Chapter Text
Jack Abbot walked through the halls of Patterson Elementary, carrying his precious child against his hip; the boy in question was curled up against his shoulder, thumb firmly ensconced in his mouth, while his other hand clutched tightly to Jack’s jacket. His blonde curls tickled Jack’s neck and chin. He’d intended to leave Dennis at home with his sister, but one of her kids showed symptoms of the chicken pox, and Jack wasn’t in any hurry to unleash that on the kid yet.
As he found Mr. Nash’s classroom, he stepped through the door and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief when he noticed the number of other kids that were with their parents at the open house.
As Jack stepped inside the room, he had to pause; the room looked exactly like every kindergarten classroom he'd ever imagined, bright and cheerful and safe. For most parents, that probably wasn't remarkable. For Jack, after everything Dennis had survived, it felt nothing short of miraculous. Small tables sat neatly arranged on one side of the room. A reading corner occupied the other, complete with a brightly patterned rug, an oversized chair, and shelves overflowing with books. The back wall had shelves with each of the children’s names on a bin, with hooks for their backpacks just below the bins. The parents were milling around the room, some looking at posters, others were talking to one another, and some of the kids were already on the floor playing or coloring.
“Hey buddy, look, you could color, do you want to color?” he asked, bouncing his precious cargo a little.
Dennis shook his head, but after a moment he pulled his thumb from his mouth and pointed toward the far wall.
Jack followed his finger. A terrarium sat on a shelf near the window, a small lizard sleeping on a piece of driftwood.
"Good eye," Jack murmured.
Dennis twisted slightly in his arms for a better look, completely focused on the tiny reptile.
For the first time since they'd walked into the room, he wasn't watching the people. The moment didn’t last long, as the small head pressed in further into his shoulder. Jack had to hold back a sigh, “Just want to stay here with me, huh?” A tiny nod. “Okay, kiddo, that’s okay,” he murmured as he pressed a kiss to the soft forehead.
He spotted what looked like another father over in the far corner, leaning against the wall. The man was wearing scrubs, which at least gave Jack hope that maybe he wouldn’t be the only medical professional at future field trips. Attempting to climb him, and occasionally doing somersaults, was a small girl with dark brown hair and a wild look in her eyes.
Jack wandered closer. Brown eyes glanced up, and Jack had to hold back his laughter as he gazed upon what he could only describe as a man in need of rescuing from his child. “Long day?” he asked.
“I’ve been awake since five. She woke up at six and immediately chose violence.” The man groaned, "Okay, Trin. You get three more climbs, and then my spine gets workers' compensation."
Instantly, the girl stopped, sighing, “Can I go color?”
"Are you planning on coloring or starting a territorial dispute over crayons?"
Trinity gasped. "Coloring."
"Excellent. The Geneva Convention remains intact." She rolled her eyes and hurried off towards a small mass of other girls currently coloring.
“She’s a spitfire,” Jack chuckled.
“Dear god, you have no idea,” the man answered. Though he barely took his eyes off his kid, and Jack could tell from his slight shift to stand a little straighter, this man was used to being judged for his parenting choices. “I’m Michael Robinavitch, though most people just call me Robby.”
“Which do you prefer?”
The man shrugged, “Honestly, either is fine.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jack, and this little guy is Dennis.” Instantly, blue eyes were pressed against Jack’s shoulder as his son curled tight into him and hid his face.
Robby just nodded. “Shy?”
“Something like that,” Jack answered quietly.
“Nice to meet you both; my wild child is Trinity.” He smiled fondly, and Jack noticed it was a smile that made it difficult to ignore Michael Robinavitch.
The teacher interrupted further conversation, explaining the plans for the class, future field trips, and how they’d be doing birthdays and other events. The man was clearly meant to be a teacher with how much energy he seemed to just exude from his pores throughout the entire speech. Finally, they were released for the evening. School would start on Monday.
Robby and Jack remained behind, which surprised Jack a bit, as he expected to be the only one who’d need to speak with Mr. Nash. The bright-eyed man smiled as he looked at Dennis. “This must be Dennis?” he asked, pointing to the boy
“Uh yeah, I just…wanted to check and make sure you knew Dennis doesn’t speak,” Jack began uncomfortably.
Evan nodded. “Totally, we all go at our own speed. Mrs. Grant got me up to speed, and I assure you that while there are times I’ll need to ask Dennis something, I’ll make sure he isn’t put on the spot and that he always has a way to answer. While we certainly hope he’ll come out of his shell, it’s entirely up to him when that happens; we’re just here to support the little guy. Plus, I recall he has a service animal, right?”
