Chapter Text
Chuck frowned as he stared at his suitcase, trying to check off things from his mental list. Honestly, he should have gone with an actual list like Mako did, but….nah.
“We are only going to be going for a weekend, remember?” Raleigh mused, leaning against the doorway, watching in amusement as Chuck didn’t even bother to turn to glare at him, too busy with his mental checklist.
“Tell me again why we are going to John Hopkins? I thought you said you wanted to stay at Harvard.” Raleigh walked over to where Max was lying on the bed, moping because he was not going to be joining them on their roadtrip. Max sat up and pounced upon Raleigh, who laughed and scratched behind Max’s ears.
“It is called Planned B, Ray, you know, in case that doesn’t pan out.” Chuck shrugged, but there was no hiding the smile as he reached over to ruffle Max’s fur.
“Oh please, you are one of the top students, if not the top student in all your classes. You are such an overachiever.” Raleigh smirked, because he had total faith that Chuck would be going to Harvard Medical School.
“I don’t hear you complain!” Chuck scoffed, flicking at Raleigh’s ear, who only laughed and took Chuck’s hand in his and pulled him down on the bed.
“Oh, you won’t ever hear me complain when it comes to that. Be as much of an overachiever as you want babe.” Raleigh waggled his eyebrows, crying out when Chuck pushed him over the edge of the bed. Chuck laughed and soon Raleigh joined in, Max barking along with them.
“You are an asshole.”
“You are a pervert.” Chuck shot back, crawling off the bed to finish closing up his suitcase and putting it next to Raleigh’s.
“You know…if you don’t want to come with me…you don’t have to.” Chuck muttered later that day after they had dropped Max off with Mako. Raleigh turned to look at Chuck, face soft as he reached over to take the Australian’s hand in his.
“I know, I want to.”
…………………………………………………………………….
“Why couldn’t Mako come with me?” Chuck grumbled as he made his way through security. Flying. He had always like flying, getting on the airplane and watching the blue sky outside his little window. The flight from Australia to China had been the last flight he had been on. Now here he was again.
“Come on, let’s find the gate.” Raleigh pushed him along much to Chuck’s annoyance. He scowled, but grabbed his bag and followed after the blonde.
“So….why couldn’t Mako come?” Chuck asked again, very much annoyed because Mako, he could tolerate. They hadn't been friends back in the academy but they had...a comradiere.
“She was busy, obviously.” Raleigh muttered, tone clipped and for a moment Chuck was hurt. It seemed that Raleigh caught the hurt on his face because he quickly soften, but Chuck just brushed past him. What was wrong with him? Why was he hurt that Raleigh had snapped at him? Why should he care? They weren’t even friends, and he was ignoring whatever relationship the delusional blond thought they had. Chuck was not going to touch that, at all. No matter how many times Mako elbowed him and gave him this look that clearly stated how intelligent she thought him to be. Ignoring it. All.
“Do you think Max will be ok?”
Chuck glared at Raleigh the moment the other starting laughing. He didn’t think it was funny at all.
“It is the same question you kept asking the last time we went to John Hopkins.” Raleigh mused, causing Chuck to freeze.
………………………………….
“Do you think that Max will be ok?” Chuck asked, messing around with the radio. Raleigh had deemed it safe for him to have control of the radio station, the driving would be left to Raleigh. So what if Chuck drove a little too fast and a little too recklessly? No one back in Australia had complained.
“He is staying with a veterinary, of course he’ll be fine.” Raleigh reached over to pat Chuck’s knee, but there was no mistaken the amusement in Raleigh’s voice nor the big grin on his face.
“Wait, so which one is Sasha and which one is Aleksis?”
Raleigh just laughed.
…………………………………
“Here, you have to eat something.” Raleigh pressed a sandwich to Chuck’s hands, but Chuck just glared down at the sandwich. Raleigh rolled his eyes and proceeded to eat his sandwich, but after a few minutes of Chuck just staring at it, Raleigh sighed and nudged him with his shoulder.
“You have to eat something, keep your strength up.” Raleigh muttered but Chuck just snorted and shook his head. Obviously, Mako had told Raleigh about his dizzy spell, that made him frown. Mako and Raleigh were talking about him. Great.
“I’m fine Rayleigh, I don’t need you to baby me.”
