Chapter Text
Jamie Tartt is sitting in one of the little plastic chairs put out for the kids on the rug that's made to look like a map. He looks comically large among the kid sized area.
Phoebe is still holding Roy's hand and all Roy can think is no fucking way Jamie Tartt sees the same dam pediatrician as his seven year old niece.
But then a little boy comes around the corner after Jamie has met Roy's gaze and something imperceptible crosses his face.
"Daddy! They have a bear book! Like at home." The kid, must have been five or so, tumbles right into Jamie fucking Tartt.
Roy watches and waits. Waits for Jamie to peel the strange kid off and say "sorry buddy, wrong guy."
But instead, Jamie allows the child to climb into his lap, goes as far as to give the boy a hand like it's natural. Like he knows where the kids limbs fall just short of boosting himself up and Jamie is ready to compensate.
Jamie tears his gaze away from Roy. Fuck. What the actual fuck.
"Uncle Roy." Phoebe is tugging at his arm. "We have to check in."
Roy realizes with a start that the man at the front desk is watching Roy stare and he scowls before checking Phoebe in.
What the fuck. No fucking way Jamie Tartt has a kid.
When he's done checking in, Jamie is reading the bear book aloud.
The more he thinks on it, the more it makes sense. A five year old kid means Jamie made some decisions right around the age of twenty one. Probably got some poor girl pregnant and bounced as soon as he could.
It would explain why no one's heard of it. Jamie probably left the moment he could and was only getting involved now.
"Bruce scooped up the geese and stomped to their nest." Jamie read, only glancing up nervously once to Roy as he sits across from him. "I will have to ask Mrs. Goose about her return policy."
"Daddy you aren't doing the voices." The kid, Jamies kid, squirms in Jamies lap.
Roy presses his lips together as Jamie closes his eyes for a moment and then speaks again.
"Right, sorry lad." Then Jamie looks up at Roy again, though Roy isn't sure what Jamie's expecting from him.
Jamie then repeats the previous line in a deep and rumbling bear voice. "I will have to ask Mrs. Goose about her return policy." Fucking hell.
The child perks up more, staring at the book in Jamie's hands. Jamie probably can't really see the pages at this point, but he reads on like his has the thing memorized.
"Tartt?" The nurse has opened the door to the offices and Roy continues to watch Jamie.
"That's us buddy." Jamie shuts the book. Rookie mistake, Roy thinks. Clearly, he's right. Jamie couldn't have been very involved until now. You don't shut a book on a five year old.
But to Roy's surprise, the child doesn't complain much. He lets out a soft "aww" but then complies when Jamie stands up and sets the boy on the ground.
"Sticker time!" He bounces up and down and Jamie smiles at the rooming nurse.
"That's right buddy, you get a sticker if you're good. Hey, how about Nurse Taylor lets you choose one to keep safe until we're all done and I'll catch up with you in a minute." Jamie encourages the kid forward, who hesitates a moment, keeping close to Jamie, but agrees when the nurse mentions the stickers once more.
"Just a minute, thanks." Jamie says to the nurse before turning around to face Roy. He knows the nurses fucking name. How many times has he been here?
"You have a kid." Roy opens the conversation. He's still well aware Phoebe is listening beside him.
"Yes." Jamie says. He wipes his hands on his pants like he's nervous. "Nobody knows and it has to stay that way Roy." He's more serious than Roy has ever actually seen him.
Roy nods. He understands wanting a private life. Still, he itches to know more.
"When did you find out?"
"Find out?" Jamie asks, brows furrowing.
"That you were a dad? I mean have you always known or is this a recent development? How long has he known you?"
"Shit Roy-"
"That's a dollar." Phoebe excitedly informs him and Jamie just nods seriously.
"I've always known him. I'm not some deadbeat." Jamie turns more defensive.
"Well fuck. I just assumed since none of us knew it was recent. You seem... good with him though. He's lucky to have you." Roy doesn't usually say nice things, but Jamie isn't being a prick, really, and with Phoebe sitting right next to him, Roy can't blame him for getting defensive when it comes to his kid.
"Right. Erm. Thanks. Don't tell anyone." He says again before he follows behind the door.
The kid is crying when Jamie leaves. Roy is still in the fucking waiting room because he's chronically fucking early to everything. Phoebes appointment isn't for another ten minutes still.
The poor kid wails and wails. Jamie is carrying him, one hand supporting his bottom while the other soothed his back.
"I know, George." He comforts. Roy is kind of glad to have a name for him. "You did so good buddy. You were so brave."
Jamie sits down again, barely even glancing at Roy, and takes to calming down George. He sways and hums and he looks as natural as he does on the fucking pitch.
Fuck. Jamie has a fucking son. What the fuck. What the actual fuck. And he was a good fucking dad.
"O'Sullivan?" The nurse has to speak up for Roy to hear over the crying. Phoebe jumps up, eager to be away from the "little kids". She was a big girl and could handle shots now, apparently.
(She still makes Roy hug her when she gets the shot.)
Fucking hell.