STORY

[Michael Morelli]

The mall was busy. People were everywhere and everything was exciting. Harvey noticed a man carrying balloons and got excited. Nothing was more exciting than balloons. His daddy had taken him to see real live balloons one time. Harvey's big sister Calista had come along. It had been a good day.

Harvey tugged on his daddy's sleeve but he wasn't paying attention. Jorja was crying again. Harvey sighed. Jorja was always crying. His mum said it was cause she was growing teeth but Harvey thought it was cause his daddy didn't live with them anymore. Sometimes it made him sad, so it made sense to Harvey that it would make Jorja sad too.

Since his Daddy was busy, Harvey decided to go see the balloons on his own. He made his way out into the main part of the mall. It was easy to follow the man with the balloons because the balloons floated above everybody's heads. He got stuck behind a fat lady and when she moved Harvey couldn't see the balloons anymore. It was very, very disappointing. He swallowed back tears and turned to head back.

Harvey stopped dead still. His dad was no where to be seen. His thumb made his way into his mouth unconsciously. People were everywhere and none of them were Daddy. He began walking back but he didn't remember where his dad was. Tears started to run down his face and he stopped walking. He remembered that Daddy told him when you were lost you should stay still until Daddy found you. He leaned against the glass barrier that kept you from falling and began to cry in earnest.

[Theodore Luccidello]

He didn't like the styles that had come into reality, as of late. Maybe it had been going on since even he was a child. In fact, if he remembered correctly when he was performing there had been quite racy. Especially when they had gotten older. He had gone shirtless for years before he quit the business itself. But this, this was his daughter. He loved getting his daughter things, atleast when he had the time. What made her happy, made him happy. He had found himself at one of those dress shops that he couldn't name. Looking upon a tag it had said Versace. He wouldn't even attempt at pronouncing that. After looking around he had decided upon an eggshell colored gown. It was lacy, but not too revealing. It would look quite elegant on her giving the right time. After buying the gown he tucked the box under his arm and made his way out of the store. If it had been any less crowded there might have been eyes upon him for being there with a dress under arm. There had been one instance when he had gone shopping at a less crowded area and the store clerk had asked if he meant to wear the dress. It made little sense to him and he wondered if that one had been meant as a joke. He hadn't found it funny, and the store clerk had merely looked embarrassed.

Teddy headed in the direction of the escalator, needing to make a stop at the hobby shop up the building. He needed new dyes and a knife sharpener. His hand broken after nearly 15 years of use, to his dismay. Passing by a balloon cart on his way towards the escalators he couldn't help but smile at the gentleman. There was a small group of children with parents not far behind, all with smiling faces. Happy to be getting the colorful elastic. He nodded towards the flustered saleman. Turning to the left, just moments from the escalators his eyes fell towards a little boy towards the glass boundary. His thumb in his mouth and the tears fighting to leave his eyes. He had always had a strong bond towards children, having raised one by himself, and having had so many siblings. It was a natural thing, the father gene in him. If that had been Stephania, he would have liked someone to help his child. He moved past the people that seemed to be simply ignoring him, running along with the business of their lives. He leaned down next to the little boy, and smile on his face. Waving slightly, his elbow on his knee.

“Hello young man. I'm Teddy. Like the bear? I bet you have one at home, don't you? Where are your parents?”

[Michael Morelli]

Harvey jumped suddenly when someone spoke to him. He looked up at the man, eyes held wide to stop the tears from falling. It didn't work. He swiped at his face and sniffed. He knew he wasn't supposed to talk to strangers, but the man's name made him curious. "How come your name is Teddy?" the words tumbled out before he remembered not to talk to strangers.

And then Teddy asked that fateful question: where are your parents? Harvey's face scrunched up and he started to sob. He didn't know where his daddy was or his mummy or Jorja. He was all alone. Tears ran down his face, running around his thumb and into his mouth.

"I dunno..." he managed to gasp out between sobs.

And worst of all, he didn't have a balloon. Teddy was crouched down next to him and looked so understanding. Harvey tried to explain. "Jorja was cryin' and there they were and I just wanted to look at 'em..." He shook his head. "And then I can't find the balloons and I can't find my daddeeeeee..." Harvey broke down into incoherent sobs again.

[Theodore Luccidello]

It broke his heart to see a child cry, especially when there was something to be done about it. He himself had spoiled his daughter as a child, he knew that. Discipline wasn't nonexistent but he would have taken a gun to the head before he would have ever hit his child. There was other ways to raise a child or so he thought. But to see a child cry, no matter if it was his own, or if he knew the child for that matter, it broke his heart. He could feel the change of eyes upon him and the child.

“Did you know that the Teddy bear was named after a man by the name of Theodore? That's how it became the Teddy bear.”

He listened as the boy cried, speaking inbetween the sobs. It was obvious that this young man wasn't sure where his parents were, which made way for questioning of had he lost them in this mess? It was a good chance, and something he had assumed just when he saw the crying child in the middle of a very busy mall. He couldn't make out a lot of what the kid was saying, but he could easily make out the “daddy” and the “balloons.” He had to do something to calm the child before he went to mall security in hopes of finding his parents. He'd stay with the child until he could find his parents. He extended a hand towards the young boy.

