Chapter 15

Kennedy and Jack arrived at the Mercer household later that day. Jack rushed to the other side of the car and helped Kennedy out. She smiled at him and held onto his hand as they slowly walked up to the house. As they walked in they heard talking in the kitchen. "Hey everyone!" Jack yelled from the door.

"Jack, my long lost brother!" Angel yelled. "I haven't seen you in forever."

"Yeah, well the hospital called." Jack replied with a smile.

"Kennedy, how are you?" Angel replied noticing her at the door.

"I'm good. Just glad to be out of that place." She replied

"How's the side?"

"It hurts, but I am able to walk." She replied "slowly…" she added. "It's going to take time."

"Yeah, well it's good to see you up and happy again."

"Thanks Angel. It's good to see you too."

"Where's Ma?" Jack asked

"She went to the store, Bobby is playing hockey, and Jerry is off with Camille somewhere. So I guess it's just us, kids." Angel replied

"Great." Jack replied "I am going to go take a shower. You ok to stay down here with him?"

Angel laughed "Sure she is. Don't worry I'll protect your girl."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Jack replied "I'll be back in a few. Try not to get into too much trouble just sitting in the living room. Don't corrupt her either."

Angel smiled as he turned to Kennedy "Want to watch TV?"

"Do I want to?" Kennedy asked

Angel laughed "Sure, I won't bite too hard."

Kennedy shook her head and moved over to the couch "What do you want to watch?" Angel asked

"Doesn't matter to me."

Suddenly the front door open and in came a running Bobby "Where's little fairy at? Haven't seen him all…" he stopped in his tracks "Kennedy!" he yelled

"Hey bobby. Jack's upstairs taking a shower." She replied

"You aren't up there with him?"

Kennedy rolled her eyes "No…"

"Too much to handle huh?"

"Shut up!" she yelled throwing a pillow at him.

He laughed before throwing the pillow back at her. "Ow, omg!" Kennedy yelled. Jack came running down the stairs when he heard her yelling. He saw her huddle on the couch holding her side.

"What the hell did you to her Bobby?" Jack yelled rushing over to her.

"I didn't know." Bobby replied.

"My side…it hurts." She replied, she lifted her head and smiled at Bobby.

"I hate you!" he replied before going into the kitchen. Angel was sitting beside her laughing.

"You know that's the second time today that you did that. Are you trying to kill me or something?" Jack replied

"I was just playing with him. I thought you were in the shower."

"I was walking in when I heard you screaming."

"Oh sorry." She replied with a laugh. "I had to do it. He was picking on me again."

Jack shook his head before going back to the stairs "Leave her alone..." he replied "At least until I get out of the shower."

"Yes daddy." Angel replied. "What did he mean the second time today?"

Kennedy starts laughing "I got my nurse to tell him that they had to take me to the ER last night and that it was my time to go home. You should have seen his face. It was like someone killed his dog or something. Then I came around the corner. His face was so white it was so funny."

"You're going to be the death of him. You know that right?"

"Naw, he just might end up a little disoriented."

Angel laughed "So what's going on with your dad? Do you know what's going to happen to you?"

"I don't know yet. Me and Jack are going to court tomorrow to see what all we can do."

"Well we'll be sure to keep the guns away from you." He replied with a smile. She smiled a little "Don't worry, that prick isn't going to come near you here. With all of us here I highly doubt he wants to come around. You have nothing to worry about, just stay off that side."

"Thanks Angel. You guys are awesome." She replied. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Just then Jack comes into the living room

"Angel, what the hell did I tell you?" Jack yelled

"She kissed me man. I am just the victim here." Angel replied

Kennedy starts laughing "Are you going to say something?" Angel asked staring at Kennedy

"I'm telling Sofi." Jack replied. "Where she at?"

"You aren't telling Sofi shit." Angel replied pointing his finger at him.

"Bullshit, she's going to know what kind of prick you are."

"Jack that would be the worst mistake of your life if you open your mouth."

