A/N: I no own, you no sue.

This story is rated M for a reason. If you are not 18+, please do not read this story.

I love my RemyKilday. She pre-reads and reminds me to answer questions I've created… and she also wants to beat imaginary Emmett with his imaginary Slugger. It makes me LOL.

Thank you always to HammerHips, a.k.a. "Schwoogie-Muffin". Yes, I do scream her name during sex

Chapter 13: Daddy's Little Girl

And she says, "Daddy, Daddy don't leave
I'll do anything to keep you
Right here with me
Can't you see how much I need you?

-"Daddy's Little Girl" by Frankie J

Sage POV

Mid-term week was hell. As hard as I tried to concentrate, I was afraid the major shitstorm had negatively impacted my performance. Instead of feeling upset by it, however, I was just plain pissed off at Emmett.

Emmett wasn't speaking to me. He and Rose had been up until the early hours fighting most nights, and I knew it was because he'd lied to her about Dad and he didn't seem to see anything wrong with it.

Jasper and I spent our nights locked in his room watching movies and studying for our exams. We also planned our trip to Lompoc. Though it was only about a six hour drive, we would be starting out after three PM, and so we decided to pack bags and stay in a motel overnight.

Thursday night was difficult for me. I was nervous about my Calculus exam, but even more so about seeing my father.

"Jas, what do you think looks better?" I asked, holding up a pink polo shirt and jeans and then a long denim skirt and a powder blue cardigan.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "I feel like such a chick right now. I think I need to go spit or something." He groaned. "Why don't you just wear what you normally wear? What's wrong with your tanks and stuff?"

"The guy at the prison said I should wear as little makeup as possible and that I should show as little skin as possible because someone might start trouble." I answered.

Jasper rolled his eyes, but then truly considered me for a moment. "Go with the jeans."

"Why?" I asked. I'd been leaning toward the skirt, myself. It was embarrassing to admit, but I wanted to look nice.

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "If the guards are worried about how your dressing might affect the inmates… don't you think one concern might be… ah… easy access?"

I felt my eyes go wide. "Oh. Gotcha." And then my cheeks flamed. "Sounds like something you know about." I quipped, folding the jeans and shirt up and placing them neatly in my overnight bag.

Jasper snorted. "I'm a straight man. A good portion of each day is dedicated to the study of women and what clothing allows that kind of access." I froze and felt myself going very red, even the flesh of my lower back, which was exposed in my current hunched position. "Oh relax. If anything had changed I'd have told you… I'd have been fuckin' ecstatic and unable to keep it to myself." He grumbled. "I like to look."

"Yeah…" I murmured, continuing to pack my bag. Jasper was lounging on my bed with his Resonator, strumming lazily as he watched me. I moved to my underwear drawer and pulled out a few pair, tossing them haphazardly on top of the clothes. I heard a sharp intake of breath. "What?" I asked, turning to look at him.

Jasper's eyes had gone dark, nearly black, as he stared at the blue cheekies, the black thong, the red bikinis… Finally, he cleared his throat. "Nothing. Just… you know…" he shrugged.

"No, I don't think I do know." I answered.

"Nothing."

"OK."

I moved to my nightstand to retrieve the earbuds for my iPod and as soon as the drawer opened, Jasper clapped a hand over his eyes and groaned.

"What?" I asked exasperatedly.

Without removing his hand from over his eyes, he pointed to the drawer. I looked. And smirked. Buzz. More appropriately, a clitoral stimulator. It wasn't even a full vibrator, for Christ's sake!

"What? You knew I had it."

He groaned again. "Yeah, but seeing it makes it a little more real." And then the color rose in his cheeks. "Please tell me you're not bringing it along."

I snorted. "No." and my eyes narrowed as he removed his hand. "What's got you so red?"

The color deepened. He snorted and I could tell he was being defensive. "Awkward, much?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Be a dick."

"I'm not being a dick, it's awkward. Even you knew it was awkward, you told Peter as much." My eyes narrowed at his explanation. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Whatever." I muttered. I went back to packing, leaving the drawer open because I was getting a wicked jolt of pleasure out of his discomfort.

If I thought Thursday evening was stressful, it was nothing compared to Friday morning. Emmett and Rose had the morning off because of a light schedule and it couldn't have been worse timing for our escape.

I set my backpack and overnight bag next to the basement door and went to grab a granola bar for breakfast while I waited for Jasper.

