Author's Note: I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a very happy new year. This chapter is rather short, but the next ones will be fairly long so I figure this is will be fine. I'm still working on the next chapter of Sweet Revenge but chapter 44 of this story is already finished so that will be out next. Now on to the story ….
Chapter Forty-Three – Defending Your Honor
Due to a combination of doctor's orders, a sometimes stressful job, and pressure both from her mother and husband to take some time off, Chloe was on maternity leave. It was only her second day at home and she was bored out of her mind. So she decided to go into her office for a couple hours to check her mail and get any updates on her patients.
She had only been in the office for a little less than an hour when he called. The phone rang once and she picked it up on the second ring. "This is Dr. Kiriakis."
"Yes, Dr. Kiriakis I have a problem you see my pregnant wife is supposed to be at home resting. But, when I called home she wasn't there."
"Hello Philip." Chloe answered smiling. "I'm not working if that's what you're worried about." She sighed; she should have known that he would track her down the minute she left home. "Are you just calling to hassle me or is it for a particular reason? And before you even get it into your mind to ask I'm not going home, because if I go home I'm going to die of absolute boredom."
Philip laughed. "Chloe you've only been on maternity leave for a day—,"
She interrupted him. "Yes and after only a day of not doing anything I'm bored stiff. So I decided to come in, check up on a few patients and get the mail."
"You're supposed to be taking it easy Chloe."
"I am taking it easy just not at home."
"Chloe," Philip sighed, his wife liked to be busy and sitting at home not doing anything too strenuous, just relaxing for the sake of just relaxing wasn't something she did easily. "You don't have to sit at home just twiddling your thumbs there are a lot of things you could do—,"
"Like what?"
"Like, read a book, take up knitting, watching television – I know you can catch up on your soaps." He offered.
"See you can't even give me any options of what to do while I'm sequestered at home." The light on her phone blinked letting her know that she had another call. "I have another call hold on a sec." Not letting him get a word in she put her husband on hold and picked up the blinking line. "Dr. Kiriakis office, how can I help you?"
"Yes, is Dr. Kiriakis available?"
"Yes, this is she," Chloe replied.
"Hello, Dr. Kiriakis this is Mya Sheppard from Salem Middle School. I'm calling in regards to your son Jarod."
"Is he alright?" Chloe asked immediately concerned.
"In a matter of speaking, Dr. Kiriakis your son has been involved in a physical altercation with four other classmates and he's been suspended. As par the school policy guidelines I'm calling to request to that you or your husband please picks your son up from school."
"My son, Jarod's been in a fight?" Chloe asked again just to make sure that she had heard correctly the first time. It was hard to believe that Jarod could have gotten into a fight especially when he was always trying to be a little peacekeeper at home.
"Yes, doctor he was in a fight there is no mistake about it."
"Well, then tell me do you know what the fight was about?"
"I'm afraid not. All of the boys were questioned thoroughly but none of them would speak up. So I'm afraid that all we have to go on are reports from various classmates who were around the boys at the time of the fight. But, that is of no consequence, the school guidelines are clear we do not condone violence of any kind. Our guidelines mandate that we notify the parent and/or guardian of all those involved with the fight and then have the parent/guardian come pick the child up from the premises with a subsequent meeting with his/her vice principal. So to that end, Dr. Kiriakis, I trust that we should expect either you or your husband here to pick up Jarod correct?"
"Yes certainly, I'll be there to pick him up."
"Good then we'll see you soon." The call ended as Mya Sheppard placed the phone on the hook.
Chloe switched the phone line back over to Philip whom she had placed on hold. "I need you to do me a favor Philip."
"Sure what do you want me to do?"
"I need you to pick me and drop me a home so I can get Jarod from school."
"Okay, two questions, how did you get to the hospital if you didn't drive yourself and why do you need to pick Jarod up is he sick or something?"
"Paula dropped me off on her way to the store. And apparently our son has been in a fight at school and they need for a parent to pick him up."
Philip sat up straight in his chair. "What? Is he alright?"
"He's fine apparently but I need to pick him so will you drop me off at home or do I need to call a cab?"
Philip glanced down at the files he had laid open on his desk. He was supposed to have a meeting with the VP of Toreador Enterprises in a little over an hour. He'd have to reschedule the meeting for another time, possibly later that night if he could. "No, don't get a cab. Give me ten minutes and I'll be there."
"Alright, see you in a few." Chloe replied as she hung up the phone, grabbed her jacket and purse before she headed out of her office.
~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~
Chloe and Philip arrived at the school in record time. As they awaited the secretary at the main desk Chloe nervously drummed her fingers against the desk counter. Philip placed his hands over hers effectively stopping the rhythmic drumming.
"Relax Chloe. We'll straighten everything out and get to the bottom of this. There's no need to be nervous."
"I'm not nervous Philip, I'm antsy. There is a difference. Now, where is that secretary – what on earth is so important for her that she'd leave her desk unattended." She ranted sighing as she removed her hand from under Philip's.
"I don't know but, why don't you sit down for a minute here and let me see what's going on." He directed his pregnant wife back to a chair in the waiting room and went back to the desk. When he arrived back he saw that the secretary had returned to her station.
"Can I help you sir?" The young woman from the behind the desk asked as he approached.
"Yes, I hope you can. My wife and I received a call that said our son has been in a fight and that he needs to be picked up from school."
"What's his name?"
"Jarod Kiriakis."
