Disclaimer: I own none of The CSI character's in this story or the show. I own Charles Burn and Jacob Messer.
Surprises a year after Aiden's death
Danny had been dealing with Aiden's death ever since they identified her body that day. He wasn't just dealing with her he was dealing with the fact that she promised never to leave him especially after she gave birth to their son Jacob Charles Aidan Burn Messer, his pride and joy, the only thing left of Aiden that he has. Her father was the one that they decided was going to look after the little boy for them and he had no problem with that, Danny was there whenever his son needed him. For the entire month after her death Danny had Jacob at his house in his bed with him every night just watching him sleep and comforting him when he woke up crying.
Nobody in the entire Lab knew about that little bundle that Danny and Aiden had together, it wasn't as if they were dating they just use to comfort one another and when Aiden did get pregnant her and Danny discussed the options of having the baby or aborting and they both decided that they wanted to have the child and raise it. When they went and told her father he was speechless, his baby girl was going to have a baby, he didn't care that she wasn't married he was just happy that she was having the child with someone she cared about and who cared for her to. It also helped that her father approved of Danny since the first time he saw him make his little girl smile after a hard day of work.
The way that the Lab found out about the little boy was when he was eleven months old, her father Charles had to go to the hospital for a check-up and he didn't want to take Jacob with him so he came to the Lab to drop the little boy off with his father.
"Danny, I know its short notice but I have a doctor's appointment and it doesn't feel right bringing Jake along with me" (Charles Burn)
"It's alright Charles I'll take him, how long do you figure your going to be?" (Danny)
"A couple of hours, I want to do a few things after the doctors before I pick Jake up is that okay?"(Charles)
"Yeah no problem" (Danny).
Then off his 'father-in-law' as he liked to refer to him as left the building he looked down at the little boy standing in front of him looking straight up into his daddy's eyes with love.
Danny wasn't paying any attention to the fact that everybody from the team was coming towards him. But the second Jacob heard somebody clear their throat from behind him, his son was right behind his legs hiding from the strange new people.
"Relax buddy, everything's okay" (Danny)
"Who's the kid, Danny?" (Stella)
"Yeah who's the kid?" (Don)
"What kid?" (Danny)
"The one behind your legs" (Lindsay)
"And did I see Charles Burn a little while ago?" (Mac)
"He just wanted to stop by to see how I was doing and asked me to do him a favour" (Danny)
"What kind of favour?" (Mac)
"He asked me if I could look after this little guy for him" (Danny)
"Really and who might this be?" (Stella)
"Aiden's son" (Danny)
"What Aid had a kid no way, how old?" (Don)
"Yeah how old and why didn't we know about him Danny?" (Stella)
"What's his name?" (Lindsay)
"And the bigger question whose the father?" (Mac)
"Okay one at a time, he's eleven months old he turns one next month on the sixteenth, Aid didn't want anybody to know. His names Jacob Charles Aidan and the answer to the last question he's mine" (Danny)
"You and Aiden had a kid together?" (Don)
"Yeah, we did it's nothing big" (Danny)
"Danny, somebody actually tamed you" (Stella)
"Well yeah" (Danny)
"I guess I was right when I said 'love' could happen to you Danny" (Mac)
"Yeah you were right, Mac" (Danny)
"So why didn't you tell us about him after Aiden's death? It would have explained why we didn't see you that much at her funeral" (Hawkes)
"It just didn't feel right, I just lost the love of my life and the mother of my child. My son just lost his mother and I needed to be there to take care of him. Also Aid's dad is the one who takes care of Jake, we thought it would be best if her dad watched him until we were both secure enough in our jobs to take him off his hands, Charles loves taking care of this little guy" (Danny)
"I can only imagine can we meet him?" (Lindsay)
"He's kind of shy" (Danny)
"In that case maybe later?" (Stella)
"Later sounds good, I think he needs his diaper changed" (Danny)
"Wow, I never thought I'd ever hear Messer say 'diaper change' ever in my life, then again I never thought he would ever score with Aiden but he did" (Don)
"Come on Flack, Danny's really changed since Aiden's death he's a better man now" (Stella)
"At least now he is" (Hawkes)
"Thanks I think" (Danny).
Before anyone could respond Danny was bending down to scoop up his little boy and taking him to the washroom to change his diaper.
