Hey guys! Thanks for being so patient for an update! I had state exams for school this past week so I have been super busy! But I finally finished this chapter and now the wait is over. I will try and update again soon.
The following morning, Jack woke up to see that his bedroom door was open again. He nervously poked his head out of the hallway and didn't see Christopher anyway. He went to the bathroom quickly and then tiptoed downstairs. He saw Christopher back in the kitchen cooking something on the stove. His stomach was rumbling loudly but he didn't want to eat anything he would offer him.
Christopher turned around and noticed that Jack was standing in the hallway peering at him around the corner of the wall. "Goodmorning…"
"I want to go home." Jack said quickly just like he had the night before.
Chris ignored him and held out a plate of pancakes, "I made pancakes, I figured if you got your Mom's stomach you will eat these. Come here."
Jack shook his head, "I want to go home."
Chris sighed and put the plate down, "You can't go home right now Jack. So you should probably eat something."
"I only like my Daddy's pancakes." Jack said stubbornly from his spot far away.
Chris's face hardened and he grabbed the plate and threw it in the sink causing it to crack in half and make a loud noise. Jack jumped and hid himself behind the wall and suddenly Christopher had flashbacks to the night in Lorelai's kitchen when he had hit her. He remembered how terrified she had looked that night and suddenly it was reflected on her son's face.
He sighed, wiped a hand over his face and slowly walked to the hallway. Jack slid down to the floor and put his head against his knees. "Please take me home." He whispered.
Chris sighed and sat on the bottom step, "Jack...I can't."
"Why not?" Jack said with tears in his eyes.
He was quiet as he thought about his words carefully, "Because I'm going to be in a lot of trouble for having you here with me…"
"You said you asked my Mommy and Daddy if I could go with you." Jack said softly, Chris didn't answer, "You lied?"
Chris turned back to him and nodded slowly, "I lied…"
"You're mean." Jack said as tears welled up in his eyes, "Rory isn't coming is she? You lied about that too?"
Chris nodded slowly, "Yes Jack...I'm sorry I-"
"You're mean!" Jack yelled again as he stood up and stomped his foot, "Take me home!"
Chris stood up quickly, "Jack...I can't. I'm really sorry and I know you are confused but I can't take you home."
"I want to go home!" Jack screamed again as he ran for the front door.
Chris was to fast though, he quickly wrapped his arms around Jack's waist and pulled him back, "Jack you can't run away...you don't know where you are. We're in the woods far away from your home. You'll get lost."
"I don't want to be with you!" Jack yelled and his kicking resumed, "Put me down!"
"If I put you down you have to promise not to run...can you do that?" Chris asked as he grimaced with each blow to his body.
"Put me down!" Jack yelled again angrily.
"Jack...you have to promise not to run and I will put you down." Chris said feeling his anger build again.
Jack started to cry and he gave up his kicking, "Fine…"
Chris put him down on the ground and stared at him, "I'm sorry...I'll…" He looked around the house slowly, "I'll figure this out, okay? But...for now you need to stay here with me. Do you want some pancakes or not? You must be hungry. You didn't eat last night…"
Jack wanted to say no. He wanted to be angry and keep yelling at him but his stomach only growled louder. He pouted, sat on the floor again and nodded slowly. "Yes please…"
Chris felt a tinge of regret, even though he was scared the kid was still polite. He sighed, walked to the kitchen and got another plate full of pancakes. He brought them to Jack who was still stubbornly sitting on the floor. He gave him the plate and a bottle of syrup and a fork.
"Here…" Chris said sitting on the bottom step again.
Jack stared at the plain pancakes, "My Dad puts chocolate chips in them for me…"
Chris felt his fists clenched but he took a deep breath, "I will try and pick some up next time I go to the store…"
Jack poured the syrup on the pancakes and quickly shoveled some into his mouth, "Go away." He said with a mouthful of food.
