TJ's Journey to Marriage - 11. Chapter 11

“What are you guys doing here” Jack said

“We are here to find out what the hell has gotten into you. Now move aside and let us in” I said

“If you are planning an intervention Steph you can forget it.” Jack said. I grabbed him and spun him around and pinned him to the wall

“Jaxson Woolery, you are about to get the intervention you so desperately need before Tracy kicks your butt to the curb.” I said

“Steph let him go. I’ll just put him over my knee until he listens.” Dad said at that moment Tracy appeared

“Hey guys, thanks for coming” Tracy said

“Anything for you” Karen said and smiled

“Let’s go upstairs and have a seat in the living room; there is plenty of space.” Tracy said and we made for the stairs

“Don’t even think about it” I said as I grabbed Jacks arm as he attempted to exit the house. We went upstairs and sat in the living room

“Tracy, I am sorry we haven’t been out here sooner to see the new place. The remodeling you guys did looks lovely.” I said

“Thanks Steph, I know things have been tough for you since Riley died; I am very thankful you could make it.”

“Yeah things have been tough but Hayden and Jayden have really stepped up and I left them in charge with Darren and Mateo supervising. I guess I have to trust them sooner or later.” I said

“Well, I think we should get down to business; Jaxson care to tell us why you are being such an asshole?” dad said glaring at Jack

“It’s none of your business dad.” He retorted

“It is my business when you are upsetting my grandson and my son in law.”

“You guys didn’t have to come all this way” Jack relented

“Oh we did because when Tracy calls me in tears, I come to help my big brother” Karen said

“You know what Jack, from what I’ve been told you have said some pretty nasty things the last couple of days. I know you high school friend Emily died but to take it out on her son? Really Jack?” I said

“I am protecting Jackson” Jack said

“From what exactly?” I asked

“From getting his heart broken” Jack said and he seemed to go numb

“Jack what are you talking about? He and TJ are in a really good place.” Tracy said

“It’s a long story.” Jack said

“Well we got all day, I didn’t book a return ticket because I didn’t know how long this would take.” I said

“Well, you remember Terry? The guy I dated before Tracy?” Jack said

“You have a thing for T names huh and yes we do.” Amelia said

“Well he had been cheating on me for a while and I decided to get even. One night I went out to a gay bar near my dorm to see if I could get lucky. I didn’t want anyone from school because those relationships never lasted. As I was getting ready to go in I saw Tristan standing outside and I was curious and went over to him. I knew Emily said he was due to go to boot camp in a few months but I didn’t understand why he was there. I went over and said hey and he was shocked and said he was in the wrong place. I told him it didn’t matter and I would keep his secret. We sat on a bench nearby and talked for a while. He was bisexual and he said he wasn’t getting anywhere with Emily and had planned to break it off. I told him how Terry was treating me and I didn’t want to be alone. We hung out that night and played video games and I was falling for him. We saw each other quite a bit and eventually one thing led to another and we had mind blowing sex. We had sex every chance we got and Terry never found out as he was too busy cheating on me but Emily did. I don’t know what she said to him but he ghosted me and got engaged to her. I never saw him again until we reconnected with Emily when he was stationed here.” Jack said whipping tears

“So you loved him?” Tracy said

“I think I did or maybe it was the thrill of it all; I’m not sure. I tried to talk to him as I knew Emily was cheating on him and he only said he knew about it but had the boys to think about. I didn’t know what to do as I had unresolved feelings for him. I then saw JC and TJ getting so close to each other I freaked out. I did something to drive a wedge between them. I knew Bob and Paul had friends at the Pentagon and I had met them a few times, so using the company resources I reached out and had Tristan transferred.” Jack said

“I don’t believe you Jack. You ripped away your son’s best friend because you couldn’t control yourself?” I seethed

“Steph it’s more than that. TJ is the spitting image of Tristan and he is going to be just like his dad but he has more a flight than fight mentality. I needed to protect him from heartbreak. I was so angry when I found out you and Emily were scheming to get them back together.”

