"Such a sweet boy aren't you" Holly cooed at Rhys as she held him in the air his little feet kicking and giggles leaving his lips. He wore a black Chicago bears onesie as he babbled happily pressing his hands against her face squealing when she made faces at him. "I'm so glad you came home for a visit" She sighed pressing the toddler into a tight hug, Rhys grinned happily nuzzling his face into his neck. "I think Rhys is to" Seth laughed reaching over to smooth his hair. Rhys climbed down from his grandmothers' lap and over to his toys sitting on his bum and rolling his tractors across the wooden floor.
"So, Dean and Renee are going to adopt Rhys's brother Colton?" Seth had explained the situation to his mom and she was just as outraged at the abuse of Colton. "God, I wish they'd let some big guy beat the crap out of them like they did those poor babies" She huffed making Seth chuckle. "I agree with you, but hopefully we can get him out and show him what a good life is all about. I know a certain someone is raking in the love here lately" Rhys babbled back at his dad reaching out to pull himself up on the coffee table. "Oh, good boy Rhysee" Holly said as the toddler hauled himself up right, he swayed slightly before stiffening up straight. Seth watched as he moved one foot after the other slowly walking himself around the table little fists gripping the edge. Holly watched Seth's face as Rhys carefully moved around, torn between being proud and sad. "He's growing up so fast" Seth nodded his eyes still fixed on the toddler who let one hang go swaying on his knees, before Seth could reach out and grab him Rhys lost his balance smacking his chin against the corner of the table and pushing his front tooth through his lip.
"Shit" Seth cursed lunging for him, his little face was covered in blood and he was screaming in pain. Holly ran to the bathroom grabbing a cold wet face cloth and bringing it to Seth in the kitchen. He had Rhys propped up on the counter trying to see into his mouth through the blood, "Here put this on his lip" Holly murmured passing over the cloth. Seth pressed it to his little lip trying to clean off the blood, Rhys screamed louder gripping at his shirt. "It's okay champ It's okay" Seth repeated trying to calm Rhys and himself down. Holly took the cloth back noticing the panic in his eyes and told him to hold Rhys while she dealt with his lip. "There we go sweet boy" She cooed as the cloth brushed over his lip revealing a small gash where his tooth had gone through. "Just got to hold this there so it doesn't swell" She said softly pressing the cloth against the swelling, Rhys whined but kept still while Seth stroked his hair murmuring how brave he was in his ear.
"There we go, all better baby" Rhys's lip was still slightly swollen with a red gash into it. Seth looked down at his son, shaking his head and gripping him tight. "Daddies so sorry champ" He croaked, he was supposed to keep him safe not let him bash his face on shit. Holly ran her fingers through Seth's two toned hair smiling when he instinctually curled into her touch. "Part of being a parent baby is watching them fall and picking them back up. You bashed your head plenty of times, don't feel bad he's a boy. No scratch that he's your boy" Seth grinned at that, he always was a rough and tumble kid.
