Here we go! Chapter 29! Enjoy
I DO NOT own NCIS, Rizzoli Isles or anything related to it.
Days passed as Kate recovered and Dylan continued to successfully put on weight. While she was only at one pound of her two pound gain goal, Dr. Coleman was confident that the baby would continue to thrive and at eight days old allowed her to be released from the hospital with her mom.
"Jane, be careful! Watch her head!" directed Tony as he watched Jane place Dylan into her carrier car seat.
"I knew what I'm doing, Tony!" snapped Jane as she strapped Dylan in.
"Really? When was the last time you had a baby?"
Jane cut her eyes at Tony. "You want to do it?"
Kate and Angela walked in. "Could you two please stop? I don't want Dylan's first day home to be marked by you two arguing," said Angela.
"She doesn't seem to mind."
Dylan looked up at Jane and Tony with big green eyes as she sucked on her pacifier.
Jane smiled at the baby girl. "You ready to go home, Pickles?"
Kate gazed at Jane. "Pickles?"
"Yeah! Dill is short for Dylan. Dill is a type of pickle. I love pickles. I love her! Thus, Pickles!" grinned Jane.
"While I can appreciate your use of analogy, you are not referring to my child as a brined cucumber."
"What? I used to call Frankie, Porkchop."
"Porkchop?" questioned Tony.
"He was a chubby kid."
"This from Roly Poly Rizzoli," mocked Kate.
Jane glared at Kate. "Really? Maura the Bora."
"Knock it off, girls," said Angela.
"I'm still calling her, Pickles," mocked Jane, playfully.
Angela picked up a fuzzy, purple blanket. "Here," she handed the blanket to Kate. "A little baby gift, seeing as you didn't have a shower."
Kate examined the blanket, smiling at "Dylan" knitted in bright yellow yawn at the bottom of the blanket with little baby ducks on each side.
"The ducks were my idea," grinned Jane.
"It's beautiful! Thank you, Angela," Kate hugged the older woman. She laid the blanket over Dylan. "It will keep her nice and warm on the ride home."
"And with that, let's go home," said Tony.
Kate picked up the carrier.
Dr. Torres walked in. "Leaving so soon?"
Kate scoffed. "I'm sure you are ready to see me leave."
"Yes and no but I will be seeing you around. Despite our disagreements in treatment, I'm still your doctor."
"Hopefully, you will be seeing her in the maternity ward again soon too," grinned Angela.
Dr. Torres chuckled. "Ready for more grandchildren?"
"Can we just focus on the one child we have?" questioned Kate.
"Yes, please, go home and enjoy life with Dylan," said Dr. Torres.
Jane drove as cautious as she could home but not cautiously enough for new father Tony, who yelled for her to "slow down" the entire ride. Arriving at their apartment, Kate placed the baby's carrier on the coffee table.
"Home sweet home!" smiled Tony.
"Thanks for driving us home, Jane," said Kate.
"It was an honor to be able to bring this little cutie home," replied Jane. "I have to get back to work, you two going to be okay with her?"
"We got her."
Jane walked over giving Dylan a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later, Pickles." Jane headed for the door. She looked over her shoulder and noticed Kate and Tony staring at Angela. "Come on, Ma."
"I'm not going anywhere," replied Angela.
Jane walked over, gently grabbing her mom by the shoulders. "I think these two would like some time alone with Dylan. Why don't you come on back to the apartment? Tony and Kate will call you when they need you."
"You two don't want me around anymore?"
"No, it's nothing like that, Angela!" reassured Kate. "But like Jane said, we could really use some alone time with Dylan."
"How much alone time?"
"A few days?"
"But being home with a baby is a lot different than being in the hospital. You don't have the nurses or doctors around to help you if something happens. Getting babies into a routine at home can be hard."
"I think we can handle it."
"Are you sure?"
"They want to be left alone with their daughter, Ma. Leave them alone," said Jane.
Angela frowned. "Ok, well if you change your mind, you can always call me," Angela kissed Dylan. "Bye, sweetheart. I'll miss you!"
Jane rolled her eyes. "Stop being so dramatic, Ma."
Jane and Angela left.
Tony looked at Kate. "Angela didn't seem too happy."
"We need time on our own with Dylan," said Kate. "She has spent the first week of her life surrounded by doctors and nurses, she needs time with just her parents to get to know us. She will get over it."
The couple stared at their infant who stared back at them as she sucked on her pacifier.
"I'm surprised she's still up," said Kate.
