A/N: Hey guys! I wanted to publish this chapter last Monday but even if I didn't go to college because it was the Mexican Revolution anniversary, I still had a lot of homework to do. We're doing some color palettes for Theory of color and they're quite difficult to do. Anyway, here's the new chapter, enjoy!
Chapter 33: Sick Birthday
Kanan couldn't remember when was the last time he spent his birthday sick, probably because this was the first time and unfortunately, he wasn't the only one who was sick, Ezra was also sick.
They had gotten sick two days ago after a strange day where it had been hot and cold at the same time, fortunately Depa was here and was taking care of them. Kanan, of course felt bad because he had to cancel an invitation Zeb had made him. The older detective along with Kallus and Obi-Wan, wanted to invite Kanan to a bar and celebrate his birthday with some drinks but after getting sick, the young detective told Zeb to postpone the celebration until he got better, after all, he knew that medicine and alcohol weren't a good combination.
The young man sighed and got up from bed, he put on a robe and took his medicines.
"Caleb?" Depa's voice said as she opened the door of his bedroom. She smiled when she saw him awake. "Good morning, honey and happy birthday." She said and hugged him.
"Thanks, mom." He answered with a raspy voice.
"How do you feel?" She asked.
"Better than yesterday." He said.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Daddy!" Ezra's voice was heard and Depa and Kanan went to check him.
Kanan opened the door of Ezra's bedroom and the little boy threw himself at his father.
"Hey bud." The detective said and the little boy rested his head on his father's shoulder.
"How is he feeling?" The detective asked.
"He's better but he still is tired." Depa answered.
Kanan smiled softly and rubbed Ezra's back. "At least his fever didn't rise again." He said.
Depa just nodded. The young man sighed, the night before had been a crazy one; Ezra had a pretty high fever and the young man and his mother kept an eye on the raven-haired boy who couldn't sleep because of the high fever.
Kanan and Depa stayed awake until three in the morning lowering the little boy's fever with wet rags and taking off his PJ's, leaving him only in his Pull-Up's for the night.
"I'm going to prepare breakfast, okay?" The older woman said.
"Sure." Kanan answered.
"What do you say, sweetie?" She asked to the little boy. "Does chocolate chip pancakes sound good to you?"
Ezra just gave his grandmother a soft smile and she ran a hand through his dark hair. Depa smiled and went to the kitchen.
The young father grabbed Ezra's favorite blue and orange blanket and Tommy and they headed to the TV room. An hour later, Depa called father and son and told them that breakfast was ready, they went downstairs; after that, Kanan tried to convince Ezra to take his medicines but the little boy was a little rebel.
"C'mon Ezra, you need to take your medicine." The young detective said.
"No!" The little boy said.
"Ezra, you've to take it. It's for your own good." Kanan said, he was tired and wanted to take a nap.
"No! It yucky!" Ezra said.
"I know, bud. I know." Kanan said. "I have to take them as well but they will help you to feel better." The young father said.
The raven-haired boy still looked skeptical at the medicines, fortunately Depa came to save the day.
"I'll tell you what, sweetheart. If you take your medicines, I'll give you a bowl with animal crackers and some chocolate milk, what do you say?" She asked to the little boy.
Ezra's eyes lit up at this. "Yeah!" He said.
Depa chuckled while Kanan prepared the medicine. "He's a lot like you." She said as she prepared the chocolate milk.
"You think?" The detective asked surprised. "Open big, bud." He said as he gave Ezra his medicine.
"Yes, even if you're not related by blood, I can tell Ezra will have a lot of your treats." She said.
Kanan smiled softly. "You know, mom…Obi-Wan says I'm just like you in many ways." He said as the family went to the TV room.
"I guess I raised you well." Depa said.
"Mom, you did more than those persons at the foster homes and orphanages." The detective said remembering the two years he spent in foster homes and orphanages before Depa adopted him.
"I know, honey." She said.
An hour later, Depa was making some chicken soup when there was a knock on the door.
"Hello, Zeb." She said when she saw the older detective.
"Hello Depa." He said.
"Come in."
"Thank you." The detective said and walked into the house. "How are Kanan and Ezra?" He asked.
"They're good. They are in the TV room." Depa said.
"Thank you. Depa." He said and went upstairs.
"Kanan?" Zeb asked and looked inside the TV room.
"Hey, Zeb." The young detective said.
