TITLE: "Keegan" (3/3)
RATING: AA
CHARACTERS: Toby and the gang
SUMMARY: Piper meets Keegan
POV: Toby
DISCLAIMER: The characters used from the West Wing do not belong to me; they are the property of Aaron Sorkin.
TIMEFRAME: Continues on from "I'd Like You to Meet…"
*5*
As I had expected to, I got us lost on the way back to CJ's room. I don't know why hospitals have to be so confusing. Holding Piper's hand I hesitated before making a right turn.
"That's the wrong way daddy," Piper told me. She pointed her hand left. "That's the right way."
I glanced down the hall where she was pointing. None of this looked familiar to me. "No honey I think it's this way."
I continued to walk and Piper released my hand and stood firm where she was. When I looked back at her she was shaking her head. "You is wrong daddy."
"Piper I want you to hold my hand please. This is a big place and you can get lost."
"If we goes that way we'll both be lost."
I sighed and took the few steps back to where she was. "Okay humour me sweetie. Why do you think it's that way?"
"I think that sign reads maternity."
I gave my daughter a quizzical look. "Piper you can't read."
"I know that I cants. But my eyes still work for seeing and I think they sees maternity."
"Would you care to explain to me how you know the word maternity?" This had me stumped.
"Uncle Sam readed the sign to me and he tolds me it says maternity."
I took Piper's hand and we walked her way and stopped at the sign. She was right. "Huh, you're right."
"I tolds you," she said a little too happy with herself.
"Yes you did. And I am sorry that I didn't believe you."
"That's alright. You get used to it at my age."
I just stared at her while people walked past us. I knelt down before Piper. "I am going to raise your allowance kiddo."
"Good. Because I doesn't got one yet." I took Piper in my arms and gave her a big hug and a long kiss on the top of her forehead.
"Let's go find mommy," I stood back up and we walked forward heading into the maternity ward.
***CJ's room***
"There you are," CJ shouted out as Piper and I entered her room. There were more people than there were when I left. Abbey, Charlie, and Sam had joined the group.
"I's back mommy," Piper shouted running over to CJ.
"I see that. I'm so happy to see you," CJ bent down to lift her up and Abbey helped raise Piper from her end until she was sitting on the bed with CJ.
"It's good to be seen," Piper said giving CJ a hug. She glanced around the room. "Hi everybody."
Everyone in return said hello to Piper. She glanced over at the President who was still holding Keegan. Behind him was the big blue bear that he had brought in with him. "That's the biggest bear I's ever seen in my whole life."
Bartlet looked behind him at the bear and then looked back at Piper. "Are you sure?"
"Oh yes Papa Jed. I's not lying at all."
Bartlet pointed to his right. "What about that one then?"
Piper followed his direction and gasped at an even larger bear that was pink. "Wow," Piper gasped. "She's bootiful. Keegan's a lucky baby."
Abbey stepped beside CJ's bed and leaned over into Piper's face. "That's not for Keegan sweetie. That's for you."
Again she gasped dramatically. "For Piper?" She began to bounce on the bed and Abbey lifted her off and put her down on the floor and she immediately ran over to the bear.
"Daddy look at what Piper got?"
"I can see that honey. That's very nice," I kept my gaze on Abbey. "Did you forget to thank someone Piper?"
"No. I was going to do my thanking later after I touched my new bear."
Piper set her eyes on me and backed away from the bear. "Right, that's not the polite way. I forgetted." She then went over to Abbey who squatted down to be face to face with her.
"Thank you very much Nana Abbey for my bootiful bear. I loves him already."
"You are very welcome sweetie. I'm glad you like him." Abbey and Piper embraced while we all watched.
"Hey Piper?" Charlie called out. "I'll give you a hundred dollars if you can get the baby away from Papa Jed."
We all laughed except for Bartlet who looked as if he was putting a tighter grip on Keegan. "Back off Barbie," he said as Charlie came closer. "Wait your turn."
"Ah Sir. We've been waiting and all you've been doing is hogging him. It's time to give him up."
"Those are brave words for a boy so young Charlie," Bartlet replied.
"Jed give the baby to Charlie," Abbey ordered her husband. I just leaned against the wall and watched the scenario.
"I'm not done."
"Jed- So help me if I have to come over there," Abbey warned him.
Bartlet and Abbey locked eyes and finally he surrendered. Charlie stepped forward while Bartlet took his time handing Keegan over to him. "You're fired," he whispered to Charlie.
"That's okay Sir. This was worth it," Charlie answered back as he cradled Keegan.
"Did I hear you right Sir? Did you just fire Charlie?" Sam inquired pretending to be confused.
"Shut up Sam or you're next," Bartlet teased.
"Jed you're terrible," Abbey complained smiling.