"Wanna go get some pancakes?"

I jumped and spun. Emmett was right behind me, but I hadn't heard him approach. "I can't." I answered quickly. "Jasper's got his exam at ten-thirty and mine's at one-thirty."

He shrugged. "I can drop you off on campus when we're done."

"I was counting on some extra study time in the library."

Emmett moved around the breakfast bar to sit on one of the stools, his hands folded on the bar, as he watched me pour myself some juice and open the granola bar. "Well, maybe we'll go grab some dinner tonight. Just you and me."

I felt my cheeks burn with blood as I fixated on my juice. "I'm not gonna be home tonight." There was no point in lying. Emmett knew when I blushed it was a telltale sign of an uncomfortable subject.

"Oh? Where you gonna be?"

I swallowed. If I lied, Emmett would know. If I told the truth, Emmett would flip the fuck out. I heard the creaking of the pipes that told me Jasper was done with his shower. I closed my eyes, willing myself to have the strength. "Jasper's taking me down to Lompoc." I flinched as my glass of orange juice flew across the kitchen and smashed against the wall.

"No. You're. Not." He growled.

"Yes. I. Am." I responded and flinched as Emmett's fist met the bar.

"No!" he shouted.

There were footsteps on the stairs and Rose stepped into the kitchen. "What the hell is going on in here? Did I hear glass breaking?" her eyes landed on the orange juice staining the white wall and the glass scattered beneath it. "Question answered. What the hell is going on in here?"

I swallowed. "Jasper's taking me down to Lompoc." I answered.

Rosalie's eyes widened but her face was laced with understanding. "I think that's good, Sage."

"Rosalie!" Emmett roared in outrage.

Before I could register anything else I was being yanked out of the kitchen and tucked into Jasper's side. I hadn't even realized he'd come up the stairs, let alone into the kitchen.

"Dammit, Jasper, get your fucking hands off my sister! Let her fight her own battles if you want so bad for her to piss me off!"

"I don't want her to piss you off, Emmett, I want you to back off of her. She's a grown woman, she's not a child!" he barked.

Emmett's eyes narrowed. "Just because you dress her up like a whore and give her some booze doesn't make her grown." He snarled.

I felt like I'd been slapped.

Rude!

But Jasper wasn't folding. He pushed me back gently before turning and shielding me from view, leaning down to murmur in my ear, "Go get the bags, mine's with yours, and take them out to the truck, OK? Can you do that for me?" I nodded, dumbstruck, as he pressed his keys into my hand.

I walked numbly to the basement door and grabbed my overnight bag and Jasper's duffel, then threw my backpack over my shoulder, and headed out as the angered whispering turned into fevered shouting.

"She's not your fucking family!"

"That's funny, because you're sure as hell not acting like she's family at all!"

"Dammit! Both of you stop it! I can't take much more of this!"

I hurried down the walk, unlocked the truck, tossed the bags behind the seats, and slid into the passenger seat. I hunched down and put my feet up on the dash, silently willing myself not to cry. Moments later, Jasper slammed the front door and hurried down the walkway with his cowboy boots in his hand.

He opened the driver's door and sat down, with his legs out so that he could pull his boots on. He was mumbling to himself, too low for me to make out much but a random word here and there."

"Fucking… don't think I can… but of course… and if… bastard fucking…"

"Jazz!" I cried as he reversed the truck out of the spot so quickly my seatbelt locked.

"Sorry, Sweetheart." He mumbled, shifting into Drive. "You're brother's a real piece of work." I sighed and pressed my cheek against my window. "You OK?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Don't bullshit me. You know you're no good at it."

"I'm fine, Jazz."

We were silent the rest of the ride to campus. Jasper walked me to the library and left me at a work table on the second floor. Before he left me, he said, "Please don't move until I get back to take you to class." I rolled my eyes, but agreed.

Sitting in the library studying Calculus had to be the most boring thing in the world. Even my iPod couldn't save me. I ended up staring off into space for a good half-hour before a soft, lilting voice lifted me out of my boredom-induced haze.

"Sage, right?"

My eyes wandered until they found purchase on the tiny wisp with black hair. "Hi, Alice." I answered, pulling my earbuds out.

"Hi. Can… Can I sit?"

I motioned for her to take the seat opposite me and she sat. "So… Jasper recommended you for editing. I was wondering if you'd have time to fit me in?"

"When's the paper due?"

"December fifteenth."

