Hey Guys Sorry it's been awhile, I've been busy with the last push till finals. But I thought I'd give you this.
Sid was positively 100% excited, giddy, nervous and several other emotions he was sure never felt before. He'd been so emotionally all over the place he decided to skip breakfast. Today was the day he'd finally bring his buttercup home. He'd made arrangements with the lab for the day off and the following two weeks. Which Danny had no problem granting seeing as he'd be able to magically pull an ME out of his hat in the form of Sheldon. Sid didn't feel like having Stella alone in the backseat as he drove, so he'd called Don hoping the detective would make the drive with him.
The only thing the man said was " Sounds like a road trip we'll play lots of Hannah Montana"
Don had just dropped Mackie off at school. The little boy was all excited over Stella coming today. Don couldn't help the chuckle over the boy's exuberance. During the drive to Sid's he made sure to pick up a few bags of gummies to replenish his stock and grabbed the small person pack of fuzzy peaches for Stella. Flack rolled his eyes before grabbing a pack of those awful liquorice candies Sid seemed to enjoy. They'd only be a few minuets so he parked the car in front of the apartment building and headed up for Sid's.
He smiled as he opened the door and saw the ME re-checking to make sure he'd had everything.
" Hey Sid…as long as you've got that snow suit and the car seat she'll survive"
" OK, just kinda nervous"
" Been there, Done that and stared in the musical. You'll be fine"
" Kay Don"
" I'll get the car seat, you get the giant body warmer" Don said as he eyed the one piece pink and black snowsuit. He'd never understand the things, something his son shared with him. Little Mackie threw a fit when grammy flack tried to get him into a little blue and white one two winters ago. Papa Flack taking pity on his favourite grandson went out and found the arctic camo jacket and black snow pants. Flack himself had worn one piece until 5th grade. Unlike his son, Flack was prone to running around without his jacket.
Car packed the two men began their journey to the orphanage. Sid taking time to insult Don's taste in tunes while getting to know more about the detective. A favour to which Flack returned. With twenty minuets to go Sid started fidgeting a little to much. Growing slightly annoyed but understanding Flack pulled over the car and delivered a solid smack to the back of the older man's head.
" What was that for?"
" Sid get a grip! Everything will be fine and the worst you'd have to worry about is the kid wetting the bed tonight."
" She's potty trained Don."
" It's a little kid thing, they do that sometimes"
" Huh?"
" Sleeping in new places, New bed, sometimes they get scared..they pee. Oh and sometimes they dream about going pee and well they do cause they don't quite catch the fact there about to pee like we do."
" sure flack"
With that Don smirked and continued along the drive. It wasn't a pep talk…it was simply a bunch of random stuff that'd give the man something to think about vs what ifs. Turning into the long driveway Don sized the place up. He'd never been to an orphanage or seen one of that matter. The building was old and at one point could of been owned by a rich businessman who probably lost the property in the 30s. It wasn't run down hell he'd probably put money into it surviving an earthquake before his own apartment building. The playground was about the standard for small parks though the building was bland. With Christmas being a few short weeks away it really could use lights.
" Hey Sid, Think we could come back and toss some lights on the place?"
" I guess we could do it at night and avoid the wrath of Sister Beatrice"
" Sister Beatrice?"
" She's like the nun in the movies everyone loves to hate. But tossing a few up couldn't hurt."
" No I mean really light the place up. I'm sure Auntie Lindsay would love to watch the children."
" What are you getting at Detective, Even with Adam, Hawkes and Danny we couldn't get all of it?"
" Easy enough between us guys and I'm sure I could Gibbs' team would be willing to help."
" Oh that would work fine"
" Wait Wait….Lindsay could come as well, Ducky Gibbs' ME could watch the munchkins and regale them with stories of his day as a lad growing up in England."
" Their ME…watch the kids?"
" Oh yeah Ducky would go all Grandpa and feed them healthy food. Great guy….though he talks to his " Visitors" while he autopsies them."
" I though I had a morbid fascination with death…this Ducky fellah and I should do coffee sometime."
" That be any psychiatrists orgasm the two of you in a session." Don said with a shudder. Only to be punched by the ME.
" Shad up"
With their bantering on a roll the two men continued to the front doors and rang the giant knocker. Sister Martha opened the doors and smiled at the man who'd be making a home for one of her angels.
" Sidney! how are you darling?…"
" Sidney?" Don snorted in amusement enjoying the tinge of pink Sid took on.
