Chapter Text
The sound of screeching metal startled him awake. He tried to pry open his eyes but one was stuck shut. His face felt wet, he breathed rapidly as he began to panic. What's wrong with his eye?
"Hey," A soft voice reached his ears and he desperately leaned toward it as he gasped for air.
"You're going to be okay, kid but I need you to breathe for me. Can you do that?"
A gentle hand landed on John's chest, grounding him and helping him ease his breaths. "That's it you got it. What's your name, son?"
"J-john." The flashing lights and shrill sounds around him assaulted his senses and made his head swim. He was tired, he just wanted to go home.
John blinked against the fog that had settled over him in his panic. Finally it cleared and he could see a firefighter silhouetted in the window. The car window, why was he in the car?
Where was he?
"Wouldn't you know that's my name too. Most people just call me Price though. I'm going to get you out of there, okay?"
John nodded slowly something about the way Price spoke, full of familial warmth, sparked a sense of comfort in his brain. He tried to look around, look at the rest of the car but a hand on his chin stopped him.
"Keep your eyes on me, son." Price spoke as he began prying the mangled car door open with his tools. "How old are you?"
"Twelve."
"That's cool, what kind of hobbies do you get up too?" Price finally pried the door away and knelt in front of John.
John tried to look around again but Price stopped him. John's memory was slowly coming back.
"Where's my mum?" He tried to turn but Price's grip was firm yet gentle as he guided John out of the car.
"Where's da?" Tears welled in John's eyes but Price kept his hands on John's shoulders as he guided them toward an ambulance.
"My sisters?" Price sat him down on the gurney, careful to keep himself in between John's eye line and the mangled car. Price knelt so he was eye level and tried to keep his features reassuring.
"You were in a car accident." Price spoke slowly, carefully selecting each word so as to not startle the young boy. Price's soft eyes never left John's. "I'm sorry, son, they didn't make it."
The dam broke, John sobbed, loud gasping cries. Price instantly leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the young boy. Price's grip tightened with each shuttered inhale and he slowly rubbed his gloved hands over John's back.
When John's breathing calmed down a fraction Price pulled away, setting a large hand on John's bloodied cheek. Price gently turned John's face to look at the gash over his eye.
"We need to get you to the hospital so they can take a look at this cut. Do you have any relatives we can call?"
John just shook his head, another fit of sobs wracking his small frame.
"That's alright." Price spoke softly as he wrapped his arms around John again. "I'll look after you. Everything will be okay. I've got you, John."
John awoke with a start. Instinctively, his hand reached for his left eye trying to swipe away the phantom blood on his skin. Instead, his fingertips met scar tissue. He grazed over the jagged skin moving from above his eyebrow to his cheekbone. He breathed slowly, reminding himself he wasn't there, he was safe.
John MacTavish could tell you the exact day his life was irrevocably changed. The memory kept him awake most nights as much as he tried to shove it into the recesses of his mind.
The physical reminder never left however, the scar over his eye stared back at him everytime he looked into a mirror.
That was a day of immense loss but it was also the beginning of a new chapter. John Price saw a bloody, traumatized young kid and took him in, no hesitation.
John MacTavish would be forever grateful for the kindness of John Price.
Price almost immediately began the legal process of becoming his adoptive father. John remembers the day the papers were all finalized after a year-long battle with lawyers and adoption agencies. They'd gone and bought three different kinds of ice cream and every junk food they could grab. The small family sat on the floor in the living room eating it all, playing video games and talking. They cried and laughed all night and the next day, helped each other through the stomach aches. It's one of his happiest memories.
After that John's teenage years sped by. He'd had some trouble focusing classes but Price was attentive and noticed his grades slipping right away. They'd gone to the doctor and John finally got an answer for his restless mind, ADHD.
