It had only been a few days and already Jackie was losing his mind.

He had already watched way too much TV than he was used to and when he did, all he wanted to watch was the news.

Unfortunately, of course there was crime and the mention of his sudden disappearance at first. He had called Abe to let him know of his condition but that was that.

A few days later at nearly a week and Jackie noticed something.

The crime rate stayed the same.

. . . . 

Either he had made the difference . . .. . . OR. . . .

His interference as a vigilante never mattered.

Jackie didn't like thinking about it but the more he did, the more it made sense.

How could he possibly make any difference in a huge city like this? Of course he had helped put away plenty of bad people but eventually they'd either get bailed out or get out of jail sooner or later on parole. 

What was the difference?

He had voiced this once to Henrik but the doctor merely tried telling him he was wrong.

But was the doctor right? How would HE know that he's making any difference?

And when he tried talking to Chase the other night, that was just like talking to a blank wall.

He had brought his kids over and they all chilled out on Jackie's couch watching movies Sammy and Kallie brought with them. They thought watching Robin Hood, Big Hero 6 and The Incredibles would help cheer him up.

But really it only made things worse.

Now he just felt even more like a glorified city trophy.

The police seemed to be doing the job just fine without him.

What use did he have?

Of course he just smiled with the kids and kept these thoughts to himself. 

But he wished Chase would actually listen to him.

Once the kids had fallen asleep, Jackie tried again.

"Dude, I don't know why it's bothering you so much" Chase had snorted, "Just means you can have more time to yourself, bro.  What's the deal?"

'What's the deal?' Jackie sighed, pouring himself a glass of water, 'Why did I think asking him was a good decision? But I at least thought even Henrik might understand. But I was wrong there, too'

Taking a seat on the edge of his couch in front of the TV again, Jackie just felt so. . . . .

Useless.

He stared at the water in his glass and gave a heavy sigh.

'Something just doesn't feel right. Like something's missing. And I still don't understand Anti's motive. Why did he help me out? Did he think he owed me or something?'

But then that would mean Anti wasn't completely a villain. . . . . Right?

All this thinking was giving him a headache.

Suddenly a commercial popped up on the TV advertising some local bar. The different drinks made Jackie's throat dry. He wasn't like Chase where he could just drink until he passed out. But a beer really did sound good to him right now.

After a few moments, Jackie looked outside.

It was getting dark outside.

He bit his lip and felt his abdomen. 

'I should be healed enough to walk around that far by now. Most of the bruises have faded, too'

Making up his mind, Jackie rolled his eyes at himself and got up, changing into his 'citizen wear'.

'A couple drinks shouldn't hurt'

Anti growled deeply. Nearly a week later after Jackie and his 'fight' but he still felt like shit.

'By now that goody goody bastard should be nearly healed' he thought to himself, 'I don't care if I'm not fully healed like him, I need to make another move. Make sure he remembers who I am'

He should have never helped him.

Why did he help him?

.

.

.

"Hey man, are you done yet?"

The glitch twitched at the sound and growled again. He nearly forgot where he was.

Even if he was still hurt, he still had a 'job' whether he liked it or not. He didn't need the money, per se but this particular gang he was helping would do him a great service if he kept on their good side.

'These idiots could be a part of my next plot against Mr. Robin Hood'

He grunted lightly, "Nearly. Have patience, kid"

The snorted, "I don't see why it should take so long. You claim to be the best hacker there is, right? Either hurry it up or I'll make sure you and the boss get a little one on one chat"

"Oh lovely" Anti snickered, "You know, that's actually exactly what I wanted." he let himself glitch the computer he was working on, successfully completing the hacking job.

"Dude, what the fuck!? What just happened!?" the man jolted at the sudden change, seeing the money transferring.

Anti sneered at him, turning to face him, "Tell your boss it's time to uphold his end of the deal. Unless you don't think you're. . . . . up for it"

The man gulped, seeing Anti pull a knife out of nowhere, twirling it on his hand casually, "I uh . . . . . Hey don't worry, man. . . . I'll give him a text right now"

"Good. . . . . while you do that, I think I'll go out for a drink. Let me know by the end of the night on his decision" he stood up and suddenly dragged his knife along the man's neck with a grin, "Easy there, boy . . . . Thought I saw something . . . ." he slowly put away his knife with a grin, "You have a good night now, you hear?"

