2 Soon After Which… 2

Monday morning, Sawyer was on his way to class. His backpack hanging over his shoulder with his books and laptop in them. As he walked through the campus pathway, he was more than surprised by the sight of his father. Looking around and his eyes darting to his phone that was in his hand. Odd. His father was too busy to come visit much less to be here so early in the morning. He looked at his watch: 7:08am. Very odd. "Dad!" He called out. Getting his father's attention. Looking right at him as his father made his way to him, the look on his father's face was... complex. He could swear he saw dread, sadness. The man looked like he hadn't slept in days. Suddenly he remembered that he'd had a terrible shaking fit Saturday afternoon. It didn't quite fit into what was happening now.

"I've been calling you." His father, Travis Wade said when he got close to Sawyer. "Is something wrong with your phone?"

Sawyer's forehead creased. "No I-" he hadn't checked his phone in days not even to confirm his date with Laura. He dug into his pocket, took out his phone and turned it on. He looked back up at his dad. "What is it?" It had dawned on him that for all of this to be happening, his father as busy as ever, to be here and asking why his phone was off when he barely called... that look of dread on his father's face was back. "What?"

Travis licked his suddenly dry lower lip. "Peggy and your mom went shopping."

"Yeah I know, Peggy told me." His heart skipped a beat, the crease got deeper.

"There was an accident..."

Sawyer's phone slipped from his hand to the ground. Everything his father said after accident, which he'd heard vanished. He closed the distance between them, desperation in his eyes. "Are they okay? They're okay right? They're-"

"Sawyer I just told you." Travis' heart was breaking all over again. His eyes turning red with vicious tears waiting to fall. He shook his head. To have to say it twice. "They- they-"

"No. They're fine. I spoke to-" he didn't speak to anyone. "I-" his eyes widened, suddenly in a daze.

Travis reached out and hugged his son. "Sawyer."

"No I- it can't be. Mom can't be de-" He held his father.

"They are."

"Peggy."

Travis had been at work when he got the call Saturday evening. Out of town and away from both his sons. All through the flight he imagined this time with Sawyer. He had been having a hard time deciding where to go. Home to his son who was all alone or here to his son who was far away and oblivious to it all. He needed to bring his son home. This time, this moment, was worse than he imagined it would be. Sawyer held on to him. He could feel him shaking, tears staining his neck. His son's tears. To lose his wife and daughter... and then to watch this and feel it. Tears streamed down his face as well. "We have to go." He sniffed. "We have to go home to Tom."

Sawyer drew back. Tom was alone...

Sawyer's thoughts were split all through the flight and the ride back home. His mother's sweet laugh, his sister running down the stairs. He spoke to his mother Saturday morning and he was to call Peggy today. The three day rule. In mere moments he would be home and his sister wouldn't rush excitedly to see him. His mother wouldn't wait by the couch with a hug and in all of this... Tom was-

The car stopped in front of the house. Travis' shoulders fell beside him. Three weeks away. He looked out the window. The entire house looked darker. He didn't want to have to go inside. He looked at Sawyer. "Let go of me!" Neither one of them had spoken and it came from outside.

"Tom stop!"

Tom yanked himself free from his aunt's hold. "He's here, I have to ask him." He stumped over to the car, slammed his hands on the hood. "Hey?" His aunt was holding him again. "Where did you go huh?" The question was directed at his father, full of anger. "Two days!" The driver was stunned. "They wouldn't let me see them! I want to see them! She's my mother and she's my sister! Where did you go?!" He heaved, waiting for the tears to come.

Sawyer looked up and past the passenger seat when he heard his brother's voice. He needed to get to him. He fumbled with the seatbelt and jolted when he heard the bang. The seatbelt finally came loose. Next was the door. His eyes stung, his vision was blurry with tears. A drop fell on his hand. The door finally opened. He ran out, straight for his brother. He placed his hand on Tom's shoulder and forced him to face him.

Tom's anger quelled. "Sawyer." He was pulled into a hug so tight he couldn't breathe, that didn't matter. He felt them... the calling of tears he hadn't cried since he heard... finally. He wrapped his arms round his brother and shut his eyes. "They wouldn't let me see them." The words were muffled by Sawyer's jacket. "Peggy, mom. They wouldn't let me see them."

"I know. Dad told me. He wasn't here cause he had to get me."

Travis was still in the back seat, hand on the door. We wanted to go outside and meet his son he'd left alone for two days. He desperately wanted to, but his legs wouldn't move. He let go of the door and buried his face in his hands. His cousin who'd been with Tom for the two days opened the door and wrapped her arms round him. Not saying a word. After what seemed like minutes, but was less than ten seconds of silence, Travis pulled away. "I need to go to the boys." His cousin nodded and moved aside for him to get out of the car.

Still waiting for the tears to drop and still getting nothing. He felt his father's hand pull him away from Sawyer and into his own arms. "Why did you tell th-"

"You're too young. They wouldn't have let you anyway. Your aunt and I will go now." He stepped back to look at his son, there was no anger. "Go in with your brother." There was pain.

"But dad-"

"No." He shook his head. "I'm going now. And I'll talk to the police and t-" Could he really tell him all he had to do? "We'll handle it."

"No. I don't want to be here. I want to come with you."

"Sawyer take him inside."

Sawyer nodded and took Tom by his arm. "No, dad. Let me." He started after his father, forgetting Sawyer was holding him.

Sawyer pulled him back. "Stop it Tom." He dragged Tom into the house.