Title: Adventures in Babysitting
Chapter 4 – Zoo Diaries
A/N: Okay so there was no new eppy this week and I hadn't planned anything new until Growing Pains (hope you're all caught up with that one and the danger our boys are in!) but after some very sweet nudging (thanks to Samantha!) I came up with a new Curious George update! Okay so remember this is AU – and in this Shay and Severide are still roomies, George is their son and Hallie is still alive. Hope you all like this :)
"Okay technically I don't think you can create a Prince George page," Severide reminds her as he hovers over Shay's shoulder.
"Don't you have something to do?" Shay grumbles as she pushes the post button and another picture of their son George comes to life on social media. "I have nothing to do with the royals."
"They own the name, you can't just take it."
"What about the City of Prince George? They didn't take that."
"Where is that?"
"Canada," Shay retorts as Severide shakes his head. "Google it."
"Come here my boy," Severide plucks his son up off the floor and carries him into the kitchen. "George needs a snack before we go and see the real curious George monkey at the zoo," Severide talks to his son as Shay enters the kitchen. "What is that?" Severide asks as she holds up her phone.
"Prince George is a real city in northern BC Canada."
"Okay fine we'll go there next summer," Severide tosses back in sarcasm as Shay purses her lips and takes a picture of their son.
"Our prince George in prince George," Shay states with a smile as she heads back to the laptop to post another picture of their son on social media. "We named him first you know."
"Sue them," Severide chuckles as she tosses a plastic toy as his head. "Let's call Uncle Matt and see if he's ready to go to the zoo."
"You're not taking George to the zoo!" Shay calls out.
"I thought you said I just couldn't take him on anymore boats."
"He's banned from boats for life."
"Okay fine I'll take him to the zoo then. Where is our big plastic bubble I can wrap him in," Severide groans as Shay looks up with arched brows. "The boat incident was one time."
"You all nearly drowned!" She reminds him firmly.
"No more boats in stormy weather, got it. But we're taking George to the zoo. Matt and I planned this. Besides Hallie's volunteering there today."
"She's not looking after him, you two are."
"We'll be…"
"Careful! Don't say fine…you two are never fine. You attract trouble."
"George doesn't attract trouble," Severide snickers as his son makes a wide smiley face upon receiving a playful poke.
"I meant you and Uncle Matt."
"George likes Uncle Matt…because he attracts trouble," Severide whispers as he teases his son, eliciting a soft giggle from the baby boy. "We'll be careful."
"Just remember to dial 9-11 if you get into trouble," Shay reminds him; Severide offering her an eye roll as he plucks his son up off the counter and then heads upstairs to get dressed for the outing, Shay following and taking George from his father to get him properly dressed.
XXXXXXXX
"She actually agreed?" Casey asks in surprise as he looks at George in the backseat and offers him a big smile; George squealing in delight as he sees a very familiar face.
"I had to promise we'd never take him out of the stroller."
"The pink…stroller?" Casey's tone turns weak as Severide nods and sighs. "Two men and a baby and…a pink stroller?"
"Chick magnet right?"
"Maybe if they're in drag," Casey groans as Severide outright chuckles.
"Hallie will save us."
"Hardly. She'd take George and leave us to fend for ourselves," Casey snickers as they near the zoo. "With the pink stroller."
"That is the third yawn in about ten minutes."
"Didn't sleep much last night. Watched some dumb movie before bed and ah….yeah tired."
"What movie?"
"It was nothing."
"Come on tell me," Severide lightly begs.
"Camp Sleepaway."
"Why do you watch those lame horror movies? You know you're wimpy!" Severide teases.
"I am not. Hallie wanted to watch it. She'd sleep through a nuclear explosion," he chuckles. "I just…okay it was lame but it was still scary. Have you seen it?"
"Yes. It was lame, but it never kept me awake."
"Lucky you."
"So after supper tonight I'm guessing no cheesy horror flicks?"
"Uh no," Casey retorts firmly as they near a perfect parking spot. "Did you at least bring the backpack? Carry him that way if you don't want to use the pink stroller."
"Yeah it's in the truck. I put it in there last night so I wouldn't forget," Severide replies with a firm nod as Casey looks at him in suspect. "What? I did."
