Trooper Station, Monday, August 15, 2024

[grenadesandohana]

Steve was exhausted, but the three year old boy draggng him into the Trooper Station seemed to have a never-ended well of energy. He'd been up with Steve at dawn, eager to go for a run too (a very short run), a healthy breakfast that was only half syrup based, and a trip to the playground where he'd almost fallen off the jungle gym four times in twenty minutes. Sadly, that was a much better time than yesterday where Steve had wrenched his back acting as a crash pad when Matt decided that the law of gravity was for other people (it was not for other people).

Matt raced over to a chair (fortunately, Danny's chair) and began spinning around in and making siren noises.

"Kid, let's use the indoor siren, okay?" Steve sighed, sitting in his own chair at his desk.

"Indoor siren?" Matt asked.

"No siren," Steve explained. "Danno's coming soon. Why don't you color something for him?"

And that was why Matt was scribbling all over the reports Danny probably needed to sign. At least he was quiet?

The Trooper Station was open. If there were more Troopers in helmets today, Steve hadn't noticed yet.

Comments

[hatesparadise]

Danny had first gone to the apartment, took in the kid based mess, and then went to the station to relieve Steve from his fake parental duties.

Kindly.

"Everyone still alive?"

[hawaii_5ohana]

"DANNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO--" Matt shrieked happily, launching himself from the rolling chair.

[grenadesandohana]

"Nothing bandaids, Advil, a nap and several beers can't cure," Steve added with a quick smile.

[hatesparadise]

"Careful, buddy," Danny said, scooping him up with the ease of someone who hadn't been chasing a three year old all weekend. "You been good?

Was that aimed at Steve or Matt?

[grenadesandohana]

"AIRPLANE RIDE," Matt demanded, beaming, while Steve let out a long breath. "This is his indoor voice."

[hatesparadise]

"No airplane rides in the station, its against aviation codes," Danny replied, tilting the kid sideways in his arms so he could get a sneaky ride in there as he gave Steve a look that wasnt nearly as sympathetic as Steve might like. "But I think someone might missed naps this weekend with all the excitement goin' on."

Not Danny! He got in some real nice naps.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve's face did a little "oh shit" thing because he had absolutely forgotten about naps. "We watched some cartoons?" he offered. "I have a lot of questions about the dogs who run a police station."

[hatesparadise]

"Paw Patrol?" Danny asked with an expression that said Charlie was a big fan of it. "Or that Australian one?"

Was it important?

[grenadesandohana]

"That first one," Steve said. "With the mayor with the chicken and the other town with the evil cats. I don't understand, Daniel."

[hatesparadise]

"You don't have to understand it, babe," Danny said, catching Matt before he could squirm out of his grip and fall on his face. "Hey, don't give me a heart attack. I'm too young for that, Matty."

[grenadesandohana]

But Matt liked falling on his face! And his elbow. And knees. There had been a lot of bandaids and ice packs this weekend.

"But if I'm watching I want to understand it!"

That way led to madness, Steve.

Meanwhile, Matt was yanking on Danny's sleeve. "Snacks!"

[hatesparadise]

"Steve, you just find the kid shows that drive you the least amount of insane and accidentally change the channel on the other ones or else you end up watching a cartoon musical ten times in a row," Danny said. Because he knew. Oh, he knew. "You can have fruit once we get back to the apartment."

Was he prepared for the argument over that? Yes, actually.

[hawaii_5ohana]

"Fruit snacks," Matt corrected.

Which contained no actual fruit.

[hatesparadise]

"Sure, we can call 'em that." You were getting half a banana and a cutie and Danny was going to pretend to not hear any whining, kid.

[hawaii_5ohana]

Matt narrowed his bright blue eyes. That seemed to easy.

"Down now."

[hatesparadise]

"Stay where I can see you," Danny said, putting him down cautiously.

This age was like a feral possum.

[grenadesandohana]

Matt ignored that immediately, starting to do laps from one side of the office to the other.

Steve gave Danny a tired smile. "I am so glad to see you."

[hatesparadise]

Eh, he could still see the top of his head.

"Glad Charlie and Grace aren't that age, aren't you?"

[grenadesandohana]

"He is wearing me out, Danno," Steve said, wide-eyed.

[hatesparadise]

"Yeah, that's what they do," Danny replied dryly. "That and make a mess."

Which meant there was a thud and a, "I'm okay!" from where Matt had run off to.

[grenadesandohana]

"I never thought of Charlie as being especially low energy," Steve said, "but this is next level."

[hatesparadise]

"Charlie is pretty average," Danny admitted. "Grace was kind of a dream."

And now she was nearly a teenager.

[grenadesandohana]

"Matt didn't even have that much sugar," Steve commented as he raced past.

[hatesparadise]

Uh huh.

"Did he have any food that wasn't sugary?"

[grenadesandohana]

"We had oatmeal!" Steve said proudly.

[hatesparadise]

"How much maple syrup made it palatable for him?"

There was another thump somewhere in the office.

"You good, Matty?"

[grenadesandohana]

"Yeah DON'T LOOK!" came the voice.

"Well that certainly doesn't seem suspicious," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"We might wanna go look," Danny suggested, already heading that way to make sure nothing dangerous happened.

[grenadesandohana]

"Yeah," Steve agreed, following behind. "Matt? Anything fall over?"

It was a pretty solid guess based on the way the rest of the weekend had gone.

[hatesparadise]

And Matt was trying to shove office supplies into a box that was not meant for office supplies. How did they get there? Don't ask dumb questions.

"Okay, it's lookin' like naptime," Danny said helpfully.

[hawaii_5ohana]

"Snack!" Matt insisted, wiping at his eyes.

[hatesparadise]

"Snack," Danny agreed, scooping him up, off the ground. Then looked over at Steve. "You gonna be okay here, babe?"

[grenadesandohana]

Steve nodded. "I'll get started redoing your paperwork," he said with a soft look at the way Matt's head cuddled against Danny's shouler.

[hatesparadise]

Danny smiled at that, giving Steve's arm a squeeze as he adjusted the child in his arms. "You did good."

[grenadesandohana]

"I'm glad you're back," Steve replied.

He'd never--never--begrudge Danny time with Grace and Charlie, but watching a three year old had been almost harder than BUD/s. He wasn't in his 20s any more.

[hatesparadise]

"I'll buy you a drink after he gets home, okay?" Danny promised. "And you can take a nap."

[grenadesandohana]

"I don't need a nap," Steve lied.

[hatesparadise]

"Uh huh," Danny replied, shaking his head and chuckling as he headed for the door. It'd get harder to get Matt back to the apartment, the longer he lingered.