Disclaimer: Well I still don't own anything.
A/N: Last few days were a blur...There was a hospital involved. Car accidents = not fun. Especially when the other driver (who was at fault/drunk) walks away with a smile on his face! Good news: Ara was at home with my boyfriend at the time, so she was safe. I suffered a concussion. I have stitches. 5 in my forehead and 12 more in my shoulder. More good news: I'm home now. :) There were some other injuries which made them keep me overnight, even though I blatantly told them I had a baby who needed to be looked after. It did not help that Patrick decided to show up right then with Arabella and just accidentally mentioned that he had everything under control and I should listen to the doctor. :/ Arguing isn't nearly as fun if you lose. The worst part (besides the pain and being away from Ara) the doctor asked why I had marks all the way down my back. I lied and said 'I fell' which I don't think he believed thanks to Patrick's stupid smirk. Everyone who reads 'Take Away' knows what I'm talking about. So I was also humiliated in front of my daughter. Thankfully though, she had no clue.
Worry had begun to ebb it's way into Lisbon's mind as soon as Jane and Nellie had walked out the front door. She'd been wanting to take Nellie to get her stuff, she had wanted to do it for the sole purpose of she had a gun. She had a way to protect them, but Jane didn't. He had his mind which had managed to keep him out of serious trouble thus far, but that didn't help her with her worrying problem. Suddenly the age old saying 'There's a first time for everything' decided to make an appearance.
The only thing keeping her mind semi occupied on something besides worrying was the little girl grabbing at her hands. They hadn't left Lisbon's bed, there really hadn't been a need. She was still lying on her back with her daughter sitting on her chest and her hands being used in some sort of clapping game by the little one. She loved moments like these, little moments when she was alone with the baby she loved and the silence was filled with smiles and giggles. It was Ara, who made what happened to Christian a little more bearable. No matter how much she hated herself for the outcome, she couldn't hate herself for sleeping with him. He had given her a most precious gift, one she would never take for granted. Smiling happily, she let Ara control the movement of her hands and even started singing a little rhyme to go along with it. There was a pause between claps which Lisbon took as open opportunity to gently pull her down and kiss her forehead. There were times she hated that her job kept her away for such long hours. She hoped Ara wouldn't grow up to hate her for working so much, that was one of her biggest fears.
"Daddy's s'irt." Lisbon had completely forgotten about the shirt was wearing, Ara was right. It was Jane's, he'd left it. Whenever she was feeling down she would slip it on and revel in the feel of it against her skin. It hadn't even crossed her mind that she had chosen it to wear on this very day until tiny hands were tugging at it. Jane surely would have noticed it was his, she could already hear the taunting she'd endure over this. Jane. What had happened between them? They'd kissed - more than once too - but would that mean something happy or just end up as a reminder of what they couldn't be? Part of her dreaded the talk they were going to have when he got back.
"Mum-mum sad?"
"You're way too smart sometimes. I'm not sad baby." Lisbon forced herself into a sitting position and wrapped Ara in a tight hug. She needed this time with her. It somehow eased the ache that had settled into her chest after everything that had taken place earlier in the day. "I love you so much more than you could ever imagine, you're everything to me. Even though you probably don't understand all of that yet, I still needed to say it."
Lisbon knew her little one couldn't comprehend what everything she'd just said really meant but it didn't matter. She had said it as more of a way to comfort herself, and hearing the words, feeling Ara's little hands gripping at her neck, had helped. It made every emotion running wild through her veins seem less important, it made everything take a back burner while this playtime with her daughter became the main priority. Ara let Lisbon hug her for a few minutes before growing tired of not being able to move around. As soon as she began wiggling Lisbon let her go and started tickling her belly. Anything happy that could get her mind off of the danger that could be awaiting Nellie and Jane was welcomed. Listening to her baby laugh and watching her try to push her mothers fingers away definitely did the trick.
"Mum-mum! Mum-mum no!" The delighted squeals were matched with chuckles coming from Lisbon as Ara crawled away. She took residence on the pillow next to her mother and grinned. It was obvious that she'd been around Jane too much, it was that cat that ate the canary smile. Lisbon never would have guessed that one tiny little girl could change her world so much - and to think it had started before she was even born.
****
Lisbon was sitting in her office, nine months pregnant, and talking to her belly. Ridiculous as it sounded she was dwindling down to last options before going completely stir crazy. She technically wasn't even supposed to be at work on this day - it was her scheduled day off - but she couldn't sleep and she had wanted to talk to Jane. She was overdue by almost a week and it was getting to the point of wondering if the baby was ever going to make an appearance.
