Chapter One-Hundred and Eighty-Six
Kemp raised his hand, standing as he stared John down. "So, we're just going to ignore the fact that Johnathan is indeed violent and dangerous to those around him?" He motioned to Clarissa, pointing out the red mark on her cheek. "He attacked his foster mother! He should be in a mental institution!" He motioned to John's head. "He's sick in the mind! Sees things that aren't there!"
Claire growled, wondering why John hadn't sent Chance after the snake yet. "He's not sick!" She shouted, touching John's arm as he slowly blinked with Kemp shouting at him.
"The boy's insane! He screams and attacks things and people who aren't there! He puts everyone around him in danger! He's exposed children to drugs, and God knows what else!" Kemp looked up at the judge, remembering what Jessica Jenkins had told him about John being in possession of marijuana. "He's brought Cannabis into the home, and exposed children to it!"
John dropped his gaze to his boots, ashamed that what Kemp was saying did hold truth to it. "I won't lie. I bought one milligram of Dope more than a month ago. Yes. It was in the house, but I kept it in my pocket at all times and made sure that Amelia wouldn't get her hands on it." He met Clarissa's eyes, able to see the disappointment at the confession in her gaze. "I also suffer from an illness known as PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's a side effect from the abuses I faced as a child. That's why I struck Clarissa. I didn't mean it. I was reliving the time that my father Jacob Bender, whipped me with a bike chain and forced me to watch him rape my mother." He shuddered at the memory, choosing to let these people see the demons in his past. "My father helped to start the Dead Cross. And I am choosing to be better than him." He took Claire's hand, looking into her eyes. "If not for me, then for my family that one day will be real." He kissed her lips, his eyes closing as her breath fanned over his cheeks.
Kemp glowered at the kids, noticing that John's movements were so gentle that he could have been holding a butterfly in his teeth and not hurt it. "I swear, one day, I will get you for something. And when that day comes, you will be in prison."
Thomas shook his head, taking a familiar earring from one of the thugs and placing it in John's palm. "It'll be a cold day in Hell when that happens." He watched as John handed the earring to Claire, smiling as she poked it through the thin skin on the back of his piercing. "And until that day, John is our family." He chuckled, ruffling John's hair up. "I am proud to call him my son."
"Thanks Dad." John smirked, wrapping his hand around Claire's hips as he held her close to him.
Amelia giggled, leaping into John's arms as he walked through the door. "My tooth fell out!" She opened her mouth, pointing to where her loose canine tooth had been.
He chuckled, adjusting her on his hip. "Holy cow!" He smiled, taking the baby tooth from her hand as she gave it to him. "Damn, kid, if you keep losing teeth like this, I'll have to chew your food for you." He poked her sides, tickling her as she wiggled around.
"Stop!" She screamed, laughing as he placed her on the wood flooring. "Uncle Frank and Aunt Julia are here." She smiled, rushing off to visit with them.
John shook his head, limping to the sitting room where they'd set up a small playpen for Johanna to play in. "Hey there, Cupcake." He smiled, picking the baby up and kissing her nose as he bounced her in his arms. "What's happening?"
She laughed, placing her chubby little hand on his nose.
Claire watched as John slipped his finger into the baby's hand, a small smile playing on her lips as he sang a soft song to the child.
"Ain't no sunshine when she's gone It's not warm when she's away Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And she's always gone too long Anytime she goes away Wonder this time where she's gone Wonder if she's gone to stay Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And this house just ain't no home Anytime she goes away And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, Hey, I oughtta leave young thing alone But ain't no sunshine when she's gone Ain't no sunshine when she's gone Only darkness every day Ain't no sunshine when she's gone And this house just ain't no home Anytime she goes away Anytime she goes away Anytime she goes away Anytime she goes away." He rocked her in his arms as she yawned, not seeing the jealous look Amelia was giving him. "That's my princess." He smiled, kissing the baby's head as she slipped into sleep.