Fic: Sitter Duty (Numb3rs, Don Eppes / Martin)
Title: Sitter Duty
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pair: Don Eppes / Martin Fridegord,
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc.
Feedback: Always Welcome
NUMB3RS Main List
Notes: This is a companion piece for my Numb3rs / Criminal Minds crossover
Genius x 2.
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“What do I do when she gets to the end of the carpet?” Don wondered.
“Just turn her around and let her crawl to the other end again.” Martin commented. “It’s not exactly rocket science. And I can’t lift her with one hand.” He waved his cast covered arm.
“So I’ll just wait here?” Don asked. He sat down on the floor next to Helen who was briskly crawling across the carpet. “She didn’t move that much the last time she was here.”
“That was months ago, she couldn’t even crawl back then. Kids usually take their first steps between the ages of nine months and twelve months, so she’ll have three to six months to perfect her crawling skills.”
“Sorry, I forgot I was dealing with a walking, talking baby encyclopaedia…. Shouldn’t she be sleeping by now?”
“She just had a nap.”
“Yeah, but last time she kept sleeping all the time.”
“She didn’t do anything except sleep and eat, it’s the cocooning phase. The baby’s still trying to adapt to the world outside the womb. By now she can already recognise a small amount of people and places.”
“Can we skip the lecture? You’re sounding like Chuck right now.”
“Okay, I’ll warm up her food.” Martin headed to the kitchen and came back few minutes later with a small bowl of something that looked like a mixture of porridge and vomit.
“What the hell is that?”
“Some kind of porridge, I’m not sure. Charlie said this had the best reviews in baby magazines.
“It looks like dog food gone bad.”
“You wanna try some?”
“No.”
“Come on, it shouldn’t be too hot, I tested it.”
“I didn’t mean the temperature. But if you burn your mouth eating that, it would probably taste better.”
“Come on….” Martin took a small spoonful and circled it in front of Don’s face. “Plane’s ready for landing, open up the hangar….”
“Fine…” Don opened his mouth and swallowed the spoonful. “That wasn’t bad, actually… And I thought she was still drinking milk.”
“Charlie and Colby made a deal with the surrogate. She kept milking for four months after giving birth, so now they’re moving to more solid foods. Can you hold her?”
“How?”
“Just prop her up.”
Don picked Helen up and placed her sitting between his legs, leaning against his stomach. Martin started to feed her small spoonfuls and the portion of food disappeared quickly.
“She`s got a good appetite.” Don smirked. “And you`re all maternal.”
“You mean paternal.”
“No. And I mean it as a compliment.”
“Don’t tell me your biological clock is ticking.”
“It’s not, but this is kinda nice. Once every few months.”
“So you’re not planning to get a bun in the oven?”
Don’s smirk disappeared. “No, but… are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re good with kids.”
“That doesn’t mean I want some of my own. How bout we make a deal?”
“What kinda deal?”
“If you get knocked up, we’ll keep it. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll just offer to baby-sit this one.”
“Okay.” Don chuckled. “Seriously…. I can’t imagine what it would be like if we had our own kid. Not that I don’t like them, but….”
“Don, you don’t need to explain it to me. We’re on the same page about this thing, so let’s leave it like that.” Martin grabbed his ringing cell phone. “Fridegord. Hey, how was your lecture? Great. Who? Okay, I’ll tell him. Have fun. Bye.”
“Chuck?”
“Yeah, they’re having dinner with some people they know there.”
“This is so weird.”
“What is weird?”
“My little brother is lecturing in Quantico, while I’m babysitting for him.”
“Funny, isn’t it?”
“I think some guys from the office would get good laughs from that. At least it’s just one lecture, and just for the new rookies.”
“Yeah, he already gave the same lecture in the LA office.”
“He did?”
“Yeah, when we were in San Diego. I told you about it.”
“You did?”
“I did and Charlie too. Several times.”
“I don’t remember that….”
“And in the New York office.”
“No need to rub it in.”
“Did he tell you they are offering MPEGs of his older lectures in the FBI database for the personnel?”
“Don’t try that. I’m not gonna get intimidated or territorial.”
“Really….?”
“And I don’t want to hear about it.”
“Yeah, you’re not territorial. Not at all….”
“I just need to watch out, or he may undermine my authority.”
“Bit late for that....” Martin grinned. “And don’t worry, you two get very different kinda appreciation.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re like a grouchy father figure who stalks at the office everyday. Charlie’s more like a guest star who shows up sometimes and works wonders.”
“Can we drop the subject?”
“Sure, she looks about ready to doze off.” Martin pointed down at the child who was leaning against Don, with her eyes almost shut.
“Can I put her to that… thing now?”
“Bassinette. And no, not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because I need to go get my camera. That sight is just too adorable to miss.”