Standing there holding him, he looked around knowing he was way out of his element. “Okay, we can do this.” Walking over to the bag the hospital had sent with them, he grabbed a diaper out of it along with some wipes. Spotting what he heard Pam call the changing table, he headed that way and set everything down. Carefully, he laid Daniel on his back then unbuttoned his little sleeper he was dressed in.
Down to nothing but his soiled diaper, Daniel started to fuss with a little more attitude. Peeling the diaper away, the smell hit Duncan full in the face.
“Boy, you’d put Sid to shame.” Spotting the nastiness in the diaper, Duncan tried not to gag. Having no clue what he was doing, he carefully held Daniel’s two little legs up with one hand, and the other, he held the dirty diaper. Reaching with his foot, he hit the pedal and tossed the dirty diaper in what he hoped was the diaper pail. Grabbing a wipe, he gently wiped Daniel’s little butt. “You sure did a number. You’ve got shit everywhere, buddy. We are definitely teaching you how to sit on a toilet early.”
Once Daniel was clean, he lay wiggling, naked and making little noises. “Ah, I guess you are happy now,” Duncan chuckled, but his grin faded as he stared down at the little guy who carried his name. Never did he think he would have a son to carry his name, but here he lay. He may not be of his blood, but Duncan didn’t care. It didn’t matter whom Daniel’s father was, it would be him to teach him alongside Pam. As his eyes connected with Daniel’s, he felt a connection that shook him to his very core, bringing moisture to his eyes.
Taking a step back, Duncan fisted his hand. Crossing his right arm placing his fist over his heart, he bowed his head to the child, chanting in the old language. Finally, his head raised to find the child quietly watching him intently. “I, Duncan Daniel Roark, vow to keep you, Daniel Duncan Roark and your mother, Pamela Cecilia Braxton, safe forever and always.” His eyes moistened with joy and love for the boy. Duncan’s voice rang loud and true throughout the room until Daniel let out a loud squeal.
Duncan laughed. “So you liked that did you?” Grabbing a clean diaper, he went to put it on him, but before he could, a straight stream of Daniel’s pee hit him in the chest. “Why you little…you just peed on me.”
Pam stood watching from the shadows, tears streaming quietly down her face. Nothing had ever touched her more than watching Duncan vow to her son to keep them both safe. Seeing him jump back, Pam watched as Daniel peed on him. Throwing a hand over her mouth, she quietly took off running down the hall jumping on the bed. Burying her face in the pillows, she laughed and cried so hard, she couldn’t breathe. Hearing Duncan coming down the hall, she tried to get a grip. Sitting up, she choked back her giggles and sobs.
“There’s your mommy.” Duncan grinned down at Daniel
“Everything okay?” Pam took Daniel keeping her head down so he couldn’t see that she had been crying.
“Perfect,” Duncan replied walking away. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
Pam watched him walk into the bathroom. Holding back laughter, she looked down and noticed Daniel was in a little shirt and diaper. Picking him up to pull the shirt down, the diaper fell off. Her heart constricted, and then melted even more. If there was ever a man worthy of her love, she was absolutely sure that Duncan Daniel Roark was that man.
With a smile, she quickly jumped off the bed, and headed to Daniel’s room to put a new diaper on him before Duncan got out of the shower. “Not a word about this, Daniel,” she cooed down at him. “We don’t want to hurt your daddy’s pride. He is a Warrior you know.”
Daniel made a little squeal in agreement.
Chapter 25
Jill opened her eyes slowly. Her chest felt like it was on fire. Glancing down, she frowned. There was blood everywhere. That bastard shot her. She was lying in the boxes she and Pam had been going through; the gunshot blast had taken her off her feet.
She could hear voices coming from inside the house. Moving her head slowly, she didn’t see Tessa anywhere, didn’t hear her voice. Reaching slowly to her chest, she felt the bullet wound, but didn’t feel any fresh blood coming out. She was healing already, but she didn’t know if that was a good thing. She was having a hard time breathing, and that scared her.
As quietly as she could, she sat up listening closely for the voices to stop, but they didn’t. She couldn’t really make out what they were saying. There was a slight buzzing in her ears, and she prayed she didn’t pass out. Getting out of the boxes quietly was a feat, but she did it. She struggled to her knees, and then to her stomach as the Warriors had shown them to do, slithering along the ground. She bit her lip keeping in the cry of pain. She had to ignore it. She had to find Tessa.
Making it to the doorway, Jill inched her way until she could look in. Sitting at the table was Kenny Lawrence, across from him was Tessa tied up, her eye swollen and red as blood ran from her nose. And there leaning against the counter was the bastard that shot her, that betrayed the Warriors.