Four hours and eight potential roommates later, Jack was sitting at his kitchen counter looking through his recent bank statements to see if he could afford to live by himself and still keep his apartment.
When he's trying to decide between selling his blood or a kidney, there's another knock on the door.
"Erica, I don't care how much it drives you crazy, you are not ironing my work pants," Jack says as he opens the door and instead of finding his sister with an iron he finds a guy he's never seen before.
He looks to be around Emma's age, and Jack's height, wearing a black leather jacket over light blue scrubs, with black hair and brown eyes.
"It's Luke actually, and I hope this Erica isn't a total neat freak," Luke says holding out his hand.
"Jack and my sister is crazy," Jack says shaking Luke's hand.
"Well as long as you aren't," Luke says taking his hand back.
"Not according to my shrink. You're here to see the apartment?" Jack asks as Luke nods and Jack moves over so Luke can get inside.
"This is really nice," Luke says looking around.
"So Luke, why do you want to live here,"Jack asks going back over to the counter, turning over one of the statements and starts to write.
"Well I live in Brooklyn now, but this place is closer to work," Luke says going into the bathroom and coming out a second later.
"And what work is that," Jack says still writing down Luke's answers.
"I'm a doctor over at the free clinic on third," Luke says looking into one of the bedrooms.
"A doctor, so you take out the trash," Jack says setting down his pen.
"Yeah as soon as it's full," Luke says coming over to the counter, now standing across from Jack.
"Alright, do you snore," Jack asks picking up his pen again.
"I don't think so," Luke says confused.
"Alright Luke, last question. Do you intend on paying your share of the rent in full every month," Jack says setting down his pen once again.
"Yes I do,"Luke says.
"Well Luke, you're the best applicant I've seen," Jack says after thinking for a second.
"So does that mean you'll let me live here?" Luke asks laying his hands on the counter.
"Yes it does, I'm Jack Daniel Bing, and I'm your new roommate," Jack says sticking out his hand.
"Well Jack Daniel Bing, I'm Lucas Joseph Tribbiani," Luke says taking Jack's hand, but Jack is too stunned to shake it.
"I'm sorry, did you just say Tribbiani,"Jack says taking his hand back.
"Oh, yeah. I think it's Italian, but I'm not sure. It's my father's last name, and that's all I know, I think his first name is Joseph based on my middle name," Luke says as Jack gets more and more convinced that he knows the identity of Luke's father.
"Well, you probably have some really important stuff to do, packing, saving lives over at the clinic and whatever else you like to do. So I'll let you go, and I'll be in touch," Jack says as he goes to the door, opens it, hoping Luke would take the hint and leave so he could freak out.
Luke does, and Jack follows him out.
But just when Luke is about to say goodbye and leave, Emma comes down the hall.
"Hey, Jack, who's your friend ?"Emma asks, wearing clothes that say she just finished a broadcast; a gray turtleneck, and a black skirt.
"This is Luke, he was just leaving," Jack says hoping Luke would take this hint as easily as he took the other one.
"Wait, I know you. Your that journalist from channel four," Luke says finally remembering.
"You actually watch, wow, it's great too, know that people actually watch. So how do you know my cousin ?"Emma asks looking flattered.
"We just became roommates," Luke says motioning to Jack who wants to disappear.
"Wow, well I live right here if you ever need anything," Emma said motioning to her own apartment.
"Maybe I will need something," Luke says as Jack throws his hands up in the air in frustration, but Luke's back is turned, and Emma isn't paying attention so no one notices.
"I should probably get going, so maybe I'll see you around," Luke says flirting.
"Maybe you will," Emma says flirting back.
After Luke walks down the stairs, Emma turns to Jack,"He is so cute,".
"He's Uncle Joey's son," Jack says happy to ruin the moment.
"What,"Emma says, completely shocked.
"His last name is Tribbiani," Jack says quietly just in case Luke is still within earshot.
"Doesn't Uncle Joey have like a million sisters, he could just be his nephew," Emma says, although she doesn't believe what she's saying.
"He doesn't know who his father is, and did you see him, he looks just like Joey," Jack says motioning his hands to the stairwell where Luke was last seen.
"What do we do ?" Emma asks after a pause.
"What do you mean, what do we do? We don't do anything, this is not our problem, we are not involved in whatever the hell this is," Jack says talking fast.
"Okay, Jack breathe. This is our problem, he's uncle Joey's son, which makes him family, and he needs our help," Emma says as Jack starts to take deep breaths in an effort to calm down.
"I guess you're right," Jack says calming down.
"Can you say it again," Emma asks smiling.
"Say what," Jack asks confused.
"That I'm right. Wow, Mom was telling the truth, it is very satisfying to hear a man say that," Emma says digging in her purse for her keys.
"So what are we going to do,"Jack asks sticking his hands into his jeans pockets.
"Want to come in and discuss it over a beer ?" Emma asks finally finding her keys and sticking them into the door.
"Have I ever said no to beer?" Jack asks as Emma unlocks the apartment.
"No, but you really should," Emma says as Jack shrugs and they both go inside.