Summary: SEQUEL TO FLYING TOGETHER…a continuation of the life and times of the mighty ducks…Focus on Dean, Charlie, Connie, Guy, Adam and Julie…again. What can I say, they're my 6 favorite characters!
Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks and all its characters belong to Disney. I do not own any of it!
Grown-ups
By Rebecca
Chapter 15: Heart and Soul
She came out a few minutes later. He'd heard plenty of whimpering, that was never good. That kindergartner had more spunk than any kid he'd ever met, past and present. He couldn't help but think that if given a chance, he'd probably make a kick-ass pee-wee hockey duck. But when Dean entered the room, he fell silent, and ran in terror. How was he ever going to win Annalisse's heart if he couldn't win her son's?
She leaned up against the kitchen table and looked hard at the hurt and puzzled man before him. She took a deep breath, "Dean."
"You don't have to say anything-"
"No, honey. You've gotta just listen to me for a while ok? This is gonna be hard enough as it is."
He nodded and slid into the recliner next to him, waiting patiently. Annalisse looked down and busied herself with wiping down the counter while she began. "Umm, first off, I don't want you to think that I haven't noticed that you've never once asked me about Tyler…who his father was, what…happened. I really, appreciate that, more than you know.
And I want you to know that I've been…wanting to tell you for some time, but I've kept it private…for Tyler's sake."
"I know," Dean interjected, "You don't have to tell me anything-"
"Yes," she put her hand up and silenced him again, "I do." Another deep breath, "But I need you to know that what I need to tell you is not at all the kind of story you're expecting. And that there are only six people in the world who know what I'm about to say…and 5 of them are my parents and brothers…the other is a social worker in lower Manhatten." She looked at Dean for reaction. He simply leaned forward, listening intensely and openly, giving her silent encouragement to continue.
"The truth is, I don't know who Tyler's father is. I don't know who Tyler's mother is either. I adopted him two years ago from the State of New York." Annalisse dropped her gaze to the lower kitchen cupboard as she shoved a few boxes of leftover macaroni in the compartment, "About two years ago, I was coming out of Macy's, and some guy…stole my purse. Not unlike the time we…officially met. Fortunately, he wasn't very successful either, because he tripped over an old man's cane as he turned around and fell right in front of a policeman. I was actually laughing because I had just bought the purse. There was nothing in it yet. But the officer offered to take me down to the station anyway and file a report, get the kid some jail time, give him some time to think about what he'd done."
Dean nodded and she continued, "So I hopped in and drove with him downtown, it was a different precinct than yours. He must've just been in the area. Anyway, they kept me waiting for almost an hour before they filed everything correctly. I almost just said, 'the hell with it' and left, but I heard this…this…" she trailed off, as if not wanting to return to whatever moment she was recalling. She closed her eyes tightly and squeezed the towel she was holding. Finally, she sat down at the table. "This…terrifying scream from down the hall. They were bringing in some madman, practically convulsing. It took three men just to control him. But that's not the one who was screaming. A couple minutes later, a policeman was struggling to keep hold of this little…tiny little boy."
At this point, Dean closed his own eyes, a surge of emotion welling up inside him as he started realizing what had really happened. Completely engrossed in the story, he moved to the kitchen table and urged her with his gaze to continue.
"I've never been so frightened in my life as I was that day, when Tyler was trying to kick himself free of that poor cop. He actually did break free and started…s-started running. And before I even knew what I was doing, I'd scooped him up in my arms and tried calming him down," her voice broke, and her hands moved as if she was re-living those moments in the police station. "And for whatever reason…h-he just…clung to me. And to risk using the cliché, my heart just…went out to him."
Dean grasped her hand as she reached up with the other and wiped a tear from her cheek. "When he'd finally calmed down, I asked the officer what had happened. Turns out the madman they'd brought in before was found behind a warehouse…h-hurting Tyler. They only found him cause he was screaming so loud…I-I asked to stay to make sure they found his parents and everything…Didn't take long to figure out that he'd been reported missing from a short-term foster house in the Bronx a few days beforehand."
Dean sighed, unable to speak. He'd expected a hearts and flowers story about an old high school boyfriend, abandoning her with a baby. A happy marriage with Tyler's father that had ended badly, or that she'd been widowed…anything but this. All he could do was squeeze her hand as she cried silent tears. "I pleaded with the station to let me look after him for a while. He needed special attention. Someone who had at least seen what he'd been through. I even lied and told them I was a child-psychology major in college…they didn't buy it of course, but I called social services that day and started making arrangements. The adoption was final within a few months…I just…couldn't let him go." Finally, she looked up and gave a weak smile, "So, you see, it's not you. Tyler doesn't respond to anybody. I had to search for nearly half a year for a school who'd agree to give him only female teachers for now. He only just shook my own dad's hand this past Christmas…it's not you."
He nodded, searching for something to say. "I'm so sorry."
At that, Annalisse pulled back and started busying herself again. "I'm telling you all this because I want you to know. You've become…very important to me, and I don't want to keep secrets from you anymore." Then suddenly, she whirled around and captured his eyes, her own filled with determination and challenge, "Tyler will eventually be able to respond to you. He's made so much progress already, you wouldn't even believe it…But it's gonna take time. A lot of time and a lot of patience. So if you don't feel you can handle it…then we…then I just…I just can't…" her head dropped, losing her confidence. She couldn't say it. She couldn't finish. How could she put such a demand on him? She loved him so much, she couldn't even finish what she started. Work long and hard and unsuccessfully try to get my son to like you or we're finished? She just couldn't. She turned and faced the counter, trying desperately to compose herself. Finish what she'd started. But the tears were coming too fast. He'd been so silent for so long. He was shocked…stunned, unable to handle it. What was he thinking right now? What was going through his mind? She couldn't tell, and that scared her.
She felt him rise from the table behind her. He was moving closer, his hands came to her shoulders. And then she felt it. It was that same warmth. That same tenderness with which he always held her. She turned around slowly and looked in his eyes, all at once realizing that what she couldn't finish…she didn't have to.
"Annalisse," he whispered, his voice gruff and deep with emotion. "There's not a force on this planet who could keep me away from you…you or Tyler."
"But it's asking so much of you-" she said between tears.
He shook his head, "There's no such thing Annalisse. I've tried telling you before and you've tried stopping me, but I love you. I've loved you from the first time I saw you skating with your son."
She dropped her head again and looked away, "I…love you too. But Tyler-"
But Dean didn't let her finish. He wrapped his arms around her, sheltering her from the pain she'd caused herself, the secrets she'd revealed. Dean had never seen her this vulnerable. She clung to him. Sobbed into his shoulder as Tyler must have that day at the station. All at once, he knew exactly what she had been feeling then…she needed him. Opened to him with her heart and soul and surrendered over her entire being…she needed him like he needed her. In a swift move, he tilted her head up and covered her lips with her own, knowing that nothing now, would ever be the same.
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Yes yes, I know. Chapter 14 in my first story was named "Heart and Soul" also. But hey…it works. J Read and review. Dean has finally found true love. Plenty more to come though of Connie and Guy!