Authors Note: Wow I'm so happy that you all are enjoying the story it's been brewing in my head since I started reading these great authors here and thought I'd try. It's been fun but like I said before this is all new to me and I have no beta, so all mistakes are mine. I'm just borrowing these characters and added some of my own. Thanks for joining me in this enjoy.

Chapter 13

We got to the Hospital in record time and checked in with the Case Worker on call, she had my paperwork ready and took CJ to get her life scan done then after the paperwork was done I was given my life scan. After everything was cleared and approved we were given badges that would give us access to Jake.

We walked to the NICU and were let in and introduced ourselves to the Day Charge Nurse.

"Hi I'm Roxy, Emma told me all about you two and your little adventure yesterday Ms. Parson's. So let me update you on Mr. Jake, he has been very cranky most of the day we've had to take turns to try and get him to eat but he is not having it. We might have to put a feeding tube in him but, now that you're here maybe we won't have to. I'm a little concern with his oxygen level and we are keeping an eye on his body temperature he is responding in the incubator but the doctor is requesting more test on his lungs and heart."

CJ squeezed my hand and looked like she wanted to cry.

"Emma says he responded very well to you two and after what I just witness today with his being cranky and a little stinker today, I want you to make me a believer. So let's gown both of you up we need to try the skin to skin again, we need to get him comfortable poor little fellow has been crying off and on all day."

Tears started to roll down CJ's cheeks and I wiped them dry.

"Hey we are here now will take care of him he just probably forgot we were coming back so no more tears okay you need to be strong for him. He needs to know we will not be leaving him."

She looked up at me and nodded.

CJ went to get changed and Roxy said I would need to do the skin to skin also. I was a little stunned and she shook her head, "I know women usually take this role but we want to broaden the study and if you're willing we would love to see what his reaction to you will be."

CJ came out and I went in and took off my shirt and left the gown on only. I walked over to where Roxy was giving CJ instructions and Jake was letting everyone know he wanted out of the incubator. I noticed that he had less wires then from last night. Roxy smiled said he was improving but they were just being cautious not knowing exactly how many weeks he was premature and the doctor's where wondering if he was truly a preemie but the tests they had run would be giving them more information by tomorrow.

"Okay little man your team is here so no more fussing and I know you are hungry so let's get that done first. Ms. Parson I need you to talk to him let him hear you and also you Mr. Houston he needs to hear you both loud and clear and I will be taking down documentation on the interaction the researcher Jan will be coming in shortly and she wants to meet you both."

I smiled at her, "that's great but please call me Houston and that's CJ we don't need to be so formal we are going to be fast friends and we need to make sure whoever is with Jake when we aren't here knows how much he means to us. He might not be our blood but he is loved by many already and we will be here till he is out of the woods and beyond."

Roxy smiled, "Emma was right to choose you two to assist. Hear that Jake you are one lucky boy."

CJ handed Roxy the bag with Jake's new sleepers and toy, "can he be changed into these? We got them for him Emma said it was okay."

"Of course let's feed him first so if there is spitting out it will be on the hospital issue one. Will that be fine?"

CJ nodded and sat on the recliner I stood by the incubator talking to Jake.

"Hey little man we are back and we hear you've been giving the nice people here a hard time, now that is not the cowboy way pardner so we need to get that straighten out you need to do your part. CJ is about to burst into tears thinking she left you and now she won't want to leave at all. That can't happen you see she needs her rest too and we are talking man to man here. I know you need her as much as she needs you but we need to set some rules so first thing we will be here as much as possible we might have to take shifts so we will figure that out. Second you need to eat to get that strength up so we can spring you from here. Lastly we need to find your momma we have people looking and once we find her we will do our best to reunite you okay so what do you say?"

As soon as I had started to talk Jake stopped crying and started to follow my voice and started to move towards me.

The nurses all stopped and listen as I talked to Jake and looked at each other. Roxy shook her head, "If I wasn't here I wouldn't have believed it we've tried everything, even Julia singing which is our secret weapon. Still he would not stop being a little stinker. So let's get him out of that incubator and did Emma tell you the exercise so he learns how to suck on the bottle?"

We both nodded, "Okay Julia go get me a bottle and let's see if this kid impresses me some more."

