Still don't own Four Brothers, and still would appreciate not getting sued for using them...

I'm too tired to have witty comments tonight, so just enjoy this stuff I'm posting at 1:30 am...( I hate it when my brain flows past my bed time, it's really irritating...)

The first week of April was the 7th week Cal had picked Jack up from practice. She sat on the hood of her car now doing homework while she waited. She could hear him talking, heading out with all the others. But Cal had her eyes closed, a page held with her finger. The only way she could tell when he was close by was when he started laughing at her.

"It usually works better with your eyes, and the book, open."

She smiled, but tried to finish what she was doing. Jack waved his hand in front of her face, she could feel the breeze it created, and he was still laughing. Slightly irritated she opened her eyes a crack and grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"Oooh, quick Chick!"

She let go of him but put her finger to her lips. "Shush for a second, will ya? I gotta memorize this for tomorrow."

"What is 'it'?"

"A poem." Jack reached for the book but she pulled it out of his reach. "And no, I'm not going to recite it."

"Aww, come on Chicky."

"No," she could feel herself blush and hated it. But because she dwelled on it he was able to not only grab the book, but slip his finger in the same place she'd had hers.

He spun over to sit next to her and opened up to the page. "Which one is it?" She turned around pretending not to notice so Jack started reading things off. "A Leave Taking?" she didn't respond so he tried again, "Lesbia…hey what kind of poems are these, you weirdo." She laughed but didn't speak. Well since the only other one on this page is 'A Woman Who Understands'…"

Cal sighed and started reciting.

"Somewhere she waits to make you win, your soul in her firm, white hands-

Somewhere the gods have made for you, the Woman Who Understands!

As the tide went out she found him

Lashed to the spar of Despair.." She gave another exasperated sigh before continuing…

"The wreck of his Ship around him-The wreck of his dreams in the air; Found him and loved him and gathered The soul of him close to her heart-- The soul that had sailed an uncharted sea, The soul that had sought to win and be free-- The soul of which she was part! And there in the dusk she cried to the man, 'Win your battle--you can, you can!'

Broken by Fate, unrelenting, Scarred by the lashings of Chance; Bitter his heart--unrepenting-- Hardened by Circumstance; Shadowed by Failure ever, Cursing, he would have died, But the touch of her hand, her strong warm hand, And her love of his soul, took full command, Just at the turn of the tide! Standing beside him, filled with trust, 'Win!' she whispered, 'you must, you must!'

Helping and loving and guiding, Urging when that were best, Holding her fears in hiding Deep in her quiet breast; This is the woman who kept him True to his standards lost, When, tossed in the storm and stress of strife, He thought himself through with the game of life And ready to pay the cost. Watching and guarding, whispering still, 'Win you can--and you will, you will!'

This is the story of ages, This is the Woman's way; Wiser than seers or sages, Lifting us day by day; Facing all things with a courage Nothing can daunt or dim, Treading Life's path, wherever it leads-- Lined with flowers or choked with weeds, But ever with him--with him! Guidon--comrade--golden spur-- The men who win are helped by her!

Somewhere she waits, strong in belief, your soul in her firm, white hands: Thank well the gods, when she comes to you--the Woman Who Understands!"

When she was finished she turned slowly to raise an eyebrow at Jack. He'd closed the book and returned the look. "Well Whatta ya know, you are actually a girl after all."

"Fuck you," She slid off the car and though she was smiling she was appalled at what she'd surrendered to. She was about to yell at him to get in the car when another voice made her spin around in surprise.

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"Woah, what's this. Callie, you little whore, you with Jack-o now?"

Jack saw Cal get pale and swallow hard. "How many time's do we have to tell you to leave her alone Alex. Are you really that stupid?"

"Did you tell him everything, bitch? Was he your shoulder to cry on, was he there to fuck you when you missed me?" The boy's teasing tone irritated his bandmate to no end. But Cal had shut down. She tried desperately to turn to the car but Alex grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull away, but slipped in the slush left by the curb. Her face fell onto the hood pretty hard, and her wrist twisted in the boy's tight grip.

"Hey hey hey," Jack jumped up and slugged the other boy. "Didn't your parents ever teach you not to hurt girls?"

The jackass half-smiled as he rubbed his jaw. "Why do you think I never hit you Jackie boy?"

Jack didn't realize he was retaliating until his fist was in the other boy's stomach. He pulled back immediately, not knowing what was going to happen.

Alex was on one knee, but he stumbled over toward Cal. Jack followed angrily. The girl was trying to make her nose stop bleeding, she didn't need any more trouble. But she prepared to get into the car. Alex reached for her other wrist but as soon as she felt his touch she turned around and mirrored Jack's punch to his face.

Before this could go on any longer Jack grabbed his bandmate by the back of his shirt and dragged him away from the car. Kneeling down he pointed at the boy and said "Touch her again and I'll kick the living shit out of you. Got it?"

He didn't pay any attention to the retreating loser as he stormed over to the car. "You alright Chick?" She'd dragged a tissue out and held it against her nose, but she'd still gotten some of the blood on her unbuttoned blouse. She was sitting in the car leaning out, way to awkward a place for him to get near her. He beckoned her out. "Get over here, let me see."

