"There's been some development in the Kelly-Larkin case. Adopted son of Tony winning, Oscar nominated actress Medda Larkin, Jack Kelly was found just three days ago after having been missing for six years. According to police, Kelly was not found alone, having sent a boy he claims to be his five year old son outside to bring the authorities to him. Today, a man has been arrested for alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of the victim, a Mr. William Snyder, a former security guard at a local court house…"
Jack held Tyler close to him as he watched the news with wide eyes. He hadn't been able to take his eyes off of it. That was it. That was what he'd been waiting for.
When that phone beside his bed rang, Jack didn't waste a second. He sat up and grabbed it. "Mr. Kelly, are you and Tyler ready for some dinner?"
"I just wanna go home," Jack whimpered, pathetically wiping at the tears that rushed down his face. "I wanna go home…"
Home. For days he'd been here, sitting in this hospital room while his mother and his father fought over who got to visit him and Spencer tried to calm them down. Tyler hid behind him when anyone walked in, it didn't matter who it was. His parents were trying to tone it down for his own sake but that only made it all so much harder to watch.
Trying to tell himself that he'd waited six years, he could wait a few more days, hadn't worked. The detective that had come in had told him that until they had the man who'd kidnapped him in custody, Jack and Tyler James couldn't leave the hospital. They had a guard outside their door, one that followed them when they went for walks. Jack tried his best to make the most of it, but it was all just overwhelming. He wanted to go home. It was time for him to go home but he was still trapped somewhere he didn't want to be.
It wasn't the poor nurse's fault and Lord knows the doctor who had been helping them was kind enough, but Jack thought he might explode if he had to stay for any longer.
When he hung up the phone, he sniffled, bringing his knees to his chest. His son melted into his side. "Daddy, is that Spider?" he asked, pointing to the screen where there was a picture of a man being led away in handcuffs.
Jack knew those cruel eyes anywhere. So he gently lifted his son by his armpits and set him in his lap. "Tyler James," he whispered, his heart pounding against his chest. "Spider is never gonna hurt us again. Never again." That was a promise Jack intended to keep. Though he knew moving forward, William Snyder the Spider wouldn't be the only person who ever tried. "Tomorrow morning, we are gonna get outta this place." His voice shook as he spoke, hardly believing it. He was sure at any moment he'd wake back up in that place, cowering under Bed while Spider reached for him, grabbing at his arm. "We're gonna go home…"
Tired and still confused after having his very first shots today, the little boy only nodded, playing with Jack's shirt with his tiny fingers. He pressed his head into his daddy's chest before long and Jack could only hold him, rocking him back and forth, trying to adjust to what was happening.
This had to be over soon. It had to be over.
The next day was a whirlwind.
Jack held his son's hand tightly. He knew someone was speaking to him, but the words flew right over his head. It was like he couldn't focus on anything but the doors in front of him and the hand that was wrapped in his own. He had cheap sunglasses on his face. Everything was just slightly dimmer than normal, but Doctor Denton had insisted he wear them, so Jack did. It didn't mean he liked it.
Only vaguely aware of all the people around him, the young man tried to breathe. He was walking fast. He just wanted out of here. He just wanted to go home.
Someone directed them, someone else was talking to his family. Jack was sure his family was trying to speak to him but he didn't hear a word. He was too focused on getting into the car in front of him. He picked up his son and buckled him in before climbing in after him. It was only then that he allowed himself to breathe.
He was going home.
It was odd, being so bundled up in the cold weather, watching the outside world move around him as someone began to drive. Jack didn't care to look up to see who was driving. He didn't care to look out the windows to see the police escort he was getting. He just held Tyler's hand in his own and tried to reassure himself that this was real.
Tyler didn't know what was happening at all. Daddy wasn't talking a lot today. So he leaned on him, trying to make him feel better. Today had been an odd day. Daddy had let a nurse come in and put a needle in his arm. They took some blood from him and his daddy too. Then Daddy had gotten him dressed in more clothes than Tyler had ever worn before all at once. Daddy said it was cold outside so he needed to wear warm things. Doctor Denton told him he had to wear the mask and sunglasses.
"Daddy?" the child asked, tugging at his daddy's sleeve. "Is it a Gone Day?"
Daddy glanced around at the other aliens in the car. No. Not aliens. Persons. The other persons. Tyler did too. Lots of eyes were looking at him. He shrunk into Daddy's side. "No…" Daddy assured, slipping the sunglasses off of his face and carefully pulling down the mask. "I'm here," he promised. "I'm here."
