Becca sat in her room trying to do her homework, she had her earphones on and the volume up high and she could still hear her parents arguing downstairs. Sighing she dropped her earphones to her neck and grabbed her books, pulling her door open she walked along the hall and stopped outside her sisters room. Sticking her head in she found her glued to a DVD, chuckling she stepped out and closed the door, Samantha-or Sam as she called her, was only six, she didn't understand what was going on with her parents and she wasn't going to tell her.

Getting to the bottom of the stairs she stopped just in time for a vase to go sailing by and smashing off the floor, sticking her head round the corner she saw her dad stand back up fully while her mom stood not far away panting with a red face and the look of pure anger, "pack it in!" she yelled, "Sam will hear you and I've a lot of work to do!" She hissed and stormed outside.

Sitting down on the front steps, she pulled her earphones back on and looked down at her books, "what now?" she whined as her phone vibrated in her pocket. "Hey, how's my big bro?"

"What up Becky?" he chuckled.

"Please don't call me that...what do you want?" she replied.

"Can't a guy call his sister to say hello and check in?"

"Jack," she drawled.

"Alright," he chuckled, "turns out I will be home tomorrow, will you make my bed for me please? I'd call mom but you know...she's always wasted."

"Yeah, she's mid meltdown now," she sighed.

"What is it this time?" he asked.

"Dad wouldn't give her money for a bottle of wine, I don't see why he doesn't just leave. I wouldn't be putting up with that if I were him."

Jack sighed heavily, "he won't leave you and Sam alone with her."

Becca sighed to herself, "what a great life we have, anyway, I'm trying to get an assignment done here, so I'll do your bed and I'll see you tomorrow."

"Hey Bec?" he asked, "is that guy still hassling you at school?"

"Yeah," she muttered. "There's a few of them now...mom turned up to a school thing stinking of booze shouting all over the place."

Jack sighed again, "I'm sorry Bec, who are these guys?"

"Nothing I can't handle, go on, I'll see you tomorrow...bye," she said and hung up.

Looking up as the front door opened, she jumped up quickly as her mom almost stood on her "mom! What the hell!" she yelled.

"Lorraine!" her dad yelled running after her, "you can't do this! You need to put that back! It's not yours!" he hissed as she backed out of the garden.

"What's she trying to sell now?" Becca asked as they watched her speed down the road.

Her dad sighed and walked back into the house, "sorry Becca, I'll come talk to you when I clean up!" he called.

...

A while later Becca still sat on her front steps just staring into space, her dad had told her it was her twenty dollars from her bag her mom had taken. She looked up as lights turned in next door to see her neighbour Jesse climb out of his car, "great," she muttered and looked down praying he didn't see her.

"Oh look, it's the ice queen," he said and leaned on the wall that separated their gardens.

"Oh look, it's the singing dork," she shot back.

Jesse chuckled and climbed the wall, "how's Becca?" he asked sitting beside her.

"Been better," she muttered.

"Mom and dad fighting again?" he asked.

"Yes," she sighed, "what else is new?"

"Sorry," he said and nudged her, "do you wanna come over for a bit?"

"Thanks, but I'll be okay, she's not here anyway. Bitch found my money and took off," she said bitterly.

"Your money for Saturday?" he asked. "So we're not going?"

"I'm not going, you can still go," she replied.

"No I can't, it won't be the same if your not there, besides I'd look weird sitting in a movie theatre by myself."

"Well unless my dad or Jack can give me a lend you'll have to go by yourself coz that was all the money I had left until pay day," she huffed.

Jesse sighed, " I can't even get more money my mom and dad are already gone away."

"Aww this sucks!" she snapped, "why can't I have things? Why do I have to hide my own money? Why can't I have a normal family?"

Jesse pulled her into a hug as tears trickled down her face, "I don't know Bec, I really don't know."

"I can't wait to get the hell out of here," she muttered against him.

"Sixteen more weeks," he said and pulled her closer.

Becca pulled away from him and stood up, "I better go see if my dad is okay...I'll see you at school tomorrow."

Jesse nodded and stood up, "try think about something else, I'll call you later okay?"

Becca nodded and leaned in and hugged him, "night nerd," she said and stepped back, "thanks for listening to me."

"Any time...go on, you better get inside, it's starting to get cold."

