Things You Don't Talk About at the Dinner Table (1/3)
Title: Things You Don't Talk About at the Dinner Table (1/3)
Author: WibbleyWobbley
Rating: PG
Characters: Robert, Jason (appearances by or references to other McCallisters, some Walkers and a Wandell)
Word Count: ~5,315 total
Spoilers: References aired episodes.
Disclaimer: Nope
Summary: Bonus fourth part of my Big Brothers series.
A/N: I don't know where this came from, really. I did recently rewatch earlier seasons, which reminded me that, while he was never my favorite character, there was a time when I didn't hate Robert with the intensity of a thousand suns. I never thought I'd write a fic where he was a main character, though. Weird. I do like Jason, though (as a character, not as Kevin's boyfriend), so it was fun to delve into him a bit more.
Robert pulled himself up onto the crib. Wrapping his arms around the top bar, he peered over the edge at the baby. Jason was just sleeping. Like usual. He only ever slept or cried or ate or got his diaper changed. Robert was so excited to be a big brother. He’d been waiting impatiently ever since his mom told him several months ago. He just didn’t realize that babies were so...boring.
"Hey Bobby, buddy! Get down from there before you fall."
Uncle Jack lifted Robert by his armpits and moved him off the crib.
"What do you think of this little guy, huh?" Uncle Jack asked in his usual booming voice.
Robert wanted to tell him to be quiet or he’d wake the baby, but frankly, Uncle Jack terrified him.
***
"Mom, I’m old enough to take showers or baths by myself, you know."
"I know, honey, but this saves water and time."
"It’s just...it’s kind of embarrassing."
"Oh, please, honey. I’m your mother. Now wash up."
Robert sighed, picking up the washcloth and rubbing at his skin. He watched his mom as she scrubbed baby shampoo into Jason’s hair.
***
"When’s the talk at the veterans' group?"
"Two o'clock. We’ll have to go straight there after the staff meeting. After that is - "
"Robert!"
"Hi honey," Robert turned away from his campaign manager to kiss his wife’s cheek. "I thought you were taking the morning off."
"I was. Did you see this morning’s paper?"
"Not yet, no."
Courtney took a deep breath. "OK. It’s not good. It’s about Jason." She handed him a rolled-up newspaper.
Robert furrowed his brow in confusion as he took it from her. "Why is Jason in the..." he trailed off as he read the headline.
Candidate’s Brother in Gay Scandal
"Gay? What on earth?" Robert squinted at the grainy picture accompanying the article. "Is that even him?"
"Pretty sure," Courtney said. "The article says he’s been having an affair with another seminary student."
Robert exhaled, running his hand along the back of his head.
"Robert, the phone’s ringing off the hook."
Robert nodded. "OK, we’re not taking any calls yet. I need to talk to Jason."
Robert walked into his office, closing the door behind him. He sat at the desk, picking up the phone and dialing Jason’s number by heart. It rang almost four times before Jason picked up.
"Bobby," he said. It wasn’t a question.
"Jase. You OK? Have you seen the paper?"
"Of course I’ve seen it. And no, I’m not OK."
"Look, don’t worry. We’ll demand a retraction and an apology."
There was silence on the other end. "You can ask for an apology - my personal life is not news. But there’s nothing to retract."
"What are you saying?"
"I’m saying it’s true, Robert."
"Are you - are you telling me you’re..."
"Gay? Yes. You didn’t wonder why I decided not to go to a Catholic seminary?"
"I just assumed..."
"Assumed what?"
"I don’t know." Robert exhaled. "I don’t know."
They were both silent. Finally, Robert asked, "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I wasn’t ready to. I’m still trying to figure everything out."
"You mean there’s a chance - "
"No. I’m gay. I just mean figure out stuff with, you know, the church and everything."
"So why are you kissing a guy out in public?"
"Pub - " Jason laughed in shock. "We’re standing in the doorway of a building on a private campus. We’ve always been discreet; I don’t know how someone got this picture."
"Jason, do you realize how this looks? What am I supposed to tell people when they ask why my future minister brother is sleeping with other guys?"
There was a short but heavy silence. "Tell them whatever you want."
Jason hung up and didn’t answer his phone again for two more weeks.
