Disclaimer: I don't own Pacific Rim or any of its characters.
Title: Child's Play
Rating: K+
Characters: [in this chapter] Chuck Hansen, Herc Hansen, Stacker Pentecost, Raleigh Becket, Mako Mori, Cheung Wei, Hu Wei, Lin Wei, Aleksis Kaidanovsky and Sasha Kaidanovsky with mentions of Newton Geiszler and Hermann Gottlieb
Summary: When Herc once said that he would give anything to give Chuck back his childhood, he didn't think it would literally mean having to look after his four year old son again.
Warnings: Some disturbing imagery
Author's Notes: This takes place sometime after Raleigh arrived at the Hong Kong Shatterdome. I've always been a sucker for Kid!fics and I couldn't resist the chance to shrink our favourite Australian pilot.


Seeing Chuck so miserable and worn made Herc worry. Never had his son once complained about the harsh conditions that the academy students and Rangers faced. No visible marks of grief, pain or frustration seeped through the unbreakable, arrogant mask that he displayed constantly. And with this age regression, Chuck appeared much more vulnerable and his emotions flashed across his face like an open book.

" You need your rest, kiddo," he told Chuck patiently, as his son laid on his bed, wrapped up tight in blankets and pressing his face into the pillow as if it would make his fever and headache go away. He was demanding for his favourite kangaroo stuffed animal but Herc simply didn't have the heart to tell him that it, along with the rest of their things, had all gone up in flames when Scissure attacked Sydney and the nuclear bomb was dropped. So instead, he lied and apologized for forgetting it back at home.

" I don't feel good," the boy whimpered, voice muffled from the pillow. " It hurts."

" Where does it hurt?"

" My stomach." Chuck's hand floated to his belly. " And my throat."

This was the most honesty Herc had seen from Chuck in years. ("I'm fine!" fourteen year old Chuck snapped after a particularly grueling training session. He yanked back his bruised and bleeding hands from Herc's touch as if burned. "I don't need to be coddled by you, old man. I'm not a child!") It seemed surreal to have this Chuck be so dependent on him and not afraid to show it.

" Want ... some water?" he hesitantly asked and he immediately cursed how foolishly inadequate and clueless he was in regards to comforting a sick child. It was usually Angela who took care of Chuck when he was sick and she knew what to do and what to say to soothe their son. Why didn't he pay more attention back then?

Chuck shook his head and with a groan, turned to gaze at him with unhappy, fevered eyes. " Daddy, where's mommy?" he mumbled. " Want mommy."

He forced a smile, to hide the fact his heart clenched at the question despite the fact he had been anticipating it. " Mommy ... mommy went away to visit some people." He gently stroked Chuck's hair, smoothing it back to hide the way his hands were itching to clench themselves. " So it's just going to be you and me for a while."

" OK, daddy." There was nothing but pure trust in Chuck's eyes and Herc tried not to flinch because he wasn't sure if he deserved that kind of love after how he treated Chuck after Angela's death.

Too many nights spent blaming and arguing and avoiding each other for days afterwards. Too many words left unspoken and the rift between them widened darkly. Too many doubts and apologies that should have been confessed but instead rotted in the distance as they stood too far apart.

What was done was done, Herc firmly told himself. He could not change the past but there was this future to be concerned with.

He was shaken from his thoughts when Chuck tugged insistently at his sleeve. " Could ... could you sleep here tonight?" Chuck begged. " Please? Just in case." His voice dropped to a whisper as if someone might be eavesdropping. " In case the scientists come for my brain again."

Herc explicitly remembered those nights where Chuck would run into his parents' room after a bout of nightmares and worm his way through their blankets to sandwich himself between him and Angela, only falling asleep as he felt Angela's arm come around his shoulders and heard Herc's light snores. They made the effort to tell him there was nothing to be afraid of the next morning.

But for this night, Herc simply wanted to be as near as his son as possible. It had been too many years that they refused to maintain any sort of physical contact. " All right, Chuck. I'll stay here," he promised.

And he kicked off his shoes and removed his jacket so he could slip into the bed. At once, Chuck wiggled as close as he could to his father, nuzzling his head under Herc's chin. Herc could feel the warmth radiating off Chuck and he tucked his chin to press a light kiss to his son's forehead, as if it could make the fever go away.

Tiny fingers curled tight around Herc's hand, wrapped around them like a lifeline, and Chuck was able to sigh contently, knowing he was safe under his father's watch and that there were no evil scientists or monsters to devour him.

" Good night, kiddo," Herc gently said. And after a pause, he added, " I love you," the words tumbling quick after each other, almost sounding foreign in his ears.

But Chuck smiled and snuggled a little closer to Herc. " Love you too, Daddy."

