Chapter 30- Everything I Own
"Let me in! I want my son back!" Marianna screamed, banging on the door.
Cara shooed Pete and Patrick away from the door and into the living room. Everyone had their eyes on Cara. She was practically fuming and Patrick mirrored her.
"No one go to the door!" Cara shouted out.
"What's going on?" Micah said, scared, "Why is mommy out there screaming?"
Cara knelt down in front of Micah, rubbing her hand on his cheek.
"It's going to be fine, sweetie. Nothing's going to happen, I promise," Cara said, pulling Micah into a hug.
"I don't want to go with her, daddy!" Micah shivered, running into his father's arms. Patrick picked him up, clinging to him.
"Don't worry, son. I'm not going to let anyone take you away," Patrick said with fierceness in his voice.
The banging on the door stopped, but the screaming didn't.
"Have it your Patrick! I have legal custody for him, and I will bring the police with me next time!" Marianna screamed.
They heard a car door slam and the screech of tires pill out and down the streets. Silence fell over the room, except for the whimpers coming from Micah. He had his arms wrapped tightly around Patrick's neck. Pete had replaced Casie in trying to calm Leila down. Patrick was keeping eye contact with Cara. She had a worried look in her eyes with a fire behind them.
"Leila, will you take Micah into his room please?" Patrick said, turning to face Leila.
Leila shot from Pete and wrapped her hands around the little boy's waist, pulling him away from Patrick.
"Daddy," Micah whispered with big eyes.
"It's okay Micah," Leila said, "We're just going to your room. Your daddy isn't going anywhere, and neither are you. You're just going to bed," Leila said soothingly. Leila walked Micah slowly to his room, closing the door.
"We're going to leave, man. We need to get our kids in the bed," Steven said, rounding up his kids. Patrick saw Katrina doing the same thing. "If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to ask. You'll get through this on top and you will get to keep him."
"Yeah, Patrick. There's no way any judge would let her have custody of him," Katrina said, rubbing Patrick's arm gently.
"Thanks guys," Patrick said wearily. Hugging them both, he turned to see his parent's standing in front of them, with the Wentz's behind them. His mother looked livid, and his father's expression wasn't that far from his wife's.
"Fight for him Patrick. Do not let that… woman, and I use that term loosely, take that baby away. I know the troubles he went through when she had him. I will not stand for any grandson of mine to be put through that," she said with fierceness. She kissed her son's cheek, hugged Cara good-bye and they left to go home.
Patrick flopped down on the couch next to Pete, with his head in his hands. Pete looked in sorrow for his friend. He knew what Micah meant to him. They had become so close in the last months. He looked to Cara. She had taken it hard when Micah first showed up, but then she let herself care for Micah, and he was sure that she loved him… almost as much as Patrick.
"You're going to get through, Patty boy. All of us will help you. She won't have a chance," Pete said strongly.
Sighing Patrick stood up and made his way to Micah's room, but stopped short at the door way.
Without even turning around, he said, "You're damn right she won't get him. That's my son and he is not leaving me."
oo
Pete was making Ramon noodles for him and Leila, while she soothed Cara over the phone. He hated feeling so completely useless, not being able to help. He had grown to love the little boy, and he definitely knew that Patrick and Cara had. This was going to tear them apart. Picking up the two bowls, he walked slowly into the living room.
"Thanks babe," Leila murmured around a bite of noodles. "You know just how I like 'em."
Pete smiled. "Glad to be of some service."
Leila looked over at Pete, hearing torment in his voice. "I wish we could do more than just wait too, but there's nothing we could do, but worry Cara and Patrick more. I just hate this, hate it. If I could get my hands on that woman!"
Pete snorted. "I love it when you're redneck accent comes in thick like that… It's cute."
Leila rolled her eyes. A buzzing reached her ears, and she grabbed up her phone.
"Hello?"
oo
Danielle had tears rolling down her face. She was scared to death. She threw down the third test she had taken that day. She closed her eyes, but all she was the little pink plus sign. She ran to find her phone, calling the only person she could think of.
"Hello?" said a female voice.
"Leila? Oh Leila, I need you to come here, fast!" Danielle cried into the phone.
There was a slight pause on the other end. "What's the matter?"
"I… I.. just need to talk to you. Please, hurry!"
"Okay, I'm on my way, just calm down!" Leila soothed, and the line went dead. Danielle threw the phone next to her on the couch. She sat there, thinking about the life changing news she had just found out. Her knee shook up and down in nervous twitches. She couldn't stand it; she started to pace around the room, waiting on Leila to turn up. A hand subconsciously found it's way to her stomach. After what seemed like forever, a knock sounded out through the house. Danielle practically sprinted to the door.
