Chapter 14
"Sam what's wrong?" Jess asked when she saw him sitting on the couch deep in thought.
"Nothin'." he said shaking his head to rid himself of some bothering thought.
"I know you honey. Something's bothering you so stop denying it." Jess said sitting down beside him and taking his hand. "Talk to me please."
"I decided to call my brother...Let him know about Deanna." he sighed rubbing a thumb over her palm.
"What happened? Did you talk to him?"
"No, no answer and I didn't wanna leave a voice mail." he told her sadly. "Maybe he's not even checking his cells anymore."
"So you try again. Don't let it get you down. You'll get him and I bet he'll be so excited and happy." she said looking toward the bedroom when a small cry got their attention.
"Let me get her." Sam said getting up from the couch.
"She's probably hungry."
"I'll change her and bring her to you." Sam said as the crying got louder. "I'm coming baby girl, don't be so impatient."
"She gets that from me." Jess laughed moving to the overstuffed chair and getting the small pillow she used to nurse Deanna on. She was growing so fast now and changing every day Jess couldn't keep up. Sam had been taking plenty of pictures of their daughter since she was born so they would have the memories.
"Ok Mommy, someone's ready for lunch." Sam cooed sitting Deana into Jess's lap. "While you feed her, I'll get us some lunch going."
"Thanks hon, there's some leftover salad you could throw some tuna on top."
"Sounds good, I'll get it ready."
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"Don't forget I'm working the late shift tonight." Jess told Sam as he got ready to leave for his job. "Deanna will be with Grace and Jasper."
"Ok, I'll pick her up when I get off and we'll pick you up tonight then." Sam answered giving her a quick kiss before grabbing his bag to leave. He had been working first shift for a week now and Jess was picking up a couple of extra shifts. "Bye Dee, you be good and I'll see you later." he said giving his daughter a kiss too.
Deanna gurgled and cooed and waved her hands at her father as he headed out the door. When he worked days he took the bus to and from work leaving the car for Jess in case she needed it. He strolled down the sidewalk thinking how fast Deanna was growing. It had been six months now since she was born and he was loving every minute of it from changing dirty diapers to the late night cuddles when she woke for her last feeding. They had survived her first fever after one of her immunization shots, her first cold with the excessive mucus everywhere and even the long weeks she got her days and nights mixed up. He had never been so tired or knew it was so hard to hear her cry when she didn't feel good. His heart broke listening to her sobs and would do anything to comfort her if Jess would let him. He had to admit, Jess was the strong one when it came to Deanna. He was going to have a very hard time disciplining his daughter when she got older, but heaven help anyone who ever tried to hurt her. They would be facing more than the wrath of a normal father; they would be facing a father who was still a deadly hunter.
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"Hi Grace it's us." Jess called from the back door as she stepped inside.
"I'm in here dear." Grace called back.
Jess followed her voice and found her in the dining room paying some bills.
"Hi and how's the little one today?" Grace asked as Jess sat Deanna in her bouncy seat on the table.
"She's a little fussy today. Poor baby has a slight fever and runny nose. I'm thinking she may have the onset of a cold but at least the mucus is clear so no infection."
"Well don't you worry none about Deanna, we'll take good care of her. Do you have any medicine she needs to take?"
"In the bag, I gave her some just before I came down. Thank you for watching her so I can pick up some more hours at the diner."
"Child you know Jasper and I love to have little Deanna here. She's a joy to have around. It let's us remember the happy times we had with our own children when they were growing up. No child, that baby will never be a problem to watch. We may be getting a little old, but we can still handle a little one."
"Don't be surprised if she's a little grumpy and doesn't want to lay down. Sam will be by to pick her up when he gets off. I'll be over in the morning to do laundry and change the beds."
"That's fine, now you go on and don't worry, I have your number if anything happens." Grace told her as she patted Deanna's tummy lovingly.
"I'll put her bottles in the fridge. I was able to pump enough for three, that should hold her until I get off. She's not eating too good today either with her nose stopped up." Jess said pulling bottles from the diaper bag. "There's one for formula if you need it."
"That's fine, they get like that when they don't feel good just like we do."