I wanted to grab him out of the incubator but Roxy picked him up and he started to fuss. She made sure none of the wires got tangled. She placed Jake in CJ's arms and she started to speak to him.

"Hey Jake it's me. Houston and I are back I told you we would be and we've heard an earful from Nurse Roxy that you weren't being very cooperative. That young man will not do. Me and Houston will be here with you either together or at least one of us okay? Will figure something out. But if we can't be here we need to come to an understanding that you need to listen to whoever is here. They know what's best, you need to get better we want you see you out of here. I think Beast misses you too. The blanket I had you wrapped up in he's taken it to his bed, so come on little man we need you to improve and get better and don't be stubborn like Houston."

I snorted and shook my head.

Julia handed the bottle to me and CJ reached for it, "we need to do the exercises first to see if he remembers."

We started the exercises and he wasn't cooperating I suggested she just give him the bottle and he latched on and open his eyes.

I chuckled, "you want to be your own man don't you Jake and stubborn too. Okay let's get you filled up and will see what's next on the agenda."

CJ continued to feed him and he started to make noises, Roxy came over to see him and shook her head.

"He's found his people, so we are chop liver Mr. Jake, it's okay we won't get our feelings hurt so let's see if he lets go of the bottle to measure how much he's drank."

Jake was not happy to be giving up his bottle and CJ started to whisper to him and put him on her shoulder so he could burp.

"You are making me a believer Jake you Drank 3.9 Oz and it looks like you want more I don't blame you since you were waiting for your people to come and show off to them. That's fine with me as long as you're fed and get some rest your neighbors were getting an earful and you were on the verge of having them all join in. So CJ has he burped yet?"

He let out a hearty burp and we laughed.

"Okay little fellow let's check your diaper, so which one of you is going to be the first to change his diaper."

I looked at CJ and she at me, "Well I guess I will Houston just stand by if I get cold feet how are we going to do this with all the wires Roxy I don't want to hurt him."

"It won't hurt him I promise we will be disconnecting and then getting him changed but we might as well and give him a swaddle bath this will help him keep warm so are you two up to this?"

CJ stared at me, "Ah Roxy what's a swaddle bath, this is all new to us and we don't want to do anything wrong just tell us what you want us to do but, wow a bath do you think we are qualified it's a little bit scary CJ what do you think I'm up for whatever you are comfortable with."

She looked down at Jake and smiled, "so what do you think Jake you want a bath? We will leave it up to you so what do you say little man, are you up to this? We have some new duds that you will look very handsome in."

I could have sworn he smiled when she talked to him and he started to make noises.

Roxy chuckled, "I think that's a yes so let's give him a bath and then we can change him to his new clothes and if he's good we will give him some more formula and then it's going to be nap time okay Jake let's do this and show your team you are going to cooperate with us lowly nurses."

He let out another cry and settled down as Roxy started to disconnect the wires to get him ready for his bath. Julia the other nurse brought me to the tub we would be using and showed me what to do and how I should gage the temperature of the water and explained why it was important not to over fill the tub and to make allowances since a swaddle bath meant the baby would be wrapped in a blanket to keep them warm and would be bathed on part of the body at a time while the rest was still covered to ensure body temperature remained the same.

I took it all in and started to fill the tub I looked over and Jake was unhooked CJ was whispering to him and telling him what a brave boy he was and started to take off the sleeper he was wearing and the diaper. Roxy showed CJ how to swaddle him and picked him up and walked over to me.

"Okay let's get a bath cloth and some soap and let's get this guy bathed. So one of you will be holding Jake and the other will be washing him so Houston you want to hold him and CJ how about you bathe him?"

I took a deep breath and she placed Jake in my hands, "Okay partner let's get you bathed I'm going to be holding you and CJ will be washing you once we are done will get you some more formula in that belly of yours and then you can get some shut eye sounds like a plan what do you say?"

He open his eyes and stared at me. "I'll take that as an okay so CJ want to start the water is perfect okay Jake this might feel a little weird you're going to get wet and I'm here you have nothing to worry about just relax and will do all the work."

CJ stood across from me as I lowered Jake into the tub. He jerked and started to fuss.

Roxy stood by CJ, "Okay let's start with his legs unwrap one and start to soap it up once you do that rinse him off and then the next one make sure you cover the one that you are done. Let's see how he reacts to the water."

