A/N: This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction, so please be kind. I hope you enjoy!
Making their way through the usual morning bustle of the New York City Crime Lab, greetings fly as the Messers headed towards their office.
Even at the age of 4, Owen Messer knew the lab like the back of his hand; it was his second home. Sure, not many parents would allow their child to race around a crime lab, but Owen was more than that. He was family and the Messers trusted the lab above all else. Owen didn't mind whether he was listening to Uncle Sid's stories, reading DNA printouts trying to figure out what the different colours meant, or watching Auntie Stella look like she was about to bash someone on the head. He loved the lab, and besides, Daddy said that if he was really good, he could work there someday too. It was his dream.
Stepping into their office, Danny lowered Owen into his desk chair and started looking through the case files lying on his desk before looking down to his son.
"Alright Kiddo, Daddy's gotta go catch bad people with Auntie Angell and Mommy's got a lot of work to do so I want you to be good okay?"
Owen stopped spinning on the chair as he looks up to Danny with a grin. "Okay Daddy."
Smirking at the sight before her, Lindsay laughs at the uncanny resemblance between father and son. "You know, his grin is almost as bad as yours Danny. Who knows what he's going to do with it one day."
Eyes twinkling, Danny simply grins back at his wife who was still uncontrollably smiling. "He's a Messer, he can't help it."
"Still, I worry about him. Look what it did to you. I really can't deal with any more overly-large egos Dan," replied Lindsay with a mischievous smile.
Lindsay sat back and laughed harder as Danny gave her a look, the smirk she loved to hate yet still adored making an appearance on her husband's face.
"Admit it, you love it," Danny teased.
"I love you," replied Lindsay sweetly.
Walking over to his wife, Danny bent down to thoroughly kiss her. They parted with a sigh as he smiled sheepishly. "Love you too Montana, but if I don't get outta here soon, I don't think you're gonna be seein' me around anymore."
From Danny's chair, Owen merely sat amused as his parents continued to banter. They always did that. Uncle Flack had once told him that if they weren't arguing, there was something wrong. With a smile, Owen turned to the table and began drawing on the blank piece of paper his father had placed there. Ever since that fateful accident where he had drawn on Danny's case report, Danny had always kept blank paper on his table where it was easily accessible by his son.
Looking through the glass walls of their office, Danny spotted a weary and annoyed Stella entering her office. Bending down to Owen, Danny grinned.
"Tell you what buddy, why don't you go find everyone and give them their party invitations?" he asked. Turning 5 in month's time, Owen had been practically begged his parents to make the invitations themselves, beaming at each an every fruit of his labour. It didn't matter when his birthday was anymore.
His eyes widening with excitement, Owen looked up to his father and mirrored his grin. "Really?" he asked, giving a cry of happiness as Danny nodded. Jumping off the chair, Owen climbed into his father's arms for a hug.
Leaning back slightly, Danny poked his son playfully on his nose. "I think you better start with Auntie Stella, she has a 4 year-old cheering up session scheduled in 10 minutes," he said as Lindsay recovered from another laughing fit. Turning to his wife, Danny couldn't help but roll his eyes at her which promptly set her off once again.
His face suddenly turning serious, Danny turned back to his son. "You can go give everyone their invite IF you promise me to follow the rules –okay?"
Lindsay couldn't help but smile at her husband's protectiveness. It was sweet and widely known how protective Danny was of both her and Owen. The entire lab knew it well, along with the consequences for ever hurting the little blonde. There was nothing short of a death sentence if Danny ever found out and Lindsay was no better. Not as loud as her husband, she was however no less violent. In addition to that, Owen was still under the protection of his godparents, Stella and Mac. Do anything to Owen Messer and your life was over in the crime lab. It was an unwritten rule, simple as that.
Listening to Danny repeat the rules to his son once again, Lindsay rolled her eyes. "You've told him that over a hundred times Danny," she exclaimed.
Watching Daddy give his mother a glare, Owen tried to hide the giggle that threatened to escape before Danny turned his attention back to him. He was 4 years old, but he wasn't stupid. Laughing at Daddy when he was being serious meant a very angry Daddy.
"Make sure you don't go into the elevators alone okay? Find someone to go with you. I don't want you getting lost. Comprende?" Danny continued.
"C…co…yes Daddy," replied Owen, nodding excitedly as he continued to bounce in Danny's arms.
"I'll see you later 'kay buddy?" Placing a kiss to his son's temple, Danny set the boy down before turning to his wife.
"And I'll definitely see you later Montana," said Danny as he leaned forward for a kiss. Walking to the door, Danny stops and turns, calling out a quick "I love you!" before walking off.
XXXXXX
With his outstanding appointment with Aunt Stella finished, Owen managed to persuade her help him hand out his invitations. With Danny still out in the field and Lindsay busy processing evidence, Owen needed someone to go down to the morgue with him. Uncle Sid was the very last and Owen knew that he wasn't allowed in the elevator alone.
As the two walked to the elevators, the ringing of Stella's phone stopped them as she picked up. With a few quick words, Stella clipped the phone back to her pocket, looking around as though looking for someone. Seeing Flack rounding the corner, she called him over.
"What's up Stel?" asked Flack as he approached.
"Look, I gotta scene to go to and Owen needs to give his invitation to Sid," she explained. "You mind taking him downstairs? You know how Danny doesn't let him go alone."
Flack smiled and nodded as he reached down to grasp the boy's hand firmly in his. "Sure thing Stel," he said.
With a grateful smile of thanks, Stella ran off down the hall.