"You said that two weeks ago, remember? The outing that never happened."
"But I still intended to...I just...forgot. Look, I was…distracted."
"What was her name again? Melody Mist? Stage name right?"
"Nice try, waitress. She wants to be an actress," Severide offers in his weak defense.
"Or an anchorwoman," they both chime in and then laugh. "Okay so she was a bimbo. I met her at…"
"The arcade?"
"Oh you're on your game today Uncle Matt," Severide teases as he pulls into the parking spot marked 'families'. "Okay so George has his runners and training diaper on…his sweater…"
"Yellow?" Casey smirks.
"Blame Shay for that one. I had the green one picked out. Besides…George doesn't care. Right George? Alright big boy, who's ready to go and see the big monkeys?" He asks his son with a wide smile.
"Eeeeeeee," George replies as he points at Casey and laughs; Severide looking over at his friend and wagging his brows.
"Very funny," Casey deadpans as he gets out of the car and heads for the trunk; Severide left to bring out George. "Uh…Kelly?"
"Yeah, what happened?" Severide asks as he stands upright with George in his grasp, looking at Casey's almost mortified expression. "What?"
"No backpack."
"What?" Severide grumbles in haste as he hurries for the back of his car and stares into the open trunk. "No…I put it in…I did it was…" he huffs as he hands George to Matt and then starts to fish around in the back. "No I swear I had put…ah…."
"I think daddy was distracted by a woman named Melody…"
"Fern."
"What?"
"Her name was fern…ah dan…dang its not here," Severide looks back up to see two amused faces staring back. "I swear he gets that deer in the headlights look from you," Severide smirks.
"You mean his sweet innocent look," Casey grins as Severide shakes his head.
"More like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Okay we can either take turns carrying him, which will at some point will get tiresome or we can use…"
"The pink stroller," Casey offers a mock horrified expression, making George laugh and playfully slap his face with his soft, fleshy palms. "George wants the stroller," Casey snickers before he looks at Severide with a serious expression. "I don't mind taking turns carrying him but we'll have less freedom to eat and such."
"And it's not as safe," Severide resigns as he pulls out the pink stroller. "This was Shay's idea, not mine," Severide grumbles about the color as Casey watches him set it up. "Okay squirt…in you go," Severide puts George into his stroller, carefully tucking the seatbelt in around his little jeans and yellow sweater. He packs a few supplies into the bottom of the stroller and then looks around.
"Trust me, we've been seen."
"Strangers I don't care about," Severide reminds him. "Just as long as we don't see any of the guys."
"What are the chances?" Casey teases fatefully as they head for the entrance. "At least with the sunshield pulled back it doesn't look as…"
"Girly?" Severide deadpans as Casey nods in agreement.
"Welcome Sir. Two adults…one child. There you go. I hope you and your family enjoy your day."
"Friend."
"What's that?" The cashier frowns.
"Kelly," Casey huffs as Severide looks at him with a small growl. "George is your family."
"Right…thanks," Severide retorts as the young cashier offers a less than amused look before he disappears from view. "That's it as soon as I get home tonight I'm painting this thing black," Severide grumbles as Casey gently chuckles.
"It's not that bad."
"Okay you push for a while."
"Gladly," Casey takes the handles from Severide. But as soon as Severide steps away from the stroller, his son lets him know his displeasure.
"George," Severide groans as he bends down to his son. "Daddy is going to walk beside the stroller okay? Come on, let's get to the monkey cage fast."
Casey can only chuckle as he hurries behind Severide; Severide turning and making silly faces at his son, who's momentarily distracted by his father's antics and stops his blubbering. They reach the monkey cage and George is instantly distracted by the moving animals as they flit about the cage, darting back and forth; in and out of sight.
"Okay…up you come," Severide entreats his son as he plucks him from his stroller and holds him closer to the bars. George's arms flail about as he tries to get closer. "That's close enough George, the bars aren't clean."
George, however, starts to really fuss and tries to get closer, his little arms reaching out to grab the dirty bars. "No George, those are dirty!" But as soon as the light verbal scolding is complete, George's eyes instantly water and his little eyebrows turn red; his bottom lip quivering.
