Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes.
Author's Note: Read and Review.
Ch. 6 Family Drama and a Funeral
I called my sister and we were going to meet at the hospital. The always together Jade was a wreck. She was always sensitive about the whole daddy thing. Jade had visited Arnold more than I did. I also knew that Jade hated hospitals. Her only friend died in a hospital. She cried for weeks about it.
"Should we call Jake" Jade asked.
"No" I said firmly.
"Why not?" Jade asked shocked.
"He will not hurt him like he hurt us" I said.
"What if Jake wants to see his father" Jade asked.
"He will not hurt Jake" I said.
"But it's wrong. It's our father dying wish to him" Jade argued.
"That's final Jade" I told her. She shook her head. As we entered the hospital I felt a rush of guilt. Was I wrong? No, I thought. Our father was a psycho and anybody I can save from his influence was a blessing. My father was dying and Jake meeting him wouldn't change it.
The white of the hospital made my father look if at all possible even sicker. He did seem to have gone downhill quickly. Gabriel was meeting me at the hospital. First he had to drop Noah and Micah off at Mohinder and Elle's house.
"Hey Arnold" Jade and I greeted.
"Hey girls" Arnold replied.
"How are you feeling" Jade asked.
"As well as can be expected" He replied.
"Where is my grandson" Arnold asked me.
"He's asleep at home" I replied.
"That's good. A hospital is no place for a small child" He said. It was then that Gabriel came into the door.
"What is he doing here" Arnold said spitefully.
"He's here for me." I said coldly. He might be on his deathbed but he would not be rude to my husband.
"Well beggars can't be choosers" Arnold commented.
"Arnold" I snapped.
"That's enough dad!" Jade said. "Gabby is married to Gabriel. You should be lucky that one of your son-in law." Jade said as if this settled the matter.
"Thanks" I whispered to her. She gave me a smile.
We sat in Arnold's room forever. I was so tired. I called Elle to check on my boys. Elle brought Micah to school and Noah to daycare. I haven't slept well the night before so I was really tired. Jade as I hadn't spoke since we first got to the hospital. Once in a while we would steal glances at one another. It was like we were having silent conversation. We wanted to hate him. We were both struggle with the idea that he deserved this. I know she wanted are brother here but I refused to relent.
"Here" Gabriel said handing me a coffee.
"Thanks" I said.
"You doing ok" He asked.
"I should be sad but I'm not" I said.
"He hurt you and Jade. He kidnapped our son. He deserves every ounce of hatred from both of you." He said firmly.
"Do you think I'm wrong for not letting Jake know about our dad dying wrong?" I asked him.
"I don't know what to tell you babe. You honestly don't owe him anything." He said. "Do you think it's wrong" Gabriel asked.
"I don't know" I admitted.
My father was close to death. I never seen anyone on their death bed before but I could tell he was. The room had been silent for the past hour. What was there to say? Arnold let out a soft moan.
"Gabrielle may I talk to you alone" Arnold said.
"Sure Arnold" I said. Jade and Gabriel left the room.
"I already had this conversation Jade. I wanted to tell you I'm sorry for what I've done to you" Arnold said.
"Sorry. You think you can solve this with a simple apology" I asked.
"I wanted to let you know that I'm not completely heartless" He replied. He moaned again.
"That's news to me" I snapped.
"You turned out alright" He pointed out.
"All of it had nothing to do with you" I said.
"You turned out better without me. The only regret I had is not leaving you with your mother, I really am sorry" He said.
"I don't think I can forgive you" I said.
"I wouldn't if I was in your position. I just figured I would try" He said. He laid back. Jade and Gabriel came back in.
"You better take care of her Gray" Arnold said.
"I have and always will" Gabriel retorted.
At 3 in the afternoon, my father passed away. It was quick. The doctors told us that he wasn't in a lot of pain. I felt numb to the whole thing. While Jade was sobbing, I just sat there emotionless. Was I made of stone? Jade left at 5 with Christian. There was nothing more we could do at the hospital. Being that our father had a terminal cancer we had his funeral arrangements done. I was so glad to be home. I quickly picked up Noah in my arms. I loved holding my son after I had a long exhausting day.
