Protect Me, Love Me - Chapter 15 (Part 1)
Chapter 15
“Resentment, Birth, Love, Anguish”
Disclaimer - I do not own Four Brothers
Pairing - Bobby/Jack
Rating - M
“Talking”
‘Thinking’
x-x-x-x
Things sped up quick after the night that Jack started calling Evelyn ‘mom’. At first he was shy about calling her mom but after a few weeks it just became second nature.
In school it got around fast that neither him nor Xander liked to be touched or asked out. There were still some people that thought they were ‘good enough’ for them and when they were turned down they would try to… make either Jack or Xander ‘see reason’. That started a lot of fights until people just simply stopped asking them.
In October Jeremiah turned 17, then they had Thanks Giving and Christmas, which came and went uneventfully; then Kerra’s 15th and Xander’s 13th birthdays, then in February was Evelyn’s birthday. In March was Jack’s 13th birthday, though this time he didn’t get drunk. Seth’s 15th birthday on the 14th.
In June was Bobby’s 18th birthday, which Bobby had always said he was gonna leave on his 18th to play hockey but the teams wanted him to play another year at the community gym before deciding whether or not to take him.
Summer came and Jack just hated it even more. The dreams, yes the ever present dreams, got more graphic as time went on. There were still ones that turned into the nightmare… and Jack ended up dreading sleeping when he got those kinds. Jack had told Xander about the nightmare and Xander said that he had them too… though Xander refused to tell him who he dreamt about; saying 1) it was a girl and 2) the girl would never want to be with him.
June blended into July and Jack found that his new ‘power’ was controlled like he controlled his empathy and fire; very carefully, mostly though he meditated a lot with Xander. The meditation helped a lot, to the point that they didn’t need to be covered 24/7 but, out of habit, they both still did unless it was to hot.
August brought Angel’s 17th birthday and he was ecstatic and finally brought up him wanting to go into the Navy. He told Evelyn previously so she wasn’t surprised; it was Bobby who made the most noise about it. Bobby’s argument was that this country was so war happy that if Angel did this then he’d be sent off into war and never come back.
Evelyn had left the room at that point so she wasn’t there when Bobby, who was beyond angry, turned to Jack and accused him of knowing. Angel tried to step in but Jack stood up and said he did know and that it wasn’t anyone’s choice, certainly not Bobby’s, if Angel wanted to actually do something with his life. That got all of them to be silent as the two middle brothers watched the oldest and the youngest stare at each other before Bobby stood up, threw his napkin on the table, and left saying he needed air.
The next year started quietly and Jack found out it was much more fun being a 10th grader then being a 9th grader because this year he knew that people sucked; he knew who to avoid and who to ignore completely.
Angel started 12th grade with Seth, Kerra, and their respective mates; while Jerry started in the union, working construction. Bobby got a part time job as a bartender at night and during the day he played/practiced hockey.
Like the year before time passed quickly but this time their were a lot more surprises… In September Jerry had announced that him and Camille were engaged; then in November Jerry had come to the house and told everyone that Camille was pregnant. They got a loan and put an offer on a four bedroom house that was only two blocks away. A little while after Christmas they were able to move in and they did it quickly, buying and getting everything they needed from family and friends.
~~~~~~~~~ Time Change
Jack cracked his back as he left third period and walked down the hall to meet Xander, they had all but two classes together. The next class, Sex Ed, they skipped regularly and, though everyone hated it no one did anything. Jack smirked and nodded to Xander, when he saw him, and they walked out the double doors and went to ‘their’ corner to smoke.
Pulling out his favorite Zippo Jack lit his and Xander’s cigarettes before leaning on the building. Christmas had just passed, as well as Xander’s and Kerra’s birthdays, and helping Jerry and Camille move into their house… and paint.. and decorate… and everything else. So now, in the meantime, they could relaxed for a little while.
Hearing footsteps coming Jack rolled his eyes, preparing himself for the lecture he was sure to get for getting caught smoking, once again. Seeing three taller, and older, white guys he squinted at them “Help you with somethin’?” he asked suspiciously and saw the one in the middle, the leader, hold up his hands.
“Nah, man, this is strictly just one white to another.” He said and Jack frowned as the guys words went through his head. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ bout, man.” Jack said and inhaled deeply before throwing his smoke and nodding to Xanderl, seeing his cousin also wanted away from these guys too.
“Hey, wait, listen I know who you are and I know you live with those two blacks. Listen, me and mine run a … club, you can call it, for guys just like you and me.” The guy started and Jack felt his temper rise and glanced at Xander, knowing he was getting pissed off too. ‘Well I needed a good fight this week.’ Was all he could think.
Jack stepped closer to the guy “Listen I really don’ wanna hurt you so I’m gonna say right here, I am nothin’ like you. You and your little squad are the reason why people think all white people are predigest.” He paused, pushed the guy away from him, then stared at him with a cold look “Now get the fuck away from me.” He hissed.
The guy wiped down his jacket and shook his head at him “It’s a sad day when we lose another smart white guy to a bunch of Niggers.” He paused and Jack turned around slowly and stared at the fucker with dilating eyes. “And that’s all those brothers of yours are… Nig-“ he didn’t get a chance to finish the word because both Jack and Xander were on the three of them, though the one ran.
Jack straddled the ‘talker’ and punched him hard in the face. Blood squirted up out of his nose like a fountain and Jack leaned down “You know… you are the Nigger, have you eva really looked up that word?! It means a lazy, selfish, piece of shit like you. My brothers work their asses off and people like you are always there to put them down… you pathetic piece of shit!” Jack snarled as he picked the guy up and hit him then kicked him when he fell.
