Thirty Six Weeks
And
Counting
Chapter One
(Week Thirty-six)
Eliot came home to an empty apartment. A very clean but empty apartment. He threw his bag by the door and checked the bedrooms, bathrooms and storage room. There was no sign of Kenna. She hadn't know he was on his way home but lately she was always there to greet him with a smile, among other things. He headed back out the door and downstairs to the bar. She wasn't there either.
"Hey Mike, have you seen Kenna?" Eliot asked the bartender.
"Yeah, she was headed out back after the lunch rush. She helped play catch up and then headed out."
"Thanks." Eliot shook his head. The woman was eight months pregnant and she was still helping Mike bus tables. He headed into the back room and found no sign of Kenna except the room was spotless and the liquor bottles were straighter and in alphabetical order.
"She's in the garage." Nate came around the corner.
"How do you know?"
"Because that's the only place she hasn't cleaned yet." He looked at Eliot. "Tell her thanks for getting the gummy frogs off the sofa cushions." Pouring a cup of coffee Nate sat at the table with his news paper.
"Yeah, no problem." Eliot headed out the back door and to the garage that house their vehicles. Kenna stood on a stool with the hood of the truck open. She had a wrench in her right hand and she was swearing at something she was trying to tighten. "Hey darlin' that truck has been nothin' but good to you so you better watch what you call her." Kenna turned around so quickly she lost her balance on the stool and if Eliot hadn't been as quick as he was she would of fallen ass over tea kettle on the cement floor. She looked up into his eyes and smiled.
"Hey cowboy, long time no see." He leaned over and kissed her. It had only been three days but he had missed waking up with her in his arms.
"What are you doing?"
"The truck had a rattle."
"Why are you even driving the truck, I told you to use the Charger."
"Little problem fitting behind the steering wheel and getting out of it is more of a challenger then getting in the truck." Kenna pushed away from him and went back to tuning up the truck.
"I guess we could go look for a minivan." Was barley out of Eliot's mouth before the wrench came flying at him. He ducked just in time. "I take that as a no on the minivan." He said under his breath. She looked over her shoulder.
"Ya think." Hardison said as he came into the garage. Kenna went back under the hood. "Here's those papers you wanted and I'm getting the hell out before she starts throwing the sledge hammer." He turned and left Eliot standing there, pretty much not knowing what to do or what to say. Walking up behind Kenna he wrapped his arms around her, running his hands over her extended belly. The baby kicked and fluttered inside her. Kenna closed her eyes.
"She loves when you do that." Kenna let her head fall back against his shoulder.
"We have four weeks till she's finally here." He whispered in her ear.
"Nothing better get in the way of you being here with us."
"Nate wouldn't let that happen Kenna." Kissing her neck he ran her hands over her belly. "I think maybe we should go upstairs and warm up." He growled.
"I have to finish the truck Eliot." She pushed off him and stood. "The Celtics play at seven." He shook his head.
"You'd take fixing the truck and a Celtics game over me?" Eliot pouted.
"I didn't say what we were going to do for the half time show." She smiled and went back to fixing the truck.
"Kenna Shane what am I gonna do with you?" He said as he turned to leave. Four weeks till their whole life would change. For weeks till their daughter was born. Eliot looked back one last time at the woman who had stolen his heart. Four weeks. It seemed a lifetime.
o/o/o/o/o/o/o
"Eliot?" Sophie caught him going into the bar.
"Yeah, Soph."
"We need to discuss something."
"Now?"
"Yes now. The baby is due in four weeks and we haven't even talked about the baby shower."
"Baby shower?"
"You know the party with gifts for the child being born in four weeks." Sophie sounded exasperated.
"I know what a baby shower is Sophie, I just didn't…think that Kenna would be comfortable with all those people fussing over her. She barley lets me get her a glass of water."
"So you were just going to skip it?"
"I hadn't really thought about it."
"We need to call Clara and Jodi and see when they can get here. Hardison can book their flights as early as tomorrow but we need more time to plan." Eliot looked at the older woman.
"I missed you." He said.
"I haven't gone anywhere Eliot."
"Yeah, Sophie you were gone for a really long time." She looked at him.
"I was, wasn't I?" Smiling Eliot nodded.