"Mommy ok" Noah asked.
"Mommy ok" I replied.
"Sorry about your dad" Micah said hugging me.
"It's ok sweetie" I said.
"Let's go play in the living room, Noah" Micah said picking him up.
"You should go up stairs and sleep a bit" Gabriel said.
"I don't think I could" I told him.
"Are you ok?" Gabriel asked.
"I guess so" I said. I had no idea how I was feeling. I felt numb.
"Go sleep" He said. Before I could head upstairs there was a knock at our door. It was Jake.
"Jake" I said shocked.
"Why didn't you tell me" Jake said.
"Tell you what" I asked confused.
"That our dad was Arnold Stevens." He said.
"Jake, I didn't want him to hurt you" I said.
"I wanted to meet my dad, but now I'll never get the chance" Jake said.
"Jake calm down, Gabby had good intentions" Gabriel said defensively.
"How did you find out" I asked. A strong sense of regret was now taking over, replacing the numbness I just felt.
"I didn't hear it from you" Jake said.
"Jake, I'm sorry" I said.
"Thanks a lot sis" Jake snapped. He walked out the house.
"He'll forgive you one day Gab" Gabriel said.
"I think I'll go take a nap" I whispered. I wanted to go to sleep and find out this had been a dream.
One of the good news was that Mohinder seemed to be back to normal and that the results came and his blood results for were off the charts. It seemed his body had been potions more and more of certain protein over time. The doctor's suspected it had to do with the injection Mohinder gave himself years back. Elle said they believed that his levels were final high enough to affect him now. I was so happy and it seemed he was going to get better.
"Those medicines are disgusting" Mohinder said making a sour face.
"You feel better thought, right" I asked him.
"I feel loads better" He smiled. Shanti started crying so Mohinder went to check on him.
"Are you ok Elle" I asked her.
"I'm dealing" Elle said.
"What's wrong" I asked.
"Oh me and Erin got into a fight the other day on the phone" Elle said.
"What about" I asked.
"She's just being difficult and she won't let me help her or let me express my opinions" Elle said.
"You going to her doctor's appointment" I asked.
"Of course" Elle said.
Elle was good as her word. She met me at my house and we drove to get Erin. Erin looked happy to see her sister. The hospital wasn't far so we there in no time at all. The doctor turned out to be the same doctor that delivered Noah. He asked me how he was, and I showed him pictures of him. He final got to exam Erin.
"Everything seems fine. The baby is nice and big" The doctor commented.
"That's great" Erin said relieved.
"I am a little concerned about your blood pressure" The doctor said.
"What do you mean" Erin asked. I could practically see the color go from her.
"It's nothing that can't be fixed but high blood pressure leads to preeclampsia in pregnant woman.
"Preeclampsia" Erin said horrified.
"Just rest and watch your diet. You'll be fine, we will monitor it" The doctor said.
"Ok" Erin said calming down. We left the doctor office; Elle hadn't said a single word since we left.
"What's up with you Elle" Erin asked.
"It's you" Elle snapped. I began to get uncomfortable. I hated when they argued.
"What did I do" Erin asked.
"First of all you aloud your husband to leave you while you're pregnant and even now you still have no desire to tell him" Elle said frustrated.
"That's not your business" Erin retorted.
"It's not a marriage either" Elle said.
"Just because it's not your idea of marriage, it doesn't mean it's not one" Erin rebottled.
"You're hopeless" Elle shouted.
"It's not your place to decide what's good for me" Erin snapped.
"I have a right to tell you I think you're making stupid decisions" Elle said finally.
"I disagree. Peter is going to thank me" Erin defended.
"He won't forgive you for not allowing him being with you during this time. Your making him looks like an ass for leaving you to go to California" Elle said.
"I don't need this" Erin said going into the car. I shrugged at Elle.
"It's no use" I tell her. She didn't have to reply to tell me I was right.
Next Chapter: Peter comes home for the weekend. Erin isn't doing well on her own. For the first time in their marriage, Gabriel makes a decision without consulting Gabby. Gabriel also decides that he has too much on his plate and that he might have to cut back at work. Is Sylar about to return?