Controlling Our Fates
Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly!
AN: "'The past is past, that is why they call it the past.'–C. Hurn. Yes one must look at the past, and then learn from it, but to ruminate and dwell on it is counterproductive. There is a new path ahead of you that YOU and only YOU created. There will be a time when you can walk it safely and be happy. I promise you."
Chapter 51 (Determining Quincy's Fate)
Marissa sat in a grey hospital chair, reading a book on forgiving, she'd come a long way in the last decade. She was a lot calmer than she used to be, and she was grateful for that. Her eyes lifted up to Jonah, the two doctors that had been mentoring him, Dr. Stein and Dr. Richards, and a bunch of their nurses. They surrounded Margaret Saphens and were currently checking for anything that would be considered an abnormality. When everyone arrived to Margaret's home, there wasn't much time to talk, as the two doctors wanted to get down to business. People were able to introduce themselves, but that was about it. Once the woman agreed to go to the hospital, all was well.
"What can we do, Doctor?" A nurse asked without hesitation. Marissa moved her head to the right and exhaled as Dr. Stein answered.
"We can save this woman." The medical professionals stepped back from the table. Jonah looked at the two doctors with keen interest. Normally it could take tons of money to perform something such as a kidney transplant, but the conversation with the doctors had already been had on the way over. "There is only kidney failure of the right kidney. This woman's condition is merely because she has not been seen by a doctor in several years. If untreated, this could go into the end stages pretty quickly." Dr. Richards nodded and lifted his hand, motioning over to Jonah.
"We've determined that an immediate Kidney transplant will be needed. It is a failure of the right renal organ, so that faulty organ has to be removed and a healthy kidney of the same blood type must be put in. Jonah, I believe we've agreed to do this without charge?"
"Yes, and thank you," he replied. They were doing it for free only because Jonah was such a model student and helpful around the town. "Though, my uncle said he would still be able to cover the cost." The doctors glanced at each other and shook their heads.
"That won't be necessary." Marissa chuckled softly and looked to the woman on the bed, she was mildly conscious. They hadn't done anything just yet that would require putting her under, but the way the doctors had been talking made it seem she would be going under the knife pretty soon. Margaret was in very good hands. "You tell your Uncle that we'll do this without any charge."
"There may be something else he can do," Freddie said as he walked to Jonah. Marissa looked over and lifted her eyebrows, she hadn't heard the door open. Behind Freddie, walked in Mark and Roy. Freddie looked to Margaret and breathed in. "How is she?"
"She will be just fine," reported Dr. Stein. "We're about to get ready to prep her for surgery."
"You can save her?"
"Without a doubt." Mark walked over to her and frowned. He'd recently been promoted to Deputy Chief and was the current Police Chief's closest friend. He put his hand to Margaret's shoulder and looked up at the doctors.
"I didn't know she was his mother. We dated back in college." Jonah arched his eyebrow and Freddie moved over in silence.
"You did, Mark?"
"Yes. I broke things off because she had sex…I didn't realize the circumstances before. Had I, things would have been different…" He felt her hand upon his and looked down to see her gazing up at him. Her eyes gave away her exhaustion. He knelt beside her and gently squeezed her hand. "Hey. You're going to be all right now…" She smiled slightly and moved her head back, closing her eyes. Mark gently brought his hand up and brushed a strand of her straggly brown hair from her face. "What could I ever do to pay her back for that?" Marissa's eyes darted from him to Freddie. She hummed and slowly moved her book up in front of her face as Mark stood erect. He glanced over as the Police Chief himself walked in. Everyone stood erect as the man folded his arms over and exhaled through his nose. "Chief Abrams, sir."
Chief Zachary Abrams had an almost imposing appearance. He was a tall, well groomed figure with a straight face and sharp eyes. His brown hair was always combed back and a moustache covered up a small scar on his upper lip. "Mark, haven't I told you that you didn't need to call me that? I understand it's respectful, but as long as we've been close for…"
"Yes."
"Now, Margaret…" He moved over to her and gazed down at her. His hardened figure softened as his hand graced her wrist. "She is my cousin. I've always wondered where she disappeared to."
"You guys know her?" Freddie asked. The two men nodded in reply and his jaw dropped momentarily. "Well that's…news." Zach closed his eyes and shook his head.
"She vanished after college. We just lost touch with her, that's what we thought. That kid…Quincy…that's her son?"
"Yes sir. I wanted to talk to you two about that, actually." The two men turned fully towards him and gazed almost without expression. Uncle Roy stepped next to Freddie and Jonah signaled the men to the other corner of the room. They all moved over and Freddie brought up his question. "He's my brother. The reason he robbed the places he did…for his mother. The murder…anger at his father, my father. We don't hold resentment towards that, but he still needs help. Maybe you could drop the charges on him?" The two glanced at each other, then back at Margaret. Their wistful gazes tore away from her, and Zach inhaled deeply.