"Okay, Dani, I'm here… Now what is it?" Leila said, her eyes roaming over the distraught woman in front of her.
"I… I have something to tell you… and I'm scared," she squeaked.
Leila grabbed her hand and drug her to the couch.
"Sit down. Okay now, tell me what's wrong?" Leila begged, getting progressively more worried.
"Joe is going to be so mad at me…" she whispered.
Leila almost laughed at the thought of Joe being mad at Danielle. The thought was ludicrous. "I highly doubt that."
Danielle sniffed. "I'm… pregnant!"
Leila gasped, and things clicked in her head. Her costume being too tight, her getting sick to her stomach all the time. She felt like an idiot she didn't foresee this.
"When did you figure it out?"
"Well, I took some tests today, and that's all I've done. I took three, and all came out positive," she shivered out.
"And you think Joe is going to be mad at you for getting pregnant?" Leila finished.
Danielle whimpered and nodded weakly. Leila let out the laugh she was holding in. Danielle looked incredulously at her.
"Dani, if Joe gets mad at you for something he helped create, then he's an idiot. And Joe is no idiot; I mean, he married you didn't he?"
Danielle giggled softly.
"And if, by some far-fetched reason, he gets mad; he'll answer to me," Leila said fiercely. Danielle still looked nervous.
"Look, if it'll make you fell better, I'll run you up to the doctor's, and get your tested for sure. We can call the other girls, and make a day of it!" Leila suggested. Danielle agreed, and they called Casie and Cara.
oo
A week went by since Leila, Casie and Cara took Danielle to the doctor's, and they were patiently awaiting the results. Leila had never seen Danielle this worked up, even at the wedding. But Leila was thankful for this distraction of the crisis with Micah. Marianna had contacted them, but that didn't mean anything. What it meant was, she was calculating something. Something bad.
The gang had all gathered at Cara and Patrick's place late one night. They were all just sitting around, playing games. At one point, Leila mentioned Harry Potter Scene it? Game, at which everyone else dropped out of playing and just watched Casie and Leila battle it out. It was rather funny, seeing Leila and Casie fighting over a question. An hour later, Danielle's cell phone rang, and she shot from the room, leaving all the girls staring at her, knowing who was on the other end. Danielle hadn't returned when there was a knock at the door. Patrick stood up to answer, unwillingly.
"Hello, I'm looking for Patrick Stump?" a man in a gray suit said.
A shrill voice was heard from somewhere in the darkness. "That's him! That's Patrick! Tell him to give me back my son!"
Pete's heart sank. He knew this day was coming, but not this soon.
"Well, Mr. Stump, I need you to hand over Micah Stump. Here are our orders to pick him up and deliver him to his mother."
And to everyone's shock, Patrick stood aside. Cara stood up, walked in front of Micah.
"Cara, they have every right to take him," Patrick muttered.
"That's right, we do!" Marianna screeched.
"I said every right by law, not every right with morality!" Patrick spat at her. "You may be able to take him now, but I am fighting for my son! I will regain custody!"
"Daddy! I don't want to go! I want to stay with you!" Micah cried, tears springing up in his eyes. He broke away from Cara, and ran to Patrick. Patrick stooped down and picked him up.
"I know, son, I know. But we have to do this. It's only for a little while. Not too long. And you'll be back before you can miss us," Patrick said, sounding as though he was trying to convince himself more than Micah.
"But why do I have to go?" he whimpered, burying his head into Patrick's neck.
"I don't want you to either… it has to be this way. Now, go on with your mother. I love you son," he whispered, hugging him tight. Slowly, he sat the boy down.
Micah was in tears as he hugged everyone goodbye. Leila clinged to him tight.
"Micah, I love you. And whatever you do, please do everything your mother asks of you. Don't back talk and be a very good boy!" Leila begged. Micah sniffed and nodded.
Micah slowly walked over to Cara. Cara hadn't broken down yet, but she was on the verge of collapsing. She swept Micah up in a hug.
"I love you so much sweetie. I promise you, we'll get this straightened out. Me and your daddy will not stop until your back in our arms, do you understand?"
Micah tightened his grip on Cara and sobbed into her neck. Cara reluctantly let go of him, and drudged over to his mother. She snatched his hand up and drug him out the door. Cara and Patrick led the way to outside and watched as Micah was loaded into a cab. AS the cab started to roll down the street, Micah looked out the back window, waving by.
Cara finally broke and fell into Patrick's arms, heartbroken and crying.