Out beyond ideas

of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field.

I'll meet you there.

Jelaluddin Rumi, 13th century

Rescue Me

The wheels on the gurney were spinning around in an erratic fashion that had caught eleven year old J.C.'s attention. He wasn't sure why they had him so fascinated, but he imagined it had something to with the fact that he wished what was happening, wasn't happening and they were simply a distraction allowing his mind to focus elsewhere. But this was real and there was no getting around it. They had reached their destination and Georgia was being lifted from the wheeled gurney to another bed, and for the first time his father made eye contact with him. All J.C. knew was something about bleeding that wasn't supposed to be happening but apparently was even though he hadn't seen any blood. It was obvious to him that she was still pregnant so he didn't get why everyone was so scared.

"Hey buddy, why don't you come around to my side, come sit with me," Dr. Max Goodwin said, holding his arm out to receive his son.

"He was a great help Max." Georgia said in the midst of her panicked state. "He held my hand and only left to direct the paramedics to where I was waiting."

"Great job kiddo," Max proclaimed showing a smile that revealed effort, but little else.

J.C. stayed silent as the doctor went to work and after a brief roller coaster ride of emotions he wasn't even sure he understood, but apparently ended on a high, he trailed his family to the room where Georgia was settled. After Max made his promises to come back and check on them both he departed only to hear small footsteps fall in line behind him. He looked back and glanced down to see the blue Nike's that they had spent an entire day looking for. Max flashed a quick smile as he recalled the long day going from store to store. He knew it was much more about spending time together as opposed to finding just the right sneaker. He felt honored that his son still thought enough of him to keep him captive while in pursuit of the perfect footwear. Before he knew it those same feet would march away from him, finding time with friends and other activities much more important than making an effort with his family.

"You need to stay with Georgia." He said after he turned around and faced his son, who, to anyone that knew them, was clearly a smaller version of himself in both looks and personality.

"I want to stay with you. I want to live with you," J.C. said. "You don't even miss me at all do you?" He accused.

Max softened his face as he gazed downwards. "Of course I miss you. I miss you every day and every night."

"Then why can't I live with you. I mean, Georgia isn't even my real mother."

"Maybe not, but she loves you very much and needs your help. Today was very scary and she's going to need someone to be with her. To help out."

" Yeah because you're not there. But then you're never there. Is that why you had to move out, because you work too much?"

Max sighed. "Things got complicated son. You got back from visiting your mom earlier than I expected. I thought I had time to get a schedule and a plan in place with this job before you returned. Then Georgia and I had some problems. Now, the baby—I'm sorry if you're getting lost in the shuffle, but please understand, please know that without a doubt that I love you very much and am not pushing you away."

"Sure feels like it," the boy said as his fingers found their way upwards as he absentmindedly touched the raised two inch scar on his neck. Most of the time he didn't even realize he was doing it. He wished he could stop. He had matching ones on his arms as well, but somehow they seemed more like a badge of honor. He dropped his hand as Max's face took on the sympathetic look that J.C. hated. He hated the scars, he hated how he got them and sometimes he just hated the world and everything about it.

"Just let me get adjusted here and then we can look into some kind of schedule."

"We really need a schedule to see each other," J.C. said shaking his head. "Maybe I should just go back and be with my mom."

Max gently shook his head and then looked his son in the eyes. "You know that can't happen." He said as his eyes flickered upwards towards the scar.

"Well that's what I want," the boy said crossing his arms trying to put on a show of defiance.

"How about this then," Max began, "on days you see Dr. Mayfield, Tuesday's and Thursday's?"

"Monday's and Thursday's," J.C. corrected.

"Okay then, Monday's and Thursday's after your session you come here. His office isn't that far. I can find someone to walk you down. I can't promise you much time, but just knowing you're around will be nice and when I have a few minutes we can spend them together."

J.C. smiled. "That sounds great."

