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?

Nightmare

Loud rock and roll music hid their screams and cries for help. Jack watched the clouds darken and knew that it was going to rain. His stomach hurt from hunger and he felt weak. Liz slept at his side as Ryan tried desperately to get free. He remembered his father always telling him that his mother was eccentric, but anytime he left for a tour of duty her eccentricity turned abusive. Jack could not remember when set her off this time or how long he had been chained to this tree. The tree that they use to chain the dog to, before it ran away. The dog had the right idea.

Jack hoped that help was on the way. He prayed that someone from school would be curious to why none of them were there. Jack wanted his father to call and see what state there mother was in. Or get a surprise visit from anyone. Jack knew that this was not normal, but could not reach out. They had no neighbors. Courtesy of living in the boondocks.

Jack knew that if one of them could get free and get to the local gas station that was two miles up the road. They could get help. The collars around their necks were tight... except for Liz's. Jack winced as it began to rain. His skin was sore from everything.

"Liz, move your hair." He said trying to wet his mouth. Jack was ten almost eleven. Ryan had just turned ten, and little Liz was all but four years old. Liz moved her knotty hair with her dirty hands as Jack inspected the chain link that bonded the collar with the chain. It was separated a little. Jack inspected the padlock that kept the collar closed but remained loose around her neck. Not loose enough to free her though.

"What are you doing?" Ryan asked breathless. Ryan was determined to use all his energy to get out.

"Gimme a branch!" Jack demanded. The boys were at odds with eachother due to the circumstances surrounding them. They were hungry. Tired. Emotionally drawn. Scared. Confused.

"She's not going to be to run to the store. It's too far away!" Ryan ran his hands through his shaggy hair. Jack tried to pry the link but he was too weak from fatigue. Ryan pushed him from behind causing Jack to hit his face on the tree and fall on Liz.

"Ryan, that hurt!" Jack said beginning to cry. Liz cried joining her brother.

"Shut up!" Ryan said hitting himself in the head. Jack tried to free his sister once more using his anger as reserve strength. Liz tried to help and the chain bent just enough that Jack could wiggle her free. Once she was free they all froze.

"Liz, run to the gas station. Get help please!" Jack begged pointing in the direction of the store. Liz picked her toy and ran off in the direction. They watched as she got over the hill. Once out of eyesight the clouds opened up. Lightening lit up the land, as the thunder shook them. Both boys flinched.

"She's not going to make it. She's probably hiding because of the storm. We are going to die out here, stupid!" Ryan said pushing him again. Jack pushed back this time.

"It's your fault we are even out here!" Jack argued ignoring the stinging on his face from the scrapes. Jack pushed him hard knocking him down into the mud. Ryan got back up wiping his hands.

"Is not!" Ryan said pushing Jack.

"Is too!" Jack said lunging at Ryan.

Jack jumped on Ryan rubbing his face in the mud. Ryan blindly swung his hand back hitting Jack in the face. Jack fell off of Ryan holding his cheek. Ryan wiped the mud from his eyes and looked back at Jack. Jack tried to run away from Ryan seeing the anger in his eyes. Jack quickly found the end of the reach from the chain as he fell to his back violently knocking the wind out of him. Ryan meant a similar fate only a second behind. Jack cried.

The rain pelted their skin. They both stared at the dark clouds. They could not even shield their eyes raindrop as they felt too weak. Jack thought he was going to die. He was so hungry he did not want to even eat. Jack wanted nothing more than then his mother to come out and free them, but then the idea of what she would do knowing Liz was gone. The idea of another punishment made him want to die.

Their sobs filled the air along with the music and thunder. The theme song of the dysfunctional Dalton family. They tried to drink the rain. They kept their mouths open hoping to quench their thirst. They were too weak to free themselves from the mud. Jack closed his eyes. He knew he was going to fall asleep. He stayed awake the entire they had been chained. Jack was afraid something was going to get them was going to happen when they slept. Jack was exhausted. He kept his eyes closed and cried.