"Welcome back." He told her. "Talk to Nate and see what he's got for cases and plan it around that. Just don't say I didn't warn you if Kenna goes off the deep end." Eliot continued his journey back to his apartment. Parker was waiting at his front door. "What happened to the twenty four hour rule Parker?"
"I need some help." She looked almost pitiful.
"This can't wait?"
"No." She looked serious.
"What do you need help with?" He unlocked the door.
"I want to cook Hardison dinner and…I can't even boil water."
"You need help with this now because?"
"Okay I'm not sure on my calculations but I think it might be some kind of anniversary thing tonight."
"You think?"
"Well it's kinda fuzzy on when we first started…dating or whatever it is we're doing."
"Just order take out and pop in some Star Trek movie and it will be just as great."
"Would you do that for Kenna?" Eliot looked at Parker. He let out a long breath.
"Spaghetti is your best option. Come in and I'll show you how to boil the water for the noodles and I have a couple of jars of my homemade sauce in the cupboard."
"Thank you." She squealed and hugged him. "You're the best."
"So I've been told." He went to the kitchen to show Parker how to make dinner without burning down the kitchen.
0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0
Kenna let the water run down her body and closed her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping much because Faith wouldn't let her. The child must be more Eliot than her because the minute she laid down at night the child started kicking her ribs like she wanted out now. She had tried everything from sitting up to lying on the floor but the second Kenna relaxed the baby decided to play.
"This better not be a habit little one." Kenna ran her hand down her stomach. "I like my sleep too much." Finishing her shower and getting dressed she found Eliot still in the kitchen with Parker, showing her the finer points of garlic bread. She smiled. It was nice to see the Eliot she had grown up with come back now and then. Seeing him showing Parker things always brought back memories of the things he taught her as a child.
"Hey, sorry we got a little carried away." Eliot said looking up from the stove.
"It's okay. We have twenty minutes before the game starts."
"At least dinner is made." Parker smiled. "Thanks Eliot." She grabbed her bottle of sauce off the counter. "See you tomorrow Kenna." The thief slipped out of the door and Kenna slid onto the bar stool.
"Sorry I missed the shower." Eliot said as he turned the sauce down. He hadn't noticed how tired she had looked earlier. "Are you okay?" He turned off the sauce.
"Yeah, just a little tired."
"When was the last time you slept?" He went around the counter.
"I can't remember." Kenna whispered.
"Why?"
"She isn't a sleeper apparently." She ran her hand down her stomach. Eliot lifted her chin.
"Let's get you fed and into bed. Screw the basketball game."
"Eliot, I like your way of thinking." Kenna smiled.
"Sleep, Kenna, sleep." She shook her head.
"Nothing makes me sleep better than having you make love to me first." Kenna pulled him close.
"You're exhausted baby. Get some rest. There's time for all that later." He kissed her.
"Please…." She whispered. He could never say no to her. Taking her hand he lead her to their bedroom and kissed her again.
"You should just crawl under the cover and sleep darlin'." He said as he slid off her t-shirt.
"I missed you." She leaned over and kissed him and forgot about the how tired she was. Taking over she tore at his clothing despetly.
"Hey, darlin' we have all night." He laid her down on the bed and took off his shirt and slid off his jeans. Kenna slid off her pajama pants. Eliot knew she wouldn't make it past more than some heavy petting and she would fall asleep. Pulling her up he tossed back the blankets and laid her down next and joined her.
"I love you." She looked into his eyes. The baby felt her laying horizontal and decided to start dancing on her ribs. Kenna flinched.
"Has she been doing that a lot?" Eliot ran his hand down her abdomen. The kicking subsided and there was only light fluttering.
"Every time I lay down. That's the first time she stopped." Eliot took his hand off her stomach and the kicking started again. "I think you calm her down." Kenna took his hand and put it back against her bare skin. Again the kicking slowed and then the fluttering again. She moved it away and the baby kicked. Putting it back she closed her eyes and was able to relax for the first time in days.
"Sleep Kenna." Eliot pulled her into his arms and laid his hand firmly on her stomach. She was asleep within seconds. His hand stroked her. "You gotta stop giving your mom a hard time." He whispered. "She needs her rest to." He closed his eyes. Four weeks. She might keep them up all night then too but at least he could be there to hold her and feed her and keep her safe while her mother slept.