Chapter two

The lessons of Detroit

The Funeral lasted about three hours. It was finished now and only four people stood around the freshly dug grave, alltall and cloaked in black, defiant in their grief and anger.

"Where the fuck is he?" Becky asked, clutching onto Jeremiah's collar as he propped her up.

"I duno man, I duno" Jack said.

Shaking his head Jackdug his hands into his pockets and turned to walk away. Bobby followed, the permanent lines of his already furrowed brow deepened as he caught up to Jack, throwing an arm around him.

"How you doing Jackie? He asked, the breath freezing in the cold Detroit air.

"I'm holding up man, what 'bout you?" Jackie stopped and looked at his brother, a man so completely different to him yet so exact in his grief.

"Yeh man, y'know holding up" Bobby patted him once more and threw him the car keys "Here man, your turn to drive, I think you're old enough"

Jack cracked a meek grin, the keys settling nicely in his gloved palm.

"How's Becky, Jack?" Bobby asked.

"Oh man, I really don't know, she won't speak, won't even look at me, it's not her it's not Becky there anymore" Jack pulled his collar higher headed for the car. Bobby nodded and slowed to catch Jeremiah and Becky.

"Jerry, can you go help Fairy boy start the car" Bobby said.

Jeremiah looked through red stained eyes and cocked his head, before breaking into a jog towards the car.

Becky a very pretty girl of 24 years looked at Bobby now like a stranger, her copper brown hair lay wind torn and ravaged at her shoulders and her skin was pale and snow smeared. She clutched desperately at herself as if afraid that if she let go, she'd lose herself altogether.

"Becky, oh Becky" Bobby winced as Becky's face crumpled like a piece of read paper and fat unabashed tears cascaded down her heart shaped face. He reached out to her and she obliged, sick for once of being like her brothers, sick of being strong and unbreakable.

"Bobby, why did they do it to her, why to Ma?" she roared, kicking a clump of snow in her path. "I'm so fuckin' angry at them, at her for always being a god damned Saint!"

"We'll get even, we'll get even, I promise you" he murmured into her, stroking down her hair as the wind plucked at it.

He felt her move her head and he looked down at her "Nah man, not me, I'm on the first flight out of Detriot, I'm pregnant now Bobby, I gotta think of the kid"

His face flashed with confusion then anger "What, why can't you stay here, all your family is here, this is where we grew up"

"Exactly, I ain't letting my kids become us, I'm not letting them rot here" Becky cried.

Bobby threw up his arms "What was wrong with here you can go for miles and you won' find a more closer family then us."

"I know, I know Bobby, but you can't tell me that every time we snuck out of the house to play hockey or to go drinking that the thought of getting shot or mugged didn't cross your mind?" she retaliated.

"Yeh, so it happens in most places"

"Yeh but not as much as Detroit Bobby, c'mon man!"

"Ok, ok what about Jackie, you guna leave your younger brother at this time?" Bobby screamed.

"Oh fuck you, Bobby, don't play the guilt card, don't you dare. Who moved out into the city with him, who bought him food, who went to all his gigs?" "Me, it was me, I've been there I've picked up the pieces, where the FUCK where you, huh?" she cried, coming closer and jabbing a finger in his ribs.

"He don't need me anymore, he's got you three, all I ever needed was support!"

Jack watched as only one Mercer walked towards the car, the other stalked off into the blizzard disappearing behind a sheet of pure white. "Becky" Jack whispered before slamming the keys into the ignition and heading for a place called home.

Angel sat in the corner of the covered in porch, the sun faded deck chairs his only protection against the outside world. He heard the car pull into the drive, heard three pairs of feet break the snow underfoot and heard one set of keys push open the door.

"Angel, where the fuck you been, you missed you mother's funeral you ass" Bobby stood leering over Angel.

Angel looked up, then like the honorable man he was, stood up to face his brother.

"Bobby…"

Bobby broke into a smirk, "c'mhere lil bro"

Angel grinned, smacking his brother hard on the back. Jeremiah followed suit "How you been, Angel?" he asked.

"Fine" he replied.

Jack stood in the doorway, looking down at his water logged shoes, the red of his eyes only visible through his mane of dirt blonde hair.

"Jack, man, Jackie" Angel walked over to him, extending his arms, he was greeted by only thin air. Angel turned to look at Bobby "Where's Becky?" he mouthed. Bobby shock his head angrily.

"C'mon lets cook ourselves a nice meal huh?" Jeremiah said wringing his hands together.

Luvgarrett: thank you for reviewing mine, and I can't wait to read more of yours I've blabbed on to you enough in the email, but thank you!

Diesel31: Thank you as well, I love so much and I wished they'd put in a scene when all four brother's found out!

Spartan Queen: Your review means a lot to me, I'm glad you like the story. Hope to read yours again soon!