Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The night was dark and everything was black, Scout felt himself fall

Down

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                 Down

                         Down

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Forever gone, as he hoped to be, Scout wanted to be gone. He hated his brothers, and they hatted him back. His mom worked he told her not to.

      Never would anyone feel his pain.

      Never would he feel the pain again.

      Scout smiled he knew it was over.

Chapter Text

Jeremy or Scout as he had started to call himself after joining the RED gang. Woke up in a steel framed medical bed. Ohhh fuck did I go through rebirth or some shit?

“Ah Jeremy good to see your awake!”

Fuck I’m still stuck.

“You attempted suicide last night, the doctors were barely able to save your life! You will be put on hospice care for a month… when we see you fit to leave your bed, everything will be explained by your group leader, and your group! Now it’s best you get some rest! Bye bye Jer!” … I don’t like that doctor… did he even realize I wanted to be dead. They won’t give me a choice to live or not will they?

Jeremy Scout looked around at his room, children’s toys decorated the room. This is stupid I can walk or at least move! Why wouldn’t the doctor explain anything?

Scout laid there, for a while… he didn’t know the time. Scout stared at the ceiling, for god knows how long… until he heard something, or someone…

“Hello…” Scout’s voice was very raspy, he had no clue why. The voice problem was mostly likely from the crying that night…

“Hi… who are you?” A child probably only older than him by the looks of a year or two, spoke quietly.

“I’m Jer- Scout… who are you…” Scout looked at the small child, they had amber colored hair, and leaf green eyes that had a blazing look to them. The small child wore a medical gown and a small green bracelet. The small child also wore a necklace with a charm small unicorn on it.

“I’m Ángel… but I called Pyro.. I like Pyro…” the child continued to attempt to speak english but all that came out was gibberish.

“Can you not- is English not your first language? It’s okay to tell me… it’s not mine! I speak Italian and French if that helps you!” The small child immediately stated to speak Spanish knowing that Scout would at least partially understand.

“¡Por fin alguien me entiende! ¡No sólo ese estúpido francés!” Scout just stared at Pyro scared to respond.

“sono francese...ma sono anche italiano” Scouts mother was Italian, his father who ran when Scout was young… well younger was French. Scout was also Portuguese, and Greek… but that was aside the point.

“Vaya... te ves blanca... ¡sin tu cabello y el matiz de tu piel! ¡Es oliva, no rojo como mis hermano!” Scout looked up at the young child… he really only had one or two questions left for them!

“Ehi Py, sei un ragazzo o una ragazza? se non sei nessuno dei due va bene! e qual è la tua età? sembri più grande di me... ma conosco molte persone che sono più giovani di me ma sembrano più vecchie!”

“… Yo tampoco... ¡pero tengo catorce años! ¿cuántos años tiene? te ves de doce... ¿once?” Pyro smiled, looking at Scout who tried to compose a sentence in Spanish not Italian!

“Uhhhh Tú usar èl o ella? O uh usted? Y yo tengo doce años!” Pyro chuckled at Scouts sentence, Scout began to laugh as well.

“Yo uso èl y “They and it” en ingles!” Pyro smiled, Scout questioned why the child was even here? This is a psyc ward right? Why are they here if it seems perfectly fine! Im not gonna press… but they seem perfectly fine!

“Ángel I know you want to converse with your new roomie, but come on! You have to come to dinner before the staff catches you!” A young girl, maybe a year or less older than Scout called!

“Adios,  nuevo amigo!” Pyro called before leaving the room.

“Ciao!” Scout called and watched the child  run out of the room… it was dinner time… he was here all alone… just like home hell. Scout returned to his state of watching the wall.

Back to home… the place he’d run from. Back to the brothers that bruised and broke him…

Back to the mother who pretended to care.

Back to the father that was never there.

Back to his room.

Back to alone.

Back to darkness

Chapter Text

Scout woke up… which he immediately regretted. Oh he’s back… great… The Doctor from before was back.

