Chapter 3 - I Will Never Let You Down
Author's Warning: This chapter mentions suicidal thoughts. If you ever feel like anything like this, please ask someone for help. No one should handle such thoughts alone. And sadly, we don't have Mac around.
2nd A/N: Thank you all so much for your kind reviews so far.
*** Brotherhood ***
MACKLAND
The NYC traffic was bad today. It took them nearly 30 minutes to reach the school building. Mackland was concerned. Mrs. Tibin, the secretary, had called. She had only told him there had been a fight in school and he should come to pick up Caleb from the principal's office. He really hoped Caleb had not started the fight. He thought his son would make it through these last two days without further incidents. Obviously, he had been wrong. He had no idea what exactly had taken place, so he was prepared for everything. But right now, the first priority was to get to his son.
Dr. Ames rushed up the stone stairs to the entrance door. His expensive leather shoes made slight noises on the polished linoleum floor of the meanwhile empty school building. He stopped in front of Mrs. Tibin's desk. Further in the back, he saw four other students sitting on chairs waiting for their parents too. He recognized Jennifer sitting among them. Further brooding about what could have happened was interrupted by the secretary.
"Ah, Dr. Ames, good you are finally here. We don't know what to do with Caleb. He seems somehow absent since the incident. He let nobody near him. Principal Robins is waiting for you in his office. Caleb is with him."
"Thank you, Mrs. Tibin."
The picture inside would have seemed harmless, maybe even peaceful for anyone else. The principal was sitting at his desk writing notes while Caleb sat unmoving in the chair near a large bookshelf. He had hidden his face with one hand and his long strands of hair covered the rest. The other hand was wrapped protectively around his midsection.
But Mackland felt the wave of sheer panic his son radiated. He had to bring up all his strength to not just rush to him and take him home without even talking to Mr. Robins. Caleb side-glanced at him when he entered the room and quickly hid his face again.
What had happened that he was so ashamed about and didn't even dare to look at him? Caleb knew he would not let him down, no matter what.
"Dr. Ames, please have a seat. I am truly sorry that we had to call you but Caleb was involved in a fight with a weapon."
"What weapon? What happened to my son?"
"I was called by Jennifer Barret that Caleb and Malcolm were fighting. I ended the fight and found these brass knuckles on the floor. Malcolm admitted they were his but accused Caleb had tried to choke him. Caleb denied it. But it looks like Caleb has at least broken Tyson's nose."
A fight, well yes, he thought it possible that something like this could happen. Some kicks or hits - yes but choking another student? This didn't sound like his son. Mac walked over to Caleb. The doctor squated down in front of him, looking up to see Caleb's eyes. "Son, are you alright?"
Caleb didn't react, just turned his head to the side so as not to have to face him. What was wrong? His son seemed as dismissive as he had been the first time they met. Something bigger must have happened. He had to get Caleb out of here.
He stood up and turned to Mr. Robins. "I thank you, Principal Robins, that you stopped the fight and stayed with my son. But right now I think it's best that I take Caleb home. I will do anything to help to clear this situation. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to call."
Principal Robins nodded, "Of course, Dr. Ames."
Mackland put a hand on his son's arm which made the boy flinch slightly. Raw emotions hit the doctor as he touched him. Fear, shame, and pain flooded over him like a riptide. The doctor had to take a deep breath to gather his strength and maneuver them both outside.
Mechanically Caleb let himself be guided outside into the black limousine. Inside the vehicle Mackland instantly brought a hand to his son's cheek. "Son, please talk to me. Are you hurt anywhere? What happened?"
Caleb covered his face with his hands now tucking his feet up to make himself as small as possible. "I can't … I … " Caleb began sobbing. "You will hate me. I'm a threat - I'm a monster."
Mackland's heart broke over the sight. Gently he took his son's hands from his face, and embraced him, rubbing his back during the ride. "Calm down, Son. We'll talk at home. Only a few more minutes.
Finally at home, Dr. Ames guided his son into the living room. He had said nothing during the ride and even now he seemed absent.
