Jack could feel his heart start to pound as the four of them sat in the car silently. He knew they were going to start asking him questions. He was bracing himself for them when Bobby suddenly stopped the car.

"You're all gonna gang up on me now, aren't you?" Jack asked as he looked from one of his brothers to the next.

"Nah…we're just gonna make you talk, that's all," Bobby replied.

"That's not funny. It's my business, not yours."

"No, you see, that's where you're wrong, Jackie. It's just as much mine as it is yours. When you're life is in danger, my friend, it's my problem."

"No, it's not! You don't get it, Bobby! You don't have any idea what the fuck it is you're messing with!"

"Oh yeah? Then enlighten me, little brother!"

Jack let out a frustrated growl before leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms.

"Fuck you."

"You know, I've heard you say that to me about a hundred times over the years, and yet, every time you say it it's just because I'm looking out for you."

"Yeah, I know. But this time, you're just fucking things up."

"How so?"

"In ways you can't even fathom."

Bobby sighed and glared at Jack, irritated with his secretiveness. He really wanted to know what was going on, partly out of curiosity and partly out of fear for his brother. Jack was right, he really didn't have a clue as to what he was fucking with, and that's what bothered him.

"Jack, we're just lookin' out for you," Angel said, suddenly.

Jack looked at him, surprised. He had almost forgotten his other siblings were in the car. He had been too focused on Bobby to remember. Suddenly, he felt his heart sink as he realized he had to give them something to work with.

"You wouldn't understand," he sighed.

"I'm willing to bet you we would," Bobby stated.

Jack looked at him, knowing his every intention. Still, some things just weren't meant to be known.

"I'm sorry…I just can't tell you. I'm not ready to talk about it yet."

"Will you ever be?"

Jack stayed quiet. He really didn't know the answer to that question.

--

After they had driven around Jack found himself exhausted. Jeremiah and Angel had both returned home and Bobby was asleep downstairs within minutes of their return. He supposed it had been a long day for them, too.

"Oh shit…" he muttered as he flopped onto his bed, dying to fall asleep. He felt a heaviness take over his eyes as sleep started to take over, when he suddenly felt a hand touch his face.

He opened his eyes slowly, still drowsy from nearly falling asleep, as he saw Evan standing above him.

"Hey there, Jackie…" whispered as he flopped down next to him, still having that never ending energy about him.

"Why are you here?"

"No reason…I just got bored."

"You mean you're not going to back me into any corners today?"

Evan laughed lightly before touching noses with Jack.

"No, not today. Today I want to pretend like we're friends again, eh?"

"Evan…you can't just do that."

"Why not? It's not like there's a rule written somewhere that says I can't."

Jack just gazed at him, not quite sure why he was there. Evan sighed before propping his head up on his arm.

"Look…like I said, there's no rule that says I can't, and well, I feel like being your friend right now…so let's be friends."

Jack's head was spinning, partly from being groggy, and partly from the mentally unstable person dangerously close to him.

"Evan…"

"Shhh, be quiet. Hey, look what I've got…" he said as he pulled a small bag out of his jacket pocket, "wanna get high?"

Jack eyed the bag nervously. Getting high sounded great at the moment, but it wasn't something he wanted to do around Evan.

"No…not right now," he finally replied.

"Why, Jackie? You afraid I might take advantage of you?" he asked playfully as he scooted closer.

Jack swallowed hard, a pit forming in his stomach. He hated when Evan acted like this. He used to do this all of the time, even before the murder ruined things.

"Please just leave…I can't do this here."

"Why? Is it Bobby?"

Jack was silent.

"It is, isn't it? You don't want him to know. Jack, that is so ridiculous, you are aware of that, aren't you?"

"Why is that?"

"Because he's your brother for God's sake. He'd love you either way."

"Yeah, ok. I'll take family advice from the guy who currently wants to kill me."

"No, not currently. Maybe later after a hit I will, but, like I said, right now we're pretending that never happened."

Jack sighed. It was astonishing to him how Evan treated the world as if it were care-free and changed right along with his moods. Yet, in some way, it did; he had a sort of control of everyone around him. It was probably because his spontaneous nature was so captivating. Everyone was intrigued by him, and so they would do anything to stay on his good side. That's just the way it was, and that's exactly what Jack complied with.

"So…do you wanna get high then?"

"Are you asking if you can take advantage of me?"

Evan smirked at him before pulling out the baggie and preparing to smoke. Jack felt his stomach tie into knots.

Here I go again…