I hissed. "That's really short notice. I've got a lot of term papers to read… but, I can do my best."

She beamed. "That would be so amazing!" and then her face fell. "Is… Um…" she blushed a deep red.

"Oh, Christ, Alice, you're trusting me to edit a term paper of your ethical beliefs, you may as well spill it."

The red in her cheeks increased. "Has… Has Jasper… mentioned me at all?"

Oh Jesus.

Lie.

No lying.

I owe it to him for screwing shit up with Maria.

"Occasionally… We don't really talk about dating." I hedged.

Alice gave me a small smile. "Maybe I'll call him this weekend. See if he wants to get together."

Oi.

"Uh… We're actually headed to Lompoc after my exam." And her face fell again. "He's taking me to see my dad. We'll be back Saturday evening."

She was examining me closely. "I'm… I'm sorry." She finally laughed. "But… Is there something going on between you and—"

"Jesus! Why does everyone ask that? You know, I can't get a fucking date most of the time because of that!" I exploded. "We are just friends." She relaxed. "We just have a very… connected history. Ask him about it some time." I glanced down at my book and then back at Alice. "Alice, I really need to study." I pulled a business card from my bag. "Here's my card. E-mail me your paper and I'll go through it." She smiled and stood. "And I'll tell Jasper to give you a call." I assured her.

"Thanks, Sage."

She danced out of the library at that.

She fucking danced!

Weirdo.

Jealous.

Shut the fuck up.

It was another half-hour before Jasper showed up. He plopped down across from me and let his head fall back against the chair. "I'm so fucking glad I don't want to be a Physicist. I'm fucking done with the hard shit. Next semester… bird courses only." I nodded absently, flipping through my notes. "You OK?"

"Yup." I answered. "Saw Alice." I watched his expression carefully in my periphery. His face remained impassive. "Told her I'd have you call her."

He gave me a tight smile. "Thanks for that."

"No problem." I glanced at my watch and packed up my notebook and text. "My exam starts in ten." I heaved myself out of my chair and he followed suit.

Jasper walked me all the way to the door of my class before stopping. "I'll be out here when you're finished." I nodded. "Do well."

"Always." I smirked as I headed into the lecture hall.

If I thought I hated Calculus before Thanksgiving, it was nothing to how I felt during that exam. By the time I got out, my head was spinning with equations I knew I'd missed.

Jasper was waiting, as promised, and he quietly guided me back to the truck.

"How traumatic was it?" he asked as he drove out of the parking garage.

"Oh, God, I seriously failed. I know it. I think I must've left half the test blank!"

"Easy. You're fine. I'm sure you didn't leave half the test blank." He soothed. "And just think… this time tomorrow, you'll be talking to your dad."

That did nothing to ease my mind. In fact, I started to panic more.

"Maybe we shouldn't go."

"What?"

"What if he doesn't want to see me? What if he doesn't remember me? What if—"

Jasper reached over and unbuckled my seatbelt. He held up his arm and nodded. "Come here." I hesitated and he rolled his eyes. "Come on." I slid across the bench seat and buckled myself into the center, bringing my feet up to rest on the seat as I leaned against him. He brought his arm around my shoulders and kissed my hair. "Calm down. You're overreacting. You know that."

"But what if—"

"Stop." He commanded. "You're fine. It's all gonna be fine." I sighed and relaxed against him. "Thank you. Jesus, you're gonna get wrinkles prematurely the way you worry." I smirked. "So… Why are you so hell-bent on me getting together with Alice?"

I shrugged. "You seemed to really like her."

"Feels like you're trying to set me up." He grumbled.

I was silent for a long time, settling into his embrace and relaxing easily against him. Finally, I voiced something that had been bugging me since my conversation with Alice that morning. "Do you think we're weird, you and I?"

"How do you mean?"

I shrugged. "We… we're not like other friends. You don't let Peter sit on your lap."

He snorted. "God, I hope not!"

I rolled my eyes at his reaction. "Fine, how about I don't sit on Peter's lap… Char doesn't sit on yours."

"So?"

"So… People get the wrong impression… Like Emmett… I think he thinks there's more going on than there is." His hand clenched at the mention of Emmett, but he relaxed almost immediately. "And Alice too… People are seeing things that aren't there because of how we act."

He tensed again and I heard him take a deep, measured breath. "And… how do we act?"

"I don't know." I hedged. "Not like friends, I guess."