"Of course, she's still up! It's her first day home, she doesn't want to miss all the excitement napping!" replied Tony.
Kate laughed as she unstrapped Dylan, taking her out her carrier. "Welcome home, Dylan! Not exactly the home we were hoping to bring our first child to but you sprang up on us a year or two early!"
Tony chuckled. "Maybe not but it has a heck of a view of Georgetown."
Kate looked at her daughter. "You think she will like it here?"
"It's her home, Kate. Of course she'll like it. We should give her the tour. Let her get to know the place better. Check it out, Dilly. This is our living room, redecorated by your Mommy because all my furniture was too "bachelor"," said Tony.
"A black leather, one piece, entertainment sofa is not a proper living room set."
"It was comfortable."
"It was ugly!"
"Anyway, as you can see we have quite the DVD collection, which you and I will be digging into. I even started a section just for you," Tony looked at Kate. "I bought her The Lion King, I couldn't resist."
Kate laughed. "I'm sure she will love it."
Tony continued the tour. "Then there is the kitchen, dining room and the piano."
"Which you will learn to play once you turn three."
"I thought she was going to learn guitar?"
"She can learn both but piano first. She will learn that around the same time she will start learning French."
"French? What about Italian?"
"You don't even speak Italian."
"She's half Italian, it's part of her heritage."
"I see we still have a lot of things to discuss when it comes to her. Let's just continue the tour."
Tony limped to the nursery followed by Kate and Dylan. "And this is your room! Its pretty just like you!" Tony kissed his daughter.
Kate noticed Bass resting in the center of the room. "What is Bass doing in here?"
Tony shrugged his shoulders. "He's been hanging out in here the last few days. Guess he couldn't wait to meet his sister."
Kate tilted her head. "They are not siblings. Bass is a pet."
"Same difference. Put her down so Bass can see her."
"No! Bass maybe like family but he is still an animal. I don't want Dylan picking up any germs he may have."
Dylan yawned causing her pacifier to fall to the floor next to Bass.
"Guess that whole her and picking up Bass' germs thing just went out the window," chuckled Tony.
"I'll throw that away later. I'm going to put her down for a nap."
Tony yawned.
"Looks like Daddy could use a nap too. Why don't we all lay down and rest awhile. The baby books all say that we should sleep when she sleeps anyway."
"I like the sound of that."
Kate and Tony took Dylan into their room. Kate laid Dylan down in her portable crib while she helped Tony get comfortable.
After a few minutes, Dylan began to fuss.
"Okay, Dylan, Mommy's coming. Just got to get, Daddy squared away." Kate looked at Tony. "You have a cast covering most of your leg yet you still can't nap with pants on."
"I don't like restriction," said Tony.
Kate winced as she stood up straight.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, my incision site is still sore."
"You sure we don't need Angela around the next few days so you can recover?"
"I will be just fine," Kate scooped up Dylan out the crib. "Okay, Dylan. Let's get you out this jacket so you can be more comfortable for your nap," Kate laid Dylan on the bed taking off her tiny jacket, hat and booties.
Dylan continued to fuss as she looked up at Kate kicking her legs out.
"What?"
Dylan continued to kick.
"You don't want your pants on either?" Kate removed Dylan's pants as her fussiness settled. "Don't like to be restricted when you nap like your Daddy?" Kate laid down in bed next to Tony with Dylan on her chest.
Tony laughed. "That's my girl."
Dylan's fingers tangled in Kate's brown hair as her green eyes slowly disappeared under her eyelids. Within ten minutes, she was fast asleep along with her father.
Kate kissed her forehead before getting up to lay her down in her crib. She smiled at her daughter's peaceful face. She looked down to find Bass had crept into the room, next to the crib. Kate bent down patting his shell. "Keep an eye on your sister for me, Bass." Kate crept back over to the bed, sliding down next to Tony. She looked over at her sleeping husband. Resting her hands on her stomach, she smiled at the idea of having her family home, safe and sound.
One week later, Kate couldn't figure out up from down as she sat in bed at 3am, her usual put together appearance replaced with dishelved hair, baggy sweats and a spit up covered t-shirt as she bounced a wailing Dylan in her arms. "I don't understand why she won't sleep?" exclaimed Kate. "We kept the same schedule she had in the hospital, she should be used to this!"
"Give her here," said Tony, looking just as rough as Kate as he sat up in bed.
Kate laid Dylan on Tony's chest.
