Devon CH. 6: The Ode to Stereos and Spit Up
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Just as Danny suspected, he was up again most of the night. It didn't matter how hard he tried to keep her awake, she seemed to fight each and every effort he put
forth. He tried talking to her, but it seemed as if the sound of his voice was a soothing agent. He tried keeping the lights on in the house, and music going constantly.
At least until his mother had enough and literally made him turn it off. He tried sitting in the backyard for a few minutes, hoping she would look around. Unfortunately,
the temperature started dropping and he knew his mother would start in on another lecture, saying she wasn't bundled up enough, and newborn babies had a harder
time regulating their body temperatures, if he didn't bring her in the second he thought she was getting chilled. Walking into the living room, Danny laid her down in
the pack n play, hoping to get a long enough break to eat lunch. "I'm going to have to get your Grandpa to have a long talk with you and lay down the law. About how
you need to behave." Danny pointed at her frustrated. "You are not being good for Daddy." Mary just so happened to be walking through the room at the time, and
she couldn't help but laugh at her sons attempt at being stern with a two-week-old. "What?" Danny said looking at his mother. "I've got to try something. And nothing
else seems to be working." Danny appeared to be on the verge of giving up. "Danny she's a baby, she isn't going to listen to anybody," Mary shook her head.
"Everybody else listens to Dad," Danny shrugged. "Hell, even I do, and I don't listen to anybody." "Daniel Reagan! Watch your language. We have a baby in the
house." "She doesn't know what I'm saying," Danny said picking up for himself. "But I do, and if I hear you say something like that again, I'll be washing your mouth
out with soap," this time it was Mary's turn to point at him. Danny stared at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. Part of him wanted to argue with her, saying he
was a grown man and could say or do anything he wanted, then again part of him still cringed when she or his father glared at him. "Yes Mam," Danny mumbled,
trying to figure out when he turned into a little boy all over again. "Now get washed up for lunch. Your father should be here any minute." "Dads coming home for
lunch?" Danny asked following her. "He said he was," Mary said washing a few of the dishes near the sink. Danny slowly made his way up the stairs and into the
bathroom to get washed up for dinner. After splashing a handful of water on his face, to help wake him up," Danny walked out. A few minutes later, and Danny heard
the kitchen door open. "Danny!" His mother called him, as if on cue. Danny shook his head, and he hurriedly made his way down the stairs. "How are you doing today
son?" Frank asked when his eldest son walked into the kitchen. "A little tired, but I'm doing my best to keep your granddaughter awake," Danny said taking a seat in
his usual place at the kitchen table. "Any of my suggestions help?" Frank wondered. "She seemed to enjoy being outside," Danny nodded. "You took her outside?"
Mary sounded shocked. "It's much too cool for an infant." "If she's bundled up, and only kept out for a few minutes at a time, she'll be fine." Frank reminded her.
"Besides I did it with him, and he's still here," Frank nodded at Danny. Danny smirked, and couldn't help but wonder what it was like for his parents when he was a
baby. He had to admit, he had never thought about it before, he always thought they had it together, and knew exactly what to do, at least that's what it seemed like
to him, growing up. "Any thoughts on when you are going to go back to work?" Frank voiced another question. "I was actually just thinking about that," Danny
nodded. "And it will probably be next week." Danny glanced at his mother, knowing that she would be the primary care giver for his daughter, when he was at work.
"If you're planning on going back to work, we are definitely going to have to get Devon's sleep schedule straight. So, you can get some sleep," was the only thing
Mary said. "Speaking of work, I have a meeting I have to go to this evening. Can you pick up your brother from school?" Frank said, looking at Danny. "Sure," Danny
nodded. "I'll keep Devon for you, if you go by the store and pick up a few things we need," Mary volunteered. "Where is Devon?" Frank thought it odd, that he had yet
to see his little granddaughter, considering she was usually attached to her father. As if he was her security blanket. "Doing what she does best," Danny shook his
head. "Sleeping."
