Several days later, Jamie had been released from the hospital. From the moment he walked through the door he either took to the couch or his bed. The damage to his body had not fully healed, but was well enough for him to be discharged. Catherine spent the following days sitting beside Jamie watching a movie or reading to him. But unless it was absolutely necessary, Jamie was off his feet.
Which was exactly where Jamie was at the exact moment. He was wrapped in his blanket with his bear tucked beneath his arm watching morning cartoons while Catherine got ready for work. She picked up her badge from the counter and latched it to her belt. She didn't want to go back to work, but she was out of sick leave and needed her vacation days for another time.
The doorbell rang, breaking Cat's train of thought. She walked to the door and opened it. "Hey JT."
"Hey Cat." JT said.
"Thanks for doing this on your day off." She said.
"No prob. This beats grading papers." JT replied. He entered the apartment and followed Cat into the living room. He spotted Jamie on the couch. "Man I wish I could do that on Saturday's."
"Watch cartoons?" she asked
"No, carry a teddy bear and blanket." JT answered. "How ya doing Jamie?"
"Hi Uncle Tee." Jamie mumbled.
Catherine chuckled.
"What?" JT asked.
"Uncle Tee. It never gets old." She answered.
"Yeah, real funny." JT replied. He walk to the table and set his bag down.
Catherine walked to Jamie and knelt down in front of him. "Okay, I'm heading to work. What did we talk about this morning?"
"Don't leave the couch." Jamie answered.
"And what else?"
Jamie sighed. "And Uncle Tee's papers are not for coloring."
JT looked up from the table.
Catherine smiled and kissed his head. "Good boy. I'll be home as soon as I can, okay?"
Jamie nodded.
Catherine stood up and walked over to JT. "He's already eaten so he probably won't want anything until noon, but if he falls asleep before that just let him sleep."
"Cat, this isn't the first time I've watched him." JT reminded. "Plus, I have a doctor for a roommate, remember?"
Catherine nodded. "I know, I know."
"Then go. We'll be fine." JT said.
"Yeah, you're right. Call me if anything happens." She said.
"Yeah, I will. Go to work." JT insisted.
Catherine nodded. "Right. I'll call. Bye JT. Bye baby!"
"Bye mommy." Jamie called.
Catherine grabbed her purse and holster and walked out the door. JT sat down at the table and unpacked a stack of papers. Taking his pen, he started reading over the first paper. Even if it was two weeks until Christmas, the University was still in session, meaning JT had plenty of papers to grade. He looked over at Jamie, who'd fallen asleep again. He smiled and looked back down at the paper.
Vincent hauled himself up using his upper arm strength. He slowly lowered himself down and then up again. He worked through his set of pull-ups until he reached one hundred and fifty. He would have kept going on any other day, but he didn't want to overexert himself so soon after the poisoning incident. He dropped down onto his feet and pulled on his shirt. He walked to his bed and sat down on the edge. Vincent reached out to the nightstand and grabbed the photo album. Since Catherine had dropped it off, he'd gone through it cover to cover over a hundred times. Each time a different picture caught his attention.
Vincent opened the book to his favorite page. It was a picture of both Catherine and Jamie. Jamie was a few months old. Catherine was wearing a white tank top, sitting on her couch. Jamie was up on her shoulder, his mouth open, chewing on her skin. No matter how many times he looked at the photo, it always amazed him. How Catherine looked so content holding Jamie in her arms. How Jamie's yellow eyes just stared off, not realizing what was going on around him.
Neither of them knew what was ahead of them. Jamie didn't know he'd spend the next four years growing up without a father. Catherine didn't know if Vincent had died, left, or been caught. They didn't know if Muirfield was watching their moves. Their lives had been easier until he came back. Until Muirfield had gone after Catherine.
Vincent reached between the plastic and removed the photo from the book. He had to go. He had to leave them. For good this time. He rose from the bed and grabbed his journal. He walked to the sat and sat down. Vincent took out his pen and started writing, looking at the photo ever now and then for reassurance. Every word, every line, every sentence killed him. But he couldn't stay and keep them safe. He'd nearly lost both of them in Muirfield's last attempt; he wasn't going to risk their lives for his own again.
Suddenly his cell started ringing. Vincent jumped slightly and fished his phone from his pocket. "Yeah?"
"Vincent, I need your help." JT said.
Vincent frowned. " What's wrong?"
"I'm at Catherine's watching Jamie and the University just called saying we have a last minute meeting in thirty minutes." JT explained. "I need you to watch Jamie for me."
Vincent blinked. "You need me to what?"
JT groaned. "I need you to watch Jamie for a few hours. Come on, the kids asleep, and I should be back before Catherine comes home. Please man."
