After Vic's excited outburst it was only a few minutes later when they'd entered the house. Q had disappeared by then and Ted and Vic had been ushered upstairs for a much needed bath.
"You first. You stink. All that running in a forest makes you smell weird Ted."
"It's only been a day!" Ted protested but he left for the bathroom first anyways.
By the time he got out it was almost bed time and Ted frowned. Where was he supposed to sleep?
He wandered around aimlessly for a bit before finding his way to Q's room and pushed the door open expecting Q and Helena curled up on the bed once again.
Instead he stopped short.
He'd totally forgotten that they'd moved his father up here when they left.
He visually traced the wires and the tubes, involuntarily shuddering as he watched the blood drip down the IV and disappearing into his father's arm.
He watched the heart monitor placed rather precariously on the nightstand and the breathing machine sitting on a stool before it. The heart monitor was making soothing beeping noises and Ted found took mild interest in it as the lines moved up and down along the matrix.
It all look rather cramped and it probably didn't help that the bed was placed in the corner of the room so that there was almost no place to place the IV stands and the machines.
Ted should leave. He could hear Vic finishing up his shower. No doubt in a few minutes he would be found and dragged out of the room anyways.
Nevertheless Ted idled by the door observing his father's state.
He looked rather peaceful at least. Much better than last night by what Teddy saw. The doctors had managed to wrestle his father into a pair of baggy pajamas leaving the shirt unbuttoned so that the heart sensors would be left free. Remus' forearm and torso were bandaged in soft gauze. A blanket hung low around his waist and the breathing mask was still in place sitting almost delicately on his face.
Suddenly the heart monitor's constant beeps jolted and Ted jumped slightly as his father shifted before giving a quiet moan.
"Dad?" Ted whispered.
Remus' brows furrowed as he struggled to awaken from drug-induced sleep.
"Dad?" Ted asked again, walking towards the bed a bit debating whether or not to grab his father's arm.
He watched his father lift his hand to rub at his eyes, frowning slightly at the resistance that the wires and needles gave him.
"Ted?" Remus rasped, blinking a few times to clear his vision and Teddy's heart gave a happy flip of relief.
"Yeah it's me. Are you OK?" Ted asked a bit nervously.
"Mmm. Been better," his father mumbled. His voice sounded warped by the breathing mask and he absently traced the smooth plastic with his other hand.
"You shouldn't play with that," Ted mumbled and Remus raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. Normally it was the parents giving such orders to their kids. Not the other way around.
"You sure you're alright? Do you want anything?" Teddy asked again and Remus frowned ever so slightly.
"No need…..to worry," he mumbled.
Ted looked down at his shoes, "I worry anyways."
"Why?"
Ted suddenly had the urge to cry but his twelve year old mind told him that that would be childish.
"Because it's all my fault," he whispered ever so quietly before he ran out of the room.
"Ted," Remus shouted only it was more of a croak. He let loose a string of curses inside his head. He could barely lift his arm yet alone go running after his son.
"….Vic? I know you're there," Remus rasped and low and behold Vic Sage poked his head into the room a bit sheepishly.
"How long've you been….standing there?"
"A while now. I finished my bath and saw Ted but he was talking to you so I waited….Ran right past me," Vic sad with a nervous grin as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"Can you bring mm back?" Remus slurred and Vic gave a determined nod before running out the door.
After running out the room Ted was left with a loss at what to do.
He should find Q. Maybe he could ask him where he was supposed to sleep for the night.
Wandering the house aimlessly proved not as beneficial as expected.
"This place is huge," Ted grumbled.
He'd just neared the kitchen when he noticed the sliding back door was open.
"There he is!"
"For the son and brother of doctors you're not very smart are you?"
Ted paused. As he got closer he realized that it wasn't just Q. Helena was standing above him. Staring down at her husband with a frown and hands on her hips. Said husband was lying on his back, legs dangling off the edge of the patio and hands behind his head as he stared up at the stars…or rather his scolding wife's face.
