Chapter Text
Chapter Four
Evan smiled at Mary as she set down the mug of coffee, "Thank you again for doing this," he said.
"Look, I know what my brother is like and if he wants someone to be watched over, there’s a reason for it," she told him, glancing into the living room where Joan was happily playing. "Talk to me about what you can, and the VA is around so you can talk to them about what you can't with me. See someone, I know my brother was reluctant at times. But with Danny and myself kicking his arse about it, he has done it. I did it as well, I was a bitch," she said, "I drank, and occasionally did drugs as well. Steve, bailed me out a few times when I did something stupid. But I got my life together, I talked to someone about it all, and learned different ways to cope with things. Now I have a daughter, and a life that I'm happy about. Give yourself time to find that balance for yourself. Talk to people, live, have a bit of fun."
"I don't know how," he said softly, "I've been in the SEALs for years, I've lived with structure and what the next mission was for so long that I don't know if I can just let loose like that again. Hell, I spent one leave in Peru as a bartender because I couldn't just do nothing," he added.
"Which is why you have a post in the recruitment office, so you can have something to do. It’s not going to tax you too much, and it’ll give you some time to think about what you want to do next. I know Steve said that you've got the option to leave the SEALs as well since your contract is at an end," she frowned, trying to remember the words that Steve had used.
Evan laughed, "Yeah," he nodded, "I've got five months before I need to make a decision," he added, "So I will... take that time to find my footing a little. I don't even have a place. I can afford one, but right now, I want to share a house with others."
"I'll keep an ear out for places. There are usually a few for the uni students and colleagues around here. So you may end up in that type of housing, are you still willing to go for that?" she asked.
"Yeah, that will be fine. Maybe they can show me some of the fun areas," Evan said, not thinking much about the fact that he'd be with people who were still essentially so young and naive compared to what he’d been through.
Mary gave him a skeptical look, "if you're sure. Finding your own place could be a good idea as well," she added.
"No, I want a shared house at the moment. I don't want to stay here too long either. I know that you're fine with me staying," he added before she could protest, "But, I know myself. I know that I'll have nightmares, and they aren't going to be pleasant."
"I remember a few of Steve's over the years when I stayed with him. I know Joan witnessed a few of them as well. He hated it just as much, but they happen," she pointed out to him, "I'd rather you be with people that care than alone. Joan will be okay if she hears you; she understands about nightmares. Steve and Danny explained well enough to her as to why Steve reacts the way he does. So she'll understand. She might only be almost two years old, but she's an old soul, from what Danny said," she added, glancing towards her daughter, who was looking over at them. She waved to her, and Joan waved back before getting up and running over.
"Mama," she said, holding out her arms and bringing the little girl into her lap, "Hi," she grinned over at Evan.
"Hi, Joan," he greeted her, "I'm Evan."
"Unca Ste fwiend?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.
"I am," he nodded, smiling at her. She was so adorable. "I'm going to stay here for a little while," he added, not sure if she'd understand.
"Okay, Unca Ev," she nodded, wiggling to get back down. She headed back into the living room again.
"She's adorable," Evan smiled as he watched her play.
"She is, can't believe she's my little girl," she added, "I didn’t think I was going to be a mother at all. I'm a single parent adoption," she added, "not something that I hear happens often."
"Maybe not, but she's happy, she's loved, you can tell that just by looking at her and how much she's at ease with you. If you had seen me as a child, you would’ve seen the exact opposite. My parents didn't care about me. I've not spoken to them since I signed up for the civilian challenge contract to get into the SEALs. They ignored me at best, and neglected me at worst. They even left me alone for long periods several times a year, starting not long after I turned ten. I had my own credit card to pay for food, and I kept that card through the years. I left it behind as soon as I left home. And I don't know why I'm telling you all this," Evan said, shaking his head and keeping himself quiet for a few moments by drinking his coffee.
Mary laughed, "Steve says the same thing when he finds himself telling me things he doesn't mean to. Don't worry, though, I'm not going to use what I learn against you, and I can see that's a worry for you. You hold things close, afraid of being hurt. With your past, I get it. My dad shipped me and Steve off when our mom died. I was lost for a long damn time. I was still in middle school when everything happened with Mom, and I went really off the rails. Steve tried to help me when he was on leave, but I was very reluctant to do anything that I didn’t see as fun. I went through the motions, and it took a while for me to realize that I was fucking up badly. I got help, and I found my calling the group therapies that I went to, which was something I wanted to do. I found my passion, I found something I could work towards. I had nearly everything that I needed already to become a counselor, which surprised me, given how little effort I put into my education. I'm almost there now, just a few more months, and I'll be a fully licensed and accredited counselor. So I'm using what I went through to help others who were just as lost."
