Author's Note: Contains bad language. Of course these are the Mercers we're talking about. Enjoy.
The Bridges We Burn
Chapter Nine: The Fight
"Justin! Justin is coming to pick me up Thursday? I fucking hate that guy!" Jaime exclaimed. Angel and Bobby exchanged glances, both wondering what 'that guy' did to make Jaime 'hate' him so much.
"No offense Jack," Jaime added softly as an afterthought. Bobby and Angel once again passed looks. Why would that be offensive to Jack?
"None taken. Figures she would be back with him. I mean, he can treat her like shit as much as he wants and she always comes back," Jack answered sounding more dispirited than angry. No matter what kind of person Sabrina was, she deserved better than Justin. While Jack was feeling bad for Sabrina, like he always did, Jaime was feeling nothing but anger.
"I can't believe she would do this to me! This is low even for her! To take off God-knows-where and then to send Justin to come and pick me up. I would rather live on the streets," Jaime vented to himself. He just couldn't believe it. Bobby on the other hand was feeling strangely happy. He didn't like whatever this guy had done to Jaime, but he did like the emotions Jaime felt towards him. Bobby couldn't explain it even to himself.
"I'm confused. I mean, I spend a lot of my time confused. But right now- I'm more confused than even my normally confused state," Angel admitted. Jack and Jaime couldn't help but laugh at the, well, confusing statement Angel had made. Bobby on the other hand just gave him a squinted look.
"You are an insult to mankind," Bobby told him shaking his head. "I'm bored. Lets go skate," he added controlling the situation as he always did.
"What? What did I say? Bobby- you do not decide when a conversation is over! This is not a dictatorship!" Angel yelled after him, ignoring the fact that both Jaime and Jack were already following Bobby outside.
"Angel, get your ass out here now!" Bobby yelled from the car. Angel grimaced and hurriedly followed.
"Coming!"
--
The park wasn't in the best part of town. In hindsight Jaime knew that he probably shouldn't have agreed to go skating there given what had gone down only a few days ago. But the temptation to forget about Justin and Sabrina had just been too strong. In the end he knew it really came down to a matter of desire instead of common sense.
He should have known that when the day started off bad it would probably only get worse. He had plenty of experience in that department. That was why Jaime was only the least bit surprised when Sweet exited his signature '66 Mustang followed by his three fellow…coworkers.
"Well if it isn't little Jaime Wood. A bit soon to be shown your face around here aint it?" Sweet questioned menacingly. The anger in his voice was all too evident. Jaime was glad when he saw Bobby, Jack, and Angel approaching them. Then Jaime inwardly scoffed. He didn't need help. He got himself into this shit and he could get himself out.
"Sweet, what a nice surprise. Fancy meeting you here. In a public park. Of all places," Jaime retorted. Sweet looked to his men and laughed.
"Kid, you honestly think that this place being public would stop me from putting a bullet right in the middle of your pretty head? Shit kid, look around you. This aint Pleasantville," Sweet answered with a laugh. Jaime cursed himself. Of course Sweet was right.
"Sweet, what have I told you about messing with little kids? Really man, people will get the wrong idea," Bobby answered from behind him. Bobby wasn't sure why Sweet was talking to Jaime but he was sure as hell going to find out. Jack took a protective stance in front of the kid and Bobby couldn't help but smirk. The idea of his little brother trying to protect anyone was so out of character.
"This little kid owes me a lot of money and a lot of explaining," Sweet answered, unfazed by the three older guys. He would get what he wanted one way or the other. The three guys behind Sweet continued to look intimidating but they were more accessories than anything. Sweet didn't need them, and they knew it.
Bobby glared at Jaime questionably before turning his gaze back to Sweet. Jaime would have a lot of explaining to do to him too. He had always told Jack that he would beat the daylights of him if he ever caught him working with or for Sweet. Then again, Jaime wasn't Jack. To be completely honest, Bobby had no reason to be upset that Jaime was working for Sweet if that was even the case.
"I told you I don't know anything about your fucking money!" Jaime replied bitterly. Jack scrutinized Jaime and he could see it…Jaime was lying. He did know. Of course Jaime was basically unreadable to most people, so whether or not Sweet would buy the lie was unknown.
"That's bullshit! You and that whore of a mother of yours took my money and drugged my guy!" Sweet responded. Guess he didn't believe the lie after all.
"Hey- there's no need for name calling," Angel said but Jaime shook his head.
"No it's true, she is a whore," Jaime stated matter-of-factly, and dare he say…amusedly. Bobby nodded in agreement. Jack didn't bother to agree or disagree. He was still focused on the last part of Sweet's statement.
Drugged my guy
Taking his money and running off- that sounded exactly like something Jaime and Sabrina would do. But drugging a guy? That didn't sound like Jaime at all. Jaime wouldn't really hurt someone. Jack was drawn out of his musing when Sweet dove at him, trying to get to Jaime. Jack hit the ground unceremoniously before grabbing Jaime's wrist and jerking him to the ground also, out of Sweet's way.
Bobby was furious. He jumped at Sweet, smashing his fists into Sweet's jaw. Sweet's men kicked and punched him, trying to free their leader. Angel did his best to pull them off of him, but he was outnumbered. They all froze when a shot was fired.
"Hey, what's going on here!" A policeman yelled, waving his gun in the air. For the first time in…well, his whole life, Bobby Mercer was glad to see a cop.
--
After breaking up the argument, the cop had given the boys a not-so-subtle threat to go home. Bobby had been more than happy to comply.
"You want to explain what that was all about?" Bobby asked Jaime seriously as soon as they walked into the house. It felt oddly nice to be home.
"No," Jaime replied shortly, making a beeline for Jack's room. Bobby grabbed his shoulder and looked at him incredulously.
"What the fuck do you mean 'no'? We were just attacked by Sweet and his guys! Who, by the way, have a lot of fucking connections and know where we live! Not to mention we were thrown out of the public park by the cops. Now you better fucking start explaining and I mean it!" Bobby yelled. Jack took a tentative step forward, getting ready to step in if necessary. He knew how stubborn Jaime could be.
"Look kid, when Bobby says 'fuck' three times in like…fifteen seconds you know he means business," Angel said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Bobby glared at him.
"Just shut the fuck up Angel!" Bobby growled. Angel held up four fingers but wisely kept his mouth shut.
"I don't have to tell you a damn thing! You aren't my goddamned father!" Jaime screamed, breaking out of Bobby's hold and taking off up the stairs. Bobby wanted to rush after him and smack the shit out of the kid, but Jaime was right. Bobby wasn't his father. So technically he couldn't do anything to him.
"Fine! I'll just call your friend Justin and see if he can straighten you out!" Bobby screamed after him knowing it was an empty threat. He already planned to beat the crap out of Justin the minute he saw him.
"Bobby," Jack said pleadingly. Bobby cringed. It was the way Jack always said his name when he wanted something. He looked at Jack with what he hoped was anger and not indulgence.
"Just let him be. He's just upset," Jack begged. Bobby shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Fine. I'll just let Sweet handle it then. After all, like the kid said, I'm not his father," Bobby answered petulantly. Jack shrugged also.
"There's a way of figuring out for sure," He answered casually. Bobby stared at him unbelievingly.
"You can't mean-" He started, unwilling to finish the statement.
"A paternity test. It doesn't normally take that long- like forty-eight hours, and then you can know for sure," Jack confirmed Bobby's fear. Bobby shook his head. No way. There was no way.
"C'mon man, what harm could it do?" Angel agreed. Then, Angel snap his fingers in excitement. "We could call Maury! That would be cool right?"
But Bobby was thinking of few other words besides 'cool'.