I made minor changes to it.

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

Donovan surveyed the thundering cafeteria, looking for the face of his old friend. But among the mass of students, he wasn't able to spot Miguel Alvarez. After a whole morning, Donovan was still unsure how to deal with the situation. Beside him, Link adjusted his hands on his tray, bringing Donovan back to the present. Without saying a word they crossed to the back of the cafeteria and took the empty spot beside Carter. She didn't bother looking at them as they sat.

"Are you going to make a habit of this?" she asked, grimacing at something she saw.

"I don't know. We haven't decided yet," Link said. "Would you hate it, if we did?"

She didn't respond for a second, then shrugged. The hesitation told Donovan that companionship was not something she was used to but not something she was opposed to either.

"I probably wouldn't stop you."

Link smirked, at ease with someone who was so blunt.

"You're too friendly, I can see why the school loves you."

Carter looked at him, the edge of her mouth tugging upwards.

"What can I say, I was voted most approachable," she said, stealing a fry off of Link's plate.

Link laughed. Despite Donovan's reservation about Carter, he was happy that in only two days Link could find some form of comfort in the new school. A slender girl with chestnut curls walked up to their table. Carter gestured to her, the motion mocking.

"See, what did I tell you," she said.

The girl frowned at Carter as Link tried to contain his laughter. The girl turned her attention to Donovan. He met her gaze but held in check the slight tinge of annoyance that rose at her unwanted attention.

"Hi Donovan," she said, her voice bright. "Our table has room if you want to sit with us." She looked to Link. "And...um... you can come too."

At least the added invitation was proof that their tactic worked. Link was an afterthought and one that barely merited attention. Link raised his eyebrows and looked to Donovan, whose face revealed nothing.

"Thanks for the offer, but we're fine here," Donovan said.

The girl looked stunned and stood there for a long minute.

"I'll come," Carter said.

The comment nearly stole Donovan's composure away, but he held onto it. The girl glared at Carter before walking away.

"Well, that was a bit rude," Carter said. "I wonder why she didn't invite me as well? Another mystery for the ages, I guess."

"Yes, they will be working on that one forever," Link said.

She shrugged as if rejection was a common occurrence.

"Why didn't you say yes?" she asked.

Donovan gave her a blank look, puzzling why, though she didn't tell them not to sit with them, seemed fine if they left.

"You want us to leave?" he asked.

"Are you kidding me? You would be surrounded by girls desperate to get your attention. It would be the most entertaining thing to watch. My prediction would be that the brunette would have ended up spilling something on your shirt. Then, apologize profusely while she would try to dry your shirt with her hand."

"Donovan, maybe you should go. I wouldn't mind watching that," Link said, a hint of glee in his voice.

Donovan merely looked at Link, not saying what he thought of the notion.

"So tell me about your parents?" Carter asked.

Link blinked at her.

"You really want us to leave, don't you?" he asked.

"It's a reasonable question. You're sitting at my table. I'm asking about their occupations, not your entire genealogy," she said.

"Normal people usually start off asking about hobbies," Link said. "They usually avoid personal questions until the third day and stick with pop culture for conversation topics."

"Question: in the one and a half days that you have known me, have you ever linked the word normal to me?"

Link shook his head. "Good point."

"Besides, pop culture is stupid. As for hobbies, I'm guessing Donovan's has something to do with running and lifting weights based on his physique. As well as boxing, based on the state of his knuckles."

The corner of Donovan's mouth twitched, struck again by her level of observation and the bluntness in which she spoke. As he studied her, he realized that words to her were like knives. She flung them blindly at people seeing which ones hit and drew blood. As if to confirm his thought, she smirked then looked to Link.

"You play video games. I know this because of the calluses on your thumbs. So who are your parents?"

Her gaze cut to Donovan, eyes narrowing as she studied him, trying to cut away at him.

"What do they really do? Since I know your father is not a senator," she said.

Donovan gave her a leveled look.

"I never said he was."

"No, but you didn't correct me when I was implying that he was."

Donovan remained unconcerned.

"How do you know?" Link asked.

Carter stole another fry off Link's tray, the edge of her lips curling like she knew a secret.

