"Well fellas. I got a phone call from Carol." Mike started to say.
The other three Monkees gasped.
"Relax guys. She just called because she thinks it's time for the kids to start school. Carol thinks...why are you guys looking at me like that for?"
"Carol, Mike? You called her Ms.Jackson when she first came here. Why the sudden change?" Micky asked.
"Yeah, why Mike?" Davy grinned.
Mike sighed. "Would you let me finish? Anyway she thinks the kids should start school soon. In the next couple of weeks."
"Aren't they a little young Mike?"
"No. Jesse's eight. Heather's six. Carol says...what Davy?" Mike sighed at the smirk Davy was giving him.
"I know that look. I invented that look! You like Carol." Davy grinned.
"I do not." Mike said trying to hide the smile that was forming on his face.
"Yes you do." Davy grinned.
"No, I don't."
"You guys sound like a couple of teenagers." Peter groaned.
"That's cause he likes her. Just admit it." Davy said.
"Davy. I'm warning you."
"Aw Dave. Leave him alone." Micky said.
"Thank you." Mike said sticking his tongue out at Davy.
"He can't help his feelings." Micky laughed.
Mike sighed. "Thank you very much."
They heard a knock on the door. Davy gasped. "Maybe it's Carol!"
"Alright! That's it!" Mike yelled.
He chased Davy to the door. Both were laughing when they answered.
The laughter stopped when they seen who was at the door.
"What are you doing here?" Mike asked. His tone was cold as ice.
"I want my kids back." Jack replied.
"Yeah? Well I want a million dollars. That's never going to happen. Just like you getting your kids back will never happen." Mike said.
"Look. I know I've hurt them. And I'm sorry."
"Yeah? Well I'm sure the guy who killed Davy's parents is sorry. But that won't bring his parents back now will it? Just like you saying your sorry won't erase the damage you've caused!"
"Mike? What's going on?" Jesse asked.
He seen his father and froze.
"Hi Jesse?" Jack smiled.
Jesse ran behind Mike trying to hide. Heather clenched her hand on the back of Peter's shirt also trying to hide.
"I'm so sorry!" Jack said.
He looked as if he was crying. Davy however spotted something.
He doesn't even have tears in his eyes! Davy thought angerly.
"I'll stop drinking." Jack pleaded.
"You've said that before." Jesse said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"We're taking care of them now. So why don't you get out of here." Mike said through clenched teeth.
"Oh, I'll leave. But I'll be back." Jack said in a voice just as cold as Mike.
He turned to leave when Mike shoved him.
"Mike!" Peter cried.
Jack stood up and gave Mike a cold look.
"What's the matter?! Can't fight someone your own size?!" Mike yelled.
"Mike! Stop it!" Davy cried.
He and Peter grabbed Mike's arms.
"Better listen to him." Jack said.
Mike drew a breath and looked over at Jesse and Heather. Both kids were crying.
"Do you want me to have you arrested?" Jack asked.
"They'd arrest you too. Now get out of here." Mike snapped.
"Oh I'll leave. But like I said. I'm getting my kids back. One way or another." Jack said. He gave the Monkees one last glare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I came as soon as you called." Carol sighed.
"Jack's back." Peter said nervously.
"I know. Now here's what you're going to have to do. Find a lawyer. You have plenty of evidence stating that he is an unfit father."
Carol said with a small smile. "That's a big help."
"He's also a great actor." Davy said.
Carol frowned. "What do you mean?"
"When he was crying." Davy said putting his hands in quotation marks.
"He didn't have tears in his eyes."
"He might be able to fool the judge." Peter sighed.
"No. Look you guys are going to have to trust me. Okay? I'll handle
everything. Don't worry." Carol assured them.
Night came and Mike couldn't sleep. He went down the spiral staircase
and entered the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of milk and sighed.
He glanced over by the hammock and seen Micky sleeping in it.
"Micky?" Mike asked shaking him gently.
"What? I...I was just laying here and I guess I fell asleep."
"It's okay. This is so scary Micky."
"I know man. He's out there somewhere. What do you think he's doing?" Micky asked.
"Proubly drinking. We better go back upstairs. Peter'll freak out if he doesn't see you, me, and Davy up there so-"
Mike was cut off by Jesse's screams. They rushed in the downstairs bedroom.
"No! We won't go with you!" Jesse screamed.
He was tossing and turning.
"Jesse! Wake up!" Micky said shaking him.
The boy sat up gasping for air. He was covered with sweat. He looked around the room.
"It was just a bad dream." Mike assured him.
"That's coming true." Jesse whispered.
"Is everything okay in there?" they heard Peter ask.
"Everything's fine. Go back to sleep." Mike said.
He felt his heart sink. Things were far from fine.