Disclaimer: Not mine, never have been, never will be…

Okay, guys! Jolene's chapter finally up! Sorry you had to wait so long… busy with school work and all that stuff. (At this very moment, I'm actually typing to different things at once… this chapter, and my school folio… hehe…)

Enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review!

Chapter 1: Conflict and Comfort

"C'mon, Aiden… get up. You've had enough beauty sleep already," said Danny as he parked his silver SUV in the New York Crime Lab parking lot.

They had just dropped off Haylie at the daycare centre and Aiden had fallen into deep sleep on their journey to the lab. 'This'll is what happens when you sleep so late and yet wake up so early every day…' thought Danny wryly.

Danny shook her gently, "Aiden Burn, we have reached the crime lab," he said, trying to imitate his boss', Mac Taylor, voice, but failing terribly. Aiden merely grunted.

Danny pushed a lock of brunette hair away from his wife's face, revealing Aiden's beautiful closed eyes and full lips. Then, an idea struck.

"Aiden, honey, look! There's Tom Welling! What is HE doing here!" Danny exclaimed at the top of his voice.

As expected, Aiden jumped out of the seat, yelling, "Where! Where Danny? I want to see!"

"Thank God you finally woke up. I was just kidding, Aid… it would be hell in here if he actually did show up," Danny laughed as he replied with the truth. Aiden swatted his arm but Danny grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug as their lips locked.

"We better get going," said Danny as he checked his watch, "Mac's really going to kill us,"

It was already 15 minutes past 9… Danny was already in trouble with Mac this past week for getting to work late. Add the entire Minhas shooting incident that Danny was sure Mac still hadn't forgiven him for, and Danny thought he would be extremely miserable at work if it hadn't been for Aiden and Haylie…

Come to think of it… Mac was acting quite cold towards Danny these past few days. Danny always thought it was probably the Minhas incident, but nowadays, he couldn't help but feel that there was something else…

Something that is causing Mac to be angry at Danny… very angry…

Danny told no one about this, not even Aiden. He didn't want her to worry. He also didn't want to tell anyone in case he was wrong.

"Speaking of Mac, I dreamt about him like kinda trying to wake me up. I didn't see his face but I know he had a sore throat or something, judging from his voice…" said Aiden interrupting Danny's thoughts as they got out of the car.

Pushing his troubles to the back of his mind, he grinned.

"Why are you grinning, Danny?"

"Oh, nothing…" he replied, still grinning widely.

Aiden burst out laughing, and so did Danny. They were still laughing as they went into the building.

Danny was hoping not to bump into his boss the first thing in the morning but guess, what, he almost knocked into a frowning Det. Mac Taylor.

"Do you know what time it is, Messer?"

"Err… it's 9.20 in the morning. I know I late but I had trouble waking Aiden up," replied Danny, laying the blame as quickly as possible. However, Mac had no mercy for him.

"Okay. Aiden, you're excused. Danny, to my office now,"

Danny closed the glass doors of his boss' office and cleared his throat. He had better not do or say anything wrong as Mac is furious, he thought.

"Messer, it is the third time you've been late to work in a week. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I'm sorry, sir…" said Danny.

Mac frowned, "Since when have you started calling me sir?"

Danny retorted roughly, "Since when have you started calling me Messer, sir?"

They glared at each other. Danny was pissed that Mac was angry at him for reasons unknown and not telling him what.

Mac took a deep breath and said, "You used to be hardworking, Messer. But now, I'm afraid that you are slopping. I thought I have made the right choice hiring you. I was wrong,"

Danny flared up, "Just for coming late!"

Mac looked like he was going to yell at Danny, but he turned away while saying, "You have disappointed me. We shall not have this discussion again…"

Danny said, "I'm sorry, Mac. But I feel like there is something else. You're angry at me for some other reason. But you're not telling me what!"

Mac remained silent for a moment, then, "Get to work, now."

Danny detected the finality in his tone and wondered whether to argue, but he decided against it and headed out without another word.

Danny had to time to lick his wounds as he had a case with Stella. He stopped in the hallway to look for Stella but bumped this time into Aiden.

"What did Mac say?" she asked.

Danny managed a fake smile, "Nothing much… don't worry 'bout it,"

Aiden shook her head and said, "Got a case?"

"Yup. Homicide at 4th street with Stella. You haven't seen her have you?"

"Nah, I was in the lab all the time. Anyway, have a safe journey, ok?" said Aiden as she kissed Danny's cheek.

She pulled away as Mac approached them, "Haven't I told you, no mushy-mushy stuff in here?"

Aiden laughed as she said, "You will have to get used to this Mac. Oh, and Danny, you're picking Haylie today right?"

"Yeah… see you at home," Danny wasn't feeling that well. When Aiden was joking with Mac, he was smiling too, but when Danny caught Mac's eye just now and his smile just turned into a frown. 'What the hell is wrong with him?' thought Danny.

He walked out of the building to see Stella standing beside his SUV, "Are we ever going to get there?" she asked, a little annoyed.

Danny told himself, "This is going to be one hell of a day," not realizing how true that statement might be.

