What We Deserve

Part 73: Home

He slept for a good portion of the afternoon. His little body drained from pure exhaustion of existing. Max kept dropping in to check on him- despite me insisting he just needed to rest.

Nearing the end of the day, Joel finally stirs across the room and in a moment of confusion- he begins to panic.

"Ah! Ah!!"

"Sweetheart it's alright. You're alright. I'm here." Getting out of my chair, I walk over to him and sit beside him on the sofa. His body pushes quickly into mine and his face hides in my chest. "I have you."

It takes a bit, but he eventually finds his calm. Looking me over, he seems so tired and weak from his six weeks away from me.

"Daddy should be coming soon with the Tots. Do you need to use the rest room?" He nods and grabbing his hand I lead him just down the hall to the staff bathroom. "Go on in. I'll wait out here."

He heads in and shuts the door behind him. Standing against the wall, I notice how the floor seems rather quiet today. I didn't have too many emergencies today, let alone anything overly interesting. My day went smooth as silk.

"Hi, Baby." Max says as he approaches with both toddlers on his hips.

"Mum!" Zep points and reaches, but Max keeps him close.

"Hi Baby Boy! Mummy's missed you." I lean forward and kiss his cheek, but he tries once more to come over. "Honey, Mummy can't hold you right now. At home, Pet."

"Hi, Mummy." Luna says happily with a wave and I give her a kiss as well.

"How's my Munchkin?"

"Dood."

"Good! I'm so glad."

"Where's Joel?"

"In the Lou. Must've really had to go." I say and Max makes a bit of a face.

"Must've. I'm gonna head down and get the stroller and the rest of the stuff." He kisses my lips and heads off.

Waiting patiently, I watch as people pass and after looking at my phone in my white jacket, I wonder just how much longer Joel's going to take.

But he did eat lot.

And drank quite a bit as well.

First time in a while according to Iggy and himself.

So maybe it's just another moment or two for him to be relieved.

"Hey, you're still waiting?" Max arrives back with the kids and I check my phone's time.

"Yeah, he must've fell in- haha."

"I'll go check." He parks the stroller and goes to open the bathroom door, but finds it locked. "Um...that's uh...that's problematic."

Turning to look at the door, I never figured Joel would lock it. Especially if he knew it was just me outside it waiting.

"Joel?! Buddy, can you open the door?" Max knocks and we wait- but hear nothing. "He is in there? Right?"

"No, I took him to the other bathroom and came back here to play head games with you." I sarcastically snap and he looks at me with irritation.

"Joel- come on Pal. Mum and I are gonna take you home." We wait and listen to the door.

"Don't you have a skeleton key?"

"Not for bathrooms."

"That's inconvenient at best." I snark and he glares at me again.

"Let me call Juan- he should be able to get in." Taking his phone out, he calls Juan the head Janitor- and in the mean time I try to reach Joel.

"Darling? I need you to open up, alright?" Pressing my ear to the door, I don't hear any movement in there. No sounds of any kind what so ever.