Teddy and Family
By Cindra
Chapter 6
A/N: I think it's Ana's turn for a bit and as always in my stories everything happens for a reason, even freak accidents. ^_-
Thank you all for your favs, follows, and reviews. I love you all and am thrilled beyond words that you love it so much.
Cin Xxx
Disclaimer: EL James and sometimes SMeyer (I love to play with her characters but with my AU spin on them from my other story. Sorry folks I don't do Cannon ever. Like, Love it, Hate it…you have been warned ^^) own it all I'm just having fun with the characters, but the OC ones and story ideas are all mine.
APOV
My Flyboy has to be the most accident prone DIY on the planet! He might be Master of the Corporate Universe, but Bob Vila he's not. Please, he's more like 'Tim the Tool-man Taylor' from Home Improvement and boy does he love the power tools that hate him. I'm fantastic at tackling home projects, but him it's a lost cause. How he got broken again while trying to assemble trees and snowmen boggles the mind. Is there someone up there that thinks this is funny?! Well, it's not! Being his soul mate is so much like a twin link that now I ache too!
"Baby…it wasn't my fault this time…" Chris groans.
"Babe, just lie back and stop talking." I growl down at him, as once again we're being raced to Seattle Grace to get him mended again.
"Grey, you're not winning any brownie points, so shut it." Paul's barely keeping his bedside manner intact.
"Brownie points! Fuck that! Where the fuck did those two fur balls come from! This was not my fucking fault, Anastasia! I was playing by your rules and Ethan fucking squashed me flat under those trees and snowmen, because two fucking kittens made the puppies go ape shit! Again, who the fuck has been harboring kittens at Grey Meadows! We're all allergic!" Chris is so pissed now that his face is turning an interesting shade of puce and even that makes him looks like Poseidon having a temper tantrum. It's only making matters worse though, because he's moving around on the gurney.
"Calm the fuck down, Christian!" Paul's actually strapping him down like a mental patient. "Relax or I'll stick you with this and we'll all get some peace." With the straps all in place, he's fixing up a sedative.
"Babe, those kittens are the kind that don't trigger allergies and Sophie's been hiding them in the Boathouse. No one is out to get you. It was all a freak accident. They are a mix of a Siberian and a Maine Coon. Sophie was with Jason and Luke when they picked up the pups and it was love the second that she saw them. Jason said no, but Luke has no defense against those sky blue eyes and pout. They've been shuffled from cottage to cottage and the latest spot was the boathouse. The breed is extremely intelligent and get along well with kids and dogs…"
"Oh, hell no! Not happening! We have two puppies…" He's steeling himself, but it won't work. By now Teddy's probably adopted at least one of them. Sophie will convince Jason to let her keep at least one. We're now the proud parents of four kids, two puppies, and a kitten. Well, at least they're already litter trained, so there is that.
"Girls love kitties…" I lean down and kiss his forehead. "So do little boys…"
"Anastasia Rose…they nearly killed us, because cats and dogs do not get along with each other…" He's nearly out, Paul's given him the sedative.
"Give up, Grey. This is a battle you lost as soon as those two kittens escaped the boathouse. Kids love all manner of furry creatures. It could have been a mouse, rat…" Paul's updating his tablet to alert the hospital of what Chris has done to himself this time.
"Guinea pig, hamster, ferret, chinchilla, gerbil, maybe an orphan squirrel or Raccoon…never mice, rats, snakes, spiders, no insects' period…lizards are even pushing it…" I shiver in remembrance of all the pranks that the boys pulled on us girls when we were kids.
I've raised a Raccoon and a Squirrel after rescuing them and Rascal still lives on my parent's grounds at the ripe old age of fifteen in his posh condo that I made for him when I was ten. Peppy the squirrel lived a long and full life of 10 years. Animals thrive under a Steele's care. I'm prepared to handle all of the surprises that the kids will bring home. Chris and I started Wild Rescue when I was ten and he was eleven and it's the go to place to bring injured animals or they go get them and nurse them back to health. It's been set up all across the country. We really are out to save the world.
"Boys love snakes, insects, and rodents of all kinds…" Chris shoots back sleepily.
"He's right, Ana. It works both ways." Paul smirks.
"Then we'll build a reptile/insect/rodent house at Walker Crossing and the boys can visit them there…" I will cross that bridge when it rears its ugly head. Teddy's happy with the puppies for now.
Paul's using something out of Star Trek over Christian's arm and leg to see the damage. "It's an Xavier Portable X-ray and with this baby I can see what he's broken this time and not have to go the old fashioned route. So far we've got ourselves a broken left hand and wrist, as well as clean breaks to the left Tibia and Fibula. Miraculously that's it, besides contusions and scrapes. He's lucky it wasn't any worse. Kent's with Ethan and he's dealing with far worse injuries than Chris, try a Comminuted fracture to the ankle, as well as a broken hand. Brant's with Elliot and Ryan. Elliot's got a broken arm and war wounds from the rose bushes. Ryan's got war wounds from the blackthorn and a great deal of the thorns need extracting, all of them are lucky that they didn't cause any life threatening damage."
"I think he's going for a match set. Last time he broke the right side and this time it's the left." I feel like pulling my hair out. This was the last thing that I needed this close to Christmas!
"Not…funny…Baby…not…my fault…" Chris mutters then gives into the meds that Paul's pumped into him.
"He's going to need surgery to repair the wrist, and hand but the leg's going to be easy to set. You can't blame this one on him, Ana. This time he was the innocent bystander that got caught by surprise. He'll be grouchy as hell, but he's a fast healer." Paul tries to mediate now that Chris is asleep and calm.
"And I'm not heavily pregnant with triplets either, so there is that to be thankful for…" I bury my face in my hands. "I knew this was gonna happen, but I didn't listen to my intuition just like last time with the Halloween disaster. I kind of feel guilty as hell, because I was so pissed at Elliot and Ethan that I all but willed this to happen today. Not Chris being broken, but after finding out all that they've let Teddy see and do, I wanted some retribution…"
"They both want to be number one in the Uncle category, so they both tend to bend the rules quite a bit when you and Chris leave town. If he confided all of that this morning then I don't blame you at all for wishing ill will on the guys. Off-roading in the truck, Emerald City, the CW…" Paul's burying them worse than Teddy.
"He took my baby two tracking in his truck!" I snarl fiercely and Paul pales realizing that he just threw the guys under the bus even more. "What else?!"
