Nero

by Imagilove

Jeff sits in a chair at his son's bedside. He watches the sleeping teen and pulls out his notebook. He begins writing a poem when he hears a noise. He looks up from his writings to check on the teen. Jeff fights to keep his emotions in check as he watches the teen sleep looking so fragile and weak. The boy wheezes a little in his sleep. Jeff sighs and wipes his tears.

2. Chapter 2

Jeff is pulled from his thoughts when Nero calls out in his sleep. "Dad…" he groans. Jeff puts his notebook down and sits on the edge of the hospital bed. "I'm here." he says calmly.

Nero coughs hard and loses his breath momentarily, his breaths grow shallow for a few moments. "I'm c… cold…" he whispers.

Jeff walks over and grabs a blanket, draping it over him. He looks down at Nero and smiles a little. "Better?" he asks.

Nero nods and snuggles deeper in the blankets.

Jeff smiles sadly and kisses the boy's head. "You look so much like your father." He says.

Nero looks up at him and smiles. "Grandpa says I look like you…"

"You do, you look like both of your parents." Jeff replies as he rubs Nero's back. Nero coughs and smiles. "Who is my father? What's he like?"

Jeff smiles as he carefully lays beside him. "Your father's name is Seth Rollins. He was the new kid my senior year of high school. He was sweet." he says and starts to tell him about Seth.

Nero smiles at him and listens to his story.

~Flashback~

It's the third week of school and Jeff is sitting in history class when a dark haired boy walks into the classroom and hands the teacher a note. The teacher looks down at the pass and back at the dark haired boy.

"Welcome to Union Pines Mister…Rollins… why don't you go and take a seat in the third row." Mr. Parks says.

The young boy nods and walks over to the third row, sitting across from Jeff. He sits his books down and catches Jeff's gaze. "Hi, I'm Jeff.. What's your name?"

The dark haired boy smiles a shy smile. "I'm Seth, It's nice to meet you Jeff."

~End of Flashback~

Nero smiles. "Wow, you guys sound so nerdy." he says softly.

Jeff laughs. "We were, sort of.. In our own little way.."

The teen's eyes grow heavy as he fights sleep. Jeff watches him and chuckles. "Nero, why don't you just rest.. I'll tell you more about your father when you wake up.."

The boy looks up at his father with half lidded eyes. "Promise?" he asks.

Jeff smiles and hugs him gently. "Yes, I promise." he replies.

The young man's eyes slowly close and he falls asleep.