Authors Note- I am just trying to get my footing with this fic, and exactly where it is going, but I will start doing review responses and so forth, when I know exactly how I want this to play out. Or at least have a rough idea of what I want to happen. Anyways, thanks for all the reviews, I hope you like this chapter... It clears things up a bit. Next chapter will be a bit better and longer I hope.
Chapter Two- A Brief Moment of Happiness
"I'm out." I toss the chart onto the table, creating a stack of charts almost as high as I am. I push myself off of the chair, heading straight for the lounge. Nothing seems sweeter right now then my bed. Although I can think of a few things I would really like right now. None of which I will be getting tonight, that I am sure of. I push into the lounge, jackets and sweaters clutter the table. I look at them for a moment, a smile passes over my lips. Okay, this maybe better than sex. May. I quickly rush to my locker, fumbling with the lock. My excitement getting the best of me. I resemble a child in a candy store. None of this matters, I just need to get out of this lounge. My locker door smashes open, falling into the other lockers. I hear a soft moan coming from the couch. Someone's there. I never noticed, I guess I was to caught up in the moment. My fingers travel through my hair, as I watch the sleeping figure relax on the couch. One arm draped over their eyes, shielding whatever light may poke its head about. The other sprawled across their stomach. I can't help but smile again as I approach. Heavy breathing fills my ears as I get closer, I reach out, running my fingers along their body.
"Mmm." My hand is quickly swatted away. Knelling down, I take her hand in my own, kissing her palm. She looks so sweet and innocent like this. Too bad I know better. Can't fool me. I run my fingers through her hair, gently kissing her forehead.
"Leave me alone." She whines, that's my baby. I reach down lifting her half awake form into my arms. She nuzzles her head into my shoulder, blinking herself awake.
"Daddy." Soon her arms are clasped around my neck, and kisses are placed all over my cheek.
"Hey sweetie." I walk us over towards my locker, closing the door quietly this time, not wanting to disrupt her more than I already have. Although, I am glad that I did. Seeing her has definitely made my dad. All it takes is her wide smiling, the kind that can light up a room, and those big blue eyes dancing back at me. She's gorgeous. Looking fairly similar to her mother. Both short, both have beautiful smiles that they hide from the world. Preferring to dazzle us with their gloomy outlook and oddly dry sense of humour.
"Where's mom?" I say, trying to balance her while pushing through the lounge. She shakes her head into my neck. I nudge her a bit, wanting to keep her awake long enough so she can get me to her mother.
"Jordy..." I prod, she moans again. "Jordan." She pries her eyes open to look at me.
"The squirt broke his wrist." Oh no, this can't be good, I can't see the squirt being to pleased with this. Nor can I see Abby jumping up for joy, that her three year old broke his wrist. I figure they are in exam one, I catch his name on the board, which confirms my suspicions.
Jordan clings to me as I walk us towards the exam room. Some what nervous as to what might go down in there. I am presuming the wrist breaking was an accident, but an accident Abby will most likely feel responsible for. He's only three, but he's a fighter. A strong one. He'll be fine, if we didn't baby him so much he might not have even cried. Which he is still doing, the cries feel the hospital. Poor guy. She told me we shouldn't have bought him a skate board. But it was just so tempting. He loves it, rides it day and night. I am betting that's how this happened. I juggle Jordan. my oldest daughter, she just turned six, from one arm to the other. I tug the door open, Abby is holding him down as Susan examines him. I don't think anyone has even noticed we are here. Sam is helping Susan and Abby out by entertaining the other rug rats.
"Daddy." His eyes lighten up, as Abby runs her fingers up and down his arm, trying to soothe him.
"Stay still Jack." She looks up, after controlling him a bit better. "You're back." She states it plainly. Nice to see you too Abby. Thanks.
"Yeah, I thought you'd be home last night." I say a matter of factly. She rolls her eyes at me, pushing down Jack's arm that was outstretched, trying to grab me. I move on the opposite side of Jack, placing Jordan onto the floor.
"Well, it's broken, but Jack here, is a fighter, so I'm not too concerned." Susan says kissing him gently on the forehead. "Its a clean break. I'll be back in a few minutes." The moment she leaves the rest of my children swarm me. Lucas, my eight year old, squirms his way onto my lap. I kiss him on the cheek, happy to be back with them.
If their was one thing I missed the most out there in Africa it was my family. I haven't been there in ten years, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to go back again. The opportunity arose, and I wanted to make a difference, feel alive. I did exactly that. But every night, every day, they were on my mind, my kids, my wife. It was the scariest thing in the world, the dumbest thing in the world to do. Leave my children, but I wanted to, I had too. I knew they would understand They are to young not too. There mother on the other hand, she didn't and doesn't to this day. But to her Africa isn't the same. Its not only the war, although that's what she claims is her problem, the real problem is my past in Africa. My past women... Lucas looks up at me with his big brown eyes, I drag myself back to reality, wanting to here every question he is going to ask me about Africa.
Sam pokes her head in the room, telling us she needs to take Jack.
"Hey Sam," I call out, she jolts her head up a bit, waiting for me to finish my question. "We are just going to step out of the room for a second." I place my hand on Abby's elbow. She reluctantly agrees. I know she'd rather talk to a bottle of tequila right now, then me, but I guess I'm not going to give her that choice. I pull the door of the exam room next to Jack's closed.
"Hi.' She immediately paces the room, not wanting to make eye contact. I don't force it upon her. "Abby-" She shakes her head.
"You came back... Just- just like nothing had ever happened." Well that's not true. A lot happened. A lot of death, pain, suffering, crying... Lots happened. None of which I think she wants to hear a thing about. I watch her stop slowly, dragging her foot along the scuffed tiles, then she quickly starts her routine up again. Walking around the beds, past the cupboards, and then doing it all over again.
"Abby, I know-" I try to explain it in a way she will understand, realising she won't, not matter what I say, she's Abby, so she's set in her opinions.
"I'm just glad you're safe." A sigh a sigh of relief. "I hate you." Of course you do. She walks closer to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "But you're safe." I lay my head down on hers, breathing in her scent. "Max did a story on you." I laugh a little, Max, one of the middle children. She's absolutely adorable, always wearing a smile. She recently turned four, Max and Jack are awfully close in age. So they are close, I love having a big family. A loving family.