A/N: WOOHOO! We've got a baby people! Course, we also have a lot of questions that are unanswered too. I'm on my writing high, my buzz. Chapter 4! So happy, so happy, so happy...
Warning of major sap.
xoxoxo
Goofball: YAY! What a long review! Nice. And knew you would like it! Babies are so fun. –dances around- Thanks for the glowing review on my pacing. Hehe. Made me feel much better. And my plot took two weeks to work through. The kinks were smoothed out and yay all I have to do is write it. I'll email you when I update! :-D
Jazz Cheetah: Yes! A baby is a new thing that I haven't seen in any FAKE fics. Something out of the ordinary that I absolutely had to throw in. And they will be very tired. Babies are tough work. That's why it's good there's two of them. I can't wait to show you where my story is going!
Calico Avangi: FABULOUS! I attempted to apply the same pacing to this chapter, but I'd like to see what you think of it. I love this chapter the best. –huggles chapter 4- It's okay that I'm not on your favorites list or anything. I just like reviews. And you have been doing so for awhile so, MANY THANKS! :-)
earthangel3: Oh, it's okay. I'm just glad you reviewed now. I always wondered what Drake and JJ would be like when they're taking care of a baby. Now we'll find out! And no. I can tell you right now that Dee is not related to the baby in any way. I just thought that was a good way to describe her eyes. Yup yup. Well, read and review please! Thanks for the support.
Neko-Rinny: YAY! You're going to stick with my ficcie. I guess it kinda is going to be Ryo/Bikkyish. They're going to take care of her yeah, but 1) she's much smaller than Bikky 2) neither one of them thinks she's a pest 3) she might not stay with them in the end. No more hints! But it is unique to the classic Ryo/Dee/Bikky relationship.
xoxoxo
Chapter 4:
Babies-R-Us. The one store that neither Drake nor JJ thought they'd EVER be in. But there they were, together, standing in the middle of an aisle flooded with car seats, at six o'clock in the morning.
It had been three days since they had found the little girl in her wicker basket and not a single person had come forward to take her in. It didn't help that the police station couldn't even provide the public with a name, but the description had been thorough enough. A four month old female with black hair, green eyes, and was Caucasian. Surely the parents would have known if their baby was missing.
Well, if her parents were alive that is.
The day after they had discovered the infant, they had submitted a little bit of her blood for a DNA sample to be compared to Webber's. Until the results came back, all they could do was wait, and that's where the tricky part came in, the waiting. Instead of just one or two days, it looked as if Drake and JJ were going to spend a week or so caring for their new visitor. Which caused one huge problem
"Fuck! Look at how expensive they!" exclaimed Drake.
"Why are you so surprised? I thought that you knew about babies," retorted JJ.
"Just because I used to be around little kids doesn't mean that I bought all their stuff."
"Anyways, we have to get one. She's been driving me crazy for the past couple days, we need something we can put her in without having to worry about her falling out of it."
Somewhere deep down inside of the pair of them, they had found motherly reason to not place the child in harm's way. Be it common sense or instinct, they never left her sitting on the couch alone, or the bed alone, or the kitchen chairs alone. 'Not alone' implying that one of them was with her at all times. So when one took a shower, the other had to wait to make breakfast. When one was getting dressed, the other had to wait to take October out. The circumstances were cutting into too much of their time.
"We could have borrowed one," suggested Drake, "From Ryo or somebody."
"Come on," JJ scoffed, "Bikky was already 11 by the time they met."
"Fine, fine. I don't care. You choose one then."
"How about... this one."
"WHAT? Are you kidding me? That thing has got more handles then we have hands!"
"Then YOU make the decision."
"I don't know. I was thinking about something simple. Something that would do its job, be efficient... without any extra unnecessary functions."
JJ worked hard to keep his own thoughts inside his head and not escape out of his mouth. He just described himself to the letter. How interesting... maybe that's his approach to life. The basics, what's needed without frivolity.
"Okay, I understand. Then how about the red one over there?"
They both shuffled down the aisle to the average sized car seat with a white plastic handle. Drake tilted his head to the right, while JJ shifted the baby on his shoulder. Staring in silence, they both took in its adequate nature. A padded seat covered in crimson cotton, a retractable cover for the sun, and holes in the back that fit with a seat belt. Perfect.
"Do you think she'll fit?" questioned Drake.
"Let's try and find out," proposed JJ, as he gently lifted the sleepy child and settled her into the car seat.
