Erikstrulove-Here's Benny and Kaine's confrontation.

CHAPTER 67

CONFRONTATION

December 10, 2010

6:52pm

Blue Cove, Delaware

Russell Summer House

"Here," Sam said softly passing Jeremiah a cup of tea. The boy was sitting before the fire his knees drawn up under his chin. Jeremiah took the cup from his father whispering a word of thanks as he stared into the fire. Sam sat down next to his son his joints popping as he did so.

"I'm alright," Jeremiah said before his father could even get the question out of his mouth.

"It's creepy when you answer my questions before I ask them," Sam stated.

"Sorry. I've just known you my whole life, you've been my Dad my whole life. I know when you're concerned about me," Jeremiah told his father.

"I'm glad that things are different from then before. That I can actually be your Dad," Sam said putting his arm around Jeremiah's shoulders. Jeremiah smiled remembering his and Sam's exchange of words after Jeremiah had come out of his cationic state all those years ago.

"I know you aren't my Daddy. I know you can't be, even it you wanted to."

"I never said I didn't want to. If things were different..."

"I know."

"I'm glad things are different now too," Jeremiah spoke. "Dad..." he trailed off, unsure what to say.

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"Thanks for making me...you know...face what happened on the river," Jeremiah said stumbling for the right words.

"That's why I'm here Jer. Now that you've faced it, we still need to talk about it. As well as what happened back on Carthis," Sam told him gently.

"I know. It's just...hard," Jeremiah admitted.

"I understand that, and you can take as much time as you need," Sam said. A silence enveloped the room but it was a comfortable silence. Sam waited patiently for Jeremiah to sort through his feelings.

"I ran away because I was frightened, of me, of what I could do. I hated myself as well, if I had never lost my temper Mom wouldn't of lost the baby. Greg was right that day though. I am a coward. I didn't have the courage to face everyone after... I didn't want to see the disappointment, the fear, the anger, or the pity on their faces. So I ran away."

"I spent five days at the safe house in the dark. I didn't have plans of coming back home. Hell to be honest I didn't have any plans period. I think I was waiting for someone to come at get me. I was surprised that it was Amy who found me."

Sam raised an eyebrow he had never known who had made Jeremiah come home. He had always assumed that Jake had contacted the younger boy and told him that he was needed.

"This time it was Steve who brought me home. It wasn't that I didn't want to leave Alex behind, it was the fact I couldn't face everyone knowing that I couldn't protect her. The fact that I screwed up again," Jeremiah said softly.

"You didn't screw up Jer. You know Alex better than almost anyone, save Aaron and Andros. What happened both times was an accident. So many things could have happened to stop that boat from blowing up. Would it surprise you to know that nearly everyone on that boat blamed their selves in some way. Even your Mom," Sam stated. Jeremiah looked up at his father, his face may have shown no emotion but Sam knew that the teen was shocked.

"I was about to get up and stop you and Greg from arguing but your mom stopped me from doing so. When you ran away, she blamed herself. And I blamed myself for not stopping you and Greg in time. And Jake blamed himself and so one and so forth," Sam said.

"You know for a bunch of lapsed Catholics we sure have the guilt thing down," Jeremiah said flashing a quick grin.

"I think it's more of a Centre thing than a Catholic thing," Sam replied chuckling.

December 10, 2010

11:54pm

Sussex, Delaware

Sussex Correctional Institution

Bobby laid on his bed mulling over Sam and Jeremiah's words from earlier that day. Sam was right, Bobby was going to have to talk to Jeremiah. It wasn't a talk he was looking forward to in the slightest. Both he and Jeremiah had tempers that were hard to keep in check when dealing with one another. Bobby supposed that was why Jeremiah stuck to letters opposed to visits like his brother and sister.

Over the past seven years Bobby had received maybe ten letters from Jeremiah. All were less than a page long, direct to the point, the only emotion ever displayed was anger and even then it was rarely shown. Usually Jeremiah's letters were dry, Bobby had read Centre reports that had more zest to them.

Bobby could still remember Jeremiah's first letter. Four sentences long and not even signed.

'You are my biological father. There is no disputing that, there is no changing that. Melissa and Greg expect great things of you. Don't let them down.'

After Jeremiah's first letter there wasn't another one for three months. If it hadn't been for Lissa, Bobby never would have learned about the accident on the river. Nor would he have understood the anger in Jeremiah's next letter

'I don't understand how after everything you have done you expect to be forgiven. There is nothing you can do to repent for all of the evils you have done, the pain you have caused the lives you have ruined. Do you think that by changing your name makes you a different person? You are still the same monster you were back at the Centre.'

That was the angriest letter Bobby had received from Jeremiah. The letter had also hurt Bobby more than he cared to admit. It hurt him because it was what he truly believed. That there was no way he could be forgiven of his sin of the past. And if his own flesh and blood could never forgive him, how could Bobby expect for anyone else to.

Jeremiah's letters hadn't progressed much since his first two. The boy had taken to signing his letters but other than that there was no significant changes. Bobby had given up on Jeremiah's attitude towards him ever changing. But maybe there was a chance that if Bobby and Jeremiah talked, then maybe, just maybe things could be different.

Bobby also understood something as well. He and Jeremiah could talk and sort out everything between them. But none of that would matter if Alex wasn't saved. If Peter was rescued or not it would have no bearings on Bobby and Jeremiah's relationship. In the end it would all come down to Alex.