Everybody in the lab had a new found respect for Danny; he was doing one of the toughest things in the entire lab, raising a little boy with help only from his dead girlfriend's father. If bets were made on Danny and Aiden getting together Stella probably would have won, but nobody ever would have thought that those two would have had a child together. It just blew everybody's mind that those two had managed to have a child together and keep it a secret especially Danny who couldn't keep anything from them. Since Aiden's death he kept remembering that line she told him when she was going out on that date with Lily 'Whoa there Messer…you're cute, but I'm way out of your league', for him that was the start of their relationship. Nobody knew when Danny and Aiden would have been together but they weren't going to ask him about it, they just enjoyed watching him with his son. Stella came in to see how Danny was doing when she saw him resting on the couch with his little boy on the floor in front of him playing with some toys. So she decided to leave the two alone and come back later to meet Danny's little guy to top it off, Stella still couldn't believe that Danny Messer had a kid and one as cute as Jake. Just looking at the little boy, Stella could see the love in Danny's eyes, the same love she saw when he found out that Aiden was dead. A little while later Mac came by to check on them when he too saw them sitting together on the couch in the break room, while Danny was reading his son a story.
It was hard for all of them to deny that since finding out about Danny's son the entire lab, has noticed a complete change in his personality. He had stopped flirting with all the pretty women he's seen and has stopped going out to the bar with Flack. Lindsay was a bit hesitant about approaching Danny since finding out that he has a son, it makes her think that Danny's trip to Montana to see her was a mistake.
"Hi…is it alright for me to come in?" (Lindsay)
"Yeah, just keep it down. The little guy is sleeping" (Danny)
"He looks so peaceful" (Lindsay)
"Yeah he does, what can I do for you Montana?" (Danny)
"I was just wondering, was your trip to see me really about me or just your way of forgetting your responsibilities?" (Lindsay)
"WHAT THE HELL LINDSAY…get out of here, I'd never neglect my son, never" (Danny)
"Sorry Danny, it was just that you came all the way to Montana to see me and you completely forgot about your son" (Lindsay)
"Leave Lindsay, I don't want to talk to you right now" (Danny)
"Fine" (Lindsay).
After she left the room Danny bent down and picked his little guy up off the couch and laid down with him on his chest. His whole world was almost complete all he was missing was Aiden.
Charles came back three hours after dropping off Jacob like he promised to and he had a gift for his grandson and Danny. When he found out they were in the break room he slowed down when he saw them sleeping on the couch together. So he decided that he would go and see how Mac is doing, since the last time they spoke.
"Mac is it alright if I come in?" (Charles Burn)
"Of course, come in Mr. Burn" (Mac)
"It's Charles" (Charles)
"Okay Charles. What can, I do for you?" (Mac)
"I was wondering how you've been doing since Aiden's death" (Charles)
"I've been alright, got a big shock earlier finding out that her and Danny had a baby" (Mac)
"I thought he told all of you about him after Aiden's death" (Charles)
"He never told us" (Mac)
"I see, but have you been introduced to him yet?" (Charles)
"No I went by earlier and the two of them were having a moment so I left them alone" (Mac)
"Very nice of you, but this little guy is too much like Aiden and he needs to meet people" (Charles)
"Do you like Danny, Charles?" (Mac)
"Yes, he treated my daughter right and he loves Jacob so much" (Charles)
"I see that are you afraid that Danny might get killed on the job?" (Mac)
"I worry about that but I know he tries his best to be careful and that's all I wish for" (Charles)
"That's what I wish for to, for him" (Mac)
"Well Mac, I have to go and collect my grandson and take him home for the night" (Charles)
"Maybe you should let Danny have him for the night, those two are having fun together" (Mac)
"I was thinking about that I was going to ask Jake what he wanted to do and I'm hoping he'll pick Danny" (Charles).
Normally Charles wouldn't leave a decision like that up to his grandson he'd usually pick it himself but as much as he'd rather take his grandson home, he knows Jacob is going to pick Danny over him. As much as he loves Danny like a son, he hates having him so involved with his grandson. He held back a tear as he entered the room as he saw father and son lying on the couch together just waking up.
