oneshot : babysit
Title: Prompt #3: B for Babysit
Rating: PG-13 / FRT
Pairing: Hotch/Reid, Rossi, Jack ; established relationship
Word Count: 1,992
Summary: Worst of all, it wasn’t even supper time yet.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in my story. They belong to CBS. I just happened to borrow them for a little fun in the sun.
First of all, since today is my birthday, I wrote a little ficlet for you all. Thanks to ordinaryxday for pushing me to write. And special thanks to freddlerabbit for betaing. So, here's another Domestic Moments universe part - which can be read as a standalone. You can read the other parts here.
-------
Never had David Rossi wanted a shot of scotch so much in his life until as on the very day Aaron Hotchner asked him to babysit his child. His 5-year-old child. It was Aaron and Spencer’s anniversary - although they technically weren’t married due to the fraternization rules and the Bureau - and they couldn’t find anyone else to look after their kid. Jessica Brooks, Jack’s aunt, was gone out of town for a vacation with her family for a week, JJ and Will took Henry to his grandparents’ house which was also out of town, Morgan had family obligations back in Chicago, and Garcia and Prentiss were nowhere to be found - both had their cellphones turned off. But since the team had a few days off, Aaron and Spencer weren’t entirely surprised at the team’s absences and that meant that they had no one else to turn to other than for Dave.
Dave nearly choked when Aaron made the phone call. He probably would have if he were eating.
“Aaron, did you just fucking ask me to look after your child? As in fucking babysitting a five-year-old?”
A sigh echoed through the phone and Aaron finally answered with thinning patience, “Yes. Can you do it or not?”
Slowly, Dave regained his composure and grimaced as he found his head nodding even though Aaron couldn’t see. “I’ll do it. You owe me a few drinks, though.”
Aaron let out a dry chuckle and replied, “Of course, I expect nothing less. Do you want me to drop him off at your place or would you prefer to come over here?”
And that was when it all started: the headaches, back pains, sore joints, and intense alcohol cravings. Oh and not to mention, his favourite shirt got ruined.
***
Dave stood outside of Aaron and Spencer’s average-sized home. His eyes seared holes through the door as he waited for someone to answer the door. The longer he waited, the more he wondered why he agreed to look after a little kid. There was a reason why he never had children and his ex-wives would agree. Finally, the door was flung open and he was greeted by both Hotchner men.
Aaron smiled as he nodded his head toward the living room. Dave returned the smile, ruffled Jack’s hair, and accepted Aaron’s invitation inside. With a quiet groan, Dave sank into the couch and shifted his weight into a comfortable position. Frankly, he had had a long day and he’d do anything for some good, relaxing Italian music and a glass of scotch or perhaps even bourbon.
“Thanks for doing this for me - for Spencer and me. I know it’s a little short notice, and I hope I didn’t ruin any plans you had for tonight.”
A grimace nearly surfaced on Dave’s face but he managed to force it back. Yes, Aaron and Spencer did ruin his plans: sitting in front of his huge plasma tv with a glass of scotch and a bottle not too far from his reach, and trying to forget the horrors that came with their job. “Of course, anything for a friend.”
The grin on Aaron’s lips widened. He knew Dave all too well; he could see right through Dave’s pathetic attempt at a friendly smile. It took every once of will that Dave owned to stay exactly where he was and not dash out of the door like some fucking movie character from those damned Disney movies. Disney movies. Dave’s eye twitched. There was no way in hell that David Rossi was going to watch some lame ass Disney movie. No way in hell. Not even for a 5-year-old child. Not even for an adorable, 5-year-old Hotchner child.
As if Aaron read his mind, he jutted his head toward a pile of movies on the coffee table and said, “Those are some of Jack’s favourite movies. So, when he doesn’t want to play with his toys or when it gets too dark for him to play outside, just pop in any of these movies.” Aaron paused for a moment before adding with harmless tease, “You do know how to work a DVD player, right?”
Dave nearly rolled his eyes, instead, he snapped his eyes shut and began to massage his forehead. He still couldn’t get his head over the fact that he accepted the request to babysit a child. “Of course I fucking do, I’m old but not that old.”
A smirk played on Aaron’s lips, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Now that’s the spirit. Just try and refrain from swearing obscenities in front of him, alright?”