"You can get lung cancer from that shit," Helena continued and Ted, upon closer inspection realized Q had a cigarette clasped firmly in his mouth.
"I can also get pancreatic cancer, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, strokes, heart attacks, peripheral vascular disease…."
"Alright alright," Helena said with a sigh, "I can get lung cancer from that shit."
Q spat out the cigarette and snuffed it out on the patio.
"Better?"
"No."
"You smoked too."
"I stopped when I became a teacher."
"Only been a few years."
"It's been five Q!"
"Five's not much."
"It is when you've only been around for 29."
"It's not when you've been around for 31."
"You're only a year older than me."
"Right now I'm not."
"Well in a week you will be."
"Now you're changing the subject."
Helena opened her mouth a few times before giving a growl and sitting down, poking her husband in the chest as she did so.
"You're a smug git when you want to be you know that?"
"I know everything."
"See? Smug git."
"Hmm."
Ted would have laughed but he didn't think this was an appropriate time. He watched as Helena, despite her annoyance at her husband, shifted closer and Q wrapped and arm around her waist.
They were silent for a while before Helena sighed again and lay down at an angle so that her head was pillowed by Q's stomach.
"It's too quiet," she whispered. "Tell me what you know."
There was a pause as Q seemed to organize his thoughts.
"What do you want to know?" he mumbled.
"Everything."
"War," Q started, "Pearl Harbour attack was not a surprise attack. US president Roosevelt told the US Department of State to keep it quiet. Knew that the attack would increase the US to enter World War II. Adolf Hitler never committed suicide. Soviets never found body. He lived in Spain before dying of old age. US bombing of China embass-"
"Too depressing." Helena interrupted and Q paused again before going on. Apparently this was an accustomed position for the couple.
"States. Really is a magic bullet. Forged by Illuminati mystics to hide the truth. Girl Scouts are the cause of the crop circle phenomenon. Russia. Fluoridated toothpaste does not prevent tooth decay. Instead renders user's teeth detectable to spy satellites. France. Government is brainwashing people through secret messages coded in amino acid chains in low-carb cereal bars. Canada. Increasing popularity of instant messaging sites leads to an increase of page views about lesbian, Hungarian prostitutes. Korea. Ominous link between boy bands and global warming. Japan. Aglets are- mpfh!"
Teddy quickly turned away as Helena moved in a blur to catch her husband's lips, effectively stopping him from talking.
When they'd separated Ted could hear Helena's teasing tone.
"You're getting weirder."
There was a pause and Ted spared a glimpse at the couple only to find Helena sitting on Q's stomach grinning down at him seductively.
Ted quickly turned back around.
"What else do you know?" Ted heard her ask.
"Hormones…." Q mumbled. "Released into the bloodstream…releases dopamine, norepinephrine and phenylethylamine. Can heighten attention, short term memory, sleeplessness, goal- oriented behavious..." Ted heard Q trail off before a weak admittance of, "Helena…I can't think like this,"
Helena laughed.
"You want me to get off?"
"No."
"Does your family know you're a closet pervert?"
"No."
"You don't deny it?"
"Not with you sitting on me like this."
"You think too much Q."
"So I've been told."
"I can make you stop."
Ted turned beet red and made a hasty exit only to trip over his own feet and make a face plant with the floor. For a second he didn't dare move, afraid that he'd been spotted but the couple outside seemed oblivious.
"Not here," Q muttered.
"Why not?"
"We're on my dad's back patio…" Q reminded his wife gently and there was a pause.
"…..You're 31…and you legally still live with your father…"
There was another silence. Ted remained silent
"….So?" came Q's reply shortly later.
"That's pathetic."
Ted muffled a snort as Q made an offended sound in what sounded like the back of his throat.
"There's always your apartment and when I'm abroad…."
"Yes but legally your home address is listed here."
"I can change it."
"Why don't you then?"
"Because then they'd get suspicious. They don't know I have a job. If I moved out they'd wonder where I'm getting the money from."
"I always said you could move in."
"Too far from work though."
Ted heard Helena sigh, "I think you should tell them," she insisted.
