A/N: Sorry for the wait, but heres an extra long chapter, I know some of you were looking forward to the hockey scene, but this chapter kept growing and growing so I've decided to keep it until next chapter. You'll see what I mean.
Heres chapter 7.
Chapter 7
Bobby was always in trouble. This time was no different. His foster parents had had enough of him – like he hadn't heard this before.
People just didn't understand him. They didn't realize the tough life he had had, eight years of watching your dad hit your mom and then your mom committing suicide wasn't something you could forget easily.
Now, at the age of eleven, Bobby had been to a total of six foster care homes. But he always ended up back here. This place. He hated it.
They kept telling him this time would be different, if only he would behave.
They didn't understand.
Bobby sat in the waiting area of the foster centre. Waiting for the social worker to come and tell him where he would be sent to next.
Finally she came, her name was Jude. Bobby had a nasty habit of calling her "Dude". She didn't like this name much, as Bobby knew. And Bobby didn't like Jude.
"Come on." She said.
He jumped off the seat in which he was sitting and followed her out to her car. They both got in, Bobby sitting in the passenger seat, as usual. He liked being in control.
They drove for a while, Jude explained to him what his next foster home would be like, and also the usual "behave this time" and "give them a chance".
Bobby barely paid attention.
"This woman," said Jude "she works in the social services. Her name is Evelyn Mercer. Give it a good shot Bobby."
He continued to watch the trees pass by out of the window.
"Well, we're here."
They stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door of the house.
Bobby wasn't nervous, he'd done this too many times, he knew the person in that house was going to hate him no matter what he did or said, and he had made his peace with it.
Jude knocked on the door.
A moment later a woman answered. Her hair was beginning to grey and her eyes were a soft blue. She smiled.
"It's nice to meet you Bobby. Please come in."
Bobby awoke early the next morning, he had found it difficult to sleep knowing the pain that that kid was going through. He was angry just thinking about it.
He got up and wandered sleepily into the kitchen to find Evelyn reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of tea.
"Morning Ma," he said, squinting at her "what time is it?"
"Morning dear, it's seven o' clock. What are you doing up this early?" She replied.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Oh sorry, I know it mustn't be comfy on the couch, I told you that you should share Angel's room. Oh by the way, don't go upstairs just yet, I still haven't told Jack that you're here, you might scare him."
"Thanks Ma." He said sarcastically. "But I've saved you the trouble. I bumped into the kid last night. I scared him half to death."
"Bobby…" Evelyn frowned.
"It's ok, we're cool now, but how come you didn't warn me about that huge bruise on his back? That information would have been useful."
"What bruise?" She asked shocked.
"You mean you didn't notice the big ass bruise across his back?"
"No, I only know of the bruises on his wrists." Her frown deepened.
"He has bruises on his wrists too? Man. Well don't worry Ma, I fixed him up good, he's going to be fine now that we have him."
"Bobby we don't own him. And his problems aren't all just physical."
"I noticed, that kid just does not speak."
"That's why I need you here Bobby, he just needs an older brother."
"What do you mean? What about Angel and Jerry. Actually forget it, I can see why you wouldn't want them setting examples." He laughed. "I'm actually glad I came back, I want to help this kid."
"That's good Bobby, I suppose I had better fill you in on his history, so as to avoid another episode like last night." She took a deep breath. "Jack is…kind of like you."
She continued to tell him about how Jack had been to many foster homes and how his mother had died of cancer when he was young, and how he was mistreated in foster homes and also about his father. Bobby felt this story was familiar, except the mistreatment part.
"What do you mean by 'mistreated?'" Bobby asked, wondering if he should really ask.
"Well," Evelyn began, "I don't know the full extent of it, but what I do know is that one of Jack's foster parents was jailed for sexual abuse." Bobby winced. He was afraid of that. "…And we know his father hasn't been good to him, but again, I'm not sure of the full extent, I didn't know about the bruise on his back. There's another thing I need to tell you, his father, the police are after him, but they can't find him. Last night I was asked to go and identify a man at the station but it wasn't him. It could get dangerous Bobby, it's our job now to protect Jack. He's suffered enough."
Bobby couldn't agree more.
