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The Donor

"Daad!" Christian rushes to Chris's side and hugs him lightly. Trying to avoid the wires attached to his body that keep his kidneys functioning. Tre stands back mildly angry that his father is there in the first place yet relieved he's alive. But won't dare show it.

Mid embrace with Christian, Chris opens his eyes and looks thoughtfully at Tre before beckoning him closer. When he doesn't move Simone nudges him forward. He moves at a reluctant pace as he goes over to the bed and joins in, forming a group hug.

"I missed you boys so much." Chris coos.

"We missed you too dad. Well I did, I don't know about Tre."

Chris releases his embrace to look at the elder boy.

"Something wrong son?"

"No."

Christian shoots him a sour look. "Yes, it is. He's always mad."

"Shut up you lil snitch!" Tre snaps.

"See?"

Chris intervenes before they argue. "Tre, I promise I will do better. That I will be better. And you two will love California. There's so much to see and do. I can't wait to show y'all around. As soon as I get out of here."

Everyone in the room shares an apprehensive look that doesn't go unnoticed by Chris. His brow creases as he looks between the adults in the room.

"What are y'all not telling me?" He looks to Jeanette.

"Jeannie? What's going on?"

"Well..."

Jeanette barely gets a word out before Simone talks over her. "Why are you asking her?"

"I don't care who answers Simone, I just wanna know. Am I dying or something?"

"No." Nadine moves to Chris's bedside, sits down, and takes his hands in hers. Chris lets her but directs her attention to Jeanette and smiles.

"You see Jeannie, ma? She looks the same, doesn't she?"

Through gritted teeth Nadine answers. "Yes, she does, but let's talk about you. Both of your kidneys were severely damaged when you were shot. You need a transplant and finding a donor is difficult because of your blood type."

She looks over at Logan hopeful. "But Logan agreed to undergo compatibility tests."

"You met Logan?" Chris questions.

"We spoke briefly."

Puzzled, he directs his next question to Logan. "You would do that for me?"

"I just agreed to get tested." Logan speaks coolly.

Chris shakes his head in disbelief. "You see that? He came into the world with all the odds stacked against him. He had few choices and lived the only life he knew, and still you see how well he turned out?"

Nadine, feeling that her son is only extra sensitive because of the trauma he endured, rubs the top of his head and forces a smile. "Yes, I do."

"Now he's a successful, family man. And even though I don't deserve it, he just keeps saving my ass."

"And you just keep kissing his." Tre accuses, then stalks off towards the door. "You're on your deathbed, on his dick. Almost half a hundred obsessing over a high school crush like ma, Christian, and me aren't right here. We're your family, not her..." He jabs a finger in Jeanette's direction. "...And not him either." Doing the same towards Logan. "I hope you never get a kidney!" Swinging the door open he walks out.