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Jordan- 10
Almost everyday for the past few weeks Justin had seen his father spend more time with Jordan than he did when he was a kid.
He couldn't believe that he was jealous of his ten year old little sister. Justin loved his sister and she hadn't done anything in her 10 years to annoy or bug him. But watching her spend time with their father was starting to tick him off.
When Justin was a kid, he saw his father and spent time with him but then work called. He tried not to let it get to him but it began eating at him.
Late one night Justin was out with friends, Hank was at home with Jordan. The father and daughter were at home asleep, a loud ringing woke Hank up out of his sleep he reached for his phone and without looking at it he answered it.
-Voight. Hank answered, half asleep.
-Detective Voight this is Sergeant Peterson over at the 31st. You're son Justin was arrested tonight for drunk and disorderly conduct. Peterson said.
-Is he alright?
-He's fine.
-I'm on my way.
Hank hung his phone up and quickly put on some clothes he then realized that he couldn't nor wouldn't leave his daughter by herself in the middle of the night. He called Erin to see if she could watch the ten year old and she agreed, after she arrived Hank went to get his son from jail.
Justin was in a jail cell as he was sobering up, a moment later the cell opened.
"Voight you're free to go". The officer said.
"Oh joy". Justin said sarcastically.
He left the cell with the officer, Hank was signing papers. Justin was now in the lobby of the District and he snorted when he saw his father.
"Just great". He muttered.
The older father looked to his son with a warning glare he walked over to him.
"What the hell is Justin. You think I like getting calls at 2 in the morning that you were arrested". Hank said angrily.
"Now you finally noticed me, it had to be like this for you to finally notice me after almost 3 weeks". Just spat.
"What are you talking about?"
"Everyday for the past few weeks you spent more time with Jo than you did with me when I was her age".
"You know damn well that's not true".
"Yes it is. Face it Pop you love Jo more than me".
"That's not true, I love you and you're sister equally".
"Funny way of showing it".
"Justin, I don't pick favorites between you two. I never have and I never will. I love the two of you equally. What I do for you, I'd do for her, what I do for her I'd do for you. I have never picked favorites between either of you and I never will".
"Seems like you already picked and you picked Jordan".
Justin walked by his father out of the District, Hank sighed. How could his son think he favored Jordan more? He loves both his children equally, why all of a sudden would Justin think this?
A couple of days had went by and Justin had begun distancing himself from his sister. He'd was late picking her up from school and leaving her by herself. Jordan loved her brother, she admired him, looked up to him, she didn't like this new attitude of his.
One afternoon Justin was late picking his sister up from school, Jordan was standing outside waiting on her brother. Why was her brother acting like this all of a sudden? Had she done something to him? Did he hate her?
She didn't know but wanted to find out. After waiting for another hour Justin still hadn't showed up so the ten year old walked home. She made sure to keep her guard up as she walked, always looking over her shoulder.
The young girl hardly went anywhere by herself she was always with someone so she never had to worry. She didn't like being alone with her father as a cop she knew anything could happen and that's why Hank made sure to never leave her alone.
By the time she got home she checked the door and it was locked, the only two who had the keys were her brother and father so she had to sit outside and wait for one of them to get home.
It was almost 9 at night Jordan was still outside on the step, she was tired and hungry. A moment later Hank pulled up outside his house, he saw his little girl sitting out there and he got pissed. Where was his son? Why wasn't he watching Jordan? He got out of his car making his way over to her. The ten year old ran over to her father crashing in to him.
"Sweetheart where's you're brother?" Hank asked.
"I don't know". Jordan answered.
"What do you mean you don't know".
"He never came to pick me up from school so I walked home by myself and since you two have the keys I sat out here".
"Why didn't you call someone?"
"Justin won't really answer my calls anymore. And I didn't wanna bug you, Erin, or Uncle Alvin, you say to never to bother you while you're at work unless its an emergency".
"Jo if you're ever by yourself like this that qualifies as an emergency. I don't want anything to happen to you".
"Does Justin hate me?"
"What? Why would you say that?"
"He's been acting different around me, he won't answer my calls, he leaves me by myself, I don't want him to hate me anymore. I don't know what I did to him for him to hate me".
Hank bent down and hugged his upset daughter, he wiped away the tears that ran down her face.
"Baby, you're brother doesn't hate you he's just going through a….time right now where he wants to do his own things. Justin loves you more than anything in the world, he wouldn't do anything to hurt you on purpose".
"Promise?"
"I promise".
They went inside and after a quick dinner, Jordan went to bed after Hank tucked her in for the night. Justin went home and quietly went inside, he felt like a teenager sneaking in past curfew. He was hoping his father was asleep because he wasn't in the mood to deal with him.
