1
Ianto entered the room and paused at the doorway, picking up the clipboard sitting on the small table and he ran his eyes down the list, then grunted as he recognised a name. He tapped the list, and then placed it down, moving to the hand washing station, then hand sanitizer as he looked down the aisle of cribs.
He walked over and peered into the little crib, smiling softly as he spoke "Good afternoon there young Hendrix. You still here then?"
The baby in question sprang to life, little limbs flapping as he squealed and Ianto laughed as he lifted the baby carefully into his arms, mindful of all the wires and tubes. He shuffled back to the rocking chair and sat, settling the baby into a cuddle clutch, singing softly as he patted the little back and the baby clung to his shirt with wide eyes, drinking him in.
"Ah Doctor Harkness-Jones" a middle-aged nurse entered and smiled as she looked down at the baby "Awww, that's the happiest he's been all day."
"No parents today?"
"No. The mother is having another procedure and the father is so upset he is waiting in her room. He knows coming near little Hendrix will only feed the little man's upsets too" she sighed. "On a high note … his feeding tube will come out today."
"And they will miss it" Ianto sighed "We will have to video it for them, his first bottle."
"You have such a lovely heart" she reached out to stroke his cheek in a motherly way "How is that one of yours?"
Ianto knew she meant Walter … they always meant him and he smiled and he answered "The show is almost wrapped for the season. He might come with me next week, he does like to sneak in for cuddles with these ones."
"He is a lovely boy. We do enjoy seeing him" she gushed.
"You wanton woman, your poor husband must be wreaked trying to find a Piney Costume to please you" Ianto teased and she laughed.
"You are lucky you are holding a prem, I might slap you otherwise!" she scolded.
"Careful, I am old enough to be your brother you know" he said and she laughed again, leaning in to kiss his cheek then moving off with a spring in her step.
Ianto looked at the baby, now asleep without the usual frown of pain.
Ianto loved this job.
He decided to sing again, more babies stilling to listen with delight.
