"You ok?" Delko asked. They had been going over the case again and again and it still looked like a foreign language to them.
"I just don't get any of this. My head is thumping, my eyes are heavy, my brains are mush!" He shook his head.
"Look I'm gonna call it a night, you should do the same."
"Yeah..." He got up, closely followed by Delko.
"Beer?"
"I can't... I should head straight home..."
"What is it with you?"
"What?"
"We've never had a drink, man."
"So..."
"So, why not? It's always planned but then you bow out... You do the same with everyone."
"I'm a very busy man. I have…responsibilities. I don't have time to just be going out for beers anytime I want."
"What kind of responsibilities?"
"Responsibilities… I… I can't explain them."
"You can go out with Boa Vista but not with me or Cal or H."
"There's a difference."
"Care to explain?"
"Love to , but I have to load those responsibilities onto my uncle when I'm at work, which means I have to go."
Though he had aimed to be home an hour ago, Ryan took his time going home. He knew that if he was late, Carrie would be more then happy to take care of the kids.
When he pulled into his driveway, his lights were on. He headed to Carrie's house. As he drew nearer the door, he heard loud music coming from the house. He let himself in. "Hello?" he called.
" Here," came a voice through the music. He walked into the living room and found his best friend and kids dancing to the music. When the brunette saw him, they both laughed at his son's crazy dancing. He leaned against the doorframe. Soon, Carrie picked the two kids up and placed them on the couch. She then skipped over to Ryan, just as Duke Special, Portrait, came on. Realization hit him too late. She laughed and grabbed is hands and led him to the middle of the room. However, when he heard Jack and Ava's giggling, he soon stopped resisting and started dancing. Anything for the kids, he thought. He had soon forgotten about the case and they had both collapsed next to the kids, laughing. Ryan let his head fall to the back of the couch, relaxed.
Jack jumped onto his father. " Hi, daddy!" he said, cheerily.
"Hey, kiddo, you have a good day?" Jack nodded eagerly.
"C'mon, I'll walk you guys home… You look exhausted."
"Thanks."
An hour after walking them home, Carrie was still in the living room, talking to Ryan. He always talked to her.
They'd known each other since college. They'd lived across the yard from each other and spent every spare moment together, getting drunk, laughing, crying, whatever was needed. They'd gone out briefly until Ryan's ex Jess came and told him she was pregnant. They'd agreed to stay friends and that it was clearly not going to work out. She'd help Jess out every time Ryan was out both times she was pregnant. When she found out about the heart condition with Ava, she'd decided to buy the house next door. A year was about to pass and she was still standing by him and his kids.
"Thanks… for taking the kids…"
"I love taking care of them, you know that."
"And getting me to smile…"
"Anytime… You don't do it much…"
Ryan breathed deeply. " I love them, you know that… but sometimes all I want to do is close my eyes and disappear…"
They sat in silence for some time. Then she turned to Ryan, smiling. " Are you working tomorrow?"
" Yeah…" he said suspiciously.
" Can I meet you for lunch?"
" Why?" he narrowed him eyes.
" Just meet me for lunch. I am your fairy god mother… I will have a plan." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "'Night." And with that she skipped off, leaving Ryan to wonder what she was up to…