Eric slowed the hummer to a smooth halt, the engine idling as Horatio climbed out of the passenger side swiftly grabbing his silver crime scene kit and closing the door with a muffled thud. Eric met his mentors sharp blue gaze and the question he wanted to ask died on his lips as Horatio nodded slightly. He would call Eric as soon as they knew anything, he wouldn't leave him back at the lab wondering. Eric watched Horatio pick up the shiny silver kit and make his way confidently into the hospital ER. As the magnetic doors whooshed closed Eric lost sight of Horatio, he put the hummer in gear and resumed his journey to the lab.
Horatio glanced around the cool sterile ER heading briskly towards the nurses station.
"Excuse me ma'am, a detective Pedrosa was just brought her with a young infant could you tell me where they are please." He asked politely in his hushed, calm manner.
The nurse glanced down the list of current patients and shook her head.
"I don't have a Pedrosa listed here, I do have a baby John Doe admitted 6 minutes ago…says here he had a police escort." She looked at Horatio watching as he chuckled softly and shook his head ruefully.
"That will be them. Where can I find them."
"We had the infant admitted to NICU."
"Thank you." Horatio replied once more moving away swiftly insearch of Vanessa.
The neo-natal intensive care unit was by far one of the quietest wards Horatio had ever been too. Walking along the corridor he could hear the steady beep and whoosh of some unidentified piece of equipment, there was no unruly chatter, no audible conversation or even crying – just an eerie pervasive silence which had his ears ringing. He paused briefly at the deserted nurses station, glancing down a corridor on the off chance he'd spot a member of staff – he wasn't keen to stalk the hallways of this ward uninvited, there was no need to cause anyone undue alarm. Luckily he didn't need to waste time waiting for a nurse to guide him to his victim, his glance of the hallway revealed a solitary figure standing expectantly before a plate glass window. Horatio recognized the woman as Vanessa immediately – her wet hair hung limply down her back, her arms were folded her body language indicating her anxiety.
Horatio padded quietly down the hall coming to a rest beside her, his gaze focused on what she was observing. The infant from the alley was laid out before a doctor and 2 nurses, stripped bare he was wailing softly as the doctor examined him, palpating his tiny body, weighing him and listening to his heart and lungs. Baby John Doe was redressed in a simple white all-in-one, wrapped lightly in a soft blanket and place into a humidi-crib.
"How is he doing?" Horatio asked softly.
"They haven't said anything yet. I think we found him pretty quickly, he should be okay right? I mean they aren't exactly moving at the speed of light in there." Vanessa rambled anxiously.
"Let's hope so Vanessa. Now what about you, have you been checked by medical staff yet?" he asked already knowing the answer.
"I'm fine Horatio, a little bit of rain won't do me in." She brushed off his concern quickly.
"No but all the same Detective you've had a shock. I'm going to get some one to look you over okay. Just to be thorough." He motioned for a nearby nurse politely asking if she wouldn't mind assessing Vanessa for signs of shock.
Moments later Vanessa was declared to have a clean bill of health, she was also told she could go in and see the baby. Standing next to the humidi-crib Vanessa marveled at the wonder of the tiny infant held within. There he was in surprisingly good health despite being abandoned next to a dumpster and exposed a Miami rain shower for god knew how long. An unconscious smile graced Vanessa lips as the baby's tiny fingers wrapped around her index finger and gripped tightly.
"See, your safe and warm now sweetheart just like I promised." She whispered watching the rise and fall of his little chest as he slept soundly.
"What happens now? Where will he go?" Vanessa asked Horatio quietly.
"Well I think for now, the best place for him to be is here in the hospital." He looked down at Vanessa softly knowing she was feeling attached to the infant already.
"A case worker from the Department of Child Services is on the way, they'll be able to tell us more."
Horatio moved away to discuss with the Doctors the health status of the baby boy – he needed to determine approximately how old he was and how long he'd been exposed to the environment. While that was happening Vanessa didn't budge from the humidi-crib, her finger was still tightly enclosed by the baby's hand, it was as though he was clinging to her asking her to reassure him that everything was going to be okay.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, I promise." She whispered.
A curvaceous African American woman in her mid to late forties wearing an ill fitting pinstripe suit, her hair short and tightly curled and an expansive face bearing a permanently annoyed expression ambled into the NICU her gaze flicking between the baby, Vanessa, Horatio and the lingering unit staff. Vanessa thought she saw the woman fight down an eyeball roll.
"Uh huh. Melody Jackson DCS and you might be who?" she demanded looking at Vanessa disdainfully.
"Detective Vanessa Pedrosa, I found the infant."
"Don't give you claims on him sweetheart. You need to step out while I discuss some options with the good doctor." She waited impatiently expecting Vanessa to disappear without discussion.
Horatio could see Vanessa bristle against the presumptions of the older woman watched her mouth set in a firm line and knowing that she was about to argue the point called to her quietly.
