The Pretender - FIC - (Untitled)

[Highlander II]

Okay - here is the first part of the Mr. Lyle fic I've been playing with. you'll see more if i get feedback!


notes: [baby's name] means we haven't come up with a name for Mr. Parker's child yet - so bear with me until we come up with one.



Title: (as yet, untitled)
Author: Highlander II
Archive: not w/o permission
Rating: PG-13 - nothing worse than you would see on the show
Spoilers: Only if you haven't seen the whole series, but mostly just about the baby
Disclaimer: Mr. Lyle, Broots, Miss Parker, Mr. Parker, Jarod, Sydney, baby parker and any others of the typical/regular cast, belong to Steven Long Mitchell and Craig W. Van Sickle; all other characters are the creation of the author. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is for entertainment purposes only.......





Hallway outside Mr. Parker's Office

Grumbling the entire trip to the elevator, all of 50 feet, Mr. Lyle then smacked the call button and waited, impatiently. Babysitting duty was for twleve-year-old girls, not him. He knew nothing of children. Why would anyone even consider charging him with the care of a baby? He snorted at just the thought of himself with a wife and children of his own. Never happen.

The elevator doors parted and a staggering Broots stumbled off into the hallway, bumping Mr. Lyle's elbow. "Oh, sorry, Mr. Lyle," Broots apologized, trying to catch sheafs of paper threatening to flutter to the floor at any moment.

Mr. Lyle sneered at the technician. "Broots, what are you doing up here anyway?"

"Um, Mr. Parker wanted some files, and asked me to bring them up to him. And, I'm kind of in a hurry, so, if you don't mind."

Mr. Lyle waved a hand. "Carry on, Mr. Broots." Then stepped onto the elevator, pressed the appropriate floor button and watched the doors slide closed.

Nursery - The Centre - Level 2

Mr. Lyle stepped off the elevator and walked down the corridor to the nursery. He peered through the window, hands clasped behind his back, watching the small children and babies on the other side. One toddler smacked another in the head with a toy and he found himself chuckling.

One of the nursery attendants glanced up and saw Mr. Lyle in the window, and crossed to the door to let him inside. "Hello, Mr. Lyle. I understand Mr. Parker has asked you to care for Michael while he's out of town?" Her voice was light and happy, her eyes sparkling and bright.

"It appears that way. Yes," he responded. "Which one is he?"

The attendant laughed. "You've never seen your little brother?"

Mr. Lyle's eyebrows nearly met at a point with his frown. "Why would that be amusing?"

"I'm sorry. I just thought that since you were babysitting that you had done so before." She tried to explain her amusement, but found she was only irritating him further. She crossed the floor to one of the small children, one playing by himself with a set of blocks, and picked him up, carrying him back to the door.

Cocking his head to one side, Mr. Lyle studied the set of blocks where his brother had been playing. He stepped through the room, expertly avoiding every child, and knelt beside the blocks. They had been stacked perfectly in a symmetrical pyramid. Mr. Lyle turned to the nursery attendant. "Did he do this?" he asked, pointing to the blocks.

Nodding, the attendant responded, "Yes." She did not understand why he thought the blocks were so unusual. "Why?"

"No reason." He walked back to the door and knelt before the small boy who had been returned to the floor, studying the small, round face, and clear green eyes. Potentially a remarkable child. "Ready to go?"

The boy turned and wrapped his arms around the nursery attendant's leg, pressing his little face against her knee.

 

[Analise]

Oooooh, Lyle and the baby!

*grins*

*ahem* More more more more more more...

 

[Highlander II]

you'll just have to wait ---

and i need more feedback ---

and i have to write more of it too ------

 

[Highlander II]

Part II

(here's part two -- need more feedback!)


Mr. Lyle sighed. *I am not cut out for this.* "Are all of his things in order?"

"Yes. They're all right here in this diaper bag." She handed the bag to Mr. Lyle, who accepted it reluctantly, and slung it over his shoulder.

"Mr. Lyle, I know this is probably inappropriate and unprecendented, but, my shift ends in about an hour, and if you'd like, I can help you care for Michael." She lifted the toddler from the floor again, handing him to Mr. Lyle.

A split second passed as he contemplated the offer. She was right, it probably was inappropriate, but so was leaving a small child in his care. What the hell had his father been thinking? "What is your name?" he finally asked, not accepting or rejecting her offer.

"My name?" she stammered, not expecting him to ask, and not realizing he did not know.

He scratched his cheek, wondering if he really needed to repeat his question.

