At the sound of a key turning in the lock, Clooney raced to the front door, barking excitedly. He was wagging his tail so hard that, if he'd been a little more aerodynamic, he might've taken flight. The night before, Emily had promised him that they'd be coming home for good – and bringing his new best friend with them...and he couldn't wait to meet her properly.

He'd watched from the door to the bathroom as Emily laboured – wailing in pain, tears streaming down her face – until, eventually, Derek caught the baby as she emerged from Emily's body. The baby seemed impossibly small to Clooney's eyes – he'd never seen a baby human up close before.

The baby was silent. The longer she went without crying, the more distraught Emily became; Clooney wanted very much to push his way into the cramped bathroom to comfort her, but he also knew instinctively that his particular brand of affection wasn't wanted just then. Derek rubbed the baby's back with a warm towel for a few moments, finally stimulating her first cry, but Clooney could tell from their body language that something wasn't right...

Several weeks had passed since that night and, while Emily had only been in the hospital two days, the baby had needed an extended stay in the NICU. In that time, Clooney had found himself being passed around like a hot potato.

Most of the time, he found himself in the care of Penelope Garcia. Normally, he very much enjoyed the company of Garcia – she seemed to take it upon herself to spoil him in a manner befitting a king...but he was too worried to enjoy their daily 'puppacino'...

Derek came through the door first. Clooney was instantly at his side, waiting for attention and affection. Derek dutifully scratched between his ears for a few moments before commanding, "Sit, Clooney."

Obediently, Clooney sat...but couldn't stop wagging his tail because he could smell Emily waiting just outside, along with a new smell that could only have been the baby.

Emily came through the door, then, carrying the carseat. Clooney wanted very badly to inspect said carseat, but he remained seated, albeit in a state of cat-like readiness. He watched as Emily very carefully lifted the baby from the carseat, cradling her like the most precious and fragile treasure.

"Clooney," she said, kneeling down so he could see the baby, "Meet Lux Persephone Morgan. Your new best friend."

One by one, Derek and Emily's friends came to meet Lux.

Clooney knew them all, of course, had met them all over the course of the NICU stay, but this was an entirely new situation... From the first moment he'd set eyes on the tiny baby, he'd decided that she was his. And no one was getting near his baby without his approval.

In fact, when Emily's mother came to visit, Clooney had taken one look at her and resolutely refused to allow her anywhere near Lux. Derek had tried ordering him to stand down, but Clooney wasn't having it. He could tell that she didn't deserve to hold his baby.(Emily, at least, seemed to find it amusing. "Well, Mother, they say dogs are an excellent judge of character..." she'd said.)

On the other hand, when Derek's mother came to visit, Clooney could tell right away that she was worthy. She stayed with them for nearly a week and Clooney spent that week following her around as she constantly cuddled the baby. He may have trusted Fran, but that didn't mean he was going to let Lux out of his sight for even a moment...

Whenever Lux took a nap, Clooney took it upon himself to stand guard. He didn't know why he felt the need to be constantly vigilant... Maybe it was because he instinctively knew that she wasn't like other babies – of course, he didn't understand what Derek and Emily meant when they talked about Down's Syndrome, he simply knew that the tiny being needed a protector.

He would curl up beside her bassinet, but he never slept. He listened for the sound of her breathing, the sound of her stirring. And if she woke up crying, he'd poke his head into the bassinet and snuffle at her face until she laughed.

One day, as he played guardian to his precious baby, something struck him as being off...

Confused and concerned, he stood and peered into the bassinet, expecting to find Lux blinking back at him with her bright amber eyes...but instead, found her lying lifeless, an unsettling blue shade colouring her skin.

He didn't know what was happening, but he knew it wasn't good.

Rushing from the bedroom, he found Derek sitting at the kitchen table, working on paperwork, and starting barking ferociously. Derek swivelled in his chair to fix Clooney with a scolding stare. "Clooney, quiet," he commanded, "Lux is trying to sleep."

Clooney wasn't about to be dissuaded, though. He continued on with his insistent barking, determined to make someone understand what was happening.

"Clooney, shut up," Derek snapped. "Go lay down."

When he realized that Derek wasn't going to be of any use, Clooney went in search of Emily. Finding her in the laundry room, he once again started barking, staring at her beseechingly.

Whether it was his barking or maternal instinct or something different altogether, Emily seemed to understand that something wasn't right. She followed him through the house and into the nursery, taking one look at Lux and immediately leaping into action.

Five days – and another brief NICU stay – later, Emily and Derek returned with Lux.

And, as soon as the baby was settled in her bassinet, Derek knelt down in front of Clooney and wrapped his arms around him, nuzzling his face into his fur. "Thank you," he murmured, choked up with tears.

That was all he needed to say. Clooney understood perfectly.