Fix Me - Ch. 1 (Be The Father Of This Child! Side Story, Patreon Exclusive)

Author's note: Hi guys! As promised, I'm now starting the additional stories for Be The Father Of This Child! I decided to go with Tom's and Sid's story first, as it's something I've wanted to work on for a long time. Sometimes, having too many characters fighting in my head over who to be first to deserve my attention is pure torture. 

I hope you will like this story! It will be at least several chapters long and it will follow the budding relationship between the two dads. I will also try to touch all the important points regarding these characters, such as their relationships with their late wives, but it will be mostly through the viewfinder of what happens between the two of them. 

Please enjoy!  

Chapter One - A Little Bit Of Human Touch

Tom fought a stain on the countertop that seemed to have escaped the thorough cleaning he had overseed earlier that day. Hmm, it looked like it was part of the pattern and not an actual stain. The kids had done a pretty good job, after all. 

Jett would make his hair go all grey before time. How could he be with a boy, after having a kid with his girlfriend?

You know how.

Tom pushed away the honest voice inside his head. Honesty, unfortunately, had no place there, in that situation. God knew he had made plenty of mistakes in his life, and that meant that he needed to keep his son from making his.

The worst part was that he understood what Jett saw in that boy with the hippy name. He was the kind of boy Tom would have liked for himself some twenty-five years ago. But he had chosen to be a husband and a father, regardless of particular inclinations that he didn’t want to think about. He had been in love with Jett’s mother; he had desired her completely, and losing her had left him hollow. Yet, to his shame, that hadn’t nullified his secret desires, to which he succumbed once in a while. That only appeared to keep the fire stoked, instead of putting it out.

For years, he had tried to rationalize it. While his wife had been alive, he had never cheated on her. The first time he had had a sexual encounter of the kind – of any kind, actually, it had been four years after her passing away, and it had still felt like cheating.

After that, things had gotten a little easier. Since they were nothing but fleeting experiences, he could dismiss them as nothing but a need for sexual release and nothing more. Also, he didn’t have time for them, so they weren’t a lifestyle or an important change in his life. Or, at least, that was what he told himself over and over again to assuage the guilt.

And now Jett, with the impetus of youth on his side, was just saying loud and clear that he wanted to be with a boy. Tom shook his head. How the times had changed. If it hadn’t been for the baby, maybe Tom would have been convinced, after a while, that Jett was making the right choice.

But no, there was a baby involved now, and Jett had to assume responsibility, whether he liked it or not. 

A loud knock on the door startled him. He was getting too used to spending time in his head more often than not these days. Maybe he was growing old. And lonely.

“Who could be at this hour?” He mumbled under his breath as the knocking on the door repeated.

It looked like the kids didn’t think getting the door was their business. From the living room, some stupid TV show blared the fake laughter of an equally fake audience and the annoying voice of the moderator.

Tom pulled the door open so fast that it almost hit him in the face. He really needed to calm the fuck down a little.

“Yes?”

A man in his forties dressed casually in tan khaki pants, loafers, and a brown leather jacket stared at him from the door.

Tom’s first thought was how blue the man’s gaze was. The second one was more unsettling.

Attractive.

“Sid Summer,” the man introduced himself. He offered his hand, along with an honest look.

Tom hesitated for a moment, but he wasn’t one to leave a man hanging. He took Sid’s hand and shook it vigorously. Sid smiled even if Tom was sure his handshake wasn’t exactly friendly. “The boy’s dad?” he asked gruffly. There was no need for too many niceties.

Sid’s hand was firm and smooth. Tom frowned as their hands parted. That little bit of human touch wasn’t supposed to have any effect on him.

“I’m sorry to bother you so late, but do you think you have a minute?” Sid asked in a pleasant tone, his smile never fading.

It did occur to Tom that he didn’t introduce himself, as well, too busy with noticing Sid’s high cheekbones and beautifully drawn lips. That angered him a little. “I have a minute, and it’s already up.”

“Then, I’ll have to ask for one hour.” Sid didn’t appear bothered at all by his tone.

“One hour?”

“I was wondering if you could join me for a drink, Mr. Huntsman.”

“We could talk here.” It was annoying how much he wanted to say ‘yes’ to that invitation. His throat was parched, all of a sudden. But he didn’t need to let that show. If the boy’s dad was there, it had to be for a reason, and it didn’t look like that reason was Sid wanting to take his child home with him. Tom didn’t like it at all.