Later that night Seth sat on the couch at his house, the television was playing some nonsensical kids program that Rhys was infatuated with. The toddler had on his ninja turtles' pyjamas and his hair was freshly washed and still damp from his bath. He smelled like kids bath soap and with a mix of his baby smell, even Seth had to admit it was calming. Seth's phone buzzed against the table as he reached over to snag it. A facetime call from Sasha, Seth grinned tapping accept and holding It down so he and Rhys were in view. "Hey beautiful" He grinned at the screen as she came into view. Her hair was up in a sloppy pony tail loose strands in front of her eyes and she wore a black hoodie. "Hey lovelies" She smiled waving at Rhys who squealed at the sound of her voice. He babbled fingers reaching out to the phone. "He's happy to see you" Seth laughed as Rhys mumbled something else looking up at him. "So, are you nervous for tomorrow?" She asked softly Seth had told her Monday that he and Dean would be going tomorrow to help the police take Colton. Nodding Seth brushed his lips across his sons' forehead "It's going to be brutal but hopefully it the end he'll be safe like this guy" Rhys tugged on his beard big brown eyes gazing up at him. "But I owe it to him to fight for his brother"
"You guys had better be safe" She sighed meeting his eyes through the phone, she was worried about him more then she cared to admit. The conversation had meant to be light hearted and fun just so she could hear his voice but the panic in her couldn't help it. The type of who could hurt innocent children wouldn't have much of a problem taking out Seth or Dean. "Worried about me Banks" He smirked laughing at the glare he got in return. "Can you not be a dick for like 5 seconds Rollins?" She huffed smirking when Rhys let out a huge giggle "See even your kid agrees" Rhys babbled back at Sasha his little fingers gripping at the screen. "I miss you to handsome" She said blowing him a kiss making him squeal, her eyes caught a glance at the red gash on his lip. "What happened to his lip?" She immediately regretted the question when Seth's face fell. "He bashed his face off the coffee table I couldn't get to him in time" He admitted softly eyes fixed on the cut, Rhys whined at the somber expression on his face leaning in to press his nose against his cheek.
"And you think it's all your fault" Sasha sighed Seth nodded adjusting Rhys in his lap. "I should have caught him I'm supposed to protect him not let him smash his face off shit" He growled, he still felt guilty as hell especially when Rhys cried eating supper earlier that night. "He's a toddler, they fall Seth" She murmured watching as his brown eyes flashed up to meet hers, "You're a good dad Seth, look how much he loves you." Rhys had leaned back against Seth he yawned rubbing his eyes. "Guess it's bedtime huh?" She said watching as Rhys curled into Seth pushing his thumb into his mouth.
"I guess your right about his cut, I just feel so damn bad. He's my baby I don't want him hurt." Smirking he shook his head "Smarter then I am woman, bed time champ?" Seth murmured kissing the toddlers' forehead smiling as he whimpered reaching out for him, Sasha laughed watching as Rhys forced his eyes back open at the sound. "Give yourself some credit Rollins, goodnight sweet boy" She waved and blew a kiss at Rhys who flapped his hand back and forth "and Seth?" Seth lifted Rhys into his arms bringing the phone back up to his face. "Please be careful" She said softly before called ended. Upstairs Seth tucked Rhys into his crib pulling the blanket around him and kissing his cheeks. "I love you champ" He murmured brushing his finger tips over his still swollen bottom lip. "And I'm sorry"
The next morning Seth and Dean sat in a police SUV on their way to Haley's. Dean's heart pounded in his chest this was it. Beside him Seth was equally as nervous, he was about to come face to face with her. No amount of words could ever make her understand the damage she had done to their son, no his son. The SUV pulled into the driveway blocking the small car in as three police cars pulled up and police ran from them rushing the door. Seth and Dean jumped out running around back to find Colton before he got caught up in the mix but they were too late. Dean could hear him screaming from inside as the police shouted for the gun to be dropped. Both men rushed into the house ignoring the screams from the officers to stay back. Jay had Colton gripped in his arms, gun pinned beneath his chin and Haley was behind him. Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped when Seth walked into the room. "What are you doing here" She snapped, her whole body was twitching and shaking and Seth knew she was high. He shuddered even thinking about her caring for his boy. "I came to save Colton from you just like I did Rhys" He snapped. Jay snickered pressing the gun harder into Colton's chin. "You took my baby from me" Haley screeched moving to jump Seth when Jay grabbed her. "Because you neglected him and beat the shit out him, you don't fucking deserve him he's too good for you" Seth roared, he'd promised to keep his temper but damn he was mad. Kayla who had just walked in patted his shoulder whispering "Calm down" in his ear. The boiling in his blood didn't lessen but he backed down.
Dean met Colton's terrified gaze, the pure panic in his eyes was enough to chill Dean's blood. "I'll protect you" Dean mouthed at him, and Colton desperately wanted to believe him but he was all but certain Jay was going to shoot. Why wouldn't he? He didn't love him love didn't hurt.