Kennedy watched as the brothers bicker, she couldn't help but laugh. They heard the door open "Hey Sofi is that you?" Jack yelled

"Hey baby, don't listen to him. He's just full of lies." Angel yelled. Angel got up from the couch and followed Jack to the door to find Evelyn with groceries in her hand

"Good, you guys can help. Nice to see you home sweetheart." Evelyn replied giving Jack a kiss on the cheek. Evelyn walked into the living and saw Kennedy sitting on the couch. "Ms. Evelyn!" she squealed. She got up off the couch and moved over to Evelyn. She wrapped her arms around the old woman's neck.

"Its so good to see you sweetheart." Evelyn replied setting the groceries on the floor to return the hug. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm better now that I am home and not in that hospital bed."

"You must be hungry for a good home cooked meal. What would you like? Anything, I will make you whatever you want."

Kennedy smiled "It doesn't matter, just as long as its not from a cafeteria." Evelyn laughed

"Well I will fix you a home cooked meal tonight. I promise it wont be anything like the cafeteria food from the hospital." Evelyn smiled "Now get out of the kitchen so I can begin."

Kennedy laughed and moved back into the couch where Jack and Angel were still arguing. "Do they do this often?" she asked noticing Bobby sitting in the chair staring at the TV.

"Yeah, all the time. You'll get use to it." Bobby replied not taking his eyes from the hockey game.

"So you like hockey?" she asked. His head moved over to her and he laughed before going back to the TV

"Yeah, I guess you can say that." He replied. She moved back over to the couch when she noticed Bobby wasn't paying any attention to her. She decided she would go take a shower before dinner, so she made her way to the stairs and up to the bathroom. She went into Jack's room to get some clothes when she heard her cell phone ringing. "Hello?" she answered

"What the hell are you?" her father's voice screamed

"Where do you think I am?" she asked

"Kennedy, you will get home right now before I come over there."

"I dare you to come over here. You know what happened last time." She spat.

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm warning you. You already pissed everyone in this house off. I highly doubt they will care if anything happens to you."

"You just signed all their death warrants, you know that?"

"You don't scare me daddy. I am through with you. Ok, through. I don't want to be with you anymore. You have caused so much pain these past couple weeks than you ever have. I am through with you hitting me and making me feel like nothing. I am not scared of you anymore ok. We are going to court and you are going to be out of my life for good."

"You are 17 years old. Until your 18th birthday, you are still my responsibility. I'm sure the judge will agree."

"What you actually going to act like a father now?"

"You aren't my daughter anymore. You haven't been since you started hanging out with trash, you've turned into trash yourself. My daughter would have more respect in herself than that. As far as I'm concerned my daughter died along with my wife."

Kennedy stood there for a moment taken back, before answering "Well then I guess the judge would agree with me when he sees all the bruises you caused me…" she couldn't think of anything to say to him.

"You have no proof. You said it yourself at the hospital that you fell that night. I didn't do anything. You have no evidence that I came after you with a golf club or anything."

"Fuck you!" she yelled "I have the fucking clothes from when you raped me you sick fuck. I can have you thrown in jail for the rest of your life. I have the power now dad. Not you!"

"You better watch out who you are talking to…"

"No, you need to watch who you are talking to. I am through with you and all your bullshit. Its over ok. OVER!" she screamed. She hung up the phone and quickly sat down on the bed. She heard footsteps coming scurrying up the stairs. She laid back holding onto her side.

"What the hell is going on?" Bobby yelled throwing open the door "Why are you screaming?"

"Its nothing." She replied as tears fell down her cheek.

"You wouldn't be crying if it was nothing." Angel replied "What's wrong? Is your side hurting you?"

She nodded her head and sniffed before answering. "All this drama." She laughed

"Your dad?" Jack asked

"The usual." She replied with a smile.

"What did he say this time?"

"He just wanted to know where I was at and I told him. He just kept threatening me saying that the judge will be on his side if we go to court. You know his regular bullshit."

"I'll go get a wet rag. You are sweating." Angel replied leaving the room. She looked over at Jack and just busted out crying "He just disowned me Jack. My own father just disowned me. He told me that I died along with my mother."

Jack walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "What did I do to him to make him hate me so much. My mother is gone. He's the only parent I have left and now he doesn't even acknowledge that I am his anymore."

"I thought you wanted this? I mean I thought you wanted him out of your life."

