pet | scömìche

chapter nine

mitch jumped awake at the sound of his phone buzzing loudly. he sighed and sleepily reached over to answer it. "hello?"

"i need you at work today, mitch. i know you called in, but there's too many things to do and not enough people to do it. i'll let you off for as long as you need, just please work today." mitch's boss's voice rang through the phone, cracking with stress.

mitch opened his mouth and looked down at the sleeping scott on top of him. "i don't..."

"just for today, and you can have as many days off as you'd like after. i know what's going on, and i'm sorry about the situation you're in, but i really need you at work today, mitch."

mitch swallowed, but pressed his lips together and nodded. "fine. but what about scott?"

the man hesitated. "i'm not sure. i'm sorry. i'll see if i can send kirstin over to care for him, i know they're close."

mitch chewed his lip, but smiled weakly. "thanks, av."

avi nodded. "of course. how fast can you get here?"

"um... fifteen minutes?" mitch said softly, staring worriedly down at scott.

avi nodded again and jotted something down quickly on a notepad sitting on his desk. "alright. thank you so much. wait until kit gets there to leave, i'm sending her over now."

"okay. see you in fifteen." mitch hung up and began working on carefully maneuvering out from under scott.

scott made a small noise and subconsciously brought his thumb up to suck on it.

mitch let out a small sigh of relief when he succeeded in doing so without waking up the little, and undressed quickly to change.

scott slowly started to wake up a minute later and made a small noise. he forced his eyes open and watched mitch rush around to get ready. "momma?" he asked hoarsely.

mitch smiled weakly at him, rushing over to his side and kissing his forehead. "i'm so sorry, baby, but my boss called and said he needs me at work today."

scott frowned slightly and forced himself to nod, curling up tighter.

"kirstie's going to come and hang out with you," mitch continued, glancing back at him as he continued to get ready. "remember her?"

"yeah..." scott muttered, still watching mitch.

mitch hummed quietly and ran his fingers through his hair one last time before going back to scott's side and sitting on the bed. "kiss before i have to go?"

scott nodded quickly and leaned up to press their lips together.

mitch smiled into the kiss and quickly kissed him back, but unfortunately, kirstie chose this moment to knock on the door. mitch forced himself to pull away and kissed scott's nose, getting up and rushing to open it. "coming!!"

scott sniffled and shakily grabbed his pacifier from the bedside table, setting it in his mouth and starting to suck on it. he curled up impossibly tighter and burrowed under the sheets of the bed.

kirstin smiled widely at mitch when he opened the door and waved slightly. "hi, mitchie."

mitch returned the smile tiredly, running his hand through his hair again. "hey, kirst. come in." he stepped aside for her.

kirstin walked in and thanked him quietly on her way past him.

"scott's in my room," mitch said softly. "and kirst.... please be careful with him." he stared at her with pleading eyes, biting his lip worriedly.