The Bridges We Burn
Chapter Ten: The Truth About Cars
Bobby didn't understand. He didn't understand why he cared about Jaime. He didn't understand why he hated the idea of someone taking him away. And he didn't understand why in the hell he was agreeing to get a paternity test. It was a waste of time. Bobby already knew that he wasn't Jaime's father, and Jaime already knew that he wasn't his son. So it was a waste of time, not to mention money.
But here they were, on a Monday morning, sitting in a doctor's office waiting to be called back. Bobby noticed Jaime's stubborn glare that was aimed at his hands. It had taken Jack a lot of time to convince Jaime to get the test done. Jaime thought it was as pointless as Bobby did and was a little more open to admitting so. Since yesterday, Jaime had barely said three words to Bobby.
Jack sat across from them, drumming his fingers on the table of magazines between them. Jack always did something with his hands when he was nervous. Bobby couldn't see why Jack was so adamant about getting the test done, or why he got so angry when Bobby swore Jaime wasn't his kid. Why did Jack care at all?
"Bobby Mercer and Jaime Wood," A nurse called from the door that separated the offices from the waiting room. Bobby stood up and pulled a reluctant Jaime up by his arm.
"Lets get this over with," Bobby muttered, hoping it might encourage the kid to cooperate. Luckily, it did. Jaime followed Bobby and the nurse through the door and into an empty doctor's office. Jack had to stay behind in the waiting room, since this was supposedly 'confidential'.
"They doctor will be with you shortly," The nurse announced, smiling before leaving the room. Bobby didn't answer her, he was too focused on the thirteen-year old kid who was now sitting in the vacant chair a couple of feet from him.
"Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday okay? I was just…worried and pissed off I guess," Bobby said after a long silence. Jaime just shrugged making Bobby fume. Did the kid know how rarely he apologized to anyone?
"Sweet is dangerous-" Bobby began.
"I didn't take his money," Jaime cut him off. "I'm not saying that I don't know where it is. But I didn't take it. And I definitely didn't drug any guy." Bobby studied Jaime carefully, not sure whether to believe him or not. Jaime must have noticed the judgmental look because he sighed and looked back down at his hands.
"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not. I know the truth," Jaime said quietly. Before Bobby could answer the doctor walked in and placed a manila envelope down on the counter.
"It says here that you two are wanting a paternity test," The doctor stated. Jaime and Bobby just looked at him.
"I'm assuming you're the father-to-be," The doctor gestured to Bobby when he didn't receive an answer.
"You know what they say about assuming things, Doc," Bobby answered impatiently. The doctor gave him a tight smile.
"Well then, lets not waste anymore time huh?"
--
Jaime didn't say anything on the ride home. It was odd that in his mind, Jaime had started to refer to the Mercer house as 'home'. He rarely referred to anywhere as home. Even places he had lived much longer. But something about it made him think that if there ever were such a place, it would be like Jack and Bobby's house.
Jaime continued his silent, teenage-angst act, but in all honesty he wasn't mad at Bobby for what had happened in the park. He was somewhat upset about Bobby not believing him, but even that didn't bother him as much as his threat to 'call Justin'. It was bad enough to know that his mother was sending Justin to pick him up- a guy that she knew had never caused him anything but pain, but it was somehow a lot worse to know that Bobby was just as eager to pass him off to the bastard himself.
That Bobby was eager to get rid of him. Of course it was ridicules for Jaime to be even remotely upset about it. Bobby shouldn't have to deal with him any longer than necessary, but he was almost hoping that he would be able to stay a bit longer. Maybe until Christmas. He hadn't spent Christmas with Jack in a long time.
And then there was that. The fact that Jack didn't want Bobby to know about him. To know the truth. Jaime wouldn't admit it out loud, but it hurt him. It even made him ashamed, to know what Jack really thought about him. Not that he could blame him, but it would be nice…
"I do believe you," Bobby said, bringing Jaime out of his musing. Jack looked at him with confusion, but Bobby continued to stare at Jaime through the review mirror. Jaime was confused for a moment as well, before remembering the conversation they were having before the doctor had arrived in the office to take the DNA samples. Jaime shrugged.
"Either way it doesn't matter," Jaime said, though he knew it was a lie. It did matter. Jaime wanted Bobby to believe him. Wanted him to know that he wasn't all bad. Bobby focused his attention back on the road but continued the conversation.
"What do you mean, 'it doesn't matter'?" Bobby answered. Jaime was about to shrug again, but figured it was probably getting old. He settled with sighing dramatically instead.
