Technically it's what you asked for though technically it's not exactly what you wanted but that's just a technicality

***********************************

This man was an idiot. True, Mason knew most of the human race to be idiots but this man seemed to be an exceptional case. The galling fact of this man's idiocy was that Mason had to work with him and not let him know how much of an idiot he thought him to be.

"Stop looking around," Mason said into the mic, watching his computer screen. "If you keep doing that the hotel staff will think you're suspicious."

The man in his mid-twenties sitting on a chair in the hotel's lobby reached up to touch the comm in his ear.

"Don't touch your ear!" Mason snapped.

An idiot. An idiot of the highest level. This man could win an award for how completely stupid he was. How did he make it into the FBI? Was the bar so low that anyone could waltz right in and get a job?

Granted, this man was as plain as a person could be and that worked as an advantage, he would go unnoticed. But that couldn't be the only reason he got a job.

"I will let you know when to move," Mason said. "So stop acting skittish."

A rookie. How had he been saddled with a rookie? And on the last week he would be at the job for a few months. Fine, Mason would acknowledge this assignment was perfect for a rookie. Plant a bug. In and out. So simple a baby could do it.

A baby.

Mason laced his hands behind his head. Three weeks and a new baby would be in the world.

His baby.

Mason dragged a hand down his face. That thought didn't terrify him. No. It was simply a logical step that followed months of Yvette being pregnant. He knew it was coming and therefore didn't need to be nervous about it. Which he wasn't.

"Stop looking at the elevators," Mason said.

He'd never admit it, but he hated Carter and Donovan. Fine, it was possible that he'd admit that. But not why he hated them.

He hated them because they left the FBI and left him to deal with idiots. Idiots that when he insulted them merely took the insults. Which showed their level of idiocy. Who simply accepted an insult and didn't return it?

Also the idiots around him didn't do their jobs with the same level of efficiency and flair as Carter and Donovan. It had been months since a warehouse had been blow up. What was the point of taking down a drug cartel if a warehouse wasn't destroyed in the process?

He really hated them for leaving him.

He wasn't pathetic enough to quit and join Clint Keller's consulting company. He was not that desperate. Besides, he hated them. Why would he work with them again?

"All right," Mason said, watching as a polished man in his thirties exited the elevator, heading towards the bar. Their target: Frank Wright. "You can move. Smoothly. And for goodness sake don't glance around you."

Agent Jones stood and crossed to the elevators. Agent. Mason still didn't understand how he'd gotten the position but at least this task would be easily finished and he could go home. He'd happily run around and do any small things Yvette needed so she didn't have to move. As long as he didn't have to deal with Agent Jones for a long time.

In his own hotel room, sitting in front of three different computers with dozens of camera angles, Mason watched Jones exit the elevator as Frank Wright took a seat at the bar.

"Do not look behind you," Mason said, rubbing his eyes. Jones' ineptitude was starting to give him a headache. "You are walking to the room that you have every right to be in. If you look behind you someone on the security camera might think you are doing something wrong."

Jones nodded.

"Stop reacting to my voice," Mason said, barely holding back the ending of his sentence: you idiot.

Mason glanced to Frank, who now had a drink in front of him. Mason knew who he was, even if he hadn't read the man's profile. He'd met him before at political functions. He fit the description of most people he'd met at those events, pompous and boring.

But that didn't change the fact that he had enough secure information that he seemed to be selling to other governments. Mason merely had to confirm it.

"The key card will work," Mason said as he noticed Jones hesitating at the door.

Nepotism. That was the only explanation for this kid making it this far.

Mason took a sip of his now lukewarm coffee. One more week and he could be home. The mobile still needed to be assembled. Mason still had the five Disney paintings by Kincade that he had to hang in the nursery. They were more interesting to look at that childish cartoons.

"Why are you looking around?" Mason said. "Plant the bugs and get out of there."

Mason swore if this idiot didn't know the right places to plant bugs, he was going to let Owens shoot him.

Luckily, Jones was safe as he went to the telephone and knelt down by it. The device was broken apart when Mason noticed Frank rising from his seat.

"Our man is on the move," Mason said. "Plant the bug and leave."

What should have happened, what would have happened if Carter or Donovan had been on the assignment was the exactly as Mason instructed. They would have calmly planted the bug, easily reassembled the phone, and slipped out without anyone knowing.

But since Mason was dealing with the highest of all idiots, that was not what happened. Instead, Jones fumbled and started hurrying which made his movements more chaotic. Mason swore, having no problem letting Jones feel his frustration in that moment. The elevators dinged open and Frank walked back into the hallway.

"Don't leave that room!" Mason yelled at Jones. "I'm covering you. When you hear Frank and I leave, finish planting the bugs and leave."

Growling, Mason snatched up his room key card and left his suite. Dressed as usual in a suit without the jacket, Mason looked polished and in control. By the time he moved in to intercept Frank, he'd managed to hide his utter fury at Jones.