He got even more concerned when he witnessed how Caleb rolled into a ball at the end of the sofa. Mackland grabbed a blanket and covered his son with the soft fabric, making sure it would comfort him. "Can I do anything for you?"
His boy only shook his head and hid even deeper into the blanket. Mac felt helpless. It was obvious that Caleb had been in a stress situation at school. He would give him a bit of time to realize he was at home and safe here. Until then he just offered his help by sitting next to him and stroking his back. Several minutes later he felt the tension lessened in Caleb's muscles. He had fallen asleep. The doctor sighed unsure if sleep would do anything good to Caleb or would bring up old nightmares.
An hour later there was movement under the blanket. Caleb groaned slightly. Mac got up and saw him still asleep but obviously dreaming now. He gently brushed the strand of dark hair from Caleb's face uncovering his ear. "It's okay, Caleb, you are safe here. I'll watch out for you." He saw Caleb's face relaxing somewhat.
The boy slept peacefully for another half an hour before he woke.
CALEB
Caleb woke in pain. It spread from the middle of his back sideways and through his lower abdomen. He got up, suppressing a painful hiss. Mac was on his feet in no time. "Hey, how are you?"
"I need to go to the bathroom," he excused himself. He felt Mac's concerned gaze following his every step.
When he had closed the door behind him, Caleb unbuckled his belt and opened his pants. Another wave of pain spread through his abdomen. He didn't feel like he could do his business standing like a man at the moment. So he took a seat, propping his elbows on his thighs, and tried to relax. God, this hurt. They had kicked at him badly.
He needed longer than usual but felt a bit better after he had finished. He slipped his pants back up and turned to use the flush but paused. There was blood in his urine. Caleb looked at it quite shocked. Suddenly the stabbing pain was back in his lower abdomen this time much more powerful. He suppressed a groan, searching for something to steady his weight. He got a hold of the bathroom shelf, accidentally knocking the shaving mirror to the ground. It shattered into pieces while Caleb was forced to his knees by the pain. Shards covered the whole bathroom floor. Caleb cut his palm when he reached out to steady himself. He stared at the cut. It began bleeding profoundly and his vision began to blur. The blood on his hand triggered the memory of the blood on his hands as he found his mother's dead body on the beach house floor. Caught in the memory, He screamed desperately, "No, somebody help me, please!"
MACKLAND
Mackland heard the clattering and thought the worst. He hadn't thought of removing the mirror in the bathroom. It was the only object that came to mind which could have caused the noise. He hurried to the bathroom to prevent Caleb from hurting himself with a shard. Trying to enter he found the door locked. "Caleb!"
"No, somebody help me, please!"
"CALEB! OPEN THE DOOR! CALEB!" Mac hammered against the door frightened about what he would find inside. He threw his body weight against the door until the lock broke out of the frame.
Caleb was on his knees, blood covered his hand, while he stared frightened and hypnotized at the blood.
"Caleb, I'm here, I'm here. Calm down!"
Caleb looked up at him, blinking several times but seemed to recognize Mac. "It is all my fault …," he croaked out, shaking from stress.
Mac carefully came closer, his gaze fixed on his boy. "Easy, son. Give me the shard."
CALEB
Caleb glanced down at his other hand where he had clutched a shard of the mirror subconsciously. The memory trap of his dead mother was gone. He saw Mac's frightened look. His thoughts washed like a wave over the psychic. 'Don't do anything stupid, Son. I need you. We will work everything else out. Just don't hurt yourself.'
This must look like he tried to commit suicide. Maybe he should, it would offer a way out. He would not be able to hurt anyone anymore. He began trembling, clutching the shard with more force until he felt his blood dripping over his fist.
"It's alright. Calm down, just give me this." Mac carefully came closer until he was able to catch Caleb's wrist.
Caleb let the shard drop to the ground. "I didn't … didn't intend to hurt myself, Dad. I … the blood shocked me and I knocked off the mirror and cut my palm. I'm sorry."