"Hey, buddy" (Charles)
"Papa" (Jake)
"You ready to go home?" (Charles)
"Daddy home" (Jake)
"Not tonight, Jake. Daddy probably has to work early tomorrow morning" (Charles)
"Daddy, me home with you?" (Jake)
"It's up to Grandpa" (Danny)
"Papa?" (Jake)
"Fine, just for tonight" (Charles)
"Daddy, me staying with you" (Jake)
"I heard buddy, how about you go back to playing with your cars while I talk with Grandpa" (Danny)
"Okay" (Jake)
"You don't have to let him spend the night if you don't want him to Charles" (Danny)
"I know but…I just think he's going to be asking to stay with you permanently" (Charles)
"Relax Charles, I'm not going to hurt my son. I love him way too much to do anything to hurt him" (Danny)
"Then stay out of his life for right now Danny" (Charles)
"I'm not going to do that Charles, just like I never left Aiden. I'm not going to leave my son" (Danny)
"Danny, you can't take care of him by yourself" (Charles)
"Charles I'm not a kid, I'm a grown man" (Danny)
"Yeah one who decided not to raise his own son" (Charles)
"No what I have work to do, so if you don't mind" (Danny)
"What are you going to do with Jacob?" (Charles)
"He's going to help me" (Danny)
"You work in a lab with chemicals he can't help you" (Charles)
"I'm doing paperwork; he can help me with that" (Danny)
"DANNY, CHARLES, what is going on here? We're trying to work and all I hear are you two fighting" (Mac)
"Sorry Mac" (Charles)
"Yeah sorry, Mac. It wont happen again" (Danny)
"It better not, Danny go home and spend the rest of the day with your son" (Mac)
"Thanks Mac" (Danny)
"You're not helping him Mac" (Charles)
"Charles, it was his and Aiden's choice to have you raise their son. Since Aiden's death Danny has changed into a better man. Just look at him with Jacob, he truly loves that boy more than anything in this world" (Mac)
"I know that but I'm just so afraid that Jacob is going to lose the only other parent that he has and the worst part is I don't want to lose another child" (Charles)
"Of course since Jacob was born, you've gained a son, completely understandable that you don't want to see him get hurt. Trust him; he knows what he's doing" (Mac)
"Alright, tell him I'll pick up Jacob tomorrow" (Charles)
"Okay" (Mac).
Danny was surprised when Mac let him leave early especially when he had mounds of paperwork still to do. He was really changing they all were changing into better people with everything that has happened to them in the past year.
"Hey Mac, where's Danny off to in the middle of shift?" (Stella)
"I gave him the rest of the day off" (Mac)
"Why?" (Stella)
"To spend with his son" (Mac)
"That was nice of you Mac" (Stella)
"Thanks, Stella" (Mac); nothing more had to be said between those two. It was shocking for some of the civilians in the lab to see Danny walking out with this little boy in his arms. For them seeing that he is a father, it makes them realize they have to be a bit more thoughtful as they try to flirt with him.
Since the lab has found out about Jake, a huge weight has been removed from Danny's shoulders. Especially since the one girl that he wanted to tell before either one of them went any further into trying to have a relationship knew that he has another commitment. As he was buckling Jake into his car seat, Danny sensed somebody standing behind him and when he turned around he found Lindsay and Flack standing there.
"Hey guy's what's up?" (Danny)
"Nothing much, just wondering if you two wanted to join us for lunch?" (Don)
"I don't know, I'd have to ask the little man" (Danny)
"Then ask him" (Lindsay)
"Hey buddy, do you want to go get something to eat?" (Danny)
"Uh-huh" (Jake)
"Okay, then the two of us would be honored to join you two" (Danny)
"Great" (Lindsay).
So the four of them headed to a nice little restaurant a few blocks away from the lab.
Of course when they got into the restaurant and was seated Danny went ahead and introduced Jake to Don and Lindsay. He had to make sure that he wasn't going to have a problem being around them for the entire lunch.
"Jake" (Danny)
"Uh-huh?" (Jake)
"I would like you to meet Don and Lindsay" (Danny)
"He-ll-o, 'on and 'indsay" (Jake)
"Hi" (Lindsay)
"Hey" (Don)
The meal was going great until Jake accidentally split his juice all over himself and burst out screaming. Making everybody look at them while Danny, tried to calm his son down.
"Its okay buddy, you don't have to worry" (Danny)
"'ants 'et" (Jake)
"Don't worry buddy, it's not your fault" (Danny)
"Home" (Jake)
"Okay, will go home" (Danny)
'wow Lindsay, it seems like Danny's done this before' 'yeah it does Don, he's such a natural with him'
"Hey you guy's I'm sorry but I think it would probably be best if I get this little guy home" (Danny)
"No problem man, just take care of the little guy" (Don)
"Yeah Danny, just look after your son. We'll talk with you later" (Lindsay)
"Alright bye" (Danny)
"Bye" (Don)
"Bye Dan and Jake" (Lindsay).
