Chapter 156
Alex came downstairs looking at a text message on her phone while Phoebe and Ryan were on the couch watching a football game, neither father nor daughter paying any mind to her; and she had no idea why Phoebe seemed so interested in this sport because just like her father her eyes were glued to the screen. Alex sat down next to them folding her legs underneath her looking at her husband until he got uncomfortable and he looked back at her for a few seconds, and when she failed to talk to him his eyes went back to the TV screen. Alex took her index finger and put it in his ear knowing how much he hated it, almost as much as when she wakes him up in the morning by tickling a strand of her hair in his ears.
"Okay, I'm listening what's on your mind?" he turned off the TV turning to face her so she can see has his undivided attention. Phoebe looked up at him questioningly pointing towards the blank TV screen.
"It's your mom, you know I'll never do something like that Pheebs." He apologized kissing the top of her head in an apologetic way.
"So you know I've been wanting to go to Mumbai for a long time now, and it's grandma's birthday in a week, and she would love to have everyone there. Do you think we'll be able to go?" She asked trying to read his facial expression as he had a poker face. "Babe, did you hear what I said?" She asked and he nodded.
"This isn't just us getting into a car and driving somewhere for two hours. It's a plane we're boarding , and my concern is if you're still able to fly being three months pregnant." He said calmly because for a minute it seemed like she forgot that she was carrying a baby. "I just don't want something to happen while we're midair and.."
"I understand. I'll call my doctor and ask her about it. If she says it's fine we can continue this discussion. If she says no…we're still going either way." Alex shrugged nonchalantly.
"Alleex." Ryan answered.
"I'm kidding grandpa." She laughed kissing his mouth quickly, getting up and walking towards the kitchen.
"Mama." Phoebe stopped her in her tracks, and she turned around, accepting her empty bottle that she handed to her mother. "Thank you." Alex took it, uncertain if she should fill it again, but based on her daughter's behavior it seemed like she was fine without it, getting comfortable on her father's lap as he switched on the TV again and they continued to watch the game. After their case yesterday Maranda allowed them to work half the day and she was only planning on working until lunch time, while her husband on the other hand seemed too relaxed and didn't bother to get done. "Are you planning on going to work today, Booth?" She asked eating a slice of avocado toast with a glass of orange juice.
"No, do you have any idea what a cool TV line up there is today starting in an hour? They're reviewing vintage cars on Top Gear I can't miss it." He announced excited and she had no idea what he was on about.
"No, I have no idea how awesome that will be. Oh by the way, will you be able to go so the grocery shopping for me today? It's a lot it's a few things Phoebe needs and some other things, I'll do the rest this weekend. If it doesn't interfere with your TV shows." She said hoping he would agree to it, because it would really help her out if he does it. "I want to clean the house when I get back, the list is on the fridge it's really not a lot."
"Can I have a bite?" he asked and she held the slice of toast out towards him, but took it away quickly. "Are you going to do some of the shopping for me?" She asked looking at her husband who nodded his head sighing heavily, taking a bite of her breakfast allowing her to have the rest. Alex headed upstairs to get herself ready for the work day hoping time would pass quickly, hoping Ryan would read her mind and tend to their daughter while she was busy getting ready. Which he did and headed towards the shower as she got out while Phoebe were playing with some building blocks downstairs. Alex joining her on the floor, stacking it up just so her daughter can crash their tower, until Ryan was done so they can go. "Do you think you'll be done by 12?" Alex asked when he came downstairs getting the keys so they can go. "Alex I am not you, I'll be done by 11:55, which gives you 5 minutes to meet me outside the office because this uber isn't waiting on you."
"Yeah, no pressure hey." She laughed getting up and getting Phoebe, leaving their building block tower in the middle of the floor, she'll clean it up when she gets back.
Ryan wasn't sure if he can do this grocery thing by himself, and he thought about taking Phoebe to day care until he was done, but decided against it. She'll go with him and he was looking forward to spending some time with his daughter. They'll show Alex they're a mean team when it comes to doing this shopping thing. "Let me know when you're about 5 minutes away." Alex said when they pulled up in front of the office. She leaned over and kissed him, grabbing Phoebe's foot on the back seat. "See you later, bub. I love you." She smiled at her daughter who waved at her as she got out of the car.
"Alright, Pheebs, you ready to have some fun?" he asked looking at her and the smile she gave him was confirmation that she was looking forward to their adventure. They drove around to the store, in the early morning traffic but he didn't mind being stuck in traffic today as he had nowhere in particular to be at a certain time. He pulled into the parking lot of the store, which was surprisingly full having no idea why so many people are here at this time of the morning. Getting Phoebe out and the list he folded and put into the pocket of his black sweatpants, the two of them walked into the shop getting a cart, and Ryan secured Phoebe in the cart before he pushed it into the furthest aisle, not really knowing why he is doing it this way but this is how Alex usually does it. "Okay where do we start with this?" He asked looking at the first item listed on the list, having no idea where to start looking.
"Why are you waltzing in here alone?" Nimah asked meeting her in the hallway.
"Ryan's taking a day off, he and Phoebe went grocery shopping this morning." She answered grabbing a bite of the donut Nimah held out towards her.
"I'm sure he'll survive." Nimah said full of confidence, but Alex wasn't so sure as the entered the empty office.