"Hey, I was quite happy holding the little guy until you people came in and ruined a good thing."
"You could hold me Papa Jed," Piper told him.
"Well that's too good an offer to pass up. Come here you," Bartlet said getting down for Piper. She giggled as he lifted her up and began tickling her and throwing dozens of kissed upon her face.
Charlie hadn't been holding Keegan for no longer than five minutes when Sam said, "Okay my turn."
"I don't think so Sam. I just got him."
"Toby?" Sam whined my way.
I held my hands up, "Don't look at me Sam. He's my son and I've held him for only a few minutes."
"Yeah but you're not that important," Josh answered for Sam.
"Oh thanks Josh. I'm just the Dad. No big deal."
"Exactly," Sam said smiling at me.
"I only made him," I stated with a tone louder than usual. Although I was only teasing as well.
"Right. So you can make another one and let us have him," Bartlet chimed in.
"Uh excuse me?" CJ said perking up from her bed. "I made him too. I gave birth to him."
"Okay then since you two seem to want all the credit how about this? We'll leave you two kids alone so you can get working on baby number three. That one you can keep for yourselves," Josh suggested.
CJ threw her pillow at Josh and hit him off the head knocking him back a bit. "Nice shot CJ," Abbey complimented.
The nurse entered the room and informed CJ it was time to try feeding the baby again. Apparently he hasn't taken to well to the idea as most babies regularly do. "I'm afraid you're all going to have to leave," she informed us.
"Ahh this sucks," Charlie said handing the baby over to me.
"Well no wonder he's not eating. Toby has nothing to offer the little guy," Josh joked.
"Josh," I said.
"Yeah Toby?"
"Get out!"
"Okay Toby," Josh waved to CJ and followed the group leave.
I held my son for a few more minutes before he started fussing and I had to hand him over to his mother. This time when CJ placed him to her breast he went straight to work.
"Hey he's doing it," CJ cried out.
"Some babies just take more time than others Mrs. Ziegler," the nurse told her before she left.
"I think the President stole Piper," I told CJ who laughed.
"Please make sure we get her back before he leaves. Check his pockets if you have too."
I sat on the edge of the bed and watched in wonder as Keegan fed from CJ. I tenderly removed the hair that had fallen across her face back behind her ear. "I love you."
CJ smiled up at me and replied, "I love you too."
"Thank you," I spoke softly.
"Thank you," she said in return. I leaned over and gave her a long and tender kiss.
*6*
I was locking my car door when I heard my name being called out. I turned towards the sound and spotted Leo waving to me. Taking Piper's hand we walked together to meet up with him.
"Congratulations," he said offering me his hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't have been here yesterday."
Retrieving my hand, "Thanks Leo. I understand."
"Hey you," he said bending over slightly to Piper. "How does it feel being a big sister?"
"So far it's been okay," she answered blocking the sun from her eyes with her doll.
"How's CJ?" Leo asked me as he stood back up.
"She's great. Restless because she wants to go home."
"I can understand that. Hospitals were never my favourite place to hang out either."
"Toby! Leo!"
We both turned and saw that Sam was heading towards us. "Is that a football?"
Watching as he came closer it turned out that Leo was right. Sam was carrying a football. "Sam? What's the football for?"
"It's for Keegan Toby."
"He's only 31 hours old Sam."
"I know. But I couldn't resist."
"You don't need to buy him anything. I think we did enough damage while we were in Florida."
Sam shrugged. "It's not like I have anyone else to buy for really. All I have are your kids Toby."
The fact that he even thought of my son made me happy. Sam was truly a special friend. "Don't look know but I think that's Josh over there," Leo said quietly as if Josh would overhear.
Squinting I looked over. It was Josh and he had something pink in his hands. "What's he carrying?"
"I can't tell," Sam said as he held his hand above his eyes to see himself.
"Oh my God," Leo whispered.
"What?" Sam, Piper and I asked in unison.
"I think it's a- a-"
"Spit it out Leo," I snapped.
"I think it's a baby buggy," Leo answered as if this was a repulsive idea.
"No. It can't be," Sam said looking my way. Then a slight pause, "Can it?"
I shrugged. With Josh anything was possible. "Why would Josh buy Keegan a baby buggy? Wouldn't that have been the first thing you and CJ would have bought already?"
"Actually it was second. I think the crib was first," I replied.
"That's awfully low for a baby buggy. And awfully pink," Sam pointed out.
"Pink is a pretty colour," Piper said from our kneecap area.
Sam and I exchanged glances. "He didn't?"
"Wait up guys," Josh said out of breath running with a child's pink buggy.
"He did," Leo said sighing.
"Is that for me Uncle Josh?" Piper asked with way too much excitement.
