The excitement of the day finally began to take its toll on Jack on the bus ride back to Sami and Finn's apartment. The thrum of the bus seemed to take a soporific effect on the toddler, and he was soon dozing away, safely tucked in Sami's arms. Sami studiously kept one eye on the sleepyhead in his arms and the other checking the road ahead for their stop. It was easier to pay attention to the road ahead despite the other option being Finn sat right beside him. Sami could tell Finn was deep in thought, seemingly content to watch the world go by outside. It was a habit Sami had noticed early on in their friendship, too often he'd noticed Finn sitting on the tour bus silently retreating into himself in thought. Sami had learned quickly not to bother Finn in those instances, sometimes everybody just needed some silent contemplation time and if that's what Finn wanted then Sami would oblige. The only visible sign of distress Sami could see was Finn's slightly furrowed brow, although a small, wistful smile did break through when he spotted a child playing with a puppy.
Sami decided it was in his best interest not to think about that in too great depth at the current moment. It would be easy to assume it was the sight of the dog that had caught Finn's attention. Sami knew Finn had been devastated by the loss of his dog, Lubo, last year...but the topic of adopting a pet of their own had never come up since they got together...maybe it'd be a good thing if I get called up properly soon…at least Finn wouldn't be alone in the apartment all the time…
Instinctively, Sami just knew it wasn't going to be that simple.
If Finn had hoped for more playtime with Jack when they reached their apartment, they were summarily dashed as Jack had succumbed to slumber in Sami's arms. Sami had tried to lay Jack down in the bed in the guest bedroom, but his little face had scrunched up immediately and Sami quickly picked him back up before a meltdown could occur.
"Now who's spoiling him?" Finn teased gently as Jack happily snuggled back into Sami's embrace.
"Given that the other option would lead to a cranky, tired human being…?" Sami muttered as he wandered back through to the apartment's main living area, "If Jack's anything like you when you don't get enough sleep…"
"Fair point, well made."
Although Finn couldn't really blame the lad...it had been a long day, and Sami's embrace was the warmest and most comforting Finn had ever experienced. He'd long since lost count of how many times he'd fallen asleep in Sami's arms…and that was before they'd even officially gotten together. It was all Sami's fault for being so cuddly, and for his habit of draping his arm around people without even asking…an irresistible invitation for snuggles, and especially for daring to smell like warm toast and honey…how dare he.
"S'ppose I'll just chill on the couch while this scamp naps on me…at least he's lighter than you are," Sami snickered at the indignant look on Finn's face, "What's in the DVD player? Can always watch it with subtitles…"
Finn immediately grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV and Blu-Ray player for Sami's benefit, watching on in delight as Sami's eyes lit up in excitement as the title screen for 'Back To The Future' appeared. Finn chuckled as he made sure the sound was turned down low enough to not disturb Jack, and double-checked he had put the subtitles on for Sami.
"I'll let you enjoy it in peace," Finn gently placed the remotes next to Sami on the couch, but Sami was already lost as the movie began to play, "I'll…be in the Lego den."
"Mmm-hmm…" Sami replied absent-mindedly, "Love you…"
Finn grinned, kissing the top of Sami's head as he passed by en-route to his Lego wonderland, "Love you too, Sami McFly."
Lego had been Finn's choice of escaping reality for as long as he could remember. It was something that was easy enough to follow even with the aches of a typical day in the ring, but also something just taxing enough to not bore his overactive thought process. His thoughts had certainly been on overdrive since his imagination ran away with him in the ice-cream place…maybe not something too complicated today…maybe just make a start on the Ghostbusters' car…
Finn frowned at the pieces in front of him, trying to tie them into the illustrations on the instructions…for a second Finn wondered if he was accidentally reading the Polish version of the instructions, as nothing seemed to be connecting in his mind. Usually building his Lego sets was his sure fire getaway from the world, but this one time he found he couldn't concentrate on it at all. Thoughts of Sami and Jack kept filtering into his head, the idea of Sami going ballistic at Finn leaving his Lego lying around where the toddler could reach it entering his mind without warning. Visions of a child sat happily on his lap building absolute nonsense with him kept filling his head (because no way was Finn going to be like Lord Business in the 'Lego Movie' to his kids…no curbing their imaginations…).
