You know, one of my biggest difficulties as a writer is ending things. Whenever I write, my stories tend to be extremely long and drawn out, not necessarily with a lot of plot, and with less twists and turns than I'd hoped for, but usually a lot of conversation and attempted detail. Since I continue past the huge crisis it's hard to then 'resolve' things for an ending… Especially in the case of a story like this where overnight Jack's not suddenly going to be the guy he is when the movie starts. And if I continued up to that point it would take a million chapters.

With that stated, I'm going to try to end things with this chapter. Probably not well, but we'll see.

I'm hoping to write a bunch of 'short' stories that will have the same basis as this one. I mean, whatever happened in this one would kind of be the background for the shorts, but they would not be dependent on this one. They would all be stand alones.

We'll see what happens.

---

Chapter 35

---

Jack sat at the kitchen table with several pieces of paper and several pens and pencils. Bobby told him that the chances of all the pens running out of ink and all the pencils breaking was so impossible that he better not even think about it as an excuse. Jack tried to explain that he didn't want to make any excuses, but Bobby just grumpily left him there to try to fix the window upstairs.

"Whatcha doing?" Jerry sat down at the table across from him, biting into an apple.

"Nothing." Jack glanced down nervously at the first sheet of paper. So far all he'd written was one line.

Jerry looked at the paper and tried to read it upside down. All it said was, 'I could'nt sleep'.

"It's d-n-apostrophe-t," Jerry told him. "Not d-apostrophe-n-t."

"Huh?"

"You spelled 'couldn't' wrong. Or you just put the apostrophe wrong. What are you writing anyway?" Jerry took another crunching bite into his apple.

Jack started erasing.

Jerry frowned. "Why are you erasing the whole thing? It was a really little part that was wrong."

"The whole thing's wrong." The eraser broke off the pencil as he continued to erase and Jack stopped, staring at the now smudged paper sadly.

"There wasn't much there to be wrong… Well, what are you writing?"

"Nothing."

"Well, nothing now…" Jerry agreed. "Am I bugging you? I'll go away."

Jack looked at him quizzically. No one had ever asked him if they were bugging him before. Or offered to go away. He wasn't sure how to respond. "It's my statement," he tried to explain. "For the police."

"Ohh…" Jerry answered, and Jack was glad he knew what he was talking about, because he didn't want to explain. "I can leave you alone."

"Some of it," Jack started slowly, unsurely. "I'm not sure if it's real or not."

"What do you mean?" Jerry had almost gotten up but now he stayed seated in the chair, giving Jack a quizzical look. The kid's shaggy hair had fallen into his eyes, and Jerry thought about how it was weird Ma hadn't made him get a haircut yet. Although that was probably the least of their worries.

"I mean…" Jack started slowly. "I don't know if I dreamt a lot of it."

"Like what?"

Jack opened his mouth as if to reply and then hesitated, shutting it again. He ran his finger back and forth across the edge of the table. "I don't know. I just feel like I dreamt parts of it."

"Well, maybe you dreamt about what actually happened."

"What if it changed in my dreams?"

"You can't tell the difference between dreams and reality?"

"Sometimes," Jack admitted. "Sometimes it's hard. Don't you ever have really, real dreams?"

Jerry paused. This was the longest he'd really gotten to talk to Jack alone, and he wanted him to keep talking. He wanted to learn something about him, like Bobby had in the past week. Bobby seemed like he'd completely cracked the Jack code and had figured him out. They seemed a lot alike, maybe that was why. Bobby had kind of just taken him under his wing to protect and figure out, and had succeeded.

"I do," Jerry admitted. "But I usually wake up halfway through them, and I know that they're not actually real."

Jack just frowned.

"Some people have better imaginations," Jerry persisted, noting Jack's worried face. "I haven't had a great imagination in a long time."

"I don't want to lie," Jack explained.

"I doubt it'll be a lie. In fact, I'm willing to bet that most everything in your head has a basis in something. And is certainly based on the truth."

"A lot of things are based on truth… And aren't true."

"True," Jerry answered. "You're a smart kid."

"Not if I can't figure out what to write down." Jack pushed the paper away, glaring at the large smudge on the first line.

"That's nothing."

"Bobby will be mad."

Jerry rolled his eyes. "If Bobby's mad over that, then he's gotta be committed."

"Committed like an insane person?"

