Birthday Wishes (Mama T/Jorge)

Jorge sighed as he stirred the boiling pot of noodles that churned and let out cloud after cloud of steam. The warmth of it brushed over his cheeks as he stirred, turning the once rigid pasta into long, malleable noodles that curled and attempted to cling onto the wooden spoon. They were always completely cooked all the way through, but he did not want to pull them too soon. Otherwise they would taste underdone. On top of that if he let them cook for too long they would burn and be completely rough, rubbery, and absolutely flavorless.

Yup, Jorge did enjoy cooking. Everyday stuff was fun, but what he loved cooking for was special occasions. Today was definitely a special occasion, it was Chase’s birthday.

As Jorge turned to his skillet, he began to mix the mixture of tomato sauce, beef, and seasonings, as he reached into his spice rack to pull down a small jar which contained oregano. Shaking a few of the flakes into the sauce, his mind began to dash to the reason he was doing this.

Gemma Taylor, his significant other, had adopted the boy in order to keep him at the mansion and away from his cruel parents. The action came as a bit of a shock to Jorge, after all, his first day hearing about it was the day of the mediation. Now his girlfriend of over a year, suddenly had a new 8 year old (9 year old today) son. Jorge understood though, after all, he did not want Chase to return to an abusive home either. And though, for half a second, he was partially hurt because Gemma had not told him about her plan beforehand, it quickly passed. They talked, they were fine, and everything was well.

Since then, Jorge has had a few meetings with Chase. The boy was really sweet but extra shy around him. To be honest, Jorge was not surprised since this was an entire new thing for the boy. To having loving attention from adults probably came as a bit of a shock, especially after his upbringing. The knowledge of that was upsetting, though. To know that Chase had never really so much as celebrated his birthday, since he was born, that was truly heartbreaking.

That was why they had to pull out all the stops today. Chase had actually wanted to include him in his birthday by wanting a small get together at his apartment. Though Jorge was partially sure that that was motivated because he also wanted to spend time with Lizzie (Lizzie adored Chase for whatever reason), Jorge was only too happy to oblige. On the agenda was dinner, cake, movies, presents, and just generally hanging out. If it meant that it would make Chase more comfortable around him then so be it!

Sizzzzzle

He stirred the sauce and enjoyed the scent of it. He hoped that Chase would like it. He also hoped that the boy would like the birthday presents he had gotten him. Even though Gemma told him he didn’t have to, he insisted and was happy to do so. The last gift he bought was for a cousin’s daughter, but other than that, that was it. It was actually more difficult than he thought but Jorge finally managed to find something that he hoped the boy would like.

Another stirring of the sauce, another stir of the noodles, and Jorge lowered the flames on both so that they could simmer and not burn. Once that was taken care of, he knelt down and opened his oven. The smell of thick cut garlic bread wafted across his nose. A peek inside and he saw that it still needed a couple minutes. Good!

KnockKnockKnock![/b]

He peeked up, glanced at the clock, realized it was them. Perfect timing! Standing, the detective, dressed simply in a pair of blue jeans and his loose Miami Dolphins T-shirt, he made his way to the door. A peek through the peephole and he already spied Gemma’s familiar face. A quick turn of the knob and he swung the door open with a warm smile.

“Hey you two,” he said with a grin. “Come on in! You’re just on tim—

ScamperScamperScamper!!![/b]

Jorge felt the small beast as it ran from behind him, through his legs, and excitedly began to lick and nip at Chase’s shoelaces in order to encourage him to play. Lizzie, his old English bulldog, excitedly barked and demanded full attention from Chase as she circled and continued to bite at his shoes.

“Lizzie!” Jorge said with a laugh. “Behave yourself young lady…”

Gemma laughed as Chase got sneak attacked by Lizzie, and stepped carefully over the dog before she leaned up to kiss Jorge on the cheek. Once they all managed to get out of the doorway and close the door, whe let Chase play with the bulldog, and walked to the kitchen to deposit all the shopping bags she had been carrying.

"Something smells good in here" she remarked with a smile, peering at the plates and bowls that covered all the kitchen surfaces "Do you need help with anything?"

She could hear the growling and laughing from the other room, and that made her smile. Chase might have been shy around Jorge, but nothing said normal childhood more than a nine-year-old playing with a dog...

Gemma and Jorge were in the kitchen, conversing lightly about the meal. Chase, all the while, was giving Lizzie some love and trying desperately to avoid getting slimed by the bulldog's slobbering, pink tongue. Lizzie gave a soft growl at the resistance, and scampered away, leaving Chase sitting on the floor in mild confusion. He loked towards Gemma and Jorge again. Perhaps he should join them? Chase caught Jorge watching him and Lizzie, at which the detective gave a grin and a nod.

Chase smiled silently back, with an air of hesitance and warmth, before he returned his attention to the bulldog, who had returned after a momentary interlude with a toy grasped between her teeth. It seemed to be a large segment of colored rope, which had the express purpose of being utilized as a toy for tug-of-war.

"Whatcha have there, Lizzie?" Chase murmured an inquiry, taking hold of the rope toy and giving it a tug. Lizzie gave a warning growl at the yank, and Chase smiled again, "Do you have a toy? Can I have it?" Another yank, another growl, and then the duel ensued. Lizzie was tugging on one end of the rope, digging her canine feet into the floor as she pulled with all of her might. It was a formidable battle, which led Chase to seek more leverage against the dog by getting to his feet and positioning them apart on the floor, so that he, too, was utilizing his entire body in the game of tug of war.

