Carol paced by the old fireplace as she nibbled on a fingernail. This was all her fault, she thought drearily as she wondered what would happen next. It had been a stupid argument to start with, she should have let it be instead of shouting back once Mark had become aggravated. She should have definitely gotten Jack out of there; now things certainly had become worse than they ever would have.
Mark had always been jealous of Jack, not just because of the attention she gave him but because of his job too. He felt insignificant compared to her brother, which is why he felt the need to make empty threats regarding him when they argued. Which was often, she thought as she ran a hand through her loose brown hair, Marks temper was getting shorter and shorter; something she hadn't thought possible.
She could hear a commotion from outside but didn't dare look, she didn't want her imagination to conjure up the scene. Jack could beat Mark with his training, she was certain, but he wouldn't allow himself to use it on a civilian. She also knew Mark was ruthless and strong and had never lost a fight in his life. She had seen him once as he and a man in a bar had offered each other outside. It was as though he switched off and all he knew were his fists and his anger. He was oblivious of the pain until it was over, something she knew Jack was also trained to do, not to feel the pain.
She was worried about both of them knowing the extent of the damage they could inflict upon each other. She tried to push the thoughts of Jack's heart out of her mind, he was recovered, it shouldn't effect anything. Still, she thought, she would make sure he saw the doctor for another check up once this was over. Over, she thought sarcastically, this would never be over unless she left Mark. She was still waiting for the change he had promised her before they moved, when his temper had caused him to smash two chairs and force her head under the water in the kitchen sink until she almost drowned.
He had calmed down since then and always seemed sincere in his apology. He would blow up then explode, but once it was out of his system he would beat himself up over his actions. He couldn't control them, she knew, so she had no hopes in trying to order them. The move had added more stress which was why she excused there recent rows. She knew he wouldn't change, but she also knew she wouldn't leave him. Not yet anyway.
She tiredly walked over to the window and realised she was shaking. She clenched her fists as she took deep breaths to control herself and calm down, she shouldn't be thinking about her relationship right now, she should be thinking about Jack and how she was going to explain Marks comments away. If she didn't have a sufficient explanation he wouldn't let it go.
She looked out of the window and saw the two police cars hurried parking across her lawn, the van still holding the yapping dogs hadn't come to a much better stop. She sighed when she saw the few neighbours collection on the streets outside of their homes, watching the cop cars as they whispered rumours to each other. She sighed again heavily as she continued to pace the room, they'd not lasted 6 months back home before making a scene.
Deciding enough time had passed she took a deep breath and stepped back out into the hallway as she braved herself to go into the back garden and see the result. She hoped they hadn't even had the chance to fight. Maybe they just had words? No, she knew Mark didn't know the meaning of 'just' having words, something had to have happened.
She stepped out over the patio and for a moment was pleased with the horrible, rotting brown fence which bordered the garden from a strangers sight. She looked out onto the display before her and wanted to cry. People were shouting and the whirl of an ambulance could be herd in the background. It sounded too far away to be headed here, but it still added to the scene before her.
She could see Mark laid face down on the grass with his hands cuffed behind his back as three police officers held him put. Jack was positioned the same way but at the other end of the garden, only two police men holding him down, he seemed to be arguing with them. She could see the condition of neither men and assumed that the police were either waiting for backup or for them to calm down before doing whatever it is they did in a situation like this.
She walked over to Jack and the second police man moved away, sure his partner could handle the less aggressive man of the two.
"Jack?" She called out before the young officer gently let her to the side.
"This is Jack Bauer?" The man wanted confirmation.
"Yes, he's my brother."
"And the other gentleman's name please?" he asked as he jotted notes down into his small booklet.
"Mark," she said, "Mark Green."
The man was about to say more but his radio crackled and a voice spoke through. The riot van was here. Carol felt her face turn an even deeper shade of red, the neighbours were getting a show tonight. Two police officers grabbed Mark from the ground pulling him up into a standing position as he still tried to free himself from their grasp. A third man went to grab hold of him too, he hadn't stopped fighting.
As they turned him around to get him through the house and into the van his eyes bore deep into Carols, she felt herself shiver as he stared at her. She noticed the flare of anger which seemed to twist through his body as he tried to fling the men from him. His shirt was ripped and bloodied, as was his nose and mouth. She gasped at the sight of his eye, it was purple and swollen horribly; it looked like a plumb had been stuck over it. His entire face was swollen, actually, she noticed.
She looked away as he was dragged past her, not wanting to think about any more damage on him. He has brought it all on himself and she could only hope he hadn't hurt Jack badly. Still, she could see the blood dripping down from the back of his head as he was led away, the remains of his shirt was covered in it; she silently cursed herself for worrying about him.
Jack was still being kept face down on the dirt but now Mark was away she tried to see him again. She took a step back as the officers brought him up to his feet and started to direct him towards the house.
"Jack?" She called out as her brother was slowly turned to face her, he was unsteady on his feet.
He looked at her with shame in his eyes. He shouldn't have gotten involved. There were a few tears in his tee and blood smothered over it in places, but she was sure it wasn't his. He had a bruised cheek and a split lip; he was virtually unscathed. She smiled weakly at him as he passed, trying to show him she wasn't mad, he'd done nothing wrong. All she herd were the words, "I'm sorry," before the men led him through the house. Carol followed them back to the patio and waited a moment. Minutes later the large van could be heard driving away. Now alone despite the few police men filtering around the front yard she allowed her tears to start to fall again; she was scared.
Before going into the house she looked up and saw her daughter stood in her large bedroom window. Her face was pale and her hands were defiantly bunched into her pockets. Carols began to cry harder as she realised her daughter had seen everything.