"JT, I've barely talked to the kid." Vincent replied.
"Well this'll be good practice, won't it?" JT replied.
Vincent groaned. "Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can." He hung up quick and closed his journal. He rubbed his face and rose from the table. He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.
When Vincent reached the apartment, he debated on entering. What was he doing there? Yes JT had asked him to watch Jamie, but that was just it. He'd never spent more than five minutes with his own son, ever. Now JT was asking him to spend the next few hours with him on his own. And it wasn't that Vincent didn't want to spend time with Jamie, he just didn't want to put Jamie in more danger than he already had. Muirfield already knew where they lived, what were the chances they were watching the complex when he arrived? They could already be inside and the call was a trap? No, JT would never give in like that.
With a heavy sigh, Vincent opened the door to the roof and climbed down to the top floor. He took the stairs down to Catherine's floor and found her apartment number. He suddenly felt exposed standing in the hall. It felt foreign…normal. Vincent could hear the television and pacing footsteps in the background. He knocked on the door and listened to the steps grow closer. The door opened quickly and JT stood behind it.
"What took you so long?" he asked. He rushed Vincent inside.
"It takes time getting across town." Vincent answered.
"Don't give me that crap." JT said. He closed the door and quickly walked toward the table.
Vincent stood by the door, unwilling to move. He could see Jamie's blanket from the door and the rise where his feet began. He could hear Jamie's quiet, but uneasy breathing and heartbeat. Somehow the realization of what he was about to do had actually hit him.
"Why are you standing there? He's not gonna bite." JT said. He grabbed his bag and rushed to the door. "Oh, he just woke up so he'll probably be a little hungry. Have fun." He rushed out the door, leaving Vincent and Jamie alone.
Vincent took a deep breath and slowly walked into the living room. Jamie was lying on the couch, staring at the TV. His eyes quickly found Vincent, but he said nothing. Vincent gave Jamie a slight smile and wave. "Hey Jamie. You uh…remember me?"
Jamie nodded slowly. "You're a doctor."
Vincent nodded. "Yeah, that's right. Haven't seen you since you were at the hospital. How're you feeling?"
"Better." Jamie answered.
Vincent slowly walked toward the couch. He knelt down onto the floor. "You look better, bud."
"What's your name?" Jamie answered.
"Uh…" Vincent was unsure how to respond. He could tell a lie and then leave Catherine and JT to pick up the mess, or he could tell the truth and risk being discovered. "Vincent."
Jamie's eyes grew big and he lifted his head off the pillow. "Mine too."
Taking the opportunity to turn it into a joke, Vincent raised an eyebrow. "What? I thought your name was Jamie?"
"It is. Well actually it's James." Jamie answered.
"So now your name is James?" Vincent asked.
"No, my name is Vincent James. Mommy just calls me Jamie." he explained.
"Oh." Vincent said smirking. "I get it now."
"It's my dad's name too." Jamie said.
Vincent swallowed. "Oh yeah? I haven't heard your mom talk about it him."
"Mommy says he's away a lot, but he came to see me at the hospital." Jamie explained.
"Did he?"
Jamie nodded. "Yeah, but I was asleep."
Vincent nodded slowly. "Are you hungry?"
Jamie nodded again.
"What sounds good?"
Jamie shrugged. "Mommy said to have food that's easy on my tummy."
Vincent nodded. "She's right. And I think I have an idea. You wanna help?"
Jamie nodded. "But I'm not supposed to get up."
"Who said you'd get up?" Vincent asked.
Before Jamie could answer, Vincent dipped his hands beneath Jamie's body and lifted him up into his arms. Jamie laughed as Vincent carried him into the kitchen and set him on the counter, still wrapped up.
"Now, don't tell your mom I let you lie on the counter. She might not let me come over again." Vincent said.
Jamie ran his fingers over his lips, like he was zipping them shut.
Vincent smiled. "Good job. Now, let's make some lunch." He turned to the cupboard and searched through the contents. Piece by piece he started forming an idea. He pulled a box of Jell-O from the cupboard along with chicken bouillon seasoning. He pulled an onion, celery, carrots, and left over chicken from the fridge. All the while, Jamie sat on the counter watching him, occasionally telling Vincent where things were. Vincent filled the tea pot with water and set it to boil. He took a sauce pan and set it on the burner. He started chopping vegetables in from of Jamie. Jamie reached out and took a carrot piece when Vincent wasn't looking. Vincent turned around and gave Jamie a playful look. He grabbed the onion and started cutting into it.
Jamie took his blanket and covered his mouth and nose. "Mommy has me out of the kitchen when she cuts onions. They burn my noise."