“Here, the children will have nothing better to do than to try to eavesdrop, as I bet they are doing right now.”

That was a good point. Without a word, for the sake of not letting Sid guess that he was eager to leave the house, Tom grabbed his denim jacket and almost jumped into his boots. He did everything with brusque moves just so that Sid would know, without one shadow of a doubt, that he didn’t like that idea at all.

All that remained was to put things in order before walking out the door. He marched into the living room, where the three misfits were pretending to be watching TV. “I will be out,” he said. “Don’t stay too late. Stop watching stupid shows on TV. That kid needs to be in bed already. You two, no mischief. I know you,” he pointed a finger at April, “have school tomorrow. Jett, you,” he added after a short moment of hesitation, “you have nothing to do, but you still need to wake up at six.”

That covered it. To make sure his words were taken at face value, he stared at the miscreants, one by one, for a few moments more. To his satisfaction, they all looked away. They probably hated him, but Tom wasn’t there to be liked. His role was to put an order in the chaos they had created. And it was all for their own good.

“Let’s go,” he said to Sid as he walked out the door.

“That’s my car,” Sid said as he pointed at his vehicle, a station wagon that must have seen better days.

Tom frowned. The guy had said they would go out for drinks. Did he intend to drive how, after that? “You’re not supposed to drink and drive.”

To his surprise, Sid laughed. “I’m not one of the kids, Mr. Huntsman. I know as much.”

“Tom.” 

Shit. He was supposed to keep the distance between him and that blue-eyed man. There were people in the world who were simply attractive, and Sid was one of them. Mary, his late wife, had also been like that. Like a tiny ray of sun had been snatched at her birth and hidden in her eyes.

“Well, Tom, I haven’t drunken anything yet. Scout’s honor. But I’m seriously in need of a drink. I booked a room for the night at a local motel, and there’s a bar nearby. Is that okay?”

“Why did you book a room?” He climbed in front, next to Sid, who put the engine into gear.

“I have a feeling our conversation will be a long one. I also need a drink, as I told you, and I can always drive back to mine in the morning, after allowing the said drink to leave my system.”

“You have an answer to everything.” Tom didn’t want to sound as morose as his voice seemed to his own ears. Yet, the too pleasant feeling coiling in the pit of his stomach whenever he looked at Sid was making him wary. 

“That’s exactly what my boy says, too. I suppose it’s annoying. But parents are bound to be annoying.”

Tom chuckled and shook his head. “You can say that again.”

Wait, he wasn’t supposed to feel at ease in the company of April’s dad. Because Sid was April’s dad and that meant that Tom had to keep that in mind, no matter how much he wanted to stare in those blue eyes and check them from up close.

“So, did my April give you any grief?”

Tom considered his next words carefully. On one side, he had little Jay and his best interest at heart. On the other, there was no need to insult Sid. “No. He’s well behaved.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Sid said as he navigated the streets that seemed already deserted at that hour. 

Silence followed. Tom wanted the conversation to be over already, but Sid seemed serious about that drink. At the same time, he wanted to spend a little more time in Sid’s company.

“The boys,” he started, “they are young. They don’t know what they want.”

“Hmm. Don’t they?”

Tom felt a bit disconcerted by that question. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

A short chuckle followed. “I’m not your enemy, Tom. I’m sure we can find some common ground. But let’s not discuss such serious stuff without some drinks in front of us. What do you say?”

Tom shrugged. “Fine by me.” He was willing to indulge Sid if only because he wanted to be close to another person his age a little longer. Terrorizing a bunch of young people with their heads up in the clouds was hard work. For tonight, he would allow himself a breather. Plus, he could also hope for a resolution to the situation regarding April. He would do his best to convince Sid that Jett wasn’t a good choice for his son.

He shifted in his place. He couldn’t believe he was a tad nervous. To fill the silence, he reached for the radio, although it wasn’t his car, and it struck him too late that it was an impolite thing to do.

His fingers met Sid’s. 

“Maybe some music --”

Tom withdrew his hand like it had been scalded in hot water. 

Sid laughed. “Sorry about that. I just find long silences uncomfortable.”

“Well, you were the one to say that we should postpone talking until we have a drink in hand,” Tom replied, a bit irritated.

Sid threw him a sidelong glance. “Don’t tell me you also find long silences uncomfortable.”

