"I am sorry, I guess I'm a little protective of Simon and don't like people just walking in." I told him.
"Again, I am sorry, Sir. I guess I have heard so much about Simon and his little brother I already feel like I know them." He said.
I was feeling like I should ask for his ID when the floor Nurse came in. "Brett Powers, you know better than to just walk into a patient's room. You know damn well that you have to check in with the floor nurse before you even think about going into a child's room." She scolded him. "And you haven't kissed your mother!"
"Sorry, Mom. I guess I got a little over excited." He said, dropping his head.
I couldn't help it, I started laughing. So did Simon, although no sound came out of his mouth.
"Simon, don't you even try to make a sound or you will have Dr. Sanders on my butt. Now, Mr. Thomas, this young Doctor is my son Dr. Brett Powers. Simon, you might like to know that Brett was my foster son, and then I adopted him when he was 15 years old. He was..." Nurse Powers was saying when Dr. Powers cut her off.
"Mom, please don't." He asked her.
"Sweetie, I think you should tell him. I think you, of all people, could really help him." And then she left the room.
"Sir, do you think I could talk to Simon for a few minutes alone? He can hold the 'Call Button' and call for you if he wishes. I have learned though the years that I never under estimate my Mom." Dr. Powers asked me.
"What do you say, Simon?" I asked Simon. Simon nodded. "Ok, son, I will be right outside the door if you need me." I told him, and then gave him a hug. I glared at Dr. Powers as I headed out of the room.
"Wow! He really is protective of you, Simon, just like my Mom is of me. I can't tell you how happy that makes me. What my Mom was talking about earlier before I stopped her is that you and I are somewhat alike. Although you are a much stronger kid then I ever was. See, I was really abused as a kid. My bio mom was a whore who would sell me as well. By the age of ten, I was being sold to men for weekends at a time. This kept up until one of the guys my bio mom was with killed her and then I was put into foster care. I got bounced around cause I thought that I was supposed to have sex with all the men. Then I met my Mom. She showed me that I was better than that. But, I was also beaten a lot before my bio mom was killed. It took me a long time to get it through to me that I didn't deserve what was done to me. I still have trouble sometimes when it comes to violence, even in the movies. Simon, I might not be able to fix your eyes, but I will make you a promise. I will give every phone number to your Dad that I have, including my Mom's. You can call me at anytime day or night to talk about what you are feeling. I know how hard it is to overcome what you have gone through, and I want to help. I am going to let your dad come in, now. I guess you can tell your dad what I told you if you want. I am not going to ask you to keep secrets from him. I just didn't want him to hear it from me. I know that sounds weird, but it's how I feel." Dr. Powers told Simon then went and open the door to let me back in.
"Simon, you ok, bud?" I asked coming into the room.
"Yeah, Dad. I am good. I really like Dr. Powers. I think he and our family are going to become very good friends." Simon typed, smiling at Dr. Powers.
"Ok, Son, I will take your word for it." I told him.
"Mr. Thomas, the first thing I would like to do for Simon is to get an MRI and a new CT scan done. I don't see any reaction from his eyes at all. I also want to call a friend of mine, an Optometrist. I think he might be able to help me with Simon's case. I will give him a call and get him to come down. But, first, let's get Simon upstairs for an MRI and a CT scan. I am going to let my Mom know what my orders are, and then head up to get things ready. I will also have Dr. Edwards paged, so she can be there for the test. I am sure that Simon wants you to be there. And that is fine with me; however, you can't be in the room while the test is going on." Dr. Powers told us, then he headed out of the room.
"Dad, Brett told me about his abuse from when he was a kid. It was pretty bad. He told me that he would make sure that you had all his and his mom's phone numbers, so that if I ever wanted to, I could call him to talk. I really like him. He went through some really bad shit. But, he made it and he became a doctor. I know now that I can be ok and do something good with my life. I know it's not going to be easy, but I can do it." Simon typed franticly.
"Ok, thanks, Simon. I am glad that you told me about that. I don't need to know the details, I was just concerned." I told him hugging him to me.
"Knock, Knock. You guys ready to head to upstairs for the testing?" Debbie asked coming into the room.
Simon nodded his head and set his computer off to the side. The orderly and Nurse Powers brought in the gurney and helped move Simon over to it. Debbie was in total doctor mode. "Drew, you are to wait in the waiting room upstairs until the tests are done. I will keep you posted on what is going on."
