Note: Thanks to all the faithful readers of this story. I apologize for the slight delay, and for the apparent cliffhanger. I really don't plan these things out. They just happen.

Give me back my point of view

'Cause I just can't think for you

I can hardly hear you say

What should I do, well you choose

Oh, look what you've done

You've made a fool of everyone

Oh well, it seems likes such fun

Until you lose what you had won

-Jet

I Want a New Drug

From the time the officer gives his command, to the time Rhett Michaels comes out screaming, seems like hours. Indeed it was only a matter of minutes, but when you're holding your breath time seems to stretch on. Seeing my father surrounded by cops overwhelms me with mixed emotions.

"I want my son!" He screams over and over as an officer cuffs him and shoves him into the back of the police car. He's talking about me, I think, I'm his son. Really the thought is foreign to me, since it's been so long since I've thought of myself as somebody's son besides Ma's. To me it feels almost as if I've always lived with Ma and that I was always her son.

Several cops rush into our house, and two approach Ma, Bobby, and Jerry, explaining to them what happened. I remain still, paralyzed in my seat, next to Angel.

"Hey…hey Jackie, are you okay?" Angel asks, leaning over to look me in the eyes. I remember all the times Rhett asked me that same question. It was normally followed with 'I love you' or 'I would never hurt you'. Don't think of that, I order myself.

"M' fine Angel," I answer quietly. I think guiltily about what would have happened if Ma was home when Rhett broke in. What could have happened if my brothers were home. They could have been hurt or killed because of me. Angel looks like he wants to say something else, but is interrupted by a cop opening the car door.

"Jack Mercer? I'm officer Moro. I need to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?" He asks holding out his hand.

"Do I have a choice?" I croak out unsteadily. A grin breaks out across his face as he lets his hand drop back down to his side. He gives a glance at Angel, and then at Bobby and Jerry.

"Well, your big brothers have quite a record in this city. I wouldn't want to deal with them if I was caught forcing you to do something you didn't want to," The officer states. He looks over his shoulder at Ma and lets his voice drop a few notches. "And between you and me, your mother can be quite intimidating when she wants to be."

"Okay then," I answer smiling, "what do you want to know?"

---

The interview lasts for nearly two hours at the police station. After it is finally over, they tell us that our house is safe to go home to. Ma decides we should go out to eat tonight, try to get our minds off of the drama of the day. We all readily agree, though I doubt even food will make us forget how close things came to being fatal.

"Jack, try to eat something honey," Ma encourages from across the table. "You haven't eaten much of anything lately." I force down a bite of hamburger and feel it settle shakily in my empty stomach. I silently will myself not to be sick.

"Hey, Jack, what's wrong? Have you not noticed all the hot waitresses in this place?" Jerry says jokingly. Of course, he's being serious as well. He, Angel, and Bobby have hardly stopped flirting the whole time we've been here.

"The one in the blue dress," Angel states, pointing his fork to a waitress at another table. Ma rolls her eyes playfully.

"Dude, isn't that Audrey's sister?" Bobby muses. "Audrey….Willingham?" Jerry groans.

"Ah man, it is. I hated that bitch. She always got me in trouble in Chemistry," Jerry complains, his eyes narrowing at the memory.

"Jerry! Watch your language. And don't talk about people, especially not when their sisters can hear you," Ma admonishes sternly. Jerry gives her an apologetic look, then winks when the girl in the blue dress walks by.

"Mom…do I have to testify?" I whine. "I really don't want to. And I mean, they arrested Dad, I mean Rhett, on breaking and entering. Why do I have to testify in court?" Ma looks at me sympathetically.

"Because Jackie, they need a witness that can testify that he was the shooter. They promised to drop all drug charges as long as you testify, and plus this way they can hook child abuse on his sentence as well. At the least he'll get life, but he could even get the death penalty. God knows that's what he deserves. And if you don't testify, he may only go to jail for six years. He killed innocent people Jack-" Bobby lectures. Ma stops him with a glare.

"That's enough Bobby," She orders. "Jack it's important that you testify against Rhett, sweetheart. Breaking and entering is hardly the worst-"

"Freddie and Joseph Baron were hardly innocent Bobby! It's not like he killed a pregnant woman or anything. Besides, what he did to me, I deserved most of that. You may not think so, but you weren't there Bobby. None of you were! I wasn't a good kid. I was stupid and disobedient. I couldn't do anything right-" I argue. Ma takes my hand in hers, and Bobby shakes his head furiously.

"I can't believe I'm even hearing this!" Bobby yells. "Jack…Jack you didn't deserve what that bastard did to you. It doesn't matter how 'stupid' you were, or 'bad' or whatever the hell he brainwashed you to think. No kid deserves that!"

"Yeah, Jack, what that guy did to you was not cool. It was wrong, man." Angel agrees. I push my chair back from the table, noticing the looks we're getting from the other customers.

"Whatever. You guys don't know anything." I answer harshly. "I'll just take my chance with the drug charges. I'm twelve. That means I can't go to prison and it's not like they even have proof. They know I was at the place, but so what? All the drugs were burned!"

"Jack why are taking up for this guy? Why are you willing to let him get away with killing people? With hurting you?" Bobby nearly screams. I stand up and fling my plate to the ground angrily. It bursts into pieces, scaring the people sitting near us.

"Because he's my father Bobby!" I scream tearfully. "Because he's my fucking father and I love him! Why can't you guys understand that? I-" I breathe in deeply and fist my hair in my hands. "I love him, alright? I do."

---

I stare at my bedroom ceiling and think over and over again how stupid I am. How can I love someone like Rhett Michaels? How can I be dumb enough to think that someone like Rhett Michaels could love me?

I have everything I've always wanted. A home, a family, even friends however few and far between. Why do I always have to complicate things? A knock at my door startles me out of my self-pity, and I look up to see Bobby, Jerry, and Angel, staring at me, sticks in hand.

"We're gonna go play some hockey. Wanna come?" Bobby asks as if everything is perfectly fine. I can't help but laugh.

"Is that you guys' cure for everything? Hockey?" I question amusedly. Jerry shrugs.

"Well, we're simpleminded people." He tells me. I just stare at them for a good ten seconds before standing up and grabbing my coat.

"Fine. Just give me a second to put on my shoes."

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Please read and review. Because of a request by a reviewer, the hockey game will be included in the next chapter.