~.~.~

The Kaidanovskys and the Wei triplets were already in Pentecost's office when Raleigh arrived after Tendo made an announcement for all pilots to report there. Mako was speaking quietly to one of the triplets and another tilted his head in acknowledgement once Raleigh stood beside him.

Gossipy staff had been spreading some ... interesting things this afternoon. Raleigh had been in the shower after his training round with Mako when he overheard some of the candidates talking about how there was a mysterious child running around in the Shatterdome. In the cafeteria, the Australian techs were whispering that Chuck Hansen had been missing since morning and so was Herc. The familiar sight of Max trotting beside his masters was nowhere to be seen, replaced by Mako holding onto Max's leash. The dog was whining and twisting this way and that, shrugging off Mako's gentle commands to remain still. Not even with Cheung, Lin and Hu giving him triple the belly rubs could calm the distraught Max.

When Pentecost entered, followed by Newton and Hermann, Aleksis raised an eyebrow and Jin shot his brothers a puzzled look. It told Raleigh that the scientists normally preferred to stay in their labs or that they were hardly involved when the Marshall had to speak with the pilots.

" By now, I'm certain you have heard some rumours," Pentecost promptly began. His frankness and honesty was one thing that Raleigh appreciated about the older man.

" Rumors are unreliable," Sasha coolly said. Beneath her stoic tone, Raleigh could sense she was at least a little concerned about their youngest pilot.

" What happened?" Hu asked.

" Due to an unintentional experiment of sorts, Chuck Hansen has physically and mentally regressed to that of when he was four years old." The way Pentecost said it was as if he was discussing something as simple as an unexpected guest joining a dinner party.

" Regressed to four years old?" Lin repeated in disbelief. There were identical looks of surprise and skepticism across the triplets' faces. " How is even that – ?"

" Dr. Geiszler had made a sort of concoction that did it." Newton practically wilted with the way Pentecost aimed a pointed glare at him. " He and Dr. Gottlieb are currently working to find the cure. As far as official records go, Chuck Hansen had fallen ill and is unable to pilot in his condition. What has happened to him does not leave the Shatterdome under any circumstance."

There was a slight pause to absorb the new information. Raleigh (and from the expressions on the other pilots' faces, so were they) tried to picture Chuck Hansen as a four year and couldn't quite succeed.

" Where is Ranger Hansen now?" Sasha inquired.

" Herc is currently with his son. So far, Chuck Hansen only showed signs of recognition for his father."

" You mean, he doesn't remember anything about the Kaiju or Jaeger?" Raleigh blurted out and stood his ground when eight pair of eyes turned towards him. He after all was the outsider and wouldn't be considered fully part of their team until he found his co-pilot.

" No, Mr. Becket. And until Herc indulges in that information for his son, I recommend it would be wise for us to avoid openly speaking of such matters in front of Chuck Hansen."

" But if Striker Eureka is down one pilot, what would happen if the Double Event occurs?" Cheung finally asked, speaking loud enough to conceal Hu whispering about baby wombats and dingos who bite and if Chuck would resemble them, causing Lin to chuckle.

" And Operation Pitfall?" Aleksis added with a rumble.

" Operation Pitfall cannot wait any longer," Pentecost admitted. " We do not know the extent of how long Chuck Hansen will remain in that state. It might be days or weeks. We cannot afford to wait. Striker Eureka is an invaluable piece to the mission. Should things come to it ... I will pilot Striker Eureka with Herc Hansen."

There was a soft gasp from Mako, though Raleigh was the only one who glanced her direction. " Any questions?" Pentecost asked, looking at everyone except at his adopted daughter.

They shook their heads and they were dismissed. Newton and Hermann disappeared back into their labs, arguing about certain chemical components that made Raleigh's head spin. Aleksis and Sasha were murmuring about the changes in Operation Pitfall, heads bent close together as they left. Hu was still making jokes about the various adorable yet lethal creatures in Australia to Lin's amusement and Cheung's annoyance.

He was about to leave as well when Pentecost called him. " Mr. Becket. A word." He turned back around to face the Marshall, having an inkling of what they were going to discuss. " Have you chosen a co-pilot among the candidates yet?" Pentecost asked directly.

It took most of Raleigh's effort not to look over Pentecost's shoulder where Mako remained, tugging on Max's leash to get the napping bulldog to stop lying over her feet. " No."

Pentecost 'hmm'ed and yet again, Raleigh was faced with a piercing, studying gaze that felt as if he was being x-rayed multiple times over. " I've reconsidered your evaluation, in light of recent events. You and Miss Mori will report to Gipsy Danger's Conn-Pod for a test run this afternoon."

Both his and Mako's head whipped up in shock, at each other and back at Pentecost. A smile lit up Mako's face and wasn't that the sweetest thing Raleigh had ever seen?

" Yes, Marshall," she said, barely able to keep the excitement from her voice.

hed.