Title: Protectors and Friends
By: Deanangst aka Blairtime
Rated: G
Word Count: 664 according to MS Word
Disclaimer: i own nothing, if I said I did you'd know I was telling an untruth. ( My fancy way of saying a lie.) No harm intended only showing my love for the show.
Written for: shannonrita on Bite Sized Bits Of Fic
Prompt: I don't need a teddy bear, I want a teddy bear.
The summer sun was warm on his face as he walked out of the Leverage Building onto the sidewalk. Nate could still feel the tiny tremors of the small body he was carrying. Eliot was still crying only silently at the moment but Nate knew from experience that they were walking a thin line which was the reason he felt a change of scenery was in order.
The Classic Toy Store they had discovered shortly after Eliot's change, was only three blocks from the office. The whole team had spent countless hours there discovering the items that captured the boy's attention. Plastic horses with stables, Tonka Trucks, and wooden blocks were all winners, keeping Eliot happy and self entertained for hours on end.
Toy's wouldn't do in this situation, right now Eliot needed the safety and security that only a parent could provide. Although Eliot showed no signs during the daytime that he remembered anything of his adult life, the sleep terrors he suffered from during nap or bed time told Nate that somewhere in that tiny head the old Eliot remained. Bypassing the bins of plastic animals and cars Nate headed to the rear of the store. The wooden shelves housed a small but lovingly chosen selection of classic children's books.
Their home routine was a little unconventional to some people's standards. Nate allowing Eliot to play until sleep claimed him and the boy passed out in the middle of his toys. Then on the nights Eliot woke from bad dreams Nate would carry the boy to bed with him, reading from the book of Disney fairytales that Sophie had bought to replace the book of Grimm's fairy tales Parker had provided. Although Disney was tamer Nate still felt it strange to read stories to a toddler where one of the Characters seemed to always meet an untimely death.
Running his finger along the list of titles he finally found what he was looking for. Pulling the book from its place Nate looked at the powder blue dust cover and smiled at the picture that graced the front of the book.
"Who 'dat?" Eliot asked, letting go of his death grip on Nate's tie long enough to point a chubby finger at the picture.
"That's Winnie the Pooh." Nate replied softly. "That's Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, Eyore, and Christopher Robin." Looking behind him Nate spotted a rocking chair and settled them into it before opening the book and beginning to read. He didn't feel guilty about it knowing that the book would be going home with them anyway.
Somewhere around the third page Eliot had turned his head away from the book. Eliot was still listening to the story, the fact proven when Nate had stopped reading to find out what had captured the little boy's attention only to be prompted to continue when a little hand patted Nate's chest. Once the story was truly finished Nate looked over his shoulder to see a little hand stroking the fur of a micro plush Classic Pooh Bear.
"You know what, I think every boy needs a teddy bear to keep them safe at night." Pulling the bear from the shelf, and helping Eliot to resettle in his lap Nate placed the Bear in Eliot's arms.
"I don't Need a teddy bear, you keep me safe." Eliot stated trying with all the ability of his three year old mind to make sure Nate knew that that job of protector had already been filled. Then attention turning back to the bear Eliot hugged it close rubbing his cheek against the soft fur. "I just want a teddy bear."
That night Nate maneuvered the sleepy toddler into his favorite PJ's before tucking Eliot and Pooh into bed, placing a kiss on each forehead Nate waited until blue eyes fluttered closed for the last time before turning on the nightlight and heading off to bed.