The man, shaking and sweating, nodded scared shitless, "Y-yes sir"

Mustering all the strength he could, Anti huffed and walked out of the building as strong as he could, trying his best to make it seem like he WASN'T in absolute pain still.

'Now I need a fooking drink. That should dull the pain a bit.' he walked for a bit along downtown until finally coming up to a familiar bar. Anti chuckled, 'This'll do. Must be good if Brody came here all the time.'

Jackie walked in the bar, his hands in his hoodie. He came here sometimes with Chase when they first moved out here. Jackie remembered helping his brother back home when he got too drunk, trying to give him encouragement that things would get better.

That was before he got his kids back.

And boy when he did, he was the happiest man in the world. Only now he had a new addiction and it wasn't really any better.

Chase had become a workaholic, leaving his kids with either a babysitter or one of his brothers if they weren't in school. He claimed it was so he'd have enough money to help them just in case anything bad happened. You never know with the luck they had.

But everyone, even Marvin, was on the fence about it. Chase still had to make time for his kids.

He couldn't worry anymore about what Stacey might do. She lost her case when she remarried the wrong person.

Jackie sat up at the bar and was clueless at first. He had come for a beer but now a margarita or something fruity sounded good, too. He always did have a sweet tooth like the others. Although Chase was always the exception when it came to drinks. He preferred whiskey.

"What will it be, kid?" the bartender asked him.

Jackie made up his mind.

He always wondered why Chase preferred it so much, "I'll have a Honey whiskey, please"

"Coming right up"

He was really glad Marvin's spell made it so no one could recognize him.

Meanwhile, Chase had just gotten off of work and was heading on home to relieve the babysitter.

It had been a long day and he was tired as hell. He just wanted to go home, spend a little time with his kids and go to bed.

When he finally pulled into the driveway, he got out of the car and pulled out his keys.

As soon as he entered the house, it was quiet except for the soft noise the TV made in the living room. At first he thought they were all watching TV and he crept in only to find the babysitter by themselves watching some sort of silent movie.

"Hey James" he whispered to him. Even though his brother was mute, he wasn't deaf. The dapper tailor became alert and turned towards him, suddenly smiling.

'Hello, Chase!' he signed, 'How was work?'

He shrugged, "It was fine. I take it I was too late getting home tonight?"

Jameson shrugged, 'Little ones got tired. It IS pretty late, after all. You should learn to come home sooner'

"Sorry, man." he flopped himself next to him on the couch, "They let me do some overtime and I lost track of what time it really was. Thanks for babysitting by the way, man. I owe ya"

'No problem. Although you're lucky you called when it wasn't busy at the shop. You should really-'

"Hire a real babysitter." Chase stopped him, "I know. I just. . . I just know the kids love their uncles is all. I don't want to . . . I mean you never know exactly who you're hiring these days, you know?"

Jameson gave him a look.

Chase sighed, "I know that's not really an excuse.  I guess I just. . . I just don't want them to-"

'Ring, Ring, Ring!'

Suddenly his phone started to buzz and Chase pulled it out to look at the caller ID, "The fuck?"

Answering it, he thought something might be wrong, "Hey man, you alright?"

Jameson stared curiously as Chase's face turned from concern slowly to annoyance.

"Yeah uh . . . ." he sighed, "I'm coming, man. Be right there. You stay where you're at, you understand me? Hey! Do you understand me?  . . .  Alright. See you in a few" 

He hung up the phone and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Thought I was supposed to be the drunk one?"

'Who was it?'

"You'll never believe me" Chase shook his head exasperatedly, "Fucking Jackie. Will you watch the kids for a little while longer?"

Jameson was a little irritated but nodded, 'Of course I will.'

"Thanks, bro. I really do owe you!"

And with that, Chase was once again on the road but this time to go pick up his drunk brother, 'Funny that usually it used to be the opposite way around'

Jackie was absolutely wasted. He never knew how long it actually took to get drunk off of whiskey and now he knew. Not long.

He couldn't even count how many shots he really had but boy did he feel great.

"Aaaanother!"

"Sorry buddy, but I'm gonna have to cut you off" the bartender was even worried about him.

He just kept drinking and drinking, lost in his thoughts and emotions.

"Awwww" the hero grumbled, "Fffine." he burped a little, "etever." he left his seat only to wobble, the floor feeling like a carnival ride, swaying back and forth, "Whoa"

"You gonna be okay to make it home, bud?" the bartender asked him.

