A/N: So…wow. 1) I'm sooo dating myself with some of these references. Like, I have actually reached that point in life. 2) I really didn't expect all of this from a few days of binge writing. Also, I really need work to start up again already…too much time to burn on this. 3) I definitely didn't expect to take such heavy, dark turns (later on in the story, mainly); but sometimes stories forge their own paths as we uncover them. I DID intend for it to be a character study for young Doug & TJ, to explore where they are at one of the pivotal moments of their lives. Perhaps the one that was both freeing and threw everything into chaos. Anyway, enough riddles.

A/N 2: It was a bit funky figuring out exact ages and times, plus the fact that according to the series, I think the presidential elections are actually two years off of the real ones, putting their likely tenure in the White House from 1991 (elected 1990) to 1998. Since only the President, their spouse, and children under 16 continue to receive Secret Service protection after leaving office, I put the boys' birthday theoretically in December so they would already be 16 (which technically only makes them 29 during the show, since it takes place mid-year 2012, but you can't have everything). Also, the Hammond Farm isn't really placed geographically in the series that I can tell, so I'm hinting at it being somewhere in Eastern Virginia, but still in decent proximity to D.C. The rest of the details are fudged, so any readers in that part of the country, I apologize for any inaccuracies. I tried to research what I could, but this is what I do for fun as opposed to my paid work. I'm just too OCD to not try to explain. I'll shut up now.

The White House was in a flurry of activity, one that accompanied an occasion surpassing even presidential elections. The handoff of an administration.

"Are you boys sure you don't want to head to the farm with us after the inauguration?" Elaine asked as she put on her jewelry. Bud rolled his eyes, and reached to help her with her necklace.

"Sugar, you've asked every ten minutes since they got up. I think after eight years they've deserved the chance to blow off some steam. It's their first night without professional babysitters, they both just got their driver's license, let 'em stretch their legs a bit."

"That's only because they beat the age cut off by five weeks; they're barely sixteen!" she shot back. "The farm isn't that close, it'll get late quickly, plus the weather service issued a winter storm advisory—"

"Mom, we'll be fine, we promise. It's just a party Sam's throwing for us, at his house, with some kids from school. Then we'll spend the night there, so you're not worried about us driving late, snow or no snow, and come out in the morning," TJ cut in. Elaine fussed over his suit jacket and tie, straightening everything.

"Well, I may trust Sam and his parents, but that doesn't mean I trust all of your friends."

"Oh come on, that was an accident almost a year ago!"

"Was it also an accident that what's-his-name brought alcohol to that party? You had ten stitches and a knee brace for six weeks. 'Almost a year' later you still complain it hurts sometimes, and we all know to what end that came."

TJ rolled his eyes.

"You said you trust Sam's parents, they're like the alcohol Nazis," piped Douglas from the master bathroom.

"As I recall, the same what's-his-name also tried to spike your drink, TJ, thinking he might get a little action," Elaine powered on.

"Being gay does not mean that suddenly every guy is secretly out to get me, God, Mom! And he's not even coming to this one," complained TJ.

"Language," warned Bud.

Douglas took their mother's shoulders. They were as tall as her now. "Nothing is going to happen. I'll keep an eye on him, and I'll have my phone charger just to make sure it can't die on me."

"Great, so I get to trade in the babysitters with guns for one with a massive ego. You trust him, you just don't trust me," TJ grumbled.

"Thomas." Elaine stepped around Douglas to check her makeup in the mirror one last time. "Nana's car should be here any minute now to pick you two up. If there's anything you want before you get back to the farm, make sure it's in a bag and take it with you. Everything left in the residence is getting packed up and shipped. And make sure to wear your heavier coats."

"Will they at least bring us back after the ceremony so we can get our car?" asked Douglas.

"Yes, they can do that. I'll make sure to let Stanley know it stays put." A knock at the door drew all their attention. "Speaking of the house staff, that's probably your cue. See you there, we love you." In spite of their obvious teenaged disdain, she kissed them both on the forehead. TJ compulsively straighten his gelled hair in response.

. . .

"Dude, so what's it like to finally be free?" Sam asked over the DJ. Douglas put the foosball into his goal with a satisfying whack.

"One, it's not like we were born there. I remember how it felt before. Two, it's like I can breathe again. You know, the mall got too crowded, Secret Service was right there. Girlfriend tried to hug you unexpectedly, they're right there. Friends tried to prank you on your birthday, people almost got arrested."

"That was a fun day, though, right?"

