My note...Well, I was a bit worried about that last chapter, if it was good enough and I hope that all of my content and dialogue were in character. I've had a ton of experience with toddlers, so I'm pretty sure Ryan was in character...it was Liberty that I was having the most trouble with. Either way, I really hope you all enjoyed that one and will like this one, as well.

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING

CHAPTER 5: RUBBA DUB DUB

"What a mess!", Ashley groaned as she reached for a second napkin to aid in wiping the spaghetti sauce from Ryan's face.

"No kidding", Jimmy chuckled in reply, holding up another strand of spaghetti he pulled from his lap, for emphasis.

"I don't know which has more sauce covering it..." Ashley sighed, as she worked the baby's soiled bib over his head. "...the floor, or Ryan".

Jimmy grinned and nodded. "Yeah, but the good thing about him, is that you can just take him out to the backyard and hose him down," he suggested teasingly, as he reached out to tickle the little boy's bare tummy.

Ashley smiled back at him, in spite of the way they, and the room around them...looked. It amazed her, how Jimmy could always find the humor in just about any situation; but guessed, given their current predicament, they did look pretty comical. "Well maybe. But that'll have to wait until we get this room back in order", she declared heavily...the task ahead, seemingly overwhelming.

"I can clean up in here if you want to go upstairs and give him a bath first", Jimmy offered, as he began to clear off the top of the table.

Ashley's smile broadened and she leaned forward to capture Jimmy's lips. The sentiment was sweet, but there was no way Ashley was sticking Jimmy with all of the clean up duties...especially when there were some things that would be hard for him to do by himself. "That's okay, his bath can wait", she stated simply, and walked over to the cabinet under the sink, to get some supplies.

Jimmy nodded and started gathering the dirty dishes from the table top. Ashley returned just as he was lifting them onto his lap. She offered him one of her dish towels, but as Jimmy motioned to the current state of his jeans, Ashley realized that a towel wouldn't make all that much of a difference. Jimmy took the offered towel anyway, and slung it over his shoulder to be used later for drying, as he pushed off for the sink. Ashley hesitated for a moment to make sure he had everything he needed within reach, before crawling underneath the table to clean the mess that was the floor.

Ryan eagerly joined her, mistaking her actions for game play. He giggled when he saw Ashley scoot farther under the table, then plopped himself down, right in the center of her crossed legs. "Ryan, we can't play right now", she giggled as she lifted him from her lap. "...we have to clean". But just as Ashley moved to return to her scrubbing, Ryan set himself down into her lap again. She gently pried the boy's grasp from her shirt and smiled at him. "I'll hold you in a minute Ry", she promised, setting him aside again.

"Hey buddy...come over here", Jimmy beckoned, hoping that he could distract Ryan long enough to let Ashley finish cleaning the floor. He handed the boy a clean wooden spoon and plastic bowl and showed him how to 'hit the drum'.

The novelty was short lived.

Ryan's curiosity was soon piqued by the clanging of the shiny items, Jimmy was now loading into the dishwasher. He toddled over to the open appliance and reached out for a sliver serving spoon. "No little man...that's dirty", Jimmy scolded lightly, as he leaned forward, precariously so, and reached for the utensil. Slightly startled, Ryan dropped the spoon, that was just out of Jimmy's reach from where he sat, onto the floor.

"Good job", Jimmy praised with a nod and a grin. Ryan smiled back, apparently pleased with himself for doing the right thing. "Now, pick the spoon up and give it back to uncle Jimmy", he gently instructed the baby. Ryan's grin widened as he reached into the bin for yet another spoon.

"Okay Ryan, thank you", Jimmy stated as the tot started to hand him the utensils that he was unloading, from the already loaded dishwasher caddy. "No no, we're gonna put these back...", Jimmy trailed off, trying unsuccessfully, to catch the now flying cutlery.

Ashley looked up from the floor she was almost done hand moping and smiled at the sight in front of her. Amused by Jimmy's predicament, and nearly done with the floor, she called the baby over...but to no avail, the appeal of the contents of the dishwasher, was just too strong.

As soon as the caddy was emptied, Ryan went back to the bowl and spoon he had abandoned just a few minutes before. Jimmy sighed when it looked like Ryan would be kept happily occupied by his makeshift 'drum'. He had only averted his watchful gaze for a moment, when he closed the dishwasher door, and twisted to his right, to retrieve the utensils that Ryan had flung onto the floor.

