Disclaimer: The characters of CSI: NY do not belong to me however this story is of my own and should only be used after permission has been asked and given. No copyright infringement intended and no profit is being made.
Summary: Danny and Lindsay are going to learn that sometimes you must lose, in order to gain.
Notes: A big thank you to laurzz, MesserFamilyFan100, dannyandlindsayforeva, alexindigo and bookworm for reviewing the last chapter!
The Parent's Apple
A heat wave had engulfed New York City as August slowly rolled along. A bead of sweat ran down Danny's spine as he prepared his and Lucy's lunches for the day. It was only 8am and he already knew that today was going to be long and hot. To make matters worse, the air conditioning in their apartment was broken and the landlord was currently vacationing in the Caribbean and couldn't deal with it, leaving Danny and Lucy in irritable moods. Lucy blew her fringe off of her face as she stood by the counter, watching her father prepare her lunch. She was feeling particularly grumpy because Danny had to work and although she was being babysat by Ellie Danville – a treat as the teenager often spoiled her – Lucy wished her daddy was looking after her during the summer holidays.
"Why you go work?" Lucy asked for what felt the hundredth time.
"Because I have to Luce, I've told you this."
"But why?"
"Cause if I don't work then I'll get into trouble with Uncle Mac and then I won't get paid and then I won't be able to pay the bills or rent or for food or for anythin' else in this damn apartment."
"You said a swear," Lucy informed him sullenly. Danny said nothing as he continued to spread peanut butter into Lucy's sandwich. She pressed on relentlessly, "we don't say swears in this house."
"Well I'm allowed to cause I'm a grown up," Danny lied.
"Nu-uh, that a tall story. Mommy says no one allowed swears." When Danny didn't reply, Lucy took that as a small victory. She stood on her toes and looked at the sandwich he was making. "What that?"
"Peanut butter and jelly." He pressed the two slices of bread together and cut them down the middle.
"I don't like peanut butter and jelly."
"Yes you do, you had it for lunch last week," Danny told her incredulously.
"I don't like it no more. And you cut it wrong; Mommy cuts it twice in little triangles."
Danny sighed, amazed at how fussy Lucy could be at times. "Well then I'll cut it again so that you have little squares, a'right?"
Lucy stamped her foot in frustration. "No! I don't want squares."
"Lucy, don't use that petulant tone, please."
She balled her hands into fists at her side and shook them angrily. "You don't do nothin' right!"
"Lucy, what did I just say?!" he suddenly shouted at her, the heat making him uncomfortable and angry. "Ya know what; I've had enough of your attitude, young lady. I think you deserve a time out – go and sit on the chair!"
Her face screwed up in anger and it burst out of her. "You're so stupid and mean! You made Mommy run away! Cause she didn't like you. I wished she taked me too!"
Lucy turned and fled out of the kitchen and down the hall into her bedroom where she slammed the door shut behind her. Danny resisted the urge to run after her, he was so angry and hurt by what she said that he wanted to yell. He was also taken aback; Lucy was usually such a well behaved child but he supposed the strain of everything had finally begun to take its toll on the three year old. He scrubbed his hands over his face, letting himself begin to calm down. He could understand why she was acting out but he still didn't think she should go unpunished for stropping and taking on a sudden attitude.
He took a deep breath and counted to ten before releasing it slowly, a technique Lindsay had taught him, and then returned to Lucy's lunch. He cut it first into quarters and then twice more into eighths so that Lucy would have many small triangles. He finished packing her lunch into the Dora the Explorer lunchbox before setting it on the counter. Wiping his peanut butter sticky hands on the dish towel, he then walked out of the kitchen and down to Lucy's bedroom where he knocked softly before entering.
Lucy was lying beneath her bed, buried under the duvet she'd pulled down and sobbing in earnest. Danny's knees cracked loudly as he crouched down and pulled the duvet back, revealing her tearstained face.
"Hey sweet pea," he started softly.
"I not your sweet pea no mores. I said naughty things," Lucy said, burying her face in her arms.
"Oh baby, you'll always be my sweet pea. I'm sorry I yelled at ya, I shouldn't've lost my temper, but you said some really hurtful things Lucy that weren't nice."
Lucy lifted her head up as much as the bed would allow and hiccupped. "I'm sorry daddy. I don't mean those things. I just really sad that you gotta work. And I really miss mommy."
