"Charlie!" Gordon burst into the room, ignoring the warning given to him by the nurse to not run and to be quiet because they had other patients on this floor. He didn't give a crap about those other patients; he was thoroughly concerned about Charlie and Charlie only.

His Ducks had won their last game of the season. He was very proud of them and all their hard work they'd put in. As a treat, he'd planned on taking them to his house for some pizza and ice cream. That was the initial idea, anyway. But things changed when Charlie got rammed into by an opposing player.

He wasn't sure if it was a faulty helmet or a mistake Charlie had made, but the helmet came undone when Charlie got hit. As a result, his head slammed down onto the ground. When he didn't get up, Gordon's stomach had dropped. Without thinking, he hopped over the guardrail and onto the ice, deliberately ignoring the ref blowing his whistle at him.

"Charlie," Gordon gently moved him on his back, looking for any blood. To his relief, he didn't see any. "Are you okay? Can you move anything?"

Adam and Connie skated to a stop beside them. They asked about Charlie simultaneously, looking anxious for an answer. Gordon hated that he couldn't give them one.

Charlie groaned. "It hurts."

"I know," Gordon's mind raced, knowing they'd have to call for an ambulance. Casey would also have to be informed. Usually she would be at these games but today she was asked to work at the diner to cover someone else's shift. "I know, Charlie. Just keep breathing."

"Is he going to be okay?" Adam asked.

"He's got to be," Connie said with determination. "Hockey players get concussions all the time. He'll be okay."

Gordon glanced at her, then back down at Charlie. Realistically, he knew Connie was right; Charlie was likely going to be okay. But it didn't stop him from feeling uncertainty wash over him.

"Dad, I don't feel good," Charlie murmured.

It was like all the air was taken out of Gordon's lungs. He stared down at the boy who was all but legally his son. "I know," he said, still feeling like he was in a daze. "I know..."

Charlie laid on the hospital bed, swaddled in blankets. His eyes were halfway open and while he was technically conscious, he wasn't all the way aware of his surroundings. Casey was there, stroking his hair. She'd been allowed in first since she was his mother. Gordon had waited impatiently in the waiting room. He had to be given permission to come back there since he wasn't a blood relative.

The wait had been agonizing. He hadn't been able to stop his mind from replaying that moment over and over and over.

Dad.

Charlie called him dad.

It put him in a state of shock. At one time when he and Casey had been together, he'd dreamt of a moment like this-alright, not exactly like this-where Charlie would call him dad. But that dream shattered when he and Casey broke up.

He didn't know how to feel. This was only temporary. Once he was all better, it wouldn't ever happen again.

"Oh, Gordon," Casey was relieved to see him. "You're still here. I wasn't sure if you'd gone home or not."

"Are you kidding?" Gordon shook his head. "You really think I'd go home?"

She smiled, but it was only a slight one. "I'm sorry. It's been a long afternoon."

"Don't worry about it," Gordon dismissed. He understood completely. A thought came to him; he should probably tell her about what Charlie said to him. Just as a sort of precaution thing. "Hey, Case-"

"I'm sure someone will be happy to see you," Casey had started to talk right when he did. But then a third voice chimed in.

"Dad...?"

Gordon and Casey both froze.

It was happening again.

"Did we win?"

Gordon glanced at Casey, taking a deep breath as he went to take the boy's hand into his. Charlie's unfocused eyes peered up at him. "We did," He said delicately, "you guys did great."

"Mmkay," Charlie's eyes shut completely.

"How are you feeling now?" Gordon kept holding his hand.

Casey was on the other side of the room, watching them.

"I dunno..." Well, at least he wasn't in excruciating pain.

"The Ducks are worried about you." They'd all wanted to come into the room and see Charlie. Unfortunately for them, the nurse in the emergency room lobby was adamant in her refusal. It would be too disruptive and not only that, but Charlie needed the peace and quiet to rest. They were disappointed, to which Gordon reassured them that they would see Charlie in no time.

"That's nice," Charlie said sleepily.

Gordon chuckled. "I don't know if you realized it, but your mom's here."

"Nooooo..."

He tilted his head. "What?"

Charlie repeated himself.

"You don't want to see your mom?" Gordon was confused. He didn't look at Casey this time. "Why?"

"Want you, Dad," Charlie mumbled.

Oh, he thought-

Casey smiled softly at Gordon. She gestured towards the door. "I'll leave you two alone for a bit," She whispered on her way out.

Gordon turned back to Charlie. "I'm right here," He promised. "I'm staying here, don't worry."

/

Charlie was eventually released from the hospital. Casey had to go back to work after being allowed to have a few days off. She worried about leaving him by himself so Gordon offered to watch him at his place. He had the day off and didn't mind.

"You're sure?" Casey asked again.

He smiled kindly. "Course not, Case. We'll be fine."

"Oh, Gordon, thank you!" She kissed him on the cheek abruptly. Only a second later did she comprehend what she did, pulling back with an embarrassed smile and tried to act normal. "Thank you."

He nodded. "No problem."

When she left, he touched his cheek, unable to believe what happened.

Charlie was curled up on the couch, idly watching TV. He seemed to have no recollection of anything beyond getting hit. In a way, he'd been glad as it spared them both, but he knew he should address this.

"Hey, Charlie," Gordon came into the living room. "You hungry? I've got some soup ready for you."

"In a minute," Charlie never took his eyes off the television, "this blender commercial is interesting."

Gordon let out a huff of a laugh. "Your mom was right about those side effects. They've made you weirder than you already were," He teased.

Charlie grinned, shutting the TV off. The blanket was pulled up halfway up to his chest. He seemed comfortable.

"Actually," Gordon sat down at the other end of the couch, causing Charlie to move his feet. "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Charlie sat up slightly, the smile sliding off his face. "What about?"

How should he start this? "I don't know if you remember this, but you... Well, before you got to the hospital, you-"
"Called you dad," Charlie finished.

Gordon was surprised. "You do remember."

Charlie's gaze fell to his lap. "I was kinda out of it the first time I said it. But...but then you thought it was because of the concussion and I dunno, it felt nice. I liked saying it."

Gordon didn't respond right away. "I...I didn't mind you saying it."

"But Mom-" Charlie let it hang in the air.

"She might not appreciate it so much," Gordon said carefully. That time in the hospital was one thing. He wasn't sure what Casey would think of it becoming a permanent thing. Especially considering that they weren't together.

Charlie frowned. "But you liked it? You didn't mind?"

"No," Gordon said. He would never protest that. Ever. "I didn't mind."

They sat there quietly.

"If," Gordon started, "your mom doesn't mind, then I don't mind if you...well, you know-"

"Call you dad?" Charlie said. He toyed with the end of the blanket. "Okay. But not in front of everyone, of course. That'd be weird."

"Of course," Gordon nodded. "Very weird."

They shared a small smile, then looked away.

"So," Gordon cleared his throat, "ready for that soup now?"

"Sure," Charlie flattened out the blanket.

"You can eat at the table."

"But standing makes me think of hockey which... makes me think of simpler times," Charlie sighed dramatically, turning his head away.

"I'll risk it," Gordon snorted, throwing a pillow on his face.

"Hey!"