December 11, 2010

1:21am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

Benny stared out of the window of Adam and Peter's room. Despite the lateness of the hour, many were still awake. Matty and AJ -as Aaron and Andros had dubbed their niece that morning- had awaken crying for a bottle, their parents tending to them. Jarod, Lex and Jen were still at the office running test after test on Jack's blood. Jeremiah and Sam were in Blue Cove. And the Black Files were in their room making plans on how to get Alex and Pete out safely.

Benny had been with them, but retired saying that he had a headache. It was a lie, he just needed to think For nearly twenty four hours he had been in the same building as Kaine. But Benny had yet to confront his brother, and it wasn't for the lack of trying. Benny had been banned from seeing Kaine. Steve had placed himself in front of Kaine's room not allowing Benny to enter.

But Benny was not one to give up easily, his father would not be able to keep him away from Kaine forever.

"Alright I can't handle this anymore," Will said from the doorway, Matty in his arms.

"Handle what?" Benny asked.

"Your Dad keeping you away from Kaine, there is too much other shit that needs to be dealt with. Let me put Matty down and you and I are going to confront your brother," Will told the younger boy.

"Thanks Will," Benny said a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Hey what are...brothers/nephews/cousins for? You know once this is all over with we're going to have to figure out this whole relationship thing," Will said a weary smile on his face. Fatherhood along with worry for Peter, Jack and Alex had begun to take it's toll on Will. It was in that moment Benny truly appreciated what Will was doing for him. He was pretty sure Will hadn't slept more than three hours in the past forty-eight hours, and was exhausted beyond all reason. Yet instead of catching up on his sleep, Will was offering to help Benny out.

Benny grabbed his crutches, he had gotten a lot better in the walking department, but he still couldn't stand for longer than ten minutes at a time without his legs giving out. Despite that Benny refused to give Kaine the satisfaction of seeing him in a wheelchair. Benny was not going appear weak in front of Kaine, he had spent eleven years being the weaker of the two brothers. He wasn't going to spend another second being weak.

Benny followed Will down the hall to the room where Kaine was being held. As Benny expected Steve was standing guard outside of the room.

"Ben wants to see Kaine," Will said simply his voice holding no room for argument. "Let him."

"Will.." Steve began.

"It's his right. Ben may be a kid but you can't protect him forever, eventually we all have to grow up. Why don't you go downstairs for a cup of coffee, take Matty with you, Jamie is down there," Will said, it may have sounded like it was a suggestion but Benny knew that it was a command. Steve took Matty from Will and went down to the kitchen all the while wondering why he was taking orders from a boy nine years younger than he.

"You ready for this?" Will asked Benny his hand on the doorknob.

"I guess so," Benny said shrugging his shoulders and Will led the boy into the room.

Kaine sat his hands and feet cuffed to the arms and legs of a chair. He had been dozing but awoke to the sound of the door opening. His cold blue eyes met Benny's and Benny felt an intense amount of hate fill him.

"So you found him. Quicker than I thought. How'd you do it?" Kaine asked Will. It took both Will and Benny a moment to realize Kaine had mistaken Benny for Pete.

"Hello big brother," Benny said voice full of venom. Kaine did a double take.

"Able," He sneered. "Or do you prefer Benny? I should have known that if your pet sweeper was here you'd be alive. To bad you didn't stay dead."

"Sorry to disappoint Kaine," Benny retorted.

"That's all you ever were Able, a disappointment, to me, to the monks, to father, and to the Centre," Kaine said.

"No Kaine, I believe you were the disappointment. After all it was Peter, Father took to the Triumvirate, not you. To Father you were nothing more than a problem, a nuisance," Benny replied.

"Father trusts me! He gave me a mission! One that I completed, proving to him that I am worthy enough to bare the name Parker!" Kaine yelled.

"You poisoned a six year old boy, Kaine. Is that what it means to be a Parker?" Able asked.

"I should have killed you. And to think Father believed in you, had faith in you. And you go and betray everything it means to be a Parker by falling in with these...lab rats," Kaine hissed.

"These, 'lab rats' as you so eloquently called them are our family Kaine," Benny replied.

"Father is our family," Kaine said.

"No Kaine, Father, was our warden. And he is no longer my father. I know now what it means to have a true father. I hope one day you will as well," Benny told his twin.

"I already do."

"No, Kaine you don't. Not once has he ever shown you true love. Sure he's given you a pat on the back every now and then. Just enough false love so that you'll remain loyal to him. Have you learned nothing since you've been here? Have you not seen the way Jarod and Morgan treat their children, the way they treated you when they thought you were Peter? How many hugs and kisses did they give you in a single day?" Benny asked

"It didn't matter they don't love me. Not like father," Kaine answered.

"Did you ever wonder if they might have come to love you? Here's the thing brother, they probably would have, until you poisoned their little boy," Benny said. "I'm ready to go now."

Will nodded his head and followed Benny out of the room, locking the door behind them.

"Did you get what you needed from confronting him?" Will asked Benny.

"Yes. I'm stronger than him, I know that now. I always have been. Kaine needs Fa-Parker, he is all Kaine has. Kaine clings to him like a life line, without Parker and the Centre, Kaine has no reason to live," Benny told Will.

Up Next: Alex get's a visit from two ghost of her childhood at the Centre. And Andros reflects on his baby brother's inner strength.

Please Review