Sorry it has been beyond forever since I have posted. Life has been a bit hectic. I will have a follow-up chapter next week, after that I'm not sure. But I will try my best. I'm hoping the return of the show will help inspire me. Winona is nearly due with the baby and Nate isn't too happy about it.
Nate The Stubborn
Raylan sighed as he tried Nate's phone one more time. He found his son's lack of response making him angrier and angrier. Winona had just called him and said she was having labor pains and was getting a ride to the hospital with a friend and could he meet her there. He had every intention of getting there as soon as he could if only he could find his child.
Nate had managed to string together two fairly good weeks, feeling better than he had in a while. Although this was great news, it also came with complications; Raylan soon realized that while Nate was a handful when he didn't feel good, he was hell on wheels when he did. The boy had gotten a one day suspension from school for initiating a spitball war and had gotten very familiar with detention for skipping a class then lying about it to the hapless substitute teacher. Then on a dare he ran out of the school building and grabbed the football teams victory flag; a white flag with a large 'L' on it for Lexington Middle School, that was flown after each of the school's win on gridiron Nate had found the junior high football team to be a bit too arrogant for their own good.
Now, despite the fact that Nate had been grounded he was nowhere to be found. Raylan had tried the boys' cell phone to no avail, the house phone to no avail and now he was back to the cell phone. He was supposed to be at home doing his homework and chores, but Raylan was quickly realizing that in all likelihood Nate was off at a friend's house finding even more trouble. He left another message as he turned into the driveway hoping beyond hope that his son was at home.
Raylan climbed out of the car and made his way to the house looking around for any clue that might indicate where his wayward son was. The weeks following Arlo's death and the whole hostage crisis had been rather subdued, but it would seem that Nate was making up for lost time. Raylan had been spending more time with Winona, helping her with the nursery and house and he thought that perhaps Nate was feeling a bit jealous. In fact an argument kind of cemented that fact.
"What's wrong?" Raylan asked as the night had closed in while they drove home.
"How can you ask me what's wrong? You work all the time until Winona needs you and then, somehow against all odds you find all kinds of time to drop what you're doing and help her out. But you had no problem ditching me for the last several months."
"That's not true," Raylan stated.
"It is too, you were off drinking and dealing with sleazy bimbo's who stole your money and invested it in roosters. You really ought to have known which cock she was after."
"Nathaniel Ray, you better watch yourself right now!" Raylan said, shooting his son an angry look.
"It's just not fair that now you have time to go set up the nursery, the house, buy diapers, go to doctor's appointments and on and on."
"I don't know about the on and on, but I go to all your doctor's appointments."
"Only because I can't drive or sign my own paperwork," Nate argued.
"Look, Winona hasn't been feeling well, being at the end of the pregnancy and all."
"What about me, I haven't felt well for years."
"She needs a little help and it's my responsibility to help. And besides- ''
"Besides, if you don't you won't get a chance at seeing your daughter. Well at the very least can you leave me at home? I have better things to do than fluff pillows, put groceries away and fold little pink outfits."
"I want to spend some time with you as well."
"Then spend time with me, not renting me out as a workhorse."
The evening ended with Nate stomping off to his room and slamming the door. Despite Raylan being unhappy with his sons attitude he let the behavior slide. The last two weeks have been fast and furious with the school calling on a regular basis and Nate's attitude ratcheting up to the red zone. And if Raylan discovered he wasn't at home like he was supposed to be, it looked like the boy was going to meet up with his father's latent anger.
No luck, no Nate. The house was empty. Raylan called again and was only met with voice mail. He texted Nate again saying that Winona was having the baby and he was going to the hospital and to call as soon as he got the message.
Nate saw the incoming calls and the texts, but didn't care. He was over at Taylor's house playing Clue and watching some stupid teen movie. They were waiting to have a little alone time while her mother went to pick up Taylor's little sister from Girl Scouts. Nate was closing in on his twelfth birthday and his hormones were beginning to perk up a bit and he was hoping for his first kiss very soon. Taylor was a bit surprised when she learned how much younger Nate was compared to other classmates, but he made up for it with his maturity and absolute cuteness.
