A/N: YOOOOOOO so thanks for the 19 reviews! Keep it up! Sorry if this is bad. Please review!
WARNING: Flashback of violence.
I do not own Breaking Bad or any of its characters.
Frankie had harshly dragged him, in the middle of his sleep, out of the pit and into their clubhouse where most of the drunken gang stood (it was late and some of them had gone home). He yanked on Jesse's lengthy hair and pushed him ahead, causing Jesse to stumble forwards, nearly tripping, with a gasp. He stood in the middle of the room, beginning to tremble as the scent of alcohol filled the room. "Hey, rat." Uncle Jack slurred, cigarette in his mouth while he smiled wickedly. "Know why you're here?" He added.
Jesse glance about, trying not to take note of some of the gang members tightening their fists or winking at him. His bottom lip began to quiver as he faced back to Jack with a stare of utter fear, tears now noticeable in his eyes. Anyone else would have felt guilt, remorse, anything as a result to the despair look Jesse gave, but Uncle Jack just smiled wider. "Your cook. It was damn well lower than the last one you did. Busy jackin' off at the job, rat?" Jesse gave a sheepish expression and blankly waited for the scene to pass on, hoping on his life that it wouldn't evolve to anything of much violence. It was pointless to hope any of that because it happened anyway.
One of the gang members violently pushed him forwards, resulting in Jesse to fall flat on his face against the floor, barely missing the sharp point of their glass coffee table which was placed in the centre between about three sofas. The room burst with drunken laughter as Jesse struggled to get up from the floor, only to be aggressively kicked down again. Most of the crew surrounded as the others drank more beer and snickered as the group harassment went along.
They had kicked him in all places of his body, heavily stepped on him (his face mostly) with their filthy footwear, spit on him, called him appalling words and said vile things, Frankie even started to strangle him with his bare hands until he nearly fainted. It all eventually lead up to Jesse coughing up a storm until blood came out from his throat as he curled up on the floor, quiet whimpers slipping out of his mouth. He was pretty sure that one of them has busted a few of his ribs.
"Hey, the rat's cryin'. Not loud though; that ain't fun." Kenny taunted, earning a few snickers from the gang. He picked up a handful of Jesse's hair and slammed his head against table, triggering the far younger man to yelp in pain. Kenny leant forwards to get closer to Jesse's ear, "Now, your last batch was 87-fuckin-percent." He growled. "You outta be workin' twice as hard next time, right?" Kenny added in a nicer tone that Jesse never wanted to hear again. His eyes were wide and he was shaking under Kenny's grip, faintly nodding given the position that he was in.
Kenny let go and Jesse let himself fall to the floor before Kenny jerked him back up to sit in kneeling position. Uncle Jack put out his cigarette at the ashtray placed on the table and walked forwards, pulling out a switch blade from the back pocket of his pants. Jesse held in more tears as few were already falling out.
Jack knelt, one knee up, to level up to Jesse, who looked more traumatised than ever before. Jack got hold of Jesse from the back of his head, gripping onto his long hair which made Jesse grunt from the soreness of his scalp. "Just so we get this clear," Uncle Jack started as he brought the knife closer to Jesse's face. His grip tightened so that Jesse couldn't turn away. "People are payin' fine cash for this meth here, a'right? Next time you get somethin' lower than 90," He pierced the knife right below Jesse's right eye, enough to allow blood to flow out of his flesh. Jesse began to breathe quickly and let out groans as a painful stinging hit against his skin. He's gonna cut out my eye... Oh God oh God oh God... Jesse must have accidentally whispered that aloud because the others gave out quiet snickers. "You're losin' the eye." And with that, he released the gang's pet, allowing him to sink in the threat. Jesse finally let out a whimper, which lead to him crying aloud, covering his face with his hands that later grew bloody due to the new cut below his eye.
"Aw. Think ya hurt his feelin's, Jack." Frankie laughed which made Jesse sob louder. Jack grinned and abruptly backhanded Jesse across the face, causing the younger man to roughly fall to his side.
"Shut the fuck up, rat." Jack growled in a threatening tone. Jesse quieted himself down yet couldn't hold back his hitching breath and the hiccuping coming from his mouth. Uncle Jack stared down at him with complete and utter contempt, as if he were inferior; just gum at the end of a shoe and nothing more. "Hey Kenny, go take this little bitch back to his hole. Make sure he doesn't get fed for the next couple'a days." Kenny nodded and picked up Jesse like he was nothing, later putting him over his shoulder. It made sense, though. Jesse was not only profusely smaller than all of them in the first place, but now he was much lighter due to lack of nourishment that they gave him.
