House pulled into the high school's parking lot, spotting Mike leaning against his truck. The bike was already down, and Tyler looked as if he was talking a mile a minute to his dad.
He still couldn't believe he had agreed to this, and yet, here he was, getting ready to give riding lessons to some kid. But Tyler had held up his end of the deal, so House couldn't very well back out.
Tyler waved and hollered something House couldn't make out as he brought his bike to a stop, shutting it off and taking off his helmet before unclipping his cane and dismounting. Mike greeted him with a nod and an extended hand. "Sure appreciate you doin' this, Doctor House."
"A deal's a deal." House responded in kind before turning to Tyler. "Are you ready?"
Tyler nodded. "Yes, sir. Dad got me a helmet and a jacket, and I've watched all those videos you told me to watch, and I've got all them rules memorized. I'm gonna nail that test."
"Won't do much good if you don't know how to ride that thing." House pointed out. "So let's get started."
Tyler grinned and nodded, tugging on the jacket and zipping it up before pulling the helmet over his head before House started going over the basics of the controls. "I know that you know how all the pieces fit together, but it's going to be different once you start riding. It's going to take some time to get the feel for how it rides, okay? And you're going to go down. Not a matter of if, but when. Got it?"
Tyler nodded again, his expression turning more serious. "Yes, sir."
House winced a little at that, but let it pass. "Go ahead and start it up."
Tyler turned the key and hit the starter pedal, revving it ever so slightly as the ignition caught and the engine turned over. The kid had been right, the bike sounded as if it were brand new. They'd done a good job putting the thing back together.
House nodded before getting further into his lesson, and soon Tyler was on his way, slowly starting the bike forward. He was a little wobbly, but that was to be expected. It wasn't long before he found his balance and started winding his way around the driver's education course and back over to Mike and House.
He brought the bike to a stop and took off his helmet, that grin spreading over his face. "Man, that was fun. How'd I do?"
"Not bad." House told him. "We'll keep riding around the parking lot for a while. You're going to have to take an actual course in order to get your license, right?"
"Right." Tyler nodded. "Dad's already got me signed up for one here in a couple weeks. Gonna be right before my birthday."
House couldn't help but smile a little at Tyler's enthusiasm. The feeling of being on a bike was unparalleled, and House remembered the first time he got on a bike after the infarction. At the time he thought he'd never be able to ride again. "Hell of a birthday present."
Tyler's face lit up. "Yes, sir. Thanks for everythin'. You've sure been a big help."
House thumped his cane on the asphalt. "Well, you just keep working at it. You'll be a good rider."
"No passengers." Mike told him firmly. "Can't have none 'til you're eighteen anyway."
Tyler rolled his eyes as he pulled his helmet back on. "I know that. Can I go 'round a few more times?"
"Knock yourself out, kiddo." Mike responded with a laugh.
Tyler put down the face shield and started off again, wobbling ever so slightly before seeming to get the bike under control and riding through the course again.
Mike sighed heavily and adjusted his ball cap. "S'pose he's gonna be all right. Still ain't sure I'm doin' the right thing."
House leaned on his cane. "You're still his father. You have the final say."
"I know that." Mike answered, watching Tyler ride. "Just can't see tellin' him no when he's worked so damn hard. Kid needs a little freedom, y'know? It's good for him."
House studied the other man carefully. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"
Mike let out a short laugh. "Mostly myself. It's just been him and me for so long. Don't know what I'd do if somethin' happened to him."
House took a deep breath. "Don't know what to tell you."
"It's all right." Mike answered. "Wasn't really lookin' for advice. Mostly talkin' to hear myself talk, I guess."
House watched as Tyler leaned a little too far into a turn, toppling over, and Mike immediately started heading his way before House stopped him. "Give him a minute."
Mike paused, and soon enough Tyler was on his feet, pushing the bike back onto its wheels and checking it over. He lifted his head and waved to Mike and House before climbing back on and starting again.
Mike merely shook his head. "The kid's nuts, I'm tellin' you."
House couldn't help smiling a little at that. Maybe Tyler was a little crazy, but then again, House didn't know many riders who weren't.
The kid would be fine. House was less sure about his dad.
# # #
Rob entered the hardware store, nodding to the desk clerk. "Afternoon, Dale."
"Rob, how ya' doin'?" Dale greeted him. "Got your order all put together. Looks like a pretty big job."
"Nah, not too bad." Rob responded. "Just got some projects goin' this week. Seems like everyone's tryin' to get some work done before fall."
"Keeps ya busy, I'll bet." Dale replied. "Had a couple folks in here askin' 'bout ya. Guess they've seen ya with Celia. I thought she was long gone."