CJ unwrapped his leg and star to cup her hand to pour water over his leg he started to kick not happy with the situation and wanting us to know his displeasure.

"Jake come on now it's not that bad let's get this done quickly getting mad will get you no were. You need a bath so stop acting up." Jake stopped fussing and opened his eyes and focused on me.

"That's better want me to tell you a story on how CJ and I met? Well it was a long time ago back in Texas she had just moved next door after her momma had just passed away. She was sitting by the water in this pretty peach dress and was crying. She said she didn't want to be in Texas but she had no choice. That she had no one in the world since both her parents had gone to heaven with her grandparents and she was now being taken care of by an aunt and uncle she never knew existed. I swear she was crying so much that I thought she was going to over fill the lake with her tears. I sat next to her and gave her half of my chocolate bar that I had been saving to eat. I didn't know what else to do. I then put my arm around her and she clung to me and cried. My shirt was soaked but I didn't care she cried till she had no more tears. She laid her head on my shoulder and asked why I was being so nice to her. I told her she was sad and I didn't want her to be. I told her that I would be her family. Me and my daddy for as long as she wanted and that it was a promise. She gave me this smile that lit up the whole valley and hugged me and said she would like that very much and well that's how she became part of my family and a huge part of my life. It's the cowboy code Jake remember a promise is a promise."

While I had told Jake my story CJ had finished bathing him and Roxy came over, "Okay let's pull him out of the bath Houston pick him up and CJ remove the tub and put it on that counter over there and I will get some warm blankets to put down on the changing table and we might not be able to use the clothes you brought, I was just informed they want to do some test later today and we need to keep him in a diaper. Do you have any booties we can put those on and a beanie I thought I saw those in the bag."

I picked him up and CJ moved the tub, Roxy brought over the changing table and the warm blankets we took off the wet blanket. CJ grabbed it and placed it in the tub, Roxy took Jake and wrapped him in a warm blanket and asked CJ to bring over the booties that looked like little cowboy boots and a blue beanie with stars. She loosen the blanket and handed me a diaper.

"Okay Houston tabs are always on the back or the baby's bottom okay? Good now pull up the front and pull the adhesive tape off and there you go congrats you did a great job."

CJ put on the beanie and the booties Roxy started to put the heart monitor back on and his temperature gauge.

"Well it looks like he's calmed let's try the skin to skin CJ let's start with you and Houston will have you do it in a couple of hours okay? CJ you can talk to Jake or sing we can see what he responds to best."

CJ sat on the recliner opened up her gown Roxy pointed to Jake, "Okay Houston pick him up and place him on CJ's shoulder. I hesitated took a deep breath and went to scoop him up making sure I supported his head and walked over to CJ and placed Jake on her shoulder she took him into her arms and she moved the gown to ensure he was on her bare skin.

"Well haven't you had an eventful couple of hours huh sweetie, Aunt Carol bought you your new clothes and we also have a stuff horse that plays music maybe Houston will get it out of the bag for me and we can see what tunes it has on it."

I rummaged through the bag and pulled out the horse and pressed button and it started to play home on the range I looked at the tag and it had 3 songs that it would play.

"CJ it has home on the range, you are my sunshine, deep in the heart of Texas."

CJ started to hum home on the range and Jake opened his eyes and keep his gaze on her. That song ended and you are my sunshine started to play.

"Why don't you sing him that one CJ?"

She did she sang quietly to him and he started to close his eyes and seem calm, I placed my hand on his head and he started to fiddle with his hair. Which he seemed to like.

"Houston why don't you sing the last one see how he responds I know you know the words to this one"

I came down to his level and started to sing Deep in the Heart of Texas he turned towards me and opened his eyes as the song was ending he was wide awake and CJ had joined me in the last chorus.

We looked up and the nurses where staring at us and one stepped forward, "Hi I'm Jan and thank you for coming forward and volunteering in helping Jake I'm part of the study and I really am happy I came in today, this little fellow has been through a lot these last two days and I was concern what the stress he was experiencing. He slept some but once he woke he would not eat or respond to anyone else it was very heartbreaking. But looking at him now I'm in awe he's attached to the both of you. Babies usually do that with parents since they have bonded through the pregnancy period but since we have no data on Jake this interaction makes me very happy. I've dealt with only one other child that was abandoned by the mother and it was very disheartening to see that and I still follow her to this day and she never really bonded and it does slow the progress of the child."

