You Can Run
but
 You Can’t Hide
 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2007 by the author

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

I looked around in the room and found a chemical ice pack. I squeezed the bottom of it the shook the bag, mixing the contents together. I felt it getting cold so I wrapped it in a towel then put it on the red welt. “There is a police officer standing right outside the door. If you need anything at all, call him and he’ll help you. I have a couple of things to do son but I’ll be right back with your mother.”

The doctor and I left the treatment room to go and find these other “people.”

Chapter 21

Our first stop was to triage. There was a little girl in there with a laceration on her forehead. The nurse took the mother aside. “Lady, what happened here? I want the truth. Your husband didn’t do this now did he?”

The doctor and I watched as she berated the woman. “That just enough out of you.”  He walked over to a phone, pushed a few buttons, then I heard overhead, “Nurse Manager to triage, STAT”.

The nurse froze in her tracks. “I’m just trying to get to the truth doctor.”

The doctor walked over and took her ID. About that time another nurse came into triage.

“What’s going on Doctor?” asked the nurse whose name badge identified her as the Clinical Nurse Manager.

“Jen, this nurse was giving this child’s mother the third degree and accusing her of lying about how the child got her injuries.  She also buried a chart on a child that was abused by his father and had sent a Social Worker in to examine him before I had a chance to look him over.  She also accused that child’s mother of lying.  That is not the kind of Children’s Emergency Room we run here.”

Jen walked over to the triage nurse and took her badge.  We’re going to the Director of Nursing, I’ll not have parents accused of things by you or any other member of staff here.”

Our next stop was to the patient sign in desk. Another nurse was on the phone. I could only hear one side of the conversation but it was scaring me. “You need to get to the city jail and represent Calvin Bates. He’s been charged with abuse. He’s the leader of our cause and you damn sight know it. Children today are getting away with murder. Parents spoil their kids way too much. A firm hand and a leather strap is what is needed.”

I knew Calvin wasn’t going to be going anywhere any time soon. I turned and got a look at the doctor’s badge.  It identified him as the Director of Children’s Emergency Services.  “Where’s the conference rooms?”

The doc led me down a hall and there in the first one was a man yelling at Ms. Flowers. “Come on lady, you know your husband did absolutely nothing to the kid.”

The doctor and I walked in. “That’s just enough. Who in the hell do you think you are?”

The man stood up and there was a hospital ID hanging off his pocket. “I’m a social worker here and who is that man standing behind you?”

I stepped around and let him see my shield. “I’m Lt. Jennings, SAPD Juvenile Division. Ms. Flowers, Sonny is in room 4, you can go see him now.”

“Not so fast,” the Social Worker said. “I’m ordering the boy be placed in foster care. I’ll be contacting Social Services.”

“Is that a fact?” I asked. “You really think Social Services will step in when they learn the father is in jail?”

Just then Tom Roberts came in. “I’m Tom Roberts from Social Services.”

Tom saw me standing there but went on conducting his business. The man stood up and shook his hand. “Bill Mason, Hospital Social Services. There is a child I’m concerned about. He’s in exam room 4.”

Tom looked at me then back over to Bill. “What seems to be the problem?”

Bill moved towards the door. “Come on and I’ll show you.”

We got down to the room and the officer was still standing there. He was watching the man I’d arrested for slapping Sonny. We walked in and Gloria had Sonny on her lap cuddling him. Bill ran over and yanked Sonny up. “Ow,”

Tom looked at him. “Is this how you treat children?”

“She’s got no business holding him,” he said trying to defend his actions. “Look at his face. She’s assaulted him.”

Tom walked over and looked at Sonny’s face. “This doesn’t look like a woman’s hand to me.”

He yanked Sonny over to him. “Ouch, you son of a bitch,” Sonny yelled.

Bill raised his hand. “How dare you talk to an adult like that you spoiled brat.”

Before I could move Tom stepped in. “Lay a hand on him…”

Bill looked at Tom. “I see you have no idea on how to raise a boy. They need discipline. God says spare the rod, spoil the child.”

I reached in my back pocked and took out my second pair of cuffs. “And the law says if you hit a child you get arrested for assault.”