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A couple hours later, and Danny was just pulling up to the parochial school Jamie and all his siblings before him attended. "I'm glad to be away from this place, Danny
mumbled, walking through the door and down the hall of his old familiar stomping ground. "Danny?" Jamie walked out of one of the classrooms, surprised to see his
older brother in a place he swore to leave behind. "I'm here to pick you up," Danny said leaning against the wall, near the trophy case, on the second floor of the
school. "Where's Dad?" "He's at work," Danny answered. "Now come on, let's go. I've never been comfortable here." Danny was looking for the nearest exit. "That's
because you were always in trouble," Jamie reminded him. "They wouldn't let me be myself," Danny shrugged. "And they were always whacking my knuckles for some
reason or another, making mom and dad whack me in the butt when I got home." Danny had just reached the bottom floor of the school and was walking past the
office door when the principal Father Peter walked out. "Well if it isn't Daniel Reagan." "I know, you thought you'd never see me again," Danny really couldn't resist
but give the man that made his life miserable for so many years, a taunting grin. Especially now, that he couldn't do anything to him. "You may have made my job a
little difficult while here," Father Peter admitted. "But I knew you would be okay, once you grew up." Danny just stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say.
"You've changed since I graduated," Danny finally spoke up. "I always like to think that my students," Father Peter nodded at Jamie. "And my former students," he
nodded at Danny. "Will make the right choices in their life, when the time comes." "Thank you," Danny wasn't sure what else to say. "You are welcome Mr. Reagan.
And if you don't mind me asking, what did you do after graduation?" "Joined the Marines and then the NYPD," Danny said quickly. "And that is what you are doing
now?" Father Peter questioned. "It is," Danny nodded. "I'm an officer at the 54th precinct." "That's an honorable ambition, following in your father and grandfather's
footsteps." "I enjoy it," Danny admitted, still finding the whole talking to his old principal kind of odd. "Is it your day off?" Father Peter noticed, that his ex-student
wasn't wearing a uniform. "Not exactly," Danny shook his head. "I took some time off to spend with my daughter. I have a newborn at home." "Congratulations,"
Father Peter shook his hand. "Thank you," Danny smiled, for the first time noticing how attached he was getting to the infant. "I'll let you two go on your way. It was
nice speaking to you again Daniel. Tomorrow Jamison." Father Peter nodded at the two Reagan boys. "I have a detention sitting to oversee." Father Peter said,
preparing to make his exit. "Glad I'm not in it," Danny smiled again. "So am I," Father Peter admitted, before making his way up the stairs. "I'm surprised he didn't
ask if you were planning on sending Devon to his school," Jamie mentioned as he and Danny made their way to the car. "I think it's a little premature for me to make
any decisions regarding where she goes to school," Danny said buckling his seatbelt. "And I'm not sure if I want him whacking my kids knuckles when she gets in
trouble." "Who said she'll get in trouble, she might be like me and be able to keep out of trouble," Jamie grinned. "Who are we kidding," Danny laughed. "She's my
kid." "You got a point," Jamie admitted. "And besides, Father Peter will probably be retired by the time your kid gets old enough to attend school here." "So, what
happened to him?" Danny glanced at his brother confused as he drove to the store his mother wanted him to go too. "That definitely wasn't the Father Peter that I
knew when I went to school here." "He's mellowed since you left," Jamie teased. "He doesn't have so many students, trying his patience." A few minutes later, and
Danny pulled into the parking lot of the same store he always went too, and the same store where Jamie broke the stereo. "What are we doing here?" Jamie asked
confused, before unbuckling his seatbelt. "Mom sent a list," Danny pulled a folded-up piece of paper from his shirt pocket. "Great," Jamie stepped out of the car.
"Were going to be here awhile," Jamie knew that anytime his mother sent any of them with a list, it took them forever to find the item she actually wanted.
