Jack was curled up on the couch with Lexi laying her back on his chest as they watched Finding Nemo. Lexi's eyes were glued to the screen as the colorful fish swam around totally keeping her attention. She was fussy today and that's all Jack could figure out what will keep her still.

Today was also her doctors appointment to get her hearing checked out again and a normal check up. But one thing was missing. Alex wasn't home.

Alex was supposed to be home three hours ago so they could have lunch and so he could have a chance to shower but he was still at the station. Or at least that's what Jack thought. Alex wasn't answering his calls.

Jack's anxiety began to rise as he looked at the clock on the wall and saw they had at least forty five minuets until they needed to leave the house. He was just about to pick up his phone again to call his late husband until he heard the familiar key in the lock sound and Alex tumbling in through the door. Jack sent him a cold glare as he straightened himself up to get a better look at his husband.

Alex's dark hair was sweaty and stuck to his forehead despite the cold winter outside. His clothes not too far behind. His skin was red and he had dirt marks all over his face and arms like he had just been in a dirt war. He was also trying to catch his breath.

"Let me explain." Alex gasped, hands flying up in the air as he tried to kick off his boots by the door.

Jack's hip popped out as his grip on Lexi tightened slightly, scowl evident on his face, "Go ahead."

Alex spilled out quickly how he got caught up in a call that held him back a little longer than the expected and how he got held back at the station to clean every ones gear. And also how all of the fire trucks needed to be put back into position to where they'd be able to roll out when needed, meaning he had to do it all by himself. All of this was said as he was ripping off his uniform trying to wipe himself down with baby wipes since he didn't have time to take a shower.

"So that's why you're late, hm?" Jack asked with a serious yet slightly confused look on his face.

"Yeah! Do you think I'm lying to you?" Alex spat as he pulled up a pair of skinny jeans.

"So basically you're telling me that the fire department is more important to you than our daughters health?!" Jack all but shouted, instantly regretting it when Lexi whimpered at the vibrations in his chest.

Alex's face dropped but was soon turned into a glare, "Jack, I don't know what's going on through your head but this is my job, babe. My life. My job is what pays for the bills in this house and her damn doctors appointments and your damn skin graphs!"

Tears welled up in Jack's eyes as he felt the sinking in his chest, totally taken aback by that statement, "So we're not as important as your job? Alex, if you had to fucking choose between us and your job what would you pick?"

Jack didn't ever think that he'd see such an emotion on his husbands face at that question, Alex's fists clenching closed, "Don't you even dare ask me that kind of question."

That fight continued for a good while, Lexi cutting them off by her crying but it ended with Alex saying of fucking course he'd choose them.

"Just get in the truck." Alex sighed, head hung low.

Jack obeyed, carrying Lexi outside quickly to strap her into her car seat and closing the door before any more cold air could get in.

Alex was jogging out to the car, stopping when he came face to face with Jack. He looked at him with a broken face, a small side smile.

"I'm sorry, baby. I really am. I didn't mean to be late." Alex said softly, hand coming up to run through Jack's limp hair, twirling a strand with his fingers.

Jack just shrugged, head hung low as his foot dug into the crunchy snow. Alex forced Jack to look at him by grabbing him by the chin and lifting his head up to be level with his.

"I love you." Alex whispered as he pulled Jack in for a soft kiss.

"Love you too." Jack mumbled against his lips.

"C'mon, let's get little booger to the doctor."

~

"Your daughter is perfectly healthy." Doctor Shomo assured, clip board on his lap.

"And her hearing?" Alex asked, lips pursed.

"Well she is in fact deaf but from the tests I ran, she can hear a tiny bit. Not enough to make a difference though so she's still legally deaf. But you guys do have an option." Doctor Shomo explained.

Jack cuddled Lexi into his chest as his thumb rubbed circles on her ear, "What's that option?"

"Well, she is in fact eligible for Cochlear implants. But it is totally up to you guys whether or not you want to do that for her."

Jack nervously glanced at his husband who shrugged softly. His gaze landed back on his small daughter who was sucking on the same pacifier as Christmas morning.

"Can you give us a minuet to talk about it, doctor?" Alex asked with a small smile.

Doctor Shomo nodded and walked out of the pink butterfly decorated room leaving the family to themselves.

"What do you say?" Alex sighed, chin resting on his hand.

"I-I don't know. I want Lexi to have a say in it." Jack shrugged as he pushed the pacifier back into her mouth.

"But babe, hearing is one of the most important parts in being an infant. She needs to be able to hear." Alex pushed.

"She's been doing just fine so far!" Jack whisper shouted, pouting.

"She's probably going to have to have speech therapy, also." Alex added.

"I don't care what we have to do, Alex. She should have a say whether or not she wants to be able to hear." Jack said sternly, that same scowl on his face as earlier.

"So what i-" Alex got cut off by Doctor Shomo coming back into the room.

"Made your decision?" He asked.

"I want Lexi to be able to decide." Jack said.

"How? She's only two months." Doctor Shomo chuckled.

"Well we're gonna wait until she's old enough to sign and tell us what she wants." Jack said simply.

Notes

What do you think is best for Lexi? Should they go ahead and get her the implants so she can hear? Or wait until she can learn sign language to tell them what she wants?

And if you guys will actually comment this time there might be some different kind of smut in the next chapter... (Different as in Alex bottoming lol) but only if I get a fair amount of comments. I got nothing on here for the last chapter which was three days ago...

And just a PSA, I'm really busy now. I play softball and now have a job. So I'm still going to try and update as much as possible so leave me comments and it'll motivate me to update quicker even if I'm tired! Not getting comments brings me down. I really like when the comments reflect on something that happened in that chapter or what should happen in the next is the best, though. But even ones that just say great chapter or whatever is just as good.