Rob felt the heat spread through him. "Nope, she's comin' to town every so often. Comes in to see the family, you know."
Dale laughed heartily. "S'pose you're part of that family now, too."
Rob shrugged. "Ain't nothin' official, if that's what you're askin'."
"I wasn't." That smirk never left Dale's face. "But you know how the rumor mill works 'round here."
"Yes, sir." Rob nodded in response as he paid for his order and gathered it up. "See you 'round."
Dale acknowledged him with a nod as Rob left, letting the door swing shut behind him. He had plenty to keep him busy, with more folks calling him almost daily.
Good thing, too. It helped keep his mind off things with Celia.
Not that he was bothered with the way things were unfolding between them. Far from it. But he had to admit that things were moving a hell of a lot faster than either of them had intended.
Rob couldn't help the doubts that kept creeping in. Despite the progress he'd made, he still had a long way to go, he knew that. And he couldn't blame anyone for not wanting to stick around on his bad days and worse nights.
But Lord, Celia was doing a real number on him. It wasn't just the physical intimacy, though that was something Rob hadn't ever expected to experience again. No, it was the increasing emotional intimacy, the way Rob could almost feel the layers of protection he'd spent so long carefully building being slowly torn away.
At times it felt as raw and painful as the burns that had covered so much of his body, when the nerves were exposed with nothing left to protect them. But this was a good kind of hurt. It was just taking some getting used to.
He drove around town, working his repair jobs and making conversation with nearly everyone he met. It was a productive day, even as he'd had to field more than his share of questions about Celia and whether that doctor from New Jersey was really going to stay around.
Now he was on to his last stop of the day before he went home, one he'd been putting off for ages.
He pulled into the driveway of his mother's house and made his way to the door, knocking on it lightly. His mother opened the door, her whole face lighting up when she saw him, and Rob soon found himself enveloped in a tight hug. "Baby, it's good to see you. Been a while."
Rob could hear that chiding tone in her voice as he returned the hug. "I know, Mama. Didn't mean to keep puttin' you off. Just…just been a lot goin' on."
In reality, during his darker times, he hadn't wanted his mother to witness what hell he was going through. It had been easier for him to push her away than admit that he was hurting so badly.
"So I hear." His mother answered. "I've got to hear what you're up to from folks in town. You hungry?"
"I could eat." Rob replied as casually as he could. He knew going in that this was going to be a difficult conversation. "So I s'pose you already know what's going on with Caroline and Kevin."
"I do." His mother's voice held a note of sadness. "That poor girl. Hope that man gets what's comin' to him."
"And you know Celia's been comin' 'round."
"That's what Marge said." His mother responded. "Heard you two have been spendin' some time together."
Rob nodded as his mother set out sandwich fixings. "She's thinkin' 'bout movin' here."
"Oh." His mother replied with a slight smile. "Well, ain't that somethin'. Didn't she go to work for St. Jude?"
"She did." Rob answered as he finished making his sandwich and took a bite. "She had an interview over in Murfreesboro last week. Ain't heard back yet, of course, but I'd be surprised if they didn't hire her."
His mother took a seat at the table across from him, her concern obvious. "You seem like you're doin' better."
"S'pose I am." Rob nodded. "Been a hell of a summer."
"Sure sounds like it." His mother replied before falling silent for a stretch. Finally, she sighed. "You know, I wish you'd do a little better about stayin' in touch. Been callin' you for ages."
Rob set down the sandwich, not daring to meet his mother's eyes. "Wasn't that long ago when things were goin' to hell. Figured you'd gone through enough with me. I just didn't want you to have to do it again."
"Rob, I'm your mother." She told him firmly. "You know I'm gonna worry regardless. I don't want the first sign of trouble bein' a phone call from some hospital. If you're goin' through it, I want to know."
Rob could feel the lump growing in his throat. All he'd wanted to do was keep his mother from worrying about him. He was starting to see what a pointless exercise that was.
Finally, he managed to swallow the lump and breathe a little again, and he lifted his head to meet his mother's eyes. "Things ain't perfect, but they're better. Still have my moments, y'know?"
""Course you do." His mother replied. "You went through so much. It's a miracle you're still here."
Rob smiled a little at that. "Well, I ain't plannin' on goin' anywhere for a while."
He told his mother about the support groups he was taking part in, the shrink he was seeing, and filled her in on the other goings on around town.
"You're still doin' handyman work?" His mother asked him.
"Sure am." Rob replied. "Why, you need some work done, too?"
His mother laughed at that. "When you get some time. Ain't no hurry."
"I'll make the time."
Finally, Rob rose to leave, promising his mother that he would come around more often. "And you bring Celia over next time she's here." His mother told him.
