Chapter Thirty-Four:
Maxie and Jason had left to go visit Robin leaving the father and son alone together. Sonny looked over at his son. "I'm glad they left, it was getting a little crowded in here. I'm claustrophobic ... I was locked in closets." Sonny said carefully. He was fishing for information on his new-found son's childhood. Maxie's had given the painful overview - but he needed details, he needed to know just how badly he'd failed him. Spinelli seemed to know what his father was doing. "I feel ... comfortable in small spaces. The Jackal was never locked in closets. He ... I hid in them. Sometimes it was 'out of sight and out of mind' but when it wasn't ... I could see it coming. He could not sneak up on the Jackal in the closet. There was only one way to get to me." Spinelli replied as he struggled to keep calm. It was hard to talk about, but he knew his father wanted to know. His father cared.
The older man sat down in the chair beside his son's hospital bed. "Was it ... did it happen often?" he asked. Spinelli sighed, "He would hit or kick ... something every day. The more extreme violence was ... frequent, though not daily.". Sonny felt a surge of anger at the young man's words. He knew he had to calm himself or he would not be faking the extreme paranoia that part of his and Jason's plan. "How bad was it?" Sonny said after taking a deep breath, he still couldn't word the question right. "He broke many bones. He almost killed ... me once. Mom ... she had quite a way with words. He ended up on the wrong end of it after that. He left th- me alone for a few weeks until I was better ... then ... that was the day she died." Spinelli told his father as he struggled to refer to himself correctly. Maxie said he was fine like he was, but that was one defense mechanism he wanted to get under control. It only made people look at him strangely.
Sonny felt the tears forming in his eyes. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. I should have ... I should have followed up with her, or at least made sure she knew how to contact me if - if she needed to. I was so stupid!" he confessed. "The Parental One had know way of knowing. I do not blame you." Spinelli said, trying to console his father. "Thank you, Spinelli ... but I blame myself. It's not even just with you ... I don't think you even know all the things that happened to the little ones because of me. Michael almost died several times times before... and apparently Morgan's the only one of my children that hasn't ended up catatonic." Sonny insisted. "You did not know what would happen." Spinelli told him. "I didn't know at first ... but after a while. I knew ... deep down I knew my children weren't safe. And it took losing Michael for me to do anything about it. It shouldn't have happened. I shouldn't have been so selfish." Sonny said, his anger at himself more obvious with every word. "No matter what you can not change the past. All you can do is what you are doing. Protect th- us now." his son said firmly.
Before Sonny had a chance to say anything more the door opened and Carly stuck her head in. "Maxie called with the good news and a certain little boy was boucing off the walls. Kristina was too, so we swung by and picked her up. You up for some little visiters, Spin?" Carly asked. Spinelli beamed "I am always up to seeing them!". With that the door flew open and within seconds Spinelli was sharing his hospital bed with two small children. "Spinelli!" Morgan screached. "You're almost better?" Kristina asked. Spinelli laughed, "Yep, I'm almost better. It won't be to long before I'm able to come home." he told them. "Really?" his little sister asked. "Yep." he told her "Really.". Morgan scooted to where he was sitting right in front of Spinelli and on his lap. "When you're all better will you take us places?" he asked very seriously. "Oooh! Like for ice cream?!?!" Kristina added. Spinelli laughed again, "Of course I will!". He was going to love this big brother thing.
The three siblings sat talking for a while as their father watched the bitter-sweet scene in silence. The absence of the missing brother was painfully obvious in his eyes. He could almost hear Michael joining in the conversation and it hurt not to hear his voice along with his other children's. Before he could think to much about it Maxie came marching into the room. "Spinelli!" she said in playfull exasperation. "What?" he asked innocently, looking up from his siblings. "Robin says you came up with the baby's name!" she told him. Spinelli looked stunned. "It ... it feels like it was so long ago. I compleatly forgot." he finally said. "What baby?" Morgan asked. Maxie knelt down to the kids level. "Robin and Patrick's new baby. Her name is Michaela Georgieanna." she told them. Kristina looked up quickly, "Michaela for Michael?" she asked. Maxie smiled "Michaela for Michael." she confirmed.
Author's Note: You've got three more update's coming in the next week to get the story back on track so I hope this didn't feel to rushed or anything. Thank's SO much to my reviewers!!! Reviews are love!