I wanna see your real smile part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Nick woke to the sound of his alarm clock beeping. He reached over his husband and turned it off. He heard Jeff groan from beside him.
"Time to get up sleepy head." Nick said, poking Jeff in the back. Jeff just groaned again, and rolled over.
"I have today off." Jeff said sleepily.
"I'm still making you get up. I'll cook you breakfast. I still have two hours before I have to go into work." Nick said.
"French toast?" Jeff asked, sounding more awake now.
"Sure babe." Nick smiled, even if Jeff's back was to him.
Eventually the two got out of bed and were in the kitchen. Jeff sipping his coffee while Nick made French toast. While Nick was cooking he decided to bring up something he noticed the other day.
"Hey Jeff?" Nick asked.
"Hum?" Jeff replied.
"I was in the office yesterday and was thinking about how I could never get you to come in for an exam and cleaning no matter how much I tried to talk you into it..." Jeff hated where this was going. "So I looked up your files to see the last time you went to a dentist and it said 2008." Nick informed Jeff.
"Yeah.. I uh- well, I just don't really like the.. You know." Jeff stammered out.
"You can't even say the word dentist Jeff. Talk to me. Why won't you come in? I've been trying to convince you for at least 4 months now and we've been married for 8 months." Nick was now setting the French toast on a plate for Jeff and him to eat.
"I don't like talking about this type of stuff. Not today, please. I don't wanna talk about it today." Jeff pleaded.
"You say that every time I bring it up. We are talking about this." Nick said firmly.
"It's a long story you don't wanna hear Nick, it's stupid. I don't like talking about it." Jeff said, growing frustrated.
"It's not stupid if it's made you avoid the dentist for 6 years Jeff. Talk to me about this. I want to help you, and you really need to go in for a cleaning and exam. It's been way too long." Nick said.
"No!" Jeff immediately protested. "I'm not going. It's.. I- can't." Jeff trailed off.
"Jeff.. Talk to me." Nick pleaded.
"Ugh.. Nick. I'll tell you but please don't laugh or anything. Please"
"I won't, I promise." Nick said.
"It's kinda weird and hard to explain I guess. I just had a bad experience when I was little. I had a f-filling done or something and I could feel the d-drilling. It hurt and I was crying. The d- you know who yelled at me and called me a baby. It just hurt a lot and they were so mean. They made me feel horrible. After that my mom tried to make me go.. I would up until I could find ways to get out of it. It wasn't even all fear, I just felt.. really insecure about my teeth. I hated people looking at them. I don't know.. My teeth were never really straight and my family couldn't afford braces or really any other work. I just feel really insecure about them. It's stupid. I don't even like when you kiss me sometimes because your tongue runs over my teeth and I don't like it because they aren't.. Perfect." Jeff trailed off.
Nick pulled Jeff into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry I didn't know Jeff. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry. It's not your fault." Jeff said.
"But it is. I mean when we were dating and I told you I was in dental school I could tell you didn't like the subject. I just know you hate anything that has to do with the dentist. You never even smile with your teeth. It's just closed lip smiles.. And when you laugh you cover your mouth. When we kiss you won't let me run my tongue over your teeth. Even when you are brushing your teeth you shut the bathroom door. I noticed but never brought it up." Nick said.
"I- I can't believe you noticed all those little things about me. I'm sorry. I know I should have told you but I was scared. I still am. I don't want you to look at them.. And I know that's were this is leading. You won't love me anymore if you see them.." Jeff said.
"How could you think that Jeff? I'll love you no matter what. I just want you to be happy and see you smile. Do you know how nice it would be to see something other than that closed lip smile. You are beautiful and I don't want your smile to hold you back." Nick said.
Jeff was smiling. A closed lip smile of course. Nick poked Jeff's cheek. "I wanna see your real smile." Nick said.
Jeff's cheeks burned red at this statement. He got tense again. He didn't want Nick to see. "I- uh. Are we done talking about this?" Jeff asked.
Nick sighed. "I made you an appointment yesterday. I want you to come in.. I know you won't like it but it'll only be me for now. It won't hurt." Nick said.
