Disclaimer: I don't own any part of The Nanny…yet.

A/N: Just an idea… LOL Let me know what you think.

CC's Missing…

Thursday morning

"Yes, Sir, according to the doorman, Charlie, he watched her leave the building yesterday morning and get into a limo." Niles stood before Max's desk with a matching look of concern on his face. "He's checked with the all the other doorman and none of them recall her coming home."

"Isn't there a resident's elevator in the parking garage? Maybe she used that?" Max was trying to be hopeful.

Niles shook his head. "She's never used it before, Sir. She has no reason to even go into the parking garage." Niles took a deep breath. "Sir, I'm going to the penthouse and look around. It's just not like Miss Babcock not to show up for work and not call. Not to mention…" Niles paused. "Uhm…someone should collect Chester."

"I agree, Niles." Max started and opened his desk drawer to pull out the 'emergency' key CC had given him. "Here, you'll need a key…"

"I have a key, Sir." Niles just looked at Max. "I've had to take her home on more than one occasion, Sir, it was just easier." Niles nodded politely and left the office passing Fran.

"Oy, Max, Niles looks terrible. What's goin' on?" Fran asked as she perched on her corner of Max's desk.

Max leaned back and sighed heavily. "Still no word from CC, it's not like her. Charlie said she left the building as usual yesterday morning."

"I would think that Niles would be throwin' a party, not lookin' like someone stole his favorite feather duster." Fran tried to laugh but Max got a very serious look on his face.

"Fran…" Max took his scolding tone with her so rarely since they started 'seeing' each other. "I swore I'd never say a word, but I suppose it's time you knew."

Fran looked worried and confused. "I don't understand, Max. What should I know? What would Niles tell you, that he wouldn't tell me? I'm his closest friend."

"That's a job I've had for years, Fran." Max grinned. "You forget, Niles and I grew up together. We were friends long before he started really working for me."

Fran nodded. "Yeah, I know that stuff I've heard him complain about how the only difference between the two of you is the bank account balance." Fran made a face as she let her voice fade.

"He couldn't be more right. Actually, he's much smarter than me. I'd have failed out of Eaton and never been accepted into Oxford if not for Niles." Max was starting to 'wax poetic' as Fran had heard him say before.

"Uh…Max, you were going to let me in on Niles' big confession. Remember?" Fran got him back on track.

"Or course." Max nodded. "I overheard Niles talking to himself one night. I'd come down for a late snack and he was…well a little less than sober. He said he was in love with CC. I may have escaped unnoticed, but I was so shocked I nearly fell up the stairs and he caught me. He told me he's loved her for years, since her first day here."

Fran was more shocked than she could ever recall being. More shocked than when Danny dumped her, more shocked than when Max decided he was ready for a relationship. "I knew I'd never seen that look before."

"What look, Fran?" Max asked.

"I've never seen Niles looked so scared and worried. He really does love her. We gotta find her, Max." Fran stood up.

Max sighed. "I know, Fran. But we have no idea where to look."

Niles slowly opened the door to CC's penthouse. "Miss Babcock?" He called out. "CC…are you in here?" When there was still no answer Niles entered and closed the door behind him. "Nothing seems out of place." Niles spoke to the empty room. "Chester!" The small ball of fluff loved Niles and usually greeted him warmly whenever he was in the apartment. "Chester, come here, boy." Niles listened, nothing. Niles headed into the bedroom to see if she'd packed anything. "No…CC wouldn't just take off, and not leave a note or something." Niles looked around the lovely master suite. He'd seen the room before. It's so very different than the austere outer rooms, very soft and feminine, it just screams CC. Niles sighed heavily and dropped onto the edge of the bed. When he did a leather bound date book dropped onto the floor. "Hello…" Niles spoke softly as he leaned down to retrieve it. "It must have been under her pillow or something when Consuelo made the bed." Niles thought to himself. "Let's see what we have here." Niles unzipped CC's date book. "It's not like it's her diary…" Niles found the right place in the book. The last day she was seen leaving the Sheffield mansion. "Tuesday…" Niles checked the book. "Nothing, she spent that day at the mansion. She didn't even go out for lunch." Niles remembers back…

"So, Belvedere?" CC strode into the kitchen. "What's for lunch?"