"Ma, I'm taking Jack out today. I'm gonna teach him how to skate."
Evelyn frowned. "I know what you mean by skate. You mean play hockey. Do you think that's wise? He's not exactly fit enough to be playing contact sports Bobby."
"I know, I know Ma, but I'm not going to hurt him I swear, we're just gonna do a little 'male bonding'"
She looked apprehensive.
"Well…ok, but take care of him."
"You worry too much." He smiled and went upstairs.
He knocked on Jack's door and heard nothing. He proceeded to enter.
Jack was asleep in the form of a lump under the duvet.
Bobby walked over and sat on the bed. He shook the lump slightly.
"Jackie? C'mon, you still up for skating today?"
A groan emerged from somewhere beneath the covers.
"I'll come back in five minutes and I expect you awake." Said Bobby. "I'm going to wake your brothers up."
He left the sleeping lump in the room and proceeded to Angel's room. He knocked on the door. No answer.
He pushed the door open and found Angel asleep in his bed. He shook him, more violently than he did to Jack.
"Whoa whoa whoa what's the big deal?! Bobby? Is that you? What are you doing back?" Angel moaned.
"Nice to see you too! Get your ass out of bed, we're goin' out in half an hour, get your skates." He replied.
Angel mumbled something inaudible. Bobby left the room and continued on to Jerry's.
He knocked on the door.
"Jerry? You up yet?"
The door opened and Jerry stood in pyjamas, a confused expression on his face.
"Bobby? Yo man what's up?" They embraced each other briefly, patting the other on the back.
"Oh not much, got nothing to do so I thought I'd come back here for a bit. See my brothers!"
"Yeah yeah, did you see what Ma brought home with her yesterday? Man, the kids a mess! He hasn't said two words in front of me."
"Just give him time Jer. Anyway, you fancy coming out for a little game? I'm teaching Jack how to skate, should be fun. Angel's coming too, we can have an even match. Me and Jack vs. you and Angel."
"Ha! You're funny Bobby. End of sarcasm. Let me get my skates man, I'll be down in like twenty minutes." Jerry closed his bedroom door.
Bobby set off back towards Jack's room, thumping on Angel's door on the way.
"I'm up! I'm up!" Moaned Angel angrily from inside the room.
Bobby laughed.
He came to Jack's door, and knocked lightly.
"Jackie? You up yet?"
No answer.
He opened the door and entered.
Jack was sitting on his bed, staring at the floor.
Bobby noticed he was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, he reckoned that he must have slept in them too.
"Jack, the bathroom is free, I would hurry up and take a shower before any of those two get in, especially Angel. He takes forever in there, lord knows what he does. I can give you some of my old clothes, they're a bit worn though. I would give you some of Angel's but he has a crappy sense of fashion."
Jack nodded. He didn't like Angel's clothes.
"Haha ok then, I'll dig out some clothes for you. Go get in the shower, I'll go look for something you can wear."
Jack slid off the bed and walked out of the room without a word.
Bobby pulled open some of the drawers in the room to find some of his old clothes. He came across a pair of jeans, slightly tatty, and an old t-shirt. It was the best he could do for him at the moment.
Bobby also searched the room for his old stick and skates. He found them under the bed, along with a small trophy which he picked up and inspected.
He smiled. It was one of the trophies he had picked up when he had played for the school hockey team. Back then hockey was the only thing going for him in his life, it was a release, and it allowed him to take his anger out on something worthwhile. Now though, hockey was more than important, it was a way of life for him.
Bobby never had a real job, so when he found out he could play hockey for money? That pleased him much, so most of his time was spent travelling.
He put the trophy down on the windowsill and carried the clothes to the bathroom. He knocked and then opened the door.
He placed the clothes in front of the shower curtain so Jack would see them when he got out.
He noticed the bandage which he had placed around Jack's waist on the floor.
"I'm leaving the clothes out here ok Jack? The towels are over on the radiator."
No answer.
He'll be more talkative when we go out. Thought Bobby.
He left to reawaken Angel.
Jack was in the shower. He loved the feeling. The hot water running down his skin.
It stung initially. But only for a second.
He turned his body so he could try and catch a glimpse of his back. It was healing, although it still looked pretty nasty.
