SUMMARY: Jerry tells Jack about the new addition to the family…
DEDICATION: This is for MysticFantasy as I wrote this after her request.
A/N: MysticFantasy requested in a review that I do a chapter of Jerry and Jack, so here it is! I am not sure if it's that great as I had not originally planned a Jack section of this and it was a tad forced in the beginning as I wasn't sure where I wanted it to go. Just a conversation between Jack and Jerry, with some Bobby thrown in to liven things up of course.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Four Brothers…Jack, Jerry, Bobby, Daniela, Camille, the Mercer name, etc etc and so on and so forth.
Please read and REVIEW! Like I said, I'm not so sure about this one! It's a tad short, so I hope it isn't TOO short for you guys.
Enjoy - - -
"So, you're gonna be a father, Jerry?"
Jack's voice drifted down the stairs to the pair in the living room. He descended the steps and joined them in the light, his eyes carrying that youthful, amused, confused and vaguely interested glint that they sometimes possessed. His lips twisted in a half crooked smile as he stared at his older brother.
"Guess no one wins the bet," Jack sighed, glancing at Bobby playfully.
"Damn," Jerry shook his head, "do either ya'll fools ever sleep?"
"I was sleeping," Jack lied, "until you two started talkin' so loud you probably woke up the whole damn neighborhood."
Neither older brother called Jack out on the obvious untruth. He was far too alert and talkative to have just woken up. To pry Jack Mercer out of bed after, and if, he finally fell asleep, was like poking a hibernating bear. It was the only time when his attitude and aggression rivaled Bobby's. There was no question in either older brother's mind that their baby brother had yet to sleep that night – or morning. Still, he appeared in better shape than usual with this cheerful attitude.
"Well," Bobby grunted as he stood, "I'll let you sisters catch up. I'm going to bed."
"Uh, Jerry is sitting on your bed, Bobby," Jack snorted. "You gonna lay on top 'a him?"
"Guy on guy shit is your area, Jackie, not mine. Nah, I was in Angel's bed before. Maybe I'll just go reclaim my old room seeing as you apparently aren't using it tonight."
Bobby was heading up the stairs before Jack had a chance to object to either statement.
"Bobby," Jack spoke slowly, "in my bed. I'm gonna have to wash the shit outta' those sheets."
Jerry chuckled and the two fell into a comfortable silence. They were a perfect match that way. Jack wasn't too fond of talking at all and Jerry was naturally a quiet observer, only speaking when relevant. Neither felt the need to make idle conversation. Bobby simply enjoyed the sound of his own voice, according to Jack, and Angel constantly made crude jokes or was painfully silent. It was not the welcomed hush like that fell over Jerry and Jack. It was like Angel was sizing everyone and everything up at all times.
"Fuck," Jack suddenly whispered and shook his head. "Mom's gonna be a grandma."
They both chuckled and Jerry just rolled his eyes at how similar they all were, especially Bobby and Jack. Of course they would find the same thing comical instead of focusing on the impending child.
"Makes you an uncle, kiddo," Jerry nodded.
"Oh, shit," Jack swallowed. "Uncles? Us? Bobby as an uncle just seems damn scary."
"Yeah, it does," Jerry agreed with a grin. "I'll have to check any presents he gives to make sure there ain't no explosives or weapons 'n shit."
Jack stood and stretched.
"Grabbin' a beer. Want one?"
"Sit your underage ass down, boy. And no, I don't. Already had more than my fair share tonight."
The next bout of silence was not as comfortable as the first.
"Jeremiah Mercer," Jack sighed.
"What?" Jerry snapped his head up, not used to his brothers using his full name.
"That's your name, right?"
"Are you high, Jack? 'Cause if you're into that shit again –"
"About a year after I came here, Evelyn and Bobby sat me down for one of our 'talks'. You know how much Bobby loved those."
"That when you were getting' into all those fights at school?"
Jack just nodded. Opening up like this to anyone was difficult for him. It was nice when his brothers knew when to fill in the blanks for him.
"I was pissed and ran off when they sat me down."
"Like you always did."
"Whatever, man." Jack shrugged. "I ran off and ended up at your place. You remember what you told me?"
"Jack Mercer," Jerry nodded, saying his brother's name in the same way Jack had spoken Jerry's.
"New name. New person. New start." Jack quoted his brother. "I thought fighting, violence, all that shit – I thought that's how men were supposed to be. Tough. Mean. Like my foster father. You said that I was 'Jack Mercer', not Randall Pickett. You told me he was a weak man and I was better than that."
Jerry slowly nodded, gradually understanding where this was heading. All four brothers could read each other like a book. Bobby had just finished a similar lecture and Jerry wondered if Angel somehow sensed the situation overseas.
"You're gonna be a good father, Jerry," Jack stated simply. "For once, I agree with Bobby."
""'Bout damn time. Somebody get out the tape recorder," Bobby's voice snickered from the darkness.
"Damn it, Bobby," Jack groaned, "I thought you were going to bed."
"Nah. This whole eavesdropping is getting fun." Bobby smirked. "I finally know how you really feel about me, Cracker Jack."
"Fuck you."
"Ah, Jack, I know that hostility is just a mask. Jerry, I've changed my mind. If it's a girl, you should name her Jackie after her daddy's little sister."
"How about Bobbina?" Jack snorted.
"How 'bout I smack you upside the head?"
The bickering continued as Jerry leaned back and sighed in amusement. Now he was wondering what he was worrying about all along as he reached out and stopped Jack from slugging Bobby and eyed Bobby to not retaliate. He had nothing to fear.
"I already am a daddy," Jerry chuckled, shaking his head.