“Uh yeah, a staffie named Sarge. Will that upset the kids?”
Evan snorted, “Honestly, most kids love it and get upset they can’t pet the dog. No, I think it’ll be fine, and we’ll do a little task right out of the gate to get them all used to him.”
“And…if he cries—”
“Dr. Abbot, you have my word, I will personally make sure you’re contacted if the situation calls for it. I think Dennis will do great though.” He smiled at the boy who’d finally peeked out from Jack’s shoulder, giving the kid a small wave. Dennis studied him hesitantly before managing an equally tiny wave in response.
“And you’re Dr. Robinavitch?” Evan turned to Robby.
Robby nodded. “I am. She will be picked up by my Bubbe—sorry, her grandma each day but dropped off by me. And I wanted to warn you that we’ll play the waterpark field trip at the end of the year by ear.”
“Totally understandable. You don’t have to sign the release form, but if you do, you’re welcome to join us and can leave with her at any point if things aren’t going well.” Evan assured.
“Thank you.”
“Absolutely. Any other concerns?”
“Nah, we’ll get out of your hair,” Jack replied.
Mr. Nash just shrugged. “I’m here for you guys. Though, my mother is making dinner, so I would like some of it.”
They chuckled and made their way out of the room. “You know, Trinity had a friend who was deaf in preschool; we could probably help you guys learn some sign language, if you thought Dennis would communicate that way.” Robby offered as they stepped into the quiet hallway.
Jack stopped and stared at the man. He’d had Dennis for six months, and in those six months there’d been more tears than laughter, and more judgement than support. It seemed like everyone had an opinion about Dennis’s mutism and Jack’s decision to just support it rather than try and correct it. Robby was the first person, besides their therapist, to offer an alternative way of communicating. To just accept the silence, rather than try and correct it. The relief and longing he felt were overwhelming.
“I’m sorry, did I overstep—”
Jack shook his head. “Not at all, I’m sorry…” Jack laughed. “Most people hear he doesn't talk and immediately start trying to fix him. You're the first person who's asked how he communicates instead."
Robby’s brows furrowed before he looked down at Trinity, who was waving at Dennis, who in turn had the smallest smile on his face. “Do you want to have dinner with us? Would he handle eating out okay?”
Jack looked at the little boy who was now grinning down at Trinity, who’d started making faces at him. “It’s worth a shot.”
Robby nodded. “I know a good place, super kid-friendly and surprisingly quiet on weekdays. Want to follow me?”
Jack nodded, “Sure.”
And that’s how they ended up at a brightly lit old-fashioned diner. Robby had sat them back in a corner booth, so that Dennis could see the whole space, somehow knowing that’s what the kid needed. Dennis was tucked tight into the corner across from Trinity, but he didn’t seem nervous or curled up. Instead, he seemed to be taking it all in. Jack smiled down at him, gently brushing his unruly curls from his face. “What do you want to eat, baby?” he asked softly.
The boy looked down at his menu and the crayons they’d given him. His reading comprehension was good considering what he’d survived for the first part of his life, but he still struggled with words.
Trinity leaned across the table, belly flat, and started drawing on his piece of paper. Jack just watched her draw tiny little pictures of what each thing was. Dennis watched for a moment before taking the crayon from her. Carefully, he drew a tiny chicken beside the chicken strips, then a cow beside the hamburger.
Trinity frowned. "That's way better than mine."
Dennis blinked at her.
"Seriously," she said. "Yours actually look like animals."
Pride flickered across his face.
Jack felt his chest tighten. Dennis rarely let himself take pride in anything. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” Jack murmured in awe of the little girl. “Did you decide on what you want?”
Dennis nodded and pointed at the chicken strips and French fries.
Robby chuckled, “She can come off as rude to some people, but she’s smart and will outthink most adults in seconds.”
“She just accepts him where he’s at,” Jack whispered.
Robby shrugged, “She knows what it’s like to struggle.” He offered quietly.
Jack did too; he hated seeing it with such young kids, but if it meant maybe Dennis already had a friend before his first day of school, well, Jack certainly wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Thank you,” he offered quietly to Trinity.
She looked at Jack and just shrugged. “Daddy and I were in Katrina.” She offered. “I was quiet and scared a lot after that,” she admitted.