I reeled as he jerked the car over onto the berm and released me so that he could actually look at me. "Do you have a problem with it?"

I was so shocked that it took me a moment. "No." I answered finally. "But," I added as relief settled over his features. "I don't want anything screwing up a relationship for either of us… so maybe… we should back it off a bit in public? I mean… we're friends. Maybe we should just… act like it when other people are around."

Jasper considered me for several long moments and I began to fidget under his scrutiny. "OK." He said finally, resignedly. He smirked then.

Defensive.

"You got a hot date you're worried I'll scare off?"

I rolled my eyes again. "Oh yes. There are guys just beating down my door to take me out, if it weren't for that sexy beast in the next room." I deadpanned.

"You think I'm sexy?"

"Oh, Jesus. Of course that's where your hearing cuts off… right after sexy."

He smirked again and pulled back onto the highway. "Come here." He motioned for me to lean against him again. "Having a hold of you is peaceful for me. You always give me peace."

I smiled at his words. "I know what you mean."

And I did. Jasper had always given me peace, from that very first meeting. It was the reason I wrote to him after we returned to Washington; the reason I continued to write him in Basic, even when he couldn't always write back; the reason why I wrote him while he was in Iraq. It was not possible for me to exist without Jasper. He was the Yin to my Yang, the one who centered me.

Careful now, I'm starting to sound like—

Moving on.

We passed the rest of the nearly six hour drive in relative silence, only speaking when necessary. Jasper was comfortable, in many ways, but always when I was leaning against him, so it was no surprise to either of us that I fell asleep somewhere around hour-four.

I woke up to Jasper gently tugging me out of the truck and carrying me easily into our motel room. I groaned and nuzzled his neck lightly before bracing my right arm against his shoulder.

"I can walk." I mumbled.

"OK." He chuckled, setting me on my feet. "I'll grab the bags." He pushed me into the motel room and turned back to the truck. When he returned, he set the bags down and sighed. "What would you like to do for dinner?"

I shrugged. "You choose… I just really want a shower." I rolled my shoulders and tried to loosen my back up. "You may be comfortable to sleep on, Jazz, but you sure as hell aren't Posturepedic."

Jasper chuckled. "My apologies." He stretched. "I'm kinda thinking pizza..."

"OK." I yawned, opening up my bag and beginning the search for my toiletries bag. "So… we're in Lompoc?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "About ten minutes from the prison." I froze. "What is it? Sage?" I didn't realize I was shaking until Jasper's firm grip on my hips stilled me somewhat as he shifted me around to sit down on the bed. He kneeled in front of me, running his hands up and down my arms. "Sage? What's wrong, Sweetheart?"

"What… what if he doesn't want to see me?" I whispered.

"Why wouldn't he want to see you?"

I shrugged. "He wrote to me for three years and I never answered any of his letters." I whispered.

Jasper growled, low and deep within his chest. "That was Emmett's doing, not yours. Your father will understand that." I made to protest and Jasper growled again, effectively silencing me. "Go take your shower. I'll order us some food. We'll eat and watch a movie, and tomorrow you're gonna go see your dad. We're not gonna entertain thoughts of what might happen because Emmett's a fucktard. Got it?" I opened my mouth to protest again and he clapped his hand over my mouth. "Got it? Just nod." I nodded. "Good. Go shower."

An hour later we were sitting on the bed most in-line with the TV, eating our standard pepperoni with extra cheese pizza (because not every pizza joint can be as badass as Sol's Slicery), and watching Lost Boys.

"This movie is just weird… Kiefer Sutherland is making my eye twitch." Jasper groaned.

I smirked. "But the Two Corey's are hot."

"Huh?" he asked.

"The Two Coreys! That one and that one." I pointed them out on the screen. "Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. The Two Coreys. Every girl in America has seen at least one of their movies and daydreamed about them… even if they were eighties icons."

Jasper shook his head at me. "Fine, and which one did you daydream about?"

"Pfft! Both! They were my first threesome-fantasy." He choked at my admission. "Get a grip." I laughed, clapping him on the back.

He turned beet red. "Threesome?"

"Oh bite me." I rolled my eyes. Jasper grabbed my shoulder and yanked me closer, sinking his teeth lightly into my shoulder. It didn't hurt, but it took me by surprise nonetheless. I shrieked, "Jasper!" and lightly slapped his cheek.

