Chapter 2

"Mr. Ross? We'll be landing in just a moment."

Adam nodded and looked over at Emi who was finally completely awake. He noticed her pallor and asked, "Hey, you ok? You're … a little pale."

Emi cleared her throat and simply mumbled, "Dreams."

Adam was a little concerned but didn't push. Emi didn't like to talk about her dreams. She claimed they were basically what she called "brain doodles" and akin to the early sketches she made when she first started working on a project. She didn't like people seeing those often primitive and sometimes incorrect drawings for personal reasons, and the same was true of her dreams.

Emi noticing Adam's look told him, "I'm fine just … stuff coming to the surface." She inadvertently glanced surreptitiously at Charlie who was still sleeping and Adam caught her; his concern turned to worry. She sighed and shook her head. "It isn't what you're thinking. I'm just … I'm just worried that …" Emi leaned her head back and briefly closed her eyes trying to will the words to come out so she could explain things. "Adam, Charlie … he needs the best we can give him. What if … what if my best isn't enough? What if someone comes along and says that you're doing ok but I'm the problem and it jeopardizes your guardianship? What if my issues cause a problem? What if my past …?"

"Hey … hey don't Babe."

"I can't fail you Adam but what if I do?"

"What do you mean fail me?"

"You need me to be the absolute best me that I can be. This isn't just the two of us anymore. We have Charlie to think of and I can't keep … keep … I can't keep screwing up Adam. I look back and realize how … how out of practice I got at being normal, not that I've ever been that but I used to be able to fake it better than I have lately. I learned to deal with things for Reni's sake but I've been letting that slide, counting on you to fix things for me way too much, to filter the world for me and filter me for the world. You and Charlie both need me to do better, not get into so many scrapes. And I need to … I have to absolutely … find some kind of way to make my hands work so that I can do something besides sit around feeling sorry for myself, so that I can help support us. I'm getting out of practice with that too. I've basically been letting you shoulder all of it. I'm worried that I'm failing even before I've had a chance to try … and I can't just try, I have to do."

Adam reached over and gently tugged a curl that had daringly escaped Emi's ruthless hair braid. "Babe … yeah, I'm scared too. At least you have your parents and what they taught you to fall back on. I feel like the only lessons I learned growing up is how not to be a parent. My mom tried, only as an adult I look back and see she only tried up to a point; she had too many issues of her own to protect us from Dad's issues. I don't want to repeat any of that crap. I want to start fresh. New. But I know some of it I'm always going to carry around … like the scars, there's just no getting rid of them."

Emi understood and reminded him, "Your brother never went that far. We'd see it. Charlie doesn't flinch or anything like that."

"No, thank God. I talked to him … to m' brother. I think he knew. Deep down he knew what he was doing, what he was capable of, and how wrong it is. I think maybe some of that is why he sent Dad to me. He just got it all screwed up when he was telling little Charlie why Dad would always come unglued when he was around. The kid can't help that he looks like me and Uncle Brian. That's probably why my brother dyed his hair. The less Little Charlie looked like me, the less … the less …"

Emi, not nearly as soft-hearted as Adam tended to be muttered, "Psychobabble is no excuse for what that man did … either one of them … to you and Little Charlie. You're no longer a victim and we're not going to let Charlie have to grow up like you did either. I'm not worried about that at all. But I can't screw the poor kid up with my issues either. God Adam … I can't fail you, either one of you. You … you need me. Right? You do need me to help with this?"

"Yes I do," Adam said quietly but fervently. "But this isn't the only reason why I need you." After a moment Adam asked, "You … you sure that you aren't upset that … that the plans I had … that …"

This time it was Emi's turn to comfort Adam. He'd had plans all right but between one thing and another they'd had to put it all on hold. "Adam, just that you thought about it is enough for me. OK? After we figure everything out with Charlie maybe we'll get back around to the rest of it." But with a little grimaced Emi said, "But in the meantime we're going to need to be more … er … circumspect. No more wild and … uh …"

Adam's eyes grew wide and then he made his own grimace. He wouldn't regret taking guardianship of his nephew but some things apparently were going to have to be adjusted that he had yet to think about.

The plane landed and after going through the security check they entered by way of one of the smaller gates. The cold wind had nearly stolen Charlie's breath despite being carried and wrapped in Adam's coat. The inside of the airport was warmer, but only because of all of the bodies going this way and that. Adam handed Charlie off to Emi while he wrangled their luggage and it wasn't until he was clapped on the shoulder that he looked up.

"Mac?!"

Mac smiled and asked, "Missing the warm weather yet?"

"Ugh. Kinda crazy. I've got to get over and take charge of Webber's equipment and …"

"Actually Marcus Webber called the lab and I've got people here picking it up from cargo. Christine wound up having an emergency at the restaurant – one of the apprentice chefs dropped a pan of hot grease and several people in the kitchen had to go to the ER with splatters. I've got some of the things she pulled out of the boxes and … ?"

Emi gratefully took the bag from Mac and headed straight to the family bathroom and luckily didn't have to wait in line. She had underestimated just how much the cold would affect Charlie and the little boy was shivering even in Adam's coat.

Mac and Adam followed them with their eyes and then Mac said, "You sure about this Adam? Fatherhood? Even if it is temporary?"

Adam nodded. "I'm sure Mac. And it isn't just about the more obvious stuff it could be about. Mostly it's Charlie. The kid is really cool … a hell of a lot cooler than I was at that age. And if Emi and I hadn't taken him there's no telling what could have happened to him in the system."

"And your brother?"

"Doesn't have a damn thing to say in the matter," responded Adam with more than a little acid in his voice.

"That's not exactly what I meant."

Chagrined for letting his temper show Adam stammered, "Oh. Uh … yeah … my brother took the plea bargain so there won't be a trial. And he'll go to federal prison rather than the state pen. He got ten years but …" Adam shrugged. "His lawyer thinks with good behavior he could serve half that if not less. In the meantime, Emi and I figure out how to keep Charlie regardless of when he gets out."

Rather than state the obvious Mac asked, "Have you talked to a lawyer?"

"We have an appointment with one of the men in the law practice that Emi uses. There might not be a problem. Thanks to some help from the lead investigator out in Vegas, I have a copy of a voice recording where my brother said he didn't want Charlie and that we could have him for a price. But he could come back and deny it, saying he was under duress. You know how it goes. We just need to prove at this point we can provide a better and more stable home than my brother can."

"Let me know if I can help."

Adam looked at Mac, trying not to be surprised by the offer but part of him was. Nevertheless he was still grateful. "Thanks Mac."

That's when both men heard a giggle and turned to find Emi carrying what appeared to be a small bear cub.

"Look at me Uncle Da! I'm a bear and I'm warm! Grrrrr!"