Jeff cringed at that. No way, Nick couldn't see.. Oh gosh what would Nick think? He knew he had at least one cavity or something. What if Nick didn't like him anymore?
"Please Jeff. Your teeth can't be that bad. You don't need to be embarrassed around me." Nick pressed on.
"I- I- Nick. You don't understand. I can't." Jeff cried.
"Come on Jeff. I'm making you go. We'll work through this together. I'm free until 1:30 today and it's only 7:24 I'll make it easy and comfortable. It won't hurt. Just trust me." Nick said.
"I.." Jeff trailed off. He couldn't believe he was about to say this. "Okay."
Nick smiled. "I'm proud of you. Okay, go brush your teeth and we'll go." Nick said.
Jeff nodded and walked towards the bathroom shakily. The French toast sitting on the table forgotten. He was scared of what might happen later that day. He went to close the door behind him but Nick's hand stopped the door from closing. Jeff got more nervous at this.
"W-what are you doing?" Jeff asked.
"I'm just going to watch you brush your teeth." Nick said.
"Nick.." Jeff started. "Just pretend I'm not here." Nick cut him off. Jeff just nodded. He mustered up all his courage to do this. He felt so stupid. He ran the water over his toothbrush and then put some toothpaste on it. Without really showing his teeth he started to brush. He took his time and went slowly. His mouth was open as little as possible while doing so and it was difficult but after about 3 minutes he was done.
"Well you did a good job of brushing. Well from what I could tell." Nick frowned.
Jeff said nothing.
"Do you floss?" Nick asked. Jeff nodded. "Do it for me okay? Then we can go." Jeff sighed. He couldn't really do so without Nick seeing his teeth.
"I.. Can you walk out or turn around. Please?" Jeff asked.
"Jeff.. Just do it." Nick pleaded. Jeff nodded again. He hated this so much.
He grabbed the floss and wrapped some around his index fingers. He started to floss. Just sliding the floss in between the spaces of his teeth. Nick made a disapproving grunt from behind Jeff. "You slide it up and down the side of each tooth." Nick corrected Jeff.
Jeff blushed again feeling embarrass. He tried to do it like Nick told him but the problem was Jeff learned things visually and wasn't good at following verbal commands. That and he was distracted and didn't really understand what Nick meant even though it was a simple command.
Nick sighed. Jeff wasn't going to like this. "No Jeff, your doing the same thing. Hold on, I'll be right back." Nick said and walked out.
Jeff was confused and scared. What was Nick doing?
Nick walked back in with a pair of gloves on and Jeff hated where this was going. Nick pulled some floss from the holder and wrapped it around his index fingers. "Nick no. You aren't doing this." Jeff protested.
"Jeff.. You need to know how to correctly floss." Nick said.
"No! No, I don't like this." Jeff cried.
"I know babe but you have to trust me." Nick said.
Jeff sighed. This was a fight he wouldn't win. "Trust me." Nick soothed. "Open up darling." Nick ordered. Jeff closed his eyes as if he could prevent further embarrassment by doing so and slowly opened his mouth.
Nick took that as his only opportunity and started to floss Jeff's teeth. He walked Jeff step by step how to correctly do it. Jeff was very uneasy about this. He hated Nick being in his mouth and this was just embarrassing. When Nick was done he threw away the gloves and the floss."See, that wasn't bad. I didn't really even have too look. Well I couldn't really see anything without my light but you did good." Jeff nodded. "Come on let's go." Nick said.
The car ride there was silent. Jeff was nibbling on his lip, something he always did when nervous. Soon they pulled up in front of Nick's office. Nobody was there except for staff. Nick parked and got out. He closed his door and walked over to Jeff's door and opened it. Nick frowned "Come on Jeffy."
Jeff slowly got out, holding Nick's hand. They walked into the building. Jeff was hit with that smell. He hated that smell. All doctor office's had it. That too clean smell violated his nose while Nick mumbled something to the receptionist and they walked back to a small examination room.
"Go sit down, I've got to get the tray." Nick kissed Jeff on the cheek and ran out. Jeff couldn't bring himself to sit down in the chair. He looked at the chair and shivered. He didn't like this. Soon Nick walked back in and sat the tray of tools on a table next to the chair.
