Web Fic
Chapter 110
110 Fathers At War
(Jayden)
"Abby, Abby, Daddy's here. Don't be scared. I'll get Mommy to you as soon as I can."
"Jayden. I told you to wait in the staff room until I called for you." Dr. Green admonishes me.
I rush to Abby's side, her tiny, limp body lying on the stretcher, surrounded by paramedics and medical staff. My heart is pounding, and all I can think about is losing her now. Phillip moves across from me, looking like he's in charge, like he has any right to be here.
"I'm here, Abby. Just keep holding on." Phillip says as he takes her hand.
The sight of him touching Abby, trying to take my place, makes my blood boil. I push past a paramedic, getting right in Phillip's face. "What the hell are you doing here?" Phillip doesn't back down. "I'm here for Abby. She needs someone who can stay calm and can't be here, so I'm stepping up."
help. Winona
ou can
"Stepping up? More like interfering." I spit out the words, fury coursing through me. "You think you take my place?"
s eyes.
"Jayden, now's not the time for this," Phillip replies, his voice steady, but I see the fear in his "It's exactly the time for this," I snarl. "You're not her father. I am."
Dr. Green steps in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Jayden, you need to step back. Let us do our job."
I glare at the doctor. "Don't tell me what to do. This is my daughter."
"You're being disruptive," Dr. Green says firmly. "If you can't control yourself, you'll have to leave."
My fists clench at my sides. "I'm not going anywhere."
Phillip tries to interject, "Jayden, calm down. We all want what's best for Abby."
"1 damn-well told you, I'm her father, not you! If anyone needs to leave, it's you." I seethe.
"I'm the one on her birth certificate. I can sign the papers needed. Not you," Phillip snaps back at me.
That's it. I can't take it anymore. I throw a punch, my knuckles connecting with Phillip's jaw. He staggers back, and the room erupts into chaos.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.
Nurses and paramedics try to separate us as Phillip holds his jaw, pain etched across his face.
"Jayden, stop!" Dr. Green shouts. "You're not helping Abby by doing this."
I'm breathing heavily, my anger barely contained. "He has no right to be here calling himself the father." I lunge for him again, determined to show him I'm not kidding. Before I can throw another punch, Phillip swings back, landing a stinging fist onto my cheek bone.
The impact sends me reeling for a second. I launch my body fully at him and we're both on the ground with a thud, grappling and trying to land punches.
110 Fathers At War
The room turns into a whirlwind of shouts and movement as security separates us.
"Get off him!" one of the security guards yells as they pull Phillip across the ground away from me. The other huge man has me standing and my arms pulled tight behind my back.
Gus bursts into the room, his face red with anger. "Jayden, what the hell are you doing?"
"I'm okay." I shake off the security guard. "I'm okay." I taste blood in my mouth,
Gus grabs me by the arm and pulls me outside into the ambulance bay and out onto the street. "You're not helping Abby with this bullshit!"
I pull away from him, my blood boiling. "Don't tell me what to do, Gus."
"You need to calm the hell down," Gus snaps, his voice low and furious. "You're making things worse."
"I don't need a lecture from you," I spit back. "You abandoned me to abuse when I was a kid. Don't bother trying to parent me now." I glare at him. "I'm Abby's father and no piece of fucking paper is going to deny me that!"
I continue to glare at him and I scruff him by the collar, getting up close. "You denied me, you weak prick. But I won't ever be a coward like you. You aren't worth the spit out of Abby's mouth. You're pathetic." I pushed him off again. Gus's eyes flash with anger, and for a moment, I think he might hit me.
But he takes a deep breath and straightens his collar. This isn't about you and me. This is about Abby.
I your head out of
egotistical ass and start thinking about what's best for her."
"You think I don't know that? I'm trying to protect her."
"By acting like a damn fool?" Gus retorts. "You're not protecting anyone with this behavior. You're just making it harder for everyone who actually cares about Abby."
I glare at him, my hands clenched into fists. "I'm her father. I'm the one who should be with her."
"And you will be," Gus says, his tone softer but still firm. "But not if you keep acting like this. You need to calm down and let the doctors do their job."
"Fine!" I yell back.
"Fine."
"Fine." I repeat but calmer now.
"Pull it together, Jayden," Gus says. "Let's get you cleaned up."
"I just... I can't stand seeing him with Abby. Or Winona
"I get it," Gus says. "But Abby needs you to be strong, not fighting with Phillip."
We stand there for a moment, the tension between us easing slightly. I know I need to be there for Abby,
but seeing Phillip with her, acting like he belongs, is more than I can handle.
I take another deep breath. "Let's get back in there, I'll go to the bathroom and clean up first."
Gus nods, and we head back inside.
110 Fathers At War
I'm calmer now but deep inside this has just solidified how I feel about the situation. No one will keep me from being a father to Abby.
If Phillip-fucking-Joseph thinks he can get in my way, he better think again.
111. Get Out Of My Life