Thanks for all the reviews! They seriously make me happy! Ummm I hope I didn't go to far on this chapter with the scene. just let me know if I did. Anyways, I just got wireless internet in the middle of nowhere...lol...So my comp is uper slow but at least it let me post this. Well, I hope you like it. We will be jumping up to the present in a few more chapters...Just a little FYI.
JaydenBell - Thanks! Yes, in a very negative world on a very bad day a miracle is born. My nephew's birth was kinda like that. So I used that for inspration!
hope4sall - Yes, he will have an even better connection wiht in future chaps. FYI - I am currently reading your story Behind The Scenes. I love it so far...I just gotta review! blushes Sorry!
WinchesterWench - Aww thank you! you are too sweet. I have to have the little Mac moments here and there...lol.
laplandgirl - Thanks! I'm glad you like it. Hopefully, you'll come back...lol!
I knew that when a baby came into the world it not only affected the one who gave birth but it affected everyone around that person. I also knew that life with those people around would become very hectic and memorable. And that very hectic and memorable life didn't pass me by. I got the full brunt of it as the people around me were all employed by the great city of New York City. My friends and family were none other than the NYPD Homicide and NYPD Crime lab employees.
Today was most likely one of those memorable days. Bella, as Don had come to call her, was almost a month old and today was her first trip to the precinct and lab.
"What are you doing here?" Angell asked when I walked into the room. I smiled and walked over to my fellow female detective.
"Taking a field trip." I told her.
"I don't blame ya. I's go crazy sitting at my house all day." she smiled and moved a few files so I could set Bella's car seat down on her desk.
"Oh it's horrible but I'm not complaining yet. But I'll be a wreck when I do come back." I laughed and looked at the tiny baby in front of me. "Say I've gotten attached to you." I cooed.
"You come back in two weeks, right?" she asked unbuckling Bella and picking her up.
"Yes, thank god. Jane agreed to watch her so I wouldn't have to put her in day care and take more time off.
I really didn't wan to put her in day care until she was older but I needed to go back to work. So Jane Flack, being the saint she is, agreed to take care of her when I work. 'Day or night, rain or snow.' was what she said when I asked. And my mom was in the process of moving closer so she could help out.
"That lady's amazing." she said and looked down at Bella. "So how is she?" she asked.
"She's a peach. She really is. She doesn't full out cry, she starts to whimper. She squirms when she needs a new diaper. She's a great baby." I beamed. Jess bounced her for a minute and looked over at me.
"Are you happy?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. And that's the first time in forever I can say that and mean it." I smiled. She nodded and set the baby back in her seat.
"Well, I'm glad. But I'll be so much happier when you get back. Flack has been a bitch." she laughed.
I knew what she was talking about. People had been telling me that Don had been unbearable. That he had a bad attitude since I had been on maternity leave. At first I thought it was the stress of having a new born around but soon I found out that it was simply that fact that I was gone. I heard they tried to pair him with other detectives but he didn't take it so well. He didn't play well with others, if I must say so.
"I heard he's been a handful." I said pulling out a bottle for Bella. I set it on the blanket and let her drink.
"He's horrible. I'm the only one he let go with him. And he mostly complained that he was pissed that I came." she told me. I bit my lip and gave her a sympathetic smile.
"I'm sorry. He's fine at home. But I'm the same when he's out. After the explosion I was a total bitch. Capt wanted me to take leave for a bit." I told her. She grabbed her badge and laughed.
"You two are helpless without each other." she smiled. "Well, you enjoy you're trip and I'll see you in two weeks." she said and walked off. I waved and looked at Bella.
"You ready to go cause a ruckus in the lab?" I asked and picked her up. I made my way to the elevator and rode up to the lab. I stepped out and looked around.
"Damn, where is everyone?" I asked myself and walked down the hallway looking for anyone familiar. I walked to the break room and laughed. "You lazy bastard's." I announced as I walked in.
"Well, this is a nice surprise." Mac smiled and pulled a chair out for me to sit in.
"Yeah, I was bored. So I thought you might wanna see a pretty face." I smiled and sat down.
"Well, I haven't see it yet but if you do tell me." Danny joked. I rolled my eyes.