"Detective, let's give these people space to work."
Vanessa hesitated looking between Horatio and the infant before sighing slowly and extricating her finger from the baby's fierce grasp. She made her way across to Horatio casting a final look back at the crib.
"So what y'all are telling me is that although he was let by a dumpster, out in the rain he's fine. Y'all don't need to keep him in for observation."
"No. As a matter of fact we feel that right now what he needs more than anything is a nurturing environment."
"Uh hunh, and what you think those just grow on trees? You want me to go on over to wal-mart and pick him up on a those?"
"What I'm saying is there is no medical reason for me to admit this infant to this unit."
"So you're wiping your hands of him?"
"We called you in because this is what your department does; you find emergency accommodation for abused and neglected kids."
"Now exactly where do you expect me to place him at 3 o'clock in the mornin'? Or should I just take him home myself?"
Horatio watched the two supposed professionals bickering over whom exactly was going to take responsibility for their tiny charge – his heart sinking at the inability of these two bureaucrats to see the bigger picture. They had forgotten that this wasn't a case of who owns what problem – they were both trying to shirk the responsibility for this tiny new life onto the other, neither of them had his best interests at heart. Vanessa let out an exasperated sigh.
"Honestly is nobody thinking of this poor child?" she hissed furiously.
"You know that's not true Detective." Horatio soothed.
"Look at this pair, they couldn't find their asses in the dark with a map and a flashlight!" Horatio looked at her perplexed.
"Oh this is ridiculous!"
Vanessa marched over to the bickering pair her annoyance and frustration at the situation emanating from every pore any neither of them turned to face her, that's how focused they were on their own issues and agendas.
"Okay let me get this right." She interrupted, "You don't want to admit him as a patient?" The doctor nodded heartily, no shame felt at his decision.
"And you don't want to do your job and find him a family to be placed with." Vanessa accused the DCS worker.
"Listen here Miss Thing, my job isn't easy. You think I can just pull a family willing to take a newborn out of thin air? I got procedures to follow, paperwork – follow up visits, counseling and reimbursements to organize. That don't just happen like that." She snarled snapping her fingers.
"Okay how about I do you job for you then? I'll take the infant. I'll look after him until we can find a suitable family member willing to take him in."
Horatio looked at Vanessa shaking his head sadly, she was too close to this – he should have seen this coming. He had absolutely no doubt that she could pull this off right up to the point where she had to let him go to someone else's care – that part Horatio had difficulty imagining. He turned away from the scene before him as his cell vibrated against his belt.
"Talk to me Eric…okay, no that's good work…I'll be sure to tell her…keep looking. Have Valera run the buccal swab from the infant against Davalee Ross."
He looked across the room to see that the two headstrong women were still locking horns. Ms Jackson from DCS let out a barking laugh.
"You think it's that easy huh? You just demand him and he's yours? I got news for you sunshine and its all bad." Her laugh had jolted the baby awake, he cried out sharply, wailing. No matter what Ms Jackson did he refused to settle.
"I'm an emergency foster parent registered with DCS and recently accredited. Check your files, Vanessa Antonella Ingrid Pedrosa, DOB 12.6.1978." Vanessa stated moving to the crib and lifting the infant out, holding him securely against her chest, rocking him slightly. Like magic the baby stops crying almost immediately, feeling safe cradled against Vanessa's chest, her already familiar scent calming him instantly.
"Do we have a decision yet ladies on what is happening with Jack here?" He asked calmly yet forcefully.
"Jack?" Vanessa repeated softly.
"We believe so. Eric found a message scrawled inside the box – Take care of Jack, FR. Keep him safe. We haven't gotten anything else yet." Horatio informed her.
"A name is great place to start, isn't it Jack." She cooed.
"It certainly is." Horatio agreed watching Vanessa with an unusually strong sense of fatherly pride blossoming through his chest.
Ms Jackson broke out her cell calling her office to verify Vanessa's claim and ensure that all the necessary paperwork preceding an emergency placement was already in order, which it was. Officially she had no further argument to prevent Vanessa from taking the infant home with her – didn't mean she was going to go easy on her, she was going to ride her like a Gulfstream Park pony.
"Alright Detective I am officially leaving this infant in your care. You've done this before, you know the policies and procedures. You are to ring in every four hours for status reports, do not call late, do not miss a scheduled call. That baby is not to leave your sight. No unsecured firearms, no liquor, no illegal activity of any kind and you get a secure baby carrier fitted to your personal vehicle before you leave this hospital. Are we clear on this Miss Pedrosa."
"Crystal." Was Vanessa only response.
