A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed. Just want to let you know that there will be no continuity to the updates. I'm on vacation, so updating is on a set time table for me. I promise though that if there is a cliffhanger, I won't let it go to long. Enjoy!
Today the two of them had gone to where Jocelyn had lived. The goal was to collect her clothing and anything she might need or want from the apartment. To say that goal was not accomplished was an understatement.
Not that they didn't try. He was actually surprised the Jocelyn had not cried at going back to the apartment. Robert wanted to. He could barely call it an apartment. It was one room. A mattress on the floor, a small stove and sink, the toilet was in a corner with a curtain around it. There was a small fridge that is normally seen in dorm rooms. The dresser was also small and most of the clothing belonged to Darlene. The few items that seemed to belong to Jocelyn were dingy and dirty. Most of the items had holes in them. A look in the refrigerator revealed another of his worst fears. It was empty. Looking around the room he felt even worse for Jocelyn. Even the television was small and black and white.
He asked her if there was anything that she wanted and she shook her head. Robert picked her up, kissed her forehead and told her that they'd get all new things and start over. Jocelyn didn't react, just smiled and laid her head on Robert's shoulder.
Looking at her now, Robert didn't know how he could have promised that, but knew that he would keep it. Somehow, in the past five days, this little girl had found her way into his heart and Robert didn't want her to leave.
Crisis of fear over, he went back to the couch and the list that he was editing on his laptop. He could cross off the apartment and the other doctor appointments. That was another fear that he was able to lay to rest. There was nothing wrong with her physically that kept her from talking. Tomorrow they were to meet with child psychologist. Hopefully they would get to the bottom of this.
Robert had his theories as to why she didn't talk. He would share these with the doctor but he didn't think that anyone but him could rectify the problem. Robert just hoped that he would be able too. Jocelyn being able to trust him would be a major factor. That was another reason he couldn't abandon her.
He knew that she trusted him a bit. She smiled at him and would give him hugs. Robert had told her that he would take care of her. What kind of person would he be if he made a promise like that and then abandoned her? He would be worse than his parents. They never made him a promise to take care of him and they didn't.
Robert had to laugh, but if had to choose someone who he could model himself after to be a father he would have to choose either Greg House or James Wilson. Both caring men who looked out for him in their own ways. He laughed again at the thought and quickly banished it away. If he was going to go down that road of thinking he needed to have lots of alcohol in his system.
Going back to his list Robert moved shopping to the top of it. He had planned on going shopping for paint, furniture, and clothing for Jocelyn. He just thought that he could hold off on the later for a bit. He had hoped that maybe there were some things from Darlene's that they could use. But there was nothing. He told the landlord that he could keep everything in the apartment. There was nothing there that Jocelyn needed. Not even a picture or memento of her mother.
Robert had collected the jewelry off of Darlene when she died. He held it for now, when Jocelyn asked, he would show it to her. He quickly added to go through his pictures, to look for one of Darlene. He was sure he had a few. Maybe Jocelyn would like that.
Robert had two more days off before he was expected back. Tomorrow was the psychologist and shopping. The day after was another appointment with the pediatrician and nutritionist. If they had to they could fit in more shopping.
They should have done that today. Shit. He couldn't allow his daughter to wear the same clothing three days in a row. What was he going to do?
Robert cradled his head in his hand. The buzz from the oven sounded and brought him out of his reverie. Taking the two pans of lasagna out of the oven he was suddenly hit by an idea. Making sure the oven was off and that the door to the bed room was wide open he went to knock on his neighbor's door.