***
Robert hid his mouth behind his hand, trying to conceal his half-amused, half-proud smile. He was so happy that Jason had made it - today was his first service with his own congregation. At the same time, it was hard not to laugh at him in the robes; it was hard to take him seriously when Robert still thought of him as the little boy who tagged along behind him. No one who didn’t know him would be able to tell, but Robert could see that Jason was terrified. He was moving too stiffly, and he was gripping the podium too tightly as he led the congregation in prayer.
But then, he began the sermon. And as he talked, he loosened up. His voice rose and fell in that calming, serious tone he had even as a child. Robert looked around at the congregation, all pulled under his spell, nodding at his words. As a politician, he knew he needed powerful, persuasive speaking skills. It was something he had had to work hard for, something he had had to practice. Jason, however, was clearly a natural.
***
"Hello!"
"Hi."
"What’s with you?"
"Nothing, just - do you think you could ask Kitty nicely not to fix me up with any more guys?"
"What are you talking about? I told her no set-ups; she agreed."
"Well..."
"You went out with Kevin?"
"She’s your girlfriend! I didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot."
"What happened?"
"I...don’t want to talk about it."
"That bad, huh?"
"Just...please. No more set-ups."
"Got it."
***
"Hey, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days!"
"Sorry, I’ve been really busy."
"You wanna talk busy? I’m campaigning for President of the United States. You work one day a week."
"I work seven days a week, Robert."
"I’m kidding. So, you’re running around, saving souls, huh?"
"I’m like a superhero."
Robert laughed, flipping the page of the report he was reading as he talked.
"Actually, I am....I mean, it hasn’t been all work."
Robert let the report fall shut. "Jase? Are you seeing someone?"
There was a beat of silence. "Ye - yeah. Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes! Why are you acting so surprised about it?"
"Because you hardly ever date, let alone get involved with someone. You may as well be celibate. OK, tell me about him."
"Um...he’s funny, really smart and sarcastic. Ah, a democrat."
"I hate him already."
Jason laughed. "Yeah. He’s, ah, he’s a lawyer."
Robert furrowed his brow. "Uh-huh."
"He’s your communications director’s brother," Jason added quickly.
"Kevin?!"
"Shh, shh. Yes."
"What - when? Kitty hasn’t said a word."
"Well, who knows if he even told anyone? I mean, I’m not even sure this is really anything...we’ve gone out for lunch a couple times. And we kissed once. That’s it."
"I thought you hated him!"
"Kevin says it was a secret crush turned inside out," Jason said with an embarrassed laugh.
***
"Hi, it’s me!"
"Jason!"
"Sorry we lost each other last time."
"No problem; just tell me you have good news."
"I don’t; I’m sorry. I just don’t think I’ll be able to get back."
Robert sighed. "It was a long shot, anyway, I guess."
"Yeah. I really wanted to be there."
"It’s OK," Robert said. He glanced at the clock and sighed again. "Look, I hate to cut you off now that we’re actually able to talk to each other. But I have to get to Nora’s - wedding plans."
"I understand."
"Any messages for anyone?"
"Um...no. Say hi."
"That’s it? Nothing for Kevin?"
Jason was silent.
"Don’t want to get all mushy when I’m around to mock you, huh? I’m sure you have lots to say when you’re talking to him."
Jason laughed, slightly strained.
"OK, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m sorry you can’t make it back."
"Me too. Love you, Bobby."
"Same here. Bye."
***
"Who the - who is Scotty Wandell?"
"Jason?"
"Who do you think it is?"
"Why are you - what’s the matter?"
Jason took a deep breath. "Who is Scotty Wandell?"
"Wandell...I - I don’t..."
"In between all the campaign stops, you didn’t have time to let me know that my boyfriend was living with someone?"
"Oh, that guy? Kitty says he’s a friend who needed a place to crash. He’s staying on Kevin’s air mattress. Look, Kevin mentioned you guys haven’t talked in a while. Just call him; he’ll explain everything."
"I just talked to him! Who do you think told me in the first place? And he’s not a friend, he’s an ex - well, current now, I guess. And that air mattress apparently isn't getting a lot of use."
"What?"
"He slept with him."
Robert exhaled. "OK. It’s...it sounds like you guys have been having some communication issues. But Kevin’s been very faithful to you. I’m sure it was just a one-time thing. It doesn’t have to be the end."
Jason sighed. When he began speaking again, there was pain in his voice, and Robert winced. "It does, though. He - Kevin broke up with me. He wants to be with Scotty. And I can’t even blame him. It’s all my fault."
