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Rating:PG-13, maybe some R-ish language.

Summary: 1994's Speed seen through the eyes of Jack's niece, Isabel. Lots of Jack/Annie action and Jack before and after the bus. Depending on how well this story goes, may get into Speed 2 as well. Please read/review!

Cast:
Isabel Shanely .... Alexis Dziena
Melissa Traven Shanely .... Rachel Weisz
Alex Shanely .... Jimmy Bennett
Declan Shanely .... Russell Crowe

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Isabel Shanely, a tiny, brunette teenager of sixteen, made her way into the crowded lunch line with a frustrated huff. The day had been long and very uneventful, which pretty much described every day for her at Oxnard High. Last night hadn't exactly been a picnic either. Yet another innocent conversation with her mother turned into a screaming match, ending with her slamming a bedroom door and not coming out until morning. It took twenty minutes of awkwardness for Uncle Jack to break the ice at breakfast.

"So... this is what happens when women are pissed at each other." Jack said, more a statement than a question. He smiled and gave his nine year old nephew a side glance. Adam successfully tried to keep himself from laughing, but it didn't last long. They were both howling up a storm in a matter of seconds. By the time the chatter and high fives ceased, both Isabel and Melissa were staring daggers at them. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. You should really do the staring match thing for a living, Mel. You too, Izzy Bear. You'd make a killing." Jack ducked before the pancake in Mel's hand hit his face. And then they suddenly forgot what the fight had been about in the first place.

That was one of the really great things about having Uncle Jack live with them. He was like a permanent buffer, and always knew when to crack a joke, and when to be serious. At first it was only a temporary thing.

You see, Declan Shanely used to be the one who filled Jack's current role. He was a devoted husband and father, and also one of Jack's closest friends. Declan was even crazier than him when it came to his work at one time. He worked as a police officer in the narcotics division, and in Los Angeles, that was another word for 'constant danger'. He was living on his own, rarely sleeping in his own bed, working non-stop, on call 24/7. He and Harry knew each other from the academy and had stayed in touch since graduation. One night at a get together at a local bar, Jack and Declan were introduced. They found that they had a lot in common, both in personality and work ethic (only difference was Jack wasn't Irish), and before they know it the three of them were having drinks together every week. Harry got a girlfriend (God knows how) and Jack was browsing the field, but Declan never seemed to be interested in any of the women they would set him up with. But a barbecue at Harry's changed all of that. He met Jack's sister Melissa, who was only three years younger, and the rest was as they say, history.

They were inseparable after that, and the funny thing was, Jack didn't mind. He liked Declan and was glad his sister had finally found someone worthy of all the love he knew she had to offer. Men came and went in her life, but Declan was different. Sure, they fought. They fought a lot. Mostly about his job, and how dangerous it was, and how she didn't want to wake up one morning and get a phone call from Jack or Harry telling her he was dead. Scenarios from gunshot wounds to car crashes raced through her mind on a daily basis. All he had to do was flash that smile of his and put his arms around her and say, "That's what bullet proof vests are for, baby", or "Police cars have airbags too. Everyone else on the road's at much at risk as I am." Then, she would smile back and nod her head. But it only helped a little. There was always lingering doubt in the back of her mind.

Two years later, they got married. Jack and Harry were both his best men. Mostly because he didn't want to choose between them, and though there was constant complaining and talk from people who were invested in their wedding, he didn't care how it looked. He thought of them as his brothers, and wanted it that way. "But technically, Deco, he'll become your brother. You see? So, I don't see why..." Harry complained one day.

Declan held up a hand, adjusting the tie on his tuxedo. "Harry, enough. It's our wedding, and Mel doesn't have a problem with it. You're doing it. And yeah, you have to make a speech too, in front of everyone, at a microphone, standing up."

Harry slumped down in his chair, nervousness washing over him. Declan and Jack exchanged glances. Oh, how Harry hated any form of public speaking. He struggled with the knot in his tie and threw it on the floor in exasperation. "You're assholes, the both of you. I know what's going on here. Just know that I'm doing this for Mel. That's it. When you have a kid, you'll make me the godfather. That'll make up for it."

"Deal." Declan chuckled. "He or she will be lucky to have you."

Less than six months after the wedding, Mel was pregnant with her first child. A daughter they would call Isabel. She was adored from the moment she was born by everyone, and the same went for Adam six years later. They were a family. They were happy. Until the phone call Mel dreaded finally came. Declan was following a suspect in a police cruiser with his partner, lost control of the car, and crashed into a telephone pole. He was killed instantly. Mel was devastated, wouldn't get out of bed for weeks. Isabel took on all the responsibilities where Adam was concerned until she came out of it three weeks after the funeral. Jack was in denial. He was convinced that the crash was premeditated. The report was just too cut and dry, too perfect. Though, he knew in his soul it was merely an accident. Declan was doing his job and it got him killed, something that was a reality for him as well. Harry and Mac eventually convinced him to give up the crusade, and accept the fact that their friend was gone.

