Jack slowed his car to a stop and began to gather up the files sitting on the passenger seat. He grumbled as he leant over to pick up the sheets which had slid to the floor, wondering again why he never used the briefcase Kim had given him last Christmas. The image of himself with a polished case made him laugh as he decided that trying to organise the documents into there original order every night was much better than looking like a 'suit' at work.

He fumbled through his pockets at the door looking for his keys before realising they were balancing on the folders filling his arms. Sighing he pulled them off and fiddled until the key finally slotted into the hole. When the door creaked open before he turned the key he growled to himself, it hadn't been locked.

Heading down the hallway he dropped his goods onto a small table by the door, he often wondered if Kim had placed the furniture there for that purpose alone. Peeling off his jacket he wandered into the kitchen where he was greeted by his sister.

"Hey Carol," he said genuinely pleased yet surprised by her presence, it was getting late.

Kim strolled into the room with her cell in her hand. "I was just going to ring you," she laughed before giving him a quick hug and taking his coat from him.

Jack started laughing when he spotted Casey chewing on a sandwich at the table too, having missed her when he first came in.

"I didn't realise we planned a party," he laughed sarcastically, "am I not invited?"

"Dad," Kim said playfully tapping him on the shoulder, slightly uneasy.

"I came to pick Casey up. She and Kim have been shopping all day and they came back here."

"Okay," Jack said absentmindedly as he tried to ignore the look Kim was obviously giving him.

"So did you get anything?"

"No," Kim laughed, "because you took your wallet with you, so I couldn't borrow your credit card."

Jack raised an eyebrow before Carol interrupted them. "Come on Case you can take the food with you, I need to get off."

"Coming," Casey spluttered with a mouthful of food as she tried to eat faster.

Jack walked the two to the door as Kim busied herself in the kitchen. He was curious as to why she wasn't chatting with Casey as she normally would be. Casey seemed oblivious to the detail so he continued to smile, keeping up Carol's pretence that everything was alright. He was sure it wasn't.

Opening the door Jack saw that it had begun to rain thinly.

Jack moved in front of them blocking there exit looking worried. "Are you sure its safe to leave?"

Carol looked confused, "why wouldn't it be?"

"The rain," he said seriously, "what if you melt?"

Casey burst out laughing, spitting the remains of her food on the doorstep. Carol wasn't amused. "Grow up," she snapped barging past him. Jack threw Casey a look of bewilderment, Casey just shrugged.

"See you later," Jack called sarcastically, but Carol just ignored him.

"What's wrong?"

Kim was startled by the question, having not herd Casey and Carol leave.

"I know you didn't go shopping and I know Carol wasn't here to pick Casey up either."

"Dad," Kim started rolling her eyes.

"Since when do you go shopping and not buy anything?"

Kim looked down guilty, knowing she had been caught out but sure she'd done nothing wrong.

"Casey changed her mind. She wanted to stay in."

"Why?" Jack wouldn't let up until he knew exactly what was going on.

"She and Mark had a fight."

"And?" Jack asked, not satisfied with Kim's evasive answers.

"She was upset."

"What happened Kimberly."

"I told you she was upset!" She replied, getting impatient.

"So how long was Carol here?"

"About an hour. She seemed a little upset but didn't say anything."

Jack sighed as he shook his head, "this is none of my business," he said dismissively.

Kim followed him down the hall, "what do you mean?"

"I mean," Jack said, his temper rising, "that what happens between her and Mark is their business. She can deal with him."

Kim couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What about Casey she didn't ask for any of this," she shouted.

Jack stopped in his tracks and looked up at her as a frown spread over his face. "I don't know what to do," he whispered sadly.