After Kenny locked the grate and covered the pit with the tarp, he drunkenly wobbled back, his voice becoming one of the many from the clubhouse.
And now, Jesse could honestly say that he was afraid of the dark.
He had spent the next few days hiding from alleys to alleys, using up all his money on cheap nourishment and water, and wasting a bit on drugs bought in one of the alleys he'd stumbled upon.
His facial started to grow out again, not much; mostly just stubble. His clothes were still cold and damp from being caught in the rain countless nights. There were days where people would recognize him and he'd have to make a run for it. He ate from trash cans and took people's stray cups of coffee that were usually never at least half-full.
Jesse thought about high-jacking a car to finally get out of there, but figured that he wouldn't have a chance, and considering that he didn't even know how to high jack a car properly.
A week eventually went by and he began to look at the state he was when he had escaped from the gang hideout, except he had his short hair.
He stuck with the homeless, and a lot of times within the week, he was offered drugs and took whatever he could get to numb out the pain.
From to time, the police did stroll by, sometimes they'd see him, sometimes they wouldn't, either way he looked somewhat different by now. The only time he was comforted in any of this was by the occasional other homeless person who happened to wander or stroll past him.
Skyler watched Flynn quickly stroll into Wynne as the bell rung. He didn't look back to his mother to say goodbye, he didn't smile anymore either, hell, he barely spoke. Skyler watched as he faded into the crowd of teenagers, massaging her temple as she did so. After the doors were shut close, she started the engine and backed out of the driveway, ignoring the distasteful stares from other people (possibly parents or other friends).
She got that a lot now. Stares from other people. The name 'White' was now a disgrace to her family and a lot of people around her. She was slightly glad that he was dead but... also grieved over it. The reason to that was unknown, even to her.
Then there was that Pinkman kid. It's been three weeks so far and they still hadn't caught him. Hell, he's probably off to another state by now. But then again, his face is everywhere, so there's no really hiding. She felt bad for him and rooted on his side to not get caught. After all he's been through... he deserves rest; a break. Skyler felt a mother instinct increase inside of her and grew worried to what could have happened to the kid in the past week and a half, whether he's probably already dead, probably overdosed on some sort of drug somewhere.
She drove along the road until her eyes made a double take to a man standing near an alley at the sidewalk, he wore a hood over his face and wore very familiar clothes.
Jesse stepped out of an alley and panted heavily, stealing someone's drink and attempting to steal their food as well would do that to you. It was a close one too, considering that Jesse's legs still wouldn't seem to function properly. People were eyeing him, but quickly went back to their own business.
Jesse noticed as a car pulled up right in front of him, so he self-consciously moved along the sidewalk just in case the driver would recognise him... but... the car followed him as well.
Growing panicked, he walked faster until he made a turn. Was it a cop? Maybe the driver did recognise him. He pulled over his hood and sped up, only to find his legs failing him. He was so deathly exhausted.
Up ahead of the convenient stores were alleys in between, where Jesse had fled into and hoped that the anonymous driver hadn't seen him or won't take much interest in following him through there. He hid behind a wall in the alley as it stretched further down; it led to trash shoots and backsides of stores. He wiped away his tearing eyes and exhaled sharply.
"Excuse me?" A disembodied feminine voice had spoken from somewhere that Jesse couldn't find. He thrashed his head about, trying to find the person of this voice. A familiar blonde walked into the open, giving a sad smile as she did so. "You're... Jesse. Right?" It was a rhetorical question in which Jesse hadn't replied to.
He looked afraid, and giving up. It reminded Skyler a little bit of a lost puppy who'd just been kicked and left out to die. He stared, short breathed, and backing up further against the wall. "Look... I want to... I want to help." She looked... tired, exhausted actually. Stressed. Who could blame her? But that didn't exactly make Jesse feel any better. Skyler reminded him too much of Mr. White, and he wanted nothing to do with that anymore. "I could, um... Take you to my house. I still have leftovers of breakfast, if you're hungry... You could clean up..."