Danny opened his arms and Lucy crawled out from under the bed and into his lap, hugging him hard. He cradled her close to him, kissing her head and pulling away the hair which had stuck to her face from the tears. He shushed and rocked her gently before standing awkwardly and carrying her out to the living room. He sat her down on the little, plastic time out chair in the corner of the room.
"I'll be back in three minutes."
She hiccupped again before nodding and the tears began to slow. Going into the kitchen, he set the oven timer for three minutes before taking the time to clean away their breakfast things. He was putting the last bowl away when the kitchen timer began to electronically beep. Turning it off, her re-entered the living room where Lucy was still sat forlornly in her chair, head bowed and hands resting in her lap. He was glad to see that the tears had stopped. He crouched down before her and she slowly raised her head upwards, meeting his gaze.
He reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm really sorry I yelled Lucy, the truth is I miss Mommy too and it's making me sad. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
"I'm sorry. For everything I said a'fore and for being meanie."
"C'mere." Danny opened his arms and Lucy fell into them, she wrapped her own arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I promise to do better next time."
He pulled back and stroked a thumb down her cheek. "Go wash your face and brush your teeth then we'll get ready to leave for Jo's house. I heard that Ellie was so excited that you were coming that she's planned a special day for you both."
In an instant the young girl's face lit up. "Really?"
Danny gave a warm nod. She released him and ran out of the living room to quickly get ready to leave. Danny watched her go, smiling to himself as he saw how much her demeanour had changed at those few words. He stood up again, feeling guilty for allowing his temper to get the better of him; his own father had always been quick to shout and that had damaged their relationship. He knew that he was still working on getting the right balance when disciplining Lucy but he was determined to be nothing like his father. As Danny had grown older, their relationship had strengthened but there was still this underlying resentment which he never wanted Lucy to feel.
"You sound beat," Lindsay said down the phone later that day.
Danny tucked the desk phone into the crook of his neck before stretching; raising both his arms above his head and settling back into his office chair. "I feel it. I'm only halfway through a double shift which, by the way this case is turning out, will probably roll into a triple. I'm tellin' ya Linds, the temperature in the city rises a little and suddenly everyone goes crazy," he sighed into the phone. "A taxi driver ran a red light and hit a school bus which tried to swerve outta the way and ended up goin' straight into a hot dog cart, completely ruinin' it. So then the taxi driver, school bus driver and hot dog cart owner started brawlin' in the street and before you know it, strangers are bein' dragged into the fight and we end up with three bodied – none of which are the taxi driver, school bus driver or hot dog cart owner. It's a mess. Adam is back logged with evidence so we can't even arrest the people responsible but at least the three who started it have been arrested." He finished on a weary sigh. "Plus I yelled at Lucy this mornin' after she had a tantrum so it's just been a crappy day."
"It sounds as though you need a break," she said. She felt guilty, knowing that the pressure would have been less on him if she'd been at home and work.
He hummed and gave a chuckle and she smiled, picturing him settled in the chair behind his work desk with his eyes shut as he took a few moments to himself.
Lindsay was overcome with a sudden burst of boldness. "Why don't you come out to New Orleans?"
Danny sat up straighter in his chair, more alert than a couple of minutes ago. "Wha'?"
"When things have settled back down at work, why don't you come out here for a few days? You're owed some time off and I'm sure Mac wouldn't say no unless something huge came up. I'd ask Stella and make sure she was ok with it, of course."
"I gotta admit, a few days off does sound pretty good but… I mean, are you sure? I know you don't wanna rush things."
"I know but… Danny, I miss you," she admitted. He smiled to himself.
"Sorry I er, I didn't quite get that."
She smirked into the phone. "I said I miss you!"
"A'right, a'right, no need to yell," he laughed. "So you wanna see me, huh?"
"Do you not want to see me?"
"Well… I don't know…" he heard a growled 'jerk' over the phone and laughed again. "Of course I wanna see you again. I'll have to wait until this case is over with and then I'll talk to Mac about takin' some time off."
"Good," she said with a smile. "Because the sooner you get out here, the sooner I'll be on the plane home with you."
He paused for a moment, his heart bursting with joy. "I'll be holdin' you to that."
"I'm counting on it, cowboy."