"Good going. I'll take him," Casey quickly suggests as he takes George from Severide's grasp and gently rocks George, both of them leaning in a bit closer.
"I was going to do that."
"Maybe your child is hungry," a friendly voice pipes up; both of them turning to see an older woman looking at them with a kind smile. "Is he your first?"
"And last," Severide lightly gripes as Casey smirks. "He just had breakfast. He wants to get close to…Matt!" Severide groans as Casey had gotten a bit distracted by the older woman, allowing George to lean over and grab the dirty bars with both hands.
"Oh George," Casey groans.
"Just make sure he doesn't put his mouth on those bars."
"Yeah we got this thanks," Severide replies, trying to downplay his sarcasm as Casey looks at him with a small frown. "Don't give me that look. You got distracted and now….ah George that's gross…that's…we gotta wash his hands."
"There's a family washroom over there," the older woman points to the large concession stand.
"Thank you," Casey nods as Severide takes a flailing George from his grasp and heads for the bathroom, Casey in tow with the stroller. Casey can only offer a small snicker as Severide tries to explain to his son why he couldn't put his hands anywhere near his face or mouth as they were covered with monkey and bird poop.
"I'll…wait outside."
"Good plan. We've already given the area enough to talk about," Severide retorts before he disappears into the family washroom and locks the door.
Casey hovers outside, sending a quick text to Hallie to see how here day volunteering to give immunizations to the zoo staff was going. Of course her day was going well…his? Eventful to say the least.
"Nice stroller," one burly man snickers, "they come in black you know," he adds as he heads past Casey into the men's washroom; Casey merely offering him a groaning "I'll remember that," in reply. A few moments later, the door slowly opens and Severide looks at Casey with a somewhat disgusted expression.
"What?"
"Diaper and wipes."
"Nice smell," Casey teases.
"Now," Severide demands as the same burly man exits the bathroom and looks at Casey as he hands Severide the diaper and wipes.
"My wife uses the green box. Says it's better for the baby. You should try that."
"Yeah…thanks," Severide groans as Casey can only nod in agreement and hold back a chuckle. "Whose idea was it to come to the zoo?" He asks rhetorically as he ducks back inside; Casey waiting until the coast is clear to offer a laugh and a "yours". "I heard that!" Severide shouts through the door.
Casey looks around the area, watching the busy scene before him; Severide appearing a few minutes later as he opens the door.
"Grab George!" Severide calls out as George tries to make a break for it. His little legs manage to get him a few feet from Casey, but he's quickly scooped up into the air and swung around to see his father.
"He gets that from you," Casey snickers as George looks at his father and laughs.
"Course he thinks it's funny. Okay so he's cleaned once again…don't let him near the bars."
"Aye aye capt'n," Casey teases as he settles George back in the stroller. "Speaking of boats."
"Hey we all nearly drowned, you can't blame Shay for being paranoid about another boat outing right?"
"Trust me I'm not complaining. You know I don't like boats!" Casey grins as they head toward the children's part of the zoo.
"Yeah I do now."
"How many of those wipes do you have left?"
"A few…okay hold on," Severide replies as he carefully lets George out of his stroller and takes his hand; Casey offering a soft grumble as he pushes the stroller beside them. They head for the small petting zoo, where George starts to squeal with delight and tries to make a break for it. "I have nightmares of him trying to rip fur off them."
"I guess I'm not the only one affected by horror movies," Casey deadpans as Severide shakes his head. "Here I'll take him to the little goats."
Casey holds George at a discreet distance and lets him touch the small animal standing about his size. "Ah…not in the mouth," Casey warns as he quickly pulls George's hand back. Keeping an eye his hands, Casey lets George approach the little goat on his own again; Severide joining them, the three of them drawing a few curious glances.
"Hey squirt come back here," Severide laughs as he tries to get George as George takes off toward a gathering of baby chicks. "Casey!"
"I see it…George…wait…nooooo," his voice dies out as he picks George up off the ground just as the small boy had stepped in a small pile of poop. Casey holds his flailing body in the air as he heads back toward his father; George's legs kicking out.
