Gabriel Cunningham loved food…. He loved eating it, and he wasn't one to turn down WATCHING something involving it…
But when it came to actually preparing it… He would admit it, was one mystery he never quite figured out. So many terms and tools, what went for what? And while he often preached the importance of healthy eating to his patients (especially in most recent months) he would admit he had a bad habit of resorting to takeout if he had to.
But that didn't mean he didn't try. Oh that man tried, he tried a LOT… Much to his nieces and nephews dismays in the past.
"Uncle Gabe, you're supposed to be the FUN one! Poisoning us isn't fun!" Lucas had once proclaimed when Naomi had asked him to watch her kids during a long case. The kids had refused to touch their food except for the redhead… And Gabe cringed remembering he had to take care of the then twelve year old for the rest of the night due to a stomachache.
But he figured that was years ago. Couldn't be repeated… Right?
"Elly! Dinner time!"
Elly cringed hearing that. She wasn't exactly happy her father was practicing his cooking right now. She appreciated the effort, she really did… But while she loved her father to the Great Data Stream and back…
She did not like his cooking.
"Um… How about we order that pizza thingy Lucas and Vinnie let me try yesterday?" She asked, giving her best innocent smile…. Trying to ignore the steaming pot of black bubbling… Goo… On the stove that she could see some kind of vegetables floating in.
Gabe frowned. "Can't afford it this week Elly-girl. Have to save up for the new house. We'll get one next week with your mother when I get paid next, I promise. Or maybe you and Lisa can make your own."
If I'm not in the hospital next week… Elly thought looking at the mystery brew with a nervous look.
Gabe got a bowl ladeling it in. "It's stew if you're wondering what it is. Something to warm us up since it's been getting colder."
"I see…" Elly could already feel her stomach going into knots.
Oh Phoenixes HELP ME!
He nodded setting it on the table, getting a bowl for himself humming a bit. "... I hope you like it kiddo… I… Just wanted to make something for once instead of getting takeout… I know it's not all healthy stuff I've brought home."
… Okay… Now I feel bad.
Elly sighed mentally.
He's trying… and I know he wants the best for me… And I'll admit take out does not always sit well with me…
… Do it for Dad…
"Well… We'll see…" Elly smiled a bit. "And I get ya…"
Gabe smiled ruffling her hair.
"Then… Dig in."
oooooo
It was a few hours after dinner when Gabe went to check on Elly next.
"Elly? You get your homework done?"
"Yeah…" Elly was lying on her bed, cuddled up with Takeru… her circuit marks out.
Gabe's eyes widened in concern, as he hurried over. "Elly-girl, what's wrong? Your marks are out…" He felt her forehead.
She felt a little warm.
"My stomach hurts…" Elly whimpered, hugging her toy tighter.
Gabe immediately felt guilt wash over him. "Oh, sweetie…" He sat down on her bed, stroking her hair. "... Be honest with me. It was the food?"
Elly nodded. "I just didn't want to hurt your feelings…"
… Great job "dad" you gave your own FRAIL daughter food poisoning… Gabe thought, hugging her gently. "Sweetie, you don't have to hide if you don't like something just for my sake. You could've said no… I'm an adult, if I'm a bit upset, I can get over it…"
"Okay…" Elly rested her head on his shoulder. "I hate being sick…"
Gabe stroked her back, trying to calm her down. "I know baby girl… I'm so sorry.."
"I forgive you… I love you Papa…"
"I love you too Elly-girl…" He kissed her head. "I'll get you better… Promise."
oooooo
"You did WHAT!?"
Gabe cringed wishing he didn't have his headphones on. "Joseph, I can explain… I was cooking and well… She got… Food poisoning..."
"Ugh…" Gabe could practically see Joseph running a hand through his hair. "Gabe… We've been over this… You need to be REALLY careful about what goes into her system. Food poisoning isn't going to kill her but making her weak isn't a good thing either."
"I know…" He sighed, feeling another pang of guilt. "I feel awful for it… I swear, I have no luck with this cooking thing… I gave Lucas food poisoning when HE was a kid too…"
"The only solution I'm seeing in this, is to get better at cooking. Don't you know anyone who can teach you? I dunno… Your wife? I remember her cooking was rather solid."
"Oh her cooking is fantastic…" Gabe perked up a bit. "I could ask her… I bet she wouldn't mind… Besides, since we'll be living together again soon… I'm pretty sure she wants me to get rid of the last of the bad habits…"
Plus, she'll kill me if I give her food poisoning too…
"Then set something up with her then so you can get better… and maybe make Elly an apology meal that she can eat."
"Plan to… Trust me, I feel genuinely crappy about this whole thing Joseph… I hate seeing her hurting and...I just felt like a really cruddy father there… She's resting now, the ol'sprite trick works with her but yeah… I will… Sorry about this…"
"Just… get a handle on it. I may not be related to any of them, but all my subjects are family to me."
He nodded sighing.
"I promise Joseph. Just wanna see her smile… Feel free to punch me in the face if I screw up again."
