Chapter Eight

"NO!"

The Doctor let out a frustrated sigh. His son was firmly in the middle of his terrible two stage and was defying his father every chance he could get. At the moment, the Doctor was trying to get him to go take a bath so they could go to the park. Sokanon and Namid had complied but Chaska had decided this was another moment to test his father's patience. The Doctor had a firm rule about never spanking his children but there were some moments when he felt tempted and had to go and take a breather to get his temper back under control. He wasn't used to being defied like this and it irritated him that his son was being so willful when all he wanted to do was take him somewhere nice for the day.

"Chaska, you need to have a bath, I'm not saying it again," he said sternly.

"NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOO!" Chaska howled. "I don't wanna take a bath!"

"Do you wanna go to the park?"

"Yes."

"Well, you need a bath then. You've played out in the garden and you have dried custard on your face. You need to get cleaned up before we go out."

"No! I don't want a bath!" Chaska said, stomping to the door.

The Doctor sighed and ran his hand through his tousle as Chaska stomped to the front door.

"Now what are you doing?" the Doctor asked as Chaska opened it.

Chaska turned and planted his hands on his hips.

"I gonna kill myself! Then you be sorry!" he said defiantly.

"Chas, that hurts me to hear you say that," the Doctor said.

"I gonna kill myself," Chaska muttered, stomping out the door.

The Doctor followed him, filled with curiosity about what he was gonna do despite the pain the cruel words caused him. He was prepared to grab him should Chaska go out into the middle of the road but instead to his surprise, Chaska flopped down on the grass near the porch, spread his arms and legs out and looked up at the sky. The Doctor walked up to Chaska.

"Go 'way, I kill myself!" Chaska said angrily.

"How?" the Doctor said to him. "How you gonna kill yourself?"

"I gonna stay here till steam engine runs over me and then you be sorry!"

The Doctor stared at him trying hard not to grin as his son stared up at the sky.

"Okay," he said, walking back to the porch and sitting down. "I'll wait with you while the steam engine comes."

He waited and watched his son who was lying on the grass, arms and legs akimbo while he stared up at the sky. While he did that, he thought to Rain, telling her what was going on while she was upstairs bathing the girls. He not only felt her laughter, but Alan's as well.

Steam engine in your garden? This I gotta see, Alan thought to him. Chris has never been that original. Course he's never threatened suicide if I gave him a bath. But, I'll be over in a jiff to observe this latest drama in your life, Brother.

He cut off contact with the Doctor and the Doctor settled back in his chair and watched his son with a bemused expression.

"Steam engine hasn't got here yet, I see," the Doctor called to him.

"You leave me 'lone. I gonna kill myself and then you be sorry."

"Okay, Son, I'll be sorry," the Doctor said, trying to keep a straight face.

He sat on the porch and watched as his son lay there waiting for the train to run him down. After five minutes, Chaska finally stood up and walked towards the steps.

"Bored waiting for the steam engine to come, Chas?" the Doctor said as he climbed the steps towards him.

"Don't you love me, Daddy?" Chaska asked as he stopped in front of him.

"I love you very much, Chas. Do you love me?"

Chaska nodded.

"How come you let me lay there if you love me?" he asked the Doctor.

"Because I was waiting for you to get bored and stop this nonsense," the Doctor said. "I figured when the steam engine didn't come that you would finally get up and come back over here."

"I don't wanna take a bath, Daddy."

"Chaska, it won't take that long, I promise. I just want to get you cleaned up and then we'll be on our way to the park, don't you want to go to the park?"

Chaska nodded and the Doctor leaned forward and rubbed his back.

"Do you still wanna kill yourself?" he asked.

"No."

"Good because that would hurt me deeply if you did that. I love you so much, Chas and I don't want you to die. Do you want to die?"

Chaska shook his head and the Doctor kissed his forehead.

"Bugger!"

The Doctor looked up and laughed when he saw Alan standing across the street with an exasperated look on his face.

"You mean I came all the way over here for nothing?" he said, walking towards him.

"Sorry, he got bored with the suicide attempt," the Doctor said as he stood up and took Chaska's hand.

"Blast, I was gonna have some fun with that whole steam engine coming through your garden thing. Now I'll have to go back home."

"Come with us, we're going to the park once Chas gets a bath. Go get Rose and Chris and come with us."

"That sounds like a de-lightful idea. I will do that. But if he tries the suicide attempt again, let me know straight away!"

"You will be the first to know, trust me."

Alan grinned at that. He walked over, gave Chaska a kiss on the forehead and whistling happily jumped down off the porch and ran off towards his house.