Chris stared at him for a moment, he wasn't sure if he had heard him right. But finally, he stood up, walked to the kitchen and left the little boy to eat by himself. Jack continued to eat until he was too full. He pushed the plate away and walked back upstairs without saying a word to Chris. He climbed up on the bed again and stared out the window through the trees and wondered how much longer he would have to stay here. He wondered if his parents were looking for him and if they missed him as much as he missed them.
In Stars Hollow, Lorelai found Luke standing in Jack's room staring at the outfit they had picked out for Jack to wear on his first day of school. Lorelai being Lorelai had started brainstorming ideas way back in the beginning of August. Jack had said no to every outfit and only agreed to actually go to school if he was allowed to wear his "Dad Uniform" as he referred to it.
Luke was holding the the small blue hat that Jack had worn the day that Chris took him. He wondered how it had fallen off his head. Was there a struggle? Had Christopher seen it and been mad because it reminded him of Luke? Had he thrown it aside or had Jack accidently dropped it?
He sighed and sat on the edge of his son's bed. Lorelai stepped into the room, sat down beside him and kissed his cheek. "Hey…"
"We should be taking him to his first day of school right now…" He whispered.
Lorelai bit her lip, "I know…"
"It's still hard to believe he is old enough to go to school." He smiled sadly, "I still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday...I really thought I was going to break him. He was so tiny…"
Lorelai smiled, "I remember thinking how natural you looked holding him...like you had done it a million times before."
Luke looked over at her, "As happy as I was that day...it was also terrifying. With all your complications...I was so afraid…"
She nodded slowly and looked around Jack's room, "Didn't exactly go as planned." She smiled sadly, "But...nothing in our lives ever really does when you think about it."
"I love watching you with them...with Elise and Jack…" He whispered, "Makes me fall in love with you all over again. You're such an amazing mother…"
Her eyes welled up with tears, "If I'm such an amazing mother...how come I couldn't protect him from this?"
Luke sighed and placed the tiny hat down beside him, "Lorelai…"
"He was mad at me. He should have come after me...not Jack. But he knew...he knew that would hurt me more. He knows me so damn well…" She said with a laugh as she wiped her tears away, "God I hate him…"
Luke opened his mouth to respond but there was a slight knock on the door, "Hey…" Jess whispered as he poked his head in, "Sorry...did I interrupt?"
Lorelai shook her head and quickly wiped at her tears again, "No...what's up Jess? Does Elise need something?"
"Rory and April are giving her a bath actually." Jess said as he stepped further into the room, "But your Dad is here with some lawyers. They want to talk to you guys."
Luke nodded and stood up, "Thanks Jess…" He turned back to Lorelai and held out a hand to her, "Come on…"
Lorelai took his hand and stood up quickly to let him lead her out of the bedroom. Jess waited until they left before he looked back and noticed the small blue hat sitting on the bed. He sighed, turned around and shut the door behind him.
Downstairs, Lorelai and Luke sat at the dining room table with Richard and the lawyers. They discussed the restraining order and what new one would be in place when and if they found Christopher. They talked about what would happen when Christopher and Jack were found and how they wanted to proceed with the case.
"Once Christopher is in custody...there won't be much standing in our way to put him on trial. Kidnapping will be a greater charge than assault." The first lawyer said.
Lorelai swallowed hard, "But...will he be able to get out again?" Luke grabbed for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
The first lawyer sighed, "I can't tell you what will happen in court Lorelai...that is up to the jury to decide how long he gets. Of course this time if he did get out...we wouldn't have a problem putting Jack and the rest of your family on a new restraining order."
Lorelai rolled her eyes, "That restraining order did nothing. Sure he stayed away from me but clearly he didn't care about it...he doesn't care what happens to him. He just wants to make me pay for putting him away." She started to cry and shook her head, "I knew I never should have pressed charges in the first place...it only made matters worse."
Luke squeezed her hand and scooted his chair closer to her, "Don't say that. He deserved to go to jail for hurting you the way he did. And when he find Jack...he will go away again." No one had missed the fact that he had refused to say Christopher's actual name.
