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.
22. Flack the Daddy
It had been five days since the twins were moved to the special care unit from NICU. Life had been rather more demanding, with Laura and Don starting to look after their babies properly. They were now twelve days old and were definitely beginning to show their own characters. Kieran was quiet most of the time, but had some sixth sense and knew when Emily was getting attention, so then he kicked off. The other time was when he was hungry. Emily on the other hand needed attention when she went quiet. After the early scare with the brain haemorrhage she had livened up and was now never quiet, always gurgling and making some sort of noise. Having the opportunity to be with them all the time Laura and Don were amazed at their progress. Kieran had been off all medication for five days and all monitoring for three. He now weighed nearly six pounds. Emily was not to be outdone and had cracked the magic five pound barrier at her weigh in that morning. She had started to fill out more too and didn't look so scrawny anymore.
Having found the environment quite tough the first day or two the parents were now settling into a routine. Don had gone to get some lunch for him and Laura leaving her to supervise nap time. She was resting in one of the chairs when one of the nurses came over to her.
"Mrs Flack, I'm sorry to disturb you but there's a gentleman outside asking for you."
"Did he say what he wanted?"
"Just to see you, d'you want me to send him away?"
"No it's OK, I need to take a walk anyway." Laura pushed herself from the chair and with a peek at the two cribs she walked towards the door. She pulled off the hospital overall and deposited it in the container outside the door and turned to the desk.
"Daddy!" She threw herself into his arms and he hugged her tight.
"How are you doing sweetheart?"
"We're doing OK. What are you doing here?"
"I've got a meeting in Washington tomorrow, so I thought I'd come a little early and see you first then fly down tonight. How are the twins?"
"Hold on." Laura left him in the hallway for a minute and went to the nursery door and put her head in, one of the nurses came over. "Is there any chance I can bring my father in, he's visiting for a few hours in transit?"
"Your father? ... How long will he be here?"
"A few hours, he flies to Washington tonight."
"OK, give me a minute and I'll come out and get him sorted."
Laura thanked her and went back to the hallway.
"Laura, what's up?"
"Everything's fine. Let's drop your bag in our locker then you can meet your grandchildren." She smiled at him.
"Meet my- ... I'm allowed in?"
"Yeah, I just arranged it. Come on." She linked her arm in her father's and lead him down the corridor as he came to terms with the fact he was about to meet his grandchildren for the first time.
--
When Don returned he found Laura's father seated in one of the chairs with a baby in each arm as Laura took photos. He stopped to kiss Laura's cheek before turning to his father-in-law. "Andrew. We didn't know you were coming, I could have picked you up from the airport."
"I wanted to surprise you, besides you're needed more here. Laura's been telling me what happened. You're sure there's no more risk to all of you?"
"None, my boss and Mac made sure of that. ... The whole gang went down." Don replied angrily. Nikki rested her hand on his arm. He looked at her and wrapped his arm around her. "I'm sorry babe, it's just- ... what they did to you, to our family and-"
"I know, but you can't always be there 24-7 watching out for us. We feel just the same way about you. ... You did what you needed to, you brought them back and they're here and safe with us."
One of the nurses approached them. "I'm sorry to interrupt but Dr Elliott would like to see you both."
"Now?" Asked Laura. The nurse nodded. Laura looked between the nurse and her father. "Um, OK, Dad You alright there?"
"Don't worry I'll stay incase grandpa needs to move. ... The nurse on reception will show you where to go."
With a wary look at the babies and her father Don and Laura turned to leave.
--
Stella walked into the break room to find Danny and Adam chatting over lunch.
"Hey Stella, you look good. Day off?" Asked Danny noting her smart attire.
"Some of us have worked all night you know. I'm going to swing by the hospital before I head home. Any messages for Flack and Laura?"
"Do they know when they can take the twins home?" Adam questioned.
"Not yet, but they're doing well. I spoke to Laura this morning. They've weaned Emily off all the drugs too now."
"Have you spoken to Flack? Everytime I go over he's either gone out for something or they're busy with the babies and can't leave them." Danny moaned. "Can't even get him on the phone."
"Things have been a little crazy this week since they were moved, but Laura said to tell you she's kicking him out for the game tomorrow. If everything's OK they might let me sit with her."
"You'll get to see them?" Quizzed Adam, amazed.
"Yeah, I finally get to see my god children." She beamed. "I'd better go. See you tomorrow."
"Tell Flack to call me." Said Danny as Stella grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl.
"You had a break yet? " She asked looking at Danny.
"Skipped lunch to go with angel and arrest that kid in the Bronx."
"Then take an hour and come with me." She suggested walking to the door.
--
Nikki and Don returned to the nursery looking a little apprehensive. Andrew was watching his grand-children who were now back in their cribs. He noted his daughter and son-in-law's expressions.
