A Safe Place

Chapter Four

-Mike's POV-

I heard someone walking towards me from the house but I didn't look up, I was just thinking. "Mind if I join you?" I heard Charlie ask, I glanced up at her and nodded, she sat down next to me. "So, what's going on?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since you learned you are a father you've started to act different. You won't even acknowledge your daughters existence, that's not like you, and as of today you're becoming more distant from everyone" Charlie explained but I didn't respond. "Maybe having children was never in or plan or was later in your plan but that plan you had changed when you were sent to Graceland, and it changed again when you decided to not go back to DC." She continued.

"I changed the plan when I choose I wanted to be here more than back in DC." I told her.

"Okay....why can't you change it more? To include Samantha. She is already here and she needs you." She questioned me, I shrugged. "Why don't you want to take care of her?" She asked.

".....I'm scared......" I admitted.

"Of what?"

"Getting to close, we work undercover but Graceland has been broken into twice. And if anyone found out isn't that just something they can use?"

"Anyone who's ever broken into Graceland is dead. You decided to stay here to keep her safe didn't you?" She explained, I nodded in response. "Well we are always able to keep each other safe no matter what is happening. Graceland is a safe place, you know that." She reminded me.

I nodded "It's just...shes a baby she can't defend herself. And I do care about her but like I said I'm just afraid, and last night every time she made a noise I'd wake up thinking something was wrong but there never was, she just didn't seem to be breathing right but she probably was" I explained to her.

"That's why she needs you, and us, but mostly you. She is only a week old and already has a tough start to life, here we can change that. And as for the rest of that that sounds like it's just worry from being a new parent."

"You're right......how would you know how it is though?" I asked her, not trying to sound mean.

"Well apparently from what I've heard it makes people worried, you never had responsibility like this and now you do, it'll get better. Every parent was a new parent at once, it clearly doesn't last forever." She explained to me.

"True....I feel guilty"

"For what?" She asks, confused.

"You told me that you kept the baby but I couldn't help you." I said, I could feel myself tearing up at the thought of what happened to her.

She wrapped her arm around me in a partial hug, "There wasn't anything you could do and at that time it was more important that we got you better." She assures me in a gentle tone.

"Okay." I said, my voice shaking slightly.

She was quiet for a minute before she said anything, "We will always help you, you know?"

"Yeah, I just.....am worried and don't fully know what I'm doing." I informed her.

"You'll just have to learn as you go along, and I'm sure at least some worry will go away, it does make sense to worry though, she is your kid why wouldn't you worry."

I smiled slightly hearing that, "You're right, I.....I do want to be a good dad."

"All you'll have to do is try, I'm sure you'll do great."

I nodded "Thanks"

"It's just the truth" she smiled.

"You would have been a good mom" when I told her that she smiled. "Samantha will have a great family" I stated.

"She will" Charlie agreed.

"What do I do if she ever asks about her mom...? I knew nothing about her."

"Well I guess you'll have to figure stuff out about her." She told me.

"Right..."

She was quiet again for a few more seconds, "So..since you still are in touch with your family, you tell them about her yet?" She asked me.

"Not yet" I informed her.

"You should"

"I will eventually" I informed her. Charlie sat there with me for a couple minutes longer but then she went back inside, I didn't stay out to much longer. When I went in I headed straight to my room, Samantha was still asleep, I looked at her for a little bit she really did seem to not be breathing how she should but apart from that I didn't think anything was wrong, although Charlie was right I hadn't taken much care of her yet so how would I know. I decided I would just keep an eye on her and let it go.

I was woken up in the morning by Samantha, I tried to calm her down but just like the first night she wouldn't stop crying, I figured she must be hungry so I went to the kitchen and got her a bottle but she wouldn't eat much.

After a few hours I still couldn't get her to eat very much at all and she still wouldn't stop crying, I was still trying to calm her down when everyone else started coming downstairs, I got off the couch and went into the kitchen where they were, still holding Samantha, "yesterday when you guys were taking care of her did any of you notice anything weird?" I asked, worried.

"Like what?" Paige asked.

"She has been crying nonstop for a few hours now and I can't get her to eat very much." I explained.

"Well now that you mention it, she did vomit a few times on the first night, I thought it was just spit up. And she hasn't been eating much at all" Charlie pointed out.

I nodded, "Last night I was looking at her while she was sleeping and I wasn't sure if she was breathing how she should" I pointed out. "Do you think I should take her to the doctor?" I asked.

"Probably, She could be sick" Charlie told me

"But when I got her they said she was fine."

"Maybe they just checked certain things. Was her breathing always off?" Paige asked.

"No, I just noticed it the other night"

"So maybe they didn't find anything wrong but there could still be. You should take her to the doctor, Mike" Briggs added in.

"Okay, I will today" I told them. After I got ready I put Samantha in her car seat and drove to the hospital.