“Me and swearing? My mouth is clean as a fucking whistle.”
Spencer decided to pop in at that very moment on cue. “Whistling? Actually, did you know that actors back then used to believe that whistling backstage can ruin a performance? Let’s say someone was caught whistling backstage in a theatre, then they’re essentially sent outside, and they have to turn around three times and can’t come back in until invited. And in other cases, they were instantly sacked for bringing bad luck.”
Dave gawked at Spencer, and Aaron just grinned cheekily. Spencer, then, took a step closer to Aaron, pulled him by the sleeve, and guided him to the door. As they reached the foyer, Spencer bided quickly, “Thanks for looking after Jack, Rossi. Um, he should have supper around 6:30, feel free to cook whatever you please, the kitchen is all yours. Bathe him whenever you want after supper. And we’ll be home at eleven.”
Aaron and Spencer waved goodbye and the door clicked shut. Dave turned around in his seat and glanced at the floor where Jack was sitting. In his hand was a toy car and mischief twinkled in his eyes. Dave mentally groaned but curled his lips into a smile because after all, however annoying kids may be, they were still pretty damn adorable.
Without much warning, Dave pushed himself off the couch and settle on the floor beside Jack. He nodded his face toward the toy car and asked, “You got anymore?”
***
It had only been an hour and half and David Rossi was already exhausted. Jack was not. No. Far from it. And Dave’s eye twitched as he watched the young Hotchner play with tiny army men figurines on the floor. He resisted the urge to raid Aaron’s liquor cabinet for something strong and hard. But unfortunately for Dave, tiny army men surrounded his pathway, and so he was stuck in the middle of the living room with no way out and he didn’t even have enough soldiers to defend him.
Worst of all, it wasn’t even supper time yet.
***
6:30pm exactly.
It was supper time, finally. Dave stood in front of the fridge for a marginal amount of time before deciding on what to prepare. Eventually, he decided on spaghetti: simple, delicious, and his favourite recipe from Mama. Jack hung around the kitchen while he cooked, his childlike eyes widened with peaked curiosity.
From the corner of Dave’s eye, he noticed the fascination in the child’s eye. He smiled. “Hey kiddo, what do you say on helping me with supper?”
Excitedly, Jack jumped up and bobbed his head up and down, furiously. “What can I do to help?”
Dave’s smile not fading, he replied, “I’m going to teach you how to make my Mama’s recipe, but you have to keep the secret ingredient a secret, okay? You have to promise not to tell another soul.”
Giddily, Jack nodded.
The only regret Dave had was not finding an apron.
***
It was a few minutes past nine and Jack was all cleaned up and had his favourite pyjamas on. While he helped bathe Jack, he was firmly reminded why he never had children. He also kept note that the next time he babysat Jack he should bring extra set of clothes. Dave also noted that Jack loved extra bubbles in his bubble bath and that he needed his rubber duck and red boat when he bathed.
But of course, those things he noted weren’t needed for the future. Because, after all, Dave surely would never babysit ever again since he wasn’t a big fan of the messes created, the never-ending energy, and the annoying pleads for more sweets. However, when Dave popped in Finding Nemo, Jack curled up beside him on the couch with a stuffed animal - actually, it was Nemo himself - clutched rightly against his chest, his head resting on Dave’s lap.
A tiny smile formed on Dave’s face and placed his hand on Jack’s hair. Halfway through the movie, Dave detached his eyes from the movie - which, wasn’t all that bad except for Dory’s slightly annoying personality - and glanced down at the young Hotchner. Jack was asleep, soundly and peacefully.
Without making much noise, he shut the movie off and tucked Jack into bed. Right before he headed toward the door, Jack grabbed Dave’s hand. Dave looked down and was met with Jack’s large, innocent eyes that reminded him of Spencer’s back when he first met him. “Can you read me a story, Uncle Dave?”
Uncle Dave. His heart swelled, and he silently cursed to himself. If his three ex-wives - and the rest of his team - saw how much of a softie he had become, he’d never hear the end of it.
A gentle smile never leaving Dave’s lips, he sat on a chair beside Jack’s bed, pulled out one of the books, and read out loud with much charisma and animation.
