A reminder that this is a Bad!Jeff AU and some of his words and actions may be upsetting. Warnings for manipulative relationship.
Flash Fiction Friday prompt 186: Fine By Me 999 words
By the time Jeff the hospital it was late. The sun had set and there was a chill in the air. He didn't notice, mind whirling on what he needed to do.
He dismissed his car and walked back to the hotel to give him the time to think of all the variables. This was a complete change in his plans for the future, but with some careful wrangling he was sure that he'd still fulfil his dreams, just on a far longer trajectory than before.
The first thing he did was call his lawyers. They may not have been very happy to hear from him at such an hour, but he paid them well.
One hour stretched into two and then three, arguments erupted but Jeff remained calm and impassive and completely immoveable. This was going to happen one way or another, he just hoped to do it legally.
Eventually they argued out a plan and the lawyers all signed off except for one. Miles Helsan had known Jeff since he'd been a five-year-old farm boy having been a Kansas man himself, and had always been impressed watching his rise to fame.
'Are you sure you want to go down this path, Jeff? If it ever gets out all hell could break loose.'
'That's fine by me, Miles. This is the way it's got to be.'
'Then you have my support. The documents will be at your hotel by 6am as requested along with a Marshal to see it happens. I wish you well in this endeavour, my friend.'
'Thank you Miles.'
One more important call to make. Jeff smiled to himself as his best friend's drawl came over the line. He filled him in on what had happened over the last two – was it only two? three? – days? - and as he thought he would Lee backed his every step.
'You sure this is the way?'
'It is the only way.'
'Well, we never did get anywhere easily.'
Jeff had barked out a laugh before they hung up and then helped himself to a whisky and settled for the night. He slept well and was up at 5am for a short jog in the gym before getting ready for the day.
Dead on 6am there was a knock on his door and he opened it to Miles and a smartly dressed man whose name he immediately forgot. They all shook hands before heading out to the children's home where the boy was.
The woman who answered the door was weathered and worn. She had taken one look at the trio before her, taken the paperwork from Miles' hands and ushered them in while she read. Her lips pursed and her nostrils flared, but she said nothing other than to order another member of staff to get Scott Evans and bring him here.
The child was wiping sleep out of his eyes and yawning as he approached. Miles did a double take and glanced at Jeff. There was no doubt in his mind that this was Jeff's boy, and suddenly he understood what Jeff was all about.
Scott, woken from an uneasy sleep, had done as he was told and dressed hurriedly. Once he recognised one of the men in front of him he took a quick step forward only to remember who he was and fall back and behind the woman who had fetched him.
Jeff, seeing the boy's reaction, inwardly smirked but schooled his features. He needed to be the right person now, and he took a breath before crouching down and beckoning Scott forward. The boy looked up to the woman and at her nod he moved forward until Jeff could put his hand on Scott's shoulder.
'Scott, do you remember what I said to you yesterday?'
'You said if I did what you asked you'd help Mommy get better.'
He ground his teeth at the boy's honesty but he hoped that the others hadn't noticed the words. Instead he smiled.
'Well, I'm happy to say it worked.'
'Mommy's awake?'
'Yes, Scott.'
Jeff wasn't prepared for the boy to fling himself at Jeff and hug him tight, his shirt getting wet evidence of tears, and he awkwardly patted him on the back. He allowed the hug for a beat but then gently disentangled Scott and stood up, holding the boy's hand tightly.
'Shall we go visit her?'
Eyes wide and shining Scott nodded and the three of them left. The boy in fact skipped along beside him, chattering away, but Jeff wasn't listening. The first part of his plan had happened without a hitch, but the next part was what he was looking forward to.
He took them all to the nearest McDonalds for breakfast. The boy still didn't stop talking, and he kept giving Jeff wide-eyed glances. Jeff knew what they were, he'd seen them before on people.
The wide-eyed stare of adoration. It never got old.
Timing the visit to the hospital was key. Lucy was awake when they arrived and Scott wasted no time running to see her. Lucy met his eyes and mouthed 'thank you' before turning her full attention to her son.
Leaving them to their privacy for a moment, Jeff stepped out just as that woman approached.
Brenda Holt was a very experienced social worker but she had never come across someone like Jeff Tracy. She hoped that what the Matron at the home had said was a mistake, but she could see there was no mistake.
'Mr Tracy! I cannot believe that you would go this far!'
'I have no idea what you mean.'
'If you pursue this you could destroy my career!'
Moving forward Jeff leaned close so that only the two of them would hear.
'That's fine by me.'
He ignored the gasp as he turned and entered the room again. Lucy and Scott were snuggled up together on the bed and he put on his best smile.
'How about we talk about our future then?'
A note to remind you to check out AO3 if you have an account there as there are a lot of fics in the Movement-verse that can only be found there.
