Flesh and Blood

Thief

Colby pulled up to the front of my house and we noticed a cop car in the driveway. I started to freak out inside. I didn't know what they were there for. I thought my dad had called and let my parents know where I was. 

Colby: "What's with the cops? I thought you called"

"I did call. I have no idea."

I didn't want to get out. I didn't like the idea of the cops being there. The guys got out of the car, but I just sat there. I froze. I couldn't bring myself to get out. The lump in my throat was becoming unbearable. I was about to cry and I hadn't even made it inside yet. My car door opened and I looked up with tears in my eyes and shook my head. He knelt down, tucked my hair behind my ear, caressed my cheek and wiped my tears

"Cassie, it's going to be alright. You have to go inside"

I looked back at the house and then back at him 

"I promise"

He held out his hand and I reluctantly took it as he helped me out of the car. I took my bag from his hands and he walked me up to the front door with his hand on my back. I wanted to bolt and I started to back away. The fact that the police were at the house meant I was in A LOT of trouble. It means my dad took things to the extreme. I felt the hand on my back preventing me from backing away further and I threw myself against him and locked my arms around his waist. He wrapped his arms around me briefly and then unlocked my arms from his waist and pulled me back

"Relax would ya. I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems. Don't be so dramatic."

"Obviously you don't know my dad" I scoffed as I pushed open the front door. 

I looked around and saw Travis and Zack at the top of the stairs. Travis was glaring at me...guess he figured out I stole the money. I was going to pay him back somehow. My mom came in from the kitchen smiling and threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek. This was fake. It was for show to show my real dad that they love me and missed me. That hug was the first time I'd been touched since Christmas...this was early February.  I put on a smile to play along, but I wasn't stupid and I wasn't buying it either. She took my bag and went upstairs. Here comes trouble...my dad walked in with the police behind him...he was pissed. More pissed than I'd ever seen in my entire life. He was only keeping it under control because of the cops otherwise he would've lost it. I could tell. 

"Jon, thanks for bringing her back."

"Yeah. So what's with the armed bodyguards?"

"They're here for the little thief."

I freaked out "WHAT!?!"

"Wait a second...that's a bit extreme don't you think? If it's over the $200 I have cash in my wallet you can have it. Seriously there's no need for this. I'm not going to let you talk to my daughter that way"

"That's the thing Jon, she's MY daughter and I'm sick and tired of the games, the attitude, the general disobedience...I'm not putting up with it anymore. She stole. She doesn't get a free pass for that. Give me your phone Cassie"

I reached in my pocket and held out my phone for him to take. I wasn't going to move an inch away from Jon. I didn't trust my dad anymore. 

"Over here Cassandra. You come to me. I'm not coming to you."

I reluctantly walked over and handed him the phone. He handed me the envelope with the RAW tickets in it. I looked up with tears in my eyes

"Give those back to Jon. Tell him you won't be going to Raw or any other show in the near future."

"....but...."

"Now Cassandra"

I walked back over to my dad and put my head down and handed him the envelope. He stepped towards me and took it back and whispered

"It's OK Cassie. Don't cry. It'll be alright."

I wish I could believe that.

Jon's POV

We both knew this was the last time either of us would be seeing each other for a while. I didn't want to do anything that was going to make this worse. It was already unbearable and uncomfortable. 

Colby: "You're not going to do anything?"

"I can't do anything without breaking the law. They're her parents legally...I can't interfere."

She threw herself against me and held on tight. One of the police officers grabbed her arm and she squeezed her eyes shut and held on tighter and wouldn't budge. I put my hand up

"Just...wait a minute. You're scaring her. I'll handle it. Cassie you need to just go OK. You'll be fine. We both know why you took the money and we both know you were going to pay it back. I'll walk with you to the car. Just do what you're told and remember what we talked about. I love you Cassie. Just remember that. Come on."

I walked her out to the car. This was breaking my heart. She didn't deserve this. It was crystal clear why she ran away. I always had a vibe about him and it just proves that I was right. We stopped and waited for them to open the door. She turned around to face me and it just made me sad. The Cassie I met for the first time in December was not the Cassie standing before me today. She was just so sad, so defeated and had lost sparkle in her eyes. I didn't know how to fix it. I kept promising her that I'd fix it, but I didn't even know where to start. 

"I'm scared." she mumbled in barely a whisper

"I know you are. Try not to think about it. I know...easier said than done, but try."

Colby and I watched as the car pulled away from the house. We went to the back of the rental car and smoked a cigarette. 

"Well, that was heart breaking and unbelievable. I see now why she ran away. 

"Yeah. It makes me feel like shit because these are the people that Savannah and I handed our baby to and expected them to take care of her. If I had known that this was the way things were going to turn out I would never have done it. You can see it when you look at her...she's so lost, lonely, confused, depressed and I don't know how I'm supposed to help her. I kept promising that I'd fix it, but I don't know how or where to start. In the end I could try to take it to court and fight it but by the time the case is heard she'll be 18 and it won't even matter."

"Jon, be honest. Are you doing all of this because she reminds you of Savannah? Is that the main reason?"

"No. I'm doing it because even before she was born I was trying to come up with a way to keep her. Savannah pushed and pushed hard for the adoption. Even when she wanted to keep her as much as I did she couldn't. She said the idea of keeping her after all of the things the White's did for her made her feel bad. She didn't want to hurt their feelings. Look I never expected to feel this way...ever. I really didn't, but I do and she's  my daughter and I just want her to be happy.  I want her to be a part of my life and I want her to be happy."