J/C fic - Through Children's Eyes (1/3) - G
Title: Through children’s eyes (1/3)
Rating: G
Word Count: ~1,200 (this part)
Warnings: -
Summary: James was diagnosed with autism at three.
A/N: Written to raise autism awareness - autism awareness day is on April 2nd go here for more info! And Massive thanks to garvaldmains for giving this a quick readover and helping me out!!
Jared was frantic, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, on the edge of having a panic attack, searching each and every isle of the supermarket looking for his lost son. James was only seven years old and was usually pretty good with not wondering away from him when they went out, but there was always something that distracted him every now and again.
Jared started another lap of the store, checking behind people's trolleys, his own long since forgotten, and between stacks of boxes.
"Hey you okay kid?" Jared heard from the next isle. Jared rushed around and sighed at the sight of his son, sitting unharmed, on the floor, removing the canned goods from the shelves and stacking them in an order only he understood.
"James, thank god!" Jared sighed, making sure he kept his voice down not to alarm his son.
“He yours Sir?" the other guy asked.
Jared looked up and once again started to feel his heart beat wildly in his chest, this time however it was for a completely different reason. The man in front of him was gorgeous. Long brown hair and stunning blue eyes, his voice was soft and had that country, smokey feel to it. He was crouched down near his son, but not so close that his son had even realised he was there. James was happy to keep stacking, looking up only once when Jared had said his name.
"Yeah, he's mine, thank you for finding him," Jared said.
"No problem, is he okay?" he asked nodding towards his son.
"He is, he's uhhh..." Jared didn't know exactly what to say to this stranger. His son had been born with autism, Jared and his partner realising it when James was three and his son wasn’t acting like other three year olds, but he was sure this guy wouldn't care or if he did he'd probably just call his son a retard or something.
"My sister's friend has a kid" the guy started, "he has this... how do they call it? Neuro problem? She said something like ADHD but not quiet, he likes to line things up and stack stuff too, is that what this is?" he asked, turning Jared’s opinion of him completely within seconds.
"Yeah, he’s autistic, he's usually okay, but sometimes..." Jared just shrugged.
"That's cool man, the name's Chris," the guy, Chris, introduced himself, hand held out in greeting.
“Jared," Jared said, shaking the proffered hand.
"Did y’all leave the shopping somewhere? Is the misses with it or did you want me to grab it for you while you get James?" Chris asked.
“Oh yeah I left everything a few isles away when I realised he was gone," Jared explained, Chris not missing the pained look in the father's eyes at the mention of a partner.
“No worries, did you still need to get more or..."
"I think I'll just take him home now, thanks for all your help, sorry about the mess," Jared interrupted.
"That’s fine," Chris nodded, slowly standing and walking away.
Jared sighed before approaching his son, making no attempt to grab him, "come on James, time to go home," Jared smiled. James barely looked up and with one final can stacked up he got up and moved to stand beside Jared as if nothing had happened, Jared picked up James’ toy, he handed it to his son before the two of them walked out, leaving the store together. They didn’t hold hands or exchange words, but Jared was use to that, he kept his hand hovering above his son’s shoulder, ensuring that he wouldn’t leave his side.
Back home Jared settled James in to watch some TV, turning it low and making sure James’ toy, Sparkles, was sitting beside him. At the moment James had a fascination with those long twirl sticks, the ones filled with water and glitter, he wouldn’t go anywhere without it, slept with it and always held it close to him. Jared smiled softly at the sight, moving into the kitchen to make sandwiches for dinner, making sure to cut all the crusts off because the crusts make you hair curly and James liked his hair straight. Jared chuckled at his son’s logic, that kid said some amazing things.
Jared brought the sandwiches over, cut into six pieces because he was six years old, and placed them in front of his son. He watched James for a moment before turning away, smiling when he heard the plate scrape against the table, he had taken the food. Jared carefully sat down next to James, keeping a safe distance away and making sure he wasn’t touching his son, it was always hard not to drop an arm around his shoulders or curl up with his son, but James never liked it so he let it be. There were times when James was feeling affectionate and would seek him out for a quick cuddle, and it was those moments that Jared lived for.
Later that night, Jared tucked James into bed, laying Sparkles down beside him with another long line of toys organised from pillow down in an order only James knew. The boy wasn’t sleeping, he lay still, his lips moving as he recited lines from the TV show they were last watching. Watching as James slowly succumbed to sleep, Jared decided that he would return to the grocery store tomorrow in hopes of finding that guy Chris.
“Good night, James,” Jared whispered, walking out of the room.
“Night, James,” was the whispered reply following him out.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Jared returned to the supermarket the next day, this time without his son. He gathered up his supplies quickly, hoping for a chance to see Chris again and was rewarded as he saw the man enter the store just as he was leaving.
"Hey I just wanted to say thank you again for yesterday," he said coming up to Chris.
"Nah it was really nothing man, how's James today?" Chris asked.
"Doing well," Jared smiled, impressed that Chris was actually asking about his son. "Did you ahh... Want to maybe go get some coffee or something?" Jared asked, "just as a thank you!” he quickly added seeing Chris' hesitation.
"Yeah that would be good Jared," Chris smiled. "Now or...?" Chris asked.
"Now’s good, James is still at school until 3, let me just put this into the car and we can go... you don't actually work here do you?" Jared asked, realising Chris wasn’t in any sort of uniform.
Chris chuckled slightly before answering, “Nah, I was just grabbing a couple of things and saw a kid on his own, wanted to make sure everything was okay then realised something wasn’t right. I told someone who does work here what happened and she seemed fine to fix it up...” he shrugged, “maybe it’s her you should be taking out for coffee as a ‘thank you’,” Chris suggested, almost hinting at something.
“I think I’d much rather get that coffee with you,” Jared added with a sly smile.
“Shall we then?” Chris asked indicating the exit.
:::
Continued
Let me know what you think!!! <3
:::