The Monster

Nicknames are well earned. Jack's past comes back to haunt him. The team tries to help the stubborn Jack, but will they be too late?

Recovery

Jack handed Diane the masher for the potatoes. Jack then checked the chicken baking in the oven. The couple had been a little rocky lately after having a deep discussion about their future. They had been on and off for almost fourteen years. It got easier the last ten as he has been out of the service, but had been going strong for the last five until recently. Jack wanted to marry Diane he thought. Diane was happy the way the relationship was, and feared marrying Jack would make Riley feel alienated. There was also the issue of her current marriage. If she filed for divorce, Travis, her husband would find them she was sure of it. Jack promised to take care of her and Riley, more importantly to protect them. The conversation led to an argument however. Diane was upset that after all this time he now wanted to get serious in the relationship. Diane was not completely convinced that Jack was even faithful in their relationship. Jack was some district manager for a bathroom and kitchen tiles company that had him leaving and traveling god knows where all the time. Diane was suspicious despite Jack's claims of fidelity.

"Can you get the milk?" Diane asked as Jack opened a beer. Jack nodded as he opened the refrigerator.

"We don't have any," Jack said as he moved items around in the fridge.

"You didn't get any from the store?" Diane asked annoyed.

"I thought..."

"What's the point of me writing a list if you're not going to follow it?" She said stirring the potatoes. "I should've just done it myself."

"Diane, I'll go get some." Jack said finishing his beer as he looked for his keys.

"It'd just be nice to have some help around here. That's all."

"Jesus, I said I'd get it." Jack said grabbing his keys.

"I asked you to get some hours ago, and now I have to put dinner on hold until you can back. It's great!" She said sarcastically. Jack slammed the door as he left. Diane rubbed her face shaking her head.

"Is everything alright?" Riley asked coming down the stairs seeing her mother upset.

"Yes, honey. Dinner will be done once Jack comes back." Diane said as she set up the table. "Are you finished with your homework?" Diane asked but Riley did not hear her over her head phones. Diane was convinced that Riley was truly attached to them. Diane gently took them off.

"What?" Riley said like the annoyed teenager. Riley was about to turn sixteen. The special day was all planned which just put more stress on everyone.

"Homework?" Diane asked again.

"It's done." Riley said turning the counter to return upstairs. There was a loud knock at the door that startled Diane. Riley went to the door.

"Riley, don't." Diane cries out as Riley opened the door. Riley thought her mother was being paranoid, like usual. Riley just thought that her mother was overprotective. Diane was assumed the worse of her friends. No parties. No sleepovers. Jack was usually her saving grace even though Riley found him just about insufferable.

Riley was starstruck as she looked up at her father. She felt a whirlwind of emotions that all led to fear. Before she could verbalize how she felt her father pushed past her forcing his way inside.

"Riley! Hide!" Diane yelled as her father chased after her mother. Riley slowly backed up listening to her mother's screams as she remained shellshocked. She watched as the door close in slow motion. Her back hit the walland she slid down covering her ears.

"Get out of here, Travis!" Diane said trying to keep her distance.

"Come here," he said reaching out but Diane slapped him across the face and pushed him away. She felt empowered it was the first time she had ever hit him back. He looked back at her and her temporary feeling of empowerment was smashed. She tried to run away but he caught her. He grabbed her by the hair and hit her in the face. "Shut up!" He said as he caressed her face.

"Please leave," she begged but he began to choke her as the front door opened.

"Babe, they didn't have any skim so I got two percent..." Jack said dropping the milk.

Jack ran to Diane and before Travis could say anything Jack punched him. Travis fell breaking there coffee table. Jack was blinded by rage. He grabbed Travis by his throat dragging him out of their house. Jack pushed him away and Travis tried to swing but Jack ducked and nailed Travis with an uppercut. Jack teed off on Travis' face before kicking him off the porch.

"You're just a replacement. They love me." Jack punched him knocking him down.

"I told you what would happen if I saw you again." Jack said as Travis tried to crawl away. Jack kicked him repeatedly and stomped on his hands and fingers. Travis grabbed Jack's legs like a dirty boxer trying to ease or stop the assault. Jack just pushed him down falling on top of him. Jack continued to punch Travis in the face. His hands were sore and his muscles fatigued.

"Jack, stop, please!" Riley cried out.

"Jack, that's enough!" Diane said trying to shield Riley's eyes.

Jack looked down saw Travis beaten unconscious body beneath him. Jack's hands were bruised and cut up. He saw the police lights glistening off his bloody knuckles. Jack finally heard the sirens and the police cars pulled right up on the sidewalk. Jack looked back at Diane holding Riley. They looked scared. Scared because of him. He put them in danger and could not protect them. He was no better than Travis. Jack slowly stood raising his hands surrendering.

Mac, Diane, Riley, Bozer, and Matty waited for news in the waiting room. It was agony. Jack was very sick. He went in and out of consciousness several times in the ambulance. They all got separated once he arrived at the hospital at the request of the Doctor.

"Family for Dalton?" The doctor announced reading off the folder. The entire group stood walking to him. The doctor appeared skeptical. "You are all family?" The doctor said shrugging his shoulders tired from surgery.

"How is he?" Mac asked as Diane squeezed Riley's hand.