"Well, he has that sidecar on his Harley…"
"I kicked him in the balls for taking Teddy on the snowmobile without asking us at one and he thought that I would approve of him riding shotgun on his Harley at three?!" I'm livid.
"Well, when the lion and the lioness are away all rules for the most part don't register. When we watch him we stick with the guidelines then again we're mature responsible adults and the guys are over grown kids. Always have been. El more so than Ethan, but then he's worshiped El all his life, so it's a given that he's as much of a rule breaking goof ball as El." Paul's got a point, but it's not really helping. I'll get even and it'll be glorious. Today doesn't even count.
"That settles it then the choice presents are gonna be auction items at Coping Together next year. The Kitchen is closed. All of our clubs and restaurants too. Gail is off limits and so is our kitchen. They're grown men it's time that they learn to fend for themselves. Grace and Mom won't give in either, because I was venting at the spa. I'll feed Kate and Ava, but El and Ethan are on their own. Teddy could have been kidnapped at Emerald City…they never think about the ramifications of their actions. We leave Teddy with them, because we trust them to abide by our rules…"
"They think you're being overly paranoid and smothering him by not letting him experience things…" Paul is letting me vent, but also giving me insight on how they see Chris and I.
My god what do they let Ava and Gabe do? Ava turned two on Labor Day and Gabe isn't even three until Valentine's Day. Where they hell are Kate and Mia?! Shopping?!
"They're wrong! We get threats daily in the hundreds, before Ella and Logan took out the badies it was in the thousands! Teddy has been nearly kidnapped three times before he was even a year-old! Once right after he was born from the hospital nursery, the park when he was three months old, then from the daycare at GEH when he was nine months old! All of you know this! Logan went deep ops because of it! Now, I find out that he was nearly taken again because El and Ethan wanted to go to Emerald City! There are crazy evil nutjobs out there that are always looking for a way to score big and they see Teddy as a means of getting a big payday. Security is there for a reason. We've all lived with shadows all of our lives and still they don't get it? Well, they can take risks with their own kids, not mine. Until they prove to be mature responsible adults, no more watching them." I'm not budging on this one.
"Hell…will…freeze…over…first…" Chris mutters in his sleep.
"He's got a point…then again Elliot will do just about anything to earn the rights to being fed again at Grey Meadows and to be able to access all the clubs and restaurants under Grey Hospitality and Entertainment again. That's Cold, Annie. Kate can't even boil water and they live off of what you, Mia, Grace, Carla, and Gail pack their freezers with each week. Ethan's lucky Mia's a master chef, but El's gonna be in hell. Either that or he's gonna have to find himself someone like Gail…its impossible Jose and I have tried…" His lecture is cut short because we've arrived at the Hospital and he's gotta focus on Chris and less on getting the boys out of the endless pit of quicksand.
"We've got everything ready, Dr. Clayton." ER Doctors, Nurses, and the hospital administrator are standing by as soon as the doors to the back of the bus open. Shit! The Paps are swarming! Like I wanted to be headline news!
"Mrs. Grey, come with me. I have a private waiting room where you can rest while we take care of Mr. Grey." Fitz Cramer the world's biggest ass kisser motions for me to follow him inside, but I stop to address the sharks to avoid a feeding frenzy of false reporting.
"Focus on the guys." I shoot Cramer a cool look, as Jason and the cavalry have all arrived en masse. "I'm fine. The guys are the ones injured. Taylor, will see to my needs and security as will Sawyer, Logan, and Prescott. I have to feed the sharks first before they chum the waters of their media and news establishments with lies."
"Annie. I'll handle it. Go inside." Jason growls softly.
"I'm a seasoned pro at handling the sharks and they're only gonna think the worst if I let you field the press for me. I'm CEO of GP and when it comes down to it CO-CEO of GEH when I have to be." I take a deep calming breath and steel myself. I'm wearing a comfy cozy tunic, leggings, booties, and a jacket. They're all Alice originals and designed with my comfort in mind. She's such a sweetie and designed a whole wardrobe for before and after the babies. Fashion Police can kiss my ass.
"Mrs. Grey! Why were three ambulances called to Grey Meadows?!"
"Is it true that your Teddy called 911?!"
"Is it life threatening?!"
"Did they have to tear you away from the babies?!"
"Why the secrecy with the triplets? Were their complications?!"
"Was there a falling out between the brothers!?"
"Mrs. Grey, will make a short statement, but that is the end of it. No questions. This is not a press conference." Jason narrows his eyes at the sharks.
The sharks moan and groan that Jason has just pissed on their parade.
"My brothers-in-law Elliot Grey and Ethan Kavanagh, as well as Reynolds a member of our security, all were victims of an accident involving a set of three ladders and my husband Christian Grey happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was pinned under the ladder when it fell back on him. They were all in the process of decorating the house and grounds when the accident occurred. My son has been taught what to do in case of an emergency and ran into the house to call emergency services. None of the injuries were life-threatening, but do need the attention that a hospital can provide. There was no fall out. No brawl. Just an accident. There is no big news story to tell. It's just one of those mishaps that can and often does happen when decorating ones grounds or homes. I am not going to go into any details about this anymore than I have as I am speaking to you. Now if you will excuse me. My husband needs me. Good day to you all." I ignore their shouts and questions and let Jason lead me into the hospital.
Then some wise ass makes a snide comment loud enough for me to hear about Chris sucking up to the public by decorating Grey Meadows himself instead of hiring help to set it up. Didn't Halloween teach him anything?
It's the straw that broke the camel's back and I turn on my heal and stalk over to where the asshole and the rest of the sharks are standing and break every rule that I have ever been taught when it comes to fielding the sharks. Dante our Head of PR is gonna have my head but seriously! We can't even Deck the Halls without comments from the unwanted peanut gallery! I'll blame it on hormones!
"I'm buying the Tattler and every other rag that spews lies and garbage and taking them apart piece by piece until you and your fellow bottom feeders are out on your asses! How dare you insinuate that because my husband wants to do something wonderful for our kids by turning our grounds into a Christmas wonderland that it's all a PR stunt! I'll have you know that Christian would do anything and everything to make our kids dreams come true! It has nothing to do with PR! The PUBLIC! It's all about FAMILY! OUR FAMILY! I can't even step outside my GATES without an Army because you BOTTOM FEEDERS won't leave us ALONE!"
