Chapter Twenty Five: Being There For Your Kid
"It's all my fault," they said at the same time.
Jackson gave her a confused look, "You don't know the whole story."
Susan shook her head, "I don't need to know the whole story to know it's my fault."
They stared at each other for what seemed like ever. He liked her eyes, how confident they looked even though she had just finished crying and she had just figured out her daughter was dead. It said a lot about her character.
Jackson smiled as he broke the staring contest first than frowned slightly. What the hell was he doing? Smiling?! It felt good actually, stretching a muscle that hadn't been used in so long.
"That looks nice," she told him.
"What?"
"Your smile. I have a feeling you don't do it often," Susan stepped forward and sat on the bed carefully, "Could you tell me what happened? While you were on the island, I mean."
Jackson shrugged but started speaking. It got easier with the more he said. Explaining how his sickness had torn apart the group, how he had kissed Taylor accidentally. How Melissa's death had been one big fucking misunderstanding.
Susan didn't so much as flinch at the sound of the 'f' word. Only nodding and patting his back at the appropriate moments. The doctor had came in at one point but he had stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Jackson talking. Letting someone touch him.
He sat and waited, not so much as listening to the conversation but soaking in the fact that maybe all the survivors would be okay. Maybe Susan would move on eventually. After all… It had been her fault her daughter had died in the first place.
HGHHHHHHHHHHHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGH
"Ian, you look sick," his mother said, eyeing her son with mock worry. She was actually more worried about her coffee spilling as she bent down to kiss him.
He was sitting in the hospital, staring at the ceiling. The doctor had told him he could go home on crutches the next day but they wanted to make sure he was okay for now.
"I'm fine Mom," Ian answered, licking his lips painfully. He needed his high! Now! Now! Now! He was having a tantrum within his head, keeping a calm face on the outside. While on the inside his brain was reeking havoc on his body.
Literally telling him that if he couldn't get the drugs, it would rip him apart.
"Well that's good! Didn't want to add more money to the hospital bill now did we?" She patted his head like his was a dog, "I have to go, Dad'll stay a bit longer but than we'll be here tomorrow to pick you up. Sound good?"
Ian didn't have a chance to answer, only watching his mother as she almost sprinted out the room.
"Bye."