The Invasion

"Yeah and she talked to me for a bit." he said. "I don't want to take her off. I told them no."

"Daddy, when is mommy gonna get up from her nap?" Brandon asked, playing with Lacy's fingers. "She can't be THAT sleepy, and my birthday is coming. She buy me cake."

"Well... it has been a month, Phil..." Mary started.

"Mom, don't give up on her." he said as he shook his head and looked at Brandon. "Very soon, before your birthday." he said. "She'll buy you cake and everything."

"I don't want to honey, but I say just let her go if it's time for her to go."

"Where mommy go?" Allison asked as she stood up in Phil's lap. Avoided the troops.

"Well it's not time." he said and looked at Ally. "Mommy's not going anywhere."

"Oh, okay." She sat back down.

Mary sighed. "I went to see Mike."

"And?"

"He...I..." She sighed a bit. "He's not sorry."

He shrugged. "I don't care. Even if he was, you'd think I would forgive him?"

"Are you going to see him at all?"

"Nope."

"He wants to see you, though..."

"So, he's asking for a death wish."

"If you want to look at it in that way."

"He's got some nerve."

"It's up to you." She sighed and grabbed Brandon. "Let's let mommy rest, Brandon."

"No!" Brandon struggled against her. "Down! I want down!"

"Just leave him there for a bit." he said. "You think maybe you could get them some snacks or something from the vending machine?" he asked her.

Mary sighed and set him down. "Yeah, sure."

"Thanks."

Mary nodded and walked out to find them something to eat. Ally was busy playing with Daddy's fingers and the tattoos on his hands.

"So, you guys been having a good time with grandma?"

"I wanna go home." Allison crossed her arms.

"I want mommy." Brandon said, still playing with her hands.

He sighed a bit and walked over to where Brandon was, picking him up with his free arm...since he had Allison in his other one, then sat down with the both of them. "I know you guys want to go home and miss mommy, because I miss her too." he said. "We just have to wait until she gets all better and we'll be home really soon."

"But Daddy," Brandon started to cry. "it's not fair. All of my friends at the park go with their mommies and my mommy is sleep for a long time. I never see her!"

He knew how he felt, cause he felt the same way....differently of course. He hated going to eat in the hospital cafeteria and see all these couples together. He hated seeing significant others being discharged and able to go home after they were re-cooperated from whatever. He hated it even more when he saw couples leave with newborns. It hurt him every time he leaned over to place a kiss on Lacy's lips...just hoping she's react, but nothing. He wanted her to be better already and go home, be with the him and the kids.

"I get it, I do." he nodded. "Mommy is going to be here, she is. You have to wait a little bit. I need you and your sister to be a big girl and big boy and just be tough for Mommy. Daddy has been trying so hard, but....I don't know how much longer I can take. I miss your mommy so much." Phil Brooks had cried. In front of his kids. He never tried to show him when he was upset, but damn it....he just wanted Lacy back and couldn't hold in everything anymore. Seeing Brandon and Allison like this, it tears him up.