Danielle (Wiping her tears): No, it's okay, Mike.
Mike: You sure?
Danielle: I'm sure. You just sit there and enjoy the babies okay? I'll be right back down with dad.
Mike: Okay. (Danielle left the room and Mike looked at his family)
Andy: What is it, dad?
Mike: My dad isn't going to make it.
Pam: Why's he in here anyway? You never *did* tell us that part.
Mike: He was shot while on duty. (They looked at him) He's a cop. He didn't tell me what happened but the gunshot wound left internal injuries and bleeding. The doctors cannot stop the bleeding soso now he's going to die.
Pam: Awe Mike. That's so terrible. You just met back up with him too.
Mike: I know.
Andy: At least you made peace with him right?
Mike: Yeah but that doesn't make me feel any better at the moment.
(Ten minutes later, Mike's dad was wheeled into him by a wheel chairDanielle had not yet returned)
Mike (Barely looking at him): Ahhi dad. (Pam, Andy, Janelle and Clairice were amazed at the resemblance between Mike and his dad) Guys, this is my father; Michael Robert Nesmith.
Pam: UmI'm Pamela. Do you remember me?
Bob: I seem to remember a young girl who hung out with my son a great deal when he was younger. You resemble that girl so you must be her.
Pam (Smiling): I am. This is our son, Andrew.
Andy: They call me Andy.
Bob (Looking Andy over): You are a handsome young man.
Andy: Thank you sir.
Bob (Coughing): Excuse me. (Danielle gave her dad a drink of water) So, you and Mike are married huh?
Mike: Not anymore. She was my wife for a few years and then I got into The Monkees and things got crazy. So we got divorced.
Pam: But we're still good friends.
Bob: You're doing better than me and Rosalee. We talk to each other over the phone but other than that, we are nothing but former friends and mates.
Pam: That's too bad.
Bob: Yeah I guess it is; and who are these lovelyladies? (Bob began to cough again)
Mike: These are my daughters from my current wife, Katie. This is Janelle and this is Clairice.
Clairice: You're my grandpa? (Bob gained control of himself again so he could answer Clairice)
Bob: Yeah. Your dad is the oldest of my kids. I was with his mother for ten years and then we divorced and I moved on.
Clairice: What happened between you and Grandma Nesmith?
Bob (To Mike with a surprised look): She still uses my last name?
Mike: She went back to your last name after the passing of her husband. I don't know why she did that; and to be honest, I was mad at her for it for quite some time.
Clairice: You didn't answer my question.
Bob: She's persistent isn't she?
Andy: Gee, I wonder where she gets *that* from? (Andy looked at his dad)
Mike: I'm not persistent!
Pam: Oh contrare, my darlin'! You are the most persistent person I know. Ask Davy; he tells everyone that about you. When you wanna know something, you keep asking until you get your answer.
Bob (To Clairice): I'll answer your question if you promise not to ask for details.
Clairice: I promise.
Bob: Rosalee and I were young and I was stupid. We got married and it wasn't a very good one because we had Mike to keep me from going into the war. Rosalee and I hated each other and leaving when Mike was ten was best. (His coughing began again and it seemed to be getting worse while they were talking instead of better) I'm sorry about the coughing but
Pam: Don't apologize for it, sir. It's perfectly understandable.
Janelle (A little upset when she remembered his face): I remember you. You pulled my mother over for speeding a couple of weeks ago for speeding. She told you that she was having contractions and you didn't care. You gave her a ticket anyway.
Bob (Showing his serious side): I do that to anyone I pull over for speeding. I don't care if they are having babies, late for work or being plain stupid. It was my favorite part of the job and I never let anyone off the hook for it because I've seen too many people killed in accidents from speeding cars. The way I feel is if the mother is in labor, she can call an ambulance to come get her.
Janelle: She isn't supposed to call the ambulance or go to a hospital. It's against our beliefs and she was trying to get home to my dad before something happened.
Bob (To Mike): Still following your mother's religion are ya?
