It's the Little Things
Jan. 10th, 2007 01:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
morgynleriPlot summary for those who want to read spoilers.
Chapter 2 is all here now that it's complete.
After talking to Jennifer, Speed goes to talk to Horatio, to let him know he's going to go up to Seattle to the funeral. And also to tell him about what's going on - Susan, and Jeremy, and the possibility that he's going to end up with a kid to take care of. Eric is already there, and has already let Horatio know he's going to be in Seattle on Saturday. Horatio gives the go-ahead for them to have the weekend off.
Eric calls Jennifer that evening after he and Speed purchase their plane tickets, to let her know they're good for the weekend, and she tells him that he and Speed can crash at her house, she has a guest room, and a couch that unfolds into a bed. No need for a hotel room. Eric lets her know when the plane is supposed to get in on Friday evening, and she says she can pick them up.
Friday evening, Jennifer has a sleepy Jeremy with her when she meets them at the airport, where Eric greets her with a hug and condolences over the loss of her friend. Speed is not reassured by Jeremy's resemblence to him, and Jennifer mentions that he never looked a lot like Susan, as they make their way out to the car.
At Jennifer's house, she puts Jeremy to bed, and shows Eric and Speed the places to sleep, as well as the coffee machine, and mentions that it's on a timer. The funeral is at noon the next day, and she arranged to go over to the local clinic to get blood drawn to see if Jeremy is indeed Speed's son. As she heads for her room, Eric follows, asking if she's all right.
Jennifer asks him if she's supposed to be all right. She's just lost her best friend, she has to figure out what to do about a ten-month-old child she never thought she'd have to take care of, and she's got to figure out what she's going to do about money - she can't afford to keep the house on just her salary.
She's crying, but they're tears of anger more than anything else, and Eric holds her as she vents her frustrations and grief, and everything she's been trying to hide for the last four days. He spends the night in her bed, just to help her sleep.
In the morning, Speed is the first one awake, having not slept well the night before, and he's the only one awake when Jeremy wakes up, in need of a diaper change, and wanting his breakfast. Speed doesn't have a clue what to do about the upset child, and he goes to wake up Jennifer.
Eric wakes up, but Jennifer is still out cold, the first night of real sleep she's had since Susan died, which leaves the two men to figure out what to do with Jeremy. Eric volunteers to change the diaper, mentioning that he's had to do that before... though not since he was a kid. Leaving Speed to solve the question of what one feeds a ten-month-old for breakfast.
A search of the kitchen reveals baby cereal, formula, and jars of baby food. He goes with the cereal and formula, mixing them up according to instructions. Eric manges to avoid getting pissed on when he changes Jeremy's diaper, and brings him into the kitchen still in his pajamas. They locate a bib, and procede to try to feed the baby.
Jeremy is more interested in playing with the cereal than eating it, though he does happily drink the formula. Jennifer walks into the kitchen, sleepy, when the coffee machine announces it has a pot of coffee ready, an is amused by the sight of Eric and Speed with cereal in their hair, and all over their shirts. She tells them there are extra towels in the closet, and Eric lets Speed get first chance at the shower, while he helps Jennifer clean up.
She gets Jeremy cleaned up while he cleans up the cereal that Jeremy splattered everywhere. She has Jeremy in his nice clothes when Speed is done with his shower, and dressed in a nice shirt and pants. Jennifer hands Jeremy over to Speed while she goes to take her shower, Eric making use of the other shower.
They head over to the funeral home, and from there to the cemetary, where Susan is buried, and Speed meets her parents. She was an only child, and her parents are determined to contest her will, to try to win custody of Jeremy, and after the funeral, they inform Jennifer of this, which doesn't help her mood.
Back at the house, Jennifer lets vent her opinions on Susan's parents, and their ability to care for a child. She's known Susan since they were both in middle school, and she remembers Susan coming to school hungry, and scared, and refusing to talk to any adults about it. When Susan was 16, she ran away from home, and Jennifer's parents took her in.
Susan fought to get out from under her parents, finally becoming an emancipated minor in order to escape, though she refused to press charges against them. She became a great teacher despite her less-than-ideal start, and she proved that she, at least, had broken free of the cycle of abuse.
Speed asks her what chance the grandparents have of getting custody of Jeremy. Jennifer isn't sure, but she knows that if the paternity test results come back and prove her suspicions, that there is one way to ensure they never get a hold of Jeremy. For Speed to assert his parental rights, and take full custody of Jeremy. Which, though not what Susan wanted, would be better than having him raised by his maternal grandparents.
The next day, they go to the clinic, and run into Susan's parents again, who try to argue Jennifer out of the test, and out of Jeremy, to which her only response is that she wants to see that Jeremy has a fair chance, and if she can do that by finding his father, and sending him far away from them, she'll spend whatever it takes to do just that.