“Hello… Jenny… that’s not your name is it? You look like a boy, but your name on the sheet says Jenny… well I’m just going to call you Jenny like instructed!” Scout rolled his eyes… Just asking my name would have been good… “Well while you were asleep we ran a short physical, the hospital thinks your good to move into your room and meet the others of your group! In this psychiatric ward we group patients by mental health disorder and age! You are to be assigned to… Group Fortress! Or as the group likes to be called Team fortress! You will be living with your roommate Angie Arbor! We will come and have you meet the group in ten minutes okay! Call if you need anything!” With that the doctor left… Angie… does he mean Pyro? I know the kid used Angel… but they seem to like Pyro more! I’m just gonna call it Pyro to play it safe. Scout looked at the ceiling again for some random amount of time… after a while he got bored and decided to move.

Scout attempted to move from the bed but was stopped by a voice. “Don’t… I’m tasked with getting you to the commons room safely, just let me help!” The woman from before, called out. Now I’m full view the girl looked exactly as Scout had predicted based on her voice. The girl had straight jet black hair that was pulled into a bun with the ends dyed purple. The girl had emerald green eyes almost alike to Pyro’s. The girl wore a purple hoodie without the strings, and baggy black pants.

“Okay… what’s your name?” Scout asked. He slowly with the girls guidance stood up, and the two began to walk towards their destination.

“I’m Fiona Pauling, but just call me Pauling… uh or Fiona! I’m also a psychiatric patient if your wondering! I just can help out a lot, I’m probably going to be discharged soon…” Pauling and Scout finally arrived at the commons room, it was a medium sized room.

The room had a small nook to the far left at the back of the room. The other side of the room had a children’s play area that was completely padded. The play area was filled with pillows and small stuffed animals. On the close left side of the room was a few couches, a bean bag or two, a desk, and drawing supply’s. The close left side of the room had eight teens sitting in a circle with a price of paper that was laminated on their laps.

“Right over there is where you should sit! Right next to Pyro your roommate! Here take this! I’ll be right back!” Pauling handed him a laminated paper and quickly left to go get something.

All eyes were on Scout now. Slowly the boy inched forward and sat down. Immediately a white dove looking bird started to caw.

“neuer Freund, neuer Freund, neuer Freund! Frisches Fleisch!” The bird cooed, the owner of the bird quickly shushed him with a “stiller Archimedes!”

Then Pauling came back, this time with an unknown man. “Hello everybody! Hello new kid! My name is dr. Hale! I take care, teach, and watch over this group of kids! So as a big welcome from everyone! Welcome to group, or team… FORTRESS!” The whole group shouted with him on the “fortress” part. Most covering their ears for it.

“Now… how’s about you tell us about yourself! You will be staying here for… about a month! So it’s best you learn your group mates and they know you!” Dr. Hale seemed more excited than the Doctor from earlier. I guess saying a bit about myself wouldn’t kill me… I’ll just say what I told Pyro yesterday…

“Uhm… my name is Jeremy… Jeremy Blitz… uh but call me Scout please! I’m from Boston USA! Uh… I’m twelve! And uh what else do I say?” Scout looked at Dr, Hale for an answer.

“It’s okay if you don’t know what to say son! Many didn’t! All you need to say now is… pronouns and… anything that could be triggered by anyone here. Uh what else what else… oh any fun trivia about yourself!“ Scout took a deep breath ready to continue, and looked at Dr. Hale who gave him thumbs up.

“I like baseball… I like to play it actually! I like to draw… uh… I use he and him pronouns! I’m also lactose intolerant! Triggers… uh I don’t really like… uh… st- nevermind…” Scout looked at the floor, fear filling his head.

“Hey it’s okay, you don’t need to say anything now! Actually I have this wrist band for you! You should wear it! I take it you’ve met Pauling! See how she’s got that purple band! You have a red band!” The Doctor smiled clipping the band over Scouts arm, the band had little bunny’s engraved into the soft plastic. Scout stared at the band and turned his arm over to view the underside. “The band is a code for what your here for! Your sheet has what your here for if you’re curios! Before you read it, why don’t we go around introducing ourselves! We’ll start with Pyro and end with myself!”

Pyro spoke as was stood to but not very well. “Me Pyro… I use they y it… I like… unicorns… I-I’m soy… Spain… I am triggered by…  èl metal, gunshot… and yell. Yo dibujar… y me gusta billar…” The Spaniard looked nervous… Dr. Hale looked at Scout and began to translate before Scout said:

“I’m trilingual I understand it enough! I speak Italian!” Dr. Hale looked a little taken about, but nodded.