"No sweetie it's for Uncle Sam. Of course it's for you," Josh responded.
He weaved beside a silver Ford Focus and then lost control and wound up tripping over the buggy. A doll fell out and started to cry.
"I think Josh is hurt," Sam said.
"That's not Josh," Leo said. "I think it's the doll that fell out and cracked its skull." Leo headed over towards Josh. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Josh called out. "Don't worry about me."
"I wasn't," Leo replied dryly. "I was more concerned for the doll that's splattered on the cement."
"Oh shit," Josh cried out trying to get the doll before Leo did. "Ahh poor Chrissy."
"You named the doll Chrissy Josh?" Sam asked as we approached.
"No I didn't. For your information that's the name she came with," Josh answered dusting off the blonde haired doll.
"She's hot Josh," I teased as I took the doll from him.
"She looked like Piper so I grabbed her."
"She's blonde," I said showing Chrissy to Josh.
"Yeah I can see that."
"Piper's a brunette."
"I said she looked LIKE Toby. Not that she was the spitting image," Josh dusted himself off and finally stood up.
"Where's the other wheel?" Piper asked Josh.
Four grown heads snapped down at the buggy that was tipped over. As Piper noticed first there was a wheel missing. All of our heads spun to the left and when we didn't see anything there we spun to the right. Bingo!
"I've got it," Leo said as he bent over. He held it in his hand. "Now what?"
We just stared at the wheel. Nobody said a word. "Of for Christ's sake. If we can help run this country then we can certainly replace a wheel on a child's toy," I shouted out.
I spent ten minutes or so fiddling with the damn thing before I gave up. I handed it roughly to Josh. "You bought it, you broke it now you fix it!"
"Toby I don't know what to do."
I considered our options. "CJ used to be a girl. Maybe she can fix it," I took the wheel back and grabbed Piper. Sam carried the buggy while Josh tried to fix Chrissy up and then we walked to the entrance of the hospital.
"Her one eye won't close," Josh whined.
"Maybe CJ can fix that too," Leo said.
"Somehow I don't picture CJ as a caregiver when she was a child. She seems more the type who spent many hours dismantling dolls like that," Sam said as we were waiting for the elevator.
"Oh by the way," Josh said still playing with Chrissy's eye. "I've got first dibs on Keegan."
"You can't do that?" Sam gasped. The elevator opened and we all stepped in. "Can he do that Toby?"
"No he can't Sam," I answered keeping my eyes on the numbers.
"Toby says you can't do that," Sam told Josh.
"I'm right here Sam. I heard him."
"Okay," Sam shrugged.
The door opened and we walked out and towards CJ's room. When we entered I was surprised to find the President sitting beside CJ holding the baby. Well maybe I wasn't that surprised.
"Hey!" he exclaimed.
"Hey yourself," I said not hiding my surprise. I went to CJ first and gave her a kiss. "How are you and Keegan today?"
"The same as we were when you called fifteen minutes ago from the parking lot. What took you so long?"
"Josh," was all I had to say.
"Ahh I see. Enough said then."
"Hey," Josh said offended. He pushed me aside and gave CJ a kiss. "Hello gorgeous. You're looking good."
"You bet your ass I am Josh," she replied winking at him. "And who is this?" She motioned to Chrissy.
"This is Chrissy," Josh sighed.
"Chrissy is my new dolly mommy. Only Uncle Josh busted her eyeball and now she's broken. Can you fix her? I got a buggy too and he broked that too? Can you fix that too? I'm thirsty mommy does you have any juice?"
I pulled Piper back. "Slow down girl. Try breathing."
CJ laughed. "I can't believe I understood all that." She reached for her can of ginger ale. "How about we start with this?" She asked handing the can down to Piper.
"Thank you mommy. I was beginning to dehydragate." I chuckled and CJ just laughed outright.
"I think you meant dehydrate."
"That's whats I said," Piper said before gulping down the ginger ale.
"CJ he's beautiful," Leo said looking at Keegan over the President's shoulder.
"Thank you Leo."
"He's got Toby's hair," Leo said smiling.
"Well thanks for coming Leo," I said opening the hospital room door. We all laughed at that.
"I think he needs to be changed," Bartlet said taking another whiff. Even I'm not that brave.
"Oh here I'll change him," CJ said holding her arms out.
"Do not hand that child over to her. I want to do this." Bartlet gave me a doubtful look. "What?" I asked.
"You?"
"Yes me."
"Toby you're afraid to wipe away dust."
"I am not," I defended myself.
"Have you done this kind of stuff before?" Josh asked me.
"Are you kidding me? He's my son. I think I can manage."
"It's not pretty," Leo chimed in with his two cents.
"I don't think you're ready Toby. I'll change him," Bartlet said as he began to rise.
