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"Sorry!" Morgan called out as he kept running after his dog.
He had thought that it was a good idea to let go of Clooney's leash when he was safely in Will and JJ's back garden. Ypu know, like you normally would woth a dog in an enclosed space. And usually Clooney was just fine with that, he wasnt the type of dog to try and jump fences or try and dig under them. Give the dog a toy, and he'd entertain himself.
Henry had been begging to see the dog for weeks now and Morgan and JJ had decided that it would be better for him to bring him to her place rather than try and wrangle both a highly energetic dog and child at the park. That was asking for at least one of the pair ending up in the river. Most likely, both of them and neither Will nor JJ nor Morgan wanted to deal with a soaking wet dog or child. Or the whole process of fishing said child out from the river and coaxing a dog who definitely thought he was part fish from it. It had happened before. So, back garden it was.
Which turned out to he a good idea because now Henry and Clooney were happily running laps in the garden, the former giggling away and the latter with his tongue hanging out, without a care in the world. It looked like both were going to sleep well tonight.
The only problem was that small children and dogs weren't exactly aware of their surroundings when they were running. Which meant a lot of running through things they shouldn't be running through and crashing into people. Both of which Clooney and Henry had managed to do. Several times.
"I just spent an hour raking those leaves into one spot, and your dog just ran away from you into the pile and scattered all the leaves!" JJ scolded him, looking thoroughly exasperated.
"That's hardly my fault! Blame Clooney!"
They both looked over to the dog, who was now sitting right in the middle of aforementioned scattered leaves with his tongue hanging out and a particularly dopey look on his face. Like he knew they were talking about him, and he needed to look as innocent as possible. It was kind of working as JJ's face softened.
"I can’t bring myself to be angry at such a cute dog so I’m gonna be angry at you instead," she informed him, shaking her head and walking over to scratch Clooney behind the ear.
"That's hardly fair."
"It's not fair to be angry at Clooney," Henry proclaimed, wrapping his arms around the now very placid dog.
There was one thing that Clooney liked more than running around, and that was getting hugs and pets. Things Henry was quite willing to lavish liberally on him. And the occasional kiss to which Clooney thoroughly rwciprocated much to JJ's doscomfort. Especially considering Clooney's favourite spot to lick was across your mouth. Yeah, Henry was going to get his mouth disinfected tonight.
"It was your child's fault too!" He tried to redirect her ire.
Which didn't work because all she did was raise an eyebrow at him.
"And who's dog was chasing him into the leaves before?"
"We're taking turns who's chasing who," Henry added helpfully as he had jumped up and was now running past yet again, but this time Clooney was behind him.
"Good job taking turns," she said automatically before she realised what she was saying and shook her head while Derek didn't even try to hide his grin.
She rolled her eyes at him and continued raking the leaves back up into another pile.
"Not a word, Derek Morgan."
"Why are you raking the leaves anyway," he teased. "Isn't that a man's job?"
Of course, it wasn't, but he wasn't about to pass on an opportunity to tease her or to flex his muscles. She threw a punch at him, and it actually hurt his arm. Damn. Maybe he shouldn't have trained her. Not if he was going to get this sort of abuse!
"As if," she snorted. "I grew up raking leaves. I'm an expert."
"If you say so."
"Mommy makes the best leaf piles," Henry said loyally.
"I really do," she said smugly, and it was now Derek's turn to roll his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah."
"She does!" Henry said indignantly, coming quickly to his mother's defence.
"I can see that."
"Well, you can't anymore. Thanks to your dog," she said pointedly.
"Woof," went Clooney helpfully.
Yes, he had dispersed the leaves yet again. This time by digging through them and then running through the falling leaves, making them go even further than before.
"I'm not going to get to jump in the leaves, am I?" Henry asked, looking around at the mess.
"I think Clooney did that for you, buddy," JJ told him.
"He ran through them, mommy."
"He did. We'll rake the leaves up again, and then you can try."
"Maybe when Clooney isn't here."
"Yeah, that would be a good idea," she agreed, nodding. "I need a break before I do that again anyway. Raking is hard work!"
"But you're so strong," Henry said with wide eyes.
"Yeah, JJ," Morgan mocked. "You're so strong."
"Strong enough to take you down," she threatened.
"I knew training you was going to bite me in the ass, one day."
"I'm not going to bite your ass. I'm going to kick it."
"Ew!" Henry scrunched uo his nose. "Who would want to bite someone's butt?"
"When there aren't any kids around," she added, and Morgan rolled his eyes.
"I look forward to it."
"You want mommy to kick your butt?" Henry said with a doubtful look on his face.
Derek gave JJ a helpless look but she just stood there expectantly.
"It's just all in good fun, buddy."
"Oh-kay," Henry said doubtfully.
"Actually," JJ's eyes got this look in them as she turned to her spn, a look that Morgan didn't like. "Clooney ruined the pile on you, didn't he?"
"He didn't mean to, mommy, he's just a dog." Henry defended, giggling as the dog in question licked his face.
JJ smiled. "I know, but I was thinking that to make up for it, Uncle Derek should re-rake the leaves for you. Clooney is his dog, and it is a man's job, after all."
And then she handed him the rake. Which he stupidly grabbed from her. It was an automatic reaction.
"Wait, what?" He asked as JJ stepped away, looking thoroughly amused.
"Oh, please, Uncle Derek! I want to junp! Maybe this time with Clooney!"
"Woof!" Clooney barked in agreement.
Oh, come on! How was he supposed to resist two pairs of puppy eyes pleading with him?