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Bo's Journey Home - Chapter 10   Bo let Rachel rock him a few minutes before pulling from her slightly, pushing himself back up onto the chair. Rachel sat in the chair next to him. “Feel any better?”   Bo used his hands to try to wipe the evidence of tears from his face. “I held it as long as I could, Rachel. I had to stay strong for your mother, but now, knowing he's safe…” Bo paused. “I needed to find him for her…I needed to be there for her.”   Rachel reached up, placing her hand on the back of his head. She combed through the hair at his collar to comfort him, as she had seen her mother do a thousand times before. “You did find him for her. And you have always been there for her; for all of us. You’re her strength, you’re her heart. You have to know that, Bo.” “I used to be, Rachel” Bo shrugged. “It’s different now, we’re different.”   Rachel disagreed. “It’s not different. You are still you. Mom is still mom.”   Bo looked at her, shaking his head. “I hurt her. I’ve been judgmental, hard and unforgiving.”   Rachel interrupted him. “You stop right there, Bo Buchanan. I don’t know that man. The Bo Buchanan I know is kind, and giving and caring and loving. Do you think my mother would love the man you just described?” Bo shrugged and Rachel continued. “And what about Matthew? He’s smart and funny, and caring and loving. He’s the best of both of you.”   Bo looked at her suddenly and she continued quietly. “I know that Matthew is your son. I know how hard Matthew’s disappearance has been on you; not just because of mom and your past; but because of Drew.” Bo sighed. “I was afraid I wasn’t going to get a chance to be a father to him. I wouldn’t have survived the loss of another son.”   She smiled and continued, rubbing her hand across the back of his shoulders. “And you don’t have to. You have the rest of your life to be a father to Matthew.” She added softly, “and get things right with mom.” Bo shook his head at her, smiling. “You’re right about Matthew. I will get it right with Matthew. As for you mother, well…” he paused, looking at her. “I think we’re about as right as we can be, for now.”   Rachel shook her head back at him, smiling. “You just keep telling yourself that Bo. And maybe you’ll convince yourself. Me, I know better. Mom and Matthew belong with you.”   “Okay Rachel. You’ve made your point.” He looked down at the paper in her hands, trying to change the subject. “You got your statement all ready.”   Rachel tapped the side of her head. “Just need to write it down; very simple and right to the point.”   Bo still had tears glistening in his eyes. “So your mother’s daughter,” he repeated, hugging her and standing. “And thanks. I think I’ll go try and find my family.”   Nora walked into the room where Matthew lay. She felt like she had not seen her son for months. He looked so small lying on the large gurney. She went to his bedside quickly, taking his small hand in hers and pressing it to her lips, leaning in to brush his hair off his brow, kissing his forehead. She noticed right away the bandage over his left eye and caressed it gently. He looked so much like Bo; she couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen the similarity before now. And Rachel was right; Drew’s face was etched in her son’s face as well. How could she have missed all of that these past few years? The only thing on his face that had come from her were those big, brown eyes; and now she wanted to see them open. She called to him softly. “Matthew, honey. It’s mommy.” Matthew stirred, slowly opening his eyes. “Hiya handsome.”   Matthew’s voice was barely a whisper. “Mom?”   Nora nodded, smiling at him. “I’m right here, baby.”   Matthew looked up into her eyes. She had been crying. “Are you mad at me?”   Nora was still brushing his hair with her fingers. “Mad at you?” she repeated. “No, sweetheart. How could I be mad at you? I just missed you so much. I am so happy to see you.” Matthew closed his eyes, whispering. “I’m so tired.” Nora spoke gently. “Go to sleep. You’re safe now. I'm right here.” Matthew drifted back to sleep.   