"Probably," Danny mumbled. After making multiple trips down the same few aisles, it didn't take long for Jamie to get bored with the whole shopping exhibition. They
had already gotten the eggs, coffee, and milk, but there will still a few other things that had yet to be found. "I'm going to go look around at the electronic section for
a few minutes," Jamie started to walk away. "No, you're not," Danny shook his head. "Yes, I am," Jamie argued. "No, you're not," Danny stood his ground. "Did you
forget what happened last time you went over there?" "It was one time Danny, it's not going to happen again," Jamie tried. "I know it won't, because you're not going
back over there again. At least not with me. I don't have another $150.00 to bail you out of trouble with again," Danny said flatly. "Nothing's going to happen Danny,"
Jamie tried again. "Now where have I heard that before," Danny shook his head. "Oh yeah, it was from you. Just a couple days ago, when you dropped a stereo, that
you shouldn't have been messing with in the first place." "Aren't you ever going to let that go?" Jamie looked at his brother questioningly. "Not as long as you owe me
money?" Danny said sarcastically. "Fine," Jamie grumbled, giving in. "Now is there anything else we need aside from groceries?" Jamie was getting tired of the grocery
aisles, and was looking for something a little more interesting to look at. "Yes, Devon needs formula." Danny remembered. "Do you know what kind to get?" "How
could I not? It's always on the kitchen cabinet." Jamie said annoyed, before hurrying to get away from both Danny and the groceries. Jamie went up and down the
numerous baby aisles, until he finally found the one with the formula. Wow, Jamie thought to himself when he saw the number of different brands of formula they had
to choose from. "Maybe this is a little harder than I thought," Jamie mumbled to himself, deciding to start at the top and work his way down. "Of course, it's the last
one on the aisle," Jamie grumbled, grabbing the formula. Knowing that Danny would have no earthly idea, if he stopped by the entertainment section, Jamie hurriedly
made his way through the different sections of the store, before he reached his desired destination. Jamie looked around the movies for a few minutes, then moved on
to the CDs, before eventually wondering over to the stereos, televisions and laptops. "What are you doing here Jamie?" Jamie was surprised to hear his brother Joe's
voice. "Killing time, while I wait for Danny to get the rest of the groceries for Mom." Jamie answered. "I don't mean what you're doing at the store, smart alek. I mean
what are you doing at the entertainment section, after what happened a couple days ago with the stereo," Joe said clarifying. "How did you know about that?" Jamie
said carefully. "Danny," Joe nodded. "Figures," Jamie muttered under his breath. "And what do you think he would say, if he saw you here now?" Joe said his arms
crossed in front of his chest. "I'm not planning on him finding out, because I'm going to be away from here before he comes looking." Jamie was getting a little tired of
being the youngest, and always having someone to tell him what to do. Jamie was just replacing another stereo, similar to the one he broke just days ago, back on
the shelf, when he accidentally knocked the one next to it down to the ground. Jamie stared at his brother for several minutes, a shocked look crossing his face.
"Danny's going to kill you," Joe grabbed his brother before he had a chance to run away. "Joe, you can't," Jamie spat. "You have to help me take care of this before he
or Dad find out." "Jamie, I'm in the police academy, I only work a part-time job." Joe said frustrated. "Joe, it's just a hundred dollars. And well worth the expense of
saving my butt from Dad." Jamie tried pointing out. "Not when you look at it from my point of view," Joe argued. "I have expenses to pay. And I couldn't pay for it
even if I wanted too." Jamie sighed, as he tried running options through his head. "Danny's going to have to know. He's the only one that can get you out of this
mess, without Dad finding out," Joe repeated, the same thing he had been trying to tell him for the past five minutes. "Are you kidding me? Danny's going to be worse
than Dad, if he finds out I broke another stereo," Jamie said in all seriousness. "Probably, but that's a chance you are going to have to take. You're going to be in
trouble, either way you look at it. You just have to decide if you want be in trouble with Dad or with Danny," Joe explained the situation to him. "But if you don't settle
with the store now, they're going to call Dad." Jamie sighed weighing his options. "At least Danny can't use moms paddle on me," Jamie made his decision. "That's
because he'll probably shoot you," Joe laughed. "That's not funny Joe, were talking about bullets," Jamie reminded him. "Who am I kidding," Joe shrugged. "Danny
spanked you when you were little, and he'd probably do it again." "And he had no right to spank me that time either," Jamie said pointedly. "All I did was steal his
collector edition baseball cards, and flushed them down the toilet." "I still can't believe you did that," Joe shook his head. "Those things were going to be worth money
one day. And you're just lucky you didn't do it to any of my stuff. I would have shoved you out the upstairs window." "Your mean," Jamie shied away. "Alright we need
to get back to reality," Joe shook his head. "We've got to tell Danny." "Tell me what?" Danny wasn't surprised to find his brother in the forbidden area. Joe and Jamie
stepped aside, and revealed the broken stereo. "Jamison Reagan," Danny glared at his kid brother. "It was an accident," Jamie raised his hands in surrender. "Where
have I heard that before," Danny mumbled, already reaching for his wallet. "How much is it going to cost me this time?" "At least this ones cheaper," Jamie spoke up.
