Mark and Dave rounded up the boys a couple of days later in the living room. Standing before all the boys that were involved in last night's little event. "Alright.. I don't know what has gotten into your minds lately. But when you all first arrive, what's the first rule?" Mark asked. Everybody looked at one another, then back up to Mark. Nobody didn't want to answer, get it wrong and have more chores to do.
Stepping in the door as a voice spoke, "When you step on to this ranch, leave all gang related things at the gate."
Mark looked up as he saw Tritan standing in the doorway to the kitchen, with the two more helping hands in the form of Jeff and his brother Matt Hardy. Mark nods, "Very good Tritan. That's right.." Looking to the rest of the crew, "We always teach you that the first two weeks you are here, with a few small incidents here and there. Now what happen a couple of night ago, was uncalled for. Especially by a certain few who have been here for quite awhile and know the rules." Glaring at Chancey and Jose. "I'm not pointing fingers at who did what. But I want to know the truth of what happen. How Hank ended up shooting himself and who took out AJ?"
Everybody clammed up real quick and didn't want to nark at the next person sitting to their left or right. It was a code of ethnics they went by, even though they were on neutral territory. Dave sighs as he looks to the group, "We'll sit here all night until someone gives us an answer as to why we are one man short and another in the hospital?" Still nobody didn't want to speak up. Mark pinching the bridge of his nose in frustrations. "Alright you want to play the silent game. Everyone is on punishment. Confined to quarters, only to be out when Dave, Jeff, Matt or myself take you out of your room for chores. Early rising for exercises and long distance running, until someone comes forward with what happen." A huge groan was heard over the group as everybody rose to their feet, headed upstairs to their rooms.
Tritan felt a hand on his shoulder as he was still standing between Matt and Jeff. He was already on that strict punishment, since that night, for taking the pistol and ammo without permission. He wasn't going to rat out Chancey for taking the pistol out of Mark's display case in his study. Looking up it was Mark, he had stepped up to the kid. "You come with me. I've got something special to show you. Been waiting until the right moment to show you." Tritan nodded his head as he followed Mark down the hallway towards his study, where nobody was allowed to go without Mark's permission.
Unlocking the door as Mark opened the door, stepping inside as Tritan slowly stepped inside. Mark walked over to a book shelf that had books and albums stacked to the ceiling on. A heavy oak desk sat in front of a large bay window, which gave a wonderful view to the mountains and such out in the backyard. A small plush couch sat between more book shelves, along with two plush chairs sitting in front of the desk. "Shut the door Tritan and take a seat." Mark pointed as he grabbed a couple of things off of the book shelf. Tritan closed the door, nodding as he did what he was told. Mark walked over, seating himself next to Tritan.
"I've always wanted to show you this, ever since your dad past. But I knew it wasn't the right time until now." Tritan lifted a brow to the album Mark handed him. Taking the dark brown leather bound, thick almost like a dictionary as he placed it in his lap. Slowly opening the lid as varies pictures came into his view, along with varies newspaper clippings, along with a few full magazines. Narrowing his eyes as he started looking them over. The pictures all looked familiar, turning a page as he stopped.
Running his fingertips over the picture, like it would jump out at him and bite his fingers off. "That's your dad. Himself and Eddie at Wrestlemania 20, after winning the title. He was so proud and happy at the same time. He wished you were there with him." Mark explained softly. Tritan slowly looked to Mark, "Why are you showing me these?" Mark took the album from Tritan's lap, placing it in his. Turning a few pages as Tritan looked over to see the photos. "I wanted to see what you'd say when I showed you." Looking to Tritan, "Miss him don't you.." Tritan looked away as he shook his head, "Not in the least..." Mark shook his head gently, "Everything your father did was for you Tritan. When he first knew he was going to be a father, everybody in the locker room heard about it for months until you were born."
Tritan still didn't look anywhere but out the window to his side. Crossing his arms over his chest. "He never cared when he left my mom..." "He didn't tell you the truth did he?" Mark asked as Tritan looked to him. "The truth is he left myself and mom cause he didn't care about us anymore. Why do you ask?" Tritan explained. Mark sighs as he looks to the kid, turning the album, pointing to a picture. "Does this look like a father who didn't care about his one and only son?" Tritan lowered his eyes to the photo Mark was pointing out to him. It was a photo of himself and his dad with the U.S Championship title. He was about ten years old in the photo. Both had huge smiles as he was held in his dad's lap with the title opened up and on display in front of the both of them.
