguing with him again so better I guess."

He remembers how the girl told him her mother and uncle hated each other. How her mother weeps at his bedside until he is well enough to hate once more. Hospitals have the ability to change a person, but it doesn't always last.

"Here," the ripped papers are still in his hand so he holds them out for the girl to take. "I wrote it for David but he doesn't want to read it."

"What is it?" She glances at some of the pages.

"Just stuff I guess. Mr Lin said to write down everything I knew about the neighbourhood. So I did. Names, addresses and crimes, I thought, you know, you could give it to your mum with her being a cop and all."

"Are you sure, this is some serious shit."

"Yeah, maybe she can …" he falls silent feeling embarrassed. He signed the report Kenneth Callen Hutchinson. How can he be taken seriously when he does such childish things? He wants to snatch the report back but it's too late. A gift is a gift.

"You're leaving aren't you?" she leans into him and gives him a hug. "I'm never going to see you again."

And just for a little bit, he rests his weight on her shoulders and it feels good. "You look after yourself little ballerina. Don't give up the dancing." She punches him on the arm in a friendly way which makes him grin.

"Go fight a fire Callen. Go, out there and win."

Callen walks away.

"Hey Hutch," comes a call from behind him, he half turns. "I'll visit David for you so keep the faith."

Callen feels ten feet tall. He's glad he decided to say goodbye. When he walks out of the hospital the sun is shining.