She sighed and looked at him, "But if had just left it alone…"
Luke shook his head, "Would you still be with him now?"
She opened her mouth to respond and then looked away, "I...I don't think so. I wouldn't want to be…"
Luke pulled at her hand to make him look at her again, "If you hadn't pressed charges...maybe we wouldn't be where we are right now. But that might also mean that you and I never would have gotten married...or had Jack in the first place...or even Elise...is that what you want?"
She bit her lip and looked down at their joined hands, "I love my children...more than anything. But...if I never had them...they would never feel this kind of pain."
Luke sighed and looked up at Richard who was frowning at his daughter, "Lorelai look at me…"
It took her a moment but she finally lifted her head to stared at him, "Dad…"
He leaned across the table and put his hand over Lorelai and Luke's, "Jack and Elise were brought into this word for a reason. And yes...this is something we never expected. Something terrible that is going to be difficult to deal with but we will…" He smiled at her, "I know how scared you are. But I also know that you don't really wish they had never been born...or that you didn't press charges. Christopher got what he deserved...and we will make sure he never hurts you or our family again."
She pursed her lips, "I just want my son home...I don't care what it takes. I don't care what we have to do...I just want my son home in one piece. Because if anything happens to him...if Christopher has hurt him in anyway…" She took a deep breath, "I swear to God I will kill him myself."
"Mrs. Danes…" The first lawyer whispered to her, "I know this is difficult...but we have to make sure we go about this the right way."
Luke sighed and leaned into his wife as he whispered in her ear to soothe her, "Lorelai...take a deep breath."
She was tense beside him and both her husband and her father were squeezing her hand, "Luke...I'm afraid he…"
Luke shook his head, "Don't...it will drive you crazy. Jack is okay...and we are going to find him."
She let out a shaky breath and turned to him, "Luke…"
He looked directly into her eyes and gave her a quick nod, "Trust me I know...you know I know what you are feeling. But you told me we had to be here for our son...and we will be. Together. Alright?"
She bit her lip and then looked back at the lawyers, "What do we do next?"
Upstairs, Rory and April were putting Elise back in her clothes after her bath. Rory was putting things in the hamper as Jess walked into the room. He smiled at the both as they worked silently to help their baby sister.
"Where are Lorelai and my Dad?" April asked as she turned towards him with Elise in her arms.
Jess leaned against the dresser, "Downstairs talking to the lawyers…"
Rory sighed and sat down in the rocking chair in the corner, "I don't know how much longer they can take of this...I'm going crazy. I keep thinking about him being out there...alone."
April bounced Elise back and forth and nodded her head, "Me too...he must be so scared. I was terrified sleeping in my dorm for the first night and I'm 18. Jack's only five...he doesn't understand where he is or why he's there without us all." She bit her lip and looked over at Rory, "You don't think...that your Dad would...hurt him...do you?"
Rory sighed and rested her head against the back of the rocking chair, "April...I'd like to say no. But quite honestly...I don't know what my father is capable of anymore."
Jess let the silence fill the room for a moment before he whispered, "I'd like to think that he'd have mercy on a little kid…"
Rory stood up and smiled sadly, "I'd like to think so too…" She let out a puff of air and walked over to April to take Elise in her arms, "Hey little girl...how are you doing?"
Elise looked up at her sister and whispered, "Jack Jack…"
Rory whimpered and pulled her closer, "He'll be home soon Elise…" She turned back to Jess, "It means a lot to Luke that you're here...I can tell."
Jess nodded, "Well...he's done a lot for me. I'd do anything for him."
April stared at her cousin for a moment, "Do you know your real Dad?"
Jess smiled sadly, "Met him twice...and both times didn't go so well." He shrugged, "But it doesn't matter much. Luke was the only father figure I needed…"
Rory smiled, "Only one I needed too…"
Jess noticed the sadness on April's face, he walked closer to her and put a hand on her arm, "What's up?"
