"Have you shown Frankie?" Boyd yelled out as he looked between Mel, Spencer and Grace.
"I went down but she wasn't there. I'll go back down now." Mel stuttered, reaching for the evidence bag Boyd had in his hand.
"Doesn't matter, I'll take it. What do you mean she wasn't there? How long ago was this?" Body fired off question after question, Mel not getting a chance to answer any until he stopped.
"About forty-five minutes ago. I went down to lab and she wasn't there, no one was there." Mel finally managed to say as Boyd pushed the door opening leading down to the lab.
Boyd looked both curious and a little concerned. Frankie should have been there forty-five minutes ago, there was no reason he knew of why she should be late. As he carried the bag down to the lab his brain played over different scenarios, each one getting worse by the second. When he reached the lab he grabbed a coat from the rack, punching in his code as hastily as he could so the doors would open quicker. His coat was only half on as the doors clicked and started to open.
"Frankie!" He yells as he stepped inside, scanning the full lab for her before the doors had even fully opened never mind closed.
Frankie heard the doors behind her click and start to open, spinning quickly in her chair so she could tell whoever was entering to be as quiet as possible. She hadn't bargained on it being Boyd or the fact he would yell before he was even halfway in the door. His voice bounced off every surface, the sound louder than when he had spoken. The finger that Frankie had placed on her own lips to quieten whoever was coming in was quickly lowered when she heard the small whimper. She jumped down from her stool and raced around the desk, cursing Boyd as she went.
"Really Boyd! For fuck sake." She managed to say before bending out of sight behind her large workbench.
Boyd had heard the small whimper and he lengthened his stride, stepping around the workbench just as Frankie bent over to the source of the noise.
"What the hell, Frankie. Please, tell me I'm seeing things?" Watching as Frankie scooped up the baby from the swing seat and cuddled her in.
"Don't start, Peter." She snapped as the baby in her arms started to squirm, the whimpering turning into a cry.
"I thought she was with the childminder. Is that why you were late?" Looking between Frankie and the now crying baby in her arms.
She turned her attention from the baby to Boyd, glaring at him as she made her way through the lab to the small room near the back. He followed her of course, picking up the changing bag from under the bench as he went. Frankie turned the handle and pushed the door open, all the while talking to the baby as the crying grew louder. By the time Boyd stepped inside the room Frankie was already seated and had pulled open the lab coat she was wearing, the babies crying sounding even louder in the small space.
"Fuck," Frankie mumbled as she looked down at the top she had on, definitely not a good choice for a day spent with a baby.
"Pass her here till you get sorted." Boyd offered as he reached for the baby who was now screaming like a banshee.
Frankie handed him the baby as she wrestled with her clothing, finally getting it arranged so she could take the baby back. Boyd handed her back quickly, watching as Frankie cuddled her in and the baby found what she was looking for, the crying stopping instantly as she latched on. Boyd waited a minute or so, making sure the baby was settled.
"Want to tell me what's going on now, and why our daughter is here with you and not with the childminder as she should be," Boyd asked, reaching out and stroking his daughter's hand as she feeds.
"I arrived at the childminders to drop her off and there was no answer. I rang her a couple of times before she finally picked up, the sound of her throwing up told me enough. I had no one to leave her with, what was I supposed to do?" Looking down at her half-asleep daughter, her tiny fingers wrapped around one of her father's fingers as she sucked half-heartedly.
"She can't stay down here all day. Not exactly the best place for a baby is it. Take her home, we'll manage somehow." Seeing Frankie's temper starting to flare at his suggestion.
"She was down here long before she was born. A whole six months remember." Her argument invalid but giving it a shot anyway. "How can you manage if I go home? I have started some tests already, and the others are in different stages of being complete. I'm needed here, not at home. She was fine here until you came in screaming like a drill sergeant." Looking down and seeing the baby was finally asleep. "Take her while I sort myself out." Slowly easing the baby into her fathers waiting for arms.
Boyd held his sleeping daughter close, the baby looking even smaller when she was in his big, strong arms. He cherished every second he got to hold her, got to interact with her, got to be her dad. When Frankie had put her clothing right she smiled at the beautiful scene in front of her. The two people she loved most in the world, stood within touching distance. She stood up and went to stand beside Boyd, placing a kiss on her daughter's forehead as she slept safely in her dad's arms.
"Let's take her upstairs. There's four of us there, we can all watch her while you work. Plus her godparents said they wanted to spend more time with her." Seeing Frankie consider his suggestion.
"Okay, but we've got no milk in the bag, I dropped it back at home. You'll have to yell when she needs feeding. You take her up and I'll grab her stuff." Watching as Boyd turned around and walked slowly away from her.
She let him go ahead, picking up the swing seat and changing bag before following him upstairs. When she pushed open the doors to the squad room no one turned to her, or even look up from the sleeping baby in Boyd's arms. The team cooed and fussed over the baby, while Frankie set up the swing seat and placed the bag beside it. Just then the phone in Boyd's office rang, everyone, turning to look at it. Frankie stepped forward to take her daughter but was sidestepped by Mel, who gently lifted her out her father's arms and cuddled her in. Frankie stood and watched Mel as she fussed over the baby, Spencer coming to stand beside her so he could stroke the babies hand.
Frankie couldn't help but smile, her daughter had been kidnapped by her godparents, both Mel and Spencer looking at the baby with love and devotion on their faces. Frankie was so busy watching Mel and Spencer with her daughter she didn't hear Boyd end his call, or he exit his office and come to stand behind her. She felt as he slid his arms around her waist from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder as she leaned back against him. They stood watching the interaction between Mel, Spencer and their daughter, even though the baby was still sleeping.
"I should head back down, them tests aren't going to do themselves," Frankie said quietly as she turned her head and placed a kiss on Boyd's cheek.
"Okay. At least someone will be working then. These lot won't be doing much else now they have Imogen to fuss over." Watching as Mel passed baby Imogen to Spencer.
"Your suggestion. She was fine down in the lab with me. I've called Graham in just in case I need him." Standing upright so Boyd would take the hint and let her go.
Boyd kissed her temple before letting her go, smiling as she stepped up to Spencer and placed a kiss on Imogen 's head, stroking her cheek before turning to walk away. She stopped at the doors, looking back to see Mel had sat back down at her desk while Spencer still just stood looking down at his goddaughter. Boyd was right, no one would be working with her in there to distract them. She headed down to the lab knowing between her father, her godfather, and her godmother, her daughter was in very capable hands.