Alright, I know it has been a very long time (once again) since I last updated and I am terribly sorry for that. I was very very VERY busy this summer and now that school's started things have actually slowed down a bit (strange yes? Hehe, such is life).

So just so you know what's happening with this story: it's almost over. I have one, possibly two more chapters after this. This chapter isn't so much a chapter as it is a little insight into Jack's thoughts.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my wonderful reviewers. You guys are the biggest reason that I am continuing this.

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Interlude: Jack

"Stop it!" Spot demanded angrily. "Let go you bastard!"

Jack was surprised at the note of urgency in Spot's voice as he pounded on his chest and immediately stepped back. He wasn't sure what it was, but something was bothering Spot more than usual this time. Before the pleas and names had been a part of the act a part of the fun. Something had happened that he was unaware of.

Jack stood a few paces away from Spot, rubbing his chest where the smaller boy had pounded against him furiously. He was a little annoyed that he would soon have bruises on his chest, but he brushed it off when Spot spoke.

"Why did you stop?"

Jack could hear the surprise in Spot's voice and wondered at it as he answered him. "You told me to."

"That didn't stop you before." Spot returned in a dark voice that almost caused Jack to take a step back.

He didn't answer right away, instead taking a moment to take in Spot's angry stance. Jack was very aware of that thing that was different, but he couldn't figure out what it was that could have caused Spot to react this way.

"You didn't really mean it before." Jack finally said in a gentler tone than he had intended.

He watched as Spot blinked in confusion. The blonde's face slid into a bland expression, giving away none of his emotions as he pondered the statement he had just been given.

Jack was a little puzzled by his confusion. He thought that Spot had understood this game they were playing, but he wasn't so sure anymore.

"So what's different this time?" Jack adopted a casual pose against the bed frame. He was confused too (not to mention a little worried), but didn't want to show it.

He watched as Spot conversed with himself inwardly, wondering what was going on in the other boy's head and wishing that he would share it with him.

Where did that thought come from?

He didn't care about Spot's thoughts. He just wanted to sort out this problem and get back to the sex.

Which is why I care about Spot's thoughts, he explained to himself, its all a part of getting back to the sex.

He wasn't entirely certain he agreed with those ideas, but they were the least complicated ones he could come up with.

"Spot?" He asked worriedly when Spot was silent for too long.

"I'm not your plaything."

"What?" Jack could feel his body jerk away from the bed at the sudden exclamation. He stared at Spot with wide eyes as he tried to process the statement.

My…plaything? He had never thought of Spot that way. Not any further than…The Game! They were back to the game again! The game he could handle. The game he could understand.

"That's what this is about? Tired of playing the bitch Spot?" He smirked, cutting off whatever Spot had been saying. He waited for the smaller boy to respond, with his smirk still firmly in place.

He hardly had time for his eyes to widen in surprise before he was suddenly attacked by the furious blonde. Caught off guard, he didn't have a chance to respond before he was knocked to the ground. He unsuccessfully tried to defend himself, but Spot was too angry and clearly had the upper hand. He settled for curling into himself until the beating was over.

He didn't register that Spot had stopped until the swear word penetrated the pounding in his head. He stayed curled up on the ground for a few moments though, knowing that moving would cause a fair amount of pain. Hell it hurt just to breathe, for all he knew moving could kill him.

After taking several slow, pained, breaths Jack looked up at Spot's guilty face and decided that he needed to move. Slowly—and very carefully—he sat up. Wincing at the move, he just barely suppressed a pained moan as every inch of his body protested.

He shifted so that his back was against the bedpost and looked up at Spot. "Feel…better?" He asked slowly, painfully.

Jack was slightly reassured by Spot's confused look. He knew the younger boy expected him to be angry, and though he was, it wasn't as strong a feeling as his own guilt.

He had obviously misread the Brooklyn leader and as a result had treated him unfairly. It was then that he decided that what they were doing—whatever that was—needed to end.

"I…don't think…I…can do this…anymore." He struggled to say. It hurt to breathe, which made it difficult to speak. He looked up at the younger boy, waiting for him to speak.

"Do this?"

"You…and me." Jack explained with as little words as possible, feeling as though the pain was somehow spreading.

"There is no you and me." Spot said bitterly. "Just fucking."

Jack was surprised when that statement just added to the pain. He hadn't seen it coming and he was at a loss as to how to respond. His mouth opened and closed several times before he finally managed to find his words.

"Right. No big loss then." He said, knowing the words were a lie as soon as they left his lips.

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And there you have it. Now I have a request. I have written out most of the next chapter, but I seem to be stuck on how to get to the ending. I do know how I want the ending to be, and I have several ideas of how to get there. I just sort of need someone to bounce ideas off of / someone to beta this chapter for me. So, if anyone would like to help, let me know in a review or feel free to send me a PM.

Just so you know, I'll probably only pick one person (mainly so that I don't get too confused, heh).

Please review even if you don't want to help! It's really okay if you don't want to :)