Taken
Title Taken
Prompt: Loss of Job/Income
Medium Fic
Author(s): ficdirectory
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Discrimination.
Notes: Written for hc_bingo. Sequel to Demons.
There was something about singing in a church that Kris deeply missed. He had led worship in college, and though he loved what he was doing now, there was no denying that it was different.
That's why, when the opportunity came up for Kris to perform at a handful of churches over the Christmas season, it was one that he jumped at. Kris loved the idea of smaller venues and the fact that it would be here, in LA, so his family could come, made it all the better.
Kris couldn't wait to be done with these dates so that he could spend the holiday at home, with his wife and kids.
He plugged his guitar into the amp and played a little, feeling happier than he'd been in a while. He would play this morning and tonight as well. The pastors had already told him he was welcome, and the dates were set.
This would be a day to remember.
--
"Kaleb, come on. We gotta go see Daddy," Katy encouraged, waiting at the side door she held open. She held onto Jesse's hand and prayed for patience.
"Okay! I comin'!" Kaleb exclaimed, his little legs pumping as he walked with his new reverse-posture walker.
"Jeez. You don't hold Kaleb's hand and he's three! Why do you gotta hold my hand? I'm way older than him anyway," Jesse complained.
Katy sighed. "You wanna see Kris sing, don't you?" she asked rhetorically, choosing not to explain, for the millionth time, that Jesse still had his hand held at eight years old, because he still needed it.
"Yeah, but not like this," Jesse grumbled.
--
Kris opened his set with Joy to the World. His heart lifted as he saw Kaleb in a red collared shirt, and khaki pants, dancing in place, in the aisle. Jesse was in green and khakis, and seemed to be having fun clapping and singing along.
Last, he focused on Katy, who was lost in the music, with her eyes closed, appearing relaxed.
There was a break between Away in a Manger and O Holy Night, when Kaleb called out, too loudly, "Hi, Daddy! Good singing!"
He smiled back, not able to resist. "Hey, Kaleb," he said. "Thanks!"
There were murmurs around the sanctuary, and Kris imagined what they might say. What a cute little boy that was. How polite.
Kris looked up at the high wooden beams in the ceiling and gave thanks to God, for this day and for his family.
Then, he played the opening notes of his next song.
--
The church service had been good, but long, if you asked Katy. Anyone with an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old could tell you that an hour for music and another hour for a message was pushing it. But she tried to be gracious afterward when people came up to shake her hand.
"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Jesse!"
Katy did a double-take at her oldest, working the crowd and shaking hands with people he had never met. It might have been cute, but it was also dangerous.
"Stay right here, where Mommy can see you," Katy told Kaleb and ran to catch Jesse who had disappeared into a crowd. She could hear the conversation plain as day, and wished there was a faster way to get through the all the people.
"How old are you, Jesse?" an elderly lady asked.
"Eight, ma'am."
"You sure are a nice-looking boy. Where are your parents?"
"Right there," Jesse jerked his thumb at Katy. "And there," he gestured vaguely to the stage where Kris had been.
"Oh, where did they get you from?" she asked.
"DCFS," he said, giving her a beguiling smile. "I'm probably gonna be adopted soon, and--"
"Excuse me," Katy said, catching Jesse's hand in midair, as he gestured. "I'm sorry," she apologized to the woman. "Jesse, we have to get going."
--
"Hey, Kaleb."
"Hi!"
"Can I pray for you? For your legs?"
"'Kay. I like prayers."
"Great. Can I pick you up?"
--
"Why are you always yelling at me?" Jesse pouted. "I was just meeting people. Like the governor!"
"You are a third grader, not a politician. It's dangerous to tell strangers about yourself. Haven't we had this talk before?"
"I didn't tell her my last name or where I lived," Jesse objected.
Katy bit her lip. "That's good. I'm proud of you. But you still can't tell people you don't know about yourself. Say hello, but if they start asking questions, come and find me."
"You are so overprotective," Jesse balked. "Nothing's gonna happen. You think somebody would really take a kid from a church? I walked around by myself all the time on the streets and no one took me... Hey, where's Kaleb?" Jesse asked, as they walked back to the bench where they had all sat during Kris's concert.
