A/N: Major thanks to Independence Undervalued for her, ever so wonderful, reviews. You rock. :-)

you tayrn at six, is awesome too and a miraculous beta as well as a very talented writer.

Like an engine, my heart began racing.

He stood tall and confident. His bleached hair was greased back, and his eyes were cold, almost lifeless. And then there was that smile. Slick and haunting, making you want to tremble at the mere sight of it.

My throat tightened, but I remained hidden underneath the table.

"Wha-what..."

"Shh," he whispered as he stepped closer. "There's no need for explanations, love."

"What are you doing here, Jeff?"

He laughed and shook his head as he slowly began to inch closer to them. "Timmy, Timmy, Timmy... Do I not get a 'hello'?"

Tim's nostrils flared.

"Hope jail was nice and cozy for you. Didn't mean for you and your brother to get in so much trouble."

Tim kept his gaze firm and held his ground as he gripped a hold of Angela's arm. "I'm gonna ask you again. What are you doing here?"

Again, Jeff rolled his head back and chuckled as if Tim were just a pesky fly on the wall. "Come on, Timothy. Do you mind playing nice? I mean, your baby sister is watching." His eyes flicked to her. "Hello, love. How's the kid doing?"

Tim stared him down as he tightened his hold on Angela. "Don't," he spoke lowly but full of venom.

Jeff crooked his neck and looked over at him. "What's wrong, Tim? Don't like me talking to sissy here?" He, once again, looked at Angela, arching a brow. "She's a big girl now. I think it's high time she talk for herself; don't you think so, love?"

Angela glared at him, clutching onto Tim. "Don't call me that," she spat.

He shook his head and wiped the spit off of his face. "Don't be like that." He stepped closer. "Used to make you pretty happy when we were... you know."

Tim took a step forward to him, only making him laugh.

"Come on, Timmy." He turned his cheek. "Take a shot. Right here."

Tim didn't budge. He kept his position unwaverable in front of his sister. It didn't look like he was going to lunge for the attack just yet. No, Tim was the wait-till-the-time is right kind of guy. He'd strike when least expected.

"Not so talkative now, are we?" Jeff asked, lighting up a cigerate. "Darn. I was hoping we could have a friendly, little chat here, guys."

No one moved.

I glanced down at the sleeping baby cradled in my arms. Once checking if he was okay, I squinted to get a better look out the crack again.

Jeff puffed smoke at the two. "Come on, guys. This isn't any fun."

My fingers protectively clutched the baby closer. Something wasn't right; I didn't like where this was going - at all.

"Jeff, what do you want?" Angela asked calmly.

He shook his head and laughed. "Sweetie, you won't have an idea of what I want." He took a step forward, now in front of her. "Though, you did please me well for a while. Well, that is until I got bored with you."

Angela glared up at him. "Just back off."

He looked amused at her attempt to scare him. "Do you really think that's going to work?" He reached over and brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "I thought you had a little bit more sense than that."

She slapped his hand down. "Don't you touch me."

Jeff stepped back a little and glared at her. "Now, don't be like that, love. I'm only trying to be nice here."

She folded her arms over her chest and looked up at Tim, who had been oddly quiet through this whole thing.

"Timmy, Timmy. I hear you kept pretty good tabs on me," Jeff went on. "Guess you slipped up, huh? Not as good as you thought you were."

Tim remained unfazed. He kept the same hard expression he had kept the whole time.

"Not even going to say it are you?" Jeff teased. "Come on, Tim, admit it. I'm better than you."

His upper lip twitched with anger. "Get out of here."

Jeff stepped back and laughed bitterly. "Or what? You going to kill me? Knock me out? I'd like to see you try."

He didn't move. Angela looked up at him with pleading eyes. This wasn't Tim. Tim didn't back down when someone challenged him. Something was wrong.

"So disappointing." Jeff sighed. "I was really looking forward to that. Guess you don't got it in you." He turned to Angela again. "What about you, love? Anything you wanna get off your chest? Now's your chance."

She tightened her grip on her brother's bicep. "Just leave, Jeff. Please?"

He shook his head. "Honey, you know I can't do that. I came here to finish what your brother started." He looked at him. "Isn't that right, Timmy? Go ahead. Tell baby sister all about your screw up."

Tim lunged forward before stopping himself. I stared at Jeff, who laughed and reached behind him to pull out the shiny, silver toy he brought with him. "Now, Timmy, that wouldn't be too smart, now would it?"

Angela gasped and stepped behind Tim. A fully loaded gun aimed high at Tim's head.

I covered my mouth and scooted back until I hit the wall.

"Come on, Tim," he started. "Let's see how tuff you are now." He looked down at the gun and smirked. "Not too tough with this thing waving around, are we?"

"Jeff," Angela pleaded. "Please,"

"Sh," he told her as he stepped back forward. "Don't be scared, love. This will all be over soon."

She looked at the object in his hand with wide eyes. Tim kept his position secure in front of her as if he knew what the plan was here. "Just don't."

