Big brown eyes peered over the torn and dirty stuffed moose gripped in the hands of the terrified child. His back pressed against the rails of the metal crib as he whimpered pressing his face into the familiar toy as the adults yelled around him. He recognized the two ladies from the police station but the other three men didn't look familiar. The smaller man with the weird hair was angry very angry while the other two men just stared at him in his crib.
"Enough!" Seth roared pressing his fingers roughly into his temples. His day had gone from bad to worse to absolutely bizarre. This morning he was booking flights for work and having breakfast with the boys. Now he stood inside a police station/center for abandoned youth staring at a small quivering child in a metal crib. The child they claimed was his son. "You're giving the poor kid an anxiety attack just everyone shut up" He fumed watching as the little boys breathing evened out. He didn't even know the kid and felt protective of him already.
"You have to take him" The woman snapped shoving the backpack towards Seth "He is biologically yours and the last 7 homes have returned him he cannot stay here. We finally have family for him and you're it" Roman snatched the bag from her hands towering over her making her wince and step back. "He needs his father" The other woman said softly "He has no one he's been in and out of foster care and his mothers residence. He needs stability"
"I don't even know his god damn name!" Seth seethed. He had received a phone call demanding he come and pick up his son from this place. Before this morning he didn't even know he had one but they had tested his DNA against the child's and he was 100% the father. "I know nothing about him not his name his birthday what he likes! How can I take care of him?" He asked quietly eyes fixed on the small pair of his eyes copied perfectly into that tiny little face.
"Seth you can't leave him here" Dean rumbled quietly glancing around his eyes narrowing at the older woman. "He'll obviously have to travel with you so me and Ro will help you out" Roman nodded. On the outside Dean seemed the calm one for once but inside his stomach was churning. The little boy reminded him of himself at that age. Unwanted and abandoned left to rot in some poorly funded government system. He knew just by the terror in those brown eyes that he'd seen more then a child his age should have. "Come on man that's your son"
"His name is Rhys" The youngest woman said softly "He likes cars, music and his favourite food is tomato soup with gold fish crackers. He's a good boy he's just seen a lot" Seth stepped towards the crib wincing as Rhys ducked behind the moose and shivered. The woman nodded slightly gesturing for Seth to keep going. He slowly placed his hand inside the crib gently brushing the hair from his eyes holding his breath when Rhys went rigid against his touch. "What do I need to do? How old is he? This is so fucked up" Seth groaned.
The older woman sprang into action shoving a folder of papers at Seth. "He's almost 3. Sign these since your his biological father no need for adoption papers. Sign these and take him home" Seth glanced over at his friends both nodded their approval as he gripped the pen and signed his name. "I don't have car seat or clothes or a crib" He croaked rubbing his head his mother was going to loose her mind. Roman shook his head his hand gripping Seth's shoulder. "We'll get all that man don't worry about it. You have a son now and one who needs you real bad." Dean nodded pointing at Rhys inside the crib "This kid is going to be our unofficial 4th shield member" Seth snickered while slowly walking towards the crib his arms stretched around.
"Hey little man" He said softly watching as Rhys's eyes widen in fear and his small frame began to shake. "No its okay I'm your daddy no one's going to hurt you anymore. Come on buddy come see daddy." He gently placed his hands under the small boys' armpits and lifted him from the crib into his arms. He was small and smelt of dust and old milk as Seth wrapped his arms around him. "That's it little buddy yeah" He cooed as Rhys slowly placed his head on his shoulder. "We have a car seat you can borrow to take him" The woman said softly running her fingers through Rhys's hair smiling as he curled into her touch.
Once Roman showed Seth how to buckle Rhys into the car seat the three men drove off in search of a store where they could stock up on the essentials. Rhys whimpered in his seat clutching the soft toy against his chest. "It's okay Rhys no one here will hurt you" Seth whispered gently rubbing his head. The mall parking lot was packed as Dean eyed the store closely his muscles tensing. Roman glanced in the rear view watching as Seth gently rubbed the small boys head he wasn't sure who was benefiting from it more Seth or Rhys. "Alright here's the plan, we split up Seth get clothes and toys, I'll get the furniture and Dean you get the food." Dean nodded then faltered looking over at Roman. "Okay that's fine but who takes the kid?" Seth shook his head unbuckling Rhys and lifting him into his arms. "I will he's my son"
Tucking their faces under dark ball caps each man took a cart and headed into the store. Seth watched as Rhys shivered in his seat eyeing the crowds wearily. He walked into the infant/toddler section glancing around confused. "What size are you man?" He asked Rhys watching as the toddler gazed back. "Didn't think so alright uh lemme check your tag." He checked the size and noticed how snug the clothes were after grabbing various outfits of the right size he headed to the toy isle.
"Can't have you bored hey buddy?" He said softly rubbing his thumb across his cheek noticing Rhys only flinched slightly this time. Walking through the isle he watched Rhys's expression noticing his eyes light up at the truck section. "Want a truck buddy? Yeah come here come pick one out" He murmured lifting him out and onto the floor. Rhys waddled over to the large John Deere tractor babbling slightly as he reached for it. Seth couldn't help but grin down at his son lifting the baby and the truck back into the cart. After grabbing a few more toys he met Roman and Dean at the check out.
"Is that a smile I see?" Roman grinned watching Rhys smash the buttons on the toy tractor. The drive back to the hotel was filled up barn yard sounds and tractor engines. The three men sat in their shared hotel suite watching Rhys babbled banging his hands happily on the tractor. "I don't know if I can do this guys, I mean look at him he needs a father. I have to work and we travel so much" Roman shook his head dropping the toy car in front of Rhys. "You'll do fine Seth when JoJo was born I was terrified to but hey she's the single best thing to ever happen to me. Rhys will be the same for you"
Dean nodded smiling softly as Rhys padded the car against the plush carpet. "Good luck telling your mom though"