A/N: New chapter, enjoy and THANK YOU ALL for the reviews. I loved them and I'm glad you like my story. This has scenes of violence and more Mercer swearing. Enjoy ; ) oh and...MORE REVIEWS!


The game was as intense as always, Jack was unsurprisingly nimble thanks to his lean frame and just as easily jumped over people he'd knocked over as he served the puck.

Bobby was a law onto his own, alternating between heckling his brothers and egging them on to being a one man wrecking ball.

Jerry was less aggressive and out of the five, the more skilled of the group, he moved fast and carefully and was a good scorer.

Jess was not as rough as the four men, few were for that matter, but she was grateful for being a girl because the second they thought they should go easier on her, Jess would use a sneak attack and score points.

Angel played with his characteristic cockiness, swerving and serving with easy ferocity and skill. They were all in the heat of the game when the Bobby noticed the a woman in a smart brown suit with dark red hair, nervously inching her way over to them, despite the aggressive game going on.

"Hey! Do you see us playing over here?" he said loudly

The rest of the group stopped playing and skated over to the woman who looked more and more anxious at the frankly intimidating group.

She cleared her throat "I'm Linda Dayle with the local newspaper, I wondered if I could have a word with Miss. Townsend"

Jerry looked at her suspiciously "What about Miss Dayle?"

Regaining some of her confidence she stalked over to Jess and whipped out a notepad from her tan slouch bag "Can I just ask you a few questions about your father's death Jessica, I can call you Jessica right?"

"What?" gaped Jessica, she'd thought her father was simply missing. Not dead. Jack put a protective arm around her shoulder and pulled her away from the reporter.

"Back off" he snapped

Angel glared at the woman "What the hell are you trying to pull, her father is missing not dead"

Linda shrugged dismissively "He could be dead. Jessica, have you spoken to your father since the fire that claimed your adopted mother and your brothers? Why weren't you present at their funeral?"

Bobby stepped confrontationally into her face "You need to back the hell off, right now"

Linda took a quick look at everyone else's faces and decided it was best to leave for now, she made a mental note to return later, however.

"Fine. But don't think I'll be the first to try and talk to her about this..." she looked at Jessica and tried to put her made up face into a compassionate one "Jessica, if you give me an exclusive then you won't get bothered by other less tactful reporters. Wouldn't that be easier?"

Jack pulled Jess back before she hit the woman and led her off the court, Jerry, Angel and Bobby followed, each making sure she knew how they felt about her presence as they passed.

They returned back to the house, only to find that Linda Dayle had been right about other reporters. Almost a dozen were gathered around the Mercer house impatiently waiting for Jessica to arrive and when they saw the group return they immediately became animated and began to rush forward to her, badgering her with questions.

"Fuck this shit" snapped Bobby angrily he pushed past them with Jack keeping his arm around Jess and elbowing any more aggressive reporters.

"Do you have any words for us Mr. Mercer!" cried one of the reporters from the background

Bobby turned around and gave the crowd the finger, he pushed past them with the help of his brothers and they all rushed into the house, slamming the door in front of them.

"Angel! I'm so glad you are back!. What the hell is going on?" exclaimed Sofi running down the stairs she ran into her boyfriend's arms and he hugged her "I don't know baby, crazy ass reporters"

"This is ridiculous...how can this be such a major story and...my family dying barely made the obituaries" said Jess bitterly. Jack squeezed her comfortingly

"It'll blow over" he said assuredly

She smiled briefly at him before he let go of her, feeling as if he'd been holding on too long.

Bobby nodded brightly "Fairy Jack's right for once, lets just...get something to eat. Pizza or whatever"

Jerry glanced at his watch "I've got to get going, I'm sorry Jess. Oh, uh...Camille invited you guys for dinner tomorrow night. Try and be there before eight all right?" he said as he departed

The five left made their way into the lounge where they watched with some amusement as Jerry struggled through the journalists to his car and then made a hasty get away.

"Ai! How much more of this?" sighed Sofi, echoing the thoughts in everyone else's heads.


"Jackie! Jack! Wake up"

Jack's eyes shot open, they stared wide and frightened into the darkness till he realised that Jess was looking down at him.