Niles lifted his head from his work, knowing full well that it was only the two of them in the house. Children at school, Max was out with Fran. "I'd like to take a bite out of you."

"Niles…here in the kitchen…that would be so…unsanitary." CC offered in the deep sultry voice.

Niles crossed around and slid up behind her in the corner of the island. "Do you mean it would be…dirty?" He growled softly in her ear.

"That's exactly what I mean, Butler Boy." CC turned and ran her hands up Niles' chest and linked them around his neck. "We're all alone, aren't we?"

Niles wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. "It's just you, me…and the feather duster." Niles leaned into her.

"Oh, Niles…I see what you mean, I guess there's always going to be something between us." CC cackled that deep sultry laugh and Niles couldn't stand it any longer and his lips took hers in a feverish kiss.

Niles touched small kisses to CC's jaw, her chin, and the soft skin of her throat making her tingle. "Have you made all the arrangements?"

"Don't you trust me, Butler Boy?" CC moaned at his ministrations, weaving her hands through his hair. "Oh, God, Niles…why did we wait so long?"

Niles continued kissing and hipping at her neck. "I don't know, Love. But we've done it and there's no turning back." Niles stopped and locked his eyes on hers. "I love you, CC. Nothing will ever change that."

"I love you, too, Niles. I have for as long as I can remember." CC kissed him softly. "So…what did you make us for lunch?"

"Well I thought we'd have your favorite." Niles tossed her his best boyish grin.

CC's eyes got very big. "Grilled cheese and cream of tomato soup?"

"The very same; I've even bought some of those silly goldfish shaped crackers to put on top for you." Niles winked. "I've made you a very special cocktail as well."

CC frowned. "Niles…you know that I've decided to give up the 'cocktails'."

"This is different. It's tonic water with raspberry syrup and orange juice." Niles smiled.

CC smiled at him. "You're so wonderful to me." She practically cooed.

"Hey, Babs, don't go all soft on me now. I'm way too used to the old CC." Niles raised an eyebrow. CC looked at him, pulled out her chair and planted herself at the already set table. "What…no old joke? You have gone soft."

"Only for you, Niles, only for you." CC winked. "Now bring the lunch…" CC waved her hand very regally.

Niles sighed and brought the platter of sandwich halves and carafe of soup. He sat and joined her for lunch and they ate together in comfortable silence.

Niles shook himself out of the memory and back to the present. "Ok, let's see the schedule for Wednesday." Niles turned the page and read. "Check in with the Rainbow Room about the dinner. Call and pester Niles." He found himself smiling at that. "Call and remind BB about the dinner." Niles rolled his eyes and made a face then sighed again. "CC, where are you?" Just then CC's phone rang. Niles didn't think he should answer so he moved to where the answer machine would play out the message.

Niles stood and listened as CC's voice came out of the machine. "Hello, hello, CC Babcock here, I'm sorry I missed you. Leave me a message and a number and I'll get back to you when I can. Thanks." Niles sighed at the sound of her voice.

After the 'beep' he recognized another voice. "Niles…are you there, it's Max, pick up."

Niles lifted the phone. "Yes, Sir, I'm still here. What is it?" Niles' face went deathly white as he heard Max's voice in the phone.

"They've just called about CC, she's at Memorial Hospital…we'll meet you there." Max sounded calm.

Niles managed a strangled response. "Thank you, Sir." He hung up the phone and blew out of the building. As he flew out the front doors he saw CC's neighbor walking in with Chester who literally leapt into Niles' arms.

"Oh, Niles. I heard Chester whining and thought maybe CC had forgotten him again so I had the Super let me in to get him." Mrs. Trainer, the ancient woman who lived next to CC explained.

