Cameron x Nash Short Stories - cash -

It's Dark and Hell is Hot Part Two

Cameron's mother stares at him as her hand goes up to her mouth. Her eyes are wide and shining with tears as she sees her son for the first time in 10 years, she never visited him and it was a conscious decision on her part. She couldn't bear to see her only son in jail. She was angry at him at first, she couldn't believe that Cameron had enough hatred in his heart to murder someone, especially not his father. She had dealt with the abuse because she thought she loved him. Pit was 2 years before she saw that what Cameron did saved her life. She still had flashbacks of finding her son stabbing her husband in the living room. It was thoroughly cleaned and not a mark was left but whenever she entered the room she would panic. She finally saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with PTSD, she started taking medications that really helped her.She contemplated visiting him in jail and she even spoke about it with her psychiatrist who told her it would be beneficial to visit him but she never gathered the courage to visit him.

Her son was thin and lanky before he went to jail but the time behind the bars has made him muscular. He no longer looks like her sweet boy that she so lovingly raised and she wonders if the man standing in front of her is still the same. She opens the door a little wider and ushers him in. Cameron takes the opportunity to look around the house, nothing has changed and for some reason he's happy about it.

They head to the kitchen and sit at the table there, Gina is not ready to sit with Cameron in the room where he killed his father. Cameron's eyes follow Nash and he opts to stand behind his mother, he wonders why his mother didn't ask who Nash is. Maybe she knows him from all of the things Nash was telling him.

There's an awkward silence, neither of them know where to start. Cameron is grateful that she let him in,meh was expecting that she would outright reject him and tell him never to show his face again. He feels relieved that that's not what happened, he begins to hope that maybe he can repair his relationship with his mother.

"You never visited," Cameron states quietly and he's careful not to accuse her of anything, he's just simply stating facts.

"I couldn't bring myself to see my little boy behind bars. It's selfish, I know. There were times that I drove to the prison and I would sit in the parking lot but I never could take the final step. It took years for me to heal, I was so angry at you in the beginning and slowly I came to realize how much better my life is now. I no longer have to fear him, he's not here to smack me around when I didn't do something to his exact specification. He was lazy, selfish, and violent. He was a drug abuser and a drunk. I can never condone what you did, Cameron but I can realize how much better my life is now," she replies in the same quiet tone, Cameron squeezes his eyes shut as he fights back tears. Her words validate his actions and she may not feel that what he did was right, she's extremely devout catholic and murder is never the answer, just the fact that she's much happier now and she's safe makes it all worth it in Cameron's mind.

Nash comes around and stands behind Cameron, he places his hands on Cameron's shoulders and massages them gently.

"It's okay to cry, Cameron." He murmurs and Cameron opens his eyes and lets the tears fall. Gina reaches across the table and grasps Cameron's hands in hers.

"I was so scared you would hate me," he whispers as he sniffles softly.

"I could never hate you," Gina replies softly and she squeezes his hands. "Where are you staying?"

"A halfway house not too far from here," he says as he wipes his tears.

Gina wants to tell him that he can move back in but she doesn't want to do it just yet. She needs to get to know her son fully before she allows him back into her home. Prison can change anyone and while Cameron seems the same in their short conversation, she's not sure that he is.

"Have you kept in touch with his family?" Cameron asks and he's not sure why he feels compelled to ask about his father's family. Apart from his mom, his grandmother took it the worst. She couldn't understand why Cameron would do something so horrific. She attended every court date and they covered everything including the long term a abuse against Gina and Cameron. She couldn't believe that her boy, John, would do something so egregious against his family and so she decides not to believe what she thinks are lies. He would never abuse his wife and only son. She believes that Cameron lost his mind and he might be clinically insane.

"No... Ann denies that John was ever abusive, she would talk about him like he was some kind of angel but you and I both know that is not true. He was a miserable, abusive drunk who spent all of his money on drugs and alcohol." Gina says bitterly, her mind flashes memories of him abusing her, forcing her to do things she would never want to do on her own. There are things that not even Cameron knows, only her psychiatrist is aware.

Cameron sighs sadly, he was close to his grandmother before all of this occurred, he knows that she probably hates him and blames him for everything.

Cameron tilts his head because he realizes that Gina hasn't addressed Nash at all.

"Mom, this is-" Cameron is interrupted by Nash who covers his mouth with his hand.

"She can't see me, only you can." Nash murmurs and Cameron tries to control his emotions or else he would seem crazy to his mother. Nash uncovers his mouth and Cameron coughs awkwardly, how is it possible that Gina can't see Nash? Is he truly schizophrenic and seeing people who aren't there?

"I was wondering if maybe you still have my phone and laptop? My clothes?" Cameron asks shyly and Gina gives him a soft smile.

"Yes, I kept all of it in your room. Feel free to take what you need back to your room at the halfway house." Gina replies and Cameron gives her a happy smile. They stand and Cameron walks up to her, he wraps his arms around her tightly and she hugs him back. They stand there for a few minutes and Cameron can feel his eyes watering and he quickly blinks back the tears. It feels nice to have some kind of human contact, he hasn't had any in ten years, he's felt so lonely and just a simple hug makes him feel so much better.

They part and she leads him to his room, when he opens the door everything is just as he left it 10 years ago. He gathers a few things, mainly his laptop and some clothes. He's aware of Nash's presence but as long as he's near his mom, he can't interact with him. He has so many questions running through his head. He packs his things in a duffel bag and he meets Gina downstairs.

"I want us to have coffee dates, to get to know each other again," Gina tells him and he's so incredibly happy that he gets a chance to repair the damage that he made to their relationship.

"I would love to, mom." He says quietly and she smiles at him.

"11am at Starbucks?" She asks and he nods immediately. "Your car is in the garage... I made sure to keep it tuned up. I know how much work you put into it."

His eyes widen with happiness, today has been a lot better than he could ever imagine. Nash stands beside him with a soft smile on his face, he knew everything would be okay with Cameron and Gina, Cameron just needed a gentle push to actually knock on the door.

Cameron grabs his car keys and hugs his mother goodbye.

"I love you, mom." He says softly and she squeezes him a little tighter.

"I love you too," she replies and when they part she wipes her tears from her eyes.

Cameron goes to the garage and when he gets in the car and the engine roars to like he has a happy smile. He might just be on parole but life is turning out to be so much better than he thought. His mother has forgiven him and they're going to mend their relationship and hopefully go back to the closeness they had before.

Nash sits in the passenger seat and Cameron finally turns to him.

"Explain."

A/n- more or nah?