When Micael awoke in the morning, he walked into Caroline's room, and found her missing. Heading into his parents room, he slowly opened the door, and found them all sandwich together, even his son, was there, watching leading Michael to the conclusion his kids would be safe.
Heading back to his room, he began to pack, he knew he was wrong to leave this way, to leave his kids behind for a while, but he needed time, time to heal, time to forget. Writing a note it read.... "Dear mom and dad, I got called away to Washington for a case, very confidential, I'm sorry I didn't have tome to wake you, but you all look so peaceful, I'll call you when I'm settled. Love Michael".
Picking up his suitcase, he left the house, without looking back. Arriving at the Airport, he boarded his plane to DC. "Good morning sir, would you like a beverage, or some breakfast"? "No..I'm fine thank you, can you tell me how long till we arrive in DC"? "About two hours, avoiding turbulance". "Thank you".
When the plane landed, Michael got off, and met Tom, his friend from the Police Acadamy. "Hey Michael, how goes it"? "Not to good, I lost my wife, she died last night". "Oh God Michael, I'm so sorry, so where are the kids"? "With my parents, I'm not ready to bring them over yet". "Listen man, does your dad know why you are really here"? "No...and he don't need too".
Knowing Michael wasn't ready to talk about his family, he took him to his flat, to get him settled.
"Grandpa....grandpa wake up, I'm hungry". Slowly opening his eyes, he seen Mj watching him. "Why don't you go wake up daddy son"? "I did, but he wasn't there, he left a note, see". Reading the note over twice, Mac noticed somthing wasn't right. "Wake up Grandma, she'll make you pancakes". "Mmm..Grandma, can we have pancakes please"? "Sure MJ, give me a few minutes". "K grandma, want me change Caroline"? "Sure, that be nice".
"Mac...what's going on"? "It seems our son has ran off". "What...I don't believe that Mac, he wouldn't do that". "he did love, I read his note three times, between the lines, is I'm sorry, but I can't do it". "Aww..now what do we do, do we take the kids to DC"? "NO...if this is what he wants, this is what he shall have, when he returns, he'll have to prove to us he's changed, until then, the children will be ours, I'll file for temp custody today".
"Come on Mac, isn't that a bit much"? "A bit much, I hope you are kidding Stella, he has ran from his responsibility, not giving one thought as to how this would hurt his children, this is rediculous, I thought I brought up my children better then this". "You did Mac, he's really hurting, try and....". "No Stella, no matter what life threw at us, we never once left our children sides, we never once left them wondering why this tradgedy happened, but most of all, we now have to explain to his children, why daddy ran away";.
Sighing deep, Stella knew Mac was right, this was one lesson, her son needed to be taught.
End Chapter