" Oh and you've brought a friend, who is this strapping young man?"
" Hello sister I'm…."
" You can call him DONALD sister" Sid said smirking at his friend.
" Donald such a strong name"
" We'er good Sister, Don here has never seen an orphanage can you give him the grand tour? while I grab Stella."
" O fcourse, come along Donald" The detective followed obediently, the women had an air about her that made him feel like a young schoolboy. While Flack was busy getting his tour Sid found his way to the playroom and lightly tossed a soft rubber ball at his buttercups head. Sid couldn't help chuckling as the the little girl whipped around causing her curls to bounce and placing one hand on her hip giving him a glare worthy of seasoned wife.
" Thid" it's effect was lost as the girl bounded across the room throwing herself into Sid's arms.
" I mithed you Thid"
" I missed you more"
" Nu huh I Mithed you more!"
" No I did"
" Nope Me"
" Fine you win"
" Are you children done bickering?" Flack said as he and Sister Martha entered the playroom.
" Sidney, before you take Stella with you there are a few more paper to fill out."
" Alright coming, Be right back Stella"
" hmm kay " Stella said
Don found himself standing in the middle of a playroom with little Stella and several girls all busy doing various things. He kind of felt like the elephant. He took his time to look the the girl over. Her cheeks were still chubby in the way only a young child's could. She had curly hair which thankfully were far more tame then his son's. She wasn't a chubby child in fact she was quite slim. Maybe Sid and himself would no longer be the twig twins. Flack was brought out his musing by the very girl.
" You have big feet " Looking down Flack had to smile. He wore a 13 and they must be huge to the little girl
" I guess I do "
" I have wittle feet" Stella said looking at her own tiny feet
" They'll grow "
" Oh…you have blue eyes"
" You have green eyes, Like my mom's " Don said enjoying the little conversation.
" I don't have a mommy" the little girl said in a voice somewhere between tears and stating a fact.
" It's ok, I'll share mine. She'll feed you peach pie"
" I love peach"
By this point Flack was sitting on the floor beside the little girl. She'd put a stuffed puppy on his lap which he was lazily petting.
" I'm Thella"
" Flack… Don Flack"
" Hello Mithter Don Fwack"
Don chuckled the girl was a riot. " How about you just call me Donnie"
" Ok you can call me Thell"
" Alright Stell, Wanna Colour?"
" Huh uh"
For the next 15 minuets Stella and Don lay on their stomachs colouring in the race car colouring book. It'd been rolled up in Flack's jacket pocket along with the crayons since the other night when the boy grew tired of colouring during dinner. For a few minuets Sid and sister Martha stood in the doorway watching.
" He looks like he's been here forever, Sidney"
" I think it's just part of the Flack nature. His son is the same way. Two days into working with the team he was sitting on my boss' desk and Mackie knew his way through the labs." Sid said was he noted the detective had taken of his shoes, jacket, scarf.
" Sidney it's getting late you should head out. Do bring Stella back from time to time and do visit."
" Don't worry Sister I'll keep coming on Thursdays and I'll definitely bring Stella on some"
" Thank you"
" Hey buttercup it's time to go"
Sid took a few minuets to get her into her snow suit, mitts and and winter hat. He waited patiently for the little girl to say goodbye to the other girls and hug Sister Martha and promise to visit. Once they got to the car Stella said something that surprised him.
" I wanna sit with Donnie"
" That alright with you Flack"
" Not at all, Here take Fido he'll keep you company" Don said tossing the stuffed puppy to Sid.
" He's not Fido, He's Donald"
" Good name for a dog Sid"
" Oh here are the keys "
" Donnie hurry up, I wanna colour" Stella said from her car seat. Sid couldn't help but smile…they kid sounded just like any other impatient three year old and it was music to his ears.
" Coming"
Sid had to admit he'd never driven Mercury before and he was enjoying himself along with the constant stream of chatter from the backseat. If he didn't know any better he'd say there were two children back there. Especially after Don whined about Stella taking the red crayon from him. 55 minuets into the drive not a sound came from the backseat. Looking back Sid smiled both of his passengers were out like lights. Stella thumb had found it's way into her mouth and at some point found Flack's stuffed New York Ranger's hockey player. He was pretty sure who the girl's favourite uncle would be.
" I'll carry her in Don, but I'm waking your ass up when we get home"
" Home" Sid said it one more time, he really liked the said of home because now Stella had one.