(A/N: Disclaimers same as in last chapter. I'm thinking about
changing the title, cause it's kinda of dumb, and will make
no sense till the last few chapters. Don't think this one
thing alone will be what this fic is about, because it's not.
There will be many things going on in this story, and there
will be many chapters. Please read and review, even if it's
just to tell me it sucks.)
(Fade in)
(Josh's POV)
Yesterday they told me mom was dead. Not like I would have expected she wasn't, or anything. I hated Jim; I hated how he treated me and how he treated mom. The only reason I can think of that she married him was that he hated the Navy. The Navy killed his brother, and now he said he wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.
When the lady from children and family services talked to me a little while ago, she asked me a lot of questions, and wanted to know a lot about Harm. Who he was, and did I think he could take care of me. I knew he could, but didn't know if he wanted to. I was on my own now, no relatives or anything. If Harm didn't take me in, I would have to go a group home or something till I was eighteen. God I hoped that didn't happen, a group home made my family look like the Brady family.
When Jim and Mom got married, they went to Vegas for the weekend and got hitched. They didn't even bother to tell me about it until it was too late. So being a fourteen year old who hated his mother and stepfather, I did the only thing I could think of. I went out for a bunch of extra curricular activities, and kept my grades high. I remembered what Admiral Chegwidden told me when I was ten. He told me the way to the academy, was keeping my grades high, and my nose clean.
Well it was kind of hard to keep your nose clean when it was bruised up so much. Mom and Jim went out drinking a lot, and when they came home, if the house wasn't clean, or I didn't make dinner, I would get in big trouble. I would get yelled at by mom, and then when she left, I would get beat by Jim. He was careful, and never hit me in the face. And whenever I told mom, she would never believe me. I think she was too scared to.
I never mentioned how much I wanted to go to the academy in to mom or Jim, because I knew they wouldn't here of it. Not like it mattered now. I never stopped thinking about Harm, or how much he cared for me and mom. I still didn't understand why mom and Jim broke up; maybe it had to do with the Tiger cruise. I know Harm lied to her, and I know how much mom hates when people lie to her.
I asked the police officer to call Harm, because I knew he would help me. As I sat there and waited for Harm to come, I wondered what would happen to me. Would I have to live in a foster home? A group home? Would Harm take me in? God, all these questions and no answers.
(Harm's POV)
When I got to the right floor of the hospital, I was directed over to the lady from children and family services.
"Mr. Rabb I presume."
"I stuck out my hand, "You must be Ms. Carter, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Josh told me a lot about you."
"How is he?"
"He's fine considering all of the broken bones, and the fact that his mother died."
"Annie is dead?" The officer on the phone didn't tell me that.
"They didn't tell you?"
"No, all they told me is that Josh Pendry was beaten badly by his stepfather, and was asking for me."
"Jim Blake, Josh's stepfather, beat her to death. Apparently Mr. Blake was drunk, beat Josh unconscious and then killed his mother."
"Oh God," I said leaning heavily against the wall.
"I'm sorry."
I took a moment to collect myself, before looking at her again. "Is Josh okay?"
"He'll need to be kept in the hospital for a few days until he heals, but he should be fine."
"Do they have the stepfather in custody?"
"No, the police are looking for him right now."
"Is he any threat to Josh?
"I don't think so. Usually in these kind of cases, the guy skips town."
"Can I see him?"
"Sure, but I need to ask you something first."
"Sure."
"Would you consider taking Josh in?"
"You mean like adopting him?"
"Yes. Josh has spoken very highly of you, and I hoped this would be something that you would both want."
"What would have to happen?"
"Well I would have to visit your home, and talk to a few people. Are you married?"
"Yes."
"Okay, and then there would be a hearing, and a judge would decide what was best for Josh, since he is still a minor."
"I would have to talk this over with my wife before I answered that, but this is something I would like to see happen."
She dug through her purse, and handed me her card. "Give me a call, after you and you wife talk things over, and we can discuses things further. Did you and your wife plan on having kids?"
"She's six months pregnant with our first."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks. Which room is his?"
"203. He's expecting you."
I shook her hand, "thanks again."
"No problem. I hope this all works out for the best. Josh seems like a nice kid."
"I know."
