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.

The fluffy bunnies are back!! ... The poll is closed and the results are in.

17. I'm a Dad!

Don sat watching the medical team working to assess the two tiny forms in front of them. It was a tight fit in the ambulance, normally they would have had two but Hawkes had persuaded them to take both babies and Dad all together in the one. As they were quite premature Hawkes had insisted on having a properly qualified Doctor and nurse on board. Under the circumstances the hospital had supplied them. They didn't want to be threatened with a law suit for releasing the babies so easily, so anything that those babies or their parents needed would be supplied.

The nurse watched Don for a few minutes as his eyes flitted between the two incubators, like he was watching a tennis match, turning his head at each tiny grunt and whimper. She saw the tears form in his eyes. The doctor was reading through the information Hawkes had given him, which had been found with the babies, then he noted his own observations once he had read everything else. He looked at Don.

"Mr Flack, they're doing ok. We're giving them a little extra oxygen and keeping them warm, but they're breathing on their own and that's a good sign. When we get to the hospital things will get a little crazy, we'll take them straight to NICU for a full assessment and a few tests, they'll be a lot of people around and you won't get close to them for a while. I've spoken to Dr Raami and she gave me the history. I'll be taking care of your babies for the next little while, as long as they stay in intensive care. I'll brief you and your wife fully later, but my initial assessment is they're in good shape and a good size. We'll give you all the details later. ... Is there anything particular you want to ask now while we have a few minutes."

Don shook his head, his mind swimming with the fact that he was here with them, that they were alive, and in pretty good shape. The doctor nodded.

"I understand, it's a lot to take in. Anytime you do have questions the hospital can page me, night or day."

"Mr Flack, what a lot of our parents do is get a notebook and write down questions, then you don't forget when the doctor sees you. It seems to particularly help when parents have to go home before their babies."

"You mean we can't stay with them?" He asked subdued. Going home with out them? It was something they hadn't really talked about even though they knew it was a possibility. He wasn't sure how Laura would take it.

"Not all the time, we don't have the room, but it'll be a few days before that happens give your wife time to recover herself." The nurse assured him as one of the infants began to fuss. The nurse handed Don a wet cloth, which smelt of disinfectant. He stared at it curiously for a moment. "If you wipe your hands with that you can touch your baby, then we'll do the same again and you can meet the other one." She encouraged gently.

Don looked at her shocked. "It's OK to touch them? ... I thought-"

"We encourage it Mr Flack, it's good for them, when they're a little stronger you'll be able to get them out and hold them properly, they'll get to know you much quicker that way, babies this age rely a lot on smell and touch we want to encourage that as much as possible. It's good for the parents too."

Don complied slowly and when she lowered the side door he hesitantly stretched his arm inside. Initially he extended a finger and grazed it across the tiny palm of his child. The baby jumped and Don started to draw back. The nurse was watching closely and rested her hand on his arm and encouraged him to try again.

He edged his hand forward again and rested a finger in the baby's palm. It was still startled, but this time he left his finger there. The baby's eyes opened, it didn't matter to Don that they were unfocused. What mattered was that he saw sparkling blue eyes. "Hey, sweetie." He whispered gently into the incubator. "You've got your Ma's eyes you know. Hers are the same exact colour. ... You'll see her later, she'll want to know all about you when she wakes up."

Almost as if it detected the attention Don was giving its sibling the second baby started whimpering, causing him and the nurse to look up at the baby half crying in the next incubator.

"I think someone is a little jealous." Commented the nurse as she prepared another disinfectant laden cloth ready for him to wipe his hands. He looked back at the first baby and gently grazed its palm again. The baby gave a huge yawn and closed its eyes. Don gently withdrew his hand, his mind in awe at the tiny hand next to his.

As Don wiped his hands again the nurse explained why they had to do it. He vaguely heard about "risk of infection" as his mind and gaze turned to the second child and edged his hand forward, this baby didn't startle like the other one had, and he watched mesmerised as the baby screwed up its face to cry. "Hey, it's ok, I'm here, we're going on a little trip and the Doctor and Nurse here are gonna take care of you. You'll meet your Ma soon and you're gonna love her, cos she's just amazing. But you gotta mind what she tells you OK, don't be sassing her when you get older."

The baby quietened as he spoke in a quiet and gentle, but firm tone. Resting his finger in the palm of his other child he pondered what had happened. This is not how you expected fatherhood to begin, but he couldn't get his brain around the well of emotions he had at this moment. Sitting in the back of an ambulance both his children with him and for the moment safe and well. The tears pooled in his eyes. The only thing better than this moment was if Laura was there too, but it wouldn't be long, he'd make sure of it.

"Mr Flack, we're almost there, we need to get them ready to move." The doctor murmured softly. Don nodded and slowly withdrew his hand from his baby's. The baby fussed a little.

"It's only for a little while, the doctor needs to take a look at you while I go see your Ma, then I'll be back." He mumbled as the Ambulance slowed down and footsteps were heard outside before wrenching the doors open and hands were reaching in to move the babies. Don remained in the ambulance as the medical teams rushed the babies inside. The nurse remained with him a moment.