"Who will survive?" Shelby asked when she and Natalie came to sit around Nimah's desk.
"Ryan and Phoebe went grocery shopping, and Alex doesn't have any faith that he'll survive it." Nimah summarized.
"Wanna bet?" Alex asked seeing how she will be able to make money out of this as all her friends believed that her husband would be capable of doing this. It's not that she doesn't have any faith in her husband, but he'll probably show up with half of the things that's on the list and the other half of the items would be wrong. They all high fived on the bet and Alex was looking forward to having some spending money before the day is over, as she switched on her computer to finish the last paperwork of yesterday's case.
About twenty minutes into it Ryan felt like he has been throw into the deep end and he had no idea what to look for anymore. It was only the fourth item in the list and they had a long way to go still before it was over, but he was ready to get this over with already. Starting to doubt his abilities and wondered why he didn't leave Phoebe at daycare like he intended to because she started to become fidgety when a collection of dolls caught her eyes and she pointed towards them, but he wasn't planning on stopping for one, they were on a mission and he wanted to get done.
"Dada." Phoebe started and turned around as far as she could in the cart pointing towards the dolls while she started crying. "Phoebe please love, not now." He pleaded looking up at the boards that hung from the roof for some guidance as he was surely but surely losing it. Deciding to put an end to his search for that needle in the haystack he got out his phone and texted Alex:
*I don't know what this is. Here is garlic salt and garlic powder*
He send her a picture of the Crushed Garlic that she wrote on the list.
She looked down at her phone, "is the bet still on because it hasn't even been half an hour and look at this." She showed the text to her friends who despite it continue to cheer for Ryan as they have faith him, and there is money at stake after all, so he shouldn't disappoint them. Alex went onto the internet and took a screenshot of what he is supposed to get, the exact brand that she wants and knows that they have in the store, sending it to him together with the text.
*Not powdered garlic. Not garlic salt. They have it, every store has.*
He stood in the middle of the aisle reading her texts, getting frustrated as she is sitting in an office telling him it is in the store, when he is standing right there and there is nothing not even remotely similar to what she sent him. Phoebe's whining got to him and he turned around to get her the doll in an attempt to calm her down, knowing that would be another lecture on its own when he gets home about spoiling her.
*They don't have it Alex. What do you want?* Her phone vibrated again as she read the message,
*Did you ask somebody there if they have it?*
*Yes!*
*Just get the garlic powder then.* She decided texting him back, knowing that she can expect a similar text regarding another item in a few minutes. "Crushed garlic, that's all I want." She said putting her phone down as shaking her head as she continued her work. She was barely focused on the work in front of her when the phone went off again.
*What kind of cheese?*
*Any* She replied.
"You're losing so please start paying up." Ales said as she was on the verge of calling him and telling him to leave the store, she'll go there after work. When he didn't reply after that she assumed he had everything under control , but her phone rang and his name showed on the caller ID. Neither of them not saying anything she heard Phoebe crying in the background while her husband were desperately trying to calm her down before he started talking to her on the other end of the line.
"What's going on? Why's she crying?"
"She saw a toy she wanted and I gave it to her, but further down the aisle she saw some weird kangaroo thing that she's crying about." He explained panic evident in his voice.
"Ryan, put all those toys away that you have in the cart, she doesn't need any of it." Alex lectured him from the other side of the line seeing the looks on her colleagues faces, since they've never really seen a motherly side to this FBI agent.
"Easy for you to say, you're not the one in the middle of the store with a crying toddler." Ryan said frustration rising.
"If there's a packet of soup powder or some bright colored, light weight item that won't break in the cart, hand it to her. The noises the packet makes will keep her occupied for some time." Alex instructed while he scanned the little items seeing a packet of Knorr soup powder handing it to her, surprised that it actually worked.
"Where's her pacifier?"
"I don't know, I think I left it in the car." He breathed continuing his journey as he pushed the cart further down the numerous aisles. "What's the salmon you always get, wait is it tuna or salmon?" He asked looking at the wide variety there is to choose from.
"In the can?" Alex asked trying to get more clarity.
"Yes."
"Ryan but you just said salmon, why would it be tune?"
"Okay, Alex just answer the question. Phoebe stop dropping it." Alex heard not very impressed as she set the afternoon out for cleaning and now she has to go shopping. For her friends however this was n hilarious situation.
"Uhm salmon. Or you know what Ryan it's fine. Leave the store I'll go there after work." Alex decided to put both of them out of their misery, not knowing which one of them are more frustrated right now. Trying to stifle their laughter, the girls handed over their money since she won the bet.
"Buy yourself something nice when you go shopping later on, it seems like you might need it." Natalie laughed hugging Alex but she didn't bother hugging her back.
"It's not funny, it's not even funny." Alex whined. "Not when you're at the receiving ends of texts like these." She pointed towards her phone.
"You're right it's not funny. It's hilarious." Nimah burst out in laughter as the other two joined her, Alex throwing a crumpled up paper in their direction.
Hey guys! How about a time jump soon (not a lot just about a week) up to the point where they start preparing for their trip to India or like a day before they depart. I think you all have been waiting too long for that to happen, and after this chapter I want to start working on that, so any ideas are welcome. I saw this on twitter and thought it would be nice to incorporate it into this chapter, it reminds me of my dad whenever my mom sends him shopping. Thank you for reading hope you enjoy.
Lovies-S