Sniffing, she rubbed her nose and took the tissue away to look. "I'm fine, Jack."

"Yeah," he leaned on the open car door. "Then why are you using your left hand to hold your nose, even though your right hand isn't doing anything." She clenched her jaw and ignored him. "Cal, get out here. Sit on the car, let me make sure you're really ok, then we'll go, alright." He started lighting a cigarette as he waited for her to comply. She was pissed, and it took a couple of deep breaths before she even turned her head in his direction. But she wasn't looking at him, she was looking off in the direction the abusive bastard had run. Following her gaze for a second Jack shook his head. "He's not coming back."

She finally stood, but she slammed the car door as she walked around it. Again using her left hand she pulled herself back up on the hood and allowed Jack to do his inspection. He tipped her head back to look at her nose. It didn't appear to be broken, just bloodied. His hand moved from her face to her shoulder, causing her to flinch, but his thumb started sliding up and down her neck though he didn't notice. She relaxed a little until he reached for her arm, at which time she spoke up again. "I'm fine."

"Yeah?" Jack smiled at her and it made her angry. "Is that why you don't want me touching your wrist?"

"It's twisted a little, I'll live."

"You're changing your story." This time her deep breath had a shudder to it. Dammit, she was gonna cry. As he tried to think how to handle the situation she snatched the cigarette he'd just put back in his mouth. "Hey!"

"Shut up and get this over with."

"Jesus, relax will ya. I'm just trying to be nice here."

"What do I have to do to prove to you I'm fine, twist my hand around a few times?"

"The goal here is to stop you from crying, not to make you cry."

"I'm not crying," she rolled her eyes.

"No, you're not, which is pretty impressive and almost makes me want to take back what I said about you actually being a girl. And your stubbornness is helping."

"What do you want me to do, Jack?" As she finished he reached forward and bent her wrist slightly. She collapsed forward a little groan of pain. She suddenly felt the need to admit, "There's a first aid kit in the back, under the driver's seat." He went to get it without a reply, returning with an ace bandage in his hand. He held out his hand for hers but didn't grab at her. She almost managed a smile as she lifted her sore limb. "You don't have to do this."

"Yeah I do." She'd been holding the cigarette in her left hand and he bent down to take it in his mouth. She used her now free hand to lean against, trying to ignore the throbbing of its opposite. He was as gentle as he knew how to be and she still flinched every once in a while.

But she looked over at him and noticed something in her calmer state that she'd missed before. "What the fuck is on your neck Jack?" She knew very well what it was and was laughing as much as she could manage.

"None of your business Chick," he mumbled around the cigarette.

"Which one of Alex's bitches gave you that lovely present?"

He yanked on the bandage a little and made her gasp. "Shut up."

"I used to know all of the girls that hung with Alex, is it someone I know?"

"Probably not."

"Oh, why not?"

"It wasn't one of Alex's girls."

She laughed, "Of course not. Jack's got his own harem right?"

"Damn straight." He laughed at the ridiculous thought as he clipped the end on the bandage. She immediately used her crippled hand to turn his cheek and look closer at the hickey.

"Geez, you're such a man-whore Jack."

He swatted her gently away and changed the subject. "Gimme the keys, I'll drive back to my place, give your wrist a chance to relax."

"They're in my pocket," she said without an attempt to retrieve them.

"Yeah, I know, that's why I asked you for them instead of reaching for them."

"Such modesty from the man who obviously had a woman suctioned to him not long ago."

"Completely different situation."

"Why, because you were high?"

"Well, there is that…" Honestly he was afraid. He knew exactly what she was thinking of because he was thinking it too. If he'd just reached into her pocket and taken the keys she'd probably have yelled at him for stealing them and it would be over. But no, he had to try to distance himself from her. It wasn't even the stupid age thing anymore either. It was the fact that he knew her too well.

She'd laughed at his response and pulled out the keys to hand to him. He headed for the drivers seat but before the girl slid off the hood she looked over. "Hey Jack." He held the door open and stood waiting to see what she had to say. "Did you seriously defend my honor today?"

"Shut the fuck up and get in the car Chick." He rolled his eyes and ducked to sit.

………………………………………………………………………………………

Cal got out to cross over to the driver's side. She was a little dazed still, but that was normal. Jack stood at the front of the car waiting.

"You should ice that thing when you get home," he said.

She snorted a laugh and walked past him. "Yes nurse."

"You gonna be ok?"

She figured she was probably still pretty pale in the face, causing him to worry. "Yeah, I'll be ok." She didn't say fine, he wouldn't believe fine.

He nodded. "Take care of yourself Chick, I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled and nodded back as she got in to adjust her seat back up. She really wasn't looking forward to going home. How was she going to explain this to her father? With a sigh she pulled the car into gear and headed off. If she stayed near Jack much longer she might not have been able to force herself to leave. Boy was tomorrow's gig going to be fun for everyone. Had Alex learned his lesson yet? What would happen if he hadn't? Ugh… her head hurt, her wrist hurt, she was pissed off and she was scared. She decided when she got home it was off the bathroom for a bubble bath and a beer. Her favorite form of stress relief, besides maybe a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream…maybe she'd pick one of those up on her way through…

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