"Um. Remi." Her cheeks flushed and she felt suddenly very nervous.

"Fine. Remi. Please, stop by when your shift here is over, and you can help me."

"What are you going to do in the meantime?" She was not trying to pry, she was just wondering if he had any idea what to do with a child.

"On second thought. Is there a chance you can leave now?"

"Maybe. Wait here."

Remi disappeared into the office behind the nursery, for what seemed like forverer to Mr. Lyle. This child might only be a year old, but he was not light. She reappeared with a smile on her face.

"Not a problem. We have a new girl coming in about fifteen minutes from now. Boss said I could leave." She leaned close to Mr. Lyle's ear, much to his displeasure, and whispered, "It probably didn't hurt that I mentioned I was going to help you with Mr. Parker's son."

Mr. Lyle snarled. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did the head nurse not believe him capable of handling a child? He would have her eliminated tomorrow if he discovered that was the case.

Remi was laughing again. "Mr. Lyle, she has no doubt in your abilities; she's just been instructed to make sure Mr. Parker's son is well cared for."

At least someone has confidence in his ability to care for a child. "Can we go?" he asked, exasperated. The sight of several babies crawling toward his Italian leather shoes was making him queasy.

"Of course." Remi smiled again and followed Mr. Lyle through the building to the parking stucture.

*This is so not my day.* He stopped and took a deep breath, controlling his annoyance with everything that had gone wrong with today.

"Come with me," Remi said, clasping onto his elbow and directing him across the parking structure to another vehicle. "We can take my car. I have both enough room and a car seat."

"Thank you." He handed the child to her.

How did she do that? Calm him down and keep him so off-balance? It was unnerving. He was not attracted to her, though she was pretty. Soft, auburn hair that fell in ringlets to her shoulders; deep, brown eyes full of genuine love for all the children in the nursery, and kindness toward him, though he was harsh and abrupt with her. His gaze traveled from her hair down her back and to the curve of her hips as she bent into the car to secure Michael into the carseat. He closed his eyes tight and shook his head. *Great, I'm checking out the babysitter. Who am I, Michael Kennedy?*

He pinched the bridge of his nose, allowing Remi to take the diaper bag and place it in the car.

"Do you want me to drive, Mr. Lyle?" she asked, holding up the keys.

"Actually…" he began.

"No. I don't mind. Here." She tossed him the keys and slid into the passenger's seat.

Mr. Lyle caught the keys, rounded the vehicle, and sat behind the wheel. He keyed the ignition and pulled out of the parking space.

 

[Asmiley]

first was aww
then was LOL
then was snicker snicker
and a giggle
and now I can say Great Fic! Loved every bit of it! sorry I didn't find it before! Can you post more or is part two up today?

 

[Highlander II]

part two went up today -- (21 Nov)

but - if ppl talk real nice and send choccies to my muses - i might put up part 3 --- as a thankies day pressie ----

but ya gotta talk nice - and read my other fics too ---

the 'muse and clone play' in the Gen Discussions thread (Scifimoth's 'ok i'm officially bored' thread)

and the new impromtu one -- "Jack in Fallout" in the SG-1 fic section ----


Mr Lyle is sooooo much fun!

 

[Asmiley]

chioccie on the way... Can I have links foer your other fics I really am strapped for time today.

 

[Highlander II]

Jack in Fallout

Muse and Clone Play


there ya go ------


thanx for the choccie -----

i might get another part up later today -

 

[Asmiley]

Thanx 4 the links! sending even more choccie...(you know how much I love fic.)

 

[Highlander II]

Part III

********

Mr. Lyle's House

Remi volunteered to tote [baby's name] to the house, much to Mr. Lyle's relief. He opened the door, guiding Remi and the child inside, then closed and locked the door. He placed the keys into a basket on the table by the entryway, and toed off his shoes, watching as Remi did the same. She was quite observant.

"You home is not very childproof, Mr. Lyle." Remi placed [baby's name] on the floor in the open space between the couch and a set of chairs, then moved about the room relocating items she felt might be either a danger to the child or in danger from the child.

Mr. Lyle pressed his right thumb into the palm of his left hand. "I hadn't really planned to have visitors who aren't potty trained."

She laughed. "You haven't been around children much, have you?"

"I thought that was rather obvious." He removed his jacket, draping it over a chair. "Not much of a people person." Then, loosened his tie.

"Well," Remi wrinkled her nose, "I suggest you put on some clothes that you won't mind getting dirty. Babies can be messy."