“Don’t interrupt anyone, but if you could… since your the only one who knows some Hispanic langue that’s not Jean… who kinda hates Py… would you be willing to translate for them?” Hale smiled as Scout nodded yes. “They usually sign in sign language, but when they speak aloud it’s usually Spanish!” Scout smiled.

The next boy spoke up, he looked like somebody straight out of a farm. “Hey new boy! I’m Dell… Dell Cohnager! I use he and they pronouns, uh I like machines and technology! I don’t have any known triggers… uh I am allergic to shellfish. And… oh! I’m Texan! I also come from the USA!” The boy next to Dell leaned over and laid his head on Dells shoulder.  Looking up the boy was signaled to go next.

“Bonjour Mon ami! My name is Jean, or Jaqui… or Ja… it depends honestly! Mon pronouns… toady it’s he and him but as a general guide if your not sure… just use zey zen he zen her! I’m… sixteen, and I’m from France if you couldn’t tell by the accent! I will not tolerate hitting or screaming… I’m very similar to Pyro.. except we have different medical conditions. I like to read, and dance!” Jean then promptly put his head back down on Dells shoulder. Huh… he was interesting…

The next boy to speak up was loud, not screaming but he was certainly louder than the others. “Hello Greenie! Today Is Your First Day At The Base! My Name Is Jane! I Use He And It Pronouns! I’m Fourteen! I Like America! And Eagles! I Am Triggered By Gunshots. Welcome Scout!” Jane seemed very happy that Scout was there. Onto the next guy I guess…

“Aye cheers! Me names Tavish or Tav for short! Aye also go by Demo! But ye can call me whatever! Aye’m fifteen! Aye use he ‘n him as me pronouns! Aye am triggered by explosions, so sorry for the lack of interesting movies in the future!” Scout gave Tavish a thumbs up, personally he loved action movies, but couldn’t stand scenes with over done special effects… aka all of them. There was a girl next to him surprisingly! I thought this was an all boys group… I guess I forgot about Pauling… this must be her roommate!

“Hello new person, name is Zhanna… I thirteen! I Russian, have hard time with English! I She and they pronouns! I like brother, sisters, singing! I triggered by… shouting… restraining… I say no others… personal!” Zhanna had an extremely thick accent, it was hard for Scout to decipher what she was saying at some points, but he got the cliff notes. The boy next to her spoke then!

“Hello am Zhanna’s brother Mikhail but call me Misha! I also Russian, and have hard time with English! I like siblings and friends and literature! I have eighteen years of age! I trigger by same things as Zhanna! We have similar trauma!” Misha laughed, Zhanna too. Zhanna hugged the larger man, they smiled before the next kid spoke! Is that what siblings are supposed to look like?… my brothers never hugged me… or smiled at me unless I did something ”correctly” at least in their eyes…

“Hello! My name is Lutz! I am sixteen! I like psychology and other medical stuff! I use he and him pronouns! I’m German! I have a support bird named Archimedes! Say hi Archimedes!” “SKWAK HELLO SCOUT!” “ Uh triggers… syringes lobotomy… anything that makes a loud drill noise…” Lutz gave a very creepy smile at the end and seemed to scare Pyro. The smile ended up spooking Scout, but the boy made no reaction to it.

The final boy stared at the floor before speaking, “h-hi… I’m Mick… uh but you can call me that or Mundy… I loke uh hunting and fishing! I camp a lot so… I dunno… I use he and him pronouns… I’m thirteen! Uh… Im from Australia… but I was born in New Zealand! So I’m a kiwi and a Ausie! What else… uh I’m kinda quiet so sorry if I don’t speak much… and uh triggers… breaking glass… other than that I’m fine.” Mick spoke shakily, looking like he was going to pass out from anxiety the whole time! I wonder what his deal is? He looks so cool!

Then Pauling spoke! “Hello I’m Fiona Pauling, but you all can call me Fiona or Pauling! I use she and her pronouns. I’m thirteen and three quarters! I like paperwork… yeah I know I’m boring! I like to write and sort things! I am from Massachusetts… well I was born in California actually! But I’ve spent four years in Boston! My triggers are just loud beeps! I’m excited to get to meet you Scout!” Fiona seemed nice, she was from Boston so she might understand the hardships of growing up on the Boston streets! She seems cool! I hope I can talk more to her!

