Max was reunited with his mother and met his stepdad.

Jon had noticed that Max was looking around his mother's house pretty thoroughly during the BBQ. Jon remembered how his did that at his and Adriana's house as well. Jon pulled Max to the side.

"I see you're really checking out everything, huh?" Jon said.

"Yeah. It's just I haven't seen any nice stuff like this in a long time," Max said.

"Now, don't get any ideas," Jon said.

"I won't," Max said.

"Hey, Uncle Max," J.J. said, walking up to him.

"Hey, J.J., how's it going?"

"Good. Daddy, look at what I found!" J.J. said.

He had two worms in his hands.

"J.J., take them outside!" Jon said.

"Okay!" J.J. ran back outside.

"I love that little dude," Max said.

"He really looks up to you now. You better not do anything foul," Jon warned him.

"I won't," Max said.

The entire family gathered outside to eat. Some of the next door neighbors came by as well.

Max was out of view from everyone as he went into the purse of the guests who left it in the kitchen.

"One hundred. Today is my lucky day," Max said.

He shoved the money in his pocket. He then went to the backyard and told his mom he was going to the store to get more drinks for the BBQ.

"You need some money?" Mrs. Germanotta asked.

"No, I got it," Max said.

"Do you have your license?" Mrs. Germanotta asked.

"Yeah. It's good for another year," Max said.

His license was actually suspended.

"Alright. Be careful," Mrs. Germanotta said.

Max then hoped in his mother's car and took off. But not to the store. He was going to meet up with his crew down in their usual hangout in the alleyway.

Max arrived and got out.

"Hey! There he is!" one of his friends called out.

"Hey Sam. Got anymore of the good stuff?"

"Yes I do. Where have you been?" Sam asked.

"At my sister and mom's house," Max said.

"Oh. So, you ran back to your family?"

"No. My sister's husband caught me robbing the local liquor store and chased me. He let me off the hook though," Max said.

"Good thing. Now here," Sam said, handing Max a small white bag.

Max gave Sam the money.

"Enjoy that. That's our last batch for a while," Sam said.

"Oh, I will," Max said. "I still have the other bag you gave me, too."

"Smart man. I'll catch you later," Sam said.

Max went back to the party. Luckily everyone was still in the back celebrating. Max went to the bathroom to get high.

"I have to use the bathroom," Jon said.

He got up from the table and went inside the house. He reached the bathroom door and knocked on it.

Max was startled by the sudden knock that he knocked over his crack on the floor.

"Hello?" Jon said.

Jon didn't notice that the bathroom door was slightly cracked. He peered through the crack and saw Max in the mirror wide eyed, staring at the door. Jon opened it all of the way and saw the crack on the floor.

"Look, it's not what you think!" Max said.

Jon stepped over the crack and grabbed Max by the collar.

"The what the fuck is it then?" Jon said through gritted teeth.

"Someone gave it to me," Max said.

"Oh, but you were getting something to drink right? Where did you get the fucking money from to buy the shit?" Jon said.

"I-I-I found it," Max said.

"Where?" Jon said.

"Out on the street! I swear!" Max said.

"You stole that money from someone," Jon said. He let go of Max. "Clean this shit up."

Max nervously cleaned his mess up and handed Jon the bag. Jon took a towel from cabinet under the sink and snatched the bag away from Max.

"Show me where you got the money," Jon said.

Max led Jon to the kitchen. Max pointed to the purse that he took the money from.

"I outta fuck you up right here and now," Jon said. "I really want to. That's Ms. Anderson's purse. Not only are you doing drugs but you're stealing too."

"Look, it was only this one time!"

"I've also noticed how you have been scoping out stuff at my house and here, too. You better stop or I'll snatch your damn eyes out."

Max took a big gulp.

"I won't. I promise," Max said.

"Get your ass out in the back," Jon snapped.

Max ran to the back to get away from Jon.

"I'm glad Max is back home," Adriana said.

Jon didn't say anything at first.

"Jon? Jon?" Adriana said.

"Hm?"

"Is something the matter?"

Jon took a deep breath. He was laying with his back towards her and turned to face her.

"I caught Max with crack today. And I had to give Ms. Anderson her money back. The money that Max stole from her earlier. I didn't tell her he took it," he said.

Adriana had a confused look on her face.

"Max?" she said.

"Yes, Adriana. Sorry to say, but your brother did that today. He went out to buy more crack," Jon said.

Adriana shook her head.

"I don't believe you."

"What?"

"I don't believe you, Jonathan. Max said that he was done with all of that," Adriana said.

"That night I brought him home was the same night I was on patrol. He was robbing the liquor store and he ran off when I came up behind him. I chased him down and saw it was him," Jon said. "So I let him off the hook."

Adriana stared at Jon as if he was speaking French.

"What Adriana?"

Jon was getting annoyed with Adriana now.

Adriana didn't say anything and laid on her side.

"Adriana, you need to talk to me," Jon said.

"Don't lie to me, Jonathan," Adriana said.

"I'm not, Adriana. You know me. I would never lie to you," Jon said.

"J.J. looks up to him so much," Adriana said.

"I know. Which is why I'm starting to get weary of Max. Look, if he keeps this up he's going to either end up dead in a gutter or behind bars," Jon said.

Adriana turned and looked at Jon in disgust.

"So, YOU'RE going to arrest him?" she shrieked.

"If I have to, I will," Jon said.

"How could you?" Adriana said, sitting up. "That's my own damn brother!"

Jon shook his head.

"Your brother is doing crack and stealing from people. His committing crimes, Adriana. You're defending your brother. Your brother who I caught with crack today. J.J. looks up to him a lot, just like you said. I can't have Max around our son, Adriana. I'm sorry but I won't allow it."

"He won't survive in jail," Adriana said.

"He's not going to survive at the rate he's going either," Jon said. "I've let him off of the hook twice already, Adriana. I am a cop. What other cop do you know would let him off so easily? I gave that boy a slap on the wrist."

"Jonathan, don't arrest him," Adriana pleaded.

"Dammit, Adriana! Stop being so damn...you know what, nevermind!"

Jonathan got up from bed.

"Jon where are you going?"

"Out!"

"Jonathan!"

Adriana ran across the bed and ran up behind Jonathan. She grabbed ahold of his arm.

Jonathan stopped in his tracks. He ran his hands through his hair. There was no convincing her that her brother was a criminal.

"I'm sorry. It's just...I don't want to visit my brother in jail and speak to him through a telephone with glass separating us," Adriana said.

"Adriana...I can't have this. I just can't," Jon said. "Max needs to change pronto. Because if he doesn't, I'm going to have to arrest him and take him to jail. Do you understand that?"

"I understand, Jonathan. Just cut him some slack. He hasn't seen us in forever."

Jon turned around and picked Adriana up.

"Alright. I'll cut the boy some slack. But I'll be watching him like a hawk!" Jon said.

"Thanks," Adriana said.

Jon layed in bed with a million thoughts running through his mind. He didn't want to arrest Max. He didn't want to take him to jail. But if Max kept doing what he did, Jon would have to do what he had to.

He wasn't trying to be mean to Max but Max knew better. Jon wanted to help Max in any way possible but Max would have to actually want to change. Jon wasn't going to let up Max.

Not by a long shot.

Author's Note: Jon's really trying to keep his peace here.