Jerry laughed. "Uh-huh. Where is he now, anyway?"

"I didn't know he's insane."

Jerry studied Jack's slightly nervous expression and laughed again. "Jack. He's not. I'm teasing. Now, where is he?"

"Window."

"Huh?"

"He's fixing my window."

"Oh… Right."

Jack chewed on his thumbnail. "Is he mad about that?"

Jerry shrugged. "Who cares if he is? It's a window. I think he liked breaking it. Bobby likes breaking things. Fixing things on the other hand… He's not so fond of that." He watched how nervous Jack looked. "What's the matter?"

Jack shook his head. "Nothin'."

"I know I haven't talked to you too much…" Jerry began. "But if you wanna talk about it, whatever it is... then you can talk to me. "

"How's Camille?"

"Is that your attempt to change the subject?"

Jack froze. He then started to chew his nails again.

"Camille's great. I'm just saying." Jerry shrugged.

"Are you gonna marry her?"

He smiled. "I don't know. Maybe someday."

"Do you talk about it?"

Jerry raised his eyebrows. "You sound like Ma… But yeah… Sometimes."

Jack didn't know what to ask next. He didn't know much about girls, or getting married, or anything like that. So he didn't know what other types of questions would come up. Which was bad, because then it left the conversation open for Jerry to ask him something. His attempt to lead things away from talking about himself was over. He stiffened a little, waiting.

"What are you so anxious about?" Jerry asked gently. "Bobby's not mad at you."

"I know."

"Then what?"

"I don't know."

"But you feel nervous?"

Jack shrugged. He kind of did. He guessed he kind of looked like it too. "I guess."

"Well, you had a crazy week. All the change. Coming here was just the beginning, I suppose. You like it here?"

Jack shrugged again. "I guess."

"Well, what don't you like?"

Jack shrugged.

Jerry rolled his eyes. "For a smart kid, you're sure hard to talk to, huh? Don't shrug."

Jack caught himself mid-shrug and stiffened. Jerry just took another bite of his apple and chewed quietly. After he swallowed, he said, "You want me to try to help you with the report?" He pointed to the paper.

"You weren't there."

"I know. But… Yeah, I guess you're right. You wanna talk to Bobby about it?"

"No."

"He was there for part of it, right?"

"Sort of." Jack shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it. I'll write it." He picked up another pencil. Then he just sat there, unsurely. "Who do they show it to? Will he see it?"

"Who's he?"

"Kevin."

"It's all private. It's for police records. So they know what happened exactly. So they can charge him for everything."

"But… If they let him go again. They do the restraining order again, but…"

"It was kidnapping this time, Jack." Jerry paused. "I don't think it's going to go so simply."

"How do you know?"

"Trust me." Jerry watched him tap the pencil on the same smudged piece of paper. He wasn't sure if Jack trusted him at all, and didn't really want to ask.

"I just don't want him to know what I wrote," Jack explained. "He won't like it. He won't like it all."

"He's never going to see you again."

"That's what Bobby said."

Jerry sighed. "I know, Jack… C'mon. Nobody saw what happened coming for a mile."

Jack didn't know. He didn't blame anyone in particular for what happened, other than himself. It wasn't really their fault. Letting him in their home hadn't changed the past. It never would.

"Hey."

Jack looked up. Jerry was giving him a funny look.

"What do you think about when you get that look?" Jerry asked.

"What look?"

"You know. That look. When you're in like a different world. What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about… not thinking…"

Jerry smirked. "Good answer."

---

"Is there actually something in there?"

Jack kept his hand out, in it an envelope. "Jerry said to put it in an envelope. So no one would read it."

"Jerry, did, huh? You know… We wouldn't've read it if you didn't want us too."

Jack shrugged.

"Can I read it?"

Jack stared at him. Didn't he just say… "It's in an envelope."

"I know. I kind of wanted to know what happened though…" Bobby took the envelope from him.

"Nothing."

"Did you write that? Nothing happened?" He lifted the envelope. "Seems thicker than a page, Jackie."

"I wrote it really big."

Bobby laughed. "So you don't want me to read it?"

"It's in an envelope…" Jack persisted.

"Yeah, I see that…" Bobby agreed. "It's fine." He stuffed it into his back pocket. "I won't read it. I'm gonna drop it off when I go out to pick up the pizza for lunch. You wanna come?"

