"I'm all finished here." Four announced, putting the tools back in the bag.
"Here, take her." Shauna holds up a toddler that gazes at him with distrusting expression. He looks back alarmed and hesitating, but his hands go out to grip her under her arms anyways. "She's not a bomb." Shauna scolds at how he holds her out at arm's length, he pulls her in closer. Shauna busies herself with packing the diaper bag in the corner, while tears start to bubble up on the rim of the child's eyes.
"What do I do?" He asks as a whimper starts past her lips accelerating the oncoming panic.
The little body of curls squeals, "Ickle!"
"She wants you to tickle her." Shauna sighs, like it's the most obvious thing.
Four looks between Shauna, occupied, and the increasingly distressed child. "How?"
"Seriously?" Shauna rolls her eyes, "Do it soon before she has a melt down."
Four carefully positions her against him so he can use a freer grip and jiggle her belly. She shrieks and giggles. "Again!" So he does, smiling at her gleeful response. She's like a puzzle that came together easy, but not easy enough to make him feel comfortable.
"See, not so bad." Shauna takes her back and he breaths a little easier. "Didn't you like to be tickled when you were a kid?"
"I don't remember." he shrugged.
"Well, when you have your own, try to remember, they like to be tickled."
He swallowed hard at the thought.