"Oh, it was epic." Douglas took the chance as he swigged his Redbull to glance around the room. When he couldn't immediately spot TJ, adrenaline yanked him out of the moment. "Hey, Jeff, tap in for me, will you? I just gotta ask my brother something real quick. Bet I can be back before Sam has any points on the table."

Snow had been coming down steadily since the end of the inauguration speeches. The only light left in the sky was city glow reflecting off of the cloud cover and white blanket already coating D.C. Douglas briefly wondered how well their brand new Mustang was going to do in the morning, but he wasn't going anywhere without certain things, anyway. After one wide loop and checking the major clusters of kids, a lump began to form in his stomach. And then he saw a boy and girl slip in from the back door, noses red from the cold but only one coat between them.

Around the corner, just outside of the security light on that side, another couple pressed against the brickwork of the house, TJ's ridiculous hair in silhouette.

"Are you nuts, it's like 15 degrees out here!" hissed Douglas, his own arms clamped over his chest. The couple jumped apart. The other boy, Christopher, Douglas was pretty sure of his name, snickered.

"Not over here, it's not."

TJ was much less pleased. "Do you mind? As you could probably tell, there wasn't exactly a lot of room to spare inside."

"I just hadn't seen you in a while, and wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"We're not in elementary school anymore, we're not in the White House anymore, so go have your own fun, if that's still possible. Or were you seriously going to spy on me for Mom?"

"No, I was—I thought you might—"

"Look, I didn't mean to step in the middle of something," blustered Christopher. Or maybe it was Zack.

"You didn't, he's just my brother, and he's going now, since apparently it's too cold for him," TJ countered, but the kid was already gone. "Thanks. We weren't doing anything you wouldn't do." He pulled a small bottle from his jeans pocket, shook something out, and popped whatever it was in his mouth. Douglas stared at his twin.

"And what was that supposed to be?"

"My knee's bugging me, lay off."

Douglas snatched the bottle before TJ could hide it again. "Bullshit, I did the same thing to my knee in basketball three years ago, and I didn't need codeine a year afterward. Who'd you get this from by the way?"

"Language, Dougie," TJ said in a mocking imitation of their dad.

"We're doing this again, really? Mom about had a heart attack when she found out last time!"

"Because of course you're going to run and tell her like the good little snitch you are." TJ's sarcastic expression didn't flinch as Douglas grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him back against the wall. Before either of them could say anything else, however, the door opened around the corner and a voice called out.

"Douglas? TJ, are you out here? The pizza just arrived." It was a girl's voice. Lindsay, Douglas' girlfriend.

"How many did you just take?" Douglas redoubled his grip when TJ didn't answer. "Tell me! I want to know if I'm going to have to explain to the Petersons why my brother is tripping all over his own ass or not!"

"Three, but it's a lower dosage than I've gotten in the past," TJ grudgingly conceded.

"Get inside and get some pizza and water. Maybe that'll at least make it less obvious. And I don't care if you're out here sucking face with someone, at least do it with a coat on."

"Sure, Mom. You know, tonight was supposed to be about fun, and freedom…" TJ shoved past Douglas' shoulder to head for the door. After a couple deep breaths, Douglas followed.

Lindsay waited just inside the door, a concerned expression on her face. "Everything okay?"

"Dealing with my pain of a brother, that's all," sighed Douglas. "C'mon, I'm starving."

A couple energy drinks, several slices of pizza, and a few rounds of Dance Dance Revolution later, 6pm turned into 11:30pm. Kids started to trickle home. The DJ packed up for the night. Douglas realized his phone was almost dead—that's when he got the text message.

Ptmc undgr club ok but sos tj

His mouth fell open the longer he stared at the phone screen. The Potomac Underground was on the far side of town. When did TJ even leave, and how did he not notice?! Douglas glanced at the window. Snow was coming down even harder now. The DJ had mentioned after the last song that weather reports projected as much as fourteen inches before morning, and to be aware that the District was implementing a snow emergency starting at midnight until the trucks could put a dent in the roads. Crap.

"Sam? Sam!" Douglas rushed over to his friend, who was at the door saying goodbye to people. "Listen, apparently TJ got sick of the party, and…hitched a ride with someone else back to the city for some reason. Now he's at our grandmother's place…but can't find his key, she gave each of us one, and she's still with our parents. I gotta go after him before this weather gets worse."

"It's the fricken ice age out there. You won't make it back before the roads close," argued Sam.

"We'll just crash there. I can make it before midnight."