"Just hold down his…legs…ahhh damn it Matt," Severide curses as some bits of fresh poop land on his denim-glad thigh. "Thanks a lot," Severide looks at him in frustration as Casey laughs. "This…isn't funny."
"Hey I got barfed on last time," Casey sputters in his defense as George looks at his father's angry expression.
"Poop smells worse!"
"Poor daddy smells like poop," Casey teases as Severide's face softens as he looks at his son.
"It's okay my boy, I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at Uncle Matt."
"It wasn't my fault," Casey stammers weakly as he sits down on a nearby bench, holding George on his lap so Severide could clean his only pair of shoes. "Can he still walk in them?"
"Just for this you have to carry him the rest of the morning," Severide lightly teases as Casey verbally accepts his fate. "Okay…I think I got it mostly off…"
"Kelly…"
"What?"
"Your arm," Casey gestures with his head as Severide looks at a small brown blob on his forearm and wrinkles his nose; George squealing with delight.
"Why do kids find poop so funny?" Severide huffs as he looks up at Casey's grinning expression. "Yeah…look who I'm asking."
"What?" Casey chuckles weakly. "It's just…funny."
"George has lost his petting zoo privileges."
"You boys need a hand?" One of the petting zoo keepers asks.
"No we got this thanks," Severide groans.
"Okay good because you know the feces of animals can…"
"Yeah," Severide interjects. "We got this."
"Right. Carry on," the young adult male replies weakly.
"I'm just glad that…"
"Kelly? Matt!"
"Oh no," Severide groans as he and Casey look up to see the whole Hermann clan heading their direction. "You've got to be kidding me."
"What are the chances?" Casey huffs as his team member nears with his own newborn in his grasp.
"You planned this?"
"Did not," Casey argues back in his defense. "But I have a feeling I'm gonna pay for this."
"Yup I'm gonna tie you to a chair and force you to watch a cheesey horror flick tonight!" Severide hisses through gritted his teeth as Casey frowns.
"Hey, fancy seeing you guys here!" Hermann states with a wide grin as he slaps Casey on the back. "Having fun?"
"Yeah…lots of fun," Severide pastes on a tight lipped smile just as the young zoo keeper nears them once more.
"Sir, just in case you get poop on you again, you this."
"Thanks," Severide lightly grimaces as Hermann's face beams. "Not…a word," he warns as Hermann nods in agreement, looking at Casey as Casey merely offers a small snicker.
"Ah kids…zoo's…poop…fact of life, righty Cindy?" Hermann asks his wife for some muchly needed backup. "Put him down for a second. That's why I have a whole brood. They keep an eye on each other. Hey!" Hermann calls out as he hurries after his two middle children; Casey and Severide watching in amusement. About ten minutes later, George starts to slow down a bit and Severide knows it's time to move on. Casey bundles George into his stroller and the three of them head away; Hermann promising to not tell the Firehouse about the poop incident or the pink colored stroller.
"Think he'll really keep it to himself?"
"Are you kidding?" Casey retorts as they head toward the lion cage. But as they near the lion lets out a large roar and George's lips utter a scared gasp and he looks up in bewilderment. "Ah…detour…" Casey states in haste as they quickly veer to the right and head for the exotic bird pen.
"Flamingo's are weird," Severide states as Casey smirks. "They look like pink blobs of…"
"Cotton candy," Casey chimes in as George leans forward wanting out of his stroller to get one of the colorful birds. But his eyes widen as he notices a large colorful peacock stop and observe them from afar. George watches the large bird watching him, his eyes widening and then he realizes he wants to get out and chase it.
"Sorry squirt you're stuck in there until you're an adult," Severide teases his son as George looks up with an angry expression. "He gets his mad face from you."
"No way that is…"
"Shay," they both say at once and then nod. "Come on George," Severide talks to his son as they carry on to the next area. But it's not long before George starts to fuss, wanting out of his stroller and to wear off some building energy.
"I think it's time for a snack," Casey gestures for them to head toward the concession stand. "I'll buy. What can he have?"
"Uh…Shay's got him trying a few things but I don't want him to get sick or…"
"Constipated?"