"Debbie, you don't have to baby me. Simon, do you mind if I wait here for Dylian to come back? I know your Aunt Debbie and Dr. Powers are going to make sure you are taken care of." I asked Simon.
Simon nodded his head and gave me a thumbs up. "Ok, Debbie, you had best take care of my Eldest Son! I will see you guys when you come back." I said chuckling.
"Drew, you need to go get something to eat while we are doing these tests. You skipped breakfast and lunch. Go get some dinner. Miles and the boys are still down in the cafeteria. Agent Jackson was talking with the boys about men they had been sold to. I know Dylian wanted to get back to you." Debbie told me with a smile.
I left the room as soon as they rolled my son out. I really don't like this part. I headed downstairs so that I could be with my younger son for a while. I wanted to talk to him about his schooling. I got down there and got me a tray of food. I then went and sat down next to Dylian who was busy talking with Donnie.
"Hey, little man, care if I sit next to you?" I asked him.
"DAD! When did you get down here?" He yelled jumping into my arms for a hug.
"I just did. Dr. Powers showed up and he and Aunt Debbie took Simon upstairs for some tests. I really couldn't be with him and I was hungry, so I thought that I would come down and see my little man and have a bite to eat. "I told him, knowing he was going to be thinking that he wasn't important. "After all, I have eaten every meal with you since I have met you. Can't stop that tradition, now, can I?" I teased him. Getting another hug.
"Dad, your mean, but I love you, lots." Dylian told me while hugging me.
"So, tell me, Dylian, how do you like school?" I asked him while starting my dinner.
"I have always liked going to school. I don't like homework, but Simon always makes me do it." He told me.
"Are you looking forward to going to a new school with Donnie?" I asked.
He didn't answer right away. He looked down at the table and was making marks with his fingers in the water drops on the side of his glass. "I guess," was all he said.
"Ok, what's up? Wait, I will bet you I know why you aren't sure you want to go to a new school. Want to bet me that I know?" I tried.
"An ice cream cone?" He asked.
"Deal. I bet you are not sure if you want to go to a new school because of your friends. You are torn between Donnie and Nicky. You want to go to school with both of them and you know that isn't going to happen. Am I right?" He had started crying softly by now.
"Yeah," he said, looking down.
"Well, I had thought about that and I might have a way that the three of you can be together, but we will just have to wait, ok?" I told him.
"Yeah, I really hope so." He said hopeful and wiping his eyes.
I was going to talk to him about my idea but my cell phone rang. "Hello?" I answered.
"Drew, it's Tom. Where are you and what is going on with Simon?" Tom asked.
"Simon has been taken upstairs for an MRI and a CT scan. I really couldn't be with him, so I went down to the cafeteria to get some dinner. Miles and his boys, Brian and Mark and their boys, Dylian and I are all here eating ice cream. Why?" I over explained to him.
"I have a little surprise for Dylian. I will be right there." And then he hung up on me.
"Dad? Who was that?" Dylian asked.
"That was your Uncle Tom. He wanted to know where we were." I told him as we were finishing our ice cream. We had finished our ice cream and all of us fathers had just made sure the boys were cleaned up when Tom caught my eye. He motioned for me to turn Dylian around so that he wouldn't be able to see his surprise.
Dylian and Donnie were chatting happily with each other when Nicky tapped Dylian on his shoulder.
"NICKY! Oh my god! Nicky, what are you doing here?" Dylian screamed jumping up and grabbing Nicky and hugging him to him.
"Dylian, calm down, son. Give Nicky a chance to talk, and breathe, for that matter." I laughed at Dylian's reaction. "Hi, Nicky, I am Drew, Dylian's new Dad. It is really nice to meet you." I told the boy being strangled by my son.
Nicky got away from Dylian for a moment and gave me a big hug. "Thanks for saving my best friend, and my home, Sir." He told me.
"Your welcome for me saving Dylian. It was my pleasure. As for saving your home, that was Dylian, not me." I reminded him. He turned and looked at Dylian, you could see his mood change.
"Dylian, I am so mad at you! Why didn't you come to our house when you got beaten? We could have and would have helped you. You're my best friend, I cried for you for days after you went missing." Nicky told him starting to cry.