"Those places he robbed over the years…"
"That's where Uncle Roy comes in," Jonah interrupted. He cleared his throat and pat Roy on the shoulder while looking the two men in the eyes. "I don't know what he does for a living exactly, but-"
"I am a computer programmer, Jonah…"
"Seriously?" Jonah looked over and blinked. "What is it with us Indians and computers?" Roy rolled his eyes and chuckled. He crossed his arms over his chest and wagged his eyebrows once.
"I didn't say tech support, I said computer programmer. There is a difference."
"Oh. Well anyway, he's got a few million dollars and is willing to compensate any of their losses. Right Uncle Roy?"
"Yes." Roy pulled a sheet of paper from the pockets of his slacks. "Freddie printed out this list of all the financial aspects of what Quincy took. As a part of the family, we're willing to pay it all." The list had seven places, each ranging from eight hundred to two thousand dollars taken. In total, almost twelve thousand dollars had been taken over the years. "I'm willing to put in an extra thousand to each place, so twenty grand out of my pocket is something that I can afford. As for the murder…"
Marissa lifted her eyes from the words of the book, which still covered half her face. The men turned to her as she cleared her throat and brought the book to her lap. She wasn't too sure how she felt about John's loss. He did something horrible, yes. He lied to her, didn't tell her about Quincy. In reality, she was angry at him. Quincy, however, she couldn't bring herself to blame him. "I'm not interested in pressing matters further as far as that's concerned…" She moved her eyes back to the book and brought it up. "There's no justice in putting Quincy away for that. Don't press the topic any further."
"Let's add the fact that Quincy is all Margaret has." Mark and Zach turned their eyes down and looked back to the bedridden woman. Roy and Freddie breathed in deeply and glanced over. Their hearts sank when they thought of that woman thinking her son was gone forever. "Freddie, do you have any further ideas?" Freddie tore his gaze away and met Jonah's eyes briskly, thinking back to the clinic. He smiled and returned his gaze to the officers.
"Yes. Actually." The men snapped their heads over, trying to figure out what ideas he could possibly have. It was taking all in them to think of putting away Quincy, what more could they do? "I want to help him, he needs help. I know that before all this, even I hated him, but now…I know better. I know what he was going through, and I think he just needs help. I was thinking, maybe make it required for him to attend the counseling services at that large clinic Jonah volunteers at." Jonah raised an eyebrow and the men murmured with each other. It was an excellent thought, really. "If it can help, then he should be there. Also, he needs to be held accountable, so…maybe make him move with his mom over to our family farm. It's out in the country, a bit away from the city, the closest places are locations that don't really recognize him as much, so he can make a fresh start there.
As the men talked with each other, Marissa watched Margaret closely. The woman opened her eyes and looked over to her with hopeful curiosity. Marissa smiled at her and sat up. "Hey Margaret, they're going to operate on you soon. You're getting a kidney replacement."
"Really?" Margaret's chest rose and fell slowly as her lips curled into a tiny smile. "I've not had any medical care in nearly five years. Why are you doing this for me?" She slowly rose from her seat and walked over to the woman. With a tender hand, she felt of her head and brushed her hair back.
"Because you and Quincy are family."
"My son? Where is he…"
"He's going to be fine…However, there's going to be some changes." Margaret swallowed and her brows meshed together as her eyes turned over to the group in the room. "Those are the men who are going to determine your son's fate." The woman gasped lightly and quickly looked over to Marissa. "Quincy's done a few bad things and he will have to pay for it, but he's not going to go away." Margaret's eyes started to water with tears and Marissa smiled at her once more. "He's a good kid, taking care of you all these years. Maybe he went about it the wrong way, but…he did what he could do."
"You said earlier, I think…that your son…"
"Yeah. Our sons are brothers. My husband was John Benson…please be aware though, it wasn't your fault what happened back in college. We're going to take care of you. We live on a big farm…My fiancé, his children, and I have purchased a farm next door to his niece's farm, so...it's in the country and offers plenty of peace, quiet, and space. They just said Quincy would have to be confined to the farm, so you may as well move in too."
"Would you really do that?"
"Yeah." The doctors broke from the group and started moving over to the two. Margaret held her blanket nervously and Marissa gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We'll be right here when you wake up. I hope you're ready to be able to get out and about, because you have the best doctors in Washington working on you."
"That's great then. When will I be able to see Quincy?"
"I'm not sure, hopefully by the end of the week. We'll have to see." Margaret smiled as the doctors started shooing everyone from the room. Marissa looked up as an anesthesiologist came in with the knockout gas. Everyone was prepped. "See you in a few hours, Margaret."
"Thank you again…"
"Not a problem." She gave the woman a slight hug and made her way outside. It was in Dr. Stein's and Dr. Richard's hands now. Everyone had the utmost confidence in them. As for Quincy, it was determined that he live on the farm with his mother, work as a farmhand, and regularly attend counseling at the clinic Freddie went to. Aside from the clinic, he would not be able to leave the farm on his own for a year. Freddie did wonder how he would take the news, hopefully good.
So he may be granted a second chance. Doesn't happen often, but looks like they know the right people
