It was late in the morning when she got the call from the Collins household. Eric had somehow ended up there late last night, distraught and drunk. Mr. Collins had made Eric stay in one of the guest rooms. He had wanted to call her that night, to let her know where Eric was and that he was fine, but knew that the baby was probably sleeping and it wouldn't be good to wake her up in her sleep. So he had called Hayley first thing in the morning to let her know what was going on.
At this point she didn't know what she was going to do with him. He wouldn't talk to anyone about what had happened or what he was feeling. Nothing she did seemed to do any good. Only on a few occasions she had seen him smile, when he was with Sky or playing with Megan. The kids seemed to be the only thing that was able to give him some sense of normalcy, but Hayley feared that would only last for so long, that it was just a temporary fix and there was still a long way to go before Eric was the same man she had married.
She sat in the living room next to Eric and Collins by his side. Collins was like a father to Eric and he had come up with something that might do Eric a lot of good. "I want you to go to Reefside and stay at the cabin, for as long as you need. I'm giving it to you," he announced. "I haven't been up there in years and it will do some good to have someone staying in it for a while," Collins handed Eric an envelope that had the keys and papers for the cabin. "And when you're ready, there'll be a job here waiting for you." The most important thing right now was for Eric to get better, to take care of his family.
Hayley was grateful for Collins offer She truly felt it would do Eric some good to get away, not to have to worry about anything. Just to spend some time alone with his family, get his life back on track. And Tommy would be around; perhaps he would be able to get through to Eric where everyone else had failed. She would have to take a leave of absence from her job, but at this point she was willing to do anything as long as it helped Eric and saved their marriage.
Eric smiled faintly at him. "I can't accept this. It's too much," Even though Collins had become like a father to him, treated him like a son. He couldn't accept the gift not after what happened. It was too much.
"Don't think of it as a gift," He looked him straight in the eyes, becoming very serious. "I was planning on selling it, but then I remembered how special the cabin had been to Wes, and I couldn't." The cabin had meant everything to Wes, it was where Jen and him were able to be together for however short of time it was. "It should stay with family, so I'm passing it on to you, son,"
"I'm not your son," answered Eric with a heavy sigh. "Not really."
"Not by blood," Collins answered as he gripped Eric's shoulder. "But it every other way that matters."
He could go all day with reasons as why he shouldn't accept the gift, but he also knew Alec Collins, hot shot businessman wouldn't give up so easily. He wouldn't take no for an answer. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to come back." He didn't think he could come back to Silver Hills if he left now. There were too many memories here, too many ghosts. He had lost people before which is why he never let anyone in, then he met Wes who never once gave up trying to be his friend. And even when he treated him like crap, Wes stuck around not once giving up on trying to get him to let him in. He had always felt like Wes was a fool when they went to school together. Then after he dropped out and ran into Wes again, he was still the same old Wes trying to be his friend. And somehow Wes had finally broken through and they became friend, more like brothers. And now he was gone... "I don't know if I can come back."
"You come back when you're ready; there's no pressure. No time limit." Collins answered with a faint smile. He knew that Eric blamed himself for what happened to Wes. He knew it would take Eric time to heal. It would take them all time to heal. "Take as much time as you need."
"Thank you," said Hayley tearfully. She was grateful for his kindness and concern and she knew that Eric would at least listen to him and respect his decisions.
The next two days were filled with packing up the necessary needs, clothes, Megan's baby things and a few odd and ends. Alec had told them he would make sure the house was taken care of while they were away so they wouldn't need to worry about anything. She had called Tommy the day before to let him know they were coming in. He told them to come to his place for dinner.
Now it was time to say goodbye, at least for a while. Hayley hugged Alec, thanking him for everything. And then she bent down to Sky and hugged him. "Take care, kid-o." She patted him on the head. "Be good for your grandpa."
"I will. Promise," answered Sky as he hugged her goodbye.
Alec smiled looking into Megan's little eyes, as he held her in her arms. She was such a beautiful little girl. "By my little princess, try to take it easy on you mom and dad for a while," he said as he gently kissed her on the cheek. He then bent down so that Sky could say goodbye to his little cousin.
"Bye Megan. I'll miss you." Sky held out his finger and Megan grabbed a hold of it, giggling. He was going to miss having her around.
Hayley smiled and gave Sky a moment knowing how much he cared about her daughter. He had always been so kind and gentle with her, in a lot of what he had been more of a big brother to her, her protector. She hoped that in time the two would be reunited and be able to grow up together, but for now she needed to make sure Eric got the help he needed. She gently took her daughter from Alec's hands, so that she could get her situated in her car seat for the drive to Reefside. She then got in the driver's seat of the car and let Eric be alone to say goodbye knowing he needed time alone with Alec and Sky.
