Chapter 3

If you think uv read this ur wrong. I fixed it up better. Most of this chapter is the same, but some isn't. I'm working on making it better, please don't give up on me!

"Bobby I came as soon as I found out! Is he okay doctor?" She asked worriedly as she turned and faced the doctor.

"May I ask who you are ma'am?" He asked politely.

"I'm Jack's new social worker."

"Okay then follow me and I'll discuss his condition in detail." The doctor said as he motioned Evelyn out of the room.

"Hey, Jess could you do me a favor?" Bobby asked.

Jessica turned serious at Bobby's tone. "Sure Bobby, what's wrong?"

"Well my story doesn't exactly match Jack's story. I was wondering if you could tell him pass a message to him from me. I mean you see him conscious before the cops will." Bobby's eyes pleaded.

"I new you were full of shit Mercer." She said with a grin. "Yeah, I guess I can do that."

"Okay well here's what he needs to say to the police. Tell him to say that his old man had been beating on him when the door was thrown open. People came into the house and murdered his foster bitch and then took him from the house and strangled him, leaving him thinking he was dead. Then that's all he needs to say okay?" Bobby explained.

"God Bobby did you really have to kill the guy?" Jessica said in disapproval.

"You saw the kid. That man deserves death." Bobby justified.

Jessica let out a defeated sigh and gave Bobby a cute smile. "Well Bobby I think I'll take my leave now. I gotta be their when the kid comes out of surgery after all." She winked at him and took her leave.

The time passed. Bobby gave his story to the police then explained the real story to his mother. Time seemed to go by very slowly. Then about two hours later Jessica walked into the room where two police officers, Bobby, and a social worker (aka Evelyn) sat waiting, uncomfortable with each others company.

"Okay," Jessica began with a hint of stress in her voice. "Jack is awake now and he's no longer under the influence of the anesthetics so it's okay to talk to him now. But please tread carefully; he has experienced some emotional trauma. If he refuses to answer questions then let him be and you can pick up with your questions when he's released. Until then, do not push him." She paused and took a glance at everyone in the room. "Do you understand?"

Everyone, but Bobby nodded. He wouldn't be seeing the kid more than likely until Evelyn and the police were done with him.

"Good. Police officers first, please follow me." Jessica said as she lead them out of the room.

Silence filled the room. Bobby was enjoying the peace and quiet until his mother spoke up. "I want to adopt him."

Bobby about flew out of his chair. She was so straight forward, it surprised him. "Ma, can't you just find the kid a good home. Like an actual good home instead of a shitty one. I mean haven't you done enough community service with us." Bobby whined.

Evelyn gave him a disapproving look, but her voice stayed calm and gentle. "Bobby I never considered any of you to be community service and you know that. As to your suggestion about a good home…well no one will take him. All of his past social workers have tried; no good family will take him. They say he's to broken to be fixed. Bobby he needs me. His life could easily be described as a horror movie. Bobby I looked at his file when I was fighting to get custody as his social worker and it's by far the worst case I have ever seen." Evelyn's eyes showed signs of tears.

Bobby let out a sad sigh. "Okay Ma, fine, but this one is gonna be hard. You know that right?"

Evelyn nodded her head sadly. "Yeah and I also know that that's why he needs me."

After their little conversation they spent the rest of the time in silence until about 45 minutes later when the cops went past the waiting room and out the front door. Jessica followed behind them, but stopped by Evelyn and Bobby.

"Okay Ms. Mercer, Jack can see you now." Jessica said with a tired smile on her face.

"Can I come too?" Bobby asked.

Jessica thought about it for a moment before she answered. "I'm not really supposed to let you, but if it's okay with Ms. Mercer than sure why not."

"Jessica honey, call my Evelyn, and Bobby, yes you can come, but I don't want you to say a word unless he or I talk to you and for heavens sake do not, under any circumstances, loose your temper." Evelyn said seriously.

"Okay, okay geez I get it." Bobby said throwing his hands in the air.

Jessica smiled again. "Okay then follow me." She said as she led them down the hall and into a real room instead of one with a curtain.

Once Bobby and Evelyn were inside the room, Jessica quietly left shutting the door behind her.

When Evelyn laid eyes on the boy her heart went out to the sickly figure. His wrists and ankles were strapped to the bed, his hand that wasn't casted was balled into a fist. His eyes looked distant and full of pain and distress.

"Jack?" Evelyn said trying to get his attention.

Jack made no attempt at answering so Evelyn continued. "Jack, remember me? Evelyn? Well I want you to know that I'm here for you. You'll be staying with me when you're released."

She paused hoping for a reaction but once again the broken child showed no sign that he heard a word she said.

"Okay, well I'll be back to visit you tomorrow sweety." She said as she gave one last sad look at him before her and Bobby exited the room.

Jessica was right there to greet him. "Did he say anything? He was totally unresponsive for me and then for the cops also." She said with hope that maybe he opened up to Evelyn.

To her disappointment Evelyn shook her head sadly. "Why does he have restraints on? He doesn't look like he's going to go anywhere." Evelyn asked.

A pained expression crossed Jessica's facial features before she spoke. "When he woke up he went into hysterics. He couldn't believe that he was still alive. He kept wondering why we worked so desperately to keep him alive when everyone else wanted him dead. He took the morphine drip IV from his arm and attempted to slash his wrists with it but thank god an orderly was able to restrain him. He had to be sedated so we could get him to calm down and stop screaming and thrashing. When he woke up, he was like that." She said having a few of her own tears slid down her weary face.

"Oh god. That poor child." Evelyn wrapped Jessica in a hug and when she released her she looked firmly into her eyes. "I promise I'm going to help him. I want him to be a Mercer and I'll do whatever it takes to make him one." Jessica smiled at her and gave her another hug. "I'll be back tomorrow Jessica. Please tell me if anything with him changes."

Evelyn and Bobby exited the hospital with the image of that broken child burned into their thoughts. There was no way they were going to let him end back up in the system. No way.