Jackie snorted and just gave him a thumbs up, not trusting his words.

"Alright, I have you on a tab, man. Just remember that. Be careful getting home uh . .. Jack. Was that your name?"

Jackie snorted and chuckled to himself, "Cllllose nuff" he waved bye and headed out the door.

He had a lot of time to think about everything that's happened the last few weeks. So much that he felt that maybe he wasn't even needed anymore!

No one was asking for him, so why bother!?

Still swaying, he groaned and shook his head lightly. Already, he could feel the alcohol starting to fade but that didn't mean he wasn't still drunk.

He only made it a block past the bar when something unexpected happened.

"Hey you!"

Jackie burped a little, not used to alcohol as well and turned around to see a few men walking up to him.  He grinned, "Mmme?"

"Yes, you, dumbass!" the leader of the group rushed up to him and pushed him into an empty alley, the others falling behind him.

Jackie wasn't stupid. These were a gang of muggers. Four of them.

"Give us your money, asshole!"

"What money?" Jackie snickered, "I'm broke, man!"

"You think you're funny!?" one of the others behind pulled out a large knife, "We'll gut you, motherfucker!"

The leader smirked at him, "Or do we have to take the change off your dead body?"

Jackie smiled, thinking he could still probably take them on, "Try it"

"You asked for it" The man went to punch Jackie but he ducked only to fall on his back with a groan.

He was still swaying. He had to balance himself. Sober up a bit!

Before one of them could stab him in the ground, he rolled out of the way and picked himself up, leaning on the wall for support.

The leader of the gang rushed at him but Jackie was faster, managing to land on hit on him, punching him across the face.

He wasn't ready, however, for one of the others to grab him by the hair to pull him back, pulling out his ponytail, "Come here, bitch!"

The other male went to stab him but Jackie grabbed his hand, smacking it away roughly, making the other man groan at the force used.

But he wasn't ready for the two other men to lunge at him together and Jackie couldn't take it. They landed hit after hit, beating him to a pulp. They laughed in his face, kicking him into the ground until all four were on him.

Jackie was normally stronger than other people but he couldn't take this. Not when he was drunk and still injured from before.

He really thought this was it.

'Well it was a good run, I guess. Sucks it had to end this way. They'll kill me anyway when they realize I don't have any money'

All Jackie could do was shield his head as they kicked at him.

Then man with the knife was just about to stab him when he was stabbed himself.

The other three stared as one of their men fell to the ground dead.

Jackie couldn't see what was happening but he heard it.

The sound of bones breaking. Grunts and shouts of pain. Hits landing hard.

And then suddenly there were footsteps running away and silence.

Jackie shook but pushed himself to roll over on his back, looking up at his potential savior.

He couldn't muster words, however, when he saw who it was.

Anti looked down at the sorry excuse of a man. He didn't recognize him but he wasn't about to let foul play happen like that. Usually he wouldn't care if someone got mugged or beat but something struck him different about this one.

The beaten and bloody drunken mess with long hair in his face on the ground looked surprised but Anti huffed at him, "What you looking at, piss-ant!? You're lucky I don't rob you instead, fooking drunkass. Would have let them kill you but I was feeling generous tonight. Don't ask why."

The man on the ground gulped, "Ttthh-thank you?"

Anti growled, "Tch. Whatever. You obviously don't belong in this part of town. Get the fook out before I kill you myself"

With that, he walked away to the bar Jackie just left from. Mumbling and grumbling to himself about something, leaving the dead body of one of the gang members beside Jackie.

Jackie couldn't believe it. . . .

Did Anti really just . . .. save him? 

Again!?

Of course he didn't recognize him this time, though. He must have not because of Marvin's spell. With Anti not being a part of it, he had never seen Jackie's actual face under the mask!

At least not beaten and bloody with his hair down. Perhaps he would have if not.

Who knows? He didn't care. All he cared about was that he survived the night.

Thanking his lucky stars, Jackie finally gave in and called someone to come pick him up. 

Leaving the dead body behind so he wouldn't get tied to the murder first of course.

But what exactly did this prove?

He really should have been able to take them on. He should have been able to even if drunk and slightly injured. That's never stopped him before.

Or did he even care anymore? Did he . . . let himself get beaten down like that for a reason? Or could he really not handle it on his own?

Had he finally reached rock bottom?

He called the number on speed dial on his phone and put it to his ear.

"Hey Chase"