Kaleb's walker was there, standing by itself, but Kaleb was gone.
--
"Kris!" Katy exclaimed, rushing up to him, Jesse holding tightly to her hand. "Please tell me you have Kaleb!" she exclaimed.
"No, I don't. Why? Where is he?" Kris asked.
"I don't know..." Katy said helplessly. This wasn't just any church, but a mega church with so many people that they needed multiple services a day and extra seating. Finding one 3-year-old in a crowd this size could be impossible.
--
Adam was late, but he didn't think it mattered much. He had heard Kris sing a million times. He had a day off from his tour, though, and knew for a fact that not only Kris, but Katy and the boys would be here, too. And Adam took any opporutnity he could to see them.
He wore a hat and kept his head down, not wanting to draw any attention to himself. He only meant to hang out near the door until he saw Kris and Katy coming, but something caught his attention.
There was a staircase just inside and to the right. At the bottom, was the most comfortable looking leather couch Adam had ever seen. He had a perfect eyeline to it. He had gone down a couple steps when he heard it.
"Heal his legs and strengthen him! Let him walk! Jesus, we believe you can heal him so that he can be whole again! We ask this in Your name, Father! Do you know what faith is? Do you have faith? If you don't have faith, it's not God's fault. It's yours. I know you're young yet, but you'll understand when you're older."
And then a child was crying.
--
Adam took the stairs as fast as he could, and his heart nearly stopped in his chest. Because there was little Kaleb, standing in the middle of a dark basement, taking steps, and trying to hold onto fingers that kept trying to let go.
The man stopped short, and laid a hand on Kaleb's head and started praying loudly and fervently.
"No!" Kaleb cried. "Mama!"
"Hey!" Adam exclaimed, rushing forward and scooping up Kaleb. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Adam!" Kaleb sobbed. "He take me away!"
"Excuse me!" The man said, clearly offended. "You are interrupting the Lord's work!"
"This is a kid," Adam told him fiercely. "A baby. His parents could have charges brought against you."
"I am an elder in this church. And just who do you think you are?"
Adam stepped forward. "I'm someone who gives a shit. Someone who's not gonna stand by and let you take this kid away from his mother and use him for your own agenda. Or tell him that he's not good enough because of the way he was made."
And just like that, Adam turned and carried Kaleb upstairs, and out the door. He knew Kris and Katy were looking for him, but Kaleb was terrified, and Adam wasn't about to leave him in the same building where creeps like this waited.
--
"It's okay, buddy, right?" Adam asked jiggling Kaleb on his hip.
Kaleb sniffled sadly. "I not like dat..."
"No, I know. I don't like it either," Adam told him sympathetically, sitting in the back of his car. He had already called Kris. Told him what happened, and assured him that Kaleb was right outside in the parking lot. In the black SUV with tinted windows.
"Dey take you away, too?" Kaleb asked, laying his head on Adam's shoulder.
"Sometimes, they try. But you know what? Your daddy told me that I'm okay just the way I am. And so are you. You're the greatest three-year-old I know. Okay? There is nothing wrong with you," Adam told him gently, pressing a kiss to his head.
"'Kay..." Kaleb hiccuped.
--
Kris had just sent Katy and Jesse out to the car with Adam and Kaleb. Now, he had business to attend to.
"I can't play this place again. Somebody tried to take my kid here. Somebody in charge," Kris explained desperately.
It was no use. The date was set. Tickets were sold. The night show would be the official concert. There was no getting out of it.
But that didn't mean Kris couldn't speak to the people in charge, and let them know just what he thought of what was done to his son.
"Excuse me," Kris said tersely, interrupting a conversation the pastor was having with someone from the congregation.
"Oh, Kris! Wonderful job today! We all were so moved. Quite a way to get us in the spirit. You keep singing, you have a gift."
"Sir, I need to speak to one of your elders, and to you." Kris rattled off the description Adam gave.
The man showed up quickly, all earnest eyes and genuineness.
"This man," Kris said, seething. "Abducted my three-year-old today. And I want to know what you plan to do about it?"
