I added some things to the previous chapter. It's nearly 2000 words. My longest chapter so far.

Tobias POV

I follow Mr. Duncan through various corridors within the building until we reach the infirmary. We walk past several beds where sick or injured prisoners lie. Each bed separated by a curtain. Looking at these prisoners takes me back to when I was in the army base hospital recovering from my injuries and waiting to go home. Many of my fellow soldiers died in battle or in the hospital. I'm grateful that I was able to go home and I do feel bad for these prisoners because I know if and when they recover they'll go straight back to their cell. I hope to never have to come back here for any reason.

Mr. Duncan gestures me inside a small office where a doctor is sitting at desk.

"Tobias, this is Dr. Harris (A/N: Theo's character in The Benefactor lol) our facility doctor. Dr. Harris, this young man is here for Mr. Eaton."

I shake Dr. Harris' hand.

"Nice to meet you, Tobias."

"Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Harris."

"Please sit down and we'll get down to business."

I take a sit and Mr. Duncan leaves the room.

"So I assume Mr. Duncan informed you of Mr. Eaton's condition."

"Yes, sir."

"We ran various tests on Mr. Eaton when we noted that his health seemed to be deteriorating. His eating habits began to change drastically and he lost a lot of weight. We eventually discovered that he had a heart condition and a tumor in his brain. The tumor was found to be inoperable. It is only a matter of time. We are trying to make him as comfortable as we can. Unfortunately, I do not recommend moving Mr. Eaton to a hospital in the city.

"I understand."

"Mr. Duncan informed me of the reason why Mr. Eaton is an inmate in this facility when I started treating him and eventually came to the conclusion that Mr. Eaton's family needed to be informed of his condition. As a doctor, I do not condone what Mr. Eaton has done. On occasion, I have worked outside this prison and have seen cases similar to yours. I treated countless women and children for domestic abuse related injuries. I know it is a lot to ask but I would advise you to be as calm and collected as you can. I understand there's some unresolved issues between the two of you, but don't raise your voice at him and don't give him a reason to do the same to you. His heart is weak and he doesn't need that stress and nor do you."

"I will try, Doctor. However, knowing Marcus he likely won't be happy to see me either as I'm the one who had him locked up."

"You did the right thing, Tobias. Even when he can't see it. I'll take you now to see him. I need to do a quick routine check on him first and when I'm done you can see him. I won't mention to him that you're here until I'm done. Does that sound good?"

"Yes, sir."

"All right. Follow me."

I follow Dr. Harris out of his office and back out to the open area where the sick and injured prisoners are. I give sympathetic looks to those who catch my eye and continue following Dr. Harris until he stops. He gives me a slight nod and I stand silent and wait as he goes behind the curtain. I listen carefully.

"Mr. Eaton, how are we this morning?" He asks Marcus.

"As well as can be expected, doc." Marcus says, his voice instantly recognizable to me but weaker.

"Well, I'm just gonna check your vitals really quick. You are not due for any tests today so you can rest. Next week we will start up on them again, okay?"

"Whatever you say, doc. I know they won't do any good though."

"Mr. Eaton, just remember that you are still here. We will cross that bridge when we get to it. So far everything is under control and I will do my best to make you as comfortable as I can."

"Thanks doc."

"I'm just doing my job, Mr. Eaton. Before I go, there is someone here to see you."

"To see me? Who?"

I step forward into view behind Dr. Harris.

"Me."

Marcus looks at me, studying me then narrows his eyes. I try and keep my facial expression neutral, but I know it's just as hard and cold as his is. I feel like I'm staring into a mirror. His dark blue eyes are almost look black, like mine.

"I'll give you two some privacy," Dr. Harris says as he leaves but not before giving me a pointed look, silently reminding me of our conversation.

"What are you doing here?" He asks me, his voice suddenly stronger than it was a second ago. I refuse to be intimidated by him.

"Believe me, I don't want to be here just as much as you don't want me here, but like it or not, I will be the one making the decisions about your health and treatment and what will come after."

"You're the reason I'm in this place."

"You guaranteed that the first time you hit my mother and me. I only regret not calling the cops sooner."

"You were always ungrateful and by the looks of it you haven't changed."

"Neither have you. Even in your condition you're still the sadistic man I knew growing up."

"Don't you speak to me that way. I'm your father."

"You are not my father anymore."

"If you think you're free of me, you're wrong. One day you may find yourself disciplining your wife and children the same way I did."

"You'd like to think that, but if anything you taught me the kind of man not to be. I'm not afraid of you anymore. I dedicated a decade of my life to protecting people and making sure people don't come into this country and blow up places like this prison."

"So, you save some lives and suddenly you're a hero?"

"I did save lives and I also saved myself...from you. I don't wish death upon anyone, but you don't deserve my help or my pity. And for your information, there is someone in my life who I will always put above myself. One day she could become my wife and the mother of my children. She has taught me more about life in one year than you and Evelyn taught me. Both you and Evelyn are cowards."

"Ah, so you know the truth then?"

"That surprises you? No, I didn't figure it out on my own. Evelyn sent me a letter. But that doesn't mean she's forgiven just like you aren't. I don't trust either of you."

"Why are you here then?"

"I can see that despite your diagnosis you are being well taken care of in the meantime. Mr. Duncan and Dr. Harris assured me of that. I will not have your death on my conscience as I'm sure you would've blamed me yet again for your bad luck just as you blamed me when Evelyn left."

"She left me for someone else. How would you feel if that happened to you?"

"Unfortunately it did happen to me, however, I didn't push her away. I didn't hurt her or tell her that she was worthless. That's the difference between you and I."

"I was only doing what I was taught to do."

"What? What do you mean what you were 'taught' to do?"

"Your grandfather whom you never met always told me that I would need to keep my wife and kids in line if I wanted to be a real man."

I shake my head in disbelief. "How could you not see how wrong that was?"

"Looking back on it, I'm ashamed of what I did. This diagnosis has opened my eyes."

"That's not an excuse. You should've thought about that before you did what you did. You never had to be like your father. You had the chance to create your own identity. That is what I am doing. There are days when I wish I didn't carry your blood, but I am still my own person. Because of you I stopped using my own name and essentially created a new identity for myself. That is the mask I've been wearing for 10 years. I don't seek pity from those who know who I am. I don't know if I can ever forgive you."

"I'm not asking you to. Maybe one day when I'm gone and you have children of your own."

"I won't hide the truth from my children. They wouldn't deserve that."

"Just don't do what I did."

"I won't. I'm not like you. I won't lose the people I love."

"You've become a good man."

"Do you mean that? Even after you just called me ungrateful?"

"I realize that as much as I wanted to control everyone and everything around me, I can't anymore in my condition so, yes, I mean what I said."

"Well, I think we've said all we need to say for now. I will let you rest."

"I appreciate you coming. If I die tomorrow I hope you remember this conversation."

"You won't. But I will admit that I am glad we could have this conversation at all. I don't know when I'll come back, but I know this won't be our last conversation. I hope to have at least one more."

"I hope so too. Take care, son."

I nod and walk out and back to Dr. Harris' office and let him know I'm leaving.

"I or Mr. Duncan will keep in touch with you to notify you of anything new."

"That sounds fine. Thank you, Dr. Harris."

I shake his hand and walk back to where Amar is waiting for me.