Resting his hand under Dylan's bottom, he gently bounced her on his chest, shushing her softly. "It's okay, Dilly. Calm down."
Dylan cried.
"She hasn't slept for more than thirty minutes at a time in three days," said Kate. "She isn't hungry, I changed her, she doesn't show signs of colic, I don't know what could be wrong with her!"
Tony looked into Dylan's glassy eyes. "Geez, she looks just as tired as we do."
"Then why doesn't she go to sleep?"
"I don't know? Maybe we should call someone?" suggested Tony.
"No, I'm her mother, can handle this!" Kate took Dylan from Tony.
"Kate, you haven't slept in days. You're exhausted! You have been running around trying to take care of Dylan and I on your own, you need help."
"I can take care of my family just fine," Kate placed Dylan on her shoulder, wincing as she stood up. "I'm going to take her into the living room," Kate left the room.
"Kate!" shouted Tony as he listened to his daughter's cries disappear down the hall.
Kate plopped down on the couch resting Dylan in the nape of her arm. "I don't know what Tony is talking about? I can take of my family just fine! I don't need anyone's help!" Kate rocked Dylan for ten minutes but the baby girl found no relief for her crying. Kate looked down at Dylan, crying uncontrollably, for what Kate didn't know. A sudden feeling of dread came over Kate as tears began to fall from her own eyes. "I can't do this!"
Tony limped into the living room to see Dylan laying on the sofa alone, crying. "Kate?" He frantically searched for Kate. The sound of whimpering in the corner caught his attention as he turned around to see Kate, balled up in the corner in tears. "Oh my God, Kate!"
"I can't get her to stop crying," cried Kate.
"It's okay, Kate."
"No, it's not!" Kate's voice shook the room. "I'm a failure! I don't know what made me think I could be a mother! She hates me!"
"She doesn't hate you, she's just tired. We're all tired."
"I can't do this! I don't want to do this anymore!"
Tony looked over at Dylan still crying on the sofa. He looked back at Kate who trembled in the corner. "I think we need back up."
Jane yawned, scratching her head as she headed for the door.
There was another bang on the door.
"Hold on! I'm coming! Damn! It's the middle of the night!" shouted Jane, yanking open the door. "What?" Jane was taken aback by the sight of Tony.
"Help! Please!" pleaded Tony.
The door to the apartment flew open as Angela rushed in with Jane and Tony on her heels.
"Maura!" shouted Angela, over the sound of a Dylan still crying on the sofa.
Jane rushed over picking up the wailing baby. "Okay, sweetie. It's okay."
Angela walked over to Kate.
"She won't stop crying," stammered Kate. "I've done everything. She just won't stop!"
Angela wrapped Kate into a hug. She looked at Tony. "How long has she been like this?"
"Three days," said Tony.
"And you are just calling us now?" scolded Angela.
"Kate, wouldn't let me call anyone. She wanted to handle it herself."
Dylan continued to crying causing Kate to place her hands over her ears in frustration.
"Jane, you and Tony take Dylan down to our apartment. Give Maura a break from all this noise."
Jane and Tony left.
Angela looked at a defeated Kate still crying with her hands over her ears. "Okay, honey. Everything is okay."
Inside the apartment, Jane and Tony wrecked their brains on ways to quiet Dylan.
"She doesn't need to be feed or changed," said Tony.
"Come on, Pickles. What's wrong?" Jane walked over to the sofa searching for the television remote. She flipped on the TV. "Here, you want to watch T.V.?"
"I don't think she's interested in the SportsCenter highlights."
Jane turned up the volume to drown out Tony's negative comments.
Dylan cries begin to get softer and softer until the stopped all together.
Jane and Tony look at each other.
"No way," said Tony.
Jane turned off the television.
Dylan began to whine.
Jane quickly switched back on the television.
Tony watched in awe as Dylan nestled into Jane, grabbing at her curly locks. "SportsCenter it is."
Dylan yawned finally closing her tired eyes.
"She must like the noise," said Tony.
"Makes sense, the hospital was full of all sorts of sounds. She got used to that."
Tony kissed Dylan's head. "You're a lifesaver, Jane."
"Why don't you go check on, Maura?" suggested Jane. "I can lay out here with Dylan so she can sleep."
Tony left the apartment as Jane made herself comfortable on the couch in front of the tv.
In his apartment, Tony goes into the bedroom, where Angela sat next to a sleeping Kate. "She cried herself to sleep, poor thing. You should have called us sooner, Tony."
"She thought she could handle it."