Jimmy returned what he had collected to the dishwasher, then pivoted to his left to grab the dishwasher detergent from underneath the kitchen sink...only to find Ryan sitting in a pile of the granules, and the empty box lying at his feet.

"Ash!", Jimmy called frantically as he scooped the boy up. The panic in his voice caused her to prematurely jump to her feet before she had a chance to clear from under the table top, and smack her head on the edge, in the process.

"Is he okay?", Jimmy asked concernedly, as he handed the baby over.

Ashley pried Ryan's mouth open, to make sure he didn't swallow any of the detergent, then began to brush the blue and white powder from his chubby little legs. "Yeah, he is", her reply sounding mildly annoyed, but greatly relieved.

"Are you okay?", Jimmy asked next, that question harboring an equal amount of concern.

"I'm fine", she giggled slightly and rubbed the back of her head; the pain only registering now that Ryan was safely in her arms. "You are such a handful, young man", she sighed exasperatedly, turning her attention to the little boy she began bouncing lightly on her hip. Ryan grinned mischievously.

"More like five handfuls," Jimmy joked playfully, as he walked his fingers up the baby's pudgy arm to the ticklish spot right underneath it. "I think even an octopus would have a hard time keeping this little guy under control".

Ashley couldn't help but laugh at that...and wonder how Liberty did it all.

She passed the baby to Jimmy and grabbed the dust pan off of the island, to scoop up the detergent. "Why don't you go clean that stuff off of him...", he suggested, pointedly eyeing the soapy film that still covered the legs of the baby standing on his lap. "I can finish down here".

"Your probably right", she replied, frowning slightly at her oversight, and poured the granules back into the box on the counter. Ashley gave the room a quick once over, then looked over at Jimmy, a small smirk playing across her lips. "Just finish loading the dishwasher...I have an idea", she instructed, grabbed Ryan, and left the room.

The washer was completely loaded and whirring by the time Ashley walked back in...baby on hip, diaper bag on shoulder and a stack of bath supplies under her arm. The questioning look Jimmy gave her, made her grin. "I figured we'd keep the mess contained to the downstairs", she explained, dumping most of her load onto the top of the kitchen island...and Ryan back into Jimmy's lap.

She turned to get the sink ready, then looked over her shoulder at Jimmy. "And now this way...", she smiled, her eyes twinkling. "...you can help me give Ryan a bath".

Jimmy grinned up at her, surprised...yet not entirely. Ashley knew how much he was enjoying having Ryan around, and how missing something as fun as bath time, would disappoint him. And while there were ways for Jimmy to get upstairs, he appreciated the fact that by bringing the bath down to him, Ashley had saved his pride...and backside from any unnecessary bruising.

The pair used their keen ability to work together and anticipate each others actions, to get Ryan undressed and into the makeshift bath...in record time. "Here, watch him a minute...", Ashley instructed, and waited for Jimmy to line up even with the sink and reach out his long arms to hold onto the boy, before turning to grab the supplies she needed, from the island behind her.

"Shampoo, baby wash, towel...", her voice trailed off as Jimmy, with his free hand, snatched the top item from her pile and laughed.

"What the hell is this?," he mumbled under his breath.

"It's a rubber ducky", Ashley answered incredulously, and held her hand out for the toy.

"I can see that", Jimmy countered teasingly, and jerked his hand back to inspect the strange novelty item...that made him chuckle even harder.

"What?", Ashley sighed exasperatedly.

Jimmy took another look at the oddity in his hand, complete with red afro, boxy wire rimmed glasses and 'Vote for Pedro' t-shirt. "It just kinda looks like Derek with glasses", he joked laughingly.

Ashley couldn't help but smile as she playfully rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. "It was a gift from J.T.", she felt the need to explain. "He picked it up one day, from the pharmacy he worked at...it was his and Toby's favorite movie...", there was a short pause as she shrugged. "I think Ryan should have it".

"Won't Toby miss it", Jimmy quipped, as he placed the duck in the water with Ryan. The baby giggled as the toy floated toward him.

"I don't think he'll mind", Ashley replied, watching the baby snatch up the duck as soon as it was within reach, and happily stuff the curly plastic head into his mouth.

Ryan splashed and played, seemingly unaware of all of the scrubbing that was taking place around him...Jimmy having to wash the sand and spaghetti sauce from the curly mop of hair on his head...twice, and Ashley working to get the rest of him squeaky clean.