"Either way Sweet is still going to think I know where his money is, and he's still going to come after me. Like you said, he knows where you live, and he knows I'm staying with you. It's probably best if I leave and stay somewhere else until Justin gets here," Jaime told him. Even as he was saying it though, he was hating the idea. The idea of leaving and selling more drugs so that he could rent a junky hotel room.
"No. That's not happening," Jack argued before Bobby could say anything. "You're not going to get fucked in the alley by some pothead so that you can go back to Parkview or somewhere else worse and wait for that…that bastard to come get you!" Jaime's eyes grew wide at Jack's speech, not believing that he would yell out his personal life and problems with Bobby around. It was too late though. The damage was done.
"What the fuck do you mean?" Bobby yelled. Jaime cringed with embarrassment before aiming his anger at Jack.
"Why would you say that? I don't go around yelling your personal life to everyone!" Jaime hollered, piercing Jack with accusing eyes. Bobby pulled over to the side of the road sharply, ignoring the car that honked behind them.
"I…it just came out. I didn't mean it to," Jack said apologetically.
"What the hell is going on here?" Bobby interrupted before Jaime could say anything else. Jaime and Jack both stopped talking, unsure of what to say.
"What, now the two of you decide to go quiet? Jack, I've been waiting patiently long enough for you to explain this shit to me. I'm tired of it now. I want to know what's going on!" Bobby demanded, looking back and forth from Jack to Jaime. Jack struggled to come up with an answer.
"He's embarrassed to admit it," Jaime said to no one in particular. He moved his gaze to the window and wished he could be far away from where they were now.
"I'm not embarrassed!" Jack protested looking at Bobby. Then he switched his focus to Jaime. "I'm not embarrassed."
"Then why?" Jaime asked quietly, not moving his eyes from the window.
"For the love of God Jack, tell me what's going on!" Bobby yelled more loudly than necessary. He was frustrated and quickly loosing whatever little bit of patience he still had. Jack knew Bobby was getting angry, but this wasn't how he planned on telling him. Not on the side of the highway in a car.
"Is that why? You haven't told I mean? Because I've slept with men for money? Because I only do that when I have to. You know, when I don't have any money. It's not like we can stay somewhere for free and…" Jaime trailed off, knowing he was sounding like a moron. It all made sense now and he couldn't see why he hadn't noticed this before. Of course he was ashamed of him. He was a prostitute.
"No. No! Jaime...you know that's not it. You know I'm not ashamed of you. I just…" Jack tried to explain his reasoning, but it seemed like both Jaime and Bobby were right. He should have told everyone by now. He just didn't know how.
"Jack?" Bobby pleaded, sounding desperate. Jack finally gave in. They were right. It was time.
"Sabrina…she's my mom Bobby," Jack admitted, trying to ignore the shocked look his older brother gave him.
"The kid she told you about…the one in foster care," Jack continued, but Bobby was shaking his head.
"Shit. No…shit that can't…I mean…I slept with your mom?" Bobby finally asked, feeling both stupid and disgusted. He should have seen this all along. Sabrina's shock towards seeing Jack. Jack knowing Jaime. Sabrina taking off so quickly. He should have known.
"You didn't know," Jack told him as if he were reading his mind. Bobby continued to shake his head.
"I should have. I should have known. It was so fucking obvious," Bobby said to himself. Bobby was feeling so many things at once. Anger at Sabrina and Jack for not telling him sooner. Sadness that Jaime had went through so much shit. Guilt that he could have possibly been this kid's father all along.
Jaime on the other hand was filled with guilt, shame, and devastation. He mother hadn't given a shit about him. Bobby wouldn't want to share a home or a life with a prostitute. And Jack still hadn't said it. Hadn't admitted that he was his brother. He would admit that Sabrina was his mother, and while that obviously meant that Jaime was his brother, he hadn't been willing to say it aloud. It was obvious that he was a fuckup. He didn't deserve to call anywhere home.
Jack and Bobby were pulled out of their trances by the sound of the back car door opening, and the sight of Jaime running across the busy highway.
"Shit!" Jack screamed, immediately taking off after him. It seemed to Jack that he could hear his brother's bones crushing long before he saw the car slam Jaime's body into the pavement. Jack screamed again, running to where Jaime was bleeding. The car swerved, hit its brakes, and came to a stop.
Bobby didn't hear anything. Not Jack's screaming. Not the other drivers calling for help. Not the people on their cell phones dialing 9-1-1. All he could notice was Jaime's body lying in an unnatural position.
And how for the first time, Bobby thought Jaime really did look like him.
Author's Note: Jaime isn't gay- thought I'd get that out of the way. Sorry for the delay, and please excuse any grammar errors. I've been so busy. Thanks to everyone who's still reading this.