The two fought long and hard, but Chases' hands were weak, and he ultimately lost his hold on the rope, and landed on his butt in a giggling fit as Lizzie reigned victorious. The old bulldog trotted about proudly, before realizing that her playmate had fallen. Chase's giggles faded as she drew closer inquiringly, whilst Chase laid very still, a smile on his lips. The bulldog drew so close, her nose touched his cheek, and Lizzie sniffed Chase's face with a huff.

"You killied me, Lizard," Chase rasped, "I can't go on."

Of course Lizzie was probably short for "Elizabeth", but Chase much preferred to call the dog "Lizard". The dog huffed again, moving on to nose Chase's forehead and sniff his hair, rope still tightly grasped in her mouth. Chase shifted his attention ever so slowly, and then-- BAM, counterattack. He latched onto the rope and began tugging once again.

>> "Mmm, that's perfect. I knew I should let you handle the cooking. I might not ever cook again.”

Jorge smirked and laughed at that comment. He really had no problem cooking since that was one of his favorite things to do. It was such a cathartic experience, one which calmed him, allowed him to work out problems, or just plain allow himself to embrace nothing but the cooking. He was sure that if he had not turned out to want to be a police officer, Jorge probably would have stepped into the culinary field. Two completely different paths in life, but the detective was thankful the way it turned out.

“Sure, so long as you don’t mind setting the table from now on,” he chuckled.

Once he returned to cooking he heard the sounds of Lizzie and Chase playing in the other room. He had to smirk as he turned the sauce off, not wanting it to burn. Those two really seemed to like one another and he was happy for it. If there was one thing he would have disliked it would have been for Chase to come over and completely be bored out of his mind or hate being in his presence.

Chase was shy, Jorge could be intimidating, but thankfully Lizzie was there was a good buffer between the two of them. It was then that he had asked if Chase had issue with being here, after all, it was the kid’s birthday and he didn’t want for him to be someplace he really didn’t want to be.

>> "None whatsoever…He was really excited about coming here. I think, after all the adventures he had, spending a quiet day in makes him more excited than an amusement park."

He smirked.

“That’s good. I mean, not good that he had to go through so much,” he replied as he pulled the pot of boiling pasta off the burner. “But good that he doesn’t mind being here. I can certainly understand.”

>> "You killied me, Lizard…I can't go on."

A glance to the living room and he chuckled as Lizzie was suddenly pulled into another tug-of-war with Chase.

“Uh-oh, am I going to have to haul you off to jail, Lizzie?” he said with mock sternness.

Lizzie paused and tilted her head towards her master, the rope hanging loosely in her mouth. Apparently this served as the perfect distraction as Chase immediately jumped onto the moment to continue the tug-of-war.That dog was certainly more spry than he was used to her being. He played the game a few times with her before but Lizzie was always quick to stop and lay across his lap, wanting him to read. With Chase it was different. The kid brought out the puppy in Lizzie and Jorge liked that.

Shaking his head with a laugh, the detective knelt down and opened his oven. Instead he could see that the bread was toasting but it was not there just quite yet.

He turned his attention back to Gemma.

“Well, it’s almost done,” he said with a sigh as he straightened up. “Want help from a strapping man to set the table?” he grinned as he flexed and posed in a rather humorous way.

>>“That’s good. I mean, not good that he had to go through so much. But good that he doesn’t mind being here. I can certainly understand.”

Gemma smiled, and finished putting the groceries away. She knew Chase and Jorge would eventually get used to each other. If her grown-up kids could get to like Jorge, Chase most certainly would. If no one else, Lizzie would make sure of that.

>>“Well, it’s almost done. Want help from a strapping man to set the table?”

"If only I could find one" she chuckled, opening the cupboards.

>>"Can I help, too?"

Gemma turned to grin at Chase.

"Oh look, there is one. Sure, Chase, I could use some help."

They set the table together, with plates, glasses, silverware and all. It looked quite nice; Gemma even folded the napkins to make it look more birthday-ready. Chase got to sit at the head of the table (after he washed his hands).

"Let the feast begin" Gemma smiled, nodding to Jorge. They were ready to eat.

Gemma pretended to search for a strong man, at Jorge's offer, and Jorge feigned offense. She turned when Chase spoke, wearing a grin.

>> "Oh look, there is one. Sure, Chase, I could use some help."

>> “Smart decision. He definitely stronger than me. I’m old.”

Chase grinned in response, puffing his chest out proudly at the humored sentiments. However ironic the statements were, they still made Chase even more eager to help. Chase and Gemma handled the table-- Chase took-on the plates and glasses, which didn't require as much formality as the napkins and silverwear. He was then sent to wash-up, and when he returned, he was directed towards the seat at the head of the table.

The head of the table?

Chase reverently took his seat at the head, wriggling into the chair until he was situated, and glancing towards Gemma.

>> "Let the feast begin"

>> “Alright, it’s coming!"

Takin his cue, Jorge strode into the dining room, bearing bowls full of food. He spied Chase, giving him a goofy bow, and Chase muffled a laugh, watching the detective closely. Jorge could be so silly sometimes.

>> “Me lord Chase, I hope dinner is to your liking.”

"It looks delicious," Chase assured Jorge, bowing his head towards the plate.

With another bow, Jorge retreated into the kitchen once more, and returned bearing bread. Chase waited politely, his hands wedged under his legs, as Jorge deposited the bread.

"Thank you for having us over for my birthday, Jorge," Chase mumbled, shifting slightly and smiling as he spoke. His gaze flicked to the detective, to Gemma for approval, and then back to Jorge. Chase had really wanted to come to Jorge's for his birthday, but he didn't have the nerve to say that.