After the blood is drawn, the technician tells them it will be about a week before they get the test results back, and they will be sent to both Speed and Jennifer. She drops Eric and Speed off at the airport before taking Jeremy home, where she calls her lawyer, to find out what Susan's parents can do, since the hearing to confirm her as Jeremy's guardian is coming up on Wednesday, before the results of the paternity test come in.
Her lawyer assures her that unless the grandparents can prove she would be an unfit guardian for Jeremy, they can't do anything to prevent her from being confirmed as Jeremy's guardian. And seeing as she has proven to be a stable, reilable person, and has no record, not even a juvenile one, there is nothing that he thinks the grandparents can do. She calls Speed, and lets him know what her lawyer has told her, which is good news for him.
The next day, Speed updates Horatio on events, and then he drops by the firearms lab to ask a favor of Calleigh. To walk him through cleaning his gun, as a refresher on how to take care of the weapon. He can't afford a misfire, especially if Jeremy is his son, and he suspects strongly that Jennifer's thoughts on the matter are right. Jeremy looks a lot like he did in baby pictures, and he now has to make sure that he's around to help provide for the little boy.
On Wednesday, Jennifer takes Jeremy with her to the hearing, at which she is indeed confirmed as Jeremy's guardian, there being no reason to deny her guardianship, despite the grandparents desire to become Jeremy's guardians.
They aren't about to give up, and confront Jennifer outside the courthouse. She reminds them that Susan didn't want anything to do with them, and that if they care to press their luck, she can call Jeremy's father, and change arrangements, in order to protect Jeremy.
Once she's home again, she calls her lawyer, concerned that Susan's parents might try to snatch Jeremy from his day-care, and wanting to do what she can to prevent that happening. She doesn't have enough for a restraining order, though, and there's little she can do, other than take Jeremy to the university with her, which she doesn't see as an option. She calls Speed next, to update him on the outcome of the hearing, and after that, she goes over to Jeremy's daycare to talk to them in person, to make sure they know that absolutely no one other than herself is allowed to pick Jeremy up from day-care unless she explicitly says otherwise.
The next week, on Monday, the results of the paternity test arrive in Jennifer's mail box, and also in Speed's. Jeremy is Speed's son, and should he care to asset his parental rights, Jennifer won't argue with him. He, though, has no intention of doing so if he can help it. He will help with supporting Jeremy, arranging with Jennifer to send her checks to help take care of his son.
Over the next couple of months, Jennifer takes care of arrangements, selling the house, and renting a two-bedroom apartment closer to Seattle University, as well as going through Susan's belongings - selling some, keeping others for Jeremy, and donating what of the rest she doesn't throw out.
In June, after the end of the semester, Jennifer makes sure the rent is paid on her apartment through September, and packs for a summer in Miami. She'd already let Eric, and Speed, know her plans to come to Miami with Jeremy for her summer vacation. Speed has talked to his parents about letting Jennifer and Jeremy stay with them for the summer, giving them the chance to meet their grandson. It also means that Jeremy doesn't disrupt the schedules of either Speed or Eric, and means Jennifer doesn't have to spend money on renting an apartment in Miami for the summer.
Speed meets them at the airport, and drives them over to his parents' house. They're delighted to meet Jeremy, who is babbling happily at meeting new people, and curious about everything. Jennifer is grateful that they agreed to let her stay in their home for the summer, and they reassure her that it's no trouble. They're happy to have the chance to meet their grandson, and they wish they could have met his mother before she was killed.
Jennifer finds it a little awkward, and Speed comes to the rescue, mentioning that the flight was early from Seattle, and they're probably tired, and asking if they'd gotten food on the flight. Jennifer seizes on the opportunity, and soon things are comfortable once more, with Jeremy being fussed over, and Jennifer doing some unpacking.
The summer passes by without any excitement, Jennifer taking some time to go on a few dates with Eric, and Speed taking Jeremy out to the beach, and other outings to see the child-friendly sights of Miami after shift some days. His parents bond more with Jeremy than he does, though the visit reinforces his sense of responsibility, and is a reminder to keep his gun clean and in working order.
After Jennifer and Jeremy head back to Seattle, Speed is with Horatio investigating the switching of jewels at a cleaners as part of a murder investigation when a man comes out of the back shooting. As shots are exchaged, Speed fires his gun, taking out the man. He's aware of the chances that it could have been a far different outcome if he hadn't gotten into the habit of cleaning his gun.
After the case is closed, Speed gives Jennifer a call, asking to talk to Jeremy, even though the fifteen-month-old can't really talk. Jeremy, though, like to listen to Speed talking, and happily babbles in response as Speed tells him about the close call in the jewelry store.