"Jack! Wake up!" Ryan said shaking Jack awake. Jack's eyes shot open and he pushed his brother away. Jack struggled to sit up as the soupy mud was now all dried up around him. It pulled at his hair and skin. Ryan walked to the chain's length towards the road and began jumping and yelling. Jack rubbed his eyes as he heard sirens. The Rock and roll music was no longer playing. Jack crawled forward as the sirens grew louder.

"Hey! Help!" Jack said frantically waving his arms. They saw lights flashing in the distance as the sirens grew even louder. They saw the local sheriff's deputy pull his vehicle right up on the lawn. Ryan jumped up and down. Jack waved hopelessly. Both boys screaming.

"Oh my god." The deputy said covering his mouth as he made his way to backyard. His partner went inside.

"Please..." Ryan cried.

"Y'all better get some more ambulances and the sheriff out here. I got two kids chained to the tree." The deputy said on his radio. The deputy inspected the collar and his belt seeing if he had the tool for the job. "Boys, I gotta go to my car and get a..."

"No! Don't leave." Ryan panicked grabbing the deputy. Jack sat down just staring at the deputy as if he was the answer to his prayers.

Jack shot up awake sitting up preparing to run as he relived an old nightmare. He cried out in pain from his sudden movement. He was on the verge of a full panic storm. Jack felt lost and battered so his response was to fight but his achy abdomen made it impossible.

"Jack," Diane said grabbing his shoulders. She turned him to face her hoping that seeing a familiar face would calm him. She was worried that he might react badly. Especially given what he did to his poor nurse. Jack grabbed her wrists hard, as he looked at her with a terrified look on his face. "Jack, you are okay." She said with a reassuring tone.

"Huh?" Jack asked still panicked. She pulled him close. She hugged him. Jack hugged her back tightly as he cried. He held on to her as if his life depended on it. Diane soothed and rocked him back and forth.

"You're okay." She repeated. After a minute or so, Jack pulled away as he wiped his eyes. Diane wiped the lonely tear he missed.

"I just... I had a horrible nightmare..." Jack said catching his breathe.

"Just relax." She said as he eased back against the bed. She held his hand on her lap.

"I'm sorry..." Jack whispered staring at their hands.

"You had me worried sick. Not to mention Riley, and your friends. I had to send blondie to the hotel... he could barely stay awake in the chair." She said gently rubbing the back of his head. "I might not understand what you guys do but you could've ask them for help."

"I know... It's just... I don't know, this is a part of my life that I didn't want them to know." Jack said keeping his head down shrugging his shoulders.

"About your mother?" Diane asked and the word mother made him wince.

"She... She uh... She..." Jack stuttered unable to say it.

"She abused you." Diane said finishing his sentence. Jack looked up at her with glassy eyes.

"How..."

"I overheard Liz talking with Macgyver."

"I should've told you... I didn't want you to think I was damaged goods, but i am."

"No."

"My mother use to beat us for no reason. I have bad in my blood. Do you know what I did for the army? Or now? I was going to kill my brother. Who does that?!" Jack argued.

"You come from a bad home but you've made something out of yourself..."

"No, Diane, this is different... I am a monster." Jack said quietly.

"So, what? That's it. You're going to give in, and be what? Like your brother. Is that what you want me to tell your friendship? Tell Riley. That the man that saved us from a lifetime of abuse is nothing but a monster?" She said lifting his head up making him face her.

"I..." Jack stuttered unsure what to say.

"You are not a monster... You are upset. It's totally normal given what has happen."

"He killed my mom... And I was still mad at her and didn't want to take care of her."

"You can't blame yourself for what someone else did."

"I just feel... I don't know..."

"You feel human. You are so busy protecting and taking care everyone else that you forget how to do it for yourself." She said, Jack shrugged his shoulders as he sniffed trying not to cry more.

"I'm not asking you to take care of me." Jack defended.

"I know... You took care of me and my daughter for years. It's the least I can do." Diane said and Jack smiled. "I snuck this in for you." She said handing him a bag of m&ms.

"I'm sorry..." Jack said again. Diane smiled as she kissed the top of his head.

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