Part Eleven
Jesse stared sullenly at the apartment building. Yates tugged on his arm gently and he got out of the car.
“It’s for the best,” she said, as they entered the building.
“Whatever,” muttered Jesse.
Jenkins and Yates moved to greet a man who was waiting in the lobby. Jesse looked at him. He was in his mid-thirties with short dark blond hair and cold blue eyes that made Jesse shiver when he saw them. The man was average height with a medium build.
“Jesse,” said Yates, “this is Vincent Cambridge. Mr. Cambridge, this is Jesse McPherson.”
“Pleased to meet you, son,” said Mr. Cambridge in a clipped British accent, holding his hand out for Jesse.
Jesse watched the man, noticing that his smile didn’t reached the cold eyes. He flinched away from the extended hand.
“Well,” said Jenkins. “I’m sure you’ve got a lot planned for today. We’ll be going now.”
“Please don’t leave me,” begged Jesse. “I want to go home.”
“Goodbye, Sharon, Ryan,” said Mr. Cambridge pleasantly. “Now, Jesse,” he focused on the boy, “you’ll feel differently in a couple days. Don’t worry. You won’t even consider leaving.”
Jesse turned terrified eyes on the two social workers, but they were already on their way out. He slowly turned back to face the man they had left him with.
Xander stared miserably at the wall, wishing Jesse was there to talk to. Giles and Iam had left for a bit, and he was bored. He heard a shuffling noise, and turned to the door. “Mom! What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, baby,” she sobbed, collapsing next to his bed.
“Ugh, how much have you had to drink?” he asked, wrinkling his nose at the overwhelming scent of alcohol.
“Your father’s in jail! What am I going to do now?” she wailed.
Xander shifted away from her clutching hands. He grabbed the call box and pressed the button on it repeatedly.
A nurse came rushing in and saw the hysterical woman. She quickly stepped out of the room, calling for security. Security arrived after a few minutes, and hauled the screaming woman from the room.
Giles and Iam watched curiously as Security rushed past them, then saw them enter Xander’s hospital room. “That’s Xander’s room,” said Iam, frightened. “You… don’t think anything bad happened to him?”
“No, I’m sure it’s nothing,” said Giles reassuringly. Security left with a hysterical woman, and Giles stopped a nurse. “Excuse me, what just happened? Who was that?”
“The patient’s mother,” said the nurse. “I’m not sure exactly what happened. She went in and the kid pushed the call button.”
“She’s a drunk,” said Iam. He then went into Xander’s room.
“Iam, why’d she come here?”
“I don’t know, but she’s gone now,” he said reassuringly.
“I want Jesse…”
“Shhh, I’m here,” said Iam.
Xander quietly sobbed on Iam’s shoulder. “I’ve ruined everything. My dad’s in jail, my mom’s mess, Jesse’s gone… It’s all my fault.”
“No, no, Xander, it’s not your fault,” said Iam fiercely. “Your da deserves to be in jail. He did things that he had no right to do. And you can’t help how your mum copes with her pain. And, and, Jesse’s parents are why he’s gone. And he’s not gone far. Only to Los Angeles. It’s better that he’s away from his parents. Like you will be. Like I am.”
“Need him, he’s my rock.”