"I have a proposition for you two," I said, popping into Steph and Jay's apartment.
"I knew Dick would screw up sooner or later," Jay teased. "You can move in here. We'd make a very nice throuple."
"Speak for yourself. I'd take Gen for myself over you in a heartbeat," Steph added, then dodged the pillow he chucked at her head.
"Love you both, but ew," I replied, feeling my nose crinkling on its own. "No, Dick didn't screw up, or well, he did, but he's been making it up to me in very nice ways. And that's not what I'm here about. I have a job offer, for both of you."
That got their attention. "I already have a job," Steph said, looking very curious. "Two, in fact. Both very full-time."
"I don't work," Jay quipped. He happily ignored our chimes of "We know," as he pulled Steph into his lap and looked at me. "So, what's up?"
I settled into the other couch, facing them. "You know about the home I'm setting up, right?"
"No, we have no idea what you're talking about, Gen," Jay deadpanned. "It's just all Dick has been talking about since you proposed the idea to Bruce and Selina."
Steph covered his mouth with her hand. "Ignore him," she told me, then squealed when Jay licked her.
Their so very normal actions helped me feel a little more relaxed. "Okay, well, we need nurses, especially ones who have trauma and emergency care training," I said, an eyebrow raised significantly at Steph. "Like someone who has spent the last three years in an E.R., for example."
Her eyes lit up. "So, you want me to come be the nurse," she said slowly, contemplating it.
"Exactly. You're a fantastic nurse, and I know how much you love kids. You'd be perfect," I replied, grinning happily. She'd complained often enough about hospital bureaucracy that I knew she would jump at the chance to do what she loved, without the red tape.
"When do I start?"
"I knew it!" I squealed excitedly. "Okay, go ahead and give your two weeks' notice at the hospital, since we don't actually have any kids staying the night yet. But there are several of the same kids who come by nearly every day, so we're hoping that they'll agree to stay soon."
We went over some more details, to which she happily agreed, before I turned to the increasingly bored Jason. "And you, sir, how do you feel about getting your P.I. license?"
He sat up a bit straighter, clearly intrigued. "I'm listening."
I grinned again. Once again, I knew he would say yes, even if it wouldn't be quite as overtly excited as Steph. "We want to hire you to investigate these kids' relatives, both to prosecute the ones they're running from, and to see if they have any that would take them, make sure they're worth sending the kids to. The goal for our home is to get these kids to good forever homes, so we're going to be doing in-depth investigations for them. Sound like something you'd be interested in?"
Jay listened to every word I said with a seriousness I rarely saw in him. "We'd have to investigate anyone who wanted to adopt a kid, relative or not," he supplied, and I knew he was hooked.
"Absolutely. We're not interested in getting these kids off the street simply to put them back in danger, either emotionally or physically. We want the best homes for them," I agreed. "But everything we do has to be on the up and up, completely legit, that's why you have to have a license."
"Even if the name on the license is fake?" he grinned at me.
Laughing, I shrugged. "Well, yes, other than that. But I know you've got several aliases with very deep backgrounds, so pick one and we'll hire you."
"Jay Peters, at your service," he said swiftly.
"Are you sure you can handle an everyday sort of job?" Steph teased him. "You'd actually have to do something during the day."
"I don't hear you complaining when you come home to a hot, homecooked meal every day," he growled, poking her in the ribs.
She squeaked, then kissed his cheek. "Yes, I will be sad to lose my housewife. You even rock a French maid outfit."
"Aaaand that's my cue to leave. Get your license, Jay, and I'll get you the paperwork," I said, heading to the door. I'd seen enough of them before, and I definitely didn't need to see it again.
AN: I know it's short, but it's been rattling around in my head since I had the idea for the orphanage, so here you go! Thanks for reading, and a big thanks to ZileRacer and Nightwinggamer for your lovely reviews!