"Who's calling?" Taylor asked as she rolled the dice.
"Nobody." Nate replied.
"A girl?"
Nate pulled his phone out and showed her otherwise. "My dad."
"Aren't you in trouble for your antics at school?"
"Yep, but I don't care. He's been pissing me off lately, so I don't really care if he's mad at me."
"Okay then," Taylor said moving her pawn on the board.
"I'm off to get Lauren," Mrs. Baldwin said. "I'll be back in a half hour or so, I have to stop at the store too."
"Take your time," Taylor yelled back as she smiled.
Raylan arrived at the hospital and quickly found Winona in a gown and in bed with an IV hooked up. "So this is it?" he asked.
"This is it," she said nodding.
"Wow, we'll be meeting our daughter tonight."
"Or tomorrow, it's all up to her. Where's Nate?"
"Good question," Raylan spat back.
"You don't know where he is?"
"He's being a brat, won't answer his phone."
"What if something happened?"
"He's fine, we've been fighting, he's been in a lot of trouble at school and is grounded, he's figuring I won't know he's not at home."
"He's probably jealous, I've been too demanding lately."
"Perhaps he is, but it's no excuse. Apparently being grounded isn't doing it for him."
"So what's next?"
"What he hates."
"Raylan, this conversation is taking too long."
"I take my belt to his ass, he'll listen to that."
"Raylan! He's not a healthy boy, he just needs some father son time."
"I think it's deeper than that, and besides he'll be getting some father son time. He's been feeling good and breaking every rule in sight and I've had enough of it." Winona grimaced as she adjusted herself in bed. "You okay?" Raylan asked.
"Fine," she sighed.
"What are you worried about our little one being a problem? We'll deal with discipline issues when they arise, I think we're good for now."
"No, it's not that, I know you are a good father and besides she'll have you wrapped around her little finger, daughters always do."
"You're probably right."
"I'm worried about Nate. He's in a tough spot, you're a busy man and now that you have even more demands on you it's only normal for him to feel left out and rebel."
"I suppose, we had been doing well, kind of had an emotional breakthroughâwell at least as much of one as guys can have. But he's growing up and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do."
"Love him, include him in your life."
"I thought I was, I brought him to the house when I came to help out."
"Just what he wants to do, help decorate his baby sister's room."
"Well, what was I supposed to do?"
"Take him to do something he wants to do. He helps out and that's great, but then you take him to a movie, a favorite restaurant, a ball game, whatever it is that guys like to do. Now he's been acting out, pushing you to do something."
"So what do I do? I can't ignore his behavior."
"Of course you can't, but talk to him, include him, show him you care about his interests."
"So he's doing all this to get my attention?"
"Hell yeah he is."
Nate got his wish as he and Taylor were lip locked, when Nate's phone buzzed again. "You should answer him," Taylor said.
"Not yet, we have ten more minutes before your mom is due home."
"Okay, but then you answer him. You'll be grounded for a month if you don't."
"Still no answer?" Winona asked as she shifted in bed again, trying to find a comfortable spot. She had declined the offer of an epidural, preferring to attempt a natural childbirth to prove that she was as tough as she had hoped.
"No, nothing. You doing okay?" He asked.
"As well as can be expected," she answered gritting her teeth. "You need to go find your son."
"I'm staying here with you and besides I have somebody on the hunt."
Mrs. Baldwin had just set down her bag of groceries when her youngest daughter, Lauren, said there was a man at the door. "Well who is it?"
"I don't know, he's wearing a gun though," the girl whispered.
Mrs. Baldwin was somewhat alarmed until she remembered that Nate's father was a Marshal and carried a side arm. Assuming it was Raylan at the door she was a bit surprised when she looked out to see Tim smiling at her.
"Good evening, I'm looking for Nate Givens. I'm Tim Gutterson, I work with Nate's father. I'm here on his behalf to pick the boy up."
"Well, come on in, he's downstairs with Taylor." She scurried towards the stairs and yelled down to the kids that Nate's ride was here.