"Because Senator Keller doesn't have a son. He does have an illegitimate daughter that is secretary to his chief of staff."

When Link's mouth popped open, Carter raised her eyebrows. The truth made Donovan flinch, debating whether being close to this girl was truly dangerous or not.

"You didn't know?" she asked, her tone implying that it should have been obvious to everyone. "Seriously, she has the same nose, forehead and face shape. Different color hair doesn't change the fact that she looks exactly like him."

Link shifted, adjusting his glasses. The nervous tic was a tell that Donovan feared would give everything way to the girl with no flirter and too sharp of a mind.

"How do you know this stuff?" Link asked.

She shrugged, scanning the cafeteria like it was a puzzle that she was constantly solving.

"I have this thing called a brain and a set of eyes. It seems everyone else has yet to turn their own on."

Link laughed and opened Carter's bag of chips.

"What do your parents do?" she asked, taking another fry off Link's plate.

"It's me and my mom. She's a pretty big lawyer. I only see my dad sometimes." Link fidgeted. "He's not really a big part of my life."

Carter nodded, her gaze traveling over the room.

"I understand that," she said, her tone distracted.

"You and your mom then?" Link asked.

Carter frowned but schooled her features as she looked at Link.

"No. Just my dad and me. My mother is no longer in the picture," she said.

"That sucks," Link said.

Glancing away, she absently cracked her knuckles. That single gesture told Donovan everything. Her mother wasn't dead, but she wasn't part of Carter's life. A dead parent didn't elicit a reaction of wanting to hit something and Carter looked like she could break a wall.

"Sure," she said.

Link looked to Donovan, questioning what was wrong. When Carter was in control of her emotions again, she turned back to them.

"Donovan what do your parents-"

Before she could finish, someone approached their table. They all looked up to see Mason scowling at them, his bodyguard standing just behind him. Next to Donovan, Link tensed and Donovan held himself back from saying something that would give Link away.

"What are you doing here?" Mason asked Link.

Carter leaned on the table, putting on a patronizing smile. It was a smile that said she had found something interesting and she planned to toy with it.

"I was bound to make friends at some point," she said. "They're new. You can't blame them for their ignorance of my social standing."

Mason looked at her, his scowl turning into an annoyed frown.

"Owens, do you ever shut up?" he asked.

Donovan realized this was not their first interaction. She gave a lazy shrug.

"I don't know, I haven't tried yet. I don't find it as easy as you do to turn off my brain. I am open to tips. I can imagine you have a lot."

Link laughed as Mason clenched his fists. Where Donovan hadn't been able to defend Link, Carter had and for that fact alone he was grateful to her.

"You know you're a real pain in the-"

"Oh, I would watch what you say next," Carter said, holding up her hand. "Because I could get in a good swing before Smith here tackled me."

Carter looked to the beefy man in a black suit and nodded.

"Hi Smith, how's it going?" she asked, her tone casual.

Smith's posture remained the same, though a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"What are you doing here?" Mason asked again.

Carter leaned towards Link.

"I think he might have a hearing problem," she mock whispered. "It doesn't bode well for his future presidency."

Link cracked a smile, as Mason's face turned red.

"I suggest a blue tie to go with that shade of red," Carter said, pointing to Mason's face. "It will downplay the color just a bit."

Mason pointed a finger at her.

"Owens, you b-"

"Yes, Mr. President?" she asked, with a polite smile.

Mason looked about to hit her, his face contorted with rage. Donovan tensed, ready to spring into action if Mason moved to attack.

"All those things you are thinking about doing," Carter said, unfazed by the anger coming off Mason is waves. "I would rethink them. I have no problem hitting the president's son. Also, I know Smith is so bored he would let me get in a few good hits before stopping me."

Smith shifted his shoulders and coughed into a large fist, covering his chuckle. Without another word, Mason turned and strode away. Carter turned back to Link.

"I think a beautiful friendship is in the making, don't you?"

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

The second the lunch bell rang, Donovan stood and collected his tray, Link right behind him. Carter split ways with them without a single word, holding to her persona of not needing people. Donovan wasn't convinced, but she was not what his thoughts were dwelling on at the moment. Instead, it was Link.