"The public has a right to…"
"We're not ROYALTY! We're not the FIRST FAMILY! My husband is not a POLITICAL FIGURE! We are not HOLLYWOOD in the least! We just happen to be brilliant at what we've both chosen to do with our careers! We both worked our asses off to make our companies the best and most profitable in THE WORLD! So what if we're worth BILLIONS! We earned every DOLLAR! We give over a quarter of our net worth to worthy and charitable causes every year!"
"Yeah, for a tax write off and…
"But do you report on that? NO! We created and chair nearly a dozen charities many of which were created before we were even in college, again you bottom feeders turn a blind eye to that! No, all you care about is who I'm WEARING! Where we DINE! VACATION! Who we're SEEN with! You TERRORIZE OUR KIDS! You hounded me relentlessly while I was carrying TEDDY! Were fifty times worse when I was carrying my BABIES! You have no concern for anything and anyone and I have had my FILL of it! Chris was injured because Ethan's ladder fell on top of him while he was painstakingly trying to assemble an endless number of trees and snowmen so that the kids in our family can have a wondrous Christmas! Just like he wanted Teddy and his cousins to have a Spooktackular Halloween! It's no different for any other dad who takes on lighting up his house so that it can be seen from space!"
The Tattler reporter doesn't have a snide comment to that because he can't. Its fact that people spend thousands decorating for Christmas and go beyond the extreme. I go for the jugular and will relish watching their faces pale and eyes bulge because I'm done! I have reached my limit! If they want war! Bring it!
"I have ignored all of you, as that's been ingrained in me since I could crawl, but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I will contact my lawyers and file slander suits on each and every one of your establishments if you so much as try and take anything that I have just said to you out of CONTEXT! You have made our lives hell for as long as I can remember and now the shoe is gonna be on the other foot! It's not a threat! I can and have the resources to go after each and every one of your rags and I will if all of you don't BACK THE HELL OFF! Consider me a momma lioness protecting her pride! To all of those bottom feeders and their money shots know this we have an exclusive contract with the Seattle Times and Kavanagh media and they are the only media organization legally authorized to print any photographic or visual material for all members of my family! If you sell photos or videos of any of the kids we will sue the pants off you! I could care less about shots of me or Chris, but the kids are off limits! If you want a money shot! Go terrorize the A LIST HOLLYWOOD ELITE!" Logan takes me gently by the elbow and leads me back towards the emergency entrance and to my astonishment I hear a roaring round of applause and 'GO! ANA!' Behind me and it has me grinning from ear to ear. I do a fist bump in the air and then disappear into the hospital.
"Holy shit, Ana!" Mia and Kate are gaping at me like I've lost my mind.
"He pissed me off. I'm fed up with playing defense against those bottom feeders. It doesn't work. It's time to go on the offensive. Chris and the boys are not here getting treated because of a publicity stunt! If we wanted that we would have gotten with the mayor and Seattle Center and turned that into Frozen Christmas!" I hiss, keeping my tone low as not to disturb anyone as we make our way to the private waiting area.
"Good for you, Mrs. Grey." Is what I hear from nearly everyone that I pass, so I know that at least in the public's eye that they're on my side. "I hope that your husband makes a speedy recovery and that you and the kids have him home for Christmas…" Are other comments.
There's a young mother curled up in a chair, clutching a baby blanket, crying and I stop to kneel in front of her. "Are you alright?" I ask softly.
The young woman looks up at me with grief stricken eyes. "My baby is really sick and my insurance isn't going to cover it…" She sobs into the blanket. "I don't know what I'm going to do…"
If there is one thing that I can't take it's when someone can't get the proper care that they need and deserve. Chris and I both see this as a travesty and strive to put an end to it, but bureaucracy always gets in the way. They care more about cost than care. "I'm Ana and if you'll let me I want to help you and your baby. My husband and I have a trust with this and many other hospitals for situations such as the one that you find yourself in with your baby." I feel a tap on my shoulder and Sam hands me one of my cards for Angels Who Care before I can fish it out of my purse. "Call this number. Tell them the situation and they will take care of you, your baby, and your family." I place the card into her trembling hand.
"Thank you…I don't know what to say…I can never…" She's sobbing harder now, but this time she can see hope and those are the tears that I never tire of seeing.
"Your baby getting the treatment to make him or her well again is all the thanks that I need. They can also connect you with other foundations that can help with any other needs as they arise…" She wraps her arms around me and hugs me.
"You're a blessing. I hope that whoever you're here to see that it isn't serious and they make a speedy recovery… Ana…"
"My husband, a big brother of sorts, and brothers-in-law battled with Christmas decorations and the decorations won. It's nothing serious that won't heal…You and your baby are in my prayers…"
"Angel…I'm Angel Sanders and my baby is Hope…she's three…she has chronic asthma and my insurance only covers so much…the medicine is so much…I try my best, but it's just me and Hope…her daddy died fighting in Iraq before she was born…my parents died in an accident just before Hope was born…I wasn't married so there's no help there…I need to be there for my baby, but I work so much just to keep a roof over our heads and provide us with food and the bare minimum…I work at a daycare center during the day, so I can have her with me, but I have to leave her with my neighbor at night for the shift at the diner that I work at…" She bursts into tears again.
Mia and Kate are on either side of her. "Sweetie…it's gonna be okay."
Angel is rail thin, so I know that she needs help as much as her baby does. Jason is already on the phone with Welch, no doubt verifying her story, and I know that he means well…but one look in her defeated aquamarine eyes and I know that this girl has been through hell. She has no one. She has experience in childcare…The wheels are spinning in my head and I am gonna help her and Hope.
"Jason…" I stand to walk over to where he's quietly talking on the phone.
"Annie…I know that look. I have to make sure that everything she's telling you is the truth. Welch didn't even have to look five minutes to get her history. Angelica Marie Sanders is twenty-two. I thought that her last name was familiar to me. Her Dad served with me and Ray. She lives in a studio apartment. Works all day at the daycare and then the evening shift at Dina's. The boyfriend died his first tour right after basic…her parents in a fatal car crash a month before Hope was born. What little insurance that they had went to hospital expenses. She's just never had much of a break in these last few years…Medicaid only covers so much, as do any of the programs that she's eligible for. The Angel Foundation will do wonders, but if she'll let me. Gail and I would be happy to take her and Hope in and when Ray finds out he'll offer the same. Sanders saved our hides, we owe him a life debt. We lost touch and it got complicated. We didn't sign for another tour, but Sanders did…I wasn't even aware that he and Marie died and the last time I saw Angel she was a little thing and Pat was suffering from a severe case of PTSD and recovering at a VA Hospital…like I said complicated…" Jason explains to me before I can hand him his ass for doubting the poor girl.
