A/N:
WOW!Thanks so much for the reviews. I tried my best with this cahpter. Still, I would feel better if someone betaed this story for me :S. But until I haven't found someone, you have to put up with this, sorry.


Chapter 2:

"Are you sure that you're fit enough for school today?" He asked his son, who was busy preparing himself a small breakfast.

"Dad, I'm sure." His son answered almost irritated by my question. What was he supposed to do? A leopard can't change its spots. He was worried. A year ago he had lost his wife, his son's mother. It was also four weeks ago that this setback had overtaken them, again. He was just worrying. His son had grown up that fast during the last few months that it sent chills down his spine. His son tried to take the place of his mother: trying to support his father as good as possible and tried to be strong. All this seemed to be so unnatural. It hurt to watch how much had been taken from the boy during the last twelve months, and that he had lost all his teenage innocence. On the other hand his son didn't complain and was satisfied with how things were, regardless of the diagnosis. His son was a tough, brave fighter. He had proved it the first time, and the time after that, and would always prove it again. Generally, his son dealt with a scary degree of serenity with his situation, though it was probably all too normal for kids in his son's position. Nevertheless, this fact didn't make him feel any better about it.

"Just asking. Yesterday you didn't look well." He replied to his son, making sure that he knew that he was there for him. From time to time he feared he might have neglected his son's needs and feelings during his time of mourning. In fact, they didn't talk about what had happened. It hurt and it wasn't going to change any time soon. Earlier in those times he used to abandon his son. Sandy always thought that Ryan's Mom was there for him, hence he wasn't needed. Now his Mom wasn't there anymore and he had to find new measures of coping. Running away and turning his back was no longer an option.

"Yeah, yesterday, but now everything's fine." His son rolled his eyes, saying that he knew well what he was doing and that he could take care of himself. He didn't doubt any of that. His son was capable of taking care of himself and their small household. It had been such a natural development. One day Ryan stood where his mother had stood and only now, he realised that this was somehow wrong. His son wasn't an adult, but he also had no power to change this. The beginning was made though. He realised and analysed what was wrong. The rest was only a matter of time – he hoped it only was. He had to solve this problem.

"So I'm off." His son said grabbing his backpack from the kitchen counter, ready to leave their apartment.

"Shall I give you a lift?" He offered once more. His son looked pale, never looked any better since the last few months. He looked fragile and he feared he might collapse under the weight their lives burdened onto his shoulders, but until now he seemed dangerously fine with all of this.

"You're having a meeting at the other end of the city today and added to that I'm very familiar with using subways." His son responded with a last joking sentence before he left the apartment into the cold darkness of the third December. New York was ice cold again and he each time his son left the apartment he feared that he might never enter it again. This fear emerged on the same day his wife died and it grew stronger with the diagnosis, but his son was right. There was no need to adopt a duck and cover attitude. One couldn't hide from life. With this thought and the realisation that his son was more mature than he should be, he took his briefcase and made his way to a new client.