"Oh Jesse?" she said as he climbed over the wall, "um...can you walk me to class in the morning?" she asked awkwardly.

Jesse narrowed his eyes, "why?" he asked slowly.

Becca looked at the ground, she was so embarrassed, "um, Robbie Coyne and his lot have been at me all week...I'm just afraid I'll lose my shit tomorrow."

"All week? Why didn't you tell me? It's Thursday now."

Becca shrugged, "normally I can handle myself but I'm sure he'll see my mom tonight at the liquor store."

Jesse sighed, "you should have told me, I'd have knocked him out-I am gonna knock him out."

Becca chuckled and kissed him on the cheek "my hero. .thanks, I'll see you in the morning."

Becca let herself into her house and made her way to the kitchen, turning on the light she stopped in the doorway as her dad looked up from the table, "hey," she said and walked to him. "Are you okay?" she asked and sat down."No," he sighed, "I can't go on like this much longer."

Becca chewed on her lip for a moment, "dad," she said and placed her hand on his, "I think you need to leave, it's clear she doesn't want anyone's help...its clear the marriage is over."

"I know," he nodded and laced his fingers with hers, "but I can't leave you and your sister here."

"We'll be fine, I can look after Sam, Jack will be here at weekends and he'll be here for the summer."

"I can't ask you to do that Becca, you have school and your job and your own life, I wouldn't leave you anyway. If I go you three come with me...I've other things to deal with too, I can't just leave."

"Like what?" she asked curiously.

"Well, for starters," he said and held up a sheet of paper "I need to get your mom to sign this form for the bank, she's draining the joint account."

Becca took it from him and stood up as the front door opened, "I'll get it signed," she said as her mom stumbled in.

"Hey family," she chuckled and walked by them to get a glass.

"Hey mom," she replied happily and glanced at her dad. "Remember that form I asked you to sign last week?"

Her mom frowned "uh, no...what's it for?"

"School, remember I told you I needed the form back by tomorrow, the trip to art gallery?"

"Oh, yes, I remember," she chuckled and took it from her, "pen," she said clicking her finger.

Becca took a pen from the counter and handed it to her, "thank you," she smiled when she handed the form back.

"Have fun at the farm," her mom said and walked by her with a glass and two bottles of wine.

Becca sighed heavily "why don't you just go to bed mom? It's pretty late."

"Nah, I'm good," she said and dropped onto the sofa, "few of my shows to catch up on...you go to bed you've school tomorrow."

"Okay, night mom," she said and went back to her dad, "do you want me to hold onto this in case she finds it?"

"Please," he chuckled and kissed her on the cheek "night Bec," he added and stood up.

"Night dad," she replied and made her way to the stairs.

"I need fifty dollars tomorrow so make sure you bring it home with you Steve!" her mom yelled after her dad.

"What? For what?" he yelled back.

"We've no food!" she hissed "kids have to eat!"

"Dad, don't," Becca said as he went to come back down the stairs, "she's just looking for a fight."

Sighing he nodded and went on to his room.

...

Saturday morning Becca had woken up groggily, her mom had started a screaming match with her dad at all hours, it was a bad one, Jesse had heard and called to make sure she was okay. Climbing out of her bed she walked to her desk as a note caught her eye took Sam to stay with my sister for the weekend, you call me if anything happens-anything! There's twenty dollars in my shirt pocket for you to go out with Jesse , love you Bec, dad chuckling she walked out of her room and into her dads. Seeing her mom snoring her brains out she tiptoed to her dads closet, took the money and hurried back to her own room.

Getting dressed she quickly brushed her teeth and made her way downstairs, "hey," she said upon spotting her brother.

"Hey," he replied and leaned on the counter beside her, "why didn't you tell me it was this bad?"

Becca shrugged and sipped her coffee, "it hasn't been that bad before, she's never thrown the TV at him before."

Jack scrubbed his hands over his face, "I'm taking off for the day before I kill that woman, I suggest you do the same...call me if you wanna get dinner later."

"Actually, I'm going out with Jesse tonight so you'll have to look after yourself," she replied.

"Jesse? Next door Jesse? Are you two finally a thing?" he smirked.

"No," she scoffed "we're just friends like always."

Jack laughed "he's so into you Bec, and you're into him, when are you gonna wake up?"

