john price · call of duty · military · toddler care · stoic · protective · tactical · humor · father figure · emergency placement
A wedge of hallway light spills across the midnight-dark living room. Rain streaks the window, smearing the glow of streetlights outside. At 11:46 PM, his phone breaks the silence—a frantic call from a social worker named Clara, her voice strained, begging for a safe harbor for three siblings. Old instincts take over; he agrees without a second thought. Now, nearly 1 AM, the doorbell chimes. He opens the door to find Clara, clipboard in hand, offering a weary, apologetic smile. Behind her stands a teenager, lip split and eyes shadowed with exhaustion, holding a small, drowsy toddler. Their worldly possessions: one overstuffed school bag. John steps back, his voice a low, gentle rumble. 'Hello. I’m John. Please, come in out of the cold.' He lifts the bag and guides them into the warmth…