IN HIS ARMS

This little one shot is part of the 'pot luck' challenge set up by Leslie Emm in the forums (check it out!). A random choice of one main character and one minor character, which I solemnly vow was not fixed in any way! Just call me jammy, all right? I also picked Lucy Messer. The obvious idea after that was to write a little babysitting number, but one of my favourite fanfic stories of all time is about Adam losing Lucy when he's supposed to be babysitting her ('Where's Lucy?'), so I thought that I would take a different approach. Hope you like it! And thanks to Leslie, for the inspiration. I really, really enjoyed writing it.

This story is set directly after 'The Greater Good'. In case there was any doubt. Because, let's face it, Adam's reaction at the beginning is priceless.

By the way, at this point, there was still a little disagreement over Lucy's name, which is why I haven't used it.

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"You wanna hold her?" said Danny.

Adam froze, mid-chuckle.

It was the very question he'd been dreading since that moment, back at the lab, when Lindsay had grabbed his shirt and blown his mind with her revelation. All eyes were on him. Mac's face wore a sly grin that said he could tell exactly what the lab tech was thinking.

What if I drop her?

"Okay," he said. "Sure. Why not?"

Babies. No experience.

No problem.

Feigning nonchalance, he held out his arms, in a clumsy imitation of Danny's comfortable pose. Deep down, he couldn't quite believe that they would trust him with something so fragile.

The world around him disappeared as the little scrap of life was placed in his arms. It was soft, and warm. She, not it. Adam held his breath. For some peculiar reason, there was a lump in his throat. Oh, very manly. He swallowed around it, and stared down nervously at the scrunched-up face, beneath its pink cap.

Okay - now what?

Talk to her, Adam, you wuss.

"Hey there, baby girl," he whispered.

She opened her eyes. Bright blue, with pupils like pinpricks. Windows to her living, breathing soul. Adam was enchanted.

With fingers that were ever so gentle, he pulled the blanket aside and tickled her cheek. It seemed like the right thing to do. Such a little person...

'Yes, but then they grow up,' said the voice in his head - the one that was always there, trying to bring him down.

Adam couldn't help wondering to himself. Had his father ever held him this way? As though he were made of gold? As though he were the most amazing thing in the world right now?

Doesn't matter.

"You're a lucky girl," he told her softly. "I know your mom and dad, okay, and they love you so much already. You're gonna have a great life. Plus, your godfather - well, that's my boss, right, and he won't let anything bad happen to you. Not ever. So, you know, warn your boyfriends, all right? Then there's me. I'm Adam..." He paused - and grinned. "When you're older, I'm the one who'll teach you all the really cool stuff that these guys know nothing about..."

"Okay, Adam. You can give her back now," Danny quipped. "Time to go." He turned to his wife. "You must be tired."

"I am." Adam sighed happily, gazing down at the tiny bundle in his arms.

It had been a long day. But he wouldn't have missed it for the world.