As the pair cut through the crowded hallway, Donovan glanced at Link. There was a lost expression on his face and he seemed unable to raise his head. Taking hold of Link's arm, Donovan pulled them into a storage closet that smelled of ammonium. Link gazed around in puzzlement.

"What are we doing in here?" he asked.

Donovan leaned back against a set of metal shelves.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

Link knew at once what Donovan was referring to. In answer, he shoved his hands in his pockets and scuffed his shoes on the rough tiled floor.

"Fine," he said.

Donovan was about to call him out on the lie, when Link looked up, resigned.

"Can we not talk about this right now. I don't want to deal with it."

Donovan gave a slow nod, knowing that it wasn't the time to get into how Link felt about facing his half-brother, but Donovan hadn't had any plans of letting Link feel like he was alone.

"That's fine," Donovan said.

Link relaxed and glanced at the door.

"You know rumors are going to start if people see us coming out of here together."

Donovan shrugged. "Screw them. High schoolers are a bunch of idiots. And Mason's the worst of them."

A smile tugged at Link's mouth, the comment appreciated.

"And anyway we'll wait for the second bell before leaving."

Link eased back on the shelves behind him, staring at the floor. Donovan was quiet, sensing the thoughts building in Link's mind and knowing that silence was the likeliest way to tease them out.

"Do you think he knows exactly what I am?"

Donovan curled one fist at Link's use of 'what' instead of 'who' as if he were an object instead of a person.

"It's possible. Your resemblance to your father is strong, but the hair color and glasses do obscure it. Though that one incident in which he saw you two together doesn't help."

Link nodded staring at the floor. "Carter really doesn't like him."

"No, that is clear."

The edge of Link's lips curled. "She stands up to him too."

Donovan said nothing. It was another statement that proved how much Link wanted her as his friend but Donovan still felt doubt. She was unpredictable. Link lifted his head, a sad expression in his eyes.

"Do you think if people knew who I was they would treat me like they all treat Mason?"

The answer was no. But Donovan wasn't going to say it. Instead, he gripped Link's shoulder.

"Listen to me, whether they would or they wouldn't, doesn't matter. They are a bunch of pompous kids who think arrogance amounts to worthiness." He tapped Link's chest with his finger. "You matter. Because of who you are, not because of how you act or who your father is, got it?"

Link nodded. The second bell rang and Donovan opened the door. They slipped out, the hallway empty. Link glanced around.

"I think we won't have to deal with rumors," he said.

"And even if someone makes a comment I'll make sure they don't repeat," Donovan said.

Link snorted. "I know you don't trust her, but you and Carter would make a good couple.

Donovan didn't answer. That was not going to happen.

***********

Donovan pushed open the doors to the library, holding it open for Link. The place had a controlled silence, only broken by the rustle of pages and muffled whispers. Finding a table, the pair set down their things.

"I'm going to find a reference book for the history essay," Donovan said.

Link nodded and pulled out his math homework. Wandering the aisles for ten minutes, Donovan finally found the section he was looking for. As he pulled down a book and was flipping through it, a figure appeared in the corner of his eye. The curve and gait told him it was female. When she stopped beside him and he looked up, it was confirmed.

"Hi handsome," she said.

Despite his growing irritation with the girls at the school, he was impressed by her boldness. He still gave no response.

"Are you coming to my party on Saturday?" The girl sidled closer and placed a hand on his arm. The vaguely positive thought Donovan had for her vanished and he tensed under the intruding contact. "I thought we could have our own after party." A tinge of pity went through Donovan, wondering if this girl truly believed the only attention she could garner from a male was by suggesting physical relations. That feeling was smothered when she glanced down at his arm, her eyes widening as she felt his arm. "Oh my gosh, you're so strong," she said.

Donovan shifted, pulling his arm free. He looked back down at the book in his hand.

"No, thanks," he said.

The girl gave him a sultry pout.

"You sure?" she asked.

Donovan looked at her but said nothing. When he frowned at her as if silently questioning her intelligence, she flushed and she gave him a pinched smile.

