Cowboy Take Me Away

Saddle's Up

New Jersey Medical Center

Austin followed his father down the long hallway out of F Wing, fingers gripping the paper coffee cup. His hands were so sweaty he was sure the cup would slip right through them at any moment, heart racing with memories of his childhood flooding behind his eyes.

A blonde boy on a swing, being pushed by his father, who took every hard push very seriously when Austin would shout that he wanted to go higher. His gruff hands pulled the swing back and released, causing the small blonde boy to kick his little feet and giggle in exhilaration.

A giggle that echoed in Austin's mind.

"Son"

Austin's eyes opened when he realized he'd stopped in the middle of the hallway, family members and residents of the hospital shuffling around him.

He hadn't realized that he'd started crying, lifting his ringed hand to his red eyes to push the tears away, clearing his throat.

"Son, let's go somewhere a little more private?" David suggested, placing a large hand on his shoulder.

Austin flinched at the contact, pulling his body away from his fathers hand.

"You look like shit, son - like you haven't been sleeping well" David stepped back, blue eyes searching his sons face

"Let's get you something to eat" he said, attempting to turn

"I'm not hungry" Austin enunciated through clenched teeth

David turned to him again, wrinkled face deflating in guilt

He moved to the nearest window, placing his palms against the glass to peer out of the pane.

"I only divorced your mother a few years ago, and by that time I knew it was too late to get you back" his voice was filled with remorse when he spoke

"She wanted you to excel, she wanted you to be like all those other robot, athlete drones they push out of that school"

David's face turned to Austin's

"I never wanted that for you"

Tears were sliding down Austin's face, throat bobbing with anger rising in his chest.

"Hh-Yeah," Austin scoffed, disbelievingly

"- but you didn't do anything, Dad" his voice was small, fingers pushing tears away in embarrassment

"You didn't do anything, Dad!" Austin shouted

A family that had turned down the hallway, reversed in the other direction when Austin's tall frame moved a few steps to stand behind his father.

"You didn't do anything, Dad" he repeated under his breath

"I know" David choked, sighing when he turned to look at his Son

"Your mother didn't know I was in contact with Tom, she had no idea that I was funneling money to you secretly-"

Austin scoffed again, interrupting him

"Looks like she's not the only one!"

"You both lied to me" Austin clenched his jaw, stepping forward

"Son, you can't intimidate me with your anger- it doesn't scare me, it just hurts me"

"Good" Austin spat, swallowing

"Maybe you'll feel half the pain I've felt without a goddamn family for a decade!"

These words hurt David more, Austin could tell by the drain of color in his face.

"You have your friends, in your club, I'm told you've been happy" David replied, attempting to make his own guilt lessen in the process