Chapter 8- father or friend? Kane.
I grew worried when Owen didn't return for three hours. I had just got to the rooftops and was going to search for him when he came crashing into my arms! He flew! Owen flew! He began to cry uncontrollably in my embrace, he couldn't stop himself. "Hey, Owen, what's wrong?" I asked, concerned someone or something hurt him.
He calmed himself down as he tried to speak, but he was still very incoherent. He took deep breaths before he began to say. "I recognized two people and they knew me… they knew me so well… but I feel torn! I want to remember them but I can't! I can't!" he cried.
"Who did you meet?" I asked.
He spoke of a woman named Martha and her son Oji. In an instant, I knew what he found… his family before he died… his son Oji and his wife Martha back when he was Owen Hart were a family. His daughter, no doubt a roaming teenager Athena wasn't home… that's why he didn't mention her. "I want to remember them! I want to remember!" he cried. I embraced him full heartedly while debating in my heart whether or not if I should tell him. I knew there was little doubt in my mind this was the Owen we lost. But… do I rekindle those old memories? What of the accident that took him from us, do I tell him?
I told Owen to go and lie down, rest his eyes. He nodded and did just that as I sat alone. But… I'm never alone. "Well? What did you think of the surprise?"
Raiden appeared before me, I didn't know if I should thank him or punch him in the face just yet. "Why… why didn't you ask me first?" I questioned him.
"I thought this is what you wanted? Did you not want your friend back?"
"Yes, but I didn't know it would be in the form of a son! Raiden… he's greatly confused, he remembers parts of his past life! He's tormented by that and the present, he's torn"
"Over what? Kane have you forgotten he is but a newborn"
"He's grown up fast Raiden… he's not a newborn, not anymore… That's the only downside of this with the kids, they aren't young for very long…"
Raiden looked to me confused. "So what is the problem them? What is making him so torn?" he demanded.
"He is starting to remember his old life, the life of Owen Hart. His family recognizes him… he wants to remember them back, those are starting to get through and he doesn't understand why he feels that way. He knows he has a family here. He has brothers and sisters… but the Hart part of him… is pulling him away from us…"
The more I thought about it, the more it confused me too. If I tell him who he is, I lose a son. But regain a friend… I don't want to lose a son. I never expected such a hard choice to come from me; Raiden had vanished the moment I asked him what should I do… Damn him, some thunder god he turned out to be.
I wasn't alone again for long. Taker came to the rooftop with coffee. "Thought you would be up here," he said as he took a seat next to me. "So… it's officially him huh?" Taker asked of me.
"Yeah… what do I do Mark?"
"What is there to do? He wants to remember his family, you're worried about losing a son…"
"How the hell…"
"Heard you though the door" he responded before I could question his sudden knowledge of the situation. "You ain't losing a son Kane. You're regaining a great friend who is now part of your family"
"Will he see it as that way though?" I asked of him. "Will he thank me for reminding him who he was? Or will he shun me for making him relive the memories he has trapped… I know if I do this, he will remember… the accident," I whispered.
Taker nodded to me. "I am not going to play devil's advocate to you, you're his father now, I think you know your son better than I do" he said. I nodded to him.
I decided to go back to the hotel; Owen was asleep on the bed. Ember, Sonja and Sela were sitting around the bed humming to him. They just got him to sleep when I walked in. Ember approached and pulled me into the bathroom. "Dad… I think Owen needs to talk to you about something" she said as she bit her lip.
"He has memories from a past life," I confessed to her.
Ember looked to me stunned. "You knew?" she questioned.
"I just figured it out tonight, I didn't think it was so before. But… now I know. I am going to tell him…"
Ember fell silent. "He won't really be the same brother I have now… will he?" she asked.
"I don't know. We will have to wait and see, for now. Let's let him sleep and get you girls back to your rooms."
Ember nodded as she and the girls went to their hotel room. I stared down at Owen for the longest time, not knowing what would be the proper action to take, but something tells me I knew the answer… but would I be strong enough to go through with it?
Staring at my hands, I realized of another option I had, one touch I could unleash the memories of his past life… yet… at the same time, one touch and they will be forgotten. He remains Owen Jacobs and never has to deal with the thoughts of Owen Hart again…