A.A.C.S.L.H – Chapter 2: "Acting As…"
2 months after Munch had begun his foster care applications.
Munch had grown comfortable with his new position as "Temporary Papa Munch" – he liked to say. He and Ayana had grown close and one could not stand to be without the other. Munch had gone into full parent mode; he left Ayana with his friend Olives' wife Cindy during the day, who was a licensed Daycare Provider, they had breakfast every morning, dinner every night, and he read to her before bed. He even turned his office into a bedroom for her and painted a bright purple with a green trim. His fellow detectives noticed a changed in him, he was still the same Munch they've come to love and know, just with a bounce in his step. One morning after dropping her off, Munch made his way into the squad room…
"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted.
Munch stopped dead in his tracks, Fin popped a bottle of Champagne, the cork barely missing Stablers desk lamp.
"What's going on, Am I dying?" Munch asked suspiciously.
"Conspiracy nut, I told you." Stabler remarked.
"Congratulations John!" Benson said.
"Congratulations why?" he asked.
"I believe Ms.Novak will inform you on all the details." Cragen told him.
Novak walks up to Munch and hands him a file with a few sheets of paper inside.
"Congrads Detective Munch, you are the official Foster Parent of Ayana Klept." Novak told him.
A smile spread across his face as he shifted thru the papers.
"Thank you Ms.Novak. Um—"He cleared his throat. "What happens now?"
"You can apply for adoption in 6 months pending a psychiatric evaluation, a method of living assessment, and further background checks.
He raised an eyebrow
"Evaluation? Living assessment? What exactly does the government need to know about me?" He asked her.
"To adopt a child…everything." She smiled and looked at her watch. "Don't worry though; I cut thru a lot of red tape for you so these tedious procedures will take place in the near future. In face, your evaluation is right now."
"What?" Munch asked.
Dr. Wong came out from behind Stabler smiling.
"Surprise." Dr. Wong said.
"You just made my day doc." Munch said plainly.
"Do not be worried Detective, this wont be a usual 'head shrinking'" Wong told him.
Munch looked to Novak with a "Do I have to?" look. Novak shot him a look back and Munch sullenly followed Wong into the Interrogation room. The grabbed chairs and sat across from each other. Wong took out his clip board and pen, Munch sat with his legs crossed, ready to say as little as possible.
"Ok John, let's make this as easy as possible. Tell me, how has life been with Ayana?"
"Fine." He said simply.
"Care to expand on that?"
"Not really."
"John, I know you want to adopt Ayana, but you are going to have to speak up if you really want this to happen."
Munch shifted uncomfortably.
"In that case, things have been more then great. Anyone who says a child won't change your life needs to get off the pot because it's not true."
"Really? She's changing things for the better?"
"No, she's changing me for the better."
Wong chuckles, Munch almost looks offended.
"See? I finally open up and I get laughs."
"No Detective, I really wasn't expecting you to say that. You've been very illusive on what makes you happy and it's refreshing to see something other then your job does."
Munch looks at him over his glasses.
"Don't tell me my colleagues actually think I'm...agreeable?"
"Don't worry John; I don't think anyone could say that about you."
A half an hour later the session ends and Wong leaves. Munch walks back to his desk and sits back in his chair. A picture of Ayana and he having lunch in Central Park stares back at him. Suddenly he feels something slip into his front pocket. He turns around quickly and Fin is behind him.
"What's going on?" Munch asks.
"Check your pocket man." Fin says smiling then walks back to his desk.
Munch reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out a cigar. The wrapper is inscribed with "It's a Girl".
Around 7P.M Munch and Stabler walk back into the squad room from checking a crime scene.
"I can honestly say, I did not need to see that" Munch said flopping down I his chair.
"I didn't know one person could shed so much blood."
A cell phone rings, everyone checks theirs.
"It's me." Munch says, he answers his cell. "Munch….Hello Cindy." A brief pause. "102? Ok, I'll be right there." Munch hangs up and grabs his jacket and hat. "Tell Cragen I need to take Ayana to nighttime pediatrics."
"Everything ok John?" Benson asked concerned.
"No. Ayana has a fever of 102 and she's complaining of a sore throat."
Munch leaves in a rush, driving quickly he pulls up to Olive and Cindy's home in no time. He runs up to the door and knocks. Cindy, a 40 something woman with blond hair and brown eyes answers.
