It's All The Same
Sequel to the "I don't want to be in Love [one-shot"
A Four Brothers Fan Fiction
Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Anything from Four Brothers.
Author Note[Dedicated to Wedineinhell. Thank you to everyone who has been waiting patiently. Sorry it has been awhile. I have been packed down with a lot of school work. I would like to thank for the reviews throughout the story from Silenced22, LadyJamie178, BlackRoseVine, PadfootCc, and Sweet-Romantic. Enjoy.
Chapter 3:
At this point I didn't know which was worst. Leaving my job, family, and best friend to get into my other Best friend's family's business to try to help them solve a murder, or looking my best friend in the eyes with such horror that it probably looked like a regretted coming here. The look in Jack's eyes made it much worse. He could tell I wasn't ecstatic about all this and that I was even afraid. Afraid that they were going to keep calling on the devil and soon enough that he would answer. Afraid that one time they would go to far or mess with the wrong people and get themselves killed.
What I was most scared about though was losing my friend. My Best friend. I was supposed to be here for him. Suppose to be trying to help him go through everything. Looking into his eyes… I knew I was making it worse. He was trying to protect me at the same time as find out what happened to his mother. At this point, I thought that I should go home… Maybe wait until everything cools off for his family. Wait until they figured everything out and then come back to help Jack through it all.
I shut my eyes and took some deep breaths. I needed to stay strong, but for how long could I truly stay that way? Would I crack? No, I couldn't. The whole point of coming to Detroit was to help Jack. So he wouldn't be alone. He wouldn't have to go through it alone like I did when my father died. I suppose I just didn't except it to be like this. Although I didn't really know that she was murdered until I got here… That's beside the point though! It doesn't matter on the circumstance! I was here for Jack and that was exactly what I was going to do.
"Ray…" I heard Jack's soft words. I couldn't open my eyes though. I felt as if they were sewn shut. "Rayanne…" I felt Jack's cold hand touch the side of the face. He seemed hesitant, but when he realized I wasn't going to pull away he gently laced his fingers in my hair. I opened my eyes. "I'm alright… Sorry, it's just I've been thinking a lot." I said and sighed. Jack pulled me into his warm body and I nuzzled into him as I wrapped my arms around him in return.
"I'm sorry Rayanne. I shouldn't have dragged you into all of this." Jack replied with his head on top of mine. "Don't apologize Jackie." I said and I looked up at him. "I should…" I said and Jack gave me a profound look. "Why…" Jack started but I shook my head no in order for him to stop. "I'm complicating everything. I know I am so don't even bother trying to say I'm not. I'm getting in the way Jackie…" It was his turn to stop me. "Don't for one second think that. Ray, you've helped me more than you think and… I need you here Ray." Jack said and I kept my eyes glued on him.
Hearing those words just made it all the more harder for me to be able to decide if it would be better for me to let Jack and his family take care of everything and then have me come back, or just stay. At that moment, I didn't really think it was my choice anymore. "Come on, Bobby and Angel might need help." He finally broke the silence. I gave Jack an incredulous stare as if to say "Why would they need my help. I sure couldn't stop that man". Jack laughed at my look and held out his hand for me.
I looked up at Jack and smiled. I took his hand into mine and entwined fingers with him. He gave me a true smile that I truly began to miss. We started up the stairs and I started to actually noticed his height. "You know Mr. Mercer… I think you've grown." I said and he laughed a bit. "You Know Ms. Lawrence… I think you've shrunk." He smiled and I smacked him with my free hand. "Jerk." I said and he smiled at me; I couldn't help but smile back.
About half way up the steps Bobby and Angel were heading down. "So what's going on?" Jack asked as we started walking with them. "Going to talk to our friend outside." Bobby said and the way he said it, I knew it wasn't good. We walked outside and I shivered as the cold air hit me. I saw a body on the ground and felt a little sick. Oh this wasn't good at all. We walked over to Damion and I watched as he gripped his wounded leg and a pained expression lie on his face. Jack saw my face pale a bit. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled my face into his chest. "Don't look." Jack said softly into my ear. "I won't." I mumbled and he stifled a laugh. I started to listen to Bobby. "You give me a name and I'll call 911. I want to know who shot up that liquor store now." Bobby said in a strong tough voice. I was definitely not cut out for this type of life.
I tried to block out the chatter but it was hard. I began to focus on the nice easy rhythm of Jack's breathing. "Fair Enough, then you're going to die out here." Bobby said and my eyes shot open. He wouldn't serious leave him here would he?! Jack started to pull me along with him. I looked up at him with alarmed eyes. He seemed to be calm but there was something else to his look. I just couldn't figure out what. "I'm going to the car." I said when they stopped. I moved out of Jack's arms and felt pairs of eyes follow me.