"I'll make a note of that."
oooooo
"What's with the face?" Lisa asked as she got her apron on. "You look like you're worried about something blowing up."
"Knowing my luck, something might. The most decent thing I know how to make is scrambled eggs. In a beaker." Gabe replied tying his own on with a nervous look. "And you've HAD those.."
"And I thought they were good." Lisa chuckled, patting him on the back. "And come on, you got me here."
"And me." Dreamster was currently in the form of a cat, sitting on top of the fridge. "If any explosions happen I can easily contain it. Nya~"
Gabe grinned a bit, kissing Lisa's cheek. "Thanks girls… Well… Shall we?"
"Yes." Lisa smiled. "We'll start simple… I know Elly's stomach is still recovering so, we'll just make some soup."
"Oh… If that's chicken stuff I want some." Dreamster sighed happily, licking her lips.
"If there's enough left." Gabe retorted. "But yeah… Elly likes soup too… Joshua made that chicken and dumpling one for her awhile back and she ate two bowls."
"Then we'll do just that." Lisa washed her hands real quick. "Let's begin."
Gabe found himself for once a bit shakey in the hands when handling the ingredients. He never really got nervous over ANYTHING… but he couldn't help it. He really didn't want to mess anything up for the sake of Elly's stomach.
Lisa took note of this, shaking her head as she made his way over to here he was, placing her hands over his.
"Hey… you're doing fine."
Gabe gave her a grateful look. "Thanks… I just wanna do my best… Ugh Joseph just about ripped my head off when I told him what happened… And you remember how he is usually… Guy wouldn't snap at a fly."
"Everyone has their breaking point. Even me." Lisa helped Gabe steady his hands, cutting into the chicken pieces. "Goodness you really are nervous…"
"I haven't done this in years… You sure these are the right size?" He asked pausing in what he was doing a nervous look in his eyes. "I could cut them smaller…"
Lisa shook her head, keeping close to him.
"They're fine… Don't forget to breathe." She picked up the bits, putting them in a bowl. "Do that again with another piece, I'll go get the broth ready."
"Right." Gabe took deep breath steadying his hands as he went back to work, wishing he was better at things like this. I can tell an intern exactly how to place in a pacemaker without even looking at them, I can deal with dozens of infected Rosalia patients and not break a sweat… and THIS gets me!?
Lisa got the stove turned on, warming up the broth. She looked back over to Gabe, a bit of a worried look crossing her eyes.
Sheesh… I've seen him generally be pretty calm and confident… I think this is the first time I've seen him look nervous.
"Alright, chicken's ready…" Gabe washed his hands quickly looking over to Lisa. "What else do I need to do?"
Lisa hummed in thought.
"Hm… well can't cook the noodles yet… and everything else is cut up so we're pretty much set till the broth is warmed up."
"Awesome." Gabe sighed in relief. "Thanks for teaching me Lisa."
Lisa smiled, bringing her arms around his neck.
"Why wouldn't I help my husband?"
Gabe smiled bringing one of his arms around her waist. "Good question my dear…"
Lisa giggled, kissing him.
"You'll be just fine."
Gabe kissed her quickly. "Thanks. Means a lot."
"Anytime."
"Nya~ You're both so adorkable." Dreamster mewed, giving a smug look.
Gabe grinned.
"Aww Dreamster, you like me now?"
"Nya, who said I couldn't have a change of heart?" Dreamster looked to Lisa. "That's the biggest grin she's had in awhile. How could I not?"
Lisa blushed a bit. "Eheh…"
Gabe chuckled. "She is awesome."
"Gabriel…"
"I mean it."
Lisa sighed happily, laying her head on his chest.
Gabe rested his chin atop her head.
"Love you."
"Love you too."
oooooo
"Elly."
The girl looked up from her bed, seeing Lisa poking her head in the door. She smiled, sitting up, rubbing one of her eyes.
"Hi, Mama…"
Lisa smiled, sitting beside her, kissing her head.
"Hey, sweetie… Your father and I brought you something."
"Oh?"
Gabe came in, a tray in his hands. "Made your favorite soup for ya kiddo… Your mother showed me how."
Her eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"That's right." Lisa smiled. "We made it together."
Gabe grinned sitting it down. "Yup, made sure it was good for our little one… Perfect for Elly."
Elly giggled. "Papa… Mama…"
"We wanna see you happy little one." Lisa ruffled her hair. "Enjoy it… We got you."
Elly smiled a bit, taking the tray and trying the soup. Her eyes lit up again at the taste, sighing happily.
"This tastes really good…"
Gabe felt some pride swell up. "Glad you like it sweetie."
Elly nodded, digging into it more, soon finishing it. She let out another happy sigh, lying back on her pillow, cuddling up with Takeru.
"I think we've done it." Lisa giggled.
Gabe sighed in relief. "Indeed we have Lisa… Next week...Cake?"
Lisa grinned, kissing him.
"It's a date."
Gabe smiled kissing her.
Maybe cooking won't be so bad.
