A/N: Ok, firstly, I'm sorry it's been so long with an update. I know this is a short chapter, but I'm kind of stuck in a rut right now, and I'm having a lot of family/work problems, so I'm really trying here, but it's not going so well. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, or added me to their respective lists. You're the only reason I've made any attempt at writing.
Bobby was half-way to the stairs when he heard Evelyn yell his name. He bolted towards the stairs, and nearly slammed into Evelyn, who was running towards the front door.
"Bobby, catch him!" She begged, still trying to regain her balance, and get to the door.
Bobby nodded, not needing to hear an explanation, and pushed by her, and out the door.
He could just barely see the Elf's blond hair as the small boy darted around the corner. Bobby sped up, and rounded the same corner about seven seconds later.
"Jack! Jackie, stop!" He yelled, slowly gaining on the Elf.
Jack didn't bother with an answer. He kept on running… running straight towards…
The highway.
"Jack, stop!" Bobby screamed. "Jack!"
He was only a few feet… a few inches…
A semi was barreling down the road. Easily doing eighty. No way the driver could stop, even if he seen the small boy, which was highly unlikely.
So close…
Bobby reached out…
And his hand connected with the back on Jack's sweatshirt. He yanked back as hard as he could, and was rewarded with Jackie falling on his chest, bowling them both over.
"Let me go! Let me go!" Jack screamed.
Bobby couldn't help it. He sat there in the damp grass, clutching Jackie as hard as he could. Finally, when he'd regained his breath, and pulled his emotions under control, he spoke. "Fuck, Jack, what were you thinking?! You would have died!"
Jack finally stopped struggling, and lay limp in Bobby's tight grip. "Have to go… Have to go…"
"Why do you have to go, Jackie? Why? Just tell me why. I thought you were happy," Bobby pleaded.
Jack was silent for a moment. Then, "Made you sad. Have to leave." His eyes pleaded for Bobby to understand.
"Oh god, Jack, is that what this is about? Jack, you didn't make me sad. I made me sad, ok? You had nothing to do with it. Shit, Jack. You know how scared I was? Jesus…" Bobby slowly stood up, and brushed off his jeans. He grabbed Jack by the shoulders, and looked him in the eye. "If you ever, ever do something like that again, I swear I'll… I'll… hell, I don't even know what I'll do! You have any idea how scared I was?! Jesus, Jackie… Look, I don't care how sad or pissed off you make me, don't you ever do that again, you hear me?"
Jackie looked up at him with his big blue eyes. He hesitated, then threw his arms around Bobby, and clung to him for dear life.
Bobby had to struggle to hear the Elf's words as he made his way back to the house.
"Please don't make me go."