LJ whistled, impressed at by his uncle's silver Audi as they got climbed in. After a meal where during which they had agreed to postpone the inevitable talk until they got home, LJ had asked about the pregnancy. He smiled as both adults became very animated, obviously both extremely excited about the new addition to their lives. LJ couldn't help but think the trust he had in both of them was well placed (even though he knew next to nothing about either of them).
Michael took a longer route home than normal, taking care to ensure that the only person following them was one of his own agents, he passed another waiting at a certain predetermined intersection. When finally they pulled into a long driveway.
LJ's eyes widened as he saw the huge house for the first time. Michael smiled at LJ as they got out of the car, "We moved in six weeks ago, you will be our first guest," he said.
"How long am I staying?" LJ asked.
"As your only known relative that's alive and safe I can have custody of you for as long as you're happy and want to be here,. I won't turn you out for to the wolves LJ", Michael replied. "How about we go and sit down and talk about what's next?" He continued.
Ten minutes later they were all settling in the living room with cold drinks. Sara was on one end of the sofa and Michael was on the other end with Sara's feet on his lap., LJ sat in a comfy armchair next to Michael. "Alright, lets start with whatever you know about me LJ,?" Michael stated amicably.
LJ smiled. "not much," he answered. "I know that you are my dad's younger brother and you and dad had a major falling out when I was like six months old and neither of you managed to keep in touch after that."
Michael smiled, his eyes full of regret, "I'm sorry about that, Linc was on this big downward spiral and I just couldn't watch anymore"
LJj nodded, "I can understand that.".
Michael took a deep breath "Alright let's start from there.".
Over the next hour Michael explained how he went through another half a dozen foster homes before going to live with Henry and Judy Pope, who after recognizing Michael's intelligence and kind heart found him a good private high school where he excelled and when college came up Michael had a number of options which the Popes were willing to pay for, but Michael decided he wanted to make his own way and joined the Naval Academy., Where after a little while he started to really excel there as well. Michael finished near the top of the his class and then started to pursue a career in criminal intelligence which had led him to where he is was now.
Even after all the years and distance between them, Michael had always kept a distant eye on his brother's family which is why he was had been more surprised than anybody when his nephew was suddenly charged with Lisa and Adrian's murder. The more he looked into the case, the more the inconsistencies stood out. Abandoning all remaining neutrality he took the case to his boss, who responded by assigning a team look into it but kicking Michael off the case. The team had no jurisdiction whatsoever and had to be very careful but they had concluded that LJ had been framed by a group of people calling themselves the Company. Why they had targeted LJ had not been figured out yet, but they had on their payroll important people in high places and so the case against them had to be gathered carefully and precisely.
LJj sat absorbed listening to Michael's story, when he finished LjJ asked "So what happens now?"
Michael yawned "My boss, Jenny, is coming here to talk to you sometime today."
Sara took her feet down from Michael's lap where he had been giving her a foot rub. "In the meantime I can show you up to your room so you can settle in while Michael makes us some food," she said.
"Hungry already, Sara" Michael teased.
"Always" she replied.
