A/N: I would like to point out that this is my first Four Brothers fic, so tell me how it turns out. I'd love some feedback, but please be gentle. Update: This version is the newest, updated on 3/12/08. It has been modified from the original.

Disclaimer: I don't own Four Brothers. Darn it.

Can't Turn Back Time

Deciphering Code

Elisa felt a hand slap the lower portion of her body and turned around in time to see Bobby's retreating form. He looked back and winked at her, sending her his signature grin. She shook her head and turned back around, muttering, "Bobby, if you ever try that again, I promise no mercy."

Bobby Mercer had always been the firecracker, the guy everyone wanted to know but no one wanted to be around. He had an explosive temper and the ability to do real damage to anyone when he had the motivation. In other words, to be on Bobby's bad side was to be dead.

Elisa was happy to be on the receiving end of teasing, and not beatings. She'd known him for a little over two years, just like the rest of the pack she came to know as the Mercer Boys, and was proud to say that she was no longer their main target for verbal abuse. But being the runner up was nothing to grin at either.

"Cracker Jack!" Angel yelled from the stairs, sending an intense look her way. "Get your skinny white ass down here and get this girl outta the house."

She smiled and moved closer to the stairs, bringing an elbow up to the railing in a stance that could have been taken as a provocative gesture, but she chose to think of it more as leaning.

"You know you've missed me," Elisa said in a sweet voice.

"Like hell I did." It was meant to be rough, but the smile betrayed him. She hugged him and let him pass as she went into the kitchen. Jeremiah sat at the table, digging into a bowl of Corn Flakes when he looked up to see who had entered. Spoon in mouth, he got up and made his way around the table to give her a hug.

"Get that out of your mouth before you start hugging me, Jerry. Nearly poked my eye out."

He chuckled and sat down on the table.

Jerry had that pleasant air around him; he was always smiling and laughing, joking around whenever he had the chance to crack a joke. He was the foil of his little brother, because though Angel seemed to have the same appeal about him when he wanted to show it, Jerry could never show the dangerous, tough exterior that Angel did.

"Long time, no see," he said, dunking his spoon into the bowl of cereal. "What've you been up to?"

"This, that and the other thing."

Before she could continue, she heard laughing from the entryway. Peeking around the corner, she saw Jack in his boxers on the last stair; Angel and Bobby were bending over, cracking up about something. Most likely they were poking fun at the youngest Mercer, because on a Saturday morning, what else was there to do? He was trying to push them over and eventually managed to tackle Bobby to the ground. They started wrestling, but Angel stayed where he was, bent over and laughing hysterically.

"Bobby! Jack! What the hell—"

Angel quickly got out of the way as they started rolling around on the floor, trying to press their forearms against each others wind pipes. He shuffled over to the kitchen door.

"El, did you really do Jackie last night?"

Elisa shoved his shoulder as he burst out laughing at her mixed expression of shock and annoyance. She heard Bobby's muffled voice as he was in a tight headlock under Jack's arm.

"I didn't even hear you two, sweetheart."

This was incentive for Jack to attempt to punch his brother in the stomach, but Bobby rolled over him and got on top, straddling his chest about to punch him in the face. El shoved him off with as much force as her drained, feminine body allowed, but he fell to the floor beside Jack. Probably out of pity, since her muscles weren't enough to knock him over.

"That's 'cuz we were in the laundry room, you asshole."

"No shit, Jackie-o!"

"Damn it, boy, that's my spot!"

Jack grinned upside down at Angel, saying, "Not anymore."

The door opened and Evelyn walked in with her baby blue overcoat and black suitcase. They all greeted her with a "Hey, Ma" as she set down the case next to the coat hanger and closed the door behind her. Upon seeing Bobby and Jack on the floor, a frown formed on her face.

"Get off that floor," she said sternly. "Bobby, you know better. Jackie, I just bought you those. It's filthy down there."

Jack jumped up and offered a hand to help Bobby up as well. When she saw they were upright, Evelyn glanced to her right to find the two other delinquents.

"Elisa, so nice to see you, dear."

As she replied, "Same to you, Evelyn," out of the corner of her eye she saw Bobby push Jack's shoulder so he fell off balance. Typical. "I just dropped by to say hello, but I saw how dirty this place got since you left on your trip. Your boys are the biggest slobs I've ever seen. I'm glad you're back so you can toughen them up and shove those brooms in their hands."

"I can't get them to clean. It's like teaching an ostrich to fly with these boys."

"Ma, men ain't supposed to clean."

"That's just an excuse for being too lazy."

She walked past Angel and kissed his forehead, even though he had to bend down for her to do it, moving on through the kitchen doors.

Elisa poked her head into the next room, scouting for potential privacy, then walked towards Jack, grabbed the elastic band on his boxers and dragged him into the sitting room. When Bobby and Angel tried to follow, leering, she turned and shot them a death glare. It put them a few strides back and she smiled, satisfied.

"Jackie, can you get out of the house today?"

He searched her face for a moment and then grinned.

"Yeah, sure. I'll tell Ma I have practice."

"Good." Elisa smiled and kissed the side of his mouth slowly, drawing it out. "I have something I wanna show you at my place."

Jack hesitated before saying, "Didn't you say your dad was out of town on business this weekend?"

She slid her hands down his belly until they reached fabric and she moved closer into him.

"I might have said something like that…"

Just as they moved in to kiss, they heard footsteps coming from the entryway and they pushed apart. They stood, staring longingly at one another, as Evelyn stepped into the room. She took no notice of them as she collected a few wrappers and plastic cups on the coffee table and when she finally looked up, Jack was leaning against the wall and Elisa against the TV stand.

"Are you staying for breakfast, Elisa?" she asked easily. "I'm making French toast and eggs."

"Actually, Evie, I was just leaving, but thanks for the offer."

"Any time," she said softly, gathering up a few used napkins in her arms to bring to a nearby waste basket. "Jackie, put some clothes on. I'm sure Elisa doesn't want to see you like that."

They both nearly burst out laughing, but somehow held it back by keeping their mouths closed and their eyes shut tight for a moment to collected themselves.

"Alright, Ma."

Evelyn didn't seem to notice as she finished cleaning off the table and moved back into the entry hall.

"I'll see you later," whispered Elisa, moving close again and touching her lips to his. Jack almost followed her out of the room when she left, but stopped himself before his brothers saw him acting like a stray puppy. He put both hands on top of his head, rubbing his fingers across his scalp, smiling to himself.

Jeremiah walked into the room, oblivious, and grabbed the remote off the table. He slapped his little brother's bare chest which made him blink. He said, "What's up, Jack? Look like you just got laid or something." When Jack didn't answer, but the remnants of the smile still lingered on his face, Jerry let out a whooping sound. "You fucking with me?"

Jack just looked down at him and showed his teeth as the side of his mouth raised slightly. It only took as long for Jerry to stand up and get Jack in a headlock, rustling up his hair into a mess.

"Who was it?"

"None of your damn business," said Jack, trying to escape his brother's arm.

"It was El, wasn't it? Man, I knew she was over here way too early. When Mom finds out…"

When Jerry's muscles had relaxed a bit, Jack pushed his arm away and jumped out of reach.

"She's not gonna find out."

"Jackie, you're forgetting one thing," he said, slouching back into his chair and shrugging. "She's gonna find out."

Holding up the remote in his hand, Jack threw it at Jerry and started walking to the staircase. "Tell her I have band practice at twelve."

As Jeremiah heard the stairs creek under weight, he muttered, "Biggest load of shit I heard all week."