"But you will have to follow the rules. I can't have you roaming everywhere and causing problems."

"I'll be good, I swear. When can I come to your new apartment?"

"Maybe this weekend. But I warn you it's not much to brag about."

"That's okay, I'm used to utilitarian."

"Oh are you now?" Max laughed.

"I am, that's what Mom calls the places we stay. So Thursday I can come here?"

"Yes, Thursday, you can come here. But now you have to help me out by staying with Georgia. She needs you, and I need you to be with her. Can you do that for me?"

J.C. took a deep breath and toed the floor with his new sneaker. "Yes. I can do that."

Max smiled at his departing son and felt conflicted. He loved his son so much, and loved spending time with him, but he felt a larger responsibility on his shoulders, one that often left those he loved the most needing him the most. He wondered if having J.C. come to the hospital was the right move or not. Sure he had often hung out at the China Town clinic and was remarkably adept at understanding when to help and when to fade into the background. But this was different, this was a major hospital, with its winding corridors, elevators, jail cells and massive square footage. And there was J.C.'s mental health to consider as well. He wasn't the same boy he had been the last time Max had said goodbye to as he handed him off to his ex. Things had happened, absolutely awful things. Things so horrific that despite the fact that J.C. had been in the middle of them, he had very little recollection of any of it.

Max watched his son retreat back into his wife's room. He knew that Georgia would have to stay in the hospital for a certain amount of time and that J.C. would already get exactly what he had wanted without even having to ask, simply due to circumstances, but he wanted to hear the boy accept the responsibility of helping out. Having J.C. around would make Georgia happier and Max much more content as he would have an extra pair of eyes on the scene.

Several hours later, having bid Georgia goodnight at the hospital, J.C. stood in the doorway of Max's studio apartment and looked back up at his father. "You weren't kidding, there's absolutely nothing to brag about in here."

"I warned you. I'll have to get you a bed and maybe a dresser or something."

"How long are you going to be here?" J.C. asked as he set down his backpack.

Max mashed his lips together. "Not sure yet. We'll just have to wait and see."

"How come you aren't living in our apartment?"

"I will again soon," Max assured, despite the fact he had no idea how it was all going to work out. But he didn't want to heap anymore uncertainty on his son right now. He set the small suitcase down that they had hastily filled with J.C.'s clothes from the other apartment before coming to the small abode that Max had hoped would be quite temporary, but as each day passed he became more and more uncertain. He knew his hand had been heavy in the cause of the separation, but he wasn't sure he would change anything if he could go back and that fact bothered him more than anything.

"Take my bed," he said pointing to the mattress.

"Where will you sleep?" The boy asked.

"On some blankets over there," Max pointed towards a mound of blankets.

"I'll sleep on the blankets. I've done it before."

"Oh you have?"

"Sure. I've slept in a few huts in my time with even less than blankets to lay on. I've got this." He boasted.

"When have you slept in a hut?"

"Egypt."

"When were you in Egypt?" Max asked, his voice tightening up. J.C. realized his error as soon as it slipped from his lips. He bit his lower lip and stayed quiet. "Answer me." Max demanded.

"Last time. We stopped for just a couple of days. That was all, just like two or three days."

"Just two or three days huh? Egypt wasn't on any itinerary that I got. You aren't supposed to stray from what was agreed upon, and Egypt wasn't agreed upon."

"Well it is in Africa," J.C. tried, his face beginning to scrunch up. "Don't be mad at Mom. Don't tell her I told."

"Don't worry about anything tonight. We need to get some sleep now. But we will talk about this more later."

Max lay awake thinking about what his son had revealed a few hours before. If he had been uncertain about moving forward with his plan he had no such reservations now. Her failure to come back to the states after what happened to their son, her omission about their travels, it all spelled out that he had to take charge and do what was best for his son.

To be continued...

Since this is a new story along with a brand new show, updates might be irregular. But please check back often as I continue to develop the story as we go along.