“Obviously you do since you can’t seem to eat by yourself.” Raleigh shot back, now he was the one glaring at Chuck, but Chuck was not one to back down from a challenge. He sat up, and turned to face Raleigh straight on. They glared at each other, neither moving nor blinking. Their cheeks twitched as they fought to not blink, but Chuck lost and he would blame it on his phone buzzing. Raleigh smirked, but leaned over to read what was on the phone, much to Chuck’s displeasure.
“My phone, get off.” Chuck hissed, leaning away and shielding his phone from Raleigh.
[I hope you are eating-Mako]
[I will meet you there son- Herc]
[Go easy on Raleigh-Mako]
Chuck couldn’t stop smiling fondly at the text message from his dad….but then he remembered.
You are your father’s son.
That wasn’t his dad.
“What’s wrong?” Raleigh immediately picked up on his change of mood but Chuck just shook his head and turned his attention to the sandwich. He figured he might as well eat it….he was slightly hungry. Thankfully, Raleigh didn’t press it, keeping silent.
The silence was broken the moment they were in the plane and had found their seats.
“Give me the bag so I can put it up.” “Excuse me, I can put it-“ “You have a broken arm!” “I don’t need you to-“
“Excuse me gentlemen, is everything ok?” the flight stewardess smiled amiably but she was clearly not amused. They were holding people up. Right.
“Give me the bag.” Raleigh hissed through clenched teeth, while Chuck just snarled and plopped down on his seat. Raleigh apologized and quickly put the bag away before sitting back down. They then spent five minutes fighting over the armrest.
“Stop acting like a child.” Raleigh snapped but Chuck only retorted with, “because you are acting so fucking mature.”
The fighting stopped the moment they began to take flight, Chunk reaching over to grasp Raleigh’s arm. The blond shot him a look but he said nothing, letting Chuck be. The Australian didn’t even realize he was clutching onto Raleigh, eyes closed, wondering to himself why he was reacting like to this to flying. He wasn’t necessarily scared, just slightly apprehensive. He had been through worse.
Raleigh smiled softly as Chuck ended up falling asleep, head resting on Raleigh’s shoulder. Had Chuck been awake, he would have seen the sadness and heartbreak in Raleigh's blue eyes. Having Chuck around, acting like they were nothing? Raleigh sighed and closed his eyes as well.
……………………………….
Raleigh took Chuck’s hand in his before tugging him down the streets.
“This is our first time here, what do you want to do?” Raleigh asked, grinning at Chuck, but Chuck could clearly see how tired he was. The drive was a long one, six hours? That was no quick drive.
“Eat and then we are going to rest, can’t have you start whining about your hip like the old man you are.” Chuck grinned, squeezing Raleigh’s hand, who shot him a mock glare but there was no hiding the big grin.
“Maybe Yancy and Jazmine can come over, visit. Can show them around the east coast.” Raleigh mused, trying to think about his siblings getting around the area. Probably not winter.
“Jazmine would like it, it would mean she could wear cute coats during winter.” Chuck shrugged, thinking about the little he knew of Raleigh’s sister. They had met once if you count talking to her on the phone as meeting.
“I think she likes Mako.”
Chuck raised an eyebrow at that. “Like as in, we are bffs for like or like as in sit on my face-“
“Ok, that’s my sister you are talking about!”
“Tell me about it!” Chuck shot back, sounding just as scandalized as Raleigh. They both frowned and stayed silent for a few minutes.
“….so….?”
“Not sure.” Raleigh muttered.
“In that case I think they should definitely come up.”
Raleigh sighed and fell quiet. Chuck was sure he knew what his boyfriend was thinking about. He always got that guilty look when he thought about his brother's injury and his sister taking putting up with him.
“Come on, let’s get a hamburger, and we can plan on how to go about setting our sisters together. At least there isn’t such a big age difference between them.” Chuck shot Raleigh a wicked grin, clearly remembering the day Herc caught Raleigh kissing Chuck. Raleigh shuddered.
…………………………………..
Chuck grumbled, still trying to fully wake up as he struggled his way out of the plane. Raleigh chuckled, taking both bags and for once, Chuck was ok with that. He was too tired and his arm had begun to throb.
“What time do I have to be at my appointment?” Chuck muttered, trying to cover a yawn, looking migty adorable if Raleigh thought so himself.