"You two look worried, what did the doctor say?"
Laura went straight to the cribs and looked at the twins, talking to each of them. Don watched his family as the babies gurgled back at her. He waited for her to answer, when she didn't, he did.
"They're going to run a shit load of tests on them tomorrow. …. If everything is OK … we can take them home."
"That's good." Andrew assured him.
"It's quicker than we expected and … it's damn scary, … that we-"
"I remember when we first brought Laura home. We were terrified, but it was good to be together properly as a family, that's when it all becomes real."
"Don't scare me any more."
"Is there anything you need? … Furniture? Equipment? I've got an hour or so I can pick up some things for you."
"We're good thanks." Don answered watching Laura as she picked Emily up and Kieran began to fuss. He stepped over to his son and scooped him from the crib. "You jealous again K? You really gotta stop this acting up."
Laura glanced sideways at them and smiled. "He needs a clean diaper."
"Oh great. I get the one who's armed and dangerous!" He replied.
--
Stella and Danny approached the nurses station later that afternoon. The nurse on duty looked up and recognised them from other visits. "Hi Detectives. You back to see Detective Flack?"
"Is he around?" asked Danny.
"Yeah hold on a minute." She picked up the phone and after a brief conversation she turned to the detectives again. "Down the hall room 214."
"Thanks." Responded Stella and they wandered in the direction the nurse had sent them. Stella knocked on the door and gently pushed it open, unprepared for the sight which met her.
Don was standing in the middle of the room with a baby in his arms. Laura had her back to the door as she changed the other. Stella's mouth dropped open and she squealed.
"Babies! Oh my God!"
Don grinned almost from ear to ear as Stella came all the way in and peered at the tiny bundle in his arms as Laura joined them.
"Hey Stella." Laura greeted her friend with a hug, both wary of the baby in her arms.
Danny looked shocked as he looked around. "Wow, what are you doing here?" He noted the two cribs and assorted baby paraphernalia scattered across the dresser and changing table. Along one wall a comfortable sofa, which looked from the space in front of it as if it would pull out into a bed.
"… This is home for a couple of days." Laura answered easing the bundle in her arms into Stella's. "Here, meet your godson." Stella looked awestruck at the baby.
"Hey, Kieran, it's good to finally meet you in person. He's gorgeous." The baby in her arms wriggled a little and opened his eyes, staring straight up at her. "He's got his Daddy's eyes." Stella cooed.
"Oh trust me, he's got far more of his father in him." Laura laughed. Danny peered at the girl in her father's arms. "Don why don't you introduce Danny to his god-daughter." Don turned to hand the baby over, but Danny backed away holding his hands up in surrender.
"Easy there Flack, I'm not good with babies." Don half shrugged, making Emily wriggle at the strange movement and she opened her eyes. Don talked to her quietly and she settled again.
"So why aren't you still in isolation?"
"We're getting ready to go home." Don answered.
"Home? Today?" Stella asked shocked, startling Kieran.
"Not quite, tomorrow they're having a battery of tests, if they are OK we can go home the day after." Laura detailed.
"That's fantastic!" Stella exclaimed, this time more quietly.
Emily had obviously been disturbed by the chatter and was wriggling in Dons arms, starting to whimper, he began rocking her gently. "Shhh, it's ok sweetie, it's just your auntie Stella and uncle Danny getting all excited." Emily looked up at him with wide eyes and started snuffling. After a few minutes he wasn't having much luck. "You hungry sweetie? Maybe you best go see your Ma." Don eased her into Laura's arms. "You mind if Dan and I take a walk?"
"You go, give us about half hour." Don nodded and left after giving her a kiss on the cheek, Danny following him out.
Laura took a cloth from the dresser and sat down on the sofa making herself comfortable. Stella took the nearby chair.
"How are things?" Stella asked.
"We're getting there. We just seem to have one routine worked out and then things change. Thinking about going home is pretty scary. We'll be in charge then. I guess that's why we're in here, give us a chance to take over while we can still ask questions. I'm getting used to the idea, but I know Don's pretty freaked, but you saw him, he's been amazing with them. He'll sit for hours cuddling one or the other."
While talking Laura draped the cloth over her shoulder and without fuss she soon had Emily latched onto her breast. Stella was in awe of how expertly Laura dealt with the baby and without a big show of what was happening. In a crowded room she probably wouldn't have realised what she was doing, but with conversation and only the two of them around it was rather hard to disguise.
"Looks like you've got a great bond with them. Are you feeding them all the time?"
"Are you kidding?" Laura scoffed. "Kieran's got his father appetite and Em's fast catching up. I don't stand a chance of keeping up with demand, so they get formula at night and lunch time. It's not such a bad thing, Don gets a chance to feed them then. I've given up expressing, its too painful after these guys have finished with me. I'm just glad they don't have teeth yet. Except for a day or two for Emily I've fed them myself for 10 days, it's been a good start."