"Cause he told me he would kill anyone that I told. I couldn't risk that he would hurt you or Sara. So I ran without telling you, so you would be safe." Dylian said, crying, thinking he had lost his best friend.
"I had no idea. I am so sorry, Dy!" Nicky was crying just as hard.
Nicky, are you still mad at Dylian?" I asked Nicky, trying to get control of the situation.
"Oh no! I never new that things were that bad with his Foster Dad." Nicky said.
"HE WASN'T MY DAD!" Dylian screamed, still crying very hard. I grabbed Dylian and pulled him into a tight hug, kissing his forehead.
"Hey little man, he didn't mean anything by that. Nicky, Dylian doesn't like John to be referred to like that, just call him his old foster, OK?" I told Nicky.
"Yes Sir, I am so sorry. Maybe I should go." He said in a little voice.
"No, Nicky, I think Dylian really needs you here, right now," I told him.
"I'm sorry I yelled, Nicky. I guess it bugs me a little." Dylian sort of chuckled. "Please stay. I want you to meet all my new family. It got real big over night." He jumped off my lap and grabbed Donnie by the hand. "This is my best cousin, Donnie, he is almost 12. That is Even, he is Donnie's new big brother and he's 16 and he's like Simon's personal protector." Dylian said, giving Even a hug. I thought that Even was going to burst into tears, I know I was close. "Over there is my new Uncle, Miles. He is Donnie and Even's Dad. Aunt Debbie is Simon's doctor and their mom. That is Uncle Mark and Uncle Brian and their two new sons, Tyler and Andy. Uncle Mark and Uncle Brian are lawyers for my dad. And you already meet Uncle Tom and my cousin Lisa. Then there is Uncle Bruce who saved Simon, Even, Tyler and Andy. I haven't met his wife and kids yet, but I will soon." Dylian rambled on.
"Yes, you will, Dylian, I would like for you to meet your Aunt Bess." Bruce told Dylian as he and Nancy walked up.
"Oh my; Bruce, you didn't tell me he was so cute. Dylian, you can call me Aunt Bess, or Aunt Nancy. But, to be honest, the only oaf that calls me Bess is that monkey over there." She said, pointing at Bruce, who just laughed.
"OK, Tyler, come here, come on." Nancy said when she could see him hesitate. "These are for you." She told him, handing him two bags. "Now, once I have handed out the others, you boys are to go with Uncle Monkey over there and get showered and changed into clean clothes. Even, here are yours. Dylian, here are yours. And Andy, these are yours. Now go on. Go get cleaned up." It was hard to tell that Nancy was a school teacher. The four boys headed off to get cleaned up and changed into new clothes.
"Nicky, would you like an ice cream?" I asked him.
"Umm. No that's ok." He said looking down.
"Well, for some reason, I don't believe you. Do you, Donnie?" I said.
"Nope Uncle Drew, I don't. I bet he wants chocolate." Donnie told me with a smirk.
"No, I like vanilla. I mean if I was wanting some." He said blushing.
"Nicky, why don't you go with Donnie and get an ice cream while you wait on Dylian to get back? All the others have already had theirs." I said to him.
"Thank you, Sir." Nicky told me heading over with Donnie to get his ice cream. It wasn't long after that his parents and little sister arrived.
"Um, excuse me, Mr. Governor? Where is Nicky?" His mom asked Tom.
"Oh, hi, Greg, Carol. Nicky is right over there getting an ice cream. I bet you would like one, too, right, Sara? And please call me Tom." Tom said.
"Yes please." Sara said.
"Then head over there and tell that bigger boy with Nicky to get you what ever you want. His name is Donnie and he is really nice." Tom told her and she was off. I got a chuckle out the whole thing.
"Drew, this is Nicky's Mom and Dad, Carol and Greg Koch. That cutie that just ran off was their daughter, Sara. Carol, Greg, this is my Brother-in-law Drew Thomas." Tom told us all.
Before I could say anything to them, I was being hugged by Mrs. Koch. "Sir, I can't thank you enough for what you have done for my family." She started.
"I didn't do anything. My son Dylian did it. It is him you must thank, if you want to thank someone." I told her, being dead serious.
"I would do that as well, but I haven't seen him." She told me looking around.
