That's My Boy!
Ethan had got to meet all of his parents' co-workers the week daddy went back to work. No cases came yet this morning so why couldn't they hang around and see the baby? Stetler muttered something about the crime lab "not being a daycare." No one in the break room heard Rick, making him leave in a huff. He certainly didn't want to hold the baby.
Chloe wanted Ryan to held her baby brother and didn't understand why the CSI with a case of OCD was nervous to do so.
"He don't bite, Wyan," she told him. "He just cries a lot."
A chuckle went through the room.
What Ryan was afraid of was Ethan throwing up on him since Calleigh had said she had just fed the boy before the four left home. On Chloe's urging, because he thought the girl was "too adorable" Ryan relented. The four-week-old kicked his legs, gurgled but didn't cry when he was placed in Ryan's arms. As much as he was nervous, Ryan tried his best to make himself relax because he did know one thing, babies could sense tension.
"Hi Ethan," Ryan said.
"I think he likes you, Ryan," Horatio said.
In the presence of Chloe, Horatio deviated from calling Ryan his usual "Mr. Wolfe," mostly to avoid having to answer the questions the girl would ask.
"You have to bring him at the right time, bounce him around a bit and get him to puke on Rick," Frank smiled.
"Next time Stetler crosses ya, you can borrow him," Calleigh said, smiling. "For a fee."
"What kind of fee?"
"Babysitting," Eric answered.
Both Eric and his wife knew Ryan wouldn't be babysitting at least Ethan any time soon. Ryan had told them he would watch Chloe anytime again. He would most likely run from a dirty diaper if he was that afraid of the baby just spitting up on him. Horatio had taken care of Chloe since she was less than three weeks old; he could handle anything a tiny baby could dish out and not even flinch. He told his friends if it was possible for them arrange their first night out when he was off he'd babysit.
"Yeah, when they go out, you can come over and be the one who changes the diapers and is the spit cloth," Horatio grinned. "You haven't done those things in a while."
Eric shook with his laughter when his son did throw up on no other than Tim Speedle.
"You told him to do that," Tim grumbled as Calleigh took the baby back. She was laughing too.
"I didn't. I swear!" Eric said, gasping for air. "But, that's my boy!"
Though he knew he had to wait a while to have both Ethan and his sister over for a sleep over, the remodeling of Horatio's house was complete. The bigger spare room was spacious. Along with the baby crib, there was a six-drawer dresser for the kids' essentials like extra clothes, Ethan's diapers and other baby care essentials. There was a double bed in the room for Chloe since she was used to one of those at home. The smaller room Horatio decided he was going to use as room for the kids' toys. Horatio told Chloe that day that he had a surprise for her the next time she visited and he was sure she'd like it.
I got the children's room and toy room idea from the fact my (almost) 4-year-old cousin has his own bedroom and playroom at our house for when he comes over for sleep overs. He never wants to go home! LOL.