“Alrighty, most of you know me! I’m Dr. Saxton Hale! Or Dr. Hale for short! I use he and him pronouns, and I’m thirty six! I like helping others, building things, and I like to  garden! I am from Australia, like Mick is! I can speak English, French, Russian, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic, Japanese, German, Icelandic, and Afrikaans, and I know sign languages! I can sign in ASL and in Ausland! I have no triggers, but was once a psyc ward patient, so if you have questions you can come to me!” Dr. Hale smiled and patted Scout on the back.

“I think since we all have a new member who’s going to have to adapt, we should have a quiet day! I’ll get the markers and paper, some of you can draw! For the others I’ll get cards! No gambling! Looking at you Jean and Tav! I’ll also get a board game like twister or chess! Misha Lutz, make sure Archimedes doesn’t eat the pieces! I’ll be right back, behave!” Dr. Hale then went a bit down the hallway and opened a supply closet disappearing inside.

“…” Scout now realized that he had no clue what to do. Looking around Scout saw that Misha and Lutz were preparing for a chess game. Tavish, Jean, Zhanna, Pauling, and Mick we’re setting up their area for cards. Dell, was at the children’s play area with foam bricks he somehow materialized. Pyro sat at a table and began to think. Scout just sat there and decided to look at his sheet. The sheet read:

——————————————————————

Name: Jenny (Jeremy/Scout) Blitz

Sex: Female (Trans to male)

Age: Twelve

DoB: April 22nd 2005

Allergens: Lactose, oak pollen

Family: Collie Blitz (Mother) (Father unknown) Lawrence Blitz (brother) James Blitz (Brother) Steven Blitz (Brother) Mark Blitz (Brother) Damien Blitz (brother) Luke (Glade) Blitz (Brother) Nathen Blitz (Brother)

Mental disabilities: ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia

Psychological illness: GAD, Depression, Suicidal thoughts, Anorexia, ED, Self harm (cutting, biting, scratching) Suicide attempt(s) low self esteem (seems to exert a lot of confidence though)

——————————————————————

Admittedly it took an embarrassing long amount of time for Scout to read over his entire sheet… Ugh Dyslexia’s a bitch.

“I see you’ve read over your sheet Scout! Do you mind if I take it!” Scout handed it to the speaker not minding who it was. Scout ended up getting up and looking at what happened while he struggled to read. Lutz and Misha were in the middle of a game of chess, the group playing cards were now betting secretly. Pyro was drawing, and Dell had now built a city out of the foam blocks. Scout decided to join Pyro in drawing.

“Hola amigo! Can I join you?” Scout smiled as he was given a nod in return. Scout grabbed a red marker and began to draw REDs logo. The sharp lines and wooden parts being his favorite to draw. Pyro glanced over at his work smiling and clapping.

“Gracias Py! Dr. Hale said you only speak sometimes… does that mean you know sign language?” Pyro nodded smiling and grabbed another piece of paper.

“If you could… I wanna communicate with you, and have you able to understand me and a wanna understand you! So maybe latter but could you teach me a little sign language? I don’t know if you use ASL or another type, but I wanna learn how to communicate!” Scout smiled, he looked at the kid who eagerly nodded.

Pyro then hugged Scout, who smiled and hugged back. Pyro grabbed a piece of paper and drew a little version of Scout similar to a stick figure, but without arms and was Scout. Next to the stick figure Pyro drew another stick figure that looked like the small child, but was wearing a gas mask. Pyro then around the figurines that looked like them doodled lollypops and other candy and rainbows. Pyro the offered the marker to Scout, taking it Scout began to draw a small hidden room that was in the RED gangs area!

Scout remembered that room perfectly, it was a small room, but it had a chain link fence that looked over the side of the highway. The fence had a tarp that hung over a metal bar to conceal the room when it wasn’t being used. The room had a red beanbag, and a radio. The room was formally dubbed Scouts canvas, because the room was a room that Scout had spray painted a ton a graffiti in! The room was filled with RED logos and doodles of character’s hanging wall to wall. The canvas room always smelled faintly of Oranges, for some unknown reason. The RED team searched that room for years and never found the source of the sent, but if something was unknown the team would say “orange sent?” It quickly became a great inside joke!

