Mark saw my face and instantly was out of the car asking me what was wrong. Krissy had gotten out as well and came around to me. I heard someone whistle; it was warm for March and Krissy, who I’m sure didn’t plan on standing outside, was wearing a short skirt with knee high boots.
“Hey Krissy how ’bout you come over here and see what it’s like to be with a man!”
Mark looked over briefly but turned back to me and asked what was wrong. I should have just kept my mouth shut. Or at least waited until we were home, but I couldn’t. Trying not to cry more than I already was I told Mark what Jack had said. Marks eyes darkened noticeably and Krissy who had put her arm around me took Mark’s hand and told him to get in the car. Mark looked at her and hesitated, he was on thin ice as it was.
“Hey Krissy, let Mark take his baby sis home and you come over here. I have something for you.” It was Jack, he then added with a laugh; “Don’t worry I showered after I fucked Megan.”
That was it. Mark yanked away from Krissy flipped his black leather jacket off and headed straight for Jack.
“Fight!!!” one of the other waiters yelled.
“Mark get back here!” Krissy yelled. She looked at me. “Megan stop him.”
I watched as my brother got within a few steps of Jack who had tossed his cigarette aside and took off his own jacket.
“No.” I told her.
My brother wanted to make this right for me and I would let him.
Krissy started running over and I followed. The other three waiters and Tammy all had stepped away from Mark and Jack who were standing inches apart. I stopped a few feet away and grabbed Krissy who was ready to get in the middle. Jack was a couple of inches taller than my brother with quite an impressive build. Mark was probably about twenty pounds lighter but was definitely more ripped than Jack was. They were so close they were almost touching.
“You sure about this punk?” Jack asked. “This ain’t no tournament.”
“Shut up and fight bitch.” Mark replied.
“Hey Mark it’s not my fault your sister’s a drunk.”
“Actually it is.”
“Is it my fault she’s a slut to?” Someone watching laughed. Jack grinned and added; “Or that she loves it in the mouth.”
‘”At least she doesn’t take it in the ass like you did in the joint.” Mark told him smirking.
“What?”
“Is that why it didn’t work with my sister? She wouldn’t use the strap on?”
Someone laughed loudly at that one.
“Fuck you Mark.” Jack pushed him.
Mark went back a step and smiled.
“Did they save their jelly for you Jack? So you could spread it on their asses?”
Jack hit Mark in the face. The punch; a short jab snapped Mark’s head back, Krissy tried to move but I held her tightly around the arm. Mark looked at Jack his mouth was bleeding.
“You hit me Jack.” He said calmly.
Jack hit him again and a lot harder a solid right cross that caught him flush on his jaw. Mark’s head snapped to the side. I watched shocked as Mark simply turned his head to face Jack once again. Someone laughed. Come on little brother I thought.
“Ow.” Mark said simply.
Jack hauled off and hit Mark with a left then another right. Both blows sent my brothers head back but otherwise he didn’t move. What the hell was wrong with him? Was he afraid? I realized that for all the attitude he had except for hitting Jake I had never seen him fight, was he really afraid? Was it all an act? I let Krissy’s arm go prepared to get in the middle I wouldn’t watch Mark get hurt. Jack shook his head.
“Fucking pussy.”
“I’m still standing.” Mark said in that same odd tone.
Jack hit Mark in the stomach when he bent over Jack dealt him an uppercut that rocked my brother’s head back, I heard a crack and I saw blood flowing from Mark’s nose his lower face was already covered with it.
“Mark!” I cried out.
“Jesus this is stupid.” Jack said.
As Mark continued to stand there I saw the he had that weird “going away” look he had when he went into one of his prolonged fogs. I also noticed his head was cocked slightly as if he were listening to something. When he had first come to live with us he had done that all the time. The Doctor’s said because he wasn’t allowed to talk he talked to himself in his head. This was the first time I had seen him do it in months, he must be scared. I needed to stop this. I was just stepping forward when Mark spoke;
“You hit me Jack,” He said calmly. “You hit me first.”
“Mark please!” Krissy yelled.
“And I’ll hit you last you fucking wuss,” Jack said throwing another right.
There was a sharp slapping sound as Mark’s left hand came up and caught Jack’s fist in his palm. Jack had all of his 200 pounds behind the punch yet Mark’s hand hadn’t moved so much as an inch. As everyone watched Jack pushed forward the muscles in his arm bulging. Not only did Mark not move back but slowly, steadily, the muscles in his forearms standing out began pushing Jack’s hand backwards. Mark let Jack’s hand go and as Jack staggered forward Mark pushed him in the chest sending him back a step.
