Chapter 8: Delicate State

Neal took off his shades as he walked into the lobby two days later. He had taken a personal day for this so work wasn't an issue.

Neal took a deep breath. He hadn't been in here in a little over two months when he had first checked in to make sure Emma was here.

Loretta looked up from some work on her desk.

"You're back," she said to him.

"You remember me?" Neal asked.

"You're not that hard to forget. You're the only to come in asking for Miss Swan."

"There hasn't been anyone else?"

"Were you expecting someone else?"

"I just thought-," Neal shook his head, "Never mind."

"You going to actually visit this time?"

Neal wanted to. He wanted to wait a while till visiting hours were officially open but he couldn't.

"No afraid not. I just want to hear how she's doing."

"You know it might not be such a bad idea if you actually went and saw your wife Mr.-," Loretta said not knowing what to call him.

"Cassidy. Neal," he said remembering that he had called Emma his wife the first time he inquired on her.

The documents saying that he and Emma were married weren't exactly real but they weren't fake either, in a sense. He had all ready paid the guy off with his first paycheck to make the wedding certificate seem legit.

"Mr. Cassidy. I'm sure she'd be happy to see you."

"Trust me she wouldn't. I just need to know if she's okay."

"She's doing as well can be expected for any woman in her situation."

Neal looked puzzled, "What situation?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Cassidy, its best I not disclose any information. It's probably best if you talk to your wife."

"She doesn't want to see me so tell me, what situation? Did something happen to her?"

Loretta sighed. She knew she was breaking confidentiality but it wasn't really doing so unless confidentiality was actually broken.

"Mr. Cassidy your wife is in a delicate state."

"How delicate," Neal asked.

Loretta just looked at him hoping he would piece together her information so she wouldn't have to break confidentiality anymore than she all ready had. She watched as Neal's eyes widened a moment later.

"I have to go," said Neal.

"Mr. Cassidy, you should really talk to her. It might help the both of you."

"Do me a favor: don't tell her I showed up."

"Mr-," Loretta called out but it was no use Neal was all ready out of the front doors.

Aaron walked into the house after his long day. Theresa stood up the moment she saw him.

"Hey," he said wrapping her in her arms, "What's wrong?"

"You need to talk to your brother. He showed up a few hours ago but he hasn't said a word."

Aaron sighed. "Where is he?"

"On the outside deck upstairs," she replied.

Aaron placed a kiss on his wife's forehead as he made his way to find his brother.

The sliding doors opened but Neal didn't turn to look. Reaching for a light switch, Aaron turned on the side light. To say his brother looked like crap was an understatement. He looked destroyed.

"Theresa told me I'd find you out here," Aaron said to him.

"Figured she would," Neal replied as he stood with his hands along the balcony.

"What's going on Neal?"

Neal took in a deep breath and sighed. "She's pregnant."

"What?"

"I went by the corrections facility."

"You saw her?"

"No," Neal replied, "but I asked about her and the guard told me; not directly but enough for me to figure it out."

"Are you even sure the kid is yours?"

Neal glanced over at Aaron. "I did the math, trust me I'm sure."

"What are you going to do?"

Neal pushed himself away from the balcony's edge and walked to the other side on his left. "I don't know. I know she's keeping it. It's too late for an abortion, I looked it up. Not that I'd want her to do that but I don't have a say in anything she decides."

"You would if you just talked to her. Tell her what you want, figure it out together." Neal looked over at Aaron and Aaron put his hands up in defeat. "I know, I know you can't," he said to him. "Though why still baffles me but I guess that's your business."

"Damn right, it is my business." Neal shook his head and raised his voice. "It shouldn't be this way. I should be with Emma. We should be raising our baby together. It's my fault she's going to have the baby in jail. I should never have listened in the first place."

"Then why did you," Aaron asked even though he hadn't had the slightest clue as to what Neal was talking about.

"I was just trying to do right by her. She has a destiny and I can't get in the way of that. Knowing she's pregnant now, it changes everything."

"It doesn't have to."

"What are you talking about?"

"Emma doesn't know you know about her condition right? So leave it that way. I know I told you to make a choice but now that she's pregnant it does change things. Wait at least four more months before you decide on anything. If she decides to raise this baby on her own then you have to stay away from her if that's what you keep deciding but if she doesn't then that kid will end up in the system and so let them handle it."

"No way," Neal said shaking his head.

"Neal listen-,"

"No you listen! Emma grew up in the system. I don't want my kid to go through that."

"You may not have a choice."

"What if I decide to raise him? Can't they track down family members before turning him over to child services?"

"I don't know I guess, maybe. Think this through though Neal. Just give it four months that's it. You don't have to decide on anything right now. Don't make a rash decision. I've known you to do that and it never ends well for you. You've got plenty of time to think about this."

Neal nodded, "Okay you're right," he said only wanting to get his brother off his back.

"So you'll think about it a while?"

"Yeah I will, I promise."

"Good, now cool off a bit and then come downstairs and get something to eat."

Again Neal nodded as he watched his older brother go back inside the house. Neal walked over to the railing and placed his hands. There was no moon out tonight, only a few stars which could barely be seen due to the city lights.

Pregnant.

A father.

No he wasn't a father.

Not yet.