I throw my arms around him and give him the biggest hug. "This is even better! She can help Gail take care of Teddy and the babies and we can take care of her and Hope!"
"Ana…she has to agree first…" Jason hugs me back.
She's reached the bottom there is no doubt in my mind that she wouldn't grab onto a lifeline for dear life. I walk over and kneel in front of her again taking both of her hands in mine. "Angel, there is someone that I want you to meet. He knew and served with your Dad…"
She looks up at me with startling aquamarine eyes. "He knew my Daddy?"
"Yes, and my Daddy Raymond Steele served with him as well…"
"Wait…Steele…" She gasps.
"Yes, and the man that wants to meet you is Jason Taylor. My Godfather. He's a wonderful man and he wants to help you and Hope. We all do, if you'll let us. Your Daddy saved Jason and my Daddy's life and in my eyes that makes you family and I owe your family a debt that I can never repay. I think we might have met a long time ago…" I nod.
I do kind of remember holding a baby with silver blonde hair and strange eyes. We were visiting someone at a hospital I think, but then all I wanted to do was get back to Chris and he was a whole plane ride away. Good god! The crap we put our parents through because it hurt to be apart from each other boggles the mind. So far Teddy hasn't bonded with any little girl like I was with Chris. But if it happens we will deal with it and I only pray that the girl isn't a spoiled little princess brat. That and it doesn't happen for a long, long, time. I'm not ready to share my baby with another female yet!
"Miss Sanders?" Jason walks slowly up to her, as not to frighten her.
She looks up at him, "Mr. Taylor? I have a scrap book loaded with pictures of you, Daddy, and Ana's Dad…Wow, unreal, you haven't changed all that much…I was supposed to contact you and Mr. Steele, but I didn't want to burden your families…Daddy said that you would look after me and Hope…"
Jason is kneeling beside me. "I can understand that you would be leery to approach either one of us, considering how much in the public eye we happen to be. We made a vow to take care of one another's families…"
"Yes, he said that fellow soldiers took care of their own and that even though he'd lost touch with you and Ray that you would take care of us like we were your own. To be honest seeing who you worked for and that Mr. Steele owned a shipping empire made me think that getting in touch with either one of you would be a nearly impossible task…" Angel sniffles, finally calming down now that she knows that she and her daughter aren't alone anymore.
"It's like trying to gain an audience with the President…" Kate is in full agreement.
"Christian is very protective, but with good reason. He's created an empire from the ground up at sixteen and everyone wants a piece of him and it's the same with Ana. She took a failing publishing company at sixteen and made it into a one of the most successful and profitable publishing houses in the world. You see, my brother and I were raised for the first two years of our lives by a single teenage mother, Ella. She had our Great Gran and Grandmother to help, but do to a tragic fire she lost both of them and her world was turned upside down. She was seventeen and severely burned in the fire, but she put us first and made sure that we were taken care of before her needs. She left us at a nearby fire station, because she knew that we would be taken here and that our adopted mother would take care of us now that she couldn't. Our Grandparents were friends with the Trevelyan's and Ella knew that Grace would take us in no question. She and Dad have the biggest hearts in the world. If anyone can help make Hope better its Mom…" Mia's speech is interrupted by Grace.
"Miss Angel Sanders?" She asks softly, eyes full of tears. She's heard all of it. Now it's a toss-up as to who's gonna get the honor or taking them in.
Angel is squeezing my hand in terror thinking that something is terribly wrong. "Yes, has Hope gotten worse?" She whimpers shakily.
"My name is Dr. Grace Trevelyan and I'm going to do everything in my power to make Hope better again. I specialize in little ones. Hope's chronic asthma seems to be triggered by an allergic reaction to something in her environment…" Grace starts to explain, but all Angel heard was I caused this. My baby is suffering because of me. I can see it mirrored in her eyes.
"Oh, god…" She's sobbing uncontrollably now.
"It's common in cases like this and easily remedied. We just have to narrow down the cause. Other than that she's a very healthy little girl." Grace is quick to reassure her. "You are doing a fantastic job, so no tears. This is not your fault. The doctor who's been treating her missed this entirely and was only treating the symptoms and not the cause."
"I've taken her to a free clinic…it's never been severe enough to take her into the ER. They are wonderful doctors, but can only do what they can and there is so much need in the neighborhood where we live and not enough medicine to go around. My insurance doesn't cover her medicine and you can only use it so many times until the co-pay runs out, so they were giving me samples to treat her, but she's not the only child with these symptoms. Carrie, my neighbor, drove us here to Seattle Grace, because the Clinic was robbed and are temporarily closed. Hope was barely able to breathe and the inhaler wasn't working. The boarding house isn't much, but the landlords could care less. All of the tenants work together to keep the place running. They own nearly the entire neighborhood and it's been months since anyone has seen them. The plus side is that no one has been evicted for being late on rent. The downside is that the utilities are paid for by the landlord, so if that stops then so do they. We've all been on pins and needles waiting for the day when we wake up to no heat, power, water...Hope could be allergic to anything in the tiny studio. The building is old and a lot of the kids are suffering from the same thing as Hope." Angel's eyes are lit up with life again and I can see that what her and her neighbors are having to endure is something that she wants to fight to change.
My only thought is that when you take down a cartel as far reaching as the one Ella and Logan took on that those innocents that were under their thumbs all get left behind when the dust all clears. Angel's landlords are MIA and it's possible that the cartel was profiting from the poorer neighborhoods and using them as a means to gather merchandise and distribute their product. If that's the case then we have to seriously look into exactly what real-estate that they owned, acquire it, and help the victims by repairing and making where they live safe again.
"Dad, if you can handle the fort here. Welch called and he's got an issue at GEH that he needs my take on. Barney's on it, but he needs my clearance." Logan's heard more than enough and he's ready to tackle this head on.
"Chris is gonna be fine, baby sis." He kisses the top of my head.
"Miss Sanders, if you'd give me your keys. I can have your place packed and have you settled at Grey Meadows before Hope's bedtime. Taylor's my Dad and Gail my Mom. She's fantastic. I promise you that we're not going to ignore everything that you've told us. We're gonna help. It's what we do. It's just gonna take time and a mountain of red tape, but then again I love a challenge and so does Chris. Ana and Chris pay it forward and are nothing like the 1% who turn a blind eye. So when I promise you that things are gonna start turning around for the better then know that I mean every word that I say." He turns his focus on Angel and his tone echoes everything he's saying.