"This ones, only $100.00." "Thank God for small mercies," Danny went in search for the manager.
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The car ride home was silent, Danny was fuming, and he knew that if he said anything, he would probably live to regret it. Danny and Jamie walked into the house
with bags of groceries, saying but very few words to one another. Jamie knew Danny was furious, and it was only a matter of time before it all hit the fan. "Your
daughter had been crying and crying most of the time you were gone," Mary said wearily. "Seriously?" Danny sounded surprised, taking the infant in his arms.
"Treating Grandma like that wasn't very nice," Danny looked down at the now content infant. "But at least you stayed awake," he muttered under his breath. After
putting up the groceries, Jamie hurriedly made his way to his bedroom. More than ready to put a little distance between he and his brother, that was shooting daggers
at him with every look. "Does Devon need to be fed or anything?" Danny was still getting used to learning his daughter's signs before she started crying. "She should
probably be getting hungry," Mary nodded. "Alrighty then Miss Reagan, Daddy will get your dinner ready and the two of us will have a date in Grandpas chair," Danny
winked at her. "What was it like, going back to your old school?" Mary asked as she watched her son, warm the water in the bottle warmer before adding the formula.
"Interesting," Danny summed it up in one word. "I ran into Father Peter again." "Your arch nemesis from when you were in school," Mary remembered her eldest sons
school days, all too well. "Pretty much," Danny agreed. "But he was different today. He wasn't the man I knew from all those years at school." "Neither are you," Mary
reminded him. "You're not the same kid, he knew back then. You're a Marine, a Police Officer, and most importantly, a father." Mary nodded at the little girl. "I guess I
have changed," Danny sighed, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room. Devon in one hand, and a bottle in the other. Finishing up with Devon, Danny knew
he needed to go talk to Jamie. After laying Devon down in the pack n play, Danny slowly made his way up the stairs. "Jamie," Danny said walking into his brother's
bedroom, without even bothering to knock. "Knock much," Jamie didn't even have to look, to know who was walking into his bedroom. "Just shut up and listen,"
Danny said annoyed. "Out of all the sections in the store, you go to the one section, I told you not to go too." "You're not my father Danny," Jamie grumbled. "No, but
I am your big brother, and when you're with me, your expected to listen to me. You know that." Danny didn't know why he had to repeat the rules. "I'm sorry, what
else do you want me to say?" Jamie said giving in. "I just wish I didn't have to hear it all the time," Danny let out a long breath. "And you now owe me $250.00." A
disgusted look crossed Jamie's face, as he ran a hand through his hair. "I know," Jamie looked almost sick. "And I'll pay you back, I promise." "I know you will,"
Danny pointed at him. "I know where you live." Jamie took a seat on the edge of the bed, and placed his head in his hands. "You owe me so much kid," Danny shook
his head. "I owe you money yes," Jamie looked up at him. "But that's it." "Are you kidding, you owe me, for getting you out of this mess with the stereo again." "No I
don't, it kept us both out of trouble. Because if you forgot, Dad would be upset with you too," Jamie was pretty sure he was coming out the winner. "Not nearly as
upset as he would be with you," Danny reminded him.