He laughed. "What? You told me to bite you!" I nudged his chin with my shoulder and he smiled mischievously as I moved to the other bed and began turning down the sheets. "Where're you going?" he asked, packing up the leftovers and putting the box in the mini-fridge.

"I'm going to bed." I pouted.

"Don't be like that."

"Like what? You bit me."

"You told me to!" he cried in exasperation.

I rolled my eyes and smirked, knowing what I was about to say would make him blush. "Yeah, well I didn't realize I was into that." And as if on cue, Jasper's cheeks pinked and I smirked.

"Wish I'd known." He grumbled.

"Shut up." I called over my shoulder. He continued to mumble at a level I couldn't understand and I simply rolled my eyes and went to brush my teeth.

We woke up the next morning and got ready quietly. Jasper was humming to himself, so low I couldn't even make out the tune, but I was lost in thought.

More than anything, I wanted to be able to understand what the hell was going on within me. Part of me was jealous… of Alice, of Maria… and part of me was ecstatic because I knew that I would always have a part of Jasper that he'd never give to someone else. I'd been with him through thick and thin, but others? They'd never be able to get into Jasper's head the way I could.

I just wasn't sure if it was enough…

It has to be.

Emmett would ruin any- and everything.

As soon as I was dressed, I stepped out of the bathroom and stood, fidgeting, waiting for Jasper to finish putting on his shoes.

"Do I look OK?" I asked when he looked up.

"Of course." His brow furrowed as he questioned me with his eyes. "You OK?"

I tugged at the polo shirt. "I think I should change…" I began rooting around in my bag. I'd packed several shirts, just to be safe. Knowing my clumsy self, I might've spilled something on my shirt, so I had to pack backups.

"What? Sage, you're fine. You look great."

"No, I think I should change. It's not nice enough. I should—don't you think? I should look nice, right? Not like I'm just walking in from a day at school. I should look nice, right?"

Jasper grabbed my shoulders roughly and spun me to face him. "Stop." He commanded and I trembled at the tone. "You. Are. Fine." My breath hitched and his expression softened. "You look beautiful, Sage. He's just going to be glad to see you."

"But what if he's not?"

"You'll never know if you don't swallow that panic, get your ass in the truck, and find out for yourself." He replied evenly. When I didn't move he sighed and pulled me into a tight hug. "I'll be right there, waiting. You know I'll be there if you need me."

I chewed my lower lip for a moment, thinking. "Promise?" I whispered as a tear slid down my cheek.

Jasper smiled. "Promise."

A half-hour later, we'd grabbed breakfast and made our way to Lompoc Prison. We checked in, went through the metal detectors and the frisking, and made our way to the visitation yard. Because the weather was nice, they allowed visitation to take place outside at picnic tables.

Jasper sat down on an orange plastic chair while I was led through the chain link and barb wire fence to a table in the middle of the yard. I glanced around carefully, watching the other visitors. Some were women with children, others were men or women in business suits. None were my age.

The gate at the other end of the yard buzzed open and each inmate stepped through one at a time to be directed to his visitors. I wasn't even sure which was my father until he was plopping down on the bench opposite me.

He was thinner, older looking than I remembered. His hair was gray now and shorn so short there was no trace of the ringlets he and Emmett shared. He was bonier, less bulky, and almost sallow in color.

He stared back at me with Emmett's blue eyes for several long moments before finally stating, "You're definitely not my lawyer."

I shook my head. "No. I'm not."

"I got a daughter about your age."

I gave him a small smile. "Yeah… I know." He cocked an eyebrow at me, so I continued. "She plays guitar… and piano. She was Salutatorian of her high school class… had to give a speech and everything." I didn't know why I was telling him all of this. I just wanted him to know me. "She's majoring in Journalism at Berkeley… and…" I trailed off, thinking. What else was there to know about me? "She makes pretty good money editing term papers."

My dad stared at me, his face impassive for the longest time. His eyes flicked behind me a few times, but always came back to my face. Finally, he smiled and asked, "Well, Sage, what brings you down to Lompoc?" he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of the breast pocket of his orange jumpsuit and pulled one out before setting it on the table and waving his hand over it as an offer. I took one immediately and he lit it for me with the small plastic lighter from his pocket. "Pretty weird to be smoking with my kid." I blushed at that. "So, I repeat the question. What brings you down?"

I sighed. "I… I wanted to see you."

"Why now?" he asked, taking a long drag, his eyes flicking behind me again. Was this normal Con Behavior, or was I missing something?

