What happens now?
Scott sat there for a moment too shocked to speak, finally he managed to chock out, "What? How? That's not possible it's just not." Martin spoke, "Scott I know this must be hard for you, but the hospital checked the test results four times to make sure there is no doubt Elaine's baby is your son." Scott stood he was feeling so many different things at once he thought he would explode he was shocked, angry, happy, upset, confused, and in denial all at once. Scott shook his head violently, "no there's no way there's no way because Elaine used protection so it's not possible."
Peter decided to intervene, "Scott do you know for a fact that Elaine used birth control, did you actually see her use it every single time?" Scott thought about it for a moment then shook his head, "No I didn't it's just this one time when Elaine first started coming into my room. I didn't want to do that with her and I said something like, 'we shouldn't be doing this because you could get pregnant' and she said not to worry that it wouldn't happen so I just assumed….."Scott trailed off as he ran a hand through his hair, "But I never really saw her use anything."
Sophie piped up, "Then she probably didn't and even if she did you know what they say nothings guaranteed even medical procedures don't always work." Scott nodded, "I know I just how can this be happening how can I have a kid? I can't take care a of a kid hell at this point I can't even take care of myself I'm a drug addict!" Scott didn't know when he'd started crying, but he realized his face was wet when Peter pulled Scott into his arms. Martin said, "Scott I am so sorry I wish there was something I could do to take this pain away from you, but I can't and I'm sorry I can't be there right now. You should know the reason I've called is because this 'development' has changed things."
Scott nodded as he pulled away from Peter and said sarcastically, "yeah now they have to believe me." There was a long pause and Scott felt his stomach drop when Martin spoke again his voice sounded nervous, "not exactly, Elaine is being charged with statutory rape, but she is claiming you were the one who attacked her." Scott was going to faint he knew it, "What? You're telling me that she uses me and now I might end up in jail because of her!" Peter winced, "No Scott, Elaine is the one going on trial which mean it is HER burden to prove that you were the aggressor if she doesn't she'll go to jail." Scott took a deep breath, "What if she does?"
Peter bit his lip, "If she is found not guilty Elaine will press charges against you and you ould go to jail." Scott was going to faint he knew it, "What? You're telling me that she uses me and now I might end up in jail because of her!" Peter winced, "Scott it's highly unlikely you'll be sent to jail, Elaine is the criminal."
Scott threw his arms in the air, "So what?! No one believed me before why would they now?" Martin shouted, "I believe you! I know I didn't before and I am so sorry for that Scott, I can only hope one day you'll forgive me for everything I've put you through, but I believe you. I made some calls and pulled a few strings to make sure you have the best lawyer possible for this case Scott. I promise your mother and I will do everything possible to keep you out of jail." Scott raised an eyebrow, "Mom knows?" Martin sighed, "Yes I had to tell her, I'm sorry Scott I know you wanted to do it on your own, but all things considered I didn't feel I had much of a choice."
Scott shook his head again, he didn't want to deal with this it was too much Peter said, "Scott we're here for you, we're going to help you get through this." Sophie continued, "Yes Scott, we are here for you we will always be here for you." Scott swallowed and the thing he'd been fighting against since Martin had called seemed to break through, "I think I'm going to throw up." Scott ran into the bathroom with Peter hot on his heels. The older man wanted to make sure Scott didn't try to hurt himself.
Scott made it to the bathroom just in time he leaned over the toilet and began to retch; Peter saw Scott and felt a wave of sympathy wash over him as he walked over to the young man. Peter had always a had a particular soft spot for Scott, the young man had gone through so much and he was starting to recover and now this.
Peter wrapped his arms around Scott's stomach and rubbed his back to help ease the discomfort; working in Horizon Peter had done this with dozens of kids over the years. He whispered, "I know this is a lot for you Scott, but you're a strong person and I know you can get through this." Scott stood and flushed then he turned on the faucet and used his hands to catch some water to wash his mouth out. Finally he spoke, "You know how I feel?! Really and when was the last time you had a kid?" Scott didn't mean to shout, but he was so angry he felt like if he didn't get it out of his system he'd explode. Peter looked sad and said, "eight years ago." Scott was taken aback, "What?" Peter answered, "My ex-wife got pregnant eight years ago, our daughter was still born there was nothing the doctors could do." Scott closed his eyes he felt like a heal, his voice cracked as he said, "Peter, I am so sorry I didn't know, I was just so mad at her and I snapped at you I didn't mean to." Peter nodded, "I understand Scott, anger is a natural part of dealing with abuse the key is to not let that anger consume you and turn you into something you're not understand?"
Scott nodded and bit his lip saying "It's just so much, I mean I don't know anything about kids I don't even know for sure if I want a kid, but now I have one and I had no say in this what so ever you know what I mean?" Peter nodded and let Scott continue, "Elaine took so much from me, and now she has to steal this to. Before all this happened I use to think of being a father some day and I always pictured it the same way. I'd go to college and meet a great girl then we'd get married and then a few years later we'd have kids and it'd be..." Scott trailed off and Peter finished, "Perfect?"
Scott shrugged, "In a way, I know it sounds silly." Peter squeezed Scott's shoulder, "It's not silly Scott a lot of people have the same kind of dreams, but life rarely if ever works out the way we want or plan it to." Scott nodded, "I know, but this is such a big thing I was just starting to learn to live with what happened with Elaine and now this I don't know what I'm going to do. What about the baby? I can't take care of him. I know I need to stay here and that it'll be a long time before I'm ready to be responsible for someone else, but I don't want to give him up for adoption and never see him again." Scott grabbed his head and groaned loudly, "I feel like my head is going to explode."
