Eugene Barkley was furious and as he looked at the man he had worshipped his entire life, he felt sick to his stomach. He barked, "Is it true?"

Tom raised his head to look at his youngest and did not miss the anger in his eyes, "Is what true Gene?"

Gene inched his way to his father and spat, "That you froze Jarrod's bank account when he went to school in Boston."

Eugene was now towering over his father while he waited for the man to answer. Tom looked at his other children and noticed they were all scowling at him. When he looked to his wife for support she was looking out the window. Tom cleared his throat as he stood toe to toe with Eugene, "You don't understand Gene."

Tom tried to walk away but Eugene grabbed his arm and turned him back around to face him. "Make me understand," the angry young man stated.

Tom bristled as he glared at Eugene and said, "If you know what's best for you son you best let go of my arm." Tom looked to his arm where Eugene had a hold of him.

Eugene spat, "You don't scare me any longer." But Eugene let go of his arm and said, "You disgust me."

Tom's nostrils flared as he said, "Boy don't push me."

Eugene whirled back around and yelled, "Why? So you can push me away like you did Jarrod? I wish you would because right now for the first time in my life I'm ashamed to call you my father."

Tom looked at his son in shock and said, "You don't understand Gene."

Nick stood next to Eugene with his hands on his hips and said, "Well make us understand father."

Tom looked at Nick and Eugene and said, "What happened between me and your brother has nothing to do with you boys."

Nick spat, "Well we're making it our business because he's our older brother."

Before Tom could answer them Audra stood in between Eugene and Nick and put each one of her arms through her brother's. Tom sighed as he watched Heath stand behind Audra and looked at Victoria who was smiling at her children.

Heath spoke up, "I got to spend some time with Jarrod the last few days and when I asked him about the issues between you and him you know what he told me?" Tom shook his head no. "He refused to tell me anything saying he didn't want the issues between you two to affect the way I felt about you. You know he apologized to me for the way he has been treating me the last few years. Said he was jealous because I had what he never had...a father who loved him and supported him."

"I love Jarrod."

Nick bellowed, "You don't treat someone you love the way you've treated him." Nick hung his head as he admitted, "And to think I was treating my older brother badly because of you."

Victoria sighed as she watched the exchange between her husband and children. She didn't want them to find out how Tom had treated Jarrod because he was a good father and husband and she believed in her heart of hearts he did love Jarrod. After she had talked to Tom a few nights ago she hoped he would make an attempt to make amends with Jarrod but she wondered if he ever would.

She pointed to the bloody envelope in Tom's hands, "I thought you were going to try to talk to Jarrod but instead you try to pay him off?"

"I did talk to Jarrod and I apologized to him as well." Tom lifted the bloody envelope and said, "This money is from Jarrod's account I froze all those years ago." Tom shrugged his shoulders and said, "I told him since his brothers and sister were enjoying their accounts I thought it was time he enjoyed his. I wasn't trying to pay him off Vic, I was merely doing what I should have done when he went to school but it's apparent he thought it was a pay off."

Tom threw the envelope on the table and walked past his children and out the door.

Evelyn sat next to her husband and wiped his forehead with the washcloth. Doctor Merar had told her Jarrod would most likely sleep the rest of the day given the amount of blood he lost but she refused to leave his side. She would make sure her face was the first thing he saw when he open his blue eyes. She cleaned up quickly and now simply waited.

She was watching him intently and noticed him move slightly. She knelt beside the bed and put her hand on his forehead as she whispered in his ear. "My love can you hear me?" She was rewarded when he nodded his head yes. If she wanted too she couldn't have stopped the tears that fell. She knelt even closer to her husband as she ran her hand over his forehead moving the hair out of his face.

When Jarrod opened his eyes and was able to focus he was worried when he saw his wife crying. When he tried to move he moaned in pain. "Ohhh."

Evelyn comforted her husband, "Don't move honey, okay?"

Jarrod nodded his head as he looked at her worried and whispered, "Why crying?"

Evelyn smiled as she wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "These are happy tears I promise."

Jarrod groaned in pain and said, "Thirsty."

Evelyn rose and fixed him a glass of water and helped him drink it. "Better?" Jarrod nodded his head as she helped him lay back down. "I'm going to get Dr. Merar but I'll be right back."

Jarrod nodded his head as he closed his eyes briefly. Evelyn returned with Dr. Merar.

