Author's Note: Hi everyone! Sorry that I haven't updated in a while. It was a really busy week. I just want to thank Rainbowbeat for the review. I used to stay up reading fanfiction stories before i went to bed and a lot of them were very good. I don't know when I'll be posting next. Midterms are next week and I really need to study. I'll try to finish chapter 7 soon and work on chapter 8. Thanks everyone for reading these long chapters :) It means a lot

Chapter 6: Hiding The Truth

"Hold still Pippa."

He helped her put on her nightgown as she giggled and squirmed. Her hair was still damp and cold from the lake, plastering over her face. Taking a rag he began rubbing her head while she carefully parted her hair to the left letting it draped over her right eye.

"Jack! I can dry myself," Pippa laughed. "I'm not little any more."

He smiled to himself for he knew she was right.

"All right, all right, you can do it." Jack softly chuckled, giving her the rag as she took a seat on the cot.

He poured water into the bowl that had been left on the nightstand to rinse his face as she started to squeeze her bangs, cautiously making sure her eye was hidden from him. It didn't throb any more, but she still cringed when she gently touched it.

He cupped his hands as he put them into the water, filling them. His hair was damp from washing the mud out and his clothes uncomfortably clung on to his skin. For a moment he stared at the water, he couldn't shake off what Jake had said to him. He would leave it alone for some time, but in the back of his mind something told him that something bad had happened in his absence.

He shook his head hard and splashed the water into his face. Jack looked over his shoulder to check on Pippa, who finished drying her hair. He whipped his face with a rag as he noticed her bangs covering her right eye like it had with the mud.

"Hey, hey you look so pretty without your hair covering your face, kiddo," Jack said gently.

He reached out to stroke her bangs out of her eye, but she quickly backed away from his touch. Taken back by surprise Jack looked at her with concern.

"Pippa what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said shying away even more.

He raised his eyebrow knowing his sister better, but then lowered it as a soft expression appeared on his face.

"You can tell me anything. Remember?"

Pippa nodded her head, but she still clammed up. He gave a sigh and tried something else.

"Pippa Elizabeth Frost. You tell me right now what happened to you or I won't play any games with you tomorrow."

Her eyes widen in horror as she looked at him in astonishment, believing him. Seeing her expression he didn't have the heart to follow through. His expression softened as he unwillingly gave up. He laid back onto the cot letting what had happened sink in as he closed his eyes in frustration.

She looked at him quietly. She couldn't tell him. She just couldn't. Pippa couldn't bear seeing her brother get hurt for her. She loved him to much.

He pried one eye opened and looked at her for a moment as she innocently stared back at him with a soft giggle. He raised himself onto his elbows. A cocky smirk twitched upon his lips for he knew he couldn't stay mad at her for long, no matter how hard he tried. He laid back down, closing his eyes, pretending he didn't care.

"Pippa come closer," Jack whispered.

Hesitant yet intrigued she leaned in closer to her brother.

"Closer."

She leaned in a little more.

"Closer."

A little more.

"Closer."

A little more.

"Ha! Caught Ya!"

She gave a joyous squeal as he pulled her down on top of him. She wriggled and squirmed attempting to break free, but he held her firm, tickling and giving her noogies.

"Ahaha Jack! Ahaha"

He laughed with her as he tickled her a little harder.

"Jack! Ahha You're getting me wet! Ahaha," Pippa cried breathless.

"Jack! Pippa! I hope you two are going to bed. It's late," their mother's voice called.

"Yes Mother."

He stopped, letting her go as she quickly retreated under the covers. He smiled at her as she peeked her head out.

"Sh, sh, close your eyes," Jack hushed softly. "I just have to change and then I can be with you. All right?"

She nodded her head as he tucked her in under the blanket, noticing the small doll missing from his sister's arms. Ever since that Christmas Eve she never slept without it.

"Hey, where's your doll?"

Her eyes grew a little when he had realized the missing doll. She was quiet for a moment, unsure how to answer the question.

"Um... I lost him..." She said in a small voice.

Pippa didn't look at him when she answered, unable to lie to her brother. She was afraid he would be able to see through her words.

"Do you want me to find him?"

She didn't answer.

"I'll look for him in the morning, ok?"

He gave her a reassuring smile.

"I promise everything is going to be fine."

Patting her head, he grabbed his nightclothes from under his pillow as he walked over to the darkest corner to change.

Quickly he peeled off his wet clothing, replacing it with his nightshirt. He laid his clothes along with hers on to the dirt floor to dry.

Her eyelids had become heavy as she started to drift to sleep. She felt the bed shift as her brother slipped in and felt his arm wrap around her. He blew out the candle and everything became dark as she let her eyes close.