"He's still my father. I will always love him no matter what he does. He's the only person I have left." She cried. Jack held her in his arms as Bobby watched from the door. He knew how she felt. His own father abandoned him at the age 6, leaving him with no goodbye or anything.

"Here lets sit down and let you calm down. You just got out of the hospital ok. You need to stay calm." Jack replied taking her over to the bed. "What do you want me to do?" Jack finally asked

"You don't have to do anything. Its not like I need him or anything. I mean I am getting along just fine without him right? I got through that hospital without him."
"Yeah you did." Jack replied looking up at Bobby
"I got along just fine when my mom died. He wasn't there once to comfort me, but I got through it. I didn't need him then, I won't need him now."
"Ken…" Jack started
"No, you know what? I'm gonna get through college without him, I'm gonna get a great job without him, I'm gonna marry the man of my dreams and have a whole bunch of kids. I'm gonna be a better parent than he ever was! And I sure as hell don't need him for that, 'cause there isn't a damn thing he can teach me about how to love my kids! They are going to know everyday damn day I love them more than anything. I wont touch them like he touched me. I will always be there for them no matter what!" she cried. Jack laid his hand on his hand. She looked up at him with tears flowing down her cheek. "Why doesn't he love me?" she sobbed. Jack embraced her again as she cried in his chest. Angel was standing at the door, when Bobby looked back at him and ushered him to leave. He slowly closed the door and left Jack and Kennedy in the room together.

"He doesn't deserve you as his daughter Ken. You are going to be so fine without him. You are going to get through college with out him and get married without him. Your kids are going to be the most wonderful things in the world. You know why?" he asked lifting her chin to him "Because they have you as their mother."

She busted out crying and dug her head into his chest again "I miss my mom."

"I miss mine too." Jack replied "I miss her everyday of my life, but she's not coming back and I have to deal with it. My mom abandoned me and left me with my father."

"My mother died Jack. That bastard has taken it out on me ever since she did. I would give anything in this world to have her back here with me. She was my rock and now I don't know what to do without her."

"Its going take time baby. I promise though it will get so much better. You are so strong for going on this far without having someone to mourn with. She would be so proud of you, to know that you chose to live over everything that has happened these past 6 months." Kennedy looked up at Jack and saw his gorgeous green glazed over trying to hold back the tears. He smiled at her "You're going to be fine."

"Promise?" she asked. He nodded his head and kissed her softly.

"I promise." He whispered. They curled up in the bed as Jack held her in his arms "You are going to have to take it easy or you are going to be back in the hospital. Ryan will kick my ass if he see's you back."

Kennedy laughed as she wiped the tears off her cheeks. "Yeah, well we can't have that can we? Your mother is fixing me a home cooked meal and I couldn't miss that."

"No you couldn't. Her meals are excellent. You should be honored."

"Oh but I am." She smiled.

"You know you have the most gorgeous smile." Jack randomly replied. Kennedy couldn't help but smile at him "See…" She tried to stop smiling but couldn't help it. "See you can even stop. You know you have a gorgeous smile. Conceited!" he replied with a smile. Kennedy opened her mouth wide before hitting him on the arm.

"Me? Never?" she replied.

"Of course not."

There was a soft knock on the door before Angel opened it up. "Hey, ma told me to tell you that dinner is almost ready."

"I need to get in the shower." Kennedy replied "I'll be out in a minute." She kissed Jack on the cheek before getting off the bed and going into the bathroom. She locked the door and turned around in the mirror. She looked at herself for a minute and felt a tear go down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. "You're going to be ok." She whispered before moving over to the shower and cutting it on. Jack sat there on the bed and rubs his hands through his hair.

"You alright man?" Angel asked coming into the room

"Yeah, its just hard going through this again."

"Yeah, well you're doing good. Helping her through this and everything."

"She doesn't know what's going on Angel. Her mom died 6 months ago and her father began hitting her. She's just a rich girl for California."

"She's going be fine man. I'm just worried about you."

"She made me miss my mom man. I thought maybe I got over it, but it brings back so many memories from the past. It makes me wonder what I did to make her leave."

