Chapter 137
Ryan sat down behind his desk once Alex left looking at the letter. Considering all his options once again the files he was busy with long forgotten. Shelby got back from the cafeteria and bumped into Alex spilling some coffee on her friend's shirt as she didn't look where she was going. "I'm sorry. Alex?" Shelby asked as the brunette wiped down the stain from her black shirt luckily a dark color so the mark won't be as visible. "Hey what's going on, you don't look okay." The blond noticed and Alex looked around them, grabbing Shelby's hand and pulling her into an empty office.
Closing the door behind them she sighed deeply folding her arms across her chest, Shelby waiting patiently until Alex was ready to talk. "The military wants to recruit Ryan for a 6 month tour in Afghanistan." She said softly looking up at Shelby who had a blank expression on her face. "What are his thoughts on it? And how do you feel about this?" Shelby asked. "He needs to give them an answer in two days. I told him I'd support any decision he makes but I don't know if I can be a military spouse, going to bed every night hoping he's still alive." She admitted pushing her bunch of curled hair backwards. "You two need to sit down, and talk this through. I'm sure whatever decision he makes he won't do it lightheartedly." Shelby said, and Alex grabbed her coffee from the desk taking a sip, grateful for the taste of caffeine since she didn't have any in a few days.
The day was dragging and it felt like there were no end to it, happy when it was 5PM and they could go home. Ryan knocked on the door when he walked past and she gathered her things, walking out the doors with him. "Did you mean what you said earlier?" He asked as they pulled out of the parking lot and came to a halt at a red light. "Are you considering it?" Alex answered his question with one of her own looking at him, his eyes focused on the road. He sighed deeply shrugging. "I don't know. Maybe." He looked at her biting her bottom lip not answering him after that.
They pulled up to the day care and Alex didn't bother getting out so Ryan went inside on his own. Finding his daughter and some of the other kids sitting on the couch watching TV, too interested in Barney than noticing anything else going on around them. He lingered in the doorway for some time, as the four of them had their own conversation that only they understood before he called her. She looked up at the familiar sound of his voice, making her way down from the couch running towards him as fast as she could. "Hey princess, did you behave yourself?" He asked and she looked over at her caregiver to answer. "Okay that says a lot." He laughed kissing his daughter getting her bag as he thanked Marci.
"Mama?" The little girl asked when she didn't see her mother with him.
"Mama's waiting outside in the car." He explained as they walked outside, opening the back door, securing her in the car seat as Alex turns around in the front seat. "Hello bub." She smiled reaching over to take Phoebe's little hand. They pulled up to the grocery store so Alex can start buying their new diet food, Ryan and Phoebe trailing behind her, as he place Phoebe in the cart and starts pushing down the aisles. They barely even started shopping when he disappeared into the hardware aisle as usual leaving Alex alone for a few minutes as she bought Phoebe's things first.
He was busy checking out some tools that he didn't have at home yet, adding to his "toy" collection, smiling to himself as Phoebe kicked her legs where she sat in the cart. "Booth?" Someone said from behind him causing him to look up, at the vaguely familiar voice. A tall well- built man, with salt and pepper hair, cleanly shaved and dressed in a service uniform. It took him a few seconds before he recognized the face standing in front of him. "General Koop." He remembered, or saw the plate pinned to his jacket, but the face is definitely one he won't forget exchanging a handshake with the older man. "It's good to see you, wow Booth you grew up." The General commented seeing Phoebe and the ring on his finger, just as Alex rounded the corner to look for them. Not sure if she should continue walking or turn around but the man standing there with her husband saw her walking towards them and turning around would be rude. She added the few things in the chart and Ryan looked up when he saw her. "This is my wife, Alex. General Koop." He introduced the two of them. "Nice to meet you sir." Alex smiled warmly and exchanged a firm handshake with the older man. "I'll leave you too it." Alex said giving them some time to talk. "Pleasure to meet you Alex." The General commented as Alex pushed the cart into the next aisle continuing the shopping with her daughter.
"I'm in town for the rest of the week, attending a conference. It'd be nice to meet up with you sometime and discuss the letter we sent you in the mail." The General commented and Ryan wasn't sure if it's such a good idea because he didn't make up his mind just yet. "No problem, sir." Ryan said as they decided on a meeting place and went their separate ways as he searched for the other two members of his family.
Ryan looked at the things that was stacked in the cart already when he got to them, not very impressed by the amounts of green most of the things were, which in his mind meant that it wouldn't be very tasty. "I see what you're thinking, and you better dismiss that thoughts." Alex said as if she could read his mind. "Right. But just so you know we barely even walk in the aisles where these things are stacked, for a reason." He continued his complaints. "Ryan Booth you didn't even taste it and you're already complaining. I know you're eating French fries at work and have liters of coffee and then pretend that you don't." He looked at her with a baffled expression not sure of how she found out any of those things. "No comment." He decided as they finished their tour around the store and headed home.