Jason’s breath shuddered as his voice gave out.
Next Chapter
Author: WibbleyWobbley
Rating: PG
Characters: Robert, Jason (appearances by or references to other McCallisters, some Walkers and a Wandell)
Word Count: ~5,315 total
Spoilers: References aired episodes.
Disclaimer: Nope
Summary: Bonus fourth part of my Big Brothers series.
A/N: I don't know where this came from, really. I did recently rewatch earlier seasons, which reminded me that, while he was never my favorite character, there was a time when I didn't hate Robert with the intensity of a thousand suns. I never thought I'd write a fic where he was a main character, though. Weird. I do like Jason, though (as a character, not as Kevin's boyfriend), so it was fun to delve into him a bit more.
Robert pulled himself up onto the crib. Wrapping his arms around the top bar, he peered over the edge at the baby. Jason was just sleeping. Like usual. He only ever slept or cried or ate or got his diaper changed. Robert was so excited to be a big brother. He’d been waiting impatiently ever since his mom told him several months ago. He just didn’t realize that babies were so...boring.
"Hey Bobby, buddy! Get down from there before you fall."
Uncle Jack lifted Robert by his armpits and moved him off the crib.
"What do you think of this little guy, huh?" Uncle Jack asked in his usual booming voice.
Robert wanted to tell him to be quiet or he’d wake the baby, but frankly, Uncle Jack terrified him.
***
"Mom, I’m old enough to take showers or baths by myself, you know."
"I know, honey, but this saves water and time."
"It’s just...it’s kind of embarrassing."
"Oh, please, honey. I’m your mother. Now wash up."
Robert sighed, picking up the washcloth and rubbing at his skin. He watched his mom as she scrubbed baby shampoo into Jason’s hair.
***
"When’s the talk at the veterans' group?"
"Two o'clock. We’ll have to go straight there after the staff meeting. After that is - "
"Robert!"
"Hi honey," Robert turned away from his campaign manager to kiss his wife’s cheek. "I thought you were taking the morning off."
"I was. Did you see this morning’s paper?"
"Not yet, no."
Courtney took a deep breath. "OK. It’s not good. It’s about Jason." She handed him a rolled-up newspaper.
Robert furrowed his brow in confusion as he took it from her. "Why is Jason in the..." he trailed off as he read the headline.
Candidate’s Brother in Gay Scandal
"Gay? What on earth?" Robert squinted at the grainy picture accompanying the article. "Is that even him?"
"Pretty sure," Courtney said. "The article says he’s been having an affair with another seminary student."
Robert exhaled, running his hand along the back of his head.
"Robert, the phone’s ringing off the hook."
Robert nodded. "OK, we’re not taking any calls yet. I need to talk to Jason."
Robert walked into his office, closing the door behind him. He sat at the desk, picking up the phone and dialing Jason’s number by heart. It rang almost four times before Jason picked up.
"Bobby," he said. It wasn’t a question.
"Jase. You OK? Have you seen the paper?"
"Of course I’ve seen it. And no, I’m not OK."
"Look, don’t worry. We’ll demand a retraction and an apology."
There was silence on the other end. "You can ask for an apology - my personal life is not news. But there’s nothing to retract."
"What are you saying?"
"I’m saying it’s true, Robert."
"Are you - are you telling me you’re..."
"Gay? Yes. You didn’t wonder why I decided not to go to a Catholic seminary?"
"I just assumed..."
"Assumed what?"
"I don’t know." Robert exhaled. "I don’t know."
They were both silent. Finally, Robert asked, "Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I wasn’t ready to. I’m still trying to figure everything out."
"You mean there’s a chance - "
"No. I’m gay. I just mean figure out stuff with, you know, the church and everything."
"So why are you kissing a guy out in public?"
"Pub - " Jason laughed in shock. "We’re standing in the doorway of a building on a private campus. We’ve always been discreet; I don’t know how someone got this picture."
"Jason, do you realize how this looks? What am I supposed to tell people when they ask why my future minister brother is sleeping with other guys?"
There was a short but heavy silence. "Tell them whatever you want."
Jason hung up and didn’t answer his phone again for two more weeks.
***
Robert hid his mouth behind his hand, trying to conceal his half-amused, half-proud smile. He was so happy that Jason had made it - today was his first service with his own congregation. At the same time, it was hard not to laugh at him in the robes; it was hard to take him seriously when Robert still thought of him as the little boy who tagged along behind him. No one who didn’t know him would be able to tell, but Robert could see that Jason was terrified. He was moving too stiffly, and he was gripping the podium too tightly as he led the congregation in prayer.