Eric was slightly uneasy as he walked up to Alec and Sky. He hated goodbyes, but right now he needed to leave Silver Hills, to get his head together. He was no good to either Alec or Sky right now. He was so screwed up right now, he was afraid of making things worse for them.
"I don't want you worrying about anything here," announced Collins as he faced Eric. "You take it easy and focus on taking care of your family."
"I will. You have my word." Eric shook his hand firmly, looking him directly in the eyes, trying so hard to keep it together. And then he found himself throwing his arms around the man who meant so much to him. "Thank you for everything you have done for me." He owed everything to the man before him, who had given him a chance, who had seen something in him. It should have come to no surprise given who his son was. Both men had seen something in him that he was afraid to see within himself.
"You're welcome," smiled Collins. He then stepped aside so that Sky could say goodbye, he knew this was going to be difficult for his grandson. The last few months had not been easy on him.
Eric took a deep breath as he looked into Sky's eyes. He knew Sky understood why he had to leave, but that still didn't take the painful look of goodbye out of the little boy's eyes, who had lost so much in his young life. He felt like he was abandoning the kid, a feeling he knew all too well. With a heavy sigh Eric bent down and grabbed a hold of Sky's shoulders looking him in the eyes. "I want you to practice everyday, just like your dad and I taught you," he announced. "Can you promise me that?"
"I promise. I'll never stop, not till I'm the best." Sky exclaimed proudly. He would train everyday, so he could get stronger and make his father proud. He sighed heavily as he tried to remain strong, he didn't want Eric to go. He knew Eric was hurting, but at the same time he felt like everyone was leaving him. Why was everyone leaving him? "You'll come back, right?" he asked looking up at his uncle.
Eric didn't answer right away. He felt a lump in the pit of his stomach, because he honestly didn't know, but at the same time he couldn't bare to break the little boys heart anymore then it already was. "I'll come back, but until then I'll write you, everyday."
"Goodbye, Uncle Eric." Sky answered seeming satisfied with the answer. He threw his small arms around his uncle's neck, gently feeling Eric wrap his strong arms around him.
"Goodbye, pal."
As they drove down the long driveway, Eric looked back one last time, wondering to himself if he would ever be able to come back and face the truth that he was not yet ready to face.
Alec and Sky stood outside, waving goodbye long enough for the car to disappear down the road. It was sad to see them go, but it was for the best. Collins bent down and picked his grandson up. "You okay?"
Sky shook his head and smiled faintly. "Yeah," he said softly, wanting to remain strong for his grandfather. But deep down he wasn't so sure if he was okay or if he ever would be. So much had happened these past few months, so much had changed. Would anything ever be normal again? "Grandpa?"
"Yes, Schuyler?"
"Can we take Trip out for a walk?"
Collins smiled. "Sure." Although he and Sky had been close before Wes's death, they were closer than ever now. Through Sky he was able to live out the fatherhood he had once lost, but it had taken a tragedy for it to happen. His only hope now was that it wouldn't take a tragedy for Eric to open his eyes and keep on living. He didn't want Eric to make the same mistakes he had made.
"So how are things in Silver Hills, how are Sky and Alec?" Tommy asked, as he sat in his living room with Hayley and Eric. Megan was fast asleep in the back room.
"They seem to be doing better," replied Hayley.
Tommy nodded his head. "That's good." But somehow he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He had been the one who suggested Wes for the job to Andros, he had been the one who turned it down. And now Wes was gone, died in the line of duty. It should have been him. Not Wes, not a father of a young son.
"Tommy, I know that look." It was a look she had seen many times before. She knew Tommy was blaming himself. "Even if it had been you there, one way or another Wes would have gone to help." There was no doubt in her mind.
"You know me too well, Hayley," he answered with a faint smile.
"That's what good friends are for." She smiled as she took a sip of her hot tea.
"Yeah." He returned the smile and then turned to Eric, who had been sitting quietly, speaking not as much as two words the whole time he had been there. In more ways than one he knew what Eric was going through. There was a time when he had blamed himself for what happened to Smitty, it had taken him a long time to realize that it hadn't been his fault, not really.
"So what are the kids up to? Have you heard from them?" asked Hayley wanting to talk about something happy. It had been at least two years since she had heard from any of them and wondered what they were all up to.
"I heard from Conner last week, he's looking for donations to start up this soccer camp for kids to help keep them out of trouble," answered Tommy. He was really proud of Conner. He had come a long way from being the immature jock he used to be.
"Good for him, I always knew he had a heart of gold. And Kira and Ethan?"
"Well, in a few weeks Kira's CD will be coming out. She told me we should all be expecting one from her. And Ethan is doing real well, he's at the top of his class, and a number of companies have already been in contact with him wanting to sign him up."
"Good. And Trent, his dad's still in town, right?"
