So wrote this with a friend. It started off as a group assignment in our English class and we decided to expand and turn it into more. Hope you enjoy. And By the way it is a sis-fic. So if that's not your thing then don't read it. You've been warned. Also there is mention of both physical and sexual abuse so there's also that. Hope i've covered everything.

Chapter 1

Jo was over an hour late and was freaking out for more reasons than one. She opened the front door and let it slam shut behind her. Her brothers were sitting on the couch watching TV and she ignored them as she kicked off her shoes and ran up the stairs to her bedroom.

She dropped her backpack on her bed turning to face the full length mirror that hung on her closet door. Why was she still shaking? She was fine. Nothing happened. She had made it back home in one piece.

Tears pricked at her eyes and she ran a shaky hand across her bottom lip. It was split and swollen from where she had bitten it. A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed it opening her door and heading down the hall. She was at the bathroom door when someone grabbed her wrist.

Jo didn't bother turning around. She winced from the pain and pulled back her arm forcefully, she ran into the bathroom and slammed the door on whichever one of her brothers had grabbed her. She locked the door behind her and turned on the faucet to the sink.

Her stomach twisted in a knot and she moved towards the toilet.

"Jo!" she heard her eldest brother Bobby yell her name as he twisted the knob before pounding incessantly on the door. "Where the hell were you? You were supposed to be home almost two hours ago."

Jo didn't respond.

Bobby pounded harder on the door; the wood rattling from the force caused by his anger.

"Hey, answer me!" he yelled. "Where were you?"

From inside the bathroom, Jo knelt before the toilet. Her hands shaking as she held onto the porcelain. "Umm… I-I went to the library. B-Bobby…I-I lost track of time."

Breathe Jo, Breathe. You're okay.

Bobby swore. "Why didn't you call? You knew I would have picked you up. You had us worried being out this late."

Should've just called Bobby or even Jerry…why the hell didn't I just call one of them?

Jo ran her hand over her faced trying to gather her thoughts. Her stomach turned and she threw up the lid clutching the sides of the toilet as she heaved violently.

Bobby banged on the bathroom door. He could hear her over the running water.

"Joey, you okay?" he asked his words dripping with concern all of his anger momentarily forgotten.

Jo wiped the back of her hand across her mouth.

"Fine Bobby," Jo managed though her voice wasn't as strong as she hoped. "I'm just gonna take a shower okay?"

"Jo, open the door." Bobby demanded jiggling the door knob.

Jo ignored her brother and slipped out of her skirt. A few of the buttons on her blouse were missing. She kicked off her socks and pulled off her camisole inhaling sharply at the pain it caused her. She pushed away her thoughts as she stepped into the shower wincing as the scalding hot water made contact with her skin.

Tears stung at her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She was a Mercer and Mercer's didn't cry. Her body shook violently as she stood under the water.

Get a grip Jo. She scolded herself. Mercers aren't weak.

She poured soap onto her cloth and scrubbed violently at her entire body. She could see the bruises forming on both her wrists and was certain there would be one across the lower part of her torso from where she was held down. She shuddered at the thought completely aware of the sharp pain radiating from that spot as she stretched to turn the water off.

Jo hesitated for a moment and grabbed the soap again instead scrubbing her entire body over again. She stood under the shower head letting the water immerse her as she rinsed off.

Jo stepped out of the shower and grabbed her towel. Her shoulder length dark hair dripping wet as she tied it into a pony tail.

She tossed her clothes into the hamper and secured the towel around her as she stepped out into the hall. The cool air was bracing.

She walked back into the bedroom she shared with her youngest brother Jack and quickly got dressed. She heard a noise on the steps but ignored it as she climbed into her bed.

She wanted this day to be over. More importantly, she wanted to be left alone.

Jo buried herself deeper under the covers when her bedroom door opened and breathed a sigh of relief when it closed again. She closed her eyes willing sleep to take her captive.

Bobby Mercer shook his head as watched his youngest brother stumble up the steps to the house thankful that their mother was out of town for the week so she wouldn't have to see this.

First Jo had come home almost two hours late and now here it was almost midnight and a drunken Jack was stumbling through the door.

Jack being an idiot was nothing new but, Jo being late definitely was. Jo was the good Mercer. The one who always did what she was supposed to and hardly ever got into trouble. Sure, the girl wasn't a saint. By no means was he saying that, hell she was a Mercer after all. It was just that he'd come to expect more from her over the years and missing curfew was definitely out of character for Jo, as was skipping class. He had meant to confront her about the school calling saying that she'd ditched her last two classes but had forgotten when she came home late then started acting strangely.

Now he had to deal with Jack and his mess.

Bobby stuck an arm out to catch his baby brother as Jack missed a step and started to trip and land on his face.

"Jack, you idiot," Bobby hissed. He pulled his inebriated brother under his arm dragging him back into the house.

He groaned and dropped him on the couch. The kid reeked of alcohol and marijuana.

"Shit Jackie." Bobby muttered under his breath but, Jack was already out cold.

Jerry had gone back home to Camille and Angel had left talking about spending the night with his girlfriend Sofi. He was alone to handle these two on his own.

He marched up the steps to the room that the two shared. He opened the door and saw that Jo was already in bed.

Jack was spread out on the couch snoring softly when Bobby came back downstairs. Great, he thought, grabbing the throw of the back of them couch and covering Jack.

Tomorrow was going to be fun.