Family

Drifting Apart

It turned out that it  would be quite some time before Jonathan Turner actually returned back to Philadelphia. 

Jonathan went through a rigorous physiotherapy session to strengthen his broken bones. His session was twice a week , with his insistence it was  increased to three  - four times a week. Every day he was doing strength training , which  didn't improve his condition. In fact he was over exerting himself and instead of recovering he was causing harm  to his body. 

"What's the rush tiger, take it easy . Recovery  takes time , we don't  want you to have a permanent limp, we want you to walk properly as before, "said the pretty physiotherapist , giving him a gentle warning. 

With her guidance , he started to slow down , taking recovery rest on certain days. He was getting a bit  smoldered staying with his parents  and insisted to move out of their mansion to the guest house in their acres of land. 

  Months went  to a year. The first few month  Jonathan had communicated with his friends back in John Adams High School. Cory and Mr Feeny kept him updated on Shawn. Although Shawn himself never gave him a call. He was happy to hear that he had found his brother , Jack and hope that they could take care of each other. He was more happy when he heard that he had a steady girlfriend , Angela. From what he heard , the girl kept him straight ,  sensible and shelter him from mixing with the wrong crowd. Sounds like Shawn found himself a keeper, thought Jonathan  smiling sadly. 

He, himself was slowly falling for his pretty therapist. She reminded him so much of Katherine , except that she made him open up  and they can talk for hours. He could talk to her about Shawn  and how he miss the people at John Adams  High. 

Was he angry that Shawn never contacted him ? A bit , but throughout their stay, he knew that  Shawn was protecting  himself from getting hurt.  Shawn thought that it wouldn't be permanent , their bond, so Shawn protected himself by the only way he knew how , building a wall and focusing other things in his life like Angela. Besides , everyone in his life seems to leave him , his father with his magician , here I am son, here I disappear , since he was small , his mother would also go missing every time things didn't go right at home. 

Shawn would assume Jonathan would do the same. 

But Jonathan  did receive a few mysterious calls , everytime he pick up there was silence on the other side. 

"Shawn... is that you man? Are you ok?"

But after a while the call got disconnected. Soon the calls were getting lesser , even from Cory and Mr Feeny. Jonathan put all his attention on his relationship with his now girlfriend  / unofficial therapist. 

Patient , therapist relationship was forbidden where his girlfriend worked .At first they tried to keep their relationship a secret , but once Jonathan could walk properly and needed lesser therapy session, which the exercise  he can do it by himself , they officially declared their relationship, which seems to blossom  day by day. Soon , Jonathan forgot his life at Philadelphia and tried to focus on  his life in LA. He already got a new teaching position , he had a beautiful , caring girlfriend , which he can't wait to spend the rest of his life , a wedding ring in his pocket , things were working out for him. 

So , it caught him   by surprise when he got a call in the dead morning . 

He picked up the phone at the side  of his bed. 

"'Lo, "he said sleepily. At first , he didn't hear anything , then he heard a drunken laugh. Jonathan shot  up. 

"Shawn , is that you?"He  heard a stifle laugh and then giggles. 

"Shawn, that's you , no mistaken  it , that's you,"he said. If anyone heard his sentence , they wouldn't believe he was an english teacher. 

There was silence , then the stiffle laugh and an out loud guffaw. 

"Mr Tuuuuuuuuurner, how you doin,"said the familiar voice at the other side. 

"Hunter, are you drunk?" "Who me?" "Yeah , you Shawn."

"No....Maybe .... Perhaps ... I donno, "Shawn laughed hysterically . Jonathan could hear the clatter of bottles . 

"Are you alone , Shawn? How much have you been drinking ?"asked Jonathan   getting more and more worried. Where was Cory , Jack ? Were they also drunk or sleeping there ? Was he alone?

"Yes.... No .... Maybe .....A lot." laughed Shawn. Jonathan was now alert and sitting up  on his bed. 

"Shawn tell me what  happen? Are you ok man?" There was another laugh , then it died down , Jonathan could hear sniffles and then sobbing. 

"He's dead, Mr Turner."

Jonathan felt cold . He dreaded to ask .

"Who's dead Shawn?"

"My dad . He had a heart attack , the hospital couldn't save him, nobody could save him." Jonathan's heart went to his young friend and could feel his pain. To Shawn, regardless of all his faults, his father was his world. 

"Where are you Shawn?" "I donno"

Ïs Cory with you, anyone , Angela ?"

"No."

"Tell me where you are Shawn. I'm coming back , tell me where you are and we talk, "said Jonathan desperately. Shawn did not answer and hang up the phone. 

Scared, Jonathan called Cory , who was frantically searching for Shawn. Cory had put a red alert  on Shawn. Everyone was on a look out for him , Matthews, Mr Feeny , Jack, his trailer park family , Topanga , Angela. 

Jonathan tried to book a flight back to Philadelphia   but the only flight was at night. Jonathan took it.......

Cory . message him before he got on the flight. Angela   had found him .... Jonathan  sighed and got onto the flight.