I reached the car and took in the cold air. I felt my lungs freeze a bit. I licked my chapped lips as the air hit them. My cell phone began to ring and I realized it was my boss when I looked at the caller id. I was dreading this conversation. I took in a deep breath and answered it. "Hello?" I answered. "Rayanne, would you mind telling me why you haven't been to work in 3 days?" My boss's voice was strongly aggravated. "I'm really sorry I haven't called Sir. My friend's mother passed away and he needed me. It was a spur of the moment thing. A lot has just been going on and I haven't been able to call…" "How long are you going to be there for?" He interrupted. "Honestly sir, I'm not sure." I said. There it was the unpleasant sigh. "Rayanne I'm sorry. Surely you understand that I'm going to have to fire you. With all the time you have taken before and now with this… I can't have workers like you take off time when they want to." There was a sound in the way he said you that just made me cringe. "I understand…" and with that he hung up. "Ass" I murmured.
I didn't even realize that Jack was leaning against the car near me. "What's wrong?" Jack asked. "I am now unemployed." I said. "Oh." Jack didn't know what to say. He probably thought it was his fault. "Look Ray, maybe I should have Bobby drop you off at the house. We're going to some restaurant bar to go look for these guys. Maybe it would be better…" Jack tried to word it right. "If I just hung out at the house for awhile?" I asked and he nodded. A look of relief filled his eyes as I he knew I wasn't misunderstanding him. "Yeah, maybe it would be better." I said and Jack looked over as Bobby and Angel headed over. Jack walked to Bobby and I watched as they talked for a bit. Bobby nodded as to agree with whatever he was saying.
We reached the Mercer house and Jack told me he would see me in a couple hours. I nodded and went inside to the empty house. I changed into a pair of my sweatpants and Jack's shirt with the skulls all on it. The scent of Jack filled my nose when I pulled his shirt over my head. I popped in a movie and curled up into his warm blankets. My ring tone for Ashley went off and I laughed. I was just waiting for the sudden outburst. I love how crazy she is.
"Hello?" I answered. "Hey there, how's Jackie?" She asked calmly. "Whoa! Where's the hyperactive friend of mine that loves to scream why haven't I called?" I asked surprised and then laughed. "Oh come on Ray! The world doesn't revolve around you!" She said teasingly. "Oh I know, and he is fine, just out with his brothers." I answered. I wasn't about to tell her what was going on because it was not my place to say. "So confess your madly in love feelings with him yet?" She asked. "Ash, I am not madly in love with him." I said sighing. "You're such a bad liar!" She said half shouting as she tried to win this argument. "You've liked him for the past 7 months you have known him! You never stopped and still haven't stopped talking about him. You just don't want to admit it to yourself that you're in love with your best friend because you're afraid if you tell him you love him, he will stop talking to you. That is completely ridiculous because I know he likes you." She responded. I was speechless.
Was that truly how I felt? Was she completely right about me? How was it sometimes Ash knew me more than my own self? No Wait! It's not right. I do not love Jack Mercer.
"Ashley, that is not true. I do not love him." I said and she sighed. "You are so lucky you are in Detroit…" Ashley said. "Why?" I asked. "Hello! You are with Jack Mercer! Probably in your pajamas, curled up in Jack's bed probably, waiting for him to come back. Are you so insane that you don't even realize how jealous I am of you?!" Ash said. I was so confused at this point. Did Ashley like him… Why didn't she tell me before? A feeling grew in the pit of my stomach. When I stayed silent she decided to talk. "Hey Ray…" She asked. "Yeah?" I asked hesitantly. "If you're not going to take Jack… Can I?" That feeling in my stomach became worse. "NO!" I yelled before I realized what I had said and that I was yelling.
I heard Ashley's fit of laughter on the other side of the line. "Told you." She said in a matter of a fact way. "What are you talking about?" I asked confused and curiously. "You are so madly in love with Jack that not only were you getting jealous, but you won't even share." Ash said. "I'm hurt Ray, We usually share everything…" Ash continued in a fake hurt voice. "Oh shut up Ash." I said and laughed a bit. "Fine Fine" She said and I sighed. "So come on say it, I know you want to." Ashley said. "No I don't." I disagreed. "Say it…" She continued to repeat it over and over until the point where I was going to explode.
"SAY IT!" she finally yelled. "FINE! I LOVE JACK MERCER!" My eyes widened as I realized what I had just said. "Wow… I didn't think you'd say it." She answered after a bit of silence. "Neither did I…" I said in a low voice.