Lindsay was a little upset with the fact that Jake didn't say 'bye' to them, but she had to realize she's dealing with a very shy little boy, who just spilled juice on himself by accident.
By the time that Danny got Jake home, the little guy had calmed down quite a bit and was more at ease when he was in his own little environment. Danny just loved seeing his son, in his car and in his apartment it just felt right to him. Once they got into the apartment Jake went straight over to the picture that Danny had sitting on the coffee table of him, Aiden and Jake shortly after he was born. Danny loved seeing the way his son would light up at the sight of the picture, ever since that particular day that he has of just him and Aiden in the park during her pregnancy he has been thinking about getting a dog.
"Dada?" (Jake)
"Yeah buddy?" (Danny)
"Juice peas?" (Jake)
"Okay, but maybe we should change you first" (Danny)
"Okay" (Jake).
Danny loved the smile on his little boys face; it reminded him so much of Aiden that it just makes him burst out in laughter. After he finished changing his little boy's diaper and clothes, Danny then carried Jake back out to the kitchen and placed him on the counter while he got a Sippy cup out and poured some juice into it for him. Jake's face lit up at the sight of the sippy cup in his daddy's hand.
Instead of going home Charles decided to go visit his daughter's gravesite and let her know how her son is doing. 'Hi Aid, sweetheart. Jacob is doing great, he's turning more and more into you everyday. I would have brought him with me but I had to take him to the lab earlier today to get Danny to look after him while I went to the doctor's, now he's spending the night at Danny's. I know you loved him baby, but why did it have to be another law enforcement officer? I'm afraid that Jake is going to lose his other parent and I don't want to see that happen to him. He loves Danny way too much to lose him and he lost you way too soon into his small life. All I'm asking for is some kind of sign from you, telling me if it's time for Danny to take full custody of Jake, yet? Please just let me know if I should let the man you loved raise your son with me only sitting on the sideline helping him only when he asks for it. Just let me know with some kind of sign, please baby girl. That's all I'm asking of you'. After leaving the cemetery Charles went to pick himself up some of his and Aiden's favourite take-out food.
Danny was having a blast at his house just playing with his son; to him it felt right to have Jake there it felt like Jake was home. As for Jake all he knows is that he loves his daddy more than anything in this world and he doesn't want to leave his side ever. Even though Jake isn't old enough to truly experience lose he knows his mommy's not coming back and all he wants to do is make sure that nothing happens to his daddy as long as he is around. The thought that Jake was over his mother's death wasn't a complete truth his little boy ended up waking during the middle of the night screaming out for his father.
"I'm here buddy, I'm here" (Danny)
"Dada" (Jake)
"Its okay, I'm here. Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" (Danny)
"Uh huh" (Jake)
"Okay" (Danny).
He thought that Jake had gotten over his nightmares, guess he was wrong.
As for Mac he was at his home having a somewhat pleasant meal with Peyton, when he received a phone call from Stella. Even though Stella didn't know that Mac was dating or even involved with anyone since his attempt with Rose. Having someone call him in for a scene didn't bother Peyton until she found out that it was Stella who was calling him.
"Mac do you always have to go at her beck and call?" (Peyton)
"She's my partner and I'm on call so yeah I do" (Mac)
"But you promised me that tonight was just you and me" (Peyton)
"Well things change" (Mac)
"Why can't Sheldon, Lindsay or Danny, take it?" (Peyton)
"Sheldon is out of state for the weekend, Lindsay has tonight off and Danny is on but no ones going to call him" (Mac)
"Why won't anybody call him, Mac?" (Peyton)
"He's looking after his son, tonight" (Mac)
"Danny, has a son?" (Peyton)
"Yes he does and if you don't mind I have a scene to get to" (Mac)
"Fine" (Peyton).
Peyton may not be happy with the fact that Mac is with Stella, but she is shocked to learn that Daniel Messer is a father.
Stella never knew that her call to Mac was coming at an inconvenient time, he has yet to inform her that he gave the whole dating thing another shot after Rose. It was just that she needed a partner for this case and there aren't many people that she can call to come in. Since finding out that Danny is a father and caring for his son tonight he was out, Hawkes was out of town and Lindsay had the night off, that left her with Mac. Stella knew something was up with Mac, when he arrived at the scene and avoided looking at her.
