Hey Everyone! I'm back, with a new story. I am still continuing with my other story, but I am having trouble stringing it all together. It is on the way, but I thought I might start another story too. I just had this idea in my head, so I thought I would start it. Please review and let me know what you think, if there isn't any interest. Oh, and Kim and Jack are not dating…yet. BTW, does anyone even read this note? Whatever, on with the story!

Rudy's Pov

"What is your problem?"

"My problem is you, Brewer. Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"You mean how you have been leaving Kayla alone?"

"Why do you care about her so much anyway?"

I looked out my office door. I could see it in Kim's face that she cared more about the answer that she was letting on. As she gazed at Jack, Jerry and Eddie came out of the change rooms. They took one look around and seemed to guess what was happening. It had been happening a lot lately.

"Kim, I care about her because she is my friend," Jack said trying to keep his voice even.

"Really Jack?" snapped Kim as Jerry and Eddie moved to stand beside Jack. "So I am just being a jerk to your new bestie?"

"I didn't say that," Jack answered carefully, "I just don't see why you need to treat her badly."

Just then Kayla and Milton walked through the big glass doors. Kayla…Yes, everything had started when she came into the dojo. And it wasn't her fault, quite the contrary. As much as I hated to admit it, because I loved my kids, the problem was Kim. Kim was not being nice to Kayla. She was making snide comments at her and giving dirty looks. She was ignoring all the attempts made by Kayla to be friends. She was deliberately excluding her from conversations. However, it didn't stop there. All of the guys had spoken to her; I myself had tried on countless occasions. She was getting snappy at all of us, but mostly Jack. It had been two weeks and we were all done.

At the sight of Kayla, Kim stormed into the change rooms and Jack shook his head. Jack; he too, was done.

I beckoned Jack into my office. I sat down before my desk as he walked in the door. Poor Jack, he looked exhausted. I can't believe the other guys didn't notice how worn he looked. How close he constantly seemed to breaking…

However, they didn't know the half of it. Jack's father had passed away quite recently. The week after Kate came, actually. He had come into the dojo at ten pm, when I was here alone, and started punching dummies as hard as he could. I spoke to him, while he took out his feelings on the dummies. He confessed, and kicked harder. It was safe to say that several dummies lost their heads.

Since then, he has remained composed. However, he seems a shadow of his former self. The sparkle has gone from his eyes, to be replaced with the bags I now see. He doesn't laugh anymore, and his smile always seemed fake. I really couldn't believe the others were so caught up in Kayla being here, they didn't notice.

Jack collapsed on the couch and put his head in his hands. Rudy patted him on the back, willing for the tears to come. Wanting this young man to succumb for once, not have to be strong. Just take a moment and lighten the load on his shoulders.

Of course, he didn't. He took a few steady breathes, and looked up.

"You okay Jack?" I asked, knowing the answer but also knowing he would lie.

"I'm fine, Rudy, thanks."

I sighed. "What is with Kim today?"

Jack shook his head. "I don't know Rudy. I don't get her issue with Kayla. I mean, I talked to her first because I know what it feels like to have a person come into the dojo and act differently to you. I thought it might be one of those situations, but she doesn't have a single reason to hate Kayla! Kayla has been nothing but nice, and Kim's just been…"

He trailed off and I spoke. "I know Jack. But you need to stop worrying about her. You have got enough on your plate. Why don't you just tell the guys?"

Jack hadn't told anyone else about what happened to his Dad. "Rudy, I don't want people to worry," Jack said, "I don't want people to think, you know, I have to be babied."

"Jack, you know no-one would think that. It would only mean that they could, you know, make sure you were Okay. Maybe take a higher role in standing up for Kayla, stop letting you do all the work. Because you can't always do all the work."

Jack stood up. "I know, Rudy. If you want to tell they guys, fine, but please don't tell Kim or Kayla."

"Alright Jack, I'll get the guys in here." I shook Jack's hand before pulling him into a bro-hug. He left, and I waited until he was in the change rooms before calling in the other's.

"I didn't do it!" shouted Eddie with hands up.

"Yeah it was Milton!" said Jerry.

"No way! Why would I cause this vacuous katzenjammer?"

"Guys, you are not in trouble," I said as I ushered them into my office. "However, while we are on the subject, what did you do?"

"Well, if you are asking if Eddie and I broke your favourite trophy trying to catch a fly, then threw it down the toilet…we didn't do it!"

Just then, an ominous noise came from the pipes. "Oh really Jerry, Really?" Jerry asked himself.

"We will deal with that later," I said. "Right now, we have to discuss something important…"

I shut the door and sat down before finishing, "…about Jack."

"Why, what's up?" asked Jerry. All of them now looked serious, and apprehensive.

"Have you guys not noticed how tired he's looked? Have you not noticed how unhappy he seems?" I demanded. I really couldn't believe that they didn't realise.

"I guess," Milton said uncertainly, "I thought that was because of the drama with Kim."

"Guys, it wouldn't have affected him this much! You know that! Have any of you seen him laugh in a week? Or seen a single smile that wasn't totally forced? Have any of you bothered to take notice? No, you still just ignore it. You know all about the Kayla-Kim drama, but did any of you bother to step in?"

"Rudy, what's the big deal?" asked Eddie.

I lowered my voice and said the next sentence, one I still hated to be true. "Jack's father died a week ago."

As I suspected, all three of them put their hands to their mouths.

"Guys, Jack doesn't want sympathy. As far as I know, he hasn't shed a single tear since it happened. His Dad was killed by a drunken man, while trying to save a kid the man was after. The kid got away, but the man stabbed Jack's Dad."

"Rudy, why didn't he tell us?" asked Eddie.

"He didn't want to worry anyone. But I think he needs you guys to watch out for him. The funerals tomorrow, so he won't be at school. He doesn't want Kim or Kayla to know either."

"Why not? If Kim knew, maybe she would back off a-"

"That's why he doesn't want her to know! I don't think he want's other's to change their lives for him," I explained.

"But that's stupid," said Eddie.

"Yeah, we're his friends," said Jerry.

"I know that," I said softly, "I am not saying I agree with him but you have to respect his decision."

The guys all nodded and got back up to leave. "We understand, Rudy," said Milton.

OK, everyone, so what did you think? Please can I get some reviews? I am not going to continue on with this story if no-one shows any interest.

On a different note, I am not hating on Kim in this story. If no-one picked it up, she is jealous of the new girl. I picked up this jealousy in the episode 'Hit the road Jack'. However, this is a bit different because Jack is actually friends with this girl, so he stands up for her. This really upsets Kim. You will hear more sympathy of Kim in the next chapter. She might pick up 'the old Joan phone.'

Anyway, thank you to anyone reading this story even if it is only me. WASABI!