A/N- Okay I haven't written a fic in soooo long so we'll see if I can accomplish 2 things with this one. 1) if I can actually finish the whole darn thing and 2) if it doesn't suck, only time will tell I suppose. This story is basically the very beginning of the Mercer family. Everyone seems to be starting with when Jack comes, but I thought it would be interesting to see how Evelyn tamed Bobby first and how he learns to be so protective of his little brothers. I adore reviews good and bad (well not the bad one's so much but if it sucks pals tell me so I can try to make it not suck, heh) Okay, now on with the story.

Beginnings- Jail House Rock

Young Bobby Taylor trudged through the busy hallways of the Detroit Juvenile Detention Center accompanied by a rather sour looking uniformed guard. He was on the home stretch of a month long sentence for nearly beating a couple of kids to death, not that anybody ever asked Bobby if he started it or even if the other chumps had weapons while Bobby was unarmed. But he had a long history so it was automatically his fault, a fact of life at this point for him. And now with only a few days left till his release Bobby was definitely not surprised that he had a visitor, his first since his arrival. It would be his case worker John, here to tell the him that after this stunt and subsequent stay in Hell there would be no where to send him, no foster homes would even touch him. Not that it would bother Bobby too much, it was easier in the group homes with other lost causes like him, and they mostly just ignored the older kids anyway. As Bobby and his escort reached the double doors to the large visitation room, he stopped short at the threshold, dumbfounded. In the middle of the room filled with long tables and benches sat his case worker, not unusual especially in the detention center. What stopped Bobby in his tracks was that seated next to John was a woman in her mid 40's with short curly blonde hair. They were talking animatedly and Bobby could see her smiling as they spoke.

The guard behind Bobby shoved him roughly into the room breaking him from his reverie and drawing John and the woman's attention to him. Bobby looked back at the guard and glared, who only nodded for him to go sit down. "Prick," Bobby muttered as he strode to the middle of the room, stopping at the occupied table.

"Bobby, glad to see you haven't been stirring up more trouble during your stay here," John motioned for the teenager to sit across from them.

"Nobody here worth fighting," Bobby shrugged casually as he slid onto the hard plastic bench.

"Be that as it may, I seriously hope you actually learn something from this experience. You're 14 years old Bobby, pretty soon they're gonna start sending you to the real deal if you don't clean up your act. And believe me prison is no picnic, especially for 16 year olds." Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the boys bored expression, John plowed on, "Bobby I want you to meet Evelyn Mercer." John forced a smile on his face, trying not to let his annoyance at the teen's hard headedness show as he gestured to the woman next to him.

"Hello Bobby, I've heard quite a bit about you." Evelyn smiled warmly at him.

"Then what are you doing here?" Bobby snorted. "You're not one of those bible thumpers are you? Gonna tell me that God loves me and just wants me to be a good little bastard, is that it?" His sneer was almost feral and sarcasm dripped from his words as Bobby stared down this woman who seemed so warm and friendly. He knew how easy it was for adults to fake that, he'd fallen for it too many times to be taken in by the nice words and sweet smiles. They all just wanted him to shut up and do what he was told, and if he didn't like it, well the alternative was usually worse.

"Not exactly Bobby," Evelyn's smile dug deeper into her cheeks. "I just wanted to meet you and tell you that when you're released on Thursday you'll be coming to live with me. I've got your room all set up, and you'll have a few weeks before school starts to get adjusted."

"Whatever, anything else?" Bobby cracked his knuckles and slouched on the bench.

"No that'll be all Bobby. I'll be here on Thursday morning to pick you up. Please don't do anything dumb between now and then," John practically pleaded.

"Who me?" Bobby smirked at the exasperated adult as he stood from the table.

"It was nice meeting you Bobby," Evelyn said seriously as she got up and walked around the table to the teen. She gently put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a warm squeeze, "You're gonna be fine," she smiled and then stepped back.

Not knowing how to handle the warm farewell Bobby mumbled something that sounded like "Yeah sure," and then fled back to the guard at the doors.

"Evelyn you don't know what you're getting yourself into with this one," John sighed as he watched the boy's scowling form being led out of the room.

"Hmm, we'll see," her eyes twinkled as she took Johns arm and led him from the room.