"Jeff, it's just a chair. It won't bite." Nick said. "I won't even lean it back yet. Just sit in it please?" Nick asked.
Jeff looked down to the chair and sighed. He slowly sat down in it. Nick pulled on a pair of rubber gloves. "I'm just going to take a X-ray." Nick put a heavy apron around Jeff and handed him a piece of cardboard to him. "Put this in your mouth and bite down." Jeff did so and Nick did a few things Jeff didn't really understand but he was too scared to care.
"All done!" Nick announced. "I'll look at them after your exam but you did good." Nick smiled.
Jeff just started to chew on his bottom lip again, averting his eyes from Nick's. Nick put on a mask and glasses. He then put a paper bib around Jeff's neck. "Okay I'm just gonna clean your teeth. It won't hurt." Nick said, moving his swivel stool under Jeff's head.
He lowered the chair back, which made Jeff feel a little sick. Then turned on the light and positioned it over Jeff's mouth.
Nick grabbed a mirror and probe from the tray and held them under Jeff's lower lip. "Okay dear, I know this seems scary but you'll be okay. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. It's time to be brave. Open up." Nick requested.
Jeff looked into Nick's brown eyes that were now covered with glasses and gave him one last pleading look. Nick sighed. "Jeff, be brave." Nick said. Jeff closed his eyes really tight then slowly opened his mouth. Nick smiled "Great."
Nick started to gently clean Jeff's teeth. He looked them over and could understand why Jeff was embarrassed. They were pretty crowded and there was some plaque build up in the harder-to-get-to places but they really weren't that bad.
Jeff hated this more than anything. It wasn't that he didn't trust Nick, he did. He just didn't like people looking at his teeth. It was literally terrifying for him. To some it may seem silly but this was a big deal to him because he was so scared Nick would yell at him like the other dentist or think he was ugly. Everyone had their insecurities and Jeff's was his teeth, and now the man he is in love with is probably so disgusted with him.
"Jeff you're doing great." Nick comforted. Soon Nick was done with that part.
Nick retracted his tools and sat them down on the tray. "Now time for the polishing, it may tickle." Nick smiled. He tickled Jeff's neck and Jeff laughed. Jeff naturally covered his mouth when he laughed and Nick frowned. "Soon you won't have to do that anymore." Nick said. Jeff only blushed more from embarrassment.
Nick put some glasses on Jeff. "So if it splatters it won't get in your eyes." Nick explained.
"Okay, open up." Nick said, and Jeff did without hesitation. Nick picked up the polisher and turned it on and Jeff flipped out. He closed his mouth and abruptly sat up. He was crying, he was trying so hard to hold it together but now all the tears flowed freely.
"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" Nick asked in a panic.
"No.. I- it sounded like the d-drill and I thought it would h-hurt like last time. I'm sorry." Jeff was crying and Nick pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay Jeff. I'm not mad." Nick soothed. After Jeff calmed down Nick pulled away.
"You wanna try this again?" Nick asked. Jeff shook his head left to right. Nick sighed. He picked up the polisher. "Give me your finger." Nick instructed. Jeff tentatively gave Nick his finger. Nick turned it on and let Jeff feel it. Jeff flinched at the sound but eased as he realized it didn't hurt. "It's just like an electric tooth brush." Nick said and turned it off.
"It won't hurt at all. I understand the sound is scary but there is nothing to be scared of." Nick said and Jeff nodded. "Open." Nick instructed and Jeff did. The rest of the polishing went without a hitch.
"Okay Jeff you are done with this part. The only thing left is the exam. I'm going to check your teeth for any damage such as cavities or chips." Nick said.
"Nick.. I'm scared. I know I have at least one problem." Jeff stammered.
"No need to be scared. If you have a problem I'll fix it. As simple as that." Nick informed Jeff.
Jeff sighed and nodded.
"Let's get started." Nick said. Nick waited for Jeff to open his mouth but he didn't. "Babe, I know you're a little uneasy about this but you have to trust me. What's going through your mind?" Nick asked.
Jeff sighed. "This is the worst part because you have to look at them. I just hate this.." Jeff said.
