mbv, NEST HQ, Mother's Day
Rachel: *curled against Jack in a med ward bed, her face buried in the flannel of his shirt as she drifts gently upward out of recharge. Knows it's early. Also remembers it's Mother's Day. Is too peaceful and comfortable to really care, night shifts like this ones are one of her favorite parts of her job*
Dion: *quiet clicks as he sleeps*
Rachel: *snuzzles Jack, and then smirks as she hears Tracks humming to himself as he presses buttons on a cell phone*
Tracks: *carefully enters the number that he got from Denver a little while ago, then puts the phone to his ear as he waits for his girlfriend's grandmother to answer. Is in his human mode right now, so he's got a sweater hem to finger absently*
Older-sounding woman: //'Lo?//
Tracks: Hello, Mrs. Lamont?
Hattie: //...who's th's?//
Tracks: This is John Trach. You don't know me, but I'm calling on behalf of your granddaughter Denver to wish you a very happy Mother's Day.
Hattie: //... 'N whah 'sn't Denver callin' 'erself?// *sounds quite concerned*
Tracks: Ah, she's sleeping yet. The new baby was a little fretful last night.
Hattie: //...New babeh?//
Tracks: Yes. *slight nod as he turns his head to look toward Denver and Dion... oh, and there's Will, tucked between Denver's back and the bed rail. He'd thought quarters seemed a little tight*
Hattie: //...Mr. Trach... 'Re y'u trahin' t' tell me th't mah eldest grandchahld 's carin' f'r moah young'uns th'n jes' Beau?//
Tracks: *hesitates, hadn't really realized that Denver hadn't mentioned her sons to her grandmother* Ah, yes. There are three others, counting Dion.
Hattie: //... 'N who're y'u?//
Tracks: *more hesitation* Ah... I'm her boyfriend. Father to two of the boys she's caring for.
Hattie: //... *laughs* So y'u're th' 'andsome devil 'n th' picture Matilda sent me!//
Tracks: ...Picture?
Hattie: //Beau sent 't t' 'er 'n she sent 't t' me.//
Denver: *Soft sound, shifts position slightly as she starts to wake up*
Will: *Awake and clicking quietly to Mama*
Tracks: *fond exasperation and amusement in his cultured voice* Oh he did, did he?
Hattie: //Yep... 'M glad th't Denver found s'me'un th't she c'n trust 'nough t' relax 'round. *chuckles*//
Tracks: *blushes slightly, isn't sure how to reply* Er... thank you.
Denver: *clicking softly to Will as she moves to sit up*
Hattie: //Beau ain't givin' y'all aneh trouble, 's 'e?//
Tracks: *airily as he recovers from his embarrassment* Oh, only the usual.
Hattie: //*Laughs* 'E's jes' lahk 'is Ma 'n 'is sistah... Stubborn, but wit' a 'eart bigger th'n most 'is age.//
Beau: *Speaking of, that's him sneaking past the med ward right now*
Tracks: Ah, one moment, Mrs. Lamont. *hand over the mouthpiece* //Beau, what are you up to now?//
Denver: *clicking quietly to Dion and gently smoothing the sparklet's helm, isn't all the way awake*
Beau: *sounds quite startled* //W's gettin' Denver's gift fr'm Lt. Johnson so Ah c'ld git 't wrapped up t' give t' 'er 't breakfast...//
Tracks: *chuckle* //Alright. Carry on. She's just starting to wake up.//
Raoul: *peeks through the door and pulls a face at his mentor. Is right there with Beau*
Will: *carefully climbs down and darts over to his big brother*
Tracks: *smiling as he uncovers the phone* Sorry, Mrs. Lamont. Where were we?
Hattie: //*chuckles* Beau trahin' t' pull s'meth'n' past Denver?//
Tracks: Oh no. He's quite in line. As he usually is. It's Raoul that tries our patience at times.
Hattie: //*more chuckling* 'E seems lahk th' sort th't's gotta big 'eart too.//
Tracks: Oh? Has Beau mentioned him? *tilts his head very slightly with curiosity*
Hattie: //Jes' as a new friend...//
Tracks: I see. *looks toward Denver and smiles at her*
Denver: *small smile, is still not fully awake*
Dion: *small squeak, but doesn't seem like he's going to be waking up any time soon*
Tracks: *smile widens* Well, Raoul certainly has his moments. I've known him since he was twelve years old, and he never stops surprising me.
