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.

Sorry for the delay in posting this. Apart from the first bit I was struggling with moving things forward, while still having them come to terms with events.

21. Not Ready

Laura was reclining in one of the chairs with Emily cuddled against her chest when Don appeared with Kieran. Laura quickly noticed the damp gown he was wearing as he walked across the room. She grinned at him.

"He got you too?"

"Little tyke splashed everything in sight." Don groaned.

"He likes the water."

"Yeah, but he's gotta learn to keep it in the bath." He whined, then looked at the baby in his arms. "Right buddy? The water stays in the bath, not on everyone else." Kieran's response sounded as if he was blowing raspberries at his father. Laura giggled. Don scowled. "Not funny K. You got me all wet." He scolded his son gently.

"You ask me, he's already learning from you."

"Nah, wouldn't dare pick up all my bad habits, I'll whoop his ass"

"Yeah, that would look good, a New York City detective arrested for breaking the law. ... You know our parents may have been able to discipline us like that, but we don't have that option, we have to find other ways."

Don looked at Laura and saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes. He sat on the recliner next to her and ensuring he had a firm hold of their son he reached out and rested his hand on Laura's which was cradling their daughter and grinned.

"Em's grounded till she's fifty and Kieran's going to an all boys school with lots of sports, should keep him out of trouble 'til he's in college."

"Sorry love, can't do that either, they've gotta have the same rules. As it is they'll try and play us off against each other. You say no and they'll come to me and vice versa hoping for the answer they want."

"Please tell me you're not serious." He groaned.

"Perfectly, it's what kids do. ... Tell me you didn't do it to your folks." Don looked at her bashfully. "See, I would have tried it, but Dad was my only parent for a while and when he married Martha the thought never crossed my mind, but I usually reasoned with Dad first and he saw my point of view and gave me what I asked for. He rarely said no, and when he did he explained why."

"So you were a goody two-shoes."

"Yeah, I guess I was sort of. Vice changed a lot of that-" Her attention was taken by the baby wriggling on her chest. She shuffled the baby into her arms and sat up to hold her against her breast so she could feed again, while talking to her in a low voice. Don withdrew his hand and watched mesmerised as she seemed to instinctively know what to do. He looked at the baby beginning to wriggle in his own arms.

"Please don't be a rebel, ... I would hate to have to arrest you. Think of what that would do to the Flack reputation." He chided. Kieran's bright blue eyes held his for a moment before he began to get more restless and his whimpers slowly turned into a full scale screaming session. "When was he last fed?"

Laura looked at the clock. "3 hours ago, I swear that kid has your appetite." Don laughed.

"That's a good sign isn't it?"

Laura looked up from Emily. "Yeah it's good. ... I'm sorry sweetheart, but you're going to have to go to Daddy for a little while, so I can feed your hungry brother." Laura said to her daughter before gently moving her towards Don, as he handed over Kieran, who was now a lively, wriggling screamer. Laura quickly soothed him and once latched on he quietened down. Don lay back on the recliner with Emily propped up facing his chest, as he gently rubbed her back.

--

It was dark when Don guided Laura into their apartment that evening. He put down the bag he was carrying and wrapped his arms around her and guided her head to his chest as he stroked her hair.

"I know you wanted to stay, but it'll be OK. It's something we're gonna have to get used to for a while, 'til they can come home."

"But it's not fair! ... They shouldn't make me have to leave them."

"It's only for a little while, we'll go back in the morning and spend all day with them."

"But that doesn't help now, I can't just go downstairs and see them whenever I want."

"I know, but you know what? The doctor's are right, we're not ready, there's stuff we still need to buy, and we need to check the car seats, this will give us time to make sure everything is really ready for them to come home."

Don's words may have been simple and practical, but they did the trick. Laura looked up at him and nodded. "I just don't like them being there without us."

"I know. ... It's late babe, you're exhausted, go to bed I'll make some hot chocolate and join you."

"OK" Slowly he let her go and she wandered into the bedroom.

--

A few days later Laura was in the middle of changing Kieran when a commotion began on the other side of the room. The nurse with Emily looked up, then at Laura as one of the nurses involved made their way across to them.

"Mrs Flack, we're going to need you to leave for a little while. ... We have an emergency coming in and we need to move Emily and Kieran to make space."

"Where are you moving them?" She asked as she finished buttoning the babygro on her son and picked him up, crdling him against her shoulder.

"... We're moving them to the step down unit." Laura looked at her confused.

"They're not ready are they? Isn't that too soon?"

"No, they are doing really well, Kieran's already over five pounds and Emily isn't far behind. ... This is a good step for them." She tried to reassured Laura, who didn't seem convinced.

