Changeling: Chapter 13

[randomweaving]

Fic: Changeling
Characters: John Dorian/Perry Cox
Rating: NC-17 (eventually)
Chapter Rating: PG-13 for language and m/m kissing (finally!!).
Description: This is a wildly AU story with fantastical elements based on thuri's Nano writing project. It begins late in season three, before Carla and Turk's wedding, and from there follows the characters as they face the Change, a strange, magical phenomenon that is turning ordinary humans into half-human creatures from fantasy.

Chapter listings: Contents Post

Chapter warning: It gets sappy, folks! Unabashedly so. ^^ Love it or hate it, but don't say we didn't warn ya.


Over the next few days, JD was not his usual self.

Perry couldn't blame him, of course--not in the least--but it was still disheartening to see the normally cheerful young man brought so low. The only thing that seemed to bring him any comfort was Jack, so Perry had relinquished a lot of the care of his son to the young resident. It left him with little to occupy his time, so he'd taken to unpacking the loads of boxes, putting the rest of the food that would fit into the pantries, arranging most of the DVDs in the entertainment center, putting the books on the shelves. He even got his laptop computer hooked up, and reactivated the cable interent, so JD could browse online and keep track of the Changeling phenomena without watching the news programs (which Perry knew just depressed him).

When that was done, Perry began a campaign of cleaning, going through the already well-organized cabin with a dust rag, mop, and rubber gloves. Along with keeping him from going batshit insane from boredom and waiting and uncertainty, this had the added benefit of making JD smile on occasion, which Perry was grateful to see.

Three days after the news about JD's family, Jordan called. Her voice was strained, and she informed him in clipped tones that her mother had died.

Perry closed his eyes, glancing toward the den where JD sat staring blankly ahead while Jack toddled around, gathering various toys and offering them to him. JD took them numbly but didn't react otherwise; this seemed to perplex Jack, who would then resume his search for a bigger, better, more fun toy to make JD smile. It was all breaking Perry's heart, and while he'd at first been glad for the distraction of Jordan, he now sighed wearily, knowing he had yet another grieving family member to console. "Jordan, I'm..."

"Forget it, Perry," Jordan cut him off, and her voice was short. "I know you hated her, so don't even try to pretend you're sorry."

"I'm--" Perry bit his lip, stopping himself from making the angry retort that had leapt so readily to his lips. Now was not the time to start picking fights with Jordan, even though it was pretty clear to him that was what Jordan was after. "JD's mom and brother died," he said, redirecting the conversation. "It looks like this Change might be more dangerous than we thought."

Jordan, for her part, did seem genuinely sorry. "How's he holding up?" she said quietly.

Perry drew a breath. "Not too well," he said softly, glancing at the young man again. Jack had given up the toy hunt and finally just curled up in JD's lap, sucking his thumb while JD rocked him and stroked his hair absently.

Jordan sighed. "Look, I--I didn't call you to tell you about my mom," she said softly.

Perry lifted his eyebrows, turning away from the scene in the next room. "What?" he said. "Jordan, what is it?"

"Perry..." she hesitated. "I think I'm Changing."

* * *

When Perry hung up ten minutes later, he walked into the den looking rather shell-shocked. JD pulled himself from his stupor and looked up at him, then came to himself a little more when he realized something was wrong. "Perry?" he said softly. "What is it?"

Perry looked over at him slowly, expression blank, as though he'd not quite registered JD had spoken. "I... what?"

"What's wrong?" JD pressed, sitting up in alarm, suddenly fearing the worst. "Are Turk and Carla--?"

"They're fine," Perry cut him off instantly. "At least, they were as of this morning. JD, it... it's Jordan."

"Jordan?" JD whispered, terrified. "She's she's not...?" He felt his heart clench, and he hugged Jack closer.

Perry shook his head. "She's not dead," he replied softly. "She's Changing."

JD closed his eyes, but nodded. He tried to concentrate, tried to figure out what to say, but he was finding it harder than he thought it should be. Maybe he'd been letting himself drift too long... "Do you need to go to her?" He finally replied. "Jack and I would be all right, for a few days...There's plenty of food, still, and I wouldn't mind taking care of him..."

Perry shook his head. "I... no," he sighed. "Her friends are with her. She just called to tell me."