"Hey man." Zeb answered. Kanan got up from the couch and the detective gave the younger man a friendly hug. "Happy Birthday." He said.
"Thanks, man." Kanan answered.
"'Ebby!" Ezra said and climbed down from the couch and ran towards his Uncle.
"Hey, kid." Zeb said and lifted the little boy up. "How are you?" He asked.
Ezra just shrugged and hugged Zeb." How's he?" The older detective asked.
"He's good." Kanan answered and yawned.
"You okay?" Zeb asked.
"Yeah, I'm just tired, that's all." The young man said.
"Did you sleep last night?" Zeb asked.
Kanan shook his head. "Barely, yesterday Ezra had a high fever and mom and I kept an eye on him while we lowered his temperature, we didn't sleep until three in the morning." He said.
"Man…" Zeb said and looked down at the little boy who had rested his head on his uncle's shoulder. "No wonder why Ezra looks tired, too." He said.
"Yeah." The young man said.
About thirty minutes later, Depa told Kanan that the chicken soup was ready; the young detective asked Zeb if he wanted to stay for lunch and he accepted, after lunch Kanan cut a cake Depa had bought for him the day before. Two hours later, there was another knock on the door.
"Hi Hera." Depa said when she opened the door and saw the young CSI.
"Hi." She said.
"Come in."
"Thank you."
"Do you want a piece of cake?" Depa asked.
"Yes, please." Hera answered. "How are Kanan and Ezra?"
"They're good. They are in the TV room." The older woman said as she cut a piece of cake. "Here." She said and gave the younger woman a piece of cake in it."
"Thank you, Depa." The CSI said and went upstairs.
The detectives were chatting while the little boy was cuddled against his father's chest. The CSI looked inside and smiled softly at the sight, she knocked on the doorframe and both men stopped talking.
"Am I interrupting something?" Hera asked.
"Hera, hi!" Kanan answered happily but in a raspy voice. "Come in! Zeb and I were just talking." He said.
The young woman walked inside the room and sat down on the couch. "How are you Kanan?" She asked.
"I'm better." The young detective answered.
"I'm glad." Hera said smiling.
"I was telling Kanan the case we had two days ago." Zeb said.
"Oh, the guy you and Obi-Wan chased and the three of you ended in a dumpster?" Hera asked.
"Yeah." Zeb answered.
"I'm glad I wasn't there." Kanan said.
"Yeah, well, don't get to happy when you return to work, man. There's a small pile of folders on your desk and they keep piling up."
"Great, just what I love…paperwork." The young father said sarcastically and sighed.
The action made Ezra to fuss and whine slightly. "Shh, shh…It's okay, bud. Daddy's here." Kanan said and rubbed Ezra's back.
"Zeb, can you give me that blanket, please?" He asked.
"Sure." The older detective gave him Ezra's blue and orange blanket.
"Thanks." The young man said.
"You're welcome."
"How's Ezra?" Hera asked.
"He's better." Kanan answered as he wrapped the blanket around Ezra's frame. "We barely slept yesterday." He answered.
"Everything okay?" She asked.
"He just had a high fever." The detective answered.
"You know, it's strange to see him like this." Zeb said referring to Ezra.
"I know." Kanan said. "He's always so full of energy that see him like this, breaks my heart." He said. "Not to mention that he gets pretty clingy when he's like this."
"You are a great father, Kanan." Hera said.
"Thank you." The detective answered.
A few hours later, Zeb and Hera were helping Depa to pick up the kitchen.
"Thank you." The older woman said.
"You're welcome, Depa." Zeb answered and checked his wrist watch. "I have to go before it gets late." He said.
"Yeah, me too." Hera said.
"Do you want a ride?" Zeb asked.
"Sure." The CSI answered.
"Well, I'm glad you came." Depa said and gave them a goodbye hug.
"Me too." Kanan said as he walked into the kitchen.
Zeb smiled and gave Kanan a brotherly hug. "Get well soon, man." He said.
"Thanks, Zeb." Oh, and tell the guys that as soon as I'm better, we will go for those drinks." The young man said smiling.
"Will do." Zeb said.
"Bye Kanan." Hera said and hugged him. "I hope you and Ezra get well, soon." She said.
"Thanks." The detective said.
The older detective said and the CSI left the house. Kanan was glad that even if he and Ezra were sick, he had a good birthday because he spent it with his family and friends.