Pyro studied the carefully drawn room behind Scouts figure and cocked its head to ask “what’s that?” Scout happy to explain the room quickly started.

“The room is my favorite from my gangs base! Oh by the I was… am in a gang! We’re called the RED team! That gang is where my name Scout came from! That room was named Scouts canvas after me! It always smelled of oranges and we had no clue why!” Scout smiled reminiscing on the vibrant memory’s of his gang. Pyro seemed about to speak when, they were interrupted by Dr. Hale.

“Alright kids! It’s time for lunch! Let’s head on down to the groups cafeteria!” The team all got up and formed a line similar to one you would see of preschoolers. So this is what a psyc ward is like… it’s nothing like the movies say it is!

Scout smiled as he and the group walked to the cafeteria. Maybe I’ll get along with this group…

Chapter Text

Scout walked into the cafeteria, and was immediately overwhelmed by everything. The group fortress kids stuck together, as such Scout ended up sitting between Sniper and Pyro. Across from Scout sat Lutz who was drumming his fingers on the table! Misha who sat next to him, was engaged in a conversation with Fiona, but was half paying attention to Lutz. 

Scout looked at Pyro for guidance, the kid just stared back at him. Pyro grabbed a piece of laminated paper from their pocket and an expo marker. Pyro quickly drew up a few words and symbols, the first symbol was accompanied by the word cafeteria, the symbols was a stick figure making a cup shape with its hands and bringing under its chin, next to the first drawing was one of the same image with the cupped hand brought to the other side of the chin. Scout smiled and nodded in understanding. Pyro then erased the photo and drew another picture with the word bedroom under it. The drawing had three actions instructed on it, the first said “bed” and had a stick figure laying their head on its hand. The next picture had two hands running parallel to each other both flat and on their side. The last step was similar to the second step with the hands pointing away from the body, and being farther apart rather than close together. Underneath the second and last steps was the word room. 

Scout smiled and gave a nod in understanding. "We are in the-" Scout said before signing "Cafeteria!" Pyro giggled and clapped their hands. Pyro then hid the laminated paper and marker in its pocket before anybody saw what they did. Scout examined his wristband once again, alongside the rabbit there was a little lactose intolerant symbol and something that must have represented Scout's pollen allergy. Pyro also took a look at the band, and extended their wrist to show off its wrist band. Pyro had a little orange wristbands with a small unicorn etched on it. On the wrist band also was a few other symbols Scout did not understand. Soon enough the table of kids Scout sat at was called to eat lunch. Pyro lead Scout over to the line, and grabbed a small plastic tray. Scout watched as Pyro showed their wristband to the lady working there and got its food. Scout continued in line and showed his wrist band to the lunch lady who scowled for a moment, before serving Scout some food. Scout walked up to the lady who he thought took attendance and made sure everybody got food. The lady looked at his band and asked his name. "Scout Blitz" Scout quickly responded. The lady nodded signaling that he was good to go. Scout walked, and sat down back beside Pyro who was eating. Scout began to scarf down his food as inconspicuously as possible. Pyro patted him on the back, and gave a hang gesture that seemed to say "Slow down!" Scout had grown up in a family where if he did not eat quickly, he might as well have not eaten at all. 

"Niño! ralentiza!" Pyro called, as Scout nearly choked on his food. Scout shook his head, and put his spoon down for a second. Pyro patted Scout on the back once more before returning to eating their lunch. Scout began to eat his lunch slower, not that he had much left. After Scout ate, he went still. How many calories were in that.... what did I eat, how much running do I need to do to burn it off. Scout thought, as he started to grow anxious. Scout looked up at the clock on a wall. 12:30... 12:30... Just make it to the end of the day, just make it to the end of the day.... Scout began to sweat, and the cafeteria grew louder. Scout ducked and covered his ears. Pyro looked at Scout, they gave him a soft smile through its cloth mask. Scout atempted to relax, but the room was very loud eve for a kid who grew up with seven siblings. 

After a few more minutes "Alright! Group Fortress! Come on, time for gym!" Was called. Scout walked in a line with the rest of the group. Scout looked over at Pyro who was in front of him, but not by much. Scout gave Pyro a soft smile as the group walked to the gym. Scout had never been particularly good at sports aside from running, but for some reason he felt oddly confident. Scout exhaled, and put on his best smile as the group entered the gym.

