Title: Little Jackie in the Borrowed Hooded Sweatshirt

Author: veiledndarkness

Pairing: None really.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Bobby's fairytales are more interesting.

Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit made, no harm intended.

1 – Little Red Riding Hood

XX

"What 'bout this one?" Bobby held out a book, colorful cartoon images decorating the cover.

Jack scowled at him from the bed, his thin arms crossed over his chest. "I'm not a baby!" he huffed. "No Dr. Seuss!"

"Alright, alright, Jesus fuckin'..." Bobby muttered, "Which one then?"

"I dunno, but no Dr. Seuss and no stupid kiddy ones either," Jack scrunched his nose, indicating his clear disdain. "Mom said you'd read to me, Bobby. You promised to."

Bobby rolled his eyes and put the offending book back on the shelf. "Relax, Jackie, I ain't backin' out, so just calm down," he pulled a thick book off the bottom shelf. "Ah, you can't say no to this one." He stood up, tucking the book under his arm.

"What is it?"

"Grimm Brothers," Bobby grinned and sat on the bed beside Jack, "Fairytales for little fairy boys."

"Bobby!" Jack elbowed him. "I'm not a fairy, why do you keep sayin' that?"

Bobby grunted. "Cut it out, you're all bones an' shit, those elbows are sharp. Now shut up, or I'm goin' back downstairs to watch the game and you can read this to yourself."

Jack grumbled and settled back down with all the dignity a ten year old could muster. Bobby opened the book, squinting at the tiny print. "Damn...I'm gonna go blind tryin' to read this."

"Who're the Grimm brothers?" Jack looked at the fancy script on the first page.

"Two guys who wrote down fucked up stories," Bobby turned the page to the index.

"Are they scary?" a hint of fear crept into Jack's voice.

"Not scary, but kinda messed up," Bobby nodded. "Here, pick one from the list."

Jack peered at the table of contents, his finger tracing the words. "Little Red Riding Hood," he pointed to it.

Bobby turned to the correct page. "So, this is the story of Little Red Riding Hood or as I like to call it, Jackie in the Borrowed Hooded Sweatshirt."

Jack blushed faintly. "Sorry...It's comfier than my pajamas," he toyed with the sleeves of Bobby's sweatshirt, burrowing deeper into the fabric.

"Don't worry about it," Bobby slid his arm around Jack as he began to read.

'Once upon a time, there was a skinny little kid named Jack, who was well loved by his adopted family, even if he was prone to hiding in his older brother's bed or was forever leaving cookie crumbs in said sheets. He was so well loved that his brother never minded the theft of his favorite hooded sweatshirt, even though it was perfectly worn in and was six times too big for little Jackie.'

'One day, little Jackie's second coolest brother asked him to run down to the corner store and pick up some milk for their mom. She would've done it, but that lady was simply too sick to do that, though God knows she'd never admit to bein' too ill to do something, stubborn fool that she is.'

'So, Jack went and swiped his best brother's hooded sweatshirt and slid it on, instead of wearing his coat, which he almost never does cause he's as stubborn as their mom. He hurried down to the corner store and on his way there, passed a big, huge wolf, almost as big as that ugly ass dog that belongs to the old hag at the end of the street.'

"Bobby!" Jack giggled, interrupting him. "Mrs. Nelson isn't an old hag."

Bobby shivered. "She sure as shit looks like one. Now be quiet."

'The wolf looked little Jackie up and down. He sure was hungry, and the boy looked like a tasty snack. Little Jackie looked up at him and shied back a step or two. That didn't look like any friendly dog to him.'

"Mornin' there, little boy," the wolf loomed over him.

"H-Hi..." Jackie stuttered, nearly tripping over some loose stones.

"An' where might you be off to?" The Wolf smiled at him, flashing a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Jackie wrinkled his nose up. That animal had nasty dog breath. "The...The Store," he tilted his chin up, he wasn't afraid of no oversize dog that smelled like something from the clogged sink.

"Ewww..." Jack scrunched his face. "That's gross, Bobby."

"Stop interupptin' me," Bobby cleared his throat.

'"The store..." the Wolf mused, "Why would such a little boy be out by himself to the store?"

"None of your business," Little Jackie huffed at him. "My Ma needs milk, so move, please, I'm in a hurry."

"Of course, of course, you go right ahead, little one," the Wolf stepped to the side, letting him pass. "You best hurry home though, the sun's gonna set real soon. Does your mother live far from here?"

Jackie shook his head, he was entirely too trusting sometimes. "Nope, just ten minutes down the block," he pointed back to his house down the street.

"Well off with you then," the Wolf turned and left, disappearing into the bushes with a loud crash.

Jackie scratched his head, blinking as the Wolf stood up, swearing and dusting the loose branches off his hairy paws. He shrugged and skipped the rest of the way to the store, clutching his handful of change.'

"Bobby! I don't skip!"

"I saw you skippin' rope with that kid at school yesterday. Now shut up."

'Little Jackie bought the jug of milk and hurried back down the street, clutching the milk to his chest. The Wolf had been right; the sun was startin' to set. He ran the rest of the way and pushed the front door open, breathing hard.

Jackie stopped...Something didn't seem right...something seemed wrong. He put the milk in the fridge, remembering how annoyed his Ma had been when he'd left the milk on the counter last time.

"Mom...?" Jackie called out. There was no answer.

Jackie crept up the stairs and peeked in his mother's room. He sighed in relief when he saw her lying under the blankets, a kerchief tied around her hair. Jackie stared at her, a small frown on his face.

"Mom...?"

"Yes, dear..." came the answer.

Jackie edged another step into the room, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Something was wrong, he could tell. "Mom," he said again. "Why are you wearin' your kerchief to bed?"

"I just set my hair in the rollers."

"Mom..." Jackie took another small step towards the bed. "You don't look so good...you look kinda hairy an'...an' you're drooling on your whiskers."

"I need to shave."'

"Bobby!" Jack laughed, holding his stomach. "Ma doesn't have a beard an' whiskers!"

'Little Jackie frowned deeply. "Mom...Your teeth look funny. When did you get dentures?"

And with a sudden growl, the Wolf leapt from the bed, advancing on Jackie. "God damn, kid, do you ever shut up with the questions?!"

Jackie froze, unable to move. The Wolf reached for him, his nasty teeth gleaming in the dim room. Jackie cried out, calling for his oldest brother to come save him.

With a fierce shout, Jackie ducked the Wolf, running across the room and jumping up on the bed, leading the beast on a wild chase. The Wolf went to follow him, crying out as a loud BANG echoed in the room. Jackie crouched down by the bed, shaking with fear.

"That'll teach him," Jackie looked up, shouting happily when he saw Bobby standing in the doorway, a gun carefully held in his palm.

"I think he ate Mom!" Jackie kicked at the twitching body on the carpet. "She's gonna be pissed when she sees all this blood."

Bobby heard muffled shouts and shook his head. He pulled open the closet door, revealing a thoroughly annoyed Evelyn. "See?"

Evelyn smoothed her hair down and eyed the wolf. "Ugh, there goes another carpet; I swear I spend more time cleaning after you boys than anything else."

And that was the end of the Wolf.

"Bobby...that was silly!" Jack snickered.

"Told ya it wasn't scary," Bobby closed the book. "Now go to sleep."

"I want another story," Jack rested his head on Bobby's chest. "Please...?"

XX