Chapter 4: Written by Shan
Bobby tore his eyes away from the game and looked up to the kitchen where he saw his mom and Shan washing the dishes standing in what seemed like comfortable silence. He frowned slightly to himself as he remembered that Shan had said that man, holding a gun to her neck, was her father. Bobby didn't want to believe it but he knew, being a foster kid himself and seeing the ups and down of everything, being to hell and back, that things like that happened all the time.
Bobby was taken out of his trance when he saw Jack get up and head to the kitchen.
''You gonna go clean the kitchen with the ladies Jackie? Ya lil fairy!" Bobby tormented.
''Give it a rest Bobby!" Jack snapped without stopping to look at him.
''You still hungry Jackie?'' Evelyn asked sweetly when she saw him, rolling her eyes at Bobby's antics.
''No way Ma! I'm full as I could ever be. But, I do need to talk to you.'' Jack insisted.
''Alright. Shannon, dear, why don't you go watch the game in the living room with the boys? Ask them anything about hockey and they'll all go off into a three hour rant. It's quite entertaining if you ask me.'' Evelyn smiled.
''Yes mam.'' Shan nodded wiping her hands softly before she walked cautiously towards the living room.
''Now what's going on Jackie?'' Evelyn asked sweetly as she went back to work on her dishes.
''You're not really going to make her leave are you?'' Jack asked. ''You said you thought it would be a good idea if she stayed here for awhile. Aren't you gonna let her stay Ma?''
''Of course she's staying Jackie. But we have to make it seem like it's her decision. She's a tough cookie. She'll be a lost cause to connect with if she feels forced. Does that make sense?'' Evelyn asked her son.
''Yes ma. Perfect sense.'' Jack nodded.
Shan's footsteps, despite her attempt to keep them undetectable, made all the three remaining brothers look up at her.
''Sorry.'' She mumbled as she immediately headed over to the empty window seat and sat down bringing her legs up to her body so she could hug them.
''You ever play hockey?'' Angel asked.
''Nah, I never got out of the house much.'' She mumbled as she nearly growled at Bobby who was staring at her before turning to look out the window not letting the boys see the silent tears that were running down her face.
Something caught her eye a few minutes later through her blurred vision. Red and blue flashing lights on top of a car heading towards the Mercer house. Her Dad had raised her with the fear instilled in her that if she didn't obey the police would come and take her away. He must've called the police when she had run away from him and they must've followed her here. Shan discreetly closed the blinds not wanting to see her fate unravel in front of her, but when she turned around she couldn't hold back her cry of anguish.
Everyone in the house immediately rushed over to her and Evelyn kneeled down right in front of her grabbing her hands gently as she calmly pleaded for Shan to talk to her.
''Don't let them get me.'' Shannon mumbled the tears continuously falling. ''I'm sorry I was bad. Please. I-''
Someone knocking on the door stopped Shan mid-sentence and jump so high even Bobby flinched. He, being the one who was closest to her, was who Shan jumped behind shaking mentally begging him to be her protector.
''I'm really sorry. I wasn't gonna shoot you. I don't even like guns!'' Shan rambled grabbing onto him from behind.
Jack walked over and peeled her off of Bobby. Shan didn't care she just needed somebody so she turned to Jack with desperateness and her eyes. They were doing the pleading her mouth no longer was.
Bobby took one look back at her before strolling over to the front door already knowing he was there. The brothers must have been too distracted with the television to notice the sirens but Shan had seen them when she looked out the window…
R&R please.