Protecting and Healing You

Chapter 17.

"Okay well I will not answer"He smiles at me, I roll my eyes.

"Fine, I'm gonna go shower. At least go kiss your daughter"I say as he leans forward and shuts the tv. I stand up.

"Don't worry, I will"He says, patting the back of my thigh. I roll my eyes and swat his hand and he chuckles.
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The annoying noise of a constant ring woke me from a deep slumber "Leo" I whine, turning away from him and his warmth, annoyed. The ringing continues and I groan "Leo!"I snap.

I hear him move around before the ringing stops "hello?" He groggily says. He says a few more single words before I hear him throwing his phone back on the nightstand.

Leo suddenly drags me back over to his side and I fall right into my place, tucked underneath his arm.

"That was Fin"he says, kissing the top of my head. I sigh. "I'm sorry beautiful but I left him there all night and he's exhausted"

I nod "I know"I admit.

"I'd make breakfast like usual but I'm gonna be running late"He says playing with my hair.

"It's okay, I'll make breakfast"

"I called my mom last night to come pick up Nellie, she should be here at 10 so you'll still have time to take your pre work nap"I chuckle and look up at him.

"Always so thoughtful"I smile and he smiles back.

"Always"He kisses my cheek when the bedroom door swings open, hitting the back wall hard. "Oh! In coming!" Leo yells as Nellie comes running in, he swiftly picks Nellie up and I move back as she settles beside in between us.

"Good morning pumpkin"Leo smiles as he pulls her closer.

"Morning Daddy"she smiles as he kisses her cheek. I smile at the two.

"Hey listen, I have to go to work today and so does Julie so how do you feel about spending the day with Isla?" He asks. She nods.

"Okay but for now I want cuddles"Leo says bringing her closer and tickling her. Her laugh fills the room.

"Can we have pancakes?" Nellie asks, once Leo has stopped tickling her.

"Come on, I'll get you started while Julie changes"Leo announces and I nod. He swiftly picks Nellie up as he rolls out of bed, he throws Nellie over his shoulders and gallops out of the bedroom. And watching them all I couldn't stop smiling.
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"Hey honey" Chris says through the phone.

"Hey"I smile tiredly as I sat down to eat my lunch.

"How's work?"

"Okay, busy"I sigh.

"Well I won't keep you long but your mother wanted to remind me to remind you that family dinner is this weekend"

"Oh crap yea I forgot"I rub my forehead, my step dad chuckles.

"I figured and we figured that you would spend the weekend with Leo and Nellie so you are welcome to extend the invitation"

"I'm not sure if Leo will be able to make it, he's on a new case and"

"Okay"He agrees "well he is still welcome and who knows maybe it'll be a good stress reliever for him"I chuckle.

"He tries not to have any stress relievers until he's done the case, but I will let him know"

"Good, and I will have you know you your mother has fridged my retirement letter" he announces, I laugh.

"How are we not surprised"

He chuckles "we've received a letter from Isaiah and he's been deployed elsewhere"

"Oh really? I haven't checked my mailbox in a while, where has he been deported?" I ask, biting into my salad.

"Malaysia"

"Oh really? For how long?"

"He didn't say, he said that he'd send another letter to let us know when"

"Okay"I nod.

"Well I'll you girl baby girl, have a good rest of your shift" he says.

"Thanks, and I won't cause I'm exhausted" I tell him. He chuckles.

"A few more hours"

"Yea, I'll let you guys know if Leo will be able to make it or if I'll be coming by myself"

"Alrighty"he says and soon we said our goodbyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let's go! Bachelor!" Amelia squeals and she flops down beside me, handing me my own taco bowl. I had woken up from my mid day nap after my night shift.

"Thanks"I thank her for my dinner. "What time are you on call?" I ask her.

"At twelve"she sighs as she turns on the tv. I make a face. My phone begins to ring on the coffee table and I reach over and answer it.

"Hello?" I say not bothering to look at the caller ID.

"Julie, hi"

"Oh hi Stephanie"I smile.

"So I'm almost into the city with Nellie and realized I forgot Leo's apartment key"

"Your heading to Leo's apartment?"

"Yea, he called and said he wouldn't be able to come home tonight"

"Well I'm closer to the the tunnel so you can drop Nellie off at my apartment and head back before the end of the night" I suggest.

"Are you sure? Because it's no worry, I just needed to pick some of Nellie's essentials"

"Of course not, I'd love to have her over especially since Amelia night work tonight"

"Okay then, I'll be over in ten minutes. Thank you Julie" 

"Of course"I say with a smile as I watch Amelia record the new episode of the Bachelor.

"See you soon"Stephanie says.

"See you soon" I say before we hang up.

Amelia and I flow back into conversation as I text Leo that his mom was dropping Nellie off for the night and she was welcome to stay with me and he can pick her up in the morning or whenever the next day. I figured it was better to text Leo then call because he'd never listen to the voicemail I'd leave him.
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I roll onto my back as I realize the sun was streaming into my bedroom. I almost scream but stop myself when I see Leo asleep on one of my chairs put into the corner of my room but looks like he dragged it over, kicked his shoes off and fell asleep at the foot of my bed.

Leo was still in his cop uniform, I looked over at Nellie fast asleep and slowly get out of bed. Placing a hand on Leo's shoulder, he jumps awake and looks up at me. I smile down at him and tilt my head to my door, signalling him to follow me. He nods groggily and stands up.

I wait for him at the door before wrapping my arms around him as he shuts my bedroom door quietly.

"What time did you get here?" I ask him as we walk into the kitchen.

"Three or maybe two? I'm not sure" He yawns.

"You could've just gone home, I would've dropped Nellie off to you" I say as he leans on the counter and I immediately start on the coffee.

I begin to fill the coffee pot up with water "Nah it's fine, and plus I've gotten use to Nellie being at the apartment it would've just been weird if I came home and she wasn't there. So I thought I'd just come home to you two"He yawns.

I stop the water "you are sweet"I smile at him and he shrugs. I lean over and kiss him, he kisses back.

I smile as I pull away "I'm surprised Amelia didn't kick your ass when you entered so late" I say, he chuckles.

"She wasn't home"He announces as I place the pot in the coffee marker. "But if she were she definitely would've kicked my ass and in all honesty I would've just let her"He says, I laugh "I was so exhausted"he tells me. We laugh.