Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. If they had, Jack would have been featured MUCH more heavily.

Author Notes: This has to go out to BE-A-TLE who wrote Angle and Fragile. No other reason than she's awesome and those stories are beautiful.

The Phone Rang

When the phones rings in the middle of the night, people always expect something bad has happened. Their rarely wrong.

When the phone rang in the apartment at two am, Eric Matthews knew something was wrong. He heard muffled cursing as Jack Hunter stumbled out of his room. He cursed only having one phone the entire way. As he tried to get the phone out of it's cradle, Eric got out of bed as well. He stepped into the doorway, catching eyes with Shawn Hunter.

"Hello?" Jack asked, clearing his throat roughly. who the hell is calling at two in the morning? He thought sleepily. There was a short pause. Eric was about to turn around and go back to bed.

"What, when?!" Jack's alarmed voice brought Shawn's eyes to him, and Eric froze in his place.

"Oh my god." Jack's whisper was almost silent.

A heavy thump accompanied Jack's decent into a sitting position on the cold hard floor, causing him to vanish from view.

"What's going on?" Shawn asked sleepily, yet alarmed.

"Something bad." Eric muttered.

"Yes sir. I understand. Noon on Thursday, there wasn't anything earlier? No I understand. Yes sir, see you Thursday." Jack's arm appeared over the counter.

"Jack, what's up?" Shawn asked descending the few stairs to peer at his brother over the counter.

"I have to pack." Jack said dazedly.

"Pack for what?" Eric was confused. What on earth would make Jack pack his bags so early in the morning. "You going on a trip buddy?"

"I've gotta talk to my teachers.." Jack went on, not having heard.

"Hey, Jack." Shawn stooped down to be eye level with his older brother.

"Shawn." Jack realized he wasn't alone. "I'm sorry if that woke you up."

"What's going on?" Eric cut in.

"I..That was my step dad." He paused.

"What your not getting money from him anymore?" Shawn asked a bit crossly.

"My mom just died." Then as if in a fog, Jack stood, and made his way into his room to back. The door shut with a light click and Shawn swallowed.

"Damn it." Shawn muttered as realization at what Jack said sank in. "Damn it to hell."