OLD FLAME

BY QUASI9



Disclaimer: I don't own Frank Donovan or the team; the rest of the characters are mine.

Rating: Pg-13

Summary: Chris returns (sequel to Frank's Match)

Feedback: yes Quasi9@msn.com

3 MONTHS LATER

Chris' pregnancy was right on schedule, she has gotten used to light desk duty and the guys loved every minute of it. The dry erase board in the office became "Chris' baby decision board". The board is labeled boy, girl, nursery color and the betting column for weight and date. Under the boy heading is the sole name: Franklin Salvatore. Girl has four names listed. Nursery color was changing weekly. Betting column would make a bookie proud. All the better halves of the guys were helping Chris through her pregnancy. Dr. Levy and his wife Marcie were keeping very good tabs on her. To look at her, she was happy and looking forward to the birth of her child. Yet those close to her knew she wanted the father to experience this time with her, but foolish pride is preventing this from happening.

Frank has started to become more approachable to his team, but they sense something is not right with him. The undercover team is being recognized as one of the best under Frank's direction. As every day passes that Chris doesn't call him, what little hope he has is diminishing and he must fight the darkness that wants to engulf him. He cannot allow himself to succumb to this feeling as he did in the past.

6 MONTHS LATER

Frank took his lunchtime to make a run to his bank; he wanted to buy savings bonds for his child. He figured if he started now to put money aside, he would be able to assist with his child's college education. While he was conducting his business, an attempted bank robbery went sour and he found himself a hostage.

Chris got home from work and started to make dinner for herself. While she was cooking she turned on the television to CNN Headline News and went to get changed. As she walked out of her bedroom, she heard the news. They were live in Chicago at the scene of a bank robbery that had gone sour. They were reporting a five-hour standoff with the bank robbers who were holding hostages. Chris thought that was odd since that was Frank's former job and he was in Chicago. Remembering the stats when she read his file, he had a 95% success rate as a negotiator. The reporter answered her question as he reported that the FBI former number one negotiator was believed to be one of the hostages.

Without giving up his identity, Frank slowly started to talk to the robbers but was not getting anywhere. The outside negotiator was not handling the situation well and agitating the robbers. Finally he convinced the robbers to let him be the spokesman for them. He assessed his options and started to formulate a plan.

When the news finally registered with Chris, she started to weep for what she didn't say and didn't let Frank say. She cried so much she worked her in frenzy and started to cramp. The pain was so severe she that she finally called Dr. Levy.

"Hello Chris." Dr. Levy answered.

"I am cramping what do I do?" She cried.

"First of all you need to calm down. Take deep breaths. What happened?"

"If I knew that, I would not be calling you." She screamed

"Chris listen to me, you need to relax get everything under control. If you keep cramping you can hurt the baby. I am going to put Marcie on the phone; you talk to her until I can get over there. If you don't calm down, she will call 911. Do you understand?"

Chris didn't reply because the news just flash that gunfire was heard inside the bank.

"Chris, answer me."

She hurt so much and she was crying again, "It's all my fault, he will go to his grave without ever knowing."

"Chris, this Marcie honey talks to me."

"I hurt so much, I'm cramping and having a hard time taking a breath." She answered.

:"Chris stay with me, you're going into shock. Why are you crying?"

"Don't you have the television on?"

"No."

"Well put it on CNN Headline News." She told her.

Jake and the team were at the scene, trying to talk with the idiots running the show. They were not getting a response and Jake knew if they let this go on any longer, Frank might get killed. That's when they heard the gunfire inside of the bank, which took everyone outside by surprise. For the next few minutes, it seemed like everything came to a halt, then the bank door open with something white waving.

Frank popped his head out the door slowly to make sure they knew he was the good guy. Jake immediately recognized Frank and let everyone know to hold his or her fire. He started to walk towards the bank, when Frank saw Jake walking towards him he stepped out in full view. It was over, he had defused the situation with minimal damage, and one robber was dead the other in cuffs.

Dr. Levy arrived at Chris' house when she was uncontrollably sobbing; Marcie was on the still on the phone trying to calm Chris down.

"Honey, I'm here, do you know why she went off?"

"Something on the news. I still haven't found out what."

"Ok, I need to see how she doing, I'll call in a little bit."

"Chris look at me, you need to regain control."

At that point, she grabbed her stomach and screamed. Dr. Levy decided to call 911 she needed to get to the hospital. While he was waiting for the EMTs to show, he called Dr. Friedman to let him know what was going on.

The baby appeared to be okay from the sonogram that was taken when she arrived at the hospital. She ended up being in the hospital for two days.

Frank decided to take a couple of days off after the ordeal. During that time, he decided that he would be in Miami when his child was born.