Jeff shook his head and twirled it around his finger. "I don't think you're in any position to be telling me what to do, Tim." He held it back in his hand. "In fact, I think I have all the power here."

My legs shook as I tried not to breathe too hard.

"What do you want?" Tim growled.

Jeff looked up from his weapon and laughed. "You know, Timothy. Why don't you share with the class exactly what happened that day you and brother came to see me."

Tim stood frozen like a statue. Angela continued to look up at him, afraid to look at the monster aiming the gun at them. Through the crack, I could see her left hand begin to tremble with fear.

"Not going to share with the class, Tim?" Jeff arched an eyebrow. "I thought you'd be happy to tell us your story. Go ahead - tell little sister how bad you messed up. Tell her why this is happening."

Again, Tim didn't move. He didn't even look anywhere else but at the man standing in front of him.

This wasn't Tim.

"Fine, I'll do it," Jeff huffed as he turned to Angela. "See, love, your big brothers decided to pay me a visit about a month ago. You know, after I set you straight." He winked at Tim. "See, he thought he was going to show me a little lesson, defend his sister's honor - her knight in shining armor. Blah, blah, blah. Well, your brother made the mistake of underestimating me. I'm tough, sweetie. Tougher than your brother here."

Angela looked up at her rock-still brother. Her pleading eyes looked at him, as if knowing where this conversation was going.

"I told him what was going to happen if he layed a finger on me." He twirled the gun back around his forefinger. "He didn't listen, though."

Angela looked back over at him with tears in her eyes. She knew. She knew what the plan was. What Jeff warned Tim what was going to happen. She knew it was happening. "Jeff, come on. It doesn't have to be like this."

He ignored her and focused on his gun. "Now, love, you and I both know it does."

Tim glared him down, obviously not knowing what else to do. Long black tears seeped down Angela's face as she looked at him with terror. "Tim? Tim! Say something!"

He stood his ground, not speaking a word. "Go ahead, Timmy," Jeff taunted. "Say something. Say how sorry you are for causing all of this."

"Go to hell," he growled.

Jeff shook his head and let out a dry chuckle. "No, I don't think I will." He aimed the gun toward him. "Not yet, anyway."

He pulled the trigger back, landing a bullet on his foot. Tim jumped up and held it, not even uttering a sound.

Angela gasped beside him as she tried to negotiate with the monster in front of her. "Jeff. Please, please don't do this."

He turned and looked at her. "He's fine," Jeff insisted.

Tim glared up at him as blood seeped from his wounded foot.

"- Just a little reminder for him to watch his mouth next time."

Angela looked at her brother as he recomposed himself. "Jeff, this isn't what you want." She looked back at him. "We loved each other. How can you just do this to me?"

He laughed at her. "How can I do this to you? Love, you did this to yourself. I gave you a chance to be with me." He walked over and faced her. "We could have been so happy together."

He brushed her cheek with his free hand.

She stared at him with fear in her eyes. "We-we still can."

He pulled away and shook his head. "It's too late for that, love. I gave you a chance. Whores like you don't get two."

Tim grunted his teeth beside them as he tried to stop the bleeding from his foot. It took all his strength not to strangle the bastard.

"We can be happy again," she begged. "We can be a family. We'll run off away from here. Far away where no one can bother us." She stepped forward and grabbed his hand. "Come with me."

He smirked at her and gently layed his lips upon hers. He laughed as he pulled away. "I don't think so, love."

She looked up at him with pleading eyes as water poured out of them. "Please."

He shook his head and looked back over at Tim. "Why so quiet now? Nothing to say? Are you too scared to say it? Come on, Timmy. Let me hear it."

Tim didn't budge. He just looked down at his wounded foot, avoiding looking at the creep. Jeff walked over to him so Tim could see him.

"Why so quiet, Timmy?" he asked again. "Does someone have a boo-boo?"

Jeff kept his position in front of him and stared him down for what seemed like forever.

I felt like I was going to scream any minute. I didn't know what to do. Tim had always warned us Jeff was dangerous, but this…this is flat out scary. He was going to kill us. We weren't going to make it out of here alive. Angela knew that too. She knew what Jeff's intentions were.

"Jeff," she spoke softly. "Can we just talk this through? Let's just sit down and talk for a minute."

He glanced over at her and laughed again. "Love..." He walked over toward her. "Come on, you know better than that."

He grabbed her chin and tilted it up to meet his eyes. "Jeff."

"Sh," he cooed, placing a finger on her lips. "There's no need for words, love."

He put his hand around her waist as they turned around to look at Tim. I leaned forward to get a better look at what was happening.

"So, Tim." He pulled Angela in closer. "Wanna step up and be the hero today?"

Tim slowly looked up at the two. He took one look at the fear in his sister's eyes, knowing there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could say to stop this all from happening. It was happening; the question is: how does it end?

"Tim, say something," Angela pleaded. "Please?"

"Yeah, Tim," Jeff mimicked. "Say something. Say what's on your mind. Feel free to share with us."

"Let her go," he finally said.