BJBJ
Jack and Xander sat in the principles off with their respective families lined in back of them. “I do not condone fighting in this school! Now both Alexander and Jack have their small problems and I think I’m very lenient to them. They’re exceptionally bright so yes I let them go with a few things but this… those two boys are in the hospital now, I bet their own families are even filing charges.” The principle said. The man was short and round but over all a nice, fair, guy… and he was right he had been lenient with him and Xander.
“Now… I’m going to suspend the both of you for a month…” Jack cut him off “Wait we have an English essay and Math exam next week! We’ve been studying since the beginning of school!!” he said, voice full of shock and pain.
The principle, Mr. Ornel, shook his head “You beat those boys without a reason.” He started but Xander sat up and went to say something but Jack shook his head at him quickly.
“Boys? Boys, what exactly happened?” This came from Evelyn and Maria both. Xan sighed and made a gesture but Jack shook his head and slapped the arm of the chair, staring at him. “Jack?!” his ‘ma called him but he wouldn’t look at her.
“Alexander?” Maria asked and Xander opened his mouth, paused, then: “They… those guys started some stuff. Said that we needed to stick together because we’re white…” Xanderl said with a sigh and Jack clenched his fists.
“Jack is that true?” Evelyn asked but Mr. Ornel shook his head “Even if it is true that doesn’t condone..” he started but Jack, from his chair, stared up at him “He called my brothers Niggers… you honestly gonna stand there, look me in the eye, and say I was supposed to what? Stand there and let that shit-head say stuff ‘bout my family?” Jack’s voice was low and held a threat that even Mr. Ornel caught.
Everyone fell silent and stared at him with wide eyes before Mr. Ornel sighed. “The most I can do is in-school suspension. You’ll both be able to do your tests and get your education. Those boys… I’ll have a talk with them and their parents. They’ll also get the same punishment as you.” He said and Jack sighed and nodded, as did Xander.
When they were all leaving Evelyn got into the car, saying she’d talk to Maria later. Evelyn had Jerry up front, since they were dropping him off, with Jack and Angel on the sides with Bobby in the middle. Jack snorted softly at this and found it ironic that he was being forced to sit next to the person he had been avoiding for the past… going on 2years.
Jack went upstairs quietly when they got home and laid back on his bed, playing his guitar, trying to ignore his headache. The headaches were common now; they sucked but he lived with them. It was when he got migraines that Jack resorted to taking a pain medication he got from a dealer at school. No one knew about these little pills except for Xander; who also had pills, Prozac.
He found that ironic as well; he remembered Bobby telling Angel that he had to stop using and dealing and yet, how many years later, here he was… though he wasn’t dealing.
Xander had his pills to keep him from thinking about the past to much and Jack had his to keep him from being in to much pain. It went fine, neither Seth nor Kerra knew, and neither of them did any hard core drugs… no cocaine or speed or anything else; they didn’t even look when other drugs were being sold, to afraid they might wanna try it.
Knocking on his door pulled him away from his thoughts and Jack stopped playing his guitar and looked up when Bobby stuck his heads in. Jack fought very hard to keep his annoyance from showing, but he saw Bobby’s look so he must not of done a good enough job.
“You know, I thought I told you to stop fighting on school grounds.” Bobby said in that voice that made Jack roll his eyes. “Like you’ve never done it.” He snapped back at him then added “Lest I have a good reason for fightin’ not just ‘cause someone pissed me off or ‘cause they looked at me wrong.”
Watching Bobby’s jaw clench Jack shook his head and grab his pack of smokes, feeling his headache turn into a migraine. “I’m really getting sick of your mouth Jack… I don’t know what the fuck your problem is and frankly, at this point, I couldn’t give a shit! All’s I know is that you best start showin’ some fucking respect!” Bobby snapped eyes narrowed and full of frustration and anger.
Jack looked at him a long time and, knowing this might finally snap Bobby’s tolerance, got his body ready. “What’re you gonna do, Bobby, hit me? You are such a fucking hypocrite it’s funny. You tell Angel not to use yet you do, you tell Jerry that he’s gotta do something with his life, yet are you? You are constantly on my ass about every little fucking thing I do and yet you’ve done everything I have times 10. So whatever you wanna do to me Bobby… go ahead, ‘cause there’s nothing you can do to me that hasn’t already been done.”
Watching Bobby’s eyes dilate in anger Jack couldn’t stop his body from stiffening, even after all these years. Bobby stood up and paced back and forth in front of him, trying to calm himself, before finally turning to him:
“I tell you and Jerry and Angel to do these things so you don’t turn out like me. That’s why I’m ‘constantly on your ass about everything’ I don’t want you to turn into me. You deserve so much better then what your heading for. Ya, I might be a lot of things and I mighta done a lot of shit in the past but never have I ever hit you… never… no matter how much bullshit you get yourself into or the shit you say. I woulda thought you’d of at least known’d that by now.” Bobby spoke softly, calmly, and the anger and hurt that shown in his eyes made guilt and self-hatred come into Jack’s.
When Bobby finished he stared at him for a long time before turning and leaving, shutting the door quietly behind him. Jack sat there staring at the door, part of him expecting Bobby to come back and another part praying time could reverse itself so he could take all that back.
Laying back on his bed Jack stared up at his ceiling before turning on his side, facing the wall, and reached down between his bed and the wall. His fingers brushed a small, satin, bag and he grabbed it and pulled it up on the bed. Opening it Jack spilled out it’s contents, two bottles of pills. Grabbing one, he put the other back, then opened the cap and jingled two pills out on his palm before throwing them in his mouth, to the back of his throat, and swallowing them dry.
End Part 1
Sorry the next part will be up any second! Review!!!
~Shadow