"Mac, we cool?" (Stella)
"Yeah we're good, why?" (Mac)
"Cause you haven't looked at me one bit, since earlier today" (Stella)
"Oh…it's nothing Stella just have a lot on my mind" (Mac)
"Alright then" (Stella).
Stella only partially believed him, because he's her best friend and he wouldn't lie to her.
Danny wasn't big on leaving Jake alone in his bed while he went to the washroom but he wasn't going to wake up his son and take him with him. He left the bathroom door open while he was in there and heard his son start to whimper and was getting worried that Jake would waking up freaking out and fall of the bed looking for him. Sure enough Jake did wake up but he didn't leave the bed he just moved over to the spot where Danny was lying just a few seconds ago and started calling out for his daddy.
"DADA, DADA" (Jake)
"I'll be there in a second buddy I'm just finishing up in here" (Danny)
"DADA, DADA" (Jake).
As he said he was just finishing up all he had to do was wash his hands and then he was back in the room and bed with Jake crawling on top of him the second Danny was on his back on the bed.
"Better little guy?" (Danny)
"'Et-t-e-r" (Jake)
"Okay, let's get some sleep" (Danny)
"Kay" (Jake).
'Just like your mother, buddy, just like her. Aiden I really miss you at times like these, normally I would picture you, me and Jake lying here together. Your missing out on so much when it comes to him, but that's alright I'll tell you about it every time I visit you or lie here thinking about you'.
Flack was having a blast hanging out with Lindsay, he never thought that she'd every consider going out with him, as long as Danny is around. Yet eversince they learned that Danny has a son the whole atmosphere of the lab has changed, so has Lindsay's personality towards him. It was still a shock to Flack learning about a kid that his best friend had with one of their closest female friends. It wasn't as if he didn't mind the attention from Lindsay but he feels as if she is using him to make Danny think about whether or not he wants Lindsay in his life. Either way Flack is willing to be used by Lindsay even if it is to make his best friend jealous, but before he lets it go any further he figures seeing Danny would be the best course of action that he can possible take.
Two hours after his "date" with Lindsay he gave Danny a call to see if he was up and when Danny did answer the phone he sounded like he was sleeping. When Don said he'd talk with him tomorrow, Danny told him to come over and the two of them will watch the rest of the game since it was only eight thirty at night after all. Don felt like an idiot standing at his best friend's door not knowing whether he should knock on the door or use his key, so he chose to knock. Danny got to the door as quickly as he could considering the fact that Jake was in his room sleeping.
"Hey man, just be quiet when you enter Jake's sleeping" (Danny)
"Oh okay" (Don)
"So what brings you by here?" (Danny)
"It kind of involves Lindsay" (Don)
"What do you mean by that?" (Danny)
"She kind of asked me to go out" (Don)
"As in a date?" (Danny)
"Yeah, we just had drinks tonight and I thought it was just as friends but then she asked me afterwards if I wanted to catch a movie with her sometime" (Don)
"Wow, she's a cold one" (Danny)
"Yeah I know, I thought I'd talk with you first and trust me I never told her I had to talk with you. I just said I'd have to check my schedule" (Don)
"Smooth move man" (Danny)
"Yeah I know, are you cool with Lindsay and me dating?" (Don)
"Sort of, but personally I'd enjoy seeing her happy and if you can do that man be my guest" (Danny)
"Thanks man, how's the little guy doing?" (Don)
"He's alright" (Danny)
"I like that picture of you and Aid" (Don)
"Me too" (Danny)
"Is he really alright?" (Don)
"Kind of, he sort of woke up from a nightmare and I put him in the bed with me but he ended up waking up again freaking out, when I was in the washroom and that made me freak out" (Danny)
"Has he done that often?" (Don)
"For the first two months after Aiden's death he couldn't sleep only because he kept having nightmares it broke my heart seeing that little guy shake so much" (Danny)
"I bet" (Don).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
please review, if you would like more. the next chapter is how the two of them got together but I need feedback on whether or not to continue it.
the italics are conversations either towards Aiden while telling her what she's missing out on or between two people whispering or on the phone to one another.
I also know that eleven month olds can't really talk but for this story they can talk somewhat clearly.