A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful reviews, I know I'm a tad rusty on my writing, but I hope I'm getting back in the groove!
She jerked in her bed, and her brows knitted as if in some horrible dream. And truth be told, AJ was locked in some sort of a horrible nightmare, her whole body was covered in a thin layer of cold sweat. She twisted and jerked like she was on fire, her face controlled in a phantom pain. Blond hair was plastered to her face; she tossed her head and arched her back as she mumbled something under her breath as she slept. Silent tears fell down her cheeks and she shook with a tremor that passed over her body. The words she mumbled were as if she were begging, begging for her life and begging for her sanity. She jerked in her sheets and let out a bloody curdling scream into the darkness of the house.
It was moments later when Bobby emerged in her room, followed closely by Angel, Sofi and Jack who was getting better and he hobbled without crutches now. Bobby gave a roll of his eyes and looked at Jack jerking his head at the squirming girl in bed, "Do something fairy." He snapped and headed out of the room, not giving a second glance.
Sofi started forward but Jack moved in front of her, his face stoic as he touched AJ's shoulder and shook her awake. There was a shudder and then AJ's pale eyes flicked open and tears ran down her cheeks, she sat straight up and tossed her arms around the neck of the nearest person, which was Jack.
The man grunted in pain at the contact and jerked slightly, looking over his shoulder he met eyes with Angel and gave him a look that said 'help'. His brother only held up two hands and shook his head. Awkwardly, Jack patted the girls back and sighed heavily, and it was Sofi who relived him of the blond bundle in his arms.
"Move it." She snapped and shoved Jack over and he stood slowly to watched as Sofi stroked the girls hair. "Shh." She muttered, "It's all going to be alright...it's all okay." She mumbled and made a wild gesture for the men to leave.
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Jack sat in his room when the blond entered, AJ looked slightly embarrassed and she shifted on her feet, "I wanted..." She began then cut herself off with a sigh, "I am sorry." She mumbled, "I uh..." She paused, "Bad dream."
Jack watched her for several moments, and had the intention of telling her it was fine and that it didn't matter but instead; "Bad dream about what?" He asked. AJ tilted her chin up at him, and her eyes held a glint. Over the past few weeks, he'd come to realize, that this little blond was as stubborn as a mule, and could be twice as mean as Bobby. She was fire. Hot to the touch.
She pressed her lips together into a thin line, and sighed, "Just...a bad dream." She answered, clearly lying to him. Jack rose a brow and reached over to his desk to pick up a cigarette which he placed lazily in his mouth.
"No one screams like that from just a bad dream." He told her, but let the subject drop. He watched AJ for several moments before picking up his guitar again and plucked at a string there. "Is your name really AJ? Or does it stand for something?" He asked off handedly and AJ blinked in surprise.
"Alice Julia." She answered softly.
Jack watched her for several more moments and then tilted his head down to look at his instrument and when he heard the soft scuff of shoes on the carpet he looked up to see that she was gone. His brows furrowed and he wondered what a girl like her had nightmares about...
AJ padded down the steps, and paused at the doorway to grab her jacket before she marched outside, she was half-way down the walk when she paused and took sight of Bobby as he pulled up in his car and climbed out. He stared at her and gave a taunting grin.
"Have a nightmare again?" He asked and laughed.
"Just shut up Robert." AJ barked and received a howling laugh from Bobby as he walked inside the house.
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It was nearly three hours before AJ finally came home, and she hadn't really gone anywhere, just walked around the city, stopped at Evelyn's grave and then went to grab a bite to eat. When she returned Jack was already in the kitchen and he was half way through cooking dinner. Bobby snapped at her as she passed through the living room to the kitchen where she rolled up her sleeves and began to stir the mashed potatoes on the stove.
Jack glanced over to her and offered a small smile, but other then that, he said nothing.
"I don't just spill to anyone that asks." AJ said suddenly, "So, please, don't take anything personal." She muttered and gave him a sideways glance. He seemed to be getting around a lot better and that was good. "I'm sure you wouldn't just spill to me if I asked how it was that you came to live with Evelyn?" She paused as she moved the potatoes off the heat and set them aside.
"No, I suppose not." He replied and then looked at her, "Mom must have really liked you though to let you stay with her." He added and stuck a salad fork into the bowel filled with vegetables.
AJ gave a small laugh at that, "She liked everyone...but yes...she was...protecting me." She told him, and that was about as much as she was willing to let him in on. At the moment that is. Jack turned his attention to her and noted how she avoided meeting his gaze and he frowned. Wondering what it was that she could have meant. He himself had it rough before he came to Evelyn. He knew what it was like to need to be safe, but looking at this woman before him, who couldn't be more then twenty at least, he had to wonder what a girl that looked so beautiful in anything she wore and no matter what time of day could be hiding from.
The fact was, he had noticed her pale complexion and light blond hair even before she had reached the house. She was like a fucking sore thumb, like a blast of damned sunshine on a gloomy day. And she was beautiful. Stunning, he wanted to take her to bed, as any sane man would have wanted. But what could she be needing protection from? That was the main question.
"Don't ask, because I won't tell you." She said softly, "Sorry." She added as she moved around to check on the roast in the oven.
Jack looked at his hands and sighed, "Don't worry, I wasn't." He said and got a look from her that was a mix of amusement and something that he couldn't pin.
"I think," She started, "That you are my favorite."
