HEROES ─ fallen warriors series one shots

24| Three Men And A Baby

(takes place between sections 4 and 5 of "Fallen")

Bucky

"Shh, baby, please," I beg my daughter. "Can you just tell me what you want? I'll do anything, just please stop crying."

Lena is on a mission right now in London with John and Sam, she's been gone for two days now. I've been here at home taking care of Livy. This isn't my first time being with her alone, and I've never had any problems with her before, but there's something about tonight that keeps setting her off. She hasn't stopped crying in hours. I've tried everything I can think of to calm her down, but still nothing.

It's three in the morning, and I'm pacing around in the living room with my baby in my arms, trying to figure out what she wants, but I'm coming up with blanks. Hearing her continue to cry hour after hour is killing me, in more ways than one. I have a splitting headache and I feel like I've gone made with sleep deprivation, but knowing that my daughter is distressed is the worst part. I hate hearing her cry. I want to make her pain go away.

"Livy, please stop crying. I promise you're okay, whatever is bothering you you'll be alright. Daddy's here, Daddy's got you." I hold her against my bare chest and cup her small head with my flesh hand, rubbing her back soothingly with my metal one.

After another twenty minutes or so of her crying, I decide to call for some backup. It takes another twenty minutes for said backup to finally arrive, and they aren't pleased to be awake at nearly four in the morning.

"I've never wanted to kill you more in my life." This is how Alex greets me as he walks into my house.

I give him a tight smile. "Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep."

Alex flips me off, then Khari makes his way into the house, looking just as exhausted as his husband, but as usual, is much nicer than him.

"Ignore him," Khari tells me, patting me on the shoulder. "We are always happy to help you with whatever you need, especially with Livy."

"Speak for yourself." Alex mutters under his breath.

"What is the problem with her?" Khari asks, ignoring Alex's comment. A regular practice we all share.

"I have no idea," I say desperately, swaying from side to side, patting Livy gently on the back. "I've done everything, she just won't stop crying."

"You fed her?" Alex inquires.

I nod. "Yes."

"Changed her?"

"Yes."

"Burped her?"

"Yes."

"Tried playing with her?"

"What part of 'everything' don't you understand? Yes! I also walked around with her, read her a story, and I've been swaying like this for so long I think I've dislocated a hip."

"Well at your age that's a pretty common injury." Alex replies with a laugh, which is shared by no one.

"Now I've never wanted to kill you more in my life." Is my response.