In The Nick Of Time

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

Summary:

New tides.

The door bustled open and running feet scurried in.

"The creak is entirely flooded." Niall called out, throwing off his boots.

Liam got up and stood in the door way, watching as Lin did the same.

"The entire creak is flooded, the road is a mud pit, and I got me leg stuck in a ditch." Niall stated as he shrugged off his soaking wet rain jacket, his pants soaked as well as the shirt under it some how. "That rains a bloody freeze trap." He shook his wet hair as Babby walked by him dripping wet with his paws covered in mud, tracking it in the hall. "Babby!" He whistled and quickly grabbed her by the collar. "She's covered in mud, nearly got caught in the mud pit by the road if I didn't get her in time." He patted the wet dog, and Babby shook her fur making everything in the hall, knees included, wet.

"Great. Just great." Lin swatted at Niall and he covered his face.

"Hey! It's not my fault!" He yelled at her and Liam stepped in front of Niall.

"Is there anything I could do to help?"

Niall stood up, still holding Babby's collar from tracking mud deeper into the house. "No, I've got it. I'll clean this up, and get Babby for a wash."

'"I could do that." Liam insisted, "You're covered in rain and mud, wouldn't want to get you sick." Liam said as he moved to take Babby's collar.

"It's fine-."

"Really, it's not a bother."

Niall let go of Babby's collar and stepped back, "I'll be in and out then," he said after a while, already reaching for the ends of his shirt as he started down the hall. "Be careful when you walk, so you don't slip." He informed and closed the bathroom door behind him.

Babby looked up to Liam when the door closed, and Liam smiled at her. "Are you a mess?" He patted her head and looked around him to the mud. "Oh, dear." He mumbled to himself.

Finding it easier if Babby was washed first and then he cleaned the floor was a better idea, she kept walking over the floor Liam would just clean and even after trying several times to get her to sit some where for a minute - she'd get up and move around the clean floor. Lin laughed a couple of times when Liam cleaned up and Babby followed, making a mess. He just shook his head and gave up.

When Niall got out of the shower, Liam started for the bathroom and rightfully Babby complied to get into the tub. "Don't make it too hot, or too cold. Try not to get it in her eyes, and be generous with the shampoo." Niall noted before leaving the door wide open and Liam was left with Babby to wash.

She was kind, mostly allowed him to first wash the mud off her paws and legs. He smiled, cupping the water and it trickled down her legs. "There we go." He patted her chest.

With out notice, Z leaned against the door with his arms over his chest. Just looking.

Babby glanced to him but went back to being entertained by Liam's speaking, "Niall's out of his right mind to have brought you along." He shook his head, cupping water and bringing it over the mud he was still washing off. "You'd get sick." He cupped her face and she stared at him, laying a wet kiss on his face and he laughed wiping it on his shoulder and finally seeing Z standing there. "Oh, I didn't see you there." He said, his voice turned deeper.

"What're you doing?"

Liam looked back to Babby, who looked between them absently. "I was just giving Babby a bath. Niall went out to the woods and she went with him, she was covered in mud. So - I offered to wash her up." He looked to Z, he wasn't doing wrong.