/A.N./ So I'm glad that all of you really enjoy the story so far. I must apologize for taking so long to write and post the next chapter. So without further adeu....

Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Four Brothers. I own my original characters and the original portion of the plot.

Chapter 4: Dinner Mess and Hockey's Best

~~~~~Dahlia's P.O.V.~~~~~

He was sitting in the laundry room on top of the washing machine. The tongue ring was laying in his hand. I walked over and hoisted myself up beside him.

"Put it back in Jackie," I said looking over at him to make sure he did it.

He looked at me with a confused expression.

"Look who cares what that asshole thinks? I know I certainly don't, and neither should you. I know it sounds cliché, but I don't give a damn. We all know you're not gay, Jack. And you know what? The only reason Bobby teases you about it so much...is because you're a better man than him," I whispered that last part in his ear, flirting a little to boost his confidence.

It made me smile watching him grin. And what a grin it was. Did that boy know what he did to me with that smile? I'm glad he didn't, or he would have used it to his advantage and been my downfall right then and there. I got up and walked to the doorway before turning around. He looked up expectantly.

"What I said to Bobby back there was true. I know you heard it," I winked and saw him smile again, this time with the addition of a blush." Let's get back there and give the neanderthals their food. I swear they wouldn't live if it weren't for us."

I smiled when I heard his heavier footsteps follow down the hallway behind me. When we got to the kitchen I gave Bobby a 'Shut-the-fuck-up-and-don't-say-a-word' look. He had enough sense to listen. We served the food, but before anybody touched it Bobby said, surprisingly civilized, grace.

They all dug into the food except for me. I had had problems with this when I first came here, and now that Evelyn was gone the old fear and habits were creeping up with me again. I sat frozen in my seat only daring to slightly turn my head to where Evelyn should be sitting now.

I almost gasped. There was Evelyn sitting in her chair like always, like every meal. I was going crazy, now I was seeing things.

"Dahllie, honey. I know he did some bad things to you, but it's all changed now," now I knew I was crazy, the things were talking to me."You don't have to be scared here. No one's going to punish you for eating food, sweetheart."

I blinked and when I looked again she was gone. I was still too scared to do anything. I sat there until Jeremiah spoke up.

"Fix you a plate and eat Ghost. You worked hard on this meal, enjoy it," he looked at me with a knowing look in his eyes.

I was aware that the rest of the boys were looking at me. My hand shaking, I reached out and spooned a little of the salad onto my plate. It took me a few minutes to grasp the fork, but when I finally did they stopped staring at me. I couldn't really taste it in my mouth. It was more like I was feeding myself fear, but I kept giving myself spoonfuls to appease Jeremiah.

About five minutes later, all spent in dreadful silence, Bobby threw his napkin down and rose from the table," The hell with this man. Let's go get a pick up game. I wanna' see some quick sticks and some tight passin'."

Surely to hell he wasn't talking about hockey. In this weather?

"It's too cold man," Angel said shaking his head."I ain't come all the way back out here to play no hockey.

For once I agreed with him. I had put my fork down and waited to see what Bobby was going to do.

"Come on ladies! Let's show these guys some fuckin' skills!" Bobby moved to go get his coat.

Despite their earlier protests Jeremiah and Angel got up and followed him. Jack however, stayed behind for a minute. He wiped his mouth and then looked at me.

"You gonna' come?" He asked expectantly.

I rolled my eyes before getting up," Might as well. Someone has to keep you fools out of trouble."

We stood up from the table and walked to the door to get our coats. I put my coat, gloves, and scarf while I was waiting for Jack to grab his hockey gear. I sat down on the bench underneath the coat rack to put on my boots. As slutty as they looked, the black, leather knee-highs kept my legs warm.

Jack sent me a curious glance when I walked out the door. We saw Bobby, Jeremiah, and Angel waiting for us at the end of the driveway.

Before we had even joined them Bobby opened his big mouth," Where the hell did you get-"

I rolled my eyes and walked past them," Exactly where you think Bobby. Now ya'll gonna' play hockey or what?"

We walked down the street till we got to the rink. It wasn't empty. There were about six guys there already playing. We walked in and while the boys slipped their skates on, I made myself comfortable on the wooden bench bolted to the cement under the ice.

I told them I'd watch their stuff, and watched, half amused, as they flounced towards the other guys on the ice. Introductions were made and some 'Hey how've you been?'s were said before a good game started to pick up. They were all rough with each other, but I could tell that the Mercer's had the most experience. It wasn't long until I felt the familiarity of a presence behind me.

I turned, "What are you doing here Keith? Johnny gave the order that no one was to be anywhere around me outside of The Ace."

He smirked," Yeah, but I don't work for Johnny now do I?"

"No but you work for Reggie who reports to Johnny

"What if this visit didn't come from under the direction of either?" He smirked putting his hand on my shoulder.

I tensed up. What the hell was he talking about? If he wasn't here because of them who was he here for? It was then when I heard the footsteps. I looked up to see Bobby and Jeremiah heading our way. They eyed Keith suspiciously and menacingly as they approached.

"Hey Ghost this guy bothering you?" Bobby was the first to speak up.

"No he was just leaving," I said standing up. "And so was I."

Keith rapidly took off in the other direction. I stood up and went to leave. Before I could even get off of the ice I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Jeremiah frowning at me.

"Let me take you back to momma's. I gotta' pick the girls up from gymnastics anyway," I nodded and waited till he took his hand off of my shoulder before walking a couple of paces in front of him till we got back to Evelyn's house.

~~~~~Jack's P.O.V~~~~~

I had just knocked down one of the other guys that had already been playing. I stole the puck and shot it. Luckily, it bounced off the post and ricocheted back into the goal, giving us the lead. I turned to look for just a smidge of approval from Bobby, but saw him looking elsewhere.

I looked over to where he was looking and saw a man with his hand on Dahlia. He didn't look like the most honest and upstanding guy. She looked a little worried, which I had come to know wasn't like her. I went to follow Jerry who was already walking over there.

"Stay here fairy. This is a man's job," I sighed angrily as Bobby stalked over. Why did he have to go there all the time. Sure the one person that mattered didn't agree with him, but the joke was getting old.

I watched Bobby and Jerry stop right in front of them. Not a minute later the guy took off. Then Dahlia stood up. She and Jerry walked off as Bobby came back towards Angel and me. By now Angel had stopped playing to watch the whole thing go down, while the other guys had returned to playing.

Bobby had a pissed off look on his face, but then again he always did. I stopped him, deciding that finding out about Dahlia was more important than fighting with him over my orientation.

"What was that?" I asked him trying to follow her and Jerry down the street with my eyes.

"Her past catching up to her," he said and went to go steal the puck from whoever had it.

I didn't much feel like playing hockey anymore.

/A.N./ I hope you enjoyed it. I'll try to update soon.