Little Lotte- I love you so much, you and Greggor, I have to confess something to you, when I think about you, I touch myself. ( Sorry I couldn't help making the Eragon I touch myself video... its was too much fun.)

To all my other readers who aren't insane- thanks for reading, it means a lot to me to see your reactions to what I write! I hope to please all of you.

Chapter 5

"Look Jack, Angel and I were about to leave, you still want to come ?" Jack looked between the sleeping Kate and Bobby, torn between following his brothers into the investigation of their mother's murder, or attempting in fixing the mistake he made five years ago.

"I want to know what happened to Mom." He said at last, turning away from Kate's bedroom to walk down the hall.

Watching his brother close his bedroom door behind him, Bobby walked slowly into Kate's room, looking around at the photo's she had scattered around in random frames, some of the pictures old and faded, while others seemed like they were taken just the other day. His attention was drawn to two frames that laid face down on her dresser, the brown cardboard of their backs sparking his curiosity. Careful not to make a sound he flipped the first one over to see a picture of his Mom, smiling and holding a younger Kerri in her arms, the still image capturing the joy on both of their faces.

The second picture held a layer of dust over the cardboard backing, like it had been flipped over a long time ago. He was shocked to discover the glass covering was broken, not to the point of sections missing, but enough to give the image a haunting look, quite fitting Bobby thought. The image was black and white, a strikingly dramatic picture of Jack playing on his guitar, his face serious and eyes painfully mysterious. They stared out of the image with devotion, a consuming love. Kate was always a fan of photography, back when she was in high school she never went anywhere without her camera, Bobby thought as he stared at the picture, almost intoxicated by it.

Kate began to stir in her bed, bringing Bobby's attention back to the reason of his presence.

"Hey Kat." He called to her softly, making sure he didn't wake Kerri up as well. Groaning, Kate opened her eyes, disappointed that her dreams had come to an end.

"What do you want Bobby?" He was sure if Kerri wasn't sleeping beside her, that she would have thrown her pillow at him for disturbing her sleep, she never was a morning person.

"I want to talk to you." He crossed his arms over his chest, and waited for her to pull herself out of bed.

"Fine." She grumbled, smoothing the blankets around Kerri. Turning back to bobby, she let him lead her down the stairs into the kitchen so they could talk. "So what's so important?"

"We're going out." Bobby spoke quietly, "Me, Angel, Jack, and Jerry, we're going to the store. we're gonna find mom's killers."

"All of you?" Her voice shook slightly, Bobby understood her concern.

"Don't worry, I won't let any harm come to the fairy." He grinned as she glared, the both of them knowing thats what she really wanted to hear. "Hey," He cupped her face in her palms, forcing her eyes on his. "Mom deserves justice."

"I know, I want it just as much as you do, but I have to think of my family."

"I'm a professional fuck up, remember? I know what I'm doing." He kissed her forehead. She was the only person he every showed such affection too, a baby sister in his eyes that needed to be cared for.

She has a talent for stealing the hearts of the Mercers, Bobby thought to himself, she stole Jack's heart romantically, and mine innocently.

"Be careful."

"Oh, Kate... there is still one more thing..." She tilted her head in curiosity, waiting silently for him to continue. "Jerry told me about the offer he made involving Kerri... I get why you told him no, but I think you should reconsider."

"You want me to send him from the only house he has ever known?"

"It's not the safest place for a kid."

"Because you are making it unsafe." Her voice held a threatening tone now. Although she was shorter than Bobby, he felt a shiver shoot down his spin when she stood erect before him, ready to fight. She fit into a lot of 'his only' categories, being slightly afraid of them is one of them.

"I'm not fighting with you Kitten." He pushed passed her, noticing Angel and Jack where waiting for him be the door.

"Don't pick a fight if you aren't willing to throw that punch!" She grabbed him by the arm and stopped him, Angel and Jack watched in amusement. "You just think it's okay to come home and turn your mother's honest home into... into... arg!" She let go of him, realizing it wasn't worth fighting with him, She never could win a fight with Bobby, no one could, all fighting with Bobby ever did was make her angrier, and she really didn't need that so early in the morning.

"We'll be home as soon as we can." Bobby told her, turning to leave. Angel followed immediately, while Jack hung back for a moment, wishing to speak with Kate only for a moment, before having to follow his brothers.

"Kate, About last night." He couldn't vocalize all the thoughts running through his mind, all that he had decided to tell her while he was getting dressed.

"We'll talk later." She attempted to push him out the door, but he wouldn't budge. "They are going to leave without you."

"But-" She shoved him harder, causing him to loose his footing for just a moment.

"It can't be that important."

"I-love-you." The words exploded from his lips, coming out all at once but still recognizable. "I'm sorry." Kate stood dumbstruck as he hurried out the Bobby's car, the three of them drive off, leaving her, Kerri, and she assumed Sofi at home.