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"There's something going on with the boys," Mary said as soon as her husband walked through the door. "How can you tell?" Frank looked at his wife surprised. "You
could cut the tension between them with a knife when they got home." Mary enlightened him. "So, are we going to bust them?" Frank was still a little confused. "Oh
yeah," Mary nodded. "The evening would be too boring if we didn't," Mary said heading for the stairs. "What's going on up here?" Mary stopped by her youngest son's
bedroom, a few minutes later. "Nothing," both boys said simultaneously. "I've raised you both since birth, I think I know you both well enough, to know when
somethings going on." "It's nothing you need to worry about Mom," Danny tried reassuring her. He tried leading her out of the room, but it was no go for the mother
of four. "Don't you think it would be easier to tell me than your father?" Mary tried to get something out of them that way. "Depends how you look at it," Jamie
replied. "You can be worse than Dad sometimes." "I think I'll leave you two alone and go check on Devon," Danny tried to slip through the doorway. "She's not
crying," Mary stopped him. "Whatever happened to learning her signs, so she doesn't have to cry?" Danny couldn't resist. Mary glared at him, but she had yet to say
anything, she was too busy trying to figure out how she was going to kill him. "She's fine, I just checked on her," Frank said blocking the doorway. Danny almost ran
into him, as he approached the doorway, but he managed to stop himself, just in time. "Hi Dad," Danny gulped. "Daniel, care to tell me what's going on in here?"
Frank glared from Danny to Jamie. "Ugh Jamie," Danny gave his brother a side glance. Jamie shook his head, but refused to say a word. "We have all night," Mary
said taking her place next to her husband. Danny and Jamie exchanged glances for several minutes, until Danny finally spoke up. "Sorry Jamie," Danny looked at his
brother apologetically. "But Devon is going to need me eventually." "Fine," Jamie relayed the past couple of days to them. "I ought to blister both your butts for lying
to me," Frank said crossing his arms in front of his chest, as if he was still debating. "Ugh Dad," Danny spoke up for the first time in a while. "You never asked us if
something happened when we went to the store. So technically we never lied to you." "If all you are going to say is something smart, then I don't want to hear
another word come out of your mouth," Frank was focusing primarily on his eldest. "That brings me to my next point," Danny said carefully. "The last time I checked,
I'm over 18." "You are living in my house boy, and as long as you do. Then again, as long as you are my son, you will live by my rules. And that really isn't the point
son," Frank calmed. "The point is, that you both felt compelled to keep something from me. And that is not showing your maturity." "Dad I handled it, its fine. And I'm
sure Jamie's learned his lesson," Danny looked at Jamie. "I have Dad, honest. Danny even grounded me an extra week," Jamie tried making the whole thing sound a
little better. "At least he did something right," Frank said looking back at Danny. "Dad, I was just trying to," Danny started to say, but was cut off. "That's not the
point Daniel. Your supposed to be older, more mature, and that includes telling me things that I should be aware of regarding my son. If it would have been Devon,
would you have wanted to know that your daughter broke the stores property twice, making them unable to sell the item, and make more of an income." "Well yeah,
she'd be in some major trouble," Danny stopped short when he realized what he said. "Exactly, but instead of doing that, you completely disregarded my job as a
father. And now your both in trouble." Frank said before walking out of the room, leaving both boys alone. "This is not going to end well," Jamie said dropping his
head in his hands, as Danny walked out and into his own bedroom.
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"What do you think we should do?" Mary asked when she and Frank were alone again. "I think we should leave things as is. I mean we both know that Jamie will
never get his hands on $250 to pay Danny back. So, that's definitely a good lesson for both of them. Danny actually handled the situation very well," Frank admitted.
"I just wish he would have told me." "At least he and Jamie are getting along," Mary gave him a half smile. "Even if they do get into trouble." "Don't remind me,"
Frank pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think. "You know Danny has always been responsible when it comes to his siblings," Mary reminded him. "And he has
certainly matured more since Devon came along." "I know," Frank agreed. "And I think I'm going to help him. I have some time saved up at work. And I think you and
I deserve a little time to ourselves, as a reward for keeping four children alive for so many years," Frank smiled at her. "Frank," Mary tried pulling away from him. "We
still have another child at home, who has school. We can't just leave in the middle of the week," Mary reminded him. "We also have another son that's a father, and
perfectly mature enough to take care of his kid brother," Frank winked at her. "You are so bad," Mary had to admit, that she would love to go. "But if you've forgotten,
that son also has a newborn living here, and he hasn't been a father for long. And I'm not sure if we should really leave him alone with that." "He's got to learn some
time," Frank shrugged.