"I am not!" she shrieked.

"Not what?" her mom muttered as she dragged herself by him.

"She's trying to say she's not crushing on Jesse," Jack laughed.

"The boy from next door?" she asked as she downed a glass of water, " I thought you two were together months now...did he break up with you?"

"No mom!" Becca yelled as Jack burst out laughing, "we were never together! We're just friends!"

Jesse chose that moment to enter, "hey Mrs M," he said happily.

"Hey Jesse...speak to your girlfriend, she's very grouchy this morning...maybe she's on her period," she said and walked off.

"Oh my God! Mom!" she yelled after her.

Jack stood up, "I'm off...you two have fun," he chuckled and left them to it.

"Uh, what's going on?" a confused Jesse asked.

"Nothing, according to my mom we've been going out for months now...wanna hang out upstairs? Living room is a little trashed," she said and walked by him, she was so embarrassed.

"Sure," he said and followed her, "why does your mom think we're together?"

"Beats me," Becca sighed and lay back on her bed, "she's living in a world of her own, my dad gave me money so I can go later."

"Nice," he chuckled and lay back beside her, "we better watch the first one again so," he added and picked up the remote.

"Great," she replied and tried to focus on the TV.

Later that night Jesse and Becca made their way out of the movie theatre, "that was awesome!" he yelled excitedly.

"Way better than the first one," Becca replied.

"I can't believe that twist, did not see that coming at all, did you?"

"No, not at all, it was a good twist though, I was on the edge of my seat...we eating?" she asked as they walked to his car.

"Yep, do you want to eat out or get a pizza back in mine?' he asked.

"Pizza sounds great," she replied.

"Hey! Mitchell!' A guy called from behind them, "guess who we just passed?" he said coming up beside them.

Becca sighed as Robbie Coyne and two other boys stopped beside them, "well judging by the state of you it wasn't a mirror."

Robbie chuckled, "your mom, loaded with booze as usual, tell me? Do you get fed at all?"

"You better shut your trap and keep walking!" Jesse hissed, "did you not get enough warnings yesterday?"

"Jesse leave it, just ignore him," she said and started to pull him along.

"Yeah, listen to your poor scruffy girlfriend Swanson," he laughed.

"That's it!" Jesse yelled and lunged at him, Becca grabbed him just in time and held onto him.

Jack appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, "anything else you wanna say about my sister?" he growled.

"Let go!" Robbie yelled, "you're hurting me!"

Jack shook him roughly, "I said, anything else you wanna say about my sister?"

"No! I'm sorry! Just let me go!"

Jack turned him to face him, "I hear you say anything else about her, you go near her in school or even look at her I'll be waiting at that school got it?"

"Yes, I got it!" Robbie yelled panicked.

Jack flung him at his friends, "that goes for you two as well!" He yelled as they ran off.

"Where did you come from?" Becca asked.

"I'm meeting Dave for a late showing, are you okay?" he asked

"I'm fine, I take no notice of him anyway...thanks."

Jesse pulled out his keys "see ya Jack, we're off to get food."

"No sharing a straw or holding hands," Jack chuckled and walked off.

"Bye Jack!" Becca called and climbed into the car.

Jesse glanced at her as he pulled away, she had gotten into the car without a word and looked out the window...Did Becca and her family know something he didn't. That was the third comment he'd heard about them being together.

Pulling up at his house he turned off the engine and slapped her on the knee, "meal deal or pizza each?"

"Deal, I'm starving," she replied and climbed out.

Jesse followed her and let them in "are you in the mood for another movie?"

"Nah, PlayStation?" she asked.

"Fine, but I'm not staying up all night Bec okay? We'll have pizza play a few games then I'm throwing you out alright?" he chuckled.

...

After food and a few games Jesse walled her to the wall, kissing her on the cheek he stepped back, "go on it's late, drop in after work tomorrow if you want."

"Yeah, I might, I'll let you know though, I don't know what time my dad and Sam will be home at."

"Just let me know, I've no plans anyway, night Bec," he said and walked back to his house.

"Night!" she called and walked into her own house. Getting to the living room she spotted a bottle of vodka on the table and sighed, her mom went off the rails on that stuff. Taking off her boots she hoped she got to her room without her mom hearing her.