Tom looked at the doctor. “What kind of people are you hiring here?”

The poor doctor was stunned. “I assure you I didn’t hire these people but I do plan on getting to the bottom of this.”

Tom’s eyes dropped to the floor. “I’m sorry doctor, I shouldn’t have lashed out at you. Bill, there is no evidence the mother hit her child here. Social Services will not intervene here.”

Bill was escorted out of the hospital, Tom went about his business then the doctor took a look at Sonny. “Sonny, I’m going to need you to get undressed son.”

He looked at his mom and turned red. “Umm, Mom I love you but.”

She stood up. “I understand son. You’re 14 now and you don’t need me seeing you naked.”

Ms. Flowers stepped out of the room then Sonny started getting undressed. He took his shirt off then started to undo his shorts. “Sonny, do you want me to step out?”

He looked up at me then shook his head. “Lt. Jennings, you have two sons. It’s OK if you stay.”

He dropped his shorts and underwear in one move and when I saw his front tears started to roll and I felt my stomach churning. “Oh my god son.”

He saw me crying and he came over and hugged me. “It’s alright Lieutenant, it don’t hurt now.”

I knelt down and looked at his front. “Why did he do this?”

“He caught me masturbating,” Sonny said matter of factly. “He said it was against God’s word and boys don’t do that sort of thing.”

I couldn’t believe this man. The doctor examined Sonny and asked him if things still worked down there. He blushed at the question but said things still worked fine. The doctor went outside and talked with Gloria while Sonny got dressed. “Lt. Jennings, is it really OK if boys do it?”

I had 2 sex charged teens and here was Sonny asking if it was alright to masturbate. “Yes son, it’s perfectly alright for boys to do that. 95% of all guys masturbate.”

He looked at me in amazement. “What about the other 5%?”

I looked at him and giggled. “They’re lying.”

Sonny started laughing when I told him that. “That’s funny Lieutenant.”

I knelt down and hugged him. “Sonny, you don’t have to be formal with me. You can call me Lee, OK?”

Gloria and the doctor came back in. “He’s going to be a little sore around his ribs. If you see his groin…”

“Doc,” Sonny interrupted turning red. “I’ll tell her.”

I had to get going so I headed for the door. I was just about out when I heard, “Lee.”

I turned around and there was Sonny. “Thanks for everything. Kevin and Jamie are lucky to have you and Hans in their life.”

I kissed him on top of the head. “You have a very special Mom too kiddo, you take care of her now.”

I headed outside when my cell phone rang. The number wasn’t in my address book so I had no way of knowing who it was. “Hello.”

“Lee, this is Capt. Blair,” the voice said.

It had taken me longer at the hospital than expected. “I’m on my way in now Capt. I have photos to download off my memory stick of Sonny Bates.”

“Not to worry Lee,” he says. “I’m going to text you a username and password then you can log into the division’s computer. You can do your reports, download reports upload files and pretty much do everything from home that you can do here at the office.”

This made things easier. I wanted to get home and spend time with Kevin because he was really torn up about what happened to Sonny. “Thanks Captain, I really need to get back home. My boy is torn up over what happened. I’ll have the report done tonight and I’ll let you know now, the photos are really disturbing.”

I hung up then I saw Gloria and Sonny come out of the exam room. “Lee, what’s a Pediatric Urologist?”

I stopped and looked at Sonny. “They take care of problems with your penis and testicles. Does the doctor want you to see one?”

He nodded his head as we headed out of the Emergency Room. “Yeah, he wants to make sure nothing’s wrong with me down there.”

I walked them to their car then knelt down. “It might be a good idea kiddo. You only have 2 testicles. If one gets messed up you can still function with one and have a family when you’re older.”

He gave me a quick hug then got into the car. I was walking around the back of the car and his Mom came up. “Sir, I want to thank you for caring about Sonny. He told me what he did then how sick he felt when he learned your boy’s Dads were killed.”

“The boys forgave him,” I said trying to calm her down. “They feel sick about what happened to him.”

“When things settle down, he’d like to spend some time with your boys and he needs a decent male role model.”