When John graduated high school it was bittersweet. He saw Price in the crowd as he walked the stage, the man was practically jumping up and down, shouting his pride for his son. John was overjoyed at Price's show of affection but he couldn't help but feel the weight of the family he'd lost. He imagined his mother and father standing next to Price, his sisters next to them, and it brought an ache to his chest. After the ceremony he cried into his adoptive father's shoulder, tears of joy and sadness. Price understood, he always did, and rubbed his back until the crying subsided.
John applied for college, getting scholarships from both his grades and Price's firefighter career. He tried different majors for a while but quickly realized it wasn't for him.
When John turned 22 he applied for the firefighter training program. Pushing himself to his limits to break records, to show he was meant to be there. Most people there knew Price, he'd been instrumental in the community for many years. John wanted to carve his own path, make sure his name shined along with Price’s and not in his shadow.
It paid off, and after his year-long probationary period, he was finally assigned to a firehouse. The instructor handed each of them a letter, a smirk on his face when he handed John his envelope. John smiled fondly when he opened it: Station 141 - Captain Jonathan Price.
John couldn't have been more thrilled.
He woke up early that morning, his shift didn't start until 7:00AM but he was wide awake at 5:00AM. It felt like he'd been waiting for this day his entire life, if he was honest he'd certainly been waiting for most of it. A purpose, a fulfilling career right alongside his father.
John passed the time by sketching and writing down random thoughts in his journal. A habit he picked up not long after his diagnosis. Price had given him a journal one day and bought him many drawing books throughout the years.
He had long been showered and dressed, his duffle neatly packed and waiting by the door. John's phone vibrated on his nightstand, he quickly reached over to grab it and saw it was a message from Price.
The clock struck 6:30AM and he decided he was done waiting. His apartment was a ten-minute walk to the fire station and he decided it wouldn't be a bad idea to be early on his first day.
Once he walked through the bay doors he was greeted by a man he assumed was around his age, warm eyes met him as he approached. When he got closer, he could tell it was Kyle Garrick. Price talked about him often, saying that him and John would be a dangerous pair. John couldn't wait to test that theory.
John stuck his hand out. "John Mactavish. I was just assigned here."
The man eagerly returned the handshake, a knowing smile forming on his lips. "Kyle, call me Gaz. Welcome to the 141."
John smiled at Gaz, before letting his hand drop back to his side. "Thanks, I'm excited to meet everyone."
"Let's not keep you waiting then." A mischievous glint sparked in Gaz's eye and John grew slightly nervous and he shifted his weight to his other hip.
Gaz's smirk deeped as he raised his voice. "Cap, the FNG is here."
Fuck.
He'd almost forgotten about the obligatory haze the new guy shtick.
Some more men appeared seemingly out of nowhere each eyeing him incredulously. John steeled himself, doing his best to keep his back straight under their scrutiny. Kyle winked at him as he stepped aside.
Bastard. John knew for sure now that they'd get along.
"Punctual, that's a good start. I'm Captain John Price. Welcome to my station." Price reached a hand out with a wink while John resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"Cap, we know he's your kid, you never shut up about him." Gaz chimed in.
“Shut it, Garrick.” Price smiled as he turned and began pointing at the people around the room. “These are our paramedics, Alejandro and Rodolfo.”
"Welcome, hermano." Alejandro greeted with a warm smile on his face.
Rodolfo waved. "Call me Rudy."
John smiled back at the pair.
“You’ve met Garrick.” Price continued. “That just leaves Riley, where the hell is he?”
“Here.” The man in question came out from behind the firetruck. The first thing John noticed was that he was absolutely massive. Once he was closer, John saw his eyes. Most of his face was hidden by a black face mask but his eyes were all consuming. They were kind but guarded, he found himself getting lost in the deep caramel color, wanting to know the man behind them.
The taller man cleared his throat. It took a second too long for John to notice the man was reaching a hand out for him to shake.
“Lieutenant Simon Riley, call me Ghost.”
“John MacTavish, nice to meet you.” John quickly returned the handshake. Real smooth, MacTavish.
“Welcome to the 141, Johnny.” Was all he said before disappearing again.
John felt a blush creep up his cheeks. I am supremely fucked.