Chapter 2: At the House

Harrison had gone as fast as he could. At Joe's words, his body had dumped plenty of adrenaline into his system so that despite the workout he'd already given his body, he didn't notice the sudden demand he put on it. At the house he didn't slow down, knowing that the doors would open fast enough and close once he was through. He tore through the house, wondering what all he would need. Obviously the infant wasn't injured so badly that they would need EMS or Joe would have simply told Harrison to call for an ambulance.

He went straight back to the medical bay. Since he sometimes worked on projects in the house, he had made sure he always had a well stocked medical room, complete with hospital bed. Going to the cabinets, he got out everything he could think he might need. He didn't have much in the way of pediatrics, but he would make do as necessary. A minute after he'd decided he had everything he might need, he heard Joe call out.

"I'm back in the medical room!" Harrison shouted. Knowing that Joe didn't know the house completely, Harrison went to the doorway and poked his head out. "Down the hall from the kitchen!" A moment later he saw Joe, walking as quickly and carefully as he could, the bundle in his arms held close to his chest.

"On the bed," Harrison instructed as he backed up so Joe could enter.

"Okay. I found him or her in a pricker bush. I think somebody threw the poor thing out a car window as they drove past," Joe explained as he put his precious burden on the bed. Stepping back, he watched Harrison maneuver into place and lean forwards to check the still crying infant.

"Okay," Harrison began, pulling the blanket away and carefully removing the dirtied and torn clothing, "our little friend is a boy. I'm not sure about age, but young." Joe leaned over to look. "The diaper is completely soaked through. Looks like most of his injuries are superficial."

"Okay, can you clean him up while I call it in to the station?" Joe requested, starting to head out for his phone.

"Yes," Harrison agreed, nodding his head, already starting to work.

"Thanks." Hands shaking from his own adrenaline rush, Joe went back to the dining room where he had dropped his workout bag. Trying to calm his nerves, he pulled out his cell phone and called it in, hoping that somebody was looking for the baby.

Several minutes later, Joe turned as he heard Harrison's wheelchair. The sound was a little off, and Joe understood why when Harrison entered the room. The scientist had the baby wrapped in a blanket with it's head on his shoulder. To move he was alternating which hand he was holding the baby in place with so he could push the wheel of his chair with the other.

"Hey, he isn't crying," Joe observed, standing to go take the baby.

"Got him cleaned up, into a makeshift diaper, and wrapped in a blanket and he settled right down," Harrison said, shaking his arms once Joe had the baby.

"Captain's going to send a team out to check the area. Then he'll see about contacting child services." Joe gazed down at the infant. Closer inspection of the child made the detective think maybe the baby was biracial, having dark curly hair, light brown skin, and the bluest eyes he'd ever seen.

"I don't think child services will be necessary," Harrison said. Joe looked over, watching the man pull out some paper work.

"Harrison, he needs to be cared for by family or a licensed agency," Joe lectured.

"Or a qualified family," Harrison agreed with a nod. There was a knock at the door, and with a quick glance at Joe, Harrison turned his wheelchair and went to answer the door. There was a unit parked just outside and two men in uniforms standing at the door. Without saying anything, Harrison turned and led the two men back to Joe and the baby.

Joe passed the infant to the doctor and started giving his report to the two police officers. After a moment he looked over at Harrison, who was cradling the infant and rocking him gently. "Hey Harrison," Joe began, glancing at the other man. "You going to be okay with him for a few minutes? I need to show these two officers where we found him."

"Go, we'll be fine," Harrison declared. Nodding, Joe turned and led the two officers out, assuring them that it was okay for them to leave the infant with the other man.