Free Daniel's Dream by Andi Anderson Page B

face burned from humiliation and his vision blurred from unshed tears. He wouldn't be able to answer any of the questions because if he tried, he'd start crying, and that was last thing he wanted to do in front of these strangers.
    "Danny? Oh my god! Are you alright?"
    Nick's voice had never sounded so good. He broke through the circle of people and ran into Nick's open arms.
    "Oh, Danny… I'm sorry. I tried to get to you as soon as I saw what happened, but I was parked too far away to get to you in time. Are you okay?" Nick hugged him close, and within the warmth and safety of his friend's arms, Daniel could breathe again. But he still couldn't talk, so he nodded.
    Nick was here now and he would make everything all right.

Chapter Two

    Nick couldn't believe what had happened. One of his worst fears had come true. Some punk kid had dared to deliberately hurt his Danny-boy. Daniel had been through so much in the past two years. Both of his parents had been killed instantly in a horrible car accident. Since then Danny had been living under his Uncle Josh's guardianship and although they had always loved each other, both were living with the grief over the loss from losing Danny's parents and Josh's twin sister, Jolene.
    There were many nights that he and Josh had discussed the grief and guilt Josh had been feeling that first year and a half with Danny. Even though both Josh and Danny had tried, they had never been able to breach the wall between them.
    Nick remembered the first time he had laid eyes on both Danny and Josh. He had been sent by an employment agency to apply for the Nanny position that Josh had advertised for. Once he met both of them, his protective instincts had kicked into overdrive. Both Josh and Danny had the saddest eyes he had ever seen.
    Soon after Nick had been hired, they started to establish a family together. Not only did Danny feel like the son he'd never had, Josh was the love of his life. They had just really started to build a tight-knit and happy family.
    Now as he looked down into Danny's light green eyes and tear-streaked freckled face, it flabbergasted him that Danny had experienced such hatred from another. This was a new experience for both of them. He was furious with the kid who had dared to raise his hand to this loving child, and sorrowful to see the pain in those amazing eyes that reminded him so much of the man he loved.
    He hugged Danny to him and the boy's shoulders shook from weeping silently against him. Nick's heart broke seeing his young Danny-boy so devastated.
    "Shhh… Danny… everything's going to be all right. I'm here now," he coaxed, as he ran his hands up and down Danny's trembling back. The powdery feel from the chalk on Danny's shirt angered Nick even more. But now wasn't the time to give into his warring emotions. Danny needed him to be calm, so he took a deep breath and forced himself to simmer down.
    "He… he wouldn't stop. Why does he hate me so much?" Danny's sobbing voice almost brought tears to his eyes.
    He took another deep breath and gently disengaged himself from Danny's firm grip. He knelt down on the ground and looked the young boy at eye level. "I don't know, Danny. He's probably just a very unhappy boy that wants to take his anger and sadness out on other people."
    Or he's some little shit that takes pleasure on picking on others that can't defend themselves.
    "Mr. Kirkland? Is he going to be alright?"
    Nick looked up into the concerned brown eyes of Danny's teacher. He had met Mr Thompson at the last parent-teacher conference and they'd developed an instant mutual respect. Mr Thompson showed great compassion when he'd heard about Danny's past, and his encouragement and understanding disposition allowed Danny to thrive in his classroom as well.
    "I think so, he's understandably upset and frightened right now."
    Mr. Thompson leaned down and placed his hand on Danny's trembling shoulder. "Daniel, how about you and Mr Kirkland come into our classroom for a