Chapter 7

Elizabeth was sitting up on the couch, her long legs stretched out in front of her. Isabelle was on the phone going over the latest Intel as Alison sat with her legs across Elizabeth's eating a popsicle and focused solely on Sesame Street. Elmo's whiny voice was in the background.

She had only been home from the hospital three days and she was itching to get back into the office. Janie came in and lifted Alison from the couch so Elizabeth could concentrate on her work. The toddler continued to look over her shoulder at the TV. As soon as they were out of the room, Elizabeth clicked Elmo off.

"Where's Juliet? Is she staying in Israel or moving?" she asked with her brow furrowed.

"George is moving from London to Baghdad." Isabelle answered her.

"I'm concerned for Aldara. I think we need to get her out. That should be his first move." Elizabeth answered. "Have George call me. I will give him the location of the shopkeeper that can help get her out of there."

"Okay. Will do. Anything else?" Isabelle asked.

"How's Conrad?" she asked.

"He's okay. Missing you in the meetings. But, he'll get by."

"Well, if I can work it out I will be back in there two weeks from now." Elizabeth whispered.

"Not happening." Henry's voice billowed into the room. He was carrying their fussy newborn.

"Okay. I gotta go. Both bosses are here, Henry and the baby." Elizabeth answered.

Isabelle laughed and said, "Get some rest and we'll connect later."

Elizabeth turned to Henry who handed her the baby. She slipped her breast out of her robe and held Jason who latched right on.

Henry picked up the toys in the room and glanced over at her.

She looked at him and gave him that little grin. But, he wasn't buying it.

"Do I need to remind you again that you just had surgery to give birth to our son, three days ago? You are on maternity leave for at least six weeks, Elizabeth. And even that timing I do not like."

She didn't reply and looked down at Jason's face. She used the back of her hand to caress his chubby cheeks.

"When are your parents coming down?" she asked.

"When they can safely leave. Hopefully, by the weekend." he answered her with an air of tension in his voice.

"Don't be mad, Henry," she said in the way she dipped her voice down to convince him it would be okay.

"I just wish you would spend less time on the phone and more time resting. I have to go get Stevie." he headed back into the kitchen, grabbed his keys and walked out the door.

She looked down at Jason and rubbed his check again to prevent him from falling asleep.

A half hour later, Stevie came bounding through the door, threw down her backpack and headed for her brother who was now resting on Elizabeth's chest.

Before she could even get close, Elizabeth spoke to her. "Hands, go wash your hands!"

Stevie pouted and headed into the half bathroom.

Henry walked in and leaned down to give her a kiss. He placed his hand gently on her cheek as he always did.

"For the record, I'm not mad," he said as he walked away and looked back at her.

Stevie came back up and Elizabeth scooted over. 'How was your day?" she asked as she placed Jason in his sister's arms.

"Good. But, I missed you and Jason," she said looking back at her mother. Elizabeth ran her hand over her braids in her hair.

"I know, it's hard to have a new baby at home and have to go to school."

"Stevie, want to play dolls?" Allie came running back in holding two of Stevie's Barbies almost stabbing Jason with one.

"Woah, baby girl. Slow down," Elizabeth said. "Here climb up here and we will play with you. But, where are their clothes?"

"I took them off." Allie said proudly. "They looked horrible. Janie says we can make new ones with your sewing machine."

"Well, we can but for right now, they can't be naked. They'll get cold."

Allie laughed as Janie came walking in with the clothes behind her.

"Here, let's dress them. Thanks, Janie." Elizabeth took the clothes from her and helped Allie re-dress the dolls. It was then she stopped and noticed that she was really good at it. She paused and watched Allie work to get the sleeves on the doll.

Janie replied, "If you are set with the kids, I will start dinner before I leave."

Henry walked in. "I've got dinner. If you want to head out early you can, it's a beautiful day. "

Elizabeth threw her head back, "Ugh. I hate this rest thing. I feel like I can't help my family!"

Henry laughed and said, "Babe, just a few more days and it will be better."

Stevie made a grimace and replied, "You know what is not good, Jason's diaper."

Allie immediately jumped off the couch covering her nose and yelling "Eww he smells!"

Henry took the baby from Stevie, "We'll be right back."

Elizabeth got up to say goodbye to Janie. She grabbed herself a glass of water when she heard Henry yell for her from the nursery.

She made it up the stairs but stopped in the doorway and burst out laughing.

Henry was wet all over his shirt. He was trying to clean Jason off who was also covered.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked while trying to hold in her laugh.

"I forgot to cover him while grabbing a wipe and he wet himself and me," Henry said struggling to now hold the diaper down and grab more wipes.

"Here let me clean him up and you go change.," she looked at him. "Actually, take a shower, SuperDad."

With one child bathed and two others now dirty from playing outside with the horses, they sat down for a dinner of Mac-n-Cheese and Salad.

Elizabeth moaned as she slipped the fork into her mouth. "Henry, this is so good. But, if we are going to eat like this, I will be running as soon as I am cleared."

"Babe, you look beautiful. Don't worry about it, just enjoy." Henry smiled at her from the other end of the table.

She smiled back at them as they sat and ate as a family of five.

Around 1am, Elizabeth heard the whimpering of Jason from the bassinet beside their bed. Henry had moved him to his side so Elizabeth could sleep better. She nudged Henry on his back.

"Henry, the baby," she whispered as she sleepily sat herself up against the headboard.

Henry reached over and placed Jason in his mother's arm. For the next 20 minutes she fed him.

"I don't remember the girls nursing this much," she asked Henry as he rubbed Jason's head.

"Because they didn't. They were both sleepers and you could easily go five hours a night before they looked to be fed." Henry replied as he rolled back over.

"This every three hour thing is a killer. He better learn how to sleep soon." Elizabeth sighed and rested her head back against the bed.

About 20 minutes later she brought Jason over to the changing table. She was grateful to still have the one from the girls to use in her room at night.

She pulled his legs out of the sleeper and peeled back his wet diaper. She looked around, "Wipes. I need wipes." She reached for the wipes and his diaper fell open. She immediately heard the dripping noise.

"Nooo! Oh Jason, twice in one day!" as she clamped her hand back over the diaper.

Henry woke back up, "WHAT?! Again?"

"Henry, we have got to get the hang of this boy parenting thing," Elizabeth said brushing her hair out of her face.

So, there they were bathing their newborn once more at 1:30 in the morning.

The shuffle of feet came behind them. Stevie said, "Why is everyone awake?" rubbing her eyes against the harsh light of the bathroom.

Elizabeth sighed but didn't look up from the infant tub where she was bathing Jason for a second time.

Henry looked at Stevie and said, "The baby just had another accident. Let's get you back to bed."

Stevie replied and headed back to her room telling her father, "Okay, but you two really need to learn to keep his hose covered!"

Henry laughed and tucked her back into bed.

When they finally laid their heads back down it was nearly 2:30am.

"Five A. M. will have to be a bottle, Captain. Good luck and keep the hose covered." Elizabeth laughed out loud.

"Shh, you will wake him and quite possibly one of the others."

They laughed as they fell asleep in each other's arms.