Danny yawned widely as he looked at his watch. 5.00pm. Time to pick up Haylie from daycare then head back home where Aiden, who would take the subway home after work, would wait for him and their daughter and have dinner together.

It had been a tough day, half because of the tough case; half because of all that Mac had said to him had been nagging on his mind all day.

After keeping his stuff in his locker, Danny then walked to the car park to his SUV.

He took the road that led to the daycare centre and went out to the gate and pressed the doorbell. The second the gate swung open, a loud cry of, "Daddy! You're early!" came ringing through his ears and his pride and joy leaped at him like a little thunderbolt.

Danny had crouched down, and gave his daughter a big hug.

"Daddy, daddy, are we going to Mc' Donald's? You promised me that you'll take me to get that toy!"

Danny slapped his hand on his forehead, "Oh, darn. Haylie, I'm kinda tired so no McD today, okay? Let's just go home," he said as he helped Haylie up the SUV and buckled her seatbelt.

"Okay, daddy!" she quickly said with a angelic smile that made Danny's day much brighter.

In the SUV during the drive home, Haylie pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and waved it in Danny's face.

"Daddy! Today Miss Westmore taught us how to sing Christmas carols for the Christmas concert. Both you and mummy must come ok? I want you to see how I sing!"

Danny smiled at his daughter and said, "Of course! We wouldn't miss our daughter singing for anything in the world."

"Yay! I love you, daddy!" replied Haylie happily as she gave Danny a peck on the cheek.

"Can I hear you sing now?" said Danny. Haylie put on a pained look, "Now, daddy? Okaaay…" and she started singing a popular Christmas carol, 'Frosty the Snowman'.

"Well, um… that was okay. But you could use more practice with Miss Westmore." Danny actually winced when Haylie started to sing. Haylie saw her father's facial expression and made a very Aiden-pout at him.

"I'd like to see you try, daddy!"

Danny couldn't help smiling at his daughter's resemblance to Aiden. The full pouty lips and brunette tresses just like his wife's. The only difference is that Haylie has his eyes, light sky blue that always sparkles.

He was brought back to reality with Haylie jumping up and down the car, "Sing, daddy! Please…!"

"You know, the only other thing I hate more than running is jumping. Sit please…" Danny said sternly.

"Come on, daddy… please?" begged Haylie as she settled back into her seat.

"Nah.. I don't think I will…"

"Daddy… please?"

"No…"

"I will tell mummy that you suck your thumb when you sleep!"

"Hey! I only did that on- wait… how did you know?"

"Sing a song, now, please, daddy?"

Finally Danny had to give in, "Oh… okay…"

"Yay!"

Danny cleared his throat, wondering what to sing, just to pacify Haylie. Something he could sing, not forget the lyrics halfway through, and definitely not a Christmas carol.

"Danny, what are you going to sing?" she asked impatiently.

"Err, you now what, it really doesn't matter what I sing as long as I sing, okay?"

"'Kay!" said Haylie as she perched herself on the seat next to Danny's.

Danny prepared for the worst, "I'm gonna watch you shine, gonna watch you grow, gonna paint a sign, so you'll always er… know, as long as one and two and two-oo," Danny had to wince himself as he tried to hit the note.

"Gee, daddy, you sound like a cat!"

"Oh, just let me finish… there has never been a father who loves his daughter as much as I love you." Danny breathed a sigh of relief after finishing.

"Daddy, you know what?" Haylie exclaimed as Danny turned to face her.

"What?"

"That was totally, ut-terly rubbish, Danny. And by the way, one plus one is two…" She had a little trouble pronouncing 'utterly'.

"Uncle Flack taught you that too, didn't he?"

Haylie nodded, "But daddy, all that I said cannot be used against me in court!" she said, all mixed up.

Danny pretended to roll his eyes and said, "Whatever, princess…"

As Haylie laughed, he pulled over at the 7 Eleven store to buy the M&M's he had promised Haylie a few days ago, as well as a copy of the New York Times.

"Haylie, make sure you lock the car door after daddy leaves, okay?" said Danny after kissing her on the forehead and getting out of the SUV.

"Yes, daddy…"

'I don't want to lose you, Haylie. I love you too much…' he thought to himself.

Danny went into the store. He had not noticed a black car in the distance-or a dark figure coming out of that black car walking closer towards Danny's car, and Haylie…

Danny stared at the shelf full of different typed of candy and chocolate in front of him. All of these reminded him of the times when he was young-getting chocolate for your birthday was counted lucky as chocolates were expensive at that time.

He snapped out of his thoughts as a scream shattered through the silence.

"Daddy!"

Danny totally forgot about the candy and newspaper and dashed out of the store towards his car. He found his SUV where he parked it but the front door was ajar and the passenger seat empty.

At that time, a million thoughts flooded his mind but only one word managed to escape his mouth.

"Haylie."

TBC.

Yay! Finished! I was getting tired of confusing 'daddy' and 'Danny' every time.

I've already finished writing Chapter 2, but I'll just post this Chapter 1 first, yah… keep you guys waiting on tenterhooks… muahahaha….

Reviews much appreciated! Let us know what you think!