Title: Lullaby and Goodnight

Author: J.D. Rush

Series: Big Things; takes place after 'Can I Have This Dance?'

Rating:  G

Summary: Billy is cranky and Frohike sets out to remedy it.

Disclaimer: FOX, 1013, CC. . .I think we all know the song by now.

Lullaby and Goodnight:

Saturday, April 20, 2002

"Ohhhh, yeah. . .come to Papa. . ."

Melvin Frohike was excited. All his diligence was finally paying off. After hours of trying, he had finally hacked into a particularly secure site, one even Langly had given up on. <Eat MY Kung Foo, you amateur>, he gleefully thought. 

He had no sooner started reaping the rewards of his hard work when he heard a sudden series of cries erupt from William's playpen set up in the corner of the living room. "Damn," he muttered under his breath, and with one final wistful glance at the computer monitor, he heaved himself up and hustled over to his son. 

"Hey, little man," he said softly as he lifted the howling infant. "What's going on?" He automatically checked the diaper, and finding it dry, next inquired, "Are you thirsty? Want some juice? C'mon." Hefting the child onto his hip, he headed for the kitchen.

Opening the fridge door, he ran down the inventory, "Okay, you've got grape and apple and that white cranberry and peach stuff you really like. Want some of that?" Taking the small baby bottle of juice from the rack, he tried to share it with the distressed child, but William simply pushed the bottle away and continued to cry.

"Allrighty, THAT'S not it. Are you hungry, maybe?" Seeing a box of animal crackers on the counter, he shook a few out and tried to tempt the cranky child. Again, his hand was unceremoniously pushed away, and the blubbering went on unabated.

Sighing heavily, Mel dropped the cookie, and turned his total attention to his son. "So you're not hungry. You're not thirsty. You don't need to be changed. What IS the problem, Billy-boy?" Just once Frohike wished he'd get an actual answer--he hated playing this guessing game until he could figure out what the child wanted. But no answering was forthcoming--the only response William gave was to cry some more.

"Hey, hey, Billy--keep it down to a low roar. Your mommy's trying to take a nap." Dana had been up half the night grading exams, and had retired a short time earlier for a mid-day siesta. Frohike had assured her he'd keep an eye on Billy and would awaken her in time for dinner. But if he had known their son would be in this kind of mood, he might not have offered at all.

Completely at his wit's end, Frohike wandered back into the living room and sat down in the rocking chair he had gotten his wife for Christmas. Cradling the still- wailing child in his arms, he began to gently rock.

"What can I do for you, eh, Billy? Did you have a bad dream maybe, kiddo?" Frohike noticed that the gentle rhythm of the rocking and the soft voice he was using seemed to be getting to the child, as William began to calm down. "I bet that's what it was, huh?" Frohike continued, softly. "A nasty dream. And you're just cranky 'cause your nap was interrupted. You need to go back to sleep, and I think a little Chairman of the Board will do the trick nicely."

Having said that, Mel reached over and turned on the CD player near his computer station; the Sinatra disk that was already in the machine started to play. He lowered the volume, and let the melodious music flow around them. William almost instantly quieted down and snuggled against his father, a soft contented gurgling issuing from his tiny mouth.

Frohike continued to rock his now-sleeping son as he hummed along to Ol' Blue Eyes. This was his favorite album, and he knew it by heart. When 'Nancy' came on, Mel started singing along, changing the words without even realizing it:

"If I don't see her each day I miss her

Gee, what a thrill each time I kiss her,

Believe me, I've got a case,

On Dana, with the laughing face.

"She takes winter and makes it summer,

And summer could take some lessons from her,

Picture a tomboy in lace,

That's Dana with the laughing face.

Have you ever heard mission bells ringing?

Well she'll give you the very same glow,

When she speaks you would think it was singing,

Just hear her say hello.

I swear to goodness I can't resist her,

She's mighty sweet--and so was her sister,

No angel can replace,

My Dana with the laughing face."

And from the opposite corner of the room, Dana Scully spied, unobserved, on the two most special and beloved men in her life. Brushing a tear from her eye, she smiled and headed back to bed.

Words and music by Silvers/Van Heusen. (words altered to fit story.)

THE END