Chapter Text
"Tommy?" Sam called from the hallway, he had moved in a few weeks ago. "You alright?"
A small voice came from through the door. "I-I'm fine Sam d-don't worry about-" Tommy cut off and Sam could hear a sob. Sam pushed the door open quickly and rushed to Tommy.
"Tommy! What's wrong Tommy?" He sat down next to him on the bed, putting an arm around him comfortingly. Tommy looked away and tried to hide his face. He shook his head.
"Nothing! I'm-I'm just fine Big S, it was nothing. I'm just fine..." Tommy looked at him and sighed. Sam wasn't going to just let him hide his tears. "...I just miss him."
Sam felt a bit cold. "You mean him?" He asked calmly, rubbing the teens shoulders. Tommy nodded, looking away ashamed.
"I know it's dumb! He was awful and he hurt me and I need to get over it but, but-" tears started swelling in his eyes again as he leaned on Sam. "But all I can think of is that room. Logetshire and everything he was saying. I miss the praise. It, it felt like it meant something because he was so, so-"
"It felt like a rare treat since most of the time you were beaten down and insulted, Tommy you aren't stupid, you were manipulated and alone. You're a teenager, you shouldn't have had to deal with any of this! You should have been going off and learning what you wanted to do with your life, not fighting in wars and tortured by that...thing." Sam pulled him into a tight hug. Tommy broke down and sobbed in his arms, clutching at his shirt. Sam rubbed his back slowly, trying to help him calm down.
"You can feel what you feel. Tommy, no one can tell you how you need to act. You are TommyInnit, not some toy to be played with and tossed around place to place. Now that I have you, I won't let anyone else get to you like that. "Sam's voice cracked a bit. "I know I failed once, but I won't let him anywhere near you ever again, he will be locked away in there forever." His voice broke. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to get you out sooner! I knew that he must have been hurting you but I was powerless to stop him." Sam felt himself begin to cry as well.
Tommy smiled weakly and hugged him tightly. "Don't worry, big men can cry too." He whispered. The two held each other as the past failings, trauma, everything washed over them. Finally Tommy loosened his grip and looked at Sam. "Big S..." he paused. "Sam?"
Sam looked at him, drying his eyes. "Yes Tommy?"
"Can I call you dad, please?" He asked quietly, looking down as if afraid Sam might get angry. Sam felt his eyes water, but for a different reason.
"Tommy, I'd love that." he glanced at him laughing. "In fact, I think we should make that official. Would you like to be my son Tommy?"
There was a second of silence before the teen grinned and tackled Sam. "Yes! Yeah if you want me that is I'd love that Dad!" The words sounded right, like they'd been waiting to be said since everything started. Sam held Tommy tight, assuring him things were going to be just fine.
"Then I declare you my child, TommyInnit." They looked at each other, feeling better then either of them had in quite some time.