Welcome to Gaia! ::

Honestly when he got that message all Quinn wanted to do was rush out of his office and track Leander down. Had he really found something substantial? Had he really located them? The rather cryptic ‘best meet at a private location’ vibe he got truly made it feel that way. He wanted to know. God he wanted to know. It was like an itch, one he couldn’t quite reach. While Leander was investigating he was able to ignore it, no point in ‘scratching’ if there wasn’t anything to scratch but now… now it was different. Now there was something tangible to his concerns and his worries. He hadn’t just been seeing things. Hadn’t just been hoping that the picture was real. At least he hoped so, otherwise why would the PI ask to talk in private?

Quinn’s nerves built as the clock in his office ticked ever closer to their meeting time, just after normal business hours but not ‘suspiciously’ late. Yes Leander would be spotted in the building but the company hired outside consultants all the time, he even had meetings with them personally as well. It wasn’t that abnormal so the PI wouldn’t stand out all that much. The only difference was this time it was for personal reasons, not work ones. Quinn mentally argued with himself once again about changing the location to his apartment but that would require dealing with his rather abnormal roommate/housekeeper, and it was seriously abnormal for him to have singular people come over for meetings. Gatherings of several sure but rarely one on one, which would make Leander stand out even more if he was spotted.

“Sir?” His secretary knocked on Quinn’s open office door and when Quinn verbally replied, continued “It is nearly time for your appointment so I’ll be going down the lobby to greet your guest. I’ll be right back. Is there anything else you will need me to do tonight?”

“No, you're free for the evening Jackson once my guest gets here. Have a wonderful night and enjoy dinner with your wife and kids.” He replied even as he absently continued to order the paperwork on his desk.

“Mr. Leander?” A middle aged man, well put together in a suit, approached the PI and when he received a positive confirmation he continued, “ I am Mr. Quinton’s assistant. If you will follow me I’ll lead you to his office.” Jackson was mostly there as a guide but he was also there to make sure no one bothered the PI as he was led through the building. While it wasn’t a full house per say there were still enough people around to question the ‘new face’ that was wondering through if he wasn’t already being guided to the right spot. In this case the right spot was to the bank of elevators towards the back of the lobby since they were the only ones that went straight to the upper floors. Technically anyone could use them but there was an unwritten rule that it was for executives only, much to Quinn’s chagrin since he liked talking to the staff.

The elevator ride… was an elevator ride, nothing to write home about. Finally it reached the correct floor and opened with a soft chime. The executive lobby greeted them, a few doors were closed but the one Jackson went to was the one directly facing the elevator. “Sir?” Jackson knocked on the not quite closed door, “Your guest is here.”

Quinn opened the door and smiled, “Thank you Jackson. I appreciate it. Have a good night and tell your wife that her cookies are the best. The assistant nodded and made some parting comments before gathering his own things and leaving for the day, his job done. “Evening Leander! Come on in! Thanks for meeting me here. Figure it would be less of a headache and shouldn’t raise any eyebrows.” He ushered the other male into his office and walked over to the small wet bar, “Would you like some water or soda? I even have some OJ if you want it. Please, take a seat.” The office wasn’t really his style but it was hard to argue with the classic design; a heavy wooden desk, two cushioned chairs facing it towards the back of the room, and a small seating area with a coffee table in the center of the room. It had been in use since his family first founded the company. At least the ‘bar’ didn’t contain any alcohol anymore, that was one of the first things that changed when he ended up taking over. Most of the other changes were minor, pictures and nicknacks being switched out. He also removed the rather imposing painting of his Grandfather and replaced it with a nature scene of a waterfall from out west. A rather particular waterfall really, not that he told anyone that. To them it was just a neat painting.

The one thing he adored about the office though was the view. It was hard to argue with the view of the city from this high up. It was down right gorgeous. If one didn’t know what the city was really like they would think it was a fantastic place. Sadly Quinn knew.

He knew.

Didn’t stop him from enjoying the view though.

“Oh you know, SOSDD.” Quinn grabbed a bottle of water for himself, “‘Same old s**t, different day’. Meetings and emails, phone calls and paperwork. My job isn’t all that much different than any other office worker, just have more things riding on the results is all.” He twisted the cap of the bottle and took a swig of the ice cold liquid. He had to be honest with himself, his job was a lot more complicated then he ever expected even when he was being groomed for the spot. It really was a weight on his shoulders and his conscience. Physically he might be above everyone in the company but mentally he felt like he was the one on the bottom, holding it all up. “‘Heavy is the crown’ and all that. It is what it is, not much I can do about it.” Quinn shrugged and joined Leander, settling into his own seat facing the other man and putting the bottle of water on the coffee table between them.

As much as he wanted to just jump right into things, manners and priority needed to be followed. “How are things with you? No issues or complications I hope.” Quinn didn’t necessarily mean regarding the task at hand but in general… however if Leander took it that way who was he to dissuade him. Besides, Quinn was quite interested in the folders that Leander was already pulling out. He wanted to know. It was like an itch that he couldn’t scratch. A question that had been haunting him for months now might very well be answered right there in black and white. Just out of his reach. It wouldn’t be polite to just… snatch the folder away from Leander. It wasn’t polite. It wasn’t polite. It wasn’t polite. It. Wasn’t. Polite.

He had to keep reminding himself that patience was a virtue because he just wanted to know. He had to know. Quinn did his best to hide his desire for the folder, but it was hard to keep his eyes off of it.

