https://archiveofourown.org/works/86105136
He smiles as he hangs up the sign. “Jamie Fraser and Son Investigation Agency.” is written in flowing script. He runs his hand over the ‘ and Son’ and smiles. He recalls exactly the moment he first met his son.
He was an officer for the Inverness Police department. They were investigating a house of ill repute, as his partner Joe put it.
Now, they had arrested plenty of ladies of the night but investigating a house, with an actual madame, that was different.
They found what they expected, at first. Half dressed ladies, many who propositioned them. Lads, who walk out, head down, shame dripping off them.
They are filling up lorry after lorry. Then they enter the last room.
He was huddled on a bed, thumb in his mouth. At first they thought, well, that he was a victim of unimaginable abuse.
The truth was quickly cleared up with the madame.
“No,” she blew out her cigarette smoke in their face, “I would never run that type of business. All my lasses are over 18 years. Fergus is the son of Kassie, God rest her. She passed a few months ago. We take care of our own here.”
Jamie raised his eyebrows. “Do you believe this is the proper environment for him?”
“Goodness no!” Her laugh had been hoarse, “we kept him as far as we could from all the activities. He was protected from any of my guests.”
“He will go into care.” Joe informed her.
She shrugged. “As you wish. Just please make sure he is alright, eh. I do care about the lad.”
He was five. The doctors found him healthy. The psychiatrist found him, “surprisingly mentally stable, if a bit more informed than a five year old should be.”
An abuse specialist did a full battery of tests on him. “No sign of abuse.”
It is a relief to all who have worked the case, including Jamie. He kept up with what had happened to the wee laddie.
“They moved him to a group home.” Joe says one day.
“Why not a regular foster home with a family?”
His partner had shrugged. “Seems they worry about his past, all he was exposed to.”
Not right, he remembered thinking, none of that was his fault.
“I could take him.” He was thinking aloud. Joe stared at him.
He wasn't sure until then. “Aye. Why not? I would be better than a group home?”
“Yes but…that is a huge commitment.”
“Aye.” He is an uncle of four. He knows how hard parenthood is. He has seen the struggle his sister and brother -in-law went through. But he has also seen their joy.
“That grin. You really mean it. Well, you know you always have my support.”
He was as good as his word, adding his letter of recommendation to Jenny and Ian’s. That and his steady job and place in the community, along with his continued involvement in Fergus' life, made him a perfect foster father.
That is how it started. Fergus slept in his own room at his family's home in Lallyroch. He changed everything for the good.
Jamie broke up with a long-term girlfriend because she didn't want to be a mam. His job became an issue, he worried that it was too dangerous.
After talking with his family, he decided to officially adopt him and start the investigation agency that he had been thinking about doing for awhile now.
What a difference a year makes, he thinks, smiling broadly to himself.
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