"Yeah. Trent's been working hard in art school and last I heard Disney's been talking with him."
"That's great." She turned to Eric, hoping to get him to join in on the conversation. "Right, Eric?"
He looked as though he hadn't been paying attention, as if something else was on his mind. "Huh? Oh. Ah yeah, right."
Hayley sighed; so far things weren't going so well. She smiled faintly and turned back to Tommy. "So, did you ever hear from Alex again?"
He shook his head. "No. Nothing, not since he left my place, and that was over two years ago."
"He never said where he was going."
"No. I don't think he even knew." And then it all came back to him. The way Alex had acted, like he was hiding something, he had ignored it at the time, because Alex always had been distant and never said too much about the situation, but one thing had said stuck out in his mind about their last conversation. It had been about Wes. He hadn't thought much about it, until now. Just that he should be careful out there.
"What?" Hayley asked, seeing that look on his face.
He didn't answer right away, unsure if it was something he should even say. He knew it could do more damage then good, but given everything Eric was dealing with he didn't want to keep secrets from him. "I don't know. It was something Alex said, just before he left." He glanced right at Eric. "About Wes..."
That had finally gotten Eric's attention; all eyes were now on Tommy. "What about him?"
Tommy sighed, having a feeling Eric wasn't going to like it, but he had to say it anyways. "He wanted me to tell Wes to be careful out there."
"Out where?" asked Hayley.
"He knew." Eric clenched his fists together. "He knew!" Alex had to have known what was going to happen to Wes. He was a time traveler, there was no way he didn't know.
Hayley quickly wrapped her arms around Eric, whether it was that she was afraid of him hurting himself or Tommy, she didn't know. "Eric, we don't know that."
"Yes, we do. Why else would he say something like that?" he exclaimed, as he clutched his fists together. "That bastard, if I ever see him again-"
"Eric!" Hayley yelled. "Don't you dare call him that. After all he has done, all he has given up..."
"Oh yeah, he gave up a whole lot, just so Wes could have two years with his son and then die a horrible death!" he shouted as her looked her in the eyes. "You weren't there!" He stood up looking as if he were about to explode. "Neither of you were there!" he stormed off.
"Eric..." Hayley was about to go after him until Tommy stopped her.
"Let him go, blow off some steam." Tommy sat back down on the couch next to her and put his arm around her letting her know he was here for her. He would always be here for her, just as she was there for him.
"I'm just afraid he'll be bent on tracking down Alex and do God knows what to him."
"I don't think you have to worry about that," answered Tommy. "He knows it's not Alex's fault, he's just using that as a way to get angry, because to him being angry is the only time he feels that everything is okay."
"Well, that's not very healthy."
"No." Tommy sighed. "But for a long time, anger was all Eric had ever known, until Wes and you entered his life."
"Oh yeah. I'm a big impact on him." She started to laugh, but the laugh turned to sobs and frustration, everything she had been pushing back and holding in broke loose all at once. She had been trying to stay strong, but she had slowly been breaking apart inside and was afraid she could never put the pieces back together. "I couldn't even get him to go to his grave."
He wrapped his arm around her drawling her closer knowing she needed him now more then ever. "It's going to be okay, Hayley. Eric will pull through, he always does."
"I've missed having you around," she said tearfully as she rest her head against his shoulder. Tommy always seemed to know the right thing to say.
"Well, I'm available Mondays through Fridays any time after three, plus weekends."
She playfully punched him in the shoulder "We really need to find you a girl; your jokes are starting to get real bad."
"You can't keep pushing them like this. They're not ready," announced Kat as she marched into the Command Center where Cruger was standing at his post. For the past few weeks he had been working the A squad rangers hard, getting them prepared, knowing time wasn't something they had.
"I don't have time to wait around until they're ready. Gruumm and every other maniac like him is out there bent on destroying planets and taking over the universe," he exclaimed harshly. "With the others dead I had no choice but to move them up." He sighed, he was frustrated and overwhelmed with everything that had happened over the past year, so many losses. "If I could have, I would have called up the rangers on Mirinoi, but they have been having attacks and are needed there." There was no other option.
And then she realized just how frustrated he really was. He didn't want to move them up so soon, anymore than she wanted to, but what choice was there?. He was right; they needed to be prepared, they needed to be ready for anything. Sirius had been prepared for an attack and had failed, lived had been lost. They couldn't let that happen to Earth or to any other planet. "I'm sorry. I won't question your decisions again."
He knew she meant well, at times he did take things too far and make rash reckless decision. It was good to have a voice of reason, someone to let him know when he was wrong. "No. Sometimes this old dog needs someone to question him."
She smiled. "You're not that old."
"Old enough to be far too stubborn and hotheaded." He nodded his head. "I will try to be less hard on the rangers."
Kat smiled; perhaps it was true. You can teach an old dog new tricks.