Raymond headed to work after dropping Skye off at school to listen to a recording that one of his connections had dropped off. His scowl intensified as he listened. Jackson's kidnapped friend had accumulated a lot of debt gambling, and according to his source, he'd gotten into difficulty several times for not repaying his loans. This was critical information that he required in order to proceed. He has developed an interest in the deceased or missing friend. The fact that they didn't look any deeper led him to conclude that the family intended to resolve the situation as swiftly and quietly as possible.
Walking into the office building, he considered all his options, of which there were very few. He needed to get Jackson's side of the story, fast. Maybe he can come out and say it all, the thought briefly entered his head, before being pushed off. He'll have to find a way around it, that's all.
"Cook, what is this?" Jackson looked at the doodle in front of him.
"The report you asked for." He frowned, Jackson wasn't that dense, was he?
"I don't think this is the right report." He grinned, holding up his tablet for Raymond to see. A screenshot of one of his doodles, with Jackson's name, scribbled all over with little hearts and flowers.
"Oh shit!" Raymond gasped in horror. How the hell did that happen? "That was an accident, here, let me..." He reached over to take the tablet from Jackson. Instead of handing it over, he pulled it away from Raymond's grasp.
"Sorry kid, this is mine now." His grin was back. He'd like to see Raymond backtrack from that!
"It was a mistake, can't we forget that it ever happened?" He asked desperately.
"Go out with me and I will consider forgetting it."
"That's not what I meant," he mumbled, red-faced. When he looked at Jackson, he knew that there was no getting out of this one. He'd gotten himself stuck in a corner, with no way out.
"Why are you so set against dating me?" He leaned forward, frowning.
Why was he? He wanted to date Jackson, but it wouldn't be ethical, he reasoned to himself. Then there was Skye to consider. Bringing in random men was a formula for disaster. He didn't want Skye to be hurt if the relationship failed; he becomes overly attached far too soon. That was reason enough not to date him, but he genuinely wanted it, he knew.
"We work together and if we don't work out, then I'm without a job and there's Skye to consider. I can't bring any guy around to hang out with us. He gets attached, you know how kids are?" He hoped that Jackson would see reason.
"Don't be stupid Cook. If it doesn't work out, then I'll have you moved to a different department, that's all." He chuckled.
"Oh, you crack me up!" His sarcasm was hard to miss.
"Don't be difficult. I'm not any guy and I really like Skye. He's a cute kid, like his dad." He got up to stand in front of Raymond, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating from his body.
"Why do you make it so hard?" He asked, almost to himself. "I keep saying no, and you keep asking. Don't you think I would want that as well? But, I have more to lose than you, and aren't you afraid to get hurt in the process?"
We'll never know if we don't try. I've already been welcomed to the family, so there should be nothing in the way, should there?"
In a perfect world, there would be nothing to stop this relationship from happening, but his little secret didn't bode well for the future. He was thinking things over, when Jackson's arms snaked around his waist, pulling him in for a kiss. This time, Raymond didn't think of the consequences and surrendered himself to the moment.
Feeling Jackson's warm lips gliding over his own, sent a charge of electricity down his spine, his heart beating furiously. His hands automatically moved to Jackson's shoulders, pulling him closer. They stayed like that for a while, until Jackson pulled back, his eyes smoky with desire.
"I think that date would be in order now." He whispered, leaning his forehead against Raymond's. "We'll take it easy," He breathed a sigh of relief when Raymond nodded.
"We'll try and see where it goes." He smiled, slipping out of Jackson's embrace, his heart still racing.
--
Speeding through the city, he drove toward his father's to pick up Skye. He was glad that he kept the car Jackson had given him, he certainly deserved it. It was also a damn sight better than what he was driving before.
"Dad?" He called out as he opened the door, making his way to the kitchen, where the sounds were coming from.
"Hey, son." Jesse Cook leaned in to give him a quick hug.
"Papa!" Skye called out as he entered the room. Instead of running into Raymond's waiting arms, his face was screwed up in concentration, his head tilted to the side. "Something good happened to you today, didn't it papa? He asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Oh, why would you say that?" he asked calmly, knowing what was coming next.
"Your steps were lighter when you came in and it was like you were walking to a song? Your voice is also a little bit higher and..." his frown didn't go away as he was thinking.
"And?" Jesse prodded with a barely concealed smile on his face.
"And Papa smells different!" he exclaimed in glee, a smile replacing the heavy frown. Running into Raymond's arms, he turned to Jesse. "Did I do well Grandpa?" You could see the excitement shine in his eyes.
"You did better than well, little one!" Jesse stepped forward to plant a kiss on his cheek, with a proud smile on his face.
"I wish you and Damon would stop that," Raymond said sourly. "You did the same to me and look where I am now." His father taught him from an early age to be hyper-aware of his surroundings and to notice and analyze specific clues and actions.
They'd taught him, like Skye, to pick up on minor facts and draw logical inferences. Since beginning to work with Damon, he has had an almost flawless score. Some of the employees referred to him as a psychic, and he welcomed the opportunity to entertain them with his instinctive ability to use the information around them to draw logical conclusions, the same as Skye.
"Are you sorry that we taught you?"
"No, I suppose not." He sighed. "But at least try to ease up on it and don't think I don't know that you and Damon are taking him to the gun range."
"He has a little pellet gun for practice. Come on Ray, aren't you supposed to be happy, or did the little tyke get it wrong?"Jesse reasoned.
"Okay, okay, I'll ease up if you do." He smiled, knowing that between Jesse and Damon, they were going to push and teach Skye everything he needed to know to keep himself and his environment safe. He knew that while they were going on supposed camping trips, they were going to boot camps and survival training. So far Skye seemed to be enjoying himself, even getting excited about the marshal arts his grandfathers signed him up for.
Raymond couldn't find it in his heart to stop them since Skye seemed to get so much pleasure out of spending time with them and doing crazy activities. He had to draw the line when it came to shooting, thinking that it would be too much for Skye to cope with, but he seemed to have taken it in his stride and proudly takes a potshot at the range.
Now, who's got you so excited? From the smell of your cologne and the dark hair on your shoulder, I'd guess it was Jackson Dealer?" Jesse smiled, heating up some food for Raymond.
"I'm surprised you remembered his cologne." Raymond had to be impressed by his father's sense of observation and memory. The same things that were drilled into him ever since he could remember.
"I'm surprised you thought we wouldn't notice." He grinned as he placed the food on the table.
"This family is going to be the death of me." He mumbled, picking up his fork. "So, now that you know, are you okay with it?"
"As long as you are and Skye is safe, then you don't need my permission to live your life." He sat down opposite Raymond with coffee in front of him. Skye had long since gone back to the TV, making good use of the fact that no one was watching him.
When are you going to tell Skye?" He prodded.
"Let's give it some time. I'm sure he'll figure it out long before I could tell him." He chuckled as he finished his meal. "It's time for us to get out of your hair. Thanks for watching him." He gave his father a hug and moved off to find Skye, knowing there will be an endless amount of questioning going on.