Chapter Six: Good Father, Bad Father
Note: This Chapter is dedicated to Arwennicole. Although I know Nicole will probably never read this we have had several talks about bad, neglectful, abusive, and deadbeat parents from her stories. With that I have learned what I need to post this chapter. So Nicole, this chapter is for you hun.
Note 2: Shout out to my buddy Ultimuus. Get well soon man.
Tommy and Jane were in the kitchen enjoying their morning coffee before Tommy went to the last day of work he would have in a
month since Taylor was due any minute. Taylor was still in bed lying on her back, her stomach had been upset all morning and she
had yet to tell anyone. She had gotten a call from her ex-husband a few days earlier with assurance that a group of Silver Guardians
had been dispatched to Reefside to ensure that if she went into labor that they would get to the hospital as quickly as possible
without being pulled over. According to Wesley Collins, Eric had been in anger management classes for the last eleven months and
was one month away from graduating. Taylor was thrilled to hear Eric was getting help and shocked to hear Eric apologize for the
way he had treated her during their union. It was a small gesture that had put her mind at ease. To know there would be no trouble
for her and Tommy was priceless to her at the moment, yet she felt that something still lingered in the background.
Later that day Tommy had just finished his lunch and was walking back to his class when his cell phone went off.
"Hello," Tommy said into the phone as he waited hoping it was his girlfriend.
"Hello Tommy. It's Eric. I got a call from my guys; Jane is on route to the Reefside Memorial with Taylor. She her water
broke about five minutes ago. I'm waiting outside the school with my Silver Guardians SUV waiting on you. I can have you
there in five," Eric told a stunned Tommy. Eric could tell Tommy was in shock by his lack of response to the statement.
"OLIVER GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND MOVE!" Eric yelled through the phone snapping Tommy back to
reality.
"Be right there," Tommy said quickly as he flipped off his phone off and running off to get his stuff.
Once they were on the road Tommy was hanging on for dear life trying to figure out how Eric kept the machine on the road. Tommy
finally looked over at Eric who was concentrating heavily on the road not even bothering to acknowledge Tommy was there. After a
little less than five minutes of high speed and as Tommy would put it suicidal driving, much praying that he would live to see his son,
and nearly having a heart attack Tommy was relieved when Eric slowed down and they pulled into the parking lot. Tommy would
have kissed the ground when he got out of the SUV if not for Taylor needing him. Instead Tommy found himself and Eric running
into the hospital and to Taylor.
When Eric and Tommy got to the room Taylor was she was whimpering in pain. Tommy quickly ran over and grasped Taylor's
hand while Eric took up guard outside the door.
After about ten minutes a woman in a business suit came to the door only to be stopped by Eric before she could enter. "Halt,
what's your business here?" Eric told the woman after stopping her with his arm. "And who may I ask are you?" The woman asked
back annoyed by the question and that Eric had stopped her. "Commander Eric Myers, Silver Guardians. My job is to stop anyone
not authorized by Doctor Oliver and Ms. Earhardt from entering this room. Now what is your business here?" Eric responded not
bothering to hide the irritation in his voice. "Well then, I guess I can go…" The woman said trying to push past to no avail. "There
are a select few allowed and I know everyone on the list. You are not on the list. Now tell me your business or I will have you
removed by security," Eric said in a voice that told the woman she was beaten. "I'm Agent Lopez from the Reefside Adoption
Agency. We got a call from a Mister John Earhardt saying his daughter and her boyfriend didn't want to be parents and didn't even
want to look at the baby. He said they would sign the papers without even reading about where the baby was going…" Agent
Lopez told Eric which made Eric nearly want to blow a gasket. "Well miss, I'm telling you now that Doctor Oliver and Miss
Earhardt are keeping the baby and are looking forward to more," Eric started through his teeth. "Well then I would have to inform
children's services because I do not believe a child should be left in the care of people who won't care for it," The woman informed
Eric a little too nicely. "Are you that stupid woman? Her father has been neglecting and making her life hell for the last year because
she got a divorce against his wishes. He hasn't talked to her since she informed him of the divorce and told her she would regret the
day she defied him," Eric told the woman which caused the agent to raise an eyebrow. "And I should believe you why? How would
you know this?" Agent Lopez asked feeling confident she had won the battle. "Because I'm Ms. Earhardt's ex-husband. I was
there when he said it. Now I suggest you leave, and I will have Doctor Oliver and Taylor's mother call you and discredit the man.
Then you can seek legal action against him. Also if you even think of calling Children's Services it will be your job and your agencies
income that suffers," Eric said with a cocky smirk. "Oh and how is that Commander?" Agent Lopez said now annoyed with the
man. "Doctor Oliver was Doctor Mercer's research partner and they remain close friends. Anton bought them a mini-van for the
baby seven months ago. From what I understand you can't afford to stay open without his yearly donations. I'm sure you don't
want to lose those. Ever come after these two again and your agency goes under," Eric told the woman before she slowly nodded
her head defeated and walked away.
"THOMAS JAMES OLIVER I'M GOING TO KILLYOU, BRING YOU BACK, THEN KILL YOU AGAIN!" Taylor yelled
as her mother ran her fingers through Taylor's hair and Tommy rubbed her back as he grimaced while Taylor crushed his hand.
"Taylor the baby is crowning, you need to push," The doctor said which made Taylor take a huge breath and push as hard as she
could. "The head is out! One more big push!" The doctor called to Taylor as she had the nurse ready the clean blue towel for the
baby. "Tommy help," Taylor whimpered as if she couldn't do it alone. "Taylor you can do this one more push and we're parents. I
love you Taylor, I know you can do it," Tommy whispered in her ear before Taylor gave one last push. Seconds later the cord was
cut and a baby crying could be heard. Taylor was lying in the bed with her eyes closed letting her body fully relax for the first time in
hours.
After a few minutes the baby was clean and the nurse put the baby in his mother's arms. "Here he is Ms. Earhardt. A beautiful baby
boy," The nurse said as she placed the baby in Taylor's arms. Tommy who was still beside Taylor with a beaming smile took his
son's little hand and kissed Taylor's temple. Taylor then had her mother undo her top to begin feeding the baby for the first time.
Note: Well that was fun. All nice and happy. But will the proud parents ever know how close they came to losing their baby?
