Chapter 5
Jesse no sooner got to Marks house and settled when Steve surprised him with a visitor.
"Dad," Jesse said with a smile when Dane walked into Mark's living room. Taking off his coat, he draped it over a chair before he sat down next to Jesse on the sofa.
"How you doing, son?" Dane asked after giving Jesse a hug.
"I'm okay," Jesse said with a nod. "Just some trouble with my equilibrium but it'll work itself out. I'm surprised to see you."
"Well, I would have been here sooner but Cinnamon and I were at a conference in Zurich so I didn't get the message from the Doc," he said with a nod toward Mark. "Until I got back in the states and I came straight here after I found out you got released from the hospital."
"You didn't have to come," Jesse said knowing how busy his dad was in the CIA. "I'm fine, really."
"Well of course I'm going to come," Dane said patting Jesse's leg. "You're my son and you were hurt. Pretty bad from the sound of it, I'm surprised your mother isn't here."
"Uh, yeah," Jesse said quietly. About that, mom is kinda mad at me right now."
"Oh," Dane asked looking at Jesse. "What happened?"
Jesse kept his head down as he played with the blanket on his lap. "There's something you should know about me, dad."
"What," Dane said leaning toward Jesse. "That you're a homosexual?"
Jesse looked up at his dad in surprise. "You knew?"
"Of course I know," Dane said getting to his feet and looking at Mark. "Just like the Doc here knew Steve was gay."
"I did," Mark said with a nod.
"You're my son, Jess," Dane said with a grin. "I know plenty," he said as Steve moved to sit down beside Jesse. "And, I know you two have been together for two years as well."
"How," Jesse asked calmly as Steve put an arm around his shoulders.
"There's a little thing called a background check," Dane said with a smile. "You don't honestly think I'm not going to check up on the people closest to you, do you?"
"Oh jeeze, dad," Jesse said with a sigh. "Why couldn't I have normal parents like the rest of the kids," he said with a groan.
"The rest of the kid's parents were normal?" Dane said with a smirk. "Back to your mother, I know she can be difficult sometimes Jess but she loves you."
"I know she does," Jesse said with a sigh as Steve squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Will she still love me when she finds out Steve and I are getting married."
Dane smiled as he looked at Jesse and Steve. "Sure she will," he said sitting on the other side of Jesse. "When is the wedding?"
"We're still in the planning stages," Steve said smiling. "But as soon as we set the date, we'll let you know."
"Terrific," Dane said with a nod. "Congratulations by the way."
"Thanks, dad," Jesse said leaning into Steve's chest.
"Well, I'm going," Dane said with a grin. "You look tired," he said squeezing Jesse's hand. "I'll be back in a few days, okay?"
"Anytime," Steve said with a nod as Dane got to his feet and grabbed his coat.
"Doc," he said with a smile at Mark. "Take care of my son."
"Oh we will," Mark said walking Dane to the door.
"You want to go downstairs?" Steve asked as Jesse nodded.
"I am tired," he said with a bit of emotion.
"What is it?" Steve asked as he gently pulled Jesse to his feet.
"I'm going to have to call my mom," he said worriedly.
"I know," Steve said putting an arm around Jesse's waist as they headed for Steve's apartment. "I'll be there when you do and so will dad."
Jesse only nodded as they reached the bedroom and he collapsed into the bed.
Steve covered him with a light blanket and kissed his cheek before returning to the kitchen where Mark was making coffee. "He's asleep," Steve said with a sigh as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "He wants to, no has to call his mom and he's worried."
"I know," Mark said shaking his head. "It must be awfully painful to not accept who your child really is."
"Just about as painful as it'll be for Jess," Steve said looking at his father. "Thank you for accepting me, dad."
"Oh, Steve," Mark said with a smile. "You don't ever have to thank me for that, you're my son."