"I will. Promise." Rob replied, hugging his mother tightly. "I love you. See you soon."
Rob climbed into his truck, feeling better than he had in ages. Slowly but surely, he was rebuilding his life.
Maybe he'd be okay after all.
# # #
Caroline straightened herself up before entering the courthouse. She immediately spotted her lawyer and crossed to meet her.
"How are you doin'?" The other woman greeted her.
"Okay." Caroline replied. "Nervous."
"Understandable." Her lawyer replied with a firm nod. "You didn't have any trouble gettin' that restrainin' order, did you?"
"No, ma'am." Caroline answered. "Had an awful lot of evidence. Almost three pages worth."
The lawyer nodded in understanding. "Now, this is separate from the divorce. We're just determinin' child support and custody here."
Fear suddenly struck at Caroline. "I don't want him havin' custody. They won't give it to him, will they?"
"Seems unlikely." Her lawyer answered gently. "We've got piles of evidence why he shouldn't. But his lawyer's likely to counter that because he's payin' support, that entitles him to some kind of custody."
"If that's the case, I don't need him to pay support." Caroline asserted. "I don't want nothin' from him. I just want him to leave us be."
"Dependin' on how his other case goes, you might get your wish. At least for a good long while."
"Fine with me." Caroline answered. "I'm just so tired of him."
Just then, the courthouse door opened, and in walked Kevin with his own lawyer. Caroline couldn't help the fear that stabbed at her at the sight of him.
She felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder. "Deep breaths, honey. He can't hurt you here."
Caroline swallowed hard, feeling a little more determined. Her lawyer was right. Kevin couldn't hurt her any more than he already had. All she had to do was be brave and let her lawyer handle everything.
She was surprised at herself at how strong and determined she felt these days. It was a far cry from earlier in the summer, when she'd nearly been scared of her own shadow. No, she was tough, she was strong. She could do this.
Even the look of pure fury on Kevin's face as they walked into the courtroom couldn't do anything to dissuade her. His old ways of intimidating her wouldn't work anymore, he had to know that.
They each took a seat on opposite sides of the room, waiting their turn. Finally, their case number was called, and they each took a seat with their respective lawyers in front of the judge.
Caroline was having trouble following all the legal language, but she understood well enough when Kevin's lawyer made his case to the judge as to why he couldn't be expected to pay support, citing his recent job loss and his inability to find other employment.
She noticed that the lawyer didn't mention the other case against Kevin. Frankly, Caroline didn't want to think about it either. It still gave her nightmares some nights.
"Caroline." Her lawyer's voice brought her back to the moment. "There somethin' you want me to tell the judge?"
Caroline straightened up, folding her hands together in front of her. "Tell him I don't want nothin' from that man. No support, nothin'."
"Are you sure?" Her lawyer asked. "He does have an obligation."
"I said I don't want nothin'." Caroline was surprised by the steel that had crept into her voice. "You hear me? Nothin'."
Her lawyer stood up. "Your Honor, my client states that she is willing to give up all claims to support and custody. Given his history, I don't believe granting any custody would be appropriate."
The judge appeared to go through a case file before turning to Kevin's lawyer. "It appears there is a pending assault case against your client."
"That case has no bearing on this hearing." His lawyer asserted.
"On the contrary." The judge responded. "Considering that the assault case is against the plaintiff, I would imagine that has bearing on this case."
There was more debate and discussion among the two lawyers and the judge, most of it going over Caroline's head. If she was hearing correctly, the case seemed to be going her way, but of course, she couldn't tell for sure.
"In the light of the circumstances surrounding this case, I am going to recommend that custody and support be temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the assault case." The judge finally asserted. "We will revisit this matter at that time, and in the meantime, allow the pending divorce petition to move forward. I understand that all parties have received the divorce petition?"
Both lawyers nodded in agreement, and the judge tapped the gavel, signaling the end of the hearing. Caroline could hear Kevin speaking angrily to his lawyer while the lawyer attempted to talk him down.
"This ain't over, darlin'." Kevin hissed as he passed by the table. "You ain't gonna keep me from my kid."
His lawyer murmured something to him as he guided Kevin past the table and out of the room, and Caroline rose to leave with her own lawyer.
She gave Caroline a concerned look. "Are you okay?"
"I will be." Caroline answered, willing herself to stop shaking. "So, it ain't over, I guess."
"No, it's not." Her lawyer answered, giving her a quick hug. "But it's enough to keep him off your back for now. We'll see how things shake out, okay?"
"Okay." Caroline was a little disappointed, but not surprised. She knew there was a long road ahead, but she now had a little more faith that things were going to work out.
She was surrounded by folks who wanted her to succeed, and she was more determined than ever not to let them down.