"Is your dad here?" Taylor asked with concern in her voice.
"I don't think so, how would he know where I was?"
Nate got up and put his shoes on and headed towards the stairs. He made his way up towards the door and saw Tim standing there. "Your dad is at the hospital with Winona, we need to get going."
Nate waved goodbye to Taylor as he followed Tim out the door. "How did you find me?"
"GPS on your phone, besides your dad pretty much said you'd be here. He's worried about you, said you were grounded and supposed to be home."
"Like he ever is."
"He's a busy guy."
"And about to get busier." Nate pouted.
"Cut him a break kid, he's doing the best he can. I don't know how he manages with the job and being a single parent, especially to a monster like you," Tim teased.
They climbed into the car and Tim pulled away and headed towards the hospital. "Look, be the decent young man I know you can be. I know your hormones are beginning to rage and you're hitting the horrific teen drama era, but be a reasonable human being."
"Whatever," Nate sighed.
Tim shook his head and fiddled with the radio as he drove.
They arrived at the hospital and found Raylan holding Winona's hand as she appeared to be fighting through a contraction. Monitors were beeping and showing the baby's heart rate. "Nate," she squeaked as she tried to breathe.
Tim looked at Raylan and nodded the answer to the silent question of where he found Nate.
"You need to help me get through this kid, tell me how to deal with the pain," Winona gasped.
"You take deep breaths and try to think about good things, blow out hard." Winona tried to take the boys advice but didn't think she would make it through. "This is temporary, it will be over," Nate said looking her in the eye.
Winona nodded, "you're right, I can do this."
Raylan curled his finger towards his son to follow him out into the hall. Nate knew this wasn't going to be fun, but figured he had no choice but to follow.
"Now I don't know what is going with you, but I don't appreciate your antics one bit. I'm sorry if I have disappointed you in some way, but you have done the same. You knew you were to be at home, yet you totally disobeyed me and went out. I obviously have to stay here, but you will go back to our house with Tim who will stay with you until I get home. I expect you to behave and listen to him. We'll talk in the morning. Am I clear?" Nate nodded. "Try yes sir," Raylan said. He had been encouraging Nate to follow the southern tradition of showing respect to his elders. It had been a fight.
Nate clamped his lips together and exhaled, but finally parted with the words, "yes sir," he huffed.
"Good, now go say goodbye to Winona."
Nate made his way back into the hospital room where Tim was waiting and Winona was speaking with a nurse. Raylan made his way to the head of the bed and fluffed up the pillows as best he could.
"The nurse says I'm making good progress, but it will still be a few more hours at least."
"Well then, we better leave you to it," Tim said nodding at Nate to follow him.
Nate turned and headed to the door, but he stopped just before setting foot in the hallway and turned around. "Good luck Winona, just remember the pain will end. You're stronger than you think you are."
The ride back to the house was quiet, Tim left Nate alone with his thoughts. When they walked into the house Nate plopped down on the couch and grabbed the nearby remote; Tim quickly placed himself in the path of the invisible beam. "Nope kiddo, it's late and time for bed."
"Why?" Nate demanded.
"Because it's after ten and you get up ridiculously early in the morning and you have school tomorrow. Now git."
"You're as bad as my dad," Nate spat.
"I can if you want me to be," Tim said as he stepped over and grabbed the remote from the unhappy boy. But Nate just continued to pout, his arms crossed and still firmly planted on the couch. Tim sighed and reached down and grabbed Nate by the arm and yanked him up and then firmly smacked him in the butt with remote control.
"Oww," Nate complained.
"You want to try for more?"
"No."
"Well then go get ready for bed. I'll check on you in fifteen minutes." Tim ordered.
Nate mumbled to himself as he made his way down the hall while Tim shook his head.
Tim had gone in and checked on Nate to find he was in bed, his back to the door as well as Tim. Despite Tim's gentle goodnight Nate ignored him. There hadn't been any doubt that the kid was going to be a challenging teenager, but they thought there would be another year before he descended into complete obnoxiousness.