Chapter Eighteen: Thirteen Years, Eight Months

"Who the hell are you and where is my daughter?"

There was a man sitting on the other side of the glass. Small round glasses, thinning blond hair, a large nose, digging his nails into his free hands nervously. "Hi, uh, I'm Oliver…"

Oliver.

This was Oliver? The Oliver?!

Well, fine, this damp excuse for a man was Oliver, but he wouldn't have come unless it was something important… something bad…

"Where is my daughter?!" Tony repeated, suddenly fearing the worst, but it couldn't be, she was the only thing that still gave his life meaning, no, no…

"She's, uh… she's in the hospital. She and Michelle were in an accident."

"No…" he said out loud, no, no, no, repeated itself over and over in his head.

"No, no, she's fine! It was touch and go for a while, but… she's gonna be fine."

Tony suddenly realized that he'd been holding his breath and forced himself to breathe out. "Michelle?" he asked quietly, the tension in his body refusing to leave until he made absolutely sure that everything was alright.

"She'll be okay too." Oliver narrowed his eyes. "She just wanted someone to tell you in person. Said it's not the kind of thing you want to hear over the phone."

Or maybe she just didn't want to be the one to talk to me.

He made himself nod. "Thank you."

"Zoe should be well enough to visit next month."

Another nod, this time because he didn't know what to say.

"Well," said Oliver, "I should be getting back to them."

No, I should, you arrogant bastard, they're my family, I should be there for them… then you wouldn't have to be here, and I can tell that you think it's stupid and you're only doing it to humor them… better for everyone if I was there…

"Yeah, uh… Tell Zoe that I love her."

"Sure." Oliver made to put down the phone, but Tony spoke again before he could.

"And tell Michelle… tell her I'm glad she's alright."

Oliver looked at him, nodded sharply, and walked out at a fast pace.

Tony was left to try to get the emotions threatening to overwhelm him under control as he was led back to his cell.