"Sorry bud, I should've known they'd hurt you too." Vincent said.
"Do they hurt your nose too?"
Vincent nodded and quickly tossed the onions into the pan. He put the onion back into the fridge and wiped his yes. "There, no more onion."
The tea pot started whistling. Vincent turned off the heat and took the pot from the stove. He pulled down a large bowl and poured the water into it. He passed Jamie the box of Jell-O. "Open that and start stirring."
Jamie opened the box and dumped the powder into the bowl. He leaned on his stomach and opened the utensil drawer. He pulled out a wire whisk and closed the drawer. "What's the Jell-O for?"
"That is for later." Vincent answered. He stirred the vegetables. "If you can eat your whole bowl of soup, you get Jell-O. Deal?"
Jamie smiled and nodded. "Deal."
Vincent smiled and moved the bowl into the freezer. He stepped back to the stove and stirred the soup. He reached above him and grabbed two bowls. He dished out the soup and set them on the counter in front of Jamie. "Couch or counter?"
"Couch." Jamie answered.
Vincent nodded and picked up Jamie again. He swung him from side to side as he walked to the couch. Jamie giggled as he landed on the couch again. Vincent brought the bowls to the couch and sat down on the floor. He watched Jamie bring his large spoon to his mouth and eat. Not two seconds later he opened his mouth and began fanning his tongue.
Vincent chuckled. "Hot?"
Jamie nodded.
"Try blowing on it." He said.
Jamie lifted another spoonful and blew, slowing his soup all over. Vincent laughed again.
"Yummy." Jamie said.
"You like it?" Vincent asked.
Jamie nodded.
"I should have you tell JT for me. He never believes me." Vincent said.
"How do you know Uncle Tee?" Jamie asked.
Vincent chuckled. "We were roommates years ago. Besides your mom, he's my only friend. How do you know JT?"
"He's watched me since I was a baby. Most of the times he comes over, but once I got to go to his place. It was so big and so fun." Jamie explained.
"Really?"
"Uh huh. He even tells me about my dad."
"Does he?" Vincent asked. "What does he say?"
"He says my daddy is a hero. He rescues people, but he can't let anyone see him, so he's always moving." Jamie explained.
"Wow, a hero for a dad. That's pretty cool." Vincent said.
"Uh huh. And Uncle Tee said my daddy changes like me."
Vincent set his bowl down and turned to Jamie. "Changes?"
Jamie was quiet suddenly. He avoided Vincent's gaze, clearly he'd said something he shouldn't have.
"Jamie, I'm not going to tell anyone what you tell me. I promise."
Jamie slowly looked up at Vincent. "Sometimes…I get really angry and…I start to change."
Vincent frowned." What do you mean change?"
"I don't know, but my teeth and nails get long. And I growl, like a dog. And I get mean." Jamie explained.
Vincent nodded slowly. He swallowed at his next question. "Have you ever hurt anyone?"
Jamie shook his head. "No. Uncle Tee says that every time I change I just growl and walk around. Like a watchdog."
Relief flooded Vincent. "That's different."
Jamie nodded. "Yeah. Daddy changes too, Uncle Tee said he does."
"You ever meet your dad?" Vincent asked.
"No. I was asleep when he visited me at the hospital. But I wanna ask him to come home so mommy won't be so sad." Jamie answered.
"Why do you say that?"
"Sometimes I hear mommy crying in her room. I pretend I'm asleep so she doesn't know. That's why I don't ask about daddy when I'm around her." Jamie continued.
"Jamie, what if meeting your dad meant that you and your mom would be in danger. That bad people could come after you. Are you afraid of that?"
Jamie shook his head. "Mommy's a policeman. She's really tuff. And daddy's really, really strong. We'd save each other."
Vincent chuckled. Jamie was something else. He was more than any four year old. Everything was so simple to him, so normal almost. His dreams were of a family, a happy family. One that would protect each other. He reached out and ruffled Jamie's hair. "You want to watch a movie?"
Jamie nodded excitedly. "Polar Express!"
Vincent smiled and stood up. He put the disk into the player and moved back. Jamie shifted on the couch for Vincent. Vincent sat down in the open spot and was immediately swarmed by Jamie. The boy laid his head on Vincent's lap and curled up in his blankets. Vincent hesitantly placed his hand on Jamie's back. He felt Jamie's heartbeat beneath his ribs, felt the air fill his lungs. A small smile formed on his lips. For the first time in years, Vincent felt normal. Just a dad spending time with his son. The way a family should.
bonding time...yay! the next few chapters are gonna take some time. this was as far as i got...but i do promise a family christmas. the calm before the storm!