"Yes or that," Severide answers flatly as Casey heads for the open window; Severide heading for a nearby table. He takes George out of his stroller and then unpacks the small bag that housed a bottle, a small Tupperware container and a spoon; Casey returning with four hotdogs, two fries and two drinks.
"I'll put aside one fry for him to try to gum when it cools down. Mmmmm mushy peas," Severide makes a big wide grin as George looks over at Casey's hotdog. "He wants your wiener," Severide jokes loudly as Casey's face instantly enflames and he nearly chokes on a bite of food; two older people next to him looking up in disdain.
"And you say I'm a bad influence," Casey groans as Severide grins and reaches for a few fries.
"Poor George," Severide teases his son as he lightly touches the end of the small boy's nose with a fry and then pulls back with a grin. However, before either of them can react, George's little fingers grab the half eaten hotdog from his father and flings it toward the edge of the table; the bun teetering on the edge before splatting to the ground.
"Ah George!" Severide grumbles in exasperation.
"Looks like it was your wiener he was after," Casey snickers. "What? You said it first."
"You're too old for monkey see monkey do. Well you have to get me another."
"What? Fine…." Casey grumbles as he slowly stands up; Severide handing him a few bucks for another hotdog.
"Not for George. George gets mushy peas only. George better eat his mushy peas or…" Severide's voice trails off as he eyes Casey's second hot dog sitting by itself. "Don't tell Uncle Matt," Severide looks at his son as he hungrily eats the second small hotdog. "Not my fault they are so small."
Casey returns with the second hot dog and sits down, ready to hand over it over when he looks down and notices his own missing. "Who took my hot dog?"
"George," Severide answers flatly.
"George...speaking of monkey's," Casey teases as he looms in closer with a funny face, making the small boy squeal with delight and tries to grab the new hot dog. "Nice try. This is mine," he tells him as he takes a large bite. But as soon as he does George's face starts to cloud and both men exchange weary glances.
"Way to go," Severide huffs as Casey pulls back with a frown.
"But I'm hungry," he moans as he holds up the cooled down fry. "Peace offering?"
George takes the fry in his grasp and instantly the piece of savory potato is shoved into his mouth and a smile appears.
"If only all life's problems were solved by eating a cold fry," Severide muses as Casey nods and continues his lunch. "Come on George…" Severide huffs as he hands Casey the spoon.
"Me?" Casey frowns as he looks at George and purses his lips. "What you have to do…ah George…" Casey groans as Severide had pulled an open ketchup packet toward him, just inside the reach of George's grasp and within seconds there were blobs of ketchup oozing on the table.
"Course he thinks it's funny," Casey huffs as he cleans up the crimson mess, a few people looking at the hapless babysitters in amusement.
"Hey at least it's not poop!" Severide tosses back.
"You just like saying that word."
"I can't curse around him, give me a break," Severide replies as Casey yanks a plastic knife out of George's grasp. "He gets his knife grabbing from Shay."
"That…he does," Casey chuckles as they slowly finish their lunch. "Since a zoo is full of kids they should sell kid size hotdogs."
"Cocktail weenies?" Severide laughs; Casey joining in and the next table looking at them in wonder. After lunch they take George to the playground where the three of them take turns on the swing, each holding him on the see-saw, doing some light turns on the little merry-go-round and then holding him as he tries to climb up the monkey bars.
"Ready?"
"Ready," Casey nods as Severide holds George at the top of the slide and then prepares to send him down to Casey's waiting grasp. George's lips utter a very delighted squeal as he zooms down the slide into Casey's hands. Casey scoops him up into the air and then heads for the top of the slide, this time his turn to hold onto the little frame and send him down the large yellow chute into his father's waiting arms.
"Alright my turn!"
"Matt, you won't fit," Severide laughs as he points to Casey climbing up the very small kids play contraption, George paying rapt attention.
"I just…fit," Casey lightly groans as he makes a face that instantly produces some childish laughter. "Here I…I think I'm stuck…" Casey huffs as he stops half way down.
Severide walks up to the slide and then hands him George, helping to push Casey down to the bottom with Casey holding on and George laughing all the way. They reach the bottom and George is quick to try to push himself up and head back to the stairs to climb up to the slide. But his feet get caught on the stony, uneven surface and he falls back down to his bum, looking up with a whimper.
