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"Uncle Connor?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell me more about my mommy?"
Sam looked up from the good night story, that she just had finished to read to Owen and shared meaningful glances with her boyfriend. Connor entered the room while carrying the grade-schoolers stuffed girafe.
He gave it to Owen, who pressed it against his chest.
It was one week after the operation and their youngest still stayed at home.
"Alright, little buddy", Rhodes sat down next to Zanetti on the edge of Owens bed.
Tenderly he caressed his forehead.
"What do you want to know?"
Owen shrugged his shoulders, looked at Connor with big eyes.
"Why did she had to die?"
Helplessly the doctor glanced at Zanetti.
"Well, somtimes people are sick or badly injured in a way that they can't be treated anymore."
"What if you have to die too?"
"No, buddy. Don't think about that right now", Connor stroked his cheek.
"Listen, even if someone is dead, he's still there, as long as he's remembered. Like your mom", Zanetti explained to the little boy.
"It's nearly impossible to forget her. And you know why? Because you just look like her", Connor agreed.
"I miss her.", Owen whispered, receiving concerned views from his foster-parents.
"Of course you do", Sam squeezed his hand, watching him sadly, wiping an upcoming tear from his cheek.
Suddenly she got up, left the room until she came back with a photo.
Connor who just tucked Owen in, locked up at her.
"See, what I framed for you? Do you want to put it under your pillow? Brings luck", she explained and helped him to place it there.
Owen stared at the photo, showing him with Natalie, before his view wandered to Sams belly.
"Do you still love me? Even if the baby is there? Can I still come to you?"
"Sure. The baby won't change anything on our relationship", Zanetti emphasized.
"Eventually both of us going to spend more time together, because Sam might be busy with the baby. But we still gonna pick you up three times a week", Connor added, pointing towards Owen.
"By the way: How is your belly doing?"
The little boy pulled up his shirt, so Rhodes was able to take a closer look at the wound. He examined the stitched part of his belly, a satisfied glance on his face.
"That looks good. You probably get a small scar, showing how brave you are", Zanetti explained.
Owen smiled weakly when Connor pulled down his t shirt.
"Braveheart", Rhodes twinkled, placed a kiss on Owens cheek.
"Sleep tight buddy. I love you ", Connor said goodnight before Sam continued doing the same.
"I love you too", she kissed him and waved to say good night.
They shut the light off, then silently sneaked into the living room..
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"How did he get the idea of being less important? I've always told him, what he means to us and that we're looking out for him", Zanetti questioned herself putting the dishes in the cupboard.
Connor who sat down on one of the chairs, reading the latest newspaper in spanish, sighed.
"Normal fears of a child. I'm sure Dr. Charles can explain it to you."
"Promise me something?"
Rhodes looked up, raised his eye-brows in interest.
"I might be busy with the baby. But you keep an eye on him, okay?"
"Sure."
He took her hand, place it on her belly, feeling that their unborn was moving.
"We're able to handle that. Together."
"He misses Natalie a lot. If I had to imagine, that she had to grow up without us", Zanetti touched her stomach, when Connor shook his hand.
"Sam…. Shhhh…Don't do that to yourself. She's gonna be fine. Same is Owen."
He took her hands.
"See, I know it's tough for him. My mom died when I was a child. I totally know how it feels. But his life has to go on. Till now we did a really good job. All of us. Do you remember the quote: It needs a village to raise a child. People tell that for a reason."
"I know", she whispered.
"I know."
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"Alright, Little man. See you on Wednesday, when I pick you up from Will, okay?" Connor hugged Owen and handled his stuffed animal to him.
"And remember our deal. No running around. You still have to recover from your operation."
"I know."
Connor ruffled Owens hair, before the little boy followed Will into the kitchen where Halstead already prepared some food for dinner.
"I want to help you", Owen explained already wanted to grab a knife, when Halstead took it out of his hands.
"No, that's my job. What about watching some TV until I get finished here", he suggested. Owen obviously not happy about it, shook his head.
"But I want to cook with you."
"Come on. Not today. Aunt Stacie is coming soon."
The grade-schooler looked more and more disappointed. It was no secret that he didn't like Wills new girlfriend.
Having a sad expression on his face, he walked into the living room.
It took Will some minutes to interpret the mood in the right way.
He sighed, followed him shortly after.
"Owen. Hey."
The little boy hid behind a blanket.
"Go away", he mumbled, turning around.
Will stepped back, looked at the kid in overwhelment.
"Owen."
"You don't love me. Because I don't like Stacie."
"That's not true."
"It is. I want to go to uncle Connor and aunt Sam. Right now. I don't want to stay here with you and Stacie."
Will sighed, went to the door.
"That's not working. It was planed, that you stay here at my house for today and.."
The conversation was disturbedby a knocking on the door.
"I hate you", he could hear the grade-schooler whispering.
"I really hate you."
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"Jay?"
Will looked at his brother in surprise.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure. I didn't expect you. What's the matter?"
Jay Halstead rubbed his hair, a little bit embarassed because of the reason he had to visit.
"I need your wallpapering brush. We're gonna renovate Erins apartment and I'm running out of equipment."
"Alright. I hope, I still have it in the garage."
The younger Halstead looked at his brother in concern.
"Is everything alright? You're looking concerned."
Will sighed, finally negated his brothers question.
"Not by long shot. Owen is giving me a hard time. I don't know what it is, but we don't get along really well right now. He avoids to meet with Stacie. It's like he's pissed at me for whatever I'm doing. Maybe it's because of Rhodes or Zanetti having bad influences on him or probably the whole procedure of sharing custody. I always said that a boy at his age needs constant care. Not 4 different people taking him at different times."
"Alright, let me talk to the kid."
Jay entered the living room, looked around.
"Where is he?"
Will glanced at the couch.
"Must be in his room. Go upstairs", he suggested, so Jay made his way to Owens area.
Jay shook his head, coming back a couple of seconds later.
" Will, he's not there anymore."
The doctors face froze, when he made his way upstairs.
"What do you mean?"
"He's gone. And the window is open", Jay explained, pointing at the tree, that directly leads to the tree house.
Will closed his eyes, then looked at his brother in concern.
"He ran away."