"Dan!" a voice called from behind Dan as he led his father to his office.
"Yeah Natalie?" He asked.
"I'm coming with you," Natalie stated.
"Excuse me, young lady. This is a family conversation," Jay said to her sternly.
"Dad, don't talk to her like that. Even if you are mad at me, that isn't a good
enough reason to be an ass towards her," Dan responded bitterly.
"Mr. Rydell, with all respect, I love Dan, and if you hurt him, I want to be
there to support him," Natalie said quietly.
"What?" Dan questioned.
"Just let me come with you, Dan," Natalie begged.
"All right," Dan caved, and she followed the son and the elder Rydell into Dan
and Casey's office.
"Dan. I'm sorry," Jay started.
The words that Dan had never thought he would hear, had just came.
"What..?" Dan asked, almost silent.
"I said I was sorry Daniel. Everything that was said at the reunion, was true.
Everything I said, I shouldn't have," Jay continued, turning towards a window.
"Look at this. I'm standing in a building in the middle of New York. I was just
on the set third most popular sports news show in the nation. My son is one of
the anchors on that show, and I'm standing possibly in the biggest office I have
ever stood in. And yet... a few days ago, I called my son a failure, a reject.
Daniel, you are none of those," Jay kept going. He wasn't gonna stop now.
"Dad. Why?" Dan questioned his father.
"Because. Sam was a son after my own heart. I felt I screwed up so badly with
you and Dave, that I... he was my last chance. Once he died, I had nothing left.
I was dead on the inside, just waiting for the rest of my body to catch up," Jay
answered.
Dan turned away, and stared at the wall.
"Dad. Say it again,"
"What?" Jay asked.
"That you're sorry," Dan answered, hope creeping into his voice.
"Daniel Wesley, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for the hell that I've put you through,"
Jay told him.
Dan didn't answer, as his father came and put his arms around him. His arms hung
loosely at his side, until one slowly moved up to his fathers back, then the
other. He hugged him with intensity.
Natalie saw the whole thing, and a smile came to her face.
"Dan, I'm going to come back to New York in a couple weeks, and I want you to
show me your life. I want to learn who you are again. Is that all right? Or have
I messed up too much?" Jay asked.
"Dad. I'm not gonna lie to you. It's going to be hard for me, but I'm willing to
give you another chance. I would hate myself for not doing such a thing. Yes,
It's all right." Dan said.
"Son, I love you," Jay said, for the first time in over thirteen years.
"I... I love you too Dad," Dan answered wholeheartedly.