Tom scoffed and pretended to look out the window. Not that there was anything interesting to see; only houses and houses again. He needed to avoid looking at Sid too much. There was no wonder April was so pretty; even if he didn’t look like his dad, as far as his facial features went, he was lean and tall like Sid. Tom could guess a slender body in perfect shape under the brown leather jacket and khaki pants. Why on earth was he thinking about how Sid looked without clothes on? He needed to stop and stop right now.

Music filled the car. It was some jazz tune, happy and sad at the same time. 

“Is this all right? If you prefer something else --”

“It’s okay,” Tom said abruptly and stared stubbornly out the window.

At least, they were no longer riding in uncomfortable silence, and, in a way, it was worse. Now, Tom could focus on the smallest details, like the smell of Sid’s cologne, something like wood and earth that made him feel longing squeezing his chest 

“How come your wife let you out of the house at this hour?” He found himself talking.

There was a short pause. “My wife passed away seven years ago.”

Talking about strange coincidences. “I see,” Tom replied. “Mine, as well.”

Sid didn’t add anything. None of them said ‘sorry’ or any other platitude, and it was better like this. 

“We’re here.” Sid pulled the car in the motel’s parking lot.

Tom said nothing and climbed out of the car. He followed Sid as they walked toward the small bar that was located on the grounds. Tom could only hope they had a drink as stiff as he needed right now. His throat felt parched again.

***

“You also prefer it neat,” Tom said, pointing at Sid’s glass. “So, you don’t aim for a long conversation, after all.”

Sid smiled again. Tom’s chest squeezed again. If his kid was half the charmer Sid was, it was no wonder Jett was all head over heels. “One can only hope. And we can always switch to some sparkling water.”

“Sparkling water? What’s that?” Tom asked with a grin.

Sid laughed, and it wasn’t right that the sound of something that everyone did and was of basic human nature could feel so soothing in his ear. “It was a mere suggestion. Now, Tom, can you please tell me how do you feel about Jett and April? Your honest opinion, if you please.”

Tom stretched his back. It wasn’t that the ride there had been uncomfortable or anything, but the seats in that bar were quite cozy. And he hadn’t relaxed in a while. “Jett has a baby.”

“Little Jay. I’m well aware. He was a bit of my patient not so long ago.”

“Patient? Are you a doctor?”

“I’m a nurse.”

Tom nodded. “What was wrong with him? He looks healthy to me, but these kids --”

“Just an unpleasant case of growing teeth. April and Jett were scared out of their wits.” Another chuckle followed, but now Tom could blame the warmth in his chest on the booze, and not on the way Sid laughed.

“Were they? They look like an irresponsible bunch to me.”

“I beg to differ,” Sid said politely. “For their age and lack of experience, they certainly did well. And they do well, as we speak.”

“You’re the trusting kind. I’m not.”

“It’s all right. Trust can be learned.” Sid leaned slightly and stared him in the eye as he said that.

Tom straightened up in his seat. For a fraction of a second, he saw himself meeting Sid half-way over the table.

Get a grip, Huntsman. This isn’t about getting laid.

Maybe he needed that, and it was too damned bad April’s dad had to appear so attractive in his eyes. On normal days, Tom would have probably found him barely worth a second glance. 

What was he thinking? Sid was a handsome man, especially for his age. And you didn’t see eyes that blue that often. If he looked a bit closer, he could observe small silver speckles. Sid wasn’t just handsome. He was striking.

“Look, Tom,” Sid said with a sigh, “I really want to find common ground with you. But don’t think, for a moment, that your icy stare could intimidate me. I’m a bit older than April and Jett.”

Tom frowned. That was a common misconception about him, one he hadn’t cared to correct over the years. People always thought he was out for blood when all he did was think everything through. 

Also, that wasn’t why he stared at Sid. If only the man knew. Tom shrugged away a small shiver; for his usual encounters, he never ran in blind. There were places where he could pick up men, and this wasn’t one of them. 

Sid tapped the table with his fingers, and Tom stared at his left hand. “You still wear your wedding ring.”

Sid appeared surprised as he looked at his hand. “Well, it does come in handy when I have to fight off unwanted advances from the ladies. Unfortunately, it has worked a bit too well.”

It was a joke, but one that Tom could glean from that Sid was very much straight and not at all aware or interesting in another guy’s thoughts about him. Thoughts that included staring at those blue eyes from up close and seeing their owner without any clothes on.

“Have you ever thought about remarrying?” he asked directly.

