AN: Okay I am working on some major changes in this story, seems like every time I post something I will look back a year later and decide it needs to be refreshed. As always I own nothing in this story besides my own characters. If I did own them I certainly would not be sitting here at community college right now.
~I looked down at the tiny squirming baby in my arms in shock; there was no way this could really be happening. The note that now lay abandoned on the table said I was her father. How could that be even remotely possible? I had always been so careful. My heart raced as I stared down at the tiny little baby girl in my arms. It angered me that the mother or some other cold hearted bastard had just left this poor child on my doorstep in the ice cold rain. I about had a heart attack when I came home from Patrol to find the baby shivering and blue on my doorstep, if It hadn't been for my wolf hearing I would have thought the baby was dead. She had been so still on my doorstep, even now that I had her bundled up in a warm towel she still did not move anything like I had seen other children do. Sam and Emily tiny newborn was always wiggling and rolling around, had I been too late to save this little girl. I let a low growl escaped from my chest.
I heard the sirens pulling into my driveway as I held the baby close to my chest; I had called 9-11 and the cops as soon as I had the tiny bundle wrapped in a towel and snuggled up to my overly warm body. I looked up a little uneasy as two officers from tribal police walked through my front door without knocking. These officers knew me too damn well, over the years that had been quite used to coming here to deal with my parents domestic disputes. I stared back down at the baby as Officer Smith grabbed the note off my table.
"This makes no sense Lahote ,Do you know who this baby belongs too?" I shook my head ,the note stated that I was this little girl's father but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't wrap my head around the idea, everyone knew everyone in La Push. We all knew this baby had not been born around here.
"Well the first step will be to take the child to the hospital since she was left out in the rain for an unknown amount of time."
I wanted to growl again at that last comment, I felt instantly protective over this tiny little girl in my arms, even though the thought blew my mind that I somehow had created this little life. Someone had abandoned this child on my doorstep, someone who obviously did care for her wellbeing.
"I want to believe that when she was left it wasn't raining, but I don't know what to believe."
"Is there a chance that the note is true and you are the baby's father?" The second officer asked with note in hand. I thought about it for a moment I knew there was more than a chance, but what angered me was I finally put two and two together.
The note had been left in a plastic bag; it had to have been raining when the baby she left. Who could do something so horrible to an innocent child, just thinking about this injustice made my skin crawl.
"I very well could be her father." I instantly regretted most of my playboy days, but then I looked down at the little girl whom might be my daughter and instantly knew I wouldn't take her back for anything.
"We'll have to have a DNA test ran to determine if you are the father before the child can be released into your will also have to check the missing children database and make sure no one has reported a missing baby"
"You mean she is being taken away from me, she my daughter and i have never done anything to put her life in dangers nor would I ever?" My wolf growled in the back of my head. At that moment I knew I didn't need a DNA test, my wolf knew that this child was ours., I trusted his judgement, he wouldn't claim a pup that was not his, he didn't understand this new threat to his pup,wanted me to phase and make the officers leave our pup alone. But my human self knew the baby needed to be in a hospital right now and beside turning into a wolf in front of these officers would not help my case any.
"I know she has to go to the hospital, can I stay with her, I mean if she is my daughter and I leave her alone I will never feel right about it." I asked as the E.M.T's walked through the door.
"That will be up to the social worker, but for now it will be fine for you to accompany the child to the hospital." I nodded handing the tiny little baby over to the awaiting E.M.T. I wanted to yank the her back into my arms as my little one began to scream.
It was hard to hold off my wolf as the E.M.T's began to walk off with the baby. With all my willpower I held my wolf back as I followed everyone out of the house. I was surprised when I was able to ride along with the baby to the hospital. She quieted as I touched her little hand; it was almost as if she knew she belonged here with me and she needed me just as much as I needed her.
An hour later I was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. The nurses wouldn't let me into the room till the social worker arrived. My wolf was on edge as I paced, I hated that I could hear my little girl screaming all the way down the hall. Poor little thing, I knew she must be going through hell as the doctors poked at her.
"Paul what the hell is going on?" Sam asked as he and Emily walked through the door.
"Thanks for coming Sam, I didn't know who else to call but you and Emily." I knew I must look like shit from the way Sam was looking at me his eyes filled with concern.
"Just tell me what happened?" Sam asked with confusion his voice.
"I came home from patrol and found this tiny little baby on my doorstep; the poor kid was almost blue from being left in the rain."
"Why would someone just leave a kid on your doorstep, I mean shit like that just does not happen anymore, that only happens in the movies?"
"The note left with her said she was my daughter, but the mother did not sign the note so I have no idea who she could be."
"Well think Paul, who were you with about nine months ago?"
"A few different girls, hell there was two girls I met at a bar and didn't even know their name's so it's not like that is going to help much."
"DNA will tell us for sure if she's yours, how are you feeling about this?"
"My wolf gets pissed whenever anyone else is around the baby. That's his pup and he made sure to let me know."
"My wolf did the Same thing when Emily had our little one." Sam said with a smile.
"I don't know how to be a father Sam; I don't want to be like my parents."
"You won't be Paul, because you want to give her a better life than what you had growing up. Your parents were both drunks you are not. That is one thing your child will have in her favor. I know you'll never hurt her like your parents hurt you."
"Not even if my life depended on it, its scary I just met that child but I know I would die for her if I had too."
"That's how any good father should feel about their child."
"Thanks for coming down here, I was freaking out. I keep thinking about how the hell I am going to take care of her on my own."
"You won't be alone Paul, no matter what you have the pack behind you."
"Thanks, I mean how the hell am I going to be able to run patrols and take care of a newborn baby? Shit Sam, I was guessing if I was holding her right when I found her."
"Just an idea Paul, my sister's oldest daughter is in town. She going into child development maybe I could send her over to help you out every now and then."
"How is she with baby's though?"
"Paul do you think I would send anyone to you that I didn't trust."
"No I don't."
"Good, if you want you can meet her now she's out in the truck, I'll go get her and let you boys chat." I still didn't know what to think about Emily's idea. Yes I needed the help but for some reason I was having a hard time trusting anyone. My head was spinning with all these new emotions, to tell you the truth I felt sick over all the stress; I hadn't felt this was since the bullshit my parents used to put me through.
"Just sit down and relax for a while you need to have your head together by the time the social worker gets here." Sam said calmly I wish I could be more like him sometimes. It would be nice to be able to handle things that happen around me with a calm head.
"I know that Sam, that's another thing that is freaking me out. My parents had a C.P.S case sheet about a mile long. Who in their right mind would ever give me a kid when I was raised by crazy people like them?" I groaned as I leaned my head against the wall. Maybe she would be better with someone else someone more stable than her loser father.
"Paul, you are not your parents, you will be a good father to her but it is not something you will be able to learn overnight. You have to remember you are not the only one who is learning here. She is going to be learning about you as much as you will be learning about her." I looked back at Sam; I felt better talking with Sam. He knew what he was doing, even if he himself had only been a father for six months.
I looked back as Emily walked out of the elevator with a girl I had never met before. Our eyes met and my world seemed to crumble in on me. This woman was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I knew at that moment no matter what I would be there for her in any way she would allow me to be.
Sam looked at me and then at back at the girls, I watched as dawned on him what had happened.
"Turning out to be one hell of a day for you." Sam smiled as he shook his head, I knew it wouldn't take him long to realize I had found my imprint.
"Paul Lahote" my world froze as another woman walking into the room calling my name. Damn, hell of a time for the social worker to show up.