"Okay so you've called me with some weird requests before Vanessa but this one tops the list…what's going on?" Speedle asked as he entered the neonatal wing of the Dade Memorial hospital. Under the crook of one arm he carried the change of clothes she had requested when she'd rung him twenty minutes earlier, in his other hand he clutched a baby carrier. Vanessa hadn't told him why she needed it only that he needed to get in her car drive to Dade Memorial hospital with a change of clothes for her and collect something in his name at the front desk before coming upstairs to NICU.
Shaking his head in wonder he looked over at Vanessa and felt the breath literally leave his body. She was sitting in a rocking chair in the nursery, a small bundle wrapped in a blue blanket cradled gently in her arms. He watched as she held a bottle to the hungry mouth, watched the baby suckle greedily as Vanessa gently stroked a finger against the velvet skin of his cheek. She was humming softly and looking every inch the doting mother. Even though Vanessa herself was still wrapped in a thick white towel, her damp hair hanging limp down her back Speedle didn't think he'd ever seen her look more beautiful than she did in that moment tenderly cradling the tiny baby.
"Hey handsome you made it." Vanessa smiled gently looking at the baby carrier Speedle carried in one hand as he stared at her dumbfounded.
"Something you wanna tell me Nessie?" he joked lightly moving across the room to get a better look at Vanessa and the baby.
"Tim meet Jack. I found him at the scene I was called out to…who could just throw him away like that? He's so little." She frowned looking down at the precious bundle she held.
Tim crouched down next to her, resting his hand on top of hers, squeezing tenderly. It worried him just how quickly she had become attached to this tiny human being – cases like this never ended well. This kid would eventually end up in the DCS system or with a family member – hopefully one better suited to caring for him than the one who tossed him aside in the first place.
"Don't give me that look." Vanessa chastised him.
"I didn't say anything."
"You don't have to Tim; it's written right across your face." She cupped his cheek lovingly trying to reassure him.
"I just want him to be safe. He's not mine, I don't get to keep him but while I have him I'm going to make sure I protect him." She vowed looking down at the sleeping face of the baby in her arms. She stood and gathered her purse moving softly to avoid disturbing the baby.
"Come on, let's get you home."
Back at Vanessa's house she and Tim quickly set up the meager items they had hired from the hospital and bought at a 24hour wal-mart type store on the way home. They'd managed to get a small folding crib, bottles, some clothes, blankets, diapers and wipes, formula and a baby bath. Tim got the crib set up in Vanessa's bed room and put the bottles and formula in the kitchen – the clothes and diapers were in a bag on the foot of her bed. He leant in the doorway watching as Vanessa gently placed Jack on his back in the crib, her hand tenderly rubbing his small belly as he whimpered slightly from the change in his position. Vanessa tucked the blanket into the end of the cot, making sure it was enough to keep him warm but was no where near his face so that it didn't present a suffocating hazard. She sighed watching him sleep for several minutes before moving away. Tim wrapped his arms around her – she smelt like her usual scent of Jasmine and Neroli mixed with something new…baby powder he guessed.
"You okay Nessie?" he murmured, the rumble of his deep voice vibrating through his chest and into Vanessa.
She turned in his arms and nodded before placing a sweet kiss to the center of his chest. "I'm sorry I dragged you out of bed – I know your shift was hellish."
He brushed the comment aside and led her out to the spacious open plan living area pulling them both down onto the couch. Vanessa automatically kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet underneath herself as she curled against his strong frame. They sat quietly for a few minutes Tim simply stroking her hair and enjoying the faint scent he could smell wafting up from her hair whilst she savored the warmth of his body, the strong steady rhythm of his heart beat beneath her hand. She heard him release a deep sigh and lifted her head to look up at his weary face.
"You're tired Timmy." She pointed out needlessly. "If you don't want to…I mean don't feel like you need to stay…I know you need to get some rest. I'll be fine here."
"You trying to get rid of me Nessie?" he asked gruffly, playfully bumping her leg with his.
"No, I just know that tonight nobody is going to get a lot of sleep in this apartment."
"We never do." He grinned wickedly.
"I think tonight is going to be a bit less fun than usual." She pointed out.
As if to emphasize her point Jack let out a piercing wail from the bedroom as he woke up disoriented and alone. Vanessa raised an eyebrow, pushing herself up off Tim to head into the baby.
Speed rubbed his hands over his weary face, he knew what she said was true but if he went back to his own apartment there would be no way he'd get any sleep without her there. He had long ago become addicted to being able to stretch across the bed and find her there next to him – her soft warm body ever ready to be held or to hold him. So instead of grabbing his things and heading home he followed her into the bedroom and watched as she fussed over the infant – she held him firmly to her chest her hand cradling his head as she sang softly to him. Tim slid his arms around her placing a kiss to the top of her head as he felt a familiar sense of contentment wash over him – it was the same every single time he held her in his arms.
"This suits you." He whispered, he could tell she was grinning even without seeing her face.
A/N Okay folks what did you think? Loved it? Hated it? Want more? Want something else? I'm not going to know unless you tell me...