She sighed and glanced over at him, "I saw the bruises and cuts on my Dad's hand…" She took a deep breath, "I know it wasn't an accident…"
Jess sighed and let his hand fall to his side, "April…"
"I'm worried that he's going to do something...I won't blame him for hurting…" She grimaced as she said his name, "Christopher…" She shook her head, "But what if he has to go away too?"
Jess sighed again, "April...he's really angry. He's trying hard to keep it together."
She pursed her lips, "But we all know that when he sees him...he'll lose control."
Jess put his hand back on her arm, "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he stays safe April. Okay? Him and I talked...he knows what he needs to do."
April nodded slowly, "I know he knows...but will he follow through?"
Jess looked over at Rory who had a similar fearful look on her face, "We have to remember that as strong as they are being for our sake...their feeling a lot more pain than they've let on."
Rory turned to April, "April...we all need to stick together, alright? No matter what happens…"
April nodded slowly, "You're right…"
"He's coming home…" Jess whispered softly, "Jack is coming home...and Luke will be with him. Okay?"
April smiled, leaned into Jess and let him wrap his arm around her, "Okay…"
The three of them stood their together wondering what would happen when Jack was found. And even after...how could they make sure that Christopher never hurt them again?
Downstairs, Lorelai was standing in the kitchen washing her coffee cup as Luke saw the lawyers and her father off. The back door opened and Liz walked in and offered a small smile.
"Hey…" She whispered, "How are you doing?"
Lorelai sighed, dried the cup and placed it on the counter beside her, "Same as yesterday…"
Liz nodded slowly and walked over to her, "Still no word?"
Lorelai shook her head and tried to smile, "Not yet…"
Liz sighed and leaned against the counter beside her, "I wish I could say something that would make you feel better…"
Lorelai frowned, "Just being here helps Liz...it helps Luke too. Having all our friends and family supporting us...helping look. It keeps us standing…"
Luke walked into the kitchen and smiled when he saw his sister, "Hey Liz…"
She reached a hand out to him, "Hey Big Brother…"
Luke gave her hand a squeeze and leaned against the kitchen table, "Did Doula head off to school today?"
Liz nodded, "We took her this morning...she didn't want to go. She wanted to come here."
Lorelai bit her lip and looked away, Luke watched her for a moment and then turned back to his sister, "It's good for Doula to get back into the swing of things...keep a normal schedule as much as possible."
Lorelai stifled a sob and Luke stood up to pull her against him, "Even if he comes home...how do we explain this all to him? How do we just move on from it all? I'm going to be afraid that someone is going to take him everytime I turn my head…"
Luke gave her a squeeze, "It's going to be hard...it's going to be really hard. But we will deal with it all together."
Liz watched them for a moment, "I uh...I had a dream last night. About...about Dad."
Luke glanced over Lorelai's shoulder at his sister, "What?"
Lorelai pulled away slowly to turn to look at her sister-in-law, Liz took a deep breath, "It felt so real...Dad was standing there in front of me. And he was telling me to tell you that it was going to be okay...that Jack was going to be okay."
Luke's grip on his wife's arm tightened and she lifted a hand to place over his, "Liz…" She whispered.
Liz shrugged, "I know you probably think I'm crazy...and maybe I am. But I swear it was so real...and it felt like Dad was letting me know he was going to watch over Jack. Make sure that nothing else happens to him...to make sure that Christopher doesn't hurt him."
Lorelai let out a puff of air and leaned into her husband, "God I hope so…"
Liz nodded slowly, "Me too…" She took a deep breath and knew in that moment they needed to be alone, "Is Jess here?"
Luke nodded slowly and moved his head towards the hall, "Upstairs…"
Liz nodded, reached out to give Lorelai's hand a squeeze, "He's coming home…"
Lorelai nodded back and watched Liz walk away. She waited a moment before turning to look at her husband who had a far away look on his face. She stared at the lines that had grown on his face over the years. She was pretty sure a few of them had developed in the last few days alone.