“Why don't you take my hand. I'll get you a balloon, one for each hand. What's your name?” He offered the boy a big smile, “What about your daddy? I think we can find him. He couldn't have gone too far.”

[Michael Morelli]

Harvey took Teddy's hand obediently and wiped his nose. He was feeling a little better now that he wasn't completely alone. Teddy was a nice man and Harvey was pretty sure that his Daddy wouldn't be mad if he talked to nice people. Plus, Teddy said he'd buy a balloon and that jut about made up for everything that had gone wrong.

"Can we get a blue one?" Harvey asked, looking around for the balloons again. He didn't see them, but be was beginning to trust Teddy and he had faith that they'd find the balloon man.

"My daddy was buying stuff for Jorja," Harvey explained, when Teddy suggested finding his daddy. "I don't remember where." He looked around the busy mall and sniffed. His tears had dried up but his nose was still running. "Daddy lost the diaper bag..." Harvey loosed a little giggle. "He dint want Mummy to know..."

Harvey's attention was suddenly distracted by the reappearance of the balloon man. He was one floor below them on the opposite side of the floor. Harvey got excited, pointing. "Hey, hey!" He pulled on Teddy's hand. "Lookit! lookit!"

[Theodore Luccidello]

Teddy shook his head as he took the child's hand into his own. He still wasn't sure of the kids name, but he hardly thought that mattered until they got to the security of the mall. He'd talk with them and have a page go around, if that was possible. He wasn't sure how the security worked around here, not having worked in the building before. They would get all the information they could from the boy, and Teddy would wait with the child until the found his parents. He would have liked someone to do that for Stephania, thus he would have to do it for the parent of this child. He tried to follow what he was saying but couldn't really comprehend unless he knew who these people were, but from what he could understand his father was going to be in trouble with mother if he didn't get the bag he had lost. He assumed there must be one more child. Though, for all he knew there could be more than that.

Teddy looked up, noting the balloon man that he had passed on the way down to the hobby shop. He laughed at the boys excitement, it was cute. Allowing his voice to escalate with feigned excitement he smiled down at the boy.

“Well! Let's hurry up there. A blue one? Why don't we get two blue balloons. So both your hands can match!”

He ushered the boy through the crowd, taking the escalators up one level.

“Did you know blue is said to bring peace?” The child wouldn't remember that fact, of course but he was a firm believer of talking to a child as you would an adult. Talking to a child in a different mannerism took away from the child. If you spoke like an adult with them, then they would in most cases behave better in the sense they felt like an adult and felt the need to act like one. At least, he remembered hearing that in some sense at some time. As they got up the balloon man he pulled out his wallet, the line of children now gone they were the man's first customer. He nodded towards him.

“Two blue.” His eyes were sympathetic once more for the working class man, having once been the flustered man behind the counter, in a sense. Though he had been more the man behind the counter dealing with an angry person or two during his years.

“Do you happen to know where the security office is?”

[Michael Morelli]

Mike was bouncing Jorja, trying to get her to quiet down while he looked for the diaper bag. Alanna would be pissed if he returned the kids sans care-taking equipment. The children's clothing store was a madhouse of parents and children. Mike couldn't remember where he'd put the bag down, but he'd been looking for a jumper for Jorja...

He found it sitting on the floor underneath a rack of onesies. He scooped it up and turned around. Despite the noise of the store, very suddenly all that Mike could hear was the pounding of his own heart in his ears. "Harvey?" He called, looking around the store with a growing sense of panic. Dammit! He'd turned his back for three seconds! "Harvey!" He yelled, loud enough to overcome all the noise in the store.

A store clerk came up to him. "Sir? If you could keep your voice down..."

Mike shook his head, spinning in a circle. Harvey didn't show. He would have hear if he wasn't in the store. That meant he was gone. Mike felt physically sick. He turned back to the store clerk. "My son is gone! I need you to call security immediately and report an amber alert!"

The woman's eyes widened quickly. She responded quickly, calling security and trying to comfort Mike while they waited for a security guard to arrive. The guard arrived in good time, taking a description of Harvey and radioing it around the mall. He clapped Mike on the shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll find him."

[Theodore Luccidello]

The boy had stated his name was Harvey and though he hadn't been given a full name, he could hope that Harvey was enough, and if not then they would go further and question his last name, find his parents and call. He'd make sure this would happen, and if he had to would take the boy to his home. He hoped this was as simple as a parent losing their son, it was easy enough in such a large place.

“Down on the bottom floor, go straight from the escalators.”

The boy seemed quite content with his balloons as Teddy knelt down at his side. He tied the balloons loosely on both wrists, once again taking his hand into his own. He quickly paid the gentleman, placing his wallet tightly back into his pocket.

“Thank you.”