This time it was Q to sigh, "I'm the second child that didn't amount to anything in life so I live with my father because I have no job and no money. Fits. Don't need to get angry."
"No it doesn't fit. He just auctioned off your room for crying out loud."
"Lupin needs it and I don't sleep."
"Plus he tells you to do all this stuff when you've got your own work to deal with."
"I don't mind."
"And he insults you and glares at you every time he sees you."
"It's expected."
"And he always tells Myra 'don't be a useless pylon like your brother'. Doesn't that bother you?"
"Should it?"
"For a man who knows everything you're a real moron Q."
"Mrrm."
"You know. I loved my father. I told him so every day and I told my friends it too. Even if I was fifteen I'd still sleep with him if I wanted comfort and I always told him everything. When he died it was the saddest day of my life. I stayed home from school for two weeks and I sat by his grave talking about the most random things like he was still there."
"….Helena?" Q asked but Helena ignored him
"I like to think telling my father about me makes him happy. I like to think that he liked it when I said 'I love you' and when I lay next to him even when I was considered too old for such things. Even now I like to think that I always have his support and love and that he's always with me dead or alive."
"…you want me to sleep with my dad?" Q asked in total confusion and Helena sighed.
"No you retard. I want you to tell him the truth about you."
"This never bothered you before."
"Yes but I've never stayed so long with him and you in the same house before."
"….Your dad and my dad are different…."
"You don't get it Q!" Helena shouted, "All dads are the same somewhere. They all love their children if their children show they love them back."
"….Doubt it."
Ted heard Helena gave a mix of a sigh and a growl. No doubt she knew just as well as he did that she wasn't going to win this argument any time soon.
Nevertheless he took that as his cue to leave as he slowly and quietly raised himself off the floor and ran back into the house. He'd spied enough as it was.
"Your dad wants to see you," Vic said, staring down at Ted who was reading a book on the living room couch.
"Why?" Ted asked, closing his book with a curious expression?
"What do you mean why? You practically ran out of his room like the devil was after you!" Vic replied. "Your dad's probably worried. Hell I'd be."
"He shouldn't worry," Ted mumbled feebly.
"Exactly so you get your ass up there and tell him what's wrong."
"What do I say?"
Vic shrugged, "I dunno. Like I said, tell him what's wrong."
"But then he'll think it's all my fault."
Vic paused and turned this information around in his head for a bit. Suddenly his eyes brightened as if a light bulb had gone off.
"No he won't," Vic said with a sigh as he realized what his friend was talking about, "have a little faith. He's your dad. He'd love you no matter what."
"But-" Ted started but Vic shook his head stubbornly.
"No buts. Get your ass up there and cry to him and tell him you love him and that you're actually happy he's alright and all that father son shit before you come back to me with your 'but's."
Ted opened and closed his mouth a few times before he found himself dragged to his feet and pushed and shoved out the living room door.
"And don't come back," Vic said with a nod as he shut the door behind him.
Ted stared at the closed door for a beat before giving it a small smile and running up the steps of the house.
"Thanks Vic."
The room hadn't changed when he'd left it under an hour ago. His father had dozed back off but he was still in roughly the same position as before.
"Dad?" Ted whispered, nudging his father's shoulder gently.
Remus' eyes opened sluggishly at first only for him to rapidly blink them open as he saw Ted standing over him.
"Ted?" he mumbled, still drugged and half asleep.
"I'm sorry," Ted blurted out, "I wasn't avoiding you. I love you and I'm happy you're OK. Really. It's just that. I'm….afraid…"
Remus raised an eyebrow and Ted looked down at his shoes.
"It's my fault."
"Why…would it be….your fault?" Remus rasped and Ted hunched his shoulders.
"Because. Harry gave me his invisibility cloak during the summer and those men were after that. That's the only thing that was missing in the house."
There was a short silence and Ted gulped. No doubt his father must be mad but his drugged up state meant that he couldn't react to the anger.
Suddenly, there was a dry laugh and Ted jumped. His dad was smiling rather weakly at him.
