It's an update at last! I'm so very sorry for the long wait! I hope you enjoy Chapter 10 and please keep reviewing. I love reading what you think about my fanfic.

Chapter 10 - Bobby-fish

He was swimming in a sea of blackness. He could see nothing, not even the hands that doggy-paddled through the liquid. He could breathe, but swimming was hard. It was like warm syrup. He knew he had to get to the surface, but there was no way to know which way was up. He kicked his legs harder and propelled along. It was deathly quiet and still, apart from the little ripples the boy made pushing himself forward. After a while his arms started to ache with tiredness and so he stopped and just floated in that spot. He was starting to get the creeps.

Through the darkness he could see a little light - a little dot of yellow making its way towards him. He stared at it curiously and made no attempt to move. Then it got closer and closer and he squinted his eyes to get a better look. He frowned. It was a fish. Looking closer he could see that it wasn't just any fish. It was purple with blue streaks running down its scaly body. The colours weren't what attracted his attention. Its face looked like Bobby. His eyes were bigger and further apart and he had big pouty lips, but there was no mistake, it was Bobby Mercer. The little bubble of light the Bobby-fish was cocooned in disappeared.

"Bobby?" He whispered. The fish nodded. Very surreal. It nuzzled its way under the boy's arm and started to wiggle its little tail, pushing them both upwards. After a while the syrup like liquid started to dilute and got easier to swim through. The boy started kicking his legs and the fish gave him a grateful smile. He smiled back and soon he could see the surface. It wasn't far. He smiled widely and turned to thank the Bobby-fish, but it had disappeared. He turned around in the liquid searching frantically for his friend. He didn't want to leave before saying goodbye. The little light was nowhere to be seen and he chewed his lip feeling lonely. Disappointed by his friend's desertion he glanced up and saw the surface a few feet above his head. Grinning he kicked the rest of the way upwards.

"Bobby?"

Bobby Mercer's eyes snapped open and the sports magazine slipped off his lap as he jumped to his feet. He placed a bandaged hand over Jack's chest.

"Jackie? Jackie? Come on, kid."

They had both been driven to hospital, found both unconscious in the back garden of the burning house. While they slept, they had both had their burns dressed. Both Mercer brothers had inhaled a lot of smoke and Bobby had woken up to having an oxygen mask round his mouth. He was still beyond exhaustion and shock, but he had refused to lie on the bed and rest and instead chose to sit beside his baby brother. Jack still hadn't woken up and Bobby was growing increasingly worried. He looked at his watch, Evelyn, Jeremiah and Angel would be on there way, but it was a lengthy journey to the hospital. Removing the oxygen mask around Jack's mouth, Bobby leaned in, he was positive Jack had said his name. He watched the teenager's eyes move rapidly under the lids and then a little smile and frown donned his face. He couldn't even squeeze his hand without irritating burns, so he reached down and grasped his brother's ankle firmly, before rubbing his lower leg over the blanket.

"Jack, please wake up." Bobby pleaded.

"Fish..." Jack groaned and his eyes fluttered open to little slits.

"Jack! Jack!"

"Bo...fish?"

"Fish? Jack it's me Bobby. Come on, open your eyes."

After a few moments Jack's eyes widened and he gave another groan. He looked at Bobby's face and frowned. Then his gaze darted round the room.

"Do you know where you are?"

He shook his head and bit his lip.

"Jack, you're in hospital. We were in a fire."

The teenager woke up fully at Bobby's statement. He gasped in fresh air and then the terrifying memories and images of the fire, the fear of suffocation and the burnt body beside him...Heather! Jack sat up suddenly and ripped the mask fully of his head. Where was she? Was she in the hospital somewhere? He had to find her. She'd be scared all alone. He had to get to her. Then he felt two hands grasp his shoulders and push him down. He wrestled in vain to be free, but found that only exhausted him more. A hand was placed on his chest and held him down firmly.

"You need to stay here, Jackie. I'll be right beside you."

"Heather?" Jack croaked out. Bobby felt a surge of emotion rise in his throat and he swallowed it down. He needed to be strong for Jack's sake. He reached over and grabbed a glass of water and a straw.

"Take some water."

Jack felt the straw in his mouth and he sucked until he felt the cool water on his tongue and run down his aching throat. He coughed and it was removed.

"Little bits at a time." Bobby scolded and sat the glass back down on the bedside cabinet.

"Heather?" Jack inquired again. "She here too?"