"Ha Ha, vert funny." I said sarcastically. I set Bella down next to me and watched as Danny and Stella started to move out their seats. "No, she's asleep." I told them. They sat back down and frowned.
"I heard Don say she had a doctor's appointment yesterday?" Stella asked. I nodded and stood up to get a cup of coffee.
"Yes. She's fine. Average in weight and height. Healthy little girl." I assured them.
"That's good. Flack said she was a sound sleeper." Danny told me. I laughed and set my coffee down
"How much does Don talk about her?" I asked.
"Oh about every chance he can." Mac answered. I nodded and poured sugar in my cup.
"Well, that's nice. Yes, she is a sound sleeper. Thank god. I'd feel bad if don didn't get any sleep because of her." I told them. "She only wakes up at about 1 and 5 am." I said sipping my coffee. It had become my best friend again. And I was taking advantage of it.
"That's good. She's a passive baby, like her mom." Mac told me. I smiled at him and nodded.
"What about her isn't like Sara?" Danny asked. "She's the spitting image of her." he laughed. We laughed and Danny's pager went off. "Well, I gotta go. Adam's finally got my results. I was thinking about stopping by later. Thank okay?" he asked.
"Sure. Just call me or Don first." I told him as he left. I heard Bella moving around and looked down at her. She was awake and squirming.
"Do you need a change?" I cooed and went to pick her up.
"I'll get it." Stella offered. I nodded and pushed the baby and her bag over. She picked them up and smiled at me. "We shall return." she said and left. I looked over at Mac and sighed.
"Go ahead and ask." I mumbled. He grinned and leaned on the table.
"Have you talked to the Callahan's?" he asked.
"Sorta." I muttered.
That was the truth. After Bella was born I sent out birth announcements. They were the first one's I wrote and sent out. I also talked to Jason's old partner and asked him to talk to them for me. Two days ago he called me and said they yelled at him for believing me. They were still stubborn as hell.
"Have they not contacted you?" he asked.
"Nope. They know full and well that she is here and they know where I live. I'm guessing they made their decision. I can't force them to see her." I told him. He nodded and threw his cup away.
"Well, she will be loved all the same. She's got plenty of family as it is. If they want to be in on her life, they can. But we won't waste time." he declared. I agreed and turned to the door to see Don walking in.
"Hey you." I greeted. He looked past me and looked around my chair.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where's my Bella?" he asked. Mac shook his head and left.
"Well, hello to you too." I laughed. He looked out the door and sighed. "Calm down. Stella went to change her." I told him.
"Sorry, long day." he said sitting down next to me. I looked over at him and smiled.
"Trouble with a case?" I asked sweetly. He glared at me.
"No." he said flatly. Since I had been out I was trying to find any way to help out but he wouldn't let me. "You're not getting involved. You can help when you come back."
"I just wanna help." I whined. He looked over at me and turned his back to me.
"You can help. Massage me." he ordered. I rolled my eyes and started massaging his shoulders. I frowned when I did.
"Jesus, Don. Is the case that bad?" I asked feeling hoe tense he was.
"Yes, and that's all I'm telling you." he mumbled. I continued to try and massage the knots out his muscles.
"Here we are." Stella said as she walked in the room. Don pulled away from me and grabbed the baby from her. She laughed and set her bag down.
"Greedy much?" Stella smiled. Don glared at her and smiled down at the baby in his lap. We watched as he tickled her tummy and made her laugh.
"He'd bee a good father one day." Stella whispered.
"Yeah, he's great. He helps out all the time. He's taken to her well." I whispered back. We looked over when Bella let out a squeal.
"Looks like that feeling is mutual." she smiled.
I nodded my head in agreement and looked over at him. That whole family was full of saints. So why did I have to pick the one full of demons and bad news? I had to pick the rough road. But hey, everyone makes mistakes.
I was so happy she was back. Those six weeks were hell without her. I was okay when she was on desk duty because she was still there to help. But not being able to see her or have her help at work was driving me insane. Before Sara came along I worked alone. Somehow she changed all that and we made a perfect team. So when she was gone, I reverted to my old ways of being a lone man. I'd let Jess come with me a few time but I wasn't happy about it. The only company I wanted or needed was Sara's. But all bitching aside, Sara was back and everyone was grateful for that.