As I headed down to Josh's room, this whole situation started to really sink in. Josh was an orphan. No mother, no father, no one to watch over him. (A/N: Remember that episode called "Someone to watch over Annie?" Thought this would kinda go with that.)
TBC
(Fade in)
(Josh's POV)
Yesterday they told me mom was dead. Not like I would have expected she wasn't, or anything. I hated Jim; I hated how he treated me and how he treated mom. The only reason I can think of that she married him was that he hated the Navy. The Navy killed his brother, and now he said he wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.
When the lady from children and family services talked to me a little while ago, she asked me a lot of questions, and wanted to know a lot about Harm. Who he was, and did I think he could take care of me. I knew he could, but didn't know if he wanted to. I was on my own now, no relatives or anything. If Harm didn't take me in, I would have to go a group home or something till I was eighteen. God I hoped that didn't happen, a group home made my family look like the Brady family.
When Jim and Mom got married, they went to Vegas for the weekend and got hitched. They didn't even bother to tell me about it until it was too late. So being a fourteen year old who hated his mother and stepfather, I did the only thing I could think of. I went out for a bunch of extra curricular activities, and kept my grades high. I remembered what Admiral Chegwidden told me when I was ten. He told me the way to the academy, was keeping my grades high, and my nose clean.
Well it was kind of hard to keep your nose clean when it was bruised up so much. Mom and Jim went out drinking a lot, and when they came home, if the house wasn't clean, or I didn't make dinner, I would get in big trouble. I would get yelled at by mom, and then when she left, I would get beat by Jim. He was careful, and never hit me in the face. And whenever I told mom, she would never believe me. I think she was too scared to.
I never mentioned how much I wanted to go to the academy in to mom or Jim, because I knew they wouldn't here of it. Not like it mattered now. I never stopped thinking about Harm, or how much he cared for me and mom. I still didn't understand why mom and Jim broke up; maybe it had to do with the Tiger cruise. I know Harm lied to her, and I know how much mom hates when people lie to her.
I asked the police officer to call Harm, because I knew he would help me. As I sat there and waited for Harm to come, I wondered what would happen to me. Would I have to live in a foster home? A group home? Would Harm take me in? God, all these questions and no answers.
(Harm's POV)
When I got to the right floor of the hospital, I was directed over to the lady from children and family services.
"Mr. Rabb I presume."
"I stuck out my hand, "You must be Ms. Carter, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too, Josh told me a lot about you."
"How is he?"
"He's fine considering all of the broken bones, and the fact that his mother died."
"Annie is dead?" The officer on the phone didn't tell me that.
"They didn't tell you?"
"No, all they told me is that Josh Pendry was beaten badly by his stepfather, and was asking for me."
"Jim Blake, Josh's stepfather, beat her to death. Apparently Mr. Blake was drunk, beat Josh unconscious and then killed his mother."
"Oh God," I said leaning heavily against the wall.
"I'm sorry."
I took a moment to collect myself, before looking at her again. "Is Josh okay?"
"He'll need to be kept in the hospital for a few days until he heals, but he should be fine."
"Do they have the stepfather in custody?"
"No, the police are looking for him right now."
"Is he any threat to Josh?
"I don't think so. Usually in these kind of cases, the guy skips town."
"Can I see him?"
"Sure, but I need to ask you something first."
"Sure."
"Would you consider taking Josh in?"
"You mean like adopting him?"
"Yes. Josh has spoken very highly of you, and I hoped this would be something that you would both want."
"What would have to happen?"
"Well I would have to visit your home, and talk to a few people. Are you married?"
"Yes."
"Okay, and then there would be a hearing, and a judge would decide what was best for Josh, since he is still a minor."
"I would have to talk this over with my wife before I answered that, but this is something I would like to see happen."
She dug through her purse, and handed me her card. "Give me a call, after you and you wife talk things over, and we can discuses things further. Did you and your wife plan on having kids?"
"She's six months pregnant with our first."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks. Which room is his?"
"203. He's expecting you."
I shook her hand, "thanks again."
"No problem. I hope this all works out for the best. Josh seems like a nice kid."
"I know."
As I headed down to Josh's room, this whole situation started to really sink in. Josh was an orphan. No mother, no father, no one to watch over him. (A/N: Remember that episode called "Someone to watch over Annie?" Thought this would kinda go with that.)
TBC