Hank heard the front door of his house open then close he saw his eldest child there. He then threw the rag down and stormed over to him.
"Where the hell have you been?" Hank asked angrily.
"What does it matter to you?" Justin spat.
"First of all I am your father and it's my job to worry about you. Second of all you didn't pick Jordan up from school today, she had to walk home by herself and sit outside till I got home. Now I'm gonna ask again, where were you?"
"Why does it matter? Nobody labeled me the kid's babysitter, I have my own life to live and I don't wanna be stuck babysitting all the damn time. Jordan's ten I'm sure she can handle being by herself for a while".
"She's ten years old! She doesn't know the first thing about being alone. What if something happened to her while she walked home? Jordan doesn't know how to defend herself yet, I don't want her knowing what most of the real world is yet. Many things could have happened to her today because you didn't pick her up".
"See this is what I'm referring to, you always defending her. Let Jordan fight her own battles instead of fighting them for her. Hell I learned how to do it".
"What the hell has gotten into you all of a sudden? You have never acted like this before, you have always picked up you're sister and watched her".
"What's gotten into me? How about the fact that you show Jo more attention, I never got that attention when I was her age".
"That's not true. I have always been there for you".
"Yeah you have till you always left because of the job".
"You really wanna play that card fine. I missed out a lot when you were growing up and yes I do blame that on the job, I also missed a lot with Jordan. I'm trying to be there for her to make up when I wasn't there for not being there for you. I know it wasn't fair to you or to Jo that I miss stuff and I get that, you don't think it hurt me when I miss out on stuff? When Anna died….I promised her I'd be there for Jordan just like I promised your mother the same thing".
Justin had stayed silent letting the information sink into his head. Hank saw the look on his son's face and continued.
"Jordan thinks you hate her".
"What? I don't hate her".
"Tell her that not me. Because of how you been acting she now thinks you hate her. So tomorrow you're going to take her to school, pick her up this time and talk to her".
"Alright I will".
Justin may have been jealous of his sister but he never intended for her to think he hates her, he didn't want that on his mind.
By the next morning Justin had done what his father asked, he took his sister to school. Jordan held onto her brother's hand swinging, she had never been scared or nervous around her brother but this time she was nervous. How could she ask if he hates her? What would he say?
"Justin". Jordan started.
"What's up kiddo". Justin replies.
"Do you hate me?"
He stopped dead in his tracks and closed his eyes taking a deep breath, he then bent down and looked at his sister. He looked into her brown eyes that matched their father's.
"Jo Jo, I could never ever hate you. I'm just going through a phase right now that's all, I could never ever hate you. I love you more than anything".
"How come you didn't answer my calls before?"
"I didn't hear my phone".
"Where were you yesterday?"
"I was doing something and lost track of time".
"Promise you won't do it today?"
"I promise".
Justin went and dropped his sister off at school. The school day passed quickly and Jordan was now out of school, she looked for her brother but no sign of him. A few minutes later he showed up.
"Ready Jo Jo". Justin said.
"Yup". Jordan replied.
The siblings began the walk home, as they walked home a car then pulled up and it was a few of Justin's friends.
"Yo Justin! You comin?" One guy called.
Justin looked to his sister. "You think you can get home by yourself?"
Jordan looked disappointed, he was ditching her again. "I guess".
He then gave her the house key and kissed her head then got in the car leaving her on the side walk alone. She knew she wasn't that far from the District where her godmother works so instead of going home she went there.
Trudy was at her desk giving out orders to her patrol officers when Jordan walked in, when she seen her goddaughter she almost panicked.
"Jo, sweetie what's wrong? What happened?" Trudy asked, checking her over for injuries.
"I'm ok Aunt Trudy". Jordan says sadly.
"What's wrong?"
"Justin ditched me for his friends".
"He did what?"
"We were walking home and his friends came, he gave me the house key and left me".
"Why don't you stay here with me and I'll call your dad".
"Ok".
While Jordan started her homework Trudy called Hank.
Meanwhile
Hank was finishing up an arrest when his phone ringing, he saw it was Trudy calling him.
-Yeah Trudy what's up. Hank answered.
-Hank, Jordan's here at the District with me. Trudy responds.
The older father felt his heart drop and worry quickly filling his body.
-Is she ok? What happened?
-She told me Justin ditched her while walking home.
He was instantly fired up and pissed off now, what was he gonna do with his son?
First leaving Jordan alone and now ditching her, he was gonna get through to his son one way or another.
-Trudy can you keep Jo so I can go find Justin.
-Of course, I'll keep her as long as you need.
-Thanks.
Hank hung his phone up and began having his son's phone traced, once he got a location he got in his car and sped off down the road.
