Chapter Text
“Baby your radio is on,” Daniel murmurs softly and he can feel his husband's hands on his back as he grumbles and pulls a pillow over his head. “Johnny-“ Daniel starts again but he ignores it just the same.
Suddenly a pillow hits his head and when he rolls over to complain, to tell Daniel that it is a weekend and he doesn’t work on weekends the blinds are opened and sunlight floods the room.
“Get out of bed John!” Daniel mock screams in his face as he scowls and finally sits up “it is a weekend- I do not work on weekends.”
He’s ready to roll over and go back to sleep when Daniel thrusts the radio and his uniform into his hands “except in emergencies,” his husband insists like there’s any chance he’s leaving when Daniel is wearing sweats and his police t-shirt with a oatmeal colored cardigan that hangs past his fingertips and a mug of tea in is hand.
He’s beautiful, it would be the perfect image to wake up to in the morning if he wasn’t also glaring.
The radio crackles again next to his head and he can hear Tommy’s voice saying something about a kid and he needs to come in. Groaning he reaches for the little black box and hisses “it’s my day off,” into it like he isn’t already out of bed pulling on the uniform.
“Yeah I’m aware of that chief but we’ve got a kid in here who won’t talk to any of us and we need some help-“ he tunes out whatever it is Tommy’s said and snaps the belt around his waist while dragging Daniel into a frustrated kiss, biting his lower lip.
His husband moans into it slightly before pushing him away and slapping his ass “Go save some lives chief, I’ll be here when you’re back.”
The brief embrace does nothing for his frustration and he just grumbles in response and pulls on his boots.
He makes sure to stomp down the hallway so Daniel is sure to know how displeased he is at the way this Saturday is going. He doesn’t care that he already gets made fun of for acting like a kid, might as well prove Daniel right.
It’s not a long drive to the station and he’s still a little bitter but he thinks he’s hiding it better at least when Tommy comes up to him with visible desperation down in every line of his body.
“Oh thank fuck you’re here Johnny this kid hasn’t said a word to any of us and now suddenly he’s having some kind of tantrum-“
The words trigger something in him, a sort of sick dread that’s heavy in his stomach- it’s not possible but the similarities are enough to make him nauseous. He pushes past Tommy and opens the door though it feels like he’s walked into a wall of bricks instead.
Robby’s sitting there in one of the crappy plastic chairs with his knees drawn up to his chest and hands over his ears rocking frantically back and forth as tears stream down his face.
He’s making little distressed noises and tugging at his hair, so basically it’s a fucking mess and it’s his fault because he’d thought Tommy was exaggerating and he’d been busy bitching to Daniel while his fucking kid was here-
“Turn off all the sirens outside, I don’t give a shit if they’re testing them and tell the guys to quiet down and stay out of this room.” He orders roughly as Tommy gapes at him “I don’t think that’s protocol-“ he starts nervously but shuts his mouth as soon as he sees Johnny's face.
“Grab ear protectors if you can find some and my heavy jacket- and tell the guys to quiet the fuck down.” He knows Tommy’s not afraid of him but he flinches at the change in his tone and nods in surprise before scrambling out of the room.
Quickly he turns the lights off and pulls his uniform shirt off, balling it up and stuffing it between Robby’s head and the wall as carefully as he can.
To be perfectly honest he has no clue what he’s doing, Shannon and him had a huge fight two months ago about Robby’s diagnosis when he’d finally been caught up to speed (five months after he’d actually been diagnosed.)
As usual Shannon had been blaming him for not contributing to Robby’s life despite intentionally keeping the situation from him until she needed money.
It’s infuriating and the fact that she’d refused to send Robby four weeks in a row has been stressing him out more than he could’ve imagined.
Still in that time he’d been able to cram a decent amount of information about autism into his head, enough to know he doesn’t approve of Shannon continuing to send Robby to ABA therapy which is the reason he’d refused to send her the check in the first place.
Enough to know to turn the lights off and keep his hands to himself which feels like nothing with his son four feet away crying and in pain.
It’s a solid fifteen minutes before he starts calming down and his hands are still fluttering nervously at his sides when his green eyes crack open.
