Chapter Two
"So what's the new stray like?" his brothers were already drilling him about Lock.
Bobby sighed and collapsed on his bed, wishing Angel, Jerry, and even Jackie would go the hell away. Lock had just fucking arrived!
"Well, only going on the first impression I got," he muttered, "she's a bitch. Her defenses are up and she's shuttin' down. . ."
"Fuck, so she's like you?" Angel growled.
"Sorta. . . A combination of me and Fairy when he first came here, scared to fucking death and uncomfortable as hell."
"Don't call me a fairy, you fuck!" Jackie snapped, glaring at him with hazel eyes.
"Easy, Cracker Jack!" Jerry laughed, messing up the sandy brown locks.
Jack stormed out of Bobby's room, taking refuge in his own bedroom, and slammed the door. Bobby had figured a new person in the house would put the nineteen-year-old on edge, he didn't trust anyone outside the family.
Shit. . .Here we motherfucking go. . .Bobby thought.
"Fuck's his issue?" Angel snickered, cocking a thumb down the hall.
"Everybody get the fuck outta my room! Now!" he barked, getting off his bed.
Jesus, now I gotta go make sure Cracker Jack's all right. . .
Bobby loved his baby brother to death, he loved all three of the fuck-ups, but he wished Jack wasn't so damn sensitive about shit. The kid freaked if someone yelled, they fought, even play fighting used to scare the shit outta him, but Bobby had gotten him to join in and have fun.
"A'ight Bobby," Jerry muttered, opening his arms for an embrace. "I gotta get home to the girls anyway."
"Give them kids of yours a hug from Uncle Bobby, all right?" he said, pulling Jer in for a quick hug.
"Sure thing. Angel get the fuck over here and give your big brother a damn hug good-bye!"
"Bye, Jer," Angel muttered, giving the twenty-four-year old an awkward hug. "And you're only a year older than me."
"Fuck you too," Jerry laughed. "Later Jackie!" he called down the hall.
"Later Jerry," Jack's voice came muffled through the door.
"Tell Ma bye," Bobby reminded, turning to Angel. "You- out-now! Go to your own damn room or go see La Vida Loca or some shit."
"Fuck Bobby," Angel growled, going to his own room.
Fuck me! Lock, kiddo, I'm sure sorry you're having to deal with us. . .I hope like hell you aren't like Jackie. . .he thought, moving to Jack's door.
He knocked lightly, leaning on the door frame to wait for the boy. He heard some shuffling from the other side of the door and some muted guitar strings, but the door stayed closed. He tried the handle and found it unlocked, gently he opened it and snuck into the room unnoticed.
Jack sat on his bed, back to the door, and was playing one of his songs on his old acoustic. Bobby smiled and listened as the deep voice sang quietly.
"I've been broken, battered, beaten, abused! They've tried to kill me, but that was no use. No home and no family- all that's been stolen. But no one will ever steal my soul or my secrets! Turn that pain to sweet ecstasy! C'mon baby! Scream for me. . ." the boy trailed off, his song wasn't quite complete apparently.
"Why the hell those dudes ever kicked you out of the band, I'll never understand," Bobby muttered.
"Fuck Bobby!" Jackie jumped, hazel eyes filling with terror. "How many times do I have to tell you to not fucking do that shit!?"
"Until I learn, so good luck with that one, Jackie," he laughed. "C'mon, roof."
The youngest Mercer put his guitar up, then followed Bobby out the window and onto their roof. They sat in the snow, knees bent, and stared out over their neighborhood.
"Gotta smoke?" Jack asked, pulling his lighter from his pocket.
"Here," Bobby passed him his pack.
"Thanks," he mumbled, grabbing a cigarette he shook out, with his lips and lighting it.
Bobby took his own smoke, lighting it, and inhaled deeply. This shit felt good. Jack took a long drag off his cigarette, holding the smoke in his lungs for a moment, then exhaled slowly, blowing a ring with the last puff.
"I don't think she's a bad kid, Cracker Jack," Bobby sighed. "She's just. . .closed off. . . Ya know?"
"Yeah," Jack muttered.
"She's gotta guitar," he said casually, hoping that would light the curiosity in the teen.
"Really?" Jack murmured, giving Bobby a sideways glance.
"Yup," he took a long hit off his cigarette, "amp too. . ."
"Huh," Jack said casually, mulling it over.
"Yeah. . ."he smirked, "give the girl a chance, Jackie. You know what it's like on her end-we all do. I mean, come one, you started out terrified of me," he nudged the boy with an elbow. "Now look at us."
Jack stayed silent, finishing his smoke with one last drag, then flicked the butt off the roof. He blew a jet of smoke, then looked at Bobby with troubled eyes. The young Mercer shivered and rubbed his arms.
"C'mon you lil fairy, inside," Bobby smiled, tossing his own finished cigarette off the edge. "Next time grab your fucking hoodie."
"I'm not a fairy, Bobby," Jack smirked.
"Only half, I know. Ass inside."
They crawled in the window, Jack latched it shut behind them. Bobby stared at Jack as he ran a hand through his 'rock star' hair, smiling and shaking his head.
"What?" he mumbled, hunching his shoulders nervously.
"Nuttin'," Bobby laughed. "So, you gonna give her a chance or what?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really, none of us do. Things will just flow easier around here if you agree."
"Then I agree, but I'm not going out of my way to talk to her, got it?"
"I figured," he snickered. "Give your big brother a hug and then get your skinny ass into bed."
"L-l-love you, Bobby," Jackie stammered, hugging him.
"Love you too, you little shit. But only as a brother, got it?"
Jack rewarded him with a heartfelt laugh and a quick shove. Bobby shut the door on his way out, smiling to himself.
Really helped save that kid, he thought. He's come a long way from who he was and what he could have been. . .
By the way. . .no this is not a Jack/Bobby fic. . .I tried to make that evident but just in case some are confused! Thanks for the reviews!