-1Again, thanks for the reviews! Hope you like the chapter! It came out the same day as Chap 3 like I promised, just a little later at night then I thought it'd be.

Chapter four: The Rescue

"Bobby……Bobby!"

My eyes snapped open and I tried not to show my shock upon finding Angel's huge ass face two inches from mine.

"What the hell Jarhead! Back your ass up!"

A prissy female voice with a Hispanicaccent spoke up.

"Well, it serves you right Bobby. What, have you reverted to your childhood years and are in need of a nap in the middle of the day?"

"Shit Angel," I groaned, "I fuckin' KNEW you were goin' to see that girl, but did you have to bring La Vida Loca back here?"

"Man, shut up." Angel grumbled and moved over to wrap his arm around the waist of the woman.

I glanced out the window and noticed how dark it was outside. I must've been sleeping a long time.

"Where's Jerry?" I asked Angel.

"I dunno, I was out remember? But there's a big ass bird on the table so I'm guessing he must've dropped the thing off and then went home."

"Well I guess we're havin' our turkey tomorrow then." I paused here and realized that aside from Angel and Sofi the house was silent, " Where's Jack?"

"How the hell should I know?"

Sofi started giggling as Angel started to nuzzle her neck and then wrapped his arm around her.

"Whatever man, I'll go find out for myself."

I moved past the lovebirds and made my way upstairs.

His room was empty.

I checked the bathroom, ran back downstairs just in case I'd missed him in the kitchen, and then raced back up the stairs in the odd chance he was in Ma's room.

He wasn't.

I stormed back downstairs and over to the lovebirds.

"Angel, where does this Derek guy live?"

He pulled away from sampling the girls neck and thought for a moment.

"I think he mentioned the downtown complex once. I'm guessin' that's where he lives, or at least hangs out."

Going to the door I slipped my boots on and checked to see if my gun was still in place. The reassuring weight allowed me to focus.

I was going to get Jack.

As I drove to the Downtown Complex I was both worried and angry. Worried about what I was gonna find when I got there….angry for the same reason.

Downtown Complex.

Not a good place, and that's Bobby Mercer sayin' so.

It was basically a run-down apartment building which housed every imaginable type. Drug dealers, prostitutes, killers, runaways, abusive couples; the last one made me edgy.

What was a "good" guy like Derek doin' livin' in there?

Something wasn't right. I knew I shoulda trusted my instincts!

I parked about two blocks away from the place; I didn't trust that my baby wouldn't get broken into.

The walk did me good. Calmed me down a bit, at least, until I arrived at the building.

Screams.

Angry ones, scared ones, sounds you should only have to hear in your nightmares, drifted out from the rat-infested hellhole.

My Jack was in there?

Not for much longer , I thought , and never again.

I thumped my way over to the prostitute hanging out on the entrance stairs and gripped her arm in a way that told her I meant business.

"Derek. Where is he."

She swallowed and shifted nervously.

"I don't know who you're talkin' about sugar. If you want a good time though, you needn't look any further."

Disgusted, I tightened my grip.

"Not interested. Now, I'm gonna give ya one last chance to give me an honest answer. Derek. Black guy. Came in with a kid named Jack. You've got 3 seconds."

I used my free hand to adjust the gun at my waist, drawing the whores attention to it.

Her eyes grew wide.

"O..Okay!" she stammered, "He lives on the third floor, #24!"

"I appreciate ya help." I sneered and made my way into the building, leaving the nearly naked girl alone on the steps rubbing her arm.

"First floor," I mumbled as I walked up the stairs, "Second floor. Aha! Third floor, here I come Jackie."

It didn't take long to reach #24 and I knocked loudly to be heard over the pounding rap music coming from inside.

The stereo turned off and I heard a man ask, "Who the hell is it?"

I softly cleared my throat and raised my voice a few octaves.

"Housekeeping!"

I heard muffled grumbles and thumps and then Derek's distinct voice.

"Housekeeping my ass. Go get the door bitch!"

Someone approached and locks slid back before the door creaked itself open and I saw Jack standing there.

With a black eye.

"Bobby?" he stammered, clearly in shock.

"I thought you said you was gonna be back later Jackie? It's later. Aren't ya gonna invite me in?"

He was about to reply when a black man I'd never seen before came up behind him, beer bottle in hand, and wrapped his arms around him.

When he caught sight of me he yelled back over his shoulder, "Hey D! Your boy's talking to another man!"

"What!" I heard bellowed from the background.

Derek came out of a side room and stopped short upon seeing me.

"Jack," he said, ignoring me for the moment," Go get your shit. Looks like Big Brother's here to hold your hand and walk home."

I was shocked when Jack actually listened to the fucker, turning around and disappearing into one of the rooms. We'd definitely have to change that little habit.

Derek came closer to the door, pushing the unknown guy to the side and taking a swig from his beer.

"Nice of ya to drop by Bobby."

"Yeah well, I came to give ya something'" I remarked.

Oh ya, this was gonna be good.

"Oh ya?" he asked, curiosity peaked, " What's that?"

"This!" I yelled, before swinging my arm back and letting my knuckles meet his face.

However, it seemed that once I started, I couldn't really bring myself to stop. Oh well, I was never one to put a stop to violence.

"I saw what ya did to Jackie you bastard! I know what you're doin'! You come within three feet of him again and I'm gonna break both ya legs! No, better yet, I'm gonna kill ya."

Jack had reappeared sometime during Derek's ass kicking and, like clockwork, he tried pulling me off him.

I didn't stop until both my fist and Derek's face were bloody and unrecognizable.

Wiping the blood off on my jeans I gripped Jack's arm and asked him if he'd gotten ass his stuff, not even waiting for him to answer before pulling him from the apartment.

We didn't speak until we were in my car. I hadn't even commented on the prostitute I'd met before as she shouted after us.

I turned to him only after we'd sat there in the dark for what seemed like hours.

I raised my hand and gripped his chin, trying to get a good look at his eye.

He jerked his face away from me, turning it to the window.

"Just take me home Bobby." he whispered.

Not myself then to him, I moved my outstretched hand to the keys and, after starting the car, I did as my Jack had asked me.

I took him home.