Docs and Pickups

"Mommy?"

Sarah looked up from her conversation with Claire. Callum was lingering in the doorway to the living room, she could make out the sounds of Doc McStuffins coming from the television as she smiled at her son, "Yeah, hon?"

Callum fiddled with the hem of his shirt as he shyly glanced at his aunt. Sarah felt her smile grow, he normally wasn't this quiet, but Claire was still a relatively new presence for him. He was half as likely to ask his question as he was to turn around and disappear back into the living room with his sister.

Apparently, what he wanted to ask was more important than whether his aunt heard him, "When's Daddy comin' home?"

And Sarah found her smile dimming slightly at this hesitant question. Connor had been duly frustrated when he had called her home to the kids – she knew he had been looking forward to hanging with the chaotic duo and to have work cut that time short had not just upset him.

Callum had been withdrawn all day as he played quietly with Ellie and politely entertained his aunt's questions.

The biggest fuss had come when Sarah had him go laid down for his nap, but she hadn't been sure if his combativeness had been from being overtired or from missing his father. She had a feeling it was a bit of both. If she was honest with herself, she had grown more and more concerned with her son of late.

He was naturally shy, taking more after her than Connor in this regard, but she hadn't realized the degree to which he struggled around others until both she and Connor had started working at Med. Connor's more lively energy and easy manner tended to relax Callum enough to be a little more outgoing. She hadn't seen as much of her playful boy, and she hated it.

He needed his father.

God, they both did.

Sarah glanced at the clock on her phone, "Well Daddy had to do a procedure, but he might almost be done. Want to go with me to pick him up?"

Callum's big sapphire eyes brightened as he chewed the inside of his cheek. He gave her a resounding nod and she grinned, "Alright, let me call to see if he's ready."

A high-pitched angry shriek cut through the atmosphere and Sarah automatically made for the living room when Claire waved her off, "Call the hospital. I'll see what's up with the littlest one."

Sarah silently wished her luck. She knew that particular scream. Ellie was frustrated over something... her temper was a strange amalgamation of hers and Connor's. There was really no telling how easily she'd be settled or if she'd even welcome her Aunt Claire's attempt.

"Chicago Medical Surgical Ward, this is Annalise. How can I help you?"

Sarah sent her son a reassuring smile, "Hey Annalise. It's Sarah. Is Connor still in the OR?"

"Oh hey, Sarah. Yeah, he's still working, but they should be almost done. Another thirty minutes, maybe? Do you want me to give him a message?"

"No, no. I'll shoot him a text. I just wanted to check-in. Thank you, Annalise." Sarah murmured kindly.

"Anytime. Have a good one."

"You too," Sarah murmured before hanging up and shooting a text to Connor not to get an Uber home.

Callum fidgeted awkwardly in the doorway as he watched her. She raised an amused brow as she caught glimmers of impatience starting to seep into his expression. Connor got the same look when she took too long, "Let's help your Aunt Claire with your sister, and then we'll go get Daddy, okay?"

A heavy sigh was her answer before he disappeared into the living room. He was going to be fun when he was a teenager. Sarah shook her head but followed on his heels. She had to bite back a laugh a second later as a red-faced tearful Ellie wailed in the face of an obviously panicked Claire Rhodes.

"Ellie-girl, what's with all the noise?" Sarah cried softly, startling the toddler, but not enough to make her stop crying.

Her pudgy arm shot up to point at the television, "Nahh-bahh Boo ahhh Doc."

Sarah frowned as she tried to decipher the wailed garble, "What?"

"Boo! Boo!" Ellie screamed

Callum frowned in bafflement as well before he pressed against the wall next to the TV stand, "Mommy, she threw Sven back here."

Reese came to stand next to her son as she peered behind the TV into the small dusty space. Sure enough, there was a goofy-looking stuffed reindeer staring back at her. Carefully, she reached out and pulled the stuffed toy from its hiding place and frowned as she noted the small rip in its leg, "Ellie, did you rip Sven?"

Ellie calmed upon seeing her toy in her mother's hand, "Sven, boo-boo. Doc fix."

"Ohhh." Sarah drawled slowly, "Sven has an owie?"

"Yeah." Ellie cried softly.

Sarah nodded, "Did you throw Sven?"

"Doc fix," Ellie said pointing to the TV.

Sarah raised a brow as she turned and saw Doc McStuffins coming to an end. Okay. Three-year-old logic was making a little more sense now, "I think Aunty Claire can fix Sven. Do you want to help her?"

Ellie peered at her aunt curiously, "Aunty Doc?"

Claire smiled amusedly at her niece's intent stare, "Well, I think I can be a doctor of stuffed animals, but Mommy is the real doctor."

Ellie didn't care or didn't understand as she just stared at the older woman.

