Title: 60 Days

Author: Mindy

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: Not mine

See chapter one for rest.

II.

Day 20:

"Hey, it's me. How's Chicago?"

"Cold and windy. How's New York?"

"Freaking freezing. When are you coming back?"

"As we speak, Lemon."

"Oh, good. Because I want you to do me a favor."

"Personal or professional?"

"A personal one. I want you to come over this weekend and spend some time with Seth."

"Why?"

"I'm worried that he's a bit…nervous around men."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, his dad's history, obviously. And today he was in the writer's room with Cerie. And he was fine, but then Frank and Toofer started arguing about something and he just freaked out and ran into my office and slammed the door."

"I see."

"He's okay. But I thought maybe you could come over and just hang out with us. Watch a movie, play some games. Be nice. Be…gentle with him."

"Why me?"

"Seth likes you."

"He does?"

"Yeah. You scored big with that Bert and Ernie line."

"Comedy stems from truth."

"Well, you would know."

"Ted Danson told me that once."

"Well, he should know. So will you come?"

"I'd be happy to."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Great!"

"I'll call you when I'm back in New York."

"Enjoy your flight. And don't eat too many of those butterscotch sundaes."

"Yes, Mother."

-x-

Day 23:

On Sunday, Jack brought Seth a whole Universe. A universe of glow-in-the-dark stars and planets that the three of them immediately began sticking on the ceiling above his bed. Liz stood on a chair, reaching up over her head while Jack kicked off his shoes and stood on the bed. He held Seth about the waist, his little feet digging into his hips as he lifted him high enough to plant star after star in untidy clusters on the plaster. When they were done, Jack dropped Seth to the bed, making him bounce and laugh. Then the little boy watched as Jack stepped down from the bed and held out a hand to assist Liz.

"I think we did a pretty good job," he commented, gazing up at their new galaxy.

"Why're you still holding her hand?" Seth asked, his mouth turning down at the corners.

Jack glanced at Liz, withdrew his hand from hers. "I wasn't aware I was."

"Shall we look at the stars?" Liz asked eagerly, plopping down with him on the bed.

"I'll get the lights," Jack said, heading across the room. "You two lie down." He waited for Liz to close the curtains and lie across the bed. Seth burrowed into her side, body wiggling in excitement and feet kicking against the edge of the bed.

"Ready?" Jack said, one finger on the light switch: "One…"

"Two…" they joined in: "Three!"

Jack switched off the light, instigating a low chorus of ooohs and ahhhs from Seth and Liz. He moved over to join them on the bed, carefully lying down beside Liz, a little space between them. After a minute or so of gazing up at the fluorescent shapes, Seth reached a hand across Liz and lightly tapped his shoulder.

"We did those," he whispered to Jack, pointing to a bright conglomeration above her head.

Jack nodded proudly. "We sure did."

-x-

Day 25:

Jack held his newspaper in one hand, the other held the elevator door back as Liz rushed on with Seth in tow.

"Late again, Lemon?"

"Don't start with me, Jack. I was editing til 4am last night."

"I wasn't starting with you," he replied mildly. "It was a completely benign observation. Hi, Seth, how are you?"

Seth half-smiled. "Hi."

"Anyway, it's not my fault," she huffed, hoisting her bag higher on her shoulder. "We had to go and pick up Seth's new frames and the stupid shop didn't open til like, ten minutes ago."

"Oh." Jack nodded, glancing down at Seth: "You got new glasses?"

Seth shrugged.

"Why aren't you wearing them?"

Liz looked down at him, her lips tightening.

Seth gave another shrug, bowed his little head. "I got…called…a four-eyes."

"Which is something we don't listen to," Liz added firmly, drawing him into her side.

"I see." Jack tucked his newspaper under his arm and reached into his pocket. "Liz is right," he murmured, taking his glasses from his breast pocket and slowly slipping them on. He snapped his newspaper open, making Seth look up. "You don't want to listen to talk like that, Seth," he added, eyes scanning the headlines.

Liz bit back a smile as Seth took in the thick, black glasses adorning Jack's handsome face, her eyes moving back and forth between the two of them. When the door slid open, Jack held it as they exited, nodding in reply to her goofy, grateful look.

-x-

Day 28:

Jack heard some scuffling outside his office door, followed by some hushed voices. He recognized Liz's voice drifting through the wood:

"Go ahead. You can knock."