Just as she was at the top of the stairs her mom came out of the bathroom, "where have you been all day?" she slurred.

"I was in work, then Jesse and I went to the movies," she replied and kept walking.

"Until two am?" she yelled following her to her room.

"Then we went to Jesse's and got food...mom, I'm tired, I just wanna go to bed."

"Where's your sister? I haven't seen her all day."

"She's staying at aunt Lisa's," Becca replied and pulled back her covers.

"You lot must think I'm stupid!" she yelled and stormed over to her, "you and your father!" she screamed in her face.

Becca stepped back, "mom, what are you talking about? Just go to bed, I'm not in the mood alright?"

She yelped as her mom slapped her, "don't you tell me what to do! I tell you what to do!" She screamed and shoved her.

Becca tripped over her shoes and fell, trying to grab the desk as she fell she let out a winded cry as her face hit the corner of it before she hit the floor.

Jumping up she grabbed her side "what the hell is wrong with you!" she cried, "what goes on inside that head of yours? How can you think this is okay?" she yelled and grabbed her shoes, "I'm outta here!"

"Becca, I'm sorry! Come back! I didn't mean it!" her mom called after her.

Fleeing her house she jumped the wall as she tried to control her breathing, knocking at Jesse's door she closed her eyes tight to stop the tears that were welling, "hey," she whimpered when he answered, "can I stay here tonight?"

Jesse nodded and stepped back to let her in, " Bec what happened?" he asked as he looked at her face.

"My mom," she whimpered before she burst out crying.

"Bec," he sighed sadly and pulled her into him.

"Sorry for dumping this on you," she mumbled into him a few minutes later.

"It's okay, it's what friends are for," he replied. "Do you want to sleep in my room or the spare room?"

"Could do with some company," she replied and stepped back, "I'll take the floor, I don't mind."

Jesse chucked, "it's a big bed, plenty of room for us both.. come on," he said and nudged her up the stairs.

The next morning Becca opened her eyes and yawned, groaning as her face stung she remembered what had happened last night. Looking over at the other side of the bed she saw Jesse was still sleeping, rolling off the bed she walked to the mirror and looked at herself.

She sighed heavily at the black eye and red marked cheek that looked back at her, "does it still hurt?" Jesse asked watching her from the bed.

"Stings," she replied and walked to sit beside him, "I gotta get outta here Jess," she sighed. "I can't do this anymore," she whimpered.

Jesse scooted to her and pulled her into him, "I know it's hard Bec and I know you and your family are going through hell with your mom but you need to rise above it. You're an amazing person that wears her heart on her sleeve, if I could take you away from this I would, in a heartbeat...your my best friend," he said and tightened his hold on her, "it kills me to see you so down."

Becca leaned deeper into him and closed her eyes tight, "I just cant do it anymore, my life is falling apart right in front of me and I can't fix it. I've so much to look forward to but yet I'm dreading it."

"We got graduation and the prom soon," he said softly.

Becca scoffed, "Bobby isn't allowed to be near me, his mom said he can't come to the prom with me because of my mom. She saw her stumbling around the grocery store a few times...as for graduation?" she laughed, "I didn't get tickets for any of my family, I'll be getting ready at school so my mom won't know about it."

"Bec," he sighed, "you cant do that, you have to have someone there...even just your dad?" he asked.

"Nah, he'll be busy with end of year exams and whatever...its fine," she said and pulled away from him, "I gotta get used to be being on my own."

"You'll never be on your own," Jesse said quickly, "I'm always gonna be here for you, no matter what."

Before Becca could reply the doorbell went, "back in a sec," he said and hurried out of the room.

"Hey man," Jack said as soon as the door was open, "is Becca here? I've been calling her all night."

Jesse nodded and moved to let him in, "she came back here last night after a fight with your mom, she's still pretty upset."

"Yeah mom was crying and babbling about smacking her or something when I got in last night...did she hit her?" He asked.

Jesse nodded "she slapped her and pushed her, Becca fell so she's marks on her face."

Jack sighed and shook his head "can I see her?"

"Gimme a sec, she's not in a great mood," Jesse replied and hurried up the stairs. "Bec? Jack is looking for you."