"Hey, you were having a bad dream" she said and tucked some falling hair behind her ears

His throat was suddenly very dry, he grappled with his thoughts and tried to get his head straight.

"What...how did you know?"

She gestured to his open door, "Total coincidence, I was going down for some water and I heard you cry out."

He was too tense to feel embarrassed and wiped his forehead which was moist with cold sweat, he shut his eyes momentarily and his dream came back in technicolor, shots ringing out loudly, his body riddled with bullets. It was a recurring dream; about his shooting almost a year ago.

"Do you want me to get you some water?" she asked gently and crouched down so she was level with his bed.

Jack sat up, his eyes still wide and startled. "No...no. Its all right"

She sighed gently "I can stay if you want"

He glanced up at her and then bowed his head "I look that freaked out?" he ran the back of his hand over his clammy forehead

Jess cocked her head to the side "Actually, I kind of couldn't sleep either. You mind if I sit with you for a little while?...Bobby's a loud snorer and Angel's with Sofi"

He smirked a little "So you got lumped with me?"

She smiled "Yeah, sucks for me right?"

Jack nodded "Right" he sat up, kicking off his covers and positioned himself with his back to the wall so there would be space for her to sit. She sidled up next to him, curling her legs up to her chest,against her he became very aware of how cold he was in comparison to the warm body heat she radiated. They passed a few moments in silence before he spoke.

"You want to smoke?"

Jess nodded as he rummaged under his pillow and he retrieved his roll ups.

"Are you going to tell me what the dream was about?" she asked tentatively, he looked at her his eyes blank and yet serious all at the same time. It was the same face that he used when he wanted to avoid questions. She brushed her thumb on her knees and sighed.

"You don't have to tell me anything...thats fair" she breathed and then glanced at him, her lips curved into a fond smile "Look at you, you're shaking"

He lit up the cigarette he'd made and frowned as he took a drag "I'm fine"

She wasn't convinced and reached for the comforter he'd kicked onto the floor, she pulled it around them and sank her head into his shoulder. He tensed up for a moment, wondering what the motive for this action was, then decided it was simply for comfort, she'd be the same around anyone else, and then he finally relaxed.

"All right. I'll tell you...but you have to trade me my secret for one of yours" he smirked

Jess glanced up at him and wrinkled her nose then she sighed in exasperation "All right. Fine. Sneaky S.O.B"

Jack handed her the cigarette and she took a few drags on it before responding "Okay...so, don't get all strange with me but...you remind me of Eveyln"

He craned his neck down to look at her, his eyes narrowed with bemusement, then snorted with laughter. "What?"

The girl stared back with her darker unwavering blue eyes "Yeah. Evelyn was always just there. Even without you realising it, she was always taking care of you and just being there."

Jack wondered what to say to this, or how to react to it for that matter "What are you saying that the rest of the guys aren't like that?"

She smiled faintly and turned away "No...I mean, you all have bits of her. Bobby has her no-nonsense thing, Jerry is as wise as she was and Angel has all of her charm. You have...her presence"

He realised she wasn't leaning on him anymore and rather had her head to the side as she spoke. He exhaled before speaking. "I dreamt about last year. When I was shot"

Her head jerked up and she examined him, his eyes were wide and scared again. She touched his arm and his eyes fluttered shut. "You don't have to talk about it"

Jack exhaled and took several long drags from his cigarette, he managed a shaky smile "It only comes back when I'm stressed. Y'know?"

She found herself growing tearful "Huh...same as with the fire. I've slept some days...other days not. I guess it gets better over time"

"Maybe"

Jess nodded confidently "It does. It has to. Right?" she looked at him for confirmation, her eyes shining.

He shrugged and looked away wishing he could share her optimism.


Angel rapped on Jack's door and ignoring the sudden loud protest he pushed it open and blinked.

"Morning" he said wryly as a shamefaced Jess refused to meet his eye. She and Jack had stayed talking about their various interests into the early hours and had ended up falling asleep where they sat.

