Summary: How Patton ended up with Virgil in New Big Brother
Warnings: child abandonment, hypothermia, hospitals, let me know
Note: Would've finished this a while ago but unfortunately the original got wiped from existence somehow and I didn't have the energy to rewrite it after that. But now I do! So ta-da! Child endangerment!
Ao3
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Patton smiled as he drank the last bit of hot chocolate from the bottom of the cup.
As the snowflakes falling around him grew bigger and the wind blew colder he was, admittedly, beginning to regret walking all the way to the café for a cup, but they had the best hot cocoa.
He snuggled deeper into his coat as he began to look for a garbage on the walk back to his apartment. He thought about calling Janus when he got home, he had only moved back out of his older brother's house recently and Janus was… struggling. Not that he wanted anyone to know.
Another biting gust of wind and snow coated glasses caused Patton to stop for a brief moment.
He quickly cleared the snow away and happened to catch sight of a dumpster in the alley next to him. Patton smiled at the small bit of luck before walking over.
Patton lifted the lid to toss his empty cup in, but as he went to close it something caught his eye.
Amongst the black bags was what looked to be a balled up old towel. He wouldn't have thought much of it had he not seen the small fingers poking out of the folds.
Patton felt a new surge of cold as the blood seemed to freeze in his veins. He braced himself for the worst as he moved some of the towel to reveal the baby's face. He cried as he carefully pulled the bundle out of the dumpster. What was one supposed to do in this situation? He- he should call the police right?
Just as he was about to reach for his phone the bundle shifted ever so slightly.
A spark of hope and fear rushed through him as he quickly pulled off his glove and placed a finger by the baby's nose. By some miracle he felt a small whisper of breath against it.
Without thinking Patton pulled the baby closer and ran into the street.
He nearly cried harder when a car pulled over almost immediately at his frantic waving.
"Everything alright?" The person asked after partially rolling down their window.
"Please I need to get to the hospital!" Patton blurted, "I found a baby in the dumpster and I think they're dying."
The person quickly unlocked the doors and told Patton to get in.
As they sped to the hospital, Patton unzipped his thick coat and carefully placed the bundle inside and held it close.
The minutes it took to get to the hospital felt like hours as Patton's heart pounded in his ears. He barely waited for the car to stop in front of the hospital before jumping out and rushing inside.
Within seconds of telling the nurse what was going on the baby was taken away and rushed deeper into the hospital leaving Patton standing alone in the middle of the lobby.
It wasn't long however before the receptionist came over and asked him if he'd be willing to fill out some paperwork before the police came.
A few minutes later the person who had driven him walked in and asked about what happened. They apologized for not being able to stay with him but asked to exchange numbers so they could find out what happened.
When he sat down to wait for news he decided he should probably call his brother.
"Hello?"
"Janus?"
"Patton, what's wrong?" Janus asked at the clear distress in his voice.
"I'm at the hospital."
"Are you alright, what happened?" Janus asked quickly as he moved around on the other end of the phone.
"I'm alright I'm not hurt I promise." Patton told him, "I really wanted some hot chocolate but I didn't want to make it so I went to that nice café down the road but-but on the way back," Patton sniffled as he remembered the baby's freezing skin when he held it.
"I'm on my way," Janus said from the other end, "I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Ok," Patton told him before looking up at the door, "I gotta go now though the police are here."
He vaguely registered Janus’s concerned voice as he hung up the phone.
…
Janus did his best to stay calm as he carefully made his way to the hospital. Patton was ok. He said so himself. Janus was the only one in the car right now and the boys were safe at the neighbors house. Today would be fine.
Everything would be fine.
…
"Patton!" A very relieved voice called.
Patton looked over to see Janus rushing through the door, "Janus?" He glanced at the clock and confirmed it hadn't been long since he'd called, "Did you drive here?! Are you ok?"
"Yes well I didn't have much choice considering my little brother called saying he was at the hospital and the police were coming." Janus snapped.
"Sorry, it's just…"
Janus took a deep breath, "I know, I'm sorry, it's… I'm just still on edge from the drive. Now will you please tell me what's going on?"
"Mr. Sanders." A nurse called.
"Yes?" Patton asked quickly.
"The baby's stable now. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes," he said with a relieved sigh, "Please."
As they followed the nurse through the halls Patton explained what happened.
"- I went to throw my cup away and he was just there." He told Janus, "I thought for sure it was too late, but then he moved a bit and…"
Janus put a comforting hand on his shoulder and Patton leaned into it.
"He's in the incubator right now to be safe but you're welcome to reach in if you like." The nurse told them.
Patton felt tears spring to his eyes again as he looked at the small body laying in the box. He was so tiny.
Patton barely breathed as he carefully opened the small window and stuck his hand inside. For the first time since finishing his cocoa a warm feeling spread in his chest when the baby's tiny fingers wrapped tightly around his own.
"Hi, baby." He whispered.
As if in response he felt the small hand squeeze his finger slightly.
-
Janus watched his brother stare at the bundle as if breathing too hard would cause them to shatter, he could guess what would happen next.
"Janus." Patton practically breathed.
Janus looked between Patton and the infant before sighing, "I'm not a family lawyer, Pat."
"I know-"
"But," Janus held up a finger, "I will see what I can do."
Patton smiled and probably the only thing keeping him from tackling him right then and there was the little hand attached to his.
Janus smiled and put a hand on Patton's shoulder. He was still a bit angry about the uninformative phone call, but that could wait.
Later he would make some calls and see if one of his friends in social services could help. But for now he just wanted to sit with his brother.