"Thank you, Mrs. Trainer. Could you keep Chester for the rest of the day? There's been an emergency and I can't explain right now, but I'll come get him this evening…alright?" Niles was already half way to the car before she called to him.

"That's fine, Niles…I hope everything's alright!" Mrs. Trainer turned. "Come on Chester, Daddy seems upset."

Niles doesn't remember exactly how he got to Memorial Hospital, but he'd managed all the same. He flew into the front information desk. "CC Babcock's room please."

"Uhm… are you family?" The volunteer receptionist asked slowly.

"Yes…I'm her husband." Niles tossed off without thinking.

The volunteer looked and flipped a few papers. "It looks like she's in the ICU…that's up to…" Niles had already taken off and left the volunteer rather confused.

Niles waited as calmly as possible as the elevator rode slowly to the proper floor. When the doors finally opened he stepped out and right into the arms of Fran. "Oh Niles…poor Miss Babcock. She's been in a coma since they brought her in."

"Fran…where is she…where's CC?" Niles was still as white as a sheet. Fran just looked at him and blinked a few times like she didn't recognize him. "Fran!" Niles nearly screamed to snap her out of it.

"She's down the hall, but they won't…" Niles was already gone…down the hall…toward his CC with Fran trailing behind.

He got to the nurse's station. "CC Babcock, please."

"And you are?" The nurse looked down at a clip board.

"I'm her husband, Niles." He spoke again without taking time to think.

The nurse frowned and checked the paper work. "No record of a husband. But you're listed as her emergency contact. Follow me." Niles followed the nurse who seemed to walk even more slowly than the information desk clerk spoke.

"Doctor Warren, this is Niles…he's listed as the emergency contact. Fran and Max's eyes shot up to the top of their heads.

"Follow me." The doctor opened the door and Niles followed, leaving a shocked Max and Fran behind.

Max turned to Fran. "Did that nurse say Niles was listed as CC's emergency contact?"

"Yeah, I didn't even think. When the call from the hospital came they did ask for Niles." Fran frowned. "Does that seem strange to you, Max?"

Max just sat and looked shell shocked. "I don't know, Fran. With them…who knows?"

"Okay, Niles is it?" The doctor asked.

Niles nodded. "Yes, Doctor, what's happened? Is she alright? Are the babies…?"

"I guess you do know her." The two outside didn't mention the pregnancy.

Niles sighed. "No one knows. My wife and I were going to make the big announcement Wednesday evening. Please…are they…all of them…are they alright?"

The doctor smiled. "Your babies are fine. As for your wife, well she's taken a pretty good whack on the head. I'm not sure how or with what. But she's got a concussion and some cranial edema. We're just going to have to give it a few days for the swelling to subside before we know anything else."

"Is there any chance of permanent damage?" Niles asked worried.

The doctor shook his head. "I did a CAT scan and I don't see any signs of damage, but prolonged swelling can go either way. If the swelling doesn't go down, I may have to drain off some of the fluid. I know it doesn't help, but we'll just have to wait." The doctor shook Niles' hand and started out of the room.

"Doctor, I don't understand, I called all the police stations and hospitals. No one had anyone listed as fitting CC's description. Why is that if she's been here since late yesterday morning?" Niles asked.

The doctor frowned. "She wasn't brought in until just before we called you." The doctor stepped back toward Niles. "You say she's been missing since yesterday?"

"That's the last time anyone remembers seeing her." Niles answered.

The doctor sighed. "Mr. Babcock…"

"It's actually, Brightmore. We haven't told anyone that yet either." Niles offered.

"Sorry. Mr. Brightmore. If your wife has been missing, maybe I should run a few more tests…it's possible she was kidnapped and then when it went bad they dumped her." The doctor had a difficult time meeting Niles' eyes.

"You think she may have been…" Even Niles couldn't say the word. "Run any test you think necessary, Doctor." The doctor nodded and left Niles to sit with CC.