"Like me," Evan said with a raised eyebrow.
"A little," she laughed lightly, "I'm no damn saint, I've fucked a lot of things up in my life. I tried many other jobs as well, but I know this is what I want to do," she smiled, "Now, drink your coffee and you can go and get some rest in your bedroom. I know you've not been sleeping well; I can see it. I won't let you sleep for long either," she added, seeing the protest that Evan was going to make.
"Fine," he sulked a little, but cheered up as Joan toddled over and handed him a piece of paper, "What's this?"
"It's you, Mama, and me, we playin'," she grinned, as she tried to climb on his lap. Evan pulled her up and let her lean against him as she explained all she could about her drawing before he went for a small nap.
XxXxX
It had been almost two weeks since Mary had been able to find a place for him to live. Joan had cried when they had told her, not wanting to lose her new friend. The shared house she had found for him was full of slightly older university students. Most were in their mid-twenties, but some were still younger than that. It was a nice place, well-located for things. It was also still close enough to Mary and Joan that he could go and visit them. Joan had made sure to get a promise for him to take her to the park at least once a week.
"Nice to meet you, Evan," said one of the men that he now lived with.
"Likewise," he nodded.
"You've already forgotten my name," he grinned, "Don't worry about that, I'm Theo," he said, "I'm a Media Student," he added, "We do have out-loud moments. I know that you're a soldier," he added.
"SEAL," Evan told him.
The man frowned and then nodded, "Yeah, okay," he said, not looking so sure of himself now, "But I'm going to go over the rules of the house with you, and then show you where you're going to be living," he said, shrugging as he began to take him through the large house.
Evan was finally left alone in his new room. He'd be grabbing his things from Mary's house later on, she'd be taking her daughter to the park before he went over to grab them. Mary would then have Evan meet them at the park, so that Mary and Joan could walk Evan home and say goodbye like that.
XxXxX
Evan had joined them at the park. Joan had yelled and squealed as soon as she saw him, toddling over to him and wanting to be picked up. Babbling happily about what she had been doing before he had arrived. Evan listened happily before she got him to push her on the swing for a little bit.
"Is the place okay?" Mary asked him as she stood by the frame and watched.
"It's fine. They are... young, in a sense. I know some of them are older than me, but they seem young," Evan frowned, "Does that even make sense?" he asked as he glanced over at her.
"Yes, it does," she smiled, "You've experienced war, you've fought for your very life, and they’ve never had to do that. They might seem young because of that," she answered him.
Evan nodded, "Yeah, that'd be it," he said.
"High, high!" Joan yelled out, squealing. She wasn't going very high, but it was for the little girl of 21 months.
"Yes, very high," Evan laughed brightly, a large smile appearing on his face.
Mary smiled as she watched, her daughter laughing and Evan doing the same as he chatted to her. Another ten minutes and she said, "We need to go home now." She looked at Evan, and he nodded.
Evan stopped the swing and scooped Joan out of the seat, "There we go," he said as she squealed and laughed. He settled her on his hip. He was going to miss spending so much time with Mary and Joan. He adored the little girl, and her mother, Mary, was so easy to talk to most of the time. He'd be starting work at the recruitment center in three days, and he was already at the VA finding people to help. Though that was a little bit of a struggle, it was something he'd just have to work around.
"JoJo," Mary said, "we have to take Evan home now, then we'll go home," she added.
Joan frowned, "No, home us," she stated with a pout.
"Now, now, JoJo," Evan said softly, "I have to go to my home, and you to yours," he reminded her. They had been preparing her for his move for the last couple of days, but that didn't mean the almost two-year-old was happy about it.
"Kay," she said, still pouting as she was set on her feet. She held out her hand for her mom to take, and the two adults started to walk the short distance to where Evan lived. There were a few tears when it was time to say goodbye, but it wasn't as bad as they had feared. Evan smiled and waved as he watched them head the rest of the way home; it was only another ten-minute walk for Mary. He walked into his new home and wondered what the future held for him now.