Hugging his daddy's arm tightly, Tyler peaked out the window, gasping when he saw too many things. He was still learning that there was something on the other side of every door. More insides and outsides. That wasn't as hard to get used to as the persons that were everywhere.
They were in a car, just like people in TV always were. Grandma and Grandpa were in the front seat and Daddy and Uncle Specs were on his sides. Tyler curled up closer to his Daddy the whole way to the house with the swing and the ice cream. It was quiet, but not like in Room. In Room, all that Tyler heard was the hot machine in the corner. Now he heard a loud rumbling noise, like an earthquake beneath him and the whole world would shake every now and again. Things would go sideways and up and down and all Tyler could do was hold onto his daddy, not knowing what was happening or why they weren't going back to Room.
Spider was gone now. Room was safe now.
When everything stopped, Tyler felt his daddy get stiff. He did that in Room sometimes, when he was dreaming. Daddy wasn't sleeping right now, though. His eyes were open and he was looking out the window.
"What the hell is this?" Jack asked, his voice shaking as he saw his old home. He just wanted to go home. For six years he'd wanted to go home and here it was, surrounded by at least a hundred people with cameras and big microphones and too many voices. Still, they pulled to a stop. "We're walkin' out in this?" he asked, looking at his brother and pulling his son closer to him.
With a sigh, Spencer glanced out the window. "Just don't talk to any of them," he said, glancing down at Tyler.
"Jack, honey," Medda spoke, just like she always used to in that sweet calming voice that Jack had missed so much. "Pick him up and walk quickly, okay? It'll be alright," she promised, slipping out of the car first and opening Jack's door for him.
The noise was overwhelming. Cameras flashed, blinding him right as he looked up. He heard Race whimper beside him and he took in a shuddering breath, forcing himself to stand on trembling legs as he swept his son up to his chest. The second he was in his arms the child clung to him, his big blue eyes wide at the sight of the crowd before them. "Daddy," he whimpered, bringing his mittened hands up to cover his ears.
Securing the beanie on his head tighter over Tyler's ears, Jack walked quickly towards the front door. His mother was at his side, his brother on the other as he walked. His father was in front of him with the lawyer that had spoken to him only a few days ago, fending off people that tried to grab at Jack's jacket, desperate for some kind of statement or look, until they managed to get through the doors of the large house.
There wasn't a moment for Jack to take in the familiarity of the place where he grew up. He was too busy setting Tyler down on the floor, taking the cap off of his head so that he could see the child's face clearly, his long blond hair tied back in a ponytail and his eyes still staring at the big door that someone had closed behind them, as though he could still see that giant crowd. "Hey, baby, look at me," Jack whispered, clipping the boy's chin so that innocent gaze would meet his own. "Are you okay?"
All the child could offer him was a nod in response, more quiet than Jack was sure he'd ever been before. Still, the young man continued on, beginning to unravel Racer from his mountain of warmth, starting with the scarf and the mittens and the puffy jacket. Mama had just said they were gifts. She never said from whom.
Finally finding his son beneath all the soft fabric, he managed a small smile as a sigh escaped him. "We're home now, Tyler James," he said. "We're home." The words felt odd on his tongue, but he said them anyway, not even sure who he was trying to reassure anymore.
Barely even glancing up at him, the blond boy swayed on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. He didn't speak. Before Jack could say anything else, a hand touched his shoulder. He knew it was just his mother, but deep down he supposed that he didn't know that. So he leaned away, looking down at the floor. "Are you alright? Honey, are you okay?" she asked worriedly, her voice soft and the smile that Jack knew very well was on her face, though it was forced. It had to be. None of this felt natural.
"I'm fine," the young man insisted, his hands still on Race's shoulders. He made his lips form into a small, tight smile as he managed to look up at her. "I'm good."
Nodding down at him, his mama took a deep breath, relieved tears in her beautiful brown eyes. "Your father's still talking to the lawyer. He'll be in soon," she promised just as the door opened.
It was Spencer. Spencer gave him a glance before leaning into Mama's ear and whispering to her softly. Jack tried to ignore it, instead smiling down at his little boy before he stood, taking Tyler's hand in his own. "C'mon… let's check it out," he whispered, knowing that the child wasn't used to so much noise.
This room was bigger than any room Tyler had ever been in. He wondered if he could fit the whole world inside of it. There were ups and downs in this room. But not like at the Hospital Room. There wasn't a small mover in this one that took them up and down, there were steps. His daddy walked over to them but Tyler tried to pull him back. The steps were big. He shook his head at the top of them but Daddy was already walking down.
