AN-Hey, so tried to keep the rating down on this one as much as I could. And also, the request for this one was to do it with Tyler and Clarissa, but I really couldn't come up a way of doing those two that didn't feel weird, and then I realized I never really gave Jason much of a romantic spotlight, so I figured I would do this one with him. I hope you still like it!
…..
Protocol
"I just don't get it," Freddie mumbled as he sat at the kitchen table with his laptop and checkbook in front of him. "Where is all our money going? We should have more in savings than this? Have you bought anything big lately, Sam?"
"No, because somebody still refuses to go for my trampoline idea," Sam said, looking up from the dinner she was preparing.
"Well then what the heck is going on here?" Freddie said, frustrated.
"Hi daddy!" the couple's twelve-year old twins, Emma and Ashton, said, coming into the kitchen and sitting down on either side of their father.
"Hey girls," Freddie smiled.
"Daddy?" Ashton asked. "Do you think I could have forty dollars? I have to give this oral presentation at school next week, and I thought I'd be more comfortable doing it if I had a cute new outfit to wear."
"And could I have forty bucks too?" Emma asked sweetly. "My soccer balls getting worn out, and I saw this awesome one at the sporting goods store the other day that's all different colors."
"Oh, um, sure girls," Freddie nodded, pulling out his wallet and handing each of his daughters a few bills.
"You're the best, daddy!" Ashton grinned, giving him a kiss on his cheek before running out of the kitchen.
"Yeah, thanks dad!" Emma said, throwing her arms around him before running off after her sister.
"So you know how you were wondering where all our money's going?" Sam smirked.
"Yeah I get I now," Freddie sighed.
"Mom?" sixteen-year old Jason said, joining his parents in the kitchen. "What's for dinner?"
"Chicken Parmesan," Sam replied, sliding the dish into the oven.
"Smells good," Jason said. "But um, did-did you happen to make an extra serving?
"Why?"
"Because I just invited Eileen over for dinner," Jason said sheepishly. "I-I sort of hoped that would be okay."
"That's fine, but you better tell Emma she doesn't get seconds tonight," Sam said. "And next time let me know when you invite your girlfriend over for dinner, will you?"
"Yup," Jason nodded. "Thanks, mom."
"So," Freddie said as his son left. "You officially approve of his girlfriend then?"
"She's a sweet girl, I guess," Sam shrugged. "Plus her family owns that huge pie shop. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want their son to be dating someone with those connections? And when did I ever say I didn't approve of her?"
"I don't know, I just know how…protective you can be sometimes," Freddie said.
"Protective?" Sam repeated, glaring at him.
"I'm just glad you seem to like Eileen," Freddie said quickly.
"Mom? Dad?" eight-year old Tyler said, coming into the kitchen.
"Okay," Sam sighed. "What do you want?"
"You inviting any girls over? You want to milk money out of us?" Freddie asked.
"I just wanted to ask if I could help cook," Tyler frowned.
Sam chuckled. "Finally, a kid who doesn't want something out of us. Come here, Ty, help me make some garlic bread."
….
"Wow, Mrs. Benson, that smells amazing," Jason's girlfriend, Eileen, said brightly as Jason led her into the kitchen.
"Oh, thanks," Sam said.
"And I hope you don't mind, but I brought over some pies from my parents bakery," she continued, handing Sam a bag with three pies in them. "I thought that we could have them for desert…unless you have something else in mind, of course. I hope I got everyone's favorite flavors right, though. I think it was you and Ashton who liked the Boston cream pie, Mr. Benson and Tyler, the Key Lime, and Emma and Jason the chocolate pudding pie."
"Holy chiz you're good," Sam grinned, looking down at the pies.
"Sam? Dinner almost ready?" Freddie asked, coming into the room. "Oh, hey there, Eileen."
"Hi, Mr. Benson," Eileen smiled. "Whoa? Is that a Galaxy Wars watch?"
"Yeah, it is," Freddie nodded.
"I love Galaxy Wars," Eileen said.
"No way, really?" Freddie said.
"She's a huge fan," Jason said proudly. "Isn't she just the best?
"Jason, go get the twins and Tyler and tell them dinner's on the table," Sam told her son.
"Emma! Ashton! Tyler! Get in here!" Jason yelled.
"Or do that," Sam said, rolling her eyes.