"Oh, abduct is hardly the word I'd use..." the elder soothed. "I simply approached the boy and asked him if he'd like prayer. He said yes. Who am I to turn away a willing spirit? Besides, Jesus said 'let the little children come unto me and do not stop them.'"
"But you stopped him," Kris growled. "You took him away from his only means he has to get around, so he couldn't get away if he wanted to. So that he couldn't even try. And then you took him down to the basement. Why is that?"
"Well, I was praying for physical healing, I didn't see the need to take his contraption, too. It would have been like a slap in God's face, that we don't have enough faith to believe him for what he promised us. And I took him downstairs because it was less crowded. I didn't want to make a spectacle of him. Surely, you can understand that."
"Are you gonna do anything about this?" Kris asked the pastor, infuriated.
"Frankly, I find your accusations offensive. So much so, in fact, that I'm going to have to ask you not to come back tonight--"
Kris didn't wait for him to finish, just stormed out and slammed the door behind him.
Losing a job had never felt like more of a relief.
--
Katy walked in from the kitchen with cookies and milk, Jesse holding tightly to her hand.
"I promise, I'm gonna always hold your hand. I don't want some crazy to take me away to pray for me. Only if I know them really good. Like you and Kris."
He moved away from Katy and hefted Kaleb up in his arms. "You are the bravest brother I know."
They were back at Kris and Katy's, after a trip to LA Children's had proved that Kaleb was unhurt. All of them could breathe a little easier.
"Are you okay, Kaleb?" Kris asked.
"Yes, Adam say I am okay."
Kris met Adam's gaze over Kaleb's head, and nodded his thanks.
But Adam just shrugged. "Well, he is. How can I tell him any different?"
"Adam say dat dey take him away sometimes. But Daddy tell him he's okay, too. An' Adam tell me dat, too." Kaleb said matter-of-factly, playing with Jesse's hair.
"And Adam and Daddy are right," Katy spoke up. "Never change who you are for someone else. Never change."
And Kris looked at his boys again, and hoped they never would.
Prompt: Loss of Job/Income
Medium Fic
Author(s): ficdirectory
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Discrimination.
Notes: Written for hc_bingo. Sequel to Demons.
There was something about singing in a church that Kris deeply missed. He had led worship in college, and though he loved what he was doing now, there was no denying that it was different.
That's why, when the opportunity came up for Kris to perform at a handful of churches over the Christmas season, it was one that he jumped at. Kris loved the idea of smaller venues and the fact that it would be here, in LA, so his family could come, made it all the better.
Kris couldn't wait to be done with these dates so that he could spend the holiday at home, with his wife and kids.
He plugged his guitar into the amp and played a little, feeling happier than he'd been in a while. He would play this morning and tonight as well. The pastors had already told him he was welcome, and the dates were set.
This would be a day to remember.
--
"Kaleb, come on. We gotta go see Daddy," Katy encouraged, waiting at the side door she held open. She held onto Jesse's hand and prayed for patience.
"Okay! I comin'!" Kaleb exclaimed, his little legs pumping as he walked with his new reverse-posture walker.
"Jeez. You don't hold Kaleb's hand and he's three! Why do you gotta hold my hand? I'm way older than him anyway," Jesse complained.
Katy sighed. "You wanna see Kris sing, don't you?" she asked rhetorically, choosing not to explain, for the millionth time, that Jesse still had his hand held at eight years old, because he still needed it.
"Yeah, but not like this," Jesse grumbled.
--
Kris opened his set with Joy to the World. His heart lifted as he saw Kaleb in a red collared shirt, and khaki pants, dancing in place, in the aisle. Jesse was in green and khakis, and seemed to be having fun clapping and singing along.
Last, he focused on Katy, who was lost in the music, with her eyes closed, appearing relaxed.
There was a break between Away in a Manger and O Holy Night, when Kaleb called out, too loudly, "Hi, Daddy! Good singing!"
He smiled back, not able to resist. "Hey, Kaleb," he said. "Thanks!"
There were murmurs around the sanctuary, and Kris imagined what they might say. What a cute little boy that was. How polite.
