Chapter 8

By: MysticFantasy

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Jack stretched his limbs, still snug and warm under the blankets. He wasn't quite ready to get out of bed yet. His arms and legs were sore from the small stretching and he hadn't realized how tired he was until he had laid down and nearly instantly fell asleep.

He realized that his mother had been right. Giving his brother's a chance had been promising for all of them. He hadn't totally accepted the consideration of speaking to his brother's but he knew that he was on the right path. He was also starting to get more comfortable around them though he was still on edge a bit.

He did admit that he'd had the time of his life during the snowball fight yesterday. Granted that had been the first time that he had ever been in a snowball fight and it was also the first time he'd ever played in his life, it still had been amazing.

The praise, the cheers, the excitment and joy, the rush of adrenalline coursing through his body...The feeling of life.

For as long as he could remember, Jack could never remember the feelings he had felt yesterday. He could only remember being locked in small closets, feeling pain, hiding and living in fear...

This had been the first time he'd ever experienced joy and fun. And he liked it.

Maybe Evelyn had been right after all. Maybe all he needed to go was give his new brother's a chance. They were sure trying to prove themselves to him. He could tell they were breaking their backs trying to find ways to get him to trust them and feel comfortable in the house.

He knew that they knew he only trusted their mother to lower his guard enough to let her touch him. Even then he was still on edge.

None of them knew the entire story of what happened to him before being turned over to Evelyn for an emergency placing. Sure he'd been covered in bruises and had a busted lip when he first arrived but his new brother's could only guess what had happened for him to have those.

At the same time, Jack had also noticed the furious look in their eyes when they saw how hurt he was.

He saw the look on Bobby more than the other two. The look that Bobby had said that he wanted to go to the house Jack had been taken from and kill the people who had hurt him.

He was glad that he didn't talk or else Bobby would probably be in jail for murder.

Jack didn't want to admit it but he was starting to really enjoy being here in the Mercer house. This was easily the best house he'd ever been in. It was perfect, despite that he was still getting use to what they called 'normal' behavior.

Jack knew that his brother's loved to wrestle about but as soon as he would show up they would instantly stop and try to pretend that nothing was going on. He didn't like that he stopped their fun but he had heard Evelyn tell them that because of his background they needed to be more careful now that he was here and the three agreed to try to calm their wild ways so they wouldn't scare him.

Jack appreciated that his brother's were concerned for him and were trying to calm their behavior so they wouldn't scare him. He just didn't understand how they could right away be that way toward him.

He had just shown up one night and in no more than a week the three were trying to get him to believe he was part of their family. They had started calling him their little brother on the fourth day he'd been with them and were asking if he had wanted to join them at the ice rink to teach him to skate.

Had Evelyn planned his adoption before she'd taken him into her home and it was sped up because of the emergency placing?

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Jack struggled to reach the glass that was just two inches out of his reach while it taunted him about his height. He hated being little and couldn't wait until the day he was tall. He wouldn't have to put up with not being able to reach things again.

"Hey pipsqueak." Bobby greeted easily grabbing the cup and handing it to Jack who took it shyly.

Jack lightly glared at Bobby for the nickname.

"Hey, that name suits you." Bobby said reading Jack's face. "When you get bigger we'll call you something else."

Jack remained silent, just as he had for the past year. Only three days remained and Bobby, Jerry and Angel were more determined to get their little brother to say something. Anything.

They knew that Jack was starting to feel more comfortable around them but they still felt that there wasn't enough time left to get him comfortable enough to talk to them. They'd managed to get him to join a snowball fight but there was still a long way to go.

The pressure was getting heavier.

"So what do you want to do today Cracker Jack?" Bobby asked. "Mom's gonna be at work and Jerry and Angel are going out with their girlfriends. Just me and you today."

Jack didn't answer as he filled his glass with water. He kept his eyes down and Bobby knew that this was going to be the ultimate test of trust. It was just going to be him and his baby brother for the day.

Bobby felt this was going to be the best way for him and Jack to bond and get to know each other a little better even if Jack still didn't say a word.

"Want to just go into town and see if there's anything you'll like?" Bobby offered. "We can go to game shops, sports stores, check out some music stores..."

Bobby quickly noticed the spark in Jack's eyes at the mention of music and knew that he found something of interest in the young boy.

"Have some breakfast and we'll take off after that alright?"

Jack slowly nodded and Bobby left him alone to pick what he wanted to eat and to gather his thoughts about spending the day alone with his oldest brother.