Hattie: //Kids'll do th't... *fond chuckling*//
Denver: *slightly confused look as she works out what's going on*
Tracks: I think Denver's finally awake. Would you like to talk to her? *smile becoming a slight grin*
Denver: *reaching for the phone and cradling Dion in the crook of her arm*
Tracks: *gives it to her, murmuring who's on the other end of the line. Then reaches for Dion*
Denver: *Gives Dion to Tracks, and then she and her grandmother are having a long-overdue chat*
Dion: *sleepy little squeak*
Tracks: *kisses the sparklet on the head* Are you feeling better, Dion? *holds the tiny mechling close to his spark as he rubs the bitty back
Dion: *more squeaks and quiet clicks. If he were stronger, he'd be happily talking your ear off, Tracks*
Tracks: *croons softly and then starts to purr*
Dion: *happy string of clicks* n_n
Tracks: *lays back on the bed with his knees up, a very contented smirk on his face as he watches the sparklet*
Dion: *if he were strong enough to, he'd be happily waving his arms! Love you, Tracks!!!*
Tracks: *loves you too, bitlet, hear it in his purr?* *glances toward Denver*
Denver: *nodding and agreeing with something her grandmother is saying* Yes'm...
Tracks: *reaches over to the bed table, and then sets a wrapped box in Denver's lap*
Denver: *blinkblink, looks down* Jes' a moment, Gramma... John jes set s'meth'n' 'n mah lap... *Chuckles*
Tracks: *adorable grin, then looks back down to Dion and croons again*
Denver: *more chuckling as she balances the cellphone against her shoulder and proceeds to unwrap the box*
box: *contains a flower pot, an inadequate bag of soil, and a big bulb for a 'Red Lion' amaryllis*
Denver: Oooooh! *leans over and kisses Tracks on his cheek, and then she's telling Hattie what was in the box*
Tracks: *just radiating ^_^*
Dion: *clicks and squeaks. Mama and Big Bubby are happy!*
Tracks: *soft clicks as he once more rubs the tiny back*
Dion: *more squeaks, and then a tiny little sneeze* *Squeaks more*
Tracks: Oh oh. *watching the little one to see if he needs something*
Dion: *expressing his wonder at the sneeze by squeaking!*
Tracks: *laughter at baby brother's wonder*
Denver: *Expression softens as she watches Tracks and Dion interacting*
Tracks: *gently touches Dion's tiny intakes*
Dion: *wants to squirm, doesn't have the strength to right now, squeaks about it*
Tracks: What's wrong, darling? Do you want a change of view? *turns the little guy onto his side, facing Denver*
Dion: *clicks*
Tracks: *smiles at him, and then looks up to Denver himself*
Denver: *reaching to gently smooth Dion's helm, is still talking to Hattie* Ah'll make sure Beau calls y'u latah t'day, Gramma. Ah promise.
Tracks: *quietly* We promise.
Denver: *small smile* 'N John promises 's well.
Tracks: ^_^ *kisses Dion*
Dion: *happy little purr*
Tracks: *listens for his other boys, then turns his head and looks toward the curtain that separates Col. Pax and Maj. Dumbledore's bed from the rest of the room, his smile turning to a smirk as he hears Col. Pax's sleeping morning love words to his wife*
Denver: *wishing Hattie a "Happy Mother's Day" and promising again that Beau will call later in the day* Love y'u too, Gramma. Bah... *Hangs up with a small smile on her face*
Tracks: *softly, as he turns his head to look at her* Happy Mother's Day, darling.
Denver: *quietly* Th'nk y'u, Tracks...
Tracks: That's the only flower that I could find anywhere. *smile fades* The florist shops are closing down.
Denver: *reaches to gently pat his hand* *quietly* Those mirrors'll be gone soon. Ah'm sure 'f 't.
Tracks: I do hope so. But it seems our airborn troops are taking their sweet time with their planning.
Denver: *going to give your hand a gentle squeeze now* Th'ngs'll work out.
Tracks: *lifts her hand to his mouth and kisses it gently* *softly* Did you enjoy your talk with your grandmother?
Denver: *nods* *quietly* Th'nk y'u f'r th't, Tracks...