Kris looked up at the high wooden beams in the ceiling and gave thanks to God, for this day and for his family.
Then, he played the opening notes of his next song.
--
The church service had been good, but long, if you asked Katy. Anyone with an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old could tell you that an hour for music and another hour for a message was pushing it. But she tried to be gracious afterward when people came up to shake her hand.
"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Jesse!"
Katy did a double-take at her oldest, working the crowd and shaking hands with people he had never met. It might have been cute, but it was also dangerous.
"Stay right here, where Mommy can see you," Katy told Kaleb and ran to catch Jesse who had disappeared into a crowd. She could hear the conversation plain as day, and wished there was a faster way to get through the all the people.
"How old are you, Jesse?" an elderly lady asked.
"Eight, ma'am."
"You sure are a nice-looking boy. Where are your parents?"
"Right there," Jesse jerked his thumb at Katy. "And there," he gestured vaguely to the stage where Kris had been.
"Oh, where did they get you from?" she asked.
"DCFS," he said, giving her a beguiling smile. "I'm probably gonna be adopted soon, and--"
"Excuse me," Katy said, catching Jesse's hand in midair, as he gestured. "I'm sorry," she apologized to the woman. "Jesse, we have to get going."
--
"Hey, Kaleb."
"Hi!"
"Can I pray for you? For your legs?"
"'Kay. I like prayers."
"Great. Can I pick you up?"
--
"Why are you always yelling at me?" Jesse pouted. "I was just meeting people. Like the governor!"
"You are a third grader, not a politician. It's dangerous to tell strangers about yourself. Haven't we had this talk before?"
"I didn't tell her my last name or where I lived," Jesse objected.
Katy bit her lip. "That's good. I'm proud of you. But you still can't tell people you don't know about yourself. Say hello, but if they start asking questions, come and find me."
"You are so overprotective," Jesse balked. "Nothing's gonna happen. You think somebody would really take a kid from a church? I walked around by myself all the time on the streets and no one took me... Hey, where's Kaleb?" Jesse asked, as they walked back to the bench where they had all sat during Kris's concert.
Kaleb's walker was there, standing by itself, but Kaleb was gone.
--
"Kris!" Katy exclaimed, rushing up to him, Jesse holding tightly to her hand. "Please tell me you have Kaleb!" she exclaimed.
"No, I don't. Why? Where is he?" Kris asked.
"I don't know..." Katy said helplessly. This wasn't just any church, but a mega church with so many people that they needed multiple services a day and extra seating. Finding one 3-year-old in a crowd this size could be impossible.
--
Adam was late, but he didn't think it mattered much. He had heard Kris sing a million times. He had a day off from his tour, though, and knew for a fact that not only Kris, but Katy and the boys would be here, too. And Adam took any opporutnity he could to see them.
He wore a hat and kept his head down, not wanting to draw any attention to himself. He only meant to hang out near the door until he saw Kris and Katy coming, but something caught his attention.
There was a staircase just inside and to the right. At the bottom, was the most comfortable looking leather couch Adam had ever seen. He had a perfect eyeline to it. He had gone down a couple steps when he heard it.
"Heal his legs and strengthen him! Let him walk! Jesus, we believe you can heal him so that he can be whole again! We ask this in Your name, Father! Do you know what faith is? Do you have faith? If you don't have faith, it's not God's fault. It's yours. I know you're young yet, but you'll understand when you're older."
And then a child was crying.
--
Adam took the stairs as fast as he could, and his heart nearly stopped in his chest. Because there was little Kaleb, standing in the middle of a dark basement, taking steps, and trying to hold onto fingers that kept trying to let go.
The man stopped short, and laid a hand on Kaleb's head and started praying loudly and fervently.
"No!" Kaleb cried. "Mama!"
"Hey!" Adam exclaimed, rushing forward and scooping up Kaleb. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Adam!" Kaleb sobbed. "He take me away!"
"Excuse me!" The man said, clearly offended. "You are interrupting the Lord's work!"
"This is a kid," Adam told him fiercely. "A baby. His parents could have charges brought against you."