Mike: It's not half-bad ya know. You should have tried it when you were married.
Bob: No way! I was never into that stuff and she kept trying to push it onto me. That was one of the other problems we had with each other. I hated the way she believed. She was having complications while carrying you and instead of going to a doctor, she called a midwife up and had the midwife come help her. Your mama kept insisting she would be fine. Then you arrived and she was in so much pain that she was literally screaming to the top of her lungs. I had to leave the house because of the screaming. That's when I had it in my mind that she was not going to have anymore babies from me if she was going to go along with that silly belief so I made her get her tubes tied. She hated me for it because according to her, they don't believe in that stuff.
Mike: We won't discuss my mama's religion in front of my children okay? I do not want you trying to put any doubts in their heads about it.
Bob: Because you know what I'm saying is true, Mike. The religion is wrong and stupid.
Mike: It's not stupid and it's not wrong! I am not going fight with you about it and I will tell you one more time that I do not want you talking about it in front of my children. They will believe what we believe and
Bob: And they'll never learn the truth. (Mike held his mouth shut because he didn't want to get into any further discussions about it)
Andy (Trying to change the subject): Soyou were a cop, huh?
Bob: Yeah; been a cop since I was 19. I loved my job and what I did for a living. I'm just sad to have it come to an end like this.
Danielle (Coming up behind her dad; putting her hand on his shoulder): Dad? Mom went to get us something to drink. She'll be right here.
Bob: Okay; thanks honey. (To Mike) So where are these new babies your sister told me about?
Mike: Oh, they're right here. (Mike took the baby boy and handed it to his father) This is Robbie.
Bob: Named after you?
Mike: Not officially. I'm waiting on Katie to give him his final name.
Bob: He's adoreable. Looks a lot like you used to when *you* were a baby.
Janelle: What was dad like when he was a kid?
Bob (Looking at Mike but answering Janelle's question): He was a tough kid. Had a mind of his own. Much like he does now from what I hear. (Mike just looked at his dad and the others laughed) But he was a good kid who loved his mother a lot.
Mike: Dad, I don't wanna talk about my past okay? (To his kids) And you promised you wouldn't ask questions.
Andy: No; Clairice promised it. Janelle and I never promised anything so therefore I want to know what grandpa has to say.
Mike (Snapping): He's not your grandpa!
Andy: Then what is he?
Mike (Still snapping): He's Bob, okay? He was never my father and therefore, he will never be your grandfather!
Pam: Mike, I thought you forgave your dad?
Mike (Still snapping): I forgave my dad but it doesn't mean that I've forgotten what he did when I growing up!
Pam: Calm down! (Mike, still a little miffed, managed to gain control of himself for the moment)
Bob: Your father is right, Andy. I shouldn't talk about it.
Clairice (Trying to lighten the mood): Hand him the other baby, daddy.
Mike: Right. (Mike picked the little girl up and handed her to his father)
Bob: She's beautiful, Mike. She reminds me of your mama. (Bob began to cough again. Since he couldn't talk, he handed the two babies off to whomever would take them)
Danielle: Dad, take it easy. (Bob stopped coughing and took a good look at his son and his son's family)
Bob: Son, I want you to do me a favor, okay?
Mike: What's that?
Bob: I know that things in the past were bad between me, you and your mama; but I want you to tell her that Ithat I'm sorry things went the way they did. She was once my friend and I took advantage of the friendship and ruined it.
Mike: I'll make sure she knows that.
Bob: And do me one more favor. Will you look after Liz, Dani and the others? Dani will introduce them to you.
Mike: Yeah; I'd be honored to.
Bob: Dani? I need to go back to my room.
Danielle: Yes sir.
Bob (To Mike): It was nice meeting your family. You have a handsome son, two beautiful daughters and two wonderful babies. (Mike just smiled a little bit)
Danielle (To Mike): Wanna come?
Mike: Yeah. (To his family) Tell Katie I'll be back.
Pam: We will. (Mike took off with his sister and father)