“Hey kiddo,” he says softly “it’s okay if you can’t talk but nod if I can come over there and give you a hug.” The response he gets is so violent he’s afraid the kid will hurt his neck, still he can’t focus on it when his son's small arms wrap around his torso.
It’s always a bit of a gamble with Robby, sometimes he’s the cuddliest person alive and sometimes he’ll flinch if someone brushes against him so he’s taken to asking to avoid any more traumatic situations.
He’s never been this glad he said yes.
Robby’s grip is much too tight, enough to be uncomfortable but he doesn’t care, just squeezes his tiny son against his chest and bounces him softly the way he used to when he was just a baby.
“Aww sweetie what are you doing here?” He coos softly, hand combing through Robby’s hair as his tiny hands press against Johnny’s strong back. The kid feels like he weighs less and he still hasn’t stopped shaking, if anything he’s crying more than before- breathy little sobs falling from his mouth as Johnny presses kisses to his head.
It’s then that Tommy and the other guys open the door with his jacket held in one hand and a shocked expression that would have him laughing hysterically under literally any other circumstance.
“I r-really don’t think this is allowed-“ one of the new recruits stutters awkwardly as he takes in Johnny with his shirt off kissing a random little boys hair, the looks on his crew's faces vary from confusion to discomfort but he ignores them, grabbing the heavy jacket from Tommy and wrapping it around Robby’s quivering shoulders as he presses another soft kiss to his boys forehead.
Damn he needs to call Shannon right now- they don’t live close to each other so she must have dropped him off at the station without bothering to tell him, it wouldn’t be the first time she’d done something like this and if he wasn’t already convinced of fighting her for custody this would’ve done it.
Anytime the guys look like they’re gonna say something he gives them a death glare, content to just bounce Robby steadily until he falls asleep. Wrapping the jacket around his son's small body he gently shifts position and carries the boy into his office where he places him on the cushy leather recliner in the corner.
He makes a pitiful noise when Johnny sets him down but stays asleep. Quickly he closes the blinds halfway and turns the lights out before pressing a final soft kiss to Robby’s wet cheek and slipping out of the office, his phone clutched so hard in his fist he wouldn’t be surprised if it broke.
The other guys are still gathered around confusedly as he closes the door most of the way, leaving a crack open incase the kid wakes up.
One of the guys- he’s not paying attention to who- hands him a shirt which he pulls on before collapsing heavily in the nearest chair.
“Explain,” Tommy orders him with a quirked eyebrow and he wants to snap at him despite the fact that he’s done nothing, it's just this whole mess is a lot to take in.
He takes a deep breath like Daniel’s always telling him to do.
“Robby’s my son, he’s five and his mom has custody- it was a one night stand and she didn’t want me around but she offered to let me have him every other weekend if we kept it out of court, said she’d win and then I wouldn’t get to see him at all and I was a coward and I left it there because I didn’t want to lose him, fuck-“
The words spill out over each other as he rubs at his face, he knows if Daniel were here and they were alone he’d be crying by now- there’s nothing that gets him emotional in the way talking about Shannon and Robby does, not even Sid or Kreese.
“She’s not the best mom, but I always figured she had to want him a lot to be so defensive with me but I guess she just didn’t want me to have him, god it’s so fucked- he’s a kid you know? He shouldn’t be some pawn in her game. I mean, I don’t even know why she hates me that much.”
Another shuddering breath as he keeps his eyes stubbornly on the floor as he hears Daniel’s obnoxious voice saying that if he didn’t keep everything to himself all the time it wouldn’t burst out of him like this.
“She’s been worse in the last few months, drinking, leaving Robby home alone with her hookups, didn’t even tell me he’s autistic until she needed money for some shit therapy- anyway Daniel and I have been trying to get custody and since then she’s been keeping him away I just- God I’ve been so fucking worried.”
Before he can even look up Tommy is wrapping his arms around him, and they’ve never been the hugging type but god does he need it right then. “That’s some messed up shit Johnny boy,” is all he says.
He knows he’ll get an earful later on for hiding this but he’s glad it’s not now as he can already feel the headache building at his temples.
The creak of the door startles him and when he glances at the clock he realizes he’s been rambling on for twenty minutes. It makes sense, even when Robby was a baby he’d never been one for sleeping in new places.
