With Caution

failed to make him happy and forget about the other things in his life.
    Chuckling, Remi headed toward the kitchen as Matt hefted a squalling Darren and went up the stairs.
    Laying his head on Remi’s shoulder, Eddie rested his hand on Remi’s chest.
    Wasn’t that just the sweetest thing? Remi rubbed the baby’s hand out of habit.
    Stiffening, Eddie lifted his head off Remi’s shoulder and peered at his hand.
    Crap. Remi let go. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
    “No.” Eddie raised his hand and studied it.
    Remi looked too. Eddie’s fingers were still bent. Remi held out his hand. “Can I see?”
    Eddie put his hand in Remi’s.
    The action was so trusting and innocent, it made Remi smile. He petted the back of the boy’s hands and knuckles with his thumb. Babies’ hands were fascinating. So small and delicate. It was the one thing that reminded you they were little people. His hand was just like Remi’s only tiny. Remi rubbed the knuckles softly. “Does that hurt?”
    Eddie shook his head.
    “Does it feel better?”
    Eddie nodded.
    Remi let go. Could it have possibly helped? Such a simple thing?
    Eddie lifted his hand and it was straighter than it had been. Wiggling his fingers, he blinked at Remi and held up two fingers. “I’m this many.”
    Tears welled in Remi’s eyes and he laughed. He massaged Eddie’s knee that was resting against his stomach then moved on to his chubby little leg. Being able to heal was amazing. It made all the trouble that came with being a werewolf worth it. He made a 162
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    With Caution
    vow to stop bitching about the weirdness. How could he when it also gave him the ability to do this?
    Halfway to the kitchen, Eddie stopped Remi, pointing to something on the floor by the dining room table. “Woof Woof.” It was a stuffed animal of some sort, but it was shaped more like a human. It had brown fur on its back and head, but its butt was covered in denim.
    Retrieving the plush toy, Remi turned it over and laughed. It was a werewolf. Sitting Eddie on the edge of the table, Remi pulled out a chair and sat in front of him. He held Woof Woof up and growled, “Oh no. He’s growling at us. What should we do?”
    Eddie grinned really big and giggled, shrugging his little shoulders.
    “Here, give me your hand.” Taking Eddie’s other hand this time, Remi rubbed it in his own, then wrapped it in his fist and gently punched the stuffed animal. Still holding Eddie’s hand in one of his and the doll in the other, he made the werewolf fall to the table and gasped out exaggerated dying sounds. Sterling used to love to play with his action figures like this.
    Laughing, Eddie reached for the doll. He pointed his finger; it was nearly straight.
    “Bad, Woof Woof.”
    Remi laughed too, marveling over the boy’s hands. They weren’t miraculously healed, but they didn’t seem to be bothering him as much. Any improvement was good.
    Maybe some of it was the medicine Matt had given him, but Remi didn’t see how it could make this big of a difference. Some of it had to be Remi’s new powers. He rested his hands on the boy’s knees, rubbing them a bit while Eddie made Woof Woof bite Remi.
    “Ah, he got me. Save me, Eddie.” Remi went limp in the chair, hanging his tongue out of his mouth.
    Eddie giggled again. Swinging his feet a little and pretending to scold the stuffed animal, he touched Remi’s chin. “Okay, Remi?”
    “Whew, yeah that was a close one. Good thing you made him leave me alone, I thought I was a goner.”

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    He’d gotten so carried away playing with the toddler, he hadn’t realized they had an audience until Gadget spoke.
    “I knew you could help him.” Gadget’s eyes were wide with amazement and there were tears in them.
    Jake stood right behind him, a huge smile on his face.
    “I didn’t, but I’m glad.” Taking the doll from Eddie again, Remi made it growl.
    The boy cackled and shrugged his shoulder to his head, laughing and trying to keep the werewolf from getting him.
    Gadget laughed. “Eddie, are you supposed to be on the table?”
    Eddie pointed at Remi. “Remi did it.”

    * * *

    “You think it will continue to get better?” Remi glanced over at Jake from the passenger side of the Tahoe. “You think it will last?”
    Jake shrugged. “Don’t know, pup. I hope so.”
    “Me too. I like Eddie.”
    Jake grinned. “I couldn’t tell.” Jake wasn’t sure if Remi had