"Sir, with all due respect. Give me my son," I demanded politely.
"If you're sure."
"I'm sure." Bartlet handed me Keegan. "Hey big guy," I said softly.
"You cants call him that Daddy."
"I can't?" I grabbed the diapers from the stand and bounced with my son towards the change table that was set up. "How come Piper?"
"Cuz I is your big girl. He's just a little baby. Little babies cants be your big guy."
"Ahh. I'm sorry. You're right," I ruffled the top of her hair.
"Err, I hates it when you does that to my hair," Piper walked away from me. Josh and Sam came closer.
"Sam can you grab that bottle of powder over there please?" I pointed to where the bottle sat. Sam handed me the bottle.
"Toby do you want me to do it?" CJ asked preparing herself to get out of the bed.
I didn't turn around. I fastened Keegan down and removed the blanket that he was cuddled up in. "CJ, Sooner or later I'm going to have to learn how to do this. How hard can it be for Christ's sake?"
"Okay," she said. I removed the powder blue outfit that he was wearing. "This is cute. Where did it come from?"
"His outfit?"
"Yeah he's got a blue one on. We didn't get him this did we?"
"No. Donna brought that with a bunch of other blue outfits. Let me grab one for you."
"That was nice of Auntie Donna wasn't it," I said baby talking to my son.
I opened the diaper and I took a step back. Josh and Sam took three. "Sweet Jesus," Josh cried out covering his mouth.
"Oh that's nasty on so many levels," Sam said almost choking.
"Eww! Who made a stinky?" Piper asked from across the room.
"Keegan," Sam said trying not to choke.
"I hope he isn't going to do that in our new home. We's all gonna have to move if he does," Piper said.
"How can something that small," I stopped to gasp more air. "Smell so bad?"
From the corner I could hear Bartlet and Leo laughing and having a good time.
"Wow!" Josh exclaimed coming up beside me. "For a baby he's well hung."
"JOSH!" CJ, Bartlet and Leo gasped.
"That's his umbilical cord you idiot," I said to Josh.
"What's well hung mean mommy?"
I slapped Josh on the side of his arm. "Good going Josh."
"What?"
"I can't believe you said that Josh," CJ said. "Piper don't listen to Uncle Josh anymore."
"Okay dokey," she said in a sing song voice forgetting all about her question.
"I'm going back in," I said before taking in a deep breath. Quickly I removed the diaper which caused Josh to almost pass out. I threw it in the waste and then grabbed the wipes and but three times the required amount I'm sure on his bottom.
So far so good, and then came the diaper. I had it everywhere but fastened to his head. "How do you make these things stick?" I yelled out in a panic.
"Try the tabs," CJ offered.
"The tabs," I repeated looking for these so called tabs. "I don't think you brought any?"
"They're on the diaper Toby," Bartlet spoke up. I glanced back at the diaper and sure enough there they were. I fastened the tabs to the other side.
"This isn't so hard," I said as I raised Keegan up. Immediately his diaper fell off. Everyone was laughing at me. "Sorry buddy," I said lowering Keegan back to the table.
"You have to make sure the diapers are tight Toby. He's a small baby."
"He's over 9 pounds CJ. That's not small," Leo stated.
"Really?" CJ asked.
"I can't make them any tighter. If I do he won't be able to breathe."
"Oh for heaven's sake Toby move over," Bartlet hip chucked me out of the way. "Hi Keegan, how's my boy? Is we getting a clean bum?" The President spoke to my son in his baby talk format.
"You take the tab," Bartlet showed me as he was working. "And then what you want to do is make sure you pull it tight across to the other side like this," he demonstrated. "And then you do the same for the other side."
"How do you know you won't hurt him?"
"Is he crying?"
"No. But-"
"No buts Toby. You'll know if you're hurting him. A father will always know." Then back to baby voice with, "Won't he Keegan. Yeah, daddies will always know."
I looked at CJ and she winked at me. "That was so sexy," she almost purred. I raised my eyebrows and gave her one of my sexy looks.
"Uh guys, that's why we're here in the first place," Leo said to us.
Just then the nurse came in to inform CJ that she was discharged and free to go as soon as she was ready. "Are you kidding me? I'm ready now."
I took Keegan and for the few minutes that we had before we left I gave him to Leo who looked terrified. "Are you sure?" He asked me.
"Yes I'm sure Leo. Just don't give Keegan to him," I said pointing to Bartlet who tried to look confused.
I packed up CJ's belongings and the wonderful gifts that people had brought for our son. We were taking him home and I couldn't wait. CJ helped Josh fix the buggy and Sam used a q-tip to fix Chrissy's eye.
I was surrounded by so much love that I don't think I could ever be happier.
The End!