TITLE: Stop the World

CHAPTER/TITLE: Chapter Seven/ All Hell Breaks Loose

RATING: T (violence/language)

A/N: A longer chapter to make up for the shorter previous one!

Review please?

Chapter Seven: All Hell Breaks Loose

It was ironic. For the first time since this had all began, Bobby was actually marginally grateful that Jack was ill. Well, not unwell in general. He never wanted to see his new baby brother like this. But the teen's current state didn't come without perks. Not throwing punches when being taken to the doctor, for example. And yet, then again, if Jack wasn't sick at all, there would be no need to bring him to the doctor. Insert irony.

He had been sat down with a clipboard and pen and filled out the basic questions, with Evelyn's assistance. A nurse asked a few of her own questions and then disappeared. It was in that cold and quiet small room that Jack finally started fighting the fever. As the fog cleared, his panic rose. By the time the doctor sauntered through the door, the kid was practically levitating off his seat, a staccato beat being drummed against his knees with trembling fingers. He tuned out the initial greeting and platitudes. Jack nearly jumped when the man reached out toward him. He closed his eyes with cool hands prodded his neck, as he was asked to open his mouth. He went through the entire examination emotionlessly, robotically. It was the only way he could survive it without strangling the stranger in the white coat. When he was finally left alone and the doctor began speaking again, he was ready to tune it all out when Evelyn sharply prodded his shoulder to bring him to attention.

"I understand you had some examinations and tests done recently before being put into Mrs. Mercer's care after – an incident, is that correct?"

Jack glanced at Evelyn warily before nodding.

"Okay, Jack. I'm going to ask you some questions now. Some you may have already been asked by other doctors and some that might be tough to answer. You need to answer them honestly, otherwise I can't help you. Do you understand?"

Another silent head bob.

Jack listened to the questions and wordlessly answered each one with a corresponding yes or no movement of his head. That was, until one particular inquiry.

"Jack, have you ever had pneumonia?"

Jack's mind flashed to an unforgivably frozen winter's day. His hands pounded fervently against the door of his house. Still, his foster father refused to allow him entrance. It was only a month later he no longer had to call that place his house.

"Yes," Jack's voice was small.

There was an entire list of illnesses the doctor clipped off and Jack answered those that he could. His entire medical history was being put underneath a microscope. Jack didn't like it one bit.

"You're doing great, Jack. So far, everything sounds good."

How could it sound good? Recounting the past two years of broken bones, bruised ribs and concussions didn't sound good to him.

"Despite – circumstances – and, uh – physical injuries – you seem like you've been a healthy young man up until recently. Mrs. Mercer, here, told me over the phone that you've been having flu-like symptoms which you discussed with the nurse earlier."

Jack didn't remember that conversation. He hoped he had just blocked it out like he was trying to do right then.

"What – what do you mean 'flu-like'?" Jack swallowed. "It's the flu. Why do you have to ask all these damn dumb questions?"

"Calm down, Jackie," Evelyn cooed with one of her warm smiles. "Dr. Wallace is simply doing his job."

"I have here fever, fatigue, diarrhea, night sweats, some night terrors, and upon my examination earlier I discovered swollen lymph nodes in your neck. You told me there was some pain there?"

"Little," Jack shrugged.

"Anything else bothering you, Jack?"

"Yeah," Jack huffed, "being here."

Bobby snorted and Evelyn lightly reprimanded her eldest with a swat to the arm.

"The reason you came in today – though – was your family discovered some – rashes."

Jack shifted uneasily and kept his gaze down.

"Your physical examination also showed me that your weight is significantly down since your last visit. I also confirmed the fever. With the recent withdrawal you have been experiencing, it will be difficult to diagnose by mere symptoms. I'd like to run some tests before I make my final diagnosis. You will see a nurse before you leave who will take you to the lab to get your blood tests and a few other things taken care of. I wanted to get this little discussion out of the way first. You can make an appointment with the nurse at the front desk to come back in one week for the results."

"A week?" Evelyn sighed. "that seems a bit long, doctor. Isn't there anything else?"