"Mr. Dalton's spleen was punctured and he lost a lot of blood. We tried to save his spleen but we were unsuccessful it was too far damaged. It was removed. He had some other internal bleeding but it was minuscule. He's going to be very sore and have to stay here for a few days. I expect him to make a full recovery." The doctor said with a smile.

"Can we see him?" Riley asked.

"He's in a recovery suite now. Once he's moved into a room I'll have a nurse bring you. He's going to be very groggy, and he's going to be in pain. Someone used him as a punching bag. He has multiple rib fractures, two fractures in his right hand, and a fracture of his left orbital. We have him heavily medicated. I'll see if I can find a nurse for you." The doctor explained as he left.

"How was he when you saw him?" Diane asked as she rubbed her face.

"He was hurt..." Mac said quietly feeling like he failed his friend.

"If you folks will follow me I will bring you back to see Mr. Dalton." The nurse said with a smile. The nurse wore dark blue scrubs with a neatly trimmed beard.

"Thank you," Diane said as the others remained speechless.

"Mr. Dalton is asleep. He's going to be pretty out of it for a few hours. We have him in a room alone." The nurse explained as they filled the doorway. It was bizarre to see Jack asleep in the hospital bed. He still looked pale. The machines began beeping and everyone gasped.

"What's going on?!" Mac asked panicked.

"Nothing. His SpO2 monitor slipped off his finger." The nurse went to Jack's bedside adjusting the monitor and rechecking the others. The beeping stopped as the nurse began pressing buttons on the display.

Jack begins to stir. His eyes flutter open and he hears commotion but the sound is warped like his ears were filled with water. His vision was just as clear. Everything was out of focus. He looked over to where he assumed the commotion was saw a shimmer off of a blade and mistaked the nurse for a soldier. Jack panicked as he reached up grabbing the man putting him in a half Nelson taking the blade from the nurse's waistband holding it against his neck.

"Jack!" Mac yelled.

"What the hell..." The nurse yelled as his trauma shear rested against his neck. Jack ignore the pain in his gut. Jack looked over and saw Mac.

"What's... What's going..." Jack asked looking around. He loosened his grip but did not let go. Diane pushed forward sitting on the edge of the bed lightly touching Jack's face. Jack became increasingly confused. "Wha..."

"Jack, you are at the hospital. You had surgery. I need you to let go of your nurse." She said as she gently took his hand, holding them within hers.

"I... I had surgery?" Jack asked confused letting go of the nurse. Jack stared at the cast on his hand.

"They had to take out your spleen." Mac said. Jack looked at Mac surprised and confused.

"Hey Mac... What's going on?" Jack asked with a sleepy smile. His vision focused. Jack looked around surprised to see everyone. Jack squeezed Diane's hand as he smiled at her.

"How are you feeling?" She asked quietly.

"I feel like a big rig used me as a finish line." He smiled. "What'd I do? Am I in a lot of trouble?" Jack chuckled.

"Just rest big guy." Mac said touching Jack's shoulder.

"I am, ain't I?" Jack chuckled. "The world can only handle a Dalton at a time." Jack smiled.

"Why didn't you tell us what was going on?" Mac asked and Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"If I thought I was going to end up in the hospital I would've." Jack said scratching his face. "I thought I could handle it. I didn't think it through. My bad."

"Your bad?" Mac asked getting annoyed.

"Every time I come here one of us ends up in the hospital. This time it was me. I got a call from my sister and I panicked. My family... we are dysfunctional. My ex-con piece of shit brother, and my sister who was a drug addict but is six years sober... We will see... She fell off the wagon when my dad died. Who knows what she will do?" Jack said with a sleepy smile. The room fell silent, as Jack began to chuckle. "Oh come on, ask me." Jack said looking at everyone.

"Ask you?" Riley asked confused.

"You found me? I assume you talked with my sister, and brother. They told you about crazy old lady Dalton... Her no good boys, and the quiet daughter?" Jack said closing his eyes as he got quiet. "My mother had bipolar disorder or something... She couldn't take care of us..." Jack said drowsy.

"Just rest," Diane said as Jack sat up trying to get out of bed. "Where you going, Jack?" Diane said as Jack stood up. Diane kept the back of his gown closed so he did not show off his backside. Diane helped him stand.

"Am I naked?" Jack laughed putting an arm around Diane.

"Why don't we sit down?"

"Anything, you want baby..." Jack said as Diane helped him get back in bed. Jack smiled at her before going back to sleep.

Mac went to the hallway to catch his breath. His nerves were fried, and he felt utterly exhausted. His gas tank was running on fumes and it was empty. He sat down on a bench outside of Jack's room. Riley and Diane stayed with a sleepy Jack. Bozer and Matty went to grab a bite to eat in the hospital cafe. Mac ran his hands through his hair and when he looked up he saw Liz standing there looking into Jack's room.

"He's alright..." Mac said anticipating her question. Liz smiled as she sat next to Mac. "You can go in... If you want?" Mac said sensing her discomfort.

"I haven't always been nice him. Both of them, actually. I blamed them for a lot of things. I don't remember living with my mom before moving in with the Hilton's. I was young when it all happened..."

"What happened?" Mac had to ask. Mac wanted to understand what it was about the Dalton family that made it so... Strange. Not that he could judge. His family was not a mirror of perfection.

My take on the fight between Jack and Riley's father. Please Review! What's going on?