"Oh, yes Jarod and Vice Principal Sheppard were awaiting your arrival. If you give me a second I can escort you and your wife back to Vice Principal Sheppard's office." Chloe had risen to stand beside Philip when she saw that the secretary was back at her desk. After writing some information down on a form on her desk, the secretary rose from her seat. "Follow me." She escorted Philip and Chloe back to an office where Jarod sat by himself in a chair in front of a large oak desk. "Vice Principal Sheppard will be right with you as soon as she's finished speaking with Mr. Black and his father." As Chloe and Philip entered the office, the secretary turned and left.
"Jarod sweetie, are you okay?" Chloe asked heading to her son immediately taking the seat next to him and cupping his cheek where he'd apparently been scratched.
"I'm fine Mom." He replied shying away from her touch.
Chloe looked up at Philip when Jarod moved away from her touch in bewilderment.
"What's this all about? It's not like you at all." Philip asked of his son but his answer was Jarod pointedly ignoring him.
Before either of his parents could question him further the door the vice principal's office opened and out came Conrad Black with his father. Mimi was no where in sight. The vice principal who followed Conrad and Brady out of her office acknowledged them with a slight nod before redirecting her attention to Conrad. "Now, Mr. Black I certainly hope that you will keep the fighting to a minimum next time. I'll see you back here after your suspension. And I trust that the time off will do you well." Mrs. Sheppard, as tall statuesque brunette said as she showed Brady and Conrad the direction they needed to leave. Then, she directed her gaze on the Kiriakis family. "Dr. Kiriakis, Mr. Kiriakis, please come into my office so we can have a little chat about Jarod's altercation and his suspension." She said gesturing toward her office.
Jarod rose from his seat, stopping Conrad before he left. "Thanks, man."
"Anytime, K-Man. I'd say I'll call you later but the odds are I don't think I'll be able the use to phone or my computer for a while." Conrad added smiling cheekily.
"Jarod," Chloe called out to her son as she and Philip waited for him to precede them into the vice principal's office.
Jarod nodded toward his mother. "See ya Con-man." Then, he turned and walked over to his mother.
Conrad watched him go, sighing he caught up with his Dad. "So I guess I'm grounded uh?"
"Of course." Brady replied promptly as they headed out of the school.
"Does this mean you're going to take my phone privileges away?" Conrad asked hopeful that it would only be the phone and not his computer.
"We'll see it depends on you and what your Mom has to say."
"I suppose since it's her fault in the first place." The boy muttered climbing into the seat beside his father.
"What was that?" Brady countered, brow arched.
"Nothing." Conrad said as he directed his attention on the window.
~*~*~*~*~*~@~*~*~*~*~*~
Back in the Vice Principal's office Jarod was listening to her describe his fight with Sonny, in particular the outcome.
"Mr. Black's son Conrad was placed on suspension for the least amount of time because from reports I gathered from other students as well as Ms. Lee, the family studies instructor, he attempted to stop the fight. Now, as to the other young man," she glanced down at an open file on her desk. "Ah, Sonny Macinsen he received a three-day suspension effectively immediately." Returning her gaze to Philip and Chloe, she closed the file and clasped her hands together on the desk. "Now as per with our guidelines, the instigator of the fight, in this case Jarod is allotted a 5 to 10 day suspension. And given that there were no injuries to either party, I'm going to suspend Jarod for five days."
"What about his missed classes and schoolwork during the suspension? Will he get extra time to complete the work or will he have to play catch-up?" Chloe asked. "Five days is a lot of time to be missed from school."
"Yes, it is. But, it's not the school's policy or mine to make exceptions for students who fight. Jarod had the opportunity to remain in school for the fives day he will miss but because he not only was involved in a fight but he initiated it. He loses the privilege to be in school with other students who follow the rules so he will have to make the work up on his own time. However, if Jarod would tell me the cause the altercation between him and Mr. Macinsen I'd be willing to possibly reconsider his suspension.
"Jarod tell Mrs. Sheppard why you got into the fight." Philip ordered.
"I can't." Jarod replied not sparing a glance toward either his father or mother.
"You can't or you won't?" Philip challenged.
"I won't. I started the fight with Sonny, it doesn't really matter why. I'm not going to make any excuses for myself. It was my mistake and it's my responsibility to accept the consequences for it."
Sighing quietly to herself, Mrs. Sheppard picked up at pen and began writing. "Since you are willing to take all responsibility for your actions today and I've been given no reason to reconsider my decision, I have no choice but to suspend you for the period of five days." She scribbled something into a file and then looked at Jarod. "Jarod you may get your bags from the detention hall with this pass while I speak with your parents." The boy nodded as he was handed a small slip of paper and then rose to left the room. She redirected her attention to the child's parents. "I really did not want to have to do this but your son left me no choice."
"It's alright, we understand." Chloe amended.
"Yes, I suppose you do. I've spoken several of Jarod's teachers and they were all shocked to learn that he started the fight. They seem to think that there was something going on with your son and Sonny Macinsen and until today whatever the issue was its never escalated to more than conversations. I believe that Jarod is not completely responsible for the fight, that maybe Sonny said or did something to provoke Jarod into fighting with him."
"If that's what you think happened then why are you suspending my son for five days?" Chloe asked.
"Dr. Kiriakis, I can only tell you what I suspect to be true. As you can see your son clearly refuses to tell us why the fight was started and he wasn't the only one. I spoke with all of the five of the boys involved and not one said anything that lead me to believe anything other than what was reported. So unless your son or one of the other boys comes forward with the true cause for the fight Jarod will be out for a week."
Jarod returned with his book bag slumped over his shoulder. Chloe and Philip rose from their seats along with the vice principal. "Jarod when you return to school I hope to never see you again under these circumstances."
"You won't Mrs. Sheppard."
"Good. I hope I won't." Mrs. Sheppard watched as the Jarod left with his parents to go home.
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