Friend in Need (Peter, Aly, Joe, Caleb)

[father-peter.livejournal.com]

When Peter entered his living room to see his son Caleb running naked through it, laughing like a madman before he turned and headed for the stairs, Peter knew it was going to be One of Those Nights. He stood in the center of the living room, frozen, a bemused look on his face and when Aly entered from the kitchen, she smiled at him. "Did you see Caleb?"

"What...is he doing?" Peter finally looked in the direction where Caleb had disappeared.

"Protesting bed time, I think." Aly laughed softly. "Or just enjoying a good old naked dash. Are you saying you've never done the same?"

"I can think of several things I'd like to be doing naked, but running isn't one of them." Peter said with a devious grin.

Aly clucked her tongue and she moved to kiss Peter's chin. "Dirty man. I like dancing naked."

"And I support that!" Peter exclaimed quickly. "I support any naked activities in which you choose to engage. I'm cool like that."

"What about naked barbecuing?"

"Welllll, that could get a bit dicey..."

Aly was still giggling when the phone rang. She picked it up with a graceful arch of her back and answered it in a sing-song voice. "Hel-lo! Aly speaking!"

"Hello, Aly. It's Joe Littleton. How are you?"

Aly blinked, wondering why Joe was calling. She didn't mind, as she adored the Joe and, indeed, all of the Littletons. But it was a little odd. "I'm doing just fine. Talking about nakedness with Peter."

"Who is that?!" Peter hissed, looking scandalised.

Aly flapped her hands at him to make him be quiet. "Sorry, I didn't catch that, my husband was being a woman."

Joe chuckled. "I just said Peter was a lucky man. And asked if he was available to talk to."

"Sure. You take care now." Aly handed Peter the phone with a wink because he still looked horrified. "It's Joe, you big baby. I'll go get Caleb to put some clothes on before he catches cold."

"Righto." Peter held the phone to his ear and he collapsed into the sofa. "Joe! How is everything." He knew about the issues between Joe and Julian, but he didn't think it was any of his business, really. He didn't feel like taking offense to something that was never meant to him in the first place.

"Everything's pretty shit, Peter." Joe sighed. "I actually called because I need your help. And please, feel free to tell me to shove it if you feel like I'm using you."

Peter blinked and he sat a little straighter, but he wasn't about to tell Joe to shove it. "Not at all, Joe. Of course I'll help, what do you need?" If it was money, that was easily done. Peter had more than enough of that.

"I don't want a hand out, though this might kind of sound like it. I'm just terrified my family are going to be living in public housing in a week's time. We've already been contacted by the bank because I couldn't make the last payment. I was waiting until my pay arrived, but now... Look, Peter, I know that when Abby got a job at your hospital, you gave her a relocation package. That's what I'm asking for. A job. I can't...I'm not a doctor. I can keep doing your accounts, but I'm not sure what else I'm qualified for. I just...I can't wait. I can't go the interview process and the short listing just to get turned down by some punk kid with an MBA in Asshattery." That was what he had been suffering for a year. It was an endless cycle of heartbreak and while Abby and whoever else could help him with money until a job came up, it could be another year by the time anything came about and he would be so far in debt he'd probably never get out of it again. "It's okay if there isn't anything-"

"Joe..." Peter bit his lip, but it wasn't because he wasn't going to give Joe a job. He just knew Joe would never ask unless it was his last resort, and the fact that he had finally come to that made Peter very upset.

"It's alright, Peter. I'm sorry to have asked."

"No! Joe, that's not-" Peter ran his fingers through his hair and he took a deep breath. "I wasn't saying no, Joe. Not at all. You know I'd just buy you a house for no reason if you asked, but I also know you wouldn't let me. Of course I can give you a job, but you'll have to leave Bristol..."

"I know." Joe said quietly.

"Do you really want to move to London?"

"No." Joe admitted. "But it's closer to my mother. And she'll be married soon so I'll get to know Mad Dog better. I'll get to be around Thomas more, which I should be, because he was gone for fourteen years and I don't get to see him enough now that he's not anymore. I don't know what we'll do about Julian's school, but we'll work it out."

"Well...Stuart has been talking about only staying with the hospital part time so he can go back to University. When you're not doing accounting things, you could do the administrator duties. I have no idea about that kind of stuff. Business decisions and grants and licenses and blah, blah, blah. And he's been doing it but I think he's about had it because he hates it. Do you...know that kind of stuff?"

"Peter, that's the kind of stuff I do."

"Well then you're saving my arse too, because I had no idea what I was going to do when Stuart went back to University. You can start whenever you'd like. I'll have Stuart do the paperwork. I have a feeling he'll do a dance of joy when I tell him."

"And uhm...we can have a house-"

"Aly does that part, I'm terrible at it. But I'll tell her to be quick about it. Joe, you're welcome to stay here until we find a place if you need to move soon."

"I think last month was preferable with the bank. Thank you, Peter. Have I ever told you how incredible you are?"

Peter smiled and he fiddled with one of the pillows on the couch. "Joe. The hospital and I will be lucky to have you. I'm not bullshitting. I just wish you didn't have to move-"

"It'll be alright." Joe said, mostly to himself. "It's going to be alright now."

"I believe that it is. You don't have to stress anymore. I'll even cover your backpayment so you don't get a fine when you sell the house. You just worry about getting your things here and we'll take care of the rest. And Joe? At my hospital no one is going to mess with you because your son is gay and if they do, I'll bite them on the ear."

Joe chuckled at that. "I'd like to see that." And then he realised Peter probably had nibbled on Thomas' ear and he changed his mind. "Er...maybe not."

Peter snorted and then Caleb ran through the living room again, still naked, followed by a frantic Aly. "Joe, did Julian ever run through the house naked?"

"He ran around in dresses...why?"

"Oh...nothing. I should go we have a situation. I'll speak to you soon."

Joe laughed and he said, with great fondness, "soon it is, Peter. Thank you."