"…There's paperwork for days. But Ms. Bernhard vouched for you, we've got your prints and a background check on file, and since CPS is closed for the night, you've got permission for tonight. Temporary."
"He just needs someone he knows tonight, not some foster care family," Carisi said.
"There are really good foster care families."
"I know." Carisi pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's not-"
"That's not what I meant. And it's not what you meant. We're both tired as hell."
"I owe you."
On the other end of the phone, Rafael Barba was half asleep. "Yeah you do. Now go on, get some sleep. Or at the very least get the kid to sleep, God knows you don't sleep."
"Hazard of the job."
"Don't I know it."
Carisi pocketed his phone again as the line went dead, and stepped back into the hospital room. Lola Rodriguez was asleep on the bed, the monitors beeping softly in the low light. Jacob was curled up uncomfortably on a chair next to her. Carisi shivered at the temp in the room and sent Amanda a quick text—We're headed back to my place for some sleep. Update you in the morning.
The reply came back almost as fast. Breakfast at your place?
He chuckled and shook his head. Then he moved around to where Jacob was. "Hey, kiddo," he whispered. He picked Jacob up. "Let's go get some real sleep huh?"
"But Grandma…" Jacob said sleepily.
"She's sleeping too," Carisi pointed out. "Hey, tell you what. Tomorrow I'll call school and tell them what happened, and maybe we can go see her again. Sound good?"
"'kay," Jacob responded.
Carisi looked back in at Lola. "Tell Grandma you'll see her tomorrow," he prompted Jacob.
"'Bye Grandma. Love you," Jacob whispered.
Carisi drove ridiculously slow back to his apartment once again, and made a mental note that he needed to hunt down a booster seat on the off chance Jacob ended up in his car again. He parked down on the street and carried Jacob up to his place. It took some doing to get his keys into the door lock with Jacob in his arms, but he managed to get his door open and slipped inside. He didn't bother with his sneakers, and then he remembered that his briefcase, jacket, files, and dress shoes were all at Amanda's.
He texted his office, let them know he had a family emergency. It was more or less true.
Carisi flicked on the hall light and went into his bedroom. Gently, he set Jacob down on the bed and tugged his shoes off. Jacob mumbled something and buried his head in one of the pillows. Carisi went back out into the living room and pulled the quilt his grandmother had made him off the back of the couch and tossed it over the boy.
Then, he fell asleep on the couch, exhausted.
His cell phone alarm beeped way too early. He fumbled for it in his pocket to turn it off. There was already a text from his boss telling him they'd move things around for him. Carisi ran a hand over his face and swung himself off the couch and into the shower.
Freshly dressed in a pair of jeans and a Fordham hoodie, Carisi went into his room to check on Jacob. The kid was still out like a light. Good. He needs it. Carisi couldn't imagine how Jacob felt.
Out in the kitchen, Carisi shot Amanda a text telling her he was up, and asked if she could run by somewhere, anywhere and pick up Jacob some clothes before she and the girls came over. He then attempted to clear some space at the breakfast bar so at the very least the kids would have someplace to sit.
"Sonny?"
He jumped, not used to hearing voices other than his own in his apartment, and saw Jacob standing in the hall, wiping sleep from his eyes. "Good mornin', Jake," Sonny said. "You sleep okay?"
"Your bed is fluffy."
Carisi laughed. "Yeah, it's, ah, a bit different than your bed at Grandma's."
"Can we go see Grandma now?"
Carisi smiled at him and gave him a hug. "A little later. Grandma is probably still sleeping. Hey, Amanda and her girls are coming over for breakfast this morning. Do you wanna help me cook?"
Jacob nodded. Carisi brought a stool around into the kitchen and helped Jacob wash his hands. "Okay. How do omelettes sound?"
Jacob wrinkled his nose. "I don't know."
"Do you know what an omelette is?"
"No."
"Eggs, cheese, ham, and maybe a veggie."
"For breakfast?!" Jacob sounded horrified.
About an hour later, there was a knock on Carisi's door, and Amanda let herself in. In one hand, she was holding Jesse's hand and a shopping bag, and in the other she was holding Billie. "Hey, guys," Amanda said. "Jacob, this bag is for you, you wanna come get it?"
"For me?" Jacob slid off the stool and bounced over to the door, snatching it from Amanda's hand. "Hi Jesse."
"We got you a Transformers shirt!" Jesse announced, trying to pull her shoes off.
"Cool!" Jacob pulled it out and held it up. "Sonny, look!"
"I see it, buddy. You wanna go put it on?"
"Kay!" Jacob took off down the hall.
Amanda set Billie down and the girls toddled over to Carisi's couch, pulling out the bucket of toys he kept under it for when he picked them up from daycare. Amanda came into the kitchen and gave him a hug from behind. "How's he doing?"
"Seems okay. We're gonna go see Lola a little later this morning," Carisi told her.
"You sound tired."
He shook his head. "Crashed on the couch. Didn't get great sleep."
Jacob bounded back out into the kitchen, proudly showing off his new shirt. "Did you tell Miss Amanda thank you?" Carisi prompted.
"Thank you!" Jacob said, throwing his arms around her legs. Amanda laughed and returned the hug. "How about you go color with the girls so Sonny and I can finish breakfast?"
"Okay!" Jacob joined Jesse on the couch, and Amanda and Carisi set the table and plated breakfast. Sonny handled Jacob and Jesse while Amanda fed Billie on her lap. The kids chattered about cartoons and school.
"So what's the plan going forward?" Amanda asked Carisi after she set Billie down to go back to play.
"Doc says hip replacements take about 2-8 weeks to heal. There'll be PT in there. Lola will be on crutches if she can handle it, and then gradually off those at some point."
Amanda glanced at Jacob. "That's gonna be a lot on top of taking care of Jacob."
Carisi nodded. "Yeah. I worry." He took a breath. "That's why I applied for temporary guardianship."
"Say that again?" Amanda's jaw dropped.
"Yeah, I talked to Barba. They have to clear it with Lola, and there's a bunch more to do, but I figure, y'know, at least 'til Lola's back on her feet-"
Amanda looked at him. "Sonny," she said. "Are you sure about this?"
"No. Not even a little," he said honestly. "But with his family history, I just…"
"You feel responsible for him." Amanda grabbed Carisi's hand. "Hey. I know you want what's best for Jacob."
He nodded. "And if you think this's best, then I got your back," Amanda told him.
Carisi leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks, partner."
She picked up a forkful of egg. "Welcome to single parenthood," she added, and Carisi nearly choked on his breakfast.