Daddy turned back to him, waiting for him. "It's okay, c'mon," he said, reaching his hand out. Tyler still hesitated, but he took his daddy's hand and tried to follow him, not understanding why he had to go down, why the room wasn't flat like Room was. "One step at a time," Daddy coaxed.
Gripping into the bars beside the large steps, Tyler tried to walk down. The steps were big. He wasn't sure he'd make it all the way. But his daddy still tried to help him. He still waited for him.
"Yeah," he encouraged. "You got it." It almost sounded like his daddy was laughing. Daddy didn't laugh a lot. Tyler loved it when his daddy laughed and smiled, but he was too busy trying to get down to hug the man's leg to look up at him.
Somehow, he made it, rushing up to cling to his daddy. He shoved his little face into Daddy's knee as he shook just a little. He wanted to go back to Room. Room was his home. He didn't know this place. He didn't know the man that was walking up to them either. He gasped and curled his little fists into Daddy's jeans. "James Francis Kelly, boy is it good ta see you…" The man was big, but not as big as Spider. He had brown hair and a smile but Tyler still didn't want to trust him. He was scared Daddy wouldn't be able to breathe again.
Daddy tensed, like he did in Room sometimes when he thought he heard the six beeps starting. "You too…" Daddy said, relaxing a bit.
Tyler gasped when a hand touched his hair. It was small and he pressed his face into his daddy's knee as Grandma spoke to him. "Tyler, don't worry, honey, this is Teddy. He was your daddy's teacher when he was younger," she explained gently.
All the small child could do was hold onto his daddy tighter.
An overwhelming feeling of confusion and terror took over Jack's brain. It was as though all of the sudden he didn't know how to function anymore. Maybe he'd known that ever since he'd stepped foot in the mud right outside of Room. For five years he'd been raising a young child, his son, in solitary. Completely isolated and alone he'd led his boy to believe that they were the only humans left. It had all been easier at the time to just convince him that Room was all there was. He'd always been so terrified of Race asking about how they were going to see the outside world. Now, he was supposed to introduce his son to every person from a life he'd tried to force himself to forget.
"Racer, say hi," Jack insisted, trying to gently pry the hands off of his jeans. "Tyler James, be polite—" he almost scolded before his face was gently taken between two soft, warm hands.
"Honey, it's okay," Mama assured. "It's alright, why don't you go sit down?"
Pressing himself a bit further up against the wall and glancing back at his big brother, Jack forced himself to nod. He ran a hand over Race's hair, trying to smile at Teddy. "I-I'm sorry," he shrugged. "It really is good to see you."
With a reassuring smile, the old man nodded. "We're so glad to have you back, kiddo."
Swallowing hard, nervous at all the eyes on him, Jack just took his son's hands and turned the kid over to the living room, trying to get him to walk. It was clear the child wanted to be held by the way he continued to try and twist around and look up at him. Still, his little Tyler James remained quiet. Finally, Jack scooped him up and put him on the couch before he curled up himself, trying to get this new air into his lungs. Tyler was right, it was like they were on a whole new planet. All of this felt so close to familiar, and yet none of it would ever be the same.
"Hey, can I sit here?" Jack's eyes shot up to Spencer so fast but it wasn't him that the young man was speaking to. It was his son.
It only took a moment for Tyler to crawl a bit closer to Jack, not necessarily to make room for Specs, more to get away from him. "Tyler, you can say hi ta Uncle Specs…" he tried. Race said nothing. So Jack looked back up at his brother and sighed. Spencer just gave him a small, sad smile. Jack tried to return it.
Tyler curled up into a ball and hugged his knees to his chest. He looked around for a moment. "Daddy…" he asked. "What are those?" he asked, pointing over to the pile of brand new, unopened toys that were in the corner.
Hardly glancing over at them, Jack just sniffled. "They're… gifts," he whispered, not quite used to having to talk over the other noises of the world yet. "From people who're very happy that we made it home safe." At least, he assumed so. No one had told him where these things were coming from.
When his mama and Teddy came back into the room, Jack looked up at them, wrapping his arm around his son and pulling him a little closer. "Can I get anyone something to eat or drink?" Teddy asked. "We have everything." He had a smile on his face. It made Jack want to relax. Still, he couldn't.
"I'm okay," Jack smiled. "Thank you."
Jack's mama smiled at him and then looked down at the small, terrified child beside him. "Tyler? Is there anything you want?"
Looking down at his son, Jack's heart broke. He could feel all the eyes on him. It shouldn't be as much of a bother as it was but Jack hated it. "Tyler, Grandma asked you a question," he explained lightly.