"Okay, all done", Ashley announced tentatively, once Ryan looked sufficiently pruney and the water ran cool again. They had tried several times... unsuccessfully, of course...to get the boy out of the water, and this time was no different.

Once Ashley pried Ryan hands from the hold he had on the faucet, she handed the wet, wailing baby to Jimmy. He was at the ready, with a soft, fluffy towel, laid out across his lap. Jimmy, made a game of drying off the baby while Ashley wiped the water from the counter and floor, then they all returned to the living room, to get Ryan in his pajamas.

"Jimmy, could you hand me the...", Ashley's voice trailed off and her eyes widened.

"What is it?", Jimmy asked, as he turned to see what Ashley was staring at.

"Some kind of rash, I think", she replied, anxiously.

"From the soap?", Jimmy queried.

Ashley shook her head. "No, I used the baby wash from Liberty's diaper bag".

"Maybe from the dishwasher detergent", he suggested simply, the ran a finger over the small red bumps forming on the baby's leg.

"I'm not sure...", Ashley let out a nervous sigh. "...he's got them all over". She turned Ryan slighly to show Jimmy his back and arms, then looked up at him with panic-filled eyes. "What do we do?".

"First, we put a diaper on him", Jimmy quipped...but Ashley wasn't amused.

"We need to call his doctor", she cried, and reached for the phone and the numbers Liberty left.

"At six-fifty-eight on a Saturday night, Ash?", he teased sarcastically.

"Then we call Liberty", Ashley countered.

Jimmy reached for Ashley's phone and snapped it shut. "And ruin her night?", he asked incredulously. "No".

"But her baby's sick Jimmy", she argued pleadingly.

"I don't think so Ash", he argued, looking at the content and smiling tot, sitting on the couch in front of him, trying to unfasten the tabs to his diaper. "He doesn't have a fever and he's not really crabby...".

"Then what is this?", she challenged, motioning to the blotchy patches now covering the baby.

Jimmy moved closer and reached his hand out to her. "I don't know...", he frowned, but that soon gave way to a small grin. "...but it doesn't seem to be bothering him any". Ashley looked skeptically at the baby in question, now lifting the remote into his mouth, and shrugged. "Let's give it a little time, and see how he does, before we jump to conclusions and worry Liberty for no reason", Jimmy suggested, in that calm even tone that always reassured Ashley...the soft circles he was rubbing into her hand weren't hurting either.

"We could maybe call poison control or my cousin Melissa, she's a nurse...".

"Ash", Jimmy cut-in, exasperatedly.

Ashley gave him an innocent shrug, then sunk back into the couch cushions and sighed heavily. Jimmy leaned forward on his elbows. "Ash, what's wrong?".

"Nothing", she spat defensively, but the tears welling up in her eyes told another story. Jimmy inched even closer, as far as he could. "Everything", she whispered dishearteningly. "I changed our plans to do this...and I can't even do it right", she groaned slightly. "I thought this would be easy and fun and...".

"It is", Jimmy assured. Ashley shot him a questioning look. "Okay, maybe not easy...", he laughed, "but it is fun". Ashley's expression turned from questioning, to downright disbelieving and Jimmy beckoned for her to come and sit on his lap. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else tonight, but with you Ash", he insisted. "And this little guy is amazing".

The look Jimmy was giving Ryan, melted Ashley's heart. She snuggled close to him and rested her cheek on the top of his head. "You're doing a great job Ash. You just need to relax", Jimmy added, his arms snaking around her tiny waist. He felt her nod and brought his left hand to rest on top of her thigh. "So, why don't you go upstairs, get out of those sweaty clothes, take a relaxing shower or bath...".

"My clothes aren't sweaty", Ashley defended playfully and pushed away from Jimmy.

"Maybe not", he conceded, with a deep chuckle. "...but you do have sauce crusting in your hair and grass smudges on your knees".

Ashley couldn't help but agree with Jimmy's reasoning. "What about you?", she asked, scraping the remnants of meatball off of his knee.

"I'll wash up when you're done", he answered, smiling up at her.

Ashley cupped Jimmy's face and looked into his eyes, hesitating for a few seconds before replying. "Okay, but I'm leaving the door open in case you need me".

"Mmmm", Jimmy purred into her neck as he nuzzled it, making Ashley giggle.