….
"This pie is like eating heaven with a fork," Emma said as she dug into her third slice of pie.
"I know," Sam nodded, scooping some whipped cream off her plate. "You're parents are real good pie chefs, Eileen."
"Well they love making pies for people, and since they absolutely adore Jason, they were thrilled to make them for you," Eileen smiled.
"Make sure you thank them for us," Freddie said.
"Will do," Eileen nodded. "And again, Mrs. Benson, dinner was just phenomenal."
"Yeah well, I like food," Sam said.
"So mom, dad?" Jason as Freddie began picking up the dirty dishes from the table, which Eileen jumped to help him with. "Eileen and I were gonna go hang out for awhile tonight, that's cool right?"
"Um, yeah, just be back by one," Sam nodded.
"I'd give you money, but your sisters wiped me out," Freddie said.
"It's cool, I have cash," Jason said, taking his girlfriend's hand. "Don't wait up."
"Bye guys, I really enjoyed getting a chance to talk with you all over dinner," Eileen said. "Just let me know if you want anymore pies."
"Oh don't worry, we'll be chatting very soon," Sam said. "Have fun, you two."
"Well," Freddie said as the teens left the house. "I think it's safe to say that she's our favorite girl Jason's dated."
"What? Out of like the three girlfriends he's had?" Ashton snickered.
"She's nice," Tyler said as Sam wiped off the whipped cream that had smeared all over his face with a wet napkin.
"Yeah, and cool," Emma agreed.
"Jason should marry that chick," Ashton nodded.
"No one's getting married yet," Sam said firmly. "He's sixteen."
"Yeah, your mom might like Eileen, but that doesn't mean she's ready to give Jason up to her just yet," Freddie chuckled, earning him a thump oh the head from his wife.
…..
Freddie yawned as he got up the next morning, looking over at Sam, who was still fast asleep. Knowing that soon the kids would be up, he figured he might as well go start breakfast. He slid on his slippers and headed out of his bedroom, but just as he was about to head down the stairs to the kitchen, he nearly bumped into Jason, who was climbing up.
"Oh, sorry dad," Jason said, looking startled.
"Jason?" Freddie frowned, noticing his son was wearing the clothes he had been wearing the day before. "Are you-Are you just getting home now? At seven in the morning?"
"No, I was pretty exhausted when I got home last night," Jason said quickly. "So I just crashed on the couch."
"Oh…okay," Freddie nodded. "Breakfast will be ready in a little bit."
"Thanks, but I think I'm gonna go try and get a few more hours sleep in my bed," he told his father.
"Alright, I'll save you a plate then," Freddie nodded. He continued downstairs and pulled out a carton of eggs from the fridge.
"Whatcha making?" Sam suddenly asked, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"Sam?" Freddie said, surprised, as he gave her a quick kiss. "What are you doing up so early? I didn't wake you when I got up, did I?"
"Yeah, you did," Sam said, showing a small smile. "But I figured you were making food down here, so I decided to come down and make sure I got some. Just don't be surprised when you find me back in bed for a nap in a few hours."
"You would be taking a nap even if you slept in until noon," Freddie chuckled.
"Yeah, probably," Sam agreed. "Hey, you busy today?"
"No, why?"
"I was thinking we could take the kids to the boardwalk in the afternoon," Sam said. "You know, since it's getting warmer and the rain's finally supposed to stop."
"That sounds fun," Freddie nodded, beginning to crack a few eggs.
"We can eat at that crab shack, and Ashton can check out that new little jewelry boutique they got there," Sam said. "And Jason can ask Eileen if she wants to come too."
"What, the girl brings you some pies and suddenly she's your new best friend," Freddie asked, amused.
"Oh can it, Fredham," Sam said. "I'm not allowed to like my son's girlfriend without being put on trial?"
"No, I'm sorry," Freddie said, rolling his eyes. "Like I said before, I'm glad you like her, and I think it's nice of you to have Jason include her like this."
"Thank you," Sam said, satisfied. "Now hurry up with my eggs, will you? So I can get back to bed.
…..
"Unbelievable," Carly said, shaking her head as her, Sam and Freddie walked into a drugstore a few weeks later. "A four hundred dollar parking ticket?"
"Well you were parked in front of a fire hydrant," Freddie told her.