Raoul: *tiptoeing in, his eyes going over to where Rachel and Jack are laying, and then flicking toward Col. Pax and Maj. Dumbledore's corner* Coast's clear, guys. *looks down at the package in his hands and blinks at it wonderingly, then grins as he feels Goldie move on his shoulder. Looks at the little gerbil, who is sitting there on the end of her leash, and clicks to her softly*
Will: *Trying not to squeak as Beau gently ushers him back into the med ward*
Raoul: *nods for Beau to take point instead of leading himself as he usually does. This is his first real Mother's Day. He's a bit shy*
Beau: *Small nod, begins quietly making his way over to the bed where Denver and Tracks are*
Raoul: *follows, his hand going up to cover Goldie, who licks it curiously*
Will: *Scoots after brother and uncle*
Denver: *attention going to the boys*
Raoul: *sees her looking and ducks sheepishly, holding his gift more tightly*
Denver: *small smile which grows as Beau approaches the bed*
Raoul: *reaches the bed a click after his best friend*
Denver: *as Will scoots behind Raoul* Now wh't're y'all up t'?
Raoul: *sees Tracks' smile and bites his lip, then looks at Beau*
Beau: *Sets the gift-wrapped package he's holding on Denver's lap* 'Appeh Mothah's Day, sis.
Raoul: *subdued* Happy Mother's Day, Major Mac. *also gives his present*
Will: *Clicks and moves to put his present on Mama's lap as well*
Dion: *Squeaks*
Tracks: *croons to Dion and smiles at him*
Denver: *Thanking the older boys, and then she's making surprised sounds as she unwraps the blouses that were wrapped in the wrapping paper*
Tracks: *watching with interest. Reaches to finger the material of the solid coloured blouse*
Denver: *Small smile as she thanks the boys again*
Beau: *Ducking his head a bit with a grin*
Raoul: *blushing and also ducking as he replies in Spanish* [You're welcome.]
Will: *happy clicks*
Tracks: *sighs, and then perks as Raoul turns and scoots back out, only to return with a loaded breakfast tray*
Dion: *Squeaking a bit more now*
Will: *Clicks to the little guy, before looking for the bottle*
Tracks: *quietly* It's on the tray on Denver's side of the bed. *sits up, moving sparklet to the crook of his arm*
Will: *Small nod, moves to grab the bottle before taking it to get refilled*
Tracks: *soothing sounds for Dion, and then chews up a bit of his breakfast cake for the little one*
Dion: *Squeaking and clicking*
Tracks: *offers him the rose scented powder*
Dion: *Settles down as he eats a bit of the powder*
Tracks: *smiling* Yes, that's it. You are such a good boy.
Raoul: Hey, you never tell me that.
Tracks: *mildly* Now I wonder why....
Raoul: Thrrpt! *mouth twitching at the corner in a grin*
Denver: *Chuckling a bit as Beau snerks*
Will: *is back with the bottle!*
Tracks: *puts the rest of the powder into his own mouth, and then thanks Will as he takes the bottle. Gently aims the spout at Dion's mouth* Is this better, Dion. Hmmm?
Dion: *Happy sounds as he drinks quickly*
Tracks: *sighs, and then looks at the chocolate covered frozen strawberries on Denver's breakfast plate, which are proudly sitting atop a Belgian waffle* Well now.
Raoul: *slugs Beau in the ribs and informs him that he's going to eat all the breakfast in the cafeteria*
Beau: *Acks and moves to chase Raoul out of the med ward, with Will hot on his heels*
Denver: *facepalming slightly, though she is smiling a bit*
Tracks: *sniff* Hoodlums.
Denver: *Chuckles* Boys will be boys, Tracks....
Dion: *Squeaks and hiccups. More squeaks!*
Tracks: *sets the bottle aside and tips the little guy upright to see if he has an air bubble*
Dion: *More squeaking and a few more hiccups before he makes a tiny little sound that almost sounds like a burp*
Tracks: *gentle taps on his back*
Dion: *fusses quietly. He's not so comfortable right now.... urp Oooh, that feels better*
Denver: *Soothing clicks*
Tracks: *few more taps, his brow furrowed with concern for his tiny brother*
Dion: *makes a few more small burps, before he's clicking happily again*
Tracks: *looks at Denver* They most certainly will.
Denver: *small smile, gently smooths Dion's head as the little mechlet yawns*
Tracks: *laying back and offering the bottle again*
Dion: *more happy purr, and soon he's drifting off to sleep with the spout still in his mouth*
Tracks: *watches till the little guy stops drinking, and then sets the bottle aside and very gently taps his back again*
Dion: *small burp, and a tiny smile as he settles into recharge*
Tracks: *smiles, and then looks up at Denver*
Denver: *there's more of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth*
Tracks: *takes his hand from Dion's back and squeezes hers* Aren't you hungry, darling?
Denver: *Chuckles and moves to start eating her breakfast, pouting at the lack of coffee again*
Tracks: *content to lay next to her, munch cake, and cuddle Dion*
((Co-written with random_xtras))