186 - Uncle O's Office

186 - Uncle O's Office
I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen. – Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather

Dean and her men had not told anyone about Xandra coming to see them. Because of that, Dean was a little surprised when she found out that other arrangements had been made for the babies and not so babies the night of the bachelor and bachelorette parties. She liked the women that had volunteered to watch the kids so that Gigi could go out.

Plus, she knew that her uncle and Neo would have run a full background check on them. When she confronted Reese about it, he had tried to act innocent and stated that he did not know what she was talking about. Not believing him, she sat down in his office and stared at him with what her men now called the Momma Bear look.

“So, you want me to just hand over my newborn son to two women that I know nothing about simply because Gigi says that they are good people?”

Reese sighed heavily as he opened the top drawer to his desk and pulled out the two file folders. Handing over the first file, he summarized, “Candi was a hand-to-hand combat instructor for the Army. She now trains male and female MMA fighters. She’s the oldest of six kids, four boys and two girls.”

He continued on with the report that he had practically memorized before moving on to her partner Madison Leigh. The younger woman was born in England and came to America with her military spouse. She had completed her immigration process just over two years ago and was now a middle school math teacher.

Dean remembered the two women from her baby shower. She knew that there had been an incident concerning one of the girls she had been on the swim team with. Although she did not know the details, she knew that Madison Leigh had defended her and she would be eternally grateful.

“You know that I trust you, right?” she asked her uncle. “And if you say that I can trust these women to take care of CJ, then I will.”

“So, why the guilt trip?”

“I want you to look into someone. Or, I guess, have Neo do it.”

“He’s already digging into Sam’s parents, so I’m assuming that's not who you’re thinking of.”

Dean shook her head, stopping, she looked at the door for a moment. Standing up, she took a few steps over to close the door and then returned to the chair. At his curious look and cocked eyebrow she simply grinned.

“Xandra came to see us.”

Leaning forward, Reese rested his forearms on the desk. “Gigi’s Xandra?”

Smirking at the description, she nodded.

“Why did she…” he made a vague hand motion indicating that something had disappeared, “poof… fucking disappear? That’s not at all what I was expecting of her. Hell, I expected her to go talk to Gigi’s dad.”

“She did.”

“What?” he asked, unable to hide his shock and confusion.

“Xandra went to talk to Gigi’s dad. Gigi’s mom helped to pick out a ring.”

They sat in silence as he processed that statement. Sitting back in his chair, he shook his head.

“So why the ghosting?”

Dean smiled, “I want you to find out. I have the story that she gave us, now I want to know if it’s true. If it is, then I’ll do everything in my power to help her and say good words to Gigi. But if she’s lying to me,” she leaned forward and Reese flinched at the anger and hatred in her eyes, “I’ll fucking bury the bitch.”

“I…” Reese swallowed as he gave a slow shake of his head, “I believe that you would.”

Reaching over he picked up his cell phone and sent a message to someone. Setting the phone back down, he looked at his niece and smiled at her. “I promise that I won’t let your men get too out of hand tonight.”

“And I promise to let your wife let loose at the Cabaret.” Dean grinned before adding, “She’s not getting a fancy dance from you tomorrow.”

He chuckled, “Not like what you got at your wedding. Not sure that I can move like that anymore. Or if I ever could.”

“I love you Uncle O,” she shook her head, “but I don’t need to see all that.”

“Glad to hear it,” he said pushing his chair back from his desk and held out a hand to her.

She seemed to understand what he was asking for and stood up to walk around the desk. Settling on his lap, she leaned her head against his chest. His arms wrapped around her as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

“I love you, Dean.”

Smiling, she snuggled into the embrace. “I love you too, Uncle O.”

Closing her eyes, she told herself it would be just for a moment. Just long enough to remember when she was little and this was her safe place. Even as she got older, when the fears would hit while her mom was deployed, this was the place where the world made sense. Now, the world made sense when she was settled between her men with their baby.

However, there were moments when it was nice to remember being a little girl. When her Uncle O could chase away the monsters. Where the best place was sitting on her uncle’s lap and he would help her beat her mom at poker.

“Did you just take a picture?”

Dean opened her eyes and saw Gigi standing in the doorway with her camera aimed at where she was sitting on her uncle’s lap. Blinking she realized that some time had slipped by while her eyes were closed. Obviously, she had fallen asleep.

“It’s adorable,” Gigi said as she messed with her phone and then both of their phones chimed. “We’ll print it off and put it up with the pictures of the babies asleep in your lap while you’re working.”

Dean realized that while she had slept, Reese went back to work and had the laptop open, and programs open on both his other screens. She stretched carefully, making sure not to accidentally punch her uncle. He moved and chuckled telling her that he also remembered when she had punched his jaw when she was twelve. Grinning, she tapped her fist against his jaw.

“Yeah, let’s not do that again,” Reese grinned at her as he rubbed his jaw.

“The girls are here,” Gigi said from the doorway. “I’m giving them the lay of the land.”

“I’ll be down in just a minute,” Reese told her.

“Okay, once they’re settled, I’m going to hop in the shower,” Gigi said as she started down the hall towards the nursery and her apartment.

“Dean,” Reese said, “Steve is looking into what you asked about. I’ll let you know when he gets back to me.”

She turned slightly and gave him a light hug, careful of her now engorged breasts. “I’m going to go feed CJ.”