"Every chance he got he call you.. When he won a title he would come to me and tell me wishing you were there with him to celebrate the win with him. Everything he did in his career was for you to be proud of him Tritan." Tritan closed his eyes, lowering his head a bit. Mark took the photo out of the book, placing it in Tritan's hand. "Here take this. You could use it better than I could." Tritan lifted his head a bit, looking to the photo in his hand. Clearing his throat as he spoke, "Why do you have it?" "I kept a lot of things over the years the guys gave me. If and when they had kids and I ended up seeing them, of course when they're older. I would give something to them. Never know you could use it." Tritan smiled a bit as he held the photo in both his hands.
"Mark.. What really happened.." Tritan asked softly. Mark looked to him, placing the album upon the coffee table that sat in front of the couch, it was still open of course. "You dad was always on the road, trying to make a living for you and your mom. Back home, she ended up in things that your dad didn't like. Things didn't work out and she left your dad, it wasn't vice versa."
Tritan looked to Mark dead in the eyes, "Mom left dad?" Mark nodded as he spoke softly, "She did. For her drugs, drinking and wild ways. Your dad found out the hard way, when he returned home to find his six year old son alone without your mom around. Mean while your mom was out doing god who knows what." Tritan looked away, "I remember that night. Dad came home.. I went running to him, scared out of my mind cause mom had left without a word.
Dad never let me go as he searched through out the house for her. Once he figured she wasn't home and found other things, that I can't remember. Packed up some stuff for me, took me Granpaps and Grams house in Winnipeg. Stayed there while dad was off the road. Once he returned, he took me with him... I don't ever remember seeing mom again after that..." Mark placed a hand upon his shoulder, "She was found dead couple of days later, in an alleyway. Police assumed a drug overdose, but who knows. Your dad was happy he got you out of there when he did. He juggled work and taking care of you, the best he could until you were eleven years old. Then he married Jelissa. You know the rest of that." Tritan snorts, "Yea I do. I despise her to no end. She didn't marry dad for love, just for his money. He figured it out after a year of being married to her." Sighing as Tritan ran a hand through his hair, "I gave him a hard time for awhile, but him and I made up for lost time, before I got a call stating he was gone.."
Mark wrapped an arm around his shoulders, "He always loved you Tritan. Even though he didn't say it to you much. He always knew how to show it to you." Tritan nods his head once, "I know. I still miss him.. Is that wrong?" Mark moved his arm as he shook his head, "No it's not wrong at all. He was your dad Tritan. You have every right to miss him." Tritan sighs gently, "He wouldn't be proud of what I've become. A low down gang banger that doesn't give a shit.." Mark bit his tongue on that one. "Let me put it to you this way Tritan. He will always be proud of you, because you're making an effort to change yourself before you became too far in to climb out." Nodding his head once, Tritan slowly got to his feet. "I swear it from this day forth.. I'm going to try my hardest and do my best to do better." Mark nods as he climbed to his feet, "Now that's the Tritan I know and for owning up to your mistakes is, one step towards being a man. Trust me someday you'll understand what your dad felt when he had you as son. Just gonna have to find the right person to settle down with."
Tritan chuckles a bit as he looks to Mark, "Someday I will. Right now I want to get myself back on my feet and do something with myself." Mark nods, "Good start. Any ideas?" Tritan looked to the photo as he speaks softly, "Maybe I was destined to follow my father.." Mark took a step up, placing a hand upon his shoulder, looking to the photo in Tritan's hands. "You already on the road Tritan. You just need to get back on it. Get back into your training and everything. You already got the look down." Tritan chuckles a bit, "I do look like him don't I..." Mark nods his head once, patting the kid's shoulder gently. "You do.. Spitten image. Sometimes the guys and myself have to do a double take to make sure we're not looking at Chris. Then we remember we're looking at his son, that he will always be proud of." Tritan swallows hard as he nods his head once, "I better go.. I've got chores." Mark nods as Tritan turns to leave.
"Oh by the way, have you gone to see AJ yet?" He asks as Tritan stops in front of the door. "No I haven't. I wasn't allowed per her father." "I'm heading up there to visit her tonight. Why don't you come with myself and Dave. I'll talk to Layfield." Tritan smiles a bit as he nods his head, "Thank you Mark.. For everything." With that he left the study to head back out for chores. Walking over to the coffee table as he leaned his hand down as he closes the album, "You're welcome anytime kid." With that he left the study to monitor the rest of the crew, before going on that visit.