Jack’s brows furrowed before he looked over at Robby in horror. “Hurricane Katrina?” Robby just nodded. “Jesus Christ,” Jack swore. “I’m so sorry, you must’ve lost everything.”
Robby huffed, “Damn near, yeah. We left with a pair of clothes, our cat, a photo album, and a lot of nightmares.”
“I don’t doubt that. How’d you end up here, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I was born in Pittsburgh—”
“Bubbe lives here!” Trinity cheered as she bounced on the bench on her knees.
“Hey, don’t do that, you’ll hurt yourself,” Robby chastised gently.
She immediately shifted. “Sorry.”
“You’re fine, no apologies needed, just be careful.” He answered. “My grandmother lives here, Bubbe, so she offered us a place to stay while we got back on our feet, plus childcare while I worked. I’m an attending at PTMC.”
“No shit—sorry.”
“I’ve heard worse,” Trinity replied.
Jack snorted. “I like your kid.”
Robby chuckled. “Yeah, me too. She’s a keeper. Bit of a brat though- just a warning: she will absolutely corrupt your little man there.”
“Honestly, he could use some corruption.”
“You said the last six months earlier…is that how long you’ve had him?”
Jack looked down, his heart aching to go back in time and have had his beautiful boy from day one. “His mother got involved with people she shouldn't have. By the time I found him, Dennis had been through more than any kid ever should. I work at the VA currently, though admittedly I’m looking for somewhere else that I can make sure I’m home more for him, and trying to help him adjust.”
“We need another attending at PTMC.”
Jack smiled, “I’ll take a look at the position. But yeah, it’s been a lot in six months, and the doctors, as well as myself and half of my nursing staff, say he’s perfectly healthy physically. Just…processing.”
“Sounds about right. I’m sorry that happened; sounds awful.”
Truthfully, Jack hadn’t even told the other half of it, he and Dennis were kindred spirits in that way, he supposed. Both were going through hell trying to find their way back to dry land. “Thanks, we’re just taking it one day at a time.”
Their food arrived, and Jack watched the plate get set down in front of Dennis, whose eyes widened. “Start with just two and some of the fries; we can always take it home, bubba.”
Dennis looked up at Jack nervously. The look hit Jack right in the chest. Six months later, Dennis still asked permission to leave food on a plate. Jack gently carded his fingers through the curls again. “We can take it home if you can’t finish it, no trouble.”
Dennis nodded slowly and picked up one of the chicken strips, tearing off a tiny piece of it and sticking it in his mouth.
Robby just watched quietly, his heart breaking at the idea of a child being afraid of leaving food behind. He’d noticed how Dennis never sat with his back to the room, how every few minutes his gaze swept the diner as though checking all the exits were still there, a habit he had in common with his father, now that Robby took another look. It broke his heart that the boy watched Jack before every decision, even the minor ones.
Meanwhile, he glanced over at Trinity, who was already plowing through her grilled cheese. He hoped that she would help Dennis support him. Robby knew she could seem like a bully, but she was kind and quiet, attentive when it was needed. She seemed to recognize people who needed a hand.
He poked his daughter, brown eyes looked up at him. “Chew your food.”
She rolled her eyes. “I am.” She countered, but she did slow down and savor it a little more. She reached across the table and snuck a chicken strip off Dennis’s plate.
He looked utterly offended before looking at his dad. “What? I didn’t see anything,” Jack replied with a smirk.
As if in response to her stealing his chicken, he reached across the table and tore off a piece of her grilled cheese. “Oh, that is not the same; cheese is better than chicken.” She looked at her dad, pretending to be offended.
“Theft under ten dollars is currently a misdemeanor in this establishment,” was Robby’s only reply as he winked at Dennis.
Dennis just stuck his tongue out at her before letting out a peal of laughter. A moment later, his eyes widened, and he slapped his hand over his mouth, eyes shooting to Jack. “You’re okay,” Jack soothed, his own voice soft with laughter. “It’s okay.”
Robby smirked at them, his chest filling with a warmth he hadn’t felt in ages as he studied the two across from him. For the first time, he noticed how stunning Jack was: dark reddish-brown hair, hazel-green eyes that danced when he smiled, and a crooked little grin. A man comfortable in his own skin.
It had been a long time since he’d dated anyone, but Robby found himself drawn to this man as he interacted with Dennis and Trinity. His smile was infectious, his laughter soft and low. Robby had to think of Gloria or necrosis to keep his body from getting unnecessarily excited.