For extra measure, Drake reached up and buckled her in to test out the size. He thought it might be a little big, but not so large that they couldn't use it. She'll grow into it, given time. Perhaps we'll just send it along with her once we locate adults to parent her†Yeah, our gift to whoever gets to be there for her.
"What do you think Drake? You think it fits?" asked JJ.
"It'll do just fine, what I like best is that price fits.," Drake nodded as he lifted both baby and car seat off the shelf, "And if we don't get out of here now, we won't make it to the office by seven."
"Excellent point," agreed JJ, "Let's check out and leave."
oOoOoOoOoOo
Something was different about the precinct building today, but JJ and Drake couldn't put their finger on it. They had noticed it instantly the minute they walked in, like an aura of something or another, invisible but definitely there. Puzzled, they stepped into their office and then realized exactly what is was when a cold gush of air blew right into them.
"Ooo... it's freezing in here!" JJ cried as his arms crossed over his chest automatically.
"Must mean they got the air conditioner working again," shivered Drake, "Maybe a little too well in fact."
"God! It must be fifty degrees in this room. Quick, take off your jacket."
"What? Why?"
"Because we don't want the baby to turn blue and start crying."
The infant's face was contorting into a look of pure discomfort, and Drake started undressing immediately. That look always came right before she started bawling loud enough to give their sirens a run for their money. Between the choice of a migraine and feeling like an icicle, he'd choose the icicle any day.
"F... fi... fine, but after lunch... you're the one with frostbite," demanded Drake as he draped his suit coat over the car seat and unhappy child.
"Deal," grinned JJ as he whipped out his thermos, "You can have the whole thing today Drake. Looks like you're going to need it."
Drake laughed and threw JJ one of his most genuine smiles, "And just when I begin to think that I can't love you anymore..."
"Yes, yes I know. I'm just that fantastic," JJ teased haughtily, running his hand through his hair for effect, "You couldn't do anything without me helping you in someway."
"You're right, I couldn't," whispered Drake, softening his smile to show his partner that he was absolutely serious.
Words failed JJ as his heart melted at Drake's reply. He had expected some sarcastic remark about his vanity or arrogance, like the banter they usually enjoyed together. Yet, it was moments like this, this unexpectedly sweet confession of the soul that meant everything to him. His reaction was just further evidence that he had lost his heart to the only man that mattered anymore.
"Um... thanks," blushed JJ after some hesitation, "You know you mean everything to me too."
"Sure I do," said Drake as he leaned over and wrapped an arm around his waist, "But that doesn't mean I don't like being reminded once in a while."
The blond just chuckled as his lover turned a deeper shade of scarlet.
"We've got work to do sexy. I'll pick up the coffee, you pick up the baby, and let's make our merry little way down to the file room. Because no matter how special she is, she couldn't have been left by the stork."
oOoOoOoOoOo
"And here's all the birth certificates for May 2nd," Drake gasped as he let a gigantic stack of papers fall upon their work table.
JJ groaned with dissatisfaction as he picked up the top piece of paper, "Oh goody, just twenty or so days to go."
"No, actually it's more," Drake responded, "These are only the births from Memorial Hospital, there are still five other major maternity wards, and then there are the couple hundred home births."
JJ unceremoniously thudded his head against the table, "Ah, just shoot me now. Why do people have to have so many kids! After one, they should tie their tubes."
"Always the feminist aren't you JJ" Drake sighed as he shook his head, "Let's start and maybe we'll finish by next year."
So they separated the pile into two halves and commenced to skim through them all. They didn't know exactly what they were looking for, perhaps a lead or even Webber's name, merely something that could explain who she was.
Their process was interrupted by an insistent rapping on the cellar door. They ignored it, but after a second or two the knocking grew louder, as if someone was determined to beat down the door.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" yelled Drake as he climbed the stairs to let whoever it was in.
Upon opening the door, he came face to face with Jim Campbell, glasses sitting on the tip of his nose and hair pulled back into a messy pony tail. Jim, who was the head of the lab department, never really interacted much with Drake and JJ, but he was still one of the select few that didn't frown upon them being together.
"Sheesh, what do you want?" commanded Drake.
"This is for you," Jim said as he pulled a folder from inside his lab coat, "The results are in about Webber, the woman, and the baby."
"That's great! Thanks," replied Drake as he turned around to head down the stairs again, but looked back with a confused look on his face, "Why didn't you just come in yourself? The door was open."
"I've learned to knock," shrugged Jim.
"What does that mean?"
"Means I didn't knock two years ago and found McLean and Laytner up against a wall."
"Oh, good reason."
"Enjoy your data," Jim responded whimsically and returned to his office.