Mason sauntered down the hallway, one hand in his pocket and flipping his key card. He knew the action would draw the eye. When Frank glanced from the twirling key card to Mason, he paused. Mason merely nodded at him and kept walking.

"Mason Douglas?" Frank said.

Mason causally turned back and eyed Frank as if he wasn't sure that he knew him. This lack of recognition always spurred people on, wanting to know they'd made an impression on the former First Son. Mason had seen it countless times. What came next was the list of places there'd encountered each other.

Frank took a step closer to Mason. From Carter, Mason knew this was a good sign, a sign that Frank was already interested in having a conversation with Mason.

"We met a few months ago at the Anderson campaign dinner," Frank said.

Mason paused for a second then smiled as if he remembered. "Frank. Frank Wright."

Frank grinned as if he'd won a prize and held out his hand. Mason took a second to shake it, putting himself in control. Making Frank feel as if he needed to continue to work for Mason's attention.

"Yes," Frank said. "I don't know what you planned to do, but can I offer you a drink?"

He pointed to his room.

"Yes but I prefer the hotel bar. I planned to get dinner. You are free to join me if you want."

Again, Mason kept his tone aloof as if Frank's presence wouldn't matter either way to Mason.

"That would be great," Frank said, quickly falling into step beside Mason.

Mason threw mental thought back to Jones. If he couldn't get the bugs planted and leave the room within the time of Mason getting dinner, if didn't matter who he was related to, Mason would make it impossible for him to get a job anywhere other than a juice place. And even then, he'd have to work hard.

"What have you been up to lately?" Frank asked as they rode the elevator.

Mason made a vague gesture, falling into the role of entitled peer.

"Managing my family's properties," Mason said easily.

"That must take work."

"We have over fifteen buildings to our name. So I guess you could say it takes work."

As they reached the lobby, Frank wore the look Mason knew too well: subtle hunger. It was a strange emotion to have directed at him but one he understood. People wanted to be him, be connected to him.

At least seeing this reaction from Frank made Mason's task easier. And possibly, if he navigated the conversation right, he could pry some truths from Frank.

A two hundred dollar meal, many drinks, and three hours later, Mason never wanted to see Frank Wright ever again. And if he did, he wasn't sure what the results would be. Not only was the man boring as a brick, he believed himself to be the smartest person in the world. At least his ego meant with some alcohol in him, he let slip a few pieces of information.

Mason smiled and shook Frank's hand at his door.

"We have to do this again," Frank said.

"I completely agree," Mason said, somehow managing to sound sincere.

With a nod, Mason left Frank, listening to him as he unlocked his door and stepped inside. Three hours. Jones would have had to knock himself unconscious to not be able to have made it out in time.

But when Mason unlocked his own room and walked in, he found Jones there. Along with another agent. Before either of them could speak, Mason held up his hand.

"I need to write down things Frank said and then you can talk," Mason said.

"Mason, this can't-" the agent started.

"One minute," Mason snapped, his patience having been stretched to its limit.

He wasn't going to let the most boring three hours of his life be for nothing. Quickly, he laid out his report and mentioned time stamps that could be referenced. He spun in his chair.

"What is it?" he asked.

"We got a call, your wife went into labor," the agent said.

Mason froze then grabbed his phone he'd left behind. An endless list of calls and texts filled the screen. The most horrifying part of it being how long ago the first one had come in. Hours.

He yanked his suit jacket off his chair. "Jones you are the world's biggest idiot and I never want to work with you again!" He turned to the agent. "I'm leaving, report me for all I care!"

Mason raced out of the room and sprinted to the stairwell. As he descended the stairs, he threw out every possible curse he could think of, aiming them all at Jones. That man was lucky Mason had to get to the hospital or he'd have strangled him right then and there.

How Mason got to the hospital without breaking every traffic law, he didn't even know himself. He stormed inside and found the lobby crammed with Yvette's cousins.

"Where have you been?"

"Why didn't you answer you phone?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"How could you do this?"

"What were you thinking?"

The Spanish tirade slammed into Mason but he was too fueled by pure anger to even feel the attack.

"Obviously, I was napping because I really wanted to miss the birth of my daughter!" Mason shot back. "Where is she?"

He barely listened to the rest of the comments, only the one that gave him directions. He reached the room with Yvette and her parents, ready to step in, to let his hand be broken by her grip if need be. He'd planned for it. He'd prepared himself for it. He'd be as much a part of it as he could be.

But what he found slapped him across the face in a way that made him stagger. Yvette asleep and no baby.

"What is going on?" he said.

He wanted the words to come out demanding but they came out weak.

Yvette's mother rose and smiled at him softly but with a touch of something else.

"It's all right," she said. "Yvette is fine. The baby is fine. She's in the ICU. Because she came so early and so fast the doctor wants to make sure she's okay."

His baby girl.

His baby girl was here.

She was here and he'd missed it.