"Luke…" She whispered softly as her eyes welled up with tears.
He closed his eyes tightly, "I know it was just a dream...but...but I want to believe that he is there with Jack. That he is taking care of him...watching over him. Because I can't be...I can't be beside him making sure he's okay."
Lorelai leaned up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "I believe he is…"
Luke let his arms wrap around her waist, "Jack's strong…" He whispered, "And tough...he'll give Christopher a run for his money."
Lorelai couldn't help but smile, "I hope he does…" She pulled away and let her hands rest on his chest, "Luke...about earlier...when we were talking to the lawyers…"
He grabbed her hands against his chest and gave them a squeeze, "It's okay...you have every right to feel the way you do."
She sighed, "But I don't want you to think I don't love our life…"
He shook his head adamantly, "Lorelai I don't think that. I could never think that…I know what you meant."
She shifted her weight and tried to keep her tears in, "I just...I wonder sometimes. What would have happened…"
"I don't understand." He whispered as he leaned into her.
She sighed and looked up at him, "What if...what if Christopher never hit me...what would have happened? Would I still be with him? Or would you and I…"
Luke let out a slow breath and tried not to show the shock on his face, "I...I don't know. Would you have wanted to stay with him?"
She shook her head, "No. Of course not...I didn't love him. And he knew that…" She was quiet for a moment as she tried to find the right way to form her thoughts into words, "I think that eventually...I would have left him. But…"
He raised an eyebrow, "But what?"
She looked down at his lips and then up to his eyes, "But would you have been able to forgive me? Or did you just do it because you felt sorry for me?"
Luke gasped and stepped away from her, "Lorelai…"
She grimaced, "That sounded bad...I just…" She sighed and dropped her hands from his chest, "I know you love me. And I thank God everyday that you helped me through all that. But...I still feel this insane guilt for what I put you through back then. And I just...I wonder if you ever would have been able to forgive me if things had been different…"
Luke lifted the cap off of his head and ran a hand through her hair, "Lorelai...I didn't forgive you because he hit you…" He placed the cap down again and looked at her, "I forgave you long before that had happened...but you were with him so I stayed away."
She stared at him and then whispered, "I never stopped loving you…"
He nodded slowly and then reached for her hand, "I know. And I never stopped loving you…" He traced the side of her face and tipped her chin up, "Which is why I know that someway...we would have found our way back to each other."
Her eyes fluttered a few times before she whispered his name, "Luke…"
"You know I wish that he never had hurt you…" He said, "It kills me remembering what he did...knowing if I had just figured things out sooner…"
She stepped closer and put her hands on his chest again, "It wasn't your fault…"
He nodded, "I know. And it wasn't yours either. It happened. It is what it is. And you know what...that's part of life. But we're here now...and we have a great life. And nothing Christopher does is going to change that."
She nodded slowly, "I'm sorry...I just have all these thoughts floating around in my head. And I can't sort through them all…"
He shook his head, "You don't have to apologize Lorelai...you just need to remember that I love you. I always loved you and I always will love you. No matter what happens. Okay?"
She nodded slowly and leaned her forehead against his, "Okay…"
He breathed her in and let her body sway against his, "We're going to make it through this…"
She let her tears start to fall again, "I know…"
He lifted his head to kiss her forehead and then pulled her all the way against him. She rested her head in the crook of his neck and let him comfort her just like he always did.
They heard footsteps down the hall and only pulled away at the last second, Lorelai smiled at Rory as she approached them, "Hey honey…"
Rory held up the phone in her hands, "Sherry's on the phone...she wants to talk to you…"
Lorelai glanced back at Luke who let her go with a hopeful look on his face. Lorelai walked towards her daughter, took the phone and pressed it to her ear while trying to stop the pounding of her heart, "Sherry?"
