Sorry for the delay, people! I've been internet-less for two days! I'll hopefully be back up and running by Friday! I'm posting this chapter using a visitor's laptop.
Too Soon
Eric heaved a heavy sigh hearing the alarm clock, 6:15am.
This day had come too soon. This day was his first day back at work as a dad. He had purposely got up and gave Nevaeh her 2:45am her bottle. Calleigh didn't argue with him; she knew Eric wanted that extra time with his daughter being he wasn't going to see her all day for the first time since she'd been born.
'Bye-bye daddy. 'I love you. See you later,'" Calleigh said for her baby when Eric was at the door to love.
He smiled and kissed Nevaeh's face.
"Bye princesa. I love you, too. Be good for mommy. I'll see you tonight. Love you," he said, kissing Calleigh.
"Love you, too. Be careful."
The CSI intended to do that. Wanting to come home safe was now Eric's number one priority. Sure he always had hoped to come home unharmed before but life wasn't just about him anymore. He had promised Calleigh on their wedding day that they would grow old together. Nevaeh deserved to have her daddy around as she grew up.
"Hard to leave the house this morning, baby?" Alexx asked.
The M.E. had walked into the break room while Eric was pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"You have no idea. Or I guess you would," Eric gave her a tiny smile. "Sorry."
Alexx smiled back at her co-worker.
"Don't worry about it, Eric," she replied. "It's hard for a first little while, even for daddies. It gets easier."
Not caring who heard him say it or if he got made fun of by other males Eric told Alexx he "so envied" the fact that his wife got to stay home with Neveah for a year. Of course one of them had to work full-time to support the family. That didn't mean Eric had to enjoy being away from his wife and daughter. He said he wondered how many 'firsts' he'd miss while he was at work.
Alexx thought that sediment was sweet and she wasn't surprised to hear it from Eric because he was already such a dotting father.
"Nevaeh's a daddy's girl. I'm sure she'll save some of her firsts for when you're there to see them."
Calleigh hadn't checked about the possibility of working part-time hours after her maternity leave expired with Human Resources yet .It was too soon. It wasn't in the lab but they had broached the subject with Horatio. Understanding where Calleigh was coming from, he said if there was anything he could do to help the new mother get those hours he would. The parents had the child care issue taken care of. Eric's mother and his sister, Natasha were going to take turns caring for Nevaeh once Calleigh returned to work. Both parents hoped Calleigh could get part-time hours. Even if her babysitters were her aunt and grandmother they didn't want Nevaeh spending more time with them then her own parents. A pay cut would mean less money for the family both the couple agreed that it was worth it.
If they hadn't been able to come up with a child care solution and Calleigh's only option was to go back to work full-time, rather then have Nevaeh spend the majority of her waking hours away from them both, despite the fact it would put the screws on them financially, Calleigh would quit her job till the baby was old enough to start school.