"The neighborhood is run by a cartel…drugs… Worse…girls have gone missing and so have kids…but it's been quiet this last month or so. The dealers are resorting to raiding the clinics. The pimps aren't around anymore to terrorize their girls either…" Angel shakily fishes out her keys and hands them to Logan. "We don't have much…"
"You have each other and that's more than enough, Jason and Gail both took me in when my parents died. You're with good people. Hope's gonna have one heck of a protector in Teddy and Sophie my baby sis is gonna love her too. No need to tell me your address or apartment number, it's not that we didn't trust you or your story…" Logan is so good at making a person feel human and not like a charity case.
"Angel, anyone who comes in contact with me or my family has to be checked out. It's invasion of privacy and I hate it, but…" I start to apologize.
"Oh, no, I'm not upset that Mr. Taylor was doing his job. I can only imagine how many not so honest people try and take advantage…" Angel stops me. "I had nothing to hide, so there wasn't any damage done. Just please be careful and don't go alone…Carrie had to go to work after she dropped me off, but here I'll write out a note just in case anyone thinks that you're trying to rob me or something." She digs into her purse and takes out a little notepad and a pen.
Logan reaches into his pocket and shows her his credentials. "That's very thoughtful of you, but if that doesn't work. I'll show them my badge. It usually greases the wheels and opens doors." He grins, as if flashing an FBI badge is no big deal. "I've got my jacket in my car too for added effect…"
"Take Luke." Sam's been quiet, but she doesn't want Logan going alone.
"Babe, I can…"
"Take Luke." Jason growls.
"Dad! I took down the cartel! I think that I can handle some thugs! This is on me! I have to make this right!" Logan's not used to having a partner.
"Take Luke or you can call your suite at Grey Meadows or Escala your home for the next year." Sam's dead serious. He'll be back to square one.
"FINE! Luke can tagalong, but I don't need a HANDLER!" He's sulking, but he's so close to winning back Sam that he's not gonna mess it up.
Sam's got Ella on speed dial and has her phone to her ear. "Hi Ella…"
"Christ Jesus! Woman! I said he could come! Leave Ella out of it! I'm not cleared yet! She'll have my hide!" Logan visibly pales and is raking his fingers through his hair. "The last thing that I need or want is to have Big Sis pissed at me!"
"Yes, that was him…no just saying your name worked like a charm…I was calling to give you the heads up that we're bringing home two new members to the flock. The daughter of Taylor's former Army buddy and her three year old daughter…They've been all on their own, but Ana being Ana saw someone in need of a hug and we found out the rest from there…yes, she's right here. Grace? They want an update on the boys." Sam puts the phone on speaker.
"Christian, Elliot, and Ethan are all in surgery to fix the broken bones. Ryan's undergoing treatment too and might have to have the thorns surgically removed, but they're doing a CAT scan first to see exactly where all of them are. If you ask me he got the worst of it, those thorns have tiny barbs and can cause numbness and severe pain. He's got them all over. The mystery for two of them is what Elliot and Ethan got into to cause the full bodied rash that is spreading like wildfire all over their bodies?" Grace shoots me a knowing look.
I blink innocently back.
"It'll be a few hours yet before they're out of surgery, but all of them are going to make full recoveries. The only patient coming home tonight is an adorable three year-old angel and her mother. Hope suffers from chronic asthma, but we have her on the nebulizer and she's recovering from her attack. Yes, Gail, too more chicks in the nest. Angel Sanders…You and Carla knew her parents? Well, Jason's already adopted her into the fold, so Carla and Ray will just have to settle with visiting rights. Logan and Luke are going to see to packing her and Hope's things…Yes, the girls are all here comforting Angel…"
Mom and Gail spring on me the good news of our new additions to the family household. Who up there hates me? Did I need another challenge? "The kids are what? Oh, dear, I don't know how Chris is gonna handle two puppies and two kittens. Ava and Gabe want a kitten now too?"
Kate and Mia groan. Sorry girls we're stuck!
"Well, if one has something than the other usually wants it too, so that's not surprising. Sophie rescued more kittens than the two? Mom, you and dad have been harboring them and the Momma cat for her. Fine, as long as she leaves Rascal alone…"
All of us jump when we hear Gail shouting in the background. What now?! Do we have mice?! Jason's ready to bolt for the doors.
"Gail? What's wrong with Gail? Why is she shouting? The kittens are where? Trying to get into the sink? The breed loves water. We'll have to teach them not to do that, maybe call in the Cat specialist? Cats on the kitchen counters will drive Chris bonkers. You do know that it's going to be like a glacial thaw for him to warm up to the kittens and then there's the pups…Max and Leo like the kittens?" I send a silent thank you to the Powers that be for that little blessing. Then again Leo and Max are really good pups.
I can hear the kitchen TV in the background. Gail likes to watch the Food Network while she cooks. I hear Teddy shout that I'm on the TV? I look at the time it's too early for the local news, but then she likes the gossip shows too. Great. I'm headline news. I'm blaming it all on postpartum hormones. I had three babies! I'm allowed to go off script if I want to!
Mia points to the TV monitors in the waiting room. "Ana! You've made E and TMZ!" She's got the remote for the monitors and is flipping channels. How? Not a clue, but then its Mia that we're talking about here. "And all the Cable News Channels!"
"We'll see you when we get home. Hope's three…" I look at Angel for a sec. "Does she have a crib still or a toddler bed?"
"Crib. The studio was too tiny to get her a toddler bed…" Angel is focused on the TV with everyone else in the waiting room. They're playing it like it's on repeat. Am I the only one to put my foot down with the media? And they've called in a postpartum specialist to comment, as if I've temporarily lost my marbles after having the triplets. Their News stations are a joke, but our PR team is the best in the country. They'll handle my lapse of sanity. I see a visit with Rhian in my near future. John's Chris's and his wife Rhian is mine. I'm surprised that she's not walking through those doors. Then again she's not nearly as pushy as John is, so she just waits until I need her. She knows how I loath the sharks and bottom feeders and would see this as finally venting out years of pent up frustration.
