Chapter Twenty-Two

*This chapter was inspired by an actual scene that took place in the summer of 1984.*

(Warren has just donated the blood needed for the transfusion to save his son's life. He knows now that he's come out of hiding, he will be arrested for the boat explosion that killed Travis, the kidnapping of T.R., etc. The scene below takes place in the Henderson Hospital)

Suzi: You just saved your son's life.

Warren: You didn't think I would try? What did you think - that I have ice water running through my veins?

Suzi: No, I knew that you had the same blood as your son. I just didn't know how (inaudible)

Warren: What did you think - I would just let the kid die, Suzi?

Suzi: You wanted Wendy to have an abortion, I just assumed -

Warren: That baby wasn't something I could see. Something I could touch.

Suzi: It could have been.

Warren: Yeah, a lot of things could have been. I just didn't know that. (Inaudible) But he's my son. When he needed me, I was there. Who else was there? Suzi, you can judge me all you want to. I probably have it coming. But our son is only gonna know what you tell him. So when you talk about me, don't be too hard on me. (Inaudible) I never wanted things to turn out like this. When we first got married, I thought the only way to be happy was to make big plans and carry them out to the letter. I was gonna grab the world by the throat. I guess a lot of people got choked along the way. But I didn't want to hurt them, especially you. And I know what you're thinking ... this is all double-talk, right? Actions speak louder than words and mine have been pretty rotten. I'm not so anxious to defend my actions anymore. I got to see what innocence really looks like through the face of my newborn son. And it shows me just how guilty I really am. I'm sure you can think of something good to tell him about his father.

Suzi: You saved his life.

Warren: Yeah. I guess we're not off to such a bad start. Look, I have managed to louse everything up anyway. It's probably better that I am not going to be around. But I want him to know how much I love him and that I would always protect him.

Suzi: He'll know. I promise.

Warren: Why don't ya give him a good strong name like Warren? Yeah, well, I'll always think of him as little Warren Carter Junior.

Suzi: I am very grateful that you came back.

Warren: (getting up to leave) I'm really sorry that I smashed that wooden rocking horse.

Suzi: Well, it's fine. Cagney fixed it.

Warren: Well, good. He can teach him how to ride it. Maybe when he's a little bit older ... ummmm... (Warren starts crying) I'll get him a real horse. I'll get him a real saddle. Do you think he'd like that? (Suzi nods) I just wish that I could hold him. (Warren cries even more)

Suzi: Warren, the police are looking for you.

Warren: I know.

Suzi: I wish I knew what else to say.

Warren: You're no different. You were always at a loss for words, but that's okay. We're kind of in the same boat. (Warren grabs his jacket and walks out)

Characters in this segment: Suzi, Cagney, Warren, & Jonah

He's My Son

It was a beautiful summer's day. The sun shown bright and high in a cloudless sky. It happened to his fifth birthday. The boy was quite tall for his age with dark hair and striking brown eyes. He was excited about a picnic in the park, followed by a game of catch with his dad.

Suzi toted the picnic basket laden with delicious food while Cagney carried a thick blanket. He lay the blanket in the tall grass close to the lake as Jonah came running up to them, carrying the baseball. "Can we have the cake now?" asked the little boy.

"Soon, Son," said Cagney. "After we have a couple of your mother's delicious roast beef sandwiches, then we can have some of your yummy birthday cake."

"I just can't believe you're five years old today," Suzi said to her handsome son.

Jonah grinned. He sat down on the blanket, joining his parents as his mother handed him a plate with a sandwich on it. He picked up the sandwich and took a big bite.

"Seems like he was just born yesterday," Cagney said with a smile as he looked at Suzi with love glowing in his eyes. "Now that he's a little older, do you think we should tell him the story of his birth?"

"Sure, Cagney. You tell him," Suzi urged as she fixed another plate and handed it to Cagney.

"We were at Aunt Jo's cabin and you decided to come just a little bit early..." Cagney stated as he looked over at little Jonah.

"Yeah, six weeks early," Suzi added.

"Your mom was really scared, but I took care of everything. You were so tiny. You were born into my hands, then you just looked up at me with those incredible dark eyes of yours. It was the most amazing moment ever," Cagney recanted.

"You were really sick at first, Jonah, but then you got well. Your daddy and I were so glad to finally take you home from the hospital."

Jonah didn't say much as he continued to eat his lunch. Cagney and Suzi continued to reminisce about the day of Jonah's birth, but the boy really didn't care much about their story. All he cared about was the birthday cake and playing ball.

"Dad, can we have the cake now ... then we'll toss the ball?" asked Jonah.

Crouched behind a nearby tree, Warren listened in on the conversation. He'd seen and heard it all. Finally, after years of being in locked away in a prison cell, he had been released. He was amazed when he saw his perfect and healthy son - the little one he had saved. He would never have the pleasure of meeting his other son, considering that baby boy had passed away tragically before he had even had the chance to draw a single breath.

They called the boy Jonah - but he wasn't Jonah Carter. His name was Jonah McCleary as Suzi had put Cagney's name on her child's birth certificate. Sadly, it would seem that Warren would never know his little boy. And more than that, it was clear that his son had never been told of his biological father's existence. Little Jonah had never heard of the man who had saved his life almost five years ago when he was a tiny newborn fighting for survival while in the hospital.

"Come on, Dad. Wanna play ball?" Jonah asked again, trying to get Cagney's attention.

"Sure, Son. Just as soon as we have a slice of that cake."

"And sing Happy Birthday," Suzi added.

A tear stung in Warren's eye, then it slowly glided down his bronzed cheek. Jonah looked just like him. It would seem that the apple hadn't fallen all that far from the tree.

*He's my son,* Warren's heart ached. *He's my boy, but he doesn't even know it. He doesn't know me and he never will.*

Warren turned to leave, but not before he heard Jonah ask Cagney, "After we leave the park, are we going to the farm to ride a pony?"

"Sure, Son, we can," Cagney agreed.

With tears streaming from his sorrowed eyes, Warren made his way out of the park. He had lost a lot when he went to prison to pay for his sins. Was there anything at all left for him in Henderson? He couldn't be certain; he only knew that now was time to accept the dire consequences of his past mistakes.