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Chapter 10: Reason

"Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder? Yes, with all the information, that does make perfect sense.", Jane said, writing down everything in her notes, "The mood swings, and the possessive and explosive behavior. It all fits in perfectly. I'm surprised I didn't see it before."

"Wait, I don't understand Jane. What exactly is 'Borderline Personality Disorder' and 'Bipolar Disorder'?", Dirk asked.

"BPD and Bipolar Disorder are mental illnesses that cause severe mood swings in individuals and can lead to risky behaviors, damaged relationships, etc. If they're not on medication. But the thing is, BPD and Bipolar disorder don't just pop up over night. He's probably had it for years, decades even.", Jane adds.

"So basically, I let that crazy son of a bitch into my home and now he's taken off with my little man?", Dirk throw his hands up in frustration.

"Dirk, how many times do I have to tell you? This is NOT your fault! You had no idea that Derrick was going to do this. Stop beating yourself up over something you had no control in!", Jane placed a hand on Dirk's shoulder as she looked him dead in the eye.

"It is my fault Janey! I knew something was wrong! And I didn't do anything to stop this from happening!", Dirk cried on her shoulder. The only thing Jane could do was wrap her arms around the grieving man and do her best to console him.

"Oh Dirk, it's not your fault. No matter what you say or think, you didn't tell Derrick to act the way he did. This is not your fault."

"Hold on a second.", Rose spoke up, "This guy couldn't have been crazy. To say he was crazy means that he didn't know what he was doing at the time. This guy knew full well what he was doing when he took off with Dave."

Suddenly, Rose recalls her little therapy session she had with Dave at John's sleepover. She places her hands over her mouth in horror. "Oh my God!"

"What? What is it Rose?", Roxy turns and places her hands on her daughter's shoulders with concern.

"At John's sleepover, Dave told me what was going on with y'all's dad. He said that one night, he thought he saw Derrick standing over him while he slept. And Dave said that for the past three days that he had been taking sleeping pills after you left for work, so he wouldn't have to deal with Derrick for too long. Jane, Bro, what if he, he could have been...Jane, we have to find them soon! Dave could be in serious danger!",

"Oh...my...God...", Dirk felt like he was going to be sick. Dirk ran toward the nearest trash can and emptied out the contents of his stomach into the bin at the thought of what Derrick could have been doing to Dave when he wasn't around.

"Oh Dirk...", Jane immediately rushes towards his side, "Don't worry, we'll find them." Jane rubbed his back as she tried to bring at least some sort of comfort to her friend.

Dirk's mind begins to wonder places, even to some places he wished it didn't. Wondering of what that monster could (have) be(en) doing to his baby. And for some reason, his mind wonders back to memories of his early childhood. Back to when it was just him and their mother, Cythnia.

In one specific memory, Dirk was probably about 6 years old, awaiting the arrival of his mother from a visit with their father. Dirk had wondered why their mother wouldn't let him go with her. He begged her, sometimes pleaded with her to let him go with her when she would meet with his mysterious father. And Cynthia would always tell him that it was a special mommy and daddy visit, that he couldn't come with her. Dirk thought it was a little strange that when they had these "meetings", that she NEVER brought him along with her.

When his mother finally walked through the door, she looked exhausted, beat almost. But, whenever she saw her little boy running at full speed to greet to his mommy, she always put on a big smile and opened her arms wide. It was then that Dirk started to notice purple and blue bruises on both of her arms.

"Mommy, what are those bruises on your arms from?", 6 year old Dirk innocently asked his mother.

Cynthia looked down at them and frowned, "Oh it's nothing sweetie. Mommy's sleeves were just a little too tight yesterday, and they made bruises on my arms.", Cynthia put on a fake smile and told a white lie to her son.

"Ouch, you should be more carefully Mommy. My teacher says bruises could be bad for you.", Dirk said hugging his beloved mother.

"Yes, I should shouldn't I.", Cynthia frowned.

"Here, let me make that all better.", Dirk kissed her bruises, "There. All better?" Dirk innocently smiled up at his mother.

"Yes Baby, much better.", Cynthia smiled and kissed the top of his head. "Say, why don'y you go get washed up for dinner."

"Okay.", Dirk said running off towards the washroom.

What Dirk didn't see, was Cynthia silently weeping as she held her arms over the man made bruises. "At least, at least he'll never have to experience this. Not as long as I'm around.", Cynthia whispers.

As Dirk zones back into reality from the memory, he now realizes that those bruises on his mother's arms weren't caused by tight fabric. They looked like they were caused by fingers, fingers on two strong hands. Now; Dirk can't help but wonder if that's truly why their father was never around in his childhood, was because Cynthia wouldn't let him.

Dirk's eyes widened in horror. What is Derrick's cycle of abuse flares up again, and this time on Dave. 'Oh hell no! I swear to God, if that bastard better not lays so much as a finger on my baby; that bastard won't be dead enough!'.

"Oh Jane! Please, we have to hurry!", Dirk felt tears roll down his cheeks, he was absolutely terrified at what Derrick could be doing to his baby brother.

600+ miles away, going out of Wichita, Kansas; Derrick continues to drive him and Dave to Canada. Ever since he told Dave that they were going to Canada, he couldn't get Dave to stop asking questions. And all his questions were getting on Derrick's last nerve.

"Dad, for the last time. Why are we going to Canada? I thought you lived in New York?", Dave asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

'Oh it's going to be the last time alright.', Derrick thought as he gripped the steering wheel to keep from smacking the boy across the face.

"Because Son, I am looking to expand my business internationally and I think Canada would be a good place to start. I have already started opening offices in Toronto, and I need to be there to supervise their operation.", Derrick said, gritting his teeth.

"Oh okay. You could've just told me that.", Dave naïvely believed his father. During these past two days, he didn't know what to believe anymore. His whole world had been turned upside down. His bro 'abandoned' him and Dave felt that Derrick was all he had left. He wanted to believe his father was going the best and right thing for him. And if that meant starting a new life for them in a foreign country, than so be it.

"Well, I just thought all that business talk would go right over your pretty little head.", Derrick smiled as he patted Dave on the knee a few times. Dave smiled back at his father and Derrick returned his attention to the road. He had to be extra cautious.

In reality, Derrick was looking to expand his business internationally, but that wasn't his reason for going to Canada. Derrick Strider is in hot water with the American government for tax evasion. He knew he had one son with Cynthia, but when he found out about Dave. That just made it even better. A young mind that he could easily manipulate. To do anything to help his dear old dad. He was planning on fleeing the country and making Dave his new cash cow.

I really should watch something else on Netflix beside SVU…