I know Jerry hasn't been in the story a lot but he will come in a lot more later. Right now the focus is on the others (everyone except Jerry.) I'm a little hurt that more people didn't review. I'd love to say I won't write unless you all review but I enjoy writing too much to say that. Argh. Oh well. I still hope you all enjoy this. By the way certain lines will give you hints as to what comes ahead.

"Serena? Don't you work at the hotel in Detroit?" Bobby asked deep in thought.

"Yes, why?" she replied perplexed.

"I need you to work with a man named Mitch White. Find out about his business and his underground business"

"Okay" Serena replied taking a file Bobby handed her. She stood up and began to rummage through her bag. Bobby came over and they began to whisper.

"You're not going to ask why?" Jack asked Serena very annoyed.

"No. There's no need to." There was a click noise made in her purse Bobby reached in felt around and then nodded. He handed a file to Jerry,Serenaand Angel and told Jack to go into the kitchen. Bobby got up and followed before Jack had the chance to protest.

"Why the fuck do you always leave me out?" Jack asked his voice becoming louder by the minute.

"Shut the fuck up Jack. Slow down. Hear me out. I need you to take care of the kids. If anyone comes I can't rely on Jerry because he's working, Serena is going to get information on the guy at her job, and Angel is always to busy fucking his girl to do shit in time. Please, don't make me beg. I'm asking you to look out for them in case someone rolls up at the house with guns and starts asking for me" Bobby pleaded. For the first time, Jack actually felt needed. There was something that only he could do.

"Besides," Bobby said, "everyone agrees with you being in charge of the kids. You really know how to care for them...like Mom did." Jack suddenly felt like this rested on his shoulders. He felt like he could make or break this situation even though it didn't concern him.

"I'll do it. But why won't you tell me what's going on...why these people are even looking for you in the first place?" Jack said trying to take advantage of Bobby's passive mood.

"I haven't even told them, Jack. I'm not telling you. But, I will tell you this, I'm not even sure myself. That's why I need information on these guys. These fuckers who think I'm some dick who doesn't know shit" Bobby said returning to his aggressive personality. Jack stayed quiet as he and Bobby headed back into the living room.

"Ready to kick some fu- HEY!" Bobby said stopping mid-curse as one of the foster kids made his way down the stairs. "Derrick my man!" Bobby fake wrestled with Derrick. Derrick was a blond haired, green eyed ten year old who absolutelyloved Jack.

"Jack! I missed you! I'm mad at you!" Derrick yelled. "You left me and you don't stay at night anymore"

"I'm staying with Bobby, Derrick. And you shouldn't be mad at me. I gave you my bed. The bed I first had when I came here" Jack said in a soothing voice. He stooped low and gave Derrick a hug. Derrick reminded Jack so much of himself. He was dying for love but never wanted it to come through. To most men and boys vulnerability was a weakness.

"Yo! I'm out! I'm late for work" Bobby said grabbing his car keys.

"Yea, I gotta get going too. Camille will have my ass if I miss another dinner. Bobby I'll drive you to work" Jerry offered, bidding goodbye to everyone else. "Okay. Jack, catch!" Bobby said throwing his keys to Jack, "give Serena a ride home. And you two are in charge of my car until I need it again"

"Thanks" Jack replied catching the keys and then throwing them to Serena. "Later!" Angel yelled still looking over the file. "Peace" Jerry said closing the door behind himself and Bobby.

"Serena I didn't even see you here" Derrick exclaimed climbing onto her lap. "You didn't? I'm hurt!" Serena said, feigning hurt. Derrick giggled and threw his small arms around Serena's neck. Serena stroked his short blond hair and for a small second Jack was envious. "How do you know Serena?" Jack asked Derrick, now leaning against the wall.

"I do come around here. We're just never here at the same time. I teach the kids football with Angel" Serena answered before Derrick had the chance to. Jack just looked at Serena. He wanted so badly to ask her out and kiss her. He couldn't stop

"Jerome is being mean to me!" Derrick suddenly said looking from Serena to Jack to Angel with his brilliant emerald eyes. "Well why don't we go upstairs and have a talk with Jerome" Serena said taking his hand and leading him to the stairs. She was smiling but suddenly stopped as they passed the door on the way upstairs. "Derrick, we'll talk to him later." Serena said leading him back to the living room.

"Why not now? He only listens to you or Jack!" Derrick whined.

"Not now Derrick," she said now in the living room, "Angel take him downstairs and make sure Sophie stays upstairs with the kids." Angel didn't understand but the look on Serena's face made him heed her word. "Jack come with me." Serena took Jack's hand and led him to the door. Outside were three black Hummers.

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Jack awoke to a loud bang and the memory of the black Hummers still in his head. It had been a month since the tall white man with a suit and a Rolex came out of the second Hummer. Jack had gone outside to "greet" the man. Before Jack went out the door Serena slipped a gun in his back pocket. Jack didn't need the gun that day, in fact the guy was nice and apologized for his men sneaking around such "a charitable establishment." Jack is meeting the man tomorrow for lunch at the Hilton in Detroit. He had a foreboding feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He heard a thud next door and then remembered that Serena lived next door. He had found this out when he dropped her off last month. Ironically, even though they were next door to each other they had only seen each other twice. When the noise stopped he figured she was awake and dropped something. Either that or she fell off her bed. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep wondering what the meeting was going to be about. Twenty minutes later he heard banging on the door.

"Bobby! Open the door! BOBBY!" Jack went to the door and a dark figure pushed past him and went storming into the apartment searching for Bobby.