Flack shook his head in amusement as he pressed for the elevator. As it arrived, he turned to Owen with a smile. "Come, let's go and say hi to Uncle Sid."
XXXXXX
"Well thank you very much young man." Crouching down to the little boy, Sid pulled him into a hug, a smile on his face. "I'll definitely be there."
Owen smiled widely as he holds his hands up for Flack to grasp. "Bye Uncle Sid," he called out as Flack guided them back to the elevator.
As they waited, Flack's phone goes off. Owen noticed the frown growing on the older man's face as he reads the message, keeping silent the entire time. As Flack crouched down to him, he listened carefully as Flack explained that needed to go back and talk to Uncle Sid. Owen nodded when he was asked if he understood.
"So I'll press the button for you okay, and you can go up by yourself."
Owen gave Flack a look of slight fear as he replied, "But Danny told me not to go into the elevator by myself."
"You'll be fine kiddo, I go in there by myself everyday and nothing's happened to me," replied Flack. "Your Daddy's just paranoid that's all."
"What's parnoyed mean Uncle Flack?" asked Owen.
Flack chuckled as he ruffled the boy's dirty blonde hair. "It means your Daddy worries too much about you," he explained. "But you'll be alright, you're a big boy."
Still uncertain, Owen doesn't move as he looked up to Flack with a frown.
Flack chuckled once more. "You'll be fine kiddo, and don't tell your Daddy okay? I'd like to live the rest of my life."
As he entered the elevator, Owen managed another worried smile as Flack pushed the button for the lab and stepped out. "See you in a bit!"
XXXXXX
Not fifteen seconds after the elevator doors closed, the room went dark for a moment before lighting up again, the building's emergency generators kicking in. Flack stood still as shock registered on his face before he bolted back to the elevators, yelling out for Owen.
Hearing nothing, Flack takes the stairs as he ran up to the lab, skidding to a stop outside the elevator doors. Relief floods his system as he heard the little boy's sobs.
Trapped in the dark elevator, Owen sat huddled on the floor, having fallen down when the elevator had jolted to a stop. Hearing Flack's voice, Owen called out loudly. He wanted his Daddy.
Two thoughts raced through Flack's mind as he heard Owen's call. First -that Owen was alright, second –Danny was going to castrate him when he found out.
XXXXXX
Already on the way back from a scene, Danny got the call. He was approximately 10 minutes away from the crime lab but made it back in 5, nothing but the thought of his little boy on his mind.
XXXXXX
"You're gonna be okay honey," Lindsay cooed through the elevator door. Still trying to pry the door opened, Lindsay looked up to send a glare to Flack.
'Great, I'm surprised I'm still alive; Lindsay must be waiting for Danny to get back,' thought Flack as he heaved.
After what seemed like an eternity of banging and cursing, the doors were separated far enough for Owen to climb out, clutching to his mother tightly as tears continued to fall.
"I want Daddy," he whispered against her neck, his eyes closed.
Lindsay stokes the back of Owen's head, soothing the panic-stricken toddler. "Shh, I know baby. He's on his way."
Trying desperately to find a way out, Flack hurried down the hallway, only to find Stella blocking his exit. Swearing slightly, he managed a sheepish smile, backing away slightly.
Don Flack knew Stella pretty well and at that moment he would have bet money on the fact that Stella was beyond pissed. She was enraged.
Without a word, Stella took hold of his tie, dragging him back to Lindsay. "You're not going anywhere till that boy gets here," she hissed.
"Danny's going to kill me," Flack whimpered, receiving a glare from Stella.
"And after that it's going to be Lindsay and then mine."
Flack knew he was dead either way. He didn't dare look at Mac.
Still sobbing into Lindsay's shoulder, Owen looked up to see Danny round the corner, skidding to a stop in front of them.
"Daddy!" cried Owen as Danny took him into his arms.
A wave of relief floods his system as he held his son, "You okay buddy?" His eyes locking with Lindsay's, they share a smile as Danny closed his eyes.
Behind them stood Stella, still smiling whilst holding on tightly to Flack's tie, the latter wanting nothing more than to crawl into a whole and hide.
As much as Danny wanted to throttle Flack, he had more important things to attend to. Standing up with Owen in his arms, Danny turned to Mac for a brief moment. Seeing his boss smile and nod, Danny conveyed his thanks as he took Lindsay's hand in his. "Let's go home," he whispered.
Watching the three of them round the corner, Flack visibly sagged to the ground in relief. He was off the hook – for now.
Stella on the other hand had other plans. Sharing a glance with Mac, she smiled knowingly as Mac headed back to his office, leaving Stella with Flack. Looking down to the man, Stella grinned as she yanked him up by the tie.
"Just because Danny let you off doesn't mean you're getting off that easy," she whispered sweetly, sending chills down Flack's spine. "You forget, I'm his godmother and his godfather is waiting patiently in his office." Dragging him by the tie, Stella laughs. "You're Mine now."
XXXXXX
In the background, Sid and Peyton stood whispering to each other conspiratorially.
"I can't believe Danny let him off," said Sid, his eyes wide in amazement.
Peyton shook her head, her eyes dancing to the spot the family stood before. "Owen's more important to Danny right now," replied Peyton.
They both winced as Stella pulled Flack to his feet by his tie, wondering who was worse, Stella or Danny. Both have Italian tempers and while Stella is half Greek, Danny was a father.
A thought came to Sid's mind as her turned to Peyton. "Share his autopsy tomorrow morning?"
Smiling softly, Peyton nods. "Deal."
A/N: Thoughts? Suggestions? Please review and tell me what you thought.
Thanks for reading,
Messermonroe
