Title: Seventeen
Author: KellethMetheus
Spoilers: none way before the show.
Category: Gen/Kidfic
Summary: John wants only one thing for his birthday.
Warnings: minor physical violence toward a minor
Beta: Thanks to Arem
Challenge:StargateKiddrabbles #45: Birthday Gift (a young John fic for Ruthie)
John stood outside his father's office. Today he turned seventeenth and he knew just what he wanted. There was only thing that would make him happy. In the past year he had done everything that his father had wanted. Slaving for the last six months, he had earned early admittance to University. Next year he wouldn't be returning to high school, which suited him fine. His aspirations were much higher than winning the state basketball championship.
In his hand was a stack of acceptance letters. There was a bunch of Ivy League Schools and other big names, but there was only one place he wanted to go. That was what he wanted for his birthday. He wanted the Air Force Academy. He was old enough to attend starting this July. Their acceptance was on the top of the stack.
Lifting his hand, he knocked on the door and he heard his father's voice through the dark oak door. "Come in, John."
The door creaked as John opened it and stepped inside. The room was dim and his father sat in the middle of the room waiting.
"Dad, I got the last letter from the Universities today. I thought I'd show them to you. I was accepted at every one I applied for but there's only one place I want to attend. Its letter is on the top."
He laid the pile on the large desk that dominated the room. His father, Patrick Sheppard, didn't look up from his work. "That's good son, but I've already decided that you will attend Yale, my alma matter. I've sent your acceptance and paid your tuition. You'll be taking pre-law. I know you'll make me proud. Goodnight John."
Then Patrick picked up the rest of the letters and dropped them in the trash.
John watched the one with the Air force Academy seal fluttering into the trash. He wanted to snatch it back, to hold on to those dream, the one where he got to fly. He really didn't care what, he just wanted to fly, to escape his life on the ground.
His hand reached out toward the trash but his father looked up. "You were dismissed. I have a lot of work to do. Now I said good night."
Looking his father in the eye, John stood his ground and didn't move. "No, I won't. I don't want to go to Yale and I don't want to be a lawyer. I'm going to the Academy and I will become a pilot. This is my life Dad, not yours."
Finally his father looked up. "Really, your life?" His father got to his feet. "Well who fed you and clothed you your whole life? Have you contributed anything to your upkeep? I ask one small thing, that you go to school and follow in my footsteps so that what I have worked for my whole life doesn't go to waste. Can you do that one thing for me?"
John didn't look away from his father's angry gaze. "No, I can't because it's not what I want."
Patrick stormed around the desk and let his hand fly but John blocked the blow. In an instant, his father's face changed from anger to fear. Letting his hand drop, Patrick backed away.
Pointing his finger at John, Patrick shouted, "if that's what you want get out and don't come back. But remember, you walk out the door it's the end. No money, no help. You'll no longer be my son, think about that John."
A smile crossed John's face. "I already have." He turned, walking toward the door. "Goodbye Dad. I'll be out of the house in ten minutes."
He didn't slam the door as he left the office but closed it quietly and walked up the stairs to his room. Quickly he gathered only the barest essentials and he left.
On the way down he passed his brother on the stairs. David stopped and looked at the back on John's back. "Where are you going?"
John shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know but it's away from here. Enjoy your life, David, and try to make it your own if you can." Then he walked down the stairs and into the night. Stopping at the side walk he looked up at the sky and breathed in the air. It never tasted so sweet. Humming a Johnny Cash song, he disappeared into the night and never looked back.