R is for Raindrops
By: LemonPOPtart
2007 Summer Challenge
Summary: Charlie teaches his daughter how to catch raindrops.
Disclaimer: I don't own Numb3rs. I just like to play with the characters. I promise to put them back. Even Charlie. Jordan, Riley and Benjamin are mine, and are purely fictional.
R is for Raindrops
Four year old Riley Eppes stared forlornly out her bedroom window. It was overcast outside, and a light rain was falling.
Charlie stood in the door way of Riley's room, watching his daughter. "Hey, Riley, what's wrong?"
Riley turned to look at him. "It's raining. And there's nothing to do."
Charlie smiled at his little daughter. "Oh, now, there's always something to do. How about you and I find something together?"
She grinned at him, nodded, and crossed the room to take his hand. "What are we gonna do?"
He smiled at her. "You'll see. I have an idea."
Father and daughter walked down the hall. Charlie opened his bedroom door and peeked inside. Jordan lay curled up on their bed, with the baby cradled in her arms. They were both sound asleep. Charlie smiled, and looked down at Riley, putting a finger to his lips. She nodded, as he quietly pulled the door closed. "Your Mom was up half the night with the baby. We'll let them sleep."
She nodded agreement.
The two descended the stairs, and Charlie led his daughter out the back door, onto the patio. Riley looked up at him curiously. "We're doing something out here in the rain?"
"Yup." He grinned at her. "Hold your face up, and open your mouth. Stick out your tongue."
She eyed him suspiciously. "What are we doing?"
"Catching raindrops," he smiled. "Watch." Charlie closed his eyes, turning his face heavenward, mouth open. The rain lightly fell across his face. Riley watched him a moment, and joined in.
"The rain is getting all over my glasses," she complained.
Charlie laughed and removed his daughter's glasses, tucking them safely into his pocket.
"Now, I can't see," she protested.
"For this, Baby, you don't need to see," Charlie told her, kissing her wet cheek.
Riley tilted her face up, feeling the rain on her face, lips, and eyelashes. She loved the feeling. She stuck her tongue out, and felt the rain on her tongue. "I got some!" she grinned.
Charlie laughed. "Get some more."
Silently, they stood, side by side, catching rain drops. "Did you do this when you were little, Daddy?"
"Yes. I did it with my Mom." He smiled a little, fondly remembering his mother, how she stood with him, here on the patio, telling him about how the rain watered everything, and could wash away everything when you were sad and lonely.
"Do you think Grandma knows we are doing this, Daddy?" Riley asked, catching another raindrop.
Charlie looked up into the sky. He felt tears in his eyes. "Yeah, Baby, I do."
Riley grinned up at him. "When Ben is bigger, I wanna show him how to catch raindrops too."
"I think that would be great, Riley."
She nodded, closing her eyes, and sticking out her tongue again for another raindrop. "You know Daddy, I was sad. But I think the rain washed it away."
He smiled at her. "Yeah. I know exactly what you mean."