"For the millionth time, it wasn't a real fire hydrant!" Carly snapped. "It was a statue of one! It was just part of the decoration scheme for that dog park I parked by! The thing was purple for crying out loud!"
"Well then why didn't you tell the stupid cop who gave you the ticket to get his eyes checked?" Sam asked.
"Because some of us don't like verbally harassing law enforcement," Carly said, rolling her eyes.
"Well then have fun with your four hundred dollar fine," Sam shrugged.
"Guys come on, let's just get Gibby his cold medicine so we can pick him up and head to the museum to see Spencer's new sculpture," Freddie said.
"Okay," Carly conceded. "But I'm still calling city hall about my ticket."
"Hey, Freddie," Sam said, looking over across the store. "Isn't that Eileen over there?"
"Jason's girlfriend?" Carly asked.
"Yeah…hey that is her," Freddie nodded as Eileen headed to the cash register. "Wanna go say hi?"
"Yeah," Sam nodded. "I want to ask her-um, what-what's that in her hand?"
"Oh my God," Carly said, her eyes widening. "That's not a…"
"Not a what?" Freddie frowned. "What's she buying?"
"Get over here!" Sam hissed, quickly pulling her husband behind a shelf so that Eileen wouldn't see them. She craned her neck so that she could try and get a better look at what her son's girlfriend was buying. "Oh man, it is!"
"What are you guys talking about?" Freddie demanded. "She's just buying something in a little white box."
"You don't know what that is?" Carly asked.
"No," Freddie shrugged.
"It's a pregnancy test!" Sam told him.
"Huh?" Freddie frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Sam nodded.
"Why would she be buying one of those?" Freddie asked slowly.
"Gee, I don't know, maybe to take her temperature?" Sam snapped. "Holy chiz, what are we gonna do?"
"Wait," Freddie said. "You can't be thinking…Jason wouldn't…they're not…oh my God. Oh my God, no!"
"Okay guys," Carly said. "I know this seems bad-"
"Bad?" Sam repeated. "Bad is when you find out your kid took ten bucks from your purse. Bad is when they take your car without asking. This, this is-"
"A disaster? A mess? Something that's completely going to change his life?" Freddie offered.
"Exactly," Sam nodded.
"Look," Carly said, trying to calm her two best friends down. "Maybe-Maybe it's not what it looks like."
"How could it not be what it looks like?" Sam demanded. "A chick buying a pregnancy test pretty much only means one thing."
"But-Yeah, okay, I guess that's true," Carly agreed. "But…don't-don't jump to the worst conclusion. Eileen might just be being…paranoid. She can go home, take the test, and have it come up negative."
"Please, sixteen-year old girls don't buy pregnancy tests if they're not already somewhat sure what the result's gonna be," Sam said. "And even if her test does wind up negative, that's still not the point!"
"Then what is the point?" Freddie asked.
"That our son, our baby, is doing the…things necessary for her to be buying that test in the first place!" Sam exclaimed.
"Oh man, you're right…I haven't even thought about that," Freddie moaned. "God I wish we were back to dealing with problems like him taking my Galaxy Wars computer games and trying to rollerblade in the house."
"What are we gonna do?" Sam asked for the second time. "Huh Freddie? What?"
"I-I don't know," Freddie sighed. "There isn't exactly a protocol for this sort of thing…"
"Well first thing I'm doing is going home and beating some sense into that kid!" Sam fumed. "He better realize what this could mean for him!"
"His whole life would be over…" Freddie said softly. "College would pretty much be out the window…he's been dreaming of going to Cal Tech for years, and he's already been starting to look at their application…"
"Well, um, guys," Carly said weakly. "Is there…Is there any chance that, you know, Eileen's possible 'condition' might not have been caused by Jason?"
"What are you saying?" Freddie asked.
"Yeah…that's it! Carly you're a genius!" Sam said, throwing her arms around Carly. "Maybe Eileen was cheating on Jason with some other dude who she did…that with, and this whole thing isn't Jason's fault at all!"
"Sam," Freddie sighed. "Do you really think sweet, thoughtful little Eileen would be cheating on Jason?"
"Yes," Sam said firmly. "Because if she is, then I can go back to knowing that Jason isn't out there doing…that. Which he isn't."
"We-We can't be sure that-" Freddie began.
