This is based on Season 5: Episode 5, Warriors. It is what I thought might have happened to cause Tom and Danny's change of heart where their kids were concerned. Is from Mike's viewpoint but also features Russ. Will only be a few chapters long.
Another Father's Advice
Chapter 1
Mike hated cooking for just himself so he sat down at his favorite burger place. He had gotten used to eating alone; and normally just got take-out. He chose that particular day to sit still. He wasn't ready to go back to his lonely apartment. As he munched on his cheeseburger and fries; he noticed Sam and Ashley Chandler walk in. He knew they were in town but Tom and Sasha hadn't taken any time off to spend with them. Something that aggravated him. If he could have just one more visit with his kids; he would be spending every second with them. Work would wait. They were at a stalemate. Mike indicated for them to come to his table and both kids smiled broadly at him as they walked over.
"Hey, Uncle Mike!" Sam exclaimed as they sat down. Ashley seemed stressed out about something but Sam was always an open book.
"I heard you guys were in town. Why aren't you at home, eating?" Mike asked.
"Dad and Sasha are working again so he gave me money to eat out. This place was closest." Ashley told him. She and his oldest daughter, Kaitlyn had been the same age and Mike generally had to swallow a rush of emotion when he spoke with her.
"Oh, I see. Well, I wanted some company. Everything okay, school?" Mike asked, knowing something was not right. Most likely, Tom.
"All he does is think about work! We came here from St. Louis to spend time with him and he doesn't even care." Ashley began. Mike reached over and patted her shoulder.
"He cares about you both." Mike assured them.
"No, he checked out five years ago…he never liked being home before then but it got worse because Mom could always draw him back. We would have been better off if he had put us up for adoption or something!" Ashley continued.
"Do you really think that?" Mike asked both kids and they both nodded at him.
"Yeah." Ashley told him and Mike turned to Sam.
"Yes." Sam added.
"Okay. Well, I promise; your dad does love you both. I could make an excuse for him and Sasha but I won't. What I will do is talk to him. See if I can get him lined out a bit." Mike assured both kids but he could tell, they were not confident.
Mike and the two Chandler kids enjoyed the rest of their dinner, visiting about school, sports and what they planned for summer. He learned that Tom and Sasha were planning on visiting the kids in St. Louis in July. He offered to drive the kids back to their house but they refused. Mike paid for their dinner and separated ways.
When Mike walked into his apartment; he immediately focused on a picture of his family. He missed them terribly. He had been on a few dates but couldn't find a connection like he had shared with Christine and while he knew finding a new love again was a possibility; he couldn't sooth the pain of losing three children. It drove him crazy that both Tom and Danny were neglecting their children. One of the women he had went on a single date with, insisted on going to some restaurant on Hannah's birthday and then couldn't understand why Mike was so quiet. One of her comments was that he needed to just get over it because a lot of people had lost children and maybe he needed to remarry and have another baby; obviously thinking of herself as the proper person to do that with. Mike had not returned any of her calls or texts for a second date.
The one person that he spoke to about his losses was someone who had lost as much as he had. Russ Jeter. Russ always had the proper advice. He would probably tell Mike not to interfere but Mike also knew, Ashley, Sam and Frankie just needed their dads. He couldn't do anything to help his own kids but he could help those three kids.