“I’ve been a bit too busy with raising the children to give it actual thought. But, well, I must admit that after April left home this fall, things have been a little bit too quiet around the house. It’s strange to wish for someone to call you from the other room to ask you where his favorite socks are, isn’t it?” Sid shook his head in mirth. “I suppose it will take some getting used to, being completely on my own, I mean. As a grownup, you would think I know how to handle – What am I doing? I’m talking too much. And I’m here to talk to you about you.”

Tom wasn’t great at talking, and he couldn’t figure out what Sid’s angle was. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything you want to tell me. I heard from April that you’re an army major.”

“Yes.”

A short silence followed. 

“Well? Care to share some war stories?” 

Sid’s eyes shone, even in the dim light, and it must have been the booze, or the strangeness of the situation because Tom found himself talking. And talking. And talking.

***

“Another?” Sid shook his empty glass.

Tom didn’t answer and just waved for the waiter to come over. It was funny how much he could talk once he started. And Sid was a great listener. Or he hadn’t drunken like that in a while, meaning that he hadn’t had that sort of pleasant company in a long time.

“Sid, I’m going to tell you this straight,” he said after they had their refill. “I can’t allow Jett to be with April.”

“Why not?” Sid’s voice was sincere. “Give me one good reason.”

“The baby.”

“What about him?”

“Do you want him to live without his mom?”

“Why would he do that? I don’t know the details, but I suppose that Jett wouldn’t keep Carina away from the child’s life or fight over him. Also, I think they could both look after him just fine.”

“How?” Tom felt his frustration growing. Did everyone today think life was easy? It was expected from young people like Jett and April, but not from a grownup like the one sitting across from him.

Sitting across from him and looking too good in his pale yellow casual shirt, with his sleeves rolled up, showing sinewy forearms, and bony wrists that, for some reason, fascinated Tom as Sid moved his hands to emphasize his words. 

A short vision of his own massive hands keeping those bony wrists down and pressed against a bed made him shake his head in horror. Something was very wrong with him. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to go drinking with a man he found attractive for no other reason than that he hadn’t gotten laid in months. 

“There are many possibilities, but it all depends on what they want,” Sid replied, completely unaware of the effect he had on Tom. “Carina could live under the same roof. Or she could live somewhere else, and Jett would just have to visit. The kid won’t suffer.”

“How can you tell? Have your kids been happy without their mom? Kids need both parents!” Tom cursed under his breath as he saw Sid’s face changing. That was a hit below the belt, and he knew it. Now he couldn’t take it back. At least, that would cause a large enough chasm between them so that he could finally push away the improper thoughts he had had all evening about Sid.

“You’re projecting,” Sid said in a stern voice. “This has nothing to do with what happened to your wife.”

“Don’t tell me that,” Tom said through his teeth. “You have no idea --”

“I have every idea, Tom.” For some reason, Sid’s tone brooked no contradiction. “Jett likes April very much. And I know, for a fact, that my son loves your son.”

“What do they know? They’re twenty!”

“And they have a right to make their own choices. They’re not kids anymore, whether we like it or not.”

Tom pursed his lips. Sid was driving him mad with his argumentation. Did he really have an answer to everything? “Well, they would make a mistake if they remained together, ignoring the needs of that baby.”

“They’re entitled to their own mistakes, as well. If that’s the case, it will be up to them to correct them. Tom, we can’t live through our children and prevent all harm from coming to them.”

“Ah, so you’re completely passive. That’s your answer to everything!”

Sid appeared taken aback for a moment. Then he linked his fingers in front of him on the table. Tom looked again at the bony wrists. They were strong and delicate at the same time. Tom wanted nothing but to wrap his fingers around them and test their strength. “No. I didn’t say that. But if we try to control our kids – and trust me, we cannot – they will only grow to hate us, and then they won’t listen to any advice, no matter how good.”

Tom sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “You wanted my opinion on this, and now you got it.”

“And you must listen to mine. It’s only fair. Jett and April are good for each other, trust me.” There was a short moment of hesitation that wasn’t lost on Tom. Maybe Sid had second thoughts, but he was just a stubborn mule.

“What can I say? How is that good for Jay, huh?”

Sid frowned, and it had to be for the first time that evening that his face clouded like that. “Do you have something against your son being gay? Or worse, mine?”

“Jett is not gay,” Tom said sternly.

“Yes, forgive me, please. Bisexual. You just riled me up for a moment.”

“Really? I thought you were a mountain of Zen or something,” Tom said, munching on each word and spitting it out.

