AN: Wow okay so I haven't updated anything in a very long time. Life, (foster) kittens, Rogue One, and uni have all colluded to devour me and make writing a ... challenge to say the least. It'll probably be another very long time before I update because uni. Third year vet, ALL THE INTERESTING STUFF! But SO MUCH STUFF!

Also no, Robert Jones bandaging wouldn't be used for burnt hands, I just used them because they're big and bulky and easily recognised. You wouldn't use a Robert Jones bandage on burnt hands.

Disclaimer:

I own nothing you recognise. This is all completely un-beta'd and totally fresh off the top of my brain!

There's a knock on the door. Finn pauses half way through plating braised lamb shanks onto piles of herb mashed potatoes and sautèed green beans. Alice looks at the door and slides off her seat.

"No, I'll get it," Finn says, putting the tray on the bench and stripping his hands of the oven gloves. He pads down the hallway. He makes a mental note to install a peephole in the door. Having to open it to identify who is on the other side is unacceptable.

He palms his Walther and clips the safety off. He opens the door with his left hand. Keeps his right hand tucked away – out of sight of both the person at the door and Alice, should she decide to come down the hallway.

"You can put it away," comes a sulky voice, before the door is even open a crack. Finn pokes his head out the door and glares at the large man standing on the doorstep, looking for all the world like a kicked puppy. Finn clips the safety back on and shoves his Walther back into its holster.

"What are you doing here?" Finn hisses. "I'm niece sitting."

003's eyes are wide and sad, his lips turned down almost comically as he raises his bandaged hands. They're not just bandaged, they're swaddled. "I just wanted to say hi," he says.

"What did … no, nevermind, I don't want to know," Finn says. He keeps the door jammed a moment more while 003 does his best impression of a pathetic, imploring infant animal of some kind (he's caught between comparing him to a puppy and a seal, both have those large, brown eyes that seem to suck you in), before he swings the door wide and steps to one side. "Fine, but no crowding her."

003 leaps forwards with a tremendous grin. Of course it was all an act. Finn rolls his eyes and shuts the door behind the man. Catches up with him just as he's entering the kitchen and nearly gets flattened when he backpedals at high speed, away from Steve's nose which is trying its best to go straight for his crotch.

003 screams. Finn laughs. "Steve!" Alice calls from the kitchen. Finn pushes past 003 and Steve.

"No, he deserves it," Finn says, and grabs another plate. Alice is hunched over, eyes flicking over to the entrance into the kitchen. "His name is Jason," Finn says, stepping around the bench so he's between Alice and the doorway – and thus, between her and 003. "He's another friend of James'."

"Oh," she says quietly. She doesn't uncurl. Steve wanders back into the room and places himself at his mistress' side. Her fingers tighten in his ruff.

"He's a bit of an idiot," Finn continues.

"Wow," comes 003's voice from behind him. "I didn't think you'd look so much like your Uncle!" Alice ducks her head further. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Jason," he says, stepping around Finn. "I'd shake your hand only..." here he waves his swaddled hands around. "I had a bit of an accident."

Finn watches as Alice notices the bandaging around his hands, how she turns her head to inspect them, spine straightening and curiosity dropping her shoulders. He makes a further mental note to mention this to James.

"What happened?" she asks, eyes riveted to the white swaddled hands. "That looks like a Robert-Jones."

Jason raises his hands and looks at first one, then the other, then back at Alice. "They in fact, are, Robert-Jones bandages. You know your bandaging, little miss," he replies. His lips broaden into a grin. "I burnt myself." Finn sighs as he layers the lamb shanks onto three piles of herb mashed potatoes. 003 sounds proud of himself.

"How bad?" Alice leans forward on her stool and her hand unclenches from Steve's ruff.

Finn wants to smack his forehead against a wall when 003 puffs up his chest and says: "third degree, mostly, with a smattering of second." Alice makes a sympathetic hissing noise and her face crinkles.