JD frowned. "She... but she's... she's your..." then he halted, not sure how to finish that sentence. It was anybody's guess as to what exactly Jordan and Perry were to one another on any given day, after all. Still... she was more to the older doctor than JD was, a thought that made him curl a little closer around Jack.

Perry studied him carefully for a long moment. "JD..." he said, trailing off for a moment before deciding to come out with it. "Jordan and I... we're over."

"You...are?" JD looked up quickly, feeling a sudden glimmer of hope pulling at him. He tried to push it down, reminding himself that the older doctor might not be as thrilled by that news as he was. Never going to happen, anyway... "God, Perry, I'm sorry," he said, and his sympathy was genuine, if awkward. "I mean...I know you two fought a lot, but I know you love her..."

Perry sighed. "Yeah, I do," he said softly. "Or at least, I did. But not how I thought." When JD stared at him, looking confused, Perry sighed again. "I'm not in love with her," he said, shaking his head slowly. "Maybe I was once, but...I'm not now. If anything, I think I was in love with the idea of her."

"Oh." JD wasn't sure what to do with this new information. Perry didn't really sound that upset, about it being over between them...He was starting to think Jordan might've been telling the truth, after all. But he wasn't sure he could handle asking, then learning he was wrong--not right then, anyway--so he just swallowed, and murmured, "I'm sorry."

Then, changing the subject quickly, he continued, "How's she doing? With the Change? Can she tell what it is yet?"

"Yeah," Perry said slowly. "She... she started getting scales on her arms a few days ago."

"Mermaid, then," JD confirmed softly, letting Jack down to go explore among his toys once more. "Guess that means Jack gets the wings from you...or there's no genetic component at all...though if it's what her mom was Changing into, that seems unlikely..." He stretched a little, feeling a bit like he was waking up from a long and rather strange sleep. "She'll make a good mermaid, I think...I heard there's a group trying to set up underwater colonies, for the mers who don't want to stay on land. They're still facing a lot of opposition, though..."

This time, when Jack brought him a stuffed duck with a rattle inside, JD grinned, and rattled it back at him. His smile grew when Jack laughed aloud and reached for it. "Gee!"

Perry tilted his head, wondering what it was about Jordan's news that had suddenly cheered JD up. Maybe... maybe he had meant it, when he'd said he loved Perry...but no, that was stupid.

...was it?

JD noticed him watching, and blinked. "What?"

Perry shook his head. "Glad to see you're feeling a little better," he remarked, lifting an eyebrow.

JD blushed, looking down at his hands. "I've...well. I've been ignoring both of you, and that's...that's selfish. I can't change things, and I need to just deal with them, I guess. I'm not the only one here who’s losing people. I guess I... I want to be here as much for you as you have been for me," he said, a bit shyly. "That's what family's supposed to do, right?"

Perry smiled wryly. "Yeah," he said softly. "I guess so. Ideally, anyway." He sighed, getting to his feet and moving forward to join JD and Jack on the floor. He ruffled Jack's hair, his smile softening when his son giggled gleefully. "We're not conventional, I suppose," he said to the child, "but you won't find a more devoted set of parents, there, Jacky boy."

JD's head snapped up quickly, eyes widening. Had Perry just said...? "Parents? You and me, you mean?"

Perry felt the blood drain from his face, and his eyes widened as he realized what he'd said. He looked down, unable to bear looking into JD's face--too afraid of what he might see reflected there. Disgust? Doubtful... pity, maybe. Regret. And somehow, he knew that would be even worse.

"Um," he said eloquently. "I... JD, I didn't... I'm..."

"Oh." JD replied, slumping a little. "Okay. I'm happy enough playing uncle, and I... I mean, I didn't expect... Sorry." He winced, looking back down. "Guess I misunderstood you." Idiot!

Perry looked up at him, biting his lip. He'd heard the disappointment in the younger man's voice--but did it mean what he hoped it meant? And how could he find out, without risking everything...?

But was it worth letting it go, because he was too chicken shit to take the chance? JD had said he loved him, not long ago. And even though he hadn't mentioned it since, wasn't it worth taking the chance to find out for sure? He had a lot to lose, sure, but he had everything to gain.