While Jack ate, Bobby went into the living room and grabbed the phone book. He opened it to the business section and started looking for music stores in the area. If music was something that Jack was into then he was going to take him to every store he could find.

It was the only lead they had so far in learning what Jack was interested in. With any luck Bobby could learn what Jack's favorite instrument is and if he knew how to play it.

He managed to write down a few store locations by the time Jack was finished eating. He hid the list in his pocket right before Jack showed up tugging on his jacket.

"Ready to spend the day together Jackie?" Bobby asked with a hopeful smile.

Jack simply nodded and followed Bobby as he lead the way to the front door.

I really hope this works. Bobby thought to himself as he locked the door.

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Bobby opened the door to the store. A bell rang as the door opened and closed.

"Take a look around Jackie." Bobby said to his younger brother. He saw Jack's eyes trying to take in everything at once and his face was covered with curiosity and interest.

"Can I help you find anything sir?" a sales woman asked.

"No thanks. Just taking my little brother to find something he likes." Bobby answered.

"Let me or my co-worker know if you need help finding anything ok?"

"Sure. Thanks." Bobby answered and turned back to find Jack only to see that he wasn't anywhere in sight.

Great going dumba**! One minute in the store and you already lost him!

Bobby walked down an aisle as he looked down other aisles to see if he could find Jack. His worry and panic were starting to rise as he continued to pass aisles and there wasn't a sign of his brother.

At the back lane where guitars were displayed, Bobby let out a sigh of relief when he saw Jack staring at a black and red electric guitar.

Bobby walked over and observed Jack as he stared at the instrument. He saw complete aw in Jack's eyes as he continued to gaze at the instrument.

The older man felt himself smile when Jack carefully reached out and plucked one of the strings.

He saw a faint smile appear on Jack's face which made him smile more. This was probably the happiest he'd seen Jack the entire time he'd been with them and this was also the most interest he'd shown in anything.

"You like it Jackie?" Bobby asked.

Instantly, Jack backed away from the instrument like he was about to get scolded for touching something he wasn't suppose to be near.

"Hey, it's alright Jackie." Bobby said kneeling down to be closer to Jack's height to make him less nervous. "You like guitars?"

Jack lighlty nodded, keeping his eyes down.

"Want to have one?"

Jack looked up at Bobby like he was crazy or he was expecting him to grow another four heads.

"I'm serious." Bobby said with a grin. "You want a guitar? I have no problem getting it for you. I bet you'd be pretty good at it."

Jack quickly shook his head and quickly dashed off to the exit.

"Sir, is there anything wrong?" the second clerk asked.

"It's fine. My little brother's just shy is all. How much is a beginner's guitar?"

"You play?" the man asked looking at Bobby a little skeptically.

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"Think he'd like it?" Bobby asked showing his mother a beginners guitar he had purchased after Jack had run out of the store.

"Perhaps. Did he look like he liked it?" Evelyn asked.

"I saw this look on him ma. He was practically about to play that electric guitar right then and there. If he knows how to play a guitar then I bet he's going to be a natural at playing one of these and keep me up all night playing it." Bobby mused sounding like he didn't mind loosing a few nights of sleep so his little brother would be happy playing music.

"Bobby, I'm so proud of you. You're doing a wonderful job trying to connect to Jackie." Evelyn said.

"I'm trying ma." Bobby said. "He's making me work for it and he's good at it."

"Are you going to give it to him right now or later?" Evelyn asked.

"I want to give it to him now but I'm thinking it'll make a great one year anniversary gift." Bobby answered. "I really don't know ma."

"I think you should give it to him now Bobby." Evelyn said. "It might be what will get him to start talking to us."

Bobby smiled as he picked up the case that held the guitar inside.

"As always, you're right ma." he said.

"A mother tries her best." Evelyn said as Bobby walked toward Jack's room.

The oldest brother stood in the doorway and saw Jack sitting on the bed with his back partially turned to him.

"Jack." he said walking in. "I got this for you."

Jack turned around and his eyes went wide at what he saw being handed to him.

"Got this for you after you left." Bobby said kneeling next to the bed and placing the guitar on the space in front of Jack who continued to stare at it. "Thought it would be a nice gift for you. It's almost been a whole year that you've been here with us you know. Kinda hoping that this would help you feel more comfortable around us, maybe even finally trust us."

What happened next took Bobby completely by surprise.

Jack climbed off the bed and wrapped his arms around Bobby's neck.

"I do Bobby." Jack said.

Bobby was a complete stupor for a few seconds before his body started running on its own. His arms slowly reached up and gently wrapped themselves around Jack's thin frame.