"So you ready for this?" she asked as we walked up to the old building.
"I've seen dead bodies before, Sara." I told her. She had been back for two weeks and oddly enough the city had been quite until now.
"I know but they said it was pretty gory in there." she said. Flashing her badge to the officer at the tape. We walked under the tape and walked in. I looked around and heard Sara let out a gasp.
"My god." she whispered.
I started at my left and scanned the room. It was open with just a few chairs and tables. Laying on the closest table was a woman no older than 25. Her throat was slit and she was assumed naked. The first on scene had draped a jacket over her. On any other occasion I would have been pissed but I wasn't as I stared at the tiny body in the chair facing her.
"He's no older than four, Don." Sara said coldly as we walked over. I sighed and looked at the little boy. He had a wound to his stomach but I couldn't tell what from. His mouth was taped and his hands were tied behind his back.
"Where's Mac?" I asked softly looking away from the boy.
"About ten minutes out." she replied wiping her eyes.
"You can't let it get to you, Bear." I reminder her softly.
"I know. It's just different seeing a baby like this. You start to think of the one you got at home." she told me weakly. I nodded and pulled out my pen and pad.
"Ya know, it's still weird hearing people call you a mom." I joked trying to lighten the mood.
"You're telling me." she laughed softly. We started writing down details of the gruesome and heart wrenching scene.
"What have ya got for us?" Danny asked walking up with Mac at his side. Mac stared at him. "I just wanted to say it once." he defended.
"Not a lot. Two victims presumed to be mother and son. No ID and the officer's found nothing on or around the scene." Sara spoke up.
"So all we got is two dead bodies and a bunch of blood?" Danny asked. We nodded and watched them snap on gloves and start to take pictures.
"Who found them?" Mac asked. I looked at my pad and flipped a page.
"A contractor, William Hitchens. He came to check out the place. He was starting work later this week." I told them.
"What was it going to be?" Danny asked snapping a few pictures and picking at the bodies with tweezers.
"An apartment complex." a voice from behind said. I turned around and saw a man in a very expensive suit walking toward us. I pointed my pen at him as he stopped.
"You better work for the police or you're gonna regret wearing that suit when you're sitting a holding cell next to a bum." I warned him.
"No, I don't work the slum you call the police. I own this building." he told me. I felt Sara stand next to me.
"I don't really care what you own. If you don't have a badge, you need to be on the other side of that yellow tape. We'll be glad to talk to you there." she told him.
"No. This is my building." he said again.
"No. This is my crime scene. Which happens to hold two very mutilated bodies so you need to step away." she snapped at him. He glared at her and then looked at me.
"I want all this cleaned up now." he spat. I pulled out my cuffs and held them up in his face.
"Listen, I'll offer you this one more time. You can happily find your way across the yellow tape and talk to us outside or I'll arrest you, drag you under the tape and yell at you in the interrogation room? Which do you prefer?" I asked with a smile. He looked at Sara and back at me.
"I'll see you outside. But make it quick. I have better things to do." he said and walked away. I smiled at Sara.
"You big meanie." she teased. I raised a brow and stared at her.
"Hey, you got a little feisty too." I laughed.
"Yeah, it was kinda hot, Sara. Seeing you all mean and hot. 100 MILF, if I say so myself." Danny smiled.
"Alright, you two go talk to the owner and we'll finish up here." Mac told us. We nodded and walked out to the impatient man.
"So maybe we got off on the wrong foot." Sara stated as we stopped in front of him. "I'm Detective Sara Roberts and this is my partner Detective Don Flack."
"I'm Richard Riner. I own this building. May I ask what happened?" he asked somewhat more calm.
"Your contractor found two bodies in this foyer. How long have you owned the building?" I asked him.
"About a year. I inherited it from my father. He built it about 30 years ago." he told us. I nodded and looked back at Mac who was waving us over.
"Well, Mr. Riner we'll need you to stay close just incase." I told him and turned to leave.
"Will my building be done soon? I really need to get this up and running!" he called after us. I rolled my eyes and looked at a fuming Sara.
"Rich people disgust me sometimes." I declared. She looked at me and smiled.
"Only sometimes?" she asked. I laughed and walked back to the building.