From then on, Jack and Katherine had an unspoken agreement to stop talking about the 'stupid drunk kiss', as that had ended badly the first time and they both thought it wise not to make things worse. So, they were back to being the close friends that they were, though neither would admit it. To everyone else, they were still acting as boyfriend and girlfriend and everything was fine. Until one night, when Katherine was preparing for bed after a stressful dinner dedicated to her parents asking if she and Jack where still together, and how was he treating her, and why didn't she find someone better, and there was a knock on her window yet again. At this point, she'd given up trying to get Jack to use the door. She'd been known to just not let him come in if it was too late, but she noticed he looked distressed, so she motioned for him to open the unlocked window. He climbed into her room and immediately started pacing, not bothering to shut the window behind him.

"Jack, what's wrong...?"
"I can't... I just... They're making me leave."

"What? Who?"

"Them! The system!" He continued his pacing.

"The...? You're not making any sense." Katherine stared at him in confusion.

"The foster care system!" It suddenly dawned on her what he was trying to say.

"Oh, Jack! Why? Surely they don't think that Miss Medda isn't taking care of you?" He shook his head.

"No, they don't have a problem with Medda. It's Snyder. Apparently he's cleaned up his act and wants me back, and they've decided to give me to him." Katherine almost shuddered at how much this sounded like they weren't even treating Jack like a human, but some sort of dog that they owned. "So, this weekend, I'm gone. He's taking me upstate."

"No. No, you can't leave." Jack scoffed.

"Don't exactly got a choice, they can do whatever they want with me, I just... I guess I'm scared." He finally stopped walking and stared straight at her. She knew it took a lot for Jack to admit any type of weakness, and she didn't want to imagine all the horrible things that had happened to him.

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

"No, except hope that Snyder slips up soon and I'll get taken away from him again. I just thought I should let you know."

"Jack – " Katherine started to say, but he was already gone, closing the window as he left.

oOo

On Friday, the boys and Katherine all got together in Jack's (though technically Miss Medda's) apartment, as a sort of farewell party, but no one was in a very good mood. Katherine sighed next to her spot on the couch next to Davey, who gave her a sympathetic look. She glanced around the apartment, hardly recognizing the boys in the room. Jack and Crutchie were quietly discussing something in a corner, Specs and Romeo were half-heartedly playing some card game, and Race hadn't even tried to sneak in any cigars. Most of the other boys were quietly talking to each other or just sort of staring into space, like Katherine and Davey. As she watched them, she decided this wasn't how it should be going at all. She stood up in a very commanding manner, drawing all of the boy's attention to her.

"Okay, enough is enough! Is this really how we want to spend the last of our time with Jack? By sitting around his apartment and feeling sorry for ourselves?" They all looked at her guiltily. "Right? It's not! So let's actually have some fun, someone turn on some music or something, and let's enjoy ourselves!" So they did, and after only about 20 minutes everyone was having much more fun, and eventually someone came up with the idea to play truth or dare. Katherine thought that the harmless game may not actually be so harmless playing with these boys, but decided to shake that feeling, take her own advice, and just have fun. So, they played, and everyone stilled as it was Race's turn to ask the question. Nobody wanted to be given a dare by Race, or get asked to be honest by him, because he had been known to embarrass people during this game before. All the boys and Katherine were quiet as Race grinned.
"So, Jack..." All eyes stayed on the boy in question, who could honestly say he was nervous. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth." Jack said immediately, and Race rolled his eyes.

"Cowards answer. Okay then, you've gotten to be pretty close with Miss Kathy over there, huh Jack?"

"What do I have to do with anything?" Katherine cut in, but Race shushed her.

"This isn't your truth." She glared at him but remained silent.

"Yeah... I guess we've gotten close." Jack said warily in answer to Race's question. The blonde boy nodded.

"Uh huh. So my question is... how close have you gotten?"

"What?"

"Y'know... have you done the deed yet?"

"Race!"

"It's a fair question."

"And the answer is that it is none of your business and I'm not answering. Next!"

oOo

Later that night, after everyone had left, Jack looked around his now basically empty room. Most of his things were packed up, and it was at that moment that he really realized what was about to happen to him. He was being sent back to his nightmare.

AN: Well... I said something interesting would be happening, didn't I?