"I'll see you later then. Goodbye love." Jess cooed giving Deanna a kiss on her head before leaving.
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"Ok little girl, let me finish these bills and we'll go see what we can find to play with."
Deanna grunted and whined as she watched Grace talk to her. She knew that voice and knew it wasn't her Momma, but she knew it was from someone who cuddled and loved her. Grace slipped the pacifier into her mouth to see if that would appease her for a few more minutes to finish up the bills.
"I know sweetie, you're not feeling good today. What if we go rock and maybe you might take a little nap."
Grace suggested as Deanna puckered up and sneezed hard sending mucus out of her nose and the pacifier into the floor. She cried out and rubbed her fists into the mucus. "Oh honey, let's go get you cleaned up." Grace cried picking her up and heading for the bathroom for a warm, wet cloth. "All stopped up aren't you? Why don't I get the humidifier and get some moisture in the air, maybe that'll help."
Deanna grunted and leaned into Grace's embrace seeking warmth and comfort. She always wanted to snuggle more when she wasn't feeling good and no one complained about giving her a little more loving.
spn
The bus stopped at the bench and Sam got up to get off. He enjoyed the short walk to their apartment and the weather was cooperating. A warm front had moved in and it was pleasant out. He slung his jacket over his shoulder and headed down the street trying to decide how to celebrate with Jess and Deanna tonight. Deanna was six months old today and he wanted to do something nice for both of them. He was lost in his thoughts as he turned up the driveway and headed for Jasper and Grace's house. Jess didn't get off until eight tonight so he decided to take baby duty tonight and let Jess relax, have a bubble bath or just go to bed early. She deserved some me time. He knocked on the side door before letting himself into the house.
"Grace, Jasper, it's me." he called.
"We're in the kitchen Sam." Jasper replied looking up as Sam walked into the room.
"How's Dee been today?"
"She's got a snotty nose and a little fussy. I just got her down for a nap fifteen minutes ago. Why don't you stay and eat with us let the child sleep." Grace suggested as she stirred a pot on the stove.
"I don't want to impose." Sam replied.
"Nonsense son, foods about ready and there's plenty. No need waking her up when she doesn't feel good." Jasper added.
"It's no trouble at all." Grace said. "I'll sit another place setting, Jasper get Sam some lemonade, I just made it this morning."
"Sit Sam, relax, you've worked all day." Jasper told him getting up to pour the drink.
"Let me check on Dee first." he said stepping into the living room to look into the port-a-crib at his baby girl. She was laying on her back with her arms splayed out near her head. He listened to the soft rattle as she breathed and picked up a burp cloth to wipe her runny nose. He saw Grace had a humidifier running nearby to help with her breathing. "How's my baby girl?" Sam whispered running a finger down her cheek and over her arm letting her grasp his finger. He smiled down at her with so much love before stepping away and heading back into the kitchen.
"She still sleeping?"
"Yes, thanks for putting the humidifier in there."
"It seems to be helping some. At least her sinuses are draining, it's better that way." Grace said as she set bowls on the table. "Sit Sam, it's ready."
"Thanks Grace it looks good."
"Well you can thank your wife for that. She did most of the work for me, I just heated it back up."
"I gotta thank you for teaching her how to cook. You wouldn't believe how bad she was when we first met." Sam laughed accepting a bowl of salad from Jasper.
"How's work going Sam?"
"Good, they're actually implementing some suggestions I made to make the workflow go better." Sam answered. "I like it. Its good, honest labor and the pay is good."
"You hang in there, you might be running the place some day."
"I doubt it, but thanks for the confidence in me."
"I see it in you Sam, you're a really smart person, don't sell yourself short. You've got it in you." Jasper advised him as he spooned out mashed potatoes onto his plate and passing them on down to Sam who passed him the cubed steak and gravy.
"I hope you two know how much both of you mean to Jess and me and Deanna. And I'm so glad you agreed to be Deanna's godparents."
"We are honored that you two asked us Sam." Grace said smiling happily at him. "When are we having the christening?"
"Jess is setting it up with the church over on Baymont Street. The pastor comes to the diner all the time and he agreed to do it." Sam replied as he cut his steak and took a bite humming in contentment. "It is awesome."
