Mrs. Hawke hadn't seen Jesse all day. The last time she saw him was yesterday, after he had attended a meeting with his father. Mrs. Hawke checked Jesse's room one last time, and found him sitting on the floor watching one of his many episodes of Cops.

Jesse glanced up as his mom entered. "Hi, mom."

"Jesse what are you doing in here? I thought you had a job to do with your father."

"Dad is a bad man isn't he?"

She sighed and sat on the floor next to her son, "He thinks he is doing a good thing."

"He kills people, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does. And so do the men who work with him."

"He expects me to become one as well. I see that now, but I don't know if I want to be one."

She smiled, happy her son had a good heart, and "You are a good man, Jesse." When you were born, I made sure you wouldn't be exposed to your father's life until you reached sixteen. I wanted you to see what the other side was like, but if you choose to follow your father I will understand. If you don't want to, I will help you in any way I can. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I know. But I am afraid of what he will do if I decide to go against him."

"It will be hard, but it is your life. You need to do what is right for you," She patted her son's knee and stood up, "This is between you and your father. You better make a choice soon, son. Before you are in too deep."

Jesse knew his mother was right. He didn't want to follow in his father's steps, but didn't know how to tell him. It would be the hardest thing Jesse ever had to do.

Jesse got up and went to his computer. First things first, if he wanted to follow a different path, he was going to need to change a few things. First thing to change would need to be his name. As long as the name Hawke was attached to him, everyone would know who he was related to. After some searching, Jesse found how he could change his name legally. He wouldn't be allowed to change it until he was eighteen, unless he had a parents consent. Mom will sign them for me. Jesse printed out the needed forms and filled out what he needed to. He set them on his desk and slept peacefully that night.

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Three weeks later, Jesse received his revised birth certificate. He was now legally Jesse Reese. He chose to take his mother's last name. She came from a good background and the family was well respected. Along with his birth certificate came his new license, the last name changed. Jesse immediately replaced his old license with the new one, and cut it up. His school records had been changed to be Jesse Reese and the records of Jesse Hawke sealed. As far as anyone was concerned, Jesse Hawke never existed. Now it was time to tell his father.

Jesse headed down the hall to his father's office. This was going to be a hard thing to do. Jesse was scared about how he would react. His father had a temper, and had seen what happens when he lost it.

Jesse held his head up and knocked on the door. He opened the door at his fathers call to enter, "Dad, I need to talk to you."

"What is it, Jesse? I am rather busy at the moment."

"It won't take long. I wanted you to know I changed my name today, legally."

Al gave Jesse his full attention, "You did what?"

"I am no longer Jesse Hawke. I am now Jesse Reese and want to be called that."

"What in the hell did you do that for?" Al raised his voice.

"I don't want to live your life dad. I want to follow my own path. And one that doesn't leave me in the path of crime. I don't want to grow up to be like you," Jesse's voice gained confidence even though he was scared.

Al couldn't believe what his son was telling him. His own flesh and blood was practically disowning him. "I don't believe what you're saying, boy. Do you want to feel the back side of my hand?"

Jesse slowly backed away, "I want to go into law. I want to stop people like you from killing others. You kill teens with your drugs, women and children. You kill good, honest cops because they get in your way. I don't know how and I don't know when, but I will stop what you are doing."

Al stood up and hit his son square in the jaw, "Don't you ever speak to me that way. You hear me, boy? You are my son and you will always be. You will show me the respect I deserve."

"You don't deserve anything, father," Jesse spit his words out with a broken jaw, "And you know longer have any right to me."

"You can change your name and what you do, but you will always be a Hawke. My blood runs through your veins and no matter where you run, I will always be with you."

"We may be the same blood, but we will never be related. I am better than you, dad. And I will stop you if you get in my way. I will take you down if I have to."

Al hit his son with a right cross again, "You will never take me down, you little brat. You may choose to be on the other side, but you will never succeed. You're a Hawke, and all we are good at is crime."

"No, father, you are the Hawke. I am Reese."

Jesse and Al's stare fest was interrupted from a knock on the door. Frankie stepped in, "I found the man you were looking for."

Al's anger was building up, "Good bring him in. I need someone to hit."

Jesse left the room as a man was brought in. That could have been worse. I told him the truth, and he will never accept me now. I have lived without a father for so long, I can survive with out one again.