"Morning Angel. I'm going to go...get changed" she mumbled and scrambled off the bed, slinking past Angel and out of the room.

"So, what was that?" asked Angel with a suspicious smirk

Jack rolled his eyes "Go away man"

Angel scoffed "Nah uh, I'm gonna need a better explanation than that"

His brother squirmed uncomfortably "We were just...talking and she fell asleep." He got up and straightened his bed sheets

Angel snickered to himself "I thought you, and I quote; 'didn't like her that way'"

Jack lit up before flipping Angel off "You're getting a lot like a broken record. There's nothing going on"


Camille greeted Jess with a warm loving hug as the girl stepped into her home.

"Aw. Honey. How've you been taking things?" she said sweetly as she took Jess's coat

"A step at a time" admitted Jess, Camille rubbed her shoulder and nodded "Good, good. I hope you haven't been getting involved in anything...that would cause me worrywith those four silly boys" she said pointedly

Jess smiled gently "I don't think Jerry's gonna take you calling him 'silly'. They've all been behaving themselves..."

Camille scoffed "Ha! No. Even Bobby?"

Jess shrugged sheepishly "More or less"

They shared a knowing smile and then went deeper into the house to the living room where Jack and Jerry were talking cheerily to Jerry's two daughters who were already in their bedclothes and Sofi and Bobby were having an argument about seating arrangements.

Camille called her daughters "Come on girls, its time for bed" she chided gently

The oldest pouted and stomped her foot, a dark braid swinging "Aw! Mommy! We want to stay with Cracker Jack!"

At this everyone burst out laughing; Jack scowled at Bobby "I toldyou not to to teach them that" he said accusingly

Camille gathered up her daughters, still smiling and took them off to bed while Jerry, with strict instructions on what to do; went into the kitchen to check on the dinner.

A few hours passed and the meal was done. The empty plates of desert lay scattered about the table, the only person still eating was Bobby who was tucking into his third helping of desert. Angel was watching him with a mixture of disgust and awe while Sofi chatted to Camille about children and hair. Jerry, Jack and Jess sat on the couch watching Letterman.


It was late into the night when Angel, Jack, Bobby, Jess and Sofi finally left for home. It had apparently gotten even colder than it had been a few hours ago and the group shivered against the cold.

"Bobby? Where's the car?" snapped Sofi hugging Angel tightly for warmth

Bobby motioned to the end of the street "Round the corner."

Jack scoffed, his chains jangling as he shivered "No one is going to steal it"

"I don't care if this is the fucking suburbs. Its still Detroit" explained Bobby and he began to march into the snow in the direction of the car.

Jess and Angel exchanged wry glances, then they trudged after him, they had just reached the end of the block when three shots rang out. Instinctively everyone dived to the ground, the icy snow no longer a factor.

Bobby scanned the empty streets frantically and spotted the source of the gunfire, three hooded men in black were fast approaching, each carrying a gun. Bobby spotted his car and estimated how much time he had to get everyone into it.

"Move, now!" he growled "Stay low to the ground and get to the car!" he jumped up suddenly and pulled out the gun he had tucked into his boots and fired at the three men while the rest of the group scrambled, to the car.

Angel managed to manoeuvre everyone into the car, one mind on Bobby the other on getting his girlfriend and Jess safe, he and Jack ran to the back of the car and opened the boot, retrieving shotguns and heading out into the snow to help Bobby.

Jess tried to keep Sofi calm, as the woman wailed in Spanish about her baby. There was the sound of thunderous shooting for a few minutes and yelling before utter silence. Jess felt herself shaking with panic at what seemed like far too long, her eyes widened as she saw three figures obscured by snow coming towards the car, then she realised who they were and scrambled out of the car.

"Oh my god" she murmured and immediately went to hug Bobby, Angel ran to the car to check on Sofi, Jess's eyes went to Jack as she moved away from Bobby.

"You alright?" she asked softly and realised she was still shaking

"Lets just get to the car" said Jack quietly, his eyes had a far off look in them and Bobby worried that his brother was still holding some residual feelings from the previous shooting. It made him pissed that everyone he loved and cared about had to be put in a firing line again for reasons they had no control over.