AN: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.

9. Serious decisions

Within a few days of apprehending the Cabbie Killer, the lab was back to the normal business of death and destruction. Happily the serial killer cases were rare, so everyone was pleased to have a single case to resolve. For the lab techs it didn't make a lot of difference, tests were tests, but where it changed was how much pressure they got and how many times the CSIs or detectives came by looking for results. Fewer people were working around the clock, catching sleep on couches or in chairs as they dropped. So there was a sense of calm.

The squad room was quieter too. Angell and Don had a few days off, making up for all the extra overtime they had accrued through the Cabbie Killer case. Laura had been declared fit to go back to work, but had taken a few vacation days.

--

So now Laura found herself at the doors to one of the biggest baby stores in the city. Don was with her and was acting more like a kid than a new father to be, so Laura had her hands full, even before entering the store.

"Kat we getting one of those?" He asked pulling her to the display window and pointing at a giant tiger which was almost as big as she was.

"Get a grip, where would we put it?"

"Them, we've gotta have two Kat, a pair one each."

"I'm beginning to regret the decision to bring you out now."

"Nonsense babe, you're right, we need to do this."

"Well then can you behave long enough to make some serious decisions? ... I'm exhausted already."

"Are you OK? Do you want to go someplace and sit down?"

"No, I want to do this first and then you can take me to lunch."

"OK ... You sure we can't have a pair of tigers to take home?" He asked as they walked through the door. Laura seized his hand and tugged him towards the escalator to the baby department on the upper floor, feeling like she was already the mother of a toddler about to throw a temper tantrum.

--

A few weeks later Laura tossed a pile of files into the basket ready for filing and pushed herself up from her desk as her lieutenant opened the door to his office.

"Laura, I need you and Flack in here now." Yelled lieutenant Fraser.

"He's upstairs checking up on a case." She answered.

"Call him back, it's urgent." He gave no other explanation as he turned back into the tiny office and closed the door.

Laura picked up her phone and hit the speed dial for Don's phone.

--

About an hour later Laura and Don emerged from their lieutenant's office with serious looks. They didn't speak to each other as they collected their things and left.

Inside the confines of his car Laura leant back against the seat and the tears trickled down her face. Don looked at her, he had argued against her doing this, but above all he knew they had to, he knew how he felt about the life she carried, the future that would be theirs in just 7 more weeks. He reached for her hand.

"Are you going to be ok?"

"Yeah, ... I know you don't want me to do this, but we have to. Tell me you don't feel the same."

"I'm not going anywhere Kat except with you. Fraser knew that which is why we go in together, I'm not giving you up to some snivelling rookie to look after. This is my family at stake here and I'm going to be there."

"I'm glad. Let's go get this over with."

"I won't let anything happen."

"I know you'll do your best"

Silently Don started the car and pulled out of the garage heading across town in the mid morning traffic to a house in a lower middle class neighbourhood. Don parked the car and they went up to the door of the address they had been given. The door opened immediately and they went inside.

--

Stella entered the squad room later in the day surprised that the two had already gone. She found Angell filling in paperwork.

"Hi, is Flack still around?"

"No, they left early. He's off call tonight so if it's urgent I can help. Or you can catch him tomorrow."

"It can wait. I'll make the most of an early night myself."

Stella returned to the lab and packed up her things.

--

"We understand we are asking a lot, but we wouldn't be looking to do this unless it was vital to our case. We'll leave you alone to talk things over, we'll come back in a couple of hours. There's a pack of take out menus in the kitchen, help yourself."

The three armed detectives left the room leaving Don and Laura shell-shocked at the information they had been given. Laura leaned against Don and he wrapped an arm around her as she stroked her stomach.

"Do we really have a choice?" He asked hesitantly.

"... I don't know if I could forgive myself if we didn't stop this while we had the chance. ... No one should have to face that prospect. I couldn't do it, even legally, but I understand that some women are alone with no support and they feel they have no choice, but its wrong. ... I know you're worried about us" she continued caressing her stomach as she spoke. "... what this could mean for us. I'm not making the decision here we both have to agree with this and follow through or we walk away now."

"I can't stand the thought of them getting away with this any longer, I think we should do it on one condition. ... I want your doctor to agree you're up to it. I don't want you to take any risks."

"Passing the buck?"

"I'm serious babe, we've gone through enough to get here, I want to be sure there's no risk to you in what we're contemplating."

"OK"

They continued to sit in silence for a while as they contemplated the huge change their life was about to take.

--

The following morning Mac called the team together.

"I've just been informed that Flack is on indefinite leave, any ongoing cases will be passed over to Jessica Angell and Craig Murphy. I've been asked to reassure you all that everything is fine, they just needed some time before the baby's born to themselves. They are away upstate for a few weeks. Danny, Stella, can you swing by their place later and check everything is ok, it seems it all happened in quite a rush yesterday and they haven't been home."

"That's all suspicious Mac, they wouldn't just take off like that without saying anything and I know Laura wasn't planning on going anywhere, she's practically too exhausted to get home from here."

