The team was in the Warehouse, listening to Artie bark orders and random topics to the other four agents who were sitting around waiting for something to do.
"Pete, Myka, go to Chicago; I got a ping on people spontaneously catching on fire." He remarked, handing Myka the file and hurrying them on their way.
Artie cleared his throat "Steve, you're with me…we're going to Africa, and Claudia," he said, turning to the young woman "…you stay here…keep watch on the fort."
He looked down at Harper who was making funny faces at Artie "…and be sure to keep this one on leash." He remarked, motioning to Steve, who grabbed the file and followed Artie.
"Where are you going?" Harper asked, almost following Steve.
Steve looked down at Harper, then up at Claudia who shrugged before looking back down at Harper "I'm going to work." He told her.
Harper began to cry "Don't leave me!" she began to sob.
Steve began to panic, looking at Claudia who took several steps back before turning to Artie who cocked an eye brow at him.
He kneeled down to her "Harper, I have to." He said.
Harper shook her head "Are you going to come back?" she asked through her sobs.
"Of course!" Steve said, bringing her in for an awkward hug "Don't cry, it's okay." He said.
Harper pulled away from the hug "You promise?" she asked.
Steve smiled "I promise, now be good for Claud—your mother." He said, pressing her nose gently before looking up at Claudia and then left with Artie.
Harper stared at the closed door for a moment, still crying, having her back to Claudia who watched her for a moment.
"Whatcha doing, jelly bean?" she asked.
"Waiting for daddy." Harper mumbled.
Claudia walked up to Harper "Well, if you wait for him like this, it'll be an eternity before he comes back." She said with a chuckle.
Harper began to sob again.
Claudia pouted "Hey," she said, kneeling down to Harper "He'll be back, he always does. It just might take him a day or…five." She said, wiping away a tear.
"Does he have to go?" Harper asked.
Claudia smiled "Yeah. And sometimes, I do too…but we will never forget about you; I promise." She said, giving her daughter a hug.
Harper hugged back, Claudia felt the small head against her shoulder and her tiny arms, this was her future; but before she could get teary eyed, she pulled away.
"Now, how about we reorganize the filing cabinet?" Claudia suggested with her usual optimism.
Harper shook her head "No, I'm gonna wait." She said, now turning back to the door.
Claudia sighed, giving up as she stood up and then looked at the dog, who walked up to Harper and sat next to her, watching her watch the door.
"I can't find anything that's specific to what you're describing, but I'll keep looking." Claudia remarked, checking the database for Myka and Pete.
Myka nodded "Okay, well if you find anything, hurry…we don't have a lot of time left!" she said before hanging up her Farnsworth.
"Will do." She muttered under her breathe as she closed hers as well before going back to the database.
Claudia looked under every category before she finally found something that matched the criteria; she urgently called back Pete and Myka and informed them of her findings.
She looked at her cell phone: 9 p.m.
"Quitting time!" she thought to herself, turning the chair around to find Harper still waiting by the door.
Claudia looked at her phone again before turning back to her daughter "Harper, have you been standing there all day?"
"Yes." She said.
Claudia noticed Trai laying in his doggie beg "The dog moved before she did! Unbelievable!" she thought to herself.
She stood up from the desk "Well, are you ready to go back to the house?" she asked, grabbing her bag.
"Is daddy going to be there?" Harper asked.
Claudia sighed "No, jelly bean, daddy won't be there." She said.
Harper sighed, and Claudia sighed again "Well, we have to go…we both need some sleep." She said, scooping up Harper in her arms and calling the dog before exiting the Warehouse.
She did everything except smothering to make Harper go to sleep before she finally succumbed to her tired eyes; Claudia walked into her bedroom and landed in the middle of her bed.
"Damn you, Steve!" she muttered into her comforter.
Claudia managed to pull off her shoes and jacket before rolling her sheets around her body and letting herself drift to sleep for a moment before her bedroom door opened.
"…what, Harper?" she muttered.
"Can I sleep with you?" she asked.
Claudia opened her eyes and looked at Harper "Okay." She said, not wanting to fight herself or Harper anymore as she pulled Harper onto the bed and tucked her into the sheets as well.
"Goodnight, Harper." She muttered before turning back to her side of the bed.
"Goodnight, mommy." Harper said.
Claudia opened her eyes, not expecting that work; though in theory she had heard it plenty for two days straight, but for it to come out of the sources' mouth, it surprised her.
She let it go, just for the night, as Claudia closed her eyes once again and fell asleep with the small body lying next to her.
It was hard for Claudia to wake up the next morning; she knew she needed to get to the Warehouse soon but the thought of 'five more minutes' just seemed too pleasing to give up.
She felt a small finger poking her back, she groaned as she turned over to see Harper wide away "…I'm hungry." She whispered.
"…how does cereal sound?" Claudia asked.
Harper nodded "It sounds good." She whispered again.
Claudia yawned with a smile "Well, then get out of bed and I'll meet you downstairs." She responded, forcing herself out of bed while Harper flew out of bed and out her bedroom door.
"I can't wait for Steve to get back." Claudia thought, making her way into the bathroom to get herself ready for the day.