"Come on in John, she's on the couch." Cindy tells him
Munch goes over to the couch where Ayana sleeps. Her face and ears are a bright red and she breathes raspy-like. He picks her up; she's shivers as if she has the chills so Munch wraps her in her jacket. He Thanks Cindy and walks out. Putting her in the passenger seat of the car he talks to her.
"Hey Munchkin" He speaks in a very gentle voice. "You ok?"
Ayana shakes her head slowly and falls back asleep. Munch buckles her in and gets into the drivers side. Driving quickly he makes it to General Hospital in 10 minutes. Carrying her, he walks into the Nighttime Pediatrics Ward and signs in at the front desk. The registration nurse (Cecilia) asks him a few questions.
"Insurance?" She asks him.
"Yeah" Munch throws her card on the counter.
"Ok, I just need to make a copy of this and I'll hand it right back." Cecilia leaves for a moment and comes back with his card. "Ok Mr. Munch, just take a seat and we'll call you back in about 10 to 15 minutes."
Munch rolls his eyes and sits down, keeping Ayana close to him.
"Making us wait." He strokes her hair from her face. "How are you doing Munchkin?"
Ayana buried her face in his chest and tried to sleep some more. About 30 minutes later Munch and Ayana was called back. They we're lead to a room and there they waited for Doctor Mark. Munch made her comfortable, laying her on the hospital bed, and keeping her jacket over her like a blanket. After a short wait a tall black man walked in. He was in his 50's, bald head and brown eyes.
"Ayana Klept?"
"Yes. What took you so damn long?" Munch said impatiently.
"I'm sorry sir; the hospital is short staffed tonight." He walked over to Ayana's bedside. "How are you feeling sweetie?"
Ayana just groaned.
"She has a fever of 102 the last time I checked, her face is red and hot but she is having chills. Her babysitter told me she was complaining about her throat." Munch informed him.
"Ok." He grabbed the ear light. "Ayana, can you turn your head to your father please?"
Ayana turned left, looking at Munch. He looked in.
"Hmm, her ears are red." He grabbed another scope and sat her up. "Ok, I need you to open up real wide and stick your tongue out, like you just ate something icky."
Ayana smiled and opened her mouth, sticking out her tongue.
"Yep. Throat is red. Ok, you can close your mouth."
She does so. Dr. Mark feels around her throat and jaw line.
"Has she been lethargic all day?"
"From what I know, yes. What's going on doc?"
"She has a viral infection. It's common in children her age; luckily you caught it at its early stage. I'm going to give you some Amoxicillin, ear drops, cough medicine, and some Dramamine."
"I don't believe in drugging her up to the point that she doesn't know she's sick."
"It's all very necessary. The Amoxicillin is an anti-biotic, the ear drops will stop her ears from becoming infected, the cough medicine will stop the sore throat and prevent any coughing, and the Dramamine will help her move. The infection is messing with her equilibrium, causing her to be dizzy, hence the lethargic movement."
"Oh." Munch said simply.
The doctor smiled kindly.
"New father I presume?"
"Foster father actually, I was just certified today. I already have adoption papers going thru."
"That's wonderful. I'm going to draw some blood and run some test, and give you result for an allergy test. Something every father should know."
"Thanks doc." Munch said gratefully.
Dr. Mark grabbed his blood drawing supplies from a cart and rolled up her sleeve.
"Ok Dad, you might want to hold her."
Munch sat her in his lap.
"Is this going to hurt her?"
"Not as much as it will hurt you." He said swabbing her arm. "Ok, Ayana, you're going to feel a slight pinch, so I want you to look at the poster of Winnie the Pooh for me. Ok?"
Ayana nodded nervously and looked to the poster. Munch saw the needle coming and turned his head.
"You know Munchkin, I like Eeyore myself…"
Ayana let out a slight yelp.
"All done." The doctor announced.
Munch took a breath of relief.
"You ok dad?" Dr. Mark asked smiling.
"I think so."
"Ok. I'll have the results for you by tomorrow. As for the medicine, the Amoxicillin is the only thing if she is allergic to, she'll have a reaction too. So, just watch for vomiting and red splotches on her skin."
Dr. Mark put the medicines in a bag and handed it to him. He pulled out a green sucker and handed it to Ayana.
"You did very good Ayana."