"He was sent with the other boys to shower and change. They were becoming a little ripe." Miles told them. "By the way, I am Miles Edwards. I am Drew's General Manager as well as his best friend. I can't tell you how pleased I am to meet the parents of Nicky, a child having his own problems but was worried about another child more then himself. You have to be great people!"
"Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me. We have always prided ourselves on the actions of our children. I think we are pretty lucky in that department." Greg replied to Miles.
"Greg? May I call you Greg? I feel we are going to get to know each other very well." I asked him. At this point the adults kind of split off into different groups talking and getting to know each other. Miles was talking with Mark, Brian and Tom while Nancy and Carol got to know each other.
"Yes, of course." He replied.
"Thank you. Dylian told me that you had lost your job. May I ask what type of work did you do?" I asked.
"Well, Dylian was right. I did loose my job, or my company that is. I was a builder. Sara has leukemia; thankfully it's in remission right now. But, with the amount of time I missed on job sites, and the amount of money it took to cover her medical bills, I had to start selling off things. The first to go was the company. Then my truck, and then Carol's van. The only thing we had left was the house." Greg said fighting the tears.
"Greg, what if you could get it all back, but in order to do that you had to sell your house and move?" I asked him.
"Well, I guess it would depend on where we would be moving to." He said. "With Dylian's gift, and at Nicky's demands, we got my wife a brand new van and me a new truck. If you had asked me a few days ago if any of this was possible, I would have said not a chance. Now things are being looked a little differently. So tell me, what did you have in mind?" Greg told me.
"Well, I plan on moving back out to my family home, now that I have the two boys. No one has lived in that house for over 4 years. I want to make some major changes to the house, to make it more mine than my father's. I want to add an indoor pool and I need a housekeeper suite added onto the main house. There is a 3 bedroom 'servants quarters' above the main garage, I have used it as my residence for three years. Oh, I might add that the 'servants quarters' is just under 5000 square feet, all finished. What I was thinking was that you sell your house, which is now free and clear, put that money into a high interest account for the kids' college funds. Then move out to my estate and live in the 'servants quarters' and start your new company. I will loan you the money to get started with, at a low interest rate, payable over a long period. Then your first job would be to design and build my additions. I know this sounds like bragging, but a reference from me would go a long way in this area for future jobs." I explained to him.
"Why? Why would you do this?" He asked.
"For Dylian. Simon explained to me how important Dylian and Nicky are to each other. I don't want to see them get torn apart. This way they could still be just down the street and get to go to the same school. Donnie goes to the same school as well, but he is a couple grades ahead of them. With what Dylian has gone through, I want him to have some stability in his new life. Simon talks very highly of both you and Nicky. I also understand that your wife is a teacher, but is also unemployed at the moment. Both Simon and Dylian are going to need tutoring to get caught up. Simon might need special tutoring, but we will deal with that when we get there. So, I will hire her to be the boy's teacher, but in order for me to do that, I need her close. I didn't know about Sara, but with this plan, she would be home for her as well. What do you think?" I laid out my plan to him.
"WOW! I take it this isn't a spur of the moment thought? I would have to talk to my wife about it, and of course, the kids. We have always included them in decisions that we had to make regarding them. Can I take a little while?" He asked.
"Sure, take all the time you need. Just be aware that Dylian is going to ask you as soon as he sees you if Nicky can go to his new school with him." I laughed.
"Ok, give me a couple of minutes." He laughed right back. He went to talk to his wife who was talking with Nancy. They talked for just a couple of moments then he went over to Nicky and Sara and knelt down and spoke to them. You could see them both light up. Then he headed back to me. "Well, Carol said 'Why the hell not, we are already packed' and the kids are a go, so we accept. I think we should hold off making arrangements until Simon is out of the hospital." He told me placing his hand on my arm.
"Thanks, Greg. I am sure that you and I are going to be great friends." I told him.
We were interrupted by a staff member coming over and asking if I was Drew Thomas. When I told her I was, she said I was wanted in my son's room. I immediately went up to Simon's room to see what was going on. The others said they would wait for the boys to get done with their showers before coming up.
Thanks for all the feedback. I can't get over how many people are liking my story. I hadn't planed on it going this far. But you all keep egging me to keep it going.
Please remember that kids are our future. It's time to protect them.
Hugs
Darrin