Retributed

Chapter 19

Retributed: Chapter 19

~DeShawn P.O.V.~

Reading Trey's text earlier on had me real concerned and I would have joined right along with him but I was already at work by that time so when I finally got off, I headed straight for the hospital. I wasn't even aware Dad was back in Oakland and I felt bad that I didn't know but work has just had me high strung and stressed out. My days consist of getting up early, eating breakfast, off to work, get home, eat and then right to bed. Doesn't sound like much of a life but since Lolo still isn't working, I'm trying to keep bills paid, savings growing and so on. This is when I wish I was getting crazy stupid money like Trey with IRG but then I remember I chose to stay out of that in case something like what happened with Dad happens to me. It's just ironic I get a job working for the law while the entire family goes against the law for a living.

Knocking on the hospital room door to let whoever was inside know I was there, I pushed the door open and stepped inside the decent sized private room to see Dad laying there in bed. A confused look to his face along with a multitude of other damage and such, I was surprised... Was not expecting to find him in this bad of shape but I continued to step closer to him with a small smile on my face.

"Hey Dad, how are you feeling?" I asked him but his eyes remained lost as he continued to stare back at me. "Dad? It's DeShawn." I said waving to him but that didn't seem to ring any bells for him either. "Oh shit..." I slipped under my tongue. The other door in the room opened up to reveal Mom and she was startled when she noticed me at the foot of Dad's bed. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"No, you're fine. I didn't know you were here. The sink in there is so loud, muffles out everything." She said as she walked up to me and wrapped her arms around in a warm hug. I gladly returned the gesture and she seemed like she could use a hug based on how tense I could feel she was.

"I bet and what's going on with Dad?"

"They gave him some pills so he should be knocking out in a few." She said to me, letting go and then taking a seat in the chair. "Lexis, your other son came to see you. This is DeShawn, your first born." She said as I took up the seat next to her. Investigating all the machines and the notes on the board, it was extensive but I didn't see anything that indicated he was high risk for stroke, heart attack or seizures. That brought a bit of relief to me and looking at him, he was out of it. Barely able to keep his eyes open on Mom till he finally gave up and fell asleep. "He's getting better. You haven't heard from Ty or LJ, huh?"

"At least he's recovering. I'm glad to know that, I wish I had come sooner." I said with a quick disappointed shake of my head. "I haven't heard from either of them." Which isn't new, if anything Trey would be the obvious one to know of there whereabouts.

"Don't blame yourself. I've kept a very tight lip about Dad so no one would freak out." I see. "How are you more importantly? I feel like I haven't seen you in months. How's Lauren?" She was quick to change the subject off of Dad and that was odd of her. I was expecting to hear the whole low down of what's been going on and for now I won't press it but I'll sneak a way to getting her to spill the details like I usually do..

"Yeah it's been a while and I apologize for that. Work has been flooding for me, case after case and I'm loving the big paychecks but it's taking me away from the family. Even Lolo's brought it up that I spend more time working than I do with her and Rio. I won't lie, I'll spend my days off working from home to get a head start for the upcoming week." I said as I rubbed the back of my neck. Hearing myself say that made me feel worse because of how consumed I am. I was always one to be more distant from the family anyways but it's to where I feel like I'm completely abandoning them and that's not right. "As for Lolo, she's not been the greatest. You know how she is and with her already two days past her due date, she's stressing herself out much like I am. She paces so much around the house she's gonna walk the baby right out of her." I said as I was now worrying about her along with the worry of Dad on my shoulders.