"Poisoned in your first year. Shot in your second….. Keep this up and I won't be around….to..to see you graduate Ted," Remus managed to choke out before giving several coughs.
Ted stared silently at his father, humiliation slowly seeping in but Remus reacted before his son could make another run for it.
"Come here," he rasped, patting the bed beside him feebly.
Ted went right up to him but then paused.
"You sure?"
"Mmm. Won't break Ted," his father reminded him and carefully Ted clambered onto the bed managing to effectively wedge himself between his father and the wall on the other side.
"You're not mad?" Ted asked as his father absently stroked his hair.
"No. Why would…I be?"
"Because-"
"Because Harry gave you something…..that he thought was for….a good cause and some people suddenly decided…..to steal it?" Remus had to pause to take a few breaths before continuing, "Or was it because you….you opened the door for them….in the first place?"
Ted stayed silent but he nodded slightly, pressing him against his father a bit more.
"Not your fault Ted."
"It feels like it," Teddy mumbled, "What do you feel?"
"Happy."
"What?" Ted asked, looking up to see his father's face as if he was insane.
"Mmm. Happy….you weren't hurt. That's my….biggest fear Ted," Remus mumbled, eyes falling to half slits as he slowly let himself fall back asleep.
Ted stared at his father for a while before lying back down feeling somewhat happier than before.
He liked this. His father's hand still lay on his shoulder, comforting and supportive like it had always been. He might be a bit old for this sleeping with your dad thing but that was OK. His mind briefly filtered back to what Helena had said mere moments before:
I like to think telling my father about me makes him happy. I like to think that he liked it when I said 'I love you' and when I lay next to him even when I was considered too old for such things.
"I love you dad," Ted whispered but he didn't think his father had heard him for by the time he looked back up he was fast asleep.
Ted smiled none the less and got himself comfortable. He lay awake for quite some time. Listening to his father's breathing and the heart monitor. It was soothing and Ted didn't want it to go any time soon.
After a while Ted noticed a shadow by the door and he looked up.
Q stood in the doorway. An IV bag in one hand and his laptop in another.
He noticed Ted and Ted could see he was fighting against a raised eyebrow.
"You think I'm too old for this," Ted accused instantly and Q nodded before moving to change the IV.
"But it doesn't bother you," Q replied neutrally and this time it was Ted's turn to nod before lying back down again.
Q said nothing more as he finished replacing the bags and crossed the small room to sit on his desk, back leaning against the same wall the headboard of the bed was placed.
Ted didn't really think it was proper to kick the man from his own room. At least he was facing the other side.
"Night Q," Ted mumbled as he muffled a yawn.
Q gave a nod as he opened up his laptop but Ted noticed the brief flicker of green eyes at the father and son on the bed. The look resembled a bit of neutrality towards the situation but deep within Ted saw a young boy that desperate needed to know why.
"Helena's right. You don't get it Q," Ted thought to the man staring stubbornly at the laptop by now, "You think you know everything but you can't understand why a child would want to sleep with his father. You go off and do things your way without any support or comfort from your dad and here I am lying here like my dad's my anchor. It bothers you, not knowing. Deep down you're jealous but you can't figure out why. Your brain says it's hormones but you're trying to explain something that isn't possible. I don't know everything. But I do know that you don't get it because you don't love your father."
Ted frowned to himself as he drifted off.
"And you know that he'll never love you."
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. This school semester is way too hectic.
I have no clue what the chapter titles are supposed to be. Expect them changed when I think of something better. Title of this chapter is from Pat Benetar's song in case people were wondering :P
And so far if people haven't noticed I'm having characters from all sorts of different family backgrounds. Teddy's the "perfect kid" where his parents would love him no matter what. Roy and Vic are the "dream kids" who don't have parents to tell them what to do and a free to do whatever they want really. Q is the "reality kid" where you're brought up with these great expectations by your parents and you can't or even won't follow them. I'll be adding two, maybe three more kids along the way.
PS: Q's conspiracy theories in the middle are half from history class, half from comic books and one or two I made up myself.
Reviews appreciated!