"Let me know if you change your mind," she said.

She left, swinging her hips with extra effort. Donovan watched her leave, his annoyance rising again.

"Not likely," he said.

Someone laughed behind him and he tensed. When he looked back, he found Carter making her way to him. Amusement played around her mouth as she rested against the bookshelf, arms crossed.

""High school debauchery full of wasted drunks isn't your thing?" she teased.

For a moment, Donovan wondered if she was the same as the rest of the girls, her game only different. What she said next brushed away that thought.

"Sometimes I wonder how most people live with using so little parts of their brains," she said. "It's a miracle the human race is still around."

Right then Donovan could see her loneliness, the way her intellect put her above the people around her and acted as another form of isolation. He made no reply. Carter reached out and felt his arm, then dropped her hand. The action had been curious instead of sexual.

"The girl does have a point, you have muscle. My guess about you lifting weights was correct."

"You struck me as the person who doesn't guess," Donovan said, evenly.

"I make calculated guesses, there's a difference."

He nodded. Carter looked down at the book he was holding then up at the bookshelf.

"If you are looking for material for the history essay, go with Floyd," she said, pointing to one of the books. "He has a better understanding of both sides and his points are clearer."

Donovan took down the book.

"Thanks," he said.

Carter smirked.

"No problem handsome," she said.

Donovan watched her walk away, finding the way she mockingly called him handsome more likable than how the girl before had said it when she really meant it. Putting the first book he had gotten out back, Donovan headed back to his table. Link was buried in his homework and barely noticed when he joined him.

Two rows down, Carter sat at her own table. Though Donovan didn't look her way, he knew she was watching him. When he eventually met her gaze, she didn't back down, not caring that she had been caught staring. It was an unflinching look that said she was trying to figure him out. Like she could crack open his head and pull apart his brain and know his thoughts. Donovan went back to his work, all the while aware of her, wondering what she could see in him.

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

As Donovan stepped into his apartment, his phone rang. Flicking on the lights, he nudged the door shut and pulled out his phone. When he saw the name on the screen, he closed his eyes, cursing Brock. Letting out a tense breath, he answered.

"Hi, mom," he said, tossing his bag onto the couch.

"Hey sweetheart, how are you doing?"

His mother had a voice that was warm and soothing, like a cup of tea on a rainy day. Even with his annoyance towards Brock, he managed a small smile. It was a look that seemed to take away years and turn him back into a kid.

"I'm Fine. How's the commander?"

Though he knew his mother wasn't going to accept that as his only answer to her question, she told him about his father. As she talked, he walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge door. The contents were mostly heavy protein meats and vegetables. Moving aside a case of beers James had left behind on his last visit, Donovan grabbed the remains of a protein shake.

"Have you talked to your brothers lately?" his mother asked.

Donovan knew his mother and knew the casual question was anything but what it seemed. With a breath, he sank onto his couch, his eyes traveling to the photograph on the wall. The one of his family.

"I'm not lonely," he answered, drinking some of the green contents.

"I never said you were."

Donovan shook his head. "We text. I saw Brock the other night and we might be able to swing dinner in the next week or so. What he told you is wrong. I'm fine. There is no reason for you to worry about me."

"I'm your mother and that is in the job description. You know I've never liked you being so alone."

At her words, Donovan took in his apartment. It was a decent size. In the six years he had been there barely anything had changed, it still held the controlled look of a magazine ad. The only changes he had made were adding a punching bag, the boxing dummy and the gun range score sheets that James had put on the fridge. A reminder to Donovan that, James was still the best shot out of the family.

"I'm fine," he reassured her.

His current life was now his norm. But even still he remembered too clearly how noisy his life had been back on the base. Before she could ask another question that was intended to dissect him, he changed the topic.

"Do you have a minute to help me going over someone's profile?" he asked.

"Of course."

Donovan smiled at the change in tone, intrigue with a hint of what he called her professional voice, more formal.

"For a reason, I'll explain later, we've had to switch schools." His mother hummed at this piece of information and he could almost hear her put together all the effects it would have on Donovan as well as Link. To stop that line of inquiry, he went on. "Link is doing fine so far, but there is a girl that is...complicated and a potential friend of his."