“That is not the way to do it Jack. You are causing more problems than helping” Amelia said

“Yeah, who’s to say if you hadn’t gotten him transferred he could have left Emily. You don’t think Jack; you have a habit of doing that.” I said

“Jack, I am really starting to think we need to separate.” Tracy said shakily

“Jack, he’s right all you’ve been saying is how much Tristan meant to you. It sounds like a jealous lovers quarrel and you’re mad you didn’t get picked.” I said

“I loved him and was cast aside. I never talked him after he got transferred and then he dies but apparently that was just bullshit and he did it to get away from Emily before being killed.” Jack said

“Jack you aren’t making any sense. I think Tracy and you should spend some time apart before any rash decisions are made. You also should stay away from JC and TJ for the time being.” I said

“Tracy you can come to Iowa and stay with me. The boys would love to see their uncle” Karen said

“I do have a job here but based on how things are going with Jack at work we are going to have to sell this place.” Tracy sadly said

“Well Jack, it’s a nice hole you’ve dug yourself. Tracy was smart to call us as I think you’ve been digging this hole so well they can build a new subway line.” Dad said

“I still won’t allow them to get married” Jack said

“Won’t allow? Jack, JC is 23 years old; he doesn’t need your permission.” I said

“Karen, I think I am going to take you up on the offer. I probably can just resign from the school if they won’t allow me to take a sabbatical.” Tracy said

“I want you to wait on that Tracy. See if you can take a few days off from work and let me see if I can talk some sense into my son” Dad said

“Worst case scenario you can send him to mom” Amelia snickered

Tracy went and packed a bag and said he was going to stay with Liz for a few days and Jack didn’t look surprised.

“Jack, you really need to evaluate yourself right now; you and Tracy have a really great thing and you are flushing it all down the toilet. I am really surprised at you.” I said and turned and left.

“Guys, I want to go by the hospital and check on JC and TJ.” Tracy said in the car

“Sounds like a good plan.” I said

***

Back to TJ

“Who are you?” I asked the doctor

“My name is Dr. Fitzgerald; do you know who you are?”

“Um no I don’t.” I replied

“Ok, I am going to have a friend of yours come in and let’s see what happens.” The doctor said

“Ok, but don’t expect a miracle.” In walked the boy who kissed me and he looked really sad. There was another boy with him who must be his brother or someone.

“Hey TJ, do you remember me?” the stranger said

“Should I?”

“Yeah you should, he’s your fiancé” the other boy said

“I’m engaged?” I said and looked down and didn’t see a ring

“They removed your ring when you came in here.” The tall one said

“Why did I come in here?”

“My pop said some really mean things and you were running out of the house and fell down the stairs and hit your head hard on the floor.”

“Oh, maybe I should try it again and I can remember.”

“I don’t recommend that” the doctor said reappearing

“Well it was worth a shot” I replied. He asked the tall older one to come into the hallway.

“So you are TJ, my cousin’s fiancé.” The younger one said

“My name is just two letters; that’s strange.”

“I wish I could tell you what they stood for but I don’t know. My name is Dominic and I JC’s cousin.”

“JC?”

“The tall good looking one that isn’t the doctor.” He said and chuckled

“You think he’s good looking?”

“No, but you must because every time you see him you throw a tent.”

“A tent?”

“Your penis rises and so does the bed sheet.”

“How’s that a tent?”

“Never mind; I need you to remember my cousin because he is heartbroken.”

“I wish I could remember him.”

“He is a singer and won a contest and all.”

“He can sing? So can I”

“Yeah that’s what Trace said”

“Trace? Like he’s a copy of tall guy?”

“Yeah something like that” he said laughing

“Wow, I don’t know if I can handle two guys loving me.”

“No only JC loves you. Trace loves your brother.”

“My brother? I have siblings?”

“You do, two I think”

“Two? That’s neato.”

“Neato?” he laughed

“Yeah what’s wrong with how I talk?”