Justin was with his friends and drinking, he was buzzed but not completely drunk. Hank found the house where his son was and stormed inside, he looked through all the drunk people and found his son. Going over to him he took his son by the elbow almost dragging him out of the house. Justin saw his father pulling him and scoffed again.
Once the father and son were outside, Hank looked at his son with a glare.
"What now? What did I do wrong this time?" Justin asked, his voice slurring.
"You left your sister again?!" Hank yelled.
"Were back to this. Jordan needs to grow up and learn about the real world herself instead of you babying and coddling her, you never did it to me so why are you doing it to her? I know it's because you care about her more, you love her more than me. Face the facts dad, Jordan is your favorite always has been always will be. From the day she was born you have loved her more than me".
"Justin that's not true, I told you I love you and you're sister equally. I have never picked favorites between you two".
"You never had to pick favorites because Jo has been and always will be your favorite!"
"You know damn well that's not true!"
"Yes it is you're just too stubborn to admit it. I regret leaving her by herself because something could have happened to her but has it ever occured to you that I'm more of a father to Jordan than you ever were? When you're not there I am. When you're at work and Jordan is sick, hurt, whatever, I'm there you're not. I'm the one she's crying to when you're not there, I'm the one feeding her, I'm the one taking her to the park, I'm doing everything for her when you're not there! I'm more of a father to her then you ever will be. I'm tired of being her keeper, wherever she goes someone has to be with her and for what? Jo's old enough to watch and take care of herself, I did".
"There's a huge difference between you and Jordan. You had your mother she doesn't. You were older when you're mother died, she was a baby. So if I have to shield her from the real world I will, we know about the world she doesn't. You two share that same kinda pain, about not having your mothers here. I'm trying to be there for you, for the both of you".
"Be there for Jordan, after all she needs you more than me. It's too late for me".
"No it's not late for you".
"Yes it is just go".
"Justin-" Hank was cut off by his son.
"I said go!"
Hank looked sadly at his son and left to get his daughter, where had he went wrong with his son? What was wrong with Justin all of a sudden? He didn't know but he was going to find out.
Heading to the District he still couldn't stop thinking about his son and what he could do to help him. After arriving Hank headed inside and saw his little girl sitting beside Trudy, he couldn't help but ran over to her and hug her tightly.
"Dad...to tight". Jordan says.
"Sorry sweetie. Are you alright?" Hank asked, scanning her for injuries.
"I'm fine. What's wrong with Justin?"
"I don't know honey, he'll get his act together soon".
"I hope so".
The father and daughter left heading home the two couldn't stop thinking about Justin and how to help him.
They finally headed home for the night, Hank hoped he wouldn't get any calls in the middle of the night again. He made dinner and quickly cleaned the kitchen. Jordan went to bed while he stayed up, he couldn't sleep not knowing if his son was alright. If he was alive. Erin had came over to check on her surrogate father, she heard about Justin's actions and hoped she could help.
"Hank? You home". Erin enters the house.
"Kitchen". Hank calls back.
She enters the kitchen to see him sipping on a glass of whiskey, Erin looked on with a sad glance.
"Where's Justin?"
"With friends. We got into it a couple of times".
"About what?"
"He thinks I favor Jordan more and I love her more. Today he told me he's more of a father to Jo than I am, how he's there for her when I'm not. I tried to get through to him but he won't listen".
"If you want, I could help out if you need".
"Thanks. When Jordan walked home yesterday and was just waiting outside for me, a million things ran through my mind of what could have happened to her. She doesn't know about the real world yet so I'm shielding her from it, she's a little girl I don't wanna expose her to that at this age let alone any age. Today Justin ditched her and left with his friends Jo she was smart this time, she went to the District and Trudy called me. I traced his phone and went to find him, he blew up at me".
"If you want I'll go talk to him, he'll listen to me".
After that Erin left she checked all the places where Justin and his friends hang out, she was at a bar and saw cop cars outside. Her eyes went wide when she saw Justin being arrested, his eye red and his lip bleeding as quickly as she could she ran over to him.
"Hey I got him, he's with me". Erin told the officer.
"He's your problem then". The officer said.
Justin was then uncuffed he rubbed his wrist and looked at his surrogate sister with a drunken look.
"You didn't have to do that". Justin said.
"Yes I did. Justin do you know the kind of example you're setting for Jo? She'll look at you and think it's ok for her to do when she's older. You can fix all this and set a better example for her". Erin tells him.
"Let me guess dad told you to do this?"
"No he didn't I chose to do this. You're dad does everything to keep you and Jordan safe, up until now you have done everything to keep Jordan safe. Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"
"Everyday for the past few weeks dad spent more time with Jo than he did with me when I was her age".
