It had been three years since Jakeson committed his life to Elizabeth, her boys, and a new life. Since then they had added a little girl who was the light of both of her parents and brothers lives. Life was really good after everything that Jakeson had been through. Sitting in front of his little girl Jakeson watched her eat her scramble egg and some cut up fruit. Bailey shoved a handful of both egg and strawberries into her mouth; as Jakeson looked up to see his eldest son coming down the stairs into the kitchen.
"Bay, you being good for dad," Cam asked as he came over kissing his sister's cheek.
"Good," Bailey shook her head smiling ear to ear.
"Hey dad, can you spot me a ten until payday," Cam asked his dad.
"What's going on?" Jakeson asked knowing his son rarely asked for money these days.
"The basketball team is planning to have a sleepover. Mick said it's about bonding with our new teammates. Everyone is pitching in for pizza," Cam told his dad honestly.
Jakeson could see his son was concerned about this sleepover.
"Here's ten for pizza, and ten for a cab if you need it. Forget paying me back," Jakeson pulled out two tens handing it to Cam.
"You don't have to do that, Dad," Cam said not about to take the money.
"You're are my kid who has been pretty awesome. Plus I like doing things for you when you're not expecting it," Jakeson smiled as Cam took the money before leaving.
Soon Jake and Aiden came down the stairs talking about some game. Part of Jakeson wished they'd let him drive them to school, but both had decided that they were big enough to ride the bus. It was soon after Cam had decided to take the bus, and both Jake and Aiden wanted to be like their big brother. Luckily Jakeson knew that Cam would be there to look after them just in case. Cam was a great older brother to the boys and Bailey.
"Dum dum," Bailey smiled as her daddy looked her way.
"You ate all your food! Good girl," Jakeson said as he helped Bailey out of her highchair.
Gently Jakeson took Bailey placing her in the playpen, so he could clean the kitchen as she played. Jakeson and Elizabeth had gotten lucky with Bailey who was the most laid back baby. Now and again he would peer over at his daughter who was content playing. He was thankful for the life he had now... Of course, he thought about the life he left behind when things got too quiet.
"Da! Da da da! Bailey squealed drawing Jakeson out of his thoughts.
With a smile Jakeson looked to see Bailey waving at him.
"Kisses," Jakeson replied as he blew her kisses, and she blew kisses back.
After a minute Jakeson got back to work, and started loading the dishes into the dishwasher. The sooner he was done the sooner he could start on his surprise for the boys. For the first time in weeks it was finally warm enough to do a camp out in the backyard.
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With Bailey down for her nap Jakeson went out to the shed digging out the big tent. The shed needed to be went through, but he was working against a ticking clock at the moment. He had the baby monitor on his hip as he set the tent up a safe distance from the fire pit. Then he got some wood set next to the fire pit for cooking hot dogs, hamburgers, and s'mores. Going to the grocery store for food would have to happen before the boys got home later. Suddenly feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket; Jakeson knew who it was before answering it.
"Bailey ate, played and is napping now," Jakeson smiled as he answered the phone.
"I feel bad for not being there this morning," Elizabeth sighed as she stood at the nurses station.
"You have been working with this patient for months, and had to be there for this big moment in their treatment," Jakeson tried to reassure her.
"I know... But I just feel like I'm having to choose between my family and work," Elizabeth frowned as she spoke.
"You are an amazing mom, and Bailey will understand when she is older. One day she is going to see this fierce, independent, super hero woman who just happens to be her mom," Jakeson sat down on the edge of the fire pit.
At that moment Elizabeth couldn't help smile, and being thankful for the amazing man who was her husband.
"I love you so much... Never forget that," Elizabeth said feeling a lot better than she had been feeling.
"Then you won't mind that I'm going to camp out with the boys this evening. Cam is going to a basketball sleepover thing," Jakeson changed the subject.
"As long as you feed the kids, and I can get a nice long bath. Then I'll take Bailey because she is too little," Elizabeth countered softly.
"Deal," Jakeson agreed with her.
Just then Elizabeth felt her beeper go off on her waist; which meant she had to get going to see what was going on.
"Got to go," Elizabeth said as she hung up on Jakeson.
Not even thinking about it Jakeson closed his phone knowing his wife had just been beeped. He could always tell when her beeper went off because her voice sounded very business like when it did. After a minute Jakeson went about making sure everything that could be set up now was. About the time he was sure that everything was good to go; he heard Bailey talking as she woke up from her nap like always. Since Bailey was a newborn she would babble as she started to wake up. It was like she was in the middle of talking as she woke up. Jakeson assumed that it was from her dreaming. Slowly headed back to the house Jakeson would get Bailey ready to go out to the store. Once inside he headed upstairs to find Bailey standing inside her crib waiting on him.
"Bye bye," Bailey questioned as Jakeson came picking her up.
"Yep, we're going to the store," Jakeson agreed as he went over to the dresser and pulled out an outfit for Bailey to wear.
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Inside of the grocery section of Walmart Jakeson went about getting food for the camp out and doing some shopping for the house since he was already there. Bailey wanted to drop everything into the basket even if it was too heavy for her. However Jakeson love letting his little girl help even if he was helping her more than she was helping him. He loved that his daughter had such a giving heart that wanted to help even at this tender age of not even two yet.
