Re: Robert and his trips
"If you're so eager to adopt me, you'll just have to learn to deal with the exaggerations," TJ retorted. "It comes with dealing with the spoiled former first son, who is also a drama queen." If he kept trying, maybe he'd get the words to sound right. They were right. But, the tone kept falling flat, no matter how much he tried for his usual sarcasm. "I know, okay? I'm trying. But, I've never been good at this. I've never...I'm usually the one lying in bed with tubes running everywhere, alright? I don't know what I'm supposed to do when I'm not the one dying. Those weren't jokes back on the ledge, Savannah. I really did have a suicidal streak and that's all I know about...this."
The only thing that really mattered to him right then, however, was getting to Travis and making sure he kept that promise not to leave Travis alone. TJ wasn't good with promises. He'd lost count the number of them he'd made to his twin and broken over the years. It was a wonder Doug trusted him at all anymore, really. But, as of yet, TJ hadn't broken a single promise he made Travis and he wasn't going to start now, not when Travis needed him the most.
"During the surgery, I know I can't be there, no matter how much I want to be," he said, looking back at Robert. "But, just for a minute before? Just a minute so he knows I'm there. I know it probably sounds stupid. But, stubborn as he is, even if he's unconscious, he needs to know I'm there. It's my fault he's hurt. I can't let him do this alone, no matter how much I trust Maura to help him. I can't break m promise to him. I'll do a lot of things, but I can't break my promise to him." TJ knew Travis would move Heaven and Hell if he had to in order to get to TJ. How could he do any less for Travis?