{Two Months Later}

Carson sat in her car in rush hour traffic. 'Who would have thought there would be such traffic jams in Ohio?' she thought to herself. Sighing she flipped through the music stations and stopped when she heard Rhianna's 'Pour It Up' filtering through her speakers. Turning it up, she started lip singing along with the lyrics. She loved this song, it spoke volumes to her.

Half way through the song her cell phone rang. Reaching over to the passenger seat, she picked up her phone. Furrowing her eyebrows together when she saw her mothers home number flashing on the screen. She really didn't want to deal with her mothers bullshit right now. The ringing stopped as she stared at the phone, only for it to start ringing once again. She considered ignoring it once again, but something in her gut told her to answer it.

Turning the radio down, she hit the talk button.

"Hello?" She answered, in a bored tone.

She was meet by silence.

"Hello?" She said again.

"Carson?" came the whispered response.

"Levi?" She replied, shocked and confused as to why her youngest brother was calling and whispering.

"Cars," he said quietly and tearfully.

Carson's heart broke at that moment hearing her brother sounding upset and scared.

"Levi what's going on? Are you ok?" She asked quickly.

"Cars I..... I...... Don't want to be here anymore. C-can you come get me?" He stuttered brokenly.

"Why? What's going on Levi?" She asked worriedly, starting to feel panic creep up as she heard their mother start to yell drunkenly in the background.

"Cars I....." Levi started, than trailed off.

"Levi? Levi answer me.... Dammit," Carson cursed, slamming her hand on the steering wheel.

"Levi, are you there?" She asked, pulling the phone away from her ear for a second to make sure they hadn't lost their connection.

"Levi please if your there answer me, please." She pleaded, she could feel her hands starting to shake. She knew she needed to pull over, or else she was going to be in a wreck or cause a wreck. And that wasn't going to be helpful to anyone.

Looking out the windows at the traffic she saw a break inbetween some cars. Hitting the speaker button on the phone and setting it down on the passenger seat. She placed both her hands on the steering wheel and maneuvered her car through the traffic and pulled up to a curb.

"Cars," Levi's small reply, finally came.

"Thank god Levi," she sighed, clutching at her chest. Feeling like her heart was going to burst out of it at any moment.

"C-c-can you please come get me?" He asked tearfully.

"Ok Levi, I'll come get you. Where are you? Where is our mother?" She asked, calming herself.

"I'm in my closet. S-she's with some guy? I think," Levi responded.

"Ok.... Ok just stay there and I'll come get you sweetie. I'm on my way," Carson answered.

"Ok," he whispered.

After the line was disconnected, Carson sat there and took some deep breaths. She could feel her blood starting to boil, she couldn't believe their mother was back to her old ways once again. Wait yes she could, their mother would never ever change. Pulling herself together she realized she needed to figure out where she was going to go when she got her brother. She couldn't go back where she was staying with her brother in tow. There was only two people she could think of who would help her and Levi. Picking her phone up again, she dialed the only people who she could trust in this situation.

"Hello?" Cara answered.

"Hey Cara, I..... I....... I," Carson sniffled stuttered.

"Carson?" Cara responded.

"Cara I," she sniffled again.

"Carson sweetie your starting to worry me. What's going on?" Cara asked, worriedly.

"I need your help. Will you and RJ help me?" She asked quietly.

"Sure sweetie, what's going on?" Cara asked again.

"I'm not really sure yet. I just know I need to go get my little brother. I'll explain every thing once we get there," she replied.

"Sure Carson we'll be here," Cara answered.

"Thanks Cara," she responded.

Hanging up Carson pulled herself together and pulled back out into traffic in the opposite direction she had been headed. Driving into one of the more unsafe neighborhoods, she found the building she was looking for. She hadn't been there in years and it wasn't exactly somewhere she ever wanted to be again. Looking out the windows she noticed the neighborhood hadn't really changed in the years she had been gone. In fact it almost looked worse than she remembered. Of course there were still the same drug dealers standing on the corner and of course there were hookers out there to.

Stuffing her purse under the passenger seat, she turned off her car and got out. Locking the doors behind her, she took another deep breath and started walking towards the building she once called home. The outside of the building almost looked the same as when she left. Although it looked a little more worn down and there was obviously more gang tags on the building. Making her way up to the doors there was a bunch of young guys hanging outside on the steps. She really didn't feel like dealing with some young gang bangers, but she could already feel their gazes on her.

Carson quickly hurried by them and ignored their catcalls. Walking into the building she took the stairs two at a time up to the second floor. Walking down to the end of the hallway to her once apartment, she lifted her hand and started pounding on the door. A few minutes later the door was ripped opened.

"What the fuck....." Her mother snapped, opening the door. Then cut herself off seeing Carson standing there.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She slurred nastily.

Carson cringed at the sight of her mother standing there. Obviously wearing pajamas and a robe, that in Carson's opinion had seen better days. Her mothers hair was a tangled dirty mess and she reeked of weed and alcohol.

"Where's Levi?" Carson inquired, trying to keep her anger at bay.

