Talking to Pulitzer alone defiantly made the top ten things Jack never wanted to do again. He'd already had to do it before and he was not eager to repeat it! Katherine gave him a reassuring smile as she and Peter left the gigantic office, Jack flinched as the door clicked behind them.

"Sit" Pulitzer said gesturing to the big plush chair that sat in front of the desk. Jack could have sworn it was the same chair he'd sat in nine years ago in fact, the whole office looked practically untouched.

"I see your not big on redecorating huh Joe?" Jack asked making his way to the chair.

"You've already dug yourself in deep enough, don't make it worse." Pulitzer said with a scowl. Jack sat down and tried to make himself look a little more confident, he wasn't sure it worked. As Pulitzer glowered at him Jack was strongly reminded of the time he'd been in this room, talking with Pulitzer when they agreed to lower the price of the paper back to it original price. Jack wondered if he was thinking the same thing.

"What do ya want Joe?" Jack finally asked after a tense moment. Pulitzer sighed and took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes.

"I once told you you had a good head on your shoulders, I wasn't wrong. Your a very wise kid, but being wise doesn't mean your always smart." Pulitzer said putting his glasses back on. Jack blinked, did he just complement and criticize him in the same sentence? "What I mean Jack," Pulitzer continued "Is that you make choices with out seeing the consequences, your irrational and compulsive." Jack clenched his jaw in annoyance.

"Your point is?" He asked not hiding his annoyance. Pulitzer pursed his lips and stood up in his chair, sitting down Pulitzer didn't look very threatening, but when Jack was sitting down and he was standing up... he towered over him his glasses flashing in the light from the window. His white hair was a cruel halo that surrounded his head. Jack had just witnessed a whole new meaning to the story "David and Goliath" Jack sat up a little straighter in his chair.

"My point boy," Pulitzers said and Jack cringed at the way he used boy as if he were still the same old 17-year-old he had been. "is that I don't want your choices rubbing off on my family, and I know, I know, I can not force you away again, but you need to rethink your way of life before you rush into things like you have in the past." Jack knew he was talking about the strike and his relationship with Katherine. He felt a rush of hatred and anger toward this man, he had no idea what he had put Jack through. He had no clue the kinds of changes he had made while in Santa Fe.

"I don't believe it Joe," Jack said "you still see me as a boy don't you? Do you have any idea of what you did to me?" Jack asked feeling his voice falter. Pulitzer sat back down and rubbed his forehead slowly.

"I took no joy in what I did, but I did what must have been done. You need to understand that Jack." Jack stood up suddenly his veins pumping with anger.

"Understand?!? Yea I get it, I'm no good for your daughter but did that really give you the right to lie to her? To tell her I left? To tell her I didn't care about her any more? Tell me Joe, why do I need to understand that? People keep telling me I broke her heart, but what they don't know is you, were the one who put me on that train you, were the one who lied to her you, were the one who broke her heart! Not me!" Jack yelled at him, he was breathing hard and his hands were shaking with anger.

"Do not pin this on me Kelly! Remember that you were the one who got Katherine pregnant, and you were the one who's been gone for nine years. Know you are the one who has to deal with the consequences!"
Pulitzer yelled and sat up in his plush chair. Jack hung his head in disbelief at the man.

"You tryin' ta make me feel guilty Joe?" Jack asked his voice was low and barely controlled.

"Do you not?" He asked standing up again. Jack kept his head down not wanting Pulitzer to see his face and the guilt that now marked his features. "You do, I know you do. I saw it the second I saw your face. You feel guilty for getting Katherine pregnant, you feel guilty that you had a son and you never knew and you feel guilty because you know thoes nine years can never be taken back." Jack refused to look up at him, he would not let Pulitzer see his broken expression. How did he know all that?

"You don't know nothin'!" Jack said his voice cold. Pulitzer gave an unamused chuckle.

"Oh Jack, me and you. Were a lot alike you know, were both strong leaders, we both know how to work, and we especially read emotions well. Like you Jack, I have had experience with liars and cheats. I can always tell when someone is lying, it's what makes me a great businessman." Pulitzer says putting his hands behind his back and rounding his desk so he can stand in front of Jack. "I'm sure my emotions are sending a clear message to you." He said. It was true Jack could feel the waves of dislike, disapproval, and anger coming from him.

"Glad the feeling is mutual." Jack said bluntly. Pulitzers eyes flashed in disapproval at his tone but Jack didn't care.

"Listen Kelly, you have responsibilities know and I fully expect you to take care of them, for the sake of Katherine and the sake of your son." Pulitzers words rang loudly in his ears. There was a few moments of silence before Pulitzer spoke up again. "Hanna!" He called to the door, seconds later a middle aged woman with grey streaked red hair poked her head through the door.

"Yes Mr. Pulitzer?"

"Go get my daughter and her son."

"Yes sir." She said and hurried off. Jack clenched his fists and started gloomily at the ink stained carpet for what seemed like ages before the doors opened again.

"Jack" Katherine said spotting him, her voice was a mix of relief and worry. She rushed over to him and grabbed his arm her face etched with worry. Her touch sent warmth through his body. Peter came up behind her his face reflecting his mothers.

"S'okay." He told her his voice shaky.

"You remember what I told you Kelly." Pulitzer said to Jack.

"What did you tell him?" Peter asked Pulitzer suddenly. Katherine put a hand to Peters shoulder.

"No Peter let's just go." She said nudging him toward the door.

"No!" He said stepping away from her and turning to Pulitzer. "Why do you hate Jack? What did he do?"

"You wanna know what he's done?" Pulitzer asked.

"Dad!" Katherine warned him sending him a glare.

"Yes I want to know! I'm sick and tired of the way people have been treating me! I'm tired of all the lies I just want the truth!" Peter snapped.

"Ask and ye shall be received." Pulitzer said almost smugly.

"Joe don't-" Jack started to say but Pulitzer cut him off.

"Your father is a man with a troubling past," Peter walked closer to the desk as Pulitzer spoke "his mother died when he was born and his father was thrown into prison when he was 9"

"Dad stop! He doesn't need to hear this!" Katherine cried, and Jack wasn't sure she meant Peter or him. Maybe both.

"He's old enough to make the decision on his own, let him hear." Pulitzer said, Katherine hopelessly laid her forehead against Jacks shoulder as he continued. "When he was 14 he was arrested and sentenced to the refugee for steeling food and clothing. He spent two years in there before illegally escaping before his sentence was over. He then spent the rest of the time living as a convict on the streets, that was until he got your mother pregnant with you and I sent him off to Santa Fe. You see Peter, once a street rat, always a street rat." When he was finished the office rung with silence and Peter looked shocked and a little hurt. Peter turned to Jack.

"Your a convict?"

AUTHORS NOTE: Waaaayy quick update! Wow! Comment and tell me what you think! I own nothing! Thx