"Lorelai hi...I uh…" She paused for a moment and then continued, "You told me to call if I knew anything…"
Lorelai reached out and grabbed Rory's hands, "Did he call you?" Luke rushed to her side in an instant and held her up when he saw her knees begin to tremble.
"No. I…" She sighed again, "It's Gigi...she said she needs to talk to you. I don't know what it's about...she said she'll only talk to you."
Lorelai frowned, "Gigi wants to talk to me?" Rory glanced at Luke who looked just as confused as she did.
"I know that you have a million things going on right now. But she seems to be adamant about it. I told her what was going on...so she wouldn't ask to speak to you if she didn't really think it was important or helpful." Sherry explained.
Lorelai looked at her husband, "Well...then of course I'll talk to her. Where are you?"
"About ten minutes outside Stars Hollow...I probably should have called sooner. But I didn't know what to say. Is it okay if we come by?" Sherry asked nervously.
Lorelai glanced around the kitchen, "Yes. Of course. We're here...just come by."
"Okay. We'll be there shortly…" Sherry said before she hung up.
Lorelai closed the phone and handed it back to Rory, "What was that all about?" Rory asked.
"She said Gigi needs to talk to me…" Lorelai said glancing at her daughter.
Rory frowned, "Gigi? Do you think she knows something?"
Lorelai sighed, "I...I don't know." She looked at her husband who was staring intently at her, "It's weird...throughout all of this...I never thought about Gigi. He's her father too...what does this mean for her? I mean I can't imagine what she must be feeling...how confused she must be."
Rory bit her lip, "I tried to keep in contact with her...but it was too hard for me."
Lorelai turned back to her, "Someday she'll understand that Rory…"
"Maybe." Rory whispered, "Or maybe she'll hate me…"
Lorelai sighed and put an arm around her shoulder, "Rory…"
"I hate my father." Rory said as tears welled up in her eyes, "I wish everyday that he was dead. Maybe that's wrong...but I do. But...Gigi is still a kid. She's only 10. How can she possibly understand all this? She knows I have other siblings...she knows that I spend time with them."
Lorelai kissed the top of her head, "Rory don't…"
Luke gave his wife's arm a squeeze before he whispered, "I'm going to go talk to the police...let them know we are expecting company. They will probably want to know what she has to say too…"
Lorelai gave him a small smile and nodded, "Okay…" When he was gone she turned back to Rory, "Honey...look at me…"
Rory sighed and pulled away as she wiped at her tears, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to upset you. I'm just really confused…"
Lorelai smiled at her, "That makes two of us kid. You aren't the only one trying to wrap their head around all this. I just asked Luke if we would still be together if your Dad never attacked me…"
Rory frowned, "Of course you would. You guys are supposed to be together. It would have happened eventually."
Lorelai nodded, "I know...I momentarily lost my mind. It's an effect from my fear…"
Rory smiled, "Luke loves you…"
Lorelai smiled and gave her a squeeze, "And I love him…" She leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "Come on...they'll be here soon."
Back in Maine, Jack was sitting on the floor watching Christopher. He had been sitting at the table scribbling in a notepad for a long time. Jack wanted to know what he was writing, but of course even if he could see it he wouldn't know since he couldn't read. He pushed his little legs off the floor and walked to the table beside him.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked as he peered over the edge of the table at him.
Chris snapped out of his daze and glanced at Jack again, "What?"
"What are you doing?" Jack asked again as he pushed up on his tip-toes to get a better look.
Chris narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously, "Can you read?"
Jack narrowed his eyes right back, "Yes…" He lied.
Chris smirked, "No you can't." He went back to writing, "So I have nothing to worry about." He looked at the kid out of the corner of his eyes and cocked his head to the side, "Go back over there…"
Jack shook his head and whined, "It's boring here…"
Chris sighed, "Well you're going to have to find a way to entertain yourself kid."
Jack was quiet, "Do you miss Rory?" He saw Chris flinch, "Mommy says when she's away from me she misses me all the time. But you have been gone…" He thought for a moment, "Well at least my whole life...so do you miss Rory?"
