Chapter 10: Love and Lies
Summary: Jack Mercer was your typical Third Class Rockstar. His life meant lots of women, cheap gigs and even more alcohol and cigarettes. But what will happen when an old flame comes back into his life?
Author's Note: Ah, I love double updates. Don't forget to review. The drama returns in this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Four Brothers.
Rachel was still asleep. She was in Jack's arms and he didn't want to be anywhere else. He could feel her breathing against his chest. He had longed for this. Heck, he wanted this for the rest of his life. Her skin was as soft as it always was, and the marks on her body were almost all gone. But he wouldn't care if all of the bruises and scars were still there. He'd lived his life the past year feeling like a piece of him had been surgically removed. He stroked her silky brown hair and vowed to himself that they would never part again.
'Jack, I just can't right now...' Rachel persisted, trying to pull herself away from him. Jack had been pursuing her for weeks, and she just wouldn't let him in. She was too scared to get in a relationship after Dean. She'd given her all to someone who beat the living daylights out of her, and couldn't leave him because he always apologized and overdid the 'Baby, I love you. I didn't know what I was doing...' After all this time, she was finally getting her life back together. She was completing her degree in the next six months and her life was going somewhere. She just didn't want to mess it all up...for a guy.
Jack wanted her more than anything. He loved the feel of her long, silky dark hair. He loved her smooth white skin, and the very few times she would burst out into intense laughter. She was sweet disposition itself, even though her eyes told a different story. He wanted her to let him in. Let him heal the pain, but she seemed over men in general. It was the same answer every time. And he had pursued her a lot, but he wasn't going to give up.
'Rachel, I'm not going to hurt you...' he said softly, after following her into the kitchen at the Mercer house. She looked out the window in despair, wishing he would just understand. He placed his hands on her waist and kissed her neck. He could feel her trying to release herself from him. He let her go.
'Jack, I just need to focus on me okay?' she replied, tears forming in her eyes. 'You need to stop asking me... please...I-I j-just...'
'I know...' he interrupted monotonously. You can't... You make it sound like I would control you.'
She hesitated.
Rachel, I am not Dean.'
'Please, I just...'
'I'm Jack...'
'I know, but I'-
'Rachel, please...'
'Jack, why don't you understand that... I just CAN'T?' Jack sighed.
'Don't you think you're overdoing this just a little?' he asked. She gave him a piercing stare.
'You don't know the first of what I've been through!' she cried.
'Then TELL me, Rachel. MAKE me understand!' he argued, waving his arms about in front of him. Rachel darted her eyes in an attempt to fight back her tears. She covered her face before resting her head on the fridge. Jack ran the tips of his fingers through her hair.
'Jack...please,' she whispered, eyes closed.
'I want to be THAT guy in your life. The one you can tell these things too.'
'Jack, it's so much more complicated than you think...' She forced herself to uncover her face and look at him.
'It doesn't have to be,' he replied flatly, tracing her lips with his fingers. She winced as if in pain.
'Please understand...' she whispered defeatedly.
'I don't know why you're punishing yourself,' he whispered back, getting closer to her and pinning her on the fridge door. She whimpered.
'Please, Jack...'
'I know you feel what I feel.'
'Jack...'
'We're right for each other.'
Rachel made a very weak effort to push him away. He cupped her face and his lips met hers for the first time.
Rachel woke up flat on her bed, the sheets messily covering her body. She couldn't contain her smile. Her hands searched the bed for Jack but he wasn't there. Had I dreamt it? She rubbed her eyes lazily and then propped herself up on her elbows.
'Jack?' she asked in a sleepy voice. She heard incoming footsteps.
'Honey, I'm in the kitchen!' he hollered. He rushed into the bedroom, with messy hair and looking sexy in his drawers (and only his drawers). 'Good morning...'
Rachel's smile widened. He sat beside her on the mattress. He ran his fingers through her hair and forced his lips into hers. She eventually pulled herself away.
'What are you doing?' she asked. His hands then interlocked with hers.
'Making breakfast,' he replied. 'Why don't you get freshened up and we can eat? I'm almost done.' Rachel gnawed on her bottom lip. Could he get any more perfect? She made her way off the bed with the sheet draped over her body like a toga. Rachel made her way to the kitchen after getting dressed and brushing her teeth. Jack had a whole breakfast spread of scrambled eggs, bread, fruit and cheese laid out on the table.
'This is nice!' Rachel exclaimed, caressing his back. He kissed her forehead and the proceeded to eating. Rachel had almost forgotten how good a cook Jack was. She felt like she was home again.
'So,' Jack began after swallowing his food. 'What happened to Marianne and your other friend?' Rachel smiled.
'Probably partied all night,' she replied. 'You know how Marianne is.' Jack nodded.
'Yeah, but I have to say that the blonde one was kinda slutty. She was pretty much begging me for a fuck. How are you even friends with this person?' Rachel giggled.
'Julie's not really like that, Jack.' Jack's eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head.
'What do you mean?' Rachel pursed her lips. I guess it can't hurt to tell him the truth.
'Well, she only behaved that way because we asked her to. Marianne thought it would tell us whether you really wanted me back.' Jack's face froze.
'What?'
'But you proved yourself, baby,' Rachel chirped, stroking his hair. He pulled himself back and had a pretty angry look on his face. Rachel frowned in confusion.
'You used her to test... test my self-control?' Jack could feel his blood boiling. Rachel's breathing slowed.
'Jack, it's not a big deal'—
'Yes, it is a big deal,' Jack replied coldly, backing his chair out. 'I travel to New York and poor my heart out to you, and you and your friends are fucking laughing at me behind my back!'
'Jack, please'—Rachel persisted, her voice cracking.
'So when I said that I loved you, it wasn't enough?' Jack argued, glaring at her. 'I think I made my intentions pretty clear.'
'But Jack, you changed and I'—
'No, I think you're the one who's changed. You're influenced by people who don't believe in a real relationship and prefer playing little games with guys! The Rachel I knew wasn't like this,' he muttered, getting out of his chair. Rachel followed suit and tried to reason with him. Jack shook his head and grabbed handfuls of his hair.
'I can't believe I was so fucking stupid. You're still the same selfish bitch you were when you walked out on us'—
Rachel was in tears at this stage. 'Jack...' she persisted in a strained voice. 'I just didn't know if I could trust you! You yourself went off the rails! I just needed reassurance...' Jack was almost at the door when he spun around.
'My WORD should be ENOUGH!' he boomed. 'I should have never come to New York. Have a nice life, Rachel! I hope you and the asshole with a nice place have a great time together.' And he bolted out of the apartment. Rachel's eyes were glistening with tears as she watched him leave. At that moment, her cellphone came to life.
One new message. She opened it.
Hey Rachel. Hope you and your bad boy are making up nicely :P. Just thought I'd let you know that Matt cracked on the Julie last night and they hooked up. He was an asshole, but congrats! You made the right choice! I'll be home later. – Marianne
She sighed in defeat. Jack was going back to Detroit for sure. And that's where she needed to go.
A/N: Gasp! Rachel knows what she wants! Jack is not happy! And Matt was the creep we all knew he was! Will going back to Detroit help patch things up? Or is this it? R & R and you shall find out!