"You really should just come on out. Pretty good weather today and everybody really wants to see you." She stared down at her swollen stomach while rubbing it gently in hopes of coaxing the baby into agreeing to join the world.
"Begging her to become a member of the world again?" A light blush dusted her cheeks when she looked up to see Jane walking closer to her desk.
"You're determined with the whole 'girl' thing."
"Because she's a girl. Mind if I try?" He stopped in front of her, already in the process of kneeling down as if he had known what her answer would be.
"Be my guest. I'm verging on desperation." Lisbon tried not to let it show that his touch had such an impact on her, but her sharp intake of breath gave her away. She hadn't been expecting him to raise her shirt and expose the round belly beneath. He'd never done that, she'd never let him see her stomach before either. This was new and scary. He rested his hand on her, caressing the skin that greeted him. Ghosting by her belly button and never taking his eyes off of what he was doing. She couldn't stop thinking how inappropriate this all seemed.
"Hey little one, it's time to come out and face the day. Mommy's tired and she really wants to see you, hold you. We all do. Your Auntie Grace has been dying to shower you with kisses and I'm waiting to see if you have your Mommy's pretty eyes." Lisbon smiled at the way he talked, this wasn't the first time he had spoken to the baby but it was the first time he'd done it while on his knees in her office. "I bet you will. I bet you'll look just like her which is another reason for you to join us. The world shouldn't be deprived another day of a beautiful little girl."
"Jane we don't know if the baby's a girl." Of course the man ignored her and just went about his business with a bright smile.
"Guess she's just not ready yet. Can't blame her really. Did you ever decide on a name?"
"No. There are a few I like but none that I really love." A sharp breath of air flew from her lips when he placed her shirt back over her stomach and slowly stood. It wasn't from the loss of contact, it was from the clenching in her belly. Her hand took residence where his had previously been. The brief pain shot through her abdomen in a wave that was over rather quickly. Seems she wouldn't be the only one who listened to the consultant. She knew this was it. "Uh...Jane, what were your plans for the rest of the day?"
"Napping on the couch. Why?" This was her first baby, the labor would probably be long and filled with more contractions that were a lot more painful than what she'd just experienced. She still wanted to get to the hospital in the near future.
"Not to boost your ego but I think she's listening." Thankfully Jane didn't tease her about the slip of 'she' instead of her usual 'the baby'. "I think you'll have to miss your nap."
****
Lisbon was staring at Ara, she couldn't help it. Just remembering the moment she realized she would no longer be alone, that another little person would be depending on her had sent her into her deleriously happy mother mode. She also remembered the comment she'd made when Jane had found her crying in her office the day she'd found out she was pregnant. She had stated something along the lines of being too old to have a baby to which he'd shot down immediately by saying women who were sixty were having babies these days. The man really was a genius at making her feel better. It was like he knew her better than she knew herself.
"Where Daddy go?"
"Patrick took Nellie to get her clothes so she can stay with us." The bright green eyes that stared up at her seemed satisfied with the answer but a frown quickly overtook Lisbon's face when she thought about how long they had been gone. Grabbing the phone off the night stand only served to fuel her worries. It'd been awhile, almost three hours now. Dialing the all too familiar number she waited for it to ring.
"Ring ring!" The clapping of the young girl did nothing to ease the worry as it rang and rang. Voicemail ended up being the only answer she got.
Lifting Ara from the bed, Lisbon headed into the living room and searched around thinking that he might have just forgotten the phone. It was nowhere to be seen, so she tried calling again. Another failed attempt that resulted in her leaving him a message that asked him to please call her as soon as possible. Dialing another number, she waited for Nellie to pick up. There was no reason to panic when she hadn't even covered the options yet. Once again voicemail was the only thing that greeted her on the other end. Completely frustrated and more than a little worried now, she decided to give them twenty more minutes before she'd go looking for them.
It was getting late, she was getting hungry but none of that mattered. What did matter was that she now had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. In an attempt to calm herself she curled up at the end of the couch with Ara cradled to her chest. The baby was starting to get sleepy again, it'd been hours since her nap. Rocking Ara gently back and forth managed to take Lisbon's mind off of Nellie and Jane for a little bit, just long enough to count down in her head the twenty minutes she was giving them.
a/n: I know it's short but I really just wanted to give you something after being away. My body aches, a bed is calling my name, but I'll have another chapter up soon as well as the new one for Take Away. ~ Rina