He sighed and turned off the hot running water. He stepped out of the shower and picked up one of the towels and dried himself.
He saw the clothes on the floor. He pulled them on and inspected himself in the mirror.
They were extremely baggy, and they were pretty tatty, but that's how Jack liked them, he would rather these than any of Angel's or Jerry's clothes.
He arranged his wet hair, it was the only part of his body he was proud of.
He stepped outside to find Bobby and Angel in the hallway arguing.
"…I don't care! It's my first day back, you're coming whether you want to or not!"
"Bobby, I have plans man, I have a date with S-…"
"And she's more important than us? Your brothers?"
"Damn Bobby, it's not going to work, you can't guilt me into it."
"Oh, Jack, hey, Angel was just telling me what he's decided to wear today. Tell him Angel."
"Uh…"
"Come on, you know those skates you were just talking about. You're wearing 'em for hockey today."
Angel narrowed his eyes at Bobby.
"Yeah, wearing 'em for hockey." He said through gritted teeth.
"Great." Said Bobby. He smiled brightly. "Jackie, come get some breakfast, Angel is gonna shower and then we're going."
"Ok." Said Jack. The last few minutes had gone straight over his head.
He followed Bobby down to the kitchen.
"How do you like your eggs?" He asked Jack.
Jack thought about this, it wasn't a simple yes or no question.
He simply shrugged.
"Fried it is." Said Bobby. "Need some meat on those bones man."
Jack scowled.
Bobby set to work in the kitchen, he told Jack to go and watch some TV.
Jack went to the sitting room, he found Evelyn on the couch knitting.
"Jack!" She said brightly. "Good morning, come and sit down."
He decided it would be ok. He walked across and sat himself in the chair opposite.
"Did you sleep alright?"
"Uh…Yeah." Said Jack, he didn't know how else to answer.
"That's good. I hear Bobby is taking you out today, you have fun." She looked up at the clock and sighed. "It's time I got to work."
She wrapped up her knitting and set it down beside the couch. She lifted herself up and pulled down a coat from the coat stand and put it on. She slipped on her shoes and went into the kitchen to bid goodbye to Bobby.
She then went to the bottom of the stairs and shouted goodbye to Angel and Jerry, then finally she turned to Jack.
"I'll see you tonight Jack. Enjoy yourselves." And with that, she opened the door and left.
Jack sat still in the chair for awhile. Then he peered down at the wool and needles Evelyn had been using.
There were two colours. Grey and black. Jack picked up the bundle curiously.
It looked like a scarf. It was striped, black and grey, he thought knitting looked extremely complicated, he wondered how she could produce something like this from just this fluffy string.
He jumped as Bobby entered the room with two plates in his hands. He put the knitting down quickly.
Bobby sniggered.
"Watcha got there you little fairy? You like knitting?"
"Shut up." Said Jack. He was in no mood to be made fun of.
"Whoa take it easy, I'm just messin' man." He gave the plate with the fried egg sandwich on to Jack.
Jack took it and began to eat slowly. It did taste good.
10 minutes passed by. Bobby had finished his own food and was now standing at the bottom of the stairs, shouting for Angel.
Jerry appeared at the top of the stairs. He came down wearing many jackets and carrying a hockey stick.
Bobby eyed him pitifully.
"What man? It's cold!" Complained Jerry.
Bobby sighed and shook his head. He began to make his way up the stairs towards the bathroom, cursing Angel under his breath.
He knocked on the door.
"I'm getting ready!" Angel shouted.
Bobby growled.
He went into his old room and picked up the stick and the skates. He came back out and found Angel standing with an angry glare.
"You happy?" Angel asked.
"Ecstatic. Now get your ass downstairs." Bobby replied.
Angel grunted and climbed down the stairs, closely followed by Bobby.
They reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Ok, thanks to you people, I have had no time to shower, so I'm going to be extra hard on you today." Said Bobby. He walked over to Jack and gave him the stick and skates. He then walked over to his backpack on the floor and pulled out a hoody and some trousers.
He pulled them on over his boxers. He then picked out a hockey shirt from the bag and pulled it over his previous layers.
"Right." He said. "Let's go girls."