***
Dave woke up when he felt a large, warm hand rest on his shoulder. He hadn’t realized he fell asleep in Jack’s room with the book still in his lap, but really, he couldn’t blame himself because he wasn’t exactly young anymore.
“Did you two have fun?”
With tired eyes, Dave looked back and saw Aaron standing behind him. “I think I should be asking you that, Aaron.”
Aaron let out a soft, quiet chuckle. “We did, we had a fantastic time. Although, from the looks of you two, it seems as if you both had a better time than us, but in all seriousness, thank you for looking after Jack on such short notice. I hope he wasn’t too much of a…”
“Handful? Nah, he’s a good kid.”
They both smiled at each other and shifted their gazes on Jack once more.
“Well, I better go. It’s getting late,” Dave said as he got up.
Aaron glanced at Dave’s wrinkled shirt and saw the agonizingly large, obnoxious orange stain and smiled. As Dave reached the door, Aaron blurted, “Dave, wait.” Dave stopped and looked back. “Dave, look at your hands.”
Dave looked down and saw that he was still clutching the book. Embarrassed, Dave handed Aaron the book, his eyes falling back on the sleeping child. “Oh, sorry, I was reading him that story before he - we - fell asleep.”
Aaron’s smile widened, knowing. Wordlessly, Aaron nodded his head again in gratitude and watched Dave walk away.
When Dave made it to the foyer, he spotted Spencer waiting for him by the door. “He’s a good kid.”
Dave looked at him and nodded in agreement. “He is.”
Right before Dave left the Hotchner home, Aaron and Spencer thanked him again, and the younger man added, “We’d love it - and Jack, especially - if you’d babysit him again.”
Tempted to bring back his gruff façade, he pushed back the feeling, and just grinned heartily and nodded. Screw the tough guy act because he did enjoy hanging out with the little kid. “I’d like that. But if you tell anyone I have a soft spot for the kiddo, I’ll get Garcia to make one of those photoshop computer things and blackmail you.”
Aaron had the biggest grin on his face, his arm slung over Spencer’s shoulder, both were laughing and nodding. Then, Spencer held his hands up in defence. “I won’t tell a soul.”
-----------
Thanks for reading! Comments are extremely loved.
Rating: PG-13 / FRT
Pairing: Hotch/Reid, Rossi, Jack ; established relationship
Word Count: 1,992
Summary: Worst of all, it wasn’t even supper time yet.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in my story. They belong to CBS. I just happened to borrow them for a little fun in the sun.
First of all, since today is my birthday, I wrote a little ficlet for you all. Thanks to ordinaryxday for pushing me to write. And special thanks to freddlerabbit for betaing. So, here's another Domestic Moments universe part - which can be read as a standalone. You can read the other parts here.
-------
Never had David Rossi wanted a shot of scotch so much in his life until as on the very day Aaron Hotchner asked him to babysit his child. His 5-year-old child. It was Aaron and Spencer’s anniversary - although they technically weren’t married due to the fraternization rules and the Bureau - and they couldn’t find anyone else to look after their kid. Jessica Brooks, Jack’s aunt, was gone out of town for a vacation with her family for a week, JJ and Will took Henry to his grandparents’ house which was also out of town, Morgan had family obligations back in Chicago, and Garcia and Prentiss were nowhere to be found - both had their cellphones turned off. But since the team had a few days off, Aaron and Spencer weren’t entirely surprised at the team’s absences and that meant that they had no one else to turn to other than for Dave.
Dave nearly choked when Aaron made the phone call. He probably would have if he were eating.
“Aaron, did you just fucking ask me to look after your child? As in fucking babysitting a five-year-old?”
A sigh echoed through the phone and Aaron finally answered with thinning patience, “Yes. Can you do it or not?”
Slowly, Dave regained his composure and grimaced as he found his head nodding even though Aaron couldn’t see. “I’ll do it. You owe me a few drinks, though.”
Aaron let out a dry chuckle and replied, “Of course, I expect nothing less. Do you want me to drop him off at your place or would you prefer to come over here?”
And that was when it all started: the headaches, back pains, sore joints, and intense alcohol cravings. Oh and not to mention, his favourite shirt got ruined.
