Author's notes: Sorry if it seemed as if I had taken a vacation from writing, but the approaching holiday season has been keeping me busy. Here is the final chapter of this story. Of course I'm already thinking about my next story. I have two weeks off from school over Christmas break, so if I get a few positive reviews letting me know if they would enjoy reading more about our brave Detective Flack and friends.
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
It had taken the remainder of the day to process the scene and to take the statements of everyone involved. Don had seen his sister momentarily when their paths crossed during the long afternoon, but there hadn't been enough time to do anything more than confirm each was still doing o.k. Denise had told him to call her after he was finished. The clock was now showing almost 6 pm and it appeared that Don's workday was finally over.
Sitting down at his desk, Don finished putting the last signature on the paperwork he had been filling out. Other than a major ass-chewing from both his Lieutenant and Captain and another from Mac, it seemed that he was going to come out of this with only a notice of verbal warning going into his file. He didn't mind so much the warning, but he was still feeling the sting from loosing his weapon. That had been drilled into him at the academy, "never relinquish your sidearm." It didn't matter that Siebert had forcibly taken it, Don had let a suspect put others into jeopardy.
Pulling out his cell phone he hit the number for his sister's home. Reaching only the cheery answering machine message, he hung up and dialed her cell number. After several rings, she picked up. Flack smiled as he heard her voice. "Hey, Denise. How are you doing? You are? How much longer are you going to be there? I can be over in about 30 minutes. Can you and Scott stay until I get there?" Flack stood and grabbed his jacket, moving towards the exit. "I'll see you soon."
As he reached the exit he ran into Danny. "Hey Flack. How you doing?"
"I've had better."
"Yeah, I hear you. What do you say I buy you a beer?"
"I'll have to take a rain check. I'm going over to my parents, Denise and Scott are over there with the baby."
Danny looked contemplative, "You ok with your dad?"
"We're good." Flack lied. The relationship between the detective and his father was tenuous at best. After Don's recent experience Donald Flack Sr. had been even more distant. Don had felt that his father was blaming him for what had happened. It was the way problems had always been dealt with, ignore it and the problem will go away. Fortunately his mother had always been there to talk things over, always explaining that Donald Sr. had grown up with a heavy handed father and that his unwillingness to address family problems was because he had learned quickly that perceived problems were handled with a backhand. His grandfather, a beat cop for 22 years had died when Donald Sr. was a teen. Flack had often wondered if his father's decision to become a police officer was his attempt at pleasing his dead father. Hell, Don thought, wasn't his own decision to join the force an attempt to make his father proud. The day he had graduated from the academy was one of the few times he could remember Donald Sr. telling him how pleased he was.
"Hey, you still with me?"
"What?" Don snapped back from his thoughts. Danny was standing there waiting for an answer. "I'm sorry. I'm just kind of fried right now."
"Remember, call me if you need anything. You did a good thing by that little girl. Her mother deserved justice."
Don pushed the elevator's button, "Although a shitty dad had to be better than a dead dad."
"No," Danny shook his head, his own childhood coloring his opinion. "That little girl is going to have a chance at having a great mom and dad. If that punk had lived it she would have ended up in an endless loop of foster homes. Don't beat yourself up on that."
The elevator doors opened and Flack stepped into the compartment. "You heading out?"
"No, since you're heading to your folks, I'm going back to the lab. Lindsay is still there and I think she likes me. I'll do her a favor and ask her out for a drink."
"Messer, with an attitude like that you are going to wind up old and unloved." Flack smiled slightly and shook his head.
"Yeah, I forgot your track record with the fairer sex is so stellar." Danny smirked at his friend. "I think I'll wait until your book comes out. You'll be on Oprah's book club right?"
"Funny Messer, funny."
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
Vanessa Flack looked down at the sleeping infant in her arms. The little girl had eaten a full bottle and after a burp worthy of a fraternity boy, she had cuddled up and fallen asleep.
"How you doing Mom?" Denise entered the room with a fresh cup of coffee. Scott and Donald Sr. were out loading a small chest of drawers into the back of Scott's Envoy.
"It's been a while since I've had the chance to hold a baby." She smiled at her daughter. "I know that what happened today was terrible, but I think that this happened for a reason. You and Scott are going to be wonderful parents."
"Mom," Denise warned. "I don't want to think about that right now. I'm afraid if I get my hopes up to high something could happen."
The sound of the door opening was accompanied by Don's greeting, "Hey, where is everyone?"
Denise hurried to the kitchen door, "In here, but be quiet, Darcy is sleeping."
Removing his jacket and throwing it over a chair, Don crossed over to where his mother sat rocking the baby. Bending down he smoothed the baby's hair. "How's she doing?" His eyes showing his concern for the little girl.
Denise smiled at the image of her brother so taken by a baby. "Just fine Uncle Don. How are you doing?"
Vanessa looked up sharply at her son and then swung her gaze towards her daughter. "Is there something I should know?"
Brother and sister shared a look, Don answering first. "The baby's father was killed today after he pulled a gun at the Crime Scene Lab." Don hoped that his sister would pick up on his version of the story. He knew that his father's contacts with the department would eventually relate the story and he would have to explain to his father. Another disappointment.