The week Mel got back in the swing of things, as in starting to get out of bed before dawn, brushing her teeth, getting the kids up, the threatening phone calls started. Most of them were from people Declan had put in prison. They frightened her, and she actually started looking over her shoulder when she brought in groceries, but kept it to herself. The last thing she needed were either of her kids finding out, or God forbid Jack. Then one night when she attended a PTA meeting at the school, there was a call while Jack was babysitting. When she came through the front door, he was sitting in the den, arms crossed over his chest. There was no talking him out of it. He was moving in. His boat was sinking anyway. That's right. He lived on a boat that was literally sinking more and more by the day. Jack always said it was because he liked to live cheap and simply. What was more simple than only having to worry about meals? So, it worked out for everyone. Even when the phone calls stopped a month after Mel converted the garage into a bedroom, he still stayed.

Isabel pushed the memories of her family drama out of her mind long enough to notice her friend Kim waiting in the lunch line a few feet ahead. She brightened a bit, pretending to be a little happier than she really was. That was the only way to stop someone like Kim from begging her to know what was wrong. "Hey." She smiled, pulling her hair into a ponytail.

Kim whipped around with a grin. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You'll never guess who called me this weekend."

"Who?" Isabel questioned, even though she knew the answer. Kim only got excited when it came to boys. Isabel didn't see the point, really. The ones their age were so immature. Anyone who went out with one of them should be paid for babysitting at the end of the night.

"Jake!" Kim squealed happily, bouncing up and down.

Isabel tried her best to keep the reassuring smile plastered on her lips. In reality, there was nothing special about Kim and Jake getting back together, if they ever were really together in the first place. "Wow, that's, really great. I thought you guys broke up like what... two weeks ago?"

"I know, so did I, but he said he missed me! Isn't that like the most amazing thing ever?" Kim beamed, smothering her friend with a giant hug.

Isabel nodded, trying not to stop breathing. "Uh huh. Definitely."

"Look who it is... Hey Iz, how's it going?" A voice cooed from behind her. Isabel cringed at that voice on a weekly basis. It was a constant source of irritation for her. She craned her neck behind her, after glancing at Kim's face, who had already begun removing herself from the conversation that was about to take place. She learned over time that staying out of it was the only option when it came to Zach. The number of uncharming, disgusting jocks such as himself that came onto her was baffling. Really, who were they kidding? Certainly not her. Hopefully they weren't the only types of guys who would ever be attracted to her. Though with her luck, it was a distinct probability.

Isabel scowled at the blonde mop of hair before her, hoping he would go away if she was mean enough. That was the easy part. "It was going fine until you decided to come over and interrupt our conversation." She nodded to his usual lunch table, completely crowded with other jocks. "If you're lost, I can point you in the right direction. Your entourage awaits."

"Oh, come on. Don't be like that." Zach smiled, setting a tray in front of him. "I was actually gonna ask if you wanted to go camping with us on the beach this weekend. Should be fun."

Isabel couldn't help but laugh. "By 'us' you mean, you and me? Or...?" She held a hand up before Zack could answer. "I'm going to take a shot in the dark as to how this weekend will turn out. We show up together, then by dark everyone else who only decided to come for the free beer make a break for it, leaving the two of us alone to fend for ourselves for two whole nights. Am I getting warmer?"

"Well, now that you mention it, if you wanted it could be just us." He replied, wrapping both arms around her waist, and touching the small of her back with his hand. "Sounds like a plan to me." Then it started to linger over her ass. "What do you say?"

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"I can't believe this. I was practically sexually assaulted by that idiot, and I get sent to the principal's office?!" Isabel protested.

The receptionist at the front desk popped her gum, not even looking up from her paperwork. "Mrs. Stein will be with you shortly, Isabel. Take a seat. When you go in there, you can tell her all about it."

Isabel rolled her eyes, plopping down in a chair. This was unbelievable. Yes, she kicked him in the balls. Yes, he dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Yes, it probably hurt like hell. But that doesn't mean he didn't deserve what he got. She was sure everyone in the cafeteria line would conveniently forget what had occured beforehand. "My life sucks so hard right now." She mumbled, palm resting on her chin.

A few minutes later the principal came out of her office. Isabel was already standing with her mouth open to start the debating, but stopped when she noticed the strange expression on the woman's face. "Do you... want me to wait?" Isabel asked, uncomfortably shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Isabel, your mother will be outside for you in ten minutes."

Oh, no. She was sending her home. A smile played on the corners of her small mouth. Maybe she'd get lucky and be suspended for a few days.

"It has nothing to do with what happened." Mrs. Stein explained carefully. "There's been an accident."

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