Ryan Wolfe: Babysitter

The family didn't have to wait three weeks, only one. The time for getting a late-night babysitter was bad. Horatio was working a scene and couldn't leave. Eric's sister's Paloma's house was almost a half hour away, too far to drive Chloe. Rachel's boys had the chicken pox so Chloe couldn't go there. Chloe hadn't had chicken pox and if she were exposed to it right now she couldn't be around her newborn brother when he came home. That was not an option. Chlordina and Pavel were in Arizona for the week. It was a trip they had won, and had to take now. Ryan had worked a triple shift and was home. Eric hoped Ryan wouldn't refuse to help when he called. Ryan has been asleep for two hours when the phone rang.

"Wolfe," he answered sleepily.

This better be good, he thought.

"Ryan, it's Delko. Hmm. I need your help."

"Whadda ya need?" Ryan asked, yawning.

He would have made a smart comment if this still had been Eric's player days.

"I'll be right over," Ryan said, beginning to dress while still on the phone.

Ryan wasn't comfortable at the thought of looking after a 4-year-old but he couldn't deny he enjoyed being around Chloe. And four-years-old wasn't exactly a baby.

Eric didn't bother to wake Chloe to tell her they were leaving for the hospital. It was apparent to Ryan that Calleigh was in pain the moment he entered the Delko's home. The only thing Eric told Ryan was that Chloe was usually awake by seven or so. It was 4:20.

"No problem," Ryan said, fanning confidence. He was more nervous about being left alone to care for a girl who was two months away from her fourth birthday than he thought.

Chloe woke up at 7:30. As usual she went to her parents' room. The bed was unmade but neither one was there, she didn't hear the shower, either. But she heard the t.v. on and thought mom might be out there.

"Wyan!" Chloe said, surprised to see her parents' co-worker asleep on the sofa.

"Hi Chloe," Ryan said with a smile, sitting up. "Good morning."

"What are you doing here?" Chloe asked.

"Come over here," Ryan said, patting the spot on the sofa next to him.

Chloe climbed onto the sofa.

"Daddy called me a few hours ago. He didn't want to wake you. Mommy's gone to the hospital to have your brother. I'm going to look after you for a little bit."

Ryan's nerves were still bad, subsiding at a snail's pace, but he saw how independent Chloe was. She was very verbal and she would tell him her wants and needs. That put the CSI who had no child care experience, more at ease. He never doubted the girl could feed herself, or that he could entertain her, his anxiety centered around getting her dressed. Breakfast was easy. Chloe pointed out where her cereal was kept and told him when to stop when he put enough in the bowl. She told him to turn the toaster half way up because she liked her toast crunchy and with lots of Cheez-whiz. Her chocolate milk was in the frig.

Shake it off, Wolfe, Ryan said to himself. She's nothing to be afraid of. Christ, she even likes you!

His last worry proved to be unfounded as well. Chloe dressed herself every morning. She only needed help brushing her hair and getting a t-shirt from her closet because she couldn't reach them.

"I can do that," Ryan said when Chloe asked him to lift her to get one. He could certainly handle that and brushing hair. All he had to do for Chloe after she finished eating was put a stool in front of the sink so she could brush her teeth and wash her face.

The message had got around the lab about Calleigh being in labor. As soon as he finished processing at the lab Horatio planned to go Eric's and relieve Ryan. Chloe was a good kid but she was a ball of energy. One needed more than two hours of sleep to keep up with her. He arrived at the home at 10:30.

11:45am. Dade Memorial Hospital....

"He's beautiful, Eric," Calleigh whispered, gazing at the newborn nursing at her breast.

Eric smiled. "He is," the new father's eyes were still wet with happy tears. "You did great, Cal," he whispered, kissing his wife.

It was the most, worst pain she had ever felt in her life but Calleigh had managed to have her baby without drugs like she wanted. Moments later, when he got his voice back, when his new son, Ethan was still crying in the background Eric called home. He was surprised to hear Horatio's voice.

"H? When'd you get there?"

"About an hour ago," Horatio said with a smile. He heard the sound in the background.

"Well, I can't hold back anymore and I guess you can hear the sound in the room I'm in. We have a new family member. Ethan Demitri. He's nine pounds, three ounces."

"That's wonderful, Eric," Horatio said, and he meant it. "Ethan and Calleigh are doing okay?"

"They're perfect."

Chloe squealed when her dad told her she had a new baby brother named Ethan.

"Daddy's going to come and get you soon. You can meet him."

Horatio promised he would have the little girl ready to go.