A/N: This chapter may sound very familiar to some of you. ;)

Sorry about the wait. I'm extremely busy right now and I have a lot on my mind. I'll try and keep with it though.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

As always, deeds go to, you taryn at six, for beta reading.


April 10, 1967

"Jeff!" I call out once again, getting nothing but the sound of the wind blowing through the streets.

There's a street preacher at the end of the block. He's shouting at all the people walking by about how God wants us to save ourselves. How sex before marriage is wrong. Virginity is something to keep locked and valued. Once you lose it, you can never get it back. People need to start saving themselves again. It's going to get worse, much worse, he warns us.

I turn down the alley and run again. I need to catch him before he gets lost. There's something wrong with him. He's upset and he doesn't know what to do. He needs me right now.

I have to find him.

She was lying. The blood on her face...there was too much. Her ripped clothes showing too much. She was crying too much.

He was going to kill Jeff. He kept hitting and hitting. His eyes were wide and angry. He wasn't going to stop. He was going to keep going until he had killed him.

He's hurt. He needs me.

"Jeff!"

Why wasn't I there? Why didn't I just shut-up and go with him rather than stay in that house with those people and act like I was happy again? Acting like everything was okay between us when all I wanted to do was get a knife and kill them both and let them lay in their own blood until they rotted.

"Please! Jeff, are you out there?"

I could have prevented all this. He takes care of me; I need to be taking care of him too.

Some stray dogs are walking around the park. One has his head buried deep in a trash can and a few are circling around the wooden picnic tables. They're all skin and bones and desperate for anything to eat.

There's a shadow of someone on the swings. They have their feet scraping the dirt below and the chains are slightly moving making an eerie squeaking noise. They're all alone, just sitting there, their back towards me.

"Jeff?" I take a few steps closer.

It doesn't move.

"Jeff, is that you?"

A street light blinks a few times before going out again. I can see blood on the dirt. His shoes are covered with it as well. He's wounded.

"Are...are you okay?" I move to where I'm behind him. "Jeff we need to take you to the hospital or something. We don't have to tell them what happened but we need to go. You need some help."

He kicks a small dirt ball. "She was lying."

"I believe you but please, we need to go. You're bleeding a lot, Jeff."

The chains make the same noise as he continues to move. It's dark and I can't see a thing. I want out of here. I want to go somewhere and take care of him and show him that I care the same way he does.

"I could've taken that prick. I could have busted his face in."

"You should've!" I holler loudly. "He did this to you. You should've kicked his ass!"

The slow pace of the swing stops and he jumps out of the blue seat. His eyes are glowing and his fits are in balls. "You think I don't fucking know that? Where the fuck were you? I didn't see you doing a goddamn thing to help!"

"I was trying!" I scream. "I was scared okay? You think I can take on Dallas Winston? I couldn't do anything!"

He takes a strong step forward. "You stood over there like a fucking idiot! You believe her don't you?"

"Don't call me that!"

"Don't you?" he yells louder.

I rub my head. I can see the blood on her face and her ripped clothing. The look on her face begging for me. "No, okay!"

He turns around and kicks the trunk of an old oak. Leaves fall from the poor tree as he kicks it again. "You stay away from her!" He faces me again. "You stay away from that bitch!"

"She's my best friend!" I defend her. "You can't expect me-"

"Fine, you go back to her and you can fucking have each other. Believe her dumb ass over mine. Go ahead!" He's closer now. I can feel his warm breathe on me.

"You're drunk," I point out harshly.

He waves me off and turns around again. "Fuck you."

"I'm trying to help you here!" I shout at him. "Stop trying to push me away. I got scared. I'm still scared. They could call the cops. She's bleeding a lot and...and I just don't know what to do, okay? Don't yell at me!"

"They ain't going to call the cops." His voice is calmer this time. He rests his forehead on the tree and breathes for a minute. "No one calls the cops at Bucks. They aren't that stupid."

I take a seat on the picnic table and breathe out a breath of air. I need a damn cigarette.

"Fuck!" He punches the defenseless tree. "That stupid bitch! I should go back there and kick his ass and then show her not to mess with me. Fucking bastards!"

He won't touch Danni. He better not. She's a girl. She didn't do anything...I don't think. What if she was telling the truth? What if Jeff did do that to her? What if he tried to do that?

"What...what happened?" I choke. "What was she doing there? What were you two doing?"

He grumbles and huffs out a loud sigh. "Didn't I already FUCKING explain that?"

"No, you said-"

"Don't tell me what I did or did not say!" There's vibrations on the ground as he gets closer to me. His arms grab mine and I can feel him in my face. "You are such a fucking idiot! You know that?"

I shove him away. "I'm not an idiot! I just wanted to fucking know what was going on. She had blood all over her and you were on the bed...I didn't know what to think!"