***
Dave stood outside of Aaron and Spencer’s average-sized home. His eyes seared holes through the door as he waited for someone to answer the door. The longer he waited, the more he wondered why he agreed to look after a little kid. There was a reason why he never had children and his ex-wives would agree. Finally, the door was flung open and he was greeted by both Hotchner men.
Aaron smiled as he nodded his head toward the living room. Dave returned the smile, ruffled Jack’s hair, and accepted Aaron’s invitation inside. With a quiet groan, Dave sank into the couch and shifted his weight into a comfortable position. Frankly, he had had a long day and he’d do anything for some good, relaxing Italian music and a glass of scotch or perhaps even bourbon.
“Thanks for doing this for me - for Spencer and me. I know it’s a little short notice, and I hope I didn’t ruin any plans you had for tonight.”
A grimace nearly surfaced on Dave’s face but he managed to force it back. Yes, Aaron and Spencer did ruin his plans: sitting in front of his huge plasma tv with a glass of scotch and a bottle not too far from his reach, and trying to forget the horrors that came with their job. “Of course, anything for a friend.”
The grin on Aaron’s lips widened. He knew Dave all too well; he could see right through Dave’s pathetic attempt at a friendly smile. It took every once of will that Dave owned to stay exactly where he was and not dash out of the door like some fucking movie character from those damned Disney movies. Disney movies. Dave’s eye twitched. There was no way in hell that David Rossi was going to watch some lame ass Disney movie. No way in hell. Not even for a 5-year-old child. Not even for an adorable, 5-year-old Hotchner child.
As if Aaron read his mind, he jutted his head toward a pile of movies on the coffee table and said, “Those are some of Jack’s favourite movies. So, when he doesn’t want to play with his toys or when it gets too dark for him to play outside, just pop in any of these movies.” Aaron paused for a moment before adding with harmless tease, “You do know how to work a DVD player, right?”
Dave nearly rolled his eyes, instead, he snapped his eyes shut and began to massage his forehead. He still couldn’t get his head over the fact that he accepted the request to babysit a child. “Of course I fucking do, I’m old but not that old.”
A smirk played on Aaron’s lips, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Now that’s the spirit. Just try and refrain from swearing obscenities in front of him, alright?”
“Me and swearing? My mouth is clean as a fucking whistle.”
Spencer decided to pop in at that very moment on cue. “Whistling? Actually, did you know that actors back then used to believe that whistling backstage can ruin a performance? Let’s say someone was caught whistling backstage in a theatre, then they’re essentially sent outside, and they have to turn around three times and can’t come back in until invited. And in other cases, they were instantly sacked for bringing bad luck.”
Dave gawked at Spencer, and Aaron just grinned cheekily. Spencer, then, took a step closer to Aaron, pulled him by the sleeve, and guided him to the door. As they reached the foyer, Spencer bided quickly, “Thanks for looking after Jack, Rossi. Um, he should have supper around 6:30, feel free to cook whatever you please, the kitchen is all yours. Bathe him whenever you want after supper. And we’ll be home at eleven.”
Aaron and Spencer waved goodbye and the door clicked shut. Dave turned around in his seat and glanced at the floor where Jack was sitting. In his hand was a toy car and mischief twinkled in his eyes. Dave mentally groaned but curled his lips into a smile because after all, however annoying kids may be, they were still pretty damn adorable.
Without much warning, Dave pushed himself off the couch and settle on the floor beside Jack. He nodded his face toward the toy car and asked, “You got anymore?”
***
It had only been an hour and half and David Rossi was already exhausted. Jack was not. No. Far from it. And Dave’s eye twitched as he watched the young Hotchner play with tiny army men figurines on the floor. He resisted the urge to raid Aaron’s liquor cabinet for something strong and hard. But unfortunately for Dave, tiny army men surrounded his pathway, and so he was stuck in the middle of the living room with no way out and he didn’t even have enough soldiers to defend him.
Worst of all, it wasn’t even supper time yet.
***
6:30pm exactly.
It was supper time, finally. Dave stood in front of the fridge for a marginal amount of time before deciding on what to prepare. Eventually, he decided on spaghetti: simple, delicious, and his favourite recipe from Mama. Jack hung around the kitchen while he cooked, his childlike eyes widened with peaked curiosity.
From the corner of Dave’s eye, he noticed the fascination in the child’s eye. He smiled. “Hey kiddo, what do you say on helping me with supper?”
