The Dawning

Climbing tiredly up the stairs FBI agent Paul Briggs admitted to himself that nothing appealed to him more than falling into bed. He could barely wait. The day had taxed him physically and mentally and then it had run right into overtime.

Truthfully he had survived ten hours of on-the-job-brutal.

Yes indeed, he was tired.

As his hand grabbed the top newel post Mike Warren popped into view from the floor below him. "Briggs, wait! I need you to check over this report for me and sign off on it."

Paul paused but would not glance down. "Tomorrow, Mike. I'll check it tomorrow."

Mike's tone changed to one of concern. "What if you forget? I need it to file it at the agency by noon."

"You should have gotten me earlier if you wanted it tonight." Paul responded calmly. He tried to deliver the words without an implied reprimand.

Mike's tone switched to one of pleading but Briggs had already left the conversation behind. "I'm going to bed but I will take care of it in the morning."

Every muscle screamed to rest and he grabbed the knob to his bedroom with sheer relief before pausing to debate his next move. Despite his exhaustion he backtracked towards the bathroom. Washing the crime of the day away would make his sleep even better.

Paige waylaid him as he pulled a clean bath towel from the linen closet. "Paul, please come look at this wire for me. I want to take it tomorrow to my drug bust and it suddenly doesn't transmit when I tested it."

Briggs fingered the soft towel and shook his head. "Not tonight. I'll fix it tomorrow before you go, though."

Paige frowned, "But you always…."

"No, Paige," he repeated firmly. "Tomorrow. I'm going to shower now." Moving deliberately he turned his back to her and ignored her subsequent pleas.

By the time jets of steaming water pounded into his aching muscles he had forgotten she or Mike had even delayed him.

Johnny's face appeared within the steam just as Paul reached up and closed the tap. Burying his face into the towel as the final drips splashed the tile he muttered, "What, Johnny?"

"Yo Briggs," Johnny leaned against the counter and spoke excitedly. "I've got a favor to ask you, man."

Briggs rubbed the towel roughly over his hair and shook his head from side to side. "No."

"You don't even know what I want!" Johnny defended himself, shocked at how Paul's unreasonable reply had surfaced so quickly.

Unrepentant, Paul wrapped the towel around his waist and strode purposefully towards the door, clearly not concerned about gathering details of Johnny's favor.

Johnny hurried to catch up with him. "Just one favor, that's all! One, Paul, and just this time."

Paul opened the door and strode purposefully to his room.

Unwilling to give up, Johnny jogged into the hall. "Please Paul, let me trade off with Mikey tonight. Just this one and only time let me switch. I met a hot girl this afternoon and she promised me we could hook up at the tiki bar tonight."

The moment he edged into the room Paul turned to regard the younger man with a stern expression. "No, Johnny. My answer is no. That rule about not switching assignments is the rule about not switching assignments. Call your girl and reschedule. You may not switch with Warren."

Johnny threw his hand dramatically against his forehead. "Whatcha got to be so mean for?"

"Because I am," Paul reasoned irritably. "This discussion just closed." Paul turned to shut the door but paused to regard Johnny once more to warn, "I mean it, JohnBoy."

Johnny scowled and blew out a breath, "Ok, I hear you. You don't have to keep repeating yourself."

Once the door closed with a final snap Paul regarded the bed with something close to adoration before launching himself face first into the pillows. He lay there nearly a minute before inching up and pulling the bedding out from under himself, along with the damp towel. He wadded the towel into a makeshift ball and threw it towards the windows.

Charlie's voice outside the door cued him that she would enter shortly. Paul smiled and turned on his side to speak to her. He did love that girl!

She headed straight for him when she entered and kissed him softly on the lips. "Go to sleep," she ordered quietly, "but Dale sent a message that he probably won't be in tonight."

Paul pulled himself up against the pillows. "What did he give for the reason this time?"

"He didn't," Charlie leaned down to brush a hand over his still damp hair. "He did say he'd run it by you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is the after-the-fact," Paul massaged his temples. "The fact that he sent the message through you makes me suspicious. He did that deliberately. I don't know what he's got up his sleeve but it worries me."

