Title: First Steps

author: Cindy Ryan

notes and summary: See part one

Tim Bradford was sorely tempted to give up his gym membership. Having an eight month old daughter was more than enough to keep him in shape even for department regs. He had a two hour meeting with Wade Grey that morning to go over the next steps in his Sargent training. He'd past the test a few weeks ago. Lucy was home sick with a bad cold. Grey had been generous enough to let Ellie stay with Tim at the informal meeting. It was just the two of them after all in a conference room. Tim sat Ellie on a blanket on the floor near him and set out her toys. She smiled at him and he and Wade began the meeting.

"Not going to say it's going to be easy,"Wade was saying an hour later. "But based on your test score, experience and with recent retirements within the department you'll be on the fast track."

"Thank you, Sir."Tim acknowledged with a smile as he took a sip of coffee.

"What did I say about, Sir?"Wade asked with a grin.

"Not during off hours or training."Tim replied sheepishly. "Sorry, habit."

Wade waved a hand dismissing it. They turned back to the thick training manual when Tim thought he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked down and saw Ellie's blanket was empty. He looked quickly around the room and didn't see his daughter. Then he saw a flash of her pink socked foot near the front of the table. Tim pushed his chair away just as Grey spoke.

"Well hello there."Grey greeted with a smile.

Tim peered under the table to see that Ellie had crawled over to the left of Grey's chair. She was up on all fours and looking up at him.

"Sorry."Tim apologized as he stood and started to walk around the table.

Wade held up a hand laughing.

"Have one of my own, remember?"Wade responded. "Though it's been along time since she was in this stage."

Tim reached the side of the chair that Ellie was in time to see his daughter rise to her knees and wobbly grip the edge of Grey's chair. Wade raised an eyebrow at Tim.

"Thought she wasn't walking yet?"Grey asked.

"She's not."Tim replied awe in his voice.

"Might want to get your phone out and record this so Lucy doesn't kill you."Grey suggested.

Tim pulled his phone out and squatted down. He hit the camera and the video option and started recording. Just as he did Ellie pulled herself up to her full height.

"That's it, little one."Tim cooed. "You're doing amazing."

Ellie turned towards her father letting go of Grey's chair with one hand. She teetered slightly but remained on her feet. She let go of the chair completely.

"Think she's going to walk."Grey said softly.

Tim double checked that the phone was recording and raised his free hand to his daughter. He felt a lump in his throat that she was growing so fast. That she was already at this milestone.

"Ellie, walk to Daddy."Tim instructed quietly.

With a determined expression on her face Ellie took a step with her right foot; then her left.

"Good job, Ellie."Grey complimented with a smile.

Ellie laughed and took one more step with her right foot then she lost her balance and was back on her knees. Tim carefully saved the video and walked over scooping his daughter up in his arms and kissing her forehead lightly.

"Amazing."Tim complimented his voice thick with emotion.

Ellie reached up with her right hand and caught the lapel of Tim's uniform shirt. He hugged her close for a moment.

"Good job, little one."Tim said tenderly.

Then after a moment he walked back to Ellie's blanket and set her in the center. He handed her a toy and sat down. Before he and Grey resumed the meeting Tim texted the video to his wife.


Curled up on the sofa at home under a blue quilt and huddled against a mound of pillows Lucy looked at her phone as a text message chimed. She smiled as she watched the video her husband had sent. Her fingers lightly traced the image of her eight month old daughter as she took her first steps. Blinking away tears Lucy replied back to the message.

"Tell Ellie good job and give her a hug for me. Love you both."

Lucy fell asleep a few minutes later still holding the phone.

end