Finn shook his head, once again trying to focus on the instructions to no avail. Even as he wiped his eyes to try and clear his sight, he had to put the piece in his hand back down as his vision became blurry with unshed tears. The frustration had set in, and his mind was too boggled to even try to continue…maybe isolating myself wasn't the best idea after all…
What is even going on with me…?
Finn looked up from the desk as the sound of hushed laughter echoed from the living area.
If Lego isn't going to calm me down…then there's only one other option…
I need my Sami…
If Sami was surprised at Finn coming out from his Lego haven so soon he did a masterful job of hiding it. He turned to face Finn with a warm smile on his face, only turning back to the movie once Finn had sat down beside him. Finn immediately clung to Sami's side, doing his best not to jostle the still-sleeping Jack as he got comfortable.
"Hey you," Sami whispered gently, "Not feelin' constructive after all?"
"Too tired, kept messing it all up…and I just really needed a hug, s'all," Finn murmured.
"You can have all the hugs you want, Finn," Sami's voice was soothing, and between that and the familiar comforting scent Finn felt himself drifting off to it, "I mean…I can't give you a proper hug right now, but feel free to use me as a pillow or something…"
Sami had barely finished his sentence before Finn's soft snoring started to fill the room.
"…annnnd you've both crashed out on top of me…terrific," Sami sighed in disbelief, "You both better hope I don't need to go anywhere in a hurry…"
Sami wasn't entirely sure how much time passed by after Finn passed out on him. The movie had ended, and between a sleepy toddler on his lap and a dozing demon currently causing his arm to cramp up he couldn't do much else but sit there. As much as he loved 'Back To The Future', Sami could only take watching the main menu screen so many times. Thankfully the power saver mode kicked in, which left nothing but a blank screen and two different sets of snoring as white noise.
It was...strange, in a quaint, comforting sort of way. Sami was fully used to non-stop commotion in his life, be it at home or at work or on the road. This was something completely different, much like the rest of the day had been. 'Good' different, though? It had been a largely successful babysitting venture, hadn't it? Nobody threw a massive tantrum, nobody dropped the small human being on his head, and for the most part everybody had a fun time.
But something was clearly still bothering Finn, and that was a problem. Sami hadn't missed those flickers of emotion Finn tried to hide...sadness obviously, guilt, longing, wistfulness…
Hope. That was a major one.
Whatever it was, it was enough to put Finn off building Lego...and that alone was cause for concern.
'Though there's not much I can do about it right now...'
Sami was stuck in place both metaphorically and literally, and with no possible escape route from the two sleeping lumps that were on top of him he found himself with limited options...'well, if you can't shift them, guess you join 'em'.
With one last fond look at the two sleepyheads surrounding him, Sami let his head rest on top of Finn's and let himself drift away...
There were probably a hundred worse ways to be rudely awoken from a power nap, but at that moment Finn couldn't think of a better one than the warm fuzzy feeling of having your loved one so close by. He allowed himself a small smile at his current situation…Sami must have fallen asleep at some point after Finn had, Sami's head resting atop his own. Jack was still fast asleep in Sami's arms, his tiny little fists holding on to Sami's t-shirt and…well, the copious amount of baby drool staining Sami's shirt wasn't quite as adorable as what surrounded it, but better it was dribble than the messier alternatives.
Finn had to admit to being a little jealous. Not of the being covered in drool thing, but by how easy Sami had made it all look and how quickly he'd adapted…much like his in-ring work, actually. It had taken Finn quite a while to get used to being around his brother's kids, let alone try to look after them...exactly like how Sami had reacted that morning to suddenly having a toddler in his arms. Now he was perfectly fine with being 'Uncle Fergie'…and he seriously thought he'd have been the one leading the charge in today's babysitting adventure. But Sami had been right there with him the whole time, and everything had felt so natural that Finn had to repeatedly stop and remind himself this was just for today.
