12 Days of Ficmas - Day Twelve: Cunning

[cybermathwitch]

Title: Cunning

Author: Koren M.

Rating: PG

'Ship:  Kara/Lee

Disclaimer: Not mine.  They're Ron Moore, David Eick, and the SciFi Channel's

Warnings: none

Spoilers:  Hmm... depends on how you look at it - if you want to be *completely* safe, then through the first half of season three.  But it's incredibly tiny.

Summary:  Some things are hereditary.

Notes: Thanks to ez_as_pi  for the beta.

 

Cunning

Lee looks at his little girl, and despairs, not for the first time, that she's inherited her mother's cunning.  Mina is currently hanging by her knees from the grab bar along the top rack of the bunks, hanging upside down and trying to reach into the alcove shelf where she happens to know for a certainty that her Uncle Karl keeps his stash of lollipops.

"Mina?"

She looks up, startled, but instead of that expression melting into guilt, as it would with most normal four year olds, it melts into glee, and completely unabashed pride with herself.  Without an ounce of fear she chirped,  "Hi Daddy!"

"What are you doing, sweetie?"  He steps into the room and gives her his best "fatherly" look - the one he learned from his own father when he was a little boy.

"Hanging upside down."

"I can see that."  Must.  Not.  Laugh.  He tells himself this, trying very hard to remain stern.  "Why are you hanging upside down?"

"I'm trying to reach Uncle Karl's lollipops."

"Oh.  You know that you shouldn't be taking things from other people, right?  Stealing is wrong, Mina."

"I'm not gonna steal them.  Not for permanent."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Mommy wants them.  I overheard her talking to Uncle Galen about using them as bait."

Lee closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.  "Does mommy know you're here?"  He knows - knows that Kara would never have sent her to do this.

"Nope.  I was gonna pursprise her."

"Surprise, sweetie - and do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be hanging like that?"

She makes a face, one that so resembles his wife's that his heart wants to stop for just a moment, to pause in a time out of time and savor this wonder they've created.

Unfortunately, time doesn't work that way.  And right now, he needs to get her down.  Lee reaches out and lets her wrap her skinny little arms around his neck, then untangles her legs and flips her upright.  "Who's supposed to be watching you right now, anyway, kiddo?"

"Aunt Cally.  But she's taking a nap with Nicholas and Evan."

"Aren't you supposed to be taking a nap, too?"

This time she has the grace to look sheepish.  "Maybe.  But I wasn't tired."

"Well, it's time to go back to Aunt Cally, sweetie - and this time I want you to stay there.  You'll worry her if she wakes up and you're not there, ok?  She'd miss you."

She looks almost heartbroken, and he knows it's at the thought that she might've upset Cally.  "I'm sorry."

"It's ok sweetie.  Just don't do it again, alright?"

"Ok."

"Wait!"  she hollers, as they're starting out of the room.  "What about the candy?"

Lee rolls his eyes.  "Let Mommy get her own bait, honey.  She's more than capable."

 

 

Comments

[arielmoondance.livejournal.com]

Absolutely lovely! Mina is spunky and adorable. Lee has his hands full!

[cybermathwitch.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)