“That's great,” Quinn murmured as he gingerly picked up the offered folders. Now that the moment was actually there it was so much harder to grasp the idea that he held the answers. They were right there. In his hands and in front of him. Did he want to know? Should he know? What if he was wrong? What if the little kid in the picture wasn’t his? What if he was wrong? Or worse… what if they didn’t want anything to do with him? Taking a deep breath Quinn flipped the folder open and couldn’t help but just stare at the picture that was laying on his lap. A little child laughing, playing on some swings. They were obviously having the time of their life, the woman standing behind the kid seemed distantly familiar but no one Quinn could put his finger on. Was this him or her? Was this his child? Quinn studied the picture, his fingers trailing over the high gloss paper before the form behind it had him shifting the picture over.

“Michael James… Parson.” He studied the copy of the birth certificate that provided the name of the little boy that had been haunting his dreams for nearly a year. “A little boy. I have a son?” Quinn glanced up at Leander, a grin absolutely taking over his face. It still wasn’t proven that the little boy was his but the resemblance was uncanny. He had to be related somehow. They would have to do a DNA test just to be certain but Quinn was already pretty sure that he was a father. “I have a kid. God… how… who? When? I-” He just trailed off not sure how to even vocalize the confusion he felt right then. So many questions and all of them so insignificant when compared to that one piece of information.

He couldn’t believe it. It didn’t feel real.

Quinn absently went back to staring at the picture of his kid playing even as Leander talked about the info that was gathered in the file. He was a father. He had a kid. It had been a thought in the back of his mind for so long but now he had proof, it was right there in his hands. It also brought up a ton more questions, mostly revolving around how exactly this situation even happened. “Contact them?” He was pulled from his own thoughts when the PI suggested he reach out to his kid and his mother… maybe even his ‘father’. For some reason it never really crossed his mind right then that he really did need to talk to them. If only to square some legal things away.

“Yeah, I guess I should.” He sat there quietly contemplating the next steps. There were things that needed to be done. Lawyers to contact and paperwork to fill out. Finding them really was just the first item in a long list of things. “God, how does one just approach the mother of your child? ‘Hey, I don’t remember you but I hope you remember me?’ That's some messed up s**t right there.” There was no question of if he should contact them but how he would do it. There was just too much at stake for him not to.

“Thanks,” Quinn muttered even as he sat there realizing that thing just became so much more real for him. His next actions could change this woman’s life forever. Would she be happy? Sad? Scared? Would him showing up from out of the blue make her life easier or harder? “Guess I’ll have to actually go over everything and figure out my next move.” It was all just so surreal to him and yet all so very real. A reality that he had to actually face sooner rather than later since it has already been so long in the first place.

Taking a deep breath the man composed himself, visibly straightening up and becoming more of the corporate leader he actually was, rather than the shell shocked kid who was just told he was a dad. “Thank you Leander,” He picked up the passed over little flash drive. “I know that the task wasn’t an easy one but the fact that you found him, that you found them both, means you are one damn fine Private Investigator. I’ll go through all the documentation you’ve found before going forward,” Quinn really did want to know what he was going to be getting into. “You’ve been a big help and have earned every penny.” His final pay was already ready for Leander, including the bonus that Quinn had promised him. Quinn knew that the work hadn’t been easy and wanted to make sure that the other man knew just how much he appreciated it. “Here, it's everything owed and more so.” He passed the envelope with the payment check in it to Leander.

Easing up on his ‘I’m the boss’ facade Quinn smiled and looked the PI right in the eyes, “Let me know if you ever need anything, you’ve done more than enough to earn that from me and mine.” He was already more than willing to pass the other man’s business card around to anyone who needed it but this offer was a bit more special. If Leander ever needed help or any other type of assistance then Quinn wouldn’t hesitate to jump in. It was the least he could do.

The man chuckled and shrugged, “just because the whole PI stuff is done doesn’t mean we can’t go out and have drinks sometimes.” Quinn wasn’t about to just ‘cut and run’ as it were. Leander might not be what one would consider a best friend but Quinn liked to at least think he was at least a close acquaintance, nearly a friend in everything but name. As much as the age old wisdom was ‘not to hire friends’ or loaning money to friends and family, he found it to be bunk. Seung was part of the company, a hired employee, and yet he was a friend. Many of the higher executives Quinn would consider friends. Trust but verify was a big thing in his world. Friends could be trusted… still didn’t hurt to verify when viable. Then again that was a big part of having power and money.

“You have my number so don’t be a stranger. Hopefully by the time we are able to get a drink or something I’ll be able to let you know how everything went.” Quinn figured Leander was a busy guy, he knew his own workload was rather batty but there was always time to spend with friends… as long as he put it in the schedule. He looked down at the file in his lap, once again wondering just what his next move should be. “I don’t suppose you have any suggestions on the best way to contact her, do you?” How did one not just surprise the hell out of someone when showing up out of the blue like he would?

A letter? He contemplated it. Overall it wasn’t a bad idea. Non-intrusive, as long as he kept it simple it wouldn’t be overly shocking, and it would let her come to terms with him showing up at her own pace. It really wasn’t a bad idea at all. And he had her address right there in the file, at least he assumed so. If not he could always ask Leander for a little more help.

“I really like the letter idea though I’ll have to figure out the best way to write it.” The main thing he had to keep in mind was not to scare her. Baring an egregious laps in maternal caring, which Quinn assumed Leander would have just come out and said something, Quinn had absolutely no desire to separate the duo but he had heard and seen many horror cases where that happened. He was not going to do that but he was concerned if he came on too strong that she might take it that way.

With a sigh Quinn shrugged, “I can only hope so Leander. I can only hope.” How did he ever get into this mess? Anger, drinking, and a touch of chaos that's how… Damn.

He really was a father…

Oh god.

He was a dad!