Home
"Ready to go, Mijito?" Eric said, strapping the newborn into the infant carrier, adjusting his hat and tucking a blanket tightly around him. "You know your sister is probably home bouncing off the walls like a ping-pong ball 'cause I told her we would be home a half hour ago."
Eric had spent the previous night after his son was born at home with their daughter. It hadn't surprised the new dad that when the babysitter for morning, godfather Horatio was called into the lab to process new evidence he bought the little girl with him. Rick Stetler hadn't been pleased about this. Horatio explained since he supposed to be off and he could do what he pleased in his off-time that he had planned to watch his godchild for a while till her parents came home with their new child in a few hours.
"What was I supposed to do, leave her alone?"
"She can't be here," Rick said in his best intimating tone, a tone that made Horatio quiver with laughter, not fear. "You either leave her in the car or take her somewhere else."
"No," Horatio said, "try either she stays in my office while I work or I go home."
"Not an option, Horatio."
"Well. I guess Chloe and I will go home then. C'mon, my angel," Horatio said, taking Chloe's hand.
Horatio didn't think Chloe heard what Rick said about leaving her in the parking lot. She was standing a few feet away excitedly chattering to Natalia and Alexx about her new baby brother. The two women did hear even though they were talking to the little girl. They were going to let the IAB agent have it as soon as Chloe left. They couldn't believe what he had said. Leave a four-year-old in the car for a few hours and in the heat of a Miami June morning. These were fighting words. Chloe and Horatio were gone only twenty minutes before getting back to Chloe's home.
The little girl was now standing by the window watching for her parents' SUV. Horatio smiled at how excited she was. When Chloe saw her parents' vehicle come around the bend, she shrieked "they're here!" and ran to the front door.
"Whoa! Slow down, Chloe." Horatio picked Chloe up from the spot where she stood near the front door. He thought she might get hit by the door she was standing so close by.
Horatio was happy to get to see and hold his godson. Ethan didn't make a sound when he was placed in Horatio's arms.
"Hello Ethan," Horatio said to him softly. "It's nice to finally meet you. You certainly do look like your sister. You're both adorable."
Horatio made sure the family had everything they needed so they could just stay home, enjoy each other and not have to venture outside the home. Eric had called in two sick days for the day Ethan was born and the following day. Now he was taking the three weeks of paternity leave the department offered.
"Thank you for everything, Horatio," Calleigh said, giving him a hug.
"No problem at all, Calleigh. Congratulations, guys. See you later."
As he was walking out the door Horatio turned slightly. His curiosity had got the best of him, he wanted to see how Chloe interacted with her brother now that were here and home on "her turf." Ethan was in the infant carrier on the sofa, Chloe had climbed onto the sofa and touching his hands, telling her mother how tiny they were.
"Can I hold Etan, mommy?" He heard Chloe ask Calleigh.
"Sure, sweetpea," she said.
The parents smiled to find out that Chloe had found spending the previous morning with "Wyan" to be fun. They had put together one of her larger puzzles and watched Cars. She wanted to know if Ryan was going to babysit again. Chloe and her parents didn't know yet but Ryan had also very much enjoyed it. Although he would not be at all comfortable taking care of a tiny baby like Ethan, some people just weren't comfortable with small babies, that wasn't a crime, he would be at ease and happily look after Chloe again anytime.
Translations
Mijito - my little son
