When the Bough Breaks

Chapter 5

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Eric held his mother's hand in a death grip. The little boy wasn't exactly sure why they were riding with the policeman, but he knew deep in his heart that something big was about to happen to him. He turned to his mother when they pulled into the parking lot and he saw Kinnetik on the building.

"Mommy, this is where daddy works now, right?"

"Yes, honey it is."

"Is something wrong with daddy?" Eric held his breath while he waited for his mother's answer.

"Well, not exactly, but Daddy did ask us to come down here with Mr. Horvath."

Carl smiled back at Eric before undoing his seatbelt and opening the door for them. He was doing his best to make Gus comfortable.

Eric smiled at the nice policeman and let his mommy lead him inside the big building.

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Cynthia was first to spot the frightened little boy and her heart went out to him. Looking at him there was no question that he was Gus. He shared the same dark, brooding features as his father and there was no mistaking that Kinney magnetism.

Gus looked around at all the people and quietly slid behind his mother's back. Peeking around her leg, he thought he knew the pretty blonde lady that was crying. Cautiously he came from behind his mother and went to the lady.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, putting a hand on hers.

Lindsay looked up at her son, and choked back a sob. She desperately wanted to hold him, to kiss his soft cheek and tell him that she loved him, but she also didn't want to frighten him.

"Because you remind me of a little boy that I used to know."

"Was he your son?"

Lindsay took his hand and held it softly before continuing. "Yes."

"What happened to him?"

"Well he was at the park with his Daddy," she said looking up at Brian so that Gus knew who the daddy was. "And someone took him. We've been looking for him for a really long time."

"Have you found him?"

"I think so."

"Where has he been?"

"Well, it seems that a nice family adopted him and I'm scared that maybe he won't want to come home with us."

"Do you love him?"

"I certainly do and so does his other mommy and his two daddies."

"He has two mommies and two daddies?"

"Yes, he's a very lucky little boy to be loved by so many people."

"I think that your little boy would want to come home to his real mommy. What's his name?"

"His name is Gus Marcus Kinney-Peterson and I really miss him."

"My teddy bear's name is Gus. I really like that name. I hope you get to take him home soon."

"Thank you."

Lindsay wanted desperately to hold her son, but she knew that patience was in order. Gus was still just a child and he needed to be treated as such.

She waited a few moments and then asked Cynthia to take Gus and show him the fountain that Brian had recently installed in the foyer. Once they were gone she turned to Abby.

"I don't really care how you got him, and I don't want to know how you could keep him from us, but I want my son back now."

"He's my son and he's going home with us." Abby stood next to Tom silently demanding his support.

Brian couldn't hold back and exploded. "I don't know who the fuck you think you're fucking with, but that's our son. You've had him for seven years. That's seven years we've searched and prayed for him to be returned to us. Now he's back and he's going home with his real mother."

"I am his real mother," Abby spit back. "I'm the one that held his hand on the first day of school and made him chicken soup when he had chicken pox. I'm the one he runs to when he has a nightmare or he's sick."

"Because you stole him from us. You took that from me. I gave birth to him. He is MY son." Lindsay held back the tears that threatened to fall, trying desperately to hold on to her dignity.

Justin stepped up and offered his advice. "A DNA test will tell us if this is really Gus."

"What the fuck do you mean, IF? That little boy out there is my son, Justin."

"Brian, I'm just saying that legally at the moment he's still the Garrett's son. A DNA test will tell us for sure and then we have legal rights to him. He's just a little boy and if we go storming in there and demand that he come home with us now, it's going to frighten him. We have to be the adults and make sure that Gus is protected."

"I'm sure that Melanie could arrange something like that and you can all be present when the results come in. That way everyone will know at the same time." Carl was hoping that they could all do this peacefully for Gus' sake. "And if the results show that he really is Gus, then we have to tread very carefully or this could scar him for life."

"What the fuck are we waiting for? Let's go get the tests."

Brian held the door open for everyone and tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for them to move.

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One week later they all gathered at the lab to await the results. Brian held Justin's hand tightly, while Mel pulled Lindsay onto her lap. Tom and Abby waited in the corner of the room, trying not to think what it would mean if the results said that Eric belonged to these people.

Abby had promised Eric the night before that no matter what happened she'd still be his mommy.

All eyes turned to the door as the doctor opened it, holding a large envelope in her hands. The room was eerily silent as she opened it and pulled out the computer printout.

TBC............

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