Thank you to EyesPaintedBlack, mestupgcscreamer, and zoey for your awesome reviews. I really appreciate it and I'm glad you like the story! Also, thanks to Lucy, DanaHeeroDuoMax, and StarCherrieQueen for their continued support of the story.

On to the next chapter!

Chapter 3: Figuring things out- Step One

I saw red.

I stomped over to the couch and ripped Jack off him.

"What the hell do you think you're doin'!"

I could hear Jack trying to talk me down as I lifted Derek from the couch; not an easy task as he was quite a bit bigger then me.

"You think you can just sit here groping my little brother, in my dead mothers house, you think I'm gonna stand for that!"

"Bobby, please! C'mon Bobby, we'll leave, just let him go!" Jack pleaded.

I clenched my hand tighter around the neck of his black wife beater and tried to stare him down.

I could feel Jack feebly trying to pull my arm away.

"Listen you stupid bastard, I don't like you. I'm gonna tolerate you for Jackie's sake though, so be lucky he was here or else I woulda pounded your face in."

I pushed the unresisting man back down onto the couch and turned to Jack.

"I don't wanna see that shit in here again. Have a little respect for Ma, she just fuckin' died."

I took a few steps back and tried to push down the anger still boiling inside me as Jack ran over and helped Derek up.

I saw Derek grab Jacks wrist and whisper something into his ear, something that made his eyes go wide. Then, he musta thought I wouldn'tsee it, he tightened his grip and gave my little brother a warning look.

Not even looking at me he turned and stalked over to the door. I could hear him stomping around on the porch and then the scraping of a chair as he pulled one over to sit on; or so I assumed.

I turned to Jack, who was rubbing his wrist.

"What the hell was that!" I demanded, grabbing his arm and viewing the reddening skin.

"Nothin'." He grumbled, "It was nothin'."

"Don't give me that bullshit Jack. Don't tell me you let him pull you around like a little CrackerJack rag doll."

He wrenched his arm from my grasp and shoved me on the chest.

"Fuck you Bobby! You don't know shit!"

I started to grow angry, not at Jack though, no, never at Jack, but at the man waiting outside.

"Tell me what's goin' on Jack, you know I always got ya back."

If anything this made Jack angrier.

"Ugh Bobby! Leave it the fuck alone! Leave ME alone! Derek's a good guy."

"No one's good enough for you!" I snapped, " Especially not that fucker. Now tell me!"

Jack heaved a sigh and threw himself down onto the couch, all anger gone.

"Bobby, just sit the hell down. Come here."

I sat myself down next to him on the couch and stared him down. I wasn't gonna leave here without an answer.

"Bobby," he started, and I could tell this was a subject he really didn't want to talk about, " I met Derek at a time in my life that I had nothing. I came back to live with Ma after things started to go downhill and then Derek came into my life. He looks out for me, he's the only thing I need now. I mean, I haven't seen you and Angel in years and Derek, he was there for me ya know?"

"Is that you talkin', or him?" I asked.

"You're just gonna leave again Bobby…and Derek will still be here."

I had to interrupt again, had to reassure him that I could be what he needed.

"I'm gonna be around as long as you need me Jack."

He looked shocked and then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.

"You really mean that Bobby?"

I placed my hand on his arm.

"I do. This time I ain't goin' nowhere. I'm here as long as you want me."

An emotion flashed across his face, too quick for me to tell what it was and I had to lean forward to hear what he said next.

"Even if I want you forever?"

My heart leapt into my throat and I was about to reply with "Only if it's forever", however we were interrupted as Derek stormed into the room.

"Jack!" he growled, "You know I don't like to be kept waiting."

Jack flashed me a worried look that I couldn't quite figure out. Was he worried about my reaction, or Derek's?

He was about to stand but I beat him to it and pushed him back down before turning to the irritated black man.

"Sorry "D", but Jackie ain't going nowhere. He's gonna have some turkey with his brothers tonight, family affair, I'm sure you don't know how it is so I won't ask you to understand. Get the hell out."

"No Bobby." Jack soothed, " I'll be back in time okay? I'll be gone and back before you know it."

He squeezed himself from around my protective stance and hurried over to stand next to Derek.

As they walked from the room Jack gave me a wink that I think was supposed to reassure me.

It didn't.

I couldn't help but sit there long after they had left and wonder what would have happened if Derek hadn't come in right then.

I couldn't help but sit there and wonder….what if Jack felt the same?

Don't worry, I am already working on the next chapter and it is gonna be longer then this one. It should be up later tonight. If there are any things you want to see happen in the story then name them and I'll see if I can make it happen ;)