The Shortcomings of Sun Tzu

It was official. The most embarrassing thing that could possibly happen was to be convinced you were dying, make your final apology, and wake up in the hospital, groggy and having to pee. The first face that swam into focus upon awaking was the last one he'd seen before blacking out: Nathan, sitting in a chair besides the bed, eyes closed. He tried to say something that came out barely a croak, but Nathan stirred. "Hey, you're awake! Of course it would be the minute Lucas went to the can, Don't try to talk. Let me call the nurse. They said to let them know the minute you woke up." He reached up over the bed and pushed a button Dan couldn't see. "Okay, here's the summary. You collapsed in the courtroom. Turned out you were having a heart attack. It was in the middle range as far as they go, so you've had a bypass, but the good news is the doctor thinks you'll be okay if you take it easy for the next year or so." Dan must have gotten a panicked look in his face because Nathan gave him a grin. "Don't bother trying to object, because it's not going to work." Then he leaned close in and whispered in Dan's ear, "I don't think three weeks was enough either, Dad." So Dan just nodded and closed his eyes and let a swarm of nurses and sons fuss over him.

For the next week, he was never alone. During the day it was back and forth to labs for 30 billion tests and at night the boys insisted on staying with him, trying to fold their tall forms into the uncomfortable hospital chairs to get some sleep. And endless streams of visitors. Susan and a few other people from Harris had come to visit, bringing him balloons shaped like cars. Keith and Karen were there more than they weren't and even Mrs. Plumber came by for a visit with Whitey, much to Dan's surprise. But the most surprising visitor came on the last day while he was waiting for his discharge papers. "Judge Krueger!"

The judge looked so different outside of her robes. Younger. "Don't look so surprised. I try to follow up on everyone who almost dies in my courtroom. How are you feeling?"

"Like someone cut my chest open and played the mambo on my internal organs. But, apparently I'll live. I'm sorry I made such a spectacle."

The judge waved his apology away. "If I had a nickel for every heart attack in my courtroom... No, really, court is stressful on a lot of people. I think yours was one of the more memorable though."

"Gee, thanks," said Dan, dryly. "What happens now? I mean, we never got to the important part."

"Sure we did. I heard everything I needed to." She grinned, and then flabbergasted him by shouting "Ally-ally-in-come-free!" Everyone came into the room - Lucas, Nathan, Karen, Mrs. Plumber, the lawyers, and the court stenographer. "We don't let a little thing like a heart attack stop the wheels of justice or we'd never get anything done. So, in the matter of the custody of Nathan Scott Carver, after due consideration of the evidence and the testimony of all involved parties, I rule that Daniel Scott is the permanent legal guardian of his son Nathan. Karen Roe Scott shall remain as a temporary guardian with a goal of second parent adoption. Physical custody to remain as is. Mrs. Plumber, any objections?"

"None, your honor."

"Then the court thanks you for your service as Nathan's guardian ad litem and releases you. It was been a pleasure to work with you, and I hope you will continue as a CASA volunteer in my court."

"Of course, your honor. And thank you."

"Anyone else? Good. Court is adjourned. Now, wait, back on record. Mr. Scott. My final judicial recommendation is that you strongly consider disposing of Sun Tzu. He may be great shakes on the basketball court or in the showroom, but when it comes to family, he's got nothing. Okay, now we're adjourned. Mr. Carver," she said, ruffling his hair like a small child despite the almost foot difference in their heights. Nathan turned purple. "I expect to hear good things of you in the future. And you too, Lucas. I'd hate to ever see you back in my courtroom."

"No, ma'am."

"Good boy," she said, then paused, as if noticing their size for the first time. She turned to Karen and said "What the heck are you feeding these two?" before sweeping out, motioning for the stenographer and lawyers to follow.

Dan leaned back in the bed. "Someone want to tell me what's going on? It's not nice to surprise a guy who's just had a heart attack, you know."

Nathan jumped into the bed next to him. "Sorry, Dad. It was my idea. I asked Mrs. Plumber to file a motion for a hearing while you were out and we all met and fixed it up. We agreed we're going to give and take equally as a real family and since we knew what we have to do there was no reason to wait another three months so we asked her to bring it here."

"What was the second parent thing?" Dan replied, still baffled by this turn of events.

Nathan raised his hand. "Guilty again. I asked Karen if she would consider adopting me so I could have both a father and a mother but she said she had to talk to you about that, so we left her part of the ruling alone. We can work it out later after you're feeling better."

Dan raised his hands in defeat. "Fine, I give up. I bow to your superior wisdom. Just tell me you haven't talked Susan into giving you my job too. I still have that, right?"

"Well, she did offer me something for the summer...."

Dan buried his face in his hands and groaned.

"...just kidding. Besides, I already have a summer job."

"Oh really, what's that?" Dan asked.

"Well, see I started this project, and I just screwed it up entirely, so now I have to start over. Wanna help?"

Dan cocked his head to he could get a clear look at Nathan's face. "You know, that sounds good. But why don't we all do it together, the four of us, as a family."

"Second," chimed in Lucas.

"Works for me," said Karen. "Let's show him the contract."

Dan stared. "There's a contract?"

'Yep," said Lucas, pulling out a folder. "It's a family contract. We each chose one thing that we were going to commit to do that will help make us work as a family. See?"

And that's exactly what it was. At the top was a decorative ribbon scroll that read "The Carver- Roe-Scott Family Contract". Below, the same hand had written each name and what their commitment was. Karen had written "I will understand that basketball is important to Dan and not try and inhibit him as long as it isn't hurting someone else." Lucas' said "I will make my feelings and needs know in an open and honest fashion and not let everything build up inside." Nathan was going to "acknowledge that my family has grown considerably and I must balance my own wants and needs against theirs in all things." Dan felt tears come to his eyes for the first time in years.

"This is amazing. What do I do?"

"Decide what your commitment is, and then write it down. Peyton will add it on. She did the rest of it," Lucas said, handing him a pen and paper.

Dan took the pen and considered. What could his commitment be? His children who had hated him were willing to take this chance, but how could he reply in kind? What could he do that would match this? Finally he set pen to paper and after a few minutes scratching and scribbling out, had something that worked. "Okay. I, Dan Scott, will recognize that my sons' priorities may not be the same as my own, and that theirs and my futures will be arrived at by a process of negotiation and compromise." Karen applauded and Lucas and Nathan gave each other a high five.

Dan turned around, noticing there were still one more person in the room. "Mrs. Plumber, despite the end of your formal relationship with my son, I would be honored if you would continue to participate in the life of this family and contribute to the family contract."

Mrs. Plumber smiled. "Given such a gallant invitation, how can I refuse? It would be my honor and pleasure. But you are going to have to start calling me Ruth," she added, taking the pen. "How about... Ruth Plumber commits to being a member of this family in whatever capacity is most needed at the time."

"Sounds good," agreed Dan. "And we should get Keith on there too."

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Danny," said Karen, taking the pen and pad back.

As the orderly showed up with the wheel chair and the family left the hospital, Mrs. Plumber started mentally drafting the very long letters she would soon be writing to Nina Lopez and George Nevins. Good news deserved to be shared.