AN: I don't own any of the CSI:NY Characters or any of the show's storylines that I may refer to from time to time, but the rest of the plot is mine.
10. I don't like this
After being kept waiting for ages Don leaned over to Laura and whispered to her. "Think they're keeping us waiting deliberately?"
"Of course. They're probably checking up on us." She whispered back. "Relax, it's their ploy to unsettle us."
"Yeah, well it's working. ... I don't like this babe."
"We're in their hands right now. Stop squirming and be patient."
"I don't do patient." He mumbled. Laura groaned.
"Learn. .. Fast."
The woman at the desk watched them whispering to each other. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could see they were getting agitated. It was a normal occurrence, she saw it all the time with the people who came through the office. It was mostly the young single mothers they saw, rarely did they see a male figure take an interest. She wondered what their story was. They all had one, a sob story to beat all others, but it didn't matter they were there for the same thing and most of the time they reached an amicable settlement. She looked at the woman, trying to keep the young man calm. He was fidgeting nervously. Suddenly he jumped up.
"Katie I can't sit here any more we have to do something, we need the rent money, I'm gonna ask Gino to put in a word for me with his boss."
"No, we talked about this Danny, I don't like the way he looks at me, I don't want you to have anything to do with him. I don't trust him. ... Sadie said that this place helped her. This is the best option."
"Gino wouldn't dare look at you funny I'd whoop his ass if he did anything to you. You know that don't you doll?"
"I know that, which is why we aren't taking any chances. I don't want you doing anything to anyone. ... You know how you get when you get riled up."
"Don't you be telling me what to do Katie baby, you know you don't do that!"
"Danny ... please don't shout ... I know you want to do what's right."
Laura and Don were into the debate and Don saw tears in her eyes and wasn't sure if they were part of the act or whether they were coming for real. He guessed a little of both. He didn't want her to cry and under any other circumstances he would have his arms around her to console her. But now he stood towering over her as she remained seated. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Can the waterworks doll, I've put up with them for the last 7 months, it ends here. No more hormonal mood swings."
"I can't help it." Laura sobbed as another middle-aged woman finally came into the room and picked up a file.
"Mr & Mrs Stevens, sorry to keep you waiting please come with me."
Don huffed then turned and walked over to the woman leaving Laura to lever herself out of the chair and waddle behind them. After leading them down a short corridor she showed them into an office. Taking a seat behind the desk she briefly reviewed the file then placed it on the desk.
"May I ask how you heard about us?"
"... A friend of mine, ... Sadie Giles ... She said you helped her a few months ago ... She said you would be able to help us too." Laura answered nervously, hardly daring to glance up at the woman, while Don tried not to stare at her.
"Sadie? ... Ah, Sadie I know who you mean. How is she?"
"Very well, she's much happier knowing that you looked after her."
"So what can I do for you?"
"We are ... kind of in a spot right now, I .. I just got laid off and Katie isn't able to work anymore. We haven't got money to pay the medical bills and our rent's due." Don babbled nervously. "I gotta tell you I'm not sure this is the right thing, but Katie is. She says you can find good homes for our babies and it would help us out of the mess we're in. ... I finally convinced her that we're not ready to be parents."
"I see. Katie? ... How far along are you?" She asked kindly, her ears having picked up on the "babies".
"33 weeks, my doctor before, she thinks I won't make it past 36, they're running out of room and are more likely to break my water with all their moving about."
"So how many are you expecting?"
"2 - Twins"
"It's not unusual for twins to come a little early. ... Can you tell me what you know of our clinic and its services, and I will need you to be more specific about what you want from us."
"I only know a bit, from what Sadie said. ... She said you could help people like us that needed money for bills and stuff. ... Danny tries hard to do things, but he just lost his job and my medical bills are huge, he got no medicare, every doctor's visit took most of his paycheck. I've been doing what I can but I've been told I'm not allowed to work anymore until the babies come."
"Like I said we're in a mess. We need to have a place to sleep and I need to provide food for us, I can't afford any more friggin' expenses for these kids. ... We gotta do something and soon, I want my wife to have her figure back and to be able to-"
"Danny, I don't think this nice lady wants to hear what you would like to do to me."
Don swallowed hard and stared at the floor for a moment. If they weren't with this woman right now there were several things he could think of doing with his wife. ... She was being absolutely amazing and he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her so, ok well maybe show her a few things too.
"I'm sorry. ... I just want my wife back to do normal things, the babies are in the way."
"Mr Stevens, Danny, I think I see your difficulties. Katie, has your friend Sarah told you what happens?"
"You mean Sadie? ... She said that you can arrange a good family for the babies, where they will be looked after nice and they will get everything they need."
