The Baby Favor

7.

Jason was at the store and Luna was taking a nap, since she's been a little fussy all afternoon. Michael was finally getting more comfortable having a the baby with no one else around, but he was certainly feeling more comfortable with Luna asleep. Carroll was planning on coming back tonight after several days of misery on her brother's guest room, so soon neither he nor Jason would have to watch Luna every second of the day.

That was good. He had a company to run and Jason was headed to San Diego soon to open his latest gallery. Neither of them had really had the chance to adapt their lives to the addition of a baby. If Jason could've gotten pregnant or heh were going through adoption process, they would've had months to plan and prepare before a child arrived. Luna was simply there on day. Carroll had been convenient to slip into their lives, but adjustments still needed to be made.

Specially once he as on his own without Jason.

Jason knew exactly was to do when it came to handling babies, while he completely clueless. He wasn't entirely sure how he got so comfortable around them, by Micheal admired him for it. A lot of it just seemed like a mothers instinct.

Michael was about consider a nap o his own when her heard a sudden, angry wail coming from Luna's nursery. He didn't know much, but he was pretty certain that something was wrong. It didn't sound like her usual cry for food or change of diaper. He opened the door to the nursery and found that she had gone from fussy to a complete meltdown.

She was standing in the crib, gripping the bars with her tiny fists. Her face was bright red both with tears and a steam of snot running down her face. He picked her up and held her close, her cheek brushing across his. He nearly flinched from the contact because her skin was burning up with a fever.

Micheal tried not to  panic. Babies got sick. That was just what happened. But he didn't know exactly what to do. At the same time, he didn't want to call for help either. If he was going to raise Luna, he needed to be able to figure this out in his own.

He carried her over to the changing table and opened the drawer until he found one filled with creams, medicine and something that looked like a weird flashlight. Picking it up, he realized it was actually an in-ear thermometer. He tested it on himself, then carefully presses it to Luna's ear.

After a few seconds, it beeped and the screen read 100.9 degrees. It was too high for her age. He carried her into the kitchen to look up the pediatrician phone number where they'd posted it on the refrigerator for Carroll. He was fishing his phone out do his pocket while holding a squirming and still creaming Luna when Jason came through the garage with his hands full of grocery bags.

His dark brown eyes widen as he took in the scene in the kitchen.

"What's wrong?" He asked and placed the groceries on the ground.

Michael has never been so happy to see Jason in his life. He didn't want to clam for help, but if Jason was here, he could at least watch an learn.

"She woke up from her nap with a fever and runny nose. I was about to call the pediatrician to see if we need to take her in or not."

"Did you take her temperature?"

"Yeah," Micheal said, thankful he'd at least gotten the first step right,"it's just under 101:"

"That's good. Any higher can be dangerous. Did you give her some baby Motrin?"

Micheal shook his head,"Not yet. Is that what you give babies for fever?"

Jason nodded,"it's in the guest bathroom cabinet. I'll go get it. That should help bring down her fever, and if we can't get her to the doctor until tomorrow, she'll at least be more comfortable."