"What's her name?"

"Carter Owens. I have her school file."

Donovan got out his computer and pulled up the file that he had requested. During his afternoon classes, he had gone through it again, searching for any red flags, hints that Carter could be a threat to Link's safety.

"The thing is she's smart, I would even say brilliant, but she's isolated."

"Not uncommon for someone with a high intellect."

Leaning forward towards the coffee table, Donovan scrolled through the pages, browsing the material.

"That's the strange thing. She's smart but she has an uncanny ability to read the people around her. Instead of using this information to make friends, she uses it almost like a shield, a way of keeping everyone from getting close. Though she will bite back if someone approaches, she will also easily come to the defense of someone who can't protect themselves."

His mother hummed again, her mind turning over this piece of information.

"Tell me more. What is her home life like?"

"The file is school records only, but today I learned it's just her father and her. I don't know where her mother is but she's not in the picture. And Carter doesn't want her to be, but isn't at peace with this either."

Donovan's mother remained silent as he kept talking, handing over all he had discovered. At some point, he stood and paced, the words and the mystery that surrounded this girl driving him into action. When he eventually finished, his mother didn't instantly respond.

"From what you've told me, it seems that she portraying typical abandonment issue symptoms. The way she didn't tell Link and you to leave when you sat with her proves she is still open to friends. But the blunt way she asks questions suggests that she's testing you. She wants to know that before she invests herself in this relationship that you won't run at the first sign of conflict. She's already reacting as if you will abandon her as well. She pushes at you as a way of protecting herself."

Donovan ran a hand through his hair, sitting down on the armrest of the couch, one foot on the cushions.

"That seems consistent with what I've seen so far. Clearly, it must come from her mother leaving."

"That would be my guess. And depending on the age when she left, it would have a bigger impact."

Donovan reached out and grabbed his smoothie, taking a drink.

"How so?"

"Well, if her mother left when she was a child, she would still have scars but she would be more adjusted to her life. She might be isolated still, but she would be less reactionary. If the abandonment was when she was older, then that would cut deeper.

"For Carter to be growing up and then have a mother leave when she's trying to find her identity would largely impact how Carter sees the world and sees herself. In her eyes, she would be someone not worth loving, not worth anyone's time. Her best option would be to push everyone away before it was reiterated that she wasn't lovable."

Slowly, Donovan lowered the protein shake, hit with the truth of his mother's words. Though he couldn't speak with certainty over which category Carter fell into, a part of him felt for a girl who would have lost so much. A girl who could feel she wasn't lovable.

"I can't say if this is what Carter feels but it could be a factor."

Donovan nodded. "One last question. Could she be a danger to Link?"

Silence fell on the other line as his mother thought.

"I don't know. Someone like that would be more likely to accept his truth and not abuse it if she truly knew the person, created an emotional connection to him. Called him a friend. But if not then that discovery might turn into power in her hand."

"So keep her close?"

"No, Donovan," his mother said, her voice tinged with a rebuke. "Get to know her."

Ashamed, he grimaced and nodded.

"Of course. Thanks for the help."

"Anytime, sweetheart. I have to go, I have a client. Also, you need to call me more often, I miss you too much."

Ducking his head, Donovan felt his lips twitch with the familiar pinch of homesickness.

"I will, I promise."

"All right, I love you."

"Love you too."

The line went dead and Donovan tossed his phone on to the cushions, his eyes straying to the computer screen and the open file. Carter's photo was at the top and he found himself staring at it, wondering what he would learn from the girl who seemed to know everything.

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

STOP!
(Hammer time)
(Collaborate and listen)
(In the name of love, before you break my heart)

Sorry, there were just too many references. I couldn't waste it.

So there you have it. Donovan and his mother being best of chums. Not gonna lie, I did not expect him to be as close to his mother as this showed he is. But now that I've written it, it makes sense.

So tells mes what's ares your thoughts.

I don't have a lot of thoughts today, but that's nothing new, so I need some of yours.

As well as your thoughts, leave behind a vote, comment, follow!