"That's right dear. ... We have a number of couples who are desperate for a family, but who cannot have their own. We have some who would be willing to take on twins, it will be a little more difficult, but as twins aren't that common we should be able to secure a good financial settlement for you."
"How soon could we get paid?" Don weighed in trying to push the discussion to the point where they could leave.
"Half when we identify the new parents, the other half after the birth and the babies go to their new home. Subject of course to both babies being healthy and you signing over your parental rights."
"That won't be a problem. So what happens now?"
The woman behind the desk eyed the couple carefully for a moment. She noted Laura was staring at the floor in front of her. She had barely looked up throughout the meeting. The woman wasn't sure if they were agreed on the course of action they had just been discussing. She wanted to talk to her alone. Get her to sign the paperwork without any pressure, that way she couldn't later say she was forced.
"I need to examine Katie, run some tests, then we can discuss what's next. ... Katie can you go into the exam room next door and get yourself ready, I'll be along in a moment."
Laura levered herself out of the chair and looked at the door which the woman had indicated, then looked at her and Don. "I want Danny to come with me."
"That's not necessary, we'll be back in just a little while."
"He goes with me or we leave." Laura stated firmly. She knew she was taking a risk, but there was no way she was going to be in a room alone with anyone from this place.
"That's right, no one's doing anything to my girl without me knowing about it. ... You want our custom I'm there with Katie for everything."
"It's not customary for the women to be accompanied when they come here, they normally don't want anyone with them, especially at the birth. We provide all the support they need."
"Look, you don't seem to understand, she's my girl and if I ain't there we find somewhere else that'll take us." He turned to Laura. "We still got Gino if these people don't want the kids. Gino will know someone who will be able to help."
The woman looked between them. There was something about the couple that she wasn't sure about. They seemed genuine enough, but there was something which nagged at her. It was a momentary thought as Don spoke, the thought that someone else could help them and take away a possible deal for her won out.
"Very well, you can stay with Katie." She said leading the way to the examination room.
About 15 minutes later they were back in the office.
"Well you seem very healthy Katie and the babies are a good size. We'll make some enquiries and see you again in a week for a check up and we will ring you if we find a home."
"I want to meet the parents." Laura mumbled.
"It's against our policy for you to meet the prospective parents. We keep everything anonymous. It's better that way."
"Please it's really important for me to know who will look after my children."
"I'm sorry dear we just don't do that, but I personally guarantee to see to it that your babies go to a good home."
Don turned to Laura. "There you are babe Mrs Henderson is going to make it all ok."
Laura looked at Don sadly, tears in her eyes. "But I want to know who's going to bring up my children."
"We'll talk about this later doll, let's leave Mrs Henderson to her work."
Laura nodded. Mrs Henderson bade them farewell and after booking another appointment they left the house. Emerging back onto the sidewalk they walked slowly to the end of the street and headed for the subway back to their new apartment.
--
Mac raised his eyes to Stella. "Hadn't a clue." He smiled. "No wonder they need time out."
"That's the other thing, ... There's no sign that they packed anything the apartment looks like they just went to work. It's different from when I stopped by after their wedding last year. ... Mac they wouldn't just take off without packing at least an overnight bag. ... Neither of them have their phones working, Adam's trying to run a GPS trace, ... I don't like this, it's not like them."
"Stella, you're over reacting, Don said they were fine, they just needed a little time to themselves."
Angell knocked on the door and Mac waved her into his office. "Hey Mac, I'm checking up on one of Flack's cases, do you have a couple of minutes?"
"Sure. We'll talk later Stella."
Stella glared at Mac. "I'm telling you something's not right. ... Angell do you know where they are?"
"Flack and Laura? ... Fraser kicked them both out yesterday afternoon. No handover, nothing. It was a bit weird. When Ellis quizzed him about it, he said they had broken the overtime budget for the quarter and he needed them to take a step back. Laura's been getting really tired lately. The Cabbie killer case took it's toll on everyone, but with her condition she's felt it most."
"Speaking of condition, have they said much about the baby?" Asked Stella, still loitering in the office.
"Not really. They had a scare about a month ago and she had more tests, but all they said after was everything was normal under the circumstances. They didn't want to elaborate, but they did seem a little less jumpy."
"When are you expecting them back?" Mac asked, weighing up the latest information.
"Fraser won't say, except that Laura is on maternity."
"Have you spoken to either of them?"
"No, can't reach them, which is why I'm here I was hoping you could answer some questions for me about the Harrison case."
As talk moved onto the case Stella eventually left Mac's office to go in search of Adam to try the GPS trace again.
Sorry for the delay, the plot bunnies were running riot on my other story, plus project work. Not sure when I will get a chance to add to this, but hope it won't be too long.
Poll: Although it is now clear that they are having twins the poll is still open to vote for the sex of the babies. if there is any one who still wants to vote see my profile page.