Chapter Text
Don frowned when Blue tensed up when he pulled him in for a hug, did his son seriously think he was going to hurt him? Eventually Blue relaxed into the hug and practically clung to him, that's when Don realised how young Blue really was, the boy only just saw his twentieth birthday. He remembered how full of life Ryan had been when he was twenty, excited to explore the world and do anything. Whereas Blue was more cautious, yes he was impulsive in some moments but he never argued often and doubted himself so much.
"What caused that panic attack kiddo?" Don asked softly playing with Blue's hair, he knows that it's going to take a lot of work to finally have the relationship with his youngest son that he always wanted and it would be worth the wait.
"T-Today was a bad day" Blue mumbled "I'm sorry about earlier". Don frowned, all Blue ever did was apologise.
"Hey it's okay, I'm sorry for yelling at you. I was worried because you just went in without thinking" Don responded looking down at Blue and wiping his son's tears away.
Blue rested his head on Don's chest, the steady beating of his heart reminded Blue that his Dad was still here and alive. The feeling of Don's fingers in his hair was nice, usually his momma would play with his hair after she made him feel guilty and worthless just so she could get what she wants. But his Dad, he was doing it because he could and it made Blue feel safe.
"I'm here son, I'm not going anywhere okay?" Don stated, praying Blue would believe him.
"Promise. I-I can't take you coming into my life only to leave again" Blue admitted, looking up at Don.
Don opened his mouth to speak when a loud beep from Blue's phone echoed throughout the bathroom, the younger man sighed.
"What was that?" Don asked looking down at Blue who had now pulled away to look at his phone.
"It's my glucose monitor" Blue responded reading the numbers on his phone, Don frowned.
"I didn't know you were diabetic" He stated mentally kicking himself for not realising sooner. "What's your level at?"
"210, I have my insulin with me in my backpack" Blue responded.
"210?! That's high son" Don commented standing up and helping Blue up. "I'll get your backpack, go and sit in my office".
A few minutes later Don came into his office with Blue's backpack, the younger man was sat in one of the chairs patiently waiting.
"Here you go kid" Don announced passing Blue the backpack, the other immediately pulled out a pouch containing his medication.
"When did you get diagnosed?" Don asked quietly sitting opposite Blue who cleaned an area of his stomach over with an antiseptic wipe.
"I was five" Blue muttered loading up a new cartridge of insulin before injecting it into him. "I was really ill but momma never began to think it could be what it was".
"Did you get to a Doctor?" Don questioned watching Blue place the now empty cartridge into a disposable bag with the antiseptic wipe.
"Yeah when I went into Diabetic Ketoacidosis" Blue answered "It was hell because it was two days before Momma was supposed to go on tour"
"Did she still go?" Don questioned, Blue shook his head.
"No. I was her priority" Blue replied looking at his Glucose monitor. "It's going down now"
"You should've told me son, there's things we can put in place in the firehouse for you" Don explained.
"I don't want to be a burden, I can manage it myself honestly" Blue answered his leg bouncing up and down.
"I don't doubt that but you're not alone Blue" Don stated moving closer to his son and kneeling infront of him "not anymore".
Blue hesitantly nodded, sure his momma helped him manage it but he hated feeling like he was being a burden to others all because his pancreas didn't work.
"You feeling okay now? What caused your blood sugar to spike?" Don questioned softly.
"Probably my panic attack, it's happened alot" Blue shrugged looking down at his hands.
"Oh Blue" Don frowned moving over and pulling his son in for a hug, the younger man immediately relaxed and clung to his Dad like a Koala.
"I'm here my Blue boy" Don mumbled pressing a kiss to Blue's dark hair.
For the first time in his life, Blue believed it.