"Which is why Flack has taken time off and they've gone away. Fraser packed them both off yesterday afternoon." The team looked at Mac suspiciously. "I know it sounds strange but the thing to remember is that they are ok and on vacation."

--

Don and Laura re-entered the house where they had spent the night. The place was a hive of activity, although you wouldn't suspect from the outside. A few hours later they left by cab for another location.

Sitting in the cab both were silent. Don had Laura's hand grasped tightly in his as she leaned against him and closed her eyes.

Eventually the cab pulled up at a large town house on the upper west side.

"Here you go, this the place you wanted?"

Don sighed looking at the plaque outside the building. He glanced around the street and then locked his gaze momentarily with their driver. "Yeah, it's the place."

A few moments later the cab drove off leaving Don and Laura on the doorstep of the imposing building.

"You sure about this Don, we can still walk away." Laura whispered.

"I can't, we have to do this." Before either of them could change their minds he knocked on the door.

--

It was later that day when Danny and Stella were able to get away to check Don and Laura's apartment for them. Stella had a spare key for emergencies, so she let them in. The place was tidy. Nothing appeared out of place, but for a couple going away she wouldn't have expected to see a half full laundry basket and other signs that they hadn't just gone for the day. Dishes were still in the washer which had obviously been left running. She turned it off. She checked each room as Danny checked the lounge.

Danny joined her as she was about to open the guest room door. "Are you alright Stella?"

"Something's wrong. They wouldn't have gone away and left the place like this. They were intending to come back yesterday."

"Mac said they didn't wait they just took off. It sounded pretty last minute. ... I know Flack's been talking about taking a break before the baby comes. Maybe he just got his act together. ... you know he likes to surprise her"

"That's not it Danny, he would have at least packed a bag. Nothing seems to be out of place or missing. I'm worried."

Danny took his phone and dialled Flack's number on his speed dial. It went straight to voicemail. He looked at Stella as he left a message. Stella snatched his phone and dialled Laura's number.

"She wont have her phone off as well, just in case of anything happening."

Stella screwed up her face with concern as she also got voicemail. "This isn't right. Flack wouldn't just leave in the middle of a case, you know that."

He had to agree, it didn't sound like Flack. "But you said yourself it was a pretty clean case, and you and Angell picked up the guy this morning."

A knock at the door distracted them and they were returning to the living room. "NYPD stop right there."

Stella and Danny glanced at each other. "Detective Bonasera and Detective Messer, we're going for our badges OK?"

The young officer looked between them. "OK, slowly, two fingers." Stella and Danny complied. A moment later he handed them back having scrutinised their credentials. "I'm sorry detectives, we had a report from a neighbour that two strangers had broken in."

"I'm the emergency key holder for Detective Flack. We're checking up on the place while he's away." Stella told him retrieving her badge and putting it back on her belt.

"He's away? The neighbour said she hadn't seen them since yesterday and that they hadn't said they were going away and that Mrs Flack is about to give birth."

"They've got a while yet. Everything's under control. We'll be popping by to check up while they're gone." Stella said backing the officer to the door. Satisfied that there was nothing wrong he left to reassure the neighbour.

"Think Mac knows more?" Asked Danny casting another look around.

"I'm going back to the lab to ask him."

"We should check the rest of the place first."

--

Don and Laura had been shown into a lounge area with a desk at one end. They were offered a seat. Numerous pamphlets were laying around and Laura picked up a few and flicked through them before showing them to Don. He slid them into his pocket as she took a magazine from the table at the side of her chair. Don glanced around the room, aware that the middle aged woman at the desk was watching them. He glanced over at Laura and tried to feign interest in what she was reading. He felt more nervous than the time he had first gone to the clinic with her for her first doctor's appointment. He let his mind wander over the place they were in, trying to recollect what they had been told. He hoped they were making the right decision. No, he knew they were making the right decision. They had to follow through for the sake of everyone involved.

--

Stella and Danny returned to the hallway and Stella opened the door to the nursery Danny turned to the bathroom. He pulled his weapon when he heard her gasp. When he realised she was alright, he returned it to the holster and walked over to see what had surprised her. They stood in the doorway staring at the pale yellow room which had been recently decorated and furnished.

"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Asked Danny squinting in the room.

"You didn't know? ... I thought Flack told you everything."

"Not where the baby's concerned. They kept everything pretty tight. I'd say this just proves it."

--

Back at the lab Stella entered Mac's office.

"Stella? I thought you had gone home."

"I did, Danny and I stopped by Flack and Laura's. ... Do you know where they are?"

"All I know is what Flack told me by text last night. They're away upstate for some time out before the baby."

"Has he said anything else to you about the baby?"

"What's up Stella?"

"Did you know they're expecting twins?"

"Twins?"

"Yeah, their nursery is all set up, two of everything."


This story line seems to have taken on a life of its own. The number of votes for twins is way ahead of a single baby, so I had to reveal this part. I will leave the voting open so you can vote for the sex of the twins, if you have not yet voted.