The little boy looked up at him and tugged on Jack's sleeve, wanting him to lean down. Jack did just that so that his son could sit up and whisper in his ear, "juice…"
Sitting up, Jack clipped his chin. "Okay, you wanna say that to Grandma an' Teddy?" he asked, trying so hard to look like he knew what he was doing, to look like a father even though he might not be one. That thought only made him feel sick. Race only shook his head, so Jack sighed a little and looked up at his mama. "He would like some juice, please," he spoke for the child, running a hand over his long blond hair that was pulled back out of his innocent face.
The two adults in the room smiled and gave him small reassurances before they walked off into the kitchen.
"You know, if Grandma or Teddy or Uncle Specs asks you a question, you can answer them," he whispered down next to Tyler's ear. "You don't only have to talk to me." Despite the million things that were running through his head and his brain constantly trying to ignore the fact that this little boy could be taken away from him any day now, Jack forced himself to have a small smile on his face before he kissed Race's head. Those blue eyes didn't so much as look up.
Jack just bit his lip and turned in his seat, glancing out the window that was behind him. There was a familiar yard out there. Truthfully, all he wanted was to remind himself that he could get there, outside.
All too aware of the fact that Specs was being agonizingly quiet beside him, Jack chose to seal his own lips himself, just staring aimlessly out into the world he never thought he'd see again.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Racer sit up on his knees to look out too. Instead, the child reached down between the couch and the wall and pulled out a small orange ball. Tears pricked at Jack's eyes and he cleared his throat but he made no move to talk to his little boy when that questioning gaze looked over at him. "Daddy, what's this?" the boy whispered.
Before Jack could even think up any kind of answer, his brother was sitting up a little straighter. "That belongs to your dad's dog," Spencer explained quietly, gently reaching for the thing. "Her name's Riley. She's staying with some friends for now, but she'll be home soon. She's very excited to meet you."
The child shook his head. "Da'," he whispered. "You don't have a dog. You said you don't wan' a dog." Without even looking down, Jack just held the boy a little closer to him, settling him in his lap for a moment. He knew he couldn't be like this forever. He had to let Race figure things out on his own a little, but he couldn't help wanting to hold him. His son was confused and Jack just wanted to hold him.
It only took another moment for his mama and Teddy to come back with much more than a glass of orange juice. Jack's stomach flipped at the sight of the food but he forced himself not to react. On that tray, there was a glass of orange juice for Race and a glass of water. Then there were little sandwiches that were just sitting there, waiting to be eaten and Jack couldn't force himself to take one no matter how hungry he was. He had to be sparing.
When the door swung open, Jack didn't mean to flinch. It all just happened too fast. Tyler's little fists just tightened into his shirt. "Unbelievable," the young man's father grumbled. "The lawyer says they're expecting a plea but they can't rule out a trial," he announced, taking his coat and shoes off before walking in. "He was trying to get into all of it, but I said not today."
If there was anything that was going to make all of this harder, it was talking about this. So Jack tried to ignore the conversation, just helping Tyler hold the large glass of juice in his little hands and using a napkin to clean his sweet face.
Still, Jack couldn't help looking up when his father actually walked into the room, plopping down in a chair. The man only glanced at him before looking away again.
"Otto, can I get you a drink?" Teddy offered. It shouldn't have shocked Jack as much as it did how civil the two men were. Teddy was one of the best people he knew. He used to be Jack's history teacher. He was the kindest man Jack had ever met.
"Got anything stronger than juice?" Pop asked, squeezing at his eyes and the bridge of his nose.
"Jack?" Jack's eyes snapped over to Spencer. There were so many things happening around him and he couldn't remember how he was supposed to keep track of it all. "Hey… is there anything you want to do?" Specs asked him, pushing a pair of glasses up on his nose. They weren't the round ones that Jack had been used to before. They were different. His brother looked different. His brother looked so different. "We can go anywhere, do anything you wanna do."
Taking a deep breath, Jack glanced around the house. Everything was exactly where he'd left it. Nothing had been moved. There were some new toys for Tyler in the corner and a new man in the house, but other than that, it looked the same. So Jack couldn't figure out why it felt so different. He just looked over to that piano and the large kitchen and then to the stairs.
Just as always, Specs seemed to know exactly what he was thinking. So he stood up and nodded in that very same direction. "Come on," he encouraged.
Without even thinking, Jack set down the empty glass that his little boy had been holding and he helped the child stand. Tyler looked at him with traces of fear in his eyes. He shook his head, still not completely able to fathom the situation but Jack held both of his hands and let his baby walk in front of him. "It's okay, Racer," he promised, following his brother up those stairs. His son was still unsure about every step. "That's really good, keep goin'." Jack didn't crack a smile when he guided the child up and found Spencer standing outside of a familiar door.
