"Oh my gosh that was so much fun." Jules smiled and laughed as she and Josh made their way back into the house through the back door.

Jack had settled himself on the couch, trying to relax and let his plan he conjured up, set in place.

"Hey Dad." Jules said sweetly as she and her brother headed into the living room and she fell back on the couch, next to her father. "How ya feeling?"

"Oh—I'm fine. But would you mind—would you mind grabbing my meds and a glass of water for me off the counter?" He pulled a pitiful look that sank right through her.

"Be right back." She spoke, jumping up and running to the kitchen.

Josh shot him a glare, "Don't you dare—."

"Hush Boy—I've got this."

Josh shook his head sternly, "She's not gonna stay here and work for you—we talked, she's got a family back in Toronto—her team."

"That's not her family, son, she belongs here." Her father stated, sitting up sternly.

"You cant tell her what she can and cant do." Josh defended.

A fist hit him across the face. He turned and headed for the stairs, "No wonder she left—."

Jules who was returned back into the living room. "Here you go dad." She said, handing him the water and pills.

"Thank you sweetheart—Just as sweet as when you were little."

Jules giggled, "So where'd Josh go?"

"Leave him—He's just mad over something."

She glanced around the room then nodded. "I'm gonna go—I'm gonna head up to my room for a bit. It's been a long day."

Her father stared at her for a moment, then shrugged it off and let her leave.

"Josh—?" Jules whispered as she came to his bedroom door. "Oh my—Josh?" She stopped as he turned to face her with a wet cloth covered in blood was being held to his nose. "He didn't—."

Josh nodded, "He told me I couldn't leave once I came back. I didn't want you to know—but he's back to his old shit. He says it takes away the pain of him getting old. So he just takes it out on me."

"Josh—." Jules sighed, sitting him down on his bed and taking the cloth into her hands and holding it on his face, "Why haven't you left other times?"

"I'm not as strong as you, sis. He'll come after me—I've got no one protecting me."

Jules sighed but let out a little giggle, "But your baby sister does? I'm the one who did steroids because I wasn't strong enough."

He nodded, "But you've got a team—a family that loves you."

"I also have a family. You—and our bothers—and our father."

"Jules, just—tonight—get out of here, I don't want to see you go through the pain you did when you were little. Back then he did it out of grief—now its out of pain. He doesn't want you to go back and—."

"Stand up—both of you." A sudden voice broke from the doorway.

Jack Callaghan stood with his arms crossed but ready to lunge out.

"Dad—." Jules sighed as she handed Josh the cloth and they both stood up. Josh put a hand in front of her, pushing her back.

"Don't defend your sister, boy—she can handle herself. I've always taught you two to respect me, and this is what I get in return? Talking about me behind my back?"

"But Dad—." Jules started again. Jack stepped forward and slapped her across the face, making her fall back against the wall.

"Damn it don't touch her!" Josh yelled, slinging his fist at his father, only to be knocked across the forehead and to the ground. He opened his eyes to see Jules falling against the wall, holding her face in tears—their father was gone. "Come here." Josh whispered, grabbing his head in pain as he sat up and took her hand. "He placed two hands on her arms and lifted her next to him on the edge of his bed. "He's gone." He whispered again, wrapping his arms around her.

Jules shook her head slowly, "I knew there was a reason I never came home—I knew it. He just couldn't stay away from hurting us—and after all these years we've never told on him."

"Maybe its time—I mean, you could get your team to—."

"What team? Ever since what happened, they don't want to have anything to do with me and I don't want to have anything to do with them."

Josh sighed and pulled Jules' legs over his lap, "I'm sorry for making him get all mad and upset. Are you okay?"

Jules nodded slowly and pressed her face against his chest. "It's been a long time since we've had to do this."

"He hits me about once a week—and that's a good week. I remember when right after mom died he would yell and scream and beat us for not understanding the pain of him losing his wife."

"When I was 14—I remember the time when he hit me so hard I couldn't go to school for days."

"This is completely out of control. Its been going on our whole lives. But now that he's old and getting weaker—he's turned to illegal steroids for more strength. Jules—That's why he was so freaked out by you doing them."

Jules let out a soft gasp and let her eyes fall to Josh's shoulder, "We've gotta help him."

"But what if—."

"He kills us? Well, we wont let that happen. Josh—we've gotta help him and get out of here. I'm not leaving you again."

"Jules, you're my little sister, you don't need to be taking care of me."

She sighed, "We're going to deal with this together—no matter how much pain he puts us through."

"And how the hell are we going to do that?"

Jules stood up and walked to her room, Josh following closely, "We become equal with him." She stuck her hand into her bag and pulled out a smaller bag, unzipping it slowly.

"Jules—?"

She looked up at him as she pulled out two vials and needles, "No one ever found them. Just a few injections and we can wipe out what he's done to himself—plus, I have a plan."

Josh shook his head low and brushed his fingers through his light brown hair, "I'm gonna trust that." He whispered, taking the needle and vials from her hand and shoving them in his pocket of his jacket. He smiled at her then pulled her into a hug, feeling her wrap her arms tightly around him and take a deep breath against his chest.

The reason why she had come home was now affecting her in the only place she had found some sort of peace…This could only end in disaster.

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