Miley asks Jackson what's wrong and discovers the perfect father she's always known isn't quite so perfect.
WARNING: Mentions of child abuse, A/U
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN HANNAH MONTANAH! NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL.
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"What's wrong, Jackson?" Miley asked, noticing Jackson sitting on the couch staring glumly at the television. She was waiting for her father to come home and take her to her concert she was performing – she had to leave in a little under five hours.
"Nothing," Jackson said, barely looking up from the T.V. She glanced at it. It was a re-run of Danny Phantom, so he couldn't be all that engrossed in the show.
"Something's wrong, Jackson. You can tell me," Miley said, picking up the remote and turning off the television. "What's wrong?"
Jackson glanced at her and shifted on the couch. "Do you really want to know?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," Miley said, nodding. She tossed her hair back, not used to it being in a ponytail. She yanked it out angrily.
Jackson played with a ball he'd found on the couch. It was blue with red stars. "You wouldn't want to know," he said, tossing the ball to Miley. "It could change your life forever. 'Sides, Dad told me not to tell anyone…"
"Told you not to tell anyone what?" Miley asked gently, tossing the ball back. It caught Jackson's' eye, and he winced.
"My girlfriend dumped me yesterday," Jackson said. He lowered the ball to the floor and touched his eye, wincing in pain as he did.
"That – that – you were dating –" Miley paused. She didn't even know whom her brother was dating? How sad was she!
"I was dating the girl across the street." Jackson stood up. "See – you don't know who I'm dating, you don't care one bit about me!"
Miley caught Jackson's shirt as he tried to leave the room. "I do care," she said. "I may be busy all the time, but I do care."
"You don't notice anything," Jackson said angrily. "You just don't."
"That's a lie, Jackson – I do," Miley said.
"Oh yeah?" Jackson challenged. "Then how come you don't know I'm being abused by the same one you call Dad? How come you don't know that I'm a strait A student in all my classes, and take honors? How come you don't know that I am going to star in a play, huh?"
Miley sat down in shock. "You're not – Dad's not –" she stopped. "Prove it! I don't believe Dad abuses you. You're just lying to get attention. Prove it," she said.
"Fine, you want proof?" Jackson asked. He rolled up his sleeves, and showed her the burns. "This happened last night when you were at a friend's." He rolled up his pant leg and showed her a huge bruise. "This happened at one of your concerts. Dad claimed it was accidental."
Miley groaned and buried her face in her hands. "I'm sorry, Jackson – what can I do to help?" she asked.
"There ain't anything you can do -- this has been going on for years," he said softly.
Suddenly, the door propped open. "Miley? I'm home!" her father called.
Miley buried her face in her hands and moaned. What am I going to do?
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I'd like four people to review and ask me to continue, but otherwise it will remain unfinished. I just want to know people are reading, thanks. Constructive criticism is appreciated; flames aren't. I just want to make sure that there's actually readers for this – so please review.