Shortly after the doctor left him, Fran peeked in the door. She closed it and turned back to Max. He's sitting next to her, I can't see his face. Do you want to go in or should I?"

"I…uh…uh…" Max stammered as usual in uncomfortable situations.

Fran nodded. "Me, right. You go and call everyone…but make sure that BB Babcock is last on the list." Fran moved away from Max and opened the door to CC's room. "Uh…Niles?" Fran said softly as she stepped in. Niles took a deep breath, but didn't bother trying to hide his emotions. It wouldn't have worked anyway. "Are ya ok, Niles? I've never seen ya so upset."

Niles shook his head slowly. "We were so happy, so excited to finally tell everyone." Niles finally show Fran his tear stained face. "It was my idea to make a big show of it, my idea to wait." Niles tears fell again. "Otherwise, she'd never have left the mansion Tuesday. She'd have stayed…with me."

Fran pulled up a chair and sat next to her friend. "Oh Niles…I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talkin' about, but I'm sorry. I've never seen ya so sad." Fran rubbed her friends back. "What were ya excited about?"

"I guess there's no need to wait now. I guess it's going to come out soon enough." Niles sighed heavily. "It's a long story; you want to get yourself a pint of Ben and Jerry's?" Niles tried to lighten his mood. He failed.

Fran smiled. "I think I can do without just this once. You just take ya time. I'm not goin' anywhere."

"It was a long time coming together, you know as well as I what that's like. But finally, little by little it happened." Niles rubbed CC's hand softly. "That night you and Max walked in on us kissing was really the start of it all. There were more of those short encounters. Then I just decided I didn't want to wait anymore. I'd had the heart attack and CC had gone to the place. You and Max were married and I thought it was time…"

"It was time for you to take care of your happiness for a change?" Fran finished for him.

Niles sighed. "Yeah…I told CC the night of your wedding that I loved her. She thought I was kidding, or drunk. But we ended up in bed. We talked it all out in the morning before you're mother stopped in for bacon." Niles turned to look at Fran.

"Yeah…sorry." Fran cringed.

Niles almost laughed. "We decided that it was way too new to us to invite the entire Sheffield and Fine families into the middle of it. So, we decided to put on a show for your mother, and keep things status quo in front of the world at large. Then you and Max were missing and then you were found. We had a lot going on. Then we found out about the twins…"

"Twins!" Fran practically shouted.

Niles smiled. "Yeah…you know how efficient I can be, not to mention all I've learned from you."

"From me? Whadaya mean?" Fran was shocked.

"It's a two for one deal, Fran. We get two babies for the price of one." Niles explained with a smile then grew melancholy again. "We were so excited. We got married at the courthouse on my birthday. CC wanted to make sure I'd never forget our anniversary."

"At the courthouse? Why didn't ya tell us, Niles?" Fran was hurt, Niles expected it.

"It was still very new and we knew the kind of flack we'd get from her mother. Plus there was concern about the pregnancy and CC wanted to wait until after we'd seen the babies at 20 weeks. It's a boy and a girl." Niles instinctively rested his hand on the noticeable bulge where his babies grew. "CC and I had planned to make a big announcement on Wednesday night, we didn't get the chance."

"Niles…the twins…are they…ok?" Fran asked softly.

Niles smiled. "The doctor assured me the babies are fine. I'm not sure how their mother is and I'm certain that their father has seen better days, but the babies are fine."

Fran leaned her head on Niles' shoulder. "CC's going to be just fine, Niles, look at what she has to come back to."

"I hope you're right, Fran." They sat for a while in silence.

Fran sighed. "I'd better go check on Max. He just doesn't do well in these situations."

"Who does, Fran?" Niles stood and hugged her. "Has everyone been…notified?"

"I told Max to call everybody, makin' sure BB Babcock was last. I suppose he's done that by now. I'll go check. You just stay here and take care of your wife." Fran kissed his cheek. "Oy, that's gonna take some gettin' used to."