But then, he began the sermon. And as he talked, he loosened up. His voice rose and fell in that calming, serious tone he had even as a child. Robert looked around at the congregation, all pulled under his spell, nodding at his words. As a politician, he knew he needed powerful, persuasive speaking skills. It was something he had had to work hard for, something he had had to practice. Jason, however, was clearly a natural.
***
"Hello!"
"Hi."
"What’s with you?"
"Nothing, just - do you think you could ask Kitty nicely not to fix me up with any more guys?"
"What are you talking about? I told her no set-ups; she agreed."
"Well..."
"You went out with Kevin?"
"She’s your girlfriend! I didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot."
"What happened?"
"I...don’t want to talk about it."
"That bad, huh?"
"Just...please. No more set-ups."
"Got it."
***
"Hey, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days!"
"Sorry, I’ve been really busy."
"You wanna talk busy? I’m campaigning for President of the United States. You work one day a week."
"I work seven days a week, Robert."
"I’m kidding. So, you’re running around, saving souls, huh?"
"I’m like a superhero."
Robert laughed, flipping the page of the report he was reading as he talked.
"Actually, I am....I mean, it hasn’t been all work."
Robert let the report fall shut. "Jase? Are you seeing someone?"
There was a beat of silence. "Ye - yeah. Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes! Why are you acting so surprised about it?"
"Because you hardly ever date, let alone get involved with someone. You may as well be celibate. OK, tell me about him."
"Um...he’s funny, really smart and sarcastic. Ah, a democrat."
"I hate him already."
Jason laughed. "Yeah. He’s, ah, he’s a lawyer."
Robert furrowed his brow. "Uh-huh."
"He’s your communications director’s brother," Jason added quickly.
"Kevin?!"
"Shh, shh. Yes."
"What - when? Kitty hasn’t said a word."
"Well, who knows if he even told anyone? I mean, I’m not even sure this is really anything...we’ve gone out for lunch a couple times. And we kissed once. That’s it."
"I thought you hated him!"
"Kevin says it was a secret crush turned inside out," Jason said with an embarrassed laugh.
***
"Hi, it’s me!"
"Jason!"
"Sorry we lost each other last time."
"No problem; just tell me you have good news."
"I don’t; I’m sorry. I just don’t think I’ll be able to get back."
Robert sighed. "It was a long shot, anyway, I guess."
"Yeah. I really wanted to be there."
"It’s OK," Robert said. He glanced at the clock and sighed again. "Look, I hate to cut you off now that we’re actually able to talk to each other. But I have to get to Nora’s - wedding plans."
"I understand."
"Any messages for anyone?"
"Um...no. Say hi."
"That’s it? Nothing for Kevin?"
Jason was silent.
"Don’t want to get all mushy when I’m around to mock you, huh? I’m sure you have lots to say when you’re talking to him."
Jason laughed, slightly strained.
"OK, I’ll stop teasing you. I’m sorry you can’t make it back."
"Me too. Love you, Bobby."
"Same here. Bye."
***
"Who the - who is Scotty Wandell?"
"Jason?"
"Who do you think it is?"
"Why are you - what’s the matter?"
Jason took a deep breath. "Who is Scotty Wandell?"
"Wandell...I - I don’t..."
"In between all the campaign stops, you didn’t have time to let me know that my boyfriend was living with someone?"
"Oh, that guy? Kitty says he’s a friend who needed a place to crash. He’s staying on Kevin’s air mattress. Look, Kevin mentioned you guys haven’t talked in a while. Just call him; he’ll explain everything."
"I just talked to him! Who do you think told me in the first place? And he’s not a friend, he’s an ex - well, current now, I guess. And that air mattress apparently isn't getting a lot of use."
"What?"
"He slept with him."
Robert exhaled. "OK. It’s...it sounds like you guys have been having some communication issues. But Kevin’s been very faithful to you. I’m sure it was just a one-time thing. It doesn’t have to be the end."
Jason sighed. When he began speaking again, there was pain in his voice, and Robert winced. "It does, though. He - Kevin broke up with me. He wants to be with Scotty. And I can’t even blame him. It’s all my fault."
Jason’s breath shuddered as his voice gave out.
Next Chapter