Chapter 2 is all here now that it's complete.
After talking to Jennifer, Speed goes to talk to Horatio, to let him know he's going to go up to Seattle to the funeral. And also to tell him about what's going on - Susan, and Jeremy, and the possibility that he's going to end up with a kid to take care of. Eric is already there, and has already let Horatio know he's going to be in Seattle on Saturday. Horatio gives the go-ahead for them to have the weekend off.
Eric calls Jennifer that evening after he and Speed purchase their plane tickets, to let her know they're good for the weekend, and she tells him that he and Speed can crash at her house, she has a guest room, and a couch that unfolds into a bed. No need for a hotel room. Eric lets her know when the plane is supposed to get in on Friday evening, and she says she can pick them up.
Friday evening, Jennifer has a sleepy Jeremy with her when she meets them at the airport, where Eric greets her with a hug and condolences over the loss of her friend. Speed is not reassured by Jeremy's resemblence to him, and Jennifer mentions that he never looked a lot like Susan, as they make their way out to the car.
At Jennifer's house, she puts Jeremy to bed, and shows Eric and Speed the places to sleep, as well as the coffee machine, and mentions that it's on a timer. The funeral is at noon the next day, and she arranged to go over to the local clinic to get blood drawn to see if Jeremy is indeed Speed's son. As she heads for her room, Eric follows, asking if she's all right.
Jennifer asks him if she's supposed to be all right. She's just lost her best friend, she has to figure out what to do about a ten-month-old child she never thought she'd have to take care of, and she's got to figure out what she's going to do about money - she can't afford to keep the house on just her salary.
She's crying, but they're tears of anger more than anything else, and Eric holds her as she vents her frustrations and grief, and everything she's been trying to hide for the last four days. He spends the night in her bed, just to help her sleep.
In the morning, Speed is the first one awake, having not slept well the night before, and he's the only one awake when Jeremy wakes up, in need of a diaper change, and wanting his breakfast. Speed doesn't have a clue what to do about the upset child, and he goes to wake up Jennifer.
Eric wakes up, but Jennifer is still out cold, the first night of real sleep she's had since Susan died, which leaves the two men to figure out what to do with Jeremy. Eric volunteers to change the diaper, mentioning that he's had to do that before... though not since he was a kid. Leaving Speed to solve the question of what one feeds a ten-month-old for breakfast.
A search of the kitchen reveals baby cereal, formula, and jars of baby food. He goes with the cereal and formula, mixing them up according to instructions. Eric manges to avoid getting pissed on when he changes Jeremy's diaper, and brings him into the kitchen still in his pajamas. They locate a bib, and procede to try to feed the baby.
Jeremy is more interested in playing with the cereal than eating it, though he does happily drink the formula. Jennifer walks into the kitchen, sleepy, when the coffee machine announces it has a pot of coffee ready, an is amused by the sight of Eric and Speed with cereal in their hair, and all over their shirts. She tells them there are extra towels in the closet, and Eric lets Speed get first chance at the shower, while he helps Jennifer clean up.
She gets Jeremy cleaned up while he cleans up the cereal that Jeremy splattered everywhere. She has Jeremy in his nice clothes when Speed is done with his shower, and dressed in a nice shirt and pants. Jennifer hands Jeremy over to Speed while she goes to take her shower, Eric making use of the other shower.
They head over to the funeral home, and from there to the cemetary, where Susan is buried, and Speed meets her parents. She was an only child, and her parents are determined to contest her will, to try to win custody of Jeremy, and after the funeral, they inform Jennifer of this, which doesn't help her mood.
Back at the house, Jennifer lets vent her opinions on Susan's parents, and their ability to care for a child. She's known Susan since they were both in middle school, and she remembers Susan coming to school hungry, and scared, and refusing to talk to any adults about it. When Susan was 16, she ran away from home, and Jennifer's parents took her in.
Susan fought to get out from under her parents, finally becoming an emancipated minor in order to escape, though she refused to press charges against them. She became a great teacher despite her less-than-ideal start, and she proved that she, at least, had broken free of the cycle of abuse.
Speed asks her what chance the grandparents have of getting custody of Jeremy. Jennifer isn't sure, but she knows that if the paternity test results come back and prove her suspicions, that there is one way to ensure they never get a hold of Jeremy. For Speed to assert his parental rights, and take full custody of Jeremy. Which, though not what Susan wanted, would be better than having him raised by his maternal grandparents.
The next day, they go to the clinic, and run into Susan's parents again, who try to argue Jennifer out of the test, and out of Jeremy, to which her only response is that she wants to see that Jeremy has a fair chance, and if she can do that by finding his father, and sending him far away from them, she'll spend whatever it takes to do just that.
