Soo, there's something going on, who is watching the brothers huh? Seems Bobby has some issues with being benched, go figure. But keep in mind that he's still hurt pretty bad, he's nowhere near back to full strength at the moment, so it's gonna affect him of course.

Also, just wanna say thanks. I write for some other fandoms too, but this is by far the best and not just cause I love the movie and the characters, but because Four Brothers fans are so freaking nice, feels like there is so much support and encourgement here, so thanks!

I don't own Four Brothers.

"This is a bad idea" Jack's voice was resigned. He knew there was no arguing with Bobby when he'd made up his mind.

"We're just gonna have a look" Bobby grunted a little as he shifted in the seat. His decision to forego the painkillers seemed more stupid than ever as his wounds itched.

Jack frowned and turned to look at his brother, crouched low in the passenger seat of Jerry's car. "You can barely walk".

"I can walk just fine, but we're not gonna leave the car anyway".

"So we're on a stakeout?" Jack let a little humour slip into the conversation, testing the waters.

It worked, and Bobby chuckled. "Yeah that's what we're doing. Remember when you were 12 or something? And we were watching Angel?"

Jack rolled his eyes with a laugh. "How could I forget".

"Even at 12 you were a little sneak, very handy to have around" Bobby grinned at him while Jack scoffed.

"That's because I always listened to you without asking questions"

"Yeah" Bobby's smile slipped a little, his tone still light but eyes serious "When did you stop that?"

Jack caught the undercurrent and paused, turning to look at his brother silently for a few seconds before answering. "When I realized brotherhood goes both ways". He turned to look out the window again, the air in the car suddenly a lot more tense than it had been moments ago. His eyes caught on a figure moving around the house they were watching. "That's him". Bobby leaned over, grimaching when his wounds stretched and pulled. "Know him?" Jack mumbled.

Bobby shook his head. "Don't think so, too far away to tell".

"Any closer and they'll see us" Jack reminded him.

Bobby weighted the distance in his head. He wanted to go closer, actually he wanted to march up to that little fuck and beat him until he told him what he wanted to know, but he knew he might not be alone, and if he wasn't they were in deep shit. As much as he hated to admit it he wouldn't be much use in a fight right now and Jack would be left to fend for himself when he went down. No that wouldn't work. They had to wait, even if it was killing him. His skin was itching to act. "Did you see anyone but that guy when you were here?

Jack shook his head. "He was the only one around that I could see".

Bobby nodded. "We'll wait and see if anyone else shows up".

"And then?"

"Then we leave" Jack looked over at him, a surprised look in his eyes. Bobby grinned. "We'll be back when we have Angel and Jerry with us".

…

"Where the hell are they?! I thought they were just going to the store?"

Jerry looked away from the cookbook he was rifling through to shoot his brother a patient look. "Bobby's probably dragging Jack all over town picking up stuff".

Angel scoffed, then sighed and took a seat at the table opposite Jerry. "Doubt he'll be dragging much of anything for awhile yet".

Jerry was quiet while he searched Angel's face. "That's what this is about?" Angel didn't answer, choosing to stare a hole through the table. "Angel?" Jerry asked, his tone a little firmer.

Angel sighed. "It just feels weird. It's like, everythings different now, and no matter what it'll never go back to the way it was, before".

"Before all this?" Jerry asked quietly.

He nodded slowly. "Before Ma got killed, before Jack got shot, before Bobby almost died, before Jack went insane and started tearing the town apart along with himself". He took a deep breath. "Before Camille left you and took the kids with her. "You know before everything went to hell and dragged us all along with it".

Jerry searched his face, a worried look in his eyes. "And what did you lose Ang?"

"My brother. Two brothers".

And then Jerry knew what this was about. "He's still here Ang, he just needs time". The words were softly spoken, meant to soothe, but they didn't have that effect right now.

Angel studied his open palms against the table, just like Evelyn used to do. He thought it showed that she didn't hide anything, didn't hold back. "I don't know".

"Is this really about Jack? Or because you think you let Bobby down?"

His hands still looked the same, just as he knew he did. How much could a person change on the inside before it showed on the outside too? "Both. I know it's always been Jack and Bobby ya know, but he's my little brother too, and I let him down, and when I did that, I let Bobby down too".

"Angel..."

"I KNOW he counted on me" He interrupted Jerry before lowering his voice again, sounding tired. "I just never thought..." He dragged a hand over his eyes. "I just never thought the day would come".

"When you'd need to fill his place?" Jerry asked carefully. It wasn't like Bobby didn't count on them to take care of each other, he did, and they always would, but Jerry knew it had always been different with Jack. Maybe because Jack had always needed him the most. He didn't feel left out because Bobby and Angel obviously had some kind of agreement from when Jack was very young, he knew that Bobby knew that when push came to shove he was always there for his family. That was what mattered, and Bobby knew that.

"Yeah"

Jerry sighed. "I didn't either". And he hadn't. So many times in the past he'd counted on his brother to be there, so many times he'd wished he'd stop what he was doing and try to live somewhat legally... but at the same time finding comfort in knowing that whatever it was Bobby could fix it. He hadn't called him when things went to hell with his business because he wanted to prove himself, to himself more than anyone that he could do this.