Bo found Matthew’s room and stood outside the door, looking in through the small glass window. He watched them both; Nora, holding the small hand, Matthew; safely asleep on the bed. How could he have been so stupid to let that all go. “His damn Buchanan pride, that’s how,” he answered himself. He pushed open the door and went in, stopping just inside the door. Nora turned and saw him, smiling at him, holding her free hand out to him. She whispered to him, “Come closer.” He couldn’t move towards her. The tears he thought he had under control started to move slowly down his face. He turned to leave the room but she went to him quickly and instinctively they moved into each other’s arms. Bo’s embrace had always made Nora feel warm and safe, and now she wanted to comfort him and give him that same feeling within her arms. Pulling him closer to her, she willed those feelings to wash over them both, with their son a few feet away. Her cheek was resting against his and her eyes were closed. She whispered softly into his ear. “He’s safe now, Bo. You promised me you would bring him back to me, and you did.”   With his arms wrapped tightly around her, his face still pressed to hers, he whispered back. “I wasn’t going to let either of you down again.”   Nora pulled back from him, wiping his tears with her fingers. “You’ve never let us down, okay? Ever. Don’t you think that for one second, Buchanan, you got that?” He didn’t respond and she took his hand. “Come over here and see your son.” Bo allowed her to walk him over to Matthew. As he gazed down at the small boy, who was his son, he looked so little lying there. Bo noticed the bandage over his eye and pointed, looking at Nora with a question. She shrugged, answering; “they haven’t told me much, yet.” Bo reached out to touch the side of Matthew’s face. He moved in his sleep, his muttering almost inaudible.   Nora’s face was full of concern. “He’s been doing that since I’ve been sitting with him.”   Bo looked from Matthew to Nora. “Can you make out anything he is saying?”   Nora shook her head. “Not really.” She looked up at Bo. “Do you think anything…” She stopped herself, afraid to say the words out loud. “… bad, happened to him?”   Bo swallowed hard, not wanting to think about it. “Let’s ask Larry, he’ll tell us.”   At that moment, Larry came in. He saw the looks on their faces. “Why do you both look so concerned?”   Nora gently placed Matthew’s hand down and stood. “Can we talk with you?”   Larry nodded. “Sure.” He walked back to the door. Nora kissed Matthew’s forehead and followed Bo and Larry away from Matthew’s bedside. “He’ll be asleep for a while,” Larry offered. “We gave him a slight sedative.” He looked from Bo to Nora. “What is it? What has you both so nervous?”   Bo looked at Nora; seeing her fear of even saying it out loud, he spoke for both of them. “Larry, you examined him, right?” Larry nodded and Bo hesitated. “Is there anything we need to know, you know, about him, any physical injuries?”   Larry suddenly understood. “Bo, Nora. He really is okay. There is no evidence of any sexual assault.” They both let out breaths that they didn’t even know they were holding; Larry continued. “Beyond the cut on his head, a few scrapes on his hands, and a slight fever, he physically is okay. Once we get some fluids in him, he’ll be raring to go.”   Nora looked up toward the ceiling, still trying to get her breathing regular. “I was so afraid…”   Larry nodded. “That’s understandable when a child goes missing for a few days. But I would have told you right away. We are getting ready to move him upstairs if you want to go with him, or you can wait here until we have him settled in his room.”   Nora shook her head. “I want to stay with him at all times.” Larry nodded his understanding and smiled. Before Nora went back to Matthew, Bo explained about the press conference and how Rachel was going to make a statement. She agreed with his arrangements, just wanting assurances that no one would attempt to try and see or speak to Matthew. Bo promised security on Matthew’s room. With that, Nora turned to go back to Matthew, waiting for Larry.   Larry spoke to Nora. “Go on, Nora. I’ll catch up.” He waited until she was through the swinging doors and then turned to Bo.   “Something you wanted to tell me?” asked Bo.   “I don’t know how important this is, but I wanted to let you know that the cut over Matthew’s head was bandaged when he got here.”   Bo looked at him. “Meaning what, Larry? I don’t think I even noticed that when I found him.”   “Meaning that somewhere he got a butterfly strip and was able to place it over his left eye, by himself.”   Bo pressed his lips together in thought. “Or someone did it for him.” Larry nodded in agreement. “Thanks for the info, Larry.” To be continued …