Peter rubbed Scott's back again, "I know this is a lot for you Scott, but I promise we'll do everything we can to help you through this. As for the baby that's something you have to decide for yourself, but you could always give your father custody." Scott snorted, "Yeah if I don't get sent to jail first." Peter rested a hand on Scott's shoulder he wanted to tell Scott that he wasn't going to jail, but he knew it was a possibility life was not fair and he had seen a lot of bad things happen to kids who had all ready been through so much and didn't deserve to suffer anymore. After a while Peter said, "Scott that could happen, but you can't spend all your time worrying about 'what if' the best advice I can give you to take things as they come, one step at a time. Start with something small like going back outside." Scott gave Peter a small smile and walked back out.
Sophie had been talking to Martin while Peter helped Scott and as they walked back in she said, "He's here." Scott swallowed once more and asked, "so what now?" When Martin answered Scott couldn't help noticing his voice sounded different now, but he ignored it after a moment Martin said, "Well you and Elaine will both give depositions on what happened and then we will move on to trial, the judge will probably wait a while because Elaine just had a baby and won't be able to appear in court for some time, but for now no one is allowed to be alone with the baby. We can see him when we like, but a court officer has to be there and the same goes for Elaine."
Scott sighed in relief he was glad Elaine wouldn't be alone with the baby that way she couldn't take him and run away. Martin continued, "Now if Elaine is convicted she will go to jail and we'll petition for her parental rights to be terminated." Scott asked, "Wouldn't that happen anyway." Martin nodded, "yes, but when Elaine is released from prison she could claim she's seen the error of her ways and petition for visitation rights." Scott balked, "over my dead body!" Martin said, "I agree which is why we're going to have her rights terminated so that won't happen later."
Scott sighed heavily, "So we could end up going through three different trials." Martin sounded sad when he answered, "yes, but that's highly unlikely. If Elaine is convicted (which I'm sure she will be) then we shouldn't need to have a trial for her rights to be terminated, it will simply be a matter of petitioning for it then getting a judge to sign off on that petition. If Elaine is found not guilty (which I doubt) then you could be put on trial." Scott sighed and if I'm found guilty I could go to jail, but what happens if neither of us is convicted of anything?" Martin said, "Well the custody of the baby will be the biggest issue, a family court judge may decide your accusations alone are enough to keep Elaine from the baby." Scott said, "but the same thing could be said for me." Martin said, "Yes." Sophie spoke up from behind them, "if neither f you is found guilty of anything than joint custody is the most likely option." Scott paled instantly, "never." Martin responded quickly, "Don't worry I'm going to do everything possible to see that doesn't happen in the mean time try not to get it too worried."
Scott decided he had had enough for one day and wanted to change the subject, "So what's his name what does he look like?" Martin's voice took on a happy tone for the first time since the conversation had started, "He looks like this." Sophie turned around the laptop on Peter's computer and Scott gasped the reason his dad's voice sounded different was because now it was coming from the computer and not the phone. Sophie had set up the laptop to receive a video and now Scot could see Martin was standing outside a hospital wing holding a small baby in his arms wrapped in a blue blanket.
Scott gasped in shock and Sophie smiled Peter had all ready been on the internet so setting the connection up hadn't been too hard. Sophie had turned on the camera that came standard with Peter's laptop so Scott and Martin could see each other. Martin had brought a web camera with him because he had wanted to break the news to Scott 'face to face' (so to speak), but the hospital had been having a problem with its internet connection and the camera hadn't been working before. Scott moved as close to the screen as he could and Martin unwrapped the baby's blanket Scott smiled he was so small the baby was about 8 inches long with dark hair and blue eyes that might or might not change color as he got older. Scott felt a lump in his throat, he'd been so overwhelmed by everything he hadn't really thought of the baby before, but now the only thing in his mind was, 'I'm a father, I have a son' After a few moments Scott managed to say, "he's beautiful." Peter and Sophie both smiled Scott's acceptance of the baby it was a good sign that he would be able to handle this Sophie said "Yes he is." Martin wrapped the baby up again and said, "Scott I know this is a lot for you, but I thought you might like to name him."
Scott wasn't sure how he felt about that at first and asked, "Elaine didn't choose a name?" Martin shrugged, "She did, but I thought you'd like to give him a different name besides the one Elaine picked doesn't seem to it she wants to name him Alfalfa." Scott backed up and grimaced in dislike, "You mean like form the little rascals?" Martin shook his head, "No apparently that was her uncle's name and she wants to pass it down."
Scott shook his head, "You're right that does sound bad." Scott wasn't entirely sure he was the best person to name this baby (especially considering thing he'd ever really named was a pet spider he used to have Scott had named the spider 'Leggy' for obvious reasons). Then he realized something, even if Elaine didn't win at trial it would still be a long time before Scott could take care of his son, (his son that felt so weird he wasn't even old enough to vote and he had kid) and he wanted the baby to have something from his father even if it was just a name. It took a moment for Scott to answer finally he nodded and said, "I'd like that how about Darien, Darien Thomas Barringer." Martin smiled while Peter and Sophie both looked relieved, "I think that's a good name Scott, I should tell you the lawyer handling the case will be by to see you sometime this week, I don't know the exact day, but I'll try to find out." Scott nodded as the picture started to break up Martin said, "all right Scott I have to go, times up I'll try to come up and see you as soon as I can all right? Take care of yourself." Scott said, "Good-bye." And the connection broke, Scott blushed when he realized how close he was sitting to the screen and sat back.
At first everyone sat there not really saying anything Scott wasn't sure what to say and Pete and Sophie could both tell the young man needed a moment to collect his thoughts. This was going to take some time for him to work through.