"Shouldn't you have your hand under cold water right now then?" Dan took hold of Casey's wrists, carefully, checking each hand for damage. He found it, a huge blister on the right index finger. "Your finger's blistered already. You should have just ignored the door and put it under the tap."

He pulled Casey through into the kitchen and turned the cold tap on with his free hand.

"Yes, mom. I should have left you at the door for twenty minutes. I don't think a batch of cupcakes would have been enough to turn around the mood you would have been in when I finally let you in."

"I would have understood," Dan insisted untruthfully as he ran the water until it felt cold enough to suit him. "Here, keep it under this now."

"You can let go of my wrist now," Casey remarked, amusement evident in his tone.

"Just make sure you keep it under for at least ten minutes."

"And to think you called me mom!"

"If the apron fits."

"Ah, yes." Casey gave a wry grin. "I've no excuse handy for this. You weren't supposed to come this early or I'd have written an excuse just in case you saw it."

"Actually it's cute. That, and the flour."

"Cute?"

"Yes."

"Cute?" Casey's voice really had a remarkable range. It was amazing how high it could get. Maybe it was the cold water affecting him.

Still, Dan sensed the need to charm his way out of this one. Shame his charm never seemed to work that well on Casey.

"I meant practical. It's a very practical look. The wrong word, uh, snuck out."

"You're a professional sportscaster. The wrong words aren't supposed to sneak out." Casey paused, and then grinned. "Except for cheese, of course. If you'd said it looked cheesy I would have understood that it was just you being distracted and substituting cheese for the right word."

"You're never going to let me live that one down, are you?"

"No."

"But it's my day off. I'm allowed to get distracted and use the wrong words on my day off."

"Distracted, huh?"

Dan could see Casey's mind whirring. It was actually visible in his eyes.

"By me? I distracted you?" He sounded pleased.

"By your apron, and the flour. Let's not forget the flour. And the coming home scent." Dan was pretty sure that he sounded like he was making excuses. That was fine though. Because he was. And he needed Casey to call him on it someday, so he wasn't going to make the reasons too good or too convincing.

"Do you think this apartment is like a home?" Casey was serious now, switching in a flash from joking to needing a real answer. Dan had to wonder if Charlie or Lisa had said something recently to make him think otherwise.

"It's my second home." And it was, not for the bricks and mortar, or whatever was under the plaster and paint, but for Casey. Dan wondered if it was time to say that. He almost thought it was.

After all, Casey had made him cupcakes, and that had to mean something.