"I am an elder in this church. And just who do you think you are?"
Adam stepped forward. "I'm someone who gives a shit. Someone who's not gonna stand by and let you take this kid away from his mother and use him for your own agenda. Or tell him that he's not good enough because of the way he was made."
And just like that, Adam turned and carried Kaleb upstairs, and out the door. He knew Kris and Katy were looking for him, but Kaleb was terrified, and Adam wasn't about to leave him in the same building where creeps like this waited.
--
"It's okay, buddy, right?" Adam asked jiggling Kaleb on his hip.
Kaleb sniffled sadly. "I not like dat..."
"No, I know. I don't like it either," Adam told him sympathetically, sitting in the back of his car. He had already called Kris. Told him what happened, and assured him that Kaleb was right outside in the parking lot. In the black SUV with tinted windows.
"Dey take you away, too?" Kaleb asked, laying his head on Adam's shoulder.
"Sometimes, they try. But you know what? Your daddy told me that I'm okay just the way I am. And so are you. You're the greatest three-year-old I know. Okay? There is nothing wrong with you," Adam told him gently, pressing a kiss to his head.
"'Kay..." Kaleb hiccuped.
--
Kris had just sent Katy and Jesse out to the car with Adam and Kaleb. Now, he had business to attend to.
"I can't play this place again. Somebody tried to take my kid here. Somebody in charge," Kris explained desperately.
It was no use. The date was set. Tickets were sold. The night show would be the official concert. There was no getting out of it.
But that didn't mean Kris couldn't speak to the people in charge, and let them know just what he thought of what was done to his son.
"Excuse me," Kris said tersely, interrupting a conversation the pastor was having with someone from the congregation.
"Oh, Kris! Wonderful job today! We all were so moved. Quite a way to get us in the spirit. You keep singing, you have a gift."
"Sir, I need to speak to one of your elders, and to you." Kris rattled off the description Adam gave.
The man showed up quickly, all earnest eyes and genuineness.
"This man," Kris said, seething. "Abducted my three-year-old today. And I want to know what you plan to do about it?"
"Oh, abduct is hardly the word I'd use..." the elder soothed. "I simply approached the boy and asked him if he'd like prayer. He said yes. Who am I to turn away a willing spirit? Besides, Jesus said 'let the little children come unto me and do not stop them.'"
"But you stopped him," Kris growled. "You took him away from his only means he has to get around, so he couldn't get away if he wanted to. So that he couldn't even try. And then you took him down to the basement. Why is that?"
"Well, I was praying for physical healing, I didn't see the need to take his contraption, too. It would have been like a slap in God's face, that we don't have enough faith to believe him for what he promised us. And I took him downstairs because it was less crowded. I didn't want to make a spectacle of him. Surely, you can understand that."
"Are you gonna do anything about this?" Kris asked the pastor, infuriated.
"Frankly, I find your accusations offensive. So much so, in fact, that I'm going to have to ask you not to come back tonight--"
Kris didn't wait for him to finish, just stormed out and slammed the door behind him.
Losing a job had never felt like more of a relief.
--
Katy walked in from the kitchen with cookies and milk, Jesse holding tightly to her hand.
"I promise, I'm gonna always hold your hand. I don't want some crazy to take me away to pray for me. Only if I know them really good. Like you and Kris."
He moved away from Katy and hefted Kaleb up in his arms. "You are the bravest brother I know."
They were back at Kris and Katy's, after a trip to LA Children's had proved that Kaleb was unhurt. All of them could breathe a little easier.
"Are you okay, Kaleb?" Kris asked.
"Yes, Adam say I am okay."
Kris met Adam's gaze over Kaleb's head, and nodded his thanks.
But Adam just shrugged. "Well, he is. How can I tell him any different?"
"Adam say dat dey take him away sometimes. But Daddy tell him he's okay, too. An' Adam tell me dat, too." Kaleb said matter-of-factly, playing with Jesse's hair.
"And Adam and Daddy are right," Katy spoke up. "Never change who you are for someone else. Never change."
And Kris looked at his boys again, and hoped they never would.