"Oh man…stop with the Casey look alike sad face," Severide teases as he scoops George up in the air one more time; Casey sticking his tongue and making George laugh. Severide lets him go down the slide once more and then it's back into his stroller and back into the zoo area. "Hey George look at the hungry hippos!"
George looks at the large, lumbering animal before it plops into the water and then pokes only it's head and eyes up, looking right at them. George laughs as he tries to get out of his stroller but to no avail. Severide pushes the stroller a bit closer, George's hands once again reaching out to grab something he shouldn't. He grasps the sticky substance, Severide seeing at the last second.
"Matt!" He exclaims just as George's little fingers grab a handful of Casey's jeans, applying the sticky substance to the clean, dry fabric.
"George…ah gum," Casey groans as he looks down at his pants and then up at Severide who shrugs.
"Poop, remember?"
"At least it just washed off!"
"Hey I had to walk around smelling like a barn all day," Severide grimaces as Casey can't help but chuckle. "Yeah…laugh it up," he huffs as he pulls out a wipe to clean off George's fingers; Casey tending to the bright pink sticky spot on his pants as some nearby kids mock.
"Ewww gum on his pants."
"Man sucks to be him."
"At least you didn't get mocked."
"Do you remember who overheard the poop discussion? Hermann…who has a loud mouth."
"Yeah that's true," Casey retorts in mock seriousness. "Yup…sucks to be you."
"Come closer and say that."
"Forget it. You'll put gum in my hair or something," he chuckles as he looks down at George just as Severide finishes cleaning his hands and then laughs at Casey's mock horrified expression.
"Told you we should call him sticky fingers George. He's more mob than royalty."
"Shay, still on the Prince George kick?"
"She sent an email to the duchess thanking her for choosing the same name as her son."
"What?" Casey asks in shock.
"I think it was a dummy email account," Severide stands back up and sighs. "At least I hope so. Ticking off the royals…not a good move."
"Someone I doubt Shay would care."
"No she wouldn't, would she George? Mommy will take on any of the stuffy royals and…" he looks up as two older people look on in disdain. "Yeah…okay so where to next?"
They head toward another exhibit, the two adult males talking lightly about things in general; Matt's current construction project and Kelly's latest family battle with his father.
"Ah George has finally lost the battle," Casey comments softly as they both peer into the stroller to see George's head softly lolled to the side and his eyes closed, lips slightly parted.
"All the fresh air and excitement."
"I know I could go for a nap also," Casey lightly stretches as he checks his watch.
"What time is Hallie done?"
"Should be done about 5ish…she said she'd come right over."
"Then you do have time for a nap."
"Kelly, I was kidding," Casey smirks as they slowly head back toward the car. "Naps are for kids."
"And?" Severide wags his brows.
"I'm not tired," Casey insists as they near the car.
As they reach it, Severide takes his sleeping son to put him into the car seat, Casey folding up the stroller and the leftover supplies and carefully stowing them in the trunk and then climbing into the front seat. The two of them talk for a bit until they reach a train crossing and come to a stop, Severide's phone buzzing. He quickly pulls it and looks at the text from Shay.
'Did you survive?'
"Yes," he texts back with a whispered groan.
'Did Matt?'
'Barely,' he snickers as he texts back.
'Did George?'
'Yes George is fine. Had a lot of fun and is tired. We all had a lot of fun and are tired. In fact…I might need help carrying him in?'
'George?'
'No…Matt.' Severide texts back as he looks over to see Casey asleep, his head lolled to the left, same as George's. "He gets that face from Matt," Severide whispers a laugh as he puts his phone away and heads for home; his mind filled with happy memories of the fun outing they all enjoyed. This outing was a success, I'm sure there will be many more to come.
THE END!
A/N: And yes this one ended on a more upbeat note haha and hope that's okay :) Any reference to boats or the ill-fated sailing adventure is reference to their last mishap 'mayday' which I hope you all enjoyed! Okay so hope this made you smile a bit, another little lighter break from the tension and danger that surround Growing Pains which will update next. So please do review before you go and thanks!