After the blood is drawn, the technician tells them it will be about a week before they get the test results back, and they will be sent to both Speed and Jennifer. She drops Eric and Speed off at the airport before taking Jeremy home, where she calls her lawyer, to find out what Susan's parents can do, since the hearing to confirm her as Jeremy's guardian is coming up on Wednesday, before the results of the paternity test come in.
Her lawyer assures her that unless the grandparents can prove she would be an unfit guardian for Jeremy, they can't do anything to prevent her from being confirmed as Jeremy's guardian. And seeing as she has proven to be a stable, reilable person, and has no record, not even a juvenile one, there is nothing that he thinks the grandparents can do. She calls Speed, and lets him know what her lawyer has told her, which is good news for him.
The next day, Speed updates Horatio on events, and then he drops by the firearms lab to ask a favor of Calleigh. To walk him through cleaning his gun, as a refresher on how to take care of the weapon. He can't afford a misfire, especially if Jeremy is his son, and he suspects strongly that Jennifer's thoughts on the matter are right. Jeremy looks a lot like he did in baby pictures, and he now has to make sure that he's around to help provide for the little boy.
On Wednesday, Jennifer takes Jeremy with her to the hearing, at which she is indeed confirmed as Jeremy's guardian, there being no reason to deny her guardianship, despite the grandparents desire to become Jeremy's guardians.
They aren't about to give up, and confront Jennifer outside the courthouse. She reminds them that Susan didn't want anything to do with them, and that if they care to press their luck, she can call Jeremy's father, and change arrangements, in order to protect Jeremy.
Once she's home again, she calls her lawyer, concerned that Susan's parents might try to snatch Jeremy from his day-care, and wanting to do what she can to prevent that happening. She doesn't have enough for a restraining order, though, and there's little she can do, other than take Jeremy to the university with her, which she doesn't see as an option. She calls Speed next, to update him on the outcome of the hearing, and after that, she goes over to Jeremy's daycare to talk to them in person, to make sure they know that absolutely no one other than herself is allowed to pick Jeremy up from day-care unless she explicitly says otherwise.
The next week, on Monday, the results of the paternity test arrive in Jennifer's mail box, and also in Speed's. Jeremy is Speed's son, and should he care to asset his parental rights, Jennifer won't argue with him. He, though, has no intention of doing so if he can help it. He will help with supporting Jeremy, arranging with Jennifer to send her checks to help take care of his son.
Over the next couple of months, Jennifer takes care of arrangements, selling the house, and renting a two-bedroom apartment closer to Seattle University, as well as going through Susan's belongings - selling some, keeping others for Jeremy, and donating what of the rest she doesn't throw out.
In June, after the end of the semester, Jennifer makes sure the rent is paid on her apartment through September, and packs for a summer in Miami. She'd already let Eric, and Speed, know her plans to come to Miami with Jeremy for her summer vacation. Speed has talked to his parents about letting Jennifer and Jeremy stay with them for the summer, giving them the chance to meet their grandson. It also means that Jeremy doesn't disrupt the schedules of either Speed or Eric, and means Jennifer doesn't have to spend money on renting an apartment in Miami for the summer.
Speed meets them at the airport, and drives them over to his parents' house. They're delighted to meet Jeremy, who is babbling happily at meeting new people, and curious about everything. Jennifer is grateful that they agreed to let her stay in their home for the summer, and they reassure her that it's no trouble. They're happy to have the chance to meet their grandson, and they wish they could have met his mother before she was killed.
Jennifer finds it a little awkward, and Speed comes to the rescue, mentioning that the flight was early from Seattle, and they're probably tired, and asking if they'd gotten food on the flight. Jennifer seizes on the opportunity, and soon things are comfortable once more, with Jeremy being fussed over, and Jennifer doing some unpacking.
The summer passes by without any excitement, Jennifer taking some time to go on a few dates with Eric, and Speed taking Jeremy out to the beach, and other outings to see the child-friendly sights of Miami after shift some days. His parents bond more with Jeremy than he does, though the visit reinforces his sense of responsibility, and is a reminder to keep his gun clean and in working order.
After Jennifer and Jeremy head back to Seattle, Speed is with Horatio investigating the switching of jewels at a cleaners as part of a murder investigation when a man comes out of the back shooting. As shots are exchaged, Speed fires his gun, taking out the man. He's aware of the chances that it could have been a far different outcome if he hadn't gotten into the habit of cleaning his gun.
After the case is closed, Speed gives Jennifer a call, asking to talk to Jeremy, even though the fifteen-month-old can't really talk. Jeremy, though, like to listen to Speed talking, and happily babbles in response as Speed tells him about the close call in the jewelry store.
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Date: 2007-01-11 01:51 am (UTC)