Dr. Merar examined his patient and spoke to the couple. "You are going to be pretty sore for awhile but as long as you listen to me and your wife you should make a full recovery."

Jarrod nodded his head as he was getting sleepy again.

Evelyn walked with Dr. Merar to the door, "Thank you Doctor." She looked at her husband and asked, "When can we go back to San Francisco?"

Dr. Merar sighed as he answered, "At least a week if not longer. He needs to get his strength back first; and then I'll insist you check in with your doctor there."

Evelyn smiled, "Of course."

Dr. Merar looked at Evelyn and back to Jarrod. He knew Evelyn had not allowed any of the Barkley's in to see Jarrod and his mother had been badgering him for any information on her son. He cleared his throat, "Evelyn it is none of my business but your in-laws are extremely anxious about Jarrod. I haven't told them anything and I won't without your permission but..."

Evelyn interrupted Dr. Merar, "I may be upset with them but I'm not cruel. It's fine if you keep them updated on Jarrod's prognosis but I still don't want them in here," Evelyn turned away and looked at her sleeping husband. "However once Jarrod feels better if he wishes to see them I won't object." She looked at Howard and said, "I'm sorry but that's the best I can do for right now."

Dr. Merar smiled and said, "I'm sure just knowing that he's improving will be good enough for right now."

Evelyn smirked, "It will have to be."

Howard Merar left to go deliver the news to the Barkley's as Evelyn sat beside her husband once again.

Victoria greeted Howard as he appeared in the hotel lobby.

"How he is Doc?" Nick bellowed before anyone else could ask.

Howard smiled and said, "He's going to be fine."

Victoria let out the breath she had been holding and said, "Thank you Howard. When can we see him?"

Howard dropped his head and said, "Evelyn said it will be up to Jarrod if and when he decides to see any of you. However she told me I could give you updates of his prognosis." He waited for Nick to object loudly but was surprised when he didn't.

Instead Nick spoke softly, "Thanks doc."

Howard Merar smiled sadly as he left. As he walked to his office he wondered what had happened that would cause Jarrod's wife to keep his family from seeing him. He knew Jarrod and his father had their problems in the past but he thought when Jarrod came back to defend Heath those problems had been resolved. And now it was apparent those issues had not been resolved.

Tom Barkley walked aimlessly in the streets of Stockton after his confrontation with his children. In his heart of hearts he did love his eldest son and would give his life for him but ever since Jarrod turned ten years old the two had butted heads continuously. He believed in tough love and when Jarrod announced his decision to go to law school he was using tough love or so he thought. In all actuality he was being a cold hearted man and used his power to make his oldest suffer and come crawling back to him. But Jarrod survived somehow and graduated with honors and went on to become a very successful lawyer.

Tom stopped outside the hotel and sat down on the bench outside. Maybe someone could give him some information on Jarrod if he waited and he would wait all night if he had too.

As he waited he thought about the check he had given Jarrod. It wasn't a payoff but now he realized Jarrod could have thought it was some sort of payoff to forgive him of his past deeds. But Tom did what he thought was only right. It was the money from the account he had frozen to keep Jarrod from getting funds when he left for college and now Tom only thought it was right that his son receive that money. His other children were given a bank account so why shouldn't Jarrod get his as well. It didn't matter that he was a happily married man he owed it to him.

Victoria had seen Tom sit down outside and sighed heavily as she watched him. She had loved this man for the last thirty five years and they had been through good times and bad times. Tom was a flawed man but Victoria loved him in spite of this.

She walked outside and sat next to Tom. "Jarrod's going to be fine Tom."

Tom looked at Victoria and smiled sadly. "That's good news."

Victoria reached for Tom's hand and said, "We'll get through this just like everything else we have faced."

Tom never looked at her and asked, "Will we Vic? The children are all upset with me for good cause and I can't blame them."

"They have a right to be upset with you right now but I'm hopeful we can work everything out before Jarrod and Evelyn leave for San Francisco."

"Hmph. You have more faith in the children than I do."

"My faith is in you, that you will make things right with Jarrod and the rest of the children."

"Vic you have to know the check I gave Jarrod was not a payoff."

"I know Tom but the timing was horrible."

Tom mumbled, "I know that now."

Victoria patted his leg as they sat outside talking the next few hours.