Mr. Lyle glanced down at his clothes, then retrieved his jacket, turned, and stalked to the bedroom. Four days. I only have to make it through four days. Shoot me now. He put a hand to his head, pressing his temple. This was going to be a nightmare.

Clothes. A pair of jeans and a t-shirt, no shoes, just a pair of white socks - never shoes in the house.

He returned to the living room where Remi was hanging up the phone and handing a toy to [baby's name]. "I didn't hear the phone ring."

"Oh, sorry. It didn't. Um, I figured you didn't have any of the necessities, a crib, baby food, that sort of thing, so I called The Centre nursery and asked them to send over some items. I hope that's all right?"

He scratched his head. "Yeah. Fine. Thanks." Remind me to kill my father when he returns from his trip. Rubbing a hand over his hair, he sat on the couch, resting tired, stressed muscles.

 

[Asmiley]

you are so good to me.thanks.

 

[Highlander II]

that's all 'til Monday tho ---- b/c i don't know how much time over the weekend i'll have -- and - well - i just gotta make eveyone beg for more - so on Monday they'll be drooling for more fic --

i'm sooooo bad..... <eg>

 

[Asmiley]

drooling for fic. I'm always up for a good fic. and I alway want more I just don't like to seem too pushy. you know me.

 

[Highlander II]

you? pushy? no way!

hehe -- nah - you're not pushy --

i'll make ya a deal --

post more of your Halloween fic and i'll post more of the Lyle fic!!

 

[Asmiley]

deal.

last post today though see you monday.

 

[Highlander II]

yep -

i may be around some this weekend - but not so much --

however - i will post more on monday ------

 

[Analise]

Hey, H2...it's no longer Monday....where's that fic, young lady???

*poke poke* Produce the fic!

I'm waiting with bated breath!

~ana

 

[Highlander II]

I know i know -- but i didn't get a chance to do this before i left work yesterday - and i don't have a copy at home - or, i don't think i do --- but - here it is .....



The baby giggled and rattled the toy in his hand. Mr. Lyle watched with a raised eyebrow. He would never understand why anyone would ever want one of those things. A baby; a smaller version of a human that was completely dependant on other humans for everything to survive. He turned his head to Remi, "What do babies eat, anyway?"

With a smile, she replied, "Well, that depends on the age of the child. [Baby's name] can eat numerous table foods. He's a year old, and he'll eat just about anything you give him. And some things that he finds on his own."

"Huh?"

"Babies explore their world, and when they find something they think is interesting, they put it in their mouths." She watched his expression - wrinkled nose, squinted eyes. "Do you know anything about babies, Mr. Lyle?"

The snort came through his nose before he could stop it. "No. Never wanted to know." He [leapt] from the couch, stepping over the child, wandering the edge of the room.

"Is something bothering you?" Remi asked, concerned, standing and crossing to him, keeping an eye on the child as she did so.

"No. You hungry?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Great. I'll go get something. If that's all right with you? To stay here with, him."

"[Baby's name]. Yes. That's fine." She smiled at him again. Why did she always do that?

"Anything in particular you'd like to eat?"

"Anything is fine. Thank you."

"I'll be back. Probably thirty minutes, maybe less."

She nodded, watching him cross to the door and step into a pair of workboots, lace and tie them, grab the keys and leave the house. That man was a mystery rolled up in an enigma. She could feel so much pain, could see it in his eyes. His childhood had not been pleasant.

 

[Analise]

You kidding me? His childhood sucked!

Erm, uh...I like. Poor lyle, he has so many issues.

Your muse need any "comforting"?

:naughty:

Moremoremoremoremoremoremoremore

I love fic.

And I LOVE this fic

 

[Highlander II]

Originally posted by Analise
You kidding me? His childhood sucked!

Erm, uh...I like. Poor lyle, he has so many issues.

well - see - Remi doesn't know anything about Lyle's childhood - she only knows Lyle right now - nothing of his past, even the most recent past - she's a nursery attendant -- she's probably never seen any more of The Centre than the nursery and the front door - or the service entrance --

Your muse need any "comforting"? :naughty:

um - dunno -- it's been a while since i wrote that part - and he told me to write it anyway ----- so, if he's in a bad mood, it's his fault! but i can ask him -----

Moremoremoremoremoremoremoremore

I love fic.

And I LOVE this fic

thanx -- i like it too -- Mr. Lyle is fun to write ---- -

i'll try to put up some more later -----

gotta work some now