"How the fuck should I know," her mother snapped. "What's it your concern anyways?"

"He's my little brother, I'm always concerned about him." Carson replied.

"Right," her mother snorted, eyeing her warily.

"Babe who's at the door? Get your ass back in here," came a mans voice from somewhere in the apartment.

"Look I just came to get Levi. Than I'll be out of your hair," Carson told her mother, pushing her way into the dingy apartment.

Carson had to cover her nose and mouth with a hand to keep from gagging from the smell in the small apartment. The whole apartment was a disgusting mess from what Carson could tell. She didn't want to look around, but couldn't help her eyes darting around the place. She couldn't understand how her brother was placed back with their mother.

The carpets were a disgusting brown color, not the original tan they had been. The small kitchen off to her right had trash everywhere and dirty dishes piled high in the sink. There were take-out boxes every fucking where. She was certain there was probably a bug and mice infestation in there, with the mess they had. In the living room off to her left the couches were shabby and dirty, with more take-out boxes and beer cans and bottles every where. The whole place smelled of weed and alcohol. She noticed some guy sitting on one of the couches wearing boxers and a wife beater.

"Who's she?" The guy asked, looking over at Carson hungrily.

"She's no one," her mother snapped.

"God this place is a disgusting mess. How the fuck can you live like this? How the fuck can you want Levi living in this mess?" Carson snapped, unable to hold back her anger anymore.

"What I do and how I live isn't any of your concern. Not all of us are as lucky as you and have a rich sugar daddy," her mother slurred, and slightly stumbled when she turned her glare on Carson.

"No as I've stated along time ago, I could care less about you mother. And Jack is not my sugar daddy or any of your concern. But what is my concern is my brother Levi's welfare," Carson snapped, turning on her heel and making her way to her brothers room.

"Your an ungrateful little shit," her mother snapped, stomping behind her.

"I'm ungrateful? How the fuck am I ungrateful?" She snapped, turning on her mother again and walking towards her.

"I gave you everything. I gave you life," her mother sneered.

Carson couldn't help but snort at her mother.

"Oh yes mother thank you so much. Thank you for not giving a shit about us kids after dad died. Thank you so much for turning into a whore and bringing man after man into our lives. Thank you so much for being a whore. Thank you so much for becoming a drunk and druggie," Carson replied sarcastically, poking her finger in her mothers chest.

Before Carson realized what was going to happen all she felt was the sting of being slapped across the face.

"Your a little bitch," her mother snapped.

"And your still a whore," Carson replied, holding her cheek and turning again to go into her brothers room.

Carson walked over to her brothers closet door and opened it. Crouching down she moved some of the hanging clothes out of the way and found Levi huddled in a corner.

"Come on Levi. I'm getting you out of here," Carson sighed, holding her arms open for him.

Levi flung his small body into his sisters open arms and wrapped his arms tightly around her neck. Wrapping her arms around him, she stood up and walked over to his bed and set him down on the mattress. Than walked back over to his closet and pulled out his suitcases and a duffle bag. Walking back over to closet, she started grabbing his clothes and shoes. Shoving stuff into his bags every time she grabbed stuff. Looking around she figured she grabbed everything essential, everything else she would just have to get later.

"Ok bud, anything else you want to grab?" She asked softly, looking down at her brother.

Her brothers eyes swept over his room and he shook his head. Than leapt off the bed and went over to a corner. Carson watched as he grabbed a slightly worn stuffed animal. She recognized the stuffed animal right away. It was something her and Jack had given to him, the first time he had meet Jack. He hugged the animal closely to his body and walked back over to Carson.

"Alright bud lets go," Carson sighed, grabbing the bags and his hand and leaving the room.

Levi huddled close to her side as the reached the living room. Their mother turned her head towards them and sneered at them.

"If he leaves the house with you than don't bother bringing him back. I have no use for him anyways," their mother sneered.

"Good thing I had no plans on bringing him back than," Carson snapped, heading towards the door.

"YOUR BOTH UNGRATEFUL LITTLE SHITS," her mother yelled after them, as Carson slammed the door behind them.

Leading them both down the stairs and outside, Carson took a deep breath of fresh air. Walking over to her car she unlocked her car and let Levi get in and made sure he was buckled in. Than went and put his bags in her trunk. Getting in the drivers seat she started the car and looked in the rear view mirror. Levi was staring blankly out the window.

"You ok bud?" She asked softly, looking back at him.

"Do I have to go back to that place now?" He asked quietly, turning his head. His little eyes filled with tears.

"No bud. Your going to go with me. I'm going to figure out something for the both of us," she replied, reaching back and putting her hand on his knee.

"You promise?" He asked.

"I promise bud," she answered, with a nod.

Carson pulled herself together and put the car in drive and headed towards the Umberger's. She needed to keep it together for just a little bit longer. She couldn't let her brother see her lose it. He had been through enough already. She could lose it later when he was asleep. A part of her was still boiling mad and the other part was still the hurt little girl. On one hand she couldn't believe her mother was still the way she had been with them all. [i]'Who does that to their children'[/i] she thought to herself. Carson could never imagine treating her children the way their mother treated them.