"JD," he said, turning toward him and reaching for his hand. "I...what I said, I actually--"

JD's phone rang suddenly, making them both jump, and Perry barely bit back a curse. JD shook his head. "Ignore it," he pleaded. "Perry, what?"

"JD, it could be Turk and Carla," he reminded the young man softly, cursing their bad luck if it was but knowing they had to answer.

JD groaned and pulled out his phone. "Hold that thought," he said, giving Perry a stern look, before flipping open the phone. "Hello?"

Perry watched as JD's eyes widened. "Are you sure?" he said. A few more moments of silence, then a quick nod. "Okay," he said. "Just remember what I told Turk: Don't panic. I'll... I'll see what I can do."

He hung up the phone, and turned to Perry. "I guess this thing is picking up speed," he said. "Carla's changing."

Perry raised his eyebrows. "Into what, does she know yet?"

JD shook his head. "Some kind of 'taur, because her changes started just like Turk's. I'd hoped he would be finished before she started... damn!" He drew a breath and released it quickly. "I have to get to them," he said.

Perry frowned. "You're not flying there," he said. "Not in this weather, not with your arm like it is."

"No," JD said, biting his lip. "I... I think I'll have to drive. They don't... they don't have enough food, and Elliot's not been by in several days, so there's a chance she's Changing too, and I have to check on her..."

Perry frowned. "How are you going to get them food?" he protested. "With your wings, you'll be lucky if anyone even lets you into a store."

JD stood, beginning to pace restlessly. "I have to do something," he snapped. "They're my friends! I can't just leave them--I can't let them starve." He turned to Perry, and his eyes were suddenly a little desperate. "Please, Perry," he said quietly. "I lost one brother. I can't lose another."

Perry drew a breath. "You won't," he promised softly. He got to his feet, looking down at his son, then made a decision. "You stay here," he said with resolve. "Take care of Jack. I'll drive back to the city, and take care of them."

"Perry..." JD paused, a thousand things he might say swirling through his mind. He finally settled on the topmost. "Thank you. I can say that, since it's not my ass you're saving now, right?" he asked, suddenly remembering the first night he'd shown up at Perry's place looking for help. Only...fuck. Only a little over a week before? God, the world had changed since then. He took a breath, and relaxed, trying to get Carla's worried voice out of his mind. "But that doesn't let you off the hook," he continued, turning back to Perry. "What did you mean to say?"

Oh, hell with it. Be a man and tell him the truth for once. "I mean to say exactly what I said," he admitted quietly, straightening before JD, chin lifted. And, somehow, admitting it gave him the courage to go on. Even if JD rejected him, at least they wouldn't have to wonder any longer. "You don't have to say anything, if you don't want, and you don't have to feel the same or even speak to me again but damn it, I'm tired of dancing around each other like we're afraid we're going to break something. This ends here. I love you." He swallowed, eyes closing. "Happy?"

JD simply stared at him for a long moment, his mouth hanging open. Then, slowly, he smiled, stepped forward until he was right in front of the older doctor. Perry still had his eyes closed, and JD hesitated for only a fraction of a second before he decided on the most efficient way to get his attention and answer him all at once. He wrapped Perry in a double embrace of arms and wings, tilted his head up and pressed his mouth to Perry's in a gentle kiss. Perry's lips were still beneath his for a fraction of a second before the older man moaned softly, leaning into it.

JD broke the kiss, punctuating it with a softer one before pulling back and looking up to meet Perry's eyes, which were half hooded and filled with awe. "Yes," he murmured, a wide grin spreading across his face that he was powerless to stop. For once, he didn't care. "I am."

Perry swallowed hard. "You're sure?" he whispered. "Really sure?"

"Never been surer," JD replied, smiling at him through his sudden tears. "God, I told you--when I got back, remember? I told you then..."

Perry shook his head slowly. "I thought you...you were just tired, and..." he trailed off, deciding it didn't matter who thought what. What mattered was they were here, now. He surged forward, cupping JD's head in his hands and kissing him, hard.

JD kissed back, just as hard, pulling Perry closer to him, ignoring the slight ache in his right arm. This was too good to care about something like that. "I was tired, but I meant it. But the way you acted...I thought it was better to pretend I hadn't, so you wouldn't be uncomfortable..." He grinned a little. "I thought you were straight, you know. Never thought this could really happen..."

