Just a month after Jay's fourth birthday, Will was born. Jay wouldn't remember meeting him for the first time or then holding him with the assist from his mother. What he would remember was the moment his dad leaned in and told him that his responsibility was to look out for this new baby. It was something that most every new big brother heard, the older one becomes the protector but later in life the responsibility would have to be wider than the occasional beat down of a bully. Jay by the age of eight had become what he thought to be the man of the house. He learned pretty early on that his father wasn't going to be around much and that even though he was a kid Jay had to be the male role model that Will deserved. It meant that he had to grow up quickly and that he would have to take on more than any eight-year-old should. He did it for Will sure, but he also did it for his mother. He remembered hearing her muffled cries down the hall during the night when his father didn't come home, or worse the nights he would come home hammered and screaming.

Now, Jay sat across from Will at the kitchen table, as they both did their homework. He was just fifteen and Will was ten and if there was anything Jay knew for sure was that Will was the brains of the family. Jay himself struggled with school and pushed by with Cs in most of his classes except maybe gym class but Will excelled. Jay had accepted that maybe school wasn't going to be his strong suit in life, in his mind he still wasn't sure what he wanted to do with his life.

"Have you seen my work badge," Their mother came rushing into the kitchen with her scrubs on searching the whole kitchen for her badge.

"On top of the fridge Ma," Jay pointed. She stopped and smiled, swiping the plastic card off the fridge and clipping it to her top.

"Okay, I left a little money for pizza and I don't care that its Friday, don't stay up all night please."

"Okay mom," They both said in unison still focusing on their schoolwork.

"I should be home around seven and Jay you have a game tomorrow so make sure you grab your jersey out of the laundry and put it in your bag."

"Will do," He said obediently. With his mother there was nothing he wouldn't do; she was basically a single mom who picked up more overtime than most nurses in order to support her sons.

"Lock the door behind me Jay." She rushed over and kissed both boys on the cheeks before rushing out the door. Jay stood up and did as he was told, he locked the door behind his mother and returned to his seat to finish his homework. Tenth grade math had proven to be difficult as were most of his classes and he envied the way Will breezed through his homework.

"Maybe you could finish my homework," Jay teased as he closed his textbook annoyed by the geometry that sat before him.

"Maybe in four years," Will retorted. That's what Jay liked about him and his brother; they got along, they had to in order to survive a checkered home life. Sure, Jay got a little annoyed with Will followed him around after school but maybe in the back of his mind he didn't because he was doing his job right.

"Do you think Dad will come home tonight," Will asked looking at the kitchen clock. It was only seven, around the time that if his father was out, he would be at the bars, this was his fourth day in the absentee father routine.

"Nah," Jay replied, "doubtful, he probably won't be home until Monday." It was day three of his absentee father routine and they could range from five to six days at a time.

"You know what that means," Jay grinned as he shoved his finish homework into his backpack.

"Movie marathon," Jay smiled.

"Order the Pizza, I'm gonna try to get the channel," Will rushed out of the kitchen.

Jay didn't remember falling asleep on the couch, but he had and suddenly he was being woken up by the thunderous entrance of Pat Halstead. Both boys had shot awake quickly switching off the tv and cleaning up the mess from their dinner, but they weren't quick enough because a second later Pat came stomping in in a rage.

"Why are all the lights on," He demanded, "are you paying the electric bill!"

"Are you," Jay said under his breath, Will elbowed him a warning. Pat was walking through the kitchen slamming off the light switches, each time made Will jump. Jay pushed Will behind him as Pat walked back in storming at them like a raging bull.

"Useless, the both of you," he screamed. If there was one thing that Patrick Halstead was good at it was good at it was putting down his sons. A middle aged man stuck in the town he grew up in, sidelined from his dreams due to a bum knee and stuck in a crappy job, all his frustrations went towards the boys. No matter how many straight A report cards that Will brought home or how many games Jay crushed they was always told, "You'll never amount to anything, good for nothing kids." Both of them stayed silent as he went on with his rant Jay protectively staying in front of Will. "Aren't you gonna explain yourselves," Pat demanded.

"We're sorry Dad," Will spoke up knowing fully well that Jay had other words in mind.

"You two aint sorry," He shoved Jay to the floor hard and began swinging at Will who was able to dodge them thanks from training by Jay. This only angered Pat more and he quickly caught Will by the collar of his shirt. "Disrespectful piece of shit," He raised his arm up to strike Will but by then Jay had managed to stand up. He was able to loosen his father's grip to free Will and begin his own struggle. Will pleaded for his Dad to stop but he could hear each smack before Jay was thrown hard onto the floor with the awful sound of a crunch. Pat ran off again leaving Will trying to get his brother to sit up without hurting him.

"Jay, that looks really bad," His was afraid anymore but rather like he his mother nurturing and trying to problem solve.

"I think it's broken," he hissed in pain as Will gently held his arm.

"Maybe we can wake up Mrs. Lombardo and she can drive us to the hospital," Will suggested.

"No way, she's is the town gossip she will spread this around like wildfire."

"The Carson's are on vacation and Mr. Lenore is like a hundred."

"I'm fine we will just wrap it here."

"Absolutely not, Jay you need help."

"Fine but I'm not getting anyone else involved, mom doesn't need that."

"So when we get to the hospital what are we gonna say, you fell down the stairs?"

"No, we tell them we went to the Arcade and got jumped on the way back."

"Why are we even protecting him," Will asked angrily.

"Because he maybe a useless father but we need that extra little bit of money, especially because now we have a medical bill." Will eventually would be talked into not ratting their father out and after making Jay a homemade sling out of a scarf they trudged the hour walk to the Cook County Hospital. They lied to their mother, but she knew and the next time that Pat came home she bitterly threw his belongings outside and told him to get out. It didn't last long before he was back, but their mother had made it clear that if he ever place a hand on either of the boys again he would be out for good. From then on Will and Jay just dealt with the verbal abuse from Pat.