"Hey, it's okay. I understand, but the faster you open your mouth the faster we can be out of here." Nick said.
"But what if you find something?" Jeff asked.
"I'll fix it but not today. You've been through enough." Nick replied.
"Okay.." Jeff mumbled.
"Okay, open up." Nick requested and Jeff hesitated a moment before doing so.
"Great job." Nick said. The first thing Nick noticed was the inside of Jeff's bottom lip was really torn up from him chewing on it. "Aw Jeff, you tore your lip up badly. Does it hurt?" Nick asked. Jeff shook his head. Nick continued the exam. Everything was okay until his explore tool got caught on a tooth and Jeff winced. Upon closer inspection he saw it was a cavity. It was pretty deep. He continued the exam and found two other small cavities.
"How bad is it?" Jeff asked sheepishly.
"Not too bad. You have 3 cavities." Nick said. Jeff winced at that. "I need to go look at your X-rays to see if you have any cavities in between the teeth and how deep the other ones are. I'm gonna give you a fluoride treatment while I look at them to strengthen your teeth." Nick said and Jeff nodded.
Nick filled a tray with fluoride and told Jeff to open and he did. Jeff made a disgusted face. "I know it taste bad." Nick laughed. Jeff crinkled his nose at Nick. "I'll be right back." Nick said. He kissed Jeff on the nose and walked out.
Jeff looked around the small exam room. This place terrified him but Nick made things a little better. He was still pretty scared to get the fillings.. He also hated Nick looking at his teeth. Part of him was overjoyed to be on the way to fixing his teeth. He had to hide his smile his whole life because he was so ashamed of his teeth, now it would soon be ending. Still.. He would have to get drilled and it was terrifying. Yeah he wanted a nice smile but a drill was still a drill and drills are meant for screws not teeth. However, his thoughts were cut short by Nick walking back in.
"How are you doing?" Nick asked. Jeff replied with a thumbs up. Nick smiled. Jeff raised his eyebrows silently asking if Nick found any other problems in the X-ray. Nick sighed. "Well I found another cavity in between two back teeth. Also one of the three cavities I found earlier are pretty deep, but won't need a root canal. If you would have waited any longer it would have needed one. The others aren't too severe." Nick said. Before Nick could continue his timer went off.
"That means the fluoride treatment is done." Nick said. He put on a pair of gloves and a mask. "Okay open." Nick instructed and Jeff did. He took out the tray. From there he just sprayed off the remaining fluoride and sat Jeff's chair up.
"Well you're all done for today." Nick said. Nick took off Jeff's bib and threw it away along with his gloves and mask.
"What time is it?" Jeff asked. Nick pulled out his phone and looked at the time.
"9:12" Nick replied.
They got in Nick's car and left the office. On the car ride back Jeff asked a question.
"So where do we go from here?" Jeff asked.
Nick sighed. "Well I'll give you the fillings Wednesday. From there I'm going to send you to one of my good friends Blaine Anderson and we'll see about fixing the placement of your teeth." Nick replied.
"What do you mean?" Jeff asked.
"Well, braces or something alone the lines of that. I'm not sure, I'm not an orthodontist. You may be able to get Invisaline." Nick went on.
Jeff sat in the passengers seat smiling. Nick laughed. "What is it?" Nick asked.
"I'm just really excited. I mean I'm sort of terrified but I'm really happy too. I'm on my way to having a smile I can be proud of." Jeff said.
"I'm glad you are excited. It will be a long road but you'll have your perfect smile." Nick said. In reply Jeff flashed Nick a smile actually showing his teeth. It wasn't perfect but Nick was overall thrilled to see Jeff smiling.
Nick smiled. "Now that's a real smile."
A/N: So I thought about writing this a while back and just got around to doing so. I guess I kinda like putting fictional characters in my place? I mean it's a long story but I sort of put Jeff in my place. Anyway, nobody wants to hear about that. I got the idea for this story while reading 'It Is Going To Be Okay Jeff' a one shot series by Nickduvallover. If you haven't read it go check it out, it's amazing! So do you guys want me to continue this? If so is there anything you would like to see in upcoming chapters? Please review, even if you don't have an account you can drop one by to let me know what you think :)