"That's not good at all, no wonder you're in compression bandages. They'll need to come off in what, twelve hours?"

"Yep. That's gonna suck major donkey's ba-" Finn coughs loudly and gives Jason a very pointed look. "That's really going to suck." Jason grins sheepishly at Finn before focussing his attention back on Alice. "You're interested in medicine?" Alice nods and sits back on her stool, fingers once again tightening in Steve's fur. "Once they're done torturing me with the adhesive stuff, do you think you could change my bandages? You'll be much nicer than they would be, I'm sure." She pulls a face.

"Hands are too fiddly, I'm not good at them. But could I maybe watch when they take these bandages off?" She looks at Finn hopefully. Finn shrugs and puts her plate in front of her. He puts his own plate at one end of the counter, and Jason's plate on the other.

Jason glares at Finn and raises his arms. "Can't feed meself with these mitts, now, can I?" he grizzles. Alice puts down her knife and fork.

"No, keep eating, I'll deal with him," Finn says, and begins to slice up the lamb shank in front of him. Once completed, he places his knife and fork to the side and swaps his plate for Jason's. He digs around the kitchen cupboards until he comes out with a plastic bag and some tape. "Right hand," Finn instructs, and Jason holds out his right arm. Fin wraps the plastic bag firmly over the bandage, tapes it in place, then fits the fork so it's usable and tapes it on.

"Uh," Jason says. He shrugs. "Whatever, I've done scrumpies, this can't be much harder."

By the end of the meal, Alice is laughing so hard she's fallen off the chair, and Jason's sweater is liberally covered in lamb and potato mash. Finn wipes tears from his eyes as he notices there's a green bean in Jason's hair.

"This is definitely harder than scrumpies," Jason comments, admiring the utter devastation that once was a beautifully designed plate of food. Finn throws his head back and howls with laughter, slapping his hand on the table. Steve watches them all with the his tongue hanging out of his mouth, like he knows there's a joke going on and he wants to join in but just doesn't understand it.

"I'm not giving you any of my pudding," Finn eventually gasps out. "I'm not driving you home with chocolate all over your suit." Jason pouts. Alice perks up from where she's sitting on the floor. "I may feed you a bite or two if you behave."

"Chocolate?" she asks. Finn grins at her. She smiles at his shoulder.

"Of course! You didn't think I'd go to all the trouble of making such a grand dinner without a suitable desert?" Finn scoffs and whips around the kitchen, and within moments two plates with a light sponge and glazed pears are made. On top, however, Finn drizzles warm liquefied chocolate, and spoons walnut and vanilla-bean icecream to one side. He presents them with a flourish and a bow as Alice grins at the food before her.

"Thank you, Finn," Alice says and tucks into the dessert with gusto. Finn sits back with a smile and idly forks some into his own mouth. Then into 003's mouth when he makes disgusting gawping faces, smacking his lips loudly. Finn casts him a look. 003 just grins back at him, mouth full of icecream and chocolate sauce and sponge.

Finn takes the empty plates away and they retire to the lounge, where Alice shows them the latest game she's playing ("Zombies. I hate zombies," 003 grizzles). It's hours later when Finn eventually manages to peel 003 away from the screen and sends Alice off to bed.

"It was nice to meet you, Jason," Alice says, eyes fixed on the floor next to 003's foot. The smile that takes over his face is genuine and bright.

"I'll get Finn to bring you in to see the bandages come off, how's that?" 003 says.

"That'd be really interesting," Alice replies.

"Good, I'll see you tomorrow morning, then!" 003 waves. Finn shoves him bodily out the door.

"If I find any beans in my car, I will murder you and all you love," Finn comments lightly. 003 cackles as he slides himself into the front passenger seat. Finn drops him off. Goes around the side and opens the door for 003. Lets 003 into his own apartment. Gets back to his car.

"You never said anything about cauliflower!" 003 shouts from his window, just as Finn slides into his drivers' seat.

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