"I did too," Perry whispered. "But God, JD--seeing you flying... you were..." he didn't have the words, not really, to tell him how amazing he'd looked; like he'd become a part of the air itself, a physical manifestation of pure unadulterated joy. Nothing could be terrible, no matter what happened--not if there was something that perfect, that right left in the world. He shook his head, hating that he couldn't make himself say those things, and finished lamely with, "beautiful."

JD all but lost himself, in the look on Perry's face, in his eyes. It wasn't what he said, so much--it was the pure awe and love and yes, desire, that had been reflected in that expression as he said it that had the younger man shivering. He kissed Perry again, hard and thorough, holding nothing back. "I love you, Perry Cox," he murmured when he pulled away, not even caring how sappy it sounded. Screw it. There's a reason it's cliche.

"Up!" Jack suddenly demanded from beside them, breaking the moment. His wings were out and flapping, though they raised no more than a breeze. He kicked his feet, arms reaching again. "Up, up, up!"

JD laughed, and leaned down to scoop him up. "Hey, kiddo. Did you hear that? Your daddies love each other." He couldn't help grinning, and saw an answering--if more amazed--smile on Perry's face as well.

Jack babbled happily, tugging at JD's shirt collar. JD grinned, and looked back up at Perry, who leaned forward and planted a kiss on his son's cheek. Then he leaned forward and planted one on JD's lips, chuckling when Jack reached up and patted his cheek.

"He knew all along this was how it was supposed to go," Perry murmured, ruffling his son's hair. "Didn't you, Jacky?"

Jack laughed, then began blowing bubbles; JD rolled his eyes. "Someone wants to be silly," he informed Jack, bouncing him a little.

Perry smiled, then sighed. "I need to go pack an overnight bag," he said softly.

JD looked up, the smile fading from his face. "Now?" he said, biting his lip. "But... I...I mean..." he trailed off, then sighed. "Yeah," he murmured. "I guess now. With the Change...they could starve pretty quickly, and..." his eyes welled suddenly, and he looked away, but Perry moved forward and pulled him close. JD's wings came up around Perry automatically, his arms still wrapped around Jack, and he lowered his head to the older man's chest. "Be careful," he begged. "The roads...take it slow, okay? And call me when you get there?"

"Will do," Perry promised softly. "Don't worry, kid. I've been driving in snow most of my life. We got plenty of it in Pittsburgh." He smiled.

JD nodded, pulling back and lifting one hand to wipe at his face. Perry reached forward and rubbed his cheek with his thumb. "Buck up, kiddo," he said gently. "I'll be back tomorrow."

JD smiled through his tears. "You'd better be," he said. "Or Jack and I are flying after you."

* * *

Perry packed an overnight bag while JD dug out some winter gear from the boxes they'd removed from Ben's room. "Didn't expect to need these this time of year," Perry said, pulling on the thickly insulated boots in the kitchen before getting to his feet, stomping a little to settle into them. "I'll have to pick up some winter gear when I'm in the city."

JD nodded, scooping to hold Jack again and following Perry into the garage. "Be careful," he said again, leaning forward to accept the kiss Perry offered.

"You got it," Perry said with a salute and a tiny wink, then climbed into the truck. JD smiled, though it was tight; Perry reached out through the window, laying his hand on JD's forearm. "Hey," he said. "I'll see ya soon."

JD nodded. "See you." Then, on impulse, he added, "Love you."

Perry's smile broadened into a grin. "Yeah," he said. "Love you too."

Then he was gone, backing the truck down the driveway and turning carefully onto the road. He'd put chains on the tires a few days before, which made JD feel a good deal better, but he still watched him from the window in the living room until he was out of sight, the truck fading to a pair of brake lights and then to nothing in the thickly swirling snow.

* * *
Next Chapter
* * *

Comments

Ack!

[ashersthedragon.livejournal.com]

Yes! I've been waiting for them to admit their feelings to another! You can't even imagine how happy I am right now! And as always, can't wait for the next chapter. ^^ Keep up the great work!

Re: Ack!

[thuriweaver]

We've all been waiting, I think, including me and randomslasher. Not in the least because now I can use this icon...and because it's just so nice for the boys to stop hiding how they feel.

For now, anyway. ;D