Robby wondered when the appropriate time was to find out someone’s sexuality. Obviously, the man had been in the military during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, so there was no way to know if he was into guys. Robby himself had only been with a handful of men during college and medical school, and most had been unserious. Then again, his grandmother would say that most of his relationships were unserious.
“Are you straight?” Robby blurted.
“Daddy!” Trinity gasped, smacking her father.
“Ow, hey, we don’t hit.”
She rolled her eyes. “Bad question,” she replied.
Jack snorted, “You’re in trouble.”
Robby laughed, “You should see it when she and my grandmother team up. Trouble doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“Oh, I can imagine.” Before he could even answer Robby’s random question, a tiny hand sneaked onto Jack’s plate and stole a piece of his broccoli.
“Really, broccoli? Are you sure he isn’t an alien?” Trinity snapped.
“Trinity!” Robby playfully smacked her arm. "We've discussed not profiling extraterrestrials.”
Dennis was now turning the broccoli over thoughtfully.
Trinity narrowed her eyes. "Why are you looking at it like that?"
He pointed at the little florets.
"What?"
Dennis looked at Jack.
"He thinks they look like trees."
Trinity gasped. "They do."
Dennis nodded vigorously.
"Okay," she announced, picking up a piece of broccoli. "Now I have to eat the forest. If you plant it, does it grow into a tree?” Trinity asked.
“No, sadly,” Robby answered with a grin as he finished his cup of chili and turkey sandwich. “You finished?” he saw a handful of French fries left on her plate. “Want to keep any of that?”
“Yes and no,” she answered. She was getting fidgety, Robby noted; it meant she was headed towards a meltdown if she didn’t get some quiet time soon. Overstimulated. He glanced at Dennis and noted something similar; the kid was more fidgety, though his fidgeting consisted of pushing food around on his plate and kicking his legs. Robby wondered if Jack noticed that.
“Okay, let me go pay the bill.”
“I can pay,” Jack offered.
Robby waved him off. “I got it, you get the next date.” It was a test, and Jack grinned, making Robby feel relief flooding through him.
“Fine, but maybe we leave the kids at home for the next one?”
Robby beamed at the man. “I’d like that.”
“I’m a fucking delight,” mumbled Trinity as Robby returned to the table.
“Trinity Elenore,” he stated.
“Uh oh.” The small voice made everyone at the table freeze as all eyes turned to Dennis, whose eyes widened.
“Well, that’s embarrassing. He’s known me all of three hours and already talks more than Trinity listens.” Everyone snorted at that.
“I know, buddy, he full-named her. But you’re right, kiddo, you are a fucking delight,” Jack replied with a smile as he stood and lifted his son from the booth, instantly the boy wrapping himself around Jack like a koala.
Robby just chuckled, lifting his own kid from the booth. “Ma’am, we’ve discussed your language.”
“Bubbe says it.”
“Bubbe is seventy-five and can say whatever she wants.”
“Grandmas, the real female role models,” joked Jack as they headed back towards their cars.
“Seriously, she’s as much a menace as this one.”
“I had a nice time tonight, thank you,” Jack told him as he paused.
Robby smiled. “I did too…were you serious about wanting to do this again?”
“I was, and I was serious about maybe making it a real date. To answer your question, I’m bi. I was married for a short period of time, but she passed away just over two years ago.”
“Shit, man. I’m sorry, are you sure—”
Jack held up his hand before he leaned forward, pressing his lips to Robby’s. It wasn’t heated, just a simple, chaste kiss, but Robby’s body responded instantly, a hand to the middle of the man’s back, another to his face as he deepened the kiss. It felt like he was getting life pushed into him. Heat and desire filled him before he pulled back and looked at the beautiful man. He gently stroked Jack’s cheek.
“That answers your question?” Jack asked.
Robby chuckled before pressing another quick kiss to Jack’s lips. “Yeah. Uh, here, hand me your cell.”
Jack handed it over, and Robby made quick work of entering his cell number. “Call or text any time.”
“Daddy, are you done smooching?”
“Oh my god, you are a tiny terror,” Robby countered.
Jack just chuckled, “You should go before a temper tantrum. I’ll text you later.”
“Later, I look forward to it. Night, Jack.”
“Good night, Michael.” Jack carried his son back to his truck, opening the back door and getting him settled in his booster seat. Watching Robby parent was like watching particularly exhausted hostage negotiations, but Jack had to admit it had been an incredibly fun night. And it was the first time in a long time that Jack had felt attraction and interest towards another adult.
TBC