North (A Robert Downey Jr Fanfic)

"Don't Worry Baby"

There was an emergency with my kids.

Susan needed me to fix something.

She held me at gunpoint and made me come in.

She's crazy and I'm afraid she's going to hurt my kids.

That last one was a truth for the most part.

"I don't have a good reason. I'm sorry."
"But why? Why would you go there?" her voice quivered, a sign that her emotions were taking over.
"She was upset, crying...she uses me, Ness. She called, she was hysterical and I just went. I don't have a good excuse and I'm sorry."
"Well what did she say? It's not like you went there for a casual chat, or arts and crafts or something."
"She...she said...Vanessa, I don't--"
"For god's sake, Bobby. Spit it out!" she shrieked.

"She told me she'd do anything to get me to come back home, for the kids. She's using them against me, Ness." He pulled his car to a stop in their driveway and slumped against the seat. Vanessa's eyes filled up and the levee broke. Pain and medication addled her senses, nothing was real. Nothing was comprehensible. She unbuckled and helped herself out of the car, then spoke to him over her shoulder.

"You need to make some choices about your life, our life...Susan still has her claws in you, whether you want to admit it or not. Just figure it out Bobby," she spit her words at him and slammed the car door. As soon as she made it to their bedroom, she crumbled to the floor and wept.

***

"Mom! What are you doing on the floor?" Penny was hovering overhead, her face contorted with worry.
"Pen. Baby...how are you?" she croaked out.
"Me? Don't worry about me. How are you?"
"I shall live to see another day, child. Where's Bobby?"
"He's downstairs in the office, on the phone. He sounds really mad."

Vanessa stood up quickly and her head swam with the fog of sleep and narcotic pain pills. She crossed the room to her bed and sat down.
"What time is it?"
"It's almost six. Dinner should be here soon."
"What do you mean?"
"Dawn dropped me off after school and is going to make dinner then bring it over."
Bless her heart.
"She said she doesn't trust you with a knife anymore."
"Hah! She probably shouldn't."

"Mom?"
"Yes, Pen?"
"Bobby's talking to someone named Jackson. Who's that?"
His lawyer, she thought and her heart sank. "I'm not sure baby. Maybe I should go find out. You go do your homework. I'm going to change and I'll be right out in case you need any help."

She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a tshirt and wrapped her hair up in a bun on top of her head. The hospital advised her to support her injured hand with a sling, so she maneuvered her arm into it and started down the stairs. She could hear the muffled highs and lows of his voice from behind the closed office door. Penny was right; Robert was angry.

"I don't give a shit what needs to be done but those children aren't safe over there.....I'm tired of worrying about her mind-fucking our children."

She leaned against the door and continued to listen in. Relief washed over her at the realization he wasn't making the decision to leave.

"I'll set up cameras...go to trial...anything, Jackson--yeah, you do that. Bye." she heard the characteristic slamming of the office phone into its cradle. The door opened and he emerged. As soon as he saw her, he melted into an emotional puddle.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Vanessa, I'm so sorry. Come here," he took her hand and pulled her close, making her tears pour again.
"Please don't keep anything like that from me again, okay?" she whispered.
"Of course, sweet thing. We need to have a chat, okay?"
"About?"
"All of this. My kids, Susan, this home, your business. Everything."
Her stomach dropped. This isn't going to be good, she thought.
"Let's go sit," he took her hand and led her to the couch.