"I don't know."

Bobby rolled his eyes. "Your window's done, by the way. No more sleeping with me."

"Why would he sleep with you?" Angel asked as he walked by them to go sit down and watch TV. "You snore. And that's kinda gay."

"Kinda gay?" Bobby echoed.

"Yeah, Mr. Macho. Kinda gay."

Bobby gave him a glare. "Look, Ang. Unless you want my foot up your ass…"

"So you like putting things up guy's asses now?" Angel smirked. His smirk disappeared as Bobby stormed over towards him. He put his hands up, as if surrendering, and objected, "Okay, okay, Bobby," but Bobby still walloped him across the head. "Ow…"

"Shut up, dumbass." Bobby glared at him.

"Stop it…" Angel rubbed his head irritably and then kicked Bobby in the shin. "Stupid cracker."

Bobby hit him again. "Grow up."

"Go get the pizza, Bobby." Angel glared back at him. "Take Jack with you, you dick."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"I’m hungry. Go get it. Should have gotten it from a delivery place."

Bobby sat down beside him and elbowed him. "How 'bout you try being sympathetic to people sometime, huh?"

"How 'bout picking up the food sometime, huh?"

Bobby just rolled his eyes.

"Are you hungry, Jack?" Angel demanded.

Jack just shrugged uncomfortably. "I guess."

"There you go, Bobby," Angel said. "The kid wants you to get the food. Now you should definitely want to go."

"Angel," Bobby replied, "go shove it."

Jack didn't know what they were talking about, but he watched the two of them exchange deadly looking stares.

"Jackie." Bobby looked up. "My keys are on the counter. Go get them."

Jack hesitated for a second and then left to go get them.

"Angel…" Bobby began. "Why couldn't you be more like your name?"

Angel smiled. "Sorry, Bobby."

"Just give him a break, huh?"

"He's been sleeping with you?"

"Two nights, Ang," Bobby admitted. "Just two nights. And now it ends. I hope."

"You let him?"

"What was I supposed to do?"

"Say no."

"Why?"

"Because he's being a huge baby, that's why."

"He's eleven."

"I know, Bobby."

"You can sleep with me too when you're scared, Angel…" Bobby teased, sticking his finger into Angel's ear.

Angel grimaced and swatted Bobby's hand away. "I'm fine with it, Bobby. You want to baby him, then go ahead and baby him. I don't care. I’m just hungry."

"I know you tease 'cause you care, man," Bobby said. "But give him a break. He's easily shook. We've already been through this."

"Aw, whatever. Cracker Jack and I talk just fine. Go get the pizza and stop giving me a hard time." Angel watched Bobby reach to take the envelope out of his back pocket. He saw him start to open it and said, "What's that?"

"I'm just curious. It's what he wrote. About what happened…"

"Ooh. I want to see."

"I don't think he wants me to see it."

"Then why are you opening it?" Angel looked at him like he was crazy. "And he's coming back in like a second too."

Bobby stopped. "Yeah, you're right."

Angel laughed. "Man, I wanna see too, though. Open it quick."

"Nah, you were right the first time. I want him to trust me." He pulled away when Angel tried to snatch the envelope. "Ang, stop."

"You were gonna do it first!" Angel objected. "I'm sorry I said anything at all."

"If he wanted me to know, he'd tell me."

"He put the envelope in your hand, Bobby. It's yours now."

"Well, bitch to Jerry about giving him envelopes then," Bobby retorted.

"Jerry did it?

"Yeah."

Before Angel could reply, Jack was back, keys jingling in his hand, and both the older brothers stopped their moral argument.

"Yo, snowflake," Angel greeted him.

"Okay, Jackie, let's go." Bobby pushed himself off the couch. "Angel's poor sense of humor will still be here when we get back."

"You know…" Angel answered, "… you're really lucky you're coming back with pizza or I'd be pissed about that comment."

---

"Okay, I'll be right back."

"No…."

Bobby hesitated, hand on the car door. They were sitting outside the police precinct and he was about to run in and drop off Jack's statement. The car smelled strongly of the two pizzas sitting in their boxes on the backseat.

"No?" Bobby echoed. "You change your mind about giving a statement?"

"No. Don't leave me."

Bobby wasn't sure why that tugged at him so much. He told himself to be a man. Teach Jack to be a man. "I'm not leaving you. I'll be back in a second."