"I'm sorry, do you want all this to be happening to Jason?" Sam frowned.
"No," Freddie said firmly. "But we also have to be realistic here, Sam! He's sixteen, kids have those…urges. I don't know if Jason's ever-"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Sam demanded. "You're his dad, that's your job to find that stuff out! Didn't you have that talk with him?"
"Five years ago!" Freddie pointed out. "And I know Jason and I are close and all, but I still don't know if he'd want to come and talk to me about that. He might've thought it would be uncomfortable and awkward, I don't know! But the point is-oh no."
"What?" Sam asked anxiously.
"Okay, don't-don't freak out about this," Freddie said. "But a few weeks ago I was coming downstairs to make breakfast, and Jason was just coming upstairs, still wearing the clothes he had on the day before. And when I asked him if he had just gotten home, he said that he had fallen asleep on the couch…and a few nights ago the same thing happened."
"Oh my God, he was probably coming back from her place," Sam mumbled, rubbing her temples. "This is not happening…this is not happening!"
"Baby, calm down," Freddie said shakily. "I-I'll find out if him and Eileen have been…you know. I'll talk to him tonight."
"Good," Sam said, shaking her head. "I can't believe this…Jason's only sixteen; he's still a kid! He's still my baby!"
"It's gonna work out, Sam," Carly said as Freddie put a comforting arm around her, while looking just as lost and confused as she was.
….
"Jason's been acting weird lately," Sam mumbled as she nervously paced back and forth in the living room. "Haven't you noticed? He seems…distracted. Do-Do you think Eileen told him she was buying that test?"
"She might have…" Freddie said. "Or maybe-"
Just then the front door opened and Jason walked in with his backpack.
"H-Hey," Freddie said.
"Hi," Jason mumbled.
Sam studied her son, trying not to jump up and wrap her arms around him and just pretend for a moment that he was six years old and thought the worst thing that could happen was losing his favorite dinosaur toy.
"You-You alright there?" Freddie asked.
"Yeah," Jason shrugged, and Sam instantly knew by his voice that he was not. "I'm just gonna go up to my room…do some homework."
"Go up there!" Sam hissed as Jason ran upstairs.
"Okay," Freddie nodded. He started up after his son, trying to figure out what the heck he would say to him. He reached Jason's door and knocked.
"Jason?" he said, poking his head into the room. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Um, sure, I guess," Jason said, looking up from his textbook. "I'm kind of busy though…"
"I'll try to be quick," Freddie said, sitting down at his desk. "Listen…you remember when you were eleven and we had that, er, talk?"
"Uh-huh," Jason nodded, frowning.
"Well, um, I-I'm sure all that stuff seemed a little over your head then, I mean, you were just a little kid then," Freddie said. "So, um, you know…now that that information's a bit more…applicable, I, er, just wanted to know if maybe you had any new questions? You have a girlfriend now, and you two have been dating for what, eight months?"
"Eleven," Jason corrected.
"Okay, eleven," Freddie nodded. "And, well, I know that you obviously care very much for Eileen, and when one cares for someone like that, they-"
Just then Jason's Pearphone rang and he picked it up.
"Hello?" the teen answered. "Oh, right, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"Who was-" Freddie began.
"Look, dad, as much as I hate to run in the middle of what sounded like a very awkward conversation," Jason said, stuffing his book into his backpack and slinging it over his shoulder. "I got to run. I'm supposed to be somewhere at four."
"Where are you going?" Freddie asked.
"Just-Just the coffee place," Jason said quickly. "I should be home in time for dinner, but if not, I'll just grab a burger or something."
"Jason, wait!" Freddie called after his son. "We need to-" but the teen had already hurried out of the room.
Freddie dragged his feet back downstairs to Sam.
"Hey, what happened? Why'd Jason leave?" Sam asked.
"He said he was supposed to be at some coffee place," Freddie sighed.
"And did you find out if-"
"I tried!" Freddie exclaimed.
"Tried?" Sam said loudly. "Freddie, we need to figure out whether we're in real trouble here or not!"
"You think I don't know that?" Freddie snapped. "Look, I think we just need to sit Jason down when he gets home and tell him up front that we want to know what's going on with him and Eileen. It's not going to be the easiest conversation in the world, but we need to do it."
