Lost - Two Timer series - 26. Chapter 26

Anton and Troy arrived at the hospital to visit Molly, who seemed in good spirits.

They brought her breakfast from the diner. Grateful she didn’t have to eat hospital food she enjoyed the soft scrambled eggs with toast and fruit.

“Did the doctor see you yet,” Anton asked.

“He came early and said they cleared me to go home,” Molly responded.

“Today?” Troy asked.

“This afternoon,” she said.

“Wonderful, we’ll stay and take you home,” Anton said.

“That won’t be necessary, I can call a cab or one of those Hitch.”

“We want to take you home,” Troy cut in. “In fact, we would love it if you would come out to the farm with us to see Paul and Kyle, maybe stay for a while.”

Molly stared at her brother in shock.

“After what I put you through over the farm?”

“I seem to remember putting you through a lot myself. We would love for you to stay and I know the boys would love to see you.”

“I might take you up on that.”

“Then say you’ll come,” Anton demanded, causing Molly to laugh.

“Okay then yes,”

“Wonderful. Once Patrick’s home you can come back with us.”

“Have Adam called yet?”

“No, but he’ll find Patrick.”

“He will.”

“So, on that note, I will get us coffee,” Anton said rising from his seat.

“You’ll bring coffee back this time?” Troy asked, gaining a playful smack from Anton.

“I’ll be back.”

************

Anton did as he promised and purchased coffee and pastries. He stopped at the front desk and asked about, Detective AJ Chance’s condition. They gave him his room number, it was on the same floor as Molly.

When he stepped off the elevator, instead of going straight to Molly’s room he made a right to an opened door. As he peeked in he saw AJ staring at his untouched breakfast. Beside a few cuts and bruises he looked fine, his long black hair draped his left shoulder.

When Adam brought AJ home to meet them, he couldn’t stop boasting about AJ’s accomplishments. AJ, embarrassed tried to tell us Adam had a part in all his advances. AJ fell into the family without a hitch. Anton thought they would get married and have kids of their own. Little did he know AJ drifted from his son’s affection to another man.

It destroyed Adam, who quit the force and almost took his life in their barn. Paul and Kyle were all over their baby brother trying to get him to go out with them or play video games or work on the family’s Cosplay town.

Adam bit their heads off to leave him alone so they call Damien, who came home to save his little brother. Adam spilled his heart out to Damien and left to stay with him overseas.

Anton knocked, catching AJ’s attention, who stiffened from the sight of his ex’s mother.

“Mr. Potter,” he said.

“AJ, how many times must I tell you to call me Anton?”

“Yes. Sorry.”

“May I come in?”

“Yes, please.”

Anton walked up and looked at the tray of untouched food. A bowl of plain oatmeal with two sugar pack, toast, butter and jam on the side, a cup of orange juice, and coffee with two shots of cream.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Not really.”

“You should eat something.” Anton sat his tray and bag down. “How about an oatmeal toast dip?”

“You want me to dip my toast in the oatmeal?”

“No, I will.” Anton went to the bathroom and washed his hands and returned to butter a piece of toast before using it as a scoop in the oatmeal. He used his palm as a tray as he brought it to AJ’s mouth who refused to open it. “You know, I had this trouble with my boys, especially Adam, who swore up and down he hated oatmeal even though he never tasted it. You know how I got him to open his mouth?”

“No.”

“I sang to him. AJ, I can’t sing. I’m tone deaf. Do you want me to sing AJ?”

AJ opened his mouth and took a bite of the buttery toast and warm cereal. When he swallowed, he saw a bright smile on Anton’s face.

“I like oatmeal, but I never ate it with toast before. It changes the taste for the better,” AJ smiled back.

“Good, because I lied, I can sing like an angel. Now we’re even.”

AJ wasn’t sure how to accept, ‘now we’re even’.

“How are you AJ?”

“The doctor said I can go home tomorrow.”

“What about your partner?”

AJ dropped his eyes and bit his lip. Anton watched him struggle not to cry. He reached out and grasped his clenched fist.

“How serious is he?”

“The doctors said he struck his head causing internal bleeding. They operated and believed he’ll recover so long as he wakes up soon.”

“Have you seen him?”

He nodded.

“You know he’ll pull through AJ.”

“I want to believe that.”

“Then keep believing. I’ll believe with you.”

“Thank you. Anton you didn’t have to come, but I’m glad you did.”

“I’m not one to hold a grudge. Adam moved on…”

“Adam, is he here?” He recuperated from his sorrow.

“No,” Anton said, surprised he asked.

“Does he know I’m here?”

“I don’t think so…”

“Can you tell him? I want to see him.”

“What on earth for? You both have different lives now.”

“Things changed in the past couple of days.”

“Is that so, please? Tell me how they change?”

*************

Anton stormed into Molly’s room holding the paper tray with the cakes and lukewarm coffee.

“Well, you managed to bring coffee this time,” Troy said taking the tray. He touched the cup and found it cool. He looked at Anton, who was pacing back and forward with his arms folded.

“Is everything all right Anton?” Molly asked.

Anton glanced her way, huffing and shaking his head as he continued to walk. Molly looked to Troy and shrugged her shoulders. Troy stood and moved to his husband, grasping his shoulders to hold him still.

“Anton, you need to calm down and tell us what happened.”

“Fine Troy, I will.” Anton plopped down in his seat catching his breath. “I went to see AJ.” He rested again.

“Is he well?”

“Oh, he’s—fine,” he said with a condescending tone.

“Well, that’s good.”

“Is it Troy, is it good?” Anton said, staring at his hands.

“Anton please get on with it,” Molly pleaded.

“AJ told me Adam kissed him.”

“What!” Troy and Molly cried out.

“Don’t make me say it again.”

“Anton are you sure, that’s what AJ said?” Troy asked.

“He said Adam grabbed him and kissed him on the mouth.”

“Maybe it was a friendly gesture,” Molly said.

“Not the way AJ spins it.”

“Did AJ say why Adam kissed him?” Troy asked.

“Ready for this? Because their old feelings resurfaced.”

“No, that can’t be true.”

“That’s what I told him.” Anton shut his eyes to what he knew. “Troy we can’t let this happen, you know what Adam went through when AJ broke his heart.”

“I do, but if this is true…”

“It isn’t true. Adam loves Patrick and that’s that.”

“We’ll just have to trust Adam knows what he’s doing.”

“When I had to give Devin a talking to about coming onto Patrick I never thought I needed to do the same for his twin brother.”

Molly and Troy looked at Anton confused. When he realized what he said he glanced at them.

“Where should I begin?” he shrugged.

“Devin came on to Patrick?”

“He did, and I nipped it in the bud when Patrick told me.”

“This is insane,” Troy said.

“I didn’t know Devin had crossed a line with Patrick. I would have never left them alone,” Molly said.

“Well don’t worry, I got through to him. Now I need to get through to AJ.”

“No Anton. Adam didn’t ask for our help, so we’re staying out.”

“Troy…”

“No. Let your grown son handle his own problems and we’ll be here for support.”

“Fine. But I won’t watch as a perfect relationship be destroyed over, old feelings.”

“Anton…”

“Don’t worry Troy, I’ll just be an observer.”