“My turn.” He whispered.
Suddenly Jack’s head rocked side to side from two slaps that no one had even seen coming. Jack stepped back, shook his head and swung. Mark whipped his head to the side. Jack tried again. Moving only his head Mark made him miss again.
“Come on Jack get serious.”
Jack started swinging, left right high and low. As everyone watched in awe Mark blocked every blow easily slapping Jack’s hands away as if he were a child. Jack was getting frustrated, stepping in he threw a wild round house. Mark stepped into it and blocking it back handed Jack across the face, then swinging the same hand down hit him in the stomach where Jack’s face was met by my brother’s knee, which stood him straight up just in time to meet Mark’s forearm.
The blow caught Jack in the head and sent him staggering back into the van behind him. Mark stepped forward and waved him on. Jack was dazed but still came in swinging. Mark grabbed his left wrist then his right and with no hesitation drove the top of his head into Jack’s face, as he staggered back Mark jumped and spinning came around catching Jack in the side of his head with the heel of the black snakeskin boot he was wearing, sending him crashing back into the van where in slow motion Jack sank to his knees blood flowing from his face. It was over.
“Oh my god Mark!’ Krissy exclaimed.
“Yes!!” I cried out.
Mark had stepped up to Jack and was looking down at him. My elation turned to worry I didn’t like the way my brother was standing over him. As I watched Mark grabbed Jack by the hair lifting his head to look up at him. Jack’s eyes were barely open. I quickly walked over to them.
“Mark let’s go.”
“You know Jack,” Mark said quietly. “I believe in an eye for an eye and seeing as you wanted to talk about my sister’s mouth. I think it’s only fitting that you don’t use yours for awhile.”
Before I could say anything Mark suddenly brought Jack’s face down directly into the knee he had swung up. There was a loud crack as Mark’s knee struck Jack at the tip of his chin.
“Oh my fucking god!” Someone yelled behind us. Jack fell onto his back writhing in pain.
“Jesus Christ Mark!” I yelled at him.
Mark turned to me.
“Hey you know sis. It could have been worse on him. He could have talked about your pussy.”
At that he winked at me. Oh my god I thought.
“You fucking animal!” Krissy yelled at him. “What’s wrong with you?”
Mark turned to look at her and shrugged.
“He deserved it.”
“We’re through Mark!” She yelled at him. “I am done with you! You’re a fucking maniac!”
With that Krissy stormed off in the direction of the pay phone. I turned to look at my brother. Mark watched Krissy go then with another shrug looked back down at Jack as if entranced.
“Mark?” I called his name.
Mark was not only smiling but his eyes were so bright it was if they were lit from within. I remembered the story my father had told me about his co workers pet.
Mark looked at up at me and winked. My stomach twisted as one thought went through my mind; the dog was out.
One of Jack’s friends and Tammy were on their knees checking on Jack. The other waiter, a big kid named Billy, turned and said something to Mark who smiled and asked him if he wanted to be next. Billy hesitated and when he did I got in front of Mark and grabbing his arm led him away from Jack. What the hell were we going to do? There were people on the porch across the street so I know damn well the cops had been called. I found myself quite grateful that I hadn’t had anything to drink tonight.
“Let’s get the hell out of here little brother.”
Mark allowed me to pull him towards the car then stopped and said;
“Shit Krissy!”
“Leave her alone Mark she’s upset and we have to go!”
Mark pulled away and I watched as he ran over to Krissy who was waiting by the phone. She yelled for him to stay away from her. Mark tried to talk to her but she put her back to him. When he tried to grab her arm she had screamed and pulled away, which is when I got there and grabbing my brother by the hair drug him away from her before he got in more trouble, which speaking of red lights flashing and siren blaring a police cruiser pulled into the parking lot.
I followed Mark who calmly went over to the two police officers who had gotten out and told his side of the story, Jack had upset me, they had words and Jack hit him several times at which point Mark defended himself. We ended up going down to the police station and filling out reports. In the end because of Jack’s prior record and the fact that myself, Tammy, and Krissy who in the end still stood by my brother, all said that Jack had gone after Mark first. Mark was let go with a warning and a copy of the report went into the clerks file so if it happened again he would have to go to court. My brother was also informed that his black belt made him a weapon and in the future excessive force on his part would lead to serious trouble.