TITLE: Stop the World

CHAPTER/TITLE: Chapter Fifty Two/ Sick

RATING: T (violence/language)

A/N: (Insert your own witty banter here)

Review please?

Chapter Two: Sick

One Month Earlier...

"Alright Jackie! Rise 'n shine, princess!"

Jack felt the covers being ripped away from him and sleep quickly evaporated from his mind. The chill that had been haunting his dreams now assaulted his body. The air seemed crisp, as if he had been sleeping outdoors. Of course, that was possible with how much he was known to sleepwalk. In his waking state, Jack vaguely wondered how he had gotten himself out of the house in the middle of the night without waking anyone. He had taken many midnight meanders before, but hadn't done so in years. He tiredly searched his mind for what nightmare had plagued him this time.

"Come on, Jack. I haven't had any beer or coffee yet, so don't make this hard on both of us. Ma sent me to get your sorry ass up and that's what I'm gonna do, one way or another."

Jack neglected to respond as he attempted to gain enough will power to peel back his eyelids and see how far he had gotten during his little subconscious stroll. All he could muster was a grunt and no open eyes.

"I am so not in the mood for this. Get your ass out of bed."

"Bed?" Jack somehow managed to speak, but his voice was thick with sleep and something else. "Wh –"

"Don't even think about pulling the sick card with me, either, Jack. You've been feeding Ma that bullshit for the last couple weeks and Angel used to try it all the time with me. You ain't sick. What is it? Kids at school beaten on you? Got a test or some shit? Avoiding an ex-boyfriend?"

"Go away, Bobby," Jack hissed.

"You are one lazy, punk ass –"

"Go. Away. Bobby." Jack repeated with a weak threat in his voice.

"Like hell you're gonna talk to me like that.'

"Just drag my ass inside already or leave me alone."

"Inside? What the hell? Man, are you sleep talkin' or just crazy? Open your damn eyes, Jack. You are inside."

Jack reluctantly obeyed, using more energy than he figured should have been necessary to pry his lids open. In a daze, Jack glanced around at his own bedroom.

"But – I thought I was –"

"You have a dream or somethin', Jack?" Bobby hedged the word 'nightmare'.

"Bobby," Jack moaned, the air still feeling as though he was exposed in the front yard instead of behind four walls. "I'm cold."

"Yeah, dipshit. I took your blankets off."

"No," Jack coughed and felt a shiver rip through his frame. "I'm – cold."

"You said that already. What the hell is this Jack? You're fuckin' shakin', man. If you're comin' off of some high or something, I will beat your ass for doin' drugs again."

"I don't feel good. Please. Just, please – Bobby, leave me alone."

"Jack –"

"Get Mom. Bobby, can you just leave me alone and get Mom?"

Bobby's jaw had been open to protest and it now snapped shut. This was no academy award winning performance by the youngest Mercer. After Jack having only been with them a short while, already Bobby knew his brothers' tricks backwards and forwards. Jack would get defiant and curse something fierce when awoken. If he was attempting the ill angle, he would do the same but then throw in a few feigned coughs and groans. Jack was simply not a good liar. He could clear out an entire drug store or swipe the clothes off your back, but if you caught him, he would always crumble. Jack was also not one to ask for anything, let alone beg. He cried out for his family during his nightmares or when there was serious trouble, but that was it. The mere fact that Jack had said "please" so desperately and then actually asked for Evelyn was enough to switch Bobby into protective big brother mode. Not to even mention the fact that he had called her "mom", something he had been noticeably avoiding doing.

"Jack?" Bobby leaned over and gingerly placed his hand on his brother's forehead, ignoring the pang in his chest when Jack flinched away; Jack always flinched when someone touched him, they all had in the beginning after Evelyn took them in. "Damn, Jackie. Feels like you're on fire, man."

"I-I'm f-freez-zing."

"How long you felt sick?"

"I dunno."

"Angel!" Bobby turned his head to the doorway and waited until a stretching form of his brother appeared.

"I'm up, damn it, Bobby. Just 'cause you're home now –"

"Go get Ma," Bobby cut in sharply.

"What's wrong?" Angel dropped his irritated expression in a fraction of a second.

"Just go get Ma, Angel," Bobby repeated in an unwavering tone and watched Angel retreat into the hallway.

Bobby quickly replaced the sheets and blankets that he had torn away from the teen, tucking them around the trembling figure.

"That better, Jackie?"

Jack closed his eyes and shook his head feebly.

"Where's Mom?"

"She's coming, Jack. You still want me to leave?"

Jack again shook his head and Bobby silently chuckled. Jack had grown and changed a lot over these past months, but some things never changed. Whenever Jack was truly scared, hurt or ill, he would become terribly clingy. Bobby didn't mind. It was a sign he trusted them, one of the first signs he had ever shown them.

"Okay. I'll stay. But only 'cause you're a little girl and asked so nicely."

"Bobby?" Evelyn's concern laden voice floated in from the hallway. "What is it?"

"Angel," Bobby nodded to his brother, "go get some blankets and the thermometer. Ma, he's real sick. Thought he was outside and is freezin'. His head's boilin' too."

Evelyn gently placed her own hand on Jack's forehead and again he jerked away. Bobby frowned. He hadn't reacted like that to Evelyn's touch in a long time.

"He's probably just confused," Evelyn whispered to console her eldest. "He definitely feels like he has a fever."

As she finished speaking, Angel returned. Bobby grabbed the blankets and began draping them over Jack as Evelyn took the teenager's temperature.

"101.3," Evelyn sighed. "I'll keep checking and if it gets to 103, he'll have to go to the hospital."

"Ma, you got work," Bobby protested.

"My sons are more important than my job." Evelyn said sternly, though it was through a smile.

"Your job keeps your sons from starvin'," Bobby grinned. "Go to work. Don't worry. I can take care of the kid."

"I heard that," Jack mumbled.

"Seriously, Ma, go. I got this."

"Alright." Evelyn eyed him suspiciously. "But you know how he gets when he's sick. I'll leave you instructions and if his temperature –"

"I know, I know. I took care of all my little brothers when they were sick before, remember? I'll be fine. He'll be fine. Go."

"Thank you, Bobby," Evelyn stood and kissed her eldest son's cheek before patting Jack's hand. "Come on, Angel. Bobby's staying here, I'll give you a ride to work instead. But you might want to put on a shirt first, dear."

Bobby snickered at his half naked brother before turning his attention to his ill brother. The smirk faded from his face and all the was left was a set jaw and worry-lined forehead.