"Alright, Jack," the doctor cleared his throat purposefully, "I'm going to be honest with you here. Some of your results from your physical exam concern me. There is one thing I would like to rule out. During your last hospital visit, your doctors reported some things that, well, Jack, some injuries that indicate a certain – level – of abuse. You refused to discuss it or receive the proper treatment for these injuries. I have to ask you this, Jack. Have you ever – had sex?"

The question blindsided the young teenager and his eyes darted everywhere but towards the other occupants in the room. His entire form was beginning the quake. He could feel all three sets of eyes burning into him.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" Bobby spat, defending the obviously disturbed Jack.

"Jack," Dr. Wallace ignored Bobby, "I need you to answer the question. It's very important. Evelyn and Bobby can leave the room –"

"No!" Jack's eyes flashed to briefly meet the doctor's.

"Okay, they can stay. Jack, whatever you say, stays inside this room."

"Jackie, sweetheart," Evelyn caressed the boy's arm, pretending to not notice his quivering flinch. "It's okay. You don't even have to say it. You can just nod or write it down. This is your choice. Whatever happened, it is okay. There's nothing for you to be ashamed of, you hear me? Jack, hey, look at me. Right now. Come on. If he did something to you – if he made you –"

"Stop it!" Jack was suddenly on his feet. "Stop! Shut up!"

"Don't talk to her like that," Bobby warned, reaching out towards the trembling and twisting teenager.

"Don't touch me!" Jack jumped back, knocking the clipboard from the doctor's hands and nearly tripping over Evelyn's feet. "Get away from me!"

"Do I need to call security?" Dr. Wallace looked towards Evelyn.

"No." Evelyn responded sharply. "He's a good boy. He's just scared. Jack, stop. You're safe. Come on, Jackie. You look at me. You're safe here. No one is going to hurt you. You are safe. Please, tell us what happened."

"I – I can't," Jack spoke helplessly as he calmed and collapsed back onto the edge of his seat.

"Yes. You. Can." Evelyn urged with an unflinching confidence. "You can do this. Whatever happened, you're safe now."

"You'll look at me differently," Jack whispered. "I know it."

"The only way I am ever going to look at you is the way I am right now, with nothing but love for you."

"You don't love me." Jack's voice was broken and dark.

"Jack, I don't think you know what love is," Bobby shook his head, his words more serious and profound than usual. "And you sure as hell don't know my Ma. 'Cause when she says somethin', she damn well means it. She don't bullshit. So when she says she loves you, it's the truth, kid. Period. No questions. Don't you ever call her a liar in front of me. Now, you can run away from whatever that bastard did to you, or you can fuckin' face it like a man."

"The only person who should be ashamed," Evelyn spoke up, "is the monster who did this to you. He did this. Not you."

"How many times, Jack?" The doctor questioned sympathetically after a significant silence.

"One," Jack bit off the word with a crack of his voice. "Just one. That was enough. He'd beat me, burn me, shoot me up, a lot of fuckin' shit – but never – not until that night. That's why I fought back."

The room fell silent for a moment and as Evelyn placed a hand on Jack's, she noticed when he didn't flinch. She also noticed her other son's fists slowly clenching. It was a good thing Jack's foster father was in jail, because he wouldn't survive her eldest's thirst for vengeance. Angel's corrupt and cruel guardian mysteriously ended up getting mugged and put into a coma after Angel told Bobby everything he had done, and that man was lucky.

"You said he would 'shoot you up'," Dr. Wallace hesitantly broke the silence. "Are you saying he gave you drugs? What kind?"

"I dunno," Jack coughed as caged tears leaked through. "Whatever shit he had left over from his own stash. Made me quieter and I wouldn't – struggle – as much when he beat me."

These were the last words Jack spoke during the visit. His entire body was coiled, ready to spring and flee. He ignored the rest of the doctor's questions and remained stiff when Evelyn led him out of the room and down the hall.

It was only when a woman tried to put a needle in his arm that all hell broke loose.