NOTE: So Mark's revealed that his dad hit Maureen and Aaron. This chapter's Mark telling Maureen and Roger about that day. It's a little long, but I wanted to get the whole flashback in one chapter.

WARNING: This chapter deals with issues of alcoholism and domestic violence. If either topic makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to skip to the bottom of this chapter and just read the summary.

Mark's Flashback

The phone rang as he was finishing up a term paper. "Hello?"

"Mark, we need you to come home."

"Cindy, I have class in twenty—"

"Dad was in a car accident."

"What? Is he okay?"

"I—I think he's okay…they haven't said anything. We're waiting in the E.R. and Mom's hysterical."

"I'm on my way."

The first thing Mark saw was his mother talking to a police officer. He went to the waiting room to look for his little sister.

Cindy sat with a quiet glare in the corner.

"Cindy, what's going on?"

"He's fine," she said flatly. "He's got a concussion but he's fine."

Mark sat beside her. "So that's good, right? Why do you look pissed?"

"Our asshole father was drunk."

"Oh God…that's why Mom's talking to that cop…"

Cindy nodded, her glare softening from anger to sadness. "He hit someone."

"Shit…"

"A woman and her kid."

"Her kid?"

Cindy nodded again. "Hit the back of the car, the side the kid was on."

"Are, um, are they okay?"

"Don't know. Woman is, I think. I heard the doctor telling the cops she's got a busted arm and concussion."

"And the kid?"

Cindy shrugged. "Don't know."

Mark sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "When did he start drinking again?"

Another shrug. "Month ago, maybe two."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Mom said not to and Dad said he'd kick me out."

"So come live with me."

She rolled her eyes. "You live in a dorm."

"We'll get an apartment."

"And do what? I'm barely sixteen. What the hell would I do? I haven't even finished high school. Besides it's not that bad…"

Mark sighed again. "I just hate you and Mom being there alone with him when he's been drinking."

Cindy patted his hand. "It's okay Mark. He usually just leaves us alone."

"Usually?"

Cindy looked away. Mark grabbed the sleeve of her jacket, ignoring her protests, and yanked it off. He pulled up the sleeve of a tee-shirt. A deep purple handprint circled her upper arm. Mark gritted his teeth.

"What happened?"

"Asked if I could go to prom," she said softly. "It's not a big deal so don't make it one."

Mark was about to say something when their mother approached.

"He's going to be released in a few hours to police custody."

"Mom, why didn't you tell me he was drinking again?"

"Because, dear, you know…you know how your father gets and I remember what it was like for you before…"

"So you figured you'd just let him take it out on Cindy this time?"

"What?"

Cindy's eyes widened. She grabbed Mark's arm. "Mark, shut up."

"She doesn't even know?"

"She was at work. I should've known to wait till she was there. I—"

"Don't! Don't make excuses for him."

Mark turned to their mother. "Did you know she asked about going to prom?"

She shook her head slowly.

"Cindy, show her."

"Mark…"

"Show her."

Cindy shook her head at Mark. "Just leave it, Mark."

"Mom, she's got a bruise around her arm."

Their mother sighed, her eyes full of tired tears. "Mark, please…"

"You two can't stay with him."

"Mark, it's not that bad," Cindy said. "He's an asshole and he pisses me off, but he mostly leaves us alone."

"Mostly isn't good enough!"

"Cindy, come on. We're leaving," his mother said.

"Mom, please, you can't—"

"Yes, Mark, I can. I am a grown woman. No matter how much of an adult you think you are, you are still my child. And he is still your father. And he's still the one paying for you to go to school."

"You're really going to hold that over my head?"

His mother shook her head. "Mark, please, don't make this worse than it already is."

"Fine. You can't let him know that he doesn't have to worry about my tuition. I'm dropping out."

Cindy glared at Mark and headed down the hallway. "I'll wait in the car, Mom."

Their mother looked from Mark to Cindy and back. "I need to go."

Mark sat in the waiting room of the hospital, uncertain of what else to do. After a few hours, he went downstairs to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee. He didn't want to go back to the dorm but refused to go to his parents' house. An older man came in, looking tired and sad. Mark wondered what his story was. The man purchased a coffee and sat at a table across from Mark's.

"You believe in fate?"

Mark looked up. "Excuse me?"

"Fate. You believe in fate?"

Mark shrugged. "Never really thought about it."

The man smiled wistfully. "Most kids your age don't…"

"Are, um, are you okay?"

The man nodded. "I'm fine. Sorry. Didn't mean to be disturbing you."

"Oh no, you're not disturbing me. You, um, you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," the man said, gesturing to the empty chair across from him.

"I'm Mark," he said, offering a hand.

"Eddie."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Eddie stared at him a minute. "So tell me, Mark, what's a young man like you doin' in a hospital in the middle of the day, if you don't mind my asking?"

"My father was in an accident."

"He all right?"

"Yeah, yeah…I just needed to clear my head, you know?"

Eddie nodded. "Daughter was in an accident too. Her and my grandson."

Mark's heart sank. He took a drink of his coffee. "Are-are they okay?"

"Daughter's gonna be fine. But Aaron…doctors aren't so sure yet on him. Lots of injuries and whatnot…He's a tough little guy, though. You mind if I play proud Grandpa and show off a picture?" he asked, fishing out his wallet.

Mark smiled. "Not at all."

Eddie pulled out a wallet-sized portrait. A dark-haired little boy with bright green eyes. Mark smiled at the picture, forcing himself to stay seated and not bolt.

"Cute kid."

"Thanks. That's our little Aaron."

Mark smiled. Eddie took another drink of his coffee. An older woman came in.

"Eddie? Eddie, come on. He's out of surgery."

Eddie jumped up. "Oh! That's my wife. Aaron's out of surgery so maybe we can see him soon. It was nice talkin' to you, Mark."

"You too, Eddie. I hope everything's okay for your daughter and Aaron."

"Thanks. I'll keep your father in my thoughts."

SUMMARY: Mark was in college. Cindy, his 16 year old sister, called to tell him their father was in an accident. By the time he arrived, Cindy had learned that he'd been drunk and hit a woman and her child. Mark learned that their father had been drinking again for the last 1-2 months and was abusing Cindy. He tried to reason with her and his mother, but both insisted things weren't so bad and told Mark to leave it alone. When his mother reminded him that his father was the one paying for his schooling, Mark announced he was dropping out. After Cindy and his mother left, Mark went to the hospital cafeteria to get a cup of coffee. He ended up talking to Eddie Johnson, Maureen's father, who was waiting for Aaron to get out of surgery (and Maureen to regain consciousness). Mark realized Eddie was the father of the woman his dad hit but didn't say anything. Eddie showed him a picture of Aaron, hence Mark's recognition of Aaron in the snapshot Roger showed him.