"I don't understand," TK whispered after a few minutes of silence. Had his whole life been a lie? What did his mom have to gain by taking him away from his brother and dad? It wasn't like she seemed to enjoy his company much, especially during the most recent years. Why would she tell him so many stories about taking him away from people who didn't want him.

"How about we go somewhere a little more comfortable and private to talk? My office is right upstairs," Owen offered.

"No!" TK replied quickly, tensing up again. They may have been family, but he wasn't ready to go anywhere secluded with them yet.

"How about the bunk room? It's open, but a little more out of the way," Judd suggested, speaking up for the first time in a while. His eyes kept shifting toward and away from TK's direction, like he wasn't sure where he should be looking. At least TK wasn't the only awkward one.

"Okay," TK agreed reluctantly. He still wasn't sure he could trust them, but he was sick of being in his little corner. And if something happened and they needed to use the ambulance, he would probably get trampled.

TK shifted his legs under his body and slowly got up, bracing his sore chest with one hand. He could see his dad and brother instinctively move to help him, but they stopped themselves before making contact. TK was relieved to see they were respecting his boundaries for now. It might've been to lull him into a false sense of security, but he wasn't going to let his guard down.

"It's this way," Judd said, gesturing further into the building. It was the opposite of where TK wanted to go, but his need for answers was more powerful than his need to escape for now.

"Where's my bag?" TK asked, looking around in panic. He'd just realized it wasn't strapped to his back anymore. If they took that from him, he'd have literally nothing to his name.

"It's right over here. We had to take it off you before we could put you on the gurney," Owen said, walking over to a shelf and grabbing TK's bag from where it was resting beside it. "No one opened it." TK did his best not to snatch it when Owen offered it back, hugging it to his chest again.

"Thanks," TK mumbled, reluctantly holding out the wallet. TK couldn't risk taking anything out of it, even if he could ignore his morals. They'd know who was responsible if anything went missing and he didn't want to find out what they considered a reasonable punishment.

"I can make you copies of the photos, if you'd like?" Owen asked, running his finger along them reverently as he tucked them away into their pocket. TK shrugged noncommittally. Did he really want a reminder of what he used to have but never would again? He was never going to be that smiling kid from the photos. It was too late for him and he didn't have the luxury of reminiscing about the past.

TK followed along at a safe distance as Judd led them through the station. The others had disappeared sometime during their talk, which was a relief and a worry. TK didn't want a bunch of people listening to their conversation, but having witnesses sometimes forced people to stay on their best behavior. Hopefully his dad and brother wouldn't do anything that would tarnish their reputations at work.

"Sit on whichever one you'd like," Judd directed when they reached their destination. It was a spacious room with two rows of beds on either side. They weren't much to look at, but a vast improvement over what he was used to. TK was lucky if he ended up with a mattress on the floor in most of the apartments he'd lived in. Usually it was a threadbare sleeping bag that barely provided any comfort or warmth.

TK took the one closest to the door, not wanting to trap himself in the corner again. He set his bag on his lap, needing something to occupy his hands so he wasn't ripping his fingernails to shreds. And if anyone decided to come at him, he could use it as a weapon.

"I don't even know where to start. I've been dreaming of this day for eight years now, but I didn't know if it would ever happen," Owen mumbled, sitting down on the bed across from him. Judd was pacing in between the rows, which was setting TK a little on edge, but at least he wasn't getting too close. "God, you've grown up, Tyler. Just look at you now. I can hardly believe it."

"Um, I go by TK now," TK said quietly, waiting to see his reaction. His mom and Enzo never cared to honor his preferences, calling him whatever harsh term that came to mind.

"TK," Owen repeated, smiling softly. "I like it. It suits you."

"Thanks?"

"I'm sorry I'm being so awkward. Part of me wants to give you space until you're comfortable, but the bigger part of me wants to hold you and never let go. And ask you questions until I know everything that's happened in the past eight years. And- and-" Owen stammered, running his hands along the legs of his pants. It made TK feel better to see them both so nervous. If they treated this as a typical day, it would be obvious that they didn't care. "How did you find us?"