Charlie snapped off the lamp. "Let it go tonight. You can hold him accountable tomorrow."

Paul held up the edge of the bedding so that she could slide under, then waited until she settled against him before he closed his eyes and began to concentrate on relaxation. "Does it ever feel to you that we are the parents of four kids we're trying to keep on the straight and narrow? And I mean sneaky and hardheaded kids, but also kinda cute kids we've nurtured from toddlerhood to teens."

"All the time," Charlie whispered in agreement.

Paul smoothed the pillow. "Maybe I can dream they don't actually belong to us."

A tiny voice invaded his sleep and Paul turned to the other side of the bed to block the sound. Whispered protests followed and a second voice joined the first.

"Move and let me jump really high. That'll wake him, Paige," a voice clearly Johnny's permeated Paul's consciousness.

Paige hurried to the opposite side of the bed and pulled at Paul's eyelid with interest. "You in there, Daddy?"

Paul groaned and accepted his fate. The children had tag teamed against him and had no intention of allowing him to sleep longer. He opened his eyes and attempted to focus on the kids as he awkwardly pulled himself to a reclining position against the pillows. He reached out to yank Johnny to him as the little boy stood upright on the mattress. "Good morning JT, and don't jump on the bed."

Paige climbed onto the mattress and fell against Paul with a grin. "Hey, Daddy."

"Hey yourself," he greeted, kissing first Paige and then Johnny on top of their heads. "Why do you want me awake?"

"Mommy said so," Johnny clarified.

"She did," Paige confirmed, squirming until she could sit in Paul's lap and face him. "Your hair looks funny."

"No doubt," he agreed. Paul smiled at his daughter, a petite blond with soft hazel eyes. At four she was the family's baby, and the only girl.

Six year old Johnny narrowed his eyes. "Will you take us to the zoo?"

Paul moved Paige to the side and slid off the bed. "Probably not today, Son, but soon."

"But this is our celebration day," Johnny argued.

Paul pulled the boy up to a standing position on the mattress. Johnny's brown eyes regarded him thoughtfully as his father brushed back the little boy's brown bangs. His son was overdue for a haircut but Paul hadn't had a free afternoon to take him to a barber and couldn't rely upon Charlie to do so. His wife thought all three boys were simply adorable with longish hair, so arranging haircuts fell to him.

That was one of his scheduled errands this morning.

Paul tapped Johnny on the nose. "Right, but first in the morning we take care of all our errands so that then this afternoon we celebrate."

"I'm 'cited!" Paige squealed, clapping her hands together. "I'm going to school!"

The truth was that the past two years Paige had begged to accompany her older brothers to school, but of course, she was too young. In addition, the five year old, Mike, had been too young as well, but this year he would enter kindergarten. Charlie and Paul had privately agonized over how Paige would handle the separation and had finally come up with a solution. They enrolled her in a private preschool program run through a church very near the elementary school all three boys would attend. Though she would not have siblings there, Paige would have opportunities to interact with other children.

Paul shook his head and pretended to not understand. "School? I don't remember anything about school?"

"Yes Daddy, you do!" Paige insisted. "Everybody starts school tomorrow and I am everybody too."

He couldn't restrain his laughter. "Yes you are, baby girl." He glanced deliberately at the bed and then back at Paige and Johnny. "If I had some helpers this morning to assist me in making my bed I would get finished faster and we could start our day sooner."

"Count on me," Johnny volunteered, racing to the opposite side. Paige joined him and the two yanked at the comforter and straightened the pillows.

Once Paul dressed he motioned them to follow.

Before heading downstairs he checked bedrooms to make sure the kids had made their beds and put up toys and belongings. Those were expected duties.

Dale and Mike still lingered at breakfast and Paul threw and arm around each and kissed them both. At seven Dale was the oldest and also the most reserved. Truthfully Paul described him as taciturn. On the other hand, Mike was the shyest of all four progeny.

Paul slipped up behind Charlie as she loaded dishes into the dishwasher and nuzzled the back of her neck. "You should have waited for me to help."

Charlie had her long hair fastened into a high ponytail. She turned to regard him. "I wanted you to have an extra half hour of sleep. The kids will wear us out today."

