Chapter Three

Lock had been up since dawn. She had woken up from a nightmare, cold, alone, and disoriented. This wasn't a new thing for her, she seemed to always wake up scared and alone in the mornings. Except when she had been at her own place with Ransom, then if she woke up scared she would just go crawl in with the girl. Ransom was only a month or two older than Lock and was always there to comfort the girl, she was the only person Lock trusted outside of herself-but that's what best friends are for.

Lock grabbed her camera, checking the film and batteries, and slowly went upstairs. She carried her combat boots in one hand, to prevent clunking up the stairs and waking someone up. She quickly made herself familiar with the first floor, noting all the ways she could escape quickly if she had to, then slowly went out the side door.

She eased the screen door shut, putting her camera strap over her head, and pulled her boots on, lacing them up. Snow fell slowly, drifting down from the dark clouds, and Lock was already starting to go pleasantly numb. All she had on was the pajama pants and Bobby's T-shirt, she didn't even have a damn hoodie with her. She would have to get a hold of Ransom somehow and see if she'd be able to get some of her stuff.

An old wooden swing set stood in the small "yard" on this side of the house, looking alone and desolate-just how she felt. She flipped the flash on and clicked the button from "color" to "black and white", and took a shot of the swings. A chain link fence surrounded the yard, adding an air of creepiness to the whole place. She unlatched the gate and stood just outside, snapping a picture through the fence. Suddenly, Lock decided to let her inner child run free and enjoy the falling snow. No one else was up to see her, so she was safe.

She climbed the fence and sat on one snow-covered swing, putting her arms around the chains, and leaned back. She smiled as the snow fell on her face and clung to her hair and eyelashes, lifting the camera and taking a picture of the chains above her. She took several more pictures of the swing set as she swung back and forth, then put the lens cover back on and closer her eyes, allowing her hair to sweep the snow behind her, well below her as she swung.

"You're gonna catch somethin' if you stay out here with no coat," someone said from behind her.

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Lock leapt from the swing, hiding herself behind one of the heavy wooden legs of the swing set. Bobby was leaning on the door frame of the side door, arms crossed over his coat, and one foot over the other.

"Sorry," he snickered, putting a cigarette in his mouth. "Didn't mean to scare you."

He walked outside, lighting up as he descended the three concrete steps, and sat on the middle one. Lock felt extremely cornered, Bobby was blocking the doorway and she didn't want to turn her back on the older man long enough to scale the fence and take the front door. She was trapped out here with him.

"What do you want?" she growled, ready for anything.

"A smoke," he smiled. "Which I'm having. . ."

She slowly moved back to the swing, keeping watch of Bobby's every move with her gray eyes. The older man stayed in place, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked her over with calm, clear blue eyes. He took a hit from his cigarette and blew several smoke rings in a carefree manner. Her heart pounded in her chest and every muscle was taught and ready to go, but she kept face.

"That my shirt?" he asked casually.

Her stomach felt nauseous when he spoke those three words, her mind switching to survival mode completely, and she tensed up. She immediately went back to one of the last foster homes she had ever been in, the place had been all teenage boys and little eleven year old Lock. . .things were not good at that particular home. Lock's hand went for her pocket instinctually, reaching for her knife, but she remembered that she left it on the nightstand downstairs.

"It looks good on you. Makes a comfortable night shirt, doesn't it?" Bobby asked gently.

She looked at him, seeing something like an apology in the blue eyes, and then resumed staring at her feet. The oldest Mercer slowly got up and went back inside, speaking through the screen door.

"Don't stay out here too much longer," he called gently. "Ma don't need you sick, Stray."

"Yeah. . .whatever. . ." she muttered.

Stray? He's giving me a nickname? Why in the hell would he do that? What does he want from me?. . .she bit her lip nervously and crept inside, stealing away downstairs without being seen.

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Jack had yet to see Lock, which he thought was for the best. New people made him nervous, especially some of the strays Ma liked to bring home. He'd had a couple of horrible experiences with some strays, one of which Bobby had found out about and spent a whole month in jail for what he did to the guy, and the other one nobody knew about. His cell phone rang in his pocket and he fished it out. Kett's name showed up on the I.D. and he smiled, answering it cheerfully.

"Hey!"

"Hey, Jack-o," Kett purred. "How ya doin' babe?"

"All right I guess. . .nervous and a lil uncomfortable. . .," he said, leaning up against the counter.

"That new stray startin' shit?" Kett asked defensively.

"No, Kett. She ain't startin' shit. . .I haven't even met her yet. I just don't like new people in my house. You know that."

"Yeah, I do," his boyfriend snickered on the other line. "Think Evelyn will let me come over today? I wanna see you, I miss you like crazy."

"I think you can come over," Jack smiled. "I'm sure she won't care, besides I wanna see you too."

Bobby walked into the kitchen, raising an eyebrow and nodding the Jack's cell, asking who he was talking to. Jackie mouthed that it was Kett and Bobby rolled his eyes, pretending to be revolted.

His brothers all knew he was bisexual, they all knew why he was too, and they didn't really care for the most part. They called him a fairy because he couldn't get a girlfriend, he was way too shy with the ladies. Bobby had actually been the one to get him his first girl kiss. His older brother didn't like Kett very much at all, loathed was more like it, and he had no problem telling Jackie that every chance he got.

"Good, I'll see you in about an hour," Kett said. "Get a shower for me."

"All right Kett, see you when you get here," Jack said, grinning.

He flipped his phone shut and put it in his jeans, pushing himself from the counter. Bobby's blue eyes regarded him with a small amount of anger.

"You know I don't like that jag-off coming over here, Jackie," he grumbled.

"Why the hell don't you like him, Bobby?" Jack muttered, staring at him.

"He's a prick, Jack. Can't you see that? He fucking orders you around like a damn slave!" his older brother cornered him against the counter. "He's no better than those foster fucks who messed you up as a kid."

"You know what, Bobby?!" Jack's emotions roiled over. "Kett tells me he loves me! He says it and I believe him! He shows me that he fucking cares, he is NOT like my foster dads!"

He collapsed back against the counter, his jaw quivering, tears spilling from his hazel eyes. He didn't like fighting with Bobby, he hated fighting period, it brought back too much bad shit. His older brother looked at him for a long time, staring into his soul with those devil blue eyes.

"Jackie, I'm sorry. Jesus! I just don't like the way he treats you!" Bobby backed up, giving Jack space. "Does he still fucking hit you?"

"No, he's getting better, Bobby. Really he is, he's gentler, sweeter," he whispered, furiously wiping at his tears.

Bobby stayed quiet, moving himself completely out of Jack's way. He knew not to touch the boy right now, not when Jack was this upset and vulnerable. Jack was apt to slip back into the mind of when he was abused and lash out. Jack left in a hurry, taking the stairs two at a time, and locked himself in the bathroom. He started running water for a shower, letting it get nice and hot, and stripped off his jeans.

Kett is getting better. . . he told himself. Isn't he? He hasn't hit me in a long time. . .almost a whole month. . .besides, he always says he's sorry and makes it up to me. . .every time

He pushed the thoughts away and stepped into the shower, allowing the hot water to run over him. Washing away his tears and worries, he felt the water relax him, and sighed, enjoying this peaceful moment.

Sorry it took so long to update! Writing two stories at once is a lil bit hard, I have to get in the mindset for whatever one I work on. . . Hope you like the new chapter! I'm trying to work on this story more than my Eragon one, but we'll see. . . .Review please!