For a moment, Sid stopped and blinked. And then he started laughing. “A mountain of Zen? I’m hardly anything remotely similar.”

“Oh, yeah? You’ve been sitting there all evening preaching at me, and cornering me, and --”

“Preaching? When have I done that?”

“Just now!”

“That’s hardly all evening. If anything, it’s but a speck in an ocean of moments --”

“You’re so annoying; you make me want to strangle you!” Tom realized too late what he was saying. Strangling wasn’t exactly part of what he wanted to do to Sid, although maybe the obnoxious ass deserved it a little. “Sorry, that was out of line.”

“No problem. It’s not an easy thing what you’re going through.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Oh, yeah?” Sid mimicked him and cocked his head to one side, watching Tom across the table.

Tom frowned, but then he felt like laughing, too. He stopped in time; there was no need for Sid to know that he could get at him so quickly. Not many people dared to stand up to him like that. And when they did, Tom was sure to make a battle out of it. The only thing was that he didn’t see himself going to war with Sid. He saw himself going to bed with him, and that was a stupid thought that he needed to push away for good. With all his might, he fought to hide his real feelings, and he could feel his face hurting from frowning too much.

“Tom, I don’t want my son to be exposed to some homophobic bastard,” Sid said, this time the laughter gone from his voice.

“What homophobic bastard? Oh, do you mean me?” Tom pointed at himself, in utter shock. He just didn’t want Jett to make a mistake; he wasn’t a homophobe! If Sid only knew what kind of thoughts had been tortured him all evening, he would take everything back. But that wouldn’t happen.

“Yes. If you are, don’t worry, I’m not on a mission to change you or fix you. You’re a bit too old for that, and I don’t run a charity. But you can give it to me straight, and I’ll take April home with me tonight.”

Tom stopped. There was a way out. He could just tell a lie, and Jett would be left alone by his pretty boyfriend, at least for a while. And that was maybe enough for Jett to reconsider everything and think more of his child and his girlfriend. 

But he couldn’t, in good conscience, live with that lie. “I’m not.” He had said the words softly. If he opened his mouth again, he would end up spilling not so little truths. It was safer just to shut the hell up.

“I don’t believe you.” Sid was frowning again. “I think you’re a bit of a hypocrite. You’re clearly trying to rein in whatever you’re feeling right now. I can hear your teeth grinding from here.”

That was true. But it wasn’t what Sid thought it was. 

“I’m going to call an Uber, and I’ll go get my son. He won’t spend one more moment under your roof. Unlike you, I care more about my son being safe from others than from making his own mistakes. But that’s a lesson I’m not going to give you.”

Sid threw some bills on the table and got up. Tom stood there in stunned silence. “Wait.”

Sid didn’t look back and walked out. Tom counted the bills on the table to see if Sid only paid for his part. Damn, his mind didn’t work right and couldn’t do basic math. With a frustrated groan, he threw some money on the table, too.

The waiter seemed to have witnessed everything and hurried to the table. “Shout after me if this doesn’t cover everything,” Tom gestured at the cash and jumped to his feet. 

The waiter nodded and took the bills.

“Sir!”

Tom was at the door already, and he turned toward the waiter with a growl. “Ah, damn it. How much do I owe you?”

“It’s too much,” the waiter waved the bills. 

Since they had been the only customers in the bar for the last half an hour, there were no other customers to witness all that.

“Just keep it,” Tom shouted and walked out the door.

Sid was in the parking lot, fiddling with his phone. Tom hurried to him and caught his arm. “I’m not a homophobe. I can prove it.”

Sid looked at him like he had horns on his head. “Please let go. And I don’t see how you can prove --”

Fuck consequences. Tom grabbed Sid and kissed him. The sound of the phone hitting the ground made them both jump away from one another. 

“Ah, damn,” Sid said and picked up his phone. Then he turned toward Tom. He was blinking hard. 

Tom could feel Sid’s lips on his like they were still kissing.

“What was that all about?” Sid seemed genuinely surprised. “Tom? All right, maybe you drank too much and --”

“No. I’ve been thinking of this all evening.” Not exactly a kiss, but some things much riskier, but Tom didn’t want to scare Sid. 

Sid appeared nonplussed. “Oh, yeah?” he mumbled, mimicking Tom’s voice from before.

“Yeah.” Tom grabbed Sid again.

And then, the most astonishing thing happened. Sid kissed him back.

TBC

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