TITLE: Flashes

CHAPTER/TITLE: Two/Visitor

RATING: T (language and mature content)

SUMMARY: Pre-Movie. "I ain't Ma. I ain't gonna hold your little hand. I'm gonna kick you in the - until what I want to hear comes out your mouth. It's called tough love… Deal with it or see what happens…" Jack's hiding something, from everyone. Time for a little intervention, Bobby Mercer style.

A/N: You meet Angela in this chapter. Yes, she is a bit cliché for a 'Jack' girl, but I didn't really work that hard on creating or developing her character to be honest. She is NOT going to become a main character (as this story is short anyway), nor will she be Mary-Sue, etc. She is merely a tool for the main plot of the story. I wanted this to be about Jack and what is going on with him, not some random girl. She is involved, of course, but barely. I also realize her name is similar to "Angel". That is on purpose. Though she is a minor character, I use her in several other OS and short stories that I have yet to post and the name is sort of a running gag.

DISCLAIMER: I own Angela. Nothing to be proud about.

Please read and REVIEW! What do YOU think is going on with Jack? I already have the entire story done, but I am simply curious! J

Chapter Two: Visitor

Jerry stepped through the door and immediately spotted his target slouched over on the sofa. His guitar was in his lap and it looked as though he was replacing a string while absentmindedly watching television. A Trigonometry book lay open on the coffee table with a piece of paper Jerry assumed to be homework on top of it, untouched. Jerry silently surveyed the scene and then let his eyes hover on one item in particular. He nearly reprimanded him right then and there, but that would get him nowhere. That was the Bobby approach and even Bobby himself could barely make it work.

"Hey, little brother," Jerry announced his presence, as the banging screen door apparently wasn't enough to shock Jack out of his own world.

Jack shrugged a nod in Jeremiah's direction before mumbling a barely audible "Evelyn isn't here."

Jerry shook his head and let the other end of the couch swallow him. His suspicions were being validated in just a few seconds of being there. He had his first inclination when Jack suddenly came over the other day without warning. He was quiet and pensive, almost brooding in nature. He was short with Jerry and spent most of his time there with his newborn Daniela. He had said when she was born that he was going to make sure there was another musician in the family and had spent a lot of his free time playing the guitar and singing for her as stared at him or slept. He claimed he was getting her started early so that she would have an ear for music later.

Jack's cell phone had gone off three times while he was there and eventually Jack had silenced the device and conveniently 'forgotten' about it in the bathroom. Jerry found it and didn't mention to Jack how many times he had watched the name 'Angela' light up on the screen.

Then, of course, there was the call from Angel warning Jerry of Bobby's upcoming 'vacation.' Evelyn even stopped by to see the baby, say hello and not-so-discreetly discuss the youngest Mercer.

"Can't a man stop by to say 'hi' to his brother?" Jerry retorted.

"I guess," Jack mumbled, still not looking away from the television or guitar.

There was an elongated, unnatural silence that filled the room as Jerry contemplated a possible conversation game plan.

"So ," Jerry started, "since when did you turn 21?"

Jack finally cocked his head towards his brother. He glanced from the drained bottle of beer on the table to Jerry.

"I didn't steal it," Jack explained apathetically. "It's from Bobby's old stash. Not like he's here to miss it."

"Is that what this is all about?"

"What what is all about?" Jack questioned offhandedly.

"This. This attitude, Jack. The not talkin'. Something's wrong. Mom knows it. Bobby knows it –"

"Bobby doesn't know shit. Bobby doesn't care."

"What are you doin' man? What's goin' on?"

"Nothin' Jerry," Jack pushed himself off the couch. "I got to go. Meeting some friends."

Before Jerry could argue, Jack was out the door. The older brother just shook his head and sighed, picking up the empty beer bottle. He saw others placed on the floor and swore. Jerry collected the glass bottles and promptly recycled them, not desiring to make Evelyn do it and see how much Jack had consumed. This was getting beyond frustrating. Jerry was ready to search Jack's room when there was a sharp knock on the door. He figured Jack forgot something and locked himself out. As he pulled open the door, it wasn't his youngest brother staring back at him.

"Uh – hi," the visitor started hesitantly, "is Jack here?"

Her hazel eyes held confusion and hope at the same time. She tucked a piece of her auburn locks behind her heavily pierced ear as she shuffled her battered black slip-ons against the cement. Jerry quickly noted the Ramones shirt and distressed denim cut offs that apparently had been drawn on with red marked. She definitely fit Jack's circle, even if Jerry was surprised there were other people in Detroit in that circle.

"No, he's not," Jerry sighed. "Sorry."

He went to close the door but she suddenly stopped him with a slight push.

"You're one of his brothers, right?" She questioned softly.

"Yeah. I'm Jerry –"

"Is he okay?"

"Huh?"

"Jack. How is he? I – I'm just worried about him. I know it's stupid."

"Are you – Angie?" Jerry questioned, realization hitting him.

"Angela," she corrected.

Jerry nodded. He had heard Jack drop the name a time or two and recalled his mother being upset over a phone bill regarding calls to this same girl.

"He didn't tell you, did he?" She shook her head with a thin frown. "I bet he didn't even tell you we were together. We broke up. Well – technically – he broke up with me. Dropped me without a damn reason or anything. Let me tell you something; your brother has a shitty way of dealing with problems. I was so pissed at him. Then, he stops showing up to band class and practice. I figured he just didn't want to be around me or something stupid like that. Maybe he didn't want to see my face or have the damn backbone to look me in the eye. That was perfectly fine because I didn't want to see him either. He broke my fucking heart, you know? So I finally got tired of the damn game and asked his friend. He fucking dropped band! The one class he actually gave a shit about and he goes and drops it. He won't answer my phone calls and every time I see him, which is pretty much damn near never, he avoids me like I'm a cancer or something. Jack," she sighed, her tone softened and her pace slowing, "Jack was the only one at school – I mean – we were – the same, you know? We weren't just some fling of the week. We were best friends. Damn it, I loved that stupid – look, I'm not some naïve girl with damn rose colored glasses and thinks true love and happy endings actually happen. But whatever we had was different. I know it. And now he's acting like I don't exist. I just want to know that he's not doing drugs again or something stupid or dangerous and that it's just him being a dick. That doesn't even make any sense. And here I am telling you all this shit. Great. I must sound like a psychotic bitch. I should go."

"Hey," Jerry started before she could walk away, "whatever my idiot little brother is going through or doing to himself or whatever this is, it ain't you. You care about him a lot to not give up. Thanks."

"Just," she shook her head with a loud breath, unsure of the right words to say, "bring him back, okay? You're his brother. You know him better than me, I guess. Wherever he is in that head of his, please, bring him back."

Jeremiah nodded and Angela turned and headed down the driveway. Jerry felt as though a big piece of the Jack puzzle had just been dropped right into his hands.