"We'll let you know as soon as they've been assessed properly." She advised. "It'll probably be a couple of hours, go see your wife and get yourself some food and a shower and you'll be ready to go see them."

Don nodded and climbed slowly out of the ambulance gently rubbing his thumb over his finger and looking at it as he still felt the touch of his babies. Now he smiled for the first time in several days. "I'm a dad. ... It's finally real." He stated awestruck.

"Yes it is." Smiled the nurse as they walked into the hospital before going opposite directions.

--

As Don left the elevator on the 7th Floor and turned to head for the intensive care unit Stella met him with a hug.

"Hey, Dad, ... Mac called and told me you were on your way back. How are they doing?"

"Pretty good according to the doctor that rode back with us. ... Did Mac get them all? ... We're not gonna have someone else crawl out the woodwork?"

"I don't think so. Mac's pretty confident and he's going over to the FBI to share information and make sure they're shut down for good."

"and Kat?"

"She was still sleeping when I left, but everything's good. They're running a couple of tests, but you can go in."

"Thanks."

Don hugged Stella and went towards Laura's room, stopped by a nurse at the door. "Mr Flack, these have just come from downstairs, I thought you'd like to show them to your wife."

Don glanced in the folder and smiled. "Yeah, thank you. When can she see them?"

"See how she feels when she wakes up. ... Do you know if she wanted to feed them herself?" Don looked at her confused. "Formula or breast?" She added trying to enlighten him.

"Oh, um ... herself." Don answered after a moment, a little flustered.

"That's good, it'll be an excellent start for the babies. ... I'll get some things together for her. When she wakes up she's likely to feel a little sore and expressing will make her more comfortable." Don rubbed his neck.

"Whatever you think." He answered hoping he sounded casual as the nurse turned and walked away. Now he got to open the door to Laura's room, but his freedom was short-lived as the nurse inside approached him while filling in a chart.

"She's just waking up, I'll be right outside if you need anything." She told him. He nodded relieved that they weren't going to give him more details or ask more questions. He wasn't sure how long it would be before his brain exploded with everything that had happened.

He walked over to the bed, Laura was propped up, her eyes closed. The beeps from the monitor at the side confirming a steady strong heartbeat. She had a little more colour than when he last saw her and there was no sign of the blood transfusion paraphernalia around. He dropped into the chair at the side and rubbed his face.

"Don?" He looked up and grinned at her.

"Hey sweetheart, ... we got babies." He told her childishly, with a big smile as he stood next to the bed and brushed his hand over her hair and leaning over so she didn't have to move too much.

"... Are they OK?" She asked, her voice croaky from all the emotion.

"I just left them, the doctor's say they're doing pretty good. They're running tests right now, give us more details later."

"... how long have I been out?"

"... About 6 hours, scared the shit outta me you know? .. how're you feeling?"

"OK, .. what happened I remember the doctor saying it was a girl then the room spinning and then waking up here? I did hear right we got a boy and a girl?"

"Sure did Kat, ... Wanna see them?" She nodded, tears welling in her eyes, Don gently brushed them away and took the two photos from the folder the nurse had given him and held them up for her to see. She gasped and traced her fingers over the images.

"They look so peaceful, you sure they're ok?"

"Yeah, they're tiny, but Kat they're perfect. You did good babe." She looked up at him and put her hand to his cheek.

"... We did good. ... Have you told everyone?"

"I was kinda waiting for you. Things have been a little crazy here and at the lab. I'll tell you all about it later. Mac and the team, they know they're here, but not much more. ... Even the nurses don't know their names."

"Don't they need to have oxygen and feeding tubes?" She asked looking at the photos again.

"They're lungs are doing good, they're breathing on their own. ... They're amazing Kat, ... they let me touch them, they're-" Laura took her eyes off the photo and looked at him. She saw the tears in his eyes as he sat on the edge of the bed and took her hands. "They're just so small, so fragile. ... I was scared I'd hurt them."

Laura reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "I'm not small and fragile, you won't hurt me. ... Hold me." She whispered as he wrapped his arms around her and dropped his head on her shoulder. The last remains of her perfume still clinging to her skin. He breathed deeply and she rubbed his back.

"I was so scared for all of you." He admitted, mumbling into the crook of her neck.

"I know, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere, we're gonna handle it together now OK?"

Don sniffed and lifted his head. Laura's eyes bore into his and he leaned in and kissed her long and tenderly. "You are so amazing, you know that?"

"Yeah, ... you've been telling me all night. ..." Laura pulled him back against her. "Are you OK? You're really tense."

"I'm good now." He breathed in her ear hugging her tightly. "I missed you." He choked as the tears began and he couldn't fight it any longer. He felt her arms tighten around him as she comforted him. He would tell her the whole story later, but for now he just needed to be with her, to feel like he wasn't alone anymore.