Ayana happily took the sucker and ran to the chest of toys in the corner.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course." The doc said.
"She hasn't said a word to me since I took her in about 3 months ago. I've been working Special Victims for over 5 years now and even the most frightened child has spoken up in shorter time…what Am' I doing wrong?"
"Absolutely nothing, some children are naturally quiet. I'm sure you two talk in another way."
"We have our own version of sign language that seems to work"
"That's fine then. I would worry if she hasn't talked in another year or so but for now…she's adjusting. When she has something to say, I'm sure she'll tell you."
Munch smiled and lifted her up.
"Thanks doc."
Around 10 pm, Munch and Ayana got back to the apartment. Munch sets up her in her bed, a cup of juice on her nightstand, and he tempt her mouth with her first Amoxicillin pill.
"Come on Ayana, you need to take this."
Ayana clamps her mouth shut and shakes her head.
"Ok Munchkin, I didn't want to do this but you left me no choice."
Munch squeezes her nose closed. After a few seconds she opens her mouth and Munch pops the pill in. She makes a face and spits it out. Munch sighs frustrated when there's a knock at his door. He gets up and opens it.
"Ms. Novak, what a surprise. What do I owe to this visit of my humble abode?"
She walks in. She wears her dark blue business suit/skirt. Munch gives her a quick look up and down.
"Shut up John. I'm just checking up on you and Ayana. You might want to clean up the place before the living assessment."
"Of course, hey, you must have some maternal instincts. What do you do with a child who won't take her medicine?"
"Pill or syrup?"
"Pill"
"I'll show you. Give me the pill."
Munch hands her the round white pill and she walks into his kitchen.
"Where's your peanut butter?"
Munch looks at her funny but grabs his jar of PB from on top his fridge and hands it to her. Novak takes a spoon and crushes the pill. Scooping a small amount of PB on the spoon, she sprinkled the crushed pill then scooped some more PB onto the spoon.
"Very sneaky Novak."
"All in a days work for a lawyer"
She smiles and walks into Ayana's room, Munch follows.
"Hello Ayana." Novak says kindly and sits next to her on her bed.
Ayana smiled brightly and sat up.
"I know Munch is making you take that yucky pill…"
"Thanks make me look like the bad guy…"
"BUT, I have something better. You like peanut butter?"
Ayana nodded happily.
"Here, this is really good peanut butter" she said, playing it up.
Ayana opened her mouth happily and Novak fed her the PB. Ayana swallowed it down, and washed it down with her juice. Novak stood up, smiling smugly.
"SOME parental instincts?"
"Ok. You have them. Very good, thank you."
"No problem, don't forget to clean up, ok?"
Novak starts to walk out and Ayana whines, pointing to her.
"What's up Munchkin?" Munch asked her.
Ayana reaches out her arms from Novak, motioning for a hug. Novak smiled kindly and walked back over to her. She scooped her up in her arms and gave her a hug. Munch watched as Ayana's face glowed.
"One scoop of peanut butter later and I'm out of the picture."
Ayana pulled away from Novak, and made a motion to Munch.
"What's wrong Ayana?" Novak asked.
Ayana wiggled out of Novak's arms and got onto the floor. She pushed Novak close to Munch so they we're nose-to-nose. She made a grunting noise.
"Is this your idea John?" Novak asked
"I swear I had no idea. I think she wants us to hug."
Novak sighs and slowly wraps her arms around Munch's shoulders. Munch wraps his arms around her waist, propping his chin on her shoulder. Munch smiled to Ayana, giving her a wink. Ayana smiled brightly and gave him a thumb up. Novak hugs him for sometime…feeling…comfortable. She hears Ayana and Munch snicker and quickly pushes Munch away. He smiles sheepishly.
"Oh, double teaming me huh?"
"It was her idea."
"Yes, I'm sure. Goodnight John. Goodnight Ayana."
Novak leaves. Walking down the apartment complex hallway she stops a moment. She takes a quick smell of her suit, she smiles. It smells like him. She shakes her head and laughs at herself, then continues to walk.
Back in the apartment, Munch and Ayana high-five each other.
"Good job Munchkin. I think we got her. Thanks for helping me break the ice. I've wanted to say something for so long."
Ayana smiles and lies down in her bed. Munch tucks her in.
"Goodnight Ayana." He kisses her forehead.