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"Daddy messed up with Uncle Jamie, Devon." Danny picked his daughter up out of her crib, and held her out in front of him, before taking a seat on the edge of his
bed. "Uncle Jamie got in trouble, and he drug Daddy in with him. Let me guess, you are going to tell me the exact same thing Grandpa did. You should have let me
handle it, I know I know." "I don't know Devon, I thought I was doing the right thing, I really thought I could have handled it, and Jamie would have respected my
decision." Danny didn't say anything for a few minutes, and starred at the little face that was staring up at him. "You got any cries of wisdom from your whole couple
of weeks on planet earth. On second thought, you don't even know me, you've known me for a little over a week. Yeah I'm expecting too much from you I know." "I
have a few words of wisdom for you," Frank said making his presence known. He had been standing outside his son's bedroom door, listening to his son talk the
newborn, and he couldn't help but smile at it. "I bet you do," Danny mumbled under his breath. Frank shook his head, and took a seat next to his son. "You can yell at
me all you want to. I deserve it, but before you get started on the extra-long lecture, let me get my say in first please. I am an adult after all." Danny knew that once
Frank got started he wouldn't get to say a word, he would feel too guilty. "Go ahead," Frank gave him the liberty. "I know your right Dad, I should have told you about
Jamie," Danny admitted. "I took care of it the first time, because I really thought that was going to be it. When we were getting the groceries for Mom, I told him he
couldn't go over there. He got tired of hanging around the grocery aisle, so he asked if we needed anything else. I told him Devon needed formula, so he volunteered
to go get it. Apparently, he got lost on his way back to the grocery aisle, and then Joe found him." Danny was thinking he was making it not sound so bad, but after
hearing it, he was beginning to think otherwise. "Joe was there?!" Frank started to raise his voice again. "No. Yes." Danny corrected himself. He didn't want to get Joe
into trouble, but at the same time he didn't want to get yelled at for lying. "Just stop listening to me, please." Danny silently swore to himself to never say another
word, as long as he lived. "I appreciate you taking care of your brother, it showed a great deal of responsibility. And you mother and I both appreciate it. But how am
I ever going to raise Jamie into the man he needs to become, unless I know of his actions. Breaking the stereo, the first time, isn't even that big of a deal. I get
accidents. And you handled that first incident perfect by grounding him, and telling him he was going to have to pay you back. What gets me however is the fact that
he disobeyed you when you told him not to go over there. He didn't listen, and bizarrely, another chain of events unfolded." "You don't have to tell me. I was there,"
Danny sighed. "And he will be punished I assure you," Frank enlightened him. "As for you, your mother and I are going on a mini vacation this week, and we need you
to watch out for Jamie." Frank didn't miss the moan that came from his eldest son, the second he finished his sentence. "You know maybe that's not a good idea,"
Danny spoke up, hoping to get him to change his mind. "Just think of it as a practice run with your own daughter," Frank nodded at Devon. "It'll be fine, we trust
you," Frank patted his sons back before standing, preparing to walk out of the room. "Alright, but when you read about his murder in the newspaper while you're
gone, it will be your fault," Danny said trying to sound innocent. "If you have any thoughts regarding killing your brother while gone, just think about what I will do to
you when I get back, and I'm pretty sure that will be enough to make you hold your temper," Frank smiled, issuing a silent threat. "Point taken, thank you Dad."
Danny stood, knowing he needed to give Devon her bath, and get her ready for bed. "Oh, and Danny, you have a little something on your shirt," Frank told him.
Danny looked down at his shirt, and it took everything in him to keep him from puking all over his kid, when he noticed the amount of spit up running down his shirt.
