Amanda hugged her friend and kept her arms around her to keep tehm both warm. "That could happen to any one of us. I can't believe the cop pushed his face into the snow!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The young cop said, "You have one minute. No hugging or kissing."
Then, he turned to Kevin, "What were you saying?"

Justin still felt frozen in the face. He tried to tell Maralyn he was sorry and it was an accident, but the words came out as nothing but babbling."
Maralyn cried and turned on the cheif. "What did you do to him? He can't talk!"
At those words, Justin panicked. Was his speech permanently impared? He couldn't even cry and ther tears that came were frozen to his face.
Maralyn sshreiked, "Put him in the hospital! He's freezing to death!"

Diane felt tears trickling down her cheeks. It was unfair to treat someone in such a way. She shifted back and forth on her feet and waited to see what the cop would say.

Amanda gasped, "Are they just going to let him freeze to death?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin still had breath in him. Ho wanted to run to Maralyn, soothe her and tell her he loves her. He couldn't, unless he wanted a gun turned on him or Maralyn again. Even if he could, he could not speak clearly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter texted Ryan, telling him to come into the hospital room where Nate was.

Ryan jumped when he saw the text from Peter. Nate was in the hospital? He dashed downstairs and called to Chrissa, "I'll be back later!"

"Where are you going?" Chrissa hollered from the living room where she was watching TV.

Too late. Ryan had slammed the front door shut without answering her. Chrissa rolled her eyes and muttered, "Brothers."

Diane gripped Amanda's hand and spoke to the police officer. "Please, Justin isn't well! Won't you do something?"

Peter was relieved to see Ryan when he got there. "Do you know what happened?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The other male cop, not the one talking to Kevin, held onto Justin and informed the others, he was taking Justin inside the hospital. When they got in there, he asked, "Can you tell me everything that happened?"
Justin felt the use of his lips slowly coming back, as he told the man everything.

Ryan shrugged. "I heard about Justin being arrest for murder. I knew it wasn't true, of course. What happened? Is Nate okay?"

Peter looked at Nate, tehn back at Ryan. "I think one of the thugs shot Nate's arm. I can't believe they arrested my cousin! THe cheif yelled at me fo rgetting near him. He pulled a gun on Miley."

Miley told Ryan and Peter what all happed. Peter's eyes widened in shock. "And the police won't belive it was an accident?"

Ryan shook his head, blinking back a couple tears. "Oh no. I can't believe this is happening to Justin. Isn't there anythign we can do?" he groaned.

Justin asked, "Can I please see if Nate is okay?"
The cop answered. "You can, but I am coming with you. Maybe Nate could tell me a few things."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter was suprised to see Justin come in the door, even though eh was followed by a cop. He rushed to Justin's side, tears flowing down his cheeks and gave him a hug. "Oh Justin."
Justin hugged his cousin back, grateful for the warm touch from the cousin he cherished.

The cop asked Nate, "What all happened before the guy died?"

Nate said "Well I had saw two men drag Kevin into and allyway so I snuck in behind them, then distracted the men for long enough that Kevin could get away. Then they sent a guy after me and I ran when I was shot" he sighed and told Peter "Don't worry man the guy was a really bad shot and just took some skin off my shoulder"

Peter smiled, "Well, I'm glad you're okay. Still want to join the military? I mean, your brotehr is alive. Isn't the reason you joined because you thought your brother was dead or still captive?"

While Peter was talking to Nate, Miley told the cop everything that happened. Tears in her eyes, she cried, "Please donm't let my brother go to jail. He didn't mean to."

Nate almost laughed "No Peter... Its more than just revenge... Its something more now it protecting every one here at home, I'm sorry" he said getting a little more grimmer.

Peter groaned. "Who's going to defend me against John, Ronald, Kris and Mitch?"

The cop answered. "I may have to put him under house arrest or probation until trial."

"Pete" said Nate "I'd rather you be a little beaten up than killed, its not an easy choice but its the one I've chosen. Don't even try to change my mind its set"

Maralyn said to the cheif. "Justin is a great husband. Please do not let him go to jail. I don't want my baby growing up without its daddy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cop asked, "Can you give me a description of what those kids look like?"