"C'mon, Tyler," Spencer encouraged. "I wanna show you somethin'..."
Jack gasped a bit, trying to get his boy excited about something, trying to prove to him that this wasn't as scary as it felt to the five year old, even though Jack himself was terrified. "What's Uncle Specs doin'? You wanna see?" he asked, looking down at the child who didn't respond. He still continued to lead him in through that door.
That's when a feeling of safety hit the young man. He melted in the doorway. Spencer was already inside, sitting down on the bed and Tyler was clinging to his leg. All Jack could do was take in every detail; the paintings on the walls, the posters, the made bed, the guitars sitting in the corner and the video games laid out in front of the small TV. His desk was still set up with an unfinished portrait and an old record player was just how he'd left it that morning.
That morning felt like centuries ago, and still Jack could still remember it so well despite years of trying to forget, trying to convince himself that his life six years ago had never been real to begin with.
He was so wrapped up in trying to be able to move, he didn't even know that his mother had walked up behind him. Not until she touched his shoulder. Jack didn't even flinch. He just continued to try and find a single thing that was out of place, but he couldn't find a thing.
A bit unsure of what was happening, Tyler clung to his daddy, only peeking up at the woman who was now beside him. Daddy's hand was in his hair and he was quiet now. "This is your dad's old room, Tyler," Grandma said.
The little boy's head tilted to the side. This room was much bigger than Room. Tyler looked around at all of the things inside of it. It wasn't the same as Room but he didn't say anything else. He just brushed the strands of hair out of his face.
"Hey," Uncle Specs called, smiling a bit as he walked back over to him and Daddy. Uncle Specs squatted down in front of them just like Daddy did whenever Race fell in Room. "What do you say we cut that hair tomorrow?" he asked. "You know, I used to cut your dad's hair all the time."
Tyler shook his head immediately. He hated it when Spider cut Jack's hair. He didn't want his hair cut. So he looked up at his daddy and tugged on his sleeve. "Daddy," he whispered. He waited for the man to lean down to him before he stood on his toes and whispered in his ear. "That's where my strong is…"
A small laugh escaped from Daddy's lips and he nodded, looking up at Uncle Specs. "He says that's where his strong is," he explained, playing with Tyler's hair.
Tyler nodded, looking down at his feet.
Uncle Specs let out a breathy laugh and nodded. "Okay, kid… I can respect that," he said.
"Honey, maybe we should give them some space," Grandma said, reaching down for Uncle Specs. Tyler looked up to see Grandma kiss Daddy on the cheek. "If you need anything, we'll be downstairs, baby. We'll be right downstairs," she promised.
Tyler waited for them to leave. He waited for Uncle Specs to hug Daddy from the side and then walk away before he went to try to close the door. Daddy picked him up. "Hey, we don't need it closed," he said. "C'mon, let's rest for a little bit, okay?"
"Daddy, this room is huge!" Tyler whispered, his eyes going wide at the sight.
Daddy only shrugged. "Yeah…" he sighed. "I guess it is." He didn't sound convinced. "C'mere," he said, lifting Tyler from the floor to the new bed.
Bed in here was softer than Bed in Room and Bed in Hospital. Tyler pushed himself back onto it a little bit. "Daddy, Bed is bouncy," he stated, still not understanding what all of this stuff was or why it was here, still not understanding why they were here. "Where's Stove n' Toilet n' Bathtub?" he asked.
His daddy sighed, like he did when he was tired. He climbed onto Bed and opened his arms up for Racer, so Racer crawled into them, curling up and brushing his long curls out of his face. "Shhhhh… it's time to relax, Tyler James…" he breathed. "Just relax…"
"But it's light outside," Tyler argued, turning his head to see out the window.
Daddy nodded. "I know," he assured the child. "I know. But we're still gonna relax, okay?"
The little boy looked up at his daddy who was not looking back down at him. He was staring out the window. So Race curled up in his arms. "Okay…" he whispered, closing his eyes and nuzzling his little head up against Daddy's chest, listening to him breathe, listening to his heartbeat.
This was a strange room, but Daddy said to relax. So Tyler lay there and wondered when he'd get to go outside again next, or if he'd get to go outside again at all. If this New Room was safe, maybe they could just stay here. Maybe Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Specs and Teddy would take care of them now and he and Daddy could just do what they always did.
The world was big. Tyler still didn't understand it.