"Okay," Sam agreed. "Even though part of me really doesn't want to know the answer to that."
…
"Ashton! You ate the last of the chocolate ice cream!" Emma snapped.
"Well Tyler ate my mint ice cream," Ashton defended.
"It didn't have your name on it," Tyler said.
"Emma, there's a pint of that butter pecan ice cream you like in the back of the freezer," Sam said as she helped Freddie load the dishwasher. "Have that."
"Hey, Jason just pulled into the driveway," Freddie whispered to Sam.
"Um, okay you three, go take your ice cream up to your rooms," Sam said.
"Why?" Emma frowned.
"Because I said so," Sam said firmly. "Go, upstairs. Now."
Mumbling protests under their breath, the three younger Benson children climbed upstairs just as Jason walked into the house.
"Hey, sorry I missed dinner," Jason said, coming into the kitchen, grabbing a soda.
"Sit," Freddie said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Why?" Jason asked.
"Just sit, Jason," Sam said, crossing her arms.
"Am I in some sort of trouble here?" Jason asked.
"I don't know," Freddie said. "Why don't you tell us?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jason frowned. "I-" But just then his phone rang again.
"It's Eileen," Jason said, looking down at his screen. "Can I answer?"
"I-Fine okay," Sam conceded. "But you have one minute."
"Hey babe," Jason said, answering his phone, causing Sam to squeeze the dishtowel in her hand tightly.
"What? No way!" Jason said, continuing his conversation into his phone. "So she was right then. Wow…well tell her congratulations for me. I'll try to swing by later and tell her myself, but my parents are being kind of weird here, so I don't know if I'll be able to…Oh, that? Yeah, that's all taken care of. It had me freaked out there for a few days, though. Alright, well, I'm sure you're gonna go celebrate, so I'll talk to you later. Love you."
"No more phone calls, got it?" Freddie said as his son hung up. He held out his hand for the phone. "We're serious, we need to talk to you about something that needs your full attention right now."
"Um, okay," Jason said, handing over his phone. "Sorry…Eileen just wanted to tell me that her mom just found out she was pregnant."
"I don't care what that little-what?" Sam said, her eyes widening. "Eileen's mom is pregnant?"
"Yeah," Jason nodded. "She just found out. Eileen told me she's been suspecting it for a few weeks now, but she didn't want to get her hopes up. So today after school Eileen went out and picked her up a pregnancy test from the drug store and I guess it came out positive."
"Wait," Freddie said slowly. "So…Eileen picked up a pregnancy test for her mom?"
"Yes…that's what I just said," Jason replied.
Sam and Freddie exchanged glances.
"Well…that takes care of that then," Sam mumbled. "After nearly giving me a heart attack."
"What are you guys talking about?" Jason asked confused.
"Nothing," Freddie said, trying to hold back a smile as relief flooded through his body. "Nothing at all."
"Wait, so um, Jason," Sam said. "Why-Why have you been acting sort of weird for the past few weeks? You know, you've been spending a lot of time in your room, and you've been a little…down."
"Oh, that's actually a funny story," Jason chuckled. "See, I checked my physics grade a little while ago and it was a-it was a B. So naturally I started freaking out, but I didn't want to worry you guys, so I tried to keep it a secret. I would spend all night studying down here after you went to bed and wind up crashing on the couch. And I even hired a private tutor who has been helping me study for our next test coming up. And today while I was being tutored my teacher emailed me and told me that he had made a mistake when he entered my last quiz grade, and that my average was really an A."
"So-So you were all bummed out over a B?" Sam exclaimed. She glared at Freddie. "Do you see what you did to him?"
"Is that what you guys wanted to talk to me about then?" Jason asked.
"Er, sure," Freddie nodded. "Let's go with that."
"Well then is it alright if I go over and see Eileen?" Jason asked. "I want to pick her mom up a card or something."
"Y-Yeah, go ahead," Sam said.
"Thanks," Jason grinned.
"Well," Freddie said once his son left. "I feel stupid."
"I kind of want to ground him for putting us through that…even though he had no idea what the heck was going on," Sam said.
"Man, whoever said the 'terrible twos' were the worst year clearly never raised a teenager," Freddie said.
"And we have three more to go," Sam said, giving him a weak smile.
"We're gonna be a mess by the time we're done with these kids," Freddie sighed.
