Jack looked up from changing Noah. "What?"
"The yard," Boone repeated. "I thought I might do something with it."
"Like what?" Jack asked, disposing of the dirty diaper.
"I don't know," Boone replied. "It needs weeding for one thing. I could tidy up all the borders, plant something colourful in them."
"Mmm," Jack agreed, concentrating on wiping Noah down. He made some faces at him and saw his eyes light up. He wasn't quite smiling yet but Jack could tell he was getting close and if you looked carefully you could see the beginnings of full expressions on his little face. Jack wanted to interact with him as much as possible to encourage Noah to communicate back and learn how to express himself. And he was sure that it was working because everyday he could see little changes in the way Noah looked at him.
"What do you think? Jack?"
Jack looked up and suddenly realised that Boone was still talking to him. "Sorry, what?"
Boone looked annoyed. "Are you not listening to me?"
"I am, I'm sorry, I was just changing Noah," Jack explained.
"You know, I can actually change Noah and hold a conversation," Boone replied, sounding unimpressed. "It's called multitasking."
"That would be another thing you do like a woman then," Jack retorted.
Boone looked upset. And Jack guessed he had a right to be, that was a little out of line, he knew Boone was sensitive about their roles. But then Boone was sensitive about everything and there was really only so much creeping around that Jack could do.
"You never pay attention to me whenever you're doing something with him," Boone said.
"Do you want me to start playing favourites?" Jack asked. He could feel himself getting more wound up and Boone certainly wasn't doing anyone any favours right now. Jack finished up with Noah and lifted him off the changing table.
"Look, this is all coming out wrong, I don't want to fight with you, okay?" Boone stated.
"Just, please don't start this Boone cos I really, I don't think I could take it," Jack pleaded.
Boone looked at him. "Start what?"
"You're getting jealous over a four-week-old baby," Jack stated.
Boone looked down at his feet, an ironic smile on his lips, and then looked back up at Jack. "I'm not jealous."
"Then stop acting like it," Jack told him, walking over to the crib to put Noah down for a nap. He wasn't sure Noah needed a nap right now if he was honest but he figured that maybe it would put off an argument.
"Jack, are you serious?" Boone asked, looking confused and concerned at the same time like only he could.
Jack turned to face him. "You're acting like a spoilt brat," he stated. "You're acting like some only child who just got a little brother and now you're fighting for attention."
"Where do you get this stuff from?" Boone asked. "It's not like he's my kid brother, he's my son."
"And he's getting in the way of our relationship," Jack finished.
Boone looked at him. "I don't agree with you."
"What else is new?" he quipped, bending down to adjust Noah's blanket.
"You're the one who's acting like a petulant child here," Boone pointed out. "You're the one who's making snide comments. You're the one who's acting all high and mighty."
"Can we just stop, okay, we're gonna upset Noah," Jack said.
"So let's leave the room. Noah's fine, why don't we just leave him to it?" Boone suggested, but the way he was looking at Jack made it look more like a challenge. Jack didn't say anything, he just looked right back at Boone. They both knew he wasn't going anywhere. Boone nodded. "You stand there and tell me I've got issues."
"Boone..."
"You haven't slept in four weeks!"
"I've slept," Jack insisted.
"You've napped," Boone corrected. "That's hardly the same thing. And you only ever seem to get any sleep when I'm awake and I'm watching him. Jack, nothing is gonna happen if you go to sleep."
Jack knew that that was more than likely true. And it's not like he particularly chose to stay up and watch him all the time, he just couldn't sleep, there was a difference. He hated not being able to sleep but having Noah there made it worthwhile to stay up, to be awake. He had something to do other than wandering the house or watching Boone sleep and feeling jealous. But when he watched Noah sleep he didn't feel jealous, he felt complete.
"The hospital called again today," Boone said, quieter now. But it wasn't like he felt better, it was like he'd given up. "They want you back next week."
Jack gave a little nod, they'd been enquiring into when he would be returning to work and he'd been putting them off but he knew they wouldn't stand for it much longer. They'd been patient with him but enough was enough he guessed. And he knew it was only fair that he returned but he just wasn't sure if he could do it. He had to of course, but when did that ever make things any easier?
"Are you going to go?" Boone asked him. "Back, I mean."
Jack looked down at Noah who was looking right back at him. He clearly wasn't in the mood for a nap but he was happy enough to lie there for now. Jack bet it would be a different story if he and Boone tried to leave though. "Yeah, I'll be going back."
"You don't have to," Boone said.
"I think I do," Jack replied. "I don't think they'll keep the position open much longer to be honest. And I don't really want to take any more liberties."
"But if you want you can let them fill the position," Boone continued. Jack looked at him. "If you don't want to go back you don't have to. I could get a job. My mom actually offered me my old job back last week."
"Boone, you hated that job," Jack pointed out.
"I don't care," he said. "I'd get to come home to you. And Noah."
Jack shook his head. "I like my job," he said. "I want to go back, okay?"
"But you don't want to leave Noah alone with me," Boone nodded, looking all put upon again.
Jack rolled his eyes. "You don't listen to a word I say, do you?"
"I must be picking up your bad habits," Boone responded.
"If you're going to be incapable of having an adult conversation, Boone, then I'm just not going to talk to you."
"Stop treating me like a kid," Boone demanded.
"Stop acting like one then," Jack suggested.
"God, if you think I'm such a terrible person then why are you even with me? Why did you have a baby with me?" Boone asked.
"You're not a terrible person, Boone," Jack told him. "You're just acting like an idiot."
Boone looked at him incredulously. "I don't know how you can say that to me with a straight face, you're clearly insane."
"Christ, we were having a conversation a second ago, why do you always do this?" Jack asked.
"I'm not doing anything," Boone replied, looking sad. "I'm not doing a thing, Jack." He looked over at Noah and bit his lip. He sighed. "We can't do this in front of him." He looked back to Jack. "Guess that means we're not doing it, huh?"
Jack wanted to say something grown-up and reassuring but quite honestly he couldn't think of a word to say. He knew that he said some stuff that was unnecessary and he was quite aware that he was acting immature himself but he also said a lot of valid stuff about Boone's jealousy and he had to stick by that.
Boone shook his head a little and headed out of the room. And Jack stood there and watched him like the idiot that he was.