It was getting chillier by the minute and Saitou started to worry about Saiko. The little girl was starting to shiver under his police jacket. Saitou had already given Saiko her stuffed rooster to cling onto, but it did not really seem to comfort the girl. Sano was snoring happily on the other bench which meant Saitou could not get any sleep if he tried. He gave up and leaned against the side of the carriage putting his feet on the seat making a V with his body with Saiko seated in the middle. He rubbed her back absentmindedly trying to keep her warm. Saitou cursed the gods for letting a day that was so warm have a night that was so cold.
The carriage driver was a tad slow for Saitou's taste, but he was known in Tokyo for keeping secrets so Saitou always tried to get him, considering his double life and all. This secret keeping meant a steeper bill, but that was no issue for Saitou when compared to the safety of Sano and Saiko. They finally made it to the Sagara household with a rough jerk that threw Sano to the floor. Even with the large force of being thrown Sano continued to keep snoring.
Saitou smiled as he climbed out of the carriage as he saw Sano continue to snore on the floor. The now sleeping Saiko stirred slightly as Saitou gave the driver instructions to give him a few minutes to unload. Saitou unlocked the house and set Saiko in her toddler bed with a thick blanket before going back outside to fetch Sano. Sano had finally woken up and Saitou helped in the house. Sano stopped him at the living room saying he could handle it himself. Saitou nodded and went back out the carriage to collect the bag and pay the driver.
When Saitou returned to the house he saw Sano in the kitchen making tea. Saitou smiled as he pulled a medicine pack and poured it in Sano's cup. Sano frowned about to protest when Saitou cut him off saying "Doctor's orders" with a sly smile. He brought his hand to Sano's chin and leaned in for a soft kiss whispering "go sit down in the front room I will make you something eat." Sano smiled but inwardly grimaced, Saitou couldn't cook anything past rice and he would have rather have had some meat. Sano took his medicinal tea and trudged into the front room. Saitou finished the rice and soon handed a bowl and chopsticks to Sano.
"You look awful Sano, what were you doing after that nap playing with Ch" Saitou started in. "Shut the hell up" Sano yelled back angrily sick of Saitou's accusations. Saitou leaned away slightly, the lean the only admittance of wrongdoing one could tell of Saitou. Saitou resigned to eat his rice in silence figuring that Sano would not want to talk to him till the next day. He was surprised when Sano finished his rice in two swallows then dropped his head into Saitou's lap. Saitou smiled and put his free hand on Sano's forehead. "You should get some sleep" Saitou said softly. Sano nodded but did not move until Saitou finished his rice.
Saitou helped Sano onto the futon carefully and started to get himself ready for bed. By the time Saitou cleaned up dinner and changed for bed Sano had fallen asleep and taken up the whole futon. Not wanting to disturb his wounded lover Saitou decided to sleep in the front room. Grabbing a free pillow and a spare sheet he headed to his temporary bed. On the way he checked in on Saiko who seemed to no longer be chilled and sleeping soundly.
Saitou had almost fallen asleep when his half open eyes saw a flash of black. Feigning sleep he waited patiently as the little Saiko crawled from next to his feet to next to his face. "Da e" she called out before placing a hand on his cheek to wake him. He caught her tiny hand in his and kissed the back of it lightly before speaking to her. "Yes Sa-chan" he asked. "Da e be lone?" she responded. "Yes Da e was alone, but Sa-chan can keep daddy company" he offered. He just hoped she wouldn't realize that if they were both in the front room dada was alone. Saiko just smiled and kissed Saitou goodnight and lay down next to Saitou. Saitou said his goodnight and pulled her close to him to protect her from what seemed like the world lately.
In the morning Saitou woke up to an empty bed. At first he was confused, but then he remembered Sano needed the room so he came out to the front room, but something was still off. Saiko was gone. The spot she had been was nothing but cold ruffled sheets. Saitou frowned and pulled himself grudgingly out of bed. He found her in the back bedroom in Sano's arms laughing happily and saying something about da e not being alone. Saitou felt a pang of jealousy as he thought about his daughter leaving his side to play with Sano. It was irrational considering he knew Sano was her father too and her biological father at that, but jealousy was not a very rational beast.
He sighed and walked in the room kneeling on the futon. "Da e" Saiko cried out happily rushing over and hugging him tightly, melting all the jealousy away. Sano smirked and did the same crying "daddy" before planting a wet kiss on Saitou's unsuspecting lips. Saiko pinned between the two she squealed, not in pain but in pure joy. It finally felt like home again.
As Sano healed Saitou had to do the majority of the housework on top of his police job so understandably he was tired and a bit cranky. Sano who was feeling restless from his bed rest as it was tried to offset Saitou's mood by surprising him everyday. One day Saiko had a painting of the family, another the two of them picked Saitou a bouquet of wildflowers.
The original bouquet that Saitou bought for Sano was not forgotten. Sano loved the flowers though he did not admit it. He laid them out in the window to dry them planning to press them as a keepsake for the years to come. Saitou was not supposed to know Sano was keeping them, but Saiko was muttering something about "pwetty owers" in the window and Saitou had found them. Saitou pretended not to notice, but that night Sano was a little louder than the average night.
Saitou was a little worried that the chief of police was getting suspicious with his constant exhaustion, but hoped as Sano got stronger Saitou could get a little more rest. Sano understood Saitou's predicament, but Saitou refused to let him go do anything even slightly strenuous until he was fully healed.
One night a little over three weeks after the fight Saitou had finally discovered what happened to the gangster who attacked his Sano. He was revealing all the details to Sano before bed with a chipper tone. "So now the emperor himself wants of piece of that rube, and the lackey who gave him the knife squealed on the king pin and will probably never leave prison, though its mostly by choice because he is dead if the mob gets a hold of him" Saitou explained.
Sano smiled pulling Saitou's arm over his waist as they prepared to sleep. "That's good to know, I hope this all wasn't too much trouble Saitou" Sano whispered. "Ahou you saved a girl, a flirt, but still a young girl I have to credit you for that" Saitou responded lightly kissing the back of Sano's neck. "Now, let's sleep and hope we don't wake Saiko up tonight hnn?" Saitou said softly in reply. "Hey if you don't want me to be so loud, don't be so good" Sano almost giggled. "You're such a girl" Saitou said with a chuckle. "Hey" Sano started to protest, but was silenced by a gentle bite to his non injured side between his shoulder and neck. "Hey daddy no bite" Sano teased.
A/N: Word ate this chapter once already so please forgive me if it seems rushed and short TT