Renee had stayed the night at Dean's house to make sure he was okay. He was still upset over Lisa still going back to Jerry. He was worried about Lisa and Aaron. Dean wished that he could've beat Jerry to a bloody pulp and take Lisa and Aaron, and move them in with him. He had an extra room in his home that Lisa and Aaron could stay in. Dean wanted Lisa to move in with him. Lisa objected, stating that she didn't want to be a burden on her brother. Dean kept telling her countless times that she was not a burden. Jerry was the one who was the burden. A worthless piece of shit on top of that.

Renee was making coffee when she saw Dean make his way to the kitchen.

"Good morning," she said. "Do you feel better?"

Dean sat down at the table and sighed. Renee took a good look at him. His hair was a mess and he was wearing a blue tank top with sweats. Boy did Renee love seeing him wear stuff like that. She had on a pink onesie.

She poured Dean some coffee and brought the cup to him. Setting it down, she poured some cream and put some scoops of sugar in it.

"Am I a bad person?"

Renee shook her hand.

"No."

"When I was beating Jerry up…I know you thought I was crazy."

Renee shook her hand again.

"No. You had every right to be upset."

"My sister hates me. I know. I don't tell my sister what to do. But she's in love with that asshole. I don't get it. I'm concerned for her and Aaron's safety."

Renee sat down next to Dean and took his hand in hers.

"As you should be. How long has she been with Jerry?"

"For seven years. I can't stand him. At first he was cool but now he's shit."

"She doesn't want to leave him because she wants to keep him happy. I had a friend who was in a toxic relationship like that. She finally got away from her boyfriend and started her new life."

"I just want my sister to be happy and to be in a healthy relationship. Maybe she'll listen to you because it seems as if she doesn't want to hear a word I have to say. You think you'll be able to talk to her?"

"Yes. I'll talk to her."

"Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

Dean looked exhausted. But his smile lit up his entire face. Renee smiled right back at him and slightly squeezed his hand.

She happened to look down at his hand and saw that they were slightly bruised.

"I'll be fine," Dean said.

"I'm still going to get you some ice," Renee said.

"Alrighty."


"Jerry, I'm sorry about what Dean did. It won't happen again," Lisa said.

"It better not," Jerry said.

They were eating dinner at the table. Lisa had made sure everything was just right for Jerry. She did not want to hear him complaining about how she messed up something. Aaron had reached for the bowl of mashed potatoes when he accidentally knocked over his water. Jerry immediately got irritated.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" he asked Aaron.

"I didn't mean to, Daddy," Aaron said.

Jerry grabbed some napkins and cleaned up the water.

"Don't do it again," Jerry said. "You're clumsy just like your mother."

"I'm not clumsy," Aaron said. "I'm very smart."

"Don't spill anything else," Jerry said.

"I won't," Aaron said.

Jerry finished his food then left the table. He did not bother to help with the dishes or help put the food away. Lisa got up and began cleaning up.

"I'll help you," Aaron said.

"No. You can go back to your room and play," Lisa said.

"I want to help you."

"Okay."

Lisa and Aaron finally got the kitchen cleaned and the food put up. Aaron gave his mother a kiss and a hug goodnight and went back to his room to lay down.

Lisa went back to her room and found Jerry on the phone with someone. He looked at her then said "I'll talk to you later".

"Who was that?" she asked.

"Why do you have to know?"

"I'm just asking. You always ask me who I'm talking to when I'm on the phone."

"That's because I can ask you if I want. I pay the bills around here. You don't do shit."

Lisa got undressed and put on her pajamas. She slid into bed and turned on her side, with her back facing Jerry.

"What's your problem?"

"Nothing."

"I'm so tired of your attitude. I pay the bills, buy the food, and everything. This is the thanks I get?"

"I don't have an attitude, Jerry. Let me sleep, please."

"Whatever. That's why I hit you earlier today. Always running off at the mouth. Since you like to run that mouth of yours, tomorrow I better see this house in the same condition as today: spotless. I want my food ready and hot for me when I get home. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's more like it. I'll leave you alone now. Oh, I forgot one more thing: if your brother comes around here starting me shit with me, I'm not going to hold back this time around. I'm gonna kick his ass. Then I'm gonna kick your ass for allowing your brother to come around here starting shit. You understand me?"

"Yes, sir."

