The Monster

Nicknames are well earned. Jack's past comes back to haunt him. The team tries to help the stubborn Jack, but will they be too late?

Hometown Cookin'

Jack sat in his car watching. His senses were in overdrive reminding his days as a Delt. He hardly recognized his hometown. It was more modernized than he remembered. Some buildings were brand new while others still had boarded up windows. This was a small town in the middle of nowhere. He remembered when he was younger that everyone in town worked in factories or on an oil rig, but the town appeared to dry out and was searching for a new direction.

Jack studied the bar in front of him. The neon lights flickered on and off. The bar looked like it had seen better days and was the definition of rundown. Jack counted six motorcycles and a single car in front. Jack had not seen any one arrive or leave since the open sign turned on, about twenty minutes ago. He put the SIM card back in his phone and turned it on, and the missed calls and worried texts come flooding in for him. Jack ignored him as he buried his phone back in his pocket.

Jack walked into the dingy bar. He stuck out like a sore thumb as his presence quickly gained attention. The bar smelt of old beer, chewing tobacco, and a smell Jack could not figure out but it was not pleasant. Jack scanned the room. It was not well lit as most of the light came through the windows. The neon lights flickering if they were not burnt out. There were about nine men, bikers, including the bartender... the morning crowd, Jack thought.

"Have you seen this guy?" Jack asked showing the bartender.

"Nope." The man replied without looking at the photo.

"I'm not a cop. He's my brother. I need..." Jack started but the bartender waved him off.

"We are the only brothers RD has. So why don't you leave, stranger, while you still can?" The bartender said making a motion with his hand getting the attention of the other bikers. Jack smiled. Jack reached across and grabbed the bartender slamming him on the bartop.

"You tell my brother that I came to see him." Jack whispered in the bartender's ear.

Jack felt someone's hands on his side as they pushed him. Jack smiled knowing exactly what was in store. The biker raised his fist and before he could swing Jack hit him with an uppercut. The large man fell unconscious knocking over a small table. Jack held his fists up preparing for an out all brawl. Anyone who got close was met by a fist. Jack resorted back to his training as he was blinded by anger.

Jack inhaled deeply as he looked around looking at the carnage around him. Even with his adrenaline hitting him with full force he was tired. A good bar fight would exhaust the most people. Jack felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Jack grabbed it not feeling the soreness in his hands. He saw Mac's picture on his phone and it pulled him back into reality. Jack shook his head but just as he went to forward the call. He was startled by a cheap shot. Jack fell holding his ribs as pieces of the stool fell around him. Jack tried crawl away as he tried to catch his breath. The bartender broke the remainder of the stool across Jack's back. Jack attempted to stand and the bartender kicked him.

"You should've just left!" The bartender yelled but before he could continue Jack punched the side of his knee. The bartender yelped as he fell. Jack chuckled spitting out blood as he got to his feet. Jack pulled the bartender to his feet and came face to face with the barrel of his gun. He heard the pop and his ears began to ring. Jack held the bartender's face against the table as Jack held the gun. Jack dismantled the weapon before throwing it to the side. Jack punched the bartender several times until he was barely conscious. Jack chuckled as his vision focused.

"You tell my brother that I'm looking for him." Jack said taking the switchblade from the bartender's pocket. Jack tossed his phone on the table and held out the bartender's hand. "Don't make me come back," he said softly as the bartender struggled against Jack's grip. Jack stabbed his phone burying the blade into the phone and table. "I won't be so nice next time." Jack spat out blood as he left.

Jack drove to the local Ma and Pa drugstore. He looked at himself in the rear view mirror. He looked at his side. His ribs were bruising and there was a small superficial laceration that trickled zipped up his jacket hiding his bloody shirt. Jack used the remainder of his water to wash his bloody knuckles. Jack went inside and causally walked through the store. He quickly got the feeling that he stuck out there too. Jack grabbed a new shirt, some first aid supplies, a throwaway phone, and some snacks of course.

"$45.89, sir." The young cashier's voice shook. Jack smiled handing him a fifty.

"Keep the change." Jack said leaving just as quickly as he arrived.

Jack hurried back to his car certain that they were calling the police. Jack drove and drove trying to use his mental GPS. He was amazed on how much had changed throughout all the years, it made him realize that he had not been home in a long time. Jack pulled over and got out of his car.

"Where in the hell am I?" Jack said under his breath. Jack stripped off his shirt and wrapped his sore ribs. He poured some peroxide on his knuckles cleaning the remainder of blood. Jack put on the new shirt and pulled out a map.

Jack got back in his car and took off once more. Jack finally arrived at his childhood home. Jack watched from a far. The house had aged gracefully. Jack sees a man and a woman talking. She smiles and gives the man a kiss as the man left. Jack waits for the man to be out of sight before going home. Jack's hands shook as he went to knock on the door. Just as he went to knock the door flew open.

"What are you doing here?" She said frustrated.

"Liz, you called me." Jack argued.

"What did you do? You look like hell."

"Good to see you, too." Jack smiled.

"What did you do?" She scolded.

"Where's ma?" Jack asked as he walked around the home.

"What did you do?" She repeated, and Jack rolled his eyes.

"God damn, Liz. You called me. I'm only here to help."

Introduced some more characters. What do you think? Please review!