"I didn't know you'd written to me."

He smirked and I took several drags before he responded. "I'm guessing that was your brother's doing." I nodded. "Yeah… Emmett always was good at following instructions… always good at protecting you. Even when it was from me." My eyes widened. "I didn't want him to keep your letters from you… I just wanted him to keep you safe when I was…"

"You can say it, Dad. Drinking. You were drinking."

"You remember that?" he asked, following it with another drag and another flick of the eyes.

I shrugged. "Some things more than others." I took another drag.

Finally, his eyes slid past me and stayed on whatever he was looking at. "So… that your boy?"

My brow furrowed and I turned to find Jasper standing against the chain link, his fingers laced through the holes, watching intently, a dangerous look in his eyes.

"That's Jasper." I replied, turning back to him. "Jasper Whitlock."

He nodded. "Amelia's son." I nodded. "Didn't know you two knew each other."

"Uncle Charlie took us to meet them when I was twelve."

He nodded again, taking another long drag. "How long have you two been—"

"We're not." I cut him off, earning me an appraising look. "Jazz is a friend… he brought me down here to support me… because… you know… Emmett wouldn't." he raised an eyebrow at me. "Dad… Do you ever wonder about me?" my voice shook as I asked the question and his expression softened immediately.

"How could I not? You're my baby girl." He answered, smiling fondly. "I've wondered about you every day for the past eight years." He whispered, laying his free hand on top of mine. "And your brother. Have you been taking care of each other?" I snorted. "Ah. Emmett's been taking a bit too much care of you." I nodded. "Big brothers do that."

"He threw a glass at the wall and was yelling so much that Jasper sent me out of the house because he felt Emmett was a threat." I muttered.

Dad raised an eyebrow at me, watching me carefully as I took another drag and stubbed out the cigarette in the metal ashtray on the table, before his eyes slid back to Jasper to watch him for a moment. "He takes care of you?"

I smiled. "Yeah. He does."

"And you're not dating?"

I snorted. "No. That's… complicated."

"Sounds like a relationship."

"We're friends."

He opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and closed it again. He smiled instead. "I'm glad he takes care of you." Even though it was said to me, he was watching Jasper. He inhaled sharply all of a sudden and diverted his eyes. "So… what's with the hair?"

I smiled despite myself. "It's… sort of a cleansing. Lots of shit going down recently."

"How big a part is your brother in all that?"

"Surprisingly small by comparison." I admitted. He smiled at me and I thought hard for a moment. "Did you miss me?" he nodded. "Why… why did you give up writing to me?"

"Because Emmett wrote to me and told me you wanted nothing to do with me."

My mouth popped open in an O of surprise and my eyes went wide. "He… didn't tell me that." I whispered.

"Did you honestly expect him to?"

I shook my head. "I guess not… I just… thought you stopped caring."

For some reason, he smiled. "Do you know why, of all the names available, your mother and I named you Sage?" I shook my head and he laughed. "I hated the name for the longest time! But your mother… she was so sick with you, always throwing up, always dry-heaving into wastebaskets because of one smell or another… and then one night she was making chicken with sage." I cocked an eyebrow at him. "And she wasn't sick. We thought it was the chicken at first, but the next time we had chicken, she threw it straight back up… so we figured it had to be the sage." He smirked. "And it was. We had to cook everything with sage from then on out. I got so sick of the taste, of the smell, everything." He lit another cigarette and I took one as well, leaning forward so he could light it. "But it eased her stomach and it helped you grow… so I never once complained." He blew a large puff of smoke out, laughing and coughing all at once. "Until we were at the hospital, and I was looking into those big, beautiful eyes of yours and your mother told me she wanted to name you Sage. I thought we were gonna kill each other, but I finally caved. I could deny her nothing."

Smiling, I took another drag. "I always wondered why I was named after a goddamn herb."

"That's why." He smirked, but then his face fell. "You and Emmett been taking care of yourselves health-wise? Getting checked out, screened…"

"Yeah." I told him. "Every year… twice… in my case… you know, 'cause of mom." He nodded. "I'm doing OK." I assured him. "I missed having you around… I missed having my dad… but I'm OK."

"Yeah, you look like you're doing real well." He agreed. "Except for whatever stunts your brother pulls."

I smiled. "Yeah, well, things have gotten… more complicated, but better, in some ways, since Jasper got back from Iraq."