“After we drop these off at Luna Pentecost’s place and get you something to eat.” Raleigh muttered, not liking just how pale Chuck was looking. Ever since the car accident, Chuck had yet to regain his full color, always looking pale and tired.
“Luna Pentecost?” Chuck frowned, trying to remember who that was.
“Stacker’s sister, your aunt.” Raleigh supplied, pushing the still confused Chuck into the taxi to get them to their destination. A sister. Yes. He can vaguely remember that, not so much from the drift, because it was true, Stacker sure had control over it, but….from other pilots….Marshall was always a mystery, perhaps to everyone but Chuck’s dad and Mako….and if he might as well throw in Tendo. But mostly his dad. Now that Chuck thought about it, his dad and Stacker had been really close.
Wait.
“My aunt?” Chuck frowned, trying to push away the fog in his mind to focus on the fact that Luna Pentecost was his aunt.
“You know….your aunt.” Raleigh muttered as he busied himself with getting the luggage into the really nice looking house.
Chuck stared at Raleigh, then at the house, then back at Raleigh. How they had gotten there so fast he didn't care...because his aunt?
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit, what do you mean my aunt? Tell me now Rayleigh.” Chuck hissed, ignoring the slight stinging he felt in his head and following Raleigh inside the house.
“Fine, if you don’t tell me I’ll ask dad-“ “Herc and Stacker are….”
“Fucking shit.” Chuck muttered because there was no missing the large photo of Herc and him, standing alongside Stacker and Mako. Did Stacker have his hand on Herc’s lower back and was that a uniform….
“What the fuck is that!” Chuck cried out angrily, peering in closer to the photo before turning to look at Raleigh, who was looking at him, apprehension written on his shoulders. “Why am I wearing a school uniform?”
That apparently was not what Raleigh was expecting because he burst out laughing. Chuck scowled and crossed his arms, because this was not funny.
“Not funny old man, I’m being serious. Why am I in a school uniform? Why is it a Japanese school uniform? Did I ever even live in Australia?” Chuck hissed, turning to glare back at the photograph. Sure, he had been surprised over Stacker and his dad…..but…..Chuck sighed and reached up to pressed his finger over the wedding bands hanging from his dad’s necklace. He had the same chain in the other world too. His mom was still there, with them. Except, it used to be what kept them apart,, the guilt over his mom. It was what kept them apart yet together at the same time. But here in the picture, it was family. Chuck had never thought of his dad being with anyone else….they never had time….it was just the two of them working to save the world. Now that he thought about it, he didn't want his dad to be alone, without anyone there for him. Stacker?.....his dad deserved the best and Stacker sure was.
“I believe it was a vacation, the uniform was for the picture.” Raleigh finally supplied, trying to stifle his laughter.
“Laugh it up.” Chuck grumbled, when suddenly searing pain flared inside his head. He hissed, tilting to the side, his good arm reaching out for Raleigh.
“Chuck? What’s wrong? Chuck?” Raleigh immediately reached his side, taking hold of his arm, trying to steady him.
“My head.” Chuck muttered before slumping into Raleigh’s arm, losing consciousness.
……………..
“Would your dad ever consider….being with someone else?” Mako asked Chuck, who would be turning twelve in a few weeks. Chuck scowled at that, glaring at Mako for even daring to bring up the subject. No one could replace his mom, no one. It was the first time Chuck had ever gotten really mad at Mako and they didn’t talk for a whole week. She was his best friend….so she was forgiven in the end.
And then, Chuck thought about it, he really thought about it. He looked at his dad, coming back from another day at work, another day of training, of being out there. Chuck didn’t like to think of the times when his father would have to be deployed. Yes, his father had him, but it wasn’t the same, was it? Was his dad lonely? Chuck knew he missed mom just as much as Chuck did….he had seen him clutched the wedding rings he wore around his neck….his source of comfort.
“I think….my dad should try to consider being with someone, just….so he isn’t lonely…” Chuck was the one to bring it up the next time. Of course, Mako just smirked, like the cat who had gotten the cream and Chuck should have known.
On the bright side, Chuck liked Stacker. He respected him and he had been there when they needed someone…and he was still there. On the downside, he wasn't sure if his dad was bisexual, he tried not to think too much about who his dad found attractive.
But if this didn’t work he would blame it on Mako.
She just shrugged.
They were overachievers at least, they didn't like failing.
………………….