Alex was busy unpacking the groceries while Ryan and Phoebe were kicking a neon pink soccer ball along the passage of the nursery, as she prepared steamed fish and green salad with nuts. Certain that this meal does not look filling but they're gonna try it either way. Not seeing her husband and daughter but hearing the laughs as they're playing made her smile and she felt sad at the same time. If he accepts this offer to go back to the military she'll miss this, he won't see her grow up.
Alex was about to set the table when their game ended and Phoebe walked towards her mother, hugging her legs. Bending down to pick her up Phoebe put her hands around Alex's neck, astonishing her mother with this new action as her heart melted and she fell in love with her daughter once again. "I love you." She said once Phoebe pulled away from their hug and touched her mother's face with her little hands. "My mama." Phoebe announced proudly smiling up at her mother. "My Phoebe." Alex replied kissing her. Ryan stood in the passage looking at the two of them, and just when he thought his mind was made up about this military offer, it changed once again for the hundredth time.
"Ryan, I know earlier today I said I'll support any decision you make regarding the offer you got. And when you were talking to the General today it all felt so real, and I don't know if I can be a military spouse. " She started lifting Phoebe off the counter walking around to the lounge area where he stood. "We're trying to get pregnant and I can't handle a pregnancy and raising a toddler on my own. Yes I'm sure family will be there to help out, but they're not you." She confessed with her daughter settled on her hip who was intrigued by her mother's earrings as she kept turning the diamond studs 360 degrees in Alex's pierced ears.
"Honestly, earlier today I was 70% certain that I'd take the job. And then I randomly remember things that I won't be able to do anymore when I'm not here. " He started leaning against the back of the couch. "I can't walk downstairs and just stare at you while you're working with a frown on you're face as you're concentrating. I won't hear Phoebe call me when she sees me enter a room, or how she refuses to eat vegetables some days." Alex smiled and Phoebe looked up at the mention of her name, making her way out of her mother's arms towards her father, taking her from Alex he continued. "I'm meeting General Koop for lunch tomorrow, and I'm going to decline the offer. I'm not willing to miss out on milestones and witness it from a computer screen." He admitted, Alex walking towards him hugging him awkwardly as Phoebe is in between them.
After dinner, a rather peaceful one, because Alex expected her husband to moan about the food the whole way through, she and Phoebe went to the bathroom to get bathed while Ryan did the dishes. He loved Alex, and usually her cooking is amazing coming from an Indian, she knew exactly how to combine spice to give food an extraordinary taste, but tonight he had to deal with steamed fish and green salad with nuts, it was tasteless. He offered to do dishes so he can indulge in some leftover chicken from the previous night and some Ramen noodles. He didn't have the heart to tell her he won't be able to survive two weeks on this, or at least until she's pregnant so they can get back to normal. Letting the tap water run so he can mute the sound of the microwave and stopping it at :01 seconds so it won't beep. He scooted up onto the kitchen counter feeling like a naughty kid eating sweets after bedtime.
Alex wasn't in the mood for a shower and decided to get into the bath with Phoebe. Joyful at the partner she had to enjoy bath time with her, the water game started almost immediately as she started splashing her mother with water. "No you do not play fair." Alex said pointing a finger in her direction, scrunching up her face as her daughter splashed her hands around in the tub splashing water all over the two of them an her mother. Grabbing Phoebe's shampoo and adding a few ducks and boats, to occupy the toddler while Alex starts washing her curly hair, which grew significantly fast as it was just below her ears.
When Ryan finished his eating downstairs and the dishes were clean, he walked up to see what his two women were busy with. Lingering in the doorway not wanting to spoil their fun he smiled at the way Phoebe looked with a head full of white foam siting with her back turned towards her mother as the two of them raced boats to see which one would win. Phoebe not like this game she sinks Alex's boat keeping her hand on it while hers stayed afloat. This right here is what he's not willing to give up and miss out on for six months. Family over everything.
Happy days! Got my mid year results today aaaaaannnnnnnddd I PASSED ALL MY SUBJECTS! I've been a ball of energy all day I didn't have much faith in some of them but beyond grateful that I made it. (Although I wanted to drop out earlier in the year.) Apologies for those of you who though I'd might make Ryan go away for some time I didn't mean to give you mini heart attacks. They belong together and as long as I'm writing this fic they will be. Thank you for all the love. Also those of you who were upset about Simon I'm sorry, but later on you'll understand why I did it. So stay tuned. I was watching old episodes and saw Hannah (Ryan's ex wife) and I wanted to write her in as some figure but I think they've had enough drama for some time and I need to tone down on some of the drama. Thank you for all the love.
Lovies-S
