I Do I Did

Fifty

"You're all set to go, Mr. Wentz." Patrick's doctor took one last look at his chart before he sat the clipboard on the bed beside him. "Just remember a little discomfort in your arms and chest is normal. If you start having head pains come back and see us."

"Of course." He nodded.

"I'm going to go get your prescribed pills. And after that you can go."

"Thank you."

Patrick smiled as he watched the man leave the room. He wanted to jump up and down and do a victory cheer. He could finally leave the hospital. Those three days felt like a lifetime to him. After spending years lying in a hospital bed, he'd never wanted to even see another one again. So he was happy this visit was short.

He glanced up at Pete to see if he shared his excitement. But all his husband's attention was on the baby. He was gently bouncing the blue wrapped baby boy in his arms. Staring down at his peaceful, sleeping face.

"So do you think he looks like me?" Pete turned to ask him.

Patrick was about to say yes. Just because he knew that was what Pete wanted to hear. But then he remember that he didn't want to lie to Pete anymore. Especially since there was a chance his little bundle of joy might not even be his at all.

Instead, Patrick stood up from the bed to get a better look at Pete's potential son. He didn't look like anyone. His hair was near Pete's color but that was all. Patrick put on a plain expression. He shrugged the question off.

"It's too early to tell."

"You're right." Pete's gaze intensified on the kid for a few more seconds. He lifted his head to look at Patrick. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"You're being let out of the hospital after being kidnapped and beaten. And I'm more worried about paternity results."

"That's nothing to be sorry about." He smiled. "A parent's first instinct would be to worry about their child."

"Yeah but I don't even know if I'm a parent. This might not even be my son. That cheating, conniving, lying bit-"

"Pete." Patrick stopped him.

"I can't believe she would do something like this. I mean, what if he's not mine, Patrick? I've known the kid for three days and I love him more than I've ever loved his mother. I love him more than a lot of people."

Patrick felt his heart drop. Those words shouldn't have bothered him that much. He shouldn't feel jealous because Pete loved his son more than him. But they did. And he was. He swallowed the lump in his throat and faked another smile.

"Of course you do."

Pete wasn't fooled. He heard the sadness in Patrick's voice. He looked down at the smaller man.

"I don't love you any less than I did before. Or any less than I love him. The love I feel for you two is way too different to be compared."

"I understand that, Pete. What's not to love about something so precious?"

"The fact that he may not be mines to keep."

"And why not? She doesn't have family. Her old fiance clearly didn't want anything to do with it. Why does it matter so much if you share the same DNA? You'd still love him the same either way, wouldn't you?"

"I - Yeah." He sighed. "But I still need to know."

"Mr. Wentz?"

"Yes?" Patrick looked up at the unfamiliar doctor who'd walked in.