"He's right about that." Jasper said patting his wife's hand lovingly. "That's one of the reason I married her."
Sam smiled as he looked from Grace to Jasper seeing the total love and commitment they had for each other. He had only seen that look once before when his Dad had had a few too many and told him how he met Mary, his wife and Sam's mother, that devotion and pure love had been there for a moment before grief took over once again. He saw this now with them and hoped Jess and him would be this devoted at their age. Their age, he thought wondering if he was being to optimistic about their future. His only hope was they would have a future. Sam turned toward the cry coming from the other room and got up to get his daughter.
"I got her." Sam said going and getting Deanna and bringing her back to the table. "Hey baby girl are you feeling better?" he asked wiping her nose as she tried to dodge his efforts. "Hold still sweetie."
"I'll get her a bottle heated." Grace told him pushing from the table to get the last bottle from the fridge.
"Will it hurt her to give her a taste of mashed potatoes and gravy?" Sam asked.
"Goodness no Sam. I had mine eating food off the table at four months. Each child is different, you just give them a taste and see if they like it. Since I didn't season the gravy or potatoes because of Jasper's blood pressure, they would be ok to let her have a sample. Put a little on your finger and put in her mouth." Grace instructed him.
Sam dipped his finger into the potatoes on his plate and slipped it between Deanna lips watching her stick her tongue out and smack at the small bite a surprised look on her face. She searched, looking for another taste. Sam laughed and tried a little bite of gravy before taking the bottle Grace was holding out to him.
"Ok I think we'll be getting some baby food and see how she does." Sam said letting Deanna take her bottle and suck greedily on it. "She does have an appetite and I think she needs more than breast milk."
"I agree, she's growing so fast and maybe its time to start her. You know to try one thing at a time to be sure she's not allergic to it."
"Yes, Jess has been reading up on starting her on baby food. She was going to pick some up this week when you guys went to the store."
"I'll add it to my list." Grace said giggling when Deanna sneezed and mucus and milk went down the front of Sam's shirt.
"Oh baby girl!" Sam grimaced sitting her up to pat her back.
"Here let me have her so you can change your shirt." Jasper told him with a chuckle. "You were lucky it was just snot and milk."
"Believe me, she got me with spit up and a leaky diaper a number of times already." Sam chuckled too. He passed Deanna to Jasper along with the bottle and headed for the door to run upstairs to the apartment to get a clean shirt.
"Got your Daddy good didn't you Princess?" he asked wiping her face and nose good before burping her and giving her the bottle back. She looked up at him with wide eyes that were red and watery showing signs of a cold.
spn
It was ten minutes later when Sam came back in and sat down to finish his dessert. His brother would so love this apple pie, he thought as he forked a bite into his mouth.
"Sam why don't you just stay here until it's time to go get Jess so you don't have to take Deanna back out. You can stop by and pick her up and see if Jess wants something to eat." Grace suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea Sam. You can watch this new program we found, its called Alone. Sounds really interesting, people trying to survive out in the wild by themselves." Jasper added thinking both of them asking would make him more apt to stay. He positioned Deanna on his shoulder and let her snuggle into his neck as he patted her back. Having a baby in the house and helping to take care of one brought back so many fond memories of their own children at this age.
"If you're sure we're not intruding. I don't want to take advantage of your hospitality."
"Now Sam if we didn't want you to visit you know we would say so. Its a joy to have you guys here. It makes us feel young again." Grace said. "It's settled then."
"Only if you let me clear the table and load the dishwasher." Sam told them picking up his plates and going to the sink. He continued to clear the table while Grace put away leftovers. Jasper went to the living room with Deanna to wait on the others. It didn't take Sam long to get the dishwasher loaded and running so he could join them in the living room. He wouldn't need to leave until eight-thirty to pick Jess up from work. It was nice spending time with Jasper and Grace. It was like he was getting a second chance at having parents.
A/N: Fair warning, this will be the last happy chapter for a while. Things are going to get bad in the next ones. You knew this couldn't last, here comes the twists and turns so hang on for the journey. Any reviews are welcome. NC