I looked the other way when Uncle Joe tried to talk to me. He would just appear right where I was looking while walking next to the stretcher. "Joseph, I'm sorry. I lost my temper with you and I know I shouldn't have. I was out of line. Can you forgive me?" I never answered and I watched as the bright spark in his eyes dulled to a hard green, as he stopped walking by the stretcher and just stood with his head hanging low. I tried to turn in the straps but they were too tight. I didn't want him to leave me, I just wanted to let him know he couldn't just yell at me and not hurt me in some way. I couldn't move so I just watched over my shoulder as he disappeared over the stretcher.
When I got into the hallway of where my hospital room, and where home was going to be for the next few days, there was a swarm of reporters with their news cameras and hand-held microphones. When they saw me on the stretcher, they started to swarm me. They started asking me questions about the break-in, my PTSD, and Uncle Joe. One of the few questions I fully heard was "Joseph Reagan. Did you know that your father is not Daniel Reagan but is actually Joseph Reagan? Did you know you have been lied to for the past eight years of your life?" I was confused about the question and wondered if it was true. I wondered if that was why Uncle Joe didn't want me asking questions about it, or seeing the end of the vision.
I got into the room and the reporters were finally shut out. Dad was sitting in one of the seats, next to Grandpa. Mom was sitting in a seat next to Dad, and Sean and Jack were asleep laying on each other. Uncle Joe was standing between them, just watching them, with his head hung low. Dad and Grandpa stood up when they saw me come in. As soon as they unstrapped me, I tried to make a run for the door. I figured the herd of reporters would hide me long enough to make my escape… if I even made it that far. Let's just say, I didn't. I was grabbed by the two medics and I got strapped down loosely to the table. Uncle Joe sat down in the chair along the wall, and started to cry it looked like. Dad and Grandpa were trying to ask me questions like if I were okay, or what I had experienced. I ignored them because I figured if it was true about Uncle Joe being my dad, and not the person I had thought was my dad, then they hadn't told me. I just sat as straight as possible and kept looking forward. I tried to hold back tears. It hurt me when I hurt my family; they were the only family I had. Uncle Joe finally stood up, and walked to the front of my bed. Grandpa and Dad had given up on me talking and sat quietly, waiting for some results of tests to come back.
I kept moving my line of vision, and Uncle Joe kept moving to block it. I finally stopped and said, "What?" Dad and Grandpa looked up and realized I was talking to Uncle Joe. He hung his head low.
"I know you're mad at me. Will you forgive me? I was only trying to protect you. I didn't want you to know that when I adopted you, they took you away and gave you to Danny and Linda. I didn't want you to know that I was your father and a pretty bad one, to say the least. I let the only thing I loved get taken away not once, but twice." I looked at him with anger and hostility, but saw an honest, broken man, that had his only son taken away from him. Twice not just once. I felt bad for him.
I looked into his grey eyes and said "Uncle Joe? Is what they're saying true? Are you my real dad?"
Grandpa and Dad both looked up. Dad stood and said, "Xavier, who are you talking to?"
I kept trying to wiggle out of the straps, and Uncle Joe knew I was, so he sat there chuckling to himself before I said, "A little help here?" And the restraints popped off the bed. I swung my legs over to face Dad and Grandpa. I looked at both of them many times then looked at Mom. I finally bowed my head and spoke quietly "Is Uncle Joe, my dad? Is it true? Is Daddy not actually my dad?" Neither Grandpa nor Dad spoke. They just stared at their feet. I asked again "Is Uncle Joe, my dad?"
No one answered so I took off out the door at a full sprint. I turned my head for a second, and saw Dad try to run after me. He made it halfway down the hallway, and got stopped by two doctors pushing a gurney. I stopped for a second to watch, and to possibly change my mind, when I got picked up from behind, by one of the doctors. I started yelling, and started kicking him. He finally let go, and I ran. Some of the doctors tried to grab me before I got out of the hospital, but missed me. One of them grabbed my school jacket, and pulled it off of me. It was almost winter, so it was very cold outside without my jacket.