Sarah had to hold in a snort, "There's needle and thread in the bottom desk drawer in the office if you really want to give it a try... but it's time she got a bath and ready for bed. Do you mind watching her while I take Callum to get Connor? I shouldn't be gone long. Half hour tops."

"Not at all." Claire said as she took the stuffed deer from Sarah a little dubiously, "You'll have your phone on you, right?"

"Yes." Sarah answered kindly, but there was no hiding the mirth in her gaze, "Don't worry she actually likes taking a bath, just don't let her have Sven in there. She has bath toys to play with."

Sarah gave a few more instructions and tips to the older woman before she felt an impatient tug on her leg. Callum stared up at her with pleading eyes. He wanted to go. She patted his head, sending him to grab his jacket as she finally began gathering her things as well.

They made it to the hospital just in record time. Yet this time, the parking lot was lit with lights and the sky had become black with night. Callum had no problem holding his mom's hand through the parking lot. Shift change should be occurring soon, Sarah realized as she noticed fewer familiar faces as they entered the ED.

Maggie already had her bag on the nurse's counter, and she could see April pulling on her coat.

The nurse spotted them and grinned, "Dr. Reese! Wow, he really is Connor's mini-me. Hi, little guy."

Callum blushed under April's smile as he tried to hide his face against his mother's leg. Sarah rubbed his shoulder comfortingly as she asked, "Hey April, have you seen Connor?"

"Oh yeah, he just went into the locker room to change," April answered with a nod toward the room behind her.

As if he knew that he was being talked about, Connor appeared in the doorway a second later and she felt the small body pressed against hers disappear not even a second after that, "Daddy!"

Connor blinked, having just enough time to recognize the blur of his son as he dropped down to scoop him up, "Hey Bud. What are you doing here? You should be getting ready for bed."

"Mommy said I could come," Callum said softly with big innocent eyes that fooled neither parent.

Connor felt his heart melt anyway, tucking the boy onto his hip as he spotted Sara approaching, "She did?"

Sarah shrugged, "He missed you."

"And I missed him." Connor murmured as he pressed a kiss to Callum's temple and grinned at the disgruntled look he received in return, "And you."

He didn't receive the same disgruntled look from Sarah as he leaned down to claim a kiss, "My sister with Ellie?"

Sarah nodded, "Yeah, I figured they would be okay for half-hour. You super tired?"

"No. Why?" Connor asked curiously, a salacious gleam entering his eye as he guessed at Sarah's intentions.

She shook her head knowingly at him, "I was thinking that just for tonight we can break Callum's bedtime."

Their son looked up, intrigued at the sound of being allowed to stay up late.

"And you two can go get some ice cream before coming home. A little father-son time." Sarah said, knowing that Callum was already on board with that idea without looking. He hadn't been able to con his aunt into getting the sweet dessert earlier that day, but that worked to Sarah's benefit now.

"Mhmm." Connor hummed, not minding the idea himself, though he asked, "Are you using my sister's driver?"

"No, I'll get a cab home," Sarah stated as she tried to pass the car keys to her husband.

He didn't move as he stared at her, "I don't like you taking cabs at night by yourself. Let me call, Andre."

"Connor, we live fifteen minutes away and there are cabs right outside. I'll be fine. I don't want to wait for Andre." She argued gesturing for him to take the keys.

He still didn't budge, "Then we'll drop you off and Callum and I will go to the diner on the corner."

That wasn't what Sarah wanted, though. Riding in the car could be an intimate experience for parent and child. She didn't know how many good conversations she had had with her mother in the car growing up... Hell, it may have been the only place they had decent conversations. She didn't want to intrude on creating something like that between Connor and Callum.

"Connor."

"Sarah."

They stood in a standoff before a voice came from behind Connor, "I can take her home if you'll stop blocking the doorway."

The trio turned in unison to see Halstead standing there awkwardly with his backpack. He smiled faintly as the couple looked decidedly sheepish.

Connor stepped out of his path, "Sorry, Will."

"And actually, if you don't mind, that sounds like a good idea," Sarah said as tucked the keys into Connor's jacket pocket. The dim glare she received let her know they would be having words about this later.

"Yeah. No worries." Will answered as he sent Connor a questioning look. A silent: is this really okay?

Sarah rolled her eyes as Connor nodded in return, but she quickly leant up to give Connor a kiss and pressed one to Callum's cheek, "Be good for Daddy. I love you."

"Love you," Callum responded automatically.

Sarah grinned, "I'll see you two in a bit."

"I don't get a love you?" Connor teased as she started to follow Will to the parking lot.

She shrugged, "You might if you don't wear yourself out."

He grinned wolfishly after her, "Yes dear."

Will chuckled as he watched the couple. He had never seen Sarah playful before, but it was that side of her that gleamed now as she waved her husband off, "You two are disgustingly sweet, aren't you?"

Sarah merely blinked at him innocently – a perfect mimic of her son.