Chapter Text

Scout stood on the side of the gym, it was quite loud but he expected it from a group of 11 kids running around. A few kids were running around the gym playing tag, the rest streching or doing yoga. Mick and Pyro were also was off to the side of the gym. Jeremy walked over to sit beside them, to hopefully learn what to do. "Hey, soo... what do we do..." Scout asked, there was not exactly an information pamphlet when he walked in. Dr. Hale was busy watching over the stretching group, and there was a lady watching over the tag group. Scout still needed to learn the rules of the ward, but he figured he could ask the other two or find out tomorrow.

"Hm... well its gym, I guess you exercise, but... neither me or Py really like to play any games that involve being chased or chasing somebody... and I don't know I just don't find stretching enjoyable... sometimes Dr. Hale gives us a ball, and we toss it to each other, but that does not happen often..." Mick lamented. Pyro nodded. Scout looked back at the playing kids once more. Scout had never liked tag particularly, but after his brothers screamed at him and chased him out of the house, he hatted the game. Scout kicked his feet, and stared at the floor. "I mean if you want, we probably just could walk around, I don't think anybody would care." Mick suggested. Scout gave him a shy smile.

"So... you said you were from Australia! Whats it like over there? Are the evil koalas real, I think I saw em online one day... they're called drop bears, right?" Scout asked, Mick smiled. Pyro jumped giddily for some reason as the three began to walk around the walls of the room.

"Yeah! Real buggers they are! if ye ever see one! Hah! You better be runnin' for your life! I used to go to the forest with ma dad to hunt 'em!" Scout was enthralled with Mick's story of the "evil koalas' Pyro shook Mick, practically saying "go on! Go on!" Mick let out a hard laugh, and patted Pyro on the shoulder. "Okay, okay Py! Ill go on, well one day my dad and I found an old cabin in the woods! Uh, well we heard somethin' commin' from inside the thing, and so we decided to check it out! We found nothing and went home, I still kinda wonder what was in that cabin..." Mick trailed off, becoming oddly quiet. Scout had seen how Mick was shy, but this seemed strangely unnatural for the kid. Pyro and Scout exchanged worried glances. "Whats... Boston like?" Mick choked out, he clearly was hiding more of the story, but Scout was not going to push.

"Uh well, Its kinda rough, I was basically raised on the streets! My Mom cared... kinda, she never stoped my brothers from pushing me around, or messing with me. I joined a gang, sorta? At like tenish. They fought turf wars, but I was never super involved... Ironically the random teenagers that picked me up off the street were more like family than my brothers or mother really... A lota of teh folks in Boston smoke though, the cops came to my house a lot to reprimand my brothers... Uh Boston is really cool aside from that..." Scout said, he glanced over at Mick who had now collected himself, and looked extremely tired.

Pyro nodded, and looked at Mick, cocking their head to ask if he was okay. "Im okay Py, just brought back some bad memories..." Mick said melancholically. The three had now walked a lap of the gym, and Pyro sat down, it was quickly joined by Mick and Scout. "hey Mick, I won't push anything, but were her if ya need somthin brotha! I may have only known you for a few hours... but I think I wanna be friends!" Scout said, he smiled. Mick nodded. 

"I wanna be friends too, I'm sorry I'm so... down, I'll be real, I went back to the cabin one night... and there was a man... I-I he- just- I don't- he grabbed me... and he..." Mick stuttered, a silence fell over the trio. Scout frowned, he had heard of kids being touched and broken by people, but had never known them directly. Scout wanted to reach out and give Mick a hug, but wanted to give him the space to breathe, and calm down. 

"Hey, I don't know what your life is like, but I promise to help you feel better!" Scout promised, Mick gave him a shy smile. Pyro scooted over a bit to give him some space.

"Thanks... I think I want to just be able to relax for a bit, if you two want you can talk about whatever." Mick said, slowly moving into a ball like position. Pyro moved over to sit beside Scout. Scout was happy to pick up a conversation with Pyro, and cut the tension. Pyro listened as Scout went on about the cool stuff in Boston, and how growing up there was so crazy. Scout smiled happily as he saw that Mick began to cheer up and paid some attention to Scouts rambling.

Maybe staying here won't be so bad, after all I have these guys with me!