“Oh nothing.” At that moment the doctor and tall guy and someone else came in

“Oh you must be his brother copy.” I said proudly

“Copy?” He said shocked

“Yeah this guy said that tall one had a brother who is a trace.”

“Oh, he means my name is Trace.”

“Why would someone name their son Trace Copy?” I said confused

“No my name is just Trace.”

“T2?” this little guy said

“Who’s T2?” I asked

“You are silly. Yous my brudder”

“Wait you are dating this little guy? That’s disgusting.” I said and was met with strange looks.

“I told him that Trace was dating his brother.” The young guy said

“Oh, that makes more sense.” The tall one said

“Alwicks, can Dame and I get on bed with T2?”

“Sure, why not.” The doctor said lifting the boy and the other one up

“You ready dame?”

“I think so.” The boy replied and grabbed my hands and I felt a rush of air and there I was in a room looking at myself.

“Where am I?”

“hush and pay attention” the boy called dame said

I watched myself and some others argue and the tall one was standing there. I watched myself cry and run down the stairs.

“Follow him” Dame said and I went and then tall one was behind me. All of sudden Dame pushed me and I tumbled down the steps and landed in my body. There was another rush of air. I opened my eyes to find Tristan nose to nose

“You in there T2?”

“Yeah, could you give me some space.” I replied

“TJ?” JC said

“I have a wicked headache.” I said

“Do you remember me?” J said

“Of course I do JC” I said

“TJ, I called you doctor and he’s coming to examine you.”

“What happened? I remember falling down the stairs”

“You had a bad concussion and had amnesia.” Alex said

“Nope, you are wrong” Tristan said

“I am a doctor” Alex said

“Well TJ’’s memory got left behind when he fell. Dame had to help fix it as he’s a memory expert.” Tristan said

“Memory expert?” Everyone said at once

“Is there an echo in here?” I asked and laughed

“Yes, Dame is able to help people who forget. We just have to figure out where in time they lost their memories. Sometime we can’t and they get old timers.” Tristan said

“I think you mean Alzheimer’s” Alex said

“No this is different” Dame said

“TJ, because of him you be ok now.” Tristan said

“I need to check the young man over” said the other doctor.

“Ok, everyone clear out.” Alex said and everyone left. The doctor was running through some test when the door popped open and Tracy and 3 other women came in.

“I am sorry, I didn’t know he was being checked out.” Tracy said

“We can come back.” The one lady said

“Nonsense, I was about to finish up with Mr. Michaels.”

“Thanks Doc.” I said

“Do you know who I am?” Tracy said

“Yes I do, you are Tracy, JC’s dad.” I said proudly

“You got your memory back?”

“Yeah Dame helped me.” I said

“Dame? You mean Damian?” The lady said shocked

“Yeah, he’s some kind of memory expert.” I said

“It sounds like you really bumped your head. I am Stephanie Blake, JC’s Aunt.” She said sticking out her hand and I shook it.

“Pardon my rudeness; these others are JCs Aunt’s as well, Karen and Amelia.” Tracy said

“It’s ok Tracy. I think I’ll be ok.” I said

“I hope so; TJ I am really sorry about Jack’s behavior.” Tracy said

“Tracy, you don’t need to apologize for how Jack is behaving. You don’t control him and he is responsible for his own behavior.” I said

“Very true TJ, but I am not sure what we can do to fix things and he seems gun ho on you guys not getting married.”

“I don’t need his blessing, as long as you are ok with it.”

“We all are ok with it” Stephanie said

“Look TJ, I am going to stay with my sister and nephews in Iowa for a while and see where this thing goes. I think Jack needs his space and I think you guys should go somewhere too,”

“Our places in California are being redone and the closing on the house is soon. I guess we could stay with Rusty” I said

“No, you can stay with us.” Stephanie said

“I will talk with J and see what he wants to do.” I said

“You are a smart man” Tracy said

“We are going to leave and I will send JC back here.” Stephanie said

“Thanks, I hope I can talk to you guys when I get discharged.” I said. They left and JC came in and we sat in silence and he held my hand.

The door popped open and in walked Jack.