Chapter 76: Chapter 76

Kathleen watched Derek hang up the phone, his face paled and her heart thundered, what could it be? He stared at her, the expression on his face tearing at her heart, "dad tried to commit suicide" he said simply and he turned and walked out the door, obviously heading to the clinic.

Kathleen paled, how could that happen? He was fine the last time she had visited him, that nagging feeling that something was off returned, her mother placed her hand on her shoulder, "you should go with him, we'll be fine" and without another word, Kathleen sprinted after Derek.

"How the hell did he relapse? Why would he try to commit suicide? Derek barked as soon as they got to the doctor's office, the doctor shook his head his brow furrowed in confusion, "we found some dose on him, I don't know how he got hold of it"

Derek grabbed him by the collar, "you don't know? You're supposed to be taking care of him" he whispered through gritted teeth and the doctor's eyes bulged and he met Kathleen's gaze, his eyes pleading with her to come to his rescue.

Kathleen was confused also and it was written all over her, she had visited Michael Deloux every day, how did he get hold of the drugs except Nicole hadn't been her imagination, perhaps it was really Nicole she had seen that day but what motive will she have to give Derek's father the dose, all these were unanswered questions leaving her more confused instead.

"Take me to him" Derek muttered, "where is he?"

"He's in recovery, come, I'll show you" the doctor led Derek and Kathleen to where his father is, his room had been changed but in spite of that Derek felt he had to move his dad to an undisclosed facility, changing of the room wouldn't do, the person responsible for giving his dad those doses can still locate him and do more, he stared at his father's frail form and almost wept, he couldn't reconcile the man lying down here with the dad who was filled with energy when his mother was alive.

His dad stirred and slowly opened his eyes, he stared at Derek for a moment and his expression turned anguished, "I want to go home, get me out of here" he begged, tears pooling in his eyes and slowly running down his cheeks, an answering emotion stirred in Derek's heart, "I'm sorry Dad, please forgive me" he choked out as raw pain pierced his heart, he staggered out of the room and took even breathe, trying to rein in his emotions, he felt a hand gently touched his shoulder and he turned to meet Kathleen's concerned gaze, "I'm fine" he answered her unasked question as he braced his shoulders and moved to the doctor's office to make preparations on how to move his father.

After a few phone calls and signing of some papers, everything was set and he carried his dad in his car, his dad was quiet on the ride, they've driven for thirty minutes when he noticed the black car, was following them or was it his imaginations, he swerved and the car followed hot on his tail, was it the person who gave his father those doses? He was tempted to stop but thought of Kathleen and his dad who was in the car with him, what if whoever was following turned out to be very dangerous, he loathes to put Kathleen and his dad in harm's way so what he could do right now is avoid whoever it was, perhaps, he had gotten wind that he was trying to relocate his father and want to find out where he was moving his father to, he glanced at Kathleen who was sitting close to his Dad, holding him, "hold on tight" he warned before stepping on the gas, he was close to a T junction, he suddenly swerved, diverting his hands, tires screeching he didn't wait before he took another sharp turn again, Kathleen's breathe simply caught, wide-eyed, her breathing came out in hitches as she tried to stop Michael Deloux from falling off his seat, "what's going on?" She shrieked and Derek glanced at his rearview mirror, "someone was following us, I've lost whoever it is"

Kathleen's heart thudded painfully, "who is it?" She asked and Derek simply shrugged, "I have no idea" his face was grim as it occurred to him that apart from Marcella, someone didn't want his father to get better

The doctor came out to take his father in as soon as they got there but Michael Deloux wasn't happy about this as he immediately became agitated seeing that he had been taken to yet another facility, his eyes were wide and horror-filled, "why are you doing this to me? Take me home, I don't want to stay here" he begged Derek but Derek remained stoic, although his inside was overflowing with emotions, he hated to see his father this way. "I hate you, I regret having you as my son" his father screamed as he was taken in seeing that Derek wasn't ready to prevent his being taken in. Although he knew his father was sick but his father's words pierced his heart, "he doesn't mean it" Kathleen wrapped her arms around him taking note of the anguish she saw in his eyes, Derek glanced at her, his blue gaze pierced her inside, "when he recovers, he'll thank you immensely, you're the best son anyone could ask of" she encouraged and his gaze suddenly filled with gratitude, he placed a kiss on the tip of her nose as he walked her towards his car.

*

*

As soon as Derek stepped out of his car, he knew that something was amiss, his gaze scanned the vicinity, Geoffrey came out with head bent, "what's going on?" Derek asked, and Geoffrey scratched his head and shifted on his foot, puzzled at his odd behavior, Derek became impatient, "speak up, I've asked you a question"

"It's, it's...." But he was cut short as another voice answered Derek

"I see you're trying to ruin my surprise," a voice said from behind Derek and he turned, his eyes immediately going cold.

Seconds tick by and the air became thick, Kathleen stood still, the hair on her nape standing on an end, that voice, she could never forget that voice, what was he doing here? As if in slow motion she turned and her face immediately turned white as she fought off the sudden dizziness that came at her, she remained motionless as her eyes remained glued on the intruder, he smiled at her, "Hello sweetheart".

"Dave?" She whispered as her legs suddenly lose the will to uphold her body and would have fallen but for the sudden interference of Derek who caught her.