The Beginning

Eric was excited and relieved to have received a full grant to pay his police academy and forensics education. Otherwise, accepted or not, he couldn't attend. There was no way he could afford a student load. Recruits received a small wage that was based their expenses. The meagre check covered his grocery bill, diapers not included. The young man felt horribly guilty that his family members, despite their own expenses covered his rent and diapers for Nevaeh for three months.

And vehemently refused to be repaid. It wasn't as if Eric was being lazy and refusing to pay his own way through life. He didn't have to pay for childcare, because his family believed he shouldn't have to. Also he was one the few recruits who applied for and was granted permission to spend the nights away from the barracks, as long as he was on the 5:00a.m. morning march, every time. Single dad, or not, no exceptions. If he was late, even once, this privilege would be revoked. Eric could at least spend the nights with his daughter. Getting to spend only a few hours a week with Nevaeh on family visits would have been unbearable. Nevaeh spent nights in daddy's bed during that period. After a story, she would snuggle into daddy and fall asleep. It bothered both daddy and daughter that Nevaeh was seldom awake when Eric had to leave the apartment at 3:45a.m.. Chlorinda would lay down with the baby girl then. Eric tried to console himself with the fact life wouldn't be like this forever.

Today was the start of new, improved life for Eric and Nevaeh.

Eric Delko was now a Crime Scene Investigator. Yes, the job would often have unpredictable hours but it was better than it had been the past few months. There no more police academy. No more only seeing each other only when Nevaeh were sleeping or getting a bedtime story.

His first day on Horatio Caine's forensic team was everything he thought it would be. Horatio was a great boss. He held authority but was quite respectful of his subordinates. He appeared genuinely glad to have Eric join the team.

"You did a good job today, Eric," he said when he met Eric in the locker room near the end of the day. He then asked about Nevaeh seeing her photo on the inside of Eric's locker door. "She's beautiful," Horatio said.

Eric smiled. "For sure."

Nevaeh was running, not walking now. And for her age, she had a big vocabulary in both English and Spanish. Eric couldn't wait to get home to her and tell her all about his day and new job, even if she didn't understand any of it.

Nevaeh's favorite stuffed toy was a brown and white bunny. It was at her side constantly since Eric had given it to her on her first Easter. It was a good thing Paloma had given her the same one by accident. If "bunny" was ever permanently lost, Eric would have a problem. The baby wouldn't sleep without it. Daddy kept the replacement on the top shelf in the closet "in case of emergency." Eric thought if plush toys could get headaches, "bunny" had a constant one. Nevaeh always dragged it around by its ears.

The girl squealed and ran to him when he came through the door. Eric scooped her up.

"Hello beautiful! Daddy missed you today!"

Nevaeh babbled, smiling and burying her face in Eric's shoulder.

"She missed you, too," Chlorinda said, walking to the porch and giving her son a hug.

"How was your day, hijo?"

"Excellent. Can't wait to tell my princesa all about it."

Chlorinda made a face.

"Don't tell her anything too gory."

Eric laughed. "Oh mom! She's a bright kid but I doubt she understands any level of scientific terminology."

As of right now and for a while Eric would be working strictly in the lab, he would have to pass a series of on-the-job evaluations to be allowed to be "in the field" a.k.a. an active crime scene.

She may not have understood all of what he said when Eric was giving Nevaeh her bath a short time later and showed him her Mater bath toy.

"No mo?" She said.

Eric had always showed her the toy and told her it was like a truck he drove at work.

"That's right. No more tow truck. Papi's gonna have to buy you a gray hummer."

Whether or not she understood and was asking him a question or just showing him the bath toy, it was cute and Eric laughed.

Nevaeh started to yawn when Eric massaged her with lotion before he put on her Party At My Crib. 3 a.m. onesie. It was a warm night and the baby would only get too warm in footie knew his little girl wasn't quite ready for sleep yet but massage had always relaxed Nevaeh. He had started doing the day he met her in the hospital. Baby massage had been part of the newborn care course. It had been mentioned during that class that it helped in parent-child bonding. Again they were right, Eric thought.

"Daddy loves his new job," Eric said to his daughter, sitting down with her in the recliner. "He gets to help people in a different way. Remember that nice man, Horatio? He works there, too. Maybe I'll take you in there some time."