--

Don entered the hospital as the light faded and night crept across the city. He had been home for a shower and change of clothes. He carried a bag of things for Laura and the babies and he was heading for NICU to see them again. He'd called ahead before he left home and was told Laura was sleeping so he opted to check on the babies first. He could still sense the feeling of that first amazing touch, he missed it now, he wanted to feel it again. He paused for a moment and nodded at the uniformed officer sat uncomfortably by the door and then looked through the window. He couldn't really make out where they were. One of the nurses had noted his arrival, she didn't recognise him, but she noted the badge on his belt, which he had absently put on as he left the apartment earlier.

"Can I help you detective?"

"Yeah, I want to see the Flack twins."

"I'm sorry, but only the parents are allowed in, one of your colleagues will be down shortly she can update you."

The uniformed officer coughed nervously, having heard the conversation. "Um this is Detective Flack, ... he's the father." Don gave him a grateful smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry, well I'll show you where you can put your things and then we'll get you sorted. Have you been in before?"

"In there?" Don asked pointing into the NICU nursery. "No."

The nurse gave him an encouraging smile and lead him away to get kitted out. About 15 minutes later she lead him into the room. It was crowded with various combinations of machines and incubators. He followed the nurse past several other sick looking babies with tubes and wires everywhere, a couple even smaller than his own. The nurse stopped next to two incubators. One with a pink ribbon and one with a blue one, both with a tag which read "Baby Flack". Don's eyes were drawn to the pink one with the baby sleeping peacefully inside, the monitors emitting fast, regular, but quiet beeps. He watched it for a moment and the nurse explained what they were monitoring.

He looked over to the other incubator, the monitors were silent and the container empty. "Where's my son?" He asked looking around concerned.

Another nurse looked up from noting the readings from the girl. "Come with me." She said smiling warmly. Don's mind in overdrive again. Would she be smiling if anything were wrong?

The nurse who had accompanied him took a seat next to the girl allowing the other nurse to lead Don across the room and through another door. The room wasn't very big but it was very warm and furnished with several recliner chairs. He stopped in the doorway and his mouth dropped open and his eyes sparkled. The nurse in the room looked up. He would have recognised her from the morning, but he barely noticed her presence. His gaze drawn by the mother and child in one of the recliners. She looked fresh and beautiful and the baby contented as he lay on her chest.

"Mr Flack, come in." Greeted the nurse as the other left to go about her duties. It was then that Laura took her eyes from the baby on her chest and looked up. He went forward and leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't wait any longer and when they said he was hungry I wanted to feed him."

"It's ok babe, I just got a little worried when he wasn't out there." Don gestured to the main ward. His eyes fixed on his wife cradling their son.

"This is our nursing room, parents can come in here with their babies when they're well enough, mum's can feed or both parents can use it for what we call Kangaroo care."

"Kangaroo?" Don asked pulling a strange face.

"Like this." Laura answered, tipping her head to the baby laying on her, his head over her heart and lifting the blanket covering them for a moment. Don could see the baby only wore a diaper and lay against Laura's skin, a few tubes and wires linking him with the monitor beeping at the side. "He likes it, his heartbeat and breathing are steady."

"It's alright for him to be out of the incubator?"

"He's doing just fine. He's getting a little extra oxygen through the nasal canula, and we're watching him, but he's a strong boy. Considering all the excitement earlier they're both in good shape."

"What excitement?" Asked Laura glancing up at the nurse for an explanation.

Don shook his head out of Laura's view. "Arriving early and having all the attention they get down here." She answered in a reassuring tone. "Mr Flack would you like me to bring your daughter through?"

Don looked nervously at Laura. "You may as well start now, ... She's not gonna break Don, you'll be fine." Don nodded hesitantly and the nurse left the room. Laura held out her hand to him. He took it and sat in the chair next to her.

"He's really OK?"

"Yeah, I don't know all the details, they'll bring the doctor back now you're here but they're doing good. They've put them at 34 weeks and that's only mildly premature apparently. They weighed them too." Laura stopped talking to take his hand and rest in under the blanket on the baby's back. The baby snuffled, grunted and opened his eyes with an air of disgust. "Oh god that so looks like you when you're woken up." She teased watching the baby as he settled down again, adjusting to the additional touch.

A few minutes later the nurse returned with the baby in a portable crib and pulling a monitoring device with her. "Here we go. Mr Flack, if you want to undo your shirt and we can get this baby girl settled with her Dad. ... have you thought of names for them yet?"

"I'd like to tell my father first." Laura answered looking at Don for approval. He nodded.

"Our daughter's being named after her grandmother, we'd like Laura's father to know before anyone else."

The nurse guessed there was special significance to that and didn't push for an explanation. She merely continued get Don settled in a recliner next to Laura's and gently handed over the baby, showing him how to hold her and what to do. When she was happy that the family were comfortable and the babies were doing well she offered to bring them a phone.

Don glanced down at the tiny infant now nuzzling against his chest and he wondered how he had ever lived without that feeling. He never wanted to let her go, here she was a real person and safe in his arms at last. He finally relaxed as he glanced at Laura still holding their son. He never wanted to lose that sense of peace and contentment.

This chapter just kept getting longer, so some information had to move to the next one.

The Evil Muse has been sent packing (for a while at least) and the bunnies are back to play. ... Hope you liked this, please tell me what you thought. ...