“Hey kiddo,” he says softly as Robby peers at him from behind the cracked door. He’s still wrapped in the heavy coat and his brown hair is sticking straight up, huge green eyes scrunched up at the lights as he rubs a hand over his face.
“You can come over here if you want to,” he offers but Robby shakes his head and starts rocking on his heels “I’ll turn the lights off?” He adds and Robby considers him before nodding and scampering across the room as he gestures to Tommy who is closest to the switch.
Robby clambers onto his lap a bit clumsily as he helps lift him up, letting him curl against his chest which Robby does comfortably, occasionally sneaking glances at the other guys.
He’s always loved holding Robby and learned when his son was just three months old that the best way to get him to stay in place longer was to rock him.
He does that now, swaying gently to keep Robby stimulated while he hums quietly to himself. He keeps one arm wrapped steadily around the kids shoulders while fishing his phone out of his pocket and clicking Daniel’s contact, shooting him a message that Robby’s at the station and he’ll explain later but can Daniel please make him the pasta he likes.
The kid is definitely too thin, even smaller than last time he saw him.
“Robby kiddo did Shannon leave anything for me?” The mention of his moms name has Robby’s eyes filling with tears as his grip tightens on Johnnys shirt. It’s obvious he’s upset and it makes the dread in his stomach grow when Robby starts hitting his thigh repetitively.
He didn’t even realize Tommy left the room until he comes back with a little backpack and hands it to him. Inside is a sweatshirt, trail mix he knows the kid won’t touch and some crumpled papers.
“Hey you’re okay baby,” he coos to Robby, rubbing his small shoulders with his free hand which his son squirms away from. Without thinking about it he moves the arm back to wrap around Robby tightly, holding the heavy coat around him.
“So she just left him outside the station on a Saturday in this weather?” He asks no one, most of the guys have gone back to work but Tommy’s still there staring at him like he’s an alien.
It’s one of the other officers who answers in a low voice “Someone brought him in Johnny,” he says softly, it takes a second too long for him to realize what that means and the wave of nausea when he does has him feeling like he might actually throw up.
Robby looks up at him when his grip suddenly tightens and makes a distressed noise as his eyes well up with tears, whatever is going on is obviously not good.
Feeling the dread settle in his stomach he forces himself to take a deep breath and continue rocking Robby as he reaches a shaking hand out to grab the papers, a small part of him thinks he knows what it is but he doesn’t want to believe it.
He’s right, it’s the custody papers he’s been trying to get Shannon to sign and apparently she’s finally done it- full custody.
There’s a note written in red pen that falls out when he hands the papers to Tommy,
All it says is ‘You win, he’s your problem now.’ Like it was some sick game between them and not a child’s life, like Robby could ever be a problem.
The anger makes his hands shake as he hands it over as well. His friend’s face is set in a grim line and he gestures toward Robby who is still humming to himself.
“C’mon man I’ll drive you home,” He offers but he can’t quite manage a response- he’s just so fucking mad-
When he finally chokes down the overwhelming emotion the first thing out of his mouth is “Robby won’t ride in any car with sirens and I don’t have his seat anyway-“ he’s rambling and Tommy’s eyes soften, grabbing his elbow and steering him toward the car.
“Just hold him on your lap it’s only ten minutes okay I don’t want you driving like this.” Tommy insists and he finally nods, following him to his personal car.
Robby doesn’t seem thrilled about getting in the car with someone he doesn’t know but he settles down when he realizes Johnny isn’t letting go of him- god he’s never letting go of this kid again.
He’s pretty sure this hasn’t really sunk in yet as he’s still in a bit of a daze when they get to the house. “Are you going to be okay man?” Tommy asks nervously and he nods numbly “Daniel’s home,” he promises when his friend still looks doubtful.
Luckily he’s excused from trying to reassure Tommy when Robby squirms away from him, bouncing happily at the sight of the house and running at Daniel when he opens the door.
He feels tears spring to his eyes as Robby collides with Daniel’s legs, hugging him tightly and pressing his scrunched up face against his stepdads knees.