"It's barely three. Send Parker to pick up a Disney princess toddler bedroom set and have them set it up in the family wing guest suite with the skylights. Call Jose. He can meet him and then they can stop by Neiman's and Caroline can put together a wardrobe for both Angel and Hope. He's got Chris's card, so odds are he's already there stress shopping. You know how he hates hospitals…Call you back in a bit…"
"Um…Ana…you don't have to…" Angel is staring at me like I've lost my mind.
"I love shopping for others just not for myself." I squeeze her hand reassuringly.
Mia and Kate are scenting fresh blood and the TV now has no interest. "We'll take care of Angel…"
"Girls. Your husbands are in surgery!" Grace glares at them.
"That'll take hours and then they'll be asleep for a while. We'll be back before they've even missed us." Mia pouts.
"I can't leave Hope…" Angel looks ready to bolt, not that I blame her. Two crazed very pregnant ladies is a scary sight.
They see this angelic silver blonde, aquamarine eyed, shy, beauty and see a sign that flashes MAKEOVER in big capitals. They combined with Jose make the prep team from Hunger Games look like rank armatures. There's only one other persons that I know just like them and if the four of them meet…world domination comes to mind. Then again she might be able to rein them in. I have Jose, Kate, and Mia and Bells has Alice and Rosalie…the plus side being we both bagged our very own princes so there is that, mine being on the lighter side of the scale, hers, well, let's not go there. He's more intimidating than Chris on a bad day at GEH and that is saying something.
If Bells husband shoots you his version of Chris's CEO glare you're his prey and yeah it's best for you to run for the border and don't look back! I've met him once and I honestly mistook him for my Flyboy! It's unnerving how alike the two of them are and I thought he was kissing Bella! I paid for getting his Brioni suit cleaned after I took the bottle of wine from our table and poured it over his head. Then for good measure I took the decadent cholate mousse cheese cake with extra chocolate ganache sauce and dumped it onto his head. I was three months pregnant with the babies and highly emotional and he's Chris's double! I had no clue not really what he looked like as I don't follow social media crap for good reason…
Long story short Bella was laughing her ass off and Edward was staring at the two of us like he was seeing double and didn't even care that his five thousand dollar suit was ruined and that chocolate was dripping down his face. All Edward kept muttering is how? What? No, the world can't survive two trouble magnets. That I didn't get, but Bella clocked him upside the head for it. It never made the news because we were in a private dining room and we took the back exit when we left. I was mortified and since we were near Escala let him shower and then raid Chris's closet. He keeps suits there for when he has to do all-nighters at GEH. I wanted to finally find out why he's always picking on my flyboy. The ass smirked and said that Chris should stick with what he knows. Thanked me for the change of clothes. Kissed Bella and was off to his meeting. And then a few days later in stalks Chris ranting about Cullen besting him again! Sorry for my rambling thoughts, but their inevitable confrontation is nearing…
"She's going to be sleeping for a bit. The medicine we gave her will have her napping for a few hours yet and then we'll see if she can be released this evening. As long as you're back here by six it should be fine, so take time to pamper yourself and spoil Hope. You're one of us now, darling girl. Let us spoil you." Grace reassures her.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'll sit with Hope. If I go along, you'll be in the middle of a media feeding frenzy. Besides, I can't go. I went off script. It's a big no-no. We've got ourselves a security nightmare if I go shopping and Jason is already near nervous breakdown as it is from babysitting the boys. He left for less than an hour and they ended up breaking themselves…so I'll watch over Hope while the big sisters take their new little sis on the shopping trip of your life. Wait till you meet Jose…All I can say is grit your teeth, nod, and hang on for dear life. And remember you will come out of this in one piece a fabulous new you…" I give her my best sympathetic I've been there and I survived look and then turn to Jason. "Sam has me covered. Welch… The heck with it I'm not my husband and I hate using surnames to address people! Adam is sending in the troops…I'll be fine until they get here. The boys are in surgery, no threat there…I need you with Mia, Kate, and Angel…mostly in case the sharks go on the attack..."
"You promise to stay put? No more going on the offensive with the press?" He frowns, narrowing his eyes.
"I'll be in the pediatric wing watching over Hope." I roll my eyes. It's not like I'm thirteen sneaking off to my first concert. I'm a married woman with four kids for Fuck's sake.
"With me guarding the door…" Shit! Adam Welch has arrived and big brother looks pissed. "Tomson, Peters, and Marks will each take up a post in front of Chris, Elliot, and Ethan's rooms. Andrews will be at his post in front of recovery. Ryan's a big boy he can fend for himself and would never live it down if I posted a detail in front of his room. I'll watch over Anastasia and Little Hope. You are more than clear to shadow the ladies, Taylor. Barney and TJ are both handling the social media chaos that your little showdown caused. The kid's almost as good as Barney and he's fifteen. Thank god he's on our side." Adam turns his electric green gaze on Angel and is that recognition that I see in the bachelor for life? Hmm…does Adam know our Angel?
"Adam?" Angel's staring wide-eyed at him, so that answers that question.
"You two know each other?" Curious minds are dying to know.
Angel has a smile a mile wide now and her eyes are shining. "He's one of my favorite regulars at Dina's…I only know him as Adam…he…saved my life…when someone tried to rob the diner during my shift and he's walked me to the bus stop when my shift ends ever since. We've never mentioned each other's surnames and he's usually got the weight of the universe on his shoulders, because his boss has him on call day and night. I've seen him leave without even getting his dinner more times than I can count. He gets a call on his phone and it's like the bat signal or something. I always hurry and box up his meal because he has to eat job or no job…"
"Head of Security for GEH is a lot of stress on a guy…" I nod in full agreement, trying not to smirk and then try and defend my guy a little. "Christian tends to want results as soon as possible when it comes to security issues, but then Adam's used to my husband's moods. Adam here handles what Jason can't. GEH and all of its branches are under his watch when Jason can't be there. Unfortunately, at times that can result in long endless hours for all of them, my husband included. Well, that was until he decided to delegate, now Adam's commander and chief of the moment is Ros Bailey our COO and acting CEO while Chris takes a much needed break watching over us. Jason's the General and Adam's commanding officer and handles security for just about everything. Adam is and has been Jason's second since GEH's conception. Adam is also Chris's big brother Elliot's best friend and has been since grade school, and he's like a big brother so there's that also."
"I wasn't thinking…that…oh…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to imply that your husband was a tyrant…it's just that I've heard him roaring at Adam over his phone and he didn't seem like a very nice boss to me…Adam told him to cool his jets…well, not really but I can't repeat what he said in a hospital ER waiting room, and then walked me to the bus station this last time. He accused Adam of being a spy for his mother of all things…I mean who does that and why would she need to spy on him in the first place?" Angel rolls her eyes.