"Take Devon," was the only thing he could say before he pressed Devon into his father's chest, vomit filling his mouth as he ran to the bathroom. "Give him time
baby," Frank chuckled taking the little girl to the nursery so he could get the smelly outfit off her, before she started to cry in protest. "Daddy's not good around the
discharge of bodily fluids. But he'll get used to it I promise. Grandpa did when the roles were in reverse and Daddy was the one doing the puking on me." After
undoing the outfit, Frank decided not even to bother with the hassle of choosing a new one, and then trying to dress the wriggling infant, especially considering her
father was eventually planning on giver her a bath, at least if he ever pulled himself up off the bathroom floor and away from the toilet. After picking up his little
granddaughter in one hand, and the soiled outfit in the other, Frank carried it into the bathroom to toss it in the hamper. "Are you ready to take your daughter back?"
Frank found his son with his head in the toilet. "Yeah, give me a minute," Danny moaned. "You know it might help, if you take your shirt off." Frank shook his head,
surprised he had yet to do so. "I mean you are still wearing the foul-smelling odor, so close to your nose." "You've got a point," Danny moaned again. Holding his
breath so he could pull it off without smelling it any more than he had to. Pulling it off, Danny tossed it as far away from him as possible. "Really Danny," Frank picked
it up, before tossing it in the hamper. "Sorry," Danny stood and tossed some water on his face. "Are you ready to man up, and be a father now, so I can go be a
father to my other son?" Frank asked after handing him a hand towel to dry his face. "Does she still smell?" Danny looked a little worried. "Suck it up Daniel, and quit
acting like a baby," Frank grabbed him by his arm and jerked him out of the bathroom before handing the little girl to her father, seconds before walking out of the
room. "Devon, was it really necessary to puke all over Daddy?" Danny said carrying her down the stairs with a clean diaper and towel. "That's going to be the first of
many," Mary enlightened him. "You still have years of taking care of a puking child." "Where's the reassurance in that?" Danny wrapped her in a blanket. The house
was by no mean cold, so there wasn't much of a chance of her starting to shiver. Especially considering there was a fire going in the fireplace, and the lounger he
placed her in wasn't very far away from it. "What made her spit up?" Danny sounded disgusted. "Could be for a number of different reasons," Mary said setting the
table. "Maybe from reflux, a reaction to the formula making her stomach upset, or it could be from something as simple as not burping enough." "Great," Danny had
just turned the heater on in the kitchen, and had just started to run some water in the sink for her bath, when Mary came back in. "It's almost time for dinner son.
Can this wait till after we eat?" "I guess so," Danny drained the water before turning the heater off.
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The conversation around the dinner table was limited, Jamie was still upset about being in trouble, and all Danny could do was think about the odor of the spit up, as
he tried to stomach the dinner on his plate. "When are you leaving?" Jamie asked looking at his mother. "Day after tomorrow," Frank answered for her. "When will you
be back?" Jamie sounded a little worried at the thought of being left at home with his brother. "We'll be back for Sunday dinner," there was no way Mary was going to
miss dinner with her family. "Who's going to cook?" Jamie again looked worried. "Grandma and Grandpa will take care of everything," Mary assured him. "As long as
we don't have to rely on Danny, otherwise we might all starve," Jamie teased, seeming as if he was getting his sense of humor back. "Keep talking little brother,"
Danny grinned. "You are going to be left with me for four whole days." "Mom, Dad can I go stay with Erin?" "Now what's the point in that, when Danny is right here,
and more than capable of taking care of things," Mary patted her eldest sons back. "Right Daniel?" "Right Mom," Danny forced a smile, silently dreading the rest of the
week. "And Jamie is going to be on his best behavior. Right Jamison?" Mary turned her attention to her youngest? "Right Mom," Jamie did the same as his brother.
"Devon seems to be staying up better today," Frank mentioned changing the subject. "Thank God for that, it's getting a little old, having to stay up all night long.
There isn't much to do," Danny shook his head. "Have you tried watching TV," Jamie asked. "That's what I would do." "I've tried reading, I've tried watching TV,"
Danny named a few. "And you wouldn't believe what's on TV in the middle of the night when most people are asleep." "Anything good?" Jamie piped up. "I might join
you." "No, you will not," Mary changed his plans, before he even had a chance to make them. "It's all fun and games, till your mother finds out," Jamie muttered
under his breath.
