Authors notes – I'm sorry it took longer than I originally said. Thank you all for being patient, I wasn't expecting to be this busy my first week of classes, but I've just been swamped. Anyways enjoy!

Summary – Tommy's mom was nowhere near as nice as his dad.

-o-

Let's Play

Tommy

-o-

Standing, I let the cat girl wrap the towel around me and pick me up while Jason let's the water out. That was a pretty nice bath, even if I didn't have much to do. Oh well at least Jason seems happier. "Do I smell good now?"

Smiling and taking a big sniff of my neck, Kat nods. "You sure do."

Carrying me back into the bedroom I woke up in, Kat carefully hands me to Jason who looks more than a little lost and worried now. Oh boy, this girl better stay around until my daddy comes back because I don't think the boy has a clue what he's doing. "Now Jason is going to get you all dry and re-dressed and I'm going to go find out if we can get some help over here in the form of actual parents."

Pouting as the girl leaves me with the nice, but clearly confused guy, I heave a sigh and look up at him. "You good like her?"

Laughing and setting me on the bed, he moves to the dresser and nods. "Absolutely not." Funny. "Seriously, I don't think anyone is as good as her at this." She is staying too right?

Hunting through each draw and I guess finding nothing that'll fit me, he finally seems to give up. "I don't know what to tell you kiddo, I think you'll just have to wear another shirt until we get you some clothes." But I don't wanna.

Looking at the shirt in his hands as he holds it out to me, he really does expect me to wear that doesn't he. Sigh, well I guess it's either that or the towel. Slowly taking the shirt from him I pull it on and stand on the bed, watching as it falls past my knees. "Is this your shirt?"

"Um, not exactly." Picking up the towel and drying my hair off, he sure doesn't like to talk about much. "Well now you've been fed, cleaned, and dressed, well sort of. So now what do you want to do?"

Yawning and sitting back down on the soft bed I think I just wanna take a nap now. Feels like I've been going all day and it's probably not even lunch time yet. "I'm tired, can I take a nap for a little bit?"

Smiling warmly at me, he seems sort of happy by my question. Maybe he needs a nap too. "Alright than, nap it is." Pulling the covers down and than tucking me in after I crawl under them, I guess he's not so bad at this taking care of me thing. Still though, he definitely needs help.

"There you go. Now I'll be downstairs if you need me and Kat is down there too. Just get some rest." Giving me a quick kiss on the head before he leaves, I think Kat's right I think he really does need a friend. Well than if he won't let her help him than I guess I'll just have to help him. Right after a little rest though.

-ooooo-

"You are one silly boy." Pouring the water over my head so we both get splashed, me more than him of course, he is so much fun.

"I know." Holding up the alligator toy he'd gotten me yesterday, I give it a squeeze making it squeak. "Roar! Alex the alligator says we should have more bubbles in the bath." I love it when he takes me to the mall, even if we don't get anything it's always fun just to go and see all the stuff. But it's extra fun when he gets me a new stuffed animal or bath toy.

"He does, does he?" When I nod he pours in more of the bubble bath to make me- I mean, to make Alex happy. Adding a little more water he sloshes it around making the bubbles nice and big until I'm almost covered in them up to my shoulders.

"Much better, Alex says thank you." Squeaking the soft rubber alligator again, I try to push some of the suds down so I can find my other toys. Where's Herbert? That duck is always making trouble.

"Well that's good that Alex is happy. Hmm, but you know Tommy, I wonder what Alex would say if I did this." Did what? When he scoops up some bubbles and puts them on my nose, I give him a look.

"Daddy!" Giggling as I let out a sneeze, he is going to get it now. "Well Alex says that if you do that, I have to do this!" Deciding this is a little more fun than the alligator I let the toy go in the water before scooping up some of the bubbles, and sticking them on his chin. "Hehe yer Santa!"

"Oh I am, am I? Well than you have to be my elf." Sticking a handful of the foam on my head, I think he's trying to make me a hat out of it, but doesn't quite work. "Actually I think you look more like your reading teacher than an elf now."

We're both laughing now as I know he means Mrs. Benet. She's like a million years old. She's still really nice though, I think I like her better than my other teachers. "You're silly!"

Suddenly I know I laughed a little too much as I'm my breathing gets a little weird and I can feel it hurting in my throat a little. Whimpering and looking up as I don't wanna stop playing, but don't want to get dizzy like I do sometimes when I do too much, I need help.