"Cam! Cam!" Bailey pointed out her brother's favorite chips.
Although Cam wouldn't be there for the camp out; Jakeson got the chips for Cam to enjoy later. As they went along Bailey pointed out things for Jake and Aiden too. She picked up on so much at such a young age, and Jakeson was surprised at how perceptive she was. Feeling his phone in his pocket Jakeson pulled it out to see it was his friend Sam calling him.
"Sam," Jakeson answered the phone.
"I got a favor to ask you... You're probably swamped," Sam rambled nervously.
"Breathe, Sam... Tell me what's going on," Jakeson told her softly.
"Monica is in surgery for the next couple of hours, and I'm out of town for a case that couldn't wait. Danny is suppose to go to Monica's... The problem is some kid puked at school, and Danny puke at the sight of seeing it happen. The school wants him picked up because his clothes are covered in puke," Sam explained what was going on.
"I'm at Walmart... Tell the school I'll be there soon, and I'll get him some clothes to change into," Jakeson said taking charge of the situation.
"Thank you! I'll pay you for the clothes," Sam sighed relieved Jakeson could get Danny.
"No, you won't pay me for the clothes. Friends take care of friends," Jakeson made a b-line for the clothes section of Walmart.
"Thank you so much," Sam replied knowing she was lucky to have Jakeson as a friend.
"I know you'd be here if this case wasn't really important," Jakeson told her as he was getting close to the boy clothes.
"You have no idea, but I can't say more. I've got to get going," Sam replied needing to call the school and leave a message for Monica.
"Be safe," Jakeson said before hanging up.
"Sam," Bailey squealed reaching for the phone.
"Sam had to go bye bye, but we're going to get Danny," Jakeson told her softly.
With that Bailey pointed to the Luke Skywalker shirt, and luckily there were blue jeans on a shelf near it.
"Alright," Jakeson smiled as he grabbed Danny's size in each.
Not sure about Danny's shoes; Jakeson went by the shoes getting Danny a pair of sneakers. Lastly he got Danny some socks as he headed towards the checkout. He was more than thankful that the line wasn't too long as they got there. For the first time in a while the checkout was mostly painless apart from the pay that is. The last thing Jakeson want was Danny to wait in those clothes too long.
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When Jakeson got to the school; a Teacher's Aide was waiting for him with Danny. As soon as Danny was buckled into his seat Jakeson headed strait for home; as he could see that the puke was all over Danny from his shirt to his shoes. He felt bad for the kid, and Bailey blew him kisses trying to make him feel better. Pulling into his driveway Jakeson got out getting Bailey, and Danny followed him into the house strait to the bathroom.
"Sorry," Danny mumbled as Jakeson started a bath for the boy.
"Hey, you did nothing to be sorry for. This could have happen to anyone. You understand me," Jakeson questioned him softly.
"Yeah, I guess," Danny whispered almost.
"Your mom wanted to be here, but she's helping someone far away. That means I get the honor of taking care of you. I love you so much, and I love taking care of you," Jakeson kissed Danny's forehead softly.
"I don't have any clothes," Danny frowned as he remembered his clothes were at his grandmother's.
"I got you some clothes. Bailey helped me pick them out for you," Jakeson told him as he turned off the water.
"I'm big enough to take a bath on my own," Danny told Jakeson.
For a minute Jakeson considered it, and Danny had been through enough today.
"Okay, just make sure you clean behind those ears, and if you need help washing your hair let me know," Jakeson told him softly.
"Okay," Danny agreed softly.
"I'm going to be downstairs with Bailey putting the groceries away, and I'll be back later with your new clothes when you're done," Jakeson told him.
"Okay," Danny nodded slightly.
With that Jakeson left with Bailey closing the door behind them both. Going downstairs Jason placed Bailey in her playpen, and started bringing everything into the house. Then he went about putting all of the food into the fridge. To say it was a tight fit was almost an understatement. However some of this would be cook at the camp out tonight, and if he needed to he could put some of it into the garage freezer later on.
"Seepie," Bailey asked her daddy.
"Yes, daddy is sleepy," Jakeson agreed knowing she wouldn't understand the difference between sleepy and tired.
With Bailey still happy in her playpen Jakeson took Danny's clothes upstairs to the bathroom, and quickly popped in placing the clothes on the counter after knocking. Seeing how guilty Danny still felt made Jakeson feel even worse because Jakeson couldn't convince him that he didn't do anything wrong. Danny meant so much to Jakeson because of the special connection they shared. It was a similar connection that Jakeson felt with Cam, Jake, and Aiden as well. It didn't hurt that Danny, Jake, and Aiden were best of friends. Seemed like every other weekend Danny was sleeping over, or Jake and Aiden went over to the Q's with Danny. Monica always included all the boys even Cam, but now days Cam had basketball, football, after school jobs, and his girlfriend Emma Drake. On his way back downstairs to check in on Bailey; Jakeson heard a knock at the door making him head for the front door.
"Hayden?" Jakeson questioned confused to see her at his front door.