"But I thought-"

"The doctors were planning on telling you later during rounds, but this has just moved things up a bit. The doctor will come and find you as soon as he's free and explain everything in more detail. ... I promise we wouldn't be doing this if they weren't ready."

"I know it seems very scary right now. Have you seen the other unit yet?" Emily's nurse asked. Laura shook her head. The thought of the babies being moved hadn't really crossed her mind. She had thought about NICU and home, but hadn't processed the intermediate steps in her mind. Of course they wouldn't send them home straight from this unit, there would have to be something in between. She felt like someone had sucked the air out of her, Kieran wriggled in her arms, then she felt someone take him and guide her into a chair as her head got fuzzy. The next moment an oxygen mask appeared over her face. "It's been a bit of a shock, don't worry, just breathe."

--

Don approached the reception desk and nodded to the nurse on duty; it was the one who had tried to stop him a couple of days earlier.

"Detective, your wife is in the doctor's lounge waiting for you." She greeted him. Don thought it a little strange as they had agreed that he would call her when he got back with their lunch and she would leave the babies for a little while. He went to the lounge door and opened it to find Laura nursing a mug of tea, looking quite pale. A nurse was with her. He put the brown bag he was carrying down on the table and proceeded to sit next to Laura as the nurse vacated the spot.

"When you're ready let me know and I'll take you downstairs." She told them before slipping out. Don took Laura's hand in his and she looked up.

"What's going on Kat?" He asked trying to keep calm and not let his nerves show.

"They're fine." She whispered. "They're being moved out of NICU."

"Moved? Where?" He was surprised and shocked.

"I know, I wasn't expecting it either." She told him, knowing exactly what was racing through his mind. "They need the space here for another emergency and ours are the fittest babies to move. The doctor will explain everything later, but they've offered to take us to the step-down unit and show us around before Kieran and Emily get there."

"When are they being moved?"

"Soon, they're preparing everything now."

"Kat are you OK?"

"Yeah, I just, it was stupid, ... I nearly passed out when they told me."

"But you're OK?" he asked again, noting that she now had a little more colour in her cheeks.

"Yeah. You OK too?"

"As long as you are." He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple.

--

Stella hung up her phone as Mac and Danny walked into the lab. She looked up at them with a big smile.

"You look happy, found our killer yet?" Asked Mac.

"I just had a call from Flack and Laura."

"Good news I take it?" Danny pressed.

"Yeah, very good, the kids are still in shock, they weren't expecting it, ... The twins are being moved out of NICU to special care." She told them.

"That is good news." Mac confirmed smiling himself. "What have you got to find our killer?" He added getting back to business.

--

Don and Laura watched over the twins as they were transferred from their transport incubators; Kieran to an open crib and Emily to an incubator.

"Emily still needs some time under the lights for her jaundice and to keep her warm, but your son is doing just fine, we're going to try him on his own, but don't worry, the first signs of him not doing well we'll be doing something about it." The nurse explained. "I know it's all been a shock, you haven't had time to prepare for this moment, but I'll be looking after them until I go off shift. Anything you want to know just ask and I'll be getting you much more involved in your babies care from now on. ... For now this corner will be their home, if you want to bring a few things in for them of their own you can."

"What about visitors? They said we might be able to let family or friends visit?" Asked Laura

"Not for a day or two while we get them settled, but we'll see, things are more flexible down here. I need to go get them handed over properly, you OK to grab a coffee for a few minutes? I'll come and find you when we're done and get you reacquainted." With that Don and Laura found themselves being guided out of the room and directed to the parents lounge.

Don tightened the grip he had on Laura's hand and tugged her towards the exit.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." He turned to the receptionist. "Could you tell that nurse we'll be back in 30 minutes."

--

They emerged from the staircase into the bustling hospital foyer. Don strode purposefully towards the gift shop almost pulling Laura with him.

"What are we doing here?"

"I ain't going home to get anything yet, pick something for them." He ordered gently.

"What?"

"Kat they haven't got anything of their own except a couple of pictures and a ribbon, you see the stuff the others have, we've got to find something they can keep with them."

Laura looked around for a moment before looking at him. His eyes were shining like a kid at Christmas. "What do you have in mind?"

He shrugged and they wandered around the small store staring at the baby items on sale. A barrel of assorted soft toys stood near the counter, he dug his hand in and rummaged around. Finally he caught hold of something and pulled his arm free, holding up a small tiger, he grinned, it was in a kind of sitting position and reminded him of Laura's tattoo.

"What do you think?"

"Cute."

"We need another one." He whined and stuck his arm back in the barrel, while pushing the toy at Laura with his other one.

