Remember, there are still alot of ups and downs. He'll have good moments, and bad moments.
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"Mom... I missed you, when are you coming home? I need help with my homework, and the teacher has some forms for you to sign for us all."
"Slow down Michelle. I thought you liked having MJ with you?"
"I do mom. But to be honest, he can't cook. So you're going to have to come home, or we are all going to starve."
"Alright... I'll come home tonight. I'm sure MJ won't mind staying with daddy."
"Oh... oh daddy. Where is he mom?"
"He's down in x-ray, he'll be up soon."
Just as Stella finished her sentence, Mac came in.
"Daddy... look at you. You're sitting now."
Smothering her dad in hugs, he used his good arm to hold her tight, while looking at his grandchildren who were tearing up. Mac knew they were missing their father, he knew they now had no one to call dad or mom. He could tell they felt alone, out of place. Even though they were family.
As he reached for them, Tyler came to him right away, Caroline shook her head no, and ran from the room right into her brothers arms.
"Whoa... hey sis, where you going? What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I just want to go. I didn't want to come here, Michelle made us. She said we needed to see papa."
"Yeah... what's wrong with that? I thought you loved your papa?"
"I do love him MJ. But he's not papa, he's changed."
"What?? He hasn't changed Caroline. He is just having difficutlies understanding, so he becomes frustrated, but it's not directed at you."
"I don't want to go back too nana and papa's. I want to stay with Aunt Maddy."
"Caroline, you can't. Aunt Maddy has enough with the new baby on the way, and their home is small. There's no space."
"Then with Aunt Mack, she has lots of space now."
"Caroline, you will stay with nana and papa. They love you. You couldn't ask for a happier place to be."
"I'd be happier with daddy in heaven."
Running from the Hospital, Melina said... "I'll get her MJ, you go explain to your grandmother."
"Thanks Melina."
When MJ came back into his grandfathers room, everyone had left except for Michelle, and Tyler who were still on their dad/papa's lap. Leaning down he whispered...
"I need to talk to you outside, it's about Caroline."
Mac noticed his grandson looked upset. He could just see the pain in his eyes.
"We'll be right back Mac."
Mac shook his head no, taking the tile pieces, he spelled... "what is going on?"
"It's okay Mac. Stop getting upset, you're scaring the kids."
Lifting his daughter and grandson from his knees, he pointed his finger to the board and asked again. Stella could see his frustration setting in. She could tell he wasn't happy with being left in the dark about what was going on with the family.
Watching him spell again, he asked... "where is caroline?"
"Mac, please. Just calm down."
Flipping the board, the tiles went flying everywhere. Michelle jumped, Tyler ran into his brothers arms.
"Mj, take the kids into the hall please.
Now."
When they were alone, Stella picked up the board, along with the tiles, and sat them on the other chair. Then walking towards her husband, she said...
"You are getting upset over nothing. How can I share with you what's going on, if I don't find out first, right?"
Looking into his wife's eyes he knew she was right. But he also knew they were keeping things from him. As Stella watched his expressions, she knew what he was thinking. Calming down a bit herself, she said...
"I swear to you Mac. We have not kept anything from you. You need to stop thinking we are leaving you out, cause we're not. We love you too much to do something like that. But these tempers of yours need to stop. There's no need for them."
Turning away from his wife, he couldn't help it. He was just as confused and angry. Angry with having to be in the Hospital, angry with having doctors poke, and prod at him. Having therapists telling him what he can and can't do. He felt so God damn useless, as a father, grandfather, but most of all, a husband."
With tears slipping down his cheeks, he pointed to the bed. Calling MJ back into the room, he lifted him up and placed him on his side, with pillows for support.
"Are you comfortable papa?"
Closing his eyes with his lids still wet, he shut off the world around him for a while.