A month passed Casey had to go out of town for a mission with the SEALS putting off his conversation with day he got back he cleaned up and then went to the Buy More. Chuck was at the nerd herd desk, like he was always.
"Can we talk in private?" Casey asked.
"Sure."
They went into the backroom locking the door.
"What's wrong? Is it Natalie or Thomas?"
"No they're both fine, I wanted to talk about Natalie and Sarah."
"Okay." Chuck looked at him oddly.
"Sarah had this sent to General Beckman's email, saying to give this to me. The odd thing about it was it was Beckman's personal email and only I and Sarah have it." Casey said, handing the paperwork to Chuck.
Chuck read it, shaking his head.
"I don't understand, she's in therapy session now, been in therapy since we came back from vacation."
"She sent that to me while you two were in Paris, I wanted to show you this earlier, but I had an out of town mission."
"So I don't get to see Natalie at all?"
"It says you can see her as much as you want. Sarah temporarily gave up her rights, I guess until she comes to terms with everything." Casey said, pointing to the conditions.
Chuck read them, nodding.
"Can we babysit?"
"Yes you and Sarah can actually come over tonight and babysit if you want. I was going to ask Morgan and Alex but I hated to bother them because of Oliver."
"Is there anything wrong with Oliver?" Chuck asked. Morgan wasn't at work today.
"The doctor thinks he has downs, Alex is pretty torn up about it. Morgan is trying to keep her optimistic."
"I need to call him. We can talk to Sarah tonight after everyone comes over for dinner at my place?" Chuck handed the letter back to Casey and picked up his phone to call Morgan.
"Sure what time?"
"7ish."
"We'll be there."
Later that evening Casey walked into the apartment and saw Natalie and Thomas were on the floor playing. He walked over, sitting beside Natalie,
"Kim, I'm home!"
He picked Natalie up and sat on the couch. Thomas quickly sat beside him.
"How are you?" He asked, holding her.
Natalie cooed and laid her head on his chest. He looked over at Thomas,
"How was school buddy?"
Kim came out of the hallway.
"Okay. Daddy, do I have to go back?"
Casey looked at Kim who had sat beside him.
"Honey, we talked about this. I'll go talk to the teacher tomorrow." Kim said.
"What happened?"
"Kids are being mean to him." Kim said.
"Like?"
"You just feel sorry for me, you love Natalie more."
Casey looked surprised.
"Really 4 year olds? Are they saying this stuff to each other?"
"No, the teacher, the kids overheard and repeated it." Kim whispered.
Casey shook his head, pulling Thomas into a side hug. That evening Casey, Kim, and the kids went over to Chuck and Sarah's. Morgan, Alex, Awesome, Ellie, and Clara were already there Chuck greeted them at the door.
"She's in an okay mood." Chuck whispered, stealing Natalie away from Casey.
Thomas took off to talk Star Wars with Morgan. Casey and Kim joined the others in the kitchen, Casey grabbed a beer, sitting on a stool at the bar. He pulled Kim close to him, she was still upset over the school situation.
"You okay?" Casey whispered in her ear.
"Got some news today from my doctor's appointment. Can we talk after the kids go to bed?"
"Of course. Is there anything I can do."
"Don't pack up the kids and leave me."
"Never." Casey whispered, kissing the side of her head.
Kim cuddled closer to him. Casey squeezed her closer to him, as he looked at Chuck and Sarah.
Chuck sat beside Sarah with Natalie in his arms. Sarah turned her body looking at her.
"Want to hold her?" Chuck asked.
"I don't know how."
"Hold out your arms like you would catch a football."
Sarah did, looking intently at Natalie.
"Sarah, I know about the custody papers, Casey showed them to me. My only question is why? Why would you give up your rights to your only child? Miss big moments like her rolling over, saying her first words? She's only 3 ½ months old, and you have missed some big milestones so far."
"Like what?"
"Like she can sit and hold her head up like she's doing now, lift her chest up with her arms, hold a toy, say da da." Casey said, while getting up and fixing a bottle for Natalie who was becoming fussy.
Sarah had not looked up while Casey named off their daughters achievements. Casey brought over the bottle to Sarah.
"You want to feed her?" Casey asked.
Sarah shook her head no and handed her to Casey, who took her one handed and sat on the opposite couch. He laid back and gave Natalie the bottle, Kim smiled as the others including Sarah and Chuck looked shocked. Casey looked at all of them.
"What?"
"Nothing." They all mumbled.
"Sarah, are you still sure?" Casey asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry but I just don't feel a connection to her. I can't love her."
Casey sat up, looking at Kim who had tears in her eyes. He motioned for her to come sit with him. She walked over, sitting beside Casey and he handed Natalie to her.
"Then we want full custody. Chuck, Ellie, and Awesome can see her. You can too if you care. I know what happened was bad and traumatizing but my daughter needs a mother and my wife needs a child so if you don't want to be her mother Kim will be." Casey said.
Casey stood up looking at Kim.
"Are you ready to go?"
Kim nodded.
"Thomas let's go!"
"Thomas came running, jumping into Casey's arms.
"Bye uncle Chuck, Morgan, Awesome, aunt Ellie, Alex." Thomas smiled, as Casey and Kim walked out and back to their apartment.
That night after Natalie was down, Casey laid in Thomas' bed and read him a bedtime story and tucked him in. After checking the doors, he went to their bedroom, walking in he saw Kim sitting on the bed brushing her hair.
"You're quiet tonight. Is there more to Thomas's situation? Did I handle the whole Sarah thing badly?"
"No, it's me I had a doctor's appointment, I had some tests done at the doctor's recommendation. Some of the results came back not good. I had leukemia when I was a kid, they think it's back. They are wanting me to go to Phoenix, Arizona, there is a really good place there."
"When do they want you to go?"
"ASAP, the faster they can start treating it the better shot of going back into remission." Kim looked at him.
Casey pulled her closer.
"I need to talk to Chuck about work, and I need to find a place in Phoenix."
"What about Thomas? He would miss Chuck and Morgan." Kim whispered.
"He probably will, but it won't be forever. Once you're back in remission we can come back. Everyone will understand and be supportive and we can explain to Thomas why we're moving. Thomas hates this school anyway, a new school may be what he needs. In any case, your health is the most important thing."
Kim burst into tears and hugged Casey tightly.
"Please don't cry, I'll organize everything, all you need to do is look after your health. Just think positive and pretend it's a new adventure for our family. I love you."
Kim nodded and said,
"Love you too."