"Put the gun down now! Let him go" The police roared at Jay who rolled his eyes completely un-phased. "Free this little guy? Nah if I'm going he's coming with me. He can't live without me can you bud?" Dean's stomach twisted the words were so disgusting. "I'll shoot you god damn it Jay let him go" The officer roared.
"Tell him to let him go Haley what the fuck are you doing?" Seth hissed, Haley just stared back at him completely emotionless. "If I die he comes to" She said quietly, and Dean knew right then this was going to end in bullets. Dean heard the click of a gun and without thinking dove for Colton ripping him from Jay's grip and hitting the ground with a loud thud. Seth grabbed Kayla throwing her to the ground as the room erupted in gun fire. Dean groaned as bullet hit his shoulder, gripping Colton tighter against his chest and Seth cursed as one hit his bicep. Ears ringing the gunshots finally died off, Dean didn't move looking back at Seth who nodded his head sitting up to survey the damage. Kayla shifted underneath him moving to check Haley who'd taken a bullet to her abdomen and Jay had one just underneath his hip. "Don't let him see" Seth murmured pointing to Colton who was curled into Dean sobbing and gripping his shirt. Carefully gripping him Dean carried him out of the house with Seth and Kayla behind him. "What the fuck was that" The commanding officer roared, Kayla walked up to him eyes narrowed "He just saved your ass so shut it" She snapped opening the ambulance doors so both men could get in. The ride there was hectic as the EMT did his best to check over Colton who was having nothing to do with it. He thrashed and cried only allowing Dean to even touch him. Arriving at the ER Renee threw her arms around Dean, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I can't believe you fucking did that I should kick your ass" She croaked as he buried his face into her hair. Colton tensed in his arms as Renee's body pressed against his, feeling the movement she glanced down at the little body curled into his chest. "Is he okay?" She asked softly and Dean shook his head, "No kid should ever have to go through that" Seth muttered coming up beside them holding gauze to his bicep.
"You both got shot!" She hissed smacking Seth on his good arm, "Hunter is going to flip out" Seth snorted rolling his eyes "I'm more worried about my mother and Sasha. I should go call em before they start pulling this shit from my arm" He winced. Dean and Renee walked to the room the nurse had directed them to, hoping up on the bed Dean shifted Colton so he could remove his sweater and let the doctor remove the bullet. Renee watched as Dean sat rock still as they fixed him up, the doctor turned his gaze to Colton who hadn't dared move. "I need to examine him" She said softly Dean nodded lifting Colton or trying to as his fingers dug into the fabric of his black shirt. "Colton bud, hey it's okay we just got to check you out. I wont leave I promise" He whispered, Colton shook his head hugging him tighter. Prying his fingers from his shirt Dean laid him down on the bed his little head resting in his lap. "It's okay" He murmured as he pulled over his shirt and jeans, Dean's fingers combing through his blonde hair. Renee gasped from her spot across the room, his little body was literally head to toe bruises and cuts. Dean's temper thrummed under his skin as Colton shook against his leg.
The doctor carefully checked him over, making note of how Colton would flinch whenever his fingers touched his skin. Colton stared at the white wall across from him desperately trying to block out his surroundings. Mommy and Jay were gone the police took them but what did that mean for him? He didn't want to go to the foster homes, he never stayed in one place. Did mommy or Jay die? He knew people fired guns, Dean had one in his arm and he saw Seth with one to. While his brain roared into over drive his body was slowly giving into the gentle strokes of Dean's hand up and down his back. "Rest your eyes bud, I'll keep you safe" Dean rumbled looking down at the pair of sharp green eyes that looked up at him. Colton didn't want to sleep he had questions, he wanted to know what was going to happen to him but once Renee laid the big warm blanket over him and gently pulled her fingers through the hair at the top of his neck his eyes slid shut.