Chapter 25

Jack and Jo had been home for twenty minutes and Jo still hadn't spoken a word all day. Not even when they went to register for their classes or ran errands with Evelyn afterwards.

"We're going to be fine Joey," Jack said wrapping an arm around his sister's shoulders.

Jo didn't respond and Jack held the girl closer as someone knocked on their bedroom door.

Jack looked up not at all shocked when Bobby and Jeremiah opened the door and entered their room without waiting for a reply.

"Hey," Jerry said as they entered. "You guys okay?"

Jack looked down at their sister. Jo's right leg was bouncing up and down repeatedly.

Jeremiah frowned as Jo pulled her legs up to her chest as she sat on the bed. He looked to Bobby and reached into his pocket. Bobby had warned him the girl had been having tremors all day, but he hadn't thought her nerves were this bad.

"Here Jo," Jeremiah said taking the chocolate candy bar out of his pocket. "Ma said this might help."

Jo looked up at her brother and smiled gratefully, her legs dropping back over the edge of the bed.

In truth, the candybar had been Jerry's idea, but saying it was Evelyn's seemed like a better idea at the time. Jeremiah had met with Evelyn after Jo's first therapy session. The doctor had mentioned that chocolate sometimes helped with heroin addiction for some people. Especially in high stress situations.

Jeremiah was no expert, but he was sure CPS coming and registering for a new school considering the circumstances could all be considered a high stress situation.

"Ma said you guys registered for classes at your new school?" Bobby tried attempting to make conversation.

Jack shrugged as Bobby and Jerry took seats across from him and Jo in his bed.

"We start class on Monday." Jack told his brothers.

"Well that's something, right?" Bobby said trying to keep the awkward tension down in the room.

"Bobby?" Jo said speaking up for the first time.

"Yeah, Jelly Bean?" Bobby asked hoping to get a rise or something out of the girl as she nibbled on the chocolate Jerry had given her.

"Are you still leaving next week?"

Bobby frowned at the girl. The question had been out there for a while, but none of them had wanted to ask it. All of them too afraid of what the answer might be.

Bobby hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm not sure. Jelly Bean. I was planning on staying a little longer after what happened this morning. At least until everything settles back down."

Jo did't say anything as Jack and Jeremiah nodded silently as Bobby's answer.

When Evelyn called them for dinner an hour and half later, they ate in relative silence. Only Jeremiah and Evelyn talking as Jerry filled his mother in on the latest news with baby Daniela.

Jeremiah left shortly after dinner. Angel hadn't come back home and Bobby had made plans to go out. It was Jack and Jo who helped Evelyn clean the kitchen before they got ready for bed.

"Joey are you okay?" Jack asked again as he and Jo climbed into their beds.

Jo took a deep breath exhaling it shakily. "I'm fine," she snapped harsher than she intended. "I just wish everyone would stop asking me that."

Jack backed off for a moment before turning back to his sister and asking, "Do you want to hang out tomorrow?"

It took a moment for the words to process as Jo shot her brother a look. "Yeah," she told him as she slipped under the covers.

A/N: Alright as promised. Next update is up after 3 reviews. I keep my word :)

Review if you want more. The more reviews the quicker the update or haven't you notice? :)