"Shh, okay baby calm down for me. Remember like I told you? Just take nice deep breathes and calm down." Doing his best to help me calm down, he puts an end to our play bubble fight and strokes my head. I know he can tell I'm scared; I always get a little scared when my breathing goes funny, but I don't want to worry him. I mean I'm okay he shouldn't worry so much.

"I'm okay now." When it gets easier to breathe again, I relax more. That wasn't bad, it went away pretty easy, but I still get scared it'll get bad one of these and I'll have to go back to the hospital. I hate the hospital.

Knowing just what I want when I get quiet and I guess look worried he leans in and wraps his arms around me to give me a hug. Remembering that I'm wet, I open my mouth to tell him he's going to get really wet now, but before I can I see he's already thought of that. He pushed his shirt sleeves up when I was thinking. He is super smart.

Closing my eyes and just staying in his arms for a minute, I'm so lucky to have such a good daddy…even if he is starting to hold me too tight. Suddenly starting to hurt as the hold gets tighter; I start to struggle, telling him it's too hard.

"Hold still!" That is not my daddy yelling at me, but I can't tell who because I'm struggling so badly to breath. I don't think I'm safe at home with him anymore, but I wish I was. He wouldn't yell at me like that or make me feel bad or stupid. Daddy makes me feel good and smart and strong even when I'm not.

Finally getting free I look up and scoot back in the tub a little as I see Aunt Joyce. I don't like her so much, she keeps being nasty to me, and I don't know why she doesn't like me. I want to go home now, I don't want to be here for a whole nother night with her being mad, but I can't go home until daddy gets back from his trip and picks me up in the morning.

I can feel the tears running down my face as I get all worked up at her mad look and mean voice. Oops, I got her sweater wet, no wonder she's not happy. I didn't mean to though, I was only playing; I didn't mean to splash her.

"Tommy, out of the bath this instant. If you can't behave appropriately in the bath you'll just have to go without and go to bed dirty." But, but I don't like being all dirty, I tried so hard not to get any of my dinner on me, but without someone to help me I just couldn't keep from getting a little messy.

Tearing up at how angry her voice is, I hate being yelled at. That's not how daddy teaches me when I make a mistake. He says yelling isn't helpful that's why we sit down and talk about what I did wrong and how to make it right, then he has me sit on the couch for quiet time to think about what we talked about. His way is much better then hers, he even makes sure to tell me that even though he didn't like what I did, he still loves me more then anything else and always would.

"Do not start crying. You're not a baby; you're six years old and a boy, so stop it." I can't help it though, you're being so mean to me and it hurts my feelings and makes me feel sick inside. I want my daddy.

I sniffle, trying my best to stop the tears. I don't like crying, but I can't help it, she just makes me feel bad when she's mean. I have to tell daddy when he comes to get me tomorrow. I know he doesn't take many trips, just important ones, and I don't wanna make him sad by him having to not go and watch me, but I just can't stay here alone anymore. Maybe he can get someone else to watch me. Maybe the people next door to our house, or even a teacher would be okay I guess.

"I'm sorry Aunt Joyce, I didn't mean it. I'll never splash you again, I promise."

Not seeming to care that I really am sorry and sort of scared now, she grabs me out of the water before I'm put down on the floor and rubbed hard with a big scratchy towel.

Squirming and not liking this anymore than the yelling, I wish she'd listen to me. "Please Aunt Joyce stop it, that hurts!" Still not listening, she keeps rubbing too hard, like how hard daddy rubs when washing the car or polishing his karate trophies. She doesn't seem to know that while it's okay to rub things that hard it's not okay to do it with people. She needs to do it like daddy and be gentle and cuddle me, not make my skin hurt and turn pink. I would tell her and try to teach her, but I'm scared she'll yell at me again. She yells too much.

She finally stops after I'm all dry and moves away for a second, grabbing my pajamas out of my bag. She must be ready for me to go to have my bag all packed up again. I guess I am too, three days here is too many.

Putting them in my hands she moves for the door. "Get ready for bed and go to sleep Tommy. Your father will be here to pick you up in the morning." Leaving me alone in the warm bathroom, she is definitely not going to read me a story tonight. I hate not getting a story, they help me sleep.