"How are you and Flack doing?"
"We're ok. We get an hour or two at home in the evening when we get kicked out. That won't happen now. We're sleeping here for the next two nights."
"Do you need anything?"
"No, Don brought some stuff earlier, it'll be enough for tonight. How are things in the lab?"
"Quiet after all the excitement. Can I ask you something?"
"Why did we do it?" Laura looked at her friend, knowing she wanted to get the background to the under-cover op.
"Yeah ..."
"We knew how we felt about our babies, how badly we wanted them, we couldn't face it that the girls were being talked into arrangements which weren't in their own or their babies best interests. Because the clinic doctors were involved too, they had to have someone who was pregnant and I fit the bill. You know how many pregnant officers they had at the time?"
"There's a few why?"
"Two of us fit the right criteria. Her partner pulled the plug on her taking part after she got into a car accident. She was about four weeks ahead of me. Threatened to go into early labour after the accident, they kept her in hospital. If there had been any other option ... Thing is they're shut down and we're fine."
"But twins? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Probably the same reason we didn't tell you I was pregnant in the beginning. I spent more time in the toilets than working the first 4 months. All my test results were all over the place they cancelled my scans 3 times because of one thing or another. It was only when I started getting so big that they really questioned everything."
"So when did you actually find out?"
"When I had that week of tests after we told you all. We were thinking something was really wrong and then they announce it was all good and normal for twins. Don ... well both of us ended up a bit shell-shocked really. Then there was all that mess over the Nathanson Academy and Gerrard. We needed time to come to terms with it, I don't know Stella, we decided to wait and let you all have a surprise."
"You sure did that."
--
Don and Danny were in the courtyard garden with take out coffee's from the hospital café. They hadn't really spoken much since leaving the girls.
"So a boy and a girl ha?"
"It's amazing Dan, two weeks ago we were looking at weeks of intensive care, that was if they even survived. Laura's taken most of it in her stride, but there have been a couple of times ..."
"They kind of had a crazy introduction to this screwed world of ours. I'm surprised you let her go under-cover."
"We talked it all through, there wasn't an option Dan, you and Linds ever have one of your own you'd understand. All it took was for us to think about losing them and there was no question. ... The worst part was that the Feds insisted on keeping it off the grid, only Fraser knew. It was his idea I went too. We weren't allowed any contact with anyone. ... One thing it did, for the most part we were sat around in that dingy apartment, at least Laura got to put her feet up and rest, which was good with the way they were acting up."
"A bit feisty then?"
"She couldn't sleep at night for Kieran playing soccer with her ribs. Em ... you don't wanna know."
"They're cute kids though. Good job they got their mother's looks."
"Em's her Ma all through, but come-on Mess my boy is all me, ask Laura." They chuckled.
"Just pray he's got her brains then, I don't think we can cope with another you."
"Watch it. I can still revoke the godfather privileges."
"You wouldn't. ... Seriously, you guys did well. I know the undercover thing did a number on both of you. I'm just glad we found them and they're safe and where they belong. Stella's been keeping us updated, but how does it really feel now they're here?"
"Unbelievable, Laura was amazing, she even managed not to break my fingers in delivery. You hear all these horror stories, long labours, husbands with broken fingers where the wife crushes them, none of that, 6 hours and it was all over. She virtually walked it ... until Em decided that she didn't want to wait and arrived with the cord round her neck almost pulling the placenta with her."
"That why Laura was in ICU with blood transfusions?"
"Yeah, Em was lucky the doctor was ready for a problem, so she cut the cord as soon as she stuck her head out. ... I tell you though it was still an amazing moment, watching them arrive in this world. Finally meeting them, seeing them, knowing that part of me created them. It's fucking scary though, that we're responsible for them, that they've already been through so much and that now they're almost ready to go home. Laura's got it all under control. She seems to just know when something needs doing. I don't think I could do it all."
"Sure you can. I watched you upstairs with Emily, I tell you Flack, it's something I never thought I'd see, you with a family. Never saw you married either, but I guess when it's right you go for it."
"So what are you doing about you and Monroe?"
"I guess the jury's still out on that. She's still mad at me, but we're talking again."
"Dan you cheated on her, that's not an easy thing to forgive. I'm surprised she's even talking to you."
"So am I." They fell silent for a few minutes each contemplating their lives.
"I'd best get back, it'll be bath time soon."
"Flack the Daddy, you know it's taking a while to get used to."
"How do you think I feel? I'll tell you something though, I wouldn't change a thing."
Sorry this took so long to post, I was having trouble with the Stella/Danny visit, so I hope you like how it turned out.