"I explained it to you, you fucking moron!"

"Don't call me that!"

He reaches back and slaps me. My cheek stings and all I can think about are those stupid dogs a few feet away. What are they fucking doing here? They're just there - not doing anything.

"Don't touch me like that!" I shove him again and he takes a hold of my arm; his fingers dig into my skin. "I'm not a damn dog, you son of a bitch!"

I wait for something to happen. I wait to be thrown to the ground and kicked. I wait for a pain to be brought to my face, but nothing happens. It's silent except for an outsider's footsteps coming our way.

"What's all the yelling goin' on out 'ere?"

You could smell the smoke coming off of Jesse Manes a mile away. Each time he enters a room it's clear who it is and who is likely to be with him, or in front of him to be more correct.

They stroll into the light showing a cloud of smoke surrounding them. He goes on to speak, "Well, Angel, what brings ya out in these parts?"

"Nothing, Jesse."

"Angela?" Tim's voice rises over everyone's. His eyes turn to Jeff in an instant and suddenly there's a loosening of his grip. "What's going on here big boy?"

"Nothing," I answer for him. "Go away, Tim. We're having a conversation."

"Sounds like an argument to me." He slips his hands into his pockets and studies Jeff.

"It isn't," I growl. "Go away!"

"Timothy," Jeff cackles. "I think it's best if you go now. This is between sister and I."

"I think you best get your hands off her before you get your face pounded in," Tim threatens calmly.

He lets go and show his hands up as a sign of him surrendering. "There, no need to overreact. We were just having a conversation, Tim, nothing more. Sometimes we just need to clear the air. Ain't that right, love?"

I looked between the two. Tim starts to slowly make his way over to me, not taking his eyes off of Jeff. He gently picks up my face and forces me to look at him. I know he can see it. I know he's staring at it.

"Quit!" I shout and back away. "I'm fine."

His eyes move to Jeff. "You hit her?"

I hold my breath and watch as everything starts crashing again.

He stomps over to where Jeff still stands, a smirk all over his face. "Now, Tim, I think it'd be best if you calmed down. We can surely-"

"Tim!" It's no use. It's already happened.

Jeff stumbles and tries to stay standing once the punch is sent to his already sore face. Tim doesn't say anything as Jeff scrambles away, neither of them do. Tim just keeps moving closer and closer each time Jeff backs away.

"What happened to her face? Where'd the cut come from on the side of her mouth?" Tim asks, tightening his jaw a little tighter with each word.

"Nothing!" I tell him. "He didn't do it, Tim. Back off!"

"Shut up!" His voice gets loud again and his eyes move from Jeff. "Mom told me what happened so don't even think about it. I know, alright?"

"Mom doesn't know anything, Tim!" I try and reason with him. "You know that!"

My throat hurts. Tim isn't looking at me anymore and I can smell the smoke off the jacket that Jesse's wearing from where he now stands beside me. I want to slap him and send him back to where ever he came from. I want him away from my brother.

"You bash her face in!" Tim kicks his weak body. "I bash yours!"

He kicks his face. Jeff doesn't scream, he doesn't yelp. He remains where is, leaning over and gasping for air. Twice. It's twice in one night. I'm supposed to take care of him. He takes care of me.

"Tim, stop!" Someone's holding me back. They have my arms and are making sure I don't go near the two.

Tim doesn't say anything. He keeps kicking the already beaten dog. I can't feel my throat anymore as the screams come out silent now. Not again. This needs to stop. He is not in charge of me. No one is.

"Come on, Timothy. I love your baby sister here. You know I'd never do anything to hurt her," Jeff soothes. "You surely don't believe I'd hurt her, now do you?"

Again. There's a yelp this time.

Tim smirks at the blood dripping from Jeff's nose. "Well this should be some incentive for you then."

Again. Again. Again. He's not stopping. It's a remake all over again.

"Get 'im, Tim!" Jesse hoops like this is a wrestling match. He laughs like this is funny.

Tim goes on and on again. He thinks he's helping me while I stand here and scream for him to stop. He thinks I'm dumb, too, and can't take care of myself. He thinks he's doing me a favor, protecting me.

Again. Again. Again. Again. Each time something happens. My head hurts. He's banging holes in me. This shouldn't be happening. This is my fault. This whole thing is my fault.

"Tim, stop!" Tears run down my cheeks as I feel like I'm screaming for my own life rather than Jeff's. "Please, Tim!"

I pull one last time. My jacket slips off and I run. I need to take care of him the way he does me. I need to protect him.

"Tim!" I pull on his arm and beg again. "Please, stop. Tim, you're killing him! Please, please stop, Tim!"

He doesn't even acknowledge me. Jesse's running over to us to grab me again and I move to the other side and beg again. He swats me away and continues to tower over the hurt guy on the muddy ground.