Mason stormed out of the room, nearly running into a group of nurses about to enter.

"What the hell is my wife doing in this room?" he asked.

"I'm sorry-"

"Move her to a VIP room now."

"I'm sorry, but those rooms are for-"

Mason narrowed his eyes. "Do you want me to call Director Howard and explain to him why my family will be withdrawing our support of this hospital? I'm sure Richard would love to know why."

"We can move her right away," one of the nurses said.

"Then do it."

The group rushed to handle the changing of rooms. When Yvette's bed rolled out, she opened her eyes and peered up at Mason. She smiled and Mason felt his heart shatter inside his chest.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I- I'm so sorry."

Yvette smiled tiredly. "Go check on our girl for me."

"Where's my daughter?" Mason asked one of the nurses.

Detaching herself from the rest, the nurse led him to the ICU.

"There's your daughter," she said, pointing through a glass window to where a tiny baby laid cocooned in clear case, hooked up to a monitor.

"She's beautiful," the nurse said.

Mason didn't answer. He stared at his daughter. So tiny. He'd never known a person could be so small. So small and so perfect. Because she was, she was perfect. Her face. Her eyelids. Her cheeks. Her chin barely visible above the blanket. All of her was perfect.

Mason curled his fists. He would never let her down. Never again would he fail her like he'd failed her today. He missed her first breaths in this world. He missed hearing her first scream.

Never. Never again. He'd never fail her like this. She'd want for nothing. He would make sure of that.

He'd missed it.

"I heard you managed to terrorize the entire staff within minutes of arriving," Carter said. "That is impressive."

Mason didn't respond. Didn't take his eyes off the most precious thing in his life.

"I have an idiot I want you to kill," Mason said.

"All right. Seems a fitting gift to your daughter on her birthday."

"Owens-"

"You could not have predicted this," Carter said, her tone changing, softening.

"I-"

"No. You are not going down that road because you have a wife who needs you and a daughter who needs you. It happened. It's done. You can not change it."

Mason tightened his fists. "I will give her everything in this world," he vowed.

"I'm going to tell you what she wants," Carter said. "You. Your love. That's it."

Finally, Mason took his eyes off his baby.

"I don't remember every gift Captain gave me," Carter said. "What I remember are the hugs, the kisses, the time he gave me. Helping me with homework. Teaching me to ride a bike. Instructing me on how to throw a punch. All I remember is his love. That's all a daughter wants from her father."

Mason ducked his head, his throat constricting, his eyes stinging. "But I already failed her."

Carter put a hand on his shoulder. "No, you'll fail her if there ever comes a day you stop loving her. And that will never happen."

Raising his head, Mason stared at his daughter through blurry vision. "How do you know I won't fail even at that?"

"Because as one of the very few people you've let into your heart, I know there's not a more secure place to be. And I'm not even someone you like all that much."

Mason felt his lips twitch despite himself.

The door to the ICU opened and a nurse stuck his head out, smiling. "Mr. Douglas, do you want to meet your daughter?"

Mason left Carter. When he finally got to approach his daughter, Mason felt his heart expand inside his chest. He peered down at her, taking the complete perfection of her. He'd never known a person could command all of his heart simply by being. But he felt it, no longer did his heart belong to himself but to her. His baby girl.

Mason leaned in closer and whispered the only words that mattered. The only ones that would ever matter.

"I love you, Sophia. I always will."

************************************************************************

Noodle!

(This is where you respond with an equally adorable nickname for me. If you don't I will be deeply offended)

It's not what you wanted. I know this. You probably wanted a version more like Kennedy's birth. But here's the thing, I don't do repeats. So this is what came instead.

Go ahead and tell me your thoughts on it. 🗯💭💬👨‍🍼

And yes, I have created a gang with the sole purpose of taking Agent Jones out of Mason's life forever. Let's face it that level of idiocy just shouldn't be around Mason. He's likely to do something idiotic himself in response to it. And he'd a dad now, he has to be there for his baby girl. 

In other news that's not at all connected to this chapter whatsoever...

*climbs to rooftop*

I HAVE PEAKED! THAT'S RIGHT, WORLD! I HAVE PEAKED!!!

Not only has someone created a Joymoment Instagram fanpage! (Mind blowing to me)

But JoymomentFangirl has written A Secret Service fanfiction! That's right! My book has inspired another book! Yup! I've peaked! There's no topping this! Thank you world, I can die happy!

(Bonus, it's a really good book so far! I was totally surprised!)

Though I'll be honest with you, this is my second time peaking. The first two times were this. I was commenting on an Ally Carter Instagram Live and someone commented: hi Joy. I nearly died, it was so great.

The second time was during the Live Watty awards on Youtube last year I commented something in the general chat  and once again someone commented: hi Joy.

I mean really, what more can an author ask for? I wouldn't know because I got it all! I'm living the high life, man!

Vote, comment, follow but only if you're right handed, lefties are sorry but it's not your day.

Mason loving on Sophia