"What blood? You first broke the mirror and then cut yourself, did you mean that?"
He shook his head. "In the toilet'. I … uh …argh." Caleb cramped now in pain holding his abdomen.
"Are you hurt, Son?" Mac took his cheeks between his hands.
"Did they hurt you in the fight you got in?"
"Hmh," Caleb nodded.
"Let me check you."
Caleb lifted his shirt. Mac's gaze went dark but he said nothing. Then he went over to the toilet bowl to inspect its contents. "What on earth have these kids done to you?"
"They were just assholes and kicked me when I was on the ground. Monroe had some brass knuckles but I …" Caleb began. "I … I made him stop before he had a chance."
"How did you stop him while the others were kicking you?" Mac was confused.
Caleb whispered, now ashamed, "I made Malcolm stop breathing." Caleb retreated from the examination.
"You did what?" Mac gasped.
He saw the confusion in Mac's gaze. Mac had taken him in and had thought he could handle him. Had given him love and a home, trying to help him through every kind of night horrors. But there was no way Mac could prevent his evil from coming to light. Now Mac would see… "It all happened so fast, it just took me over like a force. I was so angry and scared." Caleb tried to explain. But he shouldn't try to excuse this. He had nearly murdered a human being. He was dangerous. He had to face the truth.
Another wave of pain interrupted his thoughts spiraling out of control. "Ahh!" He embraced his abdomen to bring relieving pressure to his hurting side.
"I don't like the amount of pain you're in. We need you to be checked over in the hospital. Don't panic, it is just to make sure you have no internal injuries which could cause bigger problems than a bit of blood in your pee."
"No! No hospital." This was the last place where Caleb wanted to be right now.
"Son, we just have to run some tests and a quick check of your urine and I'm gonna take you home with me again, I promise," Mac tried to convince him.
Caleb got desperate. It was all too much. He couldn't think straight and the pain in his side did the rest to crush all his shields. "No, Dad, please! I don't want to go to the hospital." If they would find out what he had done they would lock him away. "You can not let anyone near me." He began sobbing violently. "I could hurt them. I'm evil. Elkins was right."
MACKLAND
Mac's heart broke over the words. "Don't say that. He was not." He carefully reached over to Caleb, comforting him with soft strokes through his dark long hair. He knew from his own experience how hard it was to have new abilities. How hard it was to control them. He reached for the last straw he saw in this mess. "Maybe it wasn't you who stopped Malcolm's breathing? Maybe you had nothing to do with it at all."
"No, Dad, I did this! I felt the connection, I felt his breathing and I just pushed mentally to stop it. I had the power to kill him."
This was exactly the point. Caleb didn't kill! "But you didn't, Son." Mac gently touched his cheek." You stopped and that is all that matters to me. We will figure the rest out. I promise. And you will never again set a foot in that school."
Jim and Mac had already thought it possible that other powers might show up when Caleb grew up. Now they had to come up with a way of helping Caleb to deal with it. But first, he had to convince his son to come with him to the hospital. Mackland needed to be sure Caleb had no serious injury. He needed to proceed cautiously. Caleb had to calm down. This seemed not only a physical emergency but a mental one too.
"Come, first of all, I'll bring us out of this battlefield of shards, okay? Can you walk?"
Caleb nodded. Mac got up, helping his son to steer around the shards. He led him over to the sink in the kitchen to clean his hands there. His hand had several deep cuts which had to be taken care of. The one where he had clutched the shard needed stitches.
"How is the pain in your side on a level between 1 to 10?" Dr. Ames needed to know how serious Caleb's injuries needed to be classified.
"Five," Caleb mumbled.
"Okay. I will sew that one cut up and tape the rest. And you will tell me again how you feel then."
Another nod. Mackland worked quickly and precisely until Caleb's hand was stitched up.
"How is the pain now? Has anything changed?"
"It's better now," his son said much too quickly.
"Son, you have to be honest with me. I want you to be alright. I would rather take you to the ER to be on the safe side. I'll stay with you all the time. Please, I'm worried."