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"You want to play video games with me, after you get Devon to bed?" Jamie asked stopping by his brother's room, that evening after dinner. "Sorry little brother, but
not today." Danny shook his head, barely looking at him. "What's going on?" Jamie shrugged, closing the door behind him, before moving to take a seat on the floor,
near his brother. "Devon, giving you a hard time?" "No more than usual," Danny mumbled. "Then what's up?" Jamie had to admit, he felt a lot better, now that he
wasn't trying to keep a huge secret from his parents. "I got my ass chewed out by my parents today. What do you thinks bothering me," Danny grumbled? "Welcome
to my world," Jamie said stretching out on the floor. And are you trying to get your mouth washed out with soap? Because if Mom hears you, you're going to be
complaining about a whole lot more than getting chewed out," Jamie warned. "I know," Danny sighed, still a little frustrated. "Then you know that it doesn't matter
whether you lived her or not, if you got into some sort of trouble, mom and dad would still you chew you out." "As much as I hate to admit it, you are probably right,"
Danny agreed. "It's great to be a Reagan," Danny said sarcastically.
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"You ready for a bath little one?" Danny asked looking down at the little girl in the lounger. Devon wriggled, and Danny leaned over to pick her up. "At least your
awake. Does that mean, you are going to sleep good for Daddy tonight?" Devon flared her little arms up, and Danny sighed. "I tried." Devon let out a short cry the
second Danny started running the water in the sink, appearing as if she knew what was coming. The cry only increased, and turned into a piercing scream when her
little bottom touched the water. "Daddy bought you a heater. You shouldn't be cold." Danny ran a wet hand over her little head, while still trying to support the head
with the other. She had very little hair, so it wasn't like he had to use more than a few small drops of soap. I know you hate bath time, but it's something that has to
be done. Especially after all that spit up you had on you. That being said, this would be a whole lot easier on both of us, if you just embraced the bath." Crocodile size
tears started to roll down her cheeks, her eyes turning red from the all the crying. "I wonder," Danny wasn't exactly finished with the washing process, but he couldn't
help but wonder if she would stop wailing if she thought she was getting taken out of the sink. Lifting her just a few feet out of the sink, the wails immediately
subsided, and there was only but a few lingering cries. "Really Devon Leigh," Danny had no choice but to set her back down into the water so he could finish washing
her up. As if on cue, the second he started to lower her into the sink, the wails started up again. "Did she really stop crying that easy?" Jamie asked leaning against
one of the kitchen counters. "Yeah, it's crazy," Danny picked her up again. "That's so funny," Jamie moved to stand closer to the sink. "Are you two really playing with
a human child as if she was a toy?" Mary interrupted them. "She's a baby, and has no idea why you are doing something like that to her. You are her father and uncle
and she looks to you as someone who will protect her, and take care of her needs," Mary lectured before walking out of the room. "Frank, I don't think we can go on
this trip!" "All we keep doing is getting into trouble today," Jamie shook his head, looking at his brother. "Tell me about it," Danny gave her a final rinse before
wrapping her into one of the plush towels. "Daddy and Uncle Jamie are sorry we were playing with you. Aren't we Uncle Jamie?" "Yes, we are Devon, very sorry,"
Jamie placed a hand gently on the little girl's wet head.
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Devon fell asleep that night resting on her father's chest, while he and Jamie played a series of videogames. At least until their mother came in, reminding Jamie that
he had school the next day and he needed to get ready for bed. After turning the game console off, Danny headed for the kitchen to get started on making his little
girl another bottle, hoping he would get a little sleep, if she had a full belly, at least for a couple hours that is. Leaning against the headboard on his bed, Danny
proceeded with trying to get her to take the full two ounce bottle he made her. Thinking that the fuller she was, the longer she would sleep. After placing the bottle on
the nightstand next to his bed, Danny placed a sleeping Devon into the crib near his bed. "Daddy will be right here, if you need something," Danny said stretching out
in his bed. Falling asleep with his eyes watching his sleeping baby.
Hope you all enjoyed the update... I know enjoyed writing it. The next chapter will be with Danny, Jamie and Devon home alone. And I'm also planning on having nurse Linda return... Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews... They really mean a lot... Now on to updating on my Andy story, the updating process never ends, Lol.