Taking a deep breath he runs a shaky hand over his face as he tries to keep it together. He shoos Robby inside as Daniel gives him a concerned look.
“I’m fine just- let’s make sure Robby gets some food I don’t think he’s been eating good.” Daniel’s expressive brown eyes look sad and sure enough when they look up Robby has already clambered into his chair and started inhaling the pasta.
Daniel makes his own Alfredo and the creamy white sauce with Parmesan and steak is one of the few meals Robby will eat.
His heart breaks when his son continues eating at the same frantic pace, looking at him hopefully when he finishes. Choking on a sob he quickly steps out of the room while Daniel reassures Robby that he’s fine and offers him more food.
Tears pour down his cheeks as he tries to wrap his head around the fact that Shannon actually left Robby, and he doesn’t even know where.
Years later Robby will tell him Shannon left him in the driveway but he tried to chase her and got lost, that he was wandering all night in the cold and he’ll feel sick all over again trying not to think what would’ve happened if someone else had found him.
He knows he’ll lose it again later but right now all that matters is pushing it down until he’s positive Robby is okay and tucked away in his bedroom.
He forces the sobs down and scrubs at his face until he feels like he looks decent and slips back into the kitchen to find Daniel explaining to Robby that he can have more food in a little bit but if he eats too fast it’ll make him sick.
Robby seems to accept the answer but he knows he’ll start crying again if he stops to think about it, tomorrow he’ll take the kid to the store and buy him anything he wants.
His sons green eyes are huge as he puts his arms in the air, waiting for him to scoop him up which he does gladly. Despite it being only three o’clock Robby’s eyes droop, poor kid was probably up the entire night and he’d had a meltdown earlier with only thirty minutes of sleep.
Robby proves him right by falling asleep on him in front of My Little Pony ten minutes later with the blinds open despite the fact that he’s always needed the perfect environment to sleep- god he must be exhausted.
For a while after he dozes off Daniel just sits there then after another fifteen minutes he stands up, stretches, and kisses Johnnys forehead.
He wants to protest and tell Daniel that he needs him right now but his husband is back before he can even articulate what he’d want to say with the weighted blanket he’d bought for his son after reading that it might help him. Gently Daniel unlaces the kids shoes and pulls his dirty clothes off without Robby so much as stirring, he drapes the blanket over the two of them and goes to toss the dirty shirt and pants in the wash.
When he finally sits back down he has that stubborn expression on his face that means they’re about to talk, he doesn’t even have a protest seeing as Robby is dead to the world in a way he’s never seen the boy before.
“You know I’m always thrilled to have him but why is Robby here?” Daniel starts softly, intertwining their fingers on his thigh and looking at him carefully. “Shan left him,” he finally chokes out, glancing at Daniel who looks startled “at the station?” He shakes his head as tears finally start falling from his eyes.
“She dropped him off last night somewhere in town and he was alone all night- someone brought him in this morning,” Daniel is staring at him with an expression beyond horror and it makes tears spring to his eyes “Danny, she s-signed the papers-“
He can’t continue talking as he finally loses the ongoing battle with his tears, muffling a sob against his husband's shoulder as Daniel’s shaking hands card through his hair soothingly. He can hear the rustling of papers and Daniel’s choked noise when he finds Shannon’s note.
His arms tighten around Robby’s tiny form as he squeezes his eyes closed and leans against Daniel’s side. He doesn’t have to be seeing anything to know they’re both crying.
After a solid ten minutes Daniel pulls away from the embrace and gently strokes Robby’s hair, “we’ll g-go shopping for him tomorrow, let him pick out anything he wants- we can make this transition easier on him if-“
He doesn’t let Daniel finish before dragging him into a messy kiss, the kind he wouldn’t ever do in front of Robby if the kid was awake.
“God I love you so fucking much,” he murmurs against Daniel’s lips as he softens into the embrace. Obviously Daniel understands how he’s feeling because he squeezes his hand “we can give him a good life baby, better than Shannon was and I know this isn’t how this should’ve happened okay? But you have him back and you can make sure he’s happy and taken care of from now on.”
He blinks back more tears but he knows Daniel is right, the way it happened is beyond shitty but they have him now and he’s never letting go again.