I wanted to get home and I had a feeling this conversation could go on for a while. I didn’t know how to get out of it but then my cell phone rang. I looked at the number. “It’s Hans. I’ll talk with you both later.”

“Hi baby?”

“Aww, thanks Dad,” Kevin said giggling. “Are you going to be home soon?”

He had me in giggles too. “I’m leaving the hospital now. I should be home in about 15 minutes.”

“Great Dad,” Kevin says. “Here’s Hans now.”

“Baby, have you eaten yet?”

I’d been so tied up I’d forgotten about it. “No love, I haven’t. I’ll get something on the way home.”

“Just come on home love. The boys have something here for you. I’ll put it in the microwave to heat it up for you.”

I got in my car and managed to get home. This had been a day I’d rather forget. I walked in the house and I was surrounded by the 3 loves of my life. “Come on baby, go take your gun off and get out of your suit. Dinner is waiting for you.”

I got upstairs and undressed. I was going to put some shorts on then I decide to get totally comfortable. I striped then come back down stairs. When I got to the bottom of the stairs, Jamie and Kevin were waiting for me. Kevin reached for my hand then Jamie took my other one. They led me over to the table and there was a steak and a baked potato smothered in butter. Hans was standing there by my chair smiling. “Come on baby, sit down and eat.”

I got closer to him then I just broke down. He took me in his arms as the boys wrapped their around me. The three of them held me while I got my emotions under control. “Thanks guys, this has been a day I’m glad is over.”

I sat down and started eating. I didn’t think I was really that hungry but quickly, everything had been devoured. The boys cleared the dishes then Hans led me over to the couch. He sat down then patted the couch. “Stretch out love and put your head in my lap.”

I did as he asked and he started massaging my head. “Ummm baby that feels wonderful. If you keep that up I’ll fall asleep right here on your lap.”

I’d closed my eyes as Hans rubbed away all the tension from this day. I felt myself relaxing then my legs were lifted then lowered. I opened my eyes and my legs were draped across the boys’ laps. Jamie started massaging my feet as Kevin started rubbing my legs. I looked up at Hans and he was just smiling at me. He leaned down and kissed me gently on the lips. “Baby, I’m so proud of you. When Sonny hinted at what happened to him, everything else took a back seat.”

I didn’t like bringing my work home with me but this time it fell right into my lap. Jamie tapped me on the foot and I looked down at him. “Papa Lee how’s Sonny, is he OK? I mean how bad did his Dad beat him?”

The reality of his question hit me and I didn’t quite know how to answer him. They’ve been through so much. “He’s going to be alright son but his Dad did hurt him pretty bad. Nothing’s broken but he took the belt to him in a place no boys should ever be hit.”

I heard Kevin gasp. “You mean he hit him on his dick? Why?”

I shook my head because I couldn’t understand why a man could do that to his son just for doing something as natural as masturbating. “Well son, he caught Sonny masturbating and in his mind that was wrong. Now we all know it’s not.”

The boys looked at each other and just shook their heads. “Papa Lee, did you tell Sonny that it was alright to do that?”

I nodded my head then smiled at them. “Yes I did. He asked me if I thought it was OK and I told him it was. The ER Doctor wants him to see a special doctor to make sure his penis and testicles are OK.”

Just then I saw Kevin reach his hand down and rub Jamie’s goodies and Jamie stared at him. “Yep, they’re feeling just fine.”

I sat there and giggled as they boys made sure each other’s plumbing was in order. I could feel myself starting to drift off again as the 6 hands were sending me off to dreamland. I’m not sure how long I was getting massaged but the next thing I remember was Hans gently rubbing my chest. “Come on love, let’s go to bed now.”

I managed to come too enough to sit up then Hans reached his hand out for me. He turned the lights off then we headed upstairs. I turned the bedroom light on then I notice my clothes had been picked up off the bed. I guess the boys did that for me before they retired for the evening.

We made a stop in the bathroom to empty our bladders then Hans led me over to the bed. I crawled in then Hans turned the light off I felt him get in then he pulled me against his body as his arms wrapped around me. I felt him kiss me on the cheek and that’s the last thing I remembered until morning.

To be continued...

Posted: 05/30/08