Adam is actually blushing, it's quite endearing really to see my stoic, tough as nails, big brother actually showing emotion.
It's quite rare when he lets his guard down, but then his dad was a hardass and drilled into him that emotions were for the weak. Adam's dad was also our High School coach and a former Marine drill sergeant and it was just him and his dad, because his mom died having him. Yep, Adam never really stood a chance and spent most of his time at Grey or Steele Manor. Jason was his mentor and our moms and Gail were his surrogate mothers. Adam Sr. is the reason why Adam and Elliot got into so much trouble as teens. Elliot was just wild and Adam wanted to make his dad's life hell for blaming him for being born. He enlisted right after graduation and even I don't know what it was he did during the time he served. It's like that with all of my big brothers, because they were mentored by Jason, they were flagged for special ops right out of basic. He retired, as did the rest of the big brothers right after Chris made his first million and received his first death threats. He was just there. They all were. Jason swears that he didn't sound the alert, but then again no one threatens their family. After that Chris and I had the most skilled and lethal security force in the world.
"On second thought, Jason can stay here with me and Adam can shadow all of you. It's clear as day that Angel is comfortable with you and will tell you when she's reached her limit with the prep team here." This way I can forgo the dressing-down that is coming to me for going off script and breaking security protocol. I rarely get to play matchmaker anymore and it's clear to me that these two are perfect for each other. He's already protective, so that clearly shows that he cares and she's fiercely in his corner and sees him as her champion.
"Please, Adam? All of this is happening so fast and I need an anchor to keep me grounded…" Angel stares up at him and he's toast. The man who no one can shake folds before our very eyes.
"Angel…My boss is having surgery…I really need…" He would rather get a root canal than have to shadow Mia and Kate on a shopping spree, but he's no match for tears, a sniffle, and a pout.
"You need to shadow the girls and bring them back safe and sound. Call if you need reinforcements, but I don't see them chasing after you when their main prey is still inside the hospital. They'll listen to you when you call an end to their fun. Angel needs a familiar face and the two of you seem to be really friendly towards each other, so you're it." Jason shuts him down with folded arms and a stern fall in line soldier look.
"Let's go, big brother!" Mia grabs hold of Adam's arm, while Kate pulls Angel to her feet.
"Be back later. Call if you need us to come back sooner." Kate nearly has to drag her towards the entrance and Adam looks like he's off to a firing squad.
"Angel, just tell Adam when you're ready to raise the white flag and try to have fun." I call just before they disappear out the doors.
Grace's pager goes off. "Sam, Jason. I have to go. Hope is in room 107 in the pediatric wing. Cary and Ray are waiting it out on the surgical floor, but I'll send word to them that you're watching over a little one." She races off and I know that they have incoming patients. It's starting to snow outside and drivers get crazy when it snows.
The nearly empty ER waiting area becomes a mad house in a matter of minutes.
Jason and Sam get me to the elevator just as the wounded descends in an echoing roar of ambulances. I wonder what happened.
Chris and the boys are all out of recovery and are all being transferred to their rooms. As luck would have it, more like by the magic of Jason Taylor, all of their rooms are deluxe hospital suites and next to one another. Their freak accident is nothing compared to the pileup on I-5 and the reason for the convoy of ambulances a few hours ago.
Adam checked in and they're heading back to Seattle Grace, but it'll be a while due to the road conditions. All the purchases are being delivered to Grey Meadows as we speak. And an exhausted Angel is sound asleep, as are Kate and Mia. He's stopping for takeout knowing that the girls will be ravenous when they wake up and the guys will be growling about hospital food.
Hope's cuddled in my arms. The medicine worked and being away from what was causing her reaction has made one happy yet still sleepy little girl. She's a little doll with silver blonde ringlets and her momma's eyes. She's a mini-Angel. Grace is going to let her come home tonight, so she's been released from the pediatric wing under my care.
And here I am sitting in Chris's room waiting for them to wheel in his bed, while Hope naps against my shoulder. Teddy want's to come see us, but the babies need guarded too, so he's content to watch over his siblings. He was curious about the little girl that I was watching over while I quietly talked to him on skype. He's anxious to meet the new members of our family. He's such a caring little guy and I am so lucky that he's all mine.
The doors open and finally they're wheeling my man into his room.
He's awake, grouchy, and asking for me. Confused that I wasn't sitting with him in recovery, but then his mind is still groggy from the general anesthetic. They get him all set and then once they are satisfied that he's fine leave me to my grouchy husband.
My poor Christian is all bandaged up. His left hand nearly to his elbow has a special looking cast on it, but then that was what was operated on and the bottom of his left leg and foot as well are also in a cast, not like his hand and arm, but then those were clean breaks. They're all in blue like last time, so he won't be growling about sporting a crazy colored cast for weeks like when he wiped out on a skateboard when he was ten and they put him in this neon chartreuse green cast and we never heard the end of it. Blue he tolerates because it's his favorite color.
Chris instinctively looks around for me and spies me in the easy chair. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from giggling and waking Hope. The look that he's giving me is too funny for words. I can easily hear what is running through his drug addled mind.
Something along the lines of this… Oh, shit, mom kept her mind off me being hurt again by putting her to work in the pediatric wing and now she's gotten attached. How do I try and reason with her that while we did agree that if we wanted to have more kids it would be by adoption, but that's not until the triplets are at least Teddy's age and Teddy's in school. I am so screwed!
He's still got his arms strapped down until the drug wears off completely, so he can't rake his fingers through or pull at his copper curls, so he's just staring at me like he did when he finally found the courage to finally officially ask me to be his girlfriend. I'm smiling at him serenely and waiting for him to finally find his voice.
"Babe, how are you feeling? There's ice chips in the cup on the tray and water that I can let you drink with a straw." I finally break the silent barrier, as he's still trying to find a solution that won't get him banished to the guest wing for eternity. I school my tone to soft and soothing, as Hope snuggles into my shoulder and makes a soft sigh.
"Baby…" His voice sounds sort of like a teenage boy when his voice is changing that's how nervous my man is to talk about why I have a toddler snoozing in my arms. "I know that you have a heart of gold…" He clears his throat trying again, only this time he sounds like he's got a frog in his throat.
"Babe, that's so sweet…I think that you're the most loving, caring husband that a girl could ever wish for…" I coo back softly, as I get up to help him drink some water.