"Clearly, she couldn't. New motherhood can be overwhelming."
"So can new fatherhood."
Angela looked up at Tony. "You aren't going to start crying, are you?"
"Not yet."
Angela laughed. "How's Dylan?"
"Sleeping finally. Apparently she likes the TV," Tony yawned.
"Why don't you get some sleep. Jane and I can look after Dylan."
"Thanks, Angela. I don't know what we would do without you."
Angela left the room as Tony climbed into bed next to Kate, wrapping his arms around his sleeping wife.
The next morning, Kate stretched out in bed as she woke up to a quiet apartment. She look over to find Tony sprawled out next to her, sleeping soundly. She looked at the clock on the side table, 6am. She sat up noticing the two large wet spots on her shirt.
Kate shook Tony. "Tony, wake up!
Tony yawned loudly as he rolled over onto his back.
"Wake up! Where's Dylan?"
"Downstairs with Jane and Angela."
"Why is she with them?"
"After you started crying in the corner last night, I figured you needed a break."
Kate looked confused. "What?"
"You don't remember? You had a mini breakdown last night."
Kate ran her hands over her face in shame. "I didn't hurt Dylan, did I?"
"Of course not. You laid her on the sofa, that's all."
Kate sighed in relief. "Thank God! I would never want to hurt her Tony. I love our daughter, I just don't know what happened. I just couldn't take it anymore.
"I know you would never hurt Dylan, Kate. You've got a lot on your plate. Taking care of me and Dylan and yourself. I mean being new mom and dealing with PTSD."
Kate looked at Tony in shock at his statement.
"Jane told me. Actually, I dragged it out of her. The weekly appointments, I got suspicious."
"You don't need to worry about me, Tony. You have your own healing to do."
"You're my wife, Kate. I don't care what happens to me, you will always be my first concern. You can talk to me about anything, I'm here to help you."
Tears began to form in Kate's eyes.
"I just worry that with all the changes I've personally been through this last year and with the attack about what kind of mother, I can be to Dylan. What kind of wife I can be to you for that matter. I just want to be the best person for the two of you but I'm afraid I will let you both down."
"You could never let us down, Kate. Do you know how lucky Dylan and I are to have you in our lives? We get two strong, powerful women wrapped in one amazing package of a person."
"You don't have to flatter me, Tony."
"I'm not, it's the truth. I love you, every part of you and so does Dylan and Jane and Angela. Why don't have to feel like you have to be Wonder Woman and do it all. There rest of the Justice League can help save the day too."
Kate tilted her head. "What?"
"The Justice League? Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Cyborg?"
Kate looked confused.
"Aquaman?"
"Are these people?"
"They're superheroes! Come on, Kate! You had to have heard of the Justice League."
Kate still looks lost.
"Never mind. My point is that you don't have to be afraid to ask for help. No one is going to look at you like you're weak or incapable because you're more than capable. You're an great wife and an you're going to be an ever greater mother."
Kate leaned in giving Tony a kiss. "Thank you."
There was a knock on the door. "Anybody up?" echoed Jane's voice through the door.
"Come in, Jane," replied Kate.
Jane walked in carrying a whining Dylan in her arms.
"It's cool if you aren't up to it but I think Dylan is hungry. She's been sucking on my finger. We used the milk that was in the fridge, if you have some more somewhere else I'd be happy to feed her or…"
Kate reached out for Dylan. "Give me my baby."
Jane cautiously handed Dylan to Kate. She watched as a happy smile came to Kate's face as she kissed her daughter before allowing her to feed.
"I guess you're feeling better?"
"Lots. I just needed some help."
"You could have asked for help before you ended up balling in a corner. Ma and I are right downstairs."
"I know, I just wasn't thinking clearly."
"Well, don't let it happen again. That little girl needs you at your best, if that means spending time with Auntie Jane, that's fine."
"Thanks Jane."
Angela walked in. "Good, you two are up. I'm making breakfast. Now I know you said you wanted to handle Dylan on your own but after last night, you need some help. I changed my schedule at the café so I can help you two out with Dylan during the day."
"Angela you don't have to do that."
"Yes, I do! Dylan is my granddaughter and it's my job as her Nonna to help out with her so that you don't get overwhelmed like you did last night. Now I'm changing my schedule and will be helping out around here, understood?"
"I wouldn't argue this with her, trust me," interject Jane.
Kate nodded. "Okay, whatever you say, Angela."
What do you think? Reviews and comments are welcomed and an update is coming
