Disclaimer: I don't own the story or the characters except Lyric.

~Chapter 10~

All five of us are sitting on the front steps. I'm sitting in between Bobby and Jerry while Angel and Sofi are sitting on the step above me.

Right now, I just wish I was at the hospital with Jack. Making sure he's okay. But no I have to sit here and get interrogated by cops. Oh isn't this just great.

Green walks over to us.

"Look, I'm real sorry. I really am but what happened?"

"Victor Sweet did this."

"How you figure that?"

"His friends in the bag over there told me."

"Okay, I'll be sure to get a statement from him then." He says loooking over at the body bags.

"Why, Sweet do us like this, man?" Jerry says.

"And why's it have to be our mom?" Angel asks.

"Because Evelyn was going after him. She knew her son, man. She never thought for a second that you were corrupt."

"But I never told her about my business."

"Jerry, where you ever able to keep a secret from her? She knew all about your trouble. The moment they shut you down she went down there raising hell with the councilman."

"Are you gonna bury Sweet, or are we?" Bobby asks.

"Well, I got me... a dirty uniform I got take care of." Green says.

"What?" Bobby asks looking at Green intently.

"You see, Evelyn filed a repot that got passed on to Victor Sweet."

"By who?"

"Look, I just got something I---" Green starts but Bobby cuts him off.

"Don't bullshit me, Green. Who are you protecting? Your boy, Fowler?"

"Look, Fowler is my problem! I'll deal with him. And then we get Sweet." Green finishes. He turns and starts walking away.

"Green?" Angel calls out to him. He turns back and look at us. "How are we going to deal with this?" He asks.

"Self-defense. Wasn't it?" He asks before turning back around and walking away.

"This is all my fault." I here Jerry say. I shake my head.

"No, this is my fault." I say getting up. I walk into the house grab my keys and jacket. I come back out and start walking towards my car.

"Hey? Firecracker, stop!" Bobby yells. Reluctantly I stop and turn around to face him.

"What, Bobby?" I ask.

"What did you mean back there that this is your fault?"

"Look, Bobby. I don't have time for this. I don't have time to explain. I'm going to go see Jack. Right now, we need to come up we a plan. I'll explain everything later. Are you coming or what?" I ask getting impatient. I turn back around. I open my car door and get in. I start the car as my passenger door opens. Bobby gets in.

I start driving to the hospital. Seriously, I think I broke every traffic law trying to get to the hospital. When I finally find a parking space me and Bobby make our way to the front desk. There's little girl, can't even be more than 19 on the phone laughing at whatever the person said.

"Excuse me? I need to get my boyfriend's room number."

"Don't you see I'm on the phone. Dang." She says as she starts going back to the conversation on the phone.

I just snapped. I slam my hand down on the counter.

"Look you little high school reject. If you don't tell me where the hell his room is in rhe next ten seconds, I'm gonna come across the desk and snatch every piece of horse and real hair in your head. Now do you go that?" I ask her. Bobby got a hand on my arm but I'm too angry to give a damn anymore.

"What's his name?" She asks hesistantly.

"Jack Mercer." I say as her eyes widen. I guess that name really does get around.

"He's in ICU. Room 456. On the fourth floor."

"Thank so much for your help." I say as I spin on my heels and walk to the elevator with Bobby right behind me. Once in the elevator I see Bobby grinning.

"What?" I ask him.

"I'm just so proud of you right now."' Is all he said. I give him a small smile. When we get to the fourth floor, I run towards Jack room. When I get to his room, I see him laying there. Tubes are going everywhere. There's even a tube in his mouth.

I slowly walk over to his bed. I run my fingers through his hair. I pull the chair near the wall next to his bed. I sit down. I can feel Bobby watching me. Watching Jack. I know this is hard on him. He looks so vulnerable. Fragile and pale. Helpless, even.

"Jack?" I say in a whisper. "Jack, I don't know if you can hear me. I hope you can though. I need you, Jack. You make my world better. I told you about my past and you didn't turn on me. You comforted me. I didn't even get to tell you that I love you. Do you hear me? I love you, Jack Mercer." I say between sobs. "You told me I'm a fighter, but Jack you are one of the most strongest people I know. I need you to fight. Fight for us." I say as I lean up and kiss him on his forehead. I sit back in the chair and put my head in my heads.

Bobby comes behind me and rubs his hand up and down on my back. Suddenly there's a knock on the door. I look up to see as the doctor walks in.

"Let me guess, you're the family correct?" He asks.

"Yeah. Can you tell us if he's going to make it?" Bobby asks.

"Well, was shot twice. One near his lung and the other about 3 inches away from piercing his heart. He was having trouble breathing when he first came in but that tube is helping him breathe. He's stable right now. He should be able to breath on his on in a day or so. There's no telling how long he's going to be unconscious, that's entirely up to Mr. Mercer." He says.

"So he's going to be okay?" I ask.

"He should with a lot of rest. By the way, I'm Dr. Hawthrone."

"Thank you, Dr." I say as I turn back to look at Jack.

"Visiting hours are almost over. If he wakes up, I'll contact you."

"Thank, man." Bobby says as we both walk out of there.

When we get back home, I do something I haven't done in a week. I walk into Mom's room. I walk over and sit at her dresser. I look in her mirror. I jump at what I see. It's Mom. I turn around to look at her bed but it's empty. I look back in the mirror and still see her.

"Lyric, you are as strong as they come. You can make things happen. You just have to believe that you can do it. Because sweetie,...I believe in you," She says with her smile.

Tears roll down my face at that memory. It's what she told me when I first moved here. In this house. A house so strange and new, became safe. It felt safe.

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 10. I know you guys hate being left in suspense about what's going to happen next.. Next chapter should be up soon. Who knows what might happen. If I get a good response on this chapter I might update it later today. Gotta go back to work tomorrow so I might not upload the next until Friday or Saturday.

STAY TUNED!

XOXO,

BellaRosa