Chris huffed slowly and put his pen down, "Rory is my daughter."
Jack raised an eyebrow, "She shares my Daddy…"
Chris pursed his lips and rolled his eyes, "Lucky her…"
"Do you miss Rory?" He asked again as he went up and down on his toes.
Christopher pushed back in his seat and frowned, "Yes."
Jack climbed up on the chair next to him, "Well then why didn't we go and see her like you promised?"
"Because I don't think she would be very happy to see me." He said with a sad smile.
Jack swung his legs back and forth, "I'm always happy to see my Daddy...why wouldn't she be happy to see you if you're her Daddy?"
Chris groaned and rubbed the back of his neck, "Jack...you're just a kid. You wouldn't understand…"
Jack huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "I hate when Mommy says that…"
He laughed, "I'm sure you do. But it's the truth...you would never understand what I told you. And I doubt your Mom wants you to know about it anyway."
"Mommy tells me everything." Jack said as he leaned against the table, "At least I think she does…" He frowned.
Chris smirked, "Your Mom is a vault...she keeps plenty hidden away from the rest of the world. Even from the people she cares about most."
"What does that mean? That she's a vault?" Jack asked softly.
Chris laughed and shook his head, "You wouldn't understand. You're just a…"
"Kid." Jack finished for him, "I know…"
"Tell me about your Mom and Dad…" Chris said suddenly without thinking.
Jack frowned, "Don't you already know them?"
Chris nodded, "Yes. But I want to know what you think of them…"
Jack sat down on his hands and smiled, "Well Daddy is really strong." He watched as Chris tensed, "He can fix anything. Which is good because Mommy breaks a lot of things...but Daddy always fixes it."
Chris smirked, "She must like that…"
Jack kept talking, "And Daddy is a really good cook. I like going to the Diner and watching him work. Sometimes he takes me and helps me bake pies. I always wear my flannel shirt and my hat…"
"The one you were wearing at the park…" Chris whispered softly.
Jack nodded, "Mhm. Mommy bought it for me. I wear it all the time. I want to be just like my Dad. He's brave and funny. And he teaches me all about sports and how to fix things. He makes Mommy smile...even when she is sad."
Chris felt tears burning in his eyes, "And your Mom? What's she like?"
Jack smiled, "Mommy is so much fun. She's always dancing...even if there is no music she makes it up on her own. And she loves to play with me...she makes funny voices for all my toys. And she doesn't care if I make a mess...she says that's the best part about being a kid."
Chris swallowed hard, "I loved your Mother very much once…"
Jack frowned, "Is that why you had Rory?"
Chris stared at him with a confused expression, "What?"
Jack shrugged, "Daddy said that when two people love each other they make a baby…"
Chris's mouth opened and he couldn't hide his smile, "Oh…" He rubbed the back of his neck, "Um...well yeah I guess. Yes. When we had Rory...I loved her. And after…"
"But she is married to my Daddy and not you…" Jack said with a shrug, "So...she didn't love you back?"
He rested his elbows on the table, "Jack...do you know what jail is? Prison?" He asked.
"That's where cops put the bad guys. And Spider man and all the other superheros help them." Jack said.
Chris couldn't help but smile at his innocence, "Uh...right. That's right." He took a deep breath and then continued, "Well...that's where I have been. That's why you never saw me until now…"
Jack frowned, "So you did a bad thing? And the cops and the superheros had to come take you away?"
"Well not superheros…" Chris said with a laugh, "But cops yes…"
Jack was quiet and then he jumped down from his chair and stood behind it, "So...you are a bad guy. You did something bad…"
Christopher could tell he was scared of him, he turned towards him and tried to speak in a soothing voice, "Jack I'm not going to hurt you…"
"You lied to me about Rory…" Jack said with a pout, "Why should I believe you now?"
He sighed and pushed his chair back, "I guess you shouldn't…"
"Are you going to take me home soon?" Jack whispered softly from behind the chair.