Slowly pulling on my pajamas I fall over once or twice while hopping around and trying to get my legs in the holes. That bit is always tricky, this would go faster if she'd help, I'm tired now and daddy always helps me get ready for bed. I catch myself in the mirror as I hop one more time and see I'm sticking my tongue out again. Everyone says I always do that when I try and do something tricky, I don't think I do but who knows.

Finally dressed, I move to the bedroom down the hall where I have to sleep when I'm here. I think I should have let the water out of the tub, but I'm not supposed to do things around the bath when I'm alone, especially when the floor's wet and I can slip. I promised I don't want to break my promise, they're important to keep I know they are. I hope Aunt Joyce doesn't get mad that I didn't do it though; I think she'll understand I have to keep my promises.

Walking into the bedroom I move to the wall where the light switch is so I can turn it off and go to sleep. I don't like the dark much, but I can't sleep with the big light on and Aunt Joyce doesn't like nightlights. She says they're for babies. They are not though, daddy says it's just fine if I wanna have one because it makes me sleep better and feel safer.

Looking up at the switch, I sigh before trying to reach it by standing on my tip toes. No good. Finally jumping up to reach the switch it takes a few tries but I finally get it. Looking around the dark and creepy room, I really want a light now. I know there are no monsters for real, but what if there is and it's under the bed or in the closet. I don't think Aunt Joyce will come check for me.

Taking a deep breath I run to the tall bed before scrambling up and snuggling under the stiff covers. I miss my bed at home. I want to go home where everything is right and it's warm and nice and safe. I never want to come back here to stay again.

My eyes feel all heavy and droopy and I can't really keep them open. I guess that's a good thing as it means I'll fall asleep soon. The sooner I go to sleep the sooner I wake up and get to go home and be held and hugged.

Suddenly hearing a scratching on the window, I lift my head to try and see what it is, pulling the covers around me tighter. There's nothing there. There's nothing there. It's just the tree outside. There are no monsters, just a tree. Just go to sleep.

When it comes again, I can't stand it. I can't sleep with something scratching on the window. It's too dark in here and the noise isn't a good noise, I have to call for Aunt Joyce. She can't be mad that I'm scared. "Aunt Joyce! Aunt Joyce I need you! Please!"

Waiting for a minute I'm just about to call again when she comes into the room and flips the light on. "What, what's wrong?"

Pointing to the window I try to show her the problem, but she doesn't seem to understand. "I can't sleep, the tree is scratching on the window and it's so dark, can I stay up with you for a little bit?"

"Tommy it's your bed time, you can't stay up. Now lye down and go to sleep." Moving over to me, she gets me back down before tucking the covers in around me to tightly. "Now I don't want to hear another peep out of you, go to sleep." But it's scary. I can't sleep if I have to keep making sure nothing is going to get me.

"But-"

"No buts, now go to sleep." Turning off the light and closing the door behind her, she leaves me in the too dark room as there's more scratching on the window now. I can't stay in here. I just can't.

Swallowing and slowly pulling the covers off, I drop to the floor and hurry to the door. Pulling on the door and not making it open, I know this is not good. It should open, it has to open. Starting to panic, I pull harder and then try to find the light switch. "Aunt Joyce! Aunt Joyce come back I'm scared!"

-ooooo-

"Tommy. Tommy wake up. Come on, come on there you go."

Looking around wildly as I'm picked up, I see I somehow fell onto the floor. The person holding me tightly keeps shushing me while I try to get my breathing back. "Good boy, good boy, there you go, that's my boy. Calm down." Stroking my hair soothingly he keeps shushing me as I guess I was screaming pretty loud.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hold onto him tightly feeling better almost right away. "I had a bad dream."

"I saw. That must have been some scary dream, kiddo." Yeah it was. I'm glad daddy left me here with them and not Aunt Joyce again. I don't want to back there without him ever again, I'm just glad he promised I wouldn't have to after that time.

"I want my daddy." I don't know why I feel all safe with him holding me. I don't even really know Jason, but I feel almost as safe with him as I do when daddy holds me. Hmm, well I still want him more though.

Sighing and carrying me around the room, he begins rubbing my back gently. "I know you do, but we just can't get him right now. You have to trust us that we're here and we'll take care of you and make sure you're safe. I know that's hard, but I promise we'll do everything we can to make it nice and good for you."

To be continued……….