Bobby stared long and hard at him and Jack squeezed his eyes shut trying to remember. Suddenly her beautiful face popped into his mind and he smiled, but then it melted like a mask made of wax and bits of skin fell off from the cheeks and chin, the eyes smouldered in their sockets.

"Save me, Jack!" It gasped, before lips, charred and crispy slid off.

"Noo!" Jack screamed and clutched his head with both hands. He sat up and cried loudly. "Noo!"

"Jack!" Bobby grabbed his brother's shoulders and fresh tear lined his eyes. He had cried more times in these past months with Jack than he had his whole life. "I've got you. I've got you." Bobby rubbed the teenagers back and hugged him tightly.

"No. No. No. Please, no." Jack's eyes were shut tightly, but tears fell from under them. He grasped his big brother's arm and pulled his knees to his chest. "Bobby." He sobbed.

Bobby responded by sitting on the bed and pulling him even closer. He started to rock back and forth muttering soothing nonsense.

"It hurts so much. Why did she have to die? Why does everyone I like die?" Another sob choked from Jack and he could feel his very soul shatter with each tear. He was cursed. If only he hadn't left the cinema early. If only he hadn't met Heather.

Twenty minutes later and Jack had cried himself to sleep in the embrace of Bobby. His head was heavy and limp on Bobby's chest and he rested his chin on Jack's mop of unruly hair. His eyes fluttered closed and sleep beckoned him although he still rocked back and forth.

"Bobby?" Evelyn ran a hand down his face and smiled warmly. "Come on now, let's get you in bed."

He groaned what he hoped was a 'no', he couldn't leave Jack, but suddenly Angel and Jeremiah were under each arm and he was tugged towards his own bed. Evelyn caught Jack and lowered him to the pillow kissing his forehead. The nurse and doctor had answered all the questions about the fire and all the concerns about her sons' health. Tear marks shined on Jack's cheeks and Evelyn frowned, this boy had cried too much in his short life. He had endured too much pain and disappointment. Things will change, she silently promised him.

"Jack..." Bobby whispered trying to sit up. He shouldn't leave him.

"Bobby, you're going to faint with exhaustion. Lie down." Angel pulled covers over his brother and pressed down gently on his shoulder. Bobby tried fighting the lethargy, but soon succumbed to the tiredness and sank deep into the pillow with a sigh. His family were here and together they would nurse Jack back to health.

Six hours later and Angel was tucking into a double cheese burger and large fries, Jeremiah was reading a woman's gossip magazine and Evelyn scolded Angel for his eating habits and sipped a white coffee - one sugar. Small talk was made once in a while, but mostly the time was taken up with silence while everyone sat thinking about how they had nearly lost two members of their family. Evelyn had cried once Bobby had drifted off to sleep, but both her conscious sons comforted her and reminded the woman that both Bobby and Jack would be fine. They had been through a traumatic ordeal, but they were both physically fine. Mentally, however was a different matter. The nurse had explained how a young girl, whose house it was that had caught fire, had died with horrific injuries. The young girl had been Jack's date and Evelyn's heart broke. This would devastate her youngest - how would he react to his friend's death? Pressing a wrinkled white tissue to her eye she suppressed a sob and drew her chair closer to Jack. She took in the bandages wrapped round his hands and most of his arms. An IV drip was inserted in his leg. She inhaled deeply and stroked his face and hair.

"Oh Jack. Baby, you're going to be fine. We're all here for you."

Right on cue, his eyes opened slowly. He blinked rapidly taking in his surroundings once more.

"Evelyn?" He croaked. Angel dropped his burger on a tray and dashed over.

"Hey Fairy." He smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Angel?" Jack tried a smile, but tears filled his eyes before his lips could even create little dimples in his cheeks.

Evelyn saw the signs of emotion and swept him into a hug.

"Shh, baby. Just let it out. I'm here."

Angel placed a hand on Jack's back and left, giving his brother some privacy. Poor Jackie, he thought. Anger flooded through him and his fists itched to connect with someone. He glanced between the sobbing teenager and a wounded, exhausted Bobby and rage tore him in two. He wanted to know the cause of this fire. Was it by accident? He shook his head. No one would have started it intentionally. No one hated two little kids that much surely? But deep down something didn't feel right. He had that feeling that gave his limbs pins and needles and clouded his mind with doubt. There was something wrong here and he would get to the bottom of it. If someone had purposely started a fire, Angel would hunt them down and remind them why no one messes with a Mercer.