"Internet," TK shrugged. It wasn't hard to find people when you had the right information.

"All these years and countless private investigators for you to find us with an internet search," Owen said incredulously, shaking his head.

"We moved around a lot. Went by different names."

"And you've been with your mom this whole time?"

"Yeah."

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way, since seeing you right now is quite possibly the best moment of my entire life, but why did you leave? Did it have something to do with how you got that bruise on your face?" Owen asked, touching the skin below his own eye. It was weird that everyone was harping on such a little thing. TK having no bruises at all was more uncommon.

"It happened after, but it's fine," TK brushed off.

"Someone hurting you is never fine. It's never okay," Owen insisted. TK couldn't help but snort in amusement at that thought. He wasn't sure what sort of fairytale world they lived in, but he knew how things really worked. Survival was the goal and happiness was a pipe dream that didn't exist for people like him. "TK?"

"I'm not sure what type of game you're playing, but I'm not gonna fall for it," TK said bitterly, glaring at his father.

"Game?"

"Saying all the right things. Trying to get me to trust you. Then the second I let my guard down…" TK trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. He didn't want to put ideas into their heads.

"TK, that's not at all what we're doing. We love you and we never stopped loving you," Owen proclaimed.

"Stop lying to me! You don't even know me!" TK shouted, cursing the catch in his voice. Just because he hadn't heard those words in years, didn't mean they mattered. Love would soon turn to hate, then indifference, just like with his mom. TK used to think that his mom despising him was the worst thing, but her complete lack of any emotion toward him at all was worse. He hadn't been worth the effort anymore.

"All the distance in the world couldn't change how I feel about you. In all these years, you were the last thing I thought about before going to sleep and the first thing I thought about when I woke up. I don't know what's happened to you and I'm so sorry I wasn't there, but I'm here now. You're my son and I'm going to take care of you, no matter what it takes," Owen said confidently. TK could feel his resolve cracking. He wanted so much for what he was hearing to be true. To be able to let go and trust someone to take care of him for once. But he couldn't.

"I want to believe you, but I can't," TK choked out, swiping a hand across his face. He was just so tired. He wanted to be able to pass out with the confidence that when he woke up again, things wouldn't be worse. That any nightmares he had would stay in dreamland and wouldn't follow him into his life anymore.

"I know that actions speak louder than words, so I will spend every second of the rest of my life proving to you that you are safe and loved. I've been called a stubborn bastard more than once in my life and that's especially true in regards to things I care about. Nothing is more important to me than family. And you've always been included in that," Owen said earnestly, staring at him with so much passion in his eyes.

"What if I'm not the person you think I am?" TK sniffled, staring down at his lap. If they were expecting the same little boy they'd known all those years ago, they'd be disappointed. He was gone and there was no getting him back. TK was tainted. And if they weren't careful, he'd ruin them too.

"You're my son. I love you no matter what." TK covered his face with his hands once he felt the tears start to fall. He wanted so badly to give in and believe what he was hearing. That there actually were good people in the world who would stick to their word and not stab you in the back the first chance they got. "Will you stay with us? Let us take care of you?"

"I don't know."

"I'm not gonna push you. You don't have to do or say anything you don't feel comfortable with. But know that I will listen. I will do everything in my power to give you a home here. And if you give it a chance and decide this isn't working out, I'll help you figure out your next moves. Whether it be emancipation, helping you graduate school early and sending you off to college, anything. As long as you are safe and happy, I'll do it. I just want what's best for you and to be a part of your life, however that looks," Owen declared, speaking past the little hitches in his breath.

Was that the best offer TK could ask for? If he refused, what would happen? They didn't seem willing to let them go. Owen was pouring his heart out. Judd was silent, but kept swiping at his eyes when he thought no one was looking. Maybe if he kept his expectations low, it wouldn't hurt as bad when things inevitably went to hell. He'd already lived through some of the worst things imaginable. And he could always run away again. Even if this only lasted a little while, he could use the time to regroup and figure out what to do next. This could just be one more thing to get through.

"Okay."