For Tomorrow - McLennon AU

4.

2nd November, 1955

If John had to take a guess at what had happened to Paul, then he would say he'd been abused. The way the boy acted around others, it was as if he was always on edge, exactly like an abuse victim.

It just made so much sense. He'd ran away from home after his mother had died. He couldn't stand being in a home where the people didn't treat him right for any longer, so he ran.

As John filled a small, plastic cup with ice cold water, he couldn't stop trying to piece together what he thought was 'Paul's story'. It was like trying to complete a complicated jigsaw.

In all honesty, John was completely fascinated by the boy.

When he re-entered the room, he noticed that Paul was now fast asleep, his head leaning carefully on his own shoulder. He had streaks down his face where he had clearly been crying, and that broke John's heart.

He thought he best tell Mimi what he thought, just incase she thought the same as him. Luckily he didn't have to wait long to see her.

"John...?" She asked from behind him. "John, move out of the doorway."

"Shhh." John ordered, stepping to the side to let the woman carrying two pillows inside. "He's sleeping."

"Poor, poor boy..." She sighed, her tone sad. "He doesn't remember anythin' other than his name, parent's name and age. In fact he doesn't even remember his second name."

Wait. Paul didn't remember his second name? And he ran away...

"He told me he ran away."

"What?" Mimi asked, sounding shocked.

"Well I asked him if he did and he said yeah..." Mimi gave John a concerned look, closing their door behind him.

"What else did he tell you?"

"His mother died..."

"Mhm..." She nodded, with a frown. "Poor thing..."

They both stood next to each other, staring at the sleeping boy.

"Mimi? Don't you think somethin' isn't right? I mean, his mother died and then he ran away?"

"What are you suggestin', John?" She asked, folding her arms. He had gained her full attention.

"I mean, why didn't he want to be with his family at that time? It's pretty obvious..."

"Are you suggestin' his father drove him away?"

"Come on Mimi. Can't you see? I mean, the lads always on edge, he ran away..."

"Maybe." She sighed, not wanting to believe it.

"And he doesn't know his second name but he knows his birthday? I mean, that's strange. I think he does know it, but won't tell us because if we know, then we can find his father. And he doesn't want to go back there."

"You're becoming quite the detective, John..."

"I've been comin' here long enough for sure." He joked. "But I also haven't really stopped thinking about him since I first saw him, he's just so mysterious."