Angel glanced at the still closed door, willing it to open and his brothers to walk in, but it stayed closed. Bobby was hurt, and they were trying to take care of him, a strange arrangement for all of them, especially Bobby, it was just... a bit difficult. "And" Angel hesitated. His first thought had been to tell Bobby, but Bobby was taking his time getting home and he was worried. Besides they were all in this together. Bobby was hurt, and they would just have to learn to take care of shit too, without him if they needed. Sure they'd done it before, but everything was different now. "Jack's been worried".

Jerry frowned. "About Bobby?"

"In general. He didn't tell me what, just said somethings wrong and this morning I felt it too. Felt like someone was watching us, outside. I could be wrong, but I don't think so".

Jerry nodded. If he was honest with himself he was disappointed that Angel hadn't told him earlier, instead choosing to wait for Bobby to return, but he guessed he couldn't blame him. He hadn't exactly been thrilled about everything his brothers had been up to lately, and they hadn't really talked about it when the immediate danger was over. They were all still trying to find their place again, and maybe it was time to let them know that he was with them, all the way. "You can trust me".

Angel looked at him. "I trust you Jer, we all do. You know that right?"

"I know, but I meant, I'm in. Wherever it goes, we're in this together, all the way".

Their eyes met, and Angel nodded. "You gonna cook or what?" Angel's voice was lighter, obviously wanting to change the subject.

Jerry looked up when Angel spoke and then looked down at the book in front of him and grimached. He closed the book and reached for the phone. "I'll order out".

…

The pizzaguy had just left when Bobby and Jack came through the door. Jack took one look at the pizzas and mumbled 'thank god' before taking a seat, worried eyes following Bobby as he made his way to the counter and the pills he kept there.

"Where you've been? I thought you were just going to the store?" Angel asked, a frown on his face that made Bobby roll his eyes.

"Don't get your panties in twist sis, we'll tell you"

"You better" Jerry pointed at him and took a seat next to Jack. "Hey".

"Hey"

Soon they were all seated and they were all reminded of all the other nights they'd spent just like this, planning and discussing.

"Someone was spying on Jack when he looked at that car" Bobby began but was interrupted by Angel's head whipping around to look at Jack.

"What?"

"Someone was watching me while I was there, I could feel it, but nothing happenend"

"That what you were talking about earlier?"

"Yeah" Jack nodded.

"There's more to this isn't it?" Jerry asked and looked at Bobby. "What did you do?"

Bobby shrugged. "We went there, stayed a bit away, saw the guy, no one else, then left"

"That's all?" Jerry asked, doubt creeping along the words.

"Yes that's all, we thought you guys might want to tag along"

"Back there?" Angel clarified.

"Yeah, the guy has to know something, he was the one trying to sell the shitty ass car"

"You remember him from someplace Jack?" Jerry asked Jack who'd been pretty silent up until now.

"No, haven't seen him before, but there has to have been someone else there, I know it"

"And" Bobby cut in. "The guy claimed the car was fine, and Jack says the piece of shit wouldn't even make it to the junkyard, why lie when someone's coming over to inspect the freaking thing?"

"True" Angel nodded and took another slice of pizza. "So we go there, and then what?"

Bobby grinned, and Jack couldn't help his chest tightening. He knew what that look meant. "We do our thing, and then he tells us what we need to know and handle it from there".

"Bobby"

"Jerry this is serious" Bobby's voice was suddenly not so light anymore. "we need to know if there's anyone left of Sweet's guys that could harm us, they might be looking for a little payback".

Dead dark eyes staring up at the sky, empty, cold, quiet... "Those on the ice were in on it, they're not looking for revenge. If that is it then it's someone else" Jack mumbled.

"Hey I'm in all right?" Jerry looked straight at Bobby. "All the way". Bobby was silent for a few seconds, hearing the underlying message, then nodded. "Dosen't mean I can't be the voice of reason" He added, smirking.

Bobby laughed and shook his head before looking at Jack seriously. "You need to be a lot more careful now Jackie, we don't know what's going on or who it is, and..."

"You're the one who needs to be careful" Jack interrupted him, voice steady and eyes unusually hard. "You can't walk three feet without pain".

Bobby blinked, reigned in his temper and met Jack's gaze with his own calm one. "But I'm not the one who killed Sweet Jack".

Angel spoke, eager to break the staring contest going on across the table. "He's right Jack. And he's right Bobby. Jack, they could be after you because of Sweet. Bobby, you're in pretty lousy shape right now, the old lady down the street could probably whoop you one in a hand to hand fight".

"We all need to be careful" Jerry summed it up.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, each struck again by the familiarity of it all. How many times had they'd in this same spot... Laughing, arguing, teasing.

"So... tonight?" Jerry asked. "What's the plan?"

Jack looked at Bobby, a smirk on his face and lifted eyebrow and Bobby was reminded again of the fact that Jack had actually been a very devious kid when he wasn't brooding and trying to wake the neighbours with that guitar of his. His mouth curved into a smirk matching the one on his brother's face. "We're winging it Jerry".

So any idea who it is? A friend of Sweet or someone else? Someone new or someone old? *laughs like a maniac*