"Justin that's not true you're dad spent a lot of time with you when you were Jo's age, he made sure to spend time with all of us. He also told me that you think he favors Jo more and he loves her more".
"Because it's true".
"No it's not true, he loves all of us equally, there isn't anything he wouldn't do for us".
"I'm not in the mood to have this talk right now, I have to go home and get yet another lecture".
"If you actually talk to your father and get whatever off your chest I'm sure you'll feel better".
"I did and I don't feel better. Jordan asked me if I hate her and I don't at all, I love her more than anything. She's the best thing that happened to me, to all of us and I'm actually jealous of her after all these years".
"It's normal to feel jealous alright, it's always been like that with brothers and sisters. At first it's nothing then as time goes on yeah something is gonna spark jealousy. But never forget that she loves you, Jordan admires you, looks up to you, there's nothing you wouldn't do for her. You may not see it now but when the time comes she's going to need you, Jordan's gonna need her older brother and while you're doing all this to get attention you're gonna be nowhere to be found and that is gonna hurt her in a lot of ways. Why? Because you weren't there for her like you promised. I was there the day you promised you straighten out your life for her so she doesn't make the same mistakes you did. Not once you have broken a promise to her and now you're gonna start and over what to get attention? I expected this if you were a kid or a teenager not an adult, you know better than she does. You want Jo to follow this path that you, her older brother picked? Drinking? Getting into all sorts of trouble and for what? Nothing. Justin this has to stop before you do something that you may not come back from, I don't wanna see you go down another dark path you went down the first time. You're father doesn't know if he can rely or trust you anymore when it comes to Jordan, when you left her a lot of things could have happened and you would have felt extremely guilty because you weren't there for her, you wouldn't have been there to watch or protect her. All I'm asking of you right now is to stop all this and be there for Jordan like you always have been, don't be that kind of guy that lets sibling rivalry take over because in the end someone will either lose or get hurt. Jordan's a little girl who worships you, you want her to be the one that loses? To be the one that gets hurt? And over what because you were jealous. You want that to ruin your relationship with her because I don't. I may not be biologically related to you guys but I treat you both as if you were my family, you're my brother, she's my sister and not once have I ever felt jealous of either of you. I came from nothing and now I have a family and I wouldn't let anything get in the way of that. You still have your father and sister believe me family is everything because at the end of the day they're still there for you when you have nobody else. You may have screwed up a lot but they're still there for you and that won't change".
Justin had let what his surrogate sister said sink into his head, without saying a word Justin just walked away putting his hood over his head. A blank emotionless look on his face. Erin hoped that he was able to get through to him because if not she didn't know what would happen.
A few more days had passed by and Justin had completely distanced himself from his sister, he won't answer her calls, Hank didn't trust him to take her to school, pick her up or watch her anymore. Jordan didn't like her brother's new attitude, she hardly saw him anymore he'd see her in the mornings before school and maybe if she were lucky she saw him before she went to bed. She'd also known that her father and brother have been fighting a lot, they'd fight when Jordan wasn't home or was asleep. She'd wake up from the yelling and sit at the top of the steps listening.
One night Hank was at work and Erin was babysitting Jordan, the ten year old was watching tv but wasn't paying attention to the tv. Erin had came out of the kitchen holding two bowls of ice cream she saw the sadness and painful expression on her sister's face.
"Sweetie what's wrong?" Erin asked.
"Justin doesn't love me anymore". Jordan answered, her voice cracking.
"Honey that's not true, you're brother loves you more than life itself".
"Then why won't he talk to me anymore? I don't see him anymore. He won't take me to school or pick me up, he won't watch me. He avoids my calls. Justin doesn't love me anymore".
Jordan buried her face into Erin's shoulder and cried, the older woman held the crying girl. This is exactly what she was afraid of, Justin distanced himself to the point Jordan doesn't think he loves her anymore. She had a feeling if he had kept doing this, this is what would have happened. Jordan got emotionally hurt because Justin let jealousy and a sibling rivalry get in his way and blind him. Jordan had to suffer because of her brother's actions.
Meanwhile
Justin was driving, a six pack of beer in the passenger seat, he was drinking behind the wheel. His eye began growing heavier and heavier as he began to feel drowsy, he began to swerve on and off the road. A loud horn woke him just as he swerved and hit something.
Hank was at work when all of a sudden he got a knot in his stomach. Something was wrong. He tried not to let it eat at him he still couldn't focus on his work because he couldn't let that feeling go. A moment later his phone rang, he felt his heart race quickly in his chest. Fear and worry shot through his body as he answered his phone.
-Voight. Hank answered.
-Detective Voight, there's been an accident.