Dad coughed and laughed again. "Yeah, I shoulda guessed an Army boy. The way he's been standing there, like he's on duty. Only time he's relaxed out of Attention was when you turned to look at him."

"Visiting Hours are now over for the day." A nasally voice called over the loudspeaker.

The inmate's gate buzzed and opened and Dad and I stood as one.

"I love you, Daddy." I whispered.

"I love you too, Baby." He answered, coming around the table to hug me. "Don't wait so long to come see me, OK? I've missed you so much. I don't want to miss out on your entire life."

I nodded into his chest. "Every month." I promised. "I don't think I can get down more often than that… But every month, I promise."

He pulled back and smiled. "I'd like that." His eyes flicked back to Jasper. "Go on. Don't keep him waiting." I smiled and turned to leave. As I reached the gate he called out to me again and I turned. "You're just as beautiful as your mother, Baby Girl." And then he turned and marched straight through the gate at the opposite end as I stifled a sob and wiped away tears while Jasper led me back out to the truck.

The entire drive back home was silent. I was curled into Jasper's side, crying silently as he held me and stroked my hair lightly. When we finally arrived home, Jasper stopped in the kitchen for a glass of water while I trudged downstairs to the basement.

The sight that met my eyes when I got there was terrifying. Our tiny living room was in shambles. The TV was smashed, the coffee table in pieces, the couch shredded, and sitting in the middle… Emmett, swaying slightly, with a bottle of Jim Beam in his hand.

His eyes were red and bloodshot, his face pale and drawn. When he looked at me, it was as though he were looking through me.

"Well, well, well…" he slurred. "The Prodigal Sister returns."

"Emmett," I murmured quietly. "Are you OK?"

He laughed coldly. "Just perfect." He staggered to his feet.

"Emmy," I sidestepped, trying to get closer to my room. "You've been drinking."

"Yes… Yes, I have." he replied, smiling slightly.

"Where's Rose?"

His face crumpled and scrunched in anger and he threw the bottle, shattering it against the wall. I jumped at the noise, giving him the desired reaction. "She's left!" he shouted. "She's staying with friends because she's so fucking pissed off at this Whole. Damn. Thing."

I sidestepped again and he moved with me, a sort of sick dance between my brother and I.

"Emmett!" Jasper growled, thundering down the stairs, but Emmett stepped forward, planting himself between Jasper and I. "Emmett, go upstairs and sleep it off. Walk away. Now." Emmett swung out and Jasper dodged as I screamed, covering my mouth.

"Back off, Jasper."

"No. Go sleep it off."

"Ah…" Emmett smiled now, waggling his finger at him. "Jasper… you are not the Patron Saint of Baby Sisters… or Horny Teenagers… You are simply trying to slip in, get your hands on Sage, and either take my place as big brother, or…" his eyes narrowed. "Fuck her." Jasper tensed at those words. "So which is it? You always try to be honest with Sage, have you been honest about that?"

"Emmy, stop it, please! You're drunk! You promised me I'd never see you drunk!" I cried.

Emmett spun and grabbed my arm, yanking me around and shaking me. "I made a lot of promises back when you listened to what I had to say!" he yelled in my face. My head spun at his whiskey-laced breath. "I made a lot of promises when you were a sister and not a rebellious, ungrateful little bitch!" he gave me another shake as his fingers dug into my arm.

Jasper grabbed Emmett's wrist and squeezed with one hand, prying his fingers from me with the other. "Emmett!" he yelled, punching him and pressing me behind him. "This is Sage. Your baby sister. You're handling her like an abuser!"

That seemed to sober Emmett up immediately and he stared at me over Jasper's shoulder for a long moment. He blinked and reached for me. "Sage…"

I let out a sob, still clutching my arm where he'd grabbed me. "You promised me I'd never see what Dad was like when he was drunk…" I cried. "But Dad never hurt either of us when he was drunk."

With that, I ran, skirting around Jasper and straight into my room. I locked the door, and fled to the bathroom, locking both access doors and sinking down to the tile to cry.

"Sage?" Jasper's voice called through his door. "Sage, please? Just let me know you're OK? Please?"

I crawled to the tub and turned the faucet on full force, then stood and did the same with the shower. I turned to the vanity and turned both sinks on as well, sinking back to the floor with my back to the cabinets and crying. At least the rushing water helped to drown out my sobs.

End Note: If you leave me a review, I'll send you a teaser