That was the same reason Finn didn't immediately whip out his phone and take a picture of the sight before him. Jack wasn't theirs to photograph and although Finn was sure Jenny wouldn't have minded him taking a few pictures, it wouldn't have been right in the end. Cute as the picture would've been…
Finn blinked in surprise as a sudden ringing noise broke him out of his internal soliloquy. It wasn't his ringtone, and he was fairly sure that Jack didn't own a mobile phone (although that wasn't necessarily a given in this day and age…)
Which left only one option. Finn looked around the room to see if Sami had left his phone lying around, but it seemed that it was somewhere on Sami's person. As fun as frisking Sami for his phone sounded, Finn took the completely more appropriate option of waking Sami up. Finn gently nudged Sami's shoulder, "Sorry Sami, need you to wake up for me…"
"1.21 Giga…what?" Sami mumbled groggily, looking around the room in a daze before his gaze settled on Jack still resting on his lap…somehow Sami's ringtone hadn't woken him up, "Oh…ugh…Finn, my phone's in my pocket…couldja fish it out…no free hands…how are you still asleep, young man?"
"Sure, hang on…" With Sami's permission firmly in place, Finn slipped his hand into Sami's jeans pocket and quickly retrieved the makeshift alarm clock that was Sami's mobile. With a quick glance to see who was calling, Finn smiled softly and answered, "Hiya Jenny, what's a happening?"
"Finn…hey, I'm just leaving the hospital now…" Jenny sounded weary, not at all surprisingly, "Just making sure you're at your apartment and not gallivanting all over the place."
"Yeah, we're home…just caught us having a lazy moment," Finn smiled over at Sami, his partner's face contorting into a look of disgust as he noticed the drool patch staining his t-shirt, "Everything okay?"
"Yeah…dad had a fall and bumped his head; they had to check for swelling and concussion symptoms…" Finn winced in sympathy at Jenny's reply, he'd lost count of the amount of times he'd had to get his own head checked out after a nasty bump or the times he'd sat and waited less than calmly on Sami going through the same tests, "Everything looks clear, but they're keeping him in overnight for observation. You two managing okay? It sounds…suspiciously quiet for an apartment with a toddler within."
"Jack's napping!" Finn replied with a smile, "Slept right through Sami's phone going off. I'm beginning to think he could sleep through the zombie apocalypse…"
"Ask if we should wake him up," Sami interjected, voice still hazy from being rudely awoken, "He's been out a solid coupla hours now…worried he won't sleep tonight…"
"Did you get that?" Finn asked.
"Yeah, best wake him up before dinnertime," Jenny replied, "Shouldn't be too cranky by the time I get there too."
"Gee, thanks," Finn groaned, "We'll have everything packed up and ready for you getting back."
"See you in a bit, then," Jenny sounded relieved to hear that, "Thanks again, Finn."
"Not a problem," Finn replied, "See you soon!"
Finn sighed softly as he placed Sami's phone on the table, he hadn't quite realised just how late it had gotten. Must've been out longer than I thought…
"Okay, you two have kept me in place long enough…" Sami handed Jack over to Finn without any further preamble, cutting off any potential Finn protests immediately, "I need to stretch my legs and…ick…change my shirt."
"You're leaving me on my own to wake him up?" Finn scrunched his face up as he noticed Jack beginning to stir in his arms, "Meany."
"I will literally be a couple of minutes, Finn," Sami replied as he wandered off to their bedroom, "You'll be fine! Remember who wanted to babysit today in the first place?"
"…he's shiftier than I give him credit for…" Finn muttered as movement in his arms caught his attention. He then proceeded to melt as Jack did a little baby yawn followed by a little baby stretch, "Hey kid, you back with us?"
"…'inn…" Jack yawned again, looking around the room with bleary eyes, "…dino?"
"He's right here, Jacko," Finn quickly hopped up off the couch to retrieve Jack's newest acquisition, "He was letting you sleep like a good dinosaur should."
"…'ay," Jack took the stuffed dinosaur from Finn and cuddled it close to him, "We play now?"
"Yep! At least until your mum gets back," Finn smiled warmly as Jack flashed a baby grin at him, "Let's play!"
There was no harm in pretending this was normal for a little while longer.
Right…?
