Jack tried to take a step back, forgetting he was already stood against the wall and it made Mark grin. Looking down at the gun Jack didn't dare look Mark in the face out of fear of acting irrationally. He felt the desire to strike out surge through his body. But he couldn't, not yet, and the gun was a reminder of why. He still clenched his fingers as he thought about how different the situation would be if Mark wasn't armed.
"I was looking for my family, Mark, they do live her," Jack said, trying to sound annoyed, deciding that feigning ignorance of the incident was the easiest way out of this. "But they aren't in, what's going on, why would they be out at this time?"
Mark was drunk but not stupid, he inched the gun forward pressing it into Jacks stomach as he spoke, "don't lie to me Jack, we both know they're inside."
Trying to look amused Jack continued his charade, as though he hadn't noticed the gun either, "you just saw me leave, if they were in I'd be in."
Marks grin changed, his eyes were suddenly angry as he pulled the gun back and swung it heavily into Jacks midsection. Leaning over to take the impact of the hit Jack grunted from the power of the blow, his mind focusing on how easily Mark's mood had turned rather than the pain. He looked up to see the gun coming down on him, it caught him on the back of the neck and suddenly he was on the floor looking up trying to see through the night and the surprise of the pain.
"Don't lie to me you son of a bitch! I've been here all night. I watched as the police came and went, I saw you come to save the day. I even sat and watched as you fell asleep in your God damn car," Mark yelled, each syllable clipped, he was consumed by rage.
Jack slowly climbed up onto his knees and then stood upright, one arm still wrapped around his stomach bracing it protectively.
"Mark your not thinking straight. You're angry and your drunk, hand me the gun and we'll go talk about it."
Mark laughed, the anger gone in a flash as fast as it had come. "You wanna talk to me Jack? No - no, you don't, you just wanna save the day and be a hero again."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jack snapped, getting angry too, the threat of the gun seeming less imminent as Mark held it by his side as he spoke.
"I want you to stay out of this Jack, what happened tonight has nothing to do with you," he spat.
"It has everything to do with me when it involves my family."
"I didn't even do nothing," Mark yelled, Jack looked around surprised the noise hadn't attracted any attention yet.
"Then why are we standing here Mark, why did you steal my gun?"
"I just wanted to show you what I can do," Mark whispered, leaning closer again. Jack turned his face away from the smell of alcohol on his rancid breath.
Jack didn't reply this time, he didn't like what Mark was saying; only there was nothing he could do about it until he got the gun from him.
"I already know what you can do Mark - you can scare you partner senseless. Did it make you feel more of a man?" Jack taunted, expecting him to lash out, grinning when the man took an unsteady step back instead.
"She asked for it! She should have kept her mouth shut. You don't understand Jack, you don't know what a bitch she can be when she wants to."
"Its funny really," he added, as he began to caress the gun in both hands, his eyes unfocused. Jacks mind continued to race around as he tried to think of a way to defuse the situation.
"I don't even need this," he continued, before carelessly tossing it to the grounds by Jacks feet, Jack left it there as he put his hands down, trying to control his urge to pummel him into the ground. "'Cos I have one in the house, and I swear to God Jack, you but in again and I'll use it."
The threat was too much, before either man realised what had happened they were rolling on the floor and Mark had a bloody nose. Jack leant over him as he shoved him into the ground by the lapels of his jacket, his hand stung and he knew it could only be good. "Go on Jack," Mark croaked, "you're just making things easier for me. Carol hated you for starting that fight last week, you hurt me now she'll never speak to you again," he laughed, not responding to another punch Jack threw at him.
"You're the one causing the problem Mark, you're the idiot who stole my gun," Jack growled as he tried to stop himself for hitting him again. He failed, but words spilled out of his mouth as the attack continued, "you ever lay a hand on my sister, raise your voice, I'll make you wish…"
Each word was punctuated with more violence until Mark tried to speak again, blood spilling out of his mouth as Jack moved away standing up, Mark stayed in his position on the ground. Jack stood over him as the man rolled over onto his side and spat out the blood, before looking up at Jack. Jack stared down at the man emotionless, he noticed how his eyes now seemed focused, as though he'd either sobered up or survived the sea of anger he'd been swimming in since the argument with Carol.
"I didn't hurt her," he grimaced, "but I sure as well wanted to. It just happened. Jack, this is none of your business, just stay out of it," he said threateningly, "Carol wants you gone just as much as me, she just doesn't wanna hurt your feelings, said the truth would upset you too much, that you couldn't handle it," he laughed.
Looking down Jack tried to ignore his words, but they stung. Leaning over he swept his gun up from the ground and tucked it into his jacket.
"I'll see my family whenever I damn well please," Jack said, deathly quiet, "and if you try anything else like you did tonight, on me, Casey or Carol… you will regret it," he warned.
Another sly grin spread over Marks face, "sometimes shit happens," he said mockingly.
"Yeah," Jack growled before moving over and viciously kicking the man on the face. "Shit happens," he said coldly, before turning and walking away, Mark lay still on the road.
Getting to his car Jack frowned at the broken window and the glass that was scattered over the passenger seat. Ignoring it he climbed inside and started the engine, feeling relief as he drove away from the house. Almost home Jack thought Marks words over. Did Carol really want him to stay away? Maybe that was why she didn't want him seeing Casey, or had tried to play their fight down as though nothing had happened, even though she had been terrified.
Jack felt anger at his sister flush through him. If that's what she wanted, that's what she'd get, he announced silently in his mind, deciding that if she was too stupid to live with the bastard she could pay the consequences. It was none of his business anymore, he thought sadly, she'd said it herself.