Finding Charlie Rose

"I swear I just want to meet her occasionally, that's all. I'll even sign something stating that I have no claim on her. Just promise me you will be there for her. Promise me you will treat her well, promise me she will know what love is and promise me you will keep her away from men like me" Jackson said with a tear running down his face. He didn't have a lot of time anyway, he had destroyed his liver being an alcoholic and had caused damage to his body. His doctors gave him a few years at most as he had end-stage liver failure. His only hope was a liver transplant, he could ask his sons but he wouldn't, he knew he deserved this for everything he had done.

"I will have to have the paperwork drawn up legally then it will be done somewhere Charlie is comfortable, you aren't allowed here. This is her house now and she has a right to feel safe" Sam replied. "You can't be serious? letting him see her. You saw her, she is petrified of him" Byron yelled. "Byron go now we will talk about this later" Liam said. Liam agreed with his brother Byron, but as he was a lawyer he knew that his father had the right legally to demand custody of Charlie as he was her parent and if they went to court the boys could lose Charlie to an abuser. Byron stormed out of the room leaving Liam and Sam with their father.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Jackson spoke up "So you decorated for Christmas?" He asked. "We did, do you want your lawyer to draw up the paperwork or should I get someone at my office to do it for us?" Sam asked. "Right, I will get my lawyers to while they do the other work I hired them for. The original reason I came here was to let you know that I am retiring, I have hired a manager for the other office and now I will be moving back here. Not this house but in the area so I can see Charlie occasionally and hopefully you all. You Sam, will be taking over the firm and Liam you will be moving to junior partner here. I will only be dealing with a select few cases" Jackson told his sons.

"Why now?" Asked Liam. He didn't want to get the position without earning it. "I'm sick and I feel it's time. I have kept my eye on both of you and your work. I am so proud of you both and what you have achieved even without my help. Your mum would be so proud" Jackson said and was almost whispering at the end of his sentence. "I don't want the position just because of my name" Liam bit out. "You aren't getting it because you're my son, you have worked hard and didn't expect anything off my name. When I started that firm I always wanted it to be my son's and I in partnership which I screwed up. I hope one day both my sons will run the firm together but that will be Sam's call" Jackson told them. "When will this be happening? We only just got Charlie and are trying to get her settled" Sam replied treating this like a business meeting. "In the New Year we close over Christmas so when we reopen you will be in charge. I will make the announcement at the Christmas party" Jackson replied.

Jackson left about 30 minutes later telling both Liam and Sam to come in after lunch today. They discussed more about the firm and the signing of the contracts before Jackson left to get his lawyers to draw up the contracts. Both Liam and Sam went looking for the rest of the family so they could tell them about what was happening.

Oliver had gone into the backyard after storming out on his father and had taken Charlie from Uncle John holding her to his chest where Charlie fell asleep as she still was unwell and had little sleep the night before. He had called Ross while Charlie slept to let him know his father had turned up and he wouldn't be coming in. Ross had given him the day off and told him he would be over later to check on him. Bryon had joined Oliver after he was made to leave and wanted to take Charlie from Oliver. He didn't have the heart to though in case he woke her. Instead, he kissed her forehead and ran his hands through her hair.

John had spoken to Byron and Oliver quietly while the others were still talking to Jackson. John assured his nephews that Jackson wouldn't take Charlie and if he tried John would get her out of there like he should have done with his nephews. They sat quietly conversing about why Jackson had come back and how Charlie had reacted. They never wanted to see her that scared again and each of them silently promised to protect her. John knew his sons would do the same thing once they met her.

Sam and Liam came out joining the others sitting in the backyard and looking at Charlie sleeping. They each wanted to hold her as she seemed to calm them all down but no one wanted to wake her. "So Jackson was here to hand his firm over to me and Liam will be getting my old position" Sam began. "Apparently he is sick. He wants to see Charlie occasionally. Before you all jump in just listen ok?" Sam stated to which they all just nodded their head. "Legally if Jackson went for custody of Charlie, he would likely win. He is her parent and her mum never reported the abuse to the authorities. He has agreed to sign a contract as such, giving us full custody of Charlie if he can see her occasionally. I agreed to keep her safe, as long as we are with her and it isn't here. She is our priority and I don't want to risk him taking it to court and us not being there to protect her. I don't like this at all but I also want her safe" Sam said.

"It's not right that he is doing this, she is petrified of him, you saw it. Sam, we have to stop this, we have to take it to court" Oliver fumed causing Charlie to stir. "The law is black and white, he is her parent and a court will allow him time with her if not give him guardianship of Charlie. I'm trying to stop that from happening" Sam replied. "Sam is right, this way one of us or all of us will be with her and if he does anything that could hurt her, we can leave and stop him from seeing her" Liam added. Everyone remained quiet until Charlie sat upright on Oliver and called for the bucket before vomiting bile all down the front of Oliver.