"Who was it Drake?" asked JJ as he pulled out a jar of applesauce for the baby.
"Just Jim with the lab results. You can go on and feed her while I read through this," advised Drake who opened the file and began to study the findings.
JJ was immensely proud of his ability to spoon feed the tiny girl. It hadn't taken long at all to get the hang of it and he now considered himself something of an expert. His one goal during the meal revolved around getting most if not all the food into her mouth rather than the floor. So far, only a few accidents had happened where she spit her crushed carrots back out onto his face. Ha, but I've made progress. It feels good to have a success like this, even if it is trivial.
"Aw, fuck," Drake hissed after ten minutes.
"Drake!" JJ scolded, "Not in front of the ba-"
"Look! Look at that!" Drake huffed as he shoved the folder under JJ's nose.
After a moment of searching he realized what Drake had wanted him to see:
- - -The DNA test between Child 3355092 and John M. Webber is positive with 99.9 percent accuracy.- - -
"Holy shit" breathed JJ.
"Tsk," Drake shushed, "Not in front of Webber's daughter."
Their eyes met and they both understood that their case was long from over. They still didn't know who was the killer, if the woman, Candice Smith, was the mother, or why the child was left unharmed. How did they not know that Webber even HAD a child?
"Do... do they mention... who the girl is?" said JJ timidly.
"They just said that she's his daughter. No name, no birthday, just her station ID number," Drake answered back.
"Well, we can find that out easily now I guess. Just search on John Webber and... who was that?... Candice Smith and see what we come up with."
"JJ"
"What Drake?"
"We can't contact any of their relatives. She still might be a target."
"But they left her all alone-"
"Maybe they didn't even know she was there."
"Exactly what are you saying?" JJ said worriedly.
"That first we give Janet the names to search for, then let Child 3355092 stay with us until we know who was after her parents."
oOoOoOoOoOo
That evening found Drake and JJ sitting in their kitchen quietly eating their pasta, not saying a word. Uncommon as this was, neither of them made to break the silence, too lost in their own thoughts. Janet had run the names through the computer and came up with nothing, but told them not to be discouraged and that she would check them by hand when she had the time. Their worst fear had been confirmed. That not only was this the child of their low class drug dealer but that her records might be destroyed. It wouldn't have been hard for Webber to bribe an intern into "losing" the information.
"How is it?" JJ spoke up.
"What is?" queried Drake.
"My food."
"Oh, it's great," Drake quickly replied, "I've just had a lot to think about."
"You too huh?" JJ smiled as he made to clear the table, "It's hard to think about all the consequences."
"You're telling me. Our next move has got to be the perpetrator. Until we bag that person, we're going to be cooking for three."
"Four if you count October," chuckled JJ as he ran hot water for the dishes, "Are you washing or drying tonight?"
"Doesn't matter. You pick. Thank goodness we got Child 3355092 a car seat today. Now we can do both at the same time."
JJ didn't answer but instead turned his back to Drake, roughly throwing the dishes into the soapy water. Drake groaned inwardly. This was JJ's pouting stance. And I don't even know what I've done this time!
"What? Did I say something?" Drake demanded.
"Don't call her Child 335... whatever it is," JJ snapped.
"And may I ask why not?"
"Because it... it... dehumanizes her. She's more than a number," JJ commented softly.
Drake was taken aback. Apparently JJ had gotten close to the baby during the past three days, much more than he was letting on. She must have hit a chord inside him...
"Then what do you suggest?" Drake offered as he stepped behind JJ and pulled him to his chest, "We don't know her name."
JJ let go of the plate that he was scrubbing viciously and put his hands on the edge of the sink, "I don't know... we could give her a nickname. You know? Not her real name, but something we can refer to her as besides her number."
"All right," Drake approved, "What do you suggest?"
"Um... um... stop licking my ear when I'm trying to concentrate!" JJ squeaked.
"Maybe later then," murmured Drake, "How about something for someone... delicate, small, beautiful."
"Kallima," JJ spoke up after a pause.
"Kallima?" Drake said a little surprised, "Was does that mean?"
"Butterfly," replied JJ.
A/N: I had to hug myself at the end there! SO CUTE! I LOVE IT! AND I'M THE ONE WHO'S WRITING IT! YAYAYAYAYAY! MORE GOODNESS TO COME. WEEEEE! STAY TUNED TO FIND OUT THE END OF THE MYSTERY IN LATER CHAPTERS!
Review, review, review. The more reviews I get, the happier I am, the faster I write, the quicker I update, the swifter you get to read the next chapter!