John was a hardened soldier most of his life. He watched his men die in war too more times than he'd admit. But it didn't break him. He coped for his team, fighting till he couldn't anymore eventually he had to retire. Civilian life was harder, when your used to a routine. It wasn't training or missions now, it was sitting at home, watching TV. it wasn't enough for him. He got a job, opening a small grocery store. Not much, but enough to keep him occupied. After that, he adopted a dog from the shelter. to keep him company. But that still wasn't enough to satisfy him. He needed something more. First, he thought it was the lack of a partner getting to him. But at the same time, he was never a man for love. Hell, he didn't think he'd survive long enough to settle down

And finally, his thoughts started hinting him at a child. He had a stable income and a free room at his house, ready to be shifted into a comfy bedroom. He definietly wanted to adopt a child - no, more so, a teenager. He wasn't in his prime to run around with a kid, but perhaps he could offer someone a little older a stable and loving home. After a lot of background checks, house visits and paperwork, he finally settled in on fostering luke. A teenager with a rather traumatic background not too long ago getting out of wilderness therapy, which definitely changed their mindset. But that didn't stop John. He was ready to foster, and potentially, which he hoped for, adopt them. In the first days of luke's presence in his house, he could see the clear signs of negligence, both emotional and physical on them. and as much as John knew how to deal with young recruits, this wasn't one of them, it was a child, and he wanted them to keep that

It was another day in his house, like usual. He woke up at 5am a habit he couldn't get rid of and went to get dressed. He didn't expect luke to be up, especially since he was just getting ready to go on a walk with Bear, his dog.