A soft knock followed, then a slight jiggling of the door handle.

"Come in," Jack called, rising from his chair, heading round his desk.

The door inched open and Seth peered around it, hanging off the handle. He was wearing his new glasses and when he saw him, Seth started to smile, rushing a few steps towards him. He stopped though to turn back and make sure Liz was right behind him. She was, the fingers of one hand brushing his back.

"Go ahead," she nodded. "Give it to him."

Jack moved closer, bending down. Without a word, but with a pleased grin, Seth extended his arm, offering up a piece of paper in the shape of a baseball mitt. Jack took it, muttering his thanks.

"I'm having a party," Seth announced. "For my half-birthday."

"He wanted to invite you," Liz said with a smile.

"I picked the papers," Seth added, peering at the mitt in Jack's hand. "For the…"

"Invitations."

"Uh huh."

"Really?" Jack murmured, eyes twinkling: "And how old are you going to be?"

"Three and a half," he answered without hesitation.

Jack hummed, impressed. "My, my."

"Pete and Paula are coming," Liz added. "They're bringing their boys."

"We're going to have hotdogs," Seth told him. "And I'm going to show them my stars."

Jack straightened, bobbed his head once. "I wouldn't miss it. Sounds like fun."

Seth turned to look up at Liz who punched her fist in the air: "Yay!"

"Yay!" Seth echoed, copying the gesture then quickly shrinking back against her legs.

"So you like baseball then?" Jack asked, examining the invitation. "Maybe we could go sometime? Have you ever been to a real game?"

Seth shook his head, eyes wide.

"Would you like to?"

He nodded, mute but eager.

Jack flicked his eyes up to Liz's face. "Well…I'm sure we can arrange that. After all – it is your half-birthday."

-x-

Day 30:

Seated at the breakfast bar, Seth watched Jack roll up his sleeves and crack a few eggs into a bowl.

"My dad doesn't cook," he said.

"Oh no?"

"Uh-uh." For a moment, Seth fiddled with the Yankees cap Jack had bought him that day. "He likes only to eat."

"I see," Jack replied carefully. "And how about your mom?"

Seth was silent.

"Well…" Jack went on, beginning to chop up some ham: "every man should cook a little in my opinion, Seth. It helps with the ladies."

"Liz is a lady."

"Yes. She's a very nice lady."

He laughed. "But she's not good at cooking."

Jack smiled. "She's trying. She's learning."

"Like me with baseball."

"Exactly right. Just like that."

"Hey!" Liz smiled, entering the kitchen, laden with bags of treats for Seth's half-birthday. "How was the game?"

"Liz!" Seth chirped, bouncing in his seat.

"I let myself in," she said to Jack, dropping all her bags then sniffing the air: "Wow. Something smells awesome."

Jack waggled his brows at Seth who began to giggle openly.

"What's so funny?" she muttered, hands going to her hips.

Seth giggled some more, head thrown back, then told her: "Jack said you would come as soon as he started to make the food."

She pursed her lips in amusement, lunging in and tickling his ribs. "Did he now?"

"Yes!" he grinned, squirming.

Liz wrapped her arms around him, her chin planted on his head as she shot Jack a narrowed-eyed look.

Jack just tilted the hot pan toward her. "Omelette?"

-x-

Day 37:

"Seth thinks your Mom is scary."

"And Seth would be right."

"That's what I said."

"Is that what you called to tell me?"

"I…forgot why we called you."

"We?"

"Seth's here in bed with me. Asleep."

"Probably worn out from ice-skating."

"Probably. My hand hurts from him holding it so tight."

"Mine too."

"He had fun though. He loved all the flags."

"And the naked baby."

"Right! The giant yellow jellybaby."

"I'm sure Prometheus wouldn't have minded being characterized as such."

"Hey, did you hear what he called me when he fell on his butt?"

"Which time?"

"The first time."

"Was it 'Ma'?"

"Yeah. Ma."

"Where'd he get that from?"

"Don't know. One of the writers, maybe..."

"You sound pretty tired yourself, Lemon."

"I'm wiped. I can't believe I have to get up and be funny tomorrow."

"Funny would be preferable, yes. So get some sleep."

"Seth's gonna try daycare tomorrow. He's made a friend apparently."

"I'll try to stop by to see him then."

"He'd like that."

"Goodnight, Lemon."

"'Night, Jack."

TBC...