Becca nodded and pulled on her shoes, "I gotta get ready for work anyway...thank you for last night," she said and walked to him, "I'd be lost without you," she added and kissed him on the cheek "I love you dork," she whimpered and hugged him.

...

Later that evening Becca groaned as she arrived at her house, her dad was home, he was gonna lose it when he saw her face. Walking up to her front door she looked over at Jesse's house, she had thought about going straight there...she'd thought about Jesse a lot today. His parents were home so she decided to leave them be and went into her own house, walking to the kitchen she pulled the fridge open not surprised when it was empty.

"Chinese is on the way," her dad said from behind her.

Becca turned to face him and saw the look of horror on his face as he stared back at her, "not now," she said and walked to him, "hey dad," she whimpered and walked into his arms.

"I'm so sorry baby," he sniffed as he rubbed her head, "I should never have left you with her."

Becca sighed into him "its fine dad, normally I can handle it but she was on the vodka last night...where is she anyway?"

"Up in the room, she hasn't left it all day, hasn't said a word to me either."

"Good," she chuckled and pulled away from him "I'm gonna go get a shower and see Sam before the food gets here."

"I need to talk to you and your brother after dinner!" he called after her.

"Okay!" she called back as she ran up the stairs.

"Becca? Is that you?" her mom asked hurrying from her room.

"Yeah, it's me, I gotta get a shower," she muttered and walked on to her room.

"Becca, I am so sorry about last night, I've been thinking about it all day, I'm so ashamed of myself."

"So you should be," Becca replied as she got her stuff ready.

"Bec , please?" She asked and walked to her "please talk to me."

"I don't wanna talk to you!" she yelled "look at my face mom! I had to go to work like this and I'll have to go to school like this! Like the kids don't pick on me enough over you! You're not a mother! You're a wreck mom and I can't be around you anymore! You're sucking the life out of me!" she cried "I'm done, I'm not doing this anymore!"

"Bec?" Jack asked as he and her dad watched on "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she sniffed and grabbed her stuff "I'm getting a shower."

"Becca please!" Her mom called and put her hand on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed and pulled away from her "until my real mom appears, you stay the hell away from me!" she said and walked off to the bathroom.

Later that night Becca climbed the wall to Jesse's, knocking she smiled and gestured for him to come outside "hey nerd, I only have a few minutes, I'm meant to be watching Sam," she said and pulled him down to sit on the steps.

"Someone's in better form," he chuckled.

"I am," she giggled, " my mom tried to apologise and I lost it at her, I told her to stay away from me that I was done with her."

"Oh," Jesse replied.

"Oh?" Becca asked, "Do you feel sorry for my mom? Do you think I went top far?" she snapped.

"Why are you yelling at me?" he snapped back.

"Coz you feel sorry for my mom!" she hissed, "all the shit she put me through and you feel sorry for her?"

"I never said I felt sorry for her Becca, I said 'oh' as in I wished it could have gone better for you!"

"Why are you yelling at me?"

Jesse chuckled and scrubbed his hands over his face, "just forget about it."

"I've decided to go to prom by myself," she said after a few minutes of silence.

"Great," he smiled "but you won't be by yourself, you'll have me."

"I'm not going in a car with you and Jessica Brookfield ," she scoffed.

"I'm not taking Jessica, I spoke to her earlier, she's going with someone else."

"What?" Becca replied "does she think she's too good for my nerd? I'll kick her ass."

"No," he chuckled "since you were going alone I decided we'd go alone together."

"Jesse, you did this for me?" she asked "you didn't have to do that."

"She's just some girl from school, you're not Becca, you're very important to me," he smiled.

Becca stared at him for ages before leaning in and kissing him, Jesse froze for a second before he kissed her back.

After a minute they pulled back and Becca looked down at her hands "uh," Jesse said a few minutes later "why did you do that?"

Becca shrugged and played with her hands "wanted to see what it would be like."

Jesse nodded but didn't say anything

"Okay," she said awkwardly and stood up "I'll see you at school," she said and walked off.

"Get back here!" he chuckled after her.

"Don't wanna!" she called back.

Jesse chuckled and caught up with her, grabbing her hand he swung her to face him "so, how was it?"

Becca looked up at him and raised an eyebrow "good, very good, you're a great kisser...night," she said quickly and went to hurry away.