He simply said as he ushered the little boy back towards the escalators. The balloon gently brushed against his face as they slowly made their way past the people in the walkways, which seemed to be lessening if only by small amounts of people. Down the escalators he quickly made his way down the hall, keeping at a pace of which the boy could keep up with.

“Harvey, do you have a last name?”

They arrived at the door before he could get an answer and didn't bother to knock on the door. Staff only, but he didn't much care as long as this boy found his father. Looking in, he kept the door open long enough for Harvey to follow him inside.

“We've got a missing child here. He says his name is Harvey. Have you found any frantic parents?”

He spoke towards the guards, smiling down at Harvey. He squeezed the boys hand reassuringly, as the guard got on his radio, it almost reminded him of the old days back when he lived in a one bedroom apartment with Stephania.

[Michael Morelli]

The security guards radio squawked and someone chattered something about how they'd found Harvey. Mike felt physically weak. He knew that most of the guys at station eleven would probably laugh if they knew... he was supposed to be this big, tough firefighter... but the thought that something could have happened to his son just about undid him!

He grabbed the diaper bag and ushered the guard outside. He couldn't cover the ground between the kid's store and the guard station fast enough. Despite the fact that Harvey had been found, Mike's father-brain was still more than capable of spinning out a thousand horrible scenarios. Mike saw Harvey before the boy saw him. He stood contentedly beside a tall man who was holding his hand. Both wrists sported brightly colored balloons and Mike immediately realized what had drawn Harvey from his side. The boy had an insatiable appetite for the things.

Mike took a deep breath, steadying himself. Nothing would negatively affect Harvey more than the boy picking up on how worried Mike had been. He was a pretty sensitive little guy. Mentally calming himself down he crossed the remaining distance to the guard shack. "Hey Harv!" He said, gently.

Harvey, for his part, turned around, saw his father, and burst into renewed sobs. He slammed into Mike's legs, wrapping his arms around one and cried. He tried to speak but all Mike could catch was something about loosing the balloons and meeting a teddy bear. He reached down and stroked his son's head while he caught the eye of the man who'd been holding Harvey's hand.

"I assume you're the one that looked out for my son," Mike began. "I can't even begin to thank you enough!"

[Theodore Luccidello]

Teddy and Harvey had been staring at the screens behind the security area. He told Harvey about the technology, as if the boy would actually understand. In general, he wasn't the greatest with technology, but it was much simpler when it was a necessary knowledge to have. As they waited, Harvey stood at his side. It wasn't long until he heard the footsteps behind them. He didn't turn around too quickly, knowing that the family should be the first to react at any rate. He smiled as the name was called and boy turned around. Teddy was soon to follow the action, though he didn't take any advancement towards Harvey's father. He watched instead. The boy broke down in tears, and though it was of no one's fault, he felt a tinge of guilt. It was always like that, even when Stephania had been younger. He always wondered how a child could affect someone so much.

Teddy smiled at the gentleman and nodded. Of course there was absolutely no problem with having helped little Harvey. As he believed, there were reasons for everything. And, if a lost child was put in his path then there had to be some reason for it. Teddy knew not to overthink things, so he decided not to. Instead he put a hand forward.

“Theodore Luccidello.” He looked at Harvey, smiling down at the boy, though he doubted the young man would see said smile.

“I would have wanted someone to watch out for my daughter. We've got to watch out for them all.” He looked at the little one in the stroller and his smile seemed to broaden. It had been quite a long time since Stephania had been that size. He could hear the words from the boys. Of course he was a sap, at least when he allowed himself to be. There was nothing wrong with that from time to time.

“Why don't we get this little one a balloon too, it's only fair.” He looked back up at her father, “Or we can get some ice cream instead. I think a treats in order.”

[Michael Morelli]

Mike wasn't one to be rude, but his mind was occupied with his lost child than with the man who had found him. Still, he managed to pry his attention away from Harvey for long enough to make the man's acquaintance. Theodore Luccidello sounded familiar but Mike couldn't place why. Still, the man said he had a daughter. That eased something in his chest. He was just more inclined to trust someone who also had children.

Harvey's face brightened immediately at Theodore's mention of ice cream. The tears dried immediately and Harvey was bouncing on his feet, the colored balloons attached to his wrists mimicking the action. "I want bubblegum flavor Daddy! Daddy? Daddy?" Harvey demanded when Mike didn't answer fast enough. "I want bubblegum!"

Mike smiled down at his son. It never ceased to amaze him how resilient children were. One minute Harvey was coming completely undone and the next, everything was fine. Mike sometimes missed the assurances of childhood. Your parents always seemed like such rocks. If he'd known what it would be like to have to be the one to provide that security, he might not have been in such a hurry to grow up!

"Sure Harv," Mike agreed. "Bubblegum for you." He turned his attention to their good Samaritan. "Please join us," he invited. "You've certainly made a good impression on Harvey!" His smile was warm and good-natured. Now that Harvey was restored to him, Mike wasn't the sort to dwell on maybe's and might-have-been's. Everything was good now. That was what was important.