"Night."

"Night."

Lisa didn't close her eyes but instead looked straight ahead. It was as if everything was a blur. Even though Jerry was an asshole, Lisa could not find the strength to up and leave him. Multiple times Jerry had threatened to leave her and Aaron with absolutely nothing if she tried to leave him. Or put them out of the apartment. Lisa did everything Jerry asked her to do so that he wouldn't get mad at her.

She did not remember Jerry being like this before. When they first met, Jerry told Lisa that he would give her the world. He did give her a world: a world full of hell.

But Lisa truly believed that maybe one day things would get better. That maybe Jerry would realize that he's been treating her bad and change his ways.

Oh how she was wrong about that.


"Where's my plate?" Jerry asked.

"I'm making it right now," Lisa said.

She placed an omelette on his plate and handed it to him.

"Thanks," Jerry said.

He went to the table to and ate his food.

"Hey, fetch me some orange juice," Jerry said.

Lisa went to the fridge and grabbed the carton of orange juice.

"There's not much left," she said.

She gave the carton to Jerry.

"Wonder why. Has Aaron been drinking it like it's fucking water?"

"No."

"Hmph. Thanks."

"Welcome."


"I wanted to kill that son of a bitch. I know he's been abusing my sister. She doesn't want to leave him. I asked Renee if she could talk to Lisa."

"I'm sorry, man. I wish I was there when you kicked her boyfriend's ass. I would've been right there helping you."

Dean drunk the last of his Gatorade then sat back in his chair. He looked out of the window of the break room.

"I feel like it's my fault."

"Why?"

"I feel like I've failed as a brother."

"Don't go blaming yourself. It's not your fault. You've did what you had to. She needs to see that she needs to leave Jerry."

"I hope she does."


Dean was anxious to see how the conversation with Lisa and Renee would go. Dean had managed to get ahold of Lisa the other day and talked to her. Dean told Lisa that since she didn't get the chance to meet Renee that they should talk and get to know each other. This was the best plan Dean could come up with and it worked. Lisa was more than happy to speak to Renee. She wanted to know who was the lovely lady that made her brother happy.

Dean kept his eyes glued to the table while he listened to Renee talk to Lisa. Renee had suggested that they grab a cup of coffee next weekend. Lisa told Renee that she'd love to since Jerry was going to work the entire weekend.

Renee had asked if everything was alright with Lisa before she got off of the phone with her. There was a slight pause then Lisa told Renee that everything was okay in the meantime. After the conversation, Renee hung up and smiled at Dean.

"That went well but the poor thing sounded so tired."

"It's because of that damn Jerry."

Renee got up from the kitchen table and looked at Dean.

"Stand up," she said.

Dean stood up and looked at Renee.

She placed her hands on Dean's cheeks and pulled his face close to hers.

"Everything will be alright. Trust me. Check up on Lisa when Jerry isn't around. Call her more often this week. And do not worry yourself."

"I'm tryin'. It's hard."

"I know. But I'll talk to her soon."

"You're a great friend, Renee. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Aww. I'm just trying to be a good person is all."

"You are a good person. I like you a lot."

"Me too."

Dean and Renee gave each other a big hug.

"Dean?"

"Yeah."

"Can we go to your room?"

"Sure."

"Pick me up."

"Say no more."

Dean picked Renee up and carried her right back to his room. He laid her down on the bed and laid next to her.

Renee traced a finger down Dean's torso. He was solid as a rock. She tugged on his shirt.

"If we were lovers, I'd be riding you right now," Renee said. "I'm being brutally honest."

Dean chuckled.

"I would be enjoying it as well. Can I ask you something? I don't mean to pry but are you on birth control?"

"I am."

"I have condoms in my top drawer. I bought some so that we could be prepared."

"I don't want to rush anything but damn sex sounds so inviting right now."

"I know."

"We've known each other for about three weeks now right? I feel like it's been forever."

Dean kissed Renee on her forehead.

"I know! But you know what? I enjoy being with you. And when we're ready to take the next step, we will do it. And I like you. So there. And if you want to move your stuff in here, then it's fine."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Thank you."

"No, thank you."

"I want some brownies."

"I got some brownie mix in my pantry that I haven't touched yet."

"I'll make some in an hour. Right now I just want to lay next to you."

"Fine with me."