Jesse tugged her back until she hit his chest, locking his arms around her back, he kissed her slowly.

Becca went to pull away but stopped when he tightened his grip on her, sliding her hands up his chest she locked her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

"Now you can say goodnight," he said as he pulled back.

"Okay...um, wow, um, night dork," she said and climbed the wal

...

Getting to her door Becca shut it behind her and leaned against it smiling, blowing out a breath she walked towards the living room. Her dad would be home soon she still needed to find out what he wanted to talk to her about. Seeing her mom on the sofa she groaned and walked to her "mom," she said and shook her. "Come on mom, you can sleep in bed.. mom?" she asked and moved closer to her, her lips were blue

"Mom?" she yelled and shook her harder "no, no, no, mom! Wake up!" she screamed and shook her vigorously.

Seeing pills on the table she grabbed the box "mom, what have you done!?" she cried and put her ear to her chest, she was barely breathing. Dragging her to the floor she pulled out her phone and called for an ambulance as she started cpr.

Hanging up after she'd given the address she jumped up and sprinted out the door, jumping the wall to Jesse's she started banging on the door.

"Bec? What's wrong?" Jesse asked.

"Your mom! I need your mom! My mom! She, she...I need her to come!" she yelled.

"Hey, hey, calm down, what happened?" He asked grabbing her arms.

"I need your mom Jesse, ambulance is on the way! Please hurry!" She screamed as she rang back to her house.

Ten seconds later Jesse, his mom and his dad burst through the door, "Becca?" his mom asked as she dropped down beside her "what happened?"

"I don't know!" she cried, "I came in and found her like this, I think she took them pills!" She yelled pointing to the tub.

"It's okay sweetie, I can take it from here...Jesse," she called when Becca didn't move.

"Come on Bec," he said and pulled her by the shoulders "let my mom look after her."

"My dad," she sobbed "I need to call my dad."

"I've called him, he's on his way," Jesse's dad replied.

"This is my fault," she said as she watched Jesse's mom work on her mom.

"Why don't we wait outside," Jesse said and started to lead her away.

"No," Becca replied and pulled away "she needs me here."

"Best thing you can do for her Becca is go with Jesse," his dad said softly.

"What if she dies and I'm not here?" she whispered.

"She's not going to die," Jesse's mom said "she's taken an overdose, you caught her just in time. They'll take her to hospital and pump her stomach."

"See," Jesse said and tugged her towards the door "you need to sit down and calm yourself down, you've had a shock."

Becca sighed and leaned into him, "this is all my fault, I shouldn't have said all that stuff to her."

"It's not your fault, Becca, your mom needs help," Jesse said and held her close. "Maybe this will give her the push she needs."

A while later Becca arrived at the hospital with Jack, she had asked Jesse would he take Sam to his for an hour so she could check on her mom.

Getting to a hallway she spotted her dad pacing back and forth, "dad?" she asked as they got closer.

"How is she?" Jack asked.

"We can't see her for a while, she's having her stomach pumped, Becca what happened? Did she say anything? Did you two have another fight after I left?"

"No," Becca replied "after you left I checked on Sam, she was half asleep so I left her in her room. I went downstairs and she was in the living room reading I called to her that I was popping over to Jesse for a few minutes to call me if Sam wanted anything and she answered me, she said ok, she was sitting up when I left. I wasn't even fifteen minutes... sorry dad, this is all my fault. I never should have had that fight with her."

"It's not your fault Becca, you have every right to be mad at her," he replied.

"Yeah, she's the idiot that chose to swallow a load of pills," Jack said bitterly.

Becca glanced at him then back to her dad, "will she be okay?"

Her dad nodded "she'll be fine sweetie, she'll be out for the night and be a little groggy when she wakes up."

Becca nodded and stood up "I better get home to Sam, dad I'll get her to school tomorrow so you don't need to worry about her...I'll assume you're staying here for the night?"

He nodded and looked up at her "you don't have to go to school tomorrow, we've had a family emergency, I'll call them in the morning for you both."

"I'm going to college," Jack said.

"Yeah, me too, I've an exam," Becca said and kissed him on the cheek "I'll call you in a while," she said and walked off.

Jack sat down beside his dad "do we call Jamie?"

"No, your brother is in Iraq , it will be days before we reach him, there's no point worrying him."