"Isn't he in there?"

Kevin, Bobby realized. He wished he could just kill this Kevin character and be done with the whole thing. "I don't know, Jack. I'll be back in one second." He opened the car door to get out but Jack latched onto his arm.

"No…"

Bobby gave a small laugh. "Okay, then, kiddo. Come in with me."

"NO." Jack's voice was insistent.

Bobby sighed. "If he's in there, Jack, he's behind bars or handcuffed, or both."

"Don't leave me."

"You won't come in, I can't go in alone… What the hell do you want me to do with this?" Bobby waved the envelope in Jack's face. He pried Jack's hand off his arm and started out of the car. "I'll be right back."

"Bobby!" Jack insisted.

Bobby leaned down and stuck his head back into the car. "You want me to keep the radio on?"

"No."

"If all you can say is no—"

"I don't want to be alone in the car," Jack said quickly.

"Okay." Bobby sighed. "Jack. I'll be back in a minute. You can time me."

Jack looked miserable. "Can you keep the car running?"

"Why?"

"So we can leave quick."

"Like a getaway car? We could leave quick if you stopped arguing with me. And the pizza's gonna get cold. You want Angel to flip a shit when we get back?"

"Bobby."

"Okay, Jack. I'll be back in a minute." Stubborn, Bobby left and slammed the door behind him. He went into the precinct, talked briefly to an officer, and was back in the parking lot within a few minutes. When he approached the car, his stomach turned a little bit when he couldn't see Jack. Empty was the passenger seat. On the back seat all he saw was pizzas.

On further inspection, he noticed Jack sitting on the floor of the car, curled up, in front of the passenger seat. He laughed to himself, more relieved than anything, and got back into the car.

Jack sat up straight, startled, hitting his head on the glove compartment.

"Oh, come on… Get off the floor, baby…" Bobby said sympathetically. He reached down and rubbed at his head. "You okay?"

"I didn't want anyone to see me."

"Well, good job then, I guess." Bobby turned the key in the ignition.

"Did you see him?"

"No. I didn't."

"Is he still in there?"

"I'm sure he is."

"Did you ask?"

"No." Bobby shook his head. He gave Jack a look as he crawled back onto the seat. "You want me to go back inside and ask?"

"No," Jack admitted. That involved Bobby leaving again.

"Didn't think so. Let's go eat pizza."

---

Jack sat in his room quietly, sitting on his bed and strumming his guitar on his lap. The window was closed, locked, and all panes of glass were intact. He had to admit that he felt slightly better, although he was still a little unnerved when he thought about the other night.

"Hey," Bobby said from the doorway.

"Hey," Jack replied.

"You like the guitar?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah."

"Good." Bobby paused. "Danny was asking."

"Does he want it back?"

"Nah, it's all yours, cupcake," Bobby laughed at Jack's nervous question. "Most people don't take back gifts, you know?"

Jack shrugged. "I guess."

"You gonna sleep in here tonight?"

Jack nodded again. "Okay."

"I mean… You can… I mean, if you really get scared, you can sleep with me. But I'm just sayin'… The window's fixed and everything." Bobby shrugged. "Hopefully there's nothing to be scared of."

"I'm not scared."

"Okay."

"It's better now."

"Okay." Bobby smirked and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Then one favor you can do me. If things are 'okay' now, and you're not scared of anything…"

Jack felt himself grow nervous. What was all this? What was he going to say? It could be anything. Maybe they'd realized that something was wrong and that he couldn't stay anymore. Or maybe Kevin had come back. Maybe he'd read his statement. Jack was holding his breath.

"Unpack," Bobby said.

"What?" Jack asked, letting out the deep breath.

Bobby pointed at the bag on the floor, which had remained full for the past week. "You live here. Act like it and unpack your bag. It's been a week, kid."

It had been a week. Only a week since Anthony dropped him off and hadn't looked back. He felt like it had been a lot longer than a week, and he did feel a bit differently than he had when he was dropped off. But he knew he was the same person. And again, nothing would change the past.

But Bobby was right. He might as well unpack.

"Okay."

Bobby grinned. "Good, Jackie." He walked away.

Jack sighed. Maybe unpacking would unfold a better chapter in his life.

---

THE END

I hate ending things... So... Yeah. We'll see what happens. But this is what I'm going to call the end for now.