"Denise told me about that, but what does that have to do with you?"
Don sighed, there was no escaping his mother's questioning. "The gun he had was mine." Knowing that she would have more questions, Don tried to anticipate them. "I'm just fine. He got my gun and took off. Tried to make it out of the building, but ended up getting shot by an officer. End of story Mom."
"I worry about you Donnie. I'm sorry but I'm a mother and that's my job." Vanessa looked at her son. She could see the emotions conflicting on his face. She was worried about him. There was the incident last month that resulted in him disappearing for several days and now this. She hoped that his father wouldn't find out for several days, that would give her time to build an argument in defense of their son. She knew her husband had a hard childhood, but his cold manner with his children, especially Don, sometimes made her incredibly frustrated. "Just like Denise will worry about this little one."
"I know Mom," Flack replied, the strain in his voice was noticeable. "Do you mind if I hold her for a few minutes?" He reached out his arms questioningly.
"Don't wake her up or there will be hell to pay." Denise threatened jokingly.
Transferring the sleeping baby into his own arms, Don rocked her gently. Vanessa smiled at her son, thinking how natural he appeared with the child. "You'll make a good father someday." She tucked the blanket around the baby's form. "I still think it's a miracle. Denise told me how you found her at the church. Someone guided you to find that baby and now that same miracle will bring this baby into our family."
Flack looked at the tiny one's face, wrinkled up in sleep as if she were thinking deep thoughts; his own thoughts on the last several days. The decision to go into the church, the baby waking and crying; all of it did seem to owe it's self to a larger force. How this little miracle had happened upon a midnight clear.
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
Scott and Denise had left shortly after Don had arrived. They had needed to get the baby home and put down for the night. Although according to Scott, a full night's sleep was no longer a commodity at their house. Not that either one appeared to mind. Both had a hard time keeping the smiles off their faces as they looked at the baby. Don stayed for a little while after they had left. He knew his mother wanted to see him, although he could see that his father seemed irritated with the mere presence of this son.
Trying to thaw some of the ice between the two men, Vanessa tried to keep the conversation going. "Don, don't forget on Christmas Day we will be starting lunch at noon. We'll do presents afterwards. Your Aunt Marne and Uncle Joseph are coming and Aunt Nancy. Don't forget to pick up a present for your Gramma Grace. We will pick her up that morning. Won't it be wonderful with having a baby in the house for the holidays. We haven't had a little one since your Cousin Marcia's baby. She's almost three now." Vanessa knew she was talking too much, but the veiled looks the two men were giving each other were full of venom.
"Yeah Mom. I'll be here. You want for me to bring something?" Don looked gratefully at his mother.
"No, but ask Daniel to come for lunch." Vanessa knew that her son's friend had little home life to speak of.
"I don't like the idea of some petty ante criminal's son hanging around our home!" The elder Flack exploded.
"The reason that Mac Taylor keeps him on his team escapes me."
Don jumped in, protecting his friend. "Pop I've explained before that Danny is a good man. Just because his old man was a con is no reason to hate him. He isn't his father."
Flack Sr. snorted contemptuously, "That seems to be happening a lot these days."
Don knew exactly where his father was headed with this diatribe. He bit back a sarcastic remark and got up and went over to his mother and kissed her gently. "I've got to head out. I'll see you Christmas Day." He picked up his jacket and left the house, not turning to look back to his father.
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
The ride back to his apartment had been taken longer than he had originally intended. He had stopped, needing to think. Pulling off by the river, he had stood for at least a half hour looking at the city glistening from the waterfront. His thoughts were everywhere. His father's distance, the events of the day, his experience a month earlier and a girl named Ash. He hadn't heard any more from her, not since a postcard had arrived at his apartment. He looked out over the water and wondered if she was safe. Finally the cold forced him to return to the car and he resumed his journey home.
Christmas was coming fast. Maybe he would find someplace to escape to. Get New York City out of his mind for several days. One thing was for sure, the New Year had to be better than the end of this one.
CSI:NY CSI:NY CSI:NY
The music was blaring and the multi colored lights cast pinpoints of light around the room. A man waved from a table close to the stage. Walking over the brunette bent low to hear what he had to say. "Give me a Cuba Libra and here's a little something extra for you." He tossed a small bill onto the tray she carried.
As she turned to head to the bar, the man grabbed at the white fur trimming the crushed red velvet panties she wore. She turned and glared, maneuvering past his groping fingers. Back at the bar she placed the order and turned to look at another girl wearing the same microscopic Santa style bra and panties. "How you put up with these animals I can't figure out."
The other girl, a large busted redhead laughed. "Usually it's good for a little extra tip. If it gets too bad, let Enrique know about it. Little Frankie likes to run a tight ship."
The brunette smiled tightly. "I'm sure he does." The look in her eyes was distant and for a moment the redhead could have sworn she heard her mutter under her breath. "Until I'm through with him."
Author's note: If this last bit confuses you, read Running to the Edge. Until next time.