Jesse enigmatically stared, "...Why?" He asked out of curiosity, in a brittle tone. His expression was remaining taut and tremulous, unsure of whether the woman on him was playing tricks just like everyone else. Skyler gave a soft smile and jerked her head towards the direction of her car that had followed Jesse earlier.
Jesse stepped forwards, eyeing Skyler suspiciously yet putting his whole trust with her; where else did he have to go? And he couldn't exactly deny a free meal, shower, shave...
Skyler helped him inside the car and dubiously closed the door, wondering herself if she had made the right decision. She slid close the door a walked around to the driver's seat, then started the engine and drove off.
There was banging on the bars of the grate that woke Jesse up from the shitty mattress he lay on. Jesse froze up and listened, "Wake up, rat. Ya need to cook soon."
His face was still swollen from the previous day, as well as his entire body was sore. Deep cuts spread across his face, along with forming bruises, a black eye, not to mention the new possible scar forming below his eye. His body on the other hand was covered in welts, bruises... He was certain that a few of his ribs were fractured or broken, and will probably be left to heal unnaturally.
Jesse groaned in pain as he sat up, cradling the side of his chest as it screamed at him. He afterwards pulled up his hands to feel at his neck, softly making contact with it but jerking his fingers away when it hurt too much. There was a bruise forming around his neck from when one of the gang members had started to strangle him.
It's been five months now... The beginning of the fifth month at least, he thinks. Every month that passed, or rather, every day that passed, resulted in the more cruel their torments were.
Jesse couldn't walk without having to look over his shoulder every second, he couldn't stand without trembling in fear, he couldn't look at any of the gang members without tearing up.
For the first time in five months, Jesse felt as if he belonged here and only here because, after all he's done, he deserves it.
After Skyler had snuck Jesse in her house, he immediately went to take a shower as Skyler took his clothes to wash (he had to wear a towel in the meantime while ignoring Skyler's agape mouth in reaction to the state and the marks left on his body). He browsed through the washroom cabinets, only to find medication and bathroom supplies. He compulsively eyed the medication bottles, letting his blood run cold as he did so.
Eventually, his clothes were exceptionally dry enough to put on. He sat at the empty table that only had an ashtray atop of it, which Skyler removed. As for breakfast, he was given the leftovers Skyler had promised him earlier. Eggs and bacon with a side of water. He didn't eat much, still not used to large quantities of food; being homeless for a week was not exactly helpful.
Skyler stared at him from the opposite side of the table as he drank the water left for him. Jesse placed down the glass and looked down at his full plate, feeling under pressure as Skyler's eyes analysed him. "Look, I know you only brought me here for answers," He began, hoarse voice yet remaining gentle, finally looking up albeit not making eye contact with the woman across from him. "So, just ask. Just... don't work me." He added bluntly with pleading eyes. Skyler visibly gulped, sad eyes and sad smiles as she opened her mouth to speak. It was true... She wanted away from anything having to do with Heisenberg or Walt or any of that, but... she still wanted to know.
"How... did he..." Skyler started, Jesse had never mentioned how Walt had actually died. Whether it was painful or quick, she wanted to know. "How did he die?" She continued quickly, disgusted with herself for wanting to have knowledge of this so badly, disregarding whether or not it would hurt the traumtised kid.
Jesse swallowed before responding, "He killed himself." He got a shocked look from Skyler, in which he quickly moved a hand forwards and shook it as if to decline her presumed thought. "No... not like that... I mean, it was his bullet." He restated. Skyler gave a look of grief, repulsed with herself that she even felt those sort of emotions for Walt, but couldn't help herself either. "He came in... I think he meant to kill me along with them but... All of a sudden he..." Jesse blinked rapidly as his eyes began to water, his nose turning pink as well his eyes. "He went at me and was on top of me on the floor... Next thing I know, the entire place explodes in.. in gunfire." He cleared his throat and continued, "Later, uh, he gave me a chance to... to shoot him. But... I didn't, I don't know why... why I didn't but he was already bleeding... He got shot by his own machine."
Skyler wiped away a stray tear and sniffled, holding back an urge to burst out crying and opened her mouth to reply, "I-" But was interrupted as the front door creaked open, and a young boy on crutches stepped in.
A/N: I sort of wrote this (the next chapter, really.) because I really wanted Flynn and Jesse to meet throughout the entire series, for Junior to see the other son that Walt had that wasn't him... but I never got that so... Anyways, review/favourite/follow? Next chapter is most likely the penultimate one.