Jeff shook his head and clicked his tongue. "No can do, tough guy." He pulled the whimpering girl closer to him. "See, I have a job to do here. You know that though, don't you? I thought you would be the one to understand."

Tim stared him down. Blood was running uncontrollably down his foot and onto the floor, making a red puddle below. He kept from hollering; he kept still.

Jeff clicked his gun back up. "This is getting boring." He yawned for emphasis. "I thought you'd at least put up a fight. Instead, you're just going to stand there and watch this? My, my Tim; I underestimated you, my friend."

Tim looked blankly at him.

It baffled me that he wasn't even going to fight him off. People held guns to Tim all the time. He seemed to come out a head every time. One time, at Buck's, some drunken bastard pulled one out on us out. The drunk started stammering around about killing us both by sending a bullet right through our heads. If I wasn't wasted myself, I would have been terrified. Tim showed no emotion, though. Instead, he calmly walked up to the guy and busted his nose, snatching the gun from his reach.

This was Jeff. Jeff was a scumbag who couldn't put up a fight to save his life. Why couldn't Tim just run up to him and pound him to the ground?

"Tim!" Angela screeched at the top of her lungs. "Don't just stand there!"

Jeff smirked at her before looking over at the helpless guy standing in front of them. "Yeah, Tim, help her out. Rescue her from the bad guy. Be the big brother you're supposed to be."

Tim's lips began to twitch with anger again, and his fingers curled into fists. "Just let her go."

Jeff shook his head. "Do believe you already tried that, Timmy. Not going to work. Put up more of a fight than that."

He aimed the gun at the shaking girl. Angela began to cry again, being careful not to move.

My breathing slowed.

"I'll give you a little momentum then." Jeff wolfishly grinned. "You come fight me, and I won't shoot your sister in front of you."

"Tim," Angela screamed. "Please!"

He glared back up at the creep that stood in front of him. His eyes bore holes into Jeff's. "You fucking bastard."

He lunged toward him. Angela weaseled out of Jeff's grasp and ran over to a wall behind the table. Tim got in one hard punch before Jeff whipped around and layed one right back to meet him.

I watched in terror as everything went in slow motion.

Tim tried to grab the weapon from his grasp, but Jeff was faster. He layed a right hook Tim's jaw. causing him to stumble back a little. His foot leaked blood all over the floor as he tried to lunge again, only to meet the end of the gun to his face. Jeff nailed him as hard as he could, sending him to the ground with a loud thud.

He was out like a light, but I couldn't tell if he was breathing or not. I held my breath and waited for the monster's next move.

He stepped back and admired his work. Angela was uncontrollably shaking in front of him, her feet glued to the floor as she watched helplessly, praying on her brother's life.

Jeff aimed the gun at Tim's forehead. My arms and legs shook as he put his finger up ready to pull the trigger back.

"You know what?" He laughed. "I'm not going to even bother."

He looked over at Angela as she cried for life. "Jeff, please."

He laughed and stepped over the still body on the floor. "Love, don't cry." He wiped a tear that fell from her face. "There's no need for crying."

She shook her head and attempted to back away from him. "Don't. Please."

"Shh," he cooed. "It'll all be over soon. Remember?"

He backed up and looked at the still body on the floor. Blood freely ran off his face as well as his foot.

"You know he deserved it." He looked back up at her. "He wasn't a nice person, love. He tried to make our lives troubled, and you know it. He tried to keep us apart. And then he had the nerve to come and threaten me?"

She shook her head as her bottom lip quivered. "He didn't mean it."

Jeff shook his head. "Oh, but he did. See, he told me if I didn't stay away from you, then he'd kill me. Me, out of all people. He couldn't see the love I had for you. He couldn't see that I was only doing what was best for you."

She looked at her brother's body lying helplessly on the floor, surrounded by blood. She tried to control herself as she turned and faced the man standing in front of her again.

"I told him this would happen." He laughed. "He just didn't believe me."

He looked back down at his gun. The gun he intended to use.

"You know what I have to do." He looked back up at her. "You know I have to, love."

She shook her head as she cried uncontrollably. "Please, please, Jeff."

He shook his head and aimed the gun at her. "Sorry, love. I did love you, you know. Sorry it had to end this way."

He aimed it higher at her head. "Please!" She begged one last time.

"Bye, love." With that, he pulled the trigger.

All was silent.

Her body fell limply to the floor without a sound.

I tried to control myself as tears seeped down my face. I could see the blood trail starting to form where she landed.

"Mmm," I looked down at the baby in my arms as he began to whimper.

"No," I whispered. "Please, shh; it's okay."

His bottom lip began to quiver as his eyes fully opened. He let out one loud cry as tears over flowed his eyes.

"No, no," I whispered. "No, please. Shh."

Footsteps began to become louder as I tried to shush the crying baby in my arms.

"Shh," I begged one last time.

I held my breath as the footsteps came to a halt. The opening in the table cloth was slowly pulled back, revealing a sly smile.

His yellow teeth grinned down at me. "Why, hello there, Danni-Dear."