Paul tilted his head and licked his lips suggestively. Even after years together he still considered Charlie DeMarco one of the most beautiful women he had ever encountered. Petite and lithe, her brown hair and eyes adorned an intelligent woman with a fantastic sense of humor. "You look scrumptious, sweet thing," he whispered.

She slid her arms around his neck and ran her fingernails across his scalp. "I have to match my husband with good looks. You know how you turn heads with your rugged physique and soulful brown eyes, Paul Briggss."

A dish crashing to the floor interrupted and both swiveled to locate the damage. Dale immediately jumped up from his seat and held up his hands to proclaim his innocence. "Not I- my glass and cereal bowl are in the dishwasher already."

Paul hastily grabbed the overturned cereal dish on the floor.

Little Mike threw himself back in his own chair and crossed his arms across his chest.

Evidently the almost-kindergartner was miffed.

"What happened, Big Boy?" Paul questioned. "Tell me, but help clean this up while you tell me."

Instead of obeying Mike puffed out his lip. Behind Paul, Dale shared his take on Mike's displeasure. "He got mad 'cause I said only babies still have to take naps 'cause he and Paige do. They nap like every single day."

"Thanks for the detail," Paul responded drily, "but as a matter of fact I recall seeing you taking a nap just a couple of days ago."

"Only when Mommy made me," Dale sputtered, annoyed at having his seniority as the oldest mixed with the immaturity of the youngest.

Paul turned back to Mike, impressed that the little fellow had maintained his extremely displeased look through the exchange. "Mikey Mike, I believe I told you to start cleaning."

When the child still stayed silent and immobile Paul's demeanor changed.

FBI agents who were parents of four energetic children, he and Charlie expected the kids to follow their instructions immediately.

He announced, "Ok, Mike, that's the second time Daddy told you to help clean. Now I'm counting, and remember that if I have to get to three, then…."

"You can spank him!" Johnny contributed from across the room where he lay across the sofa back, perfectly balanced like an airplane.

"If anyone gets spanked it's going to be you if you fall off the sofa and break my lamp," Charlie promised, stooping to retrieve the dishwasher detergent.

"One," Paul counted, focusing upon Mike. "Two." With no movement from the five year old Paul reminded him, "If I get to three and you are still sitting you are headed straight to time out, Michael."

Mike shifted but remained resolute. Paige regarded her brother wide eyed. Rarely did Mike bring trouble onto his head. Unlike his older brothers, Mike was practically a maintenance free boy.

"Three," Paul finished and swung the little boy from his chair and to a standing position on the floor. "You just earned yourself a timeout."

At that Mike's bravado disappeared and tears started. His lip wobbled as he pleaded with his father, "I'm sorry and I don't want to have timeout now."

"Evidently not," Paul agreed, "but the fact is that you earned it by deciding to ignore me. So you have five minutes of punishment which is just about to go higher for every minute you stand here instead of making your way to the timeout chair."

Stricken at his brother's ordeal and a bit guilty that he had provoked the standoff Dale urged reasonably, "Go to timeout Mike because today's the day we finish getting our school supplies and have our celebration."

Mike rubbed at his eyes and regarded Briggs miserably. Paul pointed towards the designated timeout spot. "Either go now, Son, or your behavior will move right into a worse punishment."

"That's the spanking," Paige contributed, "and your bottom will hurt then."

"Nope," Johnny contradicted, "not next. Next is he has to go to his room or not get to see any tv or something like that."

Dale puzzled out loud. "Mommy, will he miss the school shopping trip? Where will he stay if we leave him? Will he go to the sitter instead?"

Charlie ignored him and picked up the kitchen timer. She spoke warningly, "Michael, Daddy has told you what the consequences are for disobeying. I believe you are now already up to seven timeout minutes." She turned timer's hands and pointed at the number. "Do you want to go up to eight?"

Looking from his mother to his father Mike finally made the right decision. He reversed course and claimed his timeout seat.

Paul raised his eyebrows questioningly at Charlie and she shrugged her shoulders to signal her own cluelessness. Rarely did their little Mike require a second correction.