"Can I help you?" A slightly annoyed voice asked after he had pulled out about the fifth toy which didn't meet his requirements.

"Maybe, we're looking for another one of these." Laura replied holding out the tiger.

"Oh, I didn't have many of those. Does it have to be exactly the same?"

"Please." Laura answered sweetly as Don grunted.

"Ah!" He exclaimed pulling his hand from the barrel a moment later and holding up his trophy to them. "Got it."

"Is there anything else?"

"No, just these."

Don paid the slightly disgruntled woman and they left the store hand in hand.

"I don't think she was too impressed with you upsetting her display." Whispered Laura.

"Don't care, she shouldn't have hidden them at the bottom." He replied like a spoiled child. "Think they'll let us back in now?" He asked looking at his watch.

"Maybe, besides Kieran will be screaming again, it's past feeding time."

--

Don and Laura entered to find the babies both asleep. They stood watching them for a few moments. The nurse saw they were back and went over to them.

"Hi, they're doing fine, it's taken a little out of them with the move and the new environment, but they're settling in well. I know they're due for feeds soon, have you been feeding them yourself or expressing?"

"Both. If I'm here I feed them, I express at home and bring it in for night feeds."

"OK, Our neo-natal therapist is on her way, she'll talk you through everything that happens here, talk to you about how you can be involved in Kieran and Emily's care and what will happen regarding weaning them off the drugs."

"Kieran's already being scaled back, they started a couple of days ago upstairs." Laura told her.

"I know and we're going to look at doing the same with Emily after the doctor has another look at her."

"Can't you talk us through everything? Why do we have to see this therapist? Can't you do it?" Don hounded her with questions after processing what she was saying.

"It's not what it sounds like, staffing ratios here are different I have three other children as well as yours to look after. Melody has the time to sit with you and answer your questions. She's called a therapist I guess because no one has thought of a better term, but she's a trained special care nurse who helps train others and acts as an advisor to parents. She can talk you through the routine here and our rules, we don't have many, but they are a little different from NICU because we're more relaxed. She can answer general questions about your children's care, but will not be properly up to speed with the details yet, she will be next time you see her. She'll also be with you when you meet with the doctors and other staff you'll start meeting, so she can help make sure you understand what's going on. In NICU a lot of that would have been done by the dedicated nurse on duty with your children. But like I said staffing here is different. Melody and her colleagues do that for us."

Satisfied with the explanation Don nodded. In the silence which followed a snuffling sound from the open crib drew their attention. Laura approached the crib and looked in.

"I think he's ready to be fed, I'll leave you to it." The nurse turned around pulled the curtain across the corner and disappeared. Laura looked up at Don anxiety flashed through her eyes.

"She couldn't get out quick enough. You want me to call her back?" He asked.

Laura looked at the baby in the crib who was slowly getting louder, then back at Don.

"I guess it's how things are done down here."

Laura leaned over a little and eased the baby into her arms, it was strange doing that for herself, she had only just started helping the nurses in NICU to lift him from the incubator, now she was doing it all by herself for the first time. She obviously transferred some of her nervousness to the baby as he started crying louder. Don helped her into a chair and she settled the baby on her lap and opened her shirt. A few moments later the curtain was opened a little and the nurse looked in.

"Everything OK?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'm just not used to lifting him on my own. I always had a nurse with me to help."

"I'm sorry, I thought you'd been doing that upstairs. I didn't want to interfere, it's good for you to take primary care of your children while they're here, it makes it easier when you take them home."

"I just hadn't expected this, so I guess I'm still adjusting. I'm still in the wait to be told what to do frame of mind."

"That's a big difference down here. We aren't in a one on one situation with your children. Most parents spend as much time here as they can, learning what to do. Start to trust your instincts, they are your children, ultimately you decide what's best for them, you work out their routine, it's your chance to really get to know them. We'll only intervene if we think it is medically necessary. ... I need to check on my other charges, but I'll be back to turn off Emily's lamps soon."

She disappeared again. Don sat down in the chair next to Laura and took her hand. "I think I changed my mind. I'm not ready for this."

"No chance tiger. They're here to stay, can't change your mind, what I can change my mind about is constantly feeding your son, he's got no idea about subtlety, I feel like he's sucking me dry."

Don grinned. "You do what you think is best for you and them. I never asked you to do this, they can have formula, lots of kids do."

"But this is best for them right now." Laura closed her eyes and rested her head back. She was feeling tired, probably brought on by all the developments. Don watched over her as she rested for a while.

A few litle scenarios seeing the new family finding their feet. Hope you like it. I have a few ideas now so hopefully the next chapter will be up quicker.