“Dad, maybe you should call Stacker, you haven’t talked to him in a while.” Chuck chirped from where he was doing his homework. Herc looked up from the files he was reading, eyebrow raised, because he had just talked to Stacker a week ago. He was glad that Chuck had grown fond of Stacker, but lately it sure had been a little too much. Or so it felt to Herc.
“I’m sure he is fine Chuck. It has only been a week since we last talked.”
“Did you ask him to come visit?” Chuck brought up, because he had been whining about Stacker coming to visit for weeks now. Herc was always glad that Stacker had stuck to Chuck and him, and he knew that Chuck appreciated it. He was definitely glad when Chuck acted out because Stacker had the gift of being able to reel the kid in. Probably from experience. Herc had been working a lot lately, so perhaps Chuck was feeling lonely. If Chuck wanted to see Stacker, well, Herc would call him them. Besides, Herc knew that if Herc was working a lot, Stacker was probably almost dying from all the work he was putting in. They could all use a break.
“Ok, Charlie, I’ll call him and ask if he can visit.” Herc sighed, reaching over to mess up Chuck’s hair, before getting up to get the phone. Chuck smirked into his homework. What Herc didn’t know was that Mako was doing her part in wheedling Stacker into visiting them. According to her, Stacker liked Chuck's dad, but didn't want to risk it, which is funny because Chuck always saw Stacker as this fearless person. Chuck had to agree that his dad could be quite scary though.
Mako seemed to think Stacker was scared of Chuck, but....Chuck liked Stacker.
…………………
“If it isn’t my favorite niece and nephew. Look how much you have grown.” Luna looked them over, before placing her arms over their shoulders and guiding them inside her house. Chuck loved going to visit Aunt Luna, she was fun and was always giving them sweets. Of course, she would force them to sweat them out later.
“So, has my brother and Herc stop denying their feelings?” She asked them, guiding them into the kitchen, where she kept her chocolate.
“No.” Chuck and Mako groaned, taking the offered chocolate and munching on it quite angrily. Luna grinned and began plotting with them. Chuck figured she was way better at this than Uncle Scott, who only told them that Herc didn't do subtle. Apparently Chuck's mom had done the first move.
………………….
He really needed to stop that.
“How can you tell me there is nothing wrong with my son when he keeps blacking out?! That isn't normal behavior! It sure as hell doesn't happen to me!”
Chuck groaned, the loud noise making his head throb.
“Charlie, are you ok?” Herc was at his side in an instance, peering down at Chuck, who just nodded.
“Yeah, head hurts.” Chuck muttered, weakly, causing Herc to turn his head to glare at the doctor. The doctor just sighed and raised his hands up in defeat, calling a nurse to get Chuck sent for more scans.
“What’s going on dad?” Chuck muttered, shifting, the pain from his left arm not helping his head. Herc reached up to run his hand through Chuck’s hair. Chuck liked that, he couldn’t remember the last time he had been this close to his dad. It was comforting. It was nice.
“You are getting more scans taken, ok? We’ll figure out what is wrong with you.”
Herc stayed by his side through every test and Chuck was thankful.
…………………………………
Chuck wrinkled his nose as he tugged at the collar of the uniform. God this was tight. Couldn’t they have given him one size bigger?
Chuck winced as he shifted again, because it was hot and he was wearing black. At least Mako had a skirt; at that moment, Chuck could go for a skirt. His dad stepped behind him, his hand resting on Chuck’s shoulder, making Chuck beam.
Mako took her place next to his side, grinning wide for the picture. It wasn’t often that Chuck got to go to Japan and visit Mako there. Stacker was the last to take his place behind Mako, right hand on her shoulder and the other settling on Herc’s lower back. They were a family.
They were Chuck’s family.
………………………………..
The last two days Chuck had been in an out of tests. There were blood tests, scans, run on the treadmill, check on your broken arm, pee on this, all kinds of tests. Chuck didn’t like it.
Especially because everything was coming out clean. There was some barely even there iron deficiency so all they were giving him were vitamins and a diet to follow. That was all. Seriously. The vitamins was just so his dad didn't end up maining the doctor. That had made Chuck's day, definitely worth seeing his dad scare someone to death. He was then sent off into the wild, once again.
At the moment, he just wanted Max and to be alone.
And to forget not remember…forget. He wanted to pretend everything was ok.
Chuck was just glad to be going back to Harvard. It was some kind of home. He had felt a lot better there.