Mac saw Caleb tense. "Promise, you won't leave me for a second. You have to make sure I won't hurt anyone again."
Mac sighed in relief. "I promise." He would never let his son down.
*** Brotherhood ***
CALEB
If Mac had not been with him, Caleb would have taken off. The smell, the color, the noises, everything in hospitals made the alarm bells ring in the teens head. Not that he would have gotten far. The pain in the middle of his back had increased to an eight. Mac had spoken to the lady at the ER counter and they had guided the two into a treating room where Caleb could lay down. "What do you think I have?"
Mac came closer. "From the bruises you have to your back, the blood in your urine and the pain you are in, I would assume a bruised kidney at least. We will see, you have to wait for the doctor. He will make some scans and we will know for sure."
Caleb sighed frustrated when the door was opened and a young doctor entered the room readjusting his glasses. "Good evening," he glanced at the patient board, "Caleb Reaves." He looked up from the notes. "You have back pain after a fight in school? Can you tell me what exactly happened?"
Mackland took the lead of the conversation now. "Good evening Doctor …" he stretched out a hand at the man.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Doctor Williams. And you are?"
"Doctor Mackland Ames. Caleb is my son."
The man gasped. "Dr. Ames. Nice to meet you. I read a lot of articles by you."
"I hear this a lot. Well, my son got attacked by some other students. They got in a fight and the others kicked him on the ground." Mac told the doctor of all symptoms that developed at home and about the accident with the mirror. Then turned to his son. "Caleb, do you want to tell the doctor something else?"
Caleb shook his head. "I just wanna go home and sleep, I'm tired."
Dr. Williams took the blood pressure cuff from the desk. "Ok, Caleb, but first of all we have to see how you are, okay. I will take your blood pressure first." The doctor reached for his hand to slip the cuff over but stopped when Caleb flinched. "It's okay, it won't hurt."
"I know. I don't like being in hospitals." Caleb tried to relax and let the man do his work.
"Hm, 135 to 70. That's a bit high. I think it's the stress. You don't have to be afraid. Can you take off your shirt, and show me where it hurts the most?" the doctor asked.
Caleb took his shirt off and pointed to the middle of his back. "The pain is radiating to the side."
The doctor pushed here and there and studied Caleb's reaction to it. "Thank you," he said getting up. "Okay, we will run an MR scan and an x-ray. Then we can say how severe it is and if something is broken. Do you think you can fill this cup a bit?" The doctor handed Caleb a white plastic cup for a urine test."
Caleb looked pleadingly at Mac, "Dad, I can not pee now."
"Don't worry, try to drink some fluids and we will try it after the scans," Mac tried to calm him.
Mac wasn't allowed in the x-ray area. Caleb knew this was stupid but he couldn't surpress the panic when they put the heavy lead cover over him to cover the parts they didn't want to x-ray. Then the nurse left, closing the door. The silence threatened to crush him. Thank god it didn't take long and Mac was back at his side in less than a minute.
They were here now for over two hours. He had no broken ribs or other bones. The MR showed them that he had a bruised kidney, like Mac had assumed. Caleb had also been able to fill the good doctors cup, though under a lot of pain. Now he just felt so endlessly tired. "Dad, can we go home? I wanna sleep."
"We just have to speak to the doctor once more, then we will go home. Be patient, Caleb." Mac padded his thigh and offered him another bottle of water. Caleb shook his head.
Though the doctor strongly recommended keeping Caleb over-night, Mac convinced him they would return if Caleb's condition got worse. Caleb was so grateful that Mac did what was in his power to bring him home.
Another hour later they left the hospital. He would have to collect his urine for the next 24 hours and they had a prescription for some pain meds.
Caleb felt like a heavy weight was taken from his chest when they walked through the exit door to finally leave the hated building. Tomorrow they had to return for a checkup but at least for now he was out of the hospital.
At home, Mac helped him into some comfortable sweatpants and a fresh shirt. Afterwards he took his meds with a glass of water and was asleep faster than it took to say Brotherhood.
TBC
