Dragons Aflight- a Collection of Shorts and One Shots

Call Me Dad- A Jaxon Sanders One Shot

"Dr. Sanders, who's God?"

The question was a snap into reality. Tristan had no idea how long he had been out. He was in a haze of files and chemical mixtures, and didn't realize he was lost until out. He stares at his son in surprise, watching as his pale green eyes pleading his father for an answer. They were his mother's eyes. This wouldn't bother Tristan as much as it did if he actually liked his wife as a person. His eyes would almost be considered captivating.

"Where'd you hear about Him?" Tristan asks slowly, unsure on how to explain it. He hadn't had to make any fatherly decisions until now, it seemed.

"She kept saying something about her God when something went wrong today." Tristan knew for a fact that he was speaking of his wife. She never did watch her words around others, and their son was no son to her. She didn't even allow him to call them his parents.

"Well..." Tristan began, unsure on where to continue from there. Was there a right answer to this question? Could his next words be the wrong thing? His son didn't interject once, though Tristan wished he had. This was turning out to be a more difficult topic that he expected. After a brief moment of mulling it over, he decided the truth would be best to tell. "He's not real."

"He's not?" His son asks in surprise. "But-"

"Jaxon not everything you hear in life is real. Some people...they make up things to keep themselves going."

"I don't understand." the young boy says, trying to climb up the counter so he could look his father in the eyes. Being the child was only five though tall for his age, the counter was proving to be a challenge for him.

"Yes you do." his father insists. "You only say that because you don't want to understand."

"I guess you're right." Jaxon replies quietly, as Tristan placed him atop the counter. The boy watched the ground for a while, looking down as his feet dangled over the edge. "But you still haven't answered my question."

"Have I not?"

"You only told me what he means. Not who he is."

Tristan curses under his breath. The kid had gone right past his trick, and was still intent on his question. Part of Tristan wanted to wait a moment, to see if the boy would ask what the curse had meant instead. He didn't. Instead, Jaxon stared intently, the pale green burning holes where they gazed.

"He.." Tristan hesitantly began. "He's something of an overseer. He watches over the creatures he made and the world around us. He's our 'heavenly father' and- you know what that means, don't you?"

"Yes, Sir." Jaxon replies, eager for Tristan to finish.

"Right." he mutters. "Anyways, he is said to love all and to send us guidance. That makes sense doesn't it?"

"I guess. He sounds like a nice guy." Jaxon comments quietly, before looking up at his father. "Why don't you believe in him?"

"Because I'm a realist. I believe in facts, Jaxon. Not some fantasy made to be a crutch for the injured." Tristan replies. He had never given much thought to the situation, and had began to ask internalized questions. However, those was abandoned. It wasn't as easy as it should be, especially by his son's next question.

"Are you really saying that, or are you afraid of believing in an actual benefactor?" The little boy asks. Tristan's eyes widen in surprise, though Jaxon hadn't thought much on the question. It just seemed clear to him. His father was hidden. He had always been nothing more than a shadow, and Jaxon found himself surprised he was addressing it. Him.

"I-" he begins. He wouldn't snap at the boy for asking; the question of why being heard was almost comforting. He was just surprised. Not only by his son but also his answer. "I don't know."

"Oh. I'm sorry for asking." Jaxon apologizes in a whisper.

"Don't be-"

"No, it's okay. I could tell that bothered you." He says. "What does Mrs. Believe?"

"I think she feels the same as me." Tristan responds, once again mindless.

"As in there's no God or the fear?" The boy ask tilting his head, before averting his gaze to the ground. Once again, Tristan was speechless. Realizing this, the boy sighs. "Sorry."

"Stop apologizing." Tristan mutters, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. He watched how Jaxon shuttered at the gesture, but didn't move his hand. "You did nothing wrong."

"I'm sorry." The boy whispers anyway.

"Where should you be now?" Tristan asks, now laughing slightly.

"Around." Jaxon responds, sliding down from the counter. "I should be getting back to that."

"Yes you should."

Tristan watches his son go without another word. He stayed fairly quiet, his questions answered and curiousity satisfied. Just before he reached the exit, however, did he turn back.

"Dr. Sanders? I...I forgot to say thank you." Jaxon murmurs, playing with with his fingers.

"Jaxon?" Tristan asks with slight hesitation. The boy looks up almost hopefully, as if he knew what would come next. "For now on...call me Dad."