Twenty minutes later she pulled up in the Umberger's driveway. She only noticed Cara's car there. The whole way there Carson had thought about calling and telling Cara that she was just going to go to a motel. She wasn't worried about her coming after her for taking Levi. She just felt bad for dragging RJ and Cara in the middle of her family drama. They had their own family to think of, they shouldn't have to deal with hers also. Parking the car she looked back at Levi and saw him sleepy rubbing at his eyes.

"Come on bud lets go inside," she said, smiling slightly.

"Where are we?" He asked, after they were out of the car and walking to the front door.

"My friends house, Cara and RJ's. You remember the Umberger's don't you?" She asked, ringing the doorbell.

"Oh," he said disappointedly, with a small frown.

"What's the matter bud?" She asked crouching down to his level.

"When are we going to yours and Jacks house?" He asked.

Carson sighed this wasn't going to be easy to explain to him that they weren't going to be going to Jacks. She knew how much Levi liked Jack. But she knew she was going to have to explain to him at some point that her and Jack were no longer together. She hadn't even seen or spoken to Jack since their fight.

"Levi were not going to Jacks. We're going to stay here for a little bit," she answered.

"Why?" He asked, confused.

"We'll because....." She trailed off as Cara opened the door.

"Well hi there," Cara said, with a smile. But Carson could see the worry in her friends eyes.

"Hi Cara, thanks again for letting us come over," she replied, standing up and ruffling Levi's hair.

"Anytime sweetie," Cara replied, letting them in.

"Levi aren't you going to say hi?" Carson asked, as they walked inside.

"Hi," he said shyly.

"Hey Levi," Cara replied. "The girls are in the playroom, you can go play with them."

Carson watched as Levi ran off towards the play room. She followed the older woman into the kitchen. She sat at one of the stools at the kitchen island, as Cara walked around the island and grabbed a mug. Setting the mug in front of Carson and than poured some tea in the cup for her.

"So?" Cara asked, setting down the kettle.

Carson took a drink of her tea and set her cup down. Looking down at her cup, she took a deep breath. After she had explained everything to her friend. She finally looked up at Cara, she found her friend looking angry. Carson knew that anger wasn't towards her, but at her mother.

After dinner Carson found herself sitting on the couch in the family room watching a movie with the kids. RJ hadn't been home yet and when she asked Cara, she had told her that he had some stuff to do. When she had offered to help clean up after dinner Cara had just shook her head and shooed her off. Now she found herself sitting there. Levi had laid down and stretched out on the couch besides her, his head laying in her lap. She was lightly stroking his sandy blonde hair, his eyes drooping every few seconds.

A few hours later Carson could hear hushed voices talking near her. She wasn't sure when she had exactly fallen asleep, but it was somewhere between Cars 2 and Beauty and The Beast.

"Jack leave them alone. They've had a long and exhausting day," she heard Cara whisper harshly.

"How can you expect me to just leave them alone Cara?" She heard Jack whisper back in response.

Carson could feel her heart start to beat faster it had been so long since she had heard his voice. She felt a tear slip down her cheek.

"Jack their asleep," Cara whispered in response.

"Cara I need to talk to her," Jack whispered in a plea.

She heard a sigh coming from her friend and could only imagine the look on Cara's face.

"Jack look man I know you want and need talk to Carson. But from what Cara said its been a long day. Just let them sleep and you can come back tomorrow and you guys can talk," she heard RJ whisper.

"RJ, I'm not leaving them here," Jack whispered.

"Jack," Cara sighed.

Carson wanted to open her eyes and say something, but couldn't find the energy to open them.

"Fine man I'll tell you what, take them up to the guest room. Than you can crash down here on the couch. Than Cara and I will take the kids to breakfast or something. So you guys can talk," RJ replied quietly.

Carson heard movement come around the couch and felt Levi being lifted off her body. She could heard people leave the room, which she assumed was RJ, Cara and Levi. She felt someone standing next to the couch staring down at her. Again she wanted to open her eyes and call the person a creeper. She felt his arms slip under her body and lift her up. She snuggled her face closer to his chest and inhaled deeply.

"Night man see you in the morning," RJ whispered quietly and brushed by them.

All too soon she felt her body being laid down on the mattress. She felt Jack sliding his arms from out under her. Carson rolled her body towards him. She felt Jack brush some hair off her face and lean down and kissed her forehead. She felt him stand, her eye lids felt cemented together and she so badly wanted to open them and see his face again. Since her eyes wouldn't cooperate with her, when she felt him turn to leave. She reached out a hand and grab his wrist.

"Stay," is all she whispered.

There was no sound or movement for several seconds and she was almost afraid he hadn't heard her. She felt him pull his wrist free from her grasp. She heard the sound of the bedroom being shut and was disappointed that he left. Until she heard the rustling sound of clothing being dropped on the floor, than felt the mattress dip as Jack joined her on the bed. She felt his arm wrap around her waist, and felt at ease for the first time in two months.