Teddy had just changed into his brand new pink pjs and climbed under the blanket, when a loud banging at the door startled them both.
"Eric, mate, 'you there?"
'Damn. Mike.'
Mike was the head of the patrol guards who usually teamed up with Jack while on patrol. In the beginning of Eric's career in leadership he had shadowed them to learn the ropes since he was now in charge of the patrols inside the city. To say that they had a rough beginning would be an understatement. Eric realized later that he had tried too hard to prove himself, which hadn't gone down good. Mike and Jack were some years older than him and damn good at their job, which Eric had learned when one day they walked right into a riot in the fractionless sector. Eric had pulled his weight too that day, covered Jack after he got injured and shielding him, which had been the turning point. Mutual respect grew slowly into friendship. Mike and Jack had made space for him in there tight nod friendship.
Eric had totally forgotten that they had agreed to meet at the bar today.
" It's a friend of mine, Mike." He told Teddy. "Stay here."
Opening the door Eric was greeted by a curious Mike.
"Hey, what's up? Thought we meet at the bar?"
"Something came up, come in."
Mike walked over to the sofa while Eric closed the door.
"So what is it?" Mike asked getting comfortable.
"Just give me a minute." Eric glanced towards his bedroom where he knew Teddy was waiting.
Following his glance Mike exclaimed:
"You got some chick over?"
"What? No!" Eric was surprised by Mike's line of thinking, especially since he wasn't someone to pick up random girls and his friends knew that. He would fell cheap doing so and he wasn't one for cheap.
"Well, then why are you looking to your bed room?"
Before Eric could say anything Teddy appeared in the doorway, looking shy and curious at the same time. At loss if he was to reprimand the boy – he had told him to stay in the bedroom after all – Eric decided against it, it seemed exaggerated even to him. So walking over to Teddy, Eric simply introduced them: "Mike this is Teddy. Teddy this is Mike, I told you he is a friend."
After he had picked him up he turned around to find his friend looking at him stunned.
'Okay that was to be expected.' Nonetheless wouldn't he have his friend staring any longer so Eric quirked an eyebrow at Mike to snap him out of it. It seemed to do the trick since he got up and said:
"Nice to meet you Teddy."
At which he was answered with a shy: "Hi."
Feeling how tense Teddy was, Eric decided quickly to allow him to sit on his lab and tried to get them both comfortable on the couch while Mike eyed them with an astonished curiosity.
Teddy tucked lightly at his sleeve: "Eric?" He whispered.
"Yeah?"
"What is a chick?"
Eric blinked at the question before he looked at his friend enraged. This wasn't a conversation he wanted to have with Teddy. Mike returned his look slightly apologetic.
"A chick is a baby bird." Eric tried as an explanation.
Teddy looked confused.
"You have birds? Can I see them?"
Eric could hear Mike snickering. Payback is a bitch, he thought and said evenly:
"No, but there is also another meaning to the word which I'm sure, Mike will gladly explain to you."
Mike's look was priceless, but he had to give it to him, he recovered quickly.
"Chick can be also used for girls, Teddy, but it's not a nice word to use. I shouldn't have used it."
"Oh." Teddy processed this.
"Why you think there be a girl with Eric?"
"Yeah, Mike, why?" Eric asked sweetly, while Mirk fumbled for an appropriate answer to give to a young child.
Finally he settled with: "Because Eric stood me up and there had to be a good reason for it."
'Nicely done.' Eric thought a little astonished at how easily Mike had baled his way out.
Mike had brought two bottles of beer with him, which he was now opening, putting one on the table for Eric.
"Sooo, let's start with the..." Mike tried for a change in topic.
"I'll tell you later." Eric cut in protectively, only to state after a brief pause nonetheless: "He's mine now." Unconsciously hugging Teddy a little bit closer while saying that.
At that blank statement Mike eyes grew big but he gave Eric a nod, who knew he would have to tell the whole story once Teddy was asleep. He had never planned not to, but he didn't want to do it in front of Teddy. Somehow he was sure it wouldn't be good for the little boy, though he wanted to make clear to both, that Teddy was his and therefore simply went with that.
"So Teddy, you like pink?" Mike asked teasingly, smirking when Eric glared at him.
"Yes." Teddy answered innocently beaming at Mike, then he added: "Eric brought it for me."
Mike choked at his bier, while Eric tried to silence his friend with another glare. Only, he was fairly certain his friend wouldn't be intimidated by it in the slightest. And sure enough Mike said:
"Did he now?" Giving Eric and Teddy a wide smile, clearly enjoying this.
Teddy nodded earnestly.
Eric decided it would be wise to end this, before his friend could gather more ammo against him or hurt Teddy accidentally and got up, putting Teddy on the ground.
"Now why don't we get you to sleep, Teddy, like we wanted to before Mike came over."
Teddy was looking at his new friend with regret, but followed Eric without a fuss.
"Bye, Mike."
"Bye Teddy."
Back in the bedroom Eric took his time with Teddy, staying with him until he was asleep. He knew Mike wouldn't mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On his return Mike wordlessly handed him his beer. Taking it, Eric got once more comfortable on the couch, taking a sip and taking his time. Once he had organized his thoughts, he began to tell Mike about the pasts events. Mike listened thoughtfully without interrupting him and stayed quiet for a while once Eric was finished.
"I'm sorry for you that Ethan and his wife died."
Eric gave him a short nod, appreciating it.
"Though, about Teddy, I'm sure you will be fine."
"You sure?" Eric wasn't so sure about that. He would never hand Teddy over to someone else, especially after the promise he made but that didn't mean he didn't felt overwhelmed and unsecure. Both feelings he loathed with a passion.
"Yeah, I know you, remember. Also I wanted to tell you that you can count on me if you need help with something. I'm sure it will be the same with Jack. You will tell Jack also, will you?"
"Yes." Then Eric added "You can also tell him, if you meet him before I do."
"Sure. Will do."
They stayed quiet for a while, before Mike said: "I could ask my mother if she still has some of our toys. I remember her storing them back then."
"Thanks Mike. I sure will need them. Right now I don't even have a proper bed for Teddy to sleep in."
Eric sighed. There was so much he had to take care of right now.
"How about I bring Jack tomorrow evening and we'll contrive a plan of action together."
Relieve flooded through Eric. Sure he only had these two friends but he could always count on them and then there was also the surprise support in form of Sean and his wife.
Mike and Eric talked some more and it was already late when Mike finally left. When he made himself comfortable on his couch for the night, Eric still felt overwhelmed but knowing he wasn't in it alone had taken the edge of him and he felt himself drift off to sleep a little easier than the night before.