"Don't start that man. You have done so good these past years. It took up 2 months to actually get you to talk to us. 4 to get you to open up. Your mom left you, at least you knew your mother. Mine left me the moment I was born. She didn't want shit to do with me man. We all went through the same thing. Bobby didn't know his mother either. His father left him when he was 6. Jerry's mom left him when he was just a baby. He didn't know his father. Do you not see that we are all in this together. We all miss our family's man and wonder what happened to us to deserve this, but you know that woman down them stairs fixing us a home cooked meal, loves us more than we could ever know. She took us in when no one wanted anything to do with us. She is mom now and no one else will ever take her place. She's all I need." Angel replied pointing to the door. Jack looked up at him. "I love you man. You my brother and I will be with you until they day you die, but don't think that we aren't going through the same thing. The only thing that's different with Kennedy is she has three boys who would do anything for her. I know you would give your life for her. I'm attached. Bobby, is already considering her as his sister. We didn't have that, she does. That's what's going to get her through this."

"You're right. She does have all of us. I just don't like seeing her like this."

"I know that, but you have to see her like this. Life's a bitch man. It sucks sometimes but you can make a little better by being there for her."

They heard the shower cut off "Don't put yourself down man. You are doing a good job with her. Remember that." Angel walked over to Jack and put his fist out. Jack laughed before pounding his fist with Angels. Kennedy walked into the room as Angel was leaving.

"You feel better?" Jack asked

"Yeah….I guess a shower was all I needed." She replied with a smile "I'm ready for that home cooked meal."

Jack laughed "Yeah me too." She looked at him for a moment before leaning over and kissing him. She pulled away and saw a smile on his face. "What was that for?"

"I don't know. I just wanted too."

"Well you can do that all you want." He replied. He leaned back over and kissed her again until Bobby came and banged on the door almost knocking Kennedy off the bed. Jack caught her but stomping over to the door. "What?" he yelled

"It's time to eat." Bobby replied so innocent.

"Ok, we'll be there in a few minute." Jack replied with an annoyed tone

"Did I interrupt something?" Bobby asked peeking through the door. Kennedy was smiling at him.

"Bobby shut up!" Jack replied walking over to Kennedy and grabbed her hand.

"Ya'll so cute." Bobby replied. They all went walking down the stairs to the kitchen. Bobby shut up when he saw Sofi sitting at the table. Kennedy started laughing as she looked over at Sofi. She noticed an unfamiliar face sitting on the other side of Evelyn. "Jerry this is Kennedy. She will be staying with us for a while." Evelyn replied "She's Jacks girlfriend."

Jerry smiled at Kennedy "Hey, welcome to the family." He replied

"Thanks." Kennedy replied.

"Hey Sofi, remind me later me and you need to have a talk." Jack replied trying not to laugh.

"Don't listen to anything he has to say baby. He's full of lies." Angel replied glaring at Jack. Jack and Kennedy died out laughing.

"Its so good to have everyone here for dinner. Now stop arguing so we can pray." Everyone stood up and grab hands while Evelyn prayed over the food. Just as everyone sat down, Bobby tore into the food. "Bobby…" Evelyn replied

"I'm a growing boy ma." He replied. Kennedy smiled

"My goodness, cant do anything with these boys. But you gotta love them." Evelyn replied smiling at Kennedy. Angel looked over at Jack who smiled before turning back to his food.

"Yeah you do." Kennedy replied.

Author: Ok, so this is one of my favorite chapters and I don't know why. But the part where she starts freaking out after the phone call is from Fresh Prince of Bel-air in case everyone was wondering. Just thought it fit good in the story so yeah. Hope you guys liked it!

Iluvgarretthedlund: hahaha well I didn't think eviler was a word but hey I made a new word! GO ME! I wouldn't pass up a chance to see Garrett either. I miss seeing his gorgeous face in the movies, but I always turn to Four Brothers. Hahaha! I have his pic on my desktop. So I see him everyday I get on the computer! Hmm….ok sorry lost my self for a moment….but yeah I was hinting something to you. He's going to do more than 'steal' her. Hahaha! Thanks for the review! You always crack me up!

Ryo Wings: thanks for the review! Hope you liked this chapter!

Cheetah girl 15: hahahaha its ok to lose your temper just not on me! Hahaha! Thanks for the review! I agree though Scott should die. I liked the end of the chapter too! Jack's so sweet! I wish he was mine! Hahaha! Thanks again! Hope you liked this chapter!