She reluctantly jumped from his lap and headed for the stairs, which elicited a soft groan from Jimmy. "Give me five minutes", she called out, looking over her shoulder. "...ten tops"...and disappeared.

Ryan had sat patiently, taking in the exchange, the entire time. "Hey little buddy", Jimmy acknowledged the baby, and received a toothy smile in return. Jimmy lined up even with the couch and let out a relieved sigh as he transferred to the soft cushions, "This couch has been callin' me all day"...

And like clockwork, Ryan slid off.

"Hey boys", Ashley chimed, bounding down the stairs no more than eight minutes later, sporting terry shorts and matching tank, with hair pulled up into a loose ponytail, and still slightly dripping. "What is he doing?", she asked incredulously, when she noticed Ryan sitting next to the right wheel of Jimmy's chair, with both hands on the rims.

Jimmy looked up from what he was reading, then down at the little boy at his side, and chuckled. "He's driving".

"Driving?", Ashley giggled.

Jimmy grinned and shrugged, "It was the only way to get him sit still". Ashley stepped behind him, and put an arm around his neck. Jimmy twisted his head to look at her. "He was running all over the place, but would stop every time I moved to chase him", his lips twitched slightly as he looked back down at the boy. "I think he has a fondness for things with wheels".

"I think I do too", she whispered softly into Jimmy's ear, before kissing the side of his cheek. Ashley returned the smile Jimmy was giving her and brought her other arm around to the front. "I brought you something to change into", she added, placing the offered clothes onto his lap.

"Thanks", Jimmy replied genuinely, tipping his head down to kiss the arm that was dangling in front of him. "And I think I've solved the case of the mysterious spots", he announced proudly.

Ashley shot up straight, and came around to face Jimmy, "Really?".

"Yep", he nodded smugly, tapping the open notebook on his lap. "Seems that our little Ryan here, is sensitive to excessive amounts of tomatoes".

"Your kidding?", Ashley gasped in shock.

"Nope. Says right here, that the acid from ingesting too many tomatoes, makes him break out", Jimmy replied.

Ashley shook her head, "I can't believe it".

"The good new is, is that the rash is harmless, and should go away by morning...", Jimmy paused, then smiled slyly at his girlfriend. "...and Liberty will never find out".

Jimmy's excitement was short-lived though, as Ashley's expression remained conflicted. She lowered herself onto the arm of the chair, behind her. "This is good news Ash", Jimmy said insistently.

Ashley shook her head in disbelief. "This all could have been avoided if I just would have taken the time to read the binder thoroughly, in the first place...".

"Ash c'mon, this thing is like an epic novel", he argued, holding the packed binder up for emphasis. "There's no way you could've read it all...".

"No, but maybe the important looking parts", she sniped back. Ashley looked at Jimmy pointedly and touched the orange colored tab labeled, 'medical conditions and concerns'.

Jimmy snapped the binder shut. "He's fine Ash", he motioned to the happy toddler on the floor, next to him. "...don't worry about it...".

Ashley's exaggerated and aggravated sigh interrupted him. "How can I not, when I keep doing things wrong and screwing up his schedule...".

"Then forget the schedule...forget about this stupid binder, and just do what you've been doing all along", Jimmy demanded, tossing the book onto the coffee table.

"Winging it?", Ashley asked sarcastically.

Jimmy grinned and nodded approvingly, "Seems to be working for us so far".

Ashley raised a skeptical eyebrow and smirked. "So what do you suggest we do now, oh wise one?", she played along.

Without hesitation, Jimmy pulled Ashley onto his lap and laughed. "I'm not so sure about the little one...", he trailed off into a soft line of kisses down her neck. "...but I'm all for bedtime and...".

Ashley playfully smacked him across the chest in mock disgust, and jumped up from his lap. "Just go change", she ordered. Laughing at the exchange, Jimmy waited for Ashley to pick Ryan up, and away from the spokes of his wheel, before turning his chair towards the bathroom.

Geeze, that took forever. Please accept my most sincere apologies for the delay in updates...this is crazy crunch time for me. But now, with less than one week 'left, til it's thankfully all over, I will finally be able to focus solely on writing(well, that is until the craziness that is summer showcase starts, in less than a month...crap!).

As for the duck, I have no proof that a product like that even exists, but I have seen some pretty wild novelty rubber duckies(we have somewhere close to twenty in my house...well, I guess with six girls, that's not really a huge surprise). Anyway, for now it was made up by me.

Degrassi is not mine