Danny Messer stood quietly at the far end of the maternity ward. He was peering though a sheet of glass, observing baby Flack closely. The baby was only a day off the due date, but still she looked smaller than normal.
"Can I help you sir?" A nurse was standing near him and he caught her glance nervously at the lump his gun made under his jacket. He moved it slowly, revealing his badge with it causing the nurse to relax visibly.
"Actually, yeah. I wanna hold that little one." He pointed at Jordan who had been intently staring at the lights the entire time.
The nurse nodded, hesitating.
Danny giggled. "Hey, I work with her mamma… and you can hold my piece while I'm in there if it makes you feel better."
The nurse quickly checked a sheet of paper that contained the names of all permitted visitors. "Messer?"
"Danny, yes." He grinned, knowing Stella wouldn't have forgotten to leave him permission to hold her.
"Come with me, and you can get scrubbed in."
Danny followed the nurse with an eager bounce in his step. Stella was much like an older sister to him although he wasn't sure how it had become as such. Sometime after his shootout in the subway perhaps. He'd been accused of killing another officer. That was in his past, but Stella seemed to look out for him since than.
It wasn't long before he was smelling like he had been sterilized and wearing rubber everything. He sat in a over-sized rocking chair and waiting patiently for the nurse. She placed Jordan carefully in his waiting arms and he immediately sunk down in the chair, easing the infant nearer to his chest and shoulders. The warmth of her breath against his chin made him smile. Yeah, he was jealous of Flack now. He'd always wanted to be a father, but he'd settle for Uncle Danny… for now.
He had surrendered his weapon willingly and was content to just listen to the soft gentle sounds in the nursery. Danny was used to the city, the loud sounds, and violence, but a baby… that changed everything.
He glanced up to the window and saw Stella and Don standing there smiling at him. He grinned wide before returning his attention to Jordan, who had tried to put her fist into her eye before falling asleep, mouth slightly open.
"Hey, Danny, we need a favor." Don's voice whispered from beside him.
Danny hadn't seen them come in. Almost scared him. "Sure, what's up?"
"Can we talk…?" Don hesitated, but didn't continue.
Danny nodded and stood slowly, letting Stella ease herself into the rocking chair. He put Jordan into her arms and whispered his thanks before following Don out.
"What's up, Flack?" He asked as they got out into the hall.
Don took a deep breath. "Danny, Stella's been bleeding… internally… since yesterday. I guess they thought it would stop, but it hasn't and she needs surgery immediately. I don't want to leave her side during this… She's scared to death she won't make it through."
Danny gasped. "God, Don… what can I do to help?"
"If she… she'll be here two weeks or so, and won't be able to take care of the baby. Jordan could be released today, but I don't want to go. We were wondering if you wouldn't mind… If you could take her to our place and stay until Stel's well enough to be released. I'd come by everyday…" He trailed off as he felt tears in his eyes.
Danny nodded. "Yeah… absolutely. Don't even worry about it. Maybe even Linds and I and we can work the opposite shifts or something. I know she's good with babies." He placed his hand on Don's arm. "Just take care of you wife, Don."
Don fumbled around with his keys as the mist in his eyes made it harder to see. "This one." He pulled the apartment key off and placed it softly in Danny's palm. "Just… bring clothes or something. There's plenty of food in the fridge and you and Lindsay can make yourselves totally at home. Okay?" He put emphasis on the word 'totally' as he dried his eyes on his sleeves.
"I'll run back to my place now. After I get arranged I'll come back for Jordan. I'll call you on my way back."
Don nodded again as he calmed down. "I'll call Mac and ask him to work yours and Lindsay's schedules. Thanks a million, Danny. This takes so much off my mind."
"Don't mention it." Danny let his grin expand. "Hey, gives me a chance to play house."
Don laughed a little as he squeezed Danny's shoulder and retreated to Stella's room.
Stella was curled up in a small chair near the window. A beautiful view of Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty with the bay expanding behind it made the view picture perfect. As Don got closer, he saw that Stella had fallen asleep, tears still evident on her cheeks. He gathered her into his arms and held her, aware he had woke her up.
"Stella… Danny and Lindsay are going to take the baby home. They'll take good care of her."
Stella's head rubbed against her chest and he figured she was nodding. "I know they will. Thank them for me?" She looked up. "I just-"
"-Don't want to be alone." He finished for her. "And I don't want to leave your side."
"I'm scared, Don."
He looked down at her and saw her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"I don't know how I got these cuts on my fingers, Don" He stared at her as he released her hands. Tiny scrapes. Shaking hands. Bruised and battered. Stella's face was flushed with fear as she sat curled up on a hospital bed.
Don shivered at the thought of how identical this situation was to the last. That was the reason they were together after all. Would this be how their relationship ends too? He shook it off as he picked Stella up and returned her to the bed just in time for the nurses to come in.
"We need to prep her for surgery, Mr. Flack." The older nurse spoke softly.
Don watched Stella's lip begin to tremble slightly. The terror inside her was building. Detective Bonasera was not the type to fear death, but she just got what she's wanted since she was a little girl. She had a family. A child to raise and a husband. What would they do without her. She held her arms out to Don, looking like a toddler who pinched her finger. She didn't say anything, just looked at him.
He held her as the nurses hooked her up to several I.V. tubes.
"Don't go." She begged.
"I will be right outside. If anything happens I'll be at your side in a heartbeat. I love you, Stel."
She smiled softly as she kissed him. "Promise me, if anything happens Jordan will grow up happy with a family."
"I promise." He began to cry and turned so she wouldn't see as they brought her out of the room.
He stood there listening to the sounds of the maternity ward. Jordan would grow up with a family… and Stella would be part of that family. If she wasn't, he didn't think he could handle living anymore.
He went to the OR Waiting Room and sat in the chair closest to the door. Placing his head firmly in his hands he knew it was going to be a long night.