"Tim!" I shrill as loud as I possibly can. "Look at me, Tim. Tim, please."

More tears fall and I feel like I've swallowed a torch. I can't yell anymore. I can't...

"Tim, please look at me." He stops this time and just stares at Jeff. "If you cared about me at all you'd hear me out. You'd listen to me! I'm your sister god damnit! Listen to me!"

He stays still. Jeff covers his face up and spits out a stream of blood. Jesse stands by and watches too. The dogs are gone now and everyone's waiting. Everyone's listening to my plea.

"Tim, look at me."

He turns, slowly. His brown eyes are soft. They have been this whole time. They're angry, but they're soft. Tim's eyes don't change. They never have and they never will.

I sniff and wipe some tears away. "I love him. You think I'm just going to stand by and let someone do something like that to me? Tim, I'm smart. You taught me to be smart, remember? I love him and I know what I'm doing!"

He's thinking it through. He's stopped his hitting spree, and I want Jeff to get up and run. He needs to be safe.

"It's my life," I explain. "I'm smart enough to know people, damnit! He ain't your enemy here, Tim! I love him. I'm happy. What more do you want?"

He clears his throat. "He hit you?"

"NO!" I tell him one last time. "Jeff has never hit me. He loves me, Tim. I love him. Trust me, Tim. Don't you trust me?"

"Yeah. Yeah, Ang."

"Then stop," I beg. "Do it for me, Tim. Stop this for me."

He reaches out and brushes a loose tear away. He takes my chin and gently examines my face again. "What happened to your face?"

I huff and put my hands on my hips. "I got in a fight with some girls, alright? There, ya happy now?"

"Who?"

"Just some girls, alright? What, you gonna go beat them up too?" I snap. "Come on, Tim, back off."

He smirks and looks to the side, not showing any sign of belief. "That why you got so mad at Ma? You were mad that she said all that shit and it ain't even true? Why don't you fucking just come home?"

"Tim, don't start."

He lets go and rolls his eyes. "Then get over yourself and get your ass home, Ang. If he didn't do anything, then why do you fucking care what Ma and Jason do?"

I comb through my tangled hair. "Why do you care? You ain't home half the time to notice anyway!"

"Home enough to notice this guy is trouble." He points behind him at Jeff who still lays on the ground, Jesse watching over him to make sure he doesn't run.

"You don't know him."

He steps over to me, making his face inches from mine. "I know you. It's written all over your goddamn face."

Lie.

I bite my tongue and clench my teeth. "Jeff, get up. Get up now!"

Tim's eyes don't leave mine. "Say it then. Lie to my fucking face, Angela!"

"I don't have to do anything you tell me to." I walk past him, bumping him as I do and take Jeff's hand and help him up to where he can stand again. "Stay outta my life, Tim. You seemed to be doing a pretty good job the last couple of years. Keep it up."

He laughs out. "Don't put this shit on me."

"Don't worry, Tim. I won't ask you for anything or put anything on you. I wouldn't want you to actually give a damn." I let Jeff lean on me. "We're leaving. This is done. I'm done."

He laughs at me. "Oh, alright then. Go then. Go home with him and let him beat the hell outta ya! Don't come running back to me when he almost fucking kills ya!"

I shake my head and start to walk home when something sparks in my head. "Tim, you're such a prick."

"Thought you were smart, Ang. Thought you'd grow up by now!" he yells after me.

"Fuck you, Tim."

He stands there, unphased. I turn back and keep walking. I'm helping Jeff. That's all I need to do. That's my job right now. Tim just doesn't understand this. He doesn't understand our love.

Tim Shepard doesn't love. He doesn't love anyone.

"Go ahead." His voice rings through the trees. "Turn your back Ang. Turn your back on all of us. We're your fucking family!"

"Like you give a damn."


"Feel better?"

He slowly nods what little of his face he can still feel. "I'm proud of you, love."

I smile and dab the rag on his swollen face. "I know."

"We're all we need," he whispers. "We'll take care of each other forever. Fuck everyone else. Fuck your brothers, fuck your parents, and fuck everyone. We love each other. We're going to forever, right?"

"Right."

"Marry me," he demands. "Marry me and we'll take care of each other for the rest of our lives."

I raise my eyebrows and giggle. "You really mean that?"

His lips peck mine. "I do, love. I want you to be my wife. Be my wife, Angela Shepard."

I can't help but smile. I can't help but giggle. "I love you, Jeff! I'll be the best damn wife in the world."

He's quiet for a few minutes. I walk over to the sink and ring the blood out of the rag. I could marry Jeff. I can see myself with him forever. I can see him with my son. I'll please him. I'll be better than I am now. I'll show Tim. I'll show them all.

"We'll be a family. One big happy family, love," he whispers. "I'll love you and take care of you forever."


A/N: Well there's Tim again. Hope you all enjoyed him.