I stood up, "We are here for him, we will help him with anything you want us to do we just want him to get better and out of here."

She took my hand, "that is all of our goal here Mr. Houston I believe Emma was right about you two it usually takes us a while to pick volunteers for this program and she stated we had nothing to worry about you two and she was right I will be honest I was hesitant but you just proved me wrong and I am all for it."

I looked at all the nurses looking at us and spoke to them all, "Mr. Houston is my father you can call me Houston and I'm sure CJ wouldn't mind you using her name instead of Ms. Parsons like I told Nurse Emma and Nurse Roxy we are here for the long haul we have stepped up to be his family and it just doesn't include us he has aunts and uncles one grandfather and a Mama Rosa that will love him like their own blood. Once we find his family we will still hopefully be a part of his life so he's stuck with us."

I turned back to CJ and she was smiling Jake was wide awake and was watching me. I came down to his level again, "you want to pick up your head don't you lil fellow you don't need to I'm down to your level now so what do you say is what I said good with you?"

I reached out and he grabbed my finger and my heart felt full. He closed his eyes and seem to know that we would not leave him. Jan dragged a stool for me and I sat down not wanting to let Jakes hand go.

Jan started to ask us questions mostly to CJ asking her to retell the story of how she had found Jake and the steps she took to revive him through CPR and his alertness and if she knew how long he had been in the trashcan and why she had been out in the rain. CJ recounted the story of taking Beast out and him being on alert and trying to see what danger they were in thinking someone was close by and up to harm them. I placed my hand on her shoulder knowing she was still weary of being alone and trying not to show her that I was not happy with her omitting this part of the story. She looked up at me and squeezed my hand and continued telling how she was dragged to the trashcan by the mongrel and how he would not leave till she looked inside even nudging the can to get her to look inside.

"I would really love to meet Mr. Beast, has he had any type of training for rescue any reason why he would do what he did? What's his background and who is his owner?"

"Well Jan the hound from Hell was a rescue my cousin Will found him at the pound so not sure if there was training him or was it just a fluke but that darn dog saved Jake's life and he is a hero you should have seen the media I think he loved all the attention. Heck I owe him a steak dinner even. He grows on you and before you know it he's moved in and taken over."

CJ laughed which woke up Jake and he started fussing, "Sorry Jake I didn't mean to wake you but Houston said something very funny and I couldn't help it. So let's ask Nurse Roxy if we can give you some more formula, what do you say?"

He started to make noises and started to move around. I walked over to Nurse Roxy and she handed me the bottle having overheard CJ. "Let's try 1.5 OZ. see how he does don't want to over feed him if they are going to be running more test." She looked worried I took the bottle from her and went over to CJ and she turned him around and I started to squeeze his cheeks and CJ placed his mouth on the nipple of the bottle and he took it right away. "I'll be right back you two want to ask Nurse Roxy a question."

I walked over to where Nurse Roxy was and she was writing in a chart.

I turned back and CJ was singing to Jake and I whispered to Roxy, "Is there something we should be aware of you look worried does it have to do with Jake and the test they are conducting? Please let me know its better it comes from me if I need to give CJ any type of news."

"I forgot you are a private investigator so can pick up on things, I'm just worried why they want to redo some of his tests I thought they were fine but they might have found something and I'm just the worrier of the group. He's been through so much and I am thankful he has you two to watch over him but still it doesn't make it any easier I'm just hoping we will have an uneventful evening but I will be praying for him and hope it's nothing."

I pulled out my card and wrote the beach house number on the back of it and asked her to please call me anytime if anything in Jakes health changed. "Like I said Houston I am the worry wort in our group here I might be making something out of nothing so please forgive me if I have you worried now but our boy there is a little miracle and I'm sure he has a few more tricks up his sleeve."

"Houston I think he's done can you bring me a burping cloth."

Roxy handed me the cloth and squeezed my hand, "Roxy don't say anything to CJ okay till we have the results okay?"

She nodded and I turned around, "So Mr. Jake did we finish our bottle?"

CJ smiled and held out the empty bottle, "That's our boy."