"Okay," Jack said and settled back beside him, "I'll sit here with you until she's in a room."

Becca pulled into her drive and killed the engine, she was so tired, she just wanted to sleep. Blowing out a deep breath she climbed out of the car and headed straight for Jesse's, she'd forgotten to tell him she was on the way home. Knocking lightly on the door she stood back and waited.

"Hey," she whispered when he opened the door, "how was she?"

"Great, she just nodded off, we watched the end of Nemo...do you want me to carry her over?"

"Please," she replied "my arms are still a little sore from earlier."

"You go ahead and get her bed ready, I'm just gonna tell my mom where I'm going."

"Thank her for me won't you?" she yawned as she walked back to the wall.

...

A few minutes later Jesse let himself into Becca's house, seeing her cleaning the mess in the living room he carried Sam to her room, he gently put her into her bed and pulled the covers over her. By the time he came back down Becca had finished and was now in the kitchen, "any news on your mom?" he asked, "my mom and dad wanted to know."

Becca nodded as she made tea, "she was having her stomach pumped by the time we got there, dad said once that was done they'd put her on fluids and keep her in for the night...he's gonna stay with her for the night."

"That's good news I guess," he said and walked to take a cup off her, "hopefully she'll feel much better tomorrow...how are you?"

"I'm fine now, sorry if I freaked you out earlier, I was panicking, I didn't know what else to do," she replied.

"You don't have to apologise Bec, my mom is a doctor, she's glad you thought of her."

Becca sighed heavily and dropped into a chair, "when will it end Jesse? When is my mom gonna realise she's losing her family?"

Jesse sat beside her and placed his hand in hers, "your mom has an addiction, its very had to just stop. She needs help, the only way that will happen is if she asks herself, she won't do it if she's forced into it."

Becca looked down at his hand on hers, "Jesse , what happened earlier," she started.

"We don't need to talk about that now Bec," he cut in "right now I'm just a guy that's worried about his best friend-nothing else."

"You don't need to worry about me, I'll be fine, my mom is okay, Sam didn't see anything so I won't have to explain it to her and my dad seems like he's holding it together... we'll be fine," she smiled. "Thank you for being here for me, you have no idea what you mean to me Jesse, I couldn't have gotten through a lot if you weren't such an amazing caring friend."

"And to think we used to kill each other out on the street when we were kids," he chuckled and pulled her into a hug. "I'm always gonna be here Bec, always."

Over at the hospital Becca's mom had been placed in a room, her dad sat by her side with Jack lingering by the door. "You don't have to be here Jack, I know what she's put you kids through, your feelings don't change just because of this...why don't you go home and see Becca before you head off," his dad said.

Jack nodded and looked over at his mom "yeah, I think I will...call me if you need to, see ya dad," he said and walked off down the hall.

Walking along the hall he pulled out his phone, he had decided enough was enough with their mom, he needed his older brother home to help deal with it. Putting the phone to his ear he held his breath as it rang, he had no idea what situation his brother was in or what time it was in Iraq "Lieutenant Mitchell please, it's a family emergency," he said as soon as it was answered.

"Hello?" Came a tired voice a few minutes later.

"Hey bro, it's me," Jack replied.

"Jack? What's going on? They said it was a family emergency."

"Yeah," Jack said slowly "I'm sorry to call you, dad told me not to but, it's mom, she's out of control, we need you to come home."

Jamie sighed "what's she done now? I thought she was laying off the drink."

"Uh, she tried to kill herself, I'm at the hospital with dad, he doesn't know I've called you, he didn't want you to worry."

"What?" Jamie yelled "she what? What happened?"

"We're not clear on that part but she did have a massive fight with Becca, she slapped her and pushed her. Becca came home earlier and she tried to apologise, Bec told her where to go and stormed off. She took a load of pills when no one was home."

"God damn it," he sighed "where's Becca now?"

"She's at home with Sam...can you come home?" Jack asked hopeful.

"I'll see what I can do, I don't know when I'll be able to get a flight out of here, I'll have to talk to my commander."

"Okay," Jack replied, "call me when you know."

"I will, you look after Bec and Sam, I'll talk to you soon...love you kid," he said and hung up.

A/ HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THIS 1ST INSTALMENT, SEE YOU SOON, JJ