Excitedly, Jack jumped up and bobbed his head up and down, furiously. “What can I do to help?”
Dave’s smile not fading, he replied, “I’m going to teach you how to make my Mama’s recipe, but you have to keep the secret ingredient a secret, okay? You have to promise not to tell another soul.”
Giddily, Jack nodded.
The only regret Dave had was not finding an apron.
***
It was a few minutes past nine and Jack was all cleaned up and had his favourite pyjamas on. While he helped bathe Jack, he was firmly reminded why he never had children. He also kept note that the next time he babysat Jack he should bring extra set of clothes. Dave also noted that Jack loved extra bubbles in his bubble bath and that he needed his rubber duck and red boat when he bathed.
But of course, those things he noted weren’t needed for the future. Because, after all, Dave surely would never babysit ever again since he wasn’t a big fan of the messes created, the never-ending energy, and the annoying pleads for more sweets. However, when Dave popped in Finding Nemo, Jack curled up beside him on the couch with a stuffed animal - actually, it was Nemo himself - clutched rightly against his chest, his head resting on Dave’s lap.
A tiny smile formed on Dave’s face and placed his hand on Jack’s hair. Halfway through the movie, Dave detached his eyes from the movie - which, wasn’t all that bad except for Dory’s slightly annoying personality - and glanced down at the young Hotchner. Jack was asleep, soundly and peacefully.
Without making much noise, he shut the movie off and tucked Jack into bed. Right before he headed toward the door, Jack grabbed Dave’s hand. Dave looked down and was met with Jack’s large, innocent eyes that reminded him of Spencer’s back when he first met him. “Can you read me a story, Uncle Dave?”
Uncle Dave. His heart swelled, and he silently cursed to himself. If his three ex-wives - and the rest of his team - saw how much of a softie he had become, he’d never hear the end of it.
A gentle smile never leaving Dave’s lips, he sat on a chair beside Jack’s bed, pulled out one of the books, and read out loud with much charisma and animation.
***
Dave woke up when he felt a large, warm hand rest on his shoulder. He hadn’t realized he fell asleep in Jack’s room with the book still in his lap, but really, he couldn’t blame himself because he wasn’t exactly young anymore.
“Did you two have fun?”
With tired eyes, Dave looked back and saw Aaron standing behind him. “I think I should be asking you that, Aaron.”
Aaron let out a soft, quiet chuckle. “We did, we had a fantastic time. Although, from the looks of you two, it seems as if you both had a better time than us, but in all seriousness, thank you for looking after Jack on such short notice. I hope he wasn’t too much of a…”
“Handful? Nah, he’s a good kid.”
They both smiled at each other and shifted their gazes on Jack once more.
“Well, I better go. It’s getting late,” Dave said as he got up.
Aaron glanced at Dave’s wrinkled shirt and saw the agonizingly large, obnoxious orange stain and smiled. As Dave reached the door, Aaron blurted, “Dave, wait.” Dave stopped and looked back. “Dave, look at your hands.”
Dave looked down and saw that he was still clutching the book. Embarrassed, Dave handed Aaron the book, his eyes falling back on the sleeping child. “Oh, sorry, I was reading him that story before he - we - fell asleep.”
Aaron’s smile widened, knowing. Wordlessly, Aaron nodded his head again in gratitude and watched Dave walk away.
When Dave made it to the foyer, he spotted Spencer waiting for him by the door. “He’s a good kid.”
Dave looked at him and nodded in agreement. “He is.”
Right before Dave left the Hotchner home, Aaron and Spencer thanked him again, and the younger man added, “We’d love it - and Jack, especially - if you’d babysit him again.”
Tempted to bring back his gruff façade, he pushed back the feeling, and just grinned heartily and nodded. Screw the tough guy act because he did enjoy hanging out with the little kid. “I’d like that. But if you tell anyone I have a soft spot for the kiddo, I’ll get Garcia to make one of those photoshop computer things and blackmail you.”
Aaron had the biggest grin on his face, his arm slung over Spencer’s shoulder, both were laughing and nodding. Then, Spencer held his hands up in defence. “I won’t tell a soul.”
-----------
Thanks for reading! Comments are extremely loved.