He gratefully drinks some water and then tries again. "You know that I would give you the moon if you asked me to, but I just don't see how we could juggle Teddy, the babies, and another little girl. At least not right now, but maybe when Teddy is in school and the triplets are three we can talk about expanding the family again…"
"Chris, babe, relax. It's not what you think. Hope's mother's father was an old army buddy of Dad and Jason's…" I put him out of his misery and giggle softly when he visibly sighs with relief and mutters 'Thankyou Jesus' under his breath.
"So you've found another lost lamb to take under your wing, only this time she's more like family? Am I following so far?" He arches a brow and waits for me to continue Hope and Angel's story.
I explain the situation to him and now that he knows the facts and that he's not about to be a dad to five kids seems content with everything. Well, I did skip the fact that I went off script with the sharks, but I want to be wearing sonic earplugs for that lecture, and he's just out of surgery.
"That poor girl! You tossed her into the deep end and Welch is her only means of rescue? I get that you wanted to spoil her and keep her mind off Hope, but Mia, Jose, and Kate that might make her think that our entire family are certifiable. They have no filter when they shop…Mom will need to prescribe her a sedative from the nervous breakdown of being made over by the prep team from hell." He's staring at me like I've lost my mind.
"Grace was all for it and Adam's smitten with her!" I hiss back in my defense. "They needed a push…"
"Smitten?" His jaw has dropped open and he's staring wide eyed at me.
"They both are and she's even ready to go toe to toe with you for not leaving him alone to even eat dinner. Seriously, Christian? Accusing him of being Ella's spy?" I narrow my eyes.
"I wasn't being paranoid, Anastasia. She recruited both Welch and Barney to be her eyes and ears. I was on information overload and you know how I get when I'm like that…wait…She's the reason why he had us rescue that Mom and Pop diner? He's been mooning over a girl? That's the reason why he tells me to bugger off when I call him after hours? He's courting her?" He goes from being on the defensive to trying not to burst out laughing that Welch has finally met his match and doesn't have a clue what to do about it.
Hope lifts her head off my shoulder and sleepily looks around until her eyes land on Christian. Like all females, it's love. It doesn't matter the age, one look at him and they're hooked. "Hi…"she says shyly and then buries her face against my shoulder again.
Chris is a goner. If she was an orphan like he thought he'd be ordering Jason to contact child services and get the ball rolling, because he's hooked just like Jason and all of security. Teddy's going to fall hard for her too. "Hi…" He answers back softly. "I'm Chris.…"
Hope peeks her head up and smiles and points at herself. "I be Hope." Then she points at me. "She be Ana." Then at Chris. "You be Chris."
"Such a smart little girl you are." Chris grins back at her.
"I be three." She holds up three fingers. "I smart cookie."
"Wow, and such a big girl too…" He's so good with the little ones.
Her eyes get big and her mouth forms an o when she takes in that Chris is hurt. "Chris got's owies…Doctors make better?" She looks up at me and then at Chris.
"That's right, sweetie. They made him better." I kiss her on the nose. She's just too cute for cavities.
"Doctors nice like Grace?" She asks looking seriously at Chris.
"I was sleeping, but I think that the doctors were nice, but no one is as nice as Doctor Grace. She's my Mom. The best doctor in the whole world." Chris answers her just as seriously.
"She be your Mommy?" Hope's all smiles again. "She helped me breathe. I feel lots better. You lucky. She be your Mommy."
Chris tries to keep the alarm from his eyes when she jabbers out that she had trouble breathing and forces a smile. "I know and I tell her I love her every day. I'm sorry that you were sick…"
"I got's atsma…" She whimpers. "I make mommy cry. I don't mean to…"
"Baby, she only cries because she worries when you get sick. All mommies cry when their babies get sick." I cuddle her close and kiss the top of her curls.
"Even daddies cry when their babies are sick…we love our children so much that it hurts us when they feel bad." He croons softly.
"You be a Mommy?" Hope stares up at me wide-eyed and then at Chris. "You be a Daddy?"
"We have a little boy your age named Teddy. Two little girls Rory, Ari, and a little boy Alex who were just born a month ago." I nod.
"That's a lot of babies." She's trying to figure out how three babies are born at the same time.
"Yes, but Chris and I love all our babies."
"Teddy like all the babies?" She can't quite fathom three at once.
"Teddy loves them." Chris nods trying not to chuckle at her confused expression.
"I see Teddy and babies?" Hope blinks up at me.
"Yes, when your mommy gets here then the two of you are coming home with me and I promise you can meet Teddy and the babies."
She frowns at me then looks over at Chris. "He no come too?"
"He has to stay here for a little while, but Jason is going to keep him company so he won't be alone." I explain to her in a way that she'll understand.
"Jason nice. Sorry, bad owies make you stay. Me and Mommy stay with you now?" She comforts Chris and then her attention is back on me.
"Yes, you'll love Grey Meadows. We have a big yard with lots of room for you to play with Teddy the Puppies and kittens. Then there's our house it's got lots of places to play hide and seek. Then there's Jason's wife Gail and their daughter Sophie. She's six. You and your mommy are our family too now…"
"Mommy no cry when I go sleep? She cries lots. I give her hugs and kisses…" Hope asks and you can see so much in those expressive aqua eyes. "She worries…makes her sad."
"Then we'll make it our mission to keep a smile on both you and your mommy's faces from now on." Chris and I lock eyes and our hearts are breaking hearing her voice her thoughts and feelings.
"Chris is right. No more tears just lots of smiles and laughter."
She holds out her little finger. Such a clever little angel. She knows how to pinkie promise. "Promise?"
I link her pinkie with mine and shake. "Promise."
"Chris too?"
I take her over to Chris's good hand and lean her down so that she can link pinkies with him and he shakes on it too. "Promise."
"Good. Then Mommy and I go with Ana to Meadows." She's a good negotiator and she gives Chris's hand a tiny kiss. "Kisses and make better."
My phone rings and I fish it out of my pocket with my free hand and check the caller. It's the house phone. Jason must have called home and now Teddy wants to talk to his Daddy.
Hope you liked it. I'm on a roll so I might update again in the next few days or so. Hope everyone enduring the Heat wave from hell is staying cool and those of you where it's winter I'd swim in it right now. Here where it's summer we're all baking alive! It's so hot and Muggy that the AC can't keep up! ~~;
Cin Xxx