Chris looked down at his notepad and then back at Jack, "I haven't decided yet…"
Jack turned and walked back to the floor in front of the couch and sat down, "What thing did you do that was bad?"
The silence permeated the room, and Christopher tried to think of how to respond. "Jack…"
"Did you hurt Rory?" Jack asked as he pulled at the strings on the carpet.
"No." Chris sighed and shook his head, "Well...yes I guess I did in a way."
Jack pulled harder until the strings popped out of the rug, "Did you hurt Mommy?"
He let out a shallow breath and nodded, "Yes...I did. And I am sorry for it...but I'm not sure she will ever forgive me."
"If you are sorry...then why did you take me?" Jack asked softly, "Wouldn't that hurt Mommy again? Or…" He paused and swallowed hard, "Does Mommy not want me anymore?"
Chris pushed the chair back and walked over to the small boy, "That's not…" He sat down in front of him and tried to think of what to say, "I know that your Mommy loves you very much. She has too...she loves Rory immensely. I am sure that she loves you and your other sister just as much."
"So...if you are sorry for hurting Mommy...then why did you do it again?" Jack asked again trying hard to understand.
Chris began pulling at the threads on the carpet too, "I don't know…"
"Daddy says there is always a reason for making a bad choice." Jack said with a pout, "Like when I lie to him about eating too many cookies before dinner…"
Christopher laughed again, "I think this is a little more serious than eating too many cookies buddy…"
Jack frowned, "Don't call me that…My Da-"
"Sorry." Chris whispered, "I uh...I did a bad thing taking you with me. And I'm sorry for that too...but it doesn't really matter."
Jack pulled another string and whispered, "Are you going to take me home?"
Chris sighed and glanced sadly at the boy, "You'll go home…"
Jack pouted and shook his head, "But are you going to take me there?"
Chris smiled, "Let me say this in terms you will understand…" He shifted in his spot, "You like superheros right?"
Jack nodded, "Yep."
Chris nodded, "Well in this situation...let's say I'm Lex Luther. And your Mom and Dad are Wonder Woman and Superman. Who usually wins in those fights?"
Jack smiled, "Superman and Wonder Woman…"
Chris's smile faded slightly and he nodded, "Then I guess you're going home…" He pushed himself off the floor and started to walk towards the kitchen, "Are you hungry?"
Jack frowned, "So does that mean you'll go back to jail with the other bad guys?"
Chris stood at the stove and shrugged, "I guess we're going to have to wait to see about that part...sometimes the bad guy gets away in those stories, doesn't he?"
"Sometimes…" Jack whispered. "But I don't think my Daddy will let you get away…"
Chris poured himself a glass of water and then lifted it to his lips, "I think you're probably right about that Jack…"
Jack glanced out the window and noticed that the sun was beginning to set. He saw a few quick flashes and knew they were fireflies again. He looked down at the rug and pulled harder at the threads, "Are you scared?" He whispered.
Christopher turned to look at him again, "Me?" Jack nodded and Chris smiled, "Yes. I am…"
Jack yanked the tread all the way out of the rug, "I was scared when you took me here...but I'm not anymore. Mommy and Daddy are going to find me."
Chris swallowed hard, "I'm sure they will…"
Jack stood up and walked towards the stairs, "And then you'll go away just like all the other bad guys…" He said with his back to him.
Chris let out a breath of air and put his glass down. He watched the little boy climb the stairs one at a time and then heard the slam of the door signaling he had gone back to his room. He looked out the window and wondered how much longer he could get away with this game. He walked back to the table, looked down at the letter and signed his name on